Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 412 A blessing in disguise
This year's Oscars saw a significant reduction in musical numbers, but the opening act certainly got the audience in the spirits.

As the Star Wars theme song ended, the Gladiator soundtrack, conducted by Hans Zimmer, brought the atmosphere to a climax.

Host Jon Stewart joked as he came on stage, "Thank goodness the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild didn't strike, otherwise I would be out of a job today."

A round of applause and laughter erupted from the audience. Their eyes swept across the neighboring tables, each person secretly observing the other's expression.

The Los Angeles Times famously said: "Where you sit is the coordinate of your status."

Today, the prime area in the first three rows is reserved for the current year's acting awards and renowned directors. The cast and crew of "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood," and "The Sky of History" almost completely occupied this area.

Whether it's the Coen brothers or Lu Kuan, Daniel Lewis or Tom Hanks, they are all world-class directors and superstars.

The Central Region usually arranges nominees for technical awards, such as John Brown, the editor of "The Bourne Ultimatum", and the composer of "La Vie en Rose".

The rest of the industry capital, social celebrities and non-entertainment people are usually arranged on the second floor.

Like the VIP stands on the second floor of a large football stadium, they exude a majestic aura that overlooks all living beings.

After several technical awards were presented, the first truly significant Oscar for Best Supporting Actor arrived.

"This award is given to those performances that are brief but brilliant on the screen, and perhaps they can make us remember them for a lifetime with just a few minutes of screen time."

Jennifer Garner: "Let's take a look at five outstanding performers this year—"

The large screen behind her began playing nomination clips and video footage, and the director's camera swept across the faces of the audience as Jennifer was introduced.

"The volatile CIA agent in Seymour Hoffman's *Charlie Wilson's War*, every roar is meticulously calculated." Hoffman stroked his beard and grinned.

"Kathy Affleck's portrayal of the cowardly assassin Robert Ford in 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' is a psychological epic delivered with trembling hands." Affleck smiled shyly.

"Hal Holbrook's portrayal of the wise old man in 'Into the Wild' encapsulates the essence of life in just three scenes." The 82-year-old Holbrook nodded slightly to the camera.

"Javier Bardem's Anton, the murderer with a mushroom haircut in 'No Country for Old Men,' redefined screen horror with his gas canister gun."

A cheer erupted from the audience, clearly indicating their high regard for the Best Supporting Actor.

"And Mr. Hanks, who played Rabe in 'The Sky of History,' with your restrained yet profound performance, made that German businessman who raised the torch of humanitarianism amidst the atrocities of war the warmest footnote in the dark ages."

"The winner is—'The Sky of History,' by Tom Hanks. Congratulations!"

When Hanks heard his name called, his pupils dilated slightly, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around the armrests of his seat.

He took a deep breath, stood up amidst thunderous applause, and embraced Lu Kuan, Liu Yifei, Moore, and others.

"Thank you, Lu!"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "You deserve this honor. Thank you for your wonderful performance!"

As Hanks walked onto the stage, he passed Javier Bardem and the two greeted each other. The latter made no attempt to hide his dejection, but still patted Hanks hard on the back with Spanish enthusiasm.

The actor, who won the Best Actor award in 93 and 94 for "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump" respectively, was visibly excited as he received his first Best Supporting Actor award.

"The last time the Academy nominated me for Best Supporting Actor was for 'Catch Me If You Can' in 2003, and Leo is sitting right below me."

"Five years is a long time, but I think the wait was worthwhile. I want to thank Lu for choosing me to play the role of Rabe. As an anti-war activist with German heritage, I feel deeply honored."

Hanks rubbed the base of the trophy with his palm: "The last time I felt the contrast between the beauty and ugliness of humanity was in 'The Green Mile' in 2000, but 'Sky of History' showed me a grander theme: when atrocities become institutionalized, kindness has to be paid for with lives."

"May the world be at peace. Thank you, Academy."

The audience erupted in applause for the veteran actor who hadn't won an Oscar in many years.

His portrayal of Rabe in the play, with restrained body language and subtle changes in his eyes, perfectly interprets the resilience and vulnerability of humanitarians under the shadow of war.

