America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 652 I Don't Want Money

This result was exactly as the media predicted, offering no surprises whatsoever.

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Leonardo strode confidently onto the stage, opening his arms to embrace Martin and Nicholson respectively.

The latter took the Oscar statuette from the emcee and handed it to Leonardo.

Martin automatically stepped aside; the star of the show was now Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio!

The applause lasted for a long time.

"I'm so excited, I don't know how to describe my feelings right now. This is probably the happiest moment I've ever had as an actor." Leonardo knew that the Academy had the three of them here to attract attention and boost ratings.

He specifically said, "In the past, people would always ask me Oscar math problems, asking which of the four Oscars in our Iron Triangle was missing. Now I can tell them that there are five Oscars in the Iron Triangle, and everyone has one!"

Laughter and applause erupted from below.

Leonardo quickened his pace: "Thank you to the Academy, thank you to the judges, thank you to director Scorsese, thank you to my team and everyone on the 'Shutter Island' crew, thank you Kate, you know, I've always loved you all these years! Thank you Martin and Jack, even in heaven and hell, our friendship will continue, and God can't separate us!"

With only 45 seconds allotted for speaking time, the reminder drum sounded, and before Leonardo left the microphone, he beckoned Martin and Nicholson to go backstage together.

Leonardo glanced at the little golden statuette in his hand and said to Martin, "You're a genius. Your 'ugly' strategy actually worked."

Martin said, "Because the Oscars need a few years to adjust to the new era without Harvey Weinstein's PR."

This isn't just an Oscar for successfully selling ugliness, it's an Oscar for successfully selling a pregnant belly.

Natalie Portman, who looked like she was about to give birth at any moment, won Best Actress.

Tonight's four awards have been completely divided up, with David Russell taking home Best Director and "True Grit" winning Best Picture.

After the awards ceremony concluded, most people headed to the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel for the "Oscar Night" party.

"Cheers to the Oscars!"

Leonardo raised his champagne glass and clinked glasses with Martin, Kate, Nicholson, and others: "Thank you all for your support. After this is over, I'll go to my celebration party. We're going to drink until we drop tonight."

Martin said, "Leo's going to bleed a fortune tonight. We're going to eat him out of house and home and drink him out of house and home!"

"No problem, come on over!" Leonardo didn't forget to tease Martin: "I have a question for you three. You have three Oscar-winning actors in your trio, so who doesn't have one?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Martin directly gave Leonardo the middle finger.

Jennifer Lawrence came over from the group congratulating Natalie Portman, took Nicholson's arm, and said, "When I'm aiming for an Oscar again, will you give me a baby?"

The Jewish woman's successful sale of her belly made her quite resentful.

Nicholson said, "This method can only be used once; it won't work as well the next time."

He pointed at Martin: "The founder is here, don't go around saying anything."

Jennifer Lawrence looked at Martin with eyes full of admiration, and suddenly remembered that Martin had given her an idea when she attended the Cannes Film Festival last time, which had been a great way to attract attention.

It's a pity I forgot on the Oscars red carpet this time. Next time it's an important red carpet, I'll definitely fall beautifully!

Martin, holding a glass of wine, went to the set of "Gone Girl." The film's content and themes were too politically incorrect, and the crew received many nominations but won none of them.

He saw Menez wave to him from a distance, then embrace Celine Dion, who was performing at the Oscars that night, and leave the banquet hall.

This is what a true winner in life is like!

Martin sighed inwardly, realizing that the life he had been striving for but could not achieve years ago had been attained by Mr. Menez with ease.

David Fincher also noticed: "You little guy, you're admirable."

Martin nodded: "That's right, that was my goal before: to find a rich woman and live a carefree life."

"It's not too late," David Fincher said. He sighed. "Another failure."

Martin reassured him, "Let's gather our strength and prepare for next time."

David Fincher said, "Argo has all the qualities of an Oscar. If it doesn't win an award, I'll stay away from the Oscars and say goodbye to the Academy."

Martin specifically advised, "David, if you're going to work with Netflix, you'd better wait until after the 85th Academy Awards."

Hollywood today is actually quite resistant to streaming media. If news breaks that David Fincher is making a Netflix film midway through his Oscar campaign, it will greatly affect his image among the conservatives.

As is well known, the conservative faction remains the core of the academy.

David Fincher said, "Filming won't start until the second half of the year. I've already started preparations. In the first half of the year, I plan to find some time to go to Tehran in person to see the situation there and visit the ruins from that time."

