"What do you think of the finished product of Saving Private Ryan?" Steven walked into the kitchen, expertly poured a cup of fragrant coffee from the coffee machine, and asked, "Do you want milk?" ”

Hugo skillfully found a place in the living room and sat down, "No, just give me two sugar cubes." Hugo was invited to Steven's house, and after the two became friends, Hugo came here for dinner many times, and he and the Spielberg family knew each other very well, and there was no inhibition in coming here.

Then Hugo saw Steven come out with his coffee and a sugar cube on the tray, "You put it yourself, I can't remember how many pieces of sugar you want every time." Then Steven sat down on the sofa on Hugo's right-hand side, and with a strange scream, he stood up and picked up a yellow duck toy from the sofa cushion, "Oh God, Daist is throwing toys again." ”

Hugo couldn't help but chuckle, "The little guy should be the naughtiest time now, maybe he did it on purpose." "Daist is Steven's youngest son, and when "Schindler's List" was filmed, Daster couldn't walk, and now more than five years and almost six years have passed, and Daist has become a mischievous little guy.

Steven put the toys on the table, and Hugo didn't dwell on the subject, "I think the Normandy landings in the opening scene are the grandest and most realistic of all the war movies I've ever seen." These are genuine words, and even veterans who survived the actual Normandy landings have applauded Steven's portrayal of the war.

"The second half of the ending is a little too sensational, but ...... That's Spielberg, isn't it? Hugo's ridicule made Steven chuckle, and many loyal fans have always thought that Steven's work was too sensational.

Steven is more passionate about pushing the emotions of the film to the extreme, and then bursting out, conveying the core of the film's theme through such means. Both "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" have such tendencies. But in fact, professionals believe that it is only a shallow technique to instill emotions and truth into the audience, and the deep way should be to tell the story from a calm and objective perspective, leaving the storm of ideas to the audience themselves.

But...... That's Steven's style, and that's the passion he brings to cinema. Later, Steven filmed the movie "Lincoln", which was always restrained and restrained, almost making it impossible to see Steven's style, and this work was also highly recognized, although it was regrettable that it missed the Oscar Best Picture statuette, but it was indeed unanimously praised. However, the sensational part is missing, and the movie seems to be missing a little bit of Steven's magic.

So, that's Steven.

Steven was a little helpless by Hugo's outspokenness, and shook his head, "You know, there are definitely no more than two hands in the whole of Hollywood who dare to talk to me like this." ”

This quote reminded Hugo of the filming of "Schindler's List". In fact, Steven is also a control. Desire. A very strong person, even if not as good as James Cameron, is definitely not inferior, but Steven knows how to deal with these problems better, and his temper is not so easy to get out of control.

Hugo shrugged his shoulders with a chuckle, "Then I'm honored to be one of those two hands." ”

Steven glanced at Hugo and smiled dumbly, he knew that Hugo was telling the truth. Moreover, he needs a friend like Hugo, not flattering or inexplicably criticizing, but able to give pertinent advice.

Hugo looked at Steven, hesitated, and added, "Steven, have you thought about it?" 'Saving Private Ryan' could earn you a second statuette. ”

Steven raised an eyebrow in surprise, "I thought you didn't care too much about these things." "Steven is a businessman, a brilliant commercial film director, so he has never hidden his desire for the Golden Man, because he needs the Golden Man to prove that he is excellent, to prove that he can not only make good commercial films, but also make art films with depth.

"Schindler's List" did it once, and "Saving Private Ryan" hopefully made it a second time.

Steven cared, but he never knew Hugo would care. Hugo smiled, he really didn't care that much, but what he cared about was that the film history classic "Saving Private Ryan" should win its own honor, not be defeated by a virtual romance movie that would drown in the dust of history in five years.

At the 71st Oscars, "Shakespeare in Love" defeated "Saving Private Ryan" for Best Picture, a victory that was later considered an ugly and sad result, because it was not a triumph of cinematic art, but a triumph of PR means. From this moment on, the "Academy Awards Season" made its debut, the "College PR" entered the stage of history, and the name "Weinstein" completely dominated the awards season...... The entire course of cinematic history has changed.

