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Chapter 542 - Chapter 542 - Always Useful

Amidst the laughter and applause, Xiao Ye raised the trophy, smiled, and walked back to his seat.

Most people who are nominated usually prepare their acceptance speeches in advance. People like Janet and Xiao Ye are rare. Even those who think they won't win will still consider "just in case" and prepare a few words. 

However, audiences prefer unprepared speeches, especially those filled with genuine emotions. It makes the audience feel that the moment is more authentic.

Typically, prepared speeches involve thanking a long list of people and delivering clichéd phrases, which viewers have grown tired of. They sit in front of the television not to hear the same old words from every award winner.

Now, Janet and Xiao Ye, their speeches are so heartfelt and moving, making the audience very pleased. More importantly, they are both associated with Laila. Whenever there's an award related to Laila and "Pirates of the Caribbean," the viewership increases significantly, leaving the behind-the-scenes observers marveling at Laila's incredible influence.

However, the people truly involved in the film industry are paying attention to Laila's talent for picking the right people. Janet is a renowned fashion designer, and thanks to her recommendation, she became a costume designer for films. Xiao Ye, on the other hand, hadn't even received formal training in makeup, yet Laila gave him the opportunity to work on makeup. This shows that Laila has a unique approach to hiring, which is something worth observing and learning from.

Whether this unique approach is due to her personal charm or because of the nature of a new company remains to be seen. It will depend on the future chemistry that unfolds in her movies.

At the same time, some people with aspirations have started to pay attention to talented young individuals. If Laila can find so much potential among newcomers, why can't their big companies do the same? Just look at the people she has brought on board. Loyalty alone is enough to attract numerous individuals. Who wouldn't want to nurture loyal employees who would serve the company for years?

This idea had started to emerge since Laila's New Talent Program began, which had already been quite successful. The horror films produced by the Phoenix company have become a trademark. When people want to watch a horror film, they immediately think of looking for films produced by Phoenix. And Phoenix never disappoints; whether it's a bloody tomato sauce movie or a mysterious and thrilling mind-bending horror film, you can always find one that suits your taste.

Next up was the Best Sound Mixing award, which they didn't win. Laila's only nomination for Best Film Editing also went to "Black Hawk Down," leaving her empty-handed on her first Oscar trip. Everyone tried to console her when they heard the results, but Laila herself didn't feel it was a big deal.

She knew that her film editing skills were primarily an advantage due to her knowledge of the future. In reality, her core skills were not as good as those of professional film editors. This realization made her aware of her shortcomings. While her editing skills were sufficient for low-budget films in the past, they were becoming inadequate for larger productions now.

She was faced with two choices: find a good film editor or enroll in a course herself. However, good film editors were not easy to come by, and if the work they produced didn't align with her vision, it could disrupt the filmmaking process. Moreover, she received an Oscar nomination for her film editing skills, which was more than what the majority of film editors could boast. Finding someone better than her, who also shared her vision, was a challenging task. Therefore, she felt that learning the relevant knowledge herself might be the easier route.

While the Best Film Editing award was lost, the surprise came when the Best Visual Effects award went to the team. With that win, "Pirates of the Caribbean" had secured three out of its six nominations.

The final and most prestigious nomination for the Best Actor was about to begin.

Compared to the Golden Globes, Roy felt less nervous now. But not feeling any nervousness at all was impossible. Even for someone like him, he couldn't help but hope for that "what if" moment – what if he won?

"Have you prepared your acceptance speech?" Laila leaned in close to him and asked with a smile.

Roy's ears felt like they had been brushed with feathers, and he could clearly feel her breath on his ear. He had to make an effort to maintain a serious expression, so as not to be caught on camera looking embarrassed.

"I... I did prepare," he admitted, a little embarrassed. He had indeed prepared and practiced in front of the mirror for a long time.

Laila chuckled and patted his hand. "It will come in handy, one way or another." Even if it didn't happen this time, that award would eventually be his! Because she was with him!

However, this time there might not be that "what if" moment. Commercial films are typically not favored by Oscar judges, and that's a consensus among many. George Lucas, the creator of "Star Wars," is formidable, isn't he? He created an era! But he has never won that little golden man.

Then there's the suspense master, Alfred Hitchcock. His films are also considered classics in the future, but he has never won the award.

So, Roy didn't have much hope of winning the award for "Pirates of the Caribbean." But does that mean commercial films can never win? The answer is also a definite no. The most obvious example is "Titanic," a film that swept the Oscars with 14 nominations back in the day, winning 11 major awards, tying a historical record and securing Best Director and Best Picture.

This shows that commercial films are not necessarily shut out. They just need to turn commercial success into a miracle.

And Roy's competitors this time are all-powerful. Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Russell Crowe – any one of them is a top-notch Hollywood star. They have both fame and skill. Roy, as a relative newcomer, cannot compare to them.

When the presenter announced Denzel Washington's name, the audience responded with exceptional applause and cheers. Denzel not only won the hearts of the audience with his performance in the movie but also stood on stage as the second black actor in Oscar history to win the Best Actor award. This made him a celebrated figure for the audience.

Discrimination is something Americans won't openly discuss, but everyone knows it's there. To succeed as a black actor, you have to put in much more effort than your white counterparts. Laila, with her Eastern soul, doesn't harbor any prejudice against black people. She respects anyone who strives for their ideals and, therefore, gives Denzel the biggest round of applause.