Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1258 Stammering acceptance speech

The next more important award, or the award that will be broadcast in the newspapers and TV the next day, is the best supporting actor.

The award was presented to Brenda Fricker, who won the Best Supporting Actress last year. The Irish actress, who looks a lot like Auntie, flew to Los Angeles specially to present the award.

She is also an actress who has received orthodox training in Shakespeare's plays. She speaks clearly and is very pleasant to listen to. Nominated were Al Pacino, who competed as Dick Tracy, and Andy Garcia, who competed as The Godfather Part III. Another Italian-born "gangster" Joe Pesci was nominated for "Goodfellas." But the most popular one is Graham Greene who played the Indian elder in Dances with Wolves.

The performance is excellent and has the blessing of playing an Indian. Ronald turned his head and looked to the side. Graham Greene was wearing a formal dress today and did not bring the Indian bird feather headdress. The whole person seemed confident.

In fact, Ronald knew that he was different from his appearance and was very nervous. When people are nervous, their expressions become stiff. Andy Garcia had an awkward smile on his face and maintained his handsome appearance. Al Pacino pretends to be sophisticated, and the character he plays wears very good makeup. If the accent hadn't been exposed, the audience might not have thought it was him. Joe Pesci lowered his head, as if shy. In fact, he was nominated for the same award ten years ago for "Raging Bull." But it is difficult for Italian actors who specialize in gangsters to win awards. That expression is actually embarrassing.

As a two-time nominee, Ronald, who was on pins and needles before the announcement of the results, knew the reactions of these people clearly.

But Diane didn't quite understand. She had never experienced such a process of waiting for trial. "Who do you think will win?" Diane was more concerned about this award because it was about a movie her husband invested in.

"No one knew the results except PricewaterhouseCoopers. Two accountants came in with us with the results. But the organizers usually guessed quite accurately. I think 'Kick Bird' (played by Graham Greene) The chances of playing a role are pretty good.”

It happened that the scene of the two whispering was captured by the broadcaster. The scenes of them talking to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were cut to the broadcast.

Ronald saw the camera movement, guessed the effect, and waved to Cruise and Kidman not far away.

"The winner is Joe Pesci, boy!"

"Uh..." Ronald waved halfway and put it down in embarrassment. My predictions were not accurate at all.

The television camera was still pointed at Ronald, and it would definitely be funny to show such an expression. Ronald simply stood up, clapped, walked out, and disappeared.

The red light on the camera didn't go on, though, because they were now cutting to Joe Pesci. He went on stage and took the statuette from the presenter. The following nominees who did not win the award are a bit like the death row prisoners accompanying them to the execution ground. These actors have been praised many times by critics for their acting skills, but their award-winning records are embarrassing. For them, not winning the award is actually a hundred times better than the nervousness before the announcement.

Only Graham Greene said "ha". He has won the most Sentinel Awards, so it was a little accident that he didn't win.

Joe Pesci took the statuette and stood awkwardly behind the microphone as if he didn't know what to do.

This award was indeed unexpected. Joe Pesci had long thought that as an Italian-American actor who specialized in playing bad guys and gangsters in Hollywood, the possibility of winning the award was almost zero, and he had long given up thinking about it. So much so that he didn't even prepare an award speech.

Joe Pesci was not a comedian like Whoopi Goldberg, so he was even more embarrassed if he was not prepared. He lowered his head and thought for several seconds, but his mind was still blank, so he simply said hastily into the microphone:

"It's my pleasure, thank you!" Then he turned and went backstage.

"Good guy, is he really not prepared?" Ronald was at the bar next to him, and he and Tom Cruise, who was also hiding, drank champagne and chatted.

"I heard from Marty that because of the good results in Home Alone, Joe has given up on improving his acting skills and wants to make a few more movies like this to earn a pension." Tom Cruise and Scorsese We have a good relationship with each other, and this time we are going to present an award for the best director. So I had a lot of dealings with the Goodfellas crew.

