Judging from the release lists that have been announced by major companies, this year's May is completely different from the crowding of previous years, and it seems extremely bland, the predecessor of "The Two Towers" "The Fellowship of the Ring" is popular enough, and other companies have avoided it, and another major factor in the lack of blockbuster releases in May is George? Lucas's "Star Wars Prequel 2: Attack of the Clones" was also selected for release in May.

However, Duke and George? Lucas communicated smoothly with each other, and the two had communicated privately for a long time, and "The Two Towers" and "Star Wars Prequel 2: Attack of the Clones" were selected to be released at one end and one end in May, respectively, to minimize the competition.

The car stopped in front of the Regent Hotel on Wihill Street, and Duke ignored the flashing lights in the hands of the media reporters and walked straight into the hotel, where the staff of the academy were already waiting and led him to the banquet hall.

Entering the ballroom, Duke sat at his table, talking to Nancy, who was already waiting here. Josephson had a casual chatter without a word.

It's a luncheon of nominees for the 74th Academy Awards, and Duke hasn't been there before, but this time he's listened to Nancy and Pani? Kelis's persuasion led him to the scene at the Regent Hotel.

The reason is very simple, as a very pure commercial film director, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is the best opportunity to get the best director statuette, and there are many unwritten rules of the academy, one of which is that if the director himself does not attach importance to the Oscar, in most cases, the academy will ignore the director when awarding the awards.

In the past Oscars, there must have been cases where you could get the heaviest few gold medals without public relations, but there are very few, and since the Weinstein brothers joined this game of fame and fortune, wanting to win the heaviest four awards just for their works can almost be equated with daydreaming.

Just like the academy advertises. Public relations is the embodiment of the so-called will to compete, and if there is no public relations, how can the old men who retired from the academy show their weight?

Regardless, Duke has to show that he values the Oscars and wants to compete for the statuette.

As for fair play. Only a fool would think so.

Just like the list that was released later, several black actors have been nominated for heavyweight awards with a momentum they have never seen in the past. Or is the academy sending some kind of political signal?

In fact, people who know a little bit about the Oscars know very well that this will be a particularly strong Oscar.

"The 74th Academy Award for Best Director Nominees ......"

Somewhat unexpectedly, standing on the stage of the banquet hall to announce the two most important nominations, it was not a movie star in the industry, but a very ugly middle-aged man, and when he announced the nomination list, he also looked at Duke's side.

Duke frowned slightly. See Roger? Albert stood on the stage to read out the list of nominations, and he had to wonder if the college was doing some hints.

He never overlooked the influence of film critics during awards season.

Roger? Albert stood on the stage, his gaze swept over the list of nominees in front of him, and then looked not far away, the director, whom he deeply hated, sat quietly, as if the list to be announced had nothing to do with him.

"It's not difficult to get a nomination, if you want to get the best director ......" Roger? Albert sneered in his heart. "First of all, I have to ask the more than 300 film critics in North America if they say yes!"

Although the list of Oscar nominees was only announced today, many of the awards season's awards have already been announced. The Fellowship of the Ring was a failure at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle Awards, the Chicago Film Critics Circle Awards, the Directors Guild Awards, the Producers League Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards.

He is very confident that this film will win a few technical awards at most at the Oscars, and it is purely a dream to win a heavyweight award!

And he communicates with a lot of people about guò, this kind of non-realistic film. Even in the next two years, don't think about making a big difference.

"The nominee director is Lang? Howard's "A Beautiful Mind", David? Lynch, Mulholland Drive, Ridley? Scott, "Black Hawk Down", Duke? Rosenberg, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, ......"

The list of nominees is not surprising, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is the biggest winner, with a total of thirteen nominations for Best Makeup, Best Soundtrack, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and more!

But Duke is well aware, in addition to a couple of consolation technical awards. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" can't do much at this Oscars.

Of course, there will be no next one.

It's not yet time for him and Warner Bros. to make a move.

The nominee luncheon was held in the form of a formal banquet, and after the announcement of the nominees, the banquet hall inevitably turned into a social arena.

Roger? Albert sat in front with several senior members of the Academy, and his position was just in time to see where Duke was, and the resentment in his eyes flashed when he saw the young director who was surrounded by countless people and complimented him.

