As for most of the past, the five films nominated for Best Picture can be considered low-budget independent films, but the difference is that these five films have very different box office performances. The Curious Case of Barton grossed $104.52 million in North America, surpassing the box office of the other three films combined except for "Weakness."

As for "Weakness", the cumulative North American box office has reached $285.76 million, even if there are less than 300 theaters left in North America, it is not a luxury to have a final North American box office of more than $300 million.

However, "Weakness" and, "Benjamin? The high box office of "The Curious Case of Barton" does not help the film to win awards, unless they can become "Titanic", or they will inevitably be discriminated against by conservative judges when they vote.

On February 22, the Kodak Theatre at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Hollywood Avenue once again became the center of the world film industry, and the Oscars, the noisy and glamorous maker of fame and fortune, kicked off again.

Although the financial crisis has had an impact on Hollywood, it is reflected in the Oscars, and there is no difference from the past.

Maybe behind some glamorous stars or studios, it has become a debt black hole, and they still have to show their best side on the red carpet.

Like Nicholas? Cage, Sophia? Coppola's cousin, just like in the past, because of many factors such as financial management, brokers and accountants, has been burdened with huge debts that may not be paid off in this life, even if he starred in Disney's blockbuster "National Treasure" and "Ghost Rider" series in recent years, there is still no improvement, and now there is almost a film appointment, which has faintly shown the signs of the king of bad movies.

The only improvement, Ryan's foundation, is one of Cage's biggest creditors, even if it's for the sake of Sophia? Coppola and Francis? Coppola's face. The foundation will not collect debts excessively, and even cut the interest on some of Cage's loans.

This is also beneficial, the Italian gang is also a big force in Hollywood, regardless of whether Cage is an adult or changes his surname, the Coppola family must be on the way, and will definitely bear this kindness.

Everyone is a smart person, and some things can be tacitly agreed even if they don't need to be explicitly stated.

Like Sophia? At the beginning of the awards season, Coppola took the initiative to call the Italian-American judges, and they were bound to be biased when voting.

For this year's and next year's goals. Ryan arguably used most of the means available under the rules.

Oscar's canvassing competition is fierce, and even so, he is not absolutely sure.

Walking across the red carpet in a hurry, Ryan didn't enter the interview area at all, and the ABC TV station of the live broadcast party didn't come over to disturb his boss, but focused on the most attractive female stars on the red carpet, especially red carpet queens like Nicole.

"Hi Stephen. Hi George. ”

Entrance to the Kodak Theatre. Ryan saw two familiar backs in front of him, and hurried a few steps to chase them, the two people were George? Lucas and Stephen? Spielberg.

The three of them greeted each other and walked into the VIP lounge next to them. There was still some time before the award ceremony began, and we sat down and chatted.

"Ryan, you're so generous." George? Lucas looked at Spielberg and joked. "Lucasfilm has also been having a difficult cash flow recently, can it continue to lend?"

"As long as you need." Ryan naturally understood that this was a joke, and he shrugged his shoulders. deliberately said, "George, I heard that you want to retire again, so you can simply sell Lucasfilm." ”

"I did think about it." George? Lucas still seemed to be joking, "Do you want to take over?" ”

"As long as you're willing to sell."

After Ryan finished speaking, all three of them laughed, no one would take this kind of thing seriously, even George? Lucas has a good relationship with him, but it involves a multibillion-dollar asset sale, and if someone makes a more attractive offer than Disney, Lucasfilm will not think too much about the cooperation between the two parties over the years.

Walt Disney's commercial blockbusters, with the exception of a small number of special effects departments at Pixar Studios, most of the special effects production is outsourced to Industrial Light & Magic, and they have been working together very happily since 2002.

"Ryan, I haven't thanked you yet."

Spielberg, who hadn't spoken much, suddenly spoke, "I can't count the first time you've helped me." ”

"You've helped me a lot of times, too." Ryan gestured to the golden man, "So, Stephen, I'm going to ask you for next year's Oscars." ”

"Ryan, it's too hard for you to do." George? Lucas lowered his voice, "Don't forget that this is a completely male-dominated industry. ”

"So, I'm going to ask you too." Ryan said slowly, "George, she's your student when it comes to directing. ”

"Ryan, you seem to have forgotten." George? Lucas laughed, "I'm not a member of the Academy. ”

"Does it matter if it's a member of the academy?" Ryan said, spreading his hands.