Even ten years later, when people voted for the biggest injustices at the Oscars, the 71st Oscars could be among the top three.

Hugo knows that in fact, the arrival of the awards season cannot be blamed on the Weinstein brothers, but with the strong rise of commercial blockbusters such as "Independence Day" and "Titanic", the inevitable result of the entire market demand. Even if it is not the 71st Oscars, at the subsequent 72nd and 73rd award ceremonies, the awards season will still be formed after all, and the pace of history is unstoppable.

But even so, Hugo still wanted to fight to the best of his ability to see if he could make such a historical wheel deviate a little.

"Hehe, excellent works should always be recognized, and that's why the Oscars exist, isn't it?" Hugo's meaningful words made Steven smile, "I'm just thinking, last year's Oscars made their choice and chose the 'Titanic', which was a huge commercial success, which has marked a change in the entire Hollywood film market, so does it mean next...... The Oscars will also become a commercial battleground. ”

"What do you mean?" Steven didn't understand a little, Hugo's words were really a little vague, and it can't be said that commercial films will show their strength at the Oscars in the future, right? It's impossible, and everyone knows it, and Hugo is no exception. So, what did Hugo mean by that?

Hugo couldn't help choking, he carefully sorted out his words, "I mean, the tastes of the academy judges can be changed by the market, because they can't completely detach themselves from the audience and choose some films that no one can understand, doesn't 'Citizen Kane' prove it?" We knew this before, but after the 'Titanic', everyone knew this, so will there be a movie specially shot to cater to the college judges, just to impact the Oscar statuette. ”

Hugo's statement is undoubtedly bold, and many people may have such an idea, but they do not think that it can be realized, so no one has dared to try. Steven tried to refute Hugo, but couldn't find a beginning, which silenced him, and Hugo paused and continued.

Or ...... People make a film, tell the judges that this is a great work, that this is a great work, and then ask the judges to vote for it...... "Hugo's words are just like that, and Steven interrupts and says categorically, "No way!" Oscars prohibit any form of canvassing, and if such a situation occurs, it will be directly disqualified. ”

Hugo knew, of course, and he knew this better than Steven, but how did the academy's PR come about?

"Steven, if you think about it, canvassing is indeed forbidden. However, I throw a party, invite the judges to the party, and this is allowed; I hold small preview screenings in the hope that the judges will appreciate my work and let them really appreciate it, which is allowed; I can even send a video of the film to the judges and express the hope that they will be able to watch my work and give an objective evaluation, which is also allowed......"

Hugo's words left Steven speechless, "We all know that judges are also people, as long as there are people, there are connections, there are favors, there are tendencies, and our hearts are on the left, not in the middle." This balance is never fair. So, it's always hard for me to turn down a friend's invitation. ”

Hugo's last joke was mocking his biggest weakness, but Steven didn't have any feeling of wanting to laugh, but had a serious expression, "Hugo, what do you mean by this?" Do you want me to bribe the judges? Or do you think I should go and buy the judges because I don't have confidence in my work? ”

Steven was indeed angry because it was an insult to his character. Since the filming of "Schindler's List", Hugo has not seen Steven angry at himself in many years. However, there was indeed a problem with Hugo's statement just now, and he couldn't blame Steven, so he could only touch his nose helplessly, indicating that he was deflated.

"Steven, am I like that?" Hugo's rhetorical question made Steven choke too, because he knew that Hugo was definitely not such a person, Hugo continued, "I mean, now the era of commercial blockbusters has arrived, and we all know this, so it is inevitable that the Oscars will incorporate more commercial elements in the future." So, if you don't bother to do this, I won't do it, does that mean that other people won't do it? Steven, you know better than I do what kind of place Hollywood is. ”

Every inch of land is valuable, interests are supreme, no means are compromised, and entertainment is to death. This is Hollywood, and that's why everyone is criticizing the Weinstein brothers, but everyone behind the scenes is competing to imitate them. This is society, and this is reality.

Steven looked at Hugo in front of him, dumbfounded.