America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 894 Come on, let's fight!

Alberta, Canada.

Four bright orange snowmobiles traversed the vast snowfield and entered a resort camp.

The people in the lead vehicle asked a question, and the vehicle, having been filled with special kerosene, left the camp and headed towards the nearby forest.

More than half an hour later, the snowmobile stopped in a valley.

In one of the cars, Nicholson handed Martin a pair of sunglasses and said, "Wear these to protect your eyes."

Martin zipped up his winter coat, put on his sunglasses, jumped out of the car, turned around and reached out a hand to help Nicholson down.

Once the old bastard had regained his footing, he said, "Be careful, it's cold and slippery in here. You can stay in Los Angeles, why come to a place like this to suffer?"

Nicholson said, "We need to give Leo a morale boost. Look at the current situation, if we don't come and encourage Leo, this bastard will go crazy."

The two approached the filming location of "The Revenant" with crunching sounds as they stepped through the snow.

The crew was about to begin filming when a production manager led Martin and Nicholson to the area where the trailer was parked and invited them to climb up a ramp to the roof of a vehicle so they could watch the filming from above.

The film set was on the edge of the forest, and Martin and Nicholson stood on a high point with a clear view of the surrounding area.

Beside a huge maple tree, Leonardo DiCaprio wore a blood-stained fur coat, his dirty hair was twisted into countless knots, and half of his face was covered by makeup, making it impossible to recognize him.

This outfit, putting everything else aside, is enough to elicit sympathy.

Filming was about to begin. Martin sat down in a chair, opened the bag he had brought, took out a thermos, and handed it to Nicholson.

He took another one, sipping hot tea while watching Leonardo's performance.

This was a bloody scene where Leonardo DiCaprio pulled out a knife, cut the steaming hot fresh beef into strips, and threw them into his mouth to eat.

Perhaps his performance wasn't up to par; he ate two pieces of beef, and the director yelled "cut!", forcing Leonardo to start over.

During the several filming sessions, Leonardo DiCaprio ate six or seven pieces of raw beef alone.

During a break in filming, Martin said softly, "I've never seen Leo work this hard before."

"He's already won an Oscar for Best Actor once, so he didn't really want to go this far." Nicholson took a sip of hot tea, feeling his chilly body warm up, and said, "To beat you, he chose this project, this pathetic role, and deliberately avoided this year."

"Maybe he can win another Oscar." Martin wasn't sure either, since Leonardo DiCaprio already had an Oscar for Best Actor, whether he could win another one for The Revenant.

However, this character does fit the "Oscars playing the victim" mentality perfectly.

Martin clearly remembers that Leonardo DiCaprio won the Oscar for Best Actor during this awards season in his previous life. Perhaps due to his influence, The Revenant will not be released until next year's awards season.

After a while, filming temporarily came to a halt. Leonardo DiCaprio came out of the set and, after being reminded by his assistant, waved to Martin and Nicholson.

It's too cold, and snow is falling, so the film crew wrapped up early today.

Martin and Nicholson got into Leonardo's rest trailer. After waiting a short while, Leonardo, who had removed his makeup and changed his clothes, came over from the makeup trailer next door.

Upon seeing his two best friends, Leonardo closed the car door and said, "I must have been cursed. I chose this movie, it's driving me crazy."

Martin looked him over and said, "You seem to be in good shape."

"In good shape? God, Martin, do you have any conscience?" Leonardo went to the side to grab a bottle of water to rinse his mouth, rinsing several times before saying, "Do you know what I just ate? Raw beef!"

Nicholson revealed his secret: "With the current level of prop making in Hollywood, it would be easy to create substitutes, but you insisted on eating real raw meat. Why?"

Martin automatically chimed in, "This is a publicity stunt. When the film is released, it can be used as behind-the-scenes footage for promotion, and during awards season, it can also show the judges how much I sacrificed for this role!"

Leonardo frowned, glared, and roared, "I've put in so much effort, and I can't even use it for publicity? You two know I'm an environmentalist, and I'm a vegetarian..."

Before he could finish speaking, Martin and Nicholson's eyes were fixed on his protruding belly, their sarcasm practically leaping out of their mouths.

