The Best Director

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 How proud!

The Oscar ceremony at the Xuelan Theater was ongoing, with applause and cheers erupting continuously; everyone had a smile, whether it was slight or beaming. After the presentation of several awards such as Best Cinematography (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Best Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock), the evening reached one of the most important and globally media-attention-grabbing awards, Best Actress.

“Our next presenter, Kevin Spacey, is a fantastic actor who took home Best Actor at the Oscars last year. He is top-notch in Hollywood—top of the top!” host Steve Martin, also known as the “Silver Fox,” said while curling his lip dismissively, “Although I just think of him as an ophthalmologist.” Amidst laughter from the audience, he spread his hands and said, “Just my personal opinion! So please welcome Kevin Spacey.”

As the audience applauded, Kevin Spacey, dressed in a black suit, held an envelope and walked out from the left of the stage to the center, saying into the microphone, “Thankyou very much. Today, I also need to thank someone, but not for last year’s award. I only realized when I landed yesterday that my suit is still in Nova Scotia…” After his jest, he said with hands held behind his back, “Next up are the five actresses vying for Best Actress: Juliette Binoche in Chocolat…”

With his words, the large stage screen started showing clips from the nominees’ movies, and the audience’s applause rippled wave after wave, while the live camera focused on a beaming Juliette Binoche; when her film clip ended, Kevin Spacey continued, “Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich.” The hall immediately erupted in thunderous applause, with hoots and whistles, as Julia Roberts at the guest table flashed a broad smile.

“Natalie Portman in Juno,” Kevin Spacey had barely finished speaking when the on-site music became light and lively. On the screen, Natalie held a pipe in her mouth, sitting queen-like in a lavish chair, and arrogantly said to Michael Pitt, “I’m pregnant.”

Natalie, down in the audience, was surrounded by rapturous applause and praises of “You were amazing!” from people nearby. As she nodded and smiled in thanks, while clapping, a bit of nervousness arose within her. Although her chances of winning were very slim, it wasn’t zero; there was still that tiny bit of hope. She looked at Kevin Spacey as he opened the envelope, her heart skipped a beat—if she won this award, she’d be the Oscar’s Best Actress, fulfilling a dream she had since she was young… She could excitedly thank that guy on stage and tell the whole world, “He’s the real monster!”

“Did you ever think that the little girl, Natalie Portman, might win the award?” Robert Downey Jr. suddenly asked, interrupting Wang Yang, who was trying to sleep in the bunk above. Wang Yang still kept his eyes closed, puzzled, “Robert, you’ve been asking about the Oscars all night, what are you trying to say?”

Downey hummed nonchalantly, “I just think it’s boring, and besides, it’s Oscar night, isn’t it?” Wang Yang laughed heartily, seeing through his thoughts, “You want to attend, right? You want to be there.” Downey didn’t deny it and chuckled, “Of course. Wouldn’t you rather be sitting in the Xuelan Theater right now instead of this damn room? Only an idiot wouldn’t think so.” Wang Yang thumped the edge of the bed, producing a clang, and said, “All I want is to sleep now, OK? Don’t disturb me! That’s an order from the BOSS.”

“And the award goes to…” Kevin Spacey glanced at the envelope and then lifted his head to announce, “Julia Roberts.” The whole crowd immediately let out a cheer of “All” as Julia Roberts, in a black-and-white evening gown, rose excitedly to her feet, celebrated with embraces from those next to her, and walked up to the stage to accept her award…

Natalie clapped her hands with a smile on her face, sighing inwardly with relief. At 19, her dream of becoming the youngest winner of Best Actress had shattered, but that was to be expected; what disappointed her was not being able to encourage and support that guy in such a globally visible way. As she listened to Julia Roberts’s happily disjointed acceptance speech, Natalie’s attention quickly drifted away as she thought, “Tonight’s task is done; I should think about what book to bring for my visit to Rek Island tomorrow…”

In America, prisons and detention centers in each state have different visitation rules, but one rule is common: no drugs, food, or clothes are allowed. While basic necessities can usually be purchased in the prison’s commissary, for someone like a director, books are the best gift to bring.