In particular, the scene where he trembles as he records the atrocities while facing a massacre, he vividly portrays the conscience and helplessness of a foreigner with just the moment his glasses slip off and the white knuckles of his fingers gripping the pen.

This is precisely the "less is more" acting philosophy that Oscar judges love.

Xiao Liu glanced at her boyfriend's calm expression and knew that his true thoughts were far more complex than they appeared, but he wouldn't easily reveal them.

"The Sky of History" is far from having an overwhelming advantage, both in terms of awards at the outpost and in terms of its obvious subject matter constraints.

Hanks deserved the Best Supporting Actor award, but his prospects for other major awards seem even more uncertain.

The guests then came up to continue presenting awards. Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress, and Glenn's "Falling Slowly" won Best Original Song. A performance was then shown.

Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson took the stage. This legendary Hollywood actor's classic works include "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Shining". Like Hanks, who is present today, he has won the Best Actor award twice and the Best Supporting Actor award once.

As he recounted the various film references, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, and others in the audience eagerly awaited his performance. However, for Lu Kuan, the Best Actor award was already a done deal.

In the end, some were happy while others were sad. Lewis easily won the award for "There Will Be Blood," and the Academy quietly avenged its darling's "non-performance factor" rejection in Berlin.

Then Jodie Foster, the lead actress of "Taxi Driver" and "The Silence of the Lambs," took the stage, and everyone in the "Sky of History" crew perked up.

Today's second nomination is for Best Actress.

Liu Yifei lowered her head slightly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the pleats on the side of her dress.

The dazzling lights of the Kodak Theatre cast dappled shadows on her lowered eyelashes, perfectly concealing her complex emotions.

She was well aware of the reality of public relations.

"Sky" has already won Best Supporting Actor. If I "luckily" win another one, I might lose both Best Director and Best Picture, and even lose both at the same time.

She saw and understood the troubled look Harvey had given her.

The director's camera panned across her taut jawline, and the audience only saw the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress's elegant and poised smile, but couldn't see that her tongue was subtly pressed against her palate.

These are some tips for controlling facial expressions during performance training.

Jodie Foster laughed heartily on stage as clips of the five nominees' performances were displayed on the large screen, and she narrated them in a captivating manner:
"In 'La Vie en Rose,' Marion Cotillard not only imitated the legendary singer's husky voice and madness, but also made the audience believe that she was the rebirth of Edith Piaf."

"And our Berlin Film Festival Best Actress Liu becomes a living document in 'The Sky of History,' with every texture rewriting the trauma of history. When the closing bell of the Hoover Institution rings, her shadow is still stuck on the data page of 1937, like a fresh human watermark on a table of atrocities, which is chilling."

"And look at Cate Blanchett's cross-dressing portrayal of Bob Dylan in the movie 'I'm Not There,' where she brings out that arrogance even more captivating than the real Bob."

. . .

Judy opened the envelope, paused for a second, and then smiled and announced: "The winner is—La Vie en Rose, by Marion Cotillard!"

A burst of exclamations and laughter erupted from the small group of the "La Vie en Rose" crew. Murdoch and Wendy Deng, on the second floor, embraced and kissed, raising their fists to celebrate this exciting moment.

Even though Fox only holds a small stake as the issuer.

Boss Lu didn't look up at the enemy's celebratory celebrations, so he naturally didn't catch the secret glances from Wendy Deng, Wang Sicong, and others.

He grasped Liu Yifei's hand in return, instantly shutting out the noise from the outside world.

"Disappointed?"

Xiao Liu enjoyed her boyfriend's rare tenderness, her gaze calm and serene: "Of course not, on the contrary, I'm even more looking forward to it."

“I remember in 2003 when we went to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I pointed to the Kodak Theatre and asked you, ‘Aren’t you looking forward to receiving the Oscar?’”

“You told me that recognition shouldn’t be an obsession, and that the Oscars are more of a box office booster for you. I hope we can win awards that are more beneficial to the film’s dissemination and profitability.”

