America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 398 Art Exchange

In the business club of Beverly Hills, many people from the academy were having an internal gathering. In addition to the old men who worked at the academy, such as Warren Beatty, some senior members also came.

These people all have one thing in common.

White male, 60 years of age or older.

Warren Beatty found Nicholson and asked, "I heard you've been up to some trouble lately?"

Annette Bell deliberately teased him: "Jack, you've led two of the most promising young people in the industry astray."

"That's not right, it wasn't me who led you astray." Nicholson didn't want to take the blame: "Those two bastards led me astray, okay!"

Warren Beatty reminisced about his younger days: "Remember you, me, and Malone, the three of us who turned Sunset Boulevard into a never-ending nightclub? Now we're all old."

Nicholson shrugged: "Malone went to see the Almighty, you went back to your family, and I'm semi-retired. Our era is over, and people are almost forgetting about us."

Annette Bening asked, "So, you want to make your presence felt?"

Nicholson denied it: "Of course not, I really like Blanchett, especially her sharp features, she's so distinctive."

Annette Bening laughed: "Your way of showing affection is so unique, it's infuriating."

William Fiedner, who was standing nearby, said, "You made us both get yelled at by an Australian woman."

Nicholson sighed, "I didn't expect her to do this either..." He shrugged, "Blanchett apologized publicly, and I think she realized her mistake. She cried very hard at the press conference."

Warren Beatty shook his head: "A woman's tears."

Nicholson spread his hands: "She has the freedom to speak."

“That’s right, she can say whatever she wants; God has given her freedom of speech.” The college president, Sidney Ganis, who was nearby, couldn’t help but interject upon hearing their conversation: “But everyone should be responsible for their own words.”

Warren Beatty and William Fiedner, two older white men, completely agreed with Sidney Ganis: "That's absolutely right."

The academy's authority is its authority; how can it tolerate arbitrary questioning?

Nicholson argued, "Blanchett didn't do it on purpose. Maybe she's had it too easy these past few years, she..."

Sidney Ganis shook his head: "People like her should go through more trials and tribulations; it will be good for her life."

Although the position of college president is more of a symbolic honorary title and does not actually have much power, who can ignore his words during awards season?

This is the representative chosen by the white male students of the college.

Not just this small circle, but everyone around them nodded in agreement.

They've seen the video of Cate Blanchett yelling at Nicholson, and they've also seen the video of her tearfully apologizing at a press conference.

But most people automatically ignore the latter and instead remember the former.

They are old, their memory isn't so good, they're a bit willful, a little petty, and have a bad temper, which is all understandable.

As for not understanding, it doesn't really matter. Being a runner-up like Leonardo DiCaprio is a test, while some people don't even have the chance to be a runner-up.

That afternoon, many older white men declined invitations to preview screenings and film analysis sessions for "The Queen Elizabeth II".

The entertainment media, with their keen sense of smell, noticed the sudden shift in public opinion, and many critics in Los Angeles also refused to attend film analysis sessions.

…………

In a screening room at Warner Bros. Studios, an internal preview screening of "The Reader" has just ended.

As the thick curtains were drawn back, enthusiastic applause erupted.

Martin and Kate Winslet stood up one after the other and bowed slightly to their surroundings.

"Kate, Martin," Daniel praised, "you two created two vivid and nuanced characters; it was a truly brilliant performance."

Martin, without a hint of modesty, stated, "I also believe this is the best performance I've ever given in my career."

Kate said directly, "Martin is really outstanding. During filming, he helped me get into character in so many scenes."

Another person said, "This film will have preview screenings next month, and I believe it will definitely be a hit during awards season, especially for the male and female leads."

This is a standard award-contending film, with the priority for awards being Best Actress, followed by Best Actor.

The screening ended there. Daniel chatted with Martin and Kate for a while before returning to his office to have his team further refine the awards season public relations and marketing plan.

After he left, Kate called out to Martin, "Want to find somewhere to talk for a while?"

"Okay, where to?" Martin asked.

Kate didn't hesitate at all, and pulled him away, saying, "I'm staying at the Burbank Hotel."

Martin understood what she meant, of course, and stuck to his usual principle: "Wait a minute, I'll borrow an inconspicuous car."

Kate nodded: "You're so thoughtful."

Martin borrowed a Volkswagen, picked up Kate, and drove from the Warner Bros. Studios underground parking lot directly into the Burbank Hotel's underground parking lot.

Kate, in her early thirties, was at the height of her sexual prowess, and she devoured Martin as soon as she went upstairs.

Martin doesn't even need to do anything special.

