Oscar

Chapter 302 Oscar

The reception hosted by Universal was packed with guests.

Although He Yi'an spent money, he was not the one in charge; it was Stacy, who was in charge of public relations for him.

When He Yi'an arrived with Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli, the party had already begun.

Stacy, holding a glass of champagne, clinked glasses with everyone who could vote in the crowd. When she saw He Yi'an, she quickly introduced him to the people around her and waved to him.

"Ale, come over here."

He Yi'an also took a glass of wine from the sommelier who was carrying a tray and walked over.

After another round of high-sounding gentlemanly exchanges and deals, He Yi'an finally managed to shake off these people and then had the opportunity to exchange information with Stacy.

After walking aside with her, Stacy lowered her voice and told him everything she had just learned: "I heard that Harvey has been asking around about your budget for 'Crash,' and your smokescreen worked."

"How much did he find out?"

"The amount we disclosed was approximately four million."

Stacy also seemed amused by the fact that he could figure out his former boss's calculations: "With this amount, Harvey would probably think you're going all out for Best Picture."

The fact that it had this effect shows that he spent his money wisely. He Yi'an was very satisfied with this misleading statement: "It's already good that he made such a mistake in judgment. Now let him continue to think that way."

"At least until the actual awards are announced, we mustn't let him suspect anything amiss!"

Stacey was certainly aware of this as well.

This was her first crucial opportunity since leaving Harvey to prove that her public relations skills and abilities were no less than Harvey's, and she couldn't afford to give up halfway.

Fame and fortune!

In this world of fame and fortune, nothing is more important than these two things.

Especially the name!

If she can successfully confront Harvey this time, her influence in certain areas and the hidden benefits she gains in Hollywood will be immeasurable.

He Yi'an probably understood her thoughts, so he was still quite at ease with her for the time being.

In a place like Xida University, where interpersonal relationships are highly valued, the specific use of money cannot truly cover up everything.

After all, there are not only many rich people here, but they are also divided into new money and old money.

Compared to the old money, even new money like Musk is nothing and still faces exclusion, let alone Asians like He Yi'an.

Therefore, he never thought that he could actually solve everything with money.

Even Stacy, He Yi'an always said that she was definitely better than Harvey, and was willing to cooperate with her, provide her with funds, and let her prove herself.

See? Proving herself is what He Yi'an said is most important to her.

Public relations rewards and the like are really just incidental.

Isn't this also a form of public relations for He Yi'an? It's just that Stacy is helping him with the reward, while He Yi'an is doing it to win over Stacy and get her to prove herself.

Each gets what they need!

Whether Stacy knew about his scheme or not was irrelevant. As long as they shared common interests, they could work together and trust each other before things completely fell apart.

So she never asked any of those irrelevant questions, and after clinking glasses with He Yi'an, she continued, "We've done everything we needed to do. I've pretty much finalized the voting for Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay."

Regarding the Best Foreign Language Film award, the Academy members also gave very positive feedback on "A Separation."

Are you sure?

He Yi'an looked at her, not expecting her to be so confident in the public relations of these films.

If Stacey weren't the CEO of Universal, and someone else had told him this before the final results were in, he probably would have thought they were just boastful liars.

Although the other party spoke with certainty, He Yi'an still wanted to confirm: "There are national quotas for Best Foreign Language Film, and the films nominated this year are all quite strong."

"I'm sure."

Stacy was unconcerned about He Yi'an's doubts: "I've seen all the films nominated for Best Foreign Language Film this year, and only 'A Separation' is the one that best suits the tastes of the Academy judges in terms of its thematic expression and the narrative completion of your re-edited version."

"Moreover, the biggest hot topic and attention this year is actually on 'The Lord of the Rings,' and they are here to sweep the awards this year, so they won't put much effort into the Best Foreign Language Film category."

He Yi'an nodded: "Although I've said it several times already, I still want to say it again: everything depends on you, Stacy!"

"We are partners!"

"Then it's a pleasure to cooperate!"

