America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz-Chapter 983 - 894 Come Lets Fight_2
Chapter 983: Chapter 894: Come, Let’s Fight_2
Chapter 983 -894: Come, Let’s Fight_2
The film crew really shot in harsh conditions; Leonardo didn’t even need to act, it was truly miserable.
Every day, Leonardo had to film challenging scenes in the snow and wind, his face chapped by the frost, his hair as unkempt as weeds.
During dinner, Martin specifically reminded him, “Make sure somebody captures your filming process; it’s more moving that way.”
“I’ve always had someone shooting,” Leonardo said as he glanced at the steak in front of Martin and Nicholson, “Can you guys show some decency and throw away all the beef? Just the smell of it makes me want to throw up now.”
This was a side effect of the shoot. Nicholson wasn’t about to indulge him, retorting, “A juicy steak is my favorite, why would I switch it out? You have to consider an old man’s appetite.”
Leonardo knew that the two bastards across from him were not the types to kick a man while he was down, so he switched topics and asked Martin, “This time around, you’re aiming for your second Best Actor Oscar with ‘Split,’ but I’ve heard that the awards season has been rather tumultuous from the start, with many people looking to make trouble.”
Martin glanced around to make sure no one else was listening and said, “It’s not so much that many people want to make trouble, but that the African Americans and all sorts of monsters in the industry are causing a stir.”
Leonardo, who had been around for a while, wasn’t too familiar with the situation in Los Angeles, and asked, “They’re stirring up trouble again?”
“It’s the aftermath of the last award season,” Martin briefly explained, “because last time, not a single black person was nominated for any of the major individual awards, and right as November began, Spike Lee and the Mr. & Mrs. Smith, among other African Americans, announced they would boycott next year’s Oscar ceremony and demanded the Academy reform to increase diversity at the Oscars and within the Academy itself.”
Nicholson bluntly commented, “These damn pieces of shit, never trying to come up with anything substantial for their work, just make a fuss first and foremost.”
Leonardo asked, “Did it have any effect?”
Martin answered, “The Academy has promised to implement diversity reforms.”
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Leonardo couldn’t help but burst into laughter, pointing at Martin, “You’re in trouble now, you bastard!”
Martin shook his head, “It’s not as complicated as you think. I was prepared for this a while ago. Did you really think I was only aiming for the award? There’s been cooperation in other respects too.”
Nicholson, surprised, asked Martin, “I knew early this year you were plotting something with the Academy’s executive committee. Is there some inside story I don’t know about?”
“Since the beginning of the year,” Leonardo said.
“To be exact,” Martin elaborated, “it started when I took notice of ‘Split.’ Let me think, it’s been almost three years, right? At the time, I was in Boston filming ‘The Town’ when I accidentally learned about Billy Milligan. That’s when I began planning for the Oscar campaign. Then I approached Jennifer Aniston. Her Plan B had a movie project.”
Nicholson had heard Martin mention it, “That African American movie, called ‘Moonlight Boy’?”
“It’s more than just an African American film; it also involves elements of homosexuality and transgender people,” Martin added.
He further mentioned, “By the way, ‘Moonlight Boy’ has already started limited screenings in both Los Angeles and New York, and it’s received great critical acclaim and media buzz.”
Upon hearing all this, even someone of Leonardo’s stature couldn’t help but inhale a breath of Canada’s cold air, “The Academy is pushing for diversification, Plan B throws out a movie like this with such great reviews, how is anyone supposed to compete?”
But Nicholson asked, “Aren’t you worried that Best Actor might go to that movie?”
With a smile, Martin responded, “The Academy needs to appease the African Americans who’ve made a fuss for several seasons, and they want to show determination in their efforts to diversify. What better award to signify that than Best Picture?”
Nicholson, the Oscars’ mascot, naturally understood the logic and nodded subtly in agreement.
Leonardo commented, “This film crew is ambitious.”
