Emily

"Nicholas, it's a pity that you only got two statuettes in eight nominations for your film, but you are still young, and you will have plenty of opportunities in the future. How is the preparation for the new film? This time you will shoot better."

Levi raised his glass, smiled, and accepted the other party's blessing. Then he turned his head and chatted with Alexander, "It's so strange. Who are these people? Why have I hardly seen them before?"

Oscar is over. Instead of attending the Vanity Fair party, Levi returned to the company. After the Oscars ended, the crew of The Lives of Others also ended all their work. As the last celebration, the crew also held a party, which can be regarded as the summation of the movie.

It's just that Levi didn't feel so happy at this party. The company is getting bigger and bigger, and now more than half of the people attending the party are unknown to him. Moreover, because his film was nominated for eight awards but only won two awards in the end, what people said to him was mainly consolation. At least he just won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, but there were no congratulations, only consolation. What's up with this?

Can't you guys watch something good...

"Some are from CBS, some are from Universal, some are from film critics, and some... from who the hell knows. It's a party. A so-called party is a place where a group of people who don't know each other come here," Alexander just smiled.

"It's really strange. I didn't feel depressed, but they consoled me, which made me feel depressed." Levi was really helpless about this party, "They can affect people's emotions too much."

"Are you sure your mood is not affected by alcohol?" Alexander looked at the wine glass Levi was holding and complained to him, "Where is your little golden man? Hold it in your hand, and if someone comes to comfort you, just show it up for people to see, and you won't feel depressed that way."

"That thing belongs to Bob; let Bob play with it." Levi shook his head, even if he was a little drunk. He still has his own views on this issue, "That kid is crying with excitement; he and Susan are so excited, I bet they are definitely happier than us now..."

"I think of the word of Alexander, the great emperor: the prizes are distributed to the soldiers, and the future is reserved for yourself?" Alexander asked rhetorically.

"That's not what it means...it's not enough to discuss the future. How are we preparing for our new movie?"

Alexander came back from New York to attend the Oscar Awards ceremony. Although he has no official role in this movie, he considers himself a filmmaker to attend such an occasion. There is also no psychological pressure - in New York, he has been preparing for the set arrangement of the film. Now that the Oscars are over, Levi naturally wants to ask about the preparations for the new movie.

Alexander didn't reply yet, but someone else spoke. "Instead of asking him, you might as well ask me." It was a female voice from behind Levi. Levi turned his head, and the girl standing before him stunned him for a moment.

It was obviously Winona who appeared in front of Levi. However, her current appearance made Levi sober up.

She was wearing a black dress. A green short-sleeved shawl was also worn on the upper body. And her hair was trimmed to the length of her ears and combed behind her head, making it as smooth as flowing clouds. The beautiful hairstyle and clothing highlighted all the advantages of her appearance. She wore a pretty perfect smile and showed off in front of Levi. This is not what Winona likes to wear; this is what should be in the movie.

"Hello, Emily," Levi said immediately to this outfit. Anyway, he also put this output in the writing of the script. It's the costume feature of Emily in the movie; how could he not recognize it?

[T/N: I am renaming the movie from Amélie to Emily as the story is changed form France to New York.]

"Actually, I'm still more inclined to call me Winona...but today, you can call me whatever you want." Winona raised her glass, "Congratulations, you already have an Oscar statuette. But till now, how difficult this thing is to get."

Levi bowed slightly. Unexpectedly, it was Winona who understood him here.

"I got the Oscar. Let's start to prepare for work. Your taste is not bad. I found a designer in New York to make some of the costumes you wrote in the script, and they can actually be worn out." Winona's face was proud, "I just came back from New York, and the preparatory work for our movie has been completed. The studio set, props and costumes, makeup artist, and special effects team, I have found all these things. If you are done with your work here, we can cast a movie tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Hearing what Winona said earlier, Levi was quite happy. In fact, when he saw Winona appearing at his party again, he had already guessed that Winona probably had already finished the work there, so she would be so bored that she came here wearing the costume from the movie. It's just that no matter how much he thought about it, Winona had already done all the preparatory work for the film in such a short period of time.

