The Best Director-Chapter 463 - - And the Best Director goes to...
Chapter 463 -463: And the Best Director goes to…
“Here are the nominees for Best Original Screenplay…”
On the Oscar stage at the Kodak Theatre, Uma Thurman, tall and stunning in a backless pale orange evening gown, read out, “Joss Whedon and Wang Yang, ‘Firefly’;” as she spoke, the central image on the big screen showed the ‘Firefly’ clip of Captain Mal and his crew walking through a plum orchard in Serenity Valley, with the word “firefly” written above. A monochrome photo of a balding, chubby Whedon and a smiling Wang Yang appeared to the right.
“Ah ah—” There were many Wang Yang fans and friends in the auditorium, so along with the sudden burst of enthusiastic applause, there were also wild screams from females—perhaps for the feminist Whedon, or maybe for both—it was difficult to discern at the moment.
Uma Thurman continued, “George Clooney and Grant Heslov, ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’;” the screen flashed with dazzling lights, and the title, images, and nominees changed. The applause suddenly softened, and there were no screams or cheers. The Kodak Theatre quieted down as if there were fewer than a hundred people in front of the stage, letting the audience realize just how elevated the atmosphere had been a moment ago.
“Woody Allen, ‘Match Point’;” the perpetually absent, frowning bespectacled old man appeared, garnering sparse applause; “Noah Baumbach, ‘The Squid and the Whale’;” the stylish Jewish man appeared, and while the applause wasn’t overwhelming, there were a few loud cheers, likely from happy friends and family; “Stephen Gaghan, ‘Syriana’.” The applause was initially languid, then it spread throughout the venue, but this was because Thurman had finished reading the list.
Judging by the atmosphere at the venue, ‘Firefly’ clearly had the most backers, and this sentiment extended to the television audiences and online. Yet, rarely did media dare to “award” it the prize; the collision between a science fiction film and an academy-style art film was inherently too unpredictable—fantasy has had its moment (with ‘Ghost’ in 1990), but a science fiction film had never won Best Original Screenplay!
In another world or rather, at the 78th awards in that other world, ‘Crash’ took the trophy. Because of changes, ‘Crash’ had already won the year before at the 77th awards, eliminating the unprecedented science fiction film ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’. But in reality, both ‘ESOTSM’ and ‘Ghost’ are romantic dramas, completely different from the scientific significance of ‘Firefly’.
But as everyone knows, the film critique world heaped praise on the ‘Firefly’ script: “Whedon and Wang Yang are a perfect combination,” with its story content, character dialogue, world setting, and underlying meaning all being wonderfully intriguing, both novel and profound. That is the reason it created such suspense.
“And the Oscar goes to…” Uma Thurman tilted her head, beginning to open the envelope in her hand. Since this year’s Writers Guild Awards wouldn’t be held until March 9th, the predictions for this award were completely elusive—so who would it be?
“‘Firefly’!” shouted the audience in front of the TV. Aden Kohler and Squire Kohler were calling out for their dad and Uncle Yang, and children from the Fist family, the Smith family, and others were also showing their support for Uncle Yang. Keke, sensing something, quieted down; “Magic Yang!” fans like Clair and Evelyn were a bundle of nerves. The importance of this award was self-evident—if they won the screenplay award, then Best Director and Best Picture were more hopeful. It would directly affect the mood of the space cowboys tonight, “Firefly!!”
As Thurman glanced at the envelope, the whole venue went silent, the hands of the thousands of guests ready to clap depending on the outcome. Wang Yang couldn’t help but feel his heart constrict. Could Firefly break the historical fate of science fiction films? Jessica was already unconsciously pressed against him, silently praying fervently: “Lord, oh Lord! Lord, oh!…”
Joss Whedon and his wife were so nervous that their necks were covered with beads of sweat. As members of a screenwriting dynasty, winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay would be an immense honor and pride! Heath Ledger, Robert Downey Jr., Will Smith… and a host of beautiful women all held their breath as Uma Thurman raised her head, smiled, and announced the disappointing result.
“George Clooney and Grant Heslov, ‘Good Night, and Good Luck.'”
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“Ah ah ah—” No matter who won, the whole audience would immediately erupt into fervent cheers. Clooney and Heslov hugged each other in surprise, then rose from their seats to celebrate happily with those nearby, defeating the highly anticipated ‘Firefly’! The live broadcast panned away, showing Baumbach and Gaghan standing up and clapping with smiles, so did Whedon and Wang Yang, clapping while saying something.
In fact, Wang Yang had pounded his fist on the chair before rising to applaud; Whedon took a sharp breath, as a large droplet of sweat fell from his balding forehead. Like with Best Supporting Actor, they’d done everything they could and worked as hard as possible, but most of the judges had chosen other films, and there was nothing they could do.
