บท 64: Chapter 63
Los Santos, near Griffith Observatory.
This is Xu Can and Emma Stone's unique dating destination.
Now, it is crowded with people from the production crew, including camera operators, makeup artists, lighting technicians, and set managers.
A group of people gathered on the slope, either looking out at Los Santos in the distance, chatting in small groups, or hiding in corners playing with their phones.
Xu Can and Emma Stone sat side by side on a bench, each lost in their own thoughts.
Assistant director Damien Chazelle approached Xu Can.
"Director, how much longer? It's already been a day… Should we shoot the scene first and adjust the background in post?"
"Wait a bit longer. The natural light can't be replicated."
"But the conditions are tough. We only have an hour before sunset. It'll be difficult to shoot…"
"We have to push through and get it done today."
"Huh?"
Damien Chazelle felt a chill. Although not the director, he had been in Hollywood for several years.
How could a five-minute dialogue and dance scene be repeated so many times?
Even with perfect control, it would require multiple takes, likely taking at least two hours.
It was said in Hollywood that Xu Can was a "gambler," the most radical risk-taker when making films. He had certainly earned that reputation.
This approach often led to one of two extremes: either great success or disastrous failure.
Damien had to admire him. Xu Can always seemed to win. Was it luck? Probably not…
"I see it!"
The cameraman, who had been smoking nearby, suddenly shouted in surprise. Everyone looked up, and indeed, the distant sky was tinged with blue and purple by the last rays of the sun.
All of Los Santos looked like a dream. Just as Xu Can had said, it was stunningly beautiful.
"Go, go, go! Everyone, take your positions! Let's give it our all and get it right this time!"
"Got it!" Xu Can stood up, rallying the crew to get ready. Then he reached out to pull up Emma Stone.
"My Lady, shall we dance?"
Emma Stone smiled sweetly. "My Lord, it would be an honor."
The "best screen couple of the 21st century," the Spider-Man & Gwen duo, were at it again, much to the delight of the crew, who were thrilled to see them back together.
But those who had read the script knew what was coming next.
"Scene 31, shot 3, take 1!"
"Action!"
Xu Can, in a white shirt and tie, looked more handsome and gentlemanly than Ryan Gosling.
Under the streetlight, he gazed deeply at Emma Stone.
"… We're in this charming place, but it's a shame that the two people here are you and me."
"… You're not my type. There's no spark in your eyes. What a waste of this beautiful night."
The original lyrics were about their first meeting.
The male lead Seb's lyrics deliberately suggested he had no feelings for Mia.
Mia responded by singing, and the two were temporarily in a playful, adversarial relationship.
Maybe it was Xu Can's masterful acting, fully embodying Seb's character. The emotions he conveyed were so real that Emma Stone felt a bit slighted. Did Xu Can really prefer Taylor Swift over her?
With this feeling, Emma's portrayal of Mia was also tinged with slight dissatisfaction.
"Wearing a cheap suit, thinking you're so suave…"
"You're right; I'll never fall in love with you!"
"Maybe this night scene could charm a romantic dreamer, but it does nothing for me."
The two sang and walked side by side to the bench, perfectly capturing the tension between their feelings and their feigned indifference.
Everyone in the crew was stunned, especially Damien. This scene was exactly how he had envisioned it when he first read the script.
Xu Can and Emma Stone had brought it to life perfectly!
"Wow, they really are the best. Their chemistry is amazing!"
Then, they shot the tap dance scene on the bench in one take without any mistakes!
Considering they had only rehearsed it once, it was incredible.
"Cut! Fantastic!!"
Damien couldn't help but whistle, and the rest of the crew applauded and cheered.
This meant they wouldn't have to work overtime. After finishing this complicated long shot, the blue-purple twilight still hadn't faded.
"Thanks for your hard work, everyone. Let's take a 15-minute break!"
Xu Can also breathed a sigh of relief. While he could handle a five-minute long shot without mistakes, Emma didn't have god-level acting skills. Yet she had matched him perfectly. Their chemistry was undeniable.
"Was what you said just now true?"
"What?"
Xu Can was momentarily confused, then quickly realized.