This drama is different from the previous one. The historical characteristics of this one are vague, and the costumes in the movie have to be ordered by people in the fashion industry. Levi didn't expect that she would make all the clothes so quickly.

However, the shooting will start tomorrow... Levi also smiled bitterly: This girl is too impatient, she is ready, but he is not ready yet.

"I still have a few friends in New York." Winona said quite proudly, "How about going to New York to start shooting tomorrow?"

"I just finished filming a movie. Don't you think it's better for us to take a break?"

"Are you tired now?" After hearing Levi's complaint, Winona remembered something, "That's right, you've been busy with awards season; maybe you're a little bit busier... Then, you take a break. How long do you need a break? A week? Or two weeks?"

'In fact, I wanted to say I needed a month,' Levi said in his heart. He didn't expect Winona's hands and feet to be so fast. Initially, he planned to rest for a month and go to finish the film. However, he also heard Winona say that the studio had already been rented, and the preparatory work was done. Talking about taking a month off now would be a bit too much now.

It seems that she is more impatient than himself... "A week, our people will leave for New York first. Then we will start filming. The filming's promotional activities and press conferences will also be held in New York." After thinking about it, Levi still settled his mind. Although he wanted to rest since everything was ready, he should not relax too much. Now is the day when he started his own business. It is better to be a little tired in the early days of starting a business.

Although Winona is pressing very hard, she also has some considerations for the movie, such a consideration Levi accepted even if it was a little harder.

"If you feel too tired, you can take a longer rest. I can afford to wait." Winona saw Levi's hesitation, "As long as the movie is made better, I don't care about waiting."

"There is no need. Actually, I have a lot of things on my mind now. I have already formed the film lens and composition. After putting it on for a while, it will not ferment better. I want to rest just because I am tired, not for the movie's sake."

Levi is clear. He is afraid that she is not in the mood to care about whether he is dead or alive. For her, she is more concerned about the preparation of the movie. Since Levi is not interested in taking more rest, then he will not talk about this issue.

Winona nodded lightly and then suddenly turned around and said to Levi, "In your opinion, am I a bit arbitrary? Am I a bit too my own way?"

"Why do you say that suddenly?"

"I've been preparing the character recently. I have read this script for a long time. I have been pondering over and over again in many places. I found that the biggest difference between Emily and me is that I seem to have a bigger temper than her, and I seem to be more spoiled... Do you feel this way too?"

'You can even discover that by yourself,' Levi was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that Winona was seriously preparing for this movie in private.

It's just that he didn't expect Winona to say such a thing. After thinking about it for a while, Levi also understood something: as a frequent visitor to the Oscars, but without the chance to participate in the award presentation; he was afraid that the scene would hurt Winona.

"Don't you think she is too unintentional?"

Levi thought for a while but still didn't use too strong words. He knows that these big-name celebrities are not very listenable.

"No, she is a perfect character. It is only my problem that she is different from her." Winona frowned slightly, "Do you also think that I have a special temper?"

"It's still within the tolerable range." After thinking about it, Levi opened his mouth.

"Then I apologize. I didn't do it on purpose. It's just that I am not used to it at all. It is unconscious on my side." Winona didn't care how superior her words were. Maybe a little? She is not repenting; she is obviously proud.

"I know that I have a lot of shortcomings, many, many shortcomings. You are the director, and the film is entrusted to you, so you should point out my mistakes to me." Winona continued, "Today's award ceremony still touched me a bit. Yes. I heard what Kevin Spacey said. I hope people get better."

Levi knows that getting better may be true for others, but for Winona, it is somewhat ironic that her changes are not getting better and better at all but instead completely getting worse.

"Don't worry, you will get better and better one day, but It's just an Oscar, and you might get one too."

"Is it your turn to comfort me now?" Winona turned her head. Her look seemed bitter and helpless, "I just don't know when it will be when I get the Oscar."

"It's not difficult, maybe, just this year."

*****

Thanks and kudos for my patreons

Cherif Doghri

Adam LV

Danny York

Scott DePaepe

MMMCMXCIX, or 3,999

The Main Man.

Sandra Torres

You can read advanced chapters on my Patreon account: https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.