Chapter 93: Barcelona
When people mention Spain, they often involuntarily associate it with words like passion, sunshine, olive oil, bullfighters, flamenco, and revelry, as if every day is spent enjoying a leisurely and delightful vacation. Nestled along the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is hailed as the pearl of the Iberian Peninsula, attracting gazes from all around the world.
Besides the sun-soaked beaches and picturesque beauties, this city boasts a globally renowned football club, enchanting Mediterranean seascapes, and the most imaginative works of architecture by Gaudi. The "century-long unfinished building", Sagrada Familia, remains one of the world's most famous architectural wonders.
Unlike the bustling La Rambla, Renly had a special affection for the Gothic Quarter. Originally an ancient Roman fortress village, it earned its name from the many Gothic-style ancient buildings. Strolling through this area, each building seemed to recount its own story, each street etched with the traces of historical vicissitudes. It felt like one could touch the city's pulsating heart with their fingertips.
Everyone could find their own way to experience Barcelona and discover their reason to stay.
Night gradually fell, and the lingering summer heat remained in the air, yet the moment that belonged to people was just beginning. Department stores, clothing shops, and more were closing up, but the crowds on the streets were increasing. Taverns and cafes buzzed with activity, even Plaça de Catalunya was filled to capacity. Laughter and joy echoed through the streets and alleys, as if after a whole day of slumber, the city was finally awakening.
Someone had once quipped that in Spain, the day started at nine in the evening. Renly agreed.
"Daytime belongs to tourists, but the night belongs to the Spaniards, right?" Renly looked at the lively scene on the street before him, lifting his glass of sangria and savoring the alcohol-soaked sweetness.
Within an alley that allowed a car to pass, there were a dozen or so bars. Every one of them was already full of patrons, even the steps outside the door were taken. Some people even stood at the entrance with a beer in hand, chatting freely with their friends, seemingly unconcerned about finding a place to settle down.
Stars dotted the sky and reflected in the radiant glow of the streetlights, a rising and falling tide.
Rodrigo watched Renly, the tapas in his hand unable to find its way to his mouth. After hesitating repeatedly, he ultimately returned it to the plate. "Yes, Spaniards always love the night, mysterious yet passionate, making people can't help but want to take off their masks and reveal their true selves."
"That's why Spanish beauties always have such unique allure," a smile drifted onto Renly's lips, a gentle arc, his cheeks gaining a rosy flush from the alcohol, adding a touch of languor.
Rodrigo opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, but closed it once more after several repetitions. Finally, he couldn't resist anymore. "Renly, are you serious? About lying in the coffin all day?"
"About what?" Renly's eyes twinkled, asking with a smile. "About beauties? Of course, I'm as serious as can be."
Rodrigo couldn't switch gears quickly enough. "I mean, are you serious about lying in a coffin all day?"
Just now, Renly had earnestly inquired with Rodrigo about how to find a funeral home in Barcelona. He explained that before the official filming of "Buried", he needed to conduct an on-site investigation. He intended to negotiate with the funeral home to allow him to lie in a nailed coffin overnight. At first, Rodrigo didn't think much of it, but as Renly continued, he became more and more horrified. He felt like his jaw was about to dislocate. However, as the person in question, Renly was discussing the nights in Spain! Rodrigo felt like he couldn't catch his breath.
"Of course," Renly casually responded, "If we were still in New York right now, I'd be willing to lie in a grave overnight. You know, bury the coffin underground, cover it with a thin layer of soil, just a thin layer. Nobody wants to suffocate, right?" Renly even chuckled lightly, "But now we're in Barcelona, and my Spanish proficiency is just average. I wouldn't want any accidents to happen. So, let's forget about the graveyard."
Rodrigo looked at Renly's regretful expression and unconsciously tugged at his collar. He realized he was wearing a round-neck T-shirt tonight, not constricting his neck at all. But why did he feel like he was starting to lack oxygen?
"Renly, are you sure?" Rodrigo's brain was a jumbled mess. He knew Renly was an outstanding actor, which was why he gave up Ryan Reynolds, but... he hadn't expected Renly to be so audacious, even bordering on madness.
Renly set down his glass of sangria and playfully asked, "Rodrigo, have you ever experienced feeling breathless in a confined space? Like in an elevator, or a bathroom? You know deep down it's a safe place, but something inside you keeps screaming, wanting desperately to escape?"