Liu Yifei's fingers curled slightly in his palm, like a fledgling bird folding its wings as it returned to its nest.

The deafening applause and cheers at the Kodak Theatre suddenly seemed to fade into the distance, and the blinding flashes of the spotlight melted into fuzzy halos in the afterglow.

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Your acting skills may not be top-notch yet, but this role is absolutely worthy of this little golden statuette. We just lost the public relations game."

"Chinese people and Chinese films have already lost a game of the Oscars from the start, but things will change."

If we don't change it, we'll break its authority and bring about the day when no one pays attention to the Oscars anymore.

Marion Cotillard shed tears on stage, while Lu Kuan and his companion in the audience applauded but didn't look at her again.
Boss Lu chuckled and said, "I've thought of a problem."

"Does the Oscars deserve to give awards to people like Stanislavski, Stella, and Grotowski?"

"Mercin is Grotowski's disciple, so you are now his grand-disciple. One of the world's three major performance styles is Mei Lanfang from China. You can also become the inheritor of the performance style that Stanislavski originated from and carry it forward."

"Don't even mention the Oscars. There won't be any awards to judge you. Just like Lewis here today, when he won his third Best Actor award, his first words on stage were to thank Strasberg."

Strasberg is the father of the American method acting school; he was the one who innovated and improved upon Stanislavski's acting theory in its first phase.

Similarly, Melsin envisioned an academic system that would use Grotowski to realize Stanislavski's third stage.

Liu Yifei knew he was comforting her. The young girl turned to look at him and found that Lu Kuan was also looking at her.

"Wouldn't I have to study until I'm as old as Mrs. Melsine?"

"Yes, you'll be Liu lai lai then."

"Get lost~~~"

The smile in the man's eyes was like scattered gold floating at the bottom of a deep pool, turning the unspoken "it's okay" and "there will be another chance" into something gentler.

This realization brought a slight soreness to her nose, which was then dispelled by the warmth that welled up in her heart.

When the director's camera panned across the screen, viewers only saw the young Berlin Film Festival Best Actress's elegant, upright back and graceful smile.

No one noticed that her left hand, hidden under the chair, was intertwined with her lover's, like two children who had stolen candy, guarding a quiet and tacit understanding amidst the noise of the room.

Murdoch, who was on the second floor, saw Liu's calm expression on the big screen and turned to Wendy Deng with a smile, saying, "It seems that your female compatriot was already prepared for this."

“It must have been Georgia and the others who notified Harvey.” Wendy felt a pang of regret for not having accomplished her goal, because she hadn’t seen disappointment on the face of the girl she had once bowed to apologize to.

"In any case, they were stopped."

"La Vie en Rose" is a biographical musical film that tells the dramatic life story of the legendary French singer Edith Piaf.

Just like Leonardo DiCaprio later won an Oscar for playing an ugly character, or like many other movie stars who want to win over the judges with extreme roles—

Her life was brilliant, intertwined with alcoholism, illness, love, and art. In terms of the character itself, she was more likely to resonate with the judges than Iris Chang, who simply embodied a pure and patriotic personality.

Actress Marion Cotillard's performance in the film required her to sing, dance, and act in a three-in-one manner, and even without public relations support, she still made a high impression on the judges.

Similar to Natalie Wood in 1961's "West Side Story" and Audrey Hepburn in 1964's "My Fair Lady," they all won awards for their musicals.

The older white man casually asked, "What about Best Picture and Best Director?"

He didn't harbor as much resentment as his Chinese-American wife, because doing business is always a fight and killing game.

The last time, both sides stopped fighting in time, preventing the conflict from escalating. He actually admired this young Chinese man who knew how to act and retreat appropriately.

Wendy Deng couldn't help but reveal a fierce look: "I'll make sure they don't get a single bite! Doesn't he pride himself on being the rule-maker in mainland China? Hollywood has its own rules too!"

Murdoch smiled and shook his head, no longer saying anything. Fox was just one of his businesses; the old white man's main focus was still on building his media empire.

However, he greatly admired his wife's social activities with Huayi Brothers and Ali on the mainland, which even fulfilled a long-held wish he had never had through Phoenix TV.

