Chapter 73: Oscar
Chapter 73
Martin sat down on the sofa and began reading the script. His pace was quick—perhaps a bit too quick—but his expression was serious, making it difficult for Jeff to tell if he was genuinely reading or simply pretending.
After a while, he finished the stack of scripts.
"Is that all?" Martin asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"What, you didn't like them?" Jeff asked, curious.
"Maybe my standards are too high. Never mind, I've got Island and Hide and Seek, and my schedule for next year is basically full," Martin shrugged.
In truth, he wasn't searching for a good script for himself but for Jessica and Scarlett. Scarlett had moved to Los Angeles at the start of the year, and they had set up several meetings. Their interactions were exactly like that of a young couple—affectionate each time they met, though never crossing the line.
"By the way, Jeff, our movie didn't make it to the Golden Globe Awards in January. How's the PR going for the Oscars?" Martin asked.
"There's nothing wrong with being nominated for Best Supporting Actor, but as for winning..." Jeff trailed off.
"Not forcing it," Martin replied. It wasn't duplicity—he really wasn't pushing.
After all, Bruce Willis was also campaigning for Best Actor for the same movie. And Bruce, known for his "tough guy" persona, had bigger aspirations: a statuette.
It was well-known that after the nominations were announced, Willis spent a staggering $1 million to launch an aggressive PR campaign. He bought fifteen pages of ad space in Vanity Fair and Hollywood Times and hired PR experts to publish glowing articles about his performance in The Sixth Sense.
Martin didn't need to compete for attention. If he joined in, it would only divert media resources and scatter the votes among the judges. After all, it was difficult for judges to vote for both the lead actor and the supporting actor from the same movie.
This Oscar season also had its own drama, as Harvey Weinstein's manipulation of public relations had propelled Gwyneth Paltrow to fame. He had taken an unexpected win with her, setting a precedent in the industry.
Martin had tried to get Harvey's help for his own Oscar campaign, but he hesitated. Looking at Harvey's attitude, it was clear that his focus was elsewhere.
---
That evening, Martin was lying in bed, talking on the phone with Scarlett.
"Congratulations, Martin! The youngest Oscar nominee! Wow, only 12 years old, no one can break that record," Scarlett said, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Thanks. I just did my job. How about you, Scarlett? Got any new projects?" Martin asked.
"No!" Scarlett's voice grew frustrated. "I've grown too fast recently, and it's ruined so many opportunities. My chest is getting bigger and bigger, and it's even affecting my balance when I walk. I'm seriously considering surgery to make them smaller."
"No!" Martin's response was immediate, and he jumped out of bed.
Scarlett laughed on the other end. "Martin, why are you so nervous? It's not like you're getting the surgery."
"I'm afraid you'll ruin God's most perfect masterpiece!" Martin joked.
"God's most perfect masterpiece? You mean my boobs?" Scarlett teased, pretending not to understand.
"Yes, I love them," Martin admitted without hesitation.
"But I almost lost my chance at a role because of them," Scarlett continued, her voice turning a little sad. "I haven't grown any taller in six months."
Her acting skills couldn't hide her real feelings, but Martin didn't call her out. Instead, he smiled and said, "As long as you don't hurt your 'babies,' I'll write you a script as a thank-you."
"Really?" Scarlett's voice lit up with excitement.
"Of course!"
"You're amazing, Martin. I love you so much!" Scarlett gushed.
---
On March 21, 1999, the 71st Academy Awards ceremony took place at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. It was a star-studded event with 24 Oscar trophies up for grabs.
The red carpet stretched as far as the eye could see, lined with handsome men and beautiful women, all dressed to impress. Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Meg Ryan—one after another, the stars walked the red carpet, greeted by screams and flashes from the press.
The female stars, in glamorous evening gowns, outshone the men, competing for beauty and elegance. Many had started dieting a week before to fit into their gowns, even refraining from eating or drinking during the ceremony to avoid any wardrobe mishaps.
The atmosphere was electric, and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was the perfect stage for this spectacle—the Oscars were about to begin.
At that moment, a black car slowly pulled up and parked in front of the red carpet. The door opened, and Martin stepped out in a sharp light blue suit, his appearance immediately drawing the eyes of reporters and fans. His choice of suit, a departure from the usual black tuxedo, highlighted his strikingly good looks and made a statement.
Despite being a child, Martin could get away with not wearing the traditional dark tuxedo that adults would typically wear at such an event.
The light blue suit, matching his eyes, highlighted his perfect proportions. At 1.6 meters tall, he looked well-balanced, a conscious effort to ensure he looked natural on screen for roles like in The Island and Hide and Seek.
His brown hair was neatly combed back, and his marble-like white skin, along with his chiseled features, made him look like an ancient Greek sculpture.
"Martin! Martin!" the crowd shouted, waving eagerly.
Martin smiled, surveying the crowd. Just as everyone thought he was about to walk the red carpet, he bent down and stretched out his arm toward the car door.
Was there someone else in the car? Was he bringing a female companion?
Amid the rising curiosity, a white hand placed itself on Martin's arm, followed by a long, smooth leg stepping out of the car. A dazzling figure emerged.
"Nicole Kidman?! How did she end up walking the red carpet with Martin?"
"No wonder Tom Cruise left alone earlier. I thought they were getting back together!"
"It looks like Martin's going to make a movie with Nicole Kidman?"
"Yes, it's written by Martin, and even Tom Cruise admitted it!"
[•———•——•———•]
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.