On February 29th, after several troublesome days and numerous public relations visits to the reception, the preliminary public relations process was finally completed.

He Yi'an can finally relax a little.

He's done everything he was supposed to do, and he'll definitely try to participate in as few Oscars as possible in the future.

Of all the film festivals in the world, it must be one of the most troublesome.

Whether it's public relations, the cost of money, or the procedures, it's all very troublesome.

He Yi'an is just trying to capitalize on the current trend and ride the wave, and then...

He wouldn't even need to wait until later, even after 08 or 09, when the last honeymoon period between Dongda and Shituoling ended, he wouldn't even glance at this thing.

It was a useless thing to begin with, and the cost of public relations would only increase due to Harvey's actions, making it completely unprofitable.

This is one of the reasons why he will be attacked by the masses after problems arise in the future.

It's really disgusting.

Of course, what happens at the Oscars later has nothing to do with He Yi'an, since he doesn't have any obsession with collecting trophies or awards.

Nothing about achieving perfection or anything like that can motivate him.

The reason he won the award before was because he needed fame. Now that he has fame, he just needs to expand and maintain it, instead of becoming a crazy award-winning fanatic.

Targeted selection will only be made when necessary.

He's not Curry; he often needs to prove himself in Buster's eyes.

To put it bluntly, in the entire Chinese entertainment industry or even in the whole of Asia, who can expect him to continue proving himself?

Even if someone says, "Let's see if He Yi'an will pay attention," those who get easily offended by a few words from some netizens or ignorant people are simply talking nonsense.

What He Yi'an really wanted to do first was to finish the event as soon as possible and then go back to China to get some rest.

Of course, getting a good rest should wait until after tonight.

Tonight is the Oscars, and the most important thing He Yi'an needs to do is actually to bring a stylist to Xiao Liu and prepare a dress.

Of course, all of this was prepared in advance.

He Yi'an knocked on the door of the next room, but didn't go in. Instead, he stood at the door and greeted Liu Xiaoli before turning to Liu Yifei, who was standing to the side: "Let's go, Qianqian, I'll take you to see the stylist."

"A stylist?" Liu Yifei blinked. "You're not kidding me, are you really prepared?"

Having attended several ceremonies before, Xiao Liu knew she would need to wear makeup, but she assumed the makeup would be done at the hotel. She never expected to have to go in person to meet the ceremony.

"These Hollywood makeup artists are really something, and they're all very busy today, so they all had appointments booked in advance. Let's go."

"Oh, oh~"

After tidying up a bit, the mother and daughter followed He Yi'an downstairs and got into the car that was already waiting.

After arranging for them to sit in the back, He Yi'an opened the passenger door and got in.

He also kept telling them some things to keep in mind regarding the Oscars.

Of course, all of this was arranged by Stacy beforehand and he was just relaying it to him.

"—I had Richard contact Elie Saab's team, and they've custom-made a suit for you based on your style and figure. You'll wear theirs today."

Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli, who had just calmed down, started to feel anxious again after hearing his words. They quickly leaned forward to look at him: "Elie Saab? Their team is willing to lend me haute couture? And even custom-made?"

"Of course, it's just a brand. If it fits their style, they're quite willing to cooperate."

Although Xiao Liu looks simple-minded, she's not a complete novice. How could she not know that for a newcomer like her who has just become famous to get such high-end custom-made clothes, it must have been He Yi'an who put in the effort?

But he did so much, yet he spoke of it all with utter indifference.

If others are unaware of the details and difficulties involved, wouldn't they really think it's simple?

Liu Xiaoli opened her mouth, but because she had discovered some things that made her prejudiced against He Yi'an, she suddenly didn't know what to say.

After all, although He Yi'an had ulterior motives, what he did was genuine!

Troublesome~

Liu Xiaoli was unsure what to do and could only look at Liu Yifei.

As a result, she was fine if she hadn't looked at Liu Yifei, but once she did, she immediately became a little angry again.

Because Liu Yifei didn't say anything at the moment, but her bright eyes stared straight at He Yi'an's profile for a long time.

