The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 1810 I Do What I Want
For Eddie Slimane, everything was unfamiliar; he even sat cross-legged on the floor, chatting about his troubles and opening his heart to his predicament.

It's brand new too.

Unconsciously, memories dormant deep in my mind are awakened, those years of my student days, the worries about what to write about for the final project, not being invited to a friend's party, the crush seeming to like someone else, my favorite shirt getting stained with ketchup, and so on.

Everyone knows that time can change many things, but no one expected it to change to this extent.

Eddie glanced at Anson, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "So..." he paused, drawing out the last syllable, "this project is your counterattack?"

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly, indicating his confusion.

Eddie added, "The Academy. You mean... Oscar Academy."

First Sony Columbia, then the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—Anson is indeed on an extraordinary and unpredictable path.

Anson laughed and waved his hand. "No, I have no such plans. Please don't overestimate me. I'm not that great. I'm just a nobody."

Eddie smiled but remained silent, quietly watching Anson and expressing his disapproval with his eyes.

Anson's smile widened. "To be precise, I'm not going to prove myself to them. You know, if you try to prove yourself to them, it means you have to play by their rules."

"Acting in biographical films. Cooperating with public relations and publicity. Appealing to their aesthetics. Not only that, there are countless social interactions, small talk, and compliments."

"That's their game, with a set of perfectly natural rules."

“I’m not going to play their game. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not James Dean. There’s no ‘rebellion without a cause.’ I have no intention of subverting Hollywood.”

Anson and Eddie both laughed at the joke.

"I plan to proceed according to my own vision and pace. I hope to create a film that combines commercial and artistic elements, one that can provoke some thought, but most importantly, one that allows the audience to enjoy a thrilling and exciting experience in the cinema, leaving them with an unforgettable movie-watching experience."

"Years later, when I think of this movie, what comes to mind is the exciting memory of shouting and yelling with friends and a group of strangers in the movie theater, and the wonderful memory of sitting in the dark of the movie theater with a group of people and experiencing the heart-pounding feeling, but it is more than that."

"However, I know things are not that easy. The idea in my mind may be perfect, but the actual operation and the final product are another matter. The process from an imagination or an idea to a real work is long and bumpy. It may succeed or it may fail miserably."

"So I've been trying to figure out the character, which isn't easy, but so far I'm finding it very interesting."

Eddie looked slightly surprised and glanced at Anson again. "Does this mean you don't want an Oscar?"

"What I mean is, I know the Oscars are just a game, nothing special, but for those of us who only watch movies occasionally, the Oscars are still the most familiar and recognized awards for the general public."

"If you tell me a movie won a César Award or the Palme d'Or, I might get nervous, afraid that showing my ignorance will give me away; but if you tell me a movie won an Oscar, even if I've never seen it, I'll cooperate and show an expression of sudden realization."

what!
Anson laughed out loud, "I never knew you were such a funny person. This imitation is perfect for Saturday Night Live."

Eddie stared at Anson with lifeless, expressionless eyes in protest.

Anson's smile widened. "No, I think my expression might not have been accurate enough."

“I don’t mean to distance myself. I know I’m in this circle, and whether I like it or not, I’m already part of this game.” “I’m not a pioneer, nor a rebel. I don’t mean to overturn the rules or break the circle, and I don’t think I have that ability. Although I play a superhero, I don’t believe I can save the world.”

"Or perhaps it's because I play a superhero that I know how difficult and arduous it is to save the world, and I don't want to shoulder that responsibility."

This time it was Eddie's turn. He couldn't help but smile. Was Anson just making fun of and attacking the Peter Parker character he was playing?
Anson's eyes gleamed with an "I know what you mean" light. Without pausing, he said, "To be more precise, I won't beg and plead for an Oscar. I don't want to cooperate with the Academy's public relations, constantly socialize, constantly smile and go through all sorts of troubles, and finally put all my bets on it with high expectations."

"If they're willing to give me an Oscar, oh God, I'll accept it with great joy..."

Eddie burst out laughing, "Haha."

Anson spread his hands. "I'm not that high-minded, nor that righteous. If they're willing to give it to me, I'm 100% willing to accept it."

"No, to be precise, I will dress up for the awards ceremony, show my most handsome side, and deliver a touching acceptance speech."

As he spoke, Anson took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, as if he was holding back tears that were about to burst forth.

But Eddie watched from the side, his eyes full of smiles, as dry as the desert.

Anson was completely unaware, "But if they are unwilling to give it to me, I can face life calmly. I have a good career, and that little golden statuette will not give me the recognition I need, nor will it change my views on this job. I intend to continue this momentum."

"If the price of an Oscar is a deal with the devil, I will refuse."

Turning around, Anson saw the disdain in Eddie's eyes—

Yes, disgust.

“Haha.” Anson laughed. “Eddie, do you regret becoming friends with me now? Don’t worry, you can always turn things around if you regret it. You can still cut off all ties with me now.”

Eddie ignored Anson's sarcastic remarks and said quietly, "You're refusing because your soul has already been traded to the devil."

Anson didn't deny it, but instead put his finger to his lips. "Shh. It's a secret."

Eddie was ultimately defeated. His lips twitched slightly, and finally he couldn't help but raise his head, shaking his head repeatedly, "It's too late, everything is too late."

After the jokes and banter, Eddie steered the conversation back on track, "So far, are the preparations going smoothly?"

Anson tilted his head, not answering immediately, but thinking seriously for a moment, "Everything remains to be seen."

"All theoretical preparations are just empty talk; you only know the outcome when you actually stand in front of the camera."

Eddie said casually, "You can be more confident. You're a great actor, you've always known what you want, and you're moving in the right direction."

Anson: "How do I know this is the right direction?"

"That's where you're smarter than everyone else," Eddie said, looking at Anson meaningfully. "Isn't that right?"

(End of this chapter)