Leonardo DiCaprio, with skin as thick as Martin Scorsese's, said: "Don't look at me like that. Am I a publicly acknowledged lacto-ovo vegetarian? I'm eating beef now for my performances! Raw beef, no less! I've put in so much effort, can't I ask for something in return?"

Martin laughed heartily: "You eat meat, you suffer, and you're in the right."

Leonardo held out his hands in front of the two bastards, then patted his face with one hand: "Look at this, it's covered in frostbite and tiny cracks from the cold wind. I don't need to play the victim, because I'm the one who's in the worst shape!"

Nicholson said, "What a pitiful billionaire."

Not satisfied with the initial attack and mockery, Martin added, "A billionaire abandoned by his true love, Gisele!"

Leonardo was so angry that he didn't want to say anything.

The three of them teased each other for a while before returning to a nearby resort with the film crew.

Winter is the peak tourist season here, and there are also ski resorts nearby.

Nicholson was getting old and had lost interest in skiing. Martin didn't want him to have an accident in the snow and ice, so he stayed with him on set.

The filming conditions were indeed harsh, and Leonardo DiCaprio, even without selling his identity, was truly miserable.

Every day, Leonardo DiCaprio had to brave the wind and snow to film, his face covered in frost and his hair a mess.

During dinner that evening, Martin specifically reminded him, "Have someone film the entire process of you filming; that will be more moving."

"I've had someone filming me the whole time." As he spoke, Leonardo glanced at the steaks in front of Martin and Nicholson and said, "Can't you guys have some decency? Throw all that beef away. I feel like throwing up just from the smell of beef."

This was a side effect of filming, and Nicholson wasn't going to indulge him. He said, "A juicy and delicious steak is my favorite. How can you change it? You have to be considerate of the old man's taste."

Leonardo knew that the two bastards opposite him would be lucky if they didn't kick him while he was down, so he simply changed the subject and asked Martin, "You're aiming for your second Oscar for Best Actor this year with 'Split.' I heard that the awards season has been a bit turbulent since the beginning, with a lot of people trying to cause trouble."

Martin glanced around and, seeing no one else, said, "It's not a lot of people causing trouble, but rather the African Americans and monsters within the circle."

Leonardo had been here for a while and wasn't very familiar with the situation in Los Angeles, so he asked, "Are they causing trouble again?"

"The aftermath of the last one," Martin briefly explained. "Because in the last year, no Black people received nominations for major individual awards. Just as November began, Spike Lee and the Smiths, along with other African Americans, announced a boycott of next year's Oscars, demanding reforms from the Academy to increase diversity in both the Oscars and the Academy."

Nicholson bluntly stated, "These bastards never try to improve their work; they just make a scene first."

Leonardo asked, "Did it work?"

Martin replied, "The college is committed to diversity reforms."

Leonardo suddenly burst into laughter, pointing at Martin and saying, "You bastard, you're in trouble!"

Martin shook his head: "It's not as complicated as you think. I've already made preparations. Did you think my jackpot was just a one-off thing? There are other things going on as well."

Nicholson asked Martin, surprised, "I know you were plotting something with the college's executive committee at the beginning of this year. Is there something I don't know about?"

Leonardo said, "It started at the beginning of the year."

Martin said, "To be precise, it started when I first noticed the Split project. Let me think about it, it's been almost three years, right? I was filming The Town in Boston at the time, and by chance, I learned about Billy Milligan. I was already planning for an Oscar, and then I contacted Jennifer Aniston, who had a Plan B film project."

Nicholson had heard Martin mention it: "That African American movie, called 'Moonlight'?"

Martin stated, "It's not just about African American films; it also involves gay and transgender elements."

He added, "By the way, 'Moonlight' has already started preview screenings in Los Angeles and New York, and the media and professional reviews are very positive."

Hearing these words, even Leonardo DiCaprio, with his star power, gasped in shock at the sheer volume of Canadian air: "The Academy is going to implement diversity reforms, and their Plan B is to release a film like this, with such excellent reviews. How are we supposed to compete?"

Nicholson, however, asked, "Aren't you afraid the Best Actor award will go to this movie?"

Martin smiled. "The Academy needs to appease the African American community, which has been protesting for several years in a row, and also demonstrate its determination to reform in terms of diversity. What award would be more suitable than Best Picture?"