Kai Cole displayed a polite smile, showing a row of teeth; and Jessica just managed a smile, trying her best to control her emotions, not to grind her teeth or to roar. She knew! She knew that’s how the Oscars were: high popularity didn’t mean you would win, effort didn’t guarantee an award, there was winning and losing, and it was just an award. Respect the result, because joy in victory had meaning. However, ‘Firefly’ and Yang not winning the award was a huge disappointment…
“Can you believe it?!!!” It was more than just a huge disappointment; it was maddening! Natalie wanted to transform into Eve and blow up the stage; Rachel’s dimples were nowhere in sight; Hathaway, Scarlett, and others, beyond their sympathy, felt choked up. It seemed the event was indeed heading towards a “Star Wars tragedy”!
“Hush—” The children, naturally very disappointed, started hissing nonstop; Tom Whedon (Joss’s father), Samuel Whedon, Matthew Whedon, Jed Whedon, Zack Whedon (half-brother), and Lee Stearns (Joss’s mother, divorced from Tom), the entire Whedon family was a mix of sighs and expletives. Joss had nearly gotten an Oscar! The living room was filled with a sense of loss; the family members were silent for a moment, not knowing what to say, and Joshua shrugged helplessly, saying to Keke, “Not your dad.” Affected by the melancholic atmosphere, Keke pursed her lips, and her big eyes quickly misted over, on the verge of crying.
Aside from the joyous fans of Yang, most moviegoers felt as if they had lost something precious, emotions like frustration, annoyance, and anger welled up. Perhaps only the F-word could describe their feelings now: “FUCK!!” Even though George Clooney was quite popular and adored by female audiences, suddenly, he became the most loathed among young female viewers – he had ruined the stage appearances of both Heath Ledger and the amazing Yang… It should have been ‘Firefly’ winning the award!!
“‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ won Best Original Screenplay; ‘Firefly’ didn’t make history, such a pity.” In the Sina live text broadcast room, the host Zeng Zihang updated this line of text, and the guest Cheng Qingsong said, “Many fans can’t accept this result, asking where did ‘Firefly’ lose?”…
Who knows! Sci-fi films are like bastards, always awkward. However, optimistic sci-fi cowboys around the world then thought, the Oscars sometimes follow “average-ism”; since the hot favorite ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ won Original Screenplay, maybe ‘Firefly’ could take Best Director, or Best Picture! Unfortunately, ‘Firefly’ had already missed the chance to break the Oscars records with 12 awards (9/12), though not many truly held such expectations – tying the record with 11 awards would have been very, very good.
The night grew darker, and the awards ceremony continued amidst bouts of enthusiastic applause. The winners of Best Actor and Best Actress, lacking suspense, were successively unveiled. The judges continued the choices of the Golden Globes, with Philip Seymour Hoffman (‘Capote’) and Reese Witherspoon (‘Walk the Line’) crowned this year’s Best Actor and Actress. Heath Ledger disappointingly missed out again, unable to take home an Oscar.
“Thank you to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. An artist’s responsibility is to seek out light in the long dark night that humanity falls into. Thank you, Anne, Heath, Jack, Michelle; they are right there, thank you for believing we could write this story; thank you Ang Lee, and our distinguished members for their support; thank you to Firefly Films, thank you for Wang Yang’s trust, you gave us a magical journey where dreams came true, and to my dear friends…”
“`
The hot favorite, “Brokeback Mountain,” finally got its first trophy of the night, for Best Adapted Screenplay. On the wide stage, Diana Ossana recited her thank-you speech with a calm demeanor, her occasional sighs betraying her nervousness; then, the old-timer Larry McMurtry also gave a hearty thanks to all those he needed to thank.
“You know, when I saw ‘Brokeback Mountain’ win Best Adapted Screenplay, I couldn’t help but say to myself, I didn’t know we could wear jeans here,” Jon Stewart, at the side of the stage, hands on the glass podium of the host, made an awkward face to match his joke, prompting a wave of laughter from the audience. Stewart continued to play the fool, “I finally know that if I ever come back to host the Oscars again, I’m going to wear overalls, I’m so excited right now…”
The live broadcast camera panned away, capturing Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal both smiling.
Stewart, once suspected of being gay, wasn’t actually gay; he and his wife Tracy have two children. In fact, Stewart’s performance tonight wasn’t so great. After an exciting opening, he had difficulty coming up with more spontaneous wit and humor. It seemed he couldn’t be blamed; Stewart’s talk show mainly focused on political satire and news spoofing, bristling with barbs. But when he stood in the sensitive and serious Oscar temple, and producer Gil Cates explicitly forbade him from turning the ceremony into a political show, his humor couldn’t shine.
So Stewart had mixed feelings about Wang Yang. If “guest host” Wang stepped up again, Stewart was sure to be slammed in the media reviews tomorrow. However, he wasn’t about to curse Wang Yang for losing out—after all, Wang Yang was a really good young man. As the night drew towards its end, Stewart was getting more and more nervous. He joked, “Our next presenter allows us to tap his head with a violin, we must respect him, please welcome two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks!”
The thunderous applause started, and the brisk entrance music began. Tom Hanks, tasked with presenting the Best Director award, walked out from backstage in a black suit and gray tie, holding the envelope!
The live broadcast camera swept toward the seats by the aisle, where Wang Yang, Ang Lee, Spielberg, and others were all clapping.
