America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 803 Best Director and Best Film

"Thank you, thank you, Academy!"

On the Oscar stage, David Fincher finally won the Oscar for Best Director. He glanced at the entrance leading from the stage to the backstage, where Martin was clapping.

After a ten-year journey to the Oscars, David Fincher has finally reached the finish line and achieved the desired result. He was overjoyed: "Thank you, Martin, you're the best partner! Thank you to my agent, thank you to every member of the crew..."

Nothing special, just the usual thank-you speech, and David Fincher went backstage amidst enthusiastic applause.

He reached the entrance, opened his arms, and hugged Martin, saying, "We fucking did it!"

Martin patted him on the back: "Perfect ending."

David Fincher released Martin and couldn't help but burst into laughter; there's no greater joy in life than this.

He was about to go inside when Martin stopped him, gesturing to the side with his eyes: "Wait a moment."

Right next to him, Best Picture presenter Nicholson was about to go on stage, but strangely, he didn't have an envelope containing the answer in his hand.

David Fincher certainly knew that the crew had another extremely important award to compete for.

The director gave the order, and Nicholson smiled at Martin before quickly walking onto the stage.

The final award of the evening will be announced soon.

The award ceremony took an unexpected turn. After presenter Nicholson read out the list of nominees, the video on the big screen suddenly changed, switching to the White House!

The audience at the Dolby Theatre and in front of their televisions were very surprised.

But upon closer reflection, it seems normal. Hollywood has always been closely linked to politics and is the stronghold of staunch supporters of the Democratic Party.

From its test screenings onward, Argo has been constantly linked to the White House.

On the big screen, in the White House press room, First Lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by her daughters, slowly walked in front of the camera holding a classic Oscar envelope and opened it.

The answer in the envelope was no surprise; she simply announced, "The Oscar for Best Picture is Argo."

At the backstage entrance, Martin and David Fincher high-fived each other in celebration.

Even if the outcome was anticipated, the answer still brings joy when it appears.

This represents the greatest artistic affirmation from Hollywood, and will inevitably lead to a surge in commercial revenue later on.

In the guest section, Graham brought the main cast and crew of "Argo" onto the stage, and Martin and David Fincher also came from backstage to the stage.

Since Louise was not present, Nicholson directly awarded the Oscar statuette to Martin and Graham.

Martin had been in the limelight many times before, and after gesturing to Graham, he stepped aside.

Graham delivered an acceptance speech on behalf of the cast and crew.

Argo was the biggest winner of the night, taking home four awards: Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.

Backstage, the award winners, holding their heavyweight Oscar statuettes, posed for a group photo in front of the giant Oscar statuette, arranged by the Academy.

Martin saw Spielberg again.

The Jewish man wasn't embarrassed at all and took the initiative to say, "Tom and I were really hoping you would join Bridge of Spies."

Martin wasn't sure what Spielberg was thinking, but he saw the project as very risky, and he couldn't possibly take the money he had worked so hard to raise and then pay someone else a high salary.

In the end, the director and the male lead made a fortune, but the movie lost money.

"I had no choice," Martin said helplessly. "My agent and everyone around me objected, thinking I shouldn't play any roles other than the absolute lead. They were afraid it would cause a chain reaction."

Spielberg couldn't refuse: "That's a shame, but we'll have to wait for another chance."

Martin shook his hand: "Maybe another chance."

After taking photos, Martin and the Argo crew headed straight to the Hilton Hotel for the "Oscar Night" party.

In the hotel banquet hall, the film crew celebrated wildly. David Fincher, having drunk too much, brought over a large glass of wine and, at the urging of Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicholson, insisted on drinking a toast with Martin.

A group of winners laughed and joked around to their hearts' content.

Jennifer Lawrence was pulled aside by Nicholson, who made her toast Martin: "You wouldn't have won this Best Actress award without Martin."

Martin had a drink with Jennifer Lawrence and said, "Don't listen to that bastard Jack. He has nothing to do with me except give you the Oscar."

"How can it be okay?" Nicholson specifically said, "This year I helped Jennifer win an award using the method you taught me."

He said in a low voice, "Your 'Most Rotten Award'."

Martin guessed these things just by looking at the Best Actress nominations.

He had a bad feeling that before long, competing to be the worst might become a mainstream PR tactic for the Oscars.

If the presidential election can be a competition of who's worse, why can't the Oscars?

After having a few drinks, David Fincher, holding his Best Director Oscar, sat down next to Martin and said, "I have something to tell you in advance. In two days, Netflix and I will hold a joint press conference to announce our full cooperation."

Martin understood what he meant: "I've already made preparations, so there won't be any impact." He laughed: "I'm also preparing to sign a cooperation agreement with Netflix."