Enter the world's most populous market, a blue ocean of opportunity.

Mr. Lu felt a little regretful for missing out on the Oscar for Best Actress, while Ms. Liu remained calm and excited for "La Vie en Rose".

Even Zhang Ziyi, who appeared as a guest today, was secretly delighted. She wasn't afraid of Liu Yifei winning the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress award, but she was afraid of Liu Yifei winning the Oscar Best Actress award, in which case she would be completely outclassed.

At least for now, her salary in co-productions is still slightly higher than Liu Yifei's.

Strangely enough, the player in the worst mood on the field was Wendy Deng, who felt a lack of accomplishment because he didn't see any negative emotions from his opponents.

For example, when she was sexually frustrated, she was covered in saliva when she faced an older white man at night, but the actual scene only lasted a few minutes, leaving her feeling unsatisfied.

Wang Sicong sat a little further away from the others and took out his phone to answer his father's call.

"dad."

“You really went to America. Don’t cause trouble, and don’t speak recklessly.” Wang Jianlin knew his eldest son very well.

Young Master Wang stroked his leg hair: "I met the richest man you mentioned. He is indeed quite cultured, unlike those nouveau riche who are all bark and no bite."

"What right do you have to judge others?" Xiao Mutou dotes on his son but also hopes he will succeed: "Go out and broaden your horizons, talk less and observe more, do you hear me?"

Wang Sicong laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. My carefree attitude is just an act for your company's board of directors."

"that is it."

Beep, beep, beep…

Wang Jianlin, a former soldier, always spoke in a simple and direct manner. He gave his son a few words of advice and then hung up.

Wang Sicong shook his head helplessly and watched the next award presenter appear on the big screen with a relaxed expression.

He was also curious whether "The Sky of History" would end up being a complete waste of time, so he took out his phone and took some photos of the scene, preparing to develop his Weibo and Alispace accounts in China.

It seems like those opinion leaders are having a lot of fun criticizing this and that all day long, but there are no serious consequences.

The host came on stage and a parody video titled "Oscar Presidential Candidates" was played, mocking Hillary Clinton's campaign against Obama.

This is a recurring Hollywood stunt, following the same pattern as the previous collective support for "Fahrenheit 9/11" to cause trouble for Bush.

After the little surprise, the Oscars ceremony continued.

Best editing went to "The Bourne Ultimatum", best visual effects went to "The Golden Compass", and best art direction went to "Sweeney Todd".

When Zhao Fei, nominated for Best Cinematography, narrowly lost to Albert Eisweet for "There Will Be Blood," the top cinematographer in China unexpectedly smiled.

Mr. Lu regretfully got up and hugged him, the latter's voice tinged with barely suppressed excitement:
"There Will Be Blood has won Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Screenplay. We only have Best Supporting Actor so far, so we have a very good chance!"

The young director was both amused and exasperated; from Liu Yifei to Zhao Fei, the entire crew had gone a bit crazy.

The subject matter of this film is too unique, and every Chinese person wants this masterpiece to be remembered in film history like Schindler's List.

From then on, whenever World War II, massacres, or tragedies were mentioned, no one could ignore this film, its content, and the significance it represented.

The host came on stage not to interrupt the musical numbers, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had already run out of budget for musical numbers.

The screen showed footage of the Joker from "The Dark Knight," followed by a collective tribute to the Australian actor who delivered outstanding performances in "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Dark Knight."

He was found dead at home in January this year after accidentally overdosing on medication and mixing it with other drugs.

After a brief moment of silence, applause erupted throughout the hall, and Martin Scorsese walked onto the stage.

Everyone in the "Sky" crew was taken aback.

The practice of having "familiar faces present awards" at the Oscars is an unwritten tradition.

Such arrangements often hint at who will receive the award, especially when the presenter has a deep personal relationship or collaborative history with a nominee. Martin Scorsese, the "film sociologist," has known Lu Kuan for a long time and even voluntarily gave up his opening premiere at the Berlin Film Festival to give way to "The Sky of History," which carries greater significance.

