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"Hello, Mr. Reed. I'm Nancy ......"

Sitting in your own office, Nancy? Josephson couldn't remember how many calls she had made today, and although her voice was a little hoarse, her smile was still bright, and her tone was even more natural, "Have you seen the disc you sent over some time ago?" Are you still satisfied with the results of your new disc player? ”

Hearing the satisfactory answer from the other side, the smile on Nancy's face became more and more flattering, "What do you think of Duke's film?" As part of the Academy's mission, Duke has been advocating for the recognition of those who have achieved outstanding results in film, as well as those who promote technical research and the improvement of technical methods and equipment, and Duke has made many contributions in these areas......"

Finally, Nancy? Josephson reminded again, "The academy is committed to promoting the sustainable development of the public and the film industry, I wonder if you have watched the news these days?" Duke has just set up a large sum of money to set up the Duke Film Fund, which is dedicated to helping talented newcomers. ”

Satisfied, Nancy hung up the phone, glanced at the phone book, and dialed another number......

The word PR is very simple to say, but it is quite cumbersome to do, and it must be mastered, otherwise the effect may be counterproductive.

To put it bluntly, Oscar PR is a systematic project, and at the critical stage of Oscar PR, Duke listened to Pani? Kelis's suggestion to set up a special film foundation, which is open to the public to help new directors, as for the future use, after the Oscars are over, how can he fund projects that have no profit at all?

Duke is also very clear that he is not the director that the academy likes, and he is destined to go further and further away from the Oscars in the future.

In fact, most people know that the Oscar is indeed the most authoritative award in the United States, but it does not necessarily represent the direction of mainstream cinema.

Except for private talk. Media publicity is also essential, as Vanity Fair and The Hollywood Reporter have published similar reviews.

"Duke has played a huge, if not irreplaceable, role in promoting the development of the entire Hollywood film industry. Looking at the world film market, Hollywood dominates, and this situation started with Duke's "Independence Day" and was amplified by "Titanic". Then the Lord of the Rings trilogy reached its peak, and it may be an exaggeration to say that without Duke, there would be no internationalization of Hollywood films today, but it is absolutely impossible for Hollywood movies to conquer cities around the world like they do now, and they cannot find any real opponents! ”

In terms of qualifications, Duke is a director who has been in Hollywood for 12 years, and the total box office of the films he directed has exceeded $5 billion! In terms of cinematic technology, he broke new ground in action and explosive films, becoming the object of imitation all over the world. In terms of nominations, he has been nominated for Best Director four times in the past. If you can win the Best Director Little Golden Man, you will definitely deserve it! ”

Every year when the awards season comes, the whole of Los Angeles is disturbed, and Duke, after attending a number of events one after another, temporarily hides in the Warner Studios in Burbank and begins to talk to Mike? Dawson was busy with the post-production of "Hurricane Rescue".

The first commercial for the film has been edited by Duke and will be shown during the Super Bowl halftime in early February. However, due to the Oscar nominees' luncheon, Duke was unable to attend the Super Bowl in person.

Compared to the massive Lord of the Rings trilogy. The post-production of "Hurricane Rescue" was much simpler, with Duke only having three months of post-production time to prepare, and the film would be fully finished in mid-April.

The editing techniques used in this film are very similar to the two movies he started, "Speed of Life and Death" and "Brave Island", and the sharp editing techniques are no longer uncommon in today's Hollywood. Whether it's for Duke, or for his dedicated editor, Mike? For Dawson, editing is basically not difficult.

Even, the two are more in supervision and control, the most basic editing work. All handed over to Mike? Several of Dawson's assistants.

The work is over, Duke and Mike? Dawson left the editing room and walked into the next lounge. Fei was sitting on the side to count the statistics, and when she saw them come in, she hurried through the last email.

"How's it going?"

Taking three cups, Duke poured a cup of coffee for each of them, Mike? Dawson is also curious, although he is one of the few people on the Duke team to have won an Oscar, who would be afraid of the golden man?

