Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 75: Creating a Precedent

The director immediately turned the camera and gave Shi Lei a few seconds of footage. Shi Lei saw that he was being filmed and waved his hand.

Shi Lei showed his face in front of the whole world. Being nominated for three Oscars was a gimmick. It could be said that it added a little color to Shi Lei, but just a little color. Under Shi Lei's expectant eyes, it was finally the turn of the Best Director.

At this moment, Shi Lei fully experienced what it meant to be always in turmoil over what you can't get.

His mind told him that he had no chance of winning the Best Director award, but he couldn't help but look forward to it.

That’s human nature!

Always magnify that illusory hope.

The host glanced at the card and read aloud: "The directors nominated for the Best Director Award are: ..."

"Shi Lei from Million Dollar Baby.

The Aviator, Martin Scorsese.

Taylor Hackford in "Soul".

Sideways, Alexander Payne.

Mike Leigh, Vera Drake.

"The winner of the Best Director Award is..."

The host paused here deliberately, arousing the interest of everyone in the venue, and then said loudly: "The King of Soul Singer Taylor Hackford!"

"Congratulations Taylor Hackford!"

Shi Lei let out a breath and loosened his grip on the chair.

Hans patted Shi Lei on the shoulder and said, "Shi, there will be opportunities in the future."

Shi Lei smiled slightly. The result was already confirmed, and he was no longer eager. He nodded and said, "Hans, I'm fine. We already knew the result. I just had a glimmer of hope. Now that the result is confirmed, I'm not too disappointed."

Oscar for Best Director, if you fail once, try again, try a few more times, and you will succeed one day.

However, he needs to add a deadline to this award-winning campaign, which is that it must be successful within five years. By that time, the domestic market will have taken off, and he needs to give equal importance to both, or even shift towards the domestic market.

After the solemn awards ceremony, the biggest award at the Oscars, Best Picture, was presented.

The host glanced at the card and read aloud: "The films nominated for the Best Picture Award are..."

“Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Soul, Sideways, Finding Neverland.”

"The winner of the Best Picture award is..."

The host paused again when he said this, and the camera swept through the five crews in turn, showing the expressions of everyone in the five crews one by one. Shi Lei's expression was also full of trepidation. "Million Dollar Baby" was shortlisted for the 77th Academy Awards, at the same time and place as in the previous life, with better quality. Columbia was also very powerful, and most of its energy was used to attack the best picture. A Hollywood film and television company that can rate films, most of the judges will choose to go with the flow and add icing on the cake. There is no best director. It stands to reason that "Million Dollar Baby" is already a sure winner of the best picture.

On the premise that both the word-of-mouth and the box office are good, Columbia has tried its best, because this involves Dao Le, and Columbia is very motivated when it comes to interests.

Hans also contributed a lot because he was one of the producers!

But Shi Lei still couldn't help feeling uneasy!

How can I not be anxious!
He's not yet at the point of ignoring Oscar.

The same is true for Hans, Hilary Swank, Viggo Mortensen, Morgan Freeman, and Joel Cox.

Although this award is given to the producer, it is the highest award and it is a blessing for everyone when a film wins this award.

The crew of "Million Dollar Baby" was nervous and anxious, and so were the rest of the crew.

Finally, the camera freezes on the host.

"The winner of the Best Picture Award is Million Dollar Baby. Congratulations to Million Dollar Baby."

Warm applause broke out...

Shi Lei stood up excitedly!

After hugging several crew members, he walked up to the podium under the cameras of countless cameras.

Hans, as one of the producers, also took to the stage.

But he walked behind Shi Lei.

The award presenter handed over the trophy: "Congratulations!"

Hans didn't answer it!
Shi Lei received the Best Picture Oscar trophy from the presenter and said, "Thank you!"

He touched it and then, based on its weight, subconsciously guessed that it did not seem to be made of pure gold.

Shi Lei handed the little golden man to Hans beside him, who touched it and returned it to Shi Lei. He still knew himself well, he was just a manager who worked with Shi Lei, Shi Lei was the core of this film, and he was the one who got the award.

In the future, he will need to continue to cooperate with Shi Lei and must establish a good relationship with Shi Lei.

"You should say it. You are the biggest contributor this time."

"No, I think the biggest contributor is the entire crew." Shi Lei was modest, but also took the opportunity to give the old-fashioned acceptance speech.

"Thank you Oscar for choosing this film."

"I would also like to thank the crew members, Hilary Swank, Viggo Mortensen..."

"And the contribution made by every extra."

“Without them, this film wouldn’t be possible.”

“Thank you to Beijing Film Academy for cultivating me.”

"Finally, thank you to everyone who supports me!"

“Thank you to everyone who was there!”

"Thank you!"

Shi Lei did not innovate or try to be different, but just used the same old and hypocritical acceptance speech.

Such speeches are commonplace, but there was thunderous applause from the audience!

“Ooooooh!”

"Shi Lei is awesome."

The reporters who had previously argued about which awards Shi Lei could win had their hands clapping until they were red.

In China, people from all walks of life who were paying attention to the Oscars were also so excited that their faces turned red.

So inspiring.

This is the Oscar for Best Picture!
The first Chinese person in history to win the Academy Award for Best Picture was born.

This was a precedent for the Chinese and an unprecedented achievement, surpassing Wu Baige, Li An and Zhang Yimou in the Academy Awards.

Han Sanpin from China Film Group couldn't help but shout out, Chinese people have won many awards at international film festivals. Except for the Oscars, they have collected all other international film festival awards, except for the Oscars!
Now that Shi Lei has won the Academy Award for Best Picture, the highest award at the Oscars, are other Oscar awards far behind?
The last piece of the Chinese conquest of the global film and television industry will finally be completed!

All Chinese people ignored Hans beside Shi Lei, treating him as a transparent person who did not exist!
The applause stopped, and Shi Lei and Hans walked back to their seats. Acquaintances who had met them along the way came up to congratulate them.

Each one of them is extremely sincere.

"Congratulations! Shi."

"Congratulations."

"We may have a chance to work together in the future." The invitation to work together is not just talk. Ambitious actors all hope to work with Shi Lei. Shi Lei is a Silver Lion Award winner and now an Oscar winner for Best Picture. He also won an Oscar for Best Actress. Which actor would not want to work with such a director?

In response to the congratulations, Shi Lei thanked them sincerely, and he neither agreed nor rejected the invitation for cooperation.

If you really want to cooperate, you will naturally take the initiative to find him in the future.

Amidst the congratulations, Shi Lei and Hans returned to their seats.

……

After the Best Picture award was presented, the award ceremony ended quickly.

The Oscar organizers know that the guests attending don't eat much or drink much water.

So a dinner party was prepared.

A luxurious dinner is essential both to celebrate the success and to comfort the failures.

This meal also opened Shi Lei's eyes.

That's quite generous!
I won't mention the prawns and crabs, as they gave Shi Lei a panic attack. Burgundy winter black truffles and caviar were probably all priced by the kilogram.

There are also rows of Dillon champagne and wine.

Of course, apart from Shi Lei, no one thought about eating. They just quickly filled their stomachs and started socializing.

Those who are nominated for the Oscars are not simple people. They are all worth interacting with and we need to cherish our time.

(End of this chapter)