Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 220 Humanity and Sophistication
The day before the awards ceremony, Depp came specially and invited everyone to have a meal together.

He also specifically explained to Cao Yang that he should have come over when Cao Yang first arrived in Los Angeles, but he was too busy recently, attending cocktail parties or participating in shows in many places in the United States, and had no time at all.

Cao Yang expressed his understanding, he knew what Depp said were not excuses, but he was really busy.

Since the hit movie District 9, Depp has been at a critical juncture.

His current external salary offer has been raised to 20 million US dollars, but he still needs to take the final step to truly enter Hollywood's 20 million entertainment department and gain widespread recognition from film companies.

This move can mean that the next movie he stars in achieves good results, even if it is just a small hit, to prove his box office appeal.

Of course, a better way would be to win the Oscar for Best Actor for the second consecutive year, which is also the most impressive way to enter the 20 million club.

Therefore, Depp and his agency have been operating, socializing, and participating in various programs to increase their exposure during this period.

In fact, both the management company and Depp understand that it is very difficult to win the Best Actor Award at the Oscars for two consecutive years, and the Academy certainly does not want anyone to win the Best Actor Award for two consecutive years.

But even if there is a slight chance, they will try their best to seize it.

Depp's agency is United Artists Agency, or UTA, which is quite powerful.

Besides, there have been actors in Oscar history who won the Best Actor award for two consecutive years, and there were more than one.

Far away there is Spencer Tracy, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for two consecutive years in 1937 and 1938.

Spencer Tracy won the 10th Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film "The Wrath of Time", and then won the 1938th Academy Award for Best Actor in 11 for "Orphanage".

The most recent is Tom Hanks, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for two consecutive years in 1993 and 1994.

Tom Hanks' outstanding performance in the movie "Philadelphia" won him the 66th Academy Award for Best Actor. He then won the 1994th Academy Award for Best Actor in 67 for "Forrest Gump".

It is precisely because of these two examples that UTA and Depp work so hard.

If it succeeds, it will be a major event that will go down in Oscar history, and Depp will become the third person to win the Oscar for Best Actor.

UTA’s reputation will also be greatly improved.

美国时间2月27日下午5:00，第77届奥斯卡颁奖典礼在洛杉矶柯达剧院隆重揭幕。

This year's Oscars once again extended the 500-meter red carpet, which extended from the guest arrival area to the theater entrance, and from the entrance of the Kodak Theater to the theater auditorium.

What is different from last year is that this year's Oscars invited four red carpet hosts. While the guests were waiting to enter, the red carpet hosts randomly interviewed some guests.

Well, it may seem random, but that's just for the viewers in front of the TV.

If we really interview some minor celebrities or their families at random, I guess the audience in front of the TV wouldn't want to watch it.

Take a look at the people the four hosts “randomly” interviewed.

Hilary Swank, who was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar, had won the award five years ago.

Annette Bening, who just won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in "Being Julia".

She was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress again for this movie. This is her second time being nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. This time she received a lot of support and is the biggest favorite for this award.

We also interviewed Jamie Foxx, who was nominated for Best Actor for his role in "King of Souls". Interestingly, he was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Collateral", and was the talk of the town at the time.

Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor for his role in "The Aviator" directed by Martin Scorsese. As one of the focuses, he will definitely be included in the interview. This is his first time to be nominated for Best Actor, and it also started his long road to winning awards.

Of course, even in a “random” interview, Depp is definitely included.

As last year's Oscar winner, he was once again nominated for Best Actor this year, and the support for the nomination is very high. Depp's popularity is no less than that of Leo.

The host will definitely interview him.

The person who interviewed Depp was Shaun Robinson, one of the four red carpet hosts and a black actress. The Oscars have a tradition of having actors serve as hosts as well.

"He's been called the sexiest boy on the planet, he won the Oscar for Best Actor last year for Mean Milk, and tonight he's back again, he's Johnny Depp."

After Shaun Robinson said this to the camera, the camera turned and focused on Depp.