The custom of acquaintances awarding prizes to other acquaintances has almost never been broken.

The film crew members who participated in the month-long Oscar PR campaign all had a clear understanding of the data provided by Harvey's professional PR team:
Throughout Oscar history, those who have won both Best Picture and Best Director have almost always swept all the competition.

For example, William Wheeler's "Ben-Hur" swept 11 awards in 1959;
Spielberg's "Schindler's List" in 1994 swept seven awards;
James Cameron's Titanic in 1997 swept 11 awards;
And most recently, in 2004, Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" won the Grand Slam of awards.

But this year's "Sky of History" didn't even manage to sweep such an overwhelming advantage; it was only on par with its rivals in the precursor awards of the three major guild awards and the discontinued Golden Globe Awards.

Liu Yifei turned her head slightly, and the crystal chandelier of the Kodak Theater cast a shimmering halo on her porcelain-white skin. A strand of black hair fell from her carefully styled black hair, brushing against her collarbone as she turned her head.

Lu Kuan in her eyes stared intently at Martin on the stage, his handsome nose casting a sharp shadow at the boundary between light and shadow.

Seemingly sensing his girlfriend's gaze, Boss Lu turned his head and said calmly, "Actually, Martin was the best director in 2007, so it's normal for him to present the award."

"Even if we take a step back, winning Best Director wouldn't be bad."

"To put it another way, if Oscar loses both you and me, it's their loss."

"After all, I am the next Akira Kurosawa in Asia, and you are the next female Stanislavski in Asia."

Liu Yifei watched as his long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the seat, and chuckled, "You look so handsome when you're being stubborn."

"Hmph." The washing machine remained noncommittal, not in the mood to tease her about whether she was being stubborn or the water pipe was tough.

Concern can cloud judgment; he may not care about the winners of any particular Oscar, but this year's wins hold special significance.

"Directors are the gods of film, but they usually work even more overtime than God." Martin, with his gray hair, spoke eloquently on stage: "The director's job is to let the audience see things that originally only existed in dreams."

"For example, in 'No Country for Old Men,' the Texas desert, as seen through the lens of the Coen brothers, becomes the most absurd trial ground for human nature."

"Or like in 'There Will Be Blood,' where the oil tycoon in Thomas Anderson's film smashes the American Dream with a bowling stick."

"Or the poetic scene in 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' where a paralyzed patient communicates with the world by blinking his eyelids, or 'Michael Crichton' which uses the shell of a legal thriller to depict the rusting of the soul beneath the gears of capitalism."

He paused, a pause that sent a chill down Boss Lu's spine.

He desperately hoped that Martin Scorsese would secretly change the list of names in "The Sky of History" so that he could keep the suspense until the very end.

"There is still a way in 'The Sky of History' to let every inch of the ruins of Nanjing speak and let the grains of the film turn into undried bloodstains."

Martin Scorsese sighed inwardly, his face showing no sign of happiness for his young Chinese friend.

"The Best Director award goes to 'The Sky of History,' Lu."

The audience erupted in applause. With the dust settled, Mr. Lu became even more composed. He hugged each member of the crew before going on stage, where Ang Lee waited for him in the aisle to offer his blessings.

Before Lu Kuan, he was the first Chinese-language film director to win the Best Director award.

Harvey, sitting in the audience, slammed his fist on his chair in frustration, glanced up at the VIP seating area on the second floor of the Kodak Theatre, and began plotting his revenge.

He wasn't afraid of his ally Lu Kuan's accusations; he knew that once he lost his value in the exchange, he could no longer participate in the far-sighted industrial plans of this Chinese director cloaked in metaphysics.

On the second floor, Murdoch and Wendy Deng were not celebrating their victory; everyone's expression was calm.

The huntress's face grew even angrier. After investing so many resources in counter-PR, they still missed out on the best director!
Damn, this is a pretty prestigious award, and it's just another way to glorify that arrogant Chinese director.

Martin Scorsese on stage gave him a hug and an Oscar: "Lu, you are still young, we are all looking forward to the birth of a master."