"Those were the lyrics in the script. How could they be true?"
"But I felt like you meant it." Emma Stone gazed into the distance, a little downcast.
"Come with me."
Xu Can suddenly grabbed Emma and led her, running all the way to the Griffith Observatory viewing platform.
This was where they had first visited before they started dating.
"Los Santos is truly beautiful at night."
"Emma, I've never brought anyone else here. This is your night. Do you understand?"
"Huh?" Emma Stone covered her mouth in disbelief.
"You mean…"
"That's right."
"Baby…"
Emma Stone's big eyes were already misty.
Before Xu Can could say anything, she hugged him excitedly, burying her head in his chest.
It seemed she had taken his words to heart. To Emma, Xu Can had made a promise.
As for what the future held, they would figure it out as they went.
After Xu Can and Emma Stone confirmed their relationship, they happened to be shooting scenes where Seb and Mia officially start dating. The warmth and sweetness between them were palpable, even from a distance. It was hard to tell where reality ended and acting began.
"I can only say that their rapid rise to fame reflects their true talent."
"Exactly." Assistant director Damien nodded.
"I think they both have a shot at the Oscars. Xu Can has already been nominated, and with this film, Emma has a real chance too."
"Absolutely. I'm very confident in our movie."
Linus Sandgren, the chief cinematographer, was very optimistic about La La Land. He knew better than anyone how much careful planning had gone into the long shots. As a new director, Xu Can's control of camera language was on par with world-renowned directors!
And with his acting skills, action, dance, and musical talents, he was nothing short of a monster!
Meanwhile, in Hollywood, the 80th Academy Award nominations were officially announced.
The most popular films were the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, each with a total of eight Oscar nominations.
Films like Gangster, Into the Wild, The Dark Knight, and Atonement were also nominated for various awards.
However, The Dark Knight, which fans had high hopes for, failed to receive the recognition it deserved from the conservative Oscar judges.
It was only nominated for a few technical awards like Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects.
The only major category nomination it received was Best Supporting Actor.
Despite the judges' biases, they couldn't ignore Xu Can's outstanding performance as the Joker. He was successfully nominated for an Oscar!
No matter how biased the judges were, Xu Can's portrayal of the Joker couldn't be overlooked.
With the Oscars just over a week away, Hollywood was already buzzing.
The Coen brothers, directors of No Country for Old Men, announced that Javier Bardem would beat Xu Can for Best Supporting Actor and win the Oscar.
He had lost to Xu Can at the Golden Globes, but they were confident he would win this time.
Then, an insider from the Oscar organizing committee leaked information:
"Xu Can is an excellent actor, and his portrayal of the Joker has received unanimous praise. The Dark Knight even surpassed The Godfather to rank first on IMDb…"
"But the judges aren't impressed. They prefer to award the Oscar to Javier Bardem for a deliberately serious film rather than to a superhero in tights."
This revelation quickly sparked outrage among North American netizens.
"The Dark Knight isn't serious enough? It's far better than some pretentious dramas!"
"The Oscars have become a joke, a product of political correctness. The awards lost their fairness long ago."
"There's discrimination going on here. Someone should call the authorities."
"Tell me a joke: Oscar judges."
"Have you even watched the movie? Talk after you've seen it!"
In short, the movie not being shortlisted for more nominations was bad enough.
But now that Xu Can was nominated, most people believed he deserved the award.
The Joker deserved a statuette!
Hollywood was in an uproar, and the news spread across North America via the internet.
"Chinese actor Xu Can has been nominated for an Oscar. He's expected to become the first mainland actor to win an Oscar!"
"The Oscar nominations are out, and the Best Supporting Actor competition is fierce. The Chinese rising star is a strong contender for the statuette!"
"Xu Can is favored, but here are seven reasons he won't win."
Domestic media had differing opinions on the news, leaving some netizens confused.
"How can a Chinese person win a foreign award?"
"Don't even think about it; it's all rigged behind the scenes."
"Xu Can is sure to win. The other competitors don't stand a chance."
"Which movie is this? Why haven't I heard of it?"
Most domestic netizens hadn't seen The Dark Knight, and its release in mainland China had been delayed indefinitely.
