Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 224: Sudden Change

"You mean..."

Renly looked at Jennifer's increasingly bright eyes, and couldn't help but smile. Even though she didn't say anything, the sparkle in her eyes resonated with Renly's thoughts. He nodded in affirmation, "Yes, why can't we remove the dialogue?"

Drake choked, coughing as he got caught in his own breath. "You mean, this entire scene has no dialogue? Is this a silent movie?" This idea was too bold, and too absurd.

"Of course not." Renly chuckled. "I mean, we change the approach. One person talks, the other listens." Renly organized his thoughts. "For example, when Jacob is speaking, Anna stands quietly beside him, attentively listening; and vice versa. This way, we can reduce the amount of dialogue and shift the focus of the script from a 'Before Sunrise'-style dialogue-heavy scene to a fusion of their auras."

Drake couldn't help but fall into deep thought, seriously considering the feasibility of this approach.

Jennifer nodded in agreement. She began to speak, then bit her lip to stop herself from speaking too loudly. After adjusting, she continued, "Originally, 'Like Crazy' is different from 'Before Sunrise.' I think this movie is more similar to 'Blue Valentine,' focusing on the exchange of glances and emotions."

"You've seen 'Blue Valentine'?" Renly showed a surprised expression. The movie had only been screened in Toronto and Telluride, and Renly had been to both places without seeing Jennifer.

"I saw it in New York." Jennifer quickly understood what Renly was implying. Considering the recent news about "Buried," it was no surprise. "The movie premiered in New York and will be shown at the New York Film Festival next week."

Renly showed a look of realization. Ignoring Drake's presence, he said, "You mean, abandon the homage sentiments and refine the film's style, embedding emotional nuances in the performances?"

Drake had been fixated on "Before Sunrise" to express his love for the movie. However, 'Like Crazy' didn't suit that homage. Removing this aspect would make the movie more complete.

Moreover, Drake had been delaying the shoot, looking for suitable actors who understood the characters and could support the film's core. Felicity and Renly were the results of his search, and he had every reason to trust them.

"Yes, that's what I mean." The conversation flowed smoothly from Drake to Jennifer and back to Drake. Jennifer giggled while Renly continued, "We can also make a slight modification. Instead of returning to the apartment after dinner, they come back later, around eleven o'clock. By then, Anna's roommate would be asleep, so they have to be quiet and lower their voices."

"Excellent idea!" Drake exclaimed, clapping his hands excitedly, only to hurt himself in the process. "This is great!"

Late at night, they would naturally lower their voices. Unlike typical first dates ending in intimacy, Jacob and Anna didn't rush into bed on the first night. Their thoughts exchange made them soulmates, intensifying their love later on.

Drake's thoughts came together, and he couldn't contain his excitement, pacing back and forth and muttering to himself. Jennifer glanced at Renly, signaling towards Drake, "Did you break him?" implying Drake was like a malfunctioning toy.

Renly shrugged with a smile, "Should we give him a tap? That usually fixes things."

Oblivious to the teasing, Drake suddenly stopped, "But Ben isn't here. What about the lines?"

Ben York Jones, Drake's friend and co-writer of "Like Crazy," usually wrote the dialogues. With Ben absent, Renly was helpless. Drake hesitated and said, "Renly, how about this: you and Felicity..." He called for Felicity.

Felicity, who was in Anna's room, quickly came out, "What's up?"

"You and Renly should study the script lines and improvise based on your understanding. We'll shoot the scene as you see fit," Drake's abrupt instructions confused Felicity, but he didn't elaborate and walked off to arrange the shoot.

Felicity looked puzzled at Renly, who summarized the concerns and solutions. Felicity bit her lip, thinking and then nodded, "Shall we read the script twice first?"

Her clear, gentle tone carried a hidden firmness. In seconds, she grasped the situation, understood it, and quickly made a decision, showcasing her deep understanding of acting.

"Of course." Renly nodded, and they stood aside to read the script quietly.

The original script had four pages of dialogue covering art, movies, music, fashion, social issues, and Nietzsche, revealing their worldviews. These lines were crucial for the actors to build their characters.

Even though they had to abandon the lines, their value remained immense for Felicity and Renly.

"So, have you ever confessed to a boy?" Renly asked with a smile after putting down the script.

Holding the script, Felicity blinked in surprise, then smiled, "Yes, I have. But he thought I was crazy."

This reminded Renly of a detail in the "Like Crazy" script, where Anna's letter to Jacob ends with "I'm not crazy." Felicity's words, blending truth and character, were intriguing.

"What about you? You must be familiar with girls confessing to you?" Felicity bit her lip, her pinkish lips and playful eyes contrasting Jennifer's boldness with a Persian cat's lazy mischief.

Renly's lips curved into a smile, "I didn't know it's common in Oxford to confess boldly?"

Felicity was surprised, her big eyes widening. "How did you know I graduated from Oxford? Are you an alum too?"

Renly could tell from her accent and knew she was a self-made Oxford graduate. For British aristocrats, accents reveal much about one's background and even their London neighborhood.

Renly smiled without answering, "I'm more curious why an Oxford graduate became an actor?" Typically, Oxford graduates go into politics or business, while Cambridge graduates pursue arts, literature, or research.

"Kate Beckinsale is my alum." Felicity finally showed her sharpness, matching Renly's wit and revealing her reserved personality until now.

Renly's smile brightened, "You mean Beckinsale is your role model?"

Kate Beckinsale, also an Oxford graduate, is a Hollywood icon, an English rose, and a typical beauty despite her action roles in the "Underworld" series.

Felicity bit back a retort, not wanting to be seen as just a beauty. "You don't like Beckinsale?" she asked, subtly questioning Renly's "manliness."

Renly raised an eyebrow, his smile hinting, 'I prefer someone like you.'

Felicity initially held her ground but eventually blushed under Renly's intense gaze, her heart pounding.