"Nancy and Parney just came back with the data." Tina? Fei stared at the laptop screen and said, "They're sure to get about a quarter of the votes each in the Producers' Union and the Directors Guild, and these people will basically give you priority in terms of best director." ”

"George and Frank also had a phone call." She thought back for a moment and continued, "The people around them will also vote for us. ”

After so many years by Duke's side, Tina? Fei could have been on her own for a long time, and she said the results of her analysis, "I think there is a more than 70 percent chance that we will win by a big margin." ”

Tina? Fei picked up the mouse, clicked a few times, then turned the laptop screen to Duke, pointed to the crowded picture on it and said, "Since three days ago, your supporters have gathered in the Hollywood area and Wihill Avenue one after another to protest against the college's unfair treatment of you, and now the Internet is full of voices supporting your award, if the academy really insists on going its own way, it will inevitably trigger a large-scale protest afterwards, and from the current public opinion, it will even affect the fairness and justice of the Oscars." ”

Although it is not uncommon for film school to run counter to public opinion, the power of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is huge, especially Duke, he is indeed a purely commercial director, and it is not false that he is very young among directors, but now his qualifications are no longer a problem, after all, he has already been nominated four times for "Saving Private Ryan", "Chicago", "Fellowship of the Ring" and "Two Towers"!

If there is still a problem with such a director's qualifications, then the academy is slapping its own face.

As for the final choice of the academy, it will not be revealed until the Oscars, but from the list of nominees, one or two can be guessed.

On February 14, 2004, the traditional Valentine's Day in the West, Duke and Ivanka did not spend the holiday alone, but went to the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California. The 76th Oscar Nominees Luncheon was held here, and the nominees hosted the luncheon was Jennifer Brown. Ghana.

"...... nominated for Best Soundtrack"

, the actress who has just made a name for herself, announced the list of nominees one after another, "Big Fish", "Cold Mountain", "Looking for Nemo", "Dust Home", "Lord of the Rings 3: The Return of the King". ”

Duke sat quietly at the oak round table, occasionally taking a sip from his coffee cup, looking quite relaxed. Ivanka on his right, her pretty face has been tense, and she seems to be more nervous than him, and she only smiles when she hears the name of "Lord of the Rings 3: Return of the King" in the nomination list.

"Relax, dear." Duke gently shook her hand that was hanging under the table, "I'm a little nervous with you. ”

"How could I not be nervous!" Ivanka leaned into his ear and whispered, "This is your best chance of winning an Academy Award." Do you want to wait? ”

She looked at the members of the academy's executive committee sitting in front of her, and said dissatisfied, "If they are still so stubborn, even if I go to the bank for a loan, I will mobilize the media to attack them!" ”

Duke smiled, said no more, and held Ivanka's hand a little tighter.

The announcement of the nominees has come to an end.

"The nominee for Best Director is, Fernando? Merrells - "City of God". Sofia? Coppola - Lost in Translation, by Peter? Will - "The Raging Sea". Duke? Rosenberg – The Lord of the Rings 3: The Return of the King, Clint ? Eastwood's Mystic River! ”

As soon as this list was announced, Duke and Ivanka breathed a sigh of relief at the same time, making so many efforts, and at this moment, it must be false to say that they don't care.

Anyway. Getting nominated is a victory, after all, the nomination is the ticket to the award ceremony, and if you don't even have a ticket, how can you compete for the award.

Unsurprisingly, "Lord of the Rings 3: The Return of the King" was subsequently nominated for Best Picture.

Although he was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor and Actress. But the two heavyweight nominations for Best Director and Best Picture are enough to ensure the gold content of the nominees for "The Lord of the Rings 3: Return of the King".

What's more, Duke heard very clearly that "The Lord of the Rings 3: The Return of the King" received 12 nominations instead of eleven in memory - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Effects, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup, Best Soundtrack, Best Original Song, and Best Cinematography!

Although it did not break or even tie the nomination record held by "Titanic", it had the opportunity to break another Oscar record - a single film won 11 Oscars!

Twelve nominations to win twelve statuettes is indeed very difficult, but there has never been an easy success in this world, and since the academy threw twelve nominations to the film, Duke naturally wanted to turn these twelve nominations into real awards.

The nominee's luncheon ended, and the Duke table welcomed many people who came to congratulate him.

"Congratulations, Duke."

Harvey? Weinstein came over and shook his hand, and the two did not interact much, but there was no personal conflict, and they were not for tat enemies.

"You've got a good catch, Harvey."

Duke shook his hand gently, and the two of them did not have a friendship either.

Finally, a monotonous nasal voice rang in Duke's ear, "Need I hug you?" ”

"It's me who should hug you."

After saying that, Duke stretched out his arms and said for Sophia? Coppola sent a congratulatory hug, and both of them gently patted each other's backs with their hands, they have worked together for many years, and naturally there is a tacit understanding.

"Congratulations on becoming the first American woman to be nominated for Best Director!"

Hearing Duke's words, Sophia admonished, "I may have won the lowest award, but you are the highest." But, Duke, don't be careless. (To be continued......)