Chapter 922 - The Nomination List is Revealed

The contract Laila casually tossed out ultimately became the catalyst that ended the strike. This was something no one could have anticipated.

Perhaps because it didn't sound particularly impressive, the incident wasn't widely publicized. Laila was never one to gossip, and the other party naturally had no reason to spread the news.

In early February, the strike officially ended, and the Oscar nomination list was finally announced.

As predicted, the accumulated energy from the three installments of 'The Lord of the Rings' erupted in the final film.

Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, Best Original Song, and Best Original Score—a total of eleven nominations. This dazzling achievement left many in awe.

When Laila received the news, she clenched her fist in triumph.

This was it!

This was what she had been striving for!

Unlike her previous films, 'The Lord of the Rings' was entirely her creation from start to finish.

The script was meticulously crafted over several years, with every word carefully considered. Every storyboard was drawn by her hand, and every minute detail in the film was calculated and planned by her.

Compared to the version from her past life, she believed her adaptation was even better.

If there was one thing her past life had given her, it was the knowledge that 'The Lord of the Rings' could be adapted into a wildly successful film. Filming with confidence was entirely different from filming with trepidation, and the psychological pressure was incomparable.

Even so, she hadn't been entirely sure of success at the beginning. It wasn't until the Oscar nominations were announced that she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now, she could revel in the sense of accomplishment that success brought her!

Unlike the Golden Globe awards that had been handed to her, the recognition from the Oscars was unparalleled. This was the validation she needed, the proof that she was finally breaking free from the influence of her past life and embarking on her path of self-development.

"Congratulations, Laila!" Her family gathered around her and offered their heartfelt congratulations.

Laila accepted their blessings with joy, hugging each of them in turn. She was so elated that she even gave Mr. Channing a brief hug. Normally, they weren't this close, and the gesture left him pleasantly surprised.

The reason she hadn't been close to him before was that she saw him as a strategist, the type of person she found most difficult to deal with. As a result, she had always maintained a "safe" distance. Deep down, she knew there would likely never be a "battle" between them, but with such a cunning individual, she felt it was better to keep her distance.

Janet was delighted to see them getting along so harmoniously. The family attributed her joy to the film's numerous nominations, but they didn't realize that what truly made her happy was the validation of her abilities by the Oscars. She could finally stand tall and declare—she was a true director! No longer someone who relied on replicating past successes.

When she chose 'The Lord of the Rings', part of her motivation was to harness the energy of the trilogy to win the awards she coveted most. But there was also an element of testing herself. She wanted to see if she could elevate the film to greatness using her abilities.

Now, the answer was clear. She had achieved what she set out to do, crafting the film to perfection with her skills.

However, once this goal was accomplished, a new ambition emerged. She wanted to challenge the Oscars again, this time with more of her creations.

'The Lord of the Rings' had leveraged the accumulated energy of three films to achieve its success, so its current accolades weren't entirely surprising. Next, she wanted to attempt the same feat with a single film. The project she had in mind was 'Blood Diamond', the film that had cost Leonardo DiCaprio the Best Actor award at the Oscars.

Laila knew that much of 'The Lord of the Rings' success stemmed from the fact that the source material was a masterpiece. Blood Diamond, on the other hand, was also based on a book, but its influence paled in comparison.

If she could elevate a work that was initially less acclaimed to Oscar-worthy status, it would be another testament to her abilities!

And then, when she was ready, perhaps it would be time to create a film entirely her own.

She longed to produce a film that was wholly her creation, from script to screen—a completely original work.

In her past life, she had believed in the potential of her script, but the actors had been uncooperative, and few had treated her as a real director. In the eyes of the investors and their entourage, she was less of a director and more of a beggar, someone who could be summoned or dismissed at will.

She desperately needed an original work to erase the stains of her past life from her mind. She wanted to use film to show the world that she was capable! She didn't need a lever to move the Earth; she just needed one film to prove that she was a true director!

On the night the nomination list was announced, Laila cried.

She cried so hard that Roy almost carried her to a doctor. Seeing her tears broke his heart. But no matter how he comforted her, she never revealed the true reason for her tears, only saying that she was too happy, too overwhelmed.

After all, at just 27 years old, with so many nominations, she was still considered a "kid" in the eyes of many directors. How could she remain calm in the face of such honor?

All Roy could do was hold her, gently patting her back and softly engaging in conversation. He handed her tissues when she sobbed, brought her an ice pack when her eyes swelled, and offered her water when her voice grew hoarse. He simply stayed by her side, quietly supporting her.

Even so, Laila cried for an entire night before finally falling asleep, exhausted.

She slept soundly, but Roy stayed awake all night, watching over her, afraid she might do something impulsive in her emotional state.

Meanwhile, the outside world was abuzz with the announcement of the nomination list.

'The Lord of the Rings' had received eleven nominations, including heavyweight categories like Best Director and Best Picture! What did this mean? It was nothing short of incredible!

And to think its director, Laila Moran, was only 27 years old!

How many 27-year-olds could achieve what she had? And she was a woman, no less!