章節 118: Awards season approaches

The so-called awards season is, in fact, an evaluation of the films produced throughout the year in the movie industry.

Towards the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, various major awards and judging events are held in North America, where the best films of the year are recognized. The abundance of awards and the dense schedule of events give rise to this concept of the awards season.

Narrowly speaking, it refers to various film awards held from December to February of the following year. These include awards such as the Golden Satellite Awards, Annie Awards, various guild awards for film industry professionals, including producers, directors, and actors, as well as the awards presented by major film critics' associations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and others. The awards season culminates with the Golden Globe Awards and the Oscars, making it the general concept of the Oscar awards season.

Typically, the nominees' lists are announced in December, followed by the Oscar nomination luncheon in mid-January, with the Golden Globe Awards serving as the climax in mid-February, followed by the Oscars ceremony as the grand finale.

Overall, it serves as a summary of the previous year's achievements.

Because of this, the public relations teams for the Oscars are always incredibly busy during this period, with January to February being the busiest time of the year for hosting parties and banquets.

At this time, Hollywood takes on the feeling of an industrial social season, with stars from all walks of life frequently appearing. Film critics, seasoned directors, producers, and other celebrities become the objects of flattery for those seeking Oscar nominations... This period is often when the unspoken rules are most prevalent and concentrated throughout the year. However, it is not just about temptation and sexual favors, but also involves frequent exchanges of interests, making it difficult to surprise anyone.

As for the numerous harassment incidents exposed about Harvey Weinstein in later years, how much of it was him being proactive?

Anyway, with his reputation tarnished, he didn't mind blacking others' reputations, trying to clean himself up.

Of course, it doesn't mean he is innocent; there are no absolutes in this matter, and he certainly cannot escape this conclusion.

However, just these incidents do not mean that these so-called award selections are filled with corruption.

There are rules, but first, you have to be a player to enter this game.

So if you want to be nominated, you need the quality of your work to be commendable and have some advantages. The foundation cannot be too weak.

Only after gaining recognition from film critics would one obtain a ticket to the game, and then, any means available can be used.

If you have money, spend it on legal public relations services to help lobby the selection judges.

If you are unwilling to spend money or don't have enough wealth but hope to win awards and develop your career, or even try for an Oscar, then it's time to demonstrate your skills.

Agents, connections within the industry, and even your own body... All roads lead to Rome. As long as you have a chance, you can contact the judges and change their attitudes. How to do it is something you should take the initiative to execute.

How can you expect to get something without making an effort? Whether it's worth it or not, you need to think it through.

However, generally speaking, times have changed, and there are very few straightforward intimate exchanges at this level. It's more common to distribute resources within the industry, such as befriending influential people, helping to attract investments, or even implying financial support.

As for offering one's body, it can only be said to be consensual, a gift during the process of pulling strings, and doesn't have much impact on the bigger picture.

On the other hand, in those lesser-known awards where manipulation is more prevalent and operational opportunities are higher, some actors are more willing to offer their services in exchange for a chance, even if it doesn't guarantee winning but increases their odds. It still comes down to the question of whether it's worth it. How to proceed is something one must think about carefully.

Of course, when it comes to the Oscars, the rules of the game are more subtle and stringent.

With their high profile and a large number of judges, who are also closely monitored over the years, apart from spending money on relevant public relations companies, there are fewer hidden tricks, which, relatively speaking, allows for a fairer selection process.

After all, with so many members in the judging panel, without the right connections, one wouldn't even know whom to approach for public relations.

And these connections have become resources, even developing into a business. To gain the appropriate qualifications, money must be spent to pave the way.

So, coming back to the group of people vying for the Oscars, everything ultimately boiled down to one thing: money talks.

As long as you have money, the public relations companies will screen suitable targets for you, go and impress them using various exchange methods. As long as you have money, they will do their best to promote your work and garner support for you.

This approach is out in the open, and the Oscars don't even shy away from it.

Why shy away from something reasonable and legal? Look at the presidential elections; there is the concept of political donations, and it's not like the US laws oppose it.

Why be afraid? The list of received funds is clear and transparent, and the fees charged are fair and reasonable.

