"Alright then, Director Moran, may I ask what you think about your film winning three major awards but none for yourself?" Anthony skillfully modified the question to match Laila's earlier words. After all, she was the one who mentioned it, so he wouldn't be blamed for it.
Laila didn't mind: "What do I need to think? Happy? Yes, I'm very happy. My mother, my friends, and my film crew have all received recognition for their hard work, and I'm genuinely happy for them. As for not winning a director's award, it's not surprising. I'm still young, and I have a long way to go."
"So, Director Moran, do you believe you will win the Best Director award in the future?" Anthony deliberately asked. Some directors, even after numerous nominations, never managed to win an Oscar. Would her acknowledgment of such ambitions become a marketing point?
Laila saw through his straightforward tactics but didn't mind.
"Yes, I do believe I can win the award as I grow. Or, can you find any director who doesn't want to win such an award? It's my first time bringing a film to the Oscars, so not receiving a nomination is not surprising. It just means I have room to improve when compared to the many talented directors out there. However, the advantage I have is that I'm still young and have plenty of time to gain experience. Moreover, I started at a relatively high point, didn't I?"
Few directors could have their first film make such a significant impact worldwide. Few directors could easily earn over 300 million dollars in box office revenue with a single film. She had the confidence to say such things.
Regarding "Moulin Rouge's" performance at the Oscars, Anthony continued, "The film received eight nominations but only won one award. Do you have any thoughts on this?"
Laila shrugged, "I don't have any thoughts on it; whether other films receive recognition or not is their own business. If I had to say something, the fact that it received so many nominations indicates that it's a good film. The glory of musicals has been gone for too long, and we need more films to continue that brilliance. In this regard, 'Moulin Rouge' set a good example."
Anthony didn't miss the opportunity to ask, "Is that why you took on 'Chicago'? To revitalize musicals? Or to win awards?"
Laila looked at him with an enigmatic smile. If she didn't know he was playing for a particular team, she would have thought he was a competitor. The question was rather sharp, and it was risky to ask such a question, even if the production side indeed had such intentions.
"I took on 'Chicago' mainly because I was interested in the script. I had accompanied my mother to watch Broadway musicals before, although not this one. My first impression at that time was that musicals were quite entertaining. However, many aspects of musicals are no longer appealing to young people. When I read the script for 'Chicago,' I thought maybe I could make young people fall in love with musicals again through this film. I don't want them to misunderstand that musicals are outdated. There is still much to explore within the genre."
At this point, Anthony couldn't help but silently praise the boss for her ability to evade the question. He had asked if she was riding on the coattails of someone else, and she turned it into a vision of rejuvenating a genre.
He admitted that it was a fantastic response. It was better than answering "yes" or "no," as either answer might have generated disagreement among readers.
"Tell us about your love life. How is your relationship with Roy recently?"
Laila glanced at him and felt like this "casual" question was quite tricky, possibly with some hidden agenda.
"It's very good; we've always been good. We don't spend much time together, but every time we meet, it's always a happy time."
"About your story of how you and Roy met, many people are quite familiar with it. Now, the young man you picked up from the street has been nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, surpassing your achievements. Will this affect your relationship?"
"..." Laila really wanted to kick this guy out. "Do you even remember your boss's last name?"
"Of course, it's Moran," Anthony calmly adjusted his glasses. "How could I forget my boss's last name?"
Laila raised an eyebrow and asked, "So are you thinking of switching jobs?"
"I don't have that thought at the moment; I think my current job is pretty good," Anthony replied seriously.
Laila couldn't help but give him a wry smile. "The questions you just asked make me feel like you're considering changing jobs but don't want to pay the penalty for breaking the contract, so you're hoping I'll fire you, right? Do you know that just based on what you said, I could have you fired and ask you to pack your bags and leave immediately?"
"I believe I know exactly what I asked; you just haven't given me an answer." Anthony's calm expression made those who had come with him sweat. Is it really okay to speak to the future boss this way? She could make you leave and eat your own words!
Even though you know your boss wouldn't actually do that, suddenly asking about the boss's love life and using such sharp phrasing was a bit audacious.
Anthony, however, had no thoughts of his own about asking an inappropriate question and just looked at Laila, waiting for her response.
After a brief pause, Laila, who had been maintaining a stern expression, couldn't help but laugh. She understood why she had wanted to recruit him so badly; this guy was genuinely likable. Most importantly, he had a knack for striking a balance in these situations, accomplishing his objectives without really offending anyone.
She shook her head, slightly helpless with him. "I think that's fine. Roy and I are different; he has walked a much more challenging path. People might think he's successful now, but they don't know how much effort he's put in behind the scenes. For instance, with 'Chicago,' he practiced dancing for over six months. He understands that he has a weaker foundation than others, so he has to work many times harder."
After a pause and a mental organization of her words, she continued, "I'm a director, and he's an actor. We're on different paths. Seeing him get recognized by the Oscars means a lot to me. I don't think it will cause any issues between us."