"Welcome to Oscar, Johnny, how are you?"

"Thank you. I'm fine."

Depp said, then looked at the camera and said:
"I am here with awe and a heart full of gratitude. I want to thank the academy for giving me this opportunity and director Cao Yang for giving me the chance to star in District 9."

Sean Robinson paused for a moment. Isn't it too early to thank the director now? According to common logic, you should wait until I ask relevant questions before you can thank the director.

You are putting me in a passive position, okay? How can I say the interview lines I have memorized? How can I proceed with the process?

“District 9 is a wonderful movie. Your performance and the contrast in it are very impressive, and it also makes people begin to sympathize with the alien refugees. District 9 is really a rare good movie.

"Mean Milk" was a huge success last year and won you the Oscar for Best Actor, which seems to be an obstacle.

However, under the guidance of Director Cao Yang, you seem to have broken through this barrier and have given a wonderful performance. You have successfully collaborated with him twice. What kind of person do you think he is? "

"He knows movies inside out and has his own unique insights into actors' performances. Looking back, we can see that Director Cao Yang's unique insights are all correct, which is also the greatness of Director Cao Yang.

As we all know, Director Cao Yang is very good at training actors, and I am one of the biggest beneficiaries. I am very grateful to Director Cao Yang, and he will surely leave the most splendid chapter in the history of film..."

Looking at Depp who talked endlessly about this, the host felt helpless. These interviews are time-limited. I still have a few questions to ask, and you've used up all the time.

While Depp was taking a breath, the host interrupted and asked the last question.

"OK, Depp, thank you. One last question. If, I mean if, you can only choose one between Best Director and Best Actor, which one would you choose?"

The host finished speaking in one breath, and couldn't help but look at Depp with some trepidation.

This is a controversial topic. Of course, only controversial topics can be more popular and have higher ratings.

Depp is a well-known weirdo in Hollywood with a weird temper. Everything he does is not surprising. The host was really afraid of being beaten.

In fact, for a normal person, this question is very simple to answer.

You can just spread your hands, shrug your shoulders, and say, "Why can't we take both?"

That's it, and the interview will end here. If you are more modest, or intimidated by the director's authority, you can directly answer, "XX deserves the Best Director award, I choose Best Director."

Don’t say that foreigners are very direct and don’t know how to be humble. That is really a misunderstanding of them.

When facing authoritative figures, such as big directors like Cameron, Spielberg and Cao Yang who are good at praising people, there is almost no actor who does not know how to be humble.

However, what makes Depp a weirdo is that his thoughts are unpredictable.

Depp faced the camera and thought for nearly thirty seconds. It was obvious that he was really thinking about this matter seriously, so much so that the director, who thought he might have messed up, also thought about it seriously for more than ten seconds.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and risked a broadcast "accident" and resisted the urge to switch the camera. He kept the camera focused on Depp who was thinking and did not switch the camera elsewhere.

“If the director was someone else, including my mentor, director Tim Burton, I would choose Best Actor.

Whether it was "Despicable Milk" or "District 9", I was really comfortable with the role, and it was smooth and happy from the bottom of my heart. In front of the camera, I felt like I was the leading actor, and I was inseparable from the leading actor...

Since I entered the industry, these two films were the easiest for me and where I performed the best. I even think that this is the pinnacle of my acting skills in this life.

I think that such a performance deserves an Oscar for Best Actor.

However, I know very well where my relaxed performance and the state of unity between myself and the role come from, so if you ask me to choose between Best Director and Best Actor.

After careful consideration, of course, I have to explain first that this caution is not directed at Director Cao Yang, but at other directors I have worked with, such as Mr. Tim Burton.

If it was Director Cao Yang, I would blurt out "Best Director".

If it was any other director, sorry Tim, I'd choose Best Actor."

The host Sean Robinson was stunned. He finally saw what a weirdo was.

But how should I respond? Should I follow the prepared lines and say, "Okay, thank you Depp, I wish you all the best?"