David Fincher said, "The Academy looks down on Netflix, so I guess I'm cut off from the Oscars for good."

"Not necessarily." Martin remembered that in a few years, many top Hollywood directors and stars would be collaborating with Netflix, even universally: "Society is developing very quickly now, and internet streaming services are becoming a new force. The winds will change, and the public opinion in the industry might change by then."

David Fincher asked, "How?"

Martin said, "Making money is nothing to be ashamed of."

David Fincher couldn't help but laugh and said, "Didn't you take my director's notes? Want to put them into practice?"

Martin did consider it, saying, "I'm not good at this. You, Nolan, and Scott all think the same way, so I plan to try a small project with low investment, a very simple plot and scenes, and little actor interaction. Even if it fails, I won't lose much money."

"That's an idea," David Fincher offered. "If the opportunity arises, I'll dedicate an episode to you as the director, so you can get some practice."

Martin, quite self-aware, replied: "Aren't you afraid I'll mess this up?"

David Fincher considered it: "No problem, I'll assign you an experienced assistant director. Your fame and influence speak for themselves, and given Netflix's work style, they certainly won't have any objections."

Martin believes this: "I'll practice on my end first; I've already found the actors."

He had a brief discussion with Blake Lively before, and asked the latter to increase her online activity.

David Fincher clinked glasses with Martin again: "If you have any problems, feel free to call me anytime."

"I will." Martin drank the wine in his glass.

Midway through the party, David Fincher invited everyone to his house to continue the celebration.

Martin and Charlize Theron also went there, but soon left together and returned to Beverly Hills.

Upon arriving at the North Side of Sunset Boulevard, Charlize said to Martin, "You go home first."

Martin, puzzled, asked, "Not going to your place?"

Charlize said, "Don't come directly to my place. Go home first, then I'll build the overpass over there, and you can come over from the overpass."

"Why go through all this trouble?" Martin was too lazy to use a VPN.

Charlize replied, "It's more exciting when you climb over the wall; that's when things get more exciting."

Martin couldn't help but look her over and say, "You're getting more and more sophisticated."

"I learned it from you," Charlize urged Martin to hurry home.

Back home, Martin took a shower and changed his clothes. When he arrived near the wall of Charlize's house, the overpass with a handrail ladder had already been erected.

The feeling of Old Ma next door came instantly.

Martin went up the escalator, climbed over the wall, and found that the lights in Charlize's yard were not on, only the villa was lit.

The atmosphere is really great.

Martin moved with the lightness of a thief across the yard to the villa window and peered inside.

Charlize, wearing a gold one-shoulder dress and high heels, walked towards the window.

When dressed, South African diamond beauty is definitely one of Hollywood's top clothes hangers; her figure, temperament, and appearance are all top-notch.

Charlize had already spotted Martin outside the window. She quickened her pace slightly, braced herself on the suspenders, and pulled herself to the side.

Martin pushed open the window forcefully, braced himself against it, and jumped inside. He strode over, picked up the person, and carried him upstairs.

On the living room wall hangs a photo of Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend.

As Martin went upstairs, he turned around and glanced at the photos of the two of them again, next to the stairs and around the corner.

This really feels like sneaking into someone's house and trying to do something clandestine.

Martin thought of the cast of actors from his past life, including a super big shot who would always sneak into other people's homes and have heart-to-heart talks with Xiao Bao's mother in photos.

At that time, Martin didn't understand at all.

Now he understands that feeling.

Their combat power has doubled!

On Oscar night, amidst the hustle and bustle outside, Martin and Charlize retreated to their mansion and played poker for half the night, right under a giant group photo.

Martin also personally verified that Charlize, with her long hair and adjusted body muscles, doesn't look like a white version of Tyson from behind.

The following morning, the two were sound asleep when their cell phones rang, waking them up.

Charlize didn't even look at it before pressing the hang-up button.

But then the phone rang again.

Martin exclaimed, "Who has such a lack of public spirit!"

Charlize picked up her phone, glanced at it, and said, "Stuart Townsend."

She suddenly remembered what she had said to Martin yesterday, got up, went to the bedroom window, and answered the phone: "Is there something you need?"

"Hey, Sally, can we talk this over?" the person on the other end pleaded.

Charlize replied bluntly, "Get to the point."

She rested her hand on the windowsill and waved to Martin behind her.

Martin understood perfectly and strode over.

Charlize continued to answer the phone.

After a while, the phone call ended, and Charlize said, "He insists on coming."

Martin was also infected by Charlize's attitude: "Since they've come to us, let's do as we said yesterday."

(End of this chapter)