"It's really not easy for Italians to win such acting awards." Ronald knew that they actually had a small circle in Hollywood and took care of each other's resources. But the number of Italians is not large enough to have a monopoly like the Jews.

Most actors have a love-hate relationship with Italian actors. If I can play opposite them, I really like it, and I can improve my acting skills and reputation. But if it's a competitor, it's really annoying. Because Italian actors usually audition for projects directed by Italian directors, non-Italian actors are less likely to get the job.

Previously, only Italian actors like Robert De Niro, who performed impeccably, had won an Oscar for acting. Although Al Pacino and De Niro often filmed together, they did not reach the level of convincing the public, nor did they succeed.

"I'm surprised that Graham didn't win," Ronald and Tom Cruise continued.

"I heard a saying in the actor circle..." Seeing no one around, Tom Cruise also whispered in Ronald's ear.

"Cultural appropriation? What is that?" Ronald felt a little unclear. This is a concept invented in left-wing universities in the 1960s. It mainly refers to a mainstream ethnic group using the culture of another ethnic minority...

For example, if Graham, a white man, plays an Indian, it usually represents the exploitation of Indian culture, which is misunderstanding, simplification or disrespect...

"Then if I find an Indian actor to play a white cowboy, is it not cultural appropriation?"

"I think you're right." Tom Cruise nodded, indicating that Ronald understood correctly. This trend of thought is gradually becoming mainstream among Hollywood actor groups. For example, the past practice of having white actors apply shoe polish to play black people and Vaseline to play Indians is now a bit taboo.

The two exchanged rants about the idea for a while. It seems that if you want to win awards in the future, you have to avoid roles like this.

Ronald didn't know what to say, so he drank two drinks and returned to the awards hall with Tom Cruise. It just so happens that the award for best soundtrack is being awarded right now. The two of them stood in the aisle, waiting for the awards to be completed, then returned to their seats and changed back with the stand-ins who were sitting there for them (to prevent the camera from scanning the empty seats).

"Well..." A very seductive female sigh came from the stage. The eyes of Ronald and Cruz instantly moved to the center of the stage.

"Let's see who the nominees are..." Announced for Best Score were Kim Basinger and Alex Baldwin. The two also became a couple some time ago.

But that sigh was so reminiscent of Kim Basinger's performance in "Nine and a Half Weeks to Love You" that even Baldwin covered his face.

"Gulu..." Ronald heard himself swallowing a big gulp of saliva. Kim Basinger wore a low-cut white dress, and the folds on her chest made her figure more prominent. Paired with her messy hair, it's hard not to think of her wildness.

Fortunately, the music started playing at the same time and no one heard it. The band at the scene began to play the theme songs of the five nominated scores, and the stage began to let dancers perform live. Ronald also took the opportunity to return to his seat.

"The Oscar for Best Score goes to John Barry, Peter Buffy, Dances with Wolves."

Finally, the winner's name came out from Basinger's thick and sexy lips. Ronald applauded enthusiastically from below. Peter's father, Warren, is relieved that his youngest son will develop in Hollywood. This is a good explanation for Warren.

Although the field he is engaged in may be much smaller than that of his father, an Oscar statuette is an honor that can only be obtained by being the top musician among so many Hollywood musicians.

"I would like to thank my father and mother for allowing me to pursue my dreams. Of course, I also want to thank my grandfather for his gift that allowed me to buy expensive music equipment."

"Wow wow wow..." Everyone applauded. The speech for such a small award only lasted one minute, and Peter Buffy had to give a speech behind John Barry. Even though I read the note, I still stammered and finished it as quickly as possible.

"This..." Ronald heard this and felt it was different from others. Warren, how stingy are you? Even if his son wants to buy equipment, he still asks his grandfather to pay for it?

Next, it’s time for two big hits, Dances with Wolves and Dick Tracy .

