Joke proposal

"I've come to discuss the upcoming project selection plan with you."

Andy didn't beat around the bush, cutting straight to the chase—this was the crux of today's meeting.

As a manager, Andy's mind brimmed with various combinations and arrangements, plotting Renly's next project. He knew well that whether it was a commercial or an art film, the correct choice was neither right nor wrong. The emphasis lay in the script and cast, ensuring the quality of the work. This was the essence.

Then, after the release of "Fast 5", they would gauge the market response and make further decisions.

However, Renly had a clear understanding of his acting path. Andy had realized this when they initially signed the contract. So, before devising the next plan, Andy needed a simple exchange of thoughts with Renly, a sharing of opinions. This was the foundation for a long-term collaboration.

Andy's expectations for Renly extended beyond just being a star.

"Recently, quite a few inquiries have come in about your projects," Andy's eyes gleamed mischievously, a hint of teasing in his gaze, even a trace of smugness.

The statement itself wasn't unusual. With the wins at Sundance and Oscar nominations, the name "Renly Hall" had gradually spread. Coupled with the push from Innovative Artists Management, interest in Renly's projects steadily increased—it was an expected progression.

But Andy's tone was intriguing. Renly's motion of drinking water paused momentarily. To see Andy, who was usually composed, exhibit such an expression was enough to pique his curiosity. He looked up, casting a quizzical glance.

In an unusual move, Andy drew out the suspense, not immediately revealing the answer, a rarity indeed.

Renly grew more curious, yet he held his composure, refraining from breaking the silence, and calmly continued to sip his water. After sleeping soundly, his throat was rather dry; he needed the hydration.

Observing Renly, Andy eventually stopped the charade, unveiling the answer, "Dawn."

Renly's head tilted, momentarily struggling to remember which film was called "Dawn". The focus, however, was on Andy's mischievous expression. This probably indicated a satirical work or something stylistically deviating—Renly racked his brain, but his mind couldn't conjure any object that matched the description.

Andy added, "Vampire."

Renly paused for half a second, then nearly choked. The water in his throat hadn't quite reached his stomach, and he inadvertently coughed, almost spewing it all out.

His aristocratic etiquette education in this life triggered a reflex that controlled his muscles, making him swallow the water down directly. He coughed heavily with a dry "Ahem," his breath slightly unsettled, the taste indeed bitter.

Satisfied, Andy chuckled. It was truly a sight to behold, witnessing Renly in such a disheveled state. The release of this bomb was indeed worth the ticket price. So, Andy leaned back in his chair, a picture of comfort, hands resting on his belly, his eyes half-closed in a shallow smile.

After recovering with some effort, Renly looked at Andy in astonishment, "My guess is correct?"

Andy smiled but remained silent, merely nodding to affirm Renly's guess. He then observed the peculiar expression on Renly's face—an ambiguous mix of amusement and nonchalance, a playful yet absurd demeanor that was undeniably intriguing.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn", that's the project Andy was referring to.

This film adaptation of a bestselling series had already reached its fourth installment, marking the grand finale. The film series had created its own history—for instance, the harsher the critics, the better the box office performance. Along with the criticism and the series' embarrassing melodrama, the global box office continued to soar to new heights.

It pioneered the craze for young adult adaptations, paving the way for series like "The Hunger Games", "Divergent", "The Maze Runner", and others.

Furthermore, Robert Pattinson had become a phenomenon as an idol actor, sparking a frenzy among fans. Even Justin Bieber paled in comparison.

It was indeed an intriguing phenomenon. For major film companies, while on one hand they scorned the series' juvenility, fandom, and vulgarity, on the other hand, driven by financial gain, they hoped to replicate the box office success of the series by crudely crafting a few teen heartthrob idols.

One thing was certain—the phenomenon of "Twilight" drew as much resentment from critics and academia as it did fanaticism. Some even asserted that for the next decade, the three leads of the film wouldn't even enter the awards season spotlight, not even for the entertainment-focused Golden Globe Awards.

History indeed bore out this assertion.

Before starring in "Twilight", Kristen Stewart had been a promising indie film newcomer, with works like "Into the Wild", "Panic Room", and "Speak" showcasing her acting potential, earning her attention from indie filmmakers. However, after joining the series, while gaining global fame, she also lost the subtlety in her acting, becoming a "blank face".