What book would he like the most, and how could she differentiate hers from what others might bring? Natalie clapped along with the crowd, giving her applause to Julia Roberts as she walked off the stage, then blinked thoughtfully. And Jessica… what book would her biggest competitor bring?

“Please welcome Hilary Swank to present the Best Actor award!” Steve Martin’s voice pulled Natalie’s attention back to the present, with Best Actor nominee Will Smith among the candidates… Amidst thunderous applause, last year’s Best Actress Hilary Swank walked to the center of the stage. After making her usual few jocular comments, she began announcing the nominees: “The five actors competing are, Russell Crowe, ‘Gladiator’.”

On the big screen, Russell Crowe was seen wearing blood-stained armor, roaring ferociously, and applause thundered through the Dolby Theatre. “Tom Hanks, ‘Cast Away.’” The wild-looking Tom Hanks lay on a bamboo raft, staring at the volleyball drifting away on the sea surface, shouting in agony, “Wilson! Wilson! I’m sorry, so sorry…” The audience’s applause was deafening.

“Ed Harris, ‘Pollock’… Jeffrey Rush, ‘Quills’; Will Smith, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’.” Before Hilary Swank finished speaking, the clip from “The Pursuit of Happyness” appeared on the screen.

Outside a Chinatown daycare, Will Smith pointed at the letter “Y” of “Happyness” on a graffiti wall, telling the elderly Chinese gentleman with serious conviction, “And this ‘Y.’ I have said this several times; it’s Happiness, not ‘ Y’ in ‘Happyness,’ it’s ‘I.’” The scene shifted to a subway station restroom, where Will Smith clutched his sleeping son tightly, one foot propped against the bathroom door, with silent tears streaming down his flushed eyes.

The applause in the hall was equally thunderous, many people laughing and cheering loudly. Will Smith took a deep breath in secret, his heart aching with nervousness. It was his first nomination, and the main competitors were not weak, placing him only third in the award predictions, so he didn’t have high hopes. Yet, at this moment, the possibility of stepping onto the highest podium of his acting career was something every actor dreamed of,

“Dad, no matter what, you’re my best dad!” Terry Smith patted Will’s shoulder nervously, while Jada held her husband’s hand, and even Jaden Smith’s eyes were wide with childlike seriousness. Will Smith looked at his family, his heart filled with warmth and happiness, and suddenly it seemed that winning or not winning the award didn’t matter. He had always been happy. He laughed and said, “Hey, thank you all.”

“The Best Actor is…” Hilary Swank opened the envelope, while the TV broadcast split the screen into six frames: Russell Crowe appeared calm yet tense, pressing his lips with a finger; Will Smith, Tom Hanks both with smiles on their faces; Ed Harris and Jeffrey Rush with expressionless faces. After glancing at the result, Hilary announced, “Will Smith, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’!”

The Snowland Theater suddenly erupted, and beneath the soaring music, thousands of guests were clapping wildly, shouting loudly, whistling, and many black guests stood up, forgetfully clapping their hands as they looked toward Will Smith, who was near the stage. He was the second black Best Actor winner since Sidney Poitier in 1964! Another eternal legend and pride for black actors!

“Wow!” Natalie clapped her hands together, her face beaming with a radiant smile as she looked at the Smith family not far to her right, unable to help herself she whistled: “Whew whew whew— ” She was truly overjoyed, this victory belonged to Will Smith, to “The Pursuit of Happyness,” to that guy! She thought about feeling so happy for Will Smith, with whom she wasn’t even that acquainted, it was probably a case of “love me, love my dog.”

The television broadcast zoomed in on Will Smith, showing him hugging his family ecstatically, kissing his wife Jada at length, with Terry Smith and Jaden Smith jumping around excitedly by their side. Amidst the continuing applause, Will Smith walked toward the stage, his heart bursting with joy yet tinged with disbelief. My God, had he really won the Oscar for Best Actor? He had beaten Russell Crowe, beaten Tom Hanks… Oh, my God!

Walking up the silver steps, he looked at the Oscar statuette drawing nearer, and a mocking chuckle faintly echoed in his ears: “The worst Best Actor is, Will Smith, ‘Hurricane Policemen’!” And all those vivid newspaper words “Will Smith’s stupid choices,” “He has become box office poison…”

Those events were just over a year ago; and around that time, there was another firm, encouraging voice: “Will, please believe me, I can make a good movie! You are perfect for the role, your acting has always been great, the blame for ‘Hurricane Policemen’ isn’t on you!” “CUT! Will, that was excellent! You’re exactly Chris Gardner!” “Has there ever been an actor who’s gotten a Razzie one year and an Oscar the next? I want to be that guy.”

