America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 634 Martin's Leonardo Oscar Strategy

"Harvey's matter is over."

Sitting on the living room sofa, Nicholson asked Lorraine to make tea and said to Martin and Leonard, "What are our goals for the next phase?"

Martin chimed in, "Of course, it's to help Leo win the Oscar for Best Actor!"

Nicholson nodded: "This concerns the trio's reputation, and it definitely needs to be resolved urgently."

Leonardo rubbed his increasingly chubby face and said, "Do you guys have that much faith in me?"

Martin said, "This is the best opportunity yet. I've mobilized all my actor friends to vote for you."

Nicholson said, "I've also spoken to all the old guys."

Leonardo DiCaprio humbly asked Martin Scorsese, "What was the key to winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor that year for a comic book adaptation?"

Martin stated directly, "The Santa Monica Pier incident was key to my winning the award because I prevented a horrific terrorist attack that could have escalated into a massacre."

He remained clear-headed: "The so-called clown's crazy performance, the so-called inability to extricate oneself from the role, and all kinds of hype are all secondary factors."

"That's right." Nicholson also saw it clearly: "This award is less about the performance and the role, and more about an award given to Martin by the Academy and the entire nation."

Leonardo sighed: "I can't do that. I can't exactly wear a mask and fight crime, can I? I'd just get messed with."

Just then, Lorraine came over with a teapot and teacups, and Nicholson brought up the old topic again: "The key to you is your attitude. As long as you marry Lorraine, all the judges will definitely approve of your attitude."

Lorraine put on a big smile: "Leo, I don't mind helping you."

Leonardo sighed, "Don't joke around like that, you're serious."

"Seriously, the key is that there's a power vacuum at the Oscars this year," Martin said, half-jokingly. "Georgina mentioned something: before Harvey's accident, he was preparing a new project about the King of England, with this year's Oscars in mind. Now that Harvey is finished, that project is gone too, and all of Harvey's preparations have been wasted. This is your chance."

He went on to say, "Next, you have to tell all the Academy members what sacrifices you've made over the years to earn recognition from the Oscars."

Leonardo DiCaprio was surprised: "I didn't make any sacrifices. I'm living a carefree life."

Martin reached out and patted Leonardo's large belly: "From a pretty boy to a greasy middle-aged man, all for acting skills, for breaking through his established image, isn't that a huge sacrifice?"

Nicholson interjected, "Martin is right. Many people still have the same impression of you, thinking you're still the same Jack Dawson you were back then, and that's what's hindering your winning awards."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Those who are too handsome or too beautiful are less likely to win awards."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "So, our most urgent task now is to change the image you have in the minds of many veteran judges and let them know what you have sacrificed over the years to improve your acting skills and to compete for an Oscar."

"What should I do?" Leonardo thought it made sense too, and turned to look at Martin: "You have the most bad ideas. Think carefully about what will be the most effective way."

Nicholson suddenly had a feeling that Leo was about to fall into a pit.

Martin made a shooting gesture: "It's simple, use your special skill. Don't look at me, it's not a three-hit combo, it's a water gun!"

Leonardo frowned: "Get a bunch of female models to play with water guns?"

"Of course not," Martin said seriously. "Although the weather is getting cooler, the midday sun in Malibu is very nice lately, and the beach is perfect for swimming."

Nicholson said, "Leo, you have a beach villa over there, right?"

Martin turned to Lorraine: "Want to earn some pocket money? Get your camera and video camera ready."

Lorraine immediately became interested: "Okay."

Leonardo suddenly thought of Pete and Ben Affleck, quickly crossed his arms, and stared warily at Martin and Nicholson: "What do you want? I'm your brother, you can't mess with me!"

Martin said, "Why would we mess with our own brothers? You're going to win the Oscar for Best Actor."

He recently reviewed the North American theatrical release schedule for the New Year, and found neither films featuring the British monarch nor black-and-white silent films.

Harvey was imprisoned, and those two films never even appeared.

…………

Malibu, a sun-drenched private villa beach.

Nicholson put on his sunglasses and said to Lorraine, who was setting up the cameras, "Hurry up, Leo and Martin are about to come out!"

Lorraine adjusted the camera and then went to get the other camera: "It's ready."

Nicholson shouted from the villa, "Aren't you two bastards done yet?"

Martin opened the door and walked barefoot onto the beach: "I'm here."

He picked up the water gun that was standing upright to one side and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

After waiting a while, Leonardo came out and picked up a large water gun as well.

Martin asked, "Are you ready?"

Leonardo gestured as if he were cocking a rifle and loading a cartridge, then said, "I won't hold back!"

Lorraine raised her camera and took pictures one after another.

Nicholson went behind the camera and filmed it himself.

