Chapter 1053 - Going Head-to-Head, On Purpose

How did she do it?

How could she make his performance feel so… divine?

Now Leonardo finally understood why so many people said Laila had a gift for "bringing out the best in actors." After experiencing it firsthand, he truly grasped the extent of her talent. But what impressed him even more was her editing—her hands were like those of a god, weaving together raw footage into a seamless masterpiece.

Sometimes it was just a single close-up, a fleeting glance—and yet, it completely transformed a scene. After watching the film, he had zero doubt about how she, a director, had managed to win an Oscar for Best Editing. Her technique wasn't just masterful—it was magical.

Leonardo grabbed Laila's hands in excitement. "Oh my God, Laila—were your hands blessed by some deity?! This movie is incredible. The direction is amazing, the editing is insane, I swear I'm about to cry from how good it is."

He had joked before that this film might be his best shot at an Oscar for Best Actor, but after watching the cut, he was convinced of it. That performance—he knew in his bones it was the best work he'd ever done since his debut. If this didn't get him that little golden statue, he might as well give up trying altogether.

Roy swatted Leonardo's hands away and pulled Laila close to his side. "Stay back. What if my kid picks up your bad habits and turns into a flirt?"

Laila nearly burst out laughing on the spot. If it weren't for the fact that other people were around, she probably would have. God only knew how hard she was working to maintain her aloof CEO image right now.

Leonardo yelped dramatically, "Excuse me?! What's that supposed to mean? I'm not a flirt!"

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Your ex-girlfriends could probably walk a runway together."

"I always start a new relationship after the last one ends, okay?" Leo insisted, visibly flustered. "Let's get that straight!"

Not that it mattered anymore. Laila, knowing how things played out in the future, was already well aware of the type of man Leonardo was. Honestly, she felt Roy was completely right—regardless of whether their child was a boy or a girl, keeping some distance from Leonardo was probably wise.

She gave Leo a look. He caught it, and it instantly made him blow a gasket.

"Laila, what was that look? You better throw out whatever nonsense you're thinking about me right now!"

Before things spiraled further into chaos, Louise rushed over to intervene and steer the conversation back on track. "Anyway, this film is brilliant. I think it has a real shot at the Oscars. Though, I am curious—what do we do about Cameron's new release? Should we try to squeeze in our film's release before the year's end and avoid clashing with his?"

At the mention of James Cameron, Leonardo's expression turned sour. Anyone who'd worked with Cameron once usually didn't want to do it again. His reputation as the "tyrant of the set" was legendary, and even now, Leonardo would break out in cold sweats just hearing his name.

Still, no one could deny the man's talent. Even if he poured millions into what others saw as trivial details, investors would still line up to throw money at him.

That was a true influence—people would rather give him tens of millions to "play with" than invest in an up-and-coming director.

"Laila, what do you think? I heard Cameron's using a lot of cutting-edge tech in this one," Leo asked, suddenly recalling something. "Wait, didn't he try to partner with your company?"

"It wasn't a partnership," Laila replied calmly. "He came to us for some tech optimization. We've got access to the latest advancements, and he saw that."

Leonardo shook his head disapprovingly. "Still doesn't sound like a good idea. He might end up sweeping all the awards. Maybe we should release early, just to avoid direct competition."

Laila frowned. "You want me to step aside?"

"I know you're not the type to give up easily, but if you want to win more awards, this would be the most practical move." Leonardo meant well. If it were up to him, and if timing wasn't tight, he definitely wouldn't go head-to-head with someone like Cameron. Sure, they'd miss out on some promotional windows—but who cared about box office numbers? Their goal had always been the awards.

Why go toe-to-toe with a monster like Cameron unless they had no choice?

Laila said nothing. She merely gave him a faint, almost amused smile—then walked out of the screening room.

"Wait—what does that mean?!" Leonardo asked, visibly alarmed by that smile. Turning to Roy, he blurted, "Did she just agree or not?"

Roy gave him a sarcastic smirk. "Did you forget who she is? You told Laila Moran to reschedule her release to avoid someone else's film?"

A few other cast members gave Leonardo the same look as they filed out, leaving him utterly confused.

"Guys? Seriously—what does that mean? What did I say wrong?" he called after them.

One actor who was on good terms with him finally gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, "Leo… she's Laila Moran. You forgot what that means, didn't you?"

What did it mean?

Think about it. She was the youngest director in history to win the Oscar for Best Director, and the first woman to do it. She was a box office juggernaut, with half of the top ten all-time highest-grossing films under her name. She'd broken two global records in just ten years—a living Hollywood legend.

If James Cameron was one of Hollywood's greatest directors, Laila was no less accomplished. If they weren't on a collision course, fine. But suggesting she back down just to avoid competition? That wasn't just "practical"—it was insulting.

Leonardo smacked his forehead. Right. He had forgotten. She wasn't just any director. She had her pride, her standards.

Maybe other filmmakers would choose to steer clear of a heavyweight like Cameron. But Laila? She was the kind of director others needed to avoid. Why would she retreat?

Realizing this, a fire lit up in Leo's chest.

What if their film outperformed that tyrant's latest project?

Why did that thought feel so satisfying?

"Damn it—let's do it! Let's go head-to-head!" he shouted, practically vibrating with excitement as he chased after Laila and the others, eyes gleaming with resolve.