“The film is under Jennifer Aniston’s control,” Martin plainly stated. “When I return to Los Angeles tomorrow, I’ll have a good talk with Aniston and persuade her to focus the campaign resources on Best Picture.”
He had done something similar once before.
Driving two cars at the same time? Martin didn’t see it as a problem.
If Jolie and Aniston were combined, with just a little effort from him, Jolie would turn coat.
After leaving Albert and returning to Los Angeles, Martin immediately arranged to meet Aniston in a hotel room.
As expected, Jolie accompanied Aniston to the meeting.
By the window, basking in Los Angeles’s warm sun, Martin said to Aniston, “A prime opportunity to take the Oscar for Best Picture has arrived.”
Aniston was one of Mitu’s opinion leaders and had already sensed the unusual atmosphere within the circle and the Academy. She said, “Moonlight Boy” is too much in line with what Oscar needs right now!”
Jolie gave her a gentle nudge.
Snapping back to reality, Aniston asked Martin, “You’re not also trying to go for best picture, are you?”
Martin said, “Split” is definitely going for the Oscar.”
Aniston didn’t hesitate, stood up, and started taking off her coat, “Come on, let’s battle, same old rules, winner calls the shots.”
She looked at Jolie, “Slut, don’t just sit there, hurry up and help!”
Jolie smiled at Martin, “I’d love to help with this kind of trouble. Jen, let’s show Martin today how effective our recent gym workouts have been.”
Aniston had known this battle was coming and had been working out for it, especially practicing squats.
All to defeat that devil and win the initiative for the Oscars.
There are many ways to campaign for Oscars, and Martin and Aniston fully demonstrated the artistic content in them.
The latter had a good plan, but unfortunately, it couldn’t keep up with the changes.
By the end of this Oscar campaign, Aniston was defeated once again.
Martin gained the upper hand among the rivals.
Jolie helped Aniston hydrate.
Aniston’s blank mind gradually cleared.
She looked at Martin dejectedly, “I lost again, fair and square, you choose, winner.”
Martin soothed her, stroking her cheek, “You’ve improved a lot this time. I almost lost. Tell you what, I’ll only go for best actor.”
Touched by his words, Aniston jumped up, “Martin, you’re not competing with me for best picture?”
Martin smiled, “Cannot make you step aside every time.”
“My dear, thank you,” Aniston was touched, then she became suspicious, eyeing Martin up and down, “Something doesn’t feel right, does it?”
Jolie laughed so hard she bent over, “Have you gotten so confused by the rush?”
Aniston didn’t want to deal with the loose woman and continued with Martin, “Your aim was the best actor all along, wasn’t it?”
Martin admitted directly, “The only award I’m going all out for.”
Aniston was straightforward, “You won, I’ll listen to you, we won’t nominate for best actor in Plan B.”
She confessed frankly, “Actually, the leading man’s performance is average at best, a nomination would likely end in failure. His biggest advantage is that the role meets the diversity requirement.”
Jolie then asked, “You two must have thoroughly researched this year’s front-runners, right?”
Martin took the remote control, pressed play, and the names of some films and actors appeared on the projection screen, “Looking at this year, there are no particularly heavy-weight films. Let’s start with best actor, excluding ‘Moonlight,’ these three are the most competitive.”
He pointed out three films with the laser on the remote control, “Bridge of Spies,” “The Danish Girl,” and “Steve Jobs.”
Jolie spoke up directly, “Tom Hanks is unlikely to make a huge breakthrough in character to win a third Best Actor Oscar, Eddie Redmayne just won last year so chances are slim this year. Michael Fassbender… a German winning Best Actor is too difficult.”
Aniston nodded slightly and looked at Martin, “Which one do you think is the biggest threat for best picture?”
“Spotlight!” Martin pointed with the laser pen and then said, “The Oscars are a microcosm of America, claiming to champion justice, and ‘Spotlight’ fits that bill.”
He pondered slightly, “You work on amplifying the voices of the black and LGBT communities, make them louder. It will favor ‘Moonlight Boy’ in the campaign.”
