Chapter 930 - Best Film Editing

It was a blue diamond! 

How much would such a blue diamond cost?

The female presenter thought she had masked her reaction well, but under the all-encompassing, no-blind-spot coverage of multiple cameras, her expression the moment she noticed Laila's ring was broadcast live into millions of homes.

What was on Laila's finger? Everyone following the Oscars knew, and even those who had caught wind of it online and turned on their TVs could tell you. Unfortunately, during the outdoor shots, Laila's ring, no matter how large, only elicited a vague "Wow, that's big" from viewers.

But just how big was it? How precious? The audience had no way of knowing.

Now, the presenter's reaction had inadvertently revealed the answer: Laila's ring was indeed extraordinary! 

Just imagine—even a celebrity like her was visibly stunned. That alone spoke volumes about the ring's allure. Was it the size? The beauty? The color? What exactly made it so special? And why hadn't any media outlets leaked this information beforehand?

Suddenly, the internet erupted in criticism of the paparazzi. "You're always snooping around when nothing is going on, but when something happens, where are you?" 

"You're so good at stalking minor celebrities, so why can't you dig up any info about Laila's ring?"

Hearing such comments, the paparazzi felt wronged. It wasn't that they didn't want to do their job—it was that they couldn't find her! Laila was perhaps the most reclusive celebrity they had ever encountered. While some stars enjoyed gardening or other hobbies at home, none were as young as her.

How could a young woman like her not be out there causing a stir? Look at other socialites—flaunting their wealth, racing cars, or living it up with a crowd of young heartthrobs. 

And then there was Laila, either holed up writing scripts, secluded on a film set, or clocking in and out of work like a regular employee. Where was the glamorous, endlessly wealthy socialite lifestyle?

Unaware of the outside chatter, Laila had already finished her acceptance speech and returned to her seat.

"My darling, you were amazing!" Janet was the first to give her a big hug. To her, Laila was nothing short of an angel sent from heaven, and she couldn't feel more blessed.

"Thanks, Mom." Having already won one award, Laila was much calmer this time and even managed to smile as she hugged her mother.

Roy was waiting nearby to congratulate her with a hug, but Janet clung to Laila like a prized possession, leaving him pacing in circles, unable to find an opening.

"Ha!" Seeing this, Xiao Ye couldn't help but laugh.

The atmosphere in Laila's crew was always relaxed. Newcomers might be intimidated by her intense focus, but after working with her a few times, they realized her dedication was solely to the film's quality, not about targeting anyone. Over time, their fear of her faded.

This, of course, was also tied to their success. Their films had box office numbers, critical acclaim, and awards—how could such a crew be compared to those producing universally panned flops? 

The lively atmosphere of their group was captured by the cameras, and Laila, as the recent award winner and a trending topic, naturally received even more attention. The cameras frequently panned to her, giving her several seconds of close-up shots.

Viewers at home were also swept up in the excitement, smiling along. But soon, they realized something important: this was Laila's second award of the night, and the eighth for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'!

That meant since the ceremony began, 'The Lord of the Rings' hadn't missed a single nomination! In every category it was nominated for, it had won! 

Eight awards! Sure, they were minor categories, but still—eight awards! This had already surpassed 'Chicago's' record, setting a new personal best for Laila at the Oscars.

This was insane! Even if the remaining three awards slipped away, these eight alone were enough to cement Laila's legendary status.

Who else? Who else at 27 years old could create a film that swept eight Oscars? 

But would Laila's Oscar journey end at eight? 

The audience wanted more victories, especially Laila's fans and the fans of her films. They wanted their idol and her movie to keep dominating the Oscars! Eight wasn't enough—they needed more!

Thus, the announcement of the next award once again gripped countless hearts, as 'The Lord of the Rings' was still in the running.

"The winner for Best Original Score is: Michael Giacchino!" The presenter read the name from the envelope, meeting the audience's eager anticipation.

The entire 'Lord of the Rings' crew leaped to their feet, cheering in triumph.

"Nine! They've won nine!" The viewers at home were equally ecstatic.

Giacchino was over the moon. He hadn't expected to win an Oscar, let alone two in one night. But he believed Laila deserved credit too, as she had often inspired him. Without her, this success wouldn't have been possible!

He thought it, and he acted on it. On stage, he said, "Honestly, I owe my being here entirely to Laila. It was an honor to score 'The Lord of the Rings', but without her, I never would have created music like that."

"I wanted her to share the credit with me, but she refused. She said she's a director, and directing is her true passion." He shrugged. "Even though she told a music lover that music isn't as great as directing, I still thought she was pretty cool in that moment."

No one expected him to follow such an emotional speech with a joke, and after a brief pause, the audience burst into laughter.

Even Laila laughed so hard she leaned into Roy. When the camera turned to her, she waved it off with a smile, then shook her fist at Giacchino on stage, as if threatening to teach him a lesson later. This only made everyone laugh even more.

But while they laughed, many were also struck by a realization. Including this latest win, 'The Lord of the Rings' had now taken home nine awards! And most importantly, it hadn't missed a single nomination so far.

If this trend continued... could the remaining two awards also be theirs?