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The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are prestigious awards given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to honor excellence in the film industry. Awards are given in various categories such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and many others. (Chat GPT)
This was the most prestigious and well-respected award in the industry. Most actors and actresses wanted to win these awards to prove themselves and elevate their status in the industry. In fact, actors/actresses who won the awards could increase their salaries up to $20 million, well, depending on if some studio paid them that amount. But it was true that the Oscar winners had a salary increase.
That was also the same for the directors. However, in Kazir's case, he didn't care about the salary and such. He was already a billionaire.
What he wanted was the status of being respected and regarded by the industry as one of the best directors of their era.
He knew that winning an Oscar was not that easy, even money was not enough to achieve that. A lot of people tried to use money, but only a few succeeded.
In the end, most of the winning factors depend on the movie and performance. And this year, five directors created films that grabbed the attention of the Academy. Giving the directors nominations and a chance to win the Best Director Award.
Kazir's opponents were all strong and worthy of winning the Award. Well, all of them deserved to win. The Academy Awards didn't care about the box office, they were looking for artistic films that had strong psychological aspects. So yeah, a disadvantage for Kazir Grey and The Revenant.
Kazir had four rivals to win the Best Director Award.
Roman Polanski, the director of The Pianist. A Jewish who experienced World War 2 and filmed a movie that he basically experienced. In fact, his mother died in a Nazi camp.
Rob Marshall directed the movie Chicago. Chicago was a musical film that reminded the old men of Hollywood about the era of musical films.
Martin Scorsese was the director of Gangs of New York. The Gangs of New York was a film based on a novel of the same name. The novel was published in 1927 and Martin Scorsese recreated the novel into film. The Academy Awards loved nominating movies based on literature. The Revenant was also based on a novel, by the way.
Pedro Almodóvar was a Spanish director and his movie was also set in Spain. Talk to Her was a Spanish psychological drama film, written by Pedro Almodóvar himself. The movie was about two men who form an unlikely friendship as they care for two women who are both in comas.
As for The Revenant, well, it was about Hugh Glass...
Now that Tom Cruise already got the Best Actor Award, Kazir couldn't help but be happy. However, he also knew that their win streak tonight might not happen. Best Actor Award was a major award and it was already a good thing that The Revenant won it... Kazir might not win the Best Director Award.
After the segment for the announcement of the Best Actor Award, Halle Berry left the stage and Barbra Streisand took her place.
Barbra Streisand was the presenter for the Best Original Song. Unexpectedly, the winner was Lose Yourself from 8 Mile. The song was written and rapped by none other than Eminem.
The rap genre was dominated by Eminem in 2002. The Eminem Show was the best-selling album of 2002 selling over approximately 7.6 million copies by the end of the year.
After that, Kazir couldn't help but feel nervous. Tom Cruise returned to his seat once the commercial started and hugged Kazir again.
"Thanks, Kazir."
"You just said that earlier."
"I don't mind saying it again." Tom grinned while cherishing the golden statue in his hands.
The show kept going on and Denzel Washington was the presenter this time. By the way, the winner of Best Actor last year was Denzel Washington while Halle Berry won the Best Actress Award.
If Halle Berry was the presenter of the Best Actor Award tonight, then Denzel Washington was the presenter of the Best Actress Award.
"Here are the nominations for the Best Director Award..."
Nicole Kidman – The Hours as Virginia Woolf
Salma Hayek – Frida as Frida Kahlo
Diane Lane – Unfaithful as Constance "Connie" Sumner
Julianne Moore – Far from Heaven as Cathy Whitaker
Renée Zellweger – Chicago as Roxie Hart
These five actresses suffered the same fate as the actors earlier, cameras were pointed at them. Recording their expressions live on TV.
Denzel Washington didn't waste time and announced the winner.
"The Best Actress Award goes to... Nicole Kidman!"
Kazir was not even surprised. He knew that the future could be changed but some aspects still remained. And it seemed that Nicole Kidman winning the Best Actress Award was an unchangeable future... Now, Kazir also felt like his chances of winning the Best Director were diminishing.
He looked at his side and found that Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz were having mixed emotions. Especially, Penelope, she seemed to hate the fact that Nicole Kidman won.
The segments after that and the Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay were announced.
Ronald Harwood won the Best Adapted Screenplay. He was the scriptwriter of The Pianist.
Pedro Almodóvar won the Original Screenplay Award. He was the director and scriptwriter of Talk To Her.
And just like that, the most anticipated segment of the Academy Awards for Kazir happened.
The Presenter of the Best Director Award was Harrison Ford. The actor had some complex opinions regarding Kazir after what happened a few years ago. Still, Harrison Ford kept being professional and read the teleprompter.
"The nominations for the Best Director Award are..."
Roman Polanski – The Pianist
Rob Marshall – Chicago
Martin Scorsese – Gangs of New York
Kazir Grey – The Revenant
Pedro Almodóvar – Talk to Her
The tension was obvious and Kazir knew that a camera was currently pointed at him.
He swallowed hard as he waited for Harrison Ford to open the envelope.
Then, the time had come.
"Congratulations. Kazir Grey, The Revenant."
The time almost stopped moving for Kazir