From Best Editing to Best Cinematography, Dances with Wolves won them all. Dick Tracy won Best Art Direction and Best Makeup. On the other hand, The Godfather Part III, which was originally nominated for seven nominations and was highly popular, has yet to win a single award.

"Winning the Best Foreign Language Film Award is A Journey of Hope from Switzerland."

"Hey..." Ronald sighed. The film tells the story of a Kurdish family from Turkey who travel through Greece and finally arrive in Switzerland after losing a young son. Although the story of illegal immigration is good, the whole movie lacks artistry and just takes advantage of the subject matter.

If Yimou Zhang can come to Los Angeles for public relations and attend a few occasions, maybe he can win an award for the quality of "Ju Dou". After all, the background of this movie is also very foreign, and the quality of the movie itself is better than Journey of Hope.

……

"The next two award-winning actors are the leading actors and actresses of The Silence of the Lambs. Woo...a very good movie..." Billy Crystal introduced the combination of the two screenplay awards. "She's an FBI agent, he's a serial killer. She won an award here in the past, and he was eating backstage... ugh..."

"Hahaha..." The audience laughed at his introduction. Ronald clapped especially loudly. Billy is still very good, and he specially made a live advertisement for "Silence of the Lambs" for dozens of seconds.

"The two most beautiful words a screenwriter hears are the end." Jodie Foster grabbed the time and started speaking the scene without waiting. Anthony Hopkins seemed to understand the other person's body language and said, "Stay away from me..." He also moved more than a foot away from Jodie Foster, "two of the most challenging words they've ever heard. , just gradually..."

"Best Original Screenplay, awarded to Bruce Joel Rubin, The Ghost Story." "Thank you... ahem, I want to thank Ronald Lee, and the director... um..." Bruce Joel Rubin was also very excited and stammered, saying that Ronald and the director were two people. "His beautiful heart, well, filled every frame of the film."

Bruce Joel Rubin quickly speeded up and finished reciting his lines...

Ronald noticed that the broadcast camera was pointed at him again, and he quickly raised his hands and started applauding, hiding his smiling face. These people were too nervous. It looked like they were here for the first time and had no experience.

"The winner for Best Adapted Screenplay is Michael Blake, Dances with Wolves." Anthony Hopkins announced the second screenplay award.

"This is Dorothy, from the Sioux tribe in South Dakota." Michael Black also brought an old Indian lady to the stage. When Marlon Brando refused to accept the award, he asked an Indian girl to read a statement on his behalf.

This time, an old Indian lady came on stage with an authentic look, without any cultural appropriation. Michael Blake seems to have understood the organizer's intentions.

"My success starts with reading..."

"Gabi, Brava, Delta, Gaku, Urta..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoosh..." The audience saw Blake's acceptance speech, which was translated sentence by sentence into Sioux Indian by the old lady, and the applause was much louder than that of "The Love between Humans and Ghosts" just now.

Michael Blake, a white man, also attributed his win to the culture of the Indian tribe. In this way, every sentence is translated into authentic Indian language. It can be said that the exploitation of Indian culture is misunderstanding, simplification or disrespect at all.

As for why white people interpret Indian stories and characters, why Graham Greene is cultural appropriation and Michael Blake is tribute, Ronald has no idea at all. Anyway, judging from how vigorously the audience applauded, they knew a lot more than me.

……

All in all, Ronald's projects won awards. This is a good thing. Moreover, Dances with Wolves has won many awards, and it is very likely that Kevin Costner will win the Best Actor Award in one go.

"I'm delighted to be in Hollywood to present this year's Best Actor Award." After the break, an image of Sophia Loren in 1963 appeared on the screen. "The winner is, Gregory Peck, for To Kill a Mockingbird"

The lights came up, and the elderly Gregory Peck stood in the center of the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, Sophia Loren."

The organizers of the Oscars have completely developed the method of having a connection between the presenters and the winners this year. As time went by, the winners of that year became the presenters of the awards. Sophia Loren received an honorary Oscar.

