In the business club in Beverly Hills, many people from the academy were having an internal gathering. In addition to Warren Beatty and other old men who worked in the academy, some senior members also came over.
These people all have one thing in common.
White, male, over 60 years old.
Warren Beatty found Nicholson and asked, "I heard that you have done some bad things recently?"
Annette Bell deliberately squeezed him: "Jack, you have led the two most promising young people in the industry astray."
"That's wrong. It wasn't me who led me astray." Nicholson didn't want to bear the blame: "It was those two bastards who led me astray, okay?"
Warren Beatty thought of his youth: "I still remember you, Malone and I, turning Sunset Boulevard into a nightclub. In the blink of an eye, we were old."
Nicholson shrugged: "Malon went to see the Almighty Lord, and you returned to your family. I am also in semi-retirement. Our era has passed, and people have almost forgotten us."
Annette Bening asked: "So, you want to make a presence felt?"
Nicholson denied: "Of course not. I really like Blanchett, especially her hard-lined face, which is so recognizable."
Annette Bening laughed: "The way you show love is so special and makes people angry."
William Fichtner came next to him and said: "You caused us to be scolded by an Australian woman."
Nicholson was helpless: "I didn't expect that she would be like this..." He shrugged: "Blanchett publicly apologized. I think she realized her mistake and cried very sadly at the press conference."
Warren Beatty shook his head: "A woman's tears."
Nicholson spread his hands: "She has the freedom to speak."
"Yes, she can speak out whatever she thinks. God has given her freedom of speech." Sidney Gannis, the president of the college, was nearby. Hearing their words, he couldn't help but interject: "But everyone should be free to speak out." Be responsible for your own words.”
Warren Beatty and William Fichtner, two old white men, completely agreed with Sidney Ganis’ words: “That’s so right.”
The authority of the academy is authority. How can we tolerate casual questioning?
Nicholson defended: "Blanchett didn't mean it. Maybe things have gone too smoothly over the years. She..."
Sidney Gannis couldn't help but shake her head: "Such a person should go through more trials and tribulations, which will be good for her life."
Although the chairman of the academy holds more of a symbolic honorary position and does not have particularly great power, in the awards season, who can ignore his remarks.
This is the representative elected by the old white men of the academy.
Not only this small circle, but everyone around was nodding.
They have seen the video of Cate Blanchett angrily scolding Nicholson, as well as the video of her tearful apology at the press conference.
But most people automatically ignore the latter and instead keep the former in mind.
It is understandable that they are old, old, have poor memory, are a little willful, a little petty and have a bad temper.
As for not being able to understand, it actually doesn’t matter. Running with someone like Leonardo is a test, and some people don’t even have the chance to run with him.
In the afternoon of that day, many white men declined invitations to the screening and screening of "Queen Elizabeth 2".
The entertainment media with a keen sense of smell realized the sudden change in the direction of the trend. Even the critics in Los Angeles, many people refused to attend the screening of this film.
…………
In a movie room at Warner Studios, an internal preview screening of "The Reader" has just concluded.
As the thick curtains opened, warm applause broke out.
Martin and Kate Winslet stood up one after another and bowed slightly to the surroundings.
"Kate, Martin." Daniel praised: "You have created two distinctive and layered characters. This is a wonderful performance."
Martin didn't need to be modest, saying, "I also think this is the best performance I've ever given in my career."
Kate said directly: "Martin is really outstanding. During the filming, he led me into the scenes in so many scenes."
Another person said: "This film will be screened next month. I believe it will definitely become a hit during the awards season, especially the leading actors and actresses."
This is a standard award-winning film. The priority of the awards is Best Actress, then Best Actor.
The preview meeting was over. Daniel held a conversation with Martin and Kate, and then returned to the office to let the team further refine the PR and marketing plan for the awards season.
After he left, Kate stopped Martin: "Looking for a place to chat for a while?"
"Okay, where to go?" Martin asked.
Kate didn't hesitate at all, she pulled him up and left: "I'm staying at the Burbank Hotel."
Of course Martin understood what she meant and adhered to his consistent principle: "Wait a minute, I'll borrow an inconspicuous car."
Kate nodded: "You are still thoughtful."
Martin borrowed a Volkswagen, took Kate with him, and went directly from the underground parking lot of Warner Studios to the underground parking lot of the Burbank Hotel.
Kate, who was in her early thirties, was at the age where she was like a wolf and a tiger, so she went upstairs and swallowed Martin.
Martin doesn't even have to do anything special.
The two artists quickly reached a level of understanding through passionate exchanges.
After the exchange was completed, the two began to discuss practical issues.
