"I've never heard you mention Ernst Lechmann." Standing in the courtyard of the Sunset Tower Hotel, the staggered staggering of Oscar night with a fuzzy halo, David Geffen's expression of amazement and irrepressible excitement in his eyes made him look like a teenager who had met his idol.

Hugo chuckled, "Because you never asked." This is the thirteenth person tonight to ask Hugo about Ernst, and the reporters have spent a lot of effort to discuss the relationship between Hugo and Ernst, and even Hugo's style has been robbed. It was clear that there was a renewed interest in Ernst.

As a representative screenwriter of Hollywood's golden age, almost every one of Ernst's works is a classic, "Dragon and Phoenix", "North by Northwest", "West Side Story", "The Sound of Music", "Spirit". Desire. Spring. Supper", "Hello, Dolly" and so on. These works are enlightenment films for many filmmakers, just as the "Star Wars" series influenced an entire generation, and Ernst's works also influenced two whole generations, from the 50s to the 60s, for nearly two decades.

After Hugo mentioned Ernst tonight, the name evoked memories for countless people. Compared with Hugo's Best Original Screenplay Award Little Golden Man, everyone was more attracted to Ernst, and almost no one could imagine that behind Hugo, a new screenwriter star, there was actually Ernst, a great god! All of a sudden, everyone was very interested in Ernst's current situation.

"Why, you know Ernst?" Hugo asked curiously, he could read the extraordinary in David's excited expression.

David still had an irrepressible excitement between his eyebrows, and nodded vigorously, "'Hello, Dolly' has always been one of my favorite movies; Smell。 Of。 'Success)' was a miracle for me to get into the entertainment industry, and I will always remember the first time I saw this movie in the cinema. Do you remember? When I first met you, I also teased, are you the son of Burt Lancaster? 'The Taste of Success' is what he starred in. ”

The eyebrows of David in front of him fluttered, and he did not hide his mood fluctuations, this is the David that Hugo has never seen. The influence of Ernst's works on him can be deeply felt between David's words, "Because I worship Mr. Lechmann, I have seen all his works, and he is simply my idol!" David had to take two deep breaths to adjust his past excitement.

It's hard to imagine that David has been in the industry for nearly two decades and has become one of the most powerful people in the industry, but now he is still so out of shape.

David looked at Hugo seriously, "Mr. Lechman, are you okay now?" ”

Hugo noticed that when David mentioned Ernst twice, he used the honorific title "sir", and that kind of worship and respect were overflowing between the words, which made Hugo stunned. If you think about Ernst's current situation, it is difficult for him to sum it up in one sentence, because he is not Ernst - he sees Ernst as having a bad life, but he does not know what Ernst thinks of the current situation.

After thinking about it, "Ernst has always missed Hollywood. Hugo just used this simplest sentence to depict the current life situation of the stubborn old man as much as possible, plain and simple, but David understood it at once, because what was hidden behind this sentence was, "Hollywood has forgotten him", the sadness and loneliness of the vicissitudes of life, so that the aura around David has precipitated, and there is an indelible loss between the eyebrows.

Because David knows very well the cruelty and gore of Hollywood: those who are eliminated are forever history.

"Hopefully I didn't interrupt your conversation." A hoarse but steady voice sounded gracefully beside him, "Please forgive my faux pas, I saw you two there just now, and I thought I had to come over to say hello, so I couldn't wait to come over, hoping that my actions would not be too rude." ”

Turning his head, Hugo saw the gray-haired old man in front of him, not too bright but giving people a sense of intimacy, the neatly trimmed beard could be seen that he was a very attentive man, with a gentlemanly smile on his face, and the deep wrinkles around his eyes were full of the wisdom of the growth rings.

David also sobered up from his thoughts at this time, cast his gaze, he quickly sorted out his emotions, and said to Hugo with the most elegant smile, "Hugo, this is Frank Pearson. Mr. Pierson, the current president of the Writers Guild of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Frank, this is Hugo Lancaster, winner of tonight's award for Best Original Screenplay. David knew that Hugo was face blind, so he took the initiative to take on the task of introduction, and gave Hugo enough hints concisely and accurately.