Liu Xiaoli couldn't bear to watch any longer and wanted to remind her to be careful.

Before anyone could speak, Liu Yifei took the initiative to speak.

"He Yi'an".

"Um?"

"You—"

"What's wrong?"

"Never mind, I'm not going to say anything more."

Liu Yifei turned her head, glanced at Liu Xiaoli, smiled, and then turned her head back to look at the scenery rushing past the car window, feeling as sweet as if she had drunk honey water.

Liu Xiaoli, who had been acting as if she were invisible, glanced at her daughter, who seemed to be sinking deeper into trouble, and then at He Yi'an in front of her. She swallowed back what she wanted to say and turned her head to look out the window.

At this point, it would be best for her not to say anything that might spoil the mood.

February 29, 2 PM, Presidential Suite of the hotel next to Kodak Cinema.

Liu Yifei stood in front of the dressing mirror, wearing a nude-colored long dress with delicate silver threads embroidered on the hem.

When the light shines on it, a soft halo immediately appears.

Her long hair was styled into an elegant updo by the stylist, revealing her smooth neck and delicate collarbone, with a pair of diamond earrings dangling from her ears.

Liu Yifei looked at herself in the mirror, turned slightly to the side, and asked He Yi'an beside her, "How is it?"

A woman takes pride in the man who pleases her.

Now, Xiao Liu no longer asks Liu Xiaoli first, but instead asks He Yi'an.

He Yi'an leaned against the door frame, looked her up and down, and gave a positive assessment: "Of course, you are better now than ever before."

"Isn't it good at other times?"

"I said it's better. It was always good before, but this time it's amazing."

Who knows how long this argument would go on? He Yi'an decisively stopped it: "Don't move around. Let the stylist adjust your skirt again."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei obediently stood still, letting the stylist adjust the pleats around her waist.

It has to be said that Liu Yifei and Elie Saab are quite a good match. Not only will they wear each other frequently, but their collaborations will also be at a level that is widely recognized in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Elie Saab treated her very well; Liu Yifei essentially had the privilege of being the first in China and even globally to wear the new season's haute couture.

The most classic outfits Liu Yifei wore between 2024 and 2026 were all haute couture pieces from their collection.

Wearing the brand's haute couture a total of fifteen times is unmatched.

Of course, Liu Yifei's first collaboration with Elie Saab was in 2011.

Its first breakthrough came at the 2016 Montreal Film Festival.

The dresses that follow, like the classic elegant gowns, such as the fairy dress and the dress with the missing emergency clock, are mostly from their collection.

He Yi'an's direct contact with the other party this time can be considered as allowing Xiao Liu to make contact with their family in advance.

Los Santos, Kodak Theatre.

As the evening sun slanted across the steps of the theater entrance, a car pulled up at the entrance.

Like other film festivals, the Oscars' red carpet stretched from the sidewalk all the way to the entrance, with crowds of people carrying long...

Reporters with their cameras and microphones, and fans of various celebrities.

Such scenes are pretty much the same at major film festivals or charity galas, and there's nothing new about them.

The car door opened, and He Yi'an stepped out first. He was wearing a well-tailored black suit. After getting out of the car, he did not leave immediately, but stood next to the limousine and put his other hand inside.

Liu Yifei leaned forward and placed her hand on his forearm. Looking at the flashing lights outside, she felt a little nervous.

"Don't be nervous, this is actually similar to your last time walking the Cannes red carpet."

"You said the same thing that time, and I was actually very nervous then too."

Although Liu Yifei replied with those words, the smile on her face had become natural. She nodded slightly to the cameras on both sides, and her gait gradually became more elegant.

It's all a lie to say you're not nervous.

After all, in this situation, making a fool of oneself would truly be an international joke.

However, being by He Yi'an's side naturally gave Liu Yifei some confidence, and she felt that if everything was with He Yi'an, she didn't really have anything to be nervous about!

The two walked side by side on the red carpet. He Yi'an noticed that Liu Yifei's pace had become much lighter, indicating that she was adapting faster than he had imagined.