Nicholson, the Oscars' mascot, naturally understood the reasoning behind it and nodded slightly.

Leonardo DiCaprio said, "This production team is ambitious."

"Jennifer Aniston has the final say on the film," Martin said directly. "When I get back to Los Angeles tomorrow, I'll have a good talk with Aniston and convince her to focus our award-winning resources on Best Picture."

He had done something similar before.

Martin thought it wasn't a problem, since it involved driving two cars at the same time.

With Julie and Aniston combined, Julie would betray him if he so much as cast a single finger.

Upon leaving Albert and returning to Los Angeles, Martin immediately arranged to meet Aniston in his hotel room.

As expected, Julie accompanied Aniston.

By the window, Martin, basking in the warm Los Angeles sun, said to Aniston, "A great opportunity to win the Oscar for Best Picture has arrived."

Aniston, a key opinion leader of the #MeToo movement, had already sensed the unusual atmosphere within the industry and the Academy, saying, "Moonlight is exactly what the Oscars are looking for right now!"

Julie gently nudged her.

Aniston snapped out of her reverie and asked Martin, "You're not thinking of getting Best Picture too, are you?"

Martin said, "Split is definitely an Oscar contender."

Without a word, Aniston stood up and took off her coat: "Come on, let's fight. Same rules as before, whoever wins gets to decide."

She looked at Julie: "You slut, stop sitting there and come help!"

Julie smiled at Martin and said, "I'm happy to help! Jane, let's show Martin the results of our hard work at the gym today."

Aniston knew this fight was coming and had been working out to prepare, especially practicing squats.

The goal was to defeat that demon king and gain the upper hand in Oscar's election.

There are many ways to compete for an Oscar, and Martin Scorsese and Jennifer Aniston have perfectly demonstrated the artistic merit involved.

The latter plan was good, but unfortunately it couldn't keep up with the changes.

When this award race ended, Aniston was defeated once again.

Martin has once again gained the initiative in choosing his competitors.

Julie helped Aniston rehydrate.

Aniston's blank mind gradually cleared.

She looked at Martin, her head hanging low for a moment: "I lost again. A bet is a bet, so you can choose whoever you want as the winner."

Martin stroked her cheek reassuringly and said, "You've improved a lot this time. I almost lost. How about this, I'll only aim for Best Actor."

Hearing this, Aniston sat up, somewhat moved: "Martin, you're not competing with me for Best Picture anymore?"

Martin smiled and said, "I can't let you back down every time."

"Thank you, darling." Aniston was initially excited, then realized what she meant and looked Martin up and down: "Something doesn't seem right, does it?"

Julie laughed so hard she almost fell over: "Have you gone mad from the shock?"

Aniston, not wanting to engage with this scoundrel, continued to say to Martin, "Your goal has always been Best Actor, hasn't it?"

Martin admitted directly: "This is the only award I'm going all out for."

Aniston didn't mince words, saying, "You win. I'll listen to you. Plan B won't be submitted for Best Actor."

She frankly said, "Actually, the male lead's acting skills are also average, and he would probably be rejected if he applied. His biggest advantage is that the role meets the needs of a diverse range of roles."

Julie then asked, "You should have thoroughly researched this year's seeded players, right?"

Martin took the remote and pressed play. A list of films and actors appeared on the projection screen: "As things stand this year, there aren't any particularly heavyweight films. Let's start with Best Actor. Excluding *Moonlight*, these three are the most competitive."

He used the laser emitter on the remote control to light up three films one by one: "Bridge of Spies," "The Danish Girl," and "Steve Jobs."

Jolie stated directly, "Unless Tom Hanks makes a huge breakthrough in his roles, it will be difficult for him to win a third Best Actor Oscar. Eddie Redmayne just won last year, so his chances are slim this year. Michael Fassbender... it's too difficult for a German to win Best Actor."

Aniston nodded slightly and looked at Martin: "Which film do you think poses the greatest threat for Best Picture?"

"Spotlight!" Martin pointed with his laser pointer and said, "The Oscars are a microcosm of America, a symbol of justice, and Spotlight perfectly embodies that justice."

He thought for a moment and said, "You need to find a way to make the voices of Black people and the LGBT community louder and clearer, which will help 'Moonlight' win awards."

(End of this chapter)