Later, with the support of a formidable PR team, she once again ventured into indie films, swimming in resources and excellence that was nothing short of astonishing. Yet, awards season continued to shun her.

As for Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, their careers took a nosedive, struggling to keep up.

Not exaggerating, even the supporting actors who had been part of the series were labeled as mere eye candy, idols. In their subsequent role choices, they were somewhat restricted.

This was, in fact, Hollywood's inertia, a societal law. After Leonardo DiCaprio acted in "Titanic", he faced the same dilemma, squandering five whole years in indulgence and recklessness before finding his way back on track.

Though the industry sneered at the "Twilight" series, for actors, it provided solid opportunities and compensation, boosting their fame, breaking the deadlock of their careers. Why not embrace it? Your honey could be my poison, and vice versa. Hence, aspiring to be part of the series was a countless pursuit.

However, why did "Twilight" set its sights on Renly?

Renly's expression grew slightly odd. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Chuckle." Andy finally couldn't suppress it and burst into laughter. He nodded and shook his head, rendering Renly helpless to join in the laughter. The more they thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed, and their smiles bloomed fully.

"They were just inquiring about your interest," Andy explained. "Your age fits the film's setting, your appearance matches their vision of a vampire. What's crucial is that you currently possess sufficient fame without being overly expensive. Lionsgate's budget is limited."

At this point, even Andy found himself a bit soft-spoken, struggling to contain his amusement as he chuckled once again. "You should know that this film will be split into two parts for its grand finale, and there will be many vampires appearing, as if a final epic battle awaits."

"No, I didn't know," Renly's candid response provoked an even brighter smile from Andy.

Andy didn't continue joking around. Not to mention Renly, even he himself had been utterly dumbfounded upon receiving the email, unable to fathom Lionsgate's intentions. Because, from the looks of it, Renly had no connection whatsoever to the "Twilight" series.

The only plausible explanation was that they wanted to inject new life into the grand finale and were hoping to bring in some noteworthy fresh talent. They needed someone influential but not overly high-profile, someone recognizable yet not exorbitantly expensive, and most importantly, someone whose demeanor matched their vision of a vampire. Looking at it this way, Renly's inclusion in their list of potential candidates wasn't as surprising.

Leaving aside the project itself, this was actually a form of affirmation for Renly—an increase in fame, popularity, and attention. This was quite a rare opportunity for Renly, especially given that his previous two films were both independent productions.

"Rest assured, I've declined them already," Andy's emotions settled, and he regained his composure to steer the conversation back to business.

Unexpectedly, Renly just shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe I've actually agreed. Playing a vampire could be an interesting experience."

Andy's expression involuntarily stiffened because Renly's expression was so earnest, a sincere appearance with a glint of thoughtfulness in his eyes. It was impossible to tell if he was joking or not.

"It's like being a high school student, performing on stage, immersed in your own world, pretending to be charismatic, everyone looking up to you in awe. No need for skills, methods, or even thinking, just being completely absorbed in your own world is enough."

After speaking, Renly pursed his lips slightly, nodding gently as if in agreement with his own thoughts. "You know, even Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt have played vampires. It should be an interesting experience."

When Andy heard "Brad Pitt", he finally understood: Renly was joking.

Andy couldn't help but silently breathe a sigh of relief. He absolutely wouldn't admit that he had nearly been fooled by Renly just now. He maintained his smile, agreed wholeheartedly, and said, "Are you sure? If needed, I can still make a call to them right now. I don't think it should be a problem."

"Yes, you should give it a try and then quote a good price, make a decent profit," Renly remained unfazed, his serious expression unchanged.

In the end, it was Andy who gave in. He raised his lips slightly, "Alright, let's get serious now…"

Renly didn't speak. Instead, he innocently spread his hands, his sincere expression seeming to say, "I'm serious, I've always been serious."

One expression was enough to stump Andy. It reminded him of how Renly had dealt with reporters before. However, he was now getting a taste of what it felt like to be on the receiving end of that teasing expression, and it wasn't very comfortable.

"Cough, cough." Andy picked up his glass, took a sip of cola. "Let's get back to business." Andy pretended not to notice Renly's playful glance. "You do realize that our previous conversation wasn't business, right?" He continued, "I believe there's a role that's very suitable for you."