Through enthusiastic exchange, the two artists quickly reached a state of perfect harmony.

After exchanging pleasantries, 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 down opposite Martin, and asked, "I heard you only plan to attend some of the promotional events and film analysis sessions for 'The Reader'?"

Martin stated directly, "I'll be leaving Los Angeles soon to film a new movie, so I don't have much time."

He then pointed out a key point: "You want to win Best Actress, right? I'll just get a nomination. There will be a professional team to handle it. If I show up too often, it might scatter your votes."

"You're so thoughtful of me, shouldn't I thank you properly?" Kate deliberately stared at Martin.

Martin, thick-skinned as ever, met Kate's gaze and scrutinized her carefully: "I don't mind if you thank me properly. You should thank me for more than just this one thing."

Kate was confused: "What else did you do?"

"I've taken care of one of your most competitive rivals beforehand." The shameless Martin grabbed Nicholson's banner and hoisted it onto his own shoulder: "Cate Blanchett specifically said that if you win, you have no chance of being nominated this year."

Finding a leader means that when something goes wrong, the leader takes the blame, and the subordinates collect the profits from the leader's good deeds, right?

He lowered his voice: "I called Jack to Paramount Studios."

Kate already knew what Martin was talking about and understood what he meant.

She has known Leonardo DiCaprio for over a decade and understands what kind of people older white men in Hollywood are.

"Queen Elizabeth II has had a preview screening," Kate said slowly. "It's said that many critics and industry insiders declined invitations to preview screenings and film analysis sessions."

Martin said, "Those old men at the college are spreading rumors, and the direction they're pointing is very clear."

Kate's gaze swept over him: "I'm full and tired today. I'll thank you properly next time."

Martin took a sip of water, sat down opposite her, looked her over carefully, and said, "You're not doing a good job managing your figure."

"It's not that it's bad." Kate didn't mind at all, and even said directly, "I've never really focused on managing my figure."

She swayed her body: "Don't you think this is just right?"

Martin recalled a terrifying experience from his past life: "Indeed, if you're muscular, you'll bump your pelvis and it will hurt."

Kate laughed and nudged Martin's water bottle with hers, saying, "I think it's great right now too."

Martin stated, "The academy and critics love to see exquisite beauty destroyed."

Kate nodded slightly and changed the subject: "You've always been adept at dealing with the media and public opinion. For an actress like me, after ruining my appearance and established image, are there any other ways to increase my chances of winning awards?"

The conventional methods are there: spend money to build a good reputation, invest in public relations and publicity. Even without Martin saying it, Kate knows this.

All Martin could think of were crooked and unorthodox methods: "Actually, female celebrities have an advantage when competing for the Oscars, an advantage that male celebrities don't have—a huge, innate advantage."

"Seduce every male judge?" Kate clearly had the wrong idea.

Martin was furious at his lack of self-respect: "You lecherous bastard, do you have any brains other than sleeping?" He emphasized, "I'm talking about women's natural advantages."

Kate deliberately cupped her chest: "Is it this?"

Martin, too lazy to make her guess anymore, said directly, "Public opinion and public sentiment tend to favor pregnant women. When one of the frontrunners for the Oscar for Best Actress frequently appears in the media with photos of her pregnant belly, won't that affect the judges' mentality?"

Kate immediately agreed, as she had been a mother herself and vividly remembered the tangible and intangible benefits she had received during her pregnancy.

Society, regardless of its social standing, generally treats pregnant women very well.

Kate's gaze immediately fell on Martin, as if she were pondering something important.

Martin realized something was wrong and warned, "Kate, don't even think about doing anything with me."

"Sam is getting old after all." Kate has always had artistic aspirations, and she has devoted a great deal of effort to art during filming, without caring about paying a little more.

Martin was startled, feeling like a lion facing a lioness in heat. He quickly added, "Kate, you don't need to do this. As long as you conduct legitimate public relations and publicity, your chances of winning are very high. I asked Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, who are core members of the academy. Their impression and evaluation of you are a hundred times better than Leo's."

Martin suddenly remembered something, got up, rushed to the trash can, took out the condoms inside, ran into the toilet, and flushed them down the toilet.

It seems this thing will need to be disposed of properly later.

Kate sat on the sofa and smiled at Martin: "I didn't say to use this method."

For safety reasons, Martin specifically said, "It's late October now, less than three months until the vote in January. Three months isn't enough time for a noticeable pregnancy to show, it'll be too late."

This time Kate listened. She had children before and understood her own body's characteristics; three months was indeed not very noticeable.

Martin finished dressing: "That's enough for today. Let's go back early to prepare for the preview screening."

(End of this chapter)