America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz-Chapter 887 - 846: Martin and Aniston’s Oscar Contest_2

"Should I, like her, form my own squad of besties? That would really max out the novelty and excitement of having a few friends to hang out with..."

Silsa was a good girl who was good at learning. She thought back carefully about the actresses she had worked with or met over the years—those who were around her age and pretty enough to be suitable friends.

Half an hour later, Martin entered Silsa's dance studio.

The music began to play, bodies started to sway, and the fervent dance seemed to take one back to primitive times.

...

Entering December, "La La Land" had smoothly surpassed 200 million US dollars at the North American box office.

The film was also gradually released overseas. Unlike Martin's previous film "City Thief," which had a more North American backdrop, musicals have an audience worldwide. In the first week of its overseas release, the film's international box office had already exceeded 50 million US dollars.

Along with the surging box office, "La La Land" also enjoyed equally rising acclaim.

Although the story of the film takes place in modern Los Angeles, from the cinematography to the content and the jazz music, it had a distinct air of nostalgia.

This made "La La Land" not only popular among audiences but also highly regarded within the industry.

Old white men love nostalgia.

This was the foundation for an Oscar campaign.

In the conference room of Davis Studio, including Martin and Thomas, everyone was gathered.

Jessica turned on the projector, and the screen displayed several heavyweight contenders for this year's Oscars.

By December of the awards season, the Oscar front-runners were usually clear.

"The primary goal for 'La La Land' is Best Picture," Jessica clicked the mouse, and the projector screen flipped to show the names of three movies: "Based on the information we've gathered and a comprehensive analysis of the film, the main competitors are likely to be these three."

Martin looked at the projector screen; the names of the movies were familiar—"The Wolf of Wall Street," "Gravity," and "Twelve Years a Slave."

Jessica continued, "'Gravity' is a Warner Bros. production, directed by Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón. It was released in North America in October this year and its box office is nearing 250 million US dollars. It has excellent critical reception and is a complete female lead film, which fits with the current trend."

Thomas chimed in, "It's a science fiction film, right?"

Jessica answered, "It leans towards more realistic hard sci-fi. In the past, this type of film would have a hard time earning an Oscar, but in the last couple of years, Martin won Best Actor for 'The Martian,' so the Oscars seem to have relaxed their stance on sci-fi."

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Martin said, "I asked Daniel from Warner Bros., and they're focusing on Best Director and Best Picture for this film."

Jessica moved on, "'The Wolf of Wall Street' is a Scorsese-directed film starring Leonardo."

Martin interrupted her, "Their primary target is Best Actor."

Leonardo and he had a bet, so the movie they invested in was firstly aiming for the Best Actor Oscar.

Jessica crossed off "The Wolf of Wall Street" right away and then mentioned the last film: "I think 'Twelve Years a Slave' will be our biggest competitor. This film combines too many favorable factors, its theme of African liberation is secure and correct, and the film quality is solid..."

Everyone was temporarily at a loss for words because this film indeed had a strong Oscar advantage.

Martin opened the laptop in front of him and glanced over the film's content. He had some impressions of it.

A nostalgic musical versus Black Lives Matter?

Thankfully, "Twelve Years a Slave" didn't have too many buffs stacked on it, at most it was just Black Lives Matter.

If it were like some film from his memory, where besides Black Lives Matter, it added ingredients like homosexuality or transgender issues, then it would be invincible.

Martin's memories from his past life indicated that in the coming years, films with black people and additional buffs tended to be particularly powerful at the Oscars.

Just Black Lives Matter wasn't exceptionally strong.

At this moment, Jessica said, "The producer of 'Twelve Years a Slave' is Plan B Entertainment, and the producer is Jennifer Aniston."

Thomas, Bruce, Emily, and Jessica's gazes all fell on Martin.

Martin said, "No wonder Aniston asked to meet with me tonight; it seems it's for this matter."

Thomas asked, "How are things on our side?"

