"In Fast & Furious 4, most of the car stunts were performed by the actors themselves. The filming was just as dangerous as the action you see in the trailers," Matthew explained passionately as he was interviewed in the press area in front of the Kodak Theatre. "Before each shoot, the entire production team meticulously assessed all potential risks. This level of dedication moved me deeply, so I was willing to go all out!"
Today, Matthew walked the Oscar red carpet alone, and whether it was this interview or the upcoming awards presentation, it was all part of the promotional campaign for Fast & Furious 4.
Compared to G.I. Joe, which was scheduled for release over the Independence Day weekend, Fast & Furious 4 was far more significant, given that he had invested heavily in the film.
"Do you have any specific goals for this film?" an ABC reporter asked loudly.
This was the main live broadcast camera for ABC, and under normal circumstances, someone without an Oscar nomination like Matthew wouldn't be given this kind of interview.
But ABC was owned by Walt Disney.
"My goal is summed up in two words—faster!" Matthew spoke confidently. "From the beginning of planning this installment, we focused on making the racing scenes even faster and more thrilling. We designed a variety of high-speed chases..."
If he could, he would have turned this Oscar red carpet into a full-blown interview about his film.
However, the interview couldn't revolve around him alone, and after less than three minutes, the ABC reporter moved on to another star, leaving Matthew to head toward the Kodak Theatre.
As he walked, he kept glancing back at the red carpet.
Matthew wasn't focused on the celebrities or the fans and journalists on either side of the carpet. His attention was on the crowd gathered on the outermost edge.
Outside the Kodak Theatre, on Highland Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, thousands of people had gathered, holding posters and banners that read "End Discrimination Against Women, Support Equal Pay for Actresses." Despite their silence, they were impossible to ignore.
This was a demonstration organized by a women's rights group.
Matthew had donated to several women's rights organizations over the past two years and was known as a supporter of women's rights.
In recent years, the women's rights movement had been gaining momentum, quickly spreading to Hollywood and the entire film industry. This rise in activism was poised to have a significant impact on mainstream commercial cinema.
For Matthew, this was a good thing. He could easily market The Hunger Games under the guise of supporting women's rights.
The influence of social movements on Hollywood movies has always been evident.
"Women's rights and black rights..." Matthew mused to himself. "At this rate, it won't be long before the Oscars turn into a stage dominated by white feminists and the Black Lives Matter movement."
Before entering the Kodak Theatre, Matthew glanced up at the building. There had been rumors that the theater might be renamed, as Kodak was reportedly struggling to keep up with the sponsorship fees.
Directors like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan had been calling for Hollywood to continue using film to save Kodak.
But technological progress doesn't bend to individual wills, and not even Spielberg and Nolan could reverse the inevitable trend.
Inside the Kodak Theatre, Matthew checked the time and decided not to head to the VIP waiting room. Instead, he made his way directly to the auditorium, walking down a long corridor to the front-row guest section. As he looked for his seat, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Matthew."
He turned and saw a short, stocky man standing a few rows back with two empty seats beside him. The man was looking at him and said, "Long time no see."
Matthew smiled. "Good evening, Harvey."
The stocky man stood up—it was the infamous Oscar strategist Harvey Weinstein. He extended his hand to Matthew, shaking it as if they were old friends.
"I heard you're planning to collaborate with James Wan, the director of Saw?" Weinstein asked with a smile.
"Yes, I'm very optimistic about that project," Matthew replied casually. "And James Wan is eager to work with me."
Harvey Weinstein's eyebrows furrowed slightly at Matthew's words and the relaxed tone in which they were delivered. It was clear that Matthew Horner's attitude toward him had changed. Previously, there had been a distant politeness, but now it seemed as though Matthew didn't care about him at all.
Matthew smiled again and said, "Harvey, the Oscars are your domain. I hope you have a big night."
"Oh..." Weinstein responded before adding, "I'm sure I will."
As Matthew was about to leave, Weinstein remarked, "Matthew, the indie film world isn't as simple as you think."
"Is that so?" Matthew replied nonchalantly. "Whether it's simple or not doesn't matter to me."