Compared with the other party, he, a film critic who was highly valued a few years ago, can only sit with a group of old men, waiting to be sent into the dust of history by the years.

No one wants to take the initiative to withdraw from the stage of history, in the circle of the film industry, fame and fortune are closely linked, and giving up fame means losing most of the profits.

What he thinks is that as a leader in North American film critics, he can go on forever until he dies!

A few old friends around casually ate a bite to eat and left the banquet hall, Roger? Albert declined their invitation, and instead sat still, waiting for an opportunity.

Although there are sharp contradictions with each other, and there is an irreconcilable conflict of interest, they have not actually met a few times.

The Oscars won't take place until next month, but in Roger? Albert seems that now that he has won a game, if he does not go to Duke? Rosenberg said a few words in front of him, what is the value of this victory? How could he vent the breath he had been holding for years?

Waited a long time, Roger? Albert saw that there were fewer people around Duke, so he stood up and walked over unhurriedly.

"Duke, someone's coming......"

Just with Ridley? Scott shook hands and said goodbye, and Duke heard Nancy? Josephson's reminding voice turned his head to look, and the sneer on the corner of his mouth flashed.

Even a fool can see Roger? Albert's slightly raised chin and a bit of pride on his face seemed to be a victorious king.

"Can I sit here?" Roger? Albert walked over and gestured to the seat across from Duke.

This is a public place, and there are many people who have cast concerned eyes, and Duke can't drive him away, so he nodded directly and said, "You're welcome, Mr. Albert, just sit down." ”

"Thank you!"

Roger? Albert sat across from him, his eyes fixed on Duke, "Congratulations on your thirteen nominations." ”

Duke smiled, "Thank you." ”

"It's a pity...... "Roger?" Albert seems to really feel sorry for him, "The film is a non-realistic genre, and the commercial element is too strong, and it should not do much like the previous series of awards." ”

"It's okay." Duke said lightly, "I've always been very patient. ”

"You can't get the best director." Roger? Albert lowered his voice a little and said in a voice that only people at this table could hear, "I can assure you that as long as you make a commercial film, you will never want to win Best Director, just like this awards season, you will only get a bunch of nominations!" ”

"It's good to get a nomination." Duke still had the same expression of concern.

Roger? Albert frowned, an inexplicable smile on the corner of his mouth, "Remember the advice I gave you when we first met?" ”

"First time meeting?" Duke had long forgotten who cared about a film critic's words.

"That's right!" Roger? Albert's face became a little ugly, and the facts were in front of him, Duke? When Rosenberg was a small man, he didn't take him seriously!

The corners of his mouth pulled into a smile again, "A director should have more artistic pursuits, instead of making a bunch of visual and sound garbage!" ”

"Art?" Duke smiled, "I'm sorry how to make an art film, I haven't learned it yet." ”

"It's simple......"

Roger at this time? Albert's words are full of earnest teachings, "Film criticism is the best guide to avoid the commercialization of films and ensure the artistry of films." As long as you can listen to the critics, I can guarantee that in no more than five years, you will be able to win the Best Director Golden Man! ”

He knows very well what the opposite director's capital is to gain a foothold in Hollywood, and if the other party really desires the little golden man infinitely, maybe he will make some decisions and destroy the foundation on which he relies to survive in the film industry!

Roger? Albert thought of this when he came over, not only to show off this small victory, but also to use this victory to hook some of the other party's minds as much as possible, and try to destroy the director who almost destroyed the cornerstone of the critics' commercial income!

What is it that the other side relies on to run rampant in the world film market? Roger? Albert saw it very clearly, and that was business!

Without vulgar themes and bridges, without the abuse of endless special effects, Duke? Will Rosenberg still be Duke? Rosenberg?

He will be abandoned by the audience!

As a decades-old film critic, Roger? Albert knows how tempting the Oscar statuette is for a director, look at Martin? Scorsese, Lang? Howard and Steven? Soderbergh, which of these directors didn't change their style in order to get the little golden man and desperately cater to the taste of the academy?

Hear Roger? Albert's words, Duke suddenly laughed, and the smile was extraordinarily bright, he didn't expect someone to use the means he used to deal with him! (To be continued......)

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