Martin replied, "Public relations are progressing normally, with Best Picture as the primary goal."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

After a brief Oscar campaign meeting, Martin, upon finishing work, headed to the top-floor suite of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

After a short wait, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie arrived together.

Martin fetched a fine bottle of wine, poured a glass for each person, and said, "It's so hard to get a meeting with you two."

Jolie started with her old tune, "You never bring Elizabeth out for fun. I'm always stuck hanging out with Jen, and it's not that interesting."

Aniston, about to take a drink, nearly splashed it in Jolie's face, angrily saying, "Hanging out with me is boring? You seem to have forgotten that last time you were enthusiastically bumping into Martin behind my back."

She turned to Martin, "This tramp is addicted to playing the saint, traveling the world with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to boost her reputation, while almost throwing away her day job as a Hollywood star."

Jolie responded nonchalantly, "Even though I haven't filmed much these past two years, not only has my status not declined, it's actually risen. I now earn more per movie than you do with your active filming schedule!"

Aniston was speechless for a moment, as what Jolie said was true.

She took a sip of her wine, "In this magical era, an actor doesn't even have to act..."

Handing Jolie a glass of wine, Martin told Aniston, "I thought you had a grasp on the era's pulse when I saw your 'Twelve Years a Slave.'"

"Her, having a grasp on the era's pulse?" Jolie turned on her sarcasm mode, "If it hadn't been for you, Martin, she would have suffered a huge loss because of Pitt."

Aniston corrected her, "Because of you and Pitt!"

But Jolie said, "I compensated you, didn't I? Every time you and Martin were together, I gave all my energy to bump into Martin."

The loose woman brought it up again, "Martin, you have so many lovers, why not bring a few out, and let's all have fun together."

Martin couldn't be bothered with her and asked Aniston, "Are you aiming for Best Picture at the Oscars?"

"That's right, the PR team hired by the company thinks our biggest competitor is 'La La Land.'" Aniston was well aware of Martin's honorable Oscar campaigns, "So, I specifically wanted to meet with you to discuss what to do."

Jolie leaned into Martin, her arm resting on his shoulder, "Jen is afraid to compete with you head-on."

She looked at Aniston, "Right, Jen?"

Aniston shrugged, "We've had such a deep, long relationship, surely we can't smear each other over something so trivial? Today's Oscar campaigns... ah, it's all Harvey Weinstein's fault. You can't win an award without self-promotion and slandering the competition."

Jolie spoke, "Harvey Weinstein pioneered it, but Mr. Martin Davis took it to new heights, creating an honorable strategy for campaigning."

Martin didn't argue and said, "'La La Land' has been aiming for Best Picture, and your 'Twelve Years a Slave' is also after it. We'll compete fairly, without smearing each other."

Aniston was realistically modest, "It's going to be hard for me to beat you."

"Indeed, that wouldn't be quite fair," Jolie suddenly laughed, having thought of something amusing, "Jen is a novice at the Oscars, whereas you've won plenty with your experience. There's no way Jen can win."

Martin spread his hands, "So, let's compete fairly."

Jolie glanced at Aniston, then back at Martin, "I have a good idea. It won't compromise our friendship and might even strengthen it."

Martin put his arm around her shoulder, "Let's hear it."

"You two should compete head-on, for real," Jolie said, confident both Martin and Aniston understood, "If Martin wins, 'Twelve Years a Slave' withdraws from Best Picture; if Jen wins, 'La La Land' withdraws."

Aniston's fighting spirit was high, "How do we compete?"

"It's simple," Jolie said, "you two see who can make the other surrender faster!"

She encouraged Aniston, "Women naturally have an advantage in this respect! Go for it, Jen, take Martin down!"

Martin extended his right hand, examining his long, strong fingers, recalling the big shot in his past life's acting circle nicknamed 'Kato Monkey.' He had learned from Kato Monkey and practiced countless times since arriving here!

And so started this unusual Oscar competition.