Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 132: Foot in the Door

"Wait, what did I just miss? Why didn't Al Pacino win Best Actor? Who on earth won?"

"Renly Hall, who is this? I didn't see him in 'The Pacific'."

"I thought it was going to be Jeff Bridges. What's going on?"

"Is there some insider dealing? How did this newcomer suddenly win? He's so annoying, even mocked Pacino in his acceptance speech. Disgusting."

"Well deserved! Absolutely well deserved! His performance in 'The Pacific' was outstanding. I watched the whole series a second time just for him! He blew all the other actors away!"

"Ahhh! Renly Hall! Ahhh! He finally won, I knew it! I knew it!"

"You idiot upstairs, he played the rich young master in 'The Pacific.' His performance was really impressive. Though beating Al Pacino was unexpected, he deserved it."

"You moron, did you even watch 'The Pacific'? He was the rich young master. Don't talk if you haven't watched it."

"Wow, 'The Pacific' actually won Best Actor. I haven't watched it yet, should I catch up now? Is it out on DVD?"

"I didn't watch it either, wasn't interested before, but now it seems good. Is this newcomer the main actor?"

"Renly Hall's performance was indeed brilliant. When the show was live, I even commented with everyone how his acting deserved an Emmy. Didn't expect he'd actually win. Thumbs up!"

"Does anyone know who Renly Hall is? He's so charming, I might explode. I searched Facebook, but he's not on there. Anyone know how to find his page?"

"Partner upstairs, me too! He's so handsome! What do I do! I want to scream!"

"We are discussing acting skills, stop fangirling, okay? I think Hall deserved the win."

...

"Hey, Al Pacino was nominated? I didn't even know!"

Amidst the heated discussion, such out-of-the-loop comments were quickly swarmed with attacks, with many shouting, "Are you an alien?" The poor person vanished soon after, as the conversation veered back on track...

Yahoo Community was ablaze with discussions, with netizens voicing their opinions. Some were furious, finding it unimaginable for a newcomer to beat Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges; others praised him, not fans of Renly but genuinely impressed by his performance in "The Pacific"; some were clueless, not knowing whether to agree or disagree, instead chatting about other topics.

Soon, someone posted on Yahoo Community, "62nd Emmy Awards, Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, Renly Hall, Info Post."

The post detailed Renly's performance in "The Pacific," included some media reviews, and referenced the lively discussions on Yahoo Community – those old threads, though no longer active, still held the record for the highest engagement in 2010.

The post also included YouTube video links and information about Renly's off-Broadway rehearsal projects.

It concluded, "He's a pure newcomer, British, twenty years old. Other than that, no more info. He seems to be a typical British-trained actor, dedicated to his craft, not keen on social media or self-promotion. Tonight, the Emmy Award is undoubtedly the best recognition for him. I sincerely hope more people will appreciate such dedicated actors.

P.S. His single is really good, I've been listening to it on repeat."

The poster was none other than "BrandoMania," who was very active in Yahoo Community back in the day, now following the Emmy Awards live.

After the post, the click rate soared, reaching over 30,000 in less than thirty minutes, with replies surpassing 2,000, indicating a spike in interest during the live broadcast.

For the netizens, it was all a spectacle. Whether "The Pacific" won an acting award, or Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges lost, it was an unimaginable highlight. Even those not into TV dramas or Emmy Awards discussions joined in.

Before the Emmy Awards ceremony ended, "BrandoMania" updated his post, "Additional note: According to the reply on 314th comment from 'LordSledge,' Renly Hall's latest work is a Spanish indie film called 'Buried.' The director and cast info is already on IMDB. Looking forward to it!"

According to incomplete statistics, within 24 hours after the Emmy Awards, "Buried" on IMDB received 63,000 views, making it into the top 50 on the 24-hour popularity chart. This was incredible for a previously unknown film, especially one without even a poster.

After the Emmys, Yahoo Community released discussion heat rankings. "Glee" unsurprisingly took the top spot, but surprisingly, "The Pacific" came second, sparking widespread discussion. Third place went to Jim Parsons, who won Best Actor in a Comedy Series – even surpassing the popularity of "The Big Bang Theory."

This small detail shows the unimaginable ripple effect of an award, and this was just the first 48 hours, with more to come.

However, the Emmys are the Emmys. The attention and appeal of the Miniseries and Movie category are far less than that of Drama or Comedy. Even with "The Pacific" boosting Renly's media presence, Hollywood never lacks geniuses, right?

For Renly, this was a career breakthrough. The Emmy not only affirmed his performance but also spread his name, making industry insiders aware of him for the first time.

But for Hollywood, this was just the beginning. An Emmy award opens the door to Hollywood, but the road ahead remains long, filled with obstacles and uncertainties.

Hollywood lacks many things but never lacks talent.

Entering Hollywood's glamorous world, achieving sudden fame is not difficult for geniuses. They easily capture the public's attention. But most geniuses fade away, their edges smoothed, their brilliance dulled, quickly forgotten. Orson Welles is a classic example.

What about Renly?

Will he continue to climb, producing masterpiece after masterpiece, becoming a legend like Al Pacino? Or will he falter, losing his spark and becoming a fleeting star like Rosanna Arquette? How much potential will he realize, and what heights will he reach? This is what truly concerns people.

An Emmy for Best Actor is just one star among many. After the initial excitement, everything returns to normal.

Media outlets, including the New York Times and Vanity Fair, praised Renly, pushing him to the peak. But once the dust settled, they resumed waiting for his next work.

If his next project fails, they will harshly criticize him, as if today's praise never happened. Worse, if he takes years to produce a new work, or if the new work is ignored, Renly will quickly fade into Hollywood's oblivion, lost in the fleeting light of fame.

Now, thanks to the powerful Yahoo Community, "Buried" is emerging. Surprisingly, despite support from top producers, Renly didn't land a better role; but it makes sense as he was just an ordinary newcomer before winning the Emmy.

Hollywood doesn't care much. Hundreds of indie films appear yearly, and a Spanish-funded indie film? Even further from the industry center. To gain attention, it would need to shine at Sundance first. Before that, no one would care about such an indie film, even an Emmy-winning actor's project.

More accurately, no one thinks this film can make a mark. Some even lament that Renly made a career-suicidal decision. Of course, it's too early to say, and more people are focused on Renly's next Hollywood production.

This is Hollywood's real rule. The glamorous media attention? The heated online discussions? The hot spotlights? These are just the first steps to entering Hollywood.

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