That's right, people will force themselves to grow.

Even if you are naturally prone to nervousness, you can overcome your weakness by constantly adapting.

On both sides of the red carpet, a few reporters who had recognized her called her name in English, while others called her name in Chinese.

At this point, the Oscars are still a beacon, and every year some media outlets still come to report on them.

However, they never expected to see He Yi'an and Liu Yifei this time.

He Yi'an didn't see these people, but turned his head to introduce and remind Liu Yifei: "That one over there looks like a reporter from Variety. They should recognize you. They were the first to give a good review of your previous film, Little Miss Sunshine."

"As for the one in that corner, the Los Angeles Express also praised your performance—"

Hearing these reminders, Liu Yifei turned her head slightly to look, then smiled and waved in those two directions.

Liu Yifei wasn't very famous in Hollywood yet, so they walked the red carpet at a fast pace, arriving at the theater entrance a few minutes later.

The theater was still crowded, but much quieter than outside.

He Yi'an glanced around the venue, his gaze sweeping across the rows of guest seats before quickly locking onto their positions.

The organizers were quite considerate and arranged for the various film crews to be grouped together.

The cast of "A Separation" was seated in the middle row, slightly to the left of the aisle, while the cast of "Little Miss Sunshine" was on the other side. The two production teams were seated relatively close to each other.

Only the team behind "Crash" was placed in a relatively earlier position.

This is actually a kind of arrangement hint. There are rumors that as long as your film crew is arranged to be placed early enough, the chances of winning an award will greatly increase!

The fact that "Crash" was scheduled so early in the film's release schedule is clearly meant to send a signal to the others.

Sure enough, when Harvey saw He Yi'an come in, Harvey, who was also in front and only one seat away from the "Crash" crew, looked very unhappy.

However, the old man's expression changed quickly, and after seeing the Lord of the Rings crew further ahead, he regained his composure.

"So what if you're Asian and spend so much money? It's all for nothing."

Harvey knew that The Lord of the Rings had spent a lot on public relations this time, and he didn't think He Yi'an could really outdo them, after all, he had also contributed.

However, the direction in which he exerted his efforts was...

He Yi'an ignored Harvey. He raised his arm and gestured to Xiao Liu, "Let's go say hello to 'Crash' first."

call."

After saying that, he led Liu Yifei over, greeted Sandra Bullock and Matt Dillon briefly, and chatted with Paul for a few minutes.

Paul Haggis has already finished post-production on "Million Dollar Baby," and now all that's left is to determine a suitable release date.

"Mister He~"

"Paul, how's the movie's release preparation going?"

"Oh, everything is ready, but it's hard to choose a time slot."

"Didn't Richard consult you?"

"He did discuss it with me. I wanted to release it in December, but he wanted me to try May, or even the summer season!"

Speaking of this, Paul complained, "Director He, you have no idea how ruthless Richard is. With our meager budget, competing with the post-Labor Day release schedule is practically suicide!"

Watching Paul Haggis ramble on about how unreliable Richard was, He Yi'an realized that he actually didn't have much confidence in his film.

After all, this is his first film, and he has never tried it before. It's a bit difficult to put on such a demanding role right away.

But December is too long.

Waiting a year won't work either!

The reason why Hollywood release dates vary so much is simply because the best release dates are all places where major film studios are fiercely competing.

Take the summer movie season, for example. From May to August, the films competing in this season are incredibly strong.

If you don't believe me, here are a few examples.

The first movie to hit theaters in the summer of 2004 was "Troy," starring Brad Pitt, which grossed $4.97 million worldwide.

Then came Shrek 2, The Day After Tomorrow, Harry Potter, Garfield, and Spider-Man 2.

I, Robot; Alien vs. Predator; Catwoman; Van Helsing —

This doesn't even include other films like "Around the World in 80 Days," "Stanford's Wives," "King Arthur," and "The Village," which only grossed around 200 million, less than 300 million.

Of course, Hendrik Willem Van Loon suffered a severe loss.