This is a weird answer, okay? What did you get? Did the Best Actor award become the Best Director?

Finally, Shaun Robinson could only reluctantly say, "Okay, thank you Depp."

I don't say blessings as usual.

At this moment, no one who was watching the Oscars live broadcast thought that this was a live "accident". Instead, they felt that Depp was a truly kind person and not at all pretentious.

Everyone can see that this was definitely not a pre-rehearsal or an interpretation of a script, but the most real side.

In addition, almost everyone who saw Depp being interviewed became interested in Cao Yang.

What kind of director could make Oscar-winning actor Depp, a famous weirdo, promote his film so hard and admire him from the bottom of his heart?

Cao Yang didn't know all this. There were so many people at the scene and he didn't walk the red carpet with Depp. Only the audience watching the live broadcast could see this kind of interview first.

Cao Yang walked the red carpet with Dong Xuan and this time he met the CCTV photography crew and also gave a short interview, which will be broadcast on CCTV's movie channel.

On the red carpet from the theater entrance to the theater auditorium, Cao Yang happened to meet an acquaintance again.

International star Zhang Ziyi was standing on this section of the red carpet, constantly greeting the famous producers, directors and actors passing by, and chatting with them from time to time.

Staying here shows great skill, as those who walk the red carpet will pass by here.

It's not just Zhang Ziyi who's here. There are many actors who share the same idea as her. They are not in a hurry to enter the theater auditorium, but just want to make themselves known here or try their luck.

This is also part of "communication".

Ever since Cao Yang stepped into here, people kept greeting him.

"Director Cao, long time no see. I thought you would pass by after walking the red carpet, so I waited here specifically to say hello to you."

Zhang Ziyi first glanced at Dong Xuan who was holding Cao Yang's arm. Her original intention of hugging him could not be carried out, so she could only reach out and shake hands with Cao Yang.

Dong Xuan glanced at Zhang Ziyi with some caution. This woman was not a good person. How could she shake hands with someone and then deliberately scratch the back of the person's hand with her little finger?

You shameless woman, don’t think I didn’t see it.

"House of Flying Daggers" was nominated for Best Cinematography, which has nothing to do with Zhang Ziyi. Cao Yang was a little surprised that Zhang Ziyi would appear here.

The Oscars are different from other film festivals. You need an invitation card to enter. You can't just "get in casually."

Is he here as a guest?
"Long time no see, I didn't expect to see you here."

International star Zhang stretched out her hand to comb her hair and smiled, looking a little bit proud.

"I didn't want to come at first because I was still filming a movie, but then I received a call from the organizing committee, asking me to be the guest presenter for the Best Visual Effects Award. I had no choice but to put down what I was doing and rush over."

Before Cao Yang could say anything, Dong Xuan took over the conversation.

"Oh, then you've worked really hard, Ziyi. There's nothing we can do. We, as small actors, can only passively accept invitations, for fear of offending these film festivals.

Unlike Director Cao Yang, the Oscar organizing committee called him seven or eight times, wanting him to give a speech, but he declined without hesitation.

The organizing committee then had to settle for the next best option and wanted him to be an award presenter to present the Best Actress award, but he turned it down again.

He is like this. The three major film festivals, Berlin, Venice and Cannes, have wanted to invite him to be the jury chairman more than once, but he ruthlessly turned them down.

Alas, we actors have no choice. It would be great if we could be as confident as Director Cao someday."

The little arrogance on Zhang Ziyi's face was gone, and her smile became a little stiff. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

Cao Yang didn't let Zhang Ziyi feel awkward for too long, and said, "Let's go, the award ceremony is about to begin, let's go in."

Dong Xuan showed a bright smile to the stiff-faced Zhang, and deliberately tightened his arm around Cao Yang's arm, and said gently:

"Come in, Ziyi. The people who stay here all look so humble. They smile at everyone they see. I really don't understand what they are thinking. They are so desperate to become famous."

Zhang Ziyi's smile became even stiffer, and her steps also became stiffer.

(End of this chapter)