Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 224 I have doubts about Oscar's meticulousness, so I'm firing at Oscar!
At the end of the red carpet, as the spotlight faded, the concierge led the main creators into the VIP passage inside the theater.

This is a corridor covered with a dark blue carpet, with stills and classic lines from this year's nominated films hanging on both sides.

Upon entering the main hall, at the very center of the main stage stands a giant golden Oscar statuette, its upright posture gleaming under the spotlight.

On both sides of the stage, dynamic posters of this year's nominated films were displayed.

Get Out is naturally among them.

The group's seats were arranged in the third row on the left, next to the cast of "The Queen" and "Little Miss Sunshine", facing the main stage.

The seating here is also carefully chosen, and there are even designated seating coordinators.

Although Wu Chen and Chadwick Boseman were in the same row, their seats were not next to each other.

In Jason Blum's words, it was about avoiding capturing the "joyful and sorrowful faces" of the competitors on camera. After all, if Wu Chen lost the Best Actor award and then won the Best Director award the next second, such a bittersweet feeling on camera would be very uncomfortable.

Everyone needs to adjust their time.

Moreover, to avoid the awkwardness of competing with similar players, Wu Chen and Martin Scorsese are not positioned very close to each other.

Furthermore, the seats for several of the more nominated film crews were located relatively close to the aisle, making it easier for them to quickly go on stage to receive their awards.

Of course, the front row was occupied by some non-nominated big-name celebrities and industry leaders, such as Steven Spielberg, who was sitting there. The Universal representative was also seated there, and then nodded to Wu Chen and the others.

Some technical nominees were seated in the back row or mezzanine, such as Yee Chung-Man, who was nominated for Best Costume Design for "Curse of the Golden Flower".

He was the only one in the entire crew of "Curse of the Golden Flower" to "go to the meeting alone".

“Nice seat,” Blum chuckled softly, shaking hands with a lady in the row in front of him before taking his seat.

“Wu, this is Ms. Helen Mirren, she is also nominated tonight,” Brown added.

"Hello!" Wu Chen smiled and shook hands with him. He knew that the other person was from the crew of "The Queen".

Besides, the other party is also a legend, known as the queen specialist.

Don't let her age fool you; she was stunningly beautiful in her youth.

“I’ve seen your work.” Helen Mirren’s tone was slow and clear, with a typical British accent. “Fantastic, your thrillers are really good, every single one is great. I heard you have a new one coming out soon.”

"Correct!"

"Looking forward to another excellent work."

"Thank you!"

Wu Chen nodded with a smile.

As time passed, the lights dimmed, and melodious and solemn music suddenly filled the air.

The golden curtain in front of the stage slowly opened, and the Kodak Theater fell into complete silence.

"It's finally starting. It doesn't look as good after the red carpet. I almost fell asleep this morning."

"It'll be soon! Seven nominations, including both big and small awards, it won't be too boring!"

"."

At this moment, the viewers in China watching the live broadcast became more alert.

At that moment, a spotlight suddenly fell on the center of the stage.

This year's host, Ellen DeGeneres, emerged from behind the curtain in a white dress, sporting her signature smile.

"Filmmakers, guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen—welcome to the 79th Academy Awards!"

Thunderous applause erupted, and a wave of response instantly swept through the room.

"Tonight in the theater, we not only have five Best Director nominees, but also more than 30 Oscar winners and nearly 5 nominees."

Allen paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "In other words, once we lose power, this will be the most expensive blackout scene in the history of film worldwide."

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere gradually became more pleasant.

Ellen DeGeneres then singled out a few individuals for further teasing, a common tactic used by Oscar hosts.

Almost all of the most popular nominated films and people that year were victimized.

Wu Chen's side was no exception.

Host Allen walked to the center of the stage, made a meaningful turn, and looked at the audience with a broad smile:
"Tonight, a director swept in from the other side of the world, and his low-budget thriller made us all start to doubt our neighbors' true identities."

