Theron's speech was still the same as last time: very long and very thoughtful.
This time, she thanked almost everyone: the production company, the distribution company, the brokerage company, the promotion company, the people of the motherland, American movie fans, Japanese helpers... and she could recite the names of almost every organization, which was a blessing.
Levi was amazed; he didn't expect that she could remember everything.
However, no one objected to her lengthy speech. Winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 26 is a good achievement, especially for a foreigner.
This is something to be proud of. No one said anything if it seemed a little too much. What's more, everyone knows that Theron has a bright future.
For other actors, maybe winning the Best Supporting Actor first is not something to be happy about; very few actors can win the Best Supporting Actor and then continue their efforts to win the Best Leading Role.
This requires not only luck but also breaking their inherent image. However, for some people, this is not too difficult. It's an open secret that Levi's movies are good at cultivating enough talents.
When it comes to going from best-supporting actor to best leading role, it's not that there is no precedent. Kevin Spacey achieved this process in Levi's hands. If he can, why can't Theron, who has a better relationship with Levi?
An actress with good looks and acting skills is not scary, but it is another matter if a prominent director is behind her to support her.
Tomorrow can only be better for Theron.
Theron's award also means that more important awards have begun to be awarded, and soon, another award arrived.
"Best Adapted Screenplay. The Departed!"
This time, it was The Departed that won the Best Adapted Screenplay. In the face of competition from Traffic, The Departed's more complex story structure triumphed and gained acceptance.
This time, the person who took the stage to receive the award is no longer Levi but Mak Siu-Fai, who came specially from Hong Kong.
Although it is more appropriate to say that his identity is the original author, he did contribute some effort to the adaptation of the script.
"I'm very happy Mr. Levi can give me such an opportunity. Just two years ago, I never thought that this script would be loved by people one day..." Mak Siu-Fai spoke on the stage.
He spoke very slowly, and his words were slightly confusing, but they were enough to understand. What he needs is not a charismatic screenwriter to stand there and talk but to let people see that other screenwriters in Asia can also write good scripts. Only then can cooperation and development be promoted.
At the same time, Levi is also telling screenwriters who think they have a good script in their hands: 'There is no harm in working for me. Rewards are not just monetary. If you want to become famous, I can also help you - if you have a good script, how about sending it to me?
On the one hand, you can win awards; on the other, you can promote the movie. So, why not?'
After winning two awards in a row, Levi's pace of winning awards also temporarily slowed down.
After all, there are other movies at the Oscars, such as Best Documentary and Best Short Film. There are also awards for the best-animated feature.
Documentaries are a hard job. Although the things photographed are often more impressive and spectacular than those that are deliberately staged, the entire shooting process is also more laborious.
The production of cartoons can be regarded as a unique film science. These things are very different from other movies and need to be classified separately.
As for the short film... Levi didn't think it was difficult to shoot, but he also admitted that it was very enjoyable to watch.
Levi just looked at the methods of these awards quietly: these things were not in his field. He could only admire these people, but he had no intention of competing.
After these awards were awarded, the following awards immediately attracted Levi's attention again.
"Best Supporting Actor... Liam Neeson, The Departed!"
This time, the person who won the award was Liam Neeson.
During the previous Golden Globe nominations, Liam Neeson was accused of not having many breakthroughs because his role was similar to his previous roles.
He didn't receive much support because he was much less famous than his co-star Robert De Niro. No one even thought he could be in contention for the award.
However, after the Golden Globe Award was awarded, his reputation suddenly rose because so many people complained about him.
At this time, Robert De Niro also spoke up to support him, which made him suddenly come from behind and win the Guild Award, and now, he has won the Oscar in one fell swoop!
"I just finished playing a Jedi Knight last year, and I got an invitation from Director Levi to play a policeman. I thought at the time that maybe Director Levi was interested in my height and figured I could really use a lightsaber...
However, it turned out later that his vision is really impeccable because I also feel that this is the best performance I have ever done in a movie..."
Liam Neeson's acceptance speech was a bit self-ridicule, but also with a little pride: He does not lack an Oscar.
As an actor who has already won a Tony Award, his acting skills are recognized by people. Winning an Oscar is a conquest of the film industry for him, not a plea to be recognized.
The actor who received acclaim as early as Schindler's List finally got this Oscar, which is enough for him.
And Levi didn't expect the result to be like this: the best supporting actor and actress were all from his movies. In the past year, his films have really stolen the show.
Obviously, this was not the most surprising thing to him.
"Best Original Screenplay, Lost in Translation, Nicholas Levi!"
The name that was called out again really surprised Levi. How could it be him again? Yes, he remembered that Lost in Translation was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, but how could the award be awarded to him?
Since when has Hollywood given two of its best scripts to the same person in the same year?
But having said that, it seems that this is also because there are not many people who have two movies released in one year.
"I finally figured it out. Oscar judges really hate me. They are going to let me win all the awards I will win this year. This way, they won't have to see me in the next few years..."
Standing on the podium, Levi opened his mouth to joke and got laughter and a few whistles. No one has ever seen Oscar judges express their hatred for someone in this way.
"I don't know what to say. If I say I didn't expect it, you will definitely not believe it. If I say it was a fluke, you will definitely scold me... So, congratulations to myself. In addition, no matter how much Mr. Oscar hates me, I believe I will be back soon." Levi left the podium with this.
At this time, the presentation of another award already made him smile bitterly.
"Best Cinematography Award, The Departed!"
It's really crazy...
Compared with last year, this year's The Departed is simply crazy. Among all the nominations, only one has been left out for Best Art Direction so far, and almost all the other awards have been won.
The final four awards for the leading role, director, and movie have not come yet, but they have already won four awards.
Beforehand, people said that Oscar might give Levi the second Best Director award early and then let him take a break for two years. Now, it seems that Oscar's idea is not false, but it seems that they hope to let him go completely.
Not just a Best Director but an entire Academy Awards ceremony.
This is simply an award ceremony that belongs to Levi.
It's not like Levi has never been disappointed at the Oscars. Compared to the first year, when he won two out of eight nominations, last year's Emily was well-received but failed to win the Best Director award. Now, a film like The Departed's brilliance made Levi feel a kind of sincere comfort.
'Compared with before, I always had to guess what others think, and now I let others guess what I think. Compared with before, I had to avoid others, but now I have to let others avoid me. This is success.'
Of course, while The Departed was a huge success, it also knocked Lost in Translation, also a Levi film, into a tailspin and only won two awards - however, for this film, the two awards were already unexpected. He is so happy - Levi initially thought that one would be enough.
After sitting down again, watching the best original song, best foreign language film, special contribution award, and other awards being awarded on the stage, Levi was also thinking about something in his heart.
It is estimated that the best picture and best director will definitely reach his hands. So, what about the Best Actor award?
It stands to reason that there is not much difference between these actors this year. One can say they are outstanding, but Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe are better. Who this trophy will be given to is also more exciting.
And the answer was soon revealed.
"Best Actor...Tom Hanks, Cast Away!"
Tom Hanks? Levi's eyes widened in surprise: He won his third Oscar?
Levi initially thought it would only be a consolation even if he won the Golden Globe. It was absolutely impossible for Oscar to give him a third award, but who would have thought that Oscar would really do it?
This result is really unexpected, but... from the perspective of sending people away from Oscar, this result seems to be very interesting!
*****
Thanks and kudos for my patreons
Scott DePaepe
MMMCMXCIX, or 3,999
Britanna
Marcelo Maia
Danny York
Mandy G
DragonEz
You can read advanced chapters on my Patreon account: https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.