"Thank you, Martin."

Both those offering and receiving blessings spoke with a rather calm and regretful tone, for everyone knew that "The Sky of History" would be ending its run at this year's Oscars.

Lu Kuan still mustered his spirits to deliver his acceptance speech, after all, there were no objective conditions yet to shatter Western value judgments with a single punch.

The Oscars are the furnace for his cultivation; he needs them to provide influence for future films and then support other industries in North America.

"I am unworthy of this Best Director award because all I did was restore history."

"It belongs to the unspoken souls beneath the walls of Nanjing in 1937, and to every silent testimonies captured on film."

“In historical films, the director is never the real creator. We are only allowed to temporarily preserve the images, wipe away the dust, and let future generations see the light shining through the cracks.”

The Chinese director's deep voice moved the guests in the audience.

Putting aside the Western aesthetics and values ​​represented by Hollywood, no one can deny the enormous impact this film had on North American society.

However, the victims were not Jews who controlled the Western media and financial lifeline, nor did they possess or implicitly possess a strong Anglo-Saxon cultural background, which led Sky to only reach this point.

But no expert actor or director can deny that this is a masterpiece that is no less than Schindler's List.

"The cruelest and most sacred paradox of film is that we fabricate emotions, yet we try to convey real blood and tears."

"Rather than being the 'Best Director,' I'd rather be an apprentice of history. When 300,000 wronged souls are brought back to life on the screen, they are directing my shots. Their stories compel me to abandon some techniques and choose to let the film's visuals tell their own story."

"Thank you!"

As the slightly regretful note faded, a moment of silence fell over the Kodak Theatre, as if even the light reflected from the crystal chandelier had frozen.

Then, Daniel Lewis was the first to stand up from his seat at "There Will Be Blood"—

The actor, who had just won the Best Actor award, raised his hands high above his head, and the force of his clapping caused sharp wrinkles to appear on the cuffs of his suit.

His gesture was like a silent command, and Marion Cotillard, Tom Hanks, Javier Bardem and others stood up one after another, instantly creating a surge of energy in the prime front row.

Spielberg, Ang Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese—everyone applauded and paid their respects to the young director who gracefully stepped down from the stage.

Murdoch, sitting in a private box on the second floor, frowned. Fox could prevent Sky of History from winning big at the Oscars, but Wendy Deng beside him could not stop the growing support.

Aside from the white male judges at the Academy, Hollywood actors and directors have always been the most left-leaning force, consistently waving the anti-war banner.

This dates back to the Great Depression and strikes of the 1930s in the United States, which was also the early days of Hollywood.

As time progressed into the 50s, Hollywood suffered further repression due to the authorities' "McCarthyism," leading to Chaplin's exile and the imprisonment of the "Hollywood Ten."

This persecution, in turn, reinforced the backlash against left-wing values ​​within the industry, culminating in Hollywood's complete leftward shift during the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights movements of the 60s.

For example, Sean Penn, who once personally funded the promotion of "Fahrenheit 9/11," is now standing on a chair whistling to express his support.

Reporters from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and other media outlets at the scene were already writing headlines such as "Los Angeles misses out on Best Picture, audience rises to applaud in support."

Today's Oscars ceremony, which was severely budget-constrained due to the strike, finally produced a classic scene worthy of being written about in detail.

Perhaps the only two looking rather embarrassed in the front row are the Coen brothers from "No Country for Old Men".

Compared to their overwhelming dominance in winning Best Picture in subsequent years, winning this Oscar today seems a bit awkward.

This awkwardness persisted until the final acceptance speech—

When the Coen brothers walked onto the stage, Joel Coen's lips were tauter than the Texas border.

The director cut to a close-up, and this director, who is known for his dry humor, even forgot to twitch his signature slanted eyebrows at this moment.

After the routine thanks, and even with applause from the audience, the two men in their sixties still looked embarrassed.

Ignoring public relations factors, "No Country for Old Men" deservedly won the Oscar. However, "Sky of History," which came with the momentum of winning the Golden Bear at Berlin, failed due to biases in values, which is regrettable.