She leaned closer to the microphone, feigning mystery:
"That's right, I'm talking about director Wu Chen. He comes from China and reminds us with a film called 'Get Out':"

When you receive a weekend invitation from your girlfriend's parents, you should first ask if they have a basement.

The audience burst into laughter, and the camera cut to Wu Chen, who nodded with a light smile.

After a round of banter, the Oscars ceremony officially began.

Back home, across the Pacific, viewers watching the live stream also began to watch intently.

Domestically, not only movie fans and netizens are focusing on this Oscar ceremony, but industry insiders are also paying close attention to it.

This is because it marks the first true breakthrough for a mainland Chinese director, making it exceptionally significant.

Some industry insiders in Hong Kong had complicated expressions, because mainland directors are rising faster and faster, and so are mainland actors.

"Mr. Yang, if Hong Kong doesn't change, we'll soon be unable to even fight against the mainland."

Cheng Longzheng and Ying Huangyang were drinking tea and reminiscing.

Ying Huangyang's expression was complicated. The decline of Hong Kong in recent years was obvious, and he and Cheng Long had both chosen to move towards the mainland.

"I don't call the shots in Hong Kong alone. If they don't change, there's nothing I can do. I've reached an agreement with Han Sanping of China Film Group. The two of us will merge to form a talent agency. You'll have to support us then!"

"Ok!"

Jackie Chan nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the Oscars ceremony that was currently being held.

Inside the Kodak Theater, spotlights swirled, and as time passed, a series of technical awards flashed by.

Best art direction for *Pan's Labyrinth*.

Best makeup, Pan's Labyrinth.

Best Animated Short Film: The Danish Poet.

Best sound editing for "Letters from Iwo Jima".

The awards proceeded smoothly, with the only one that was somewhat interesting being the Best Supporting Actor award. Unfortunately, "Get Out" was not nominated, and it ultimately went to Alan Arkin for "Little Miss Sunshine".

At that moment, Helen Mirren and Tom Hanks went on stage together to present the Best Adapted Screenplay award.

The lights dimmed, and clips from the five nominated films were shown on the screen.

Borat, Son of Men, The Departed, Mother, and Scandal Chronicle.

Award presenters Helen Mirren and Tom Hanks exchanged a meaningful glance before slowly opening the envelope.

The winner is:

Tom Hanks paused for a moment, his tone slightly raised:

"William Monaghan, The Departed!" Applause erupted again.

Offstage, Martin Scorsese stood up and patted Monahan on the shoulder, while Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon also stood up and applauded in congratulations.

Viewers watching the live stream eagerly awaited the event.

"It's going to be so long! After this award comes the Best Costume Design award for 'Curse of the Golden Flower,' and then the Best Cinematography award for 'Get Out.' Hurry up, or the flowers will wither!"

"It would be good if 'Infernal Affairs' won an award, since it's an adaptation of 'Infernal Affairs,' and theoretically, that award should be given to a domestic film!"

"."

Just as mainland film fans were still excitedly anticipating the next award, a short announcement came over the loudspeaker, a female voice with a standard American accent, clearly identifiable:
"Screenwriter William Monaghan adapted the Japanese film 'Infernal Affairs' into a Boston-based gangster narrative."

Many people in the audience didn't pay much attention, but Wu Chen and his friends, who knew the origin of the movie, changed their expressions. Their hands, which were about to clap, froze in mid-air, and their eyebrows twitched suddenly.

Even the crew of "The Departed" was taken aback.

Jason Blum frowned and whispered, "What the hell?"

Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, and others also showed expressions of surprise.

“Japan?” Chadwick frowned and whispered, “Isn’t this from Hong Kong, China?”

In the live broadcast booth, several on-site directors dressed in black suits had already realized the mistake of interrupting the broadcast, but it was too late.