"I dedicate this award to the three most important men in my life, my husband, without whom I would not be who I am today, and my two sons..."

After the honorable mentions, there are several highlight awards tonight.

"Best Actress is awarded to..." Daniel Day-Lewis, the previous best actor, opened the envelope, "Kathy Bates, Ten Days in Danger"

Kathy Bates looked like she was about to cry, hugged and kissed her husband, and then went on stage to receive the award. Neither Joanna Woodward nor Meryl Streep, who were nominated today, came. Those who came were all actors who had never won the Best Actress Award. Julia Roberts and Angelica Huston both had the same look on their faces, and she got the standard loser look that was even happier than mine.

The last Best Actress Jessica Tandy came to present the Best Actor Award. She was found to be seriously ill and all her hair fell out. So the audience gave her a round of applause (weird logic).

"The winner of the Best Actor Award is Jeremy Irons, a man of great wealth."

"Oops, I guessed wrong again..." Ronald learned his lesson and only spoke in a low voice to Diane, still looking at the stage and not attracting the camera.

"Applause, smile..." Diane reminded him, but the camera still swept over due to inertia.

However, the failed Kevin Costner seems to be in a good mood, and his smile is more natural than that of Julia Roberts after she lost her movie.

Billy Crystal was at the front desk again, and everyone was waiting for his jokes. The long awards show was actually quite difficult without stand-up comedians and comedians making fun of them.

"Some people say there are no real movie stars anymore..."

The audience held their breath and waited for his burden.

"I say they are wrong, ladies and gentlemen, Tom Cruise..."

The effect of this joke was good, and Tom walked down from the background amid applause.

"Five outstanding directors, using their excellent work, followed in the footsteps of their predecessors in the past hundred years and came here..."

Tom Cruise scanned the audience and made eye contact with each nominee.

Each nominated director will have an additional short film introducing scenes from their work. This is the only one among all the nominated awards that has a specially shot scene, which also represents the Oscar's emphasis on the best director.

"Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves..."

"Francis Coppola, The Godfather Part III..."

"Martin Scorsese, good guy..."

……

"This year, the Oscar goes to..." Tom Cruise glanced quickly at Martin Scorsese and opened the envelope.

"Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves!"

Without pausing, Tom Cruise finished reading the winners, stepped away from the microphone, walked to the side, and gave up his seat to Costner.

"Huh?" Ronald tilted his head and looked at Marty, but a sudden accident made his head, like many in the audience, suddenly turn to Costner on the other side.

The live reactions of the five directors present were projected on the screen. Coppola has already won the Best Director statuette and looks calm. Kevin Costner was so relieved that he didn't forget to touch his pockets when he stood up.

Martin Scorsese had an expression that he didn’t know how to describe. He clapped his hands a few times and then put his hands down...

"This..." Ronald was also shocked. Scorsese's reaction was a bit foul. He didn't show any smile, nor did he make the standard loser smile for the camera. He lowered his head and turned away, avoiding the camera.

The director on the scene obviously noticed this problem and immediately moved the camera away from his face. Fortunately, the TV audience's attention was focused on the winner, Costner. Not many people noticed this scene in the small grid within the picture-in-picture.

But the audience clearly felt it. This scene was so routine that when Costner began to deliver his acceptance speech, there was a buzz of discussion.

"I don't trust myself, just like when I was a director, I had to write everything down. I'm especially grateful to the two people who made this movie possible, screenwriter Michael Black, and producer Ronald Lee... …”

Costner was extremely nervous, took out a card, and kept reading and talking, still stammering. He regained his lost title today. He lost the Best Actor title and won an unexpected Best Director award. I had to modify the award speech originally prepared for the best actor on the spot.

"Thank you!" Diane nudged Ronald next to him, making him smile.

"Hmm..." Ronald smiled facing the camera. He still didn't quite understand, how could Scorsese lose to Costner, a first-time director?