Martin said, "It would be best to go under the guise of film art exchange."

When someone approached, David Fincher excused himself, saying, "You two chat, I need to talk to someone about going to Tehran."

Anne Hathaway remembered Martin's words and went to find him as soon as she entered the banquet hall.

The two arrived at a secluded resting place. Annie's large eyes were misty, as if she might cry at any moment: "I was an idiot, a fool, a moron. I had no vision and no brains. It was all my fault back then, Martin. Can you forgive me?"

Martin said softly, "What happened back then is in the past. There's no right or wrong. Let's not bring it up again."

Anne reached out and grasped Martin's hand firmly: "But I've never forgotten you, and I've always cherished the wonderful times we spent together."

She decided to go a little bigger: "I like the feeling of being filled both up and down at that moment."

Martin said, "I have a girlfriend now and I have no intention of breaking up with her."

"Elizabeth Olsen, I know." Anne didn't believe things would stay like this forever: "I'll wait for you, I'll always wait."

Martin knew his ex-girlfriend well: "There's no need for that. You can talk to me if you have any problems."

Whether or not to help depends on the situation.

Anne said softly, "I have some loan debts." Afraid Martin would misunderstand, she quickly explained, "I don't want the money. I just think you've achieved a lot in the commercial film industry and know a lot of people. Could you recommend me for a role, a commercial type of role?"

Martin understood. In fact, he knew a little about Anne Hathaway's situation; her fame far exceeded her actual income.

Turning his head, he happened to see Nolan. A thought struck him, and he said, "Let me ask around for you first. I'll let you know if I have any news. Your phone number hasn't changed, has it?"

Annie blinked her big eyes: "No, I've been using that number all along, hoping that one day you'd call me."

She then asked, "Should we leave early?"

Martin is busy tonight: "Jack and I are going to celebrate Leo winning Best Actor."

Anne said, "You can call me anytime."

Martin mumbled something, left, and went to see Nolan on his way back.

"Chris, the script for 'The Dark Knight Rises' that you showed me last time, there's an important supporting female character, Catwoman." Martin asked directly, "Have you cast her yet?"

Nolan corrected him first: "It's not the supporting actress, it's the leading actress!" He added, "The auditions haven't even started yet."

Martin said, "I'd like to recommend an actress. How about Anne Hathaway, the host tonight?"

In Nolan's eyes, Martin was very reliable at work, and he readily agreed: "Have her agent contact the production team, get the script for the role, and attend the third audition."

Martin didn't mince words with him: "I'll have her call Emma later."

After a brief celebration at Leonardo DiCaprio's award ceremony, a large group of people went to his mansion in Brentwood for the real celebrations to begin.

Preparations had been underway for some time, and the party company sped up its setup as Leonardo DiCaprio received his award during the live television broadcast.

Dozens of people arrived one after another and partied all night.

Unexpectedly, Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady also came.

Leonardo DiCaprio invited him.

Martin took a sip of his drink and said to Nicholson beside him, "Leo probably gave all his heart to Giselle, and from then on he became a complete scumbag."

Nicholson was a real jerk: "It's a shame we didn't attend Giselle's pre-wedding party."

"Let's not talk about this anymore," Martin said. "After all, this is Leo's true love."

Nicholson nodded: "Now that bastard Leo has won the Oscar for Best Actor, he said he wanted to organize a big gathering of Asian actresses."

Martin glanced at Leonardo, who was talking to Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady: "If he can't organize it, I will."

For the past two months, Thomas has been negotiating a commercial endorsement deal with Samsung Mobile. The negotiations are almost complete, and a formal contract is expected to be signed early next month.

Leonardo DiCaprio came over carrying a bottle of wine, plopped down in a chair, poured himself more than half a glass, and said, "I'll drink this first!"

He tilted his head back and finished the drink, then said to Martin, "Without you, I wouldn't have won Best Actor this year."

Nicholson agreed: "According to my prediction, you might need another five or six years to win an award, but Martin first got rid of Harvey Weinstein, and then came up with a strategy to make you look bad to win an award..."

"So I have to thank Martin!" Leonardo leaned over, put his arm around Martin's shoulder, and reminded him, "Of the three of us, you're the only one who hasn't won Best Actor yet. Hurry up and win one, don't drag us down, or Jack and I will lose face!"

Martin didn't mince words: "Very well, very well! Since you've said that, next year, cast all the votes you can mobilize and influence for Best Actor for me!"

Leonardo replied, "No problem!"

(End of this chapter)