Because of ABC's live broadcast, the phrase "Japanese film Infernal Affairs" has been sent to the ears of more than 39 million viewers in 167 countries and regions.

Meanwhile, at the Beijing Film Academy.

The screening room was deathly silent; the teacher and students had all heard the interruption.

“Japanese film?!” a young teacher blurted out.

"Infernal Affairs is directed by Liu Weiqiang and Mai Zhaohui! It's a film from Hong Kong, China!"

"Cognitive colonization? You can win awards, but don't steal ours!" The students erupted.

"."

Domestic viewers watching the live stream were extremely unhappy.

"What do you mean?"

"Damn! My dad watched 'Infernal Affairs' three times back in the day, and now you're telling me this is a Japanese film?"

"What the hell was that idiot who interrupted the broadcast? Doesn't he even know where 'Infernal Affairs' is adapted from?"

"."

"This is a difficult situation to handle."

Inside the screening room, some teachers looked serious. "If we don't clarify things now, it will be difficult later."

"Damn it, are the people who interrupted the Oscars brainless? How could they make such an obvious mistake?"

"I wonder if Wu Chen heard that?"

Mu Deyuan's expression was also quite serious. He didn't know how Wu Chen would handle this matter, but if it wasn't handled well, it could cause a lot of trouble.

The camera had already cut to screenwriter William Monaghan, but at that moment Wu Chen, who was not far away, suddenly stood up.

The control room was in complete chaos.

"Who stood up?"

"That's Wu Chen?! Cut? Or show him on camera?"

"Give it to him! Give him a close-up!"

The director had no idea what Wu Chen was trying to do, but the camera had no choice but to cut to him.

Wu Chen stood ramrod straight: "Excuse me, just kidding! I'd like to ask if all Oscar ceremonies are this unprofessional?"

Wu Chen's words caused an uproar, and everyone's eyes turned to him.

Many reporters inside the venue were already typing on their phones, and discussions arose from the audience.

Some uninformed people are very curious about what happened to Wu Chen, a rising A-list director in Hollywood, and why he suddenly started targeting the Oscars.

"I would like to ask, is it permissible for the Oscars to incorrectly attribute the origin of a film during a globally broadcast ceremony without any clarification?"

Wu Chen glanced around the room, his voice calm and unhurried:

"I respect adaptations and admire excellent re-creations."

But when did *Infernal Affairs*, which was released in Hong Kong in 2002, win the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film, and was co-directed by Liu Weiqiang and Mai Zhaohui, starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau, become a Japanese film?

Wu Chen didn't shout; his voice was calm, but every word was like a hammer blow.

"Holy crap, that's amazing, Director Wu!"

"We still have to look to our own people. All I can say is awesome!"

"I'm a fan now, I'm a fan now, this is too much! She stood up and questioned everyone directly, I'm just asking, who else is like her?"

"I'm suddenly feeling a bit excited, what should I do, brothers?"

"."

At this moment, the audience, who had just been feeling frustrated for a short while, became excited again, and even more excited, with comments appearing like snowflakes.

"Impressive, this young man!"

"It's really awesome!"

"What about you?" Ying Huangyang asked Cheng Long.

After pondering for a moment, Jackie Chan slowly replied, "I don't know until I'm there, but I'll most likely stand up too, since this is a film adapted from a script from our own country."

At this moment, cheers erupted throughout the Beijing Film Academy, the sound echoing throughout the entire academy.

"Senior brother is awesome!"

"Damn, my senior is awesome!"

"Brilliant!"

"."

"Old Mu, are you willing to part with this disciple?"

"Old Mu, you've really hit the jackpot."

"That's really impressive. To stand up immediately in this situation without considering personal gain or loss—not everyone has that kind of courage."

Mu Deyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless of the final outcome, Wu Chen's reaction was impeccable.

Relieved, Mu Deyuan immediately reverted to his usual self:
"Get lost, you son of a bitch! My disciple is not someone you can even think about."

(End of this chapter)