At that moment, Matthew spotted his seat and decided not to engage further with Weinstein. He walked away without another word.
Weinstein watched Matthew's back for a moment before sitting down. It was widely acknowledged in Hollywood that he was the most powerful figure in the independent film industry.
Now, someone was not only encroaching on his territory but also trying to take a project he had his eye on. Things were not going to be that simple.
Matthew found his seat and noticed it was right next to the Rachel Getting Married team, with only three seats separating him from Anne Hathaway.
"Hi, Matthew," Anne Hathaway, dressed in a red gown, greeted him warmly. "Good evening."
After Matthew returned the greeting, Anne whispered something to her team, then switched seats to sit next to him. With some time before the ceremony started, they chatted for a bit.
"My biggest dream is to become a woman like Audrey Hepburn," Anne Hathaway said, gazing at the Oscar stage. "And to win the Oscar for Best Actress."
Matthew nodded and said, "I hope your dream comes true tonight."
Anne Hathaway turned her gaze back to Matthew, curious. "Haven't you ever thought about competing for an Oscar?"
"I only do commercial films," Matthew didn't hide his feelings. "And I'm too lazy to do the necessary networking. The Academy won't give me a golden statue."
Expecting to win an Oscar for acting in pure commercial films was extremely difficult. Although the Academy was constantly adding new members, the fact remained that the core group of older voters was aging, making them more conservative. Past results had already proven this.
They could be influenced by PR and various deals, but only if it aligned with their tastes or at least came close to their preferences.
The Oscars are peculiar. They want ratings but distance themselves from commercialism. They aspire to art but don't dare go too far, resulting in an ambiguous stance.
They call themselves "Academy," but what does that mean? Perhaps no one knows, or maybe they themselves can't define it.
The Oscars today are nothing like they were in the '70s and '80s. They now resemble a political campaign.
Hearing Matthew's response, Anne Hathaway asked, "Don't you have any goals or dreams?"
Instead of answering directly, Matthew asked, "Anne, don't you think I'm already living the dream?"
Anne Hathaway was taken aback, not quite grasping Matthew's point. "Living the dream?"
"Look, many people say I'm on the cusp of becoming a superstar," Matthew said confidently and contentedly. "I've been in Forbes' Celebrity 100 top ten for three years in a row, I'm worth billions, and I'm living a life I couldn't have dreamed of before I turned twenty. Isn't that living the dream?"
Anne Hathaway nodded, "You're right. Even in all of Hollywood, you're someone everyone envies. People like us—who wouldn't want to live like you?"
Matthew laughed, genuinely happy. After all, his life now was exactly what he had always pursued.
Think about it—how many people can say they're living the life they once dreamed of?
In this respect, he had every reason to be proud and happy.
"But Matthew," Anne Hathaway suddenly asked, "Don't you have any aspirations beyond this?"
Matthew thought seriously for a moment before slowly replying, "Of course, I do. I have several, just like you."
"Can you share them?" Anne Hathaway was quite curious.
"Hmm..." Matthew pondered how to frame it in a more noble light. Struggling to find the right words, he simply said, "I want to become even wealthier so I can have more means to help those who are in desperate need of help... yes, women."
Anne Hathaway immediately thought of the people outside the Kodak Theatre and nodded knowingly. "With people like you, the impact of the women's rights movement will surely grow."
As a self-proclaimed high-end, classy actress, how could she not align herself with the women's rights movement?
Seeing that Anne Hathaway had completely misunderstood him, Matthew didn't bother correcting her. It seemed like she was also a supporter of the movement, which was even better. A man who supports women's rights and a feminist should easily find common ground for in-depth discussions on the progress of the movement.
On a broader note, women's rights weren't just a trend in North America—they were bound to become a global trend. Perhaps he should increase his investment in women's rights to ride the wave more effectively in the future.
So far, he had a pretty good relationship with quite a few feminists and progressives. If the opportunity arose, he could participate more in their activities.
At that moment, the music in the theater started playing, and Hugh Jackman, the host of the evening, took the stage. The 81st Academy Awards had begun.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]