Ethan Cohen, the younger brother, took the microphone from his older brother and said the classic line, "We're going to keep making movies," before leaving the stage amidst applause.

The two old men whispered to each other as they walked off the stage, and then went to the second row next to the cast of "The Sky of History" to hug Lu Kuan.

The latter had already stood up to greet them, his slightly forward-leaning posture resembling that of adjusting a camera's focus, capturing both the brothers' awkwardness and sincerity in the depth of field.

"The Sky of History brought us to tears, and it will eventually receive the recognition it deserves."

"Thank you, and congratulations to 'No Country for Old Men' for winning Best Picture. It is a masterpiece of the Western genre, and both of you deserve this honor."

This scene, captured by reporters at the scene, should become a beautiful artistic tale and a satire of Western prejudice.

As the most meager Oscars ceremony to date draws to a close, directors including Quentin Tarantino, Spielberg, and Ang Lee, as well as actors such as Lewis and Jodie Foster, all sought out Lu Kuan to shake hands and express their gratitude.

“My father is Scottish, and Braveheart was his favorite movie, so I can understand this kind of national pain.”

Lewis has a very good impression of the Chinese director: "I will post a tweet when I get back, hoping it will be helpful for your film."

"Thank you, congratulations on your Best Actor hat trick," Lu Kuan said with a smile.

George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, and other top stars who had met before but were not familiar with him came one after another, not only for artistic recognition, but also for their goodwill towards this rising star of internet films who is independent of the Big Six.

From Insidious and Paranormal Activity to the Twilight series, North American film projects have an enviable success rate, and their control of Netflix is ​​an undeniable channel power.

It wasn't until Quentin and Harvey, the two "evil-looking" old partners, joined forces.

"Fuck Academy! I said back in '94 when Pulp Fiction lost to Forrest Gump that the Oscars are just a fucking mass indulgence distribution event!"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "Unfortunately, I also got one, but keep your voice down so Hanks doesn't hear you."

In fact, Hanks was right there, looking at Quentin with a helpless expression.

The latter shrugged: "Don't mind Hanks, we have a dance after the Oscars, we'll have a few drinks later."

The onlookers laughed; they were used to this eccentric guy and dispersed as reporters swarmed around him.

Murdoch, Wendy Deng, and others who were not far away watched quietly for a few seconds, but the latter did not have the courage to come up and make sarcastic remarks.

It would be one thing for Fox to engage in normal public relations for its film's nomination, but to openly mock it is tantamount to declaring war again, and Murdoch will not allow her to do so.

Furthermore, did her little trick completely achieve its goal?
That doesn't seem so.

There are countless Best Picture winners in Oscar history, but only a handful of wrongful convictions, making them all the more memorable.

Even though the 2008 Oscars didn't descend into a miscarriage of justice, the standing ovation and applause from Hollywood's left-wing filmmakers tonight, and the heartwarming story of their successive gestures of respect after the awards ceremony, are destined to be recorded in film history.

The cast and crew of "The Sky of History" left the stage together, and a Variety reporter handed them a microphone: "Lu, what's your opinion on who won Best Picture?"

"No Country for Old Men is a masterpiece. The Coen brothers' narrative and visual style are unique, and they deserve this award."

The reporter was unwilling to give up; he even drafted a headline, "Chinese Genius Director Blasts the Oscars," just waiting for Mr. Lu to write the full article.
"With so many superstars and directors here today expressing their regret and support for you, don't you feel incredibly resentful for losing to cultural prejudice?"

"We have achieved our goal in making this film. That is my only request. Thank you."

A reporter from The Hollywood Reporter squeezed forward and handed him a microphone: "Louis, are you planning to join Quentin, Harvey, and the others for a post-Oscar babe party to vent your frustrations about the Academy's unfairness?"

Mr. Lu glanced at the reporter and said, "No, I've never had that habit."

I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense.

Undeterred, the reporter turned to the young Berlin Film Festival Best Actress beside him: "Liu, after Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Aviator' failed to win an Oscar in 2005, Gisele Bündchen booked the entire rooftop of the Sunset Tower Hotel on Santa Monica Beach, and reportedly hired many beautiful women to entertain him."