The two people in the shot present a stark contrast.

Martin was wearing tight swim trunks, his muscles clearly defined, with smooth and natural lines, just like a super athlete.

On the other side, Leonardo DiCaprio was wearing floral shorts, with a big belly, chubby legs, chubby arms, and chubby face. He was nothing like the Jack of yesteryear.

Martin stretched his limbs: "Ready to begin..."

Before he could finish speaking, Leonardo launched a surprise attack, picking up a water gun and firing a burst at Martin.

The water jet sprayed all over Martin's head and face.

Before Martin could retaliate, Leonardo turned and ran, fleeing for his life.

Martin immediately gave chase and fired a burst of bullets into Leonardo's back.

The water jets hitting his back made Leonardo run even faster.

Holding a water gun in one hand and pulling down his flowery shorts with the other, he stuck out his big belly, held his head high, and ran freely towards the sun.

What do looks matter? What does body shape matter? Is a water gun more fun?

At that moment, Leonardo seemed to have grasped the true meaning of life.

Nicholson was already standing behind the camera, controlling it to only film Leonardo.

Lorraine did the same, completely ignoring Martin's pursuit and snapping away at Leonardo with her camera.

As Leonardo ran, he sensed something was wrong. He turned around and saw that Martin had already stopped and was taking pictures of his fat butt with his phone.

Leonardo covered his buttocks with both hands and yelled, "Hey, you bastard, why are you slapping my butt?"

Martin is a real jerk: "Make it into a poster and put it as wallpaper in a gay bar!"

He specifically added, "Don't worry, it won't infringe on your portrait rights. It will only use your buttocks, not any other part of you."

Leonardo turned and ran towards Martin. Just as he was about to speak, Martin raised the water gun he was holding in his other hand.

A jet of water shot out, hitting Leonardo DiCaprio squarely in the face, with a significant amount falling into his open mouth.

"Stop! Stop!" Leonardo shielded his face with his hands.

Martin put away the water gun and said, "Leo, you lost."

Leonardo, not wanting to deal with this jerk, shouted towards the villa, "Are you done yet?"

Nicholson, having had his fill of being a cinematographer and director, shouted, "Cut! Shooting over. Now moving on to post-production."

Leonardo wiped the water off his face and walked towards the villa.

When Martin caught up, he asked, "Are you sure this will really work?"

Martin Scorsese said very seriously, "Your role in 'Shutter Island' is no worse than any other film or role this year. Our purpose in doing this is to tell all the judges that sacrificing one's image for art during filming is nothing. I, Leonardo, even sacrifice my image in real life!"

He glanced at Leonardo's large belly: "Is there anything more convincing than this?"

Leonardo frowned: "Although I think these are all fallacies and heresies, why does the more I think about it, the more reasonable they seem?"

Martin said, "Because you approved of my plan, and because you are now a fat, greasy middle-aged man."

After entering the villa, the two changed their clothes. When they came out, Nicholson and Lorraine had already copied the videos and pictures to the computer and were watching them one by one.

The former asked Martin, "What kind should we choose?"

Martin stood behind him: "Choose the fattest and ugliest photo."

Leonardo's face twitched a few times, but he held back and said nothing.

He's going all out for the Oscar for Best Actor.

Besides, what does it matter if the photos are ugly? As long as he has money, fame, and status, blonde, long-legged young models will still throw themselves at him.

Nicholson clicked on the photo autoplay, and one photo after another of Leonardo DiCaprio's water gun appeared on the computer screen.

Martin pointed to one of them and said, "This one's good."

Nicholson paused the call: "It's really good, it perfectly captures Leo's fat and greasy side."

This scene was filmed right at the start of the water gun battle. Leonardo DiCaprio, holding a water gun in one hand and pulling at his floral shorts with the other, head held high, belly sticking out, ran wildly.

Leonardo covered his face, not wanting to look anymore.

Lorraine quietly moved closer to him and whispered, "Leo, I don't mind that you're fat and greasy. You're just as charming as you are."

Upon hearing this, Leonardo jumped two meters away, completely distancing himself from Lorraine. He thought to himself, "This is really too dangerous. She's clearly my niece, yet she's plotting against me..."

Martin was still selecting photos: "This one! And this one, they're all ugly. Make copies of them all and have Lorraine sell them to different newspapers."

Lorraine's eyes were practically glued to the dollars: "We're rich!"

Martin turned to a terrified Leonardo and asked, "Do you still have any photos from when you played Jack? Make a digital copy and send it to the media along with your current photos. The comparison will be more impactful and break down people's prejudices and preconceived notions about you."

Leonardo took out his phone and called his assistant, telling her to get on with it right away.

Not long after, the photos were sent to Leonardo's email.

(End of this chapter)