Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 318: A Spark

Annette Bening is a woman like a refreshing breeze, gentle and elegant. Her warm smile at the corners of her eyes exudes the unique charm of a mature woman, and it's no surprise that she could win over a man like Warren Beatty. She certainly lives up to her reputation.

Aaron Sorkin is a sharp-tongued intellectual with a distinctive style, combining the cunning of a seasoned journalist with the wisdom and elegance of a scholar. Renly feels a deep sense of admiration for the writer behind 'The West Wing' and 'The Newsroom'. In his previous life, as a journalism student, these shows were among his favorites.

David Fincher, on the other hand, was rather cold. He simply nodded at Renly in greeting and let the conversation end there. Renly quickly took his leave. It was clear that Fincher had no interest in engaging with the many admirers who must approach him.

Julianne Moore, however, was surprisingly warm and approachable. Her appearance suggested she might be distant, but in conversation, she was full of laughter. Apologetically, she said, "I haven't seen 'Buried', honestly, I wasn't too interested. But after meeting you, I've decided I'll be in the cinema tomorrow. How did Hollywood produce such a handsome young man without anyone telling me?"

...

Unfortunately, Renly didn't spot Christopher Nolan. This director, who revitalized the 'Batman' franchise and gained a devoted fanbase through films like 'Memento', 'The Prestige', and 'Inception', was someone Renly had genuinely hoped to meet. He wanted to talk with the director known for his innovative ideas and passionate love for traditional film techniques, but tonight wasn't the night.

"Seems like you're quite the star tonight." A voice behind him spoke, graceful and unhurried. Though the tone was casual, there was an unmistakable trace of pride and mockery beneath the surface. "Congratulations. Four months ago in Toronto, who could have predicted this day?"

Turning around, Renly saw Natalie Portman.

Dressed in a pink champagne gown, her figure slightly fuller, the outline of a baby bump faintly visible beneath the smooth silk. A rose embroidered on her chest reflected the lights with a delicate shimmer. Her smiling face radiated a maternal glow, softer and less sharp than before.

But Renly didn't let his guard down; he knew Natalie was not to be underestimated.

Two weeks ago, Natalie had announced she was ten weeks pregnant, with the father being her boyfriend, Benjamin Millepied. In an official statement, she expressed her excitement and anticipation for the arrival of her first child, saying she was fully prepared for this new Chapter in her life.

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Coincidentally, this announcement came at the height of the "stunt double" controversy, when public and media criticism of her performance had reached its peak. The Weinstein brothers, in particular, had been relentless.

The term "awards season" originated with the Weinstein brothers. Years ago, they orchestrated a smear campaign against 'Saving Private Ryan', so thorough that even Steven Spielberg was left flustered. The result was the shocking Oscar victory of 'Shakespeare in Love'. After that, "awards season" and "Oscar campaigns" became part of Hollywood vernacular.

This time, with 'Black Swan' facing internal drama, the Weinsteins weren't going to miss the chance to capitalize. Their top contenders this year were 'The King's Speech', 'The Fighter', and 'Blue Valentine', with 'Blue Valentine' pushing Michelle Williams for Best Actress. Natalie was their main competition, followed closely by Annette.

One can imagine how intense the attacks on Natalie were before the Golden Globe nominations were announced.

Yet, Natalie remained above it all, exuding an air of "innocence," and then strategically dropped the news of her pregnancy as the New Year approached. This instantly neutralized all attacks—no one would criticize a mother-to-be. Suddenly, all of her previous silence and avoidance made perfect sense.

Even on tonight's red carpet, journalists refrained from pressing Natalie too hard, afraid that any tough questions might upset the pregnant actress, which would leave them dealing with the backlash. So, instead, they aimed their questions at Renly.

Renly didn't know much about Hollywood's games of power and prestige, but as someone who had lived two lives, the cunning and difficulty of the industry's first bout of competition had left a lasting impression. In Toronto, he had unintentionally landed Natalie in a tough spot. He knew she wouldn't be unprepared this time.

The timing of her pregnancy announcement was impeccable, not too early, not too late, perfectly minimizing the negative press while garnering sympathy. Whether it was planned or not, it was certainly not a coincidence.

Looking at Natalie's warm smile, Renly responded in kind, "That's Hollywood, isn't it? Things change in the blink of an eye, and no one can predict what will happen next." His words carried a double meaning, open to interpretation depending on the listener.

Natalie's smile only widened, recalling their last encounter in Toronto, where she had suffered a minor loss. This time, she wouldn't underestimate him. "Indeed, so everyone needs to be careful. One moment you're on top, the next you're at the bottom. Life is unpredictable, isn't it?"

The same sentiment, but Renly and Natalie were speaking about entirely different things. Renly was referring to the rollercoaster of the "stunt double" scandal, while Natalie was hinting that Renly, a newcomer who had achieved minor success, should not become too arrogant. Their brief exchange was filled with sparks.

Raising an eyebrow with interest, Renly replied, "What defines being on top or at the bottom varies for everyone. Often, I'm more curious about whether the journey matters more than the destination."

In 'Black Swan', Natalie's performance was undeniably outstanding. Though her portrayal was intense and somewhat overwhelming, no one could deny that she delivered a mesmerizing, method-acting performance that blurred the line between reality and fantasy. Her skill was evident, and among this year's contenders, she was the clear frontrunner.

In summary, her talent alone was enough to secure the win. But, did the added drama complicate things unnecessarily?

Natalie heard the subtle sarcasm in Renly's words—light, but sharp, piercing her skin. A surge of anger rose within her, making her want to lash out at the smug, self-righteous face before her. The hormonal imbalance of pregnancy only intensified these emotions.

"That's the difference between winners and losers," Natalie spat through clenched teeth, her round face slightly distorted by anger. But then she composed herself, smiling again, placing a finger to her lips, and whispering, "Shh."

Without another word, the icy aura left Renly's neck tingling as Natalie turned and walked away, her steps slow and deliberate, her pregnant belly leading the way.

In a mere thirty-second exchange, the tension had reached a suffocating peak.

As Renly watched her retreating figure, he noticed Ryan Gosling approaching quietly, raising his hands as if to surprise him, only to realize he'd been spotted. Defeated, Ryan lowered his arms. "Do you have eyes on the back of your head?"

Renly glanced toward Natalie again, who was now casually greeting Angelina Jolie, her demeanor calm and composed.

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, noting Renly's lingering gaze. "Did she want something?"

Rumors were rampant, and Ryan had witnessed the events in Toronto firsthand. He knew the situation all too well. He had rushed over to rescue his friend as soon as he saw Natalie talking to him.

"She came to deliver her victor's speech," Renly laughed, unconcerned, then shifted the conversation. "And you? Shouldn't you be swamped tonight?"

Ryan shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Of course not. Tonight, I'm just a sidekick."

'The King's Speech' and 'Blue Valentine' were both Weinstein productions. With Colin Firth as the frontrunner for Best Actor and Michelle Williams for Best Actress, Ryan had been sidelined.

Just then, Scarlett Johansson entered the room, accompanied by a male partner, likely a producer or publicist. She scanned the room, caught Renly's eye, and gave a slight nod, a subtle smile on her face before turning and walking in the opposite direction.

"Looks like we're both wallflowers tonight," Renly joked, making Ryan chuckle. "On the red carpet earlier, did you confess your love for me? The reporters kept asking who I thought was the best among our generation of actors."

"And what did you say?" Renly asked as they headed toward the ballroom.

"Jesse's Jewish, and James is too famous. I didn't have much choice, did I?"