Those who had seen it through pirated copies were furious.
"The first villain in film history!"
"The ugly man is the protagonist of the movie; he should be awarded the Best Actor Award."
"Who said Chinese actors have no acting skills? Let Xu Can show them what real acting is!"
"Seriously, domestic entertainment should really learn from Xu Can. Why doesn't he return to China to act?"
"It's said that if you offend the boss, you'll be banned…"
"Outrageous, domestic entertainment deserves it!"
"It's rumored that Spider-Man 2 is about to be released; I'll definitely contribute to the box office then."
While Xu Can was making waves abroad, the mainstream media in his homeland seemed to turn a blind eye, almost as if he didn't exist. Only the fans who had seen his works were spreading the word, creating a growing divide between the media narrative and the public's awareness.
Despite the mixed reception in the East, Xu Can was focused on the upcoming Oscars. As the event drew closer, both Taylor Swift and Emma Stone, his co-star in La La Land, invited him to walk the red carpet with them.
"My dear, can I accompany you to the Oscars this time?" Swift asked.
"Baby, Oscar, let's walk the red carpet together!" Emma chimed in, almost simultaneously.
Fortunately, Xu Can had already thought of a plan. "The company is promoting a new movie, so this time Emma and I will walk the red carpet together. Honey, I'll accompany you when the Grammy Awards are held."
"Okay…" Swift sighed softly, "But you and Emma really have nothing to do with each other, right? I've been watching the news recently…"
"You little fool, don't read the tabloid news. Those photos are stills from the set. You know we're just playing a couple in the movie."
"I know, I just feel a little uncomfortable," Swift admitted.
Xu Can caressed her face lovingly, painting a reassuring picture. "One day, there will be a chance to write a script for you alone, and we'll act in it together."
Swift's face lit up with excitement, already imagining the possibility of playing an on-screen couple with him.
As February came to an end, the Oscars, Hollywood's most prestigious event, kicked off at the Kodak Theatre. The venue was filled with stars, and all the big names in Hollywood walked the red carpet, posing for the cameras.
When Xu Can and Emma Stone made their entrance, they received as much attention and flash photography as the long-established superstars.
"Xu, are you and Emma officially dating?"
"Are you confident you'll win the Oscar tonight?"
"Can you tell us about the progress of your new film?"
"When will the Spider-Man sequel start filming?"
A swarm of reporters surrounded Xu Can, and it took a lot of effort for the two to escape.
"It's hard to believe we're getting this much attention," Emma sighed as they finally made their way through. "I remember when we first starred in Spider-Man, no one recognized me on the street."
"Now, if you don't drive out, you'll definitely be surrounded by fans," Xu Can added with a smile. "You'll become even more famous when you win Best Actress."
"You always say that, but how could I win the statuette?" Emma blushed, still feeling overshadowed by Xu Can's radiant success.
"Believe me," Xu Can said, looking at her with unwavering confidence. He then led Emma into the Oscar venue.
As the Oscar ceremony began, the opening sequence played—a video clip spoofing and summarizing the past year's movies. Every character in the animation was wearing a clown mask, recreating memorable scenes from different films.
When host Jon Stewart took the stage, he kicked off with a joke about the animation:
"Wow, the opening animation was full of clowns. Christian Bale, where are you?"
"Oh my god, man, why are you still sitting in the audience and not changing into the Batsuit?"
"Forget it, you were outshone by the Joker in the movie anyway, so I guess we can't count on you…"
Christian Bale smiled helplessly, knowing he was the butt of the joke, despite being the male lead. Hollywood had a way of twisting things like that.
"I have to say, there are a lot of perverts, killer villains, and twisted characters among this year's Oscar nominees. No wonder those Hollywood screenwriters went on strike for three months—maybe we should be questioning their mental state…"
The host continued to poke fun at Hollywood's latest controversies, including the writers' strike, before finally getting to the heart of the event:
"Well, thank you for bringing us so many great works! Now, let's see who can win today's statuette!"
The anticipation was palpable as the night continued, everyone eager to see if Xu Can would make history by becoming the first mainland Chinese actor to win an Oscar.
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