The awards ceremony had ended, but the Oscar night was only halfway through. Many people left the Kodak Theatre and headed to the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel to attend the "Oscar Night" party hosted by Vanity Fair. This party was even livelier than the ceremony itself. While the Oscars had a high entry threshold, the "Oscar Night" party was much more accessible, with tickets available for purchase by the public.
Of course, Matthew had secured an official invitation signed by Tina Brown for James Wan, rather than just a ticket.
Upon arriving at the Hilton, Matthew was greeted by James Wan as soon as he entered the banquet hall.
"When did you get here?" Matthew casually asked as he found an empty table and sat down.
"About five minutes before you," James Wan replied, taking a seat next to him. He noticed Matthew waving over a waiter to order a freshly cooked steak and commented, "I've never been to a place like this before. I was curious, but now that I've seen it..."
Matthew picked up his knife and fork and asked, "What do you think?"
James Wan glanced around, "It's eye-opening. Those glamorous actresses on the red carpet are in here stuffing themselves."
Matthew sliced a piece of steak and said before taking a bite, "That's normal. They're all starving." He swallowed his food and continued, "Not many people do what I do, which is just skip lunch today. Most start dieting days in advance to look their best for the ceremony. Now that the Oscars are over, they must be starving."
At nearly every "Oscar Night" party, you can see scenes of celebrities indulging in food as if they were starving.
"Matthew is absolutely right."
A graceful female voice chimed in from behind, "I haven't had a proper meal in five days."
Before James Wan could turn around, a beautiful woman in a red evening gown walked over with a plate and sat down in the chair next to Matthew.
He recognized her as Anne Hathaway, one of Hollywood's leading actresses from the 1980s generation.
Anne Hathaway set down her plate and, without bothering to greet Matthew, focused on devouring her salad, clearly famished.
James Wan glanced at Matthew, then at Anne Hathaway, instantly recalling Matthew's well-known reputation as a ladies' man. He quickly found an excuse to leave.
Anne Hathaway was still engrossed in her late-night meal as Matthew spoke to James Wan, "Take a look around. There are plenty of beautiful women here with ulterior motives. Directors are always one of their favorite targets, so enjoy the night."
Being men, no more needed to be said. James Wan eagerly nodded and headed off elsewhere.
The "Oscar Night" party, which sold tickets to the public, often attracted a swarm of models and aspiring starlets. Many so-called lingerie models and Sports Illustrated models would flock to the party, desperate to be noticed by directors, producers, or agents. A stroke of luck could mean overnight fame, and extraordinary luck might even land them a wealthy husband, securing both fame and fortune.
After finishing her salad, Anne Hathaway wiped her bright red lips with a napkin, then turned to Matthew with a smile, "Sorry you had to see that. I haven't had real food in days—just nutritional shakes and meal replacement powders."
Matthew, having just finished his steak, took a sip of water and casually replied, "I'm about the same."
They continued chatting for a while when Matthew noticed a short, stocky figure passing by and glancing at him. Although the person quickly looked away, Matthew recognized him—it was Harvey Weinstein.
Watching Harvey Weinstein walk away, Matthew shook his head slightly. He knew Harvey Weinstein had disliked him for some time.
As a famous Oscar campaigner who had just helped Kate Winslet win the Best Actress award, Harvey Weinstein's popularity at the "Oscar Night" party was evident. Even Kate Winslet willingly let him hold her by the waist as they dealt with the surrounding sycophants.
Given Weinstein's Oscar track record, many people were eager to curry favor with him, including top stars in the industry.
For instance, Meryl Streep was right behind him, saying something he couldn't make out.
To those striving for an Oscar, Harvey Weinstein was irresistibly alluring.
Matthew suddenly recalled his early interactions with Harvey Weinstein. His domineering attitude was likely not just a matter of temperament but also a result of years of being fawned over by so many people.
Before the awards ceremony tonight, Harvey Weinstein seemed quite displeased with his collaboration with James Wan...
Matthew shook his head slightly. This wasn't a few years ago. Back then, he might have been cautious around Harvey Weinstein, considering he was a major player in Hollywood. But now, Matthew was a major player in his own right. Even if Weinstein's influence was still greater, the gap wasn't as wide.