“Congratulations! Will,” Hilary Swank said with a smile as she handed the Oscar statuette to an excited Will Smith before her, complimenting, “Your performance was truly wonderful!”

“Thank you!” Will Smith gratefully accepted the Best Actor Oscar statuette, and as he touched its cold surface, his right hand trembled slightly, then he clenched it tightly, feeling an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. This was his honor! He hugged Hilary lightly and then walked in front of the microphone at the center stage, looking at the thousands of guests in front of him, some he knew, some he didn’t, but now they were all applauding for him!

Will glanced at the Oscar in his hand, took a few deep breaths, then said with a smile, “Guys, I am extremely, extremely incredulous and surprised right now, it’s like being in a dream, I’ve got it! Oh… please don’t let it actually be a dream!” The hall immediately filled with gentle laughter, and Will continued, “There are so many people to thank. First, I want to thank my family, my wife Jada, my sons Terry, Jaden, acting together with them on set was a magical experience!” He looked toward his wife and children beaming with smiles nearby and said, “You are the best, the best, the best people!”

The entire audience laughed and applauded, and when the clapping subsided, Will added with a smile, “Thank you to my parents, my sisters, and everyone from ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ to the Flame Film Company, it’s a very vibrant and energetic company, I love it; to the Oscar jury, and to the four actors I competed with, Russell, Tom, Ed, Jeffrey, competing for this award with them was my greatest honor and pressure over the past few weeks…” The audience below laughed and clapped again.

“Thankyou, Chris Gardner…” After Will had thanked a host of people, he looked astonished at the crew member offstage holding the “time’s up” sign and said, “Oh, is it really that time already? I didn’t know, it’s my first time standing here.” There was a roar of laughter in the hall, but indeed, there wasn’t much time left for his speech. Will chuckled and said, “Next, there’s another person I have to thank! Even if security comes, I won’t leave the stage without finishing my thanks to him.”

The crowd chuckled again, and Natalie applauded with a smile, for everyone knew who Will was about to thank, as he had yet to mention that one name.

“He is the director of ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ ‘Magical’ Wang Yang!” Will Smith shouted loudly, looking down at the Oscar statuette in his hand, his eyes gradually reddening, “I never thought I would get this, but Wang Yang always said, ‘Will, you can do it, you can do it! Trust me, you can do it!’ And then, I really did.”

Thinking back over the past two years and the journey they had shared, his voice couldn’t help but break as he said, “He helped me rebuild confidence, provided a comfortable and free set and always knew how to prompt my acting emotions. That’s how we got this ‘Chris Gardner.’ He is a young but incredible director! Thankyou! Thankyou so much!”

“He might not be listening now.” Will Smith’s voice got more choked as he looked at the people before him and said, “Everyone knows that the amazing director is currently facing difficulties, but I believe, I know, he will not be knocked down by this setback! One day he will stand on this stage himself, thanking some people! Thankyou! Thanks a lot!” He sniffed and with a blissful smile said, “Lastly, I want to tell everyone that dreams are not just dreams, they can come true! If you have a dream, go defend it, that is happiness!” With that, he raised the Oscar for Best Actor high above his head!

“Whoo ” Cheers and applause thundered through the entire Scherlan

Theater, reaching far across the Los Angeles sky, spreading across the whole globe, heard by over a billion viewers in more than a hundred countries and regions.

In front of TV screens, on various couches, Rachel, Joshua, Michael, Annie, Harry George, Nancy… everyone applauded with smiles on their faces, thank you, ‘Magical’ Director, Yang!

“Look at you, Yang, how proud you make us!” Jessica wiped the tear from the corner of her eye with a smile, picked up the remote control and pressed it, turning off the TV before getting up and heading to the bedroom.

Who the Best Director is, what the Best Film is, she no longer cared, and she would see Yang tomorrow. She needed a good night’s sleep, she couldn’t let herself look too terrible…

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