The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

How to open Chapter 1887
The newcomer was a sprightly old man with short, silver-gray hair that stood out like a lion's, each strand a sharp spike that boldly displayed his individuality. Yet his eyes were deep and calm, devoid of any arrogant arrogance, instead serene as water, exuding a wisdom that commanded the entire scene.

One appearance was enough to make it unforgettable.

This old man is Sid-Ganis.

For ordinary people, this is a very unfamiliar name; but for Hollywood, it is a big shot standing at the very top of the pyramid.

He is neither a director nor a producer, but a distributor.

So how did a mere distributor manage to stand at the top of the pyramid in the film industry?
The answer lies in the "Star Wars" series and the "Indiana Jones" series. The unsung hero behind their market release and marketing promotion is Sid Ganis.

Hollywood often says that the real commercialization of the film market and the formation of the summer movie season originated from the birth of "Jaws" and "Star Wars". Subsequently, the "Indiana Jones" series established the current distribution order of the North American film market. And all of this is inseparable from Sid Ganis.

This is Sid Ganis's status in the industry.

And that's still not all. He was responsible for the marketing and promotion of works such as "Forrest Gump," "Top Gun," and "Ghost."

Until the mid-1990s, Sid stepped back from his frontline role and joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he also served in a marketing position. He also worked as a distribution consultant for several companies, including Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and Universal Pictures.

His legend still lives on in Hollywood.

In fact, this was not the first time Sid and Anson had met tonight.

Although Sid only met Anson for the first time tonight through Tom Hanks' introduction, Sid was clearly quite curious about Anson and chatted with him several times.

Sid also admitted that he was very curious whether the release strategies for movies like "The Butterfly Effect" and "Spider-Man 2" were all Anson's ideas.

After their back-and-forth exchanges, Sid couldn't help but sigh at how fast times were changing. "It's a good thing I've retired, otherwise I would be completely obsolete now. All those old tricks don't work anymore. I know nothing about the popular culture of today's audiences."

The awards ceremony was in full swing, and the behind-the-scenes moments were equally lively, with Anson and Sid chatting happily.

At this moment, Sid reappeared, and it was clear that the two had become much more familiar with each other.

"Oh, it's a great pity that the audience's dream of seeing Anson Wood perform stand-up comedy tonight will not be realized."

As they approached, Sid made a joke.

Anson spread his hands. "I should submit a resume to Saturday Night Live."

Sid, “Jay Reno will be very, very sad.”

Back and forth, laughter surged in their chests.

Sid looked at Annie and chatted wittily for a couple of minutes. Annie made an excuse to leave, and Sid scrutinized Anson for a moment, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

Anson, puzzled, asked, "What's wrong?"

Sid waved his hand. "No, I was just thinking about who in the Hilton Hotel tonight hasn't imagined stripping you naked, piece by piece."

Anson: ? ? ?
Sid looked completely serious and unperturbed. "Well, that's part of life. If your thoughts are dirty, then the images you paint will naturally be dirty; if you remain pure, then that's an indispensable part of life. We should be more open about it."

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "I didn't say anything. So, what dirty images just flashed through your mind?"

They turned the tables on him.

Sid was speechless, and couldn't help but chuckle, "Damn, looks like I should go to the hot springs tonight and cleanse my filthy soul."

Laughter erupted again.

Without pausing, Sid asked, "Are you heading to the victory celebration? I can give you a ride." It was a casual, effortless, and perfectly natural response.

If one is not paying attention, no one will notice anything unusual at this moment. After all, Sid and Anson had a very pleasant conversation tonight, and it would be perfectly normal for Sid to give Anson a ride on the way to the celebration banquet.

But Anson knew that wasn't the case.

First, he needed to return to the hotel, change his clothes, and have a quick bite to replenish his energy before heading to the second party that evening.

Secondly, Anson has no shortage of chauffeured cars. Not to mention himself, the line of brand sponsors willing to escort Anson to the celebration banquet probably stretches all the way to Sunset Boulevard.

However, Sid still made the same request, focusing on... the footage of leaving the Hilton Hotel.

Sid needed the media to capture this moment.

As for the reason?

If Sid says it has nothing to do with Frank Pierce tonight, Anson will not believe it for a second.

Edgar and Eve were both away, and the two of them were so busy that they didn't even have time to drink water. They were simultaneously kicking Frank while he was down, promoting Anson, and building connections with everyone.

But Eve sent a message to Anson that the academy had already made arrangements.

Perhaps they are Frank's enemies, perhaps they are candidates vying for college president this August, or perhaps they are representatives of the reformists, but whoever they are, they have realized that an opportunity has arisen, and Anson is the key.

All of this, when combined, makes the answer obvious.

But does Anson resent it?
No, of course not. It's all about cooperation based on mutual benefit, mutual use, and mutual coordination to achieve a win-win situation.

Moreover, Sid was experienced and composed enough to proceed steadily and quietly throughout the night. Even though it was only four hours in one night, Sid did not rush things, laying the groundwork slowly and deliberately, showing sufficient sincerity and patience.

Even now, Sid hasn't revealed his hand, acting as if it were just a friendly conversation, preparing to escort Anson on his journey—nothing could be simpler.

That patience alone is admirable.

Anson looked at Sid, seemingly completely unaware of Sid's true intentions. "Of course. It's my pleasure."

"I'm going to grab something to eat first, do you want to come with me?"

Sid's eyes lit up slightly. Frank's biggest mistake was misjudging Anson. He wasn't just a pretty face; he recognized Anson's wisdom and intelligence.

Everyone knows that Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, and George Clooney are smart, but it's clear that if you're not paying attention, you might overlook that Anson's intelligence is in no way inferior.

On the surface, Sid remained calm. "Then it's just hamburgers. At this time of day, 99% of the restaurants in Los Angeles are closed, and all that's left are hamburgers and fries."

No wonder, after the Oscars and Golden Globes, you often see directors and actors standing on the street eating hamburgers; that's the real reason behind it.

Anson grinned. "The Michelin three-star chef who prepared the buffet for the awards ceremony is probably going to be heartbroken."

Sid shook his head slightly. "Those are for taking pictures."

As they spoke, the two of them started walking towards the exit of the Hilton Hotel. As soon as they appeared, they were engulfed by a barrage of flashing lights.

Click, click, click—the sound of the camera shutter was like a raging storm.

(End of this chapter)