Besides, Matthew had some incredibly powerful allies.
Within Hollywood, David Ellison might not match Harvey Weinstein, but outside of Hollywood, in terms of sheer financial power, David Ellison far surpassed Weinstein.
In this country, money often means a lot.
Harvey Weinstein's main business was centered in the independent film scene, while Matthew was in the commercial film business. It was best if they could coexist peacefully.
As for Weinstein not liking him, Matthew didn't care. After all, there were plenty of people in Hollywood who didn't like him.
Noticing Matthew looking in Weinstein's direction, Anne Hathaway muttered, "Those people, who knows what they do to please Harvey Weinstein behind closed doors for an Oscar."
Matthew chuckled, "It's a shortcut."
Anne Hathaway motioned towards Meryl Streep, who was close to Weinstein, "She always puts on airs of high moral standards, but isn't she the first to spread her legs? How can she tolerate someone so fat and ugly?"
"Really? Is that true?" Matthew, ever the gossip, was intrigued.
"I don't know," Anne Hathaway shrugged. "But given Weinstein's usual behavior, would he really spare any woman who needed something from him?"
Matthew had thought Anne Hathaway might have some juicy details, but it turned out to be just speculation.
Still, Weinstein had a terrible reputation in this area, often forcing himself on women.
Matthew, like Weinstein, had a penchant for beautiful women but never forced anyone. Besides, except for Carolina Kurkova, he had never crossed any boundaries without consent, and his reputation for fair play was well-known.
Many actresses who had been linked with him in the media had spoken about their relationships with him in interviews. Like Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Alba, they mostly had positive things to say.
This industry is filled with chaotic relationships, both heterosexual and homosexual. Amid all the mess, Matthew and Leonardo DiCaprio were known for their playboy reputations but rarely had anything bad said about them.
Weinstein, on the other hand, was a completely different story.
In both career and reputation, Matthew and Weinstein were worlds apart.
Seeing Weinstein escape the crowd and move out of sight, Matthew turned his attention back to Anne Hathaway and continued their conversation. With years of honing his skills, Matthew was no longer the naive rookie who had first arrived in Los Angeles. He could effortlessly make Anne Hathaway laugh, her wide smile breaking out frequently.
Meanwhile, Harvey Weinstein was busy mingling in the banquet hall when he suddenly spotted a small, thin figure. He immediately walked over.
James Wan was chatting with a minor celebrity who had played a supporting role in Troy but had struggled in recent years. She was very interested in his status as a director, and since this aspiring starlet, Rose Byrne, was also Australian, they easily found common ground.
"We should go back to Australia together sometime..." James Wan, who had the charm to win over Matthew, was a smooth talker. He told Rose Byrne, "It's been a long time since I've been back."
Rose Byrne smiled, "Sure." She then casually asked, "But do you have the time? Aren't directors usually very busy?"
James Wan knew that women like her wouldn't be easily swayed without tangible benefits. So he immediately said, "I'm relatively free right now."
Upon hearing this, Rose Byrne's face showed a hint of disappointment, and she began to wonder if she was wasting her time.
Just as she was considering leaving, James Wan spoke again, "But after October, I'll be quite busy. I'm set to start working on a new horror film, collaborating with Matthew Horner."
"Oh... That sounds great!" Rose Byrne's smile remained as she added, "We should definitely visit Australia together sometime. The scenery in my hometown is beautiful..."
James Wan smiled too. If everything went as expected, he wouldn't be sleeping alone tonight.
"Are you James Wan?"
A domineering voice suddenly interrupted, "The director of Saw, right?"
James Wan turned to see a greasy, overweight face. He quickly responded, "Yes, hello, Mr. Weinstein."
"Come with me," Harvey Weinstein commanded, giving him a once-over. "I need to discuss something with you."
James Wan felt a twinge of irritation. He was just about to score, and now someone was ruining it. But having spent years in the independent film scene, he had heard too many stories about Harvey Weinstein. As a small-time director, he didn't want to offend such a big player.
He whispered a few words to Rose Byrne, then followed Harvey Weinstein out of the banquet hall.
"I have a private room upstairs. Let's go up and talk," Harvey Weinstein said.
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