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Beverly Hills, Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Martin had a long-term luxury suite here. There was still so ti before the nominee luncheon would start, and Leonardo and Nicholson had also co over.
Leonardo loosened his tie a little and said, "Anna Purna Pictures has secured the script rights for those two, even buying them out at an extrely high price. What do you guys think?"
Martin was straightforward, "What else can we think? Those bastards have ties with Anna Purna Pictures."
"Larry Ellison's son and daughter, not content with mucking around in Silicon Valley, co here to wreak havoc in Hollywood." Nicholson looked at Martin, "Don't act rashly, they're not easy to deal with."
By not easy to deal with, he ant not impossible to deal with.
Leonardo said, "Her father's got a fortune close to 30 billion US dollars."
Nicholson's words shifted, "Announcing the signing of 'The Seventh Son' and 'Transcendental Hacker', what's she trying to do? It's clearly a declaration of war!"
Martin was equally vexed, "It's always us screwing others, but now we've been screwed by a woman, and a troubleso one at that."
Leonardo continued, "This is Hollywood, not Silicon Valley!"
Nicholson said, "I have a good plan!"
Martin and Leonardo both looked at him since dealing with gan Ellison was indeed troubleso.
Based on her series of high-profile actions, it wasn't hard to see that this woman was imitating her maniac father," Nicholson, with his extensive life experience, started to analyze, "Therefore, her personality is both arrogant and tough, as if she could do whatever she pleases."
From so cases he had been through, he summarized, "Such people have a weakness: once you break their arrogance and toughness and utterly subdue them, you can do whatever you want with them, even turning them into slaves."
Martin considered this for a mont, "Seems to make so sense."
Leonardo nodded, "I've seen similar cases." He reminded, "Rember Nike Sam? So of Raniere's female slaves started out like that."
Nicholson called out to one side, "Old Cloth!"
Bruce pressed the remote, and on the projection screen in the room, there appeared a full-length photo of gan Ellison.
Pointing at the photo, Nicholson said, "Martin, Leo, take the initiative! Show your manly charm, conquer this woman, make her your slave, do whatever you like with her! I have faith in you!"
Martin looked at the full-length photo of gan Ellison, the spitting image of a younger Larry Ellison but with longer hair and a fuller chest, and quickly shook his head, "I'm a good person, a good person with moral boundaries, and I will definitely not do such vile things!"
Leonardo was much more direct than Martin, "No golden brown long hair, thumbs down! The facial lines and features are seriously masculinized, thumbs down! The body proportions are not good enough, without long legs, thumbs down! No, I can't bring myself to do that..."
"You two assholes, how can you judge people by their appearance?" Nicholson fud in frustration, "gan Ellison could share in Larry Ellison's fortune of several tens of billions. If you can control her, think about it, a fortune of over ten billion dollars."
Martin still shook his head, "You're digging a pit right here, lighting a fire in it, tempting us to jump in."
Leonardo said, "Let's find another way."
Nicholson looked very disappointed, "To ta a billion-dollar princess, what a sense of accomplishnt."
"We'll co up with a plan slowly, look for the opportunity calmly, it will co." Martin glanced at the wall clock, stood up and said, "Let's go, the nominee luncheon is about to start."
The three of them went downstairs together to the hotel's grand banquet hall.
The 'Shutter Island' crew and 'Gone Girl' crew were right next to each other, with the 'Inception' crew on the other side.
Martin greeted acquaintances one by one.
Both Nolan and David Fincher hoped to reap rewards at the Oscars, at the very least landing a Best Director nomination.
Martin had just finished greeting everyone when the very pregnant Natalie Portman ca looking for him.
As ti passed and various precursor awards were given out, her lead grew stronger and her acclaim higher, making her the clear frontrunner for Best Actress.
At that mont, Natalie truly appreciated Martin; looking around to see no one else was near, she leaned in closer and said, "Have you had a recent case of corporate espionage, your coveted scripts stolen?"
Martin appeared very angry, "Yes, that happened."
"I've t several astrologers and fortune tellers from around the world, and so have said they could help others reverse bad luck." Natalie was clearly not joking, and was well-intentioned, "Your luck hasn't been great lately; maybe I can help."
Martin declined politely, "Thanks, but really, there's no need, I have already got rid of the bad luck."
Natalie laughed softly, whispering, "Before I give birth, you can co to at any ti."
Martin was thunderstruck but could feel Natalie's sincerity, "Nat, I wish you success in reaching the pinnacle."
Natalie responded, "You deserve half the credit."
The luncheon was about to officially start, and Martin returned to his own table. He had just sat down when ne from the 'Inception' table leaned in and said, "Boss, should I make a move?"
