Modest set

Under the scorching July sun of Barcelona, the heat was relentless, and the shimmering air was saturated with warmth. Even standing still in one spot caused sweat to emerge. Yet, this did not deter the passionate Spaniards from embracing the frenzy, exuberance, and romance of the summer season. Women in shorts, men bare-chested, and children dancing and laughing in the streets exemplified the unique charm belonging solely to Spain.

Matthew gazed at the chaotic warehouse before him. To his right, a vast quantity of timber lay covered by waterproof canvas. The sawing machine, quietly stationed to the side, had accumulated a thick layer of dust. To his left stretched an expansive empty space, with wheelbarrows, shovels, drills, and other tools scattered around. Piles of yellow sand were scattered in a disorderly fashion, devoid of any semblance of order. It resembled an abandoned warehouse, long forgotten.

Passing through the iron door of the warehouse, the blistering heat instantly vanished, replaced by an eerie, chilling atmosphere that sent shivers down the spine. Goosebumps erupted on arms, as if stepping into a freezer. The rapid cooling effect was startling, instilling a sense of trepidation.

"Did you deliberately choose such a haunted place?" Matthew's words prompted Rodrigo to burst into laughter. But Renly interjected, "He's not joking." Rodrigo's smile froze, stumbling a couple of steps involuntarily.

Renly and Matthew, the instigators, displayed no extra reactions. They leisurely surveyed the warehouse. This left Rodrigo puzzled, uncertain if this was serious or a jest. After a moment's contemplation, he earnestly explained, "Our budget is limited, and renting a temporary studio would prove difficult. This warehouse has been unused for three years. The cost of shooting here is only a quarter of that in a studio. Moreover, the space we need is sufficient."

While speaking, Rodrigo's footsteps halted. He extended his arms, gesturing to showcase the surroundings. "You see, this is our primary shooting location."

Before them lay a small pile of coarse yellow sand. A rectangular wooden box lay open on the sand, larger than anticipated. A deep brown cloth bag sprawled within the box. Nearby, several boxes of varying sizes were arranged, one particularly conspicuous. While the length remained constant, its height towered as tall as half a person, making it difficult to discern its dimensions.

That was all.

These items within their line of sight constituted the entirety, appearing simpler than even a high school science experiment.

Matthew remained motionless, as did Renly. Rodrigo's nervousness grew. "Hey, guys," he hesitated, showcasing the equipment before them once more. "You see, boxes of different sizes are meant for different types of shots. We have close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots. Furthermore, angles need constant adjustments, hence the many boxes..."

As Rodrigo explained, his confidence waned, and his voice grew quieter.

Observing Rodrigo's awkward expression, Renly broke into a broad smile. "We were just joking," he said. Rodrigo appeared bewildered, at a loss. "Using such simple props, yet producing a spectacular masterpiece—that's the magic of filmmaking, isn't it?"

At this moment, Rodrigo finally regained his composure. He patted his chest, exhaling a long breath, evidently still shaken. Renly and Matthew couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Buried" was indeed a film that tested one's skills greatly. It wasn't just about a locked room; it was an incredibly narrow, almost impossible to turn in, confined space. Moreover, it featured only one setting and one actor throughout. The director's skill in framing shots, editing, and coordination, the actor's performance depth, interpretation ability, and emotional impact, the writer's storytelling, psychological insight, and suspense setup—every aspect, including cinematography and music, had to endure rigorous scrutiny. Producing a decent work was already quite challenging, let alone achieving excellence, let alone creating a masterpiece.

Thus, the rudimentary filming setting was within Renly's expectations, as the final film would feature only one location.

However, Renly was a bit surprised that Rodrigo had prepared boxes of different sizes. As viewers, they always wondered how a film was made or how a specific scene was captured, finding it almost unbelievable. Now, the mystique of the film industry began to slowly unfold before Renly's eyes.

Renly now appreciated more deeply having personally experienced the fear of being trapped in a confined space. The entire filming process would occur within an open environment, presenting a more profound challenge to acting. With preparations made in advance, Renly was now eager, almost bursting to enter the practical phase.

"Where are the other crew members?" Renly rubbed his palms together, beginning to move his body. He was ready for filming.