The College is a large organization with 12 trustees who take care of the day-to-day affairs. Under the umbrella of the academy, there are a total of fifteen guilds, actors, directors, documentaries, producers, screenwriters, music, and so on. Each year, the fifteen guilds elect four representatives, one from the documentary guild and three from the other fourteen guilds, who make the group of twelve members of the board of directors who work alongside seven other elected council members, including the position of president of the academy, and the last trustee is the executive director of the academy's administration - who is responsible for the broadcast of ABC television.

In addition, each of the fifteen guilds will elect two responsible persons for overall management. And Frank Pearson is the current president of the Writers Guild.

Frank is a screenwriter-turned-director and producer who once dedicated the "Cat Thief." Ballou)", "Cool. Hand。 Luke)", "Hot Day Afternoon (Dog. Day。 Afternoon)" and other classics, among which "Hot Afternoon" starring Al Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. And Frank is probably best known for his two critically acclaimed TV series from the twenty-first century onwards, "Mad Men." Men)" and "The. Good。 Wife）”。

After a brief introduction from David, Hugo recognized Frank, because "Hot Afternoon" was all too familiar to Hugo, and he smiled a friendly smile and shook Frank's outstretched right hand, "Mr. Pearson, it's a pleasure to meet you." Thank God that you came by yourself, so that I didn't have to find the time to visit you. ”

Frank is seventy-two years old this year, and he can definitely be regarded as a veteran of the industry, "And thank you to this little golden man tonight." Hugo's words made Frank chuckle, "You deserve it!" When I first watched 'Perfect', I felt very close to me, and I could see that Mr. Lechman's wonderful command of the lines was carried forward in you. ”

Hugo was still wondering what the top representative of the academy actually came to talk to him in person, this was the first time in the world. But now the answer has been revealed, and it is actually for Ernst! It's just that I don't know if Frank is representing himself or the Academy.

"Hehe, Ernst wouldn't like to hear that, when I showed him the script of 'Perfect', he scolded him severely." Hugo is telling the truth, which is also an important motivation for Hugo to constantly improve the script. Although Hugo always regarded Ernst as a playwriting teacher, Ernst refused to admit it, and he never considered Hugo his student.

So, in fact, when Hugo was giving his acceptance speech today, he said it on impulse, and he didn't know if it was the right decision. But now it seems that he made the right choice.

Frank had a look full of memories, "You know, this is Ernst Lechmann, he's always making things difficult for others, and even more so for himself, and that's why he always writes great scripts. Frank's eyes sank slightly, as if he remembered something, but he quickly covered it up, and covered his inner thoughts with a smile, "I haven't seen him in a while, how is he doing?" ”

For the same question, Hugo paused, and did not choose to give the same answer as just now, "I'm not sure how he has been recently, but the last time we met, he still scolded me for a while, and his stubborn temper has not changed." It seems that a person's life has accumulated a lot of vitality, and he is still old and strong. ”

A simple word, polite and polite, but full of many hints.

Frank seemed to understand the subtext of Hugo's words, which made his face slightly darkened, and then pulled the corners of his mouth, "The next time you see him, please convey my greetings and hope he is well." With that, Frank let out a long breath, "My goal has been achieved, so I won't bother you to continue talking." ”

Seeing Frank's back slowly leaving, David pulled his mouth and showed a mocking smile, "is also a Hollywood veteran, Frank has become the top person in charge of the academy, while Ernst has been forgotten." So after Frank experienced the peak of 'Hot Afternoon', there was no more wonderful work. ”

Obviously, David understands the intricacies of the circle more clearly than Hugo, and understands better: screenwriters like Ernst, who insist purely on script creation, have gradually been eliminated by the times. This is the reality, the cruel and sad reality.

David's words made Hugo ponder, and his thoughts were surging as he watched Frank's back disappear into the bright lights. Regardless of whether Frank's appearance was on behalf of a person or the Academy, it is certain that Ernst's name had been heard again within the Academy, and perhaps that was a good thing.

Thinking of Ernst, who was stubborn and lonely and stayed at home to watch Hollywood, Hugo couldn't help but let out a long breath.