“They’re about to present Best Director!!” This news spread across the globe through the internet, phone calls, loud shouts, and more. American viewers rapidly flocked to ABC, causing the viewership numbers to skyrocket! Everyone who cared about the amazing Yang entered a state of tension once more! The kids and numerous female Yang fans were screaming non-stop, “Forrest” Tom Hanks was someone who had brought good luck to Wang Yang; three years ago, it was Hanks who had handed Wang Yang the Golden Globe for Best Director for “District 9”. But this time it was the Oscars!
Could it be the same this time? Billions of humans were paying attention. Some online forums, chat rooms, and other places were constantly flooded by messages from Yang fans and Yang critics: “Support the amazing Yang! Support the amazing Yang!” “It has to be Wang Yang!!” “Wang Yang will go back crying; it’s not him!” “Support the amazing Yang!!”…
“I’m now going to present the award for Best Director. This year, four nominated directors have chosen films with significant social impact, and one has chosen a society 500 years in the future,” Hank said with seriousness, yet the audience erupted into laughter at this tense and serious showdown moment. The camera again showed Wang Yang, who leaned towards Joss Whedon with a smile. Hanks, too, couldn’t help but smile before continuing solemnly, “To provoke our thoughts while also entertaining our audience. The nominees for Best Director are…”
Accompanied by soft, rolling music, every screen in the Kodak Theatre, and the TV screens watched by a global audience flickered with dazzling lights. Hanks introduced, “‘Brokeback Mountain,’ Ang Lee;” the screen showed Ang Lee in a cowboy hat, directing his crew on set, and applause immediately rose; “‘Capote,’ Bennett Miller;” Miller squints with his left eye, right eye peeking through a camera viewfinder, not much applause, but cheers and whistles from a group of friends and family; and “‘Firefly,’ Wang Yang;”
The screen showed a lush green pasture where Wang Yang, in a windbreaker and jeans, stood among a herd of cattle, watching them and making hand gestures, seemingly teaching them how to move and perform, with several crew members nearby.
“`
“Hoo hoo—,” “Wow!!” “Swoosh—” The Kodak Theatre erupted instantly, applause suddenly becoming deafening, a stark contrast to three years ago when Wang Yang was introduced as a nominee. Back then, almost only friends and family of “District 9” were clapping, but now the entire venue was involved, and the decibel level indisputably set a new record for the night’s nominee entries! The excited fans of Yang didn’t fear offending other nominees; they had every reason to support him wholeheartedly!
“Take home that second Oscar for Best Director, Magical Yang! Once at 23, and again at 26!” Natalie clapped vigorously, fearing her enthusiasm might not be strong enough, while also curiously wondering what he was doing then. ‘Talking to a cow about acting’? Why isn’t this snippet in the “Firefly” DVD extras! Saving it for a future “forever collector’s edition”, perhaps? Such a cunning businessman! “Yang, you will always be my Best Director,” Rachel thought to herself with a laugh, clapping forcefully; “Give it your all, Yang!!” Scarlett, Heath Ledger, Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr., and others were all clapping furiously…
“Yang, you’re so cool,” Jessica said with a beaming smile, her eyes sparkling and teeth showing, her face radiant with genuine happiness and pride… “Thank you,” Wang Yang smiled, remembering clearly this moment from three years ago when she had said the same thing. Next time, she would still do the same.
Lord, oh Lord! Lord! Her palms ached from clapping, and she kept praying fervently, suddenly bringing her hands together and stopping.
‘”Good Night, and Good Luck,” George Clooney;’ Clooney, wearing glasses, was sorting documents at a desk, and the applause abruptly subsided again, as if there had been a major power outage; ‘”Munich,” Steven Spielberg.’ Spielberg, with his small round glasses, was holding a viewfinder and looking at something, then suddenly turned to talk to the crew, with the applause continuing its lull.
After the introduction, the applause completely ceased, and the entire hall was enveloped by a tense atmosphere. Tom Hanks tore open the envelope, saying, “And the Oscar goes to…”
The screen split into six windows, with Hanks in the bottom right corner. In the upper left corner, Ang Lee smiled shyly, either nonchalantly or stiffly; Bennett Miller in the center gazed calmly and transfixed toward the stage; in the upper right corner, Wang Yang’s mouth was slightly open, but without much of a smile; Clooney in the bottom left corner kept a stiff smile, but his interlocked fingers moved, betraying his inner emotions; Spielberg looked the most serious, showing no hint of a smile.
Although Hanks was quick in his movements, time seemed to stand still. The auditorium was quiet before the storm; who could it be!?
“Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang!!” Kids in front of the TV shouted loudly; “Magical Yang, Magical Yang!!” Movie fans also screamed; “Director!!” All the members of the “Firefly” cast clenched their fists; “Please…” Joshua, with a tense face, along with Wang Yang’s parents, Mark, Kathy, and others, all stared intensely at the television screen, unaware that Jessica was so nervous she was about to faint; influenced by the atmosphere, Keke blinked her large eyes.
If there were a huge screen divided into countless squares, including every single person, one could see everyone was so tense, with furrowed brows, smiles, seriousness, calmness, heads bowed, or eyes closed…
“…” Tom Hanks glanced at the result on the envelope, and there it was written…, he lifted his head and announced the name. (