But it's impossible for He Yi'an to be released at the same time as him.

After much thought, I realize there are many movies I should avoid.

After all, Hollywood is indeed at its peak right now, producing a variety of classic films that easily break 200 million, 300 million, or 400 million.

November is pretty much the same, mostly featuring family-friendly movies from major studios.

"Paul, since you don't want to go up against them all at once, how about you take the lead and kick off the May season?"

"you mean?"

"There weren't any big releases from late April until May 15th."

Hollywood's box office season from January to 4th is traditionally slow, and even He Yi'an, no matter how successful he is, cannot defy this traditional period.

March and April are also the months when Oscar-winning films are shown after the Oscars.

After all, this is experience summarized by Hollywood.

If he doesn't take He Yi'an's suggestion, then He Yi'an can't make arrangements directly.

Paul understood what he meant: "Then I'll think about it and choose a more suitable time with Richard!"

"Okay, you decide!"

After talking with him, He Yi'an went to the direction of "Little Miss Sunshine" to chat with director Dayton and lead actress Abigail.

He said a few words.

Having not seen her for a long time, she chatted with Abigail in English for a few minutes. The little girl was wearing a pink princess dress today, and she was missing a front tooth when she smiled, which was quite typical of American children.

Liu Yifei was able to sit down immediately upon arriving at the film crew.

"Crystal! You look so beautiful today!" Abigail looked up at her.

"You too, your dress is prettier than mine."

"Mom said it was sponsored." Abigail proudly twirled around in front of her.

He Yi'an did not interrupt their conversation, but instead chose the nearest location for the "A Separation" film crew.

At this moment, a white man who looked quite old reached out his hand to He Yi'an.

"Ale, congratulations on your nomination this year. Crash is a very powerful film."

"Thanks."

He Yi'an shook hands with him and recognized him as a member of the academy. He didn't remember his name or anything, but he could recognize his face: "It's our honor that you like him."

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the other person walked towards their seat.

There were actually only two people around the seats in "A Separation": Gong Li and someone from China Film Group.

After all, as a foreign language film nominated, China Film Group has to show some appreciation.

I chatted with Gong Li, and she was very happy that the film was nominated, but she was also a little envious of Liu's other films being nominated.

Gong Li is based in Hollywood, and yesterday she organized a gathering and invited Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli.

"Director He, congratulations!"

"Sister Gong Li, I should say congratulations to you too, and as for whether you'll win an award—"

"You don't need to tell me all this. Before I came, Steven told me you had a good chance. After all, you're different from Zhang Weiping and the others; you went through all the procedures!"

That's it!

Spielberg is an old squid, so it's not surprising that he knows this.

"Sister Gong Li, has your movie finished filming?"

"There's another one. What, you have another new movie offer me?"

"Not yet, I don't plan to make any movies this year."

"Oh?"

Although Gong Li was a little curious, she didn't ask why he was taking a break, since she knew how busy He Yi'an had been last year.

She herself has already filmed two movies with He Yi'an.

There are other projects as well, which have already been thoroughly investigated by various news outlets in China.

So it's normal for He Yi'an to take a break, considering his workload seems even heavier than that of Zhang Yimou.

The two chatted casually for a while, and soon the conversation turned to Liu Yifei.

"Xiao An, you need to be nicer to Xixi!"

"Yes! Of course!"

"I was just being nosy. I know about all the methods and protection you use, even if others don't. So I had a good talk with Xiaoli yesterday—this nomination must have cost you a lot, right?"

There was still a hint of envy in Gong Li's words.

After all, in Liu Yifei's eyes, He Yi'an's kindness to her was truly beyond question.

Having been in Hollywood for so long, how could she not know some of the rules of the Oscars? That's why she took the initiative to point them out to Liu Xiaoli and the others yesterday.

This is actually a super assist!

He's gained another super wingman!

"Is Gong Li envious of those nominated?"

"An Oscar? Many people never get a chance in their entire lives, but Sissi got hers on her first try, of course."

These words perfectly showcased her Shandong girl personality.