How would you comfort your boyfriend?

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei tilted her head slightly, pursed her lips as if feigning seriousness, and began her interview about the bullshit syndrome: "Comfort him? It's a multiplayer game!"

The reporters' eyes lit up: "Oh! I'm sure Lu will love your generosity. Can you accept your partner having other partners?"

Xiao Liu smiled sweetly, her dimples appearing on her lips: "No, I meant we all had hot pot together. Chinese men prefer food to beautiful women. You're overthinking it."

Other partners? I probably couldn't beat him to a pulp.

Despite their best efforts, the reporters couldn't glean any resentment or major news from the two individuals; they could only go back and devise their own sensational headlines.

This year's Oscars, which were rather lackluster, have come to an end.

Having accepted reality, the young couple walked out of the world's biggest arena of fame and fortune side by side, while Hanks, Moore, and others bid farewell and left.

Both Andy Lau and Gong Li were arranged by their management company to attend the post-Oscar reception and business events. The group said goodbye at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre.

Liu Xiaoli stroked the Best Director Oscar in her hand with a hint of regret: "What a pity, what a real pity."

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "Life is full of disappointments, but at least we can gain some public sympathy, which is not a bad thing for the box office."

"Actually, it's quite a big deal to say this, considering it's Best Director. Only two Chinese directors have won this award in all these years."

What seems like a misfortune may actually be a blessing in disguise. The reporters present today will undoubtedly spread the word about "The Sky of History" being "regrettably defeated" and "narrowly lost," which is also a form of publicity for the film.
The elderly mother, unwilling to be a third wheel, returned to the hotel first. Liu Yifei then dragged her boyfriend to Little Sheep Hot Pot in Chinatown.

Since their first visit after attending the Oscars in 2004 with "A Home Away From Home," it has clearly become their private domain.

Liu Yifei was incredibly energetic after walking the red carpet, busily enjoying herself while eating hot pot and vegetables.

"Eat up, and look at me while you eat!"

"You don't mind the spiciness?"

American Little Sheep uses chili peppers that are more in line with Western tastes. They use a blend of Anaheim and Pueblo peppers, along with smoked sweet pepper powder, which retains the aroma while reducing oral irritation, making it more suitable for Western palates.

However, it was still too much for Liu Yifei, who is both talented and loves to eat.

"It's not spicy! Where is it spicy?"

A piece of mutton coated in red oil was still hanging from the tip of Liu Yifei's chopsticks, and the chili seeds glistened enticingly under the light.

Fine beads of sweat had already formed on the tip of her nose, and the words "not spicy" that popped out from her glistening lips were clearly not very convincing.

Lu Kuan took a sip of beer: "You're really carefree. I was thinking about how you'd be sad and upset about missing out on the Best Actress award. I'll comfort you properly when we get back tonight!"

The meat in Xiao Liu's mouth suddenly lost its flavor, and he said with a bitter face, "Brother, why don't we stop comforting each other and just get some sleep!"

This sentence sounds familiar.

"Then you should comfort me. Losing Best Picture makes me feel as sad as parched, cracked land, which needs nourishment."

Liu Yifei rested her chin on her hand, her fingertips lightly tapping her cheek, and blinked her almond-shaped eyes as she said gently, "How about I let you go have some fun with Leonardo and the others? Relax a bit."

"A clumsy attempt." Boss Lu showed no emotion whatsoever, shook his head, and finished the beer in the can, the spiciness in his mouth lessening slightly.

"Hmph, look at the questions the reporters asked." Xiao Liu said, biting his chopsticks. "It shows how despicable you were in the past. Luckily, I saved you, a middle-aged man who has gone astray."

"You've destroyed a lot of jobs and impacted GDP growth. The governor of California probably won't be very welcoming of you anymore."

The two chatted and laughed for a while when Lu Kuan received several messages on his phone, from Harvey and the domestic Internet Public Opinion Center.

Xiao Liu leaned closer, his eyes lighting up at what he saw.

(End of this chapter)