Martin took two bottles of water from the refrigerator and handed one to Kate.
"Thank you." Kate took it, sat across from Martin, and asked, "I heard that you only plan to participate in some of the promotional meetings and film screenings of "The Reader"?"
Martin said directly: "I will leave Los Angeles soon to participate in the filming of a new movie, so I don't have much time."
He also pointed out the key point: "Don't you want to win the Best Actress? I just need to get a nomination. There will be a professional team to operate it. If I show up frequently, maybe it will distract your votes."
"You really think about me. Do I want to thank you?" Kate stared at Martin deliberately.
Martin was so thick-skinned that he met Kate's gaze and looked at her carefully: "I don't mind if you thank me properly. You should thank me properly, and that's not the only thing you should thank me for."
Kate couldn't understand: "What else did you do?"
"Help you deal with one of the most competitive opponents in advance." The shameless Martin directly took Nicholson's banner and put it on his shoulders: "Cate Blanchett specifically said that winning the award, this time No chance of being nominated."
Find a boss. Isn't it just that the boss will shoulder the responsibility when something happens, and the younger brother will be responsible for collecting the proceeds from the good deeds done by the boss?
He lowered his voice: "I called Jack to Paramount Studios."
Kate had already thought of what Martin was talking about and understood what he meant.
She has been friends with Leonardo for more than ten years and knows what kind of old white men in Hollywood are like.
"'Queen Elizabeth 2' has been screened." Kate said slowly: "It is said that many critics and industry insiders have declined invitations to screen and hold screenings."
Martin said: "The old guys from the college are letting out the wind, and the direction of the wind is very clear."
Kate's eyes scanned: "I am full and tired today. I will thank you properly next time."
Martin took a sip of water, sat across from her, looked at her carefully, and said, "You don't do a good job of managing your figure."
"It's not a bad thing." Kate didn't mind this, and even said directly: "I don't do much body management in the first place."
She shook her body: "Don't you think this is just right?"
Martin thought of a terrifying experience in his previous life: "It's true that if you have a big body, your pelvis will hurt."
Kate laughed, touched Martin's water bottle with the water bottle, and said, "I think it's good now too."
"The academy and the critics love nothing more than to see delicate beauty destroyed," Martin said.
Kate nodded slightly and changed the topic: "You have always had a way of dealing with the media and public opinion. For an actress like me, after ruining her appearance and inherent image, is there any other way to increase her chances of winning?"
The conventional methods are there, spending money on word of mouth, PR and publicity. Needless to say, Kate knows these things.
All Martin could think of were all crooked ideas: "Actually, female stars have another advantage when competing for the Olympics. Male stars don't have it. They have a huge natural advantage."
"Every male judge in pajamas?" Kate obviously thought wrongly.
Martin was furious: "You pervert, do you have anything else on your mind besides sleeping?" He emphasized: "I'm talking about women's natural advantages."
Kate deliberately held up her breasts: "Is it this?"
Martin was too lazy to ask her to guess anymore, and said directly: "Public opinion and public psychology will be biased in favor of pregnant women. When photos of one of the Oscar's best actress seed candidates with a pregnant belly frequently appeared in the media, the judges' Will it be psychologically affected?"
Kate felt it made sense as soon as she heard it. She had been a mother and had vivid memories of the tangible and intangible preferential treatment she received when she was pregnant.
Society, from high to low, generally treats pregnant women very favorably.
Kate's eyes immediately fell on Martin, and she seemed to be thinking about something important in her heart.
Martin realized something was wrong and warned: "Kate, don't take my chances."
"Sam is old after all." Kate has always pursued artistic pursuits. She devoted a lot for art when shooting, and she didn't mind paying more.
Martin was suddenly startled, feeling like a lion facing a lioness in heat, and quickly added: "Kate, you don't have to do this. As long as you use upright public relations and publicity, you have a high chance of winning. I asked Warren -Bitty and Annette Bening, they belong to the core white members of the academy, and this group's impression and evaluation of you is a hundred times better than Leo's."
Martin suddenly thought of something, got up and rushed to the trash can, checked out the condom inside, ran into the toilet and flushed it down the toilet.
It seems like this thing needs to be dealt with specifically in the future.
Kate sat on the sofa and looked at Martin with a smile: "I didn't say to use this method."
For safety reasons, Martin specifically said: "It's late October now, and it's less than three months until January, when the vote takes place. Three months is not enough to show pregnancy, and it's too late."
This time Kate listened. She has had children and knows that her own special characteristics are indeed not obvious after three months.
Martin got dressed: "Let's stay here today and go back early to prepare for the screening."
(End of chapter)