Rodrigo felt his mouth dry up. Renly's lips, tinged with red from the wine, shimmered with a seductive hue, like a vampire having just finished a meal. The dangerous darkness exuding from him caused Rodrigo to involuntarily swallow a mouthful of saliva. His heart started racing, pounding against his eardrums with a resounding thud. "..." He couldn't answer verbally, only shaking his head to indicate denial.
"Me neither," Renly's lips traced an elegant curve. "You see, when we discuss these matters theoretically, we can understand them. This is known as claustrophobia. Psychologically speaking, every reason seems valid. However, when you're actually trapped in this fear, all theories become ineffective, because the person experiencing it can't control themselves. Paul in "Buried" is the same."
As Renly analyzed, Paul's character had two layers. If he just met Ryan's standards, Renly could start shooting now. He had absolute confidence he could do better than Ryan. But if he wanted to further enhance the performance's depth, he had to immerse himself in that sense of despair, that feeling of Death's hands slowly tightening around his throat, that sensation of being confined no matter how much he struggled.
This nuanced distinction was actually hard to convey in simple language. Even professional film critics and acting teachers might not be able to express it in words. However, during the viewing experience, that delicate sensation that broke free from the confines of the big screen offered the audience a completely different cinematic experience. It could even be said to be a world of difference.
Representing two understandings of acting, the expressionist and method schools held opposing views. The former represented the traditional academic perspective, firmly believing that actors must be capable of handling various roles. They could portray different characters and meanings through acting techniques, skills, and rhythms. The boundary between reality and drama was distinct, and they could enter and exit the role at any time. Acting and personal life were two separate parts. Acting was a continually honed skill, and true mastery should involve being "a thousand faces in one person".
The latter represented the viewpoint of a new era and trend. They believed that to portray a character, one must immerse themselves in it, blurring the boundaries between reality and drama, even going mad with it. They cast off all constraints of technique, allowing the true essence of performance to burst forth from the soul's power. Generally speaking, as long as an actor portrayed a role well, that was considered success. Once they delved into the role, they might not be able to exit it anymore. After one peak performance, there might not be any more brilliant acts, but that didn't matter, because they had bestowed life upon that character, even if it was just one.
Renly was currently attempting to combine these two acting methods, allowing the expressionist style to deviate slightly from the norm, adding more impact. Simultaneously, he imposed certain restraints on the method style, ensuring that the expression of emotions could accurately outline the character.
Such attempts were not unprecedented; even Al Pacino had begun experimenting in the later stages of his acting career. However, the results were far from satisfying because the core ideas of these two acting styles were inherently contradictory. One emphasized control, while the other focused on losing control; one valued lucidity, while the other cherished being lost. Even Al's performance fell short, being overly cautious and constrained, causing him to lose the sharpness and texture he once had, resulting in disappointment.
Apart from Al, many other actors had also experimented, hoping to break free from constraints and become the first to make history. Unfortunately, until Renly's rebirth, this remained a theoretical ideal.
Renly wasn't a prodigy, and the idea of making history was too distant. He wasn't even sure if his acting talent truly existed. He simply wished to explore a style of his own on the path of acting.
During the period of "The Pacific", he mostly relied on the expressionist acting technique for his performances. However, there was one scene in the ninth episode where he heard a baby's cries and held a dying woman. It was the first time he truly felt Eugene's inner struggles, pain, confusion, and melancholy. It was the collapse of his beliefs. Though his heart was shattered, his exterior remained calm.
If given the chance, he would be more than willing to have a conversation with the real Eugene Sledge. He was even more curious about how Eugene managed to emerge from it, how he returned to the normal track of life. Or perhaps Eugene never truly emerged at all.
In that particular scene, the fusion of the expressionist and method styles was remarkably subtle, like a fleeting flash of insight. The only certainty was that Renly did indeed experience a difference in his performance. The balance point between losing control and maintaining control was genuinely present. This further solidified his determination to continue experimenting!
"Buried" was such an opportunity, a chance to truly comprehend Paul's impending emotion of being buried alive; it was the first step.
Rodrigo felt his brain struggling to catch up. "Renly, I understand that you want to deliver a remarkable performance, which is also what I hope for. But... this is a movie with a budget of less than three million dollars, and your salary is only a hundred thousand dollars. Good Lord, it's not worth you putting in so much effort."
Renly laughed heartily. "Mate, so are you implying you want to give me a raise?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Shallowman
Shallowman In the next mini-arc our poor Renly is gonna have a heart attack. RIP Renly Hall - the dude, the British, the bard, and the dude again.
I still wonder how author pulled off more than 2300 chupsters after Renly went "Byebye".... I wonder...
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