Therefore, in theory, as long as you manage to engage with all close to a thousand members of the judging panel through public relations, spending a fortune in fees, you can secure a nomination one hundred percent. Moreover, as long as your work meets the minimum standard for Oscar consideration, winning an Oscar is not out of the question.

In the future, "The Hurt Locker" won Best Picture with a money-driven campaign, outshining its competitors.

Of course, this raises the question of whether it's worth it. After all, making films is for making money. If you want to use awards to increase visibility and sell at a good price, the expenditure on public relations cannot be too extravagant.

Otherwise, who would engage in a loss-making business?

The entire awards season is an operation offered as a package deal, which intensifies the competition among films.

All participants seeking awards can only passively or actively invest money to ensure they are not treated with bias. Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" suffered from such a setback due to his arrogance, unwillingness to conform, and was eventually overturned by Miramax's "Shakespeare in Love", resulting in it missing out on the Best Picture that year.

Originally, all film critics had high expectations for this World War II masterpiece, but what difference did it make? It still capsized.

This has made people increasingly respect the rules set by the judges. In such a vicious cycle and with the increasing influence of political correctness, the reputation of the Oscars has declined.

However, as the saying goes, even if a camel is thin, it is still bigger than a horse. At least in these years, the value of the awards is still recognized.

As a result, the gray economic industry that has developed from this awards season may be even more important than the awards season itself. The few professional lobbying companies in Hollywood make a year's worth of money in these few months and live a comfortable life.

So, in the long run, will this lead to a scenario where inferior money drives out good money?

Anyway, nobody cares, right? Let time decide everything.

It's not a matter of numerous conspiracies nor a utopian dream of fairness and sunlight. Just as Hollywood is never a place where hard work and acting skills alone guarantee success...

Of course, Lyman knew all this; he didn't have Steven Spielberg's self-assured thoughts.

On the contrary, he was cautious and willing to abide by the industry's rules.

After all, if he could really win an award, the returns for himself would definitely be more direct and better than the investment made.

He had considered everything, combined with the earnings from the two films, a large part of which ended up in his hands—oh, no, correction—most of it was the studio's joint earnings.

He discussed it with René, and René approved of his plan.

So, this public relations fee would be transferred from Mann Studios' account to CAA.

Separating public and private interests is essential for sustainability. Lyman had always been mindful of this and was also attentive to his relationship with René.

They were partners, and this foundation of camaraderie should not be corrupted.

The cost of public relations was not insignificant—up to $5M. If it weren't for EuropaCorp also bearing half of it, Lyman was determined not to foot the bill.

As expected, everything relied on the influence of Franklin. The thing about personal connections is that they diminish with each use.

With the funds transferred, CAA immediately sprung into action.

Paramount Pictures was still persisting with limited theater screenings of "3 Idiots", and suddenly, the box office revenue for individual theaters surged.

Moreover, after the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards on January 3rd, the name of the film began to be mentioned.

There was no doubt that it was time to build up its qualifications and prepare to obtain a pass for Oscar consideration.

From that day on, the name of the film kept appearing frequently.

It received nominations and victories from the Directors Guild of America, film critics associations, and more.

At the Golden Satellite Awards, also known as the Small Golden Globes, which, like the Golden Globes, were selected by American journalists and media professionals, in fact, even the organizing body was a division split from the American journalist association. This award served as one of the indicators for the Oscars and was one of Hollywood's more important awards.

Under CAA's efforts, "3 Idiots" was once again nominated.

Then came a series of small-scale awards like the Houston Film Critics Society Awards, the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, and many others, where it continuously received nominations or outright wins.

Games, you know, can become boring after a while, and so can awards season.

However, Lyman hadn't come to North America yet because Kevin Huvane told him he could come just before February. All the previous awards could be managed without his presence, and it wouldn't make the judging panels feel disrespected - Steven Spielberg's absence was the very thing that irked those judges.

With so many nominations, the film's reputation began to take shape. Among all the foreign-language films, "3 Idiots" was undeniably leading the pack, exuding an air of momentum.

It also became the most highly anticipated film on all the award nomination lists...