Rodrigo glanced at his watch; the appointed time was almost here. While Spaniards were habitually late, today was the first day of shooting for "Buried". Even if not punctual, they shouldn't be excessively tardy... Just then, bustling noises echoed from the entrance:

"I told you not to turn right, didn't I? The navigation kept telling me to turn right. What did you say? You think I enjoy taking the scenic route? I merely said I know this area well; I won't get lost. Alright, alright, we're not even late."

Rodrigo sighed in relief, quickly walking over. Before he could speak, someone at the entrance shouted, "Rodrigo, come help with the stands! Alex brought the big lights as well. I told him not to, but what if we need them? It's only an extra fifty euros for a joint rental; if we rent separately, it's two hundred euros a day. Are you paying, or am I paying?"

The distinctive rapid, passionate, and rhythmic cadence of the Spanish language resonated throughout the warehouse. The ghostly quiet warehouse suddenly transformed into a lively hubbub.

"It seems you're ready to start," Matthew said to Renly, watching the lively group.

Renly pursed his lips and answered with a composed expression, "What time is your flight?"

Matthew spent three days in Barcelona and now it was time for him to return to work. He was currently in his internship period, aiming to become a qualified lawyer—a path he had to traverse.

"Uh, 11:35," Matthew glanced at the wristwatch on his left wrist, "I must leave now; the Barcelona airport is always such a hassle." Even the VIP lane was no exception; Spanish laxity was ubiquitous.

"London's rainy days are waiting for you. Don't envy me too much," Renly's jest elicited a chuckle from Matthew. During holidays, Spain was also among the preferred vacation spots for the British.

"I thought you'd miss London's rainy season," Matthew retorted, causing Renly to roll his eyes. After a moment's hesitation, Renly inquired, "Are you sure you won't come to London after wrapping up here?"

Renly shrugged, "You can take some photos of this set, then show them to Elizabeth. I think she'd be pleased with my decision not to return." Matthew couldn't help but smile, though he couldn't refute. "After the work here ends, I might wander around the Nordic countries. I want to try rock climbing."

Rock climbing without equipment, the world's most dangerous extreme sport topping the ranks. First the experience of confinement in a locked room, now rock climbing without equipment—Renly remained unchanged as ever, truly Renly.

Matthew nodded slightly, a slightly disdainful expression on his face, "You know I'm making a gesture now." Renly knew, of course. In his mind, Matthew was raising his middle finger.

Seeing the faint smile on Renly's lips, Matthew thought for a moment, refrained from saying much, turned to leave. However, his steps paused, and he turned back, patting Renly's shoulder. "Beware of Spanish ham; it's an irresistible temptation." With that said, both burst into laughter, and then Matthew resumed his stride.

Rodrigo walked over, watching Matthew's departing figure, then cast a perplexed gaze at Renly. Renly merely smiled, offering no explanation. "Aren't you going to introduce me to the crew?" he asked.

"Wow! Is this the actor you found? Why does he look so young? He's not underage, is he? This is bad. I didn't bring diapers. Rodrigo, do we need to go to the supermarket now? I'm willing to run errands if you're reimbursing. A skinny, tall boy with curly hair stared, his words inarticulate yet swift, like a machine gun firing off in rapid Spanish, uttering long sentences without a pause.

Everyone burst into laughter, yet Renly remained unaffected, still wearing a smile. "I suggest you better buy adult diapers. You drank too much last night, ended up sleeping in your own urine. The smell is quite prominent now. I'm not entirely sure what your girlfriend thinks, but I can tell you that I mind. If I pay, can you go to the supermarket and buy some body spray?"

A hushed silence fell, smiles frozen on everyone's lips, stiffening into masks. Even Rodrigo was taken aback, his eyeballs nearly popping out.

Spanish, pure and fluent Spanish. Clearly, Renly's Spanish was far from "elementary".

Originating from Latin, Spanish and Portuguese were vital components of aristocratic education. Latin texts remained a vast treasure trove of literature, philosophy, science, and more. Apart from English, they first learned Latin; some courses at Cambridge University still required writing essays in Latin. The currently popular languages like French and German trailed behind Latin.

Renly's smile hardly changed, "Good morning, I'm Renly Hall, portraying Paul Conroy." His genteel, polite voice resonated through the warehouse, even echoing. Everyone before him remained stiff, unable to react. At some point, the warehouse's temperature seemed to have dropped again.