That's right, George? Lucas has never been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but no one can deny his influence.

"I've always liked and liked Nat." George? Lucas pinched his eyebrows, seemingly embarrassed, "She's a smart and motivated girl......"

"George." Ryan tapped lightly on the arm of his chair, "The feminist movement is thriving more and more, and I believe that with the academy maintaining the correct position of politics, the first best female director will soon appear, so ......"

His voice was not loud, but his tone was very stern, "Why is this man not us Jews?" ”

George? Lucas and Stephen? Spielberg was silent at the same time, and after half a minute, the two men nodded slightly.

In fact, anyone who knows anything about Hollywood will understand that even if the composition of the circle becomes more and more mixed, some privileges really belong only to Jews.

Out of the VIP lounge, Ryan walked into the main hall of the Kodak Theater, walked through the long aisle, and walked to the first two rows, where the "Weakness" crew was located, and his seat was next to Nicole.

"Hey, dear."

After sitting down, he looked at Nicole and said, "You look so pretty." ”

"Thank you!" Nicole smiled reservedly.

She wore a moon-white shoulderless, low-cut evening dress, long hair dyed honey gold, hanging down on her white shoulders, and her neck was elegantly bent into a wonderful arc, as beautiful as the goddess of the moon.

"Where did you just go?" Nicole asked.

"Met George and Stephen." Ryan looked back at the two big directors sitting together, "Chatted with them for a while. ”

"I like I'm going to say thank you to Stephen personally."

As part of Hollywood's top circles, she also knows a lot about things, "No matter what, he's doing his best to canvass for me." ”

"I've already told you that." Ryan turned his head and leaned into Nicole's ear, "Don't worry, although you can't see the final result, according to my people's statistics, you may win at least seventy percent." ”

Seventy percent can be said to be a very, very big chance, if it's just Ryan's own public relations, at most four to fifty percent, and now with the power of DreamWorks, Paramount and Walt Disney, and using off-the-plate tricks to get rid of the biggest competitor in advance, Nicole's possibility of winning the award is infinitely larger.

Of course, these things can't be hidden from people in the circle, he and Kate? Winslet's friendship that was not deep in the first place has since disappeared.

One after another, people came over to say hello, and Ryan and Nicole changed the subject.

"I heard Kodak is in trouble."

Eyes off Kate? Blanchett and Nicole said to Ryan, "They haven't paid for the naming of the new issue of the Kodak Theatre until now. ”

"The film is gone." Ryan shook his head, "If Kodak doesn't transform, or if it fails, the Kodak Theater will really have to change its name." ”

In his view, the decline of Kodak was inevitable, and their largest film business was greatly affected by digital technology, and after losing the film market, their business volume in Hollywood, the largest film market, was also shrinking sharply.

Although many directors and producers are calling for the industry to focus on traditional film, technological advancements and developments will not stop there, and digital photography and digital projection have long dominated the mainstream of Hollywood.

Not to mention the other advantages of digital technology, the cost alone will save a lot of money for the producer and the distributor.

The most typical, as the bulk of the distribution cost of copying, now print a 35mm format film copy, about 800 to 1000 US dollars, mainstream commercial film about 3500 theaters, more than 8000 screens, the cost of copying alone will cost about 7 million US dollars, but what about digital copies?

Not even a tenth of this money will be used.

With such a huge gap, there is no need to think about which one Hollywood manufacturers will choose.

Kodak has missed the best opportunity to transform, they have no advantage in digital technology, and they are facing a patent cage, where can they easily turn over.

The sound of music on the stage interrupted Ryan's thoughts, the most eye-catching thing of this awards ceremony was naturally the lavish Swarovski crystal waterfall, in addition, the seats of the nominees and award presenters in the front row were infinitely close to the stage, even only a few steps away.

"Good evening and welcome to the annual Oscars, the biggest event in the film industry."

It was Hugh who came up from the backstage? Jackman, although he is not a comedian, he is also versatile, and he rarely approaches the bottom three ways in ridicule, and Annie? Hathaway's singing and dancing is also a highlight.

Hugh, who has appeared in opera many times? Jackman's singing voice is really good.

"I'm a wrestler, I'm Harvey? Milk, I've been to Millionaire, I've read Weakness. ”

He stood in the ring, raised his hands, and finally sang, "I'm Wolverine!" (To be continued......)