Martin did not understand at first, "What move?"
ne said, "Anna Purna Pictures and gan Ellison, do you want to make a move?"
Martin patted his arm, "No need, she was born in '86."
"I saw her photo in the newspaper, she looks like a 40-year-old woman." ne also had no good solution this ti, "If she's over 30, I'm sowhat confident; if she's over 40, I guarantee I can take care of her!"
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Nicholson next to him heard it too and patted ne on the shoulder, "Buddy, even this old bastard admires you!"
There were few people who could command Nicholson's respect, not even that bastard Martin could get such words from Nicholson.
ne was quite modest, "Jack, I've always been learning from you."
Nicholson spoke the truth, "In so ways, I'm not as good as you."
Leonardo then poked a few people, reminding them, "gan Ellison is here too."
Martin and the others turned to the right, where gan Ellison and her brother David Ellison were sitting at a table by the wall.
Nicholson said, "She's made things clear. After the luncheon, follow and let's go et her."
He looked at Martin, "If you really can't think of anything, sacrifice yourself and go physically ta her."
Martin sighed deeply, "I can take a lot, but not at the expense of my own brothers."
Neither Nicholson nor Leonardo said anything more, as the statent was too damn right.
Behind them ca the sound of high heels on the floor, and soone pulled out a chair too vigorously, bumping into the back of Martin's chair.
Martin turned around and saw a woman with long red hair, pale skin, and a vintage makeup look.
"I was too careless," Jessica Chastain apologized right away, "Martin, I'm really sorry."
Martin smiled, "No problem."
Jessica Chastain, seeing his good attitude and friendly smile, quickly introduced herself, "I'm Jessica Chastain, your fan."
She opened her purse, revealing a commorative Coca-Cola logo, "Greetings, Sect Hierarch, I'm a mber of the Cola Cult."
Martin shook her hand, "Thanks for the support."
Jessica Chastain hurriedly said, "You're my Sect Hierarch, supporting you is sothing I must do."
"It's starting now, we can talk later." Martin pointed at the stage, tily ending the chit-chat.
He glanced at the newly appointed Academy president Tom Sherak and host Emily Blunt taking the stage, suddenly rembering "The Martian" that Ridley Scott had already started preparing, where Jessica Chastain had played an important role.
But Martin didn't linger on the thought, as the stage began announcing the nomination list.
Emily Blunt, looking at the big screen on the side, read, "The nominees for Best Supporting Actor are Christian Bale, John Hawkes, ne Christie..."
ne covered his mouth, unable to contain his excitent, he grabbed Martin by the sleeve, "Boss!"
Martin said, "This is the result of your effort."
But ne was well aware that there were too many more hardworking people in the industry than him; how many of them could rise to success like him?
Opportunity was far more important than effort. Without the chance given by the boss, he would still be a minor actor just like his forr peers.
When the announcent for Best Actress ca, Jennifer Lawrence almost threw herself at Nicholson on the spot to give him a kiss.
This post-90s actress secured her first Oscar nomination thanks to Nicholson's recomndation of "Winter's Bone"!
Tom Sherak himself announced the Best Actor nominations; no surprises there, both Martin and Leonardo were among them.
In the Best Director nominations, both Nolan and David Fincher were on the list.
Starting from 2009, there were ten nominations for Best Picture. This ti, all ten spots were filled, with two of Martin's films "Inception" and "Gone Girl," along with Leonardo's "Shutter Island," all securing Best Picture nominations.
After the nominations were announced, there was another new item being tried out this year; the Academy distributed invitations to many as guest presenters on-site.
Several envelopes were handed to the respective persons, and both Martin and Nicholson received one.
The two quietly opened them, glanced inside, and their intense gazes simultaneously fell on Leonardo.
Leo, sensing trouble, asked, "What are you guys up to? This is a formal event, don't ss with !"
"Let's go to the restroom," Nicholson left his seat first.
Martin followed him.
Leo, gritting his teeth, also went out.
Being an awards presenter was a secret affair. Once they reached a secluded spot, Nicholson, with his voice very low, asked Martin, "Which one are you presenting?"
Martin whispered back, "Best Actor."
Nicholson nodded, " too."
After hearing this, Leonardo inexplicably let out a sigh of relief.
But Martin grabbed him by the collar, "Don't relax yet, it's not champagne ti. If you don't get the award, Jack and I will beco the laughing stock of the whole world, do you understand the severity of the consequences!"
Nicholson said, snarling, "We'll send you to Sacred Valley, to be dealt with by Pitt!"
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