Over the following week, Matthew remained with the film crew to shoot everyday scenes for *American Sniper*. By mid-January, he took some time to attend a special screening organized by Fox Searchlight to support his friend, Michael Fassbender.
Last year, Michael had starred in an art film titled *Shame*, which garnered critical acclaim for his performance and led him to compete for a nomination for the Best Actor Oscar. While winning the award seemed unlikely, he was hopeful about getting nominated.
Not everyone could be like Matthew. Although Oscar's influence was waning, it still held considerable allure for most actors.
Since this event was about Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, another close friend, was also present.
"Hey, James," Matthew said, standing in a corner of the ballroom and looking at him from across the room. "When are you going to shave your head?"
James took two glasses of wine from a passing server, handed one to Matthew, and said, "Whenever the studio tells me to."
Matthew looked at him playfully. "I bet you'll look great bald."
James replied confidently, "When do I not look great?"
At this point, James McAvoy was widely recognized for his role as Professor X, Charles Xavier.
After a brief chat about *X-Men*, Matthew asked, "What are Michael's chances for a nomination?"
"There's hope," James replied. "He spent over two million of his own money on PR."
Matthew sighed. "I don't have much influence with the Oscars, so I'm not much help."
This was true; the Academy's older members weren't particularly fond of him, and his involvement would likely be more of a hindrance than a help.
"I can't do much either," James admitted. "Let's just hope Michael's money helps."
Matthew nodded. "Let's hope."
He had seen *Shame*, which featured plenty of explicit scenes with both Michael Fassbender and co-star Carey Mulligan, marking it as classic Oscar bait.
"If he's hoping to win Best Actor, though, the chances are slim," James remarked.
"Who's the current favorite?" Matthew asked curiously.
"The lead actor from *The Artist*," James replied with a shrug. "Harvey Weinstein's big push for the Oscars. A black-and-white silent film with an old-fashioned acting style, which is exactly what the Academy loves."
Matthew nodded. "Then Michael's chances really are slim."
*The Artist* was perfectly tailored to appeal to the Academy members' tastes, with Harvey Weinstein backing it. Still, even if it won an Oscar, how likely was a black-and-white silent film to recoup its substantial budget?
Originally, Harvey Weinstein could have acquired the rights for just $10 million. However, Bella Anderson had intervened, forcing him to spend $20 million to secure the film.
But how many viewers would actually enjoy a silent black-and-white movie, even if it took home several Oscars?
Matthew, well-versed in the film market, anticipated that even art-house audiences might feel deceived upon entering the theater for such a film.
"Hmm…" Matthew noticed a Black woman walking into the center of the ballroom, linking her arm with Michael Fassbender's. "Did Michael get another Black girlfriend?"
James glanced over. "Just a temporary girlfriend," he explained simply. "That's Nicole Beharie, the supporting actress from *Shame*."
Then, he leaned in closer to Matthew and said in a conspiratorial tone, "Do you know how Michael caught her interest?"
Matthew's curiosity was piqued. "There's gossip?"
"Oh, absolutely." James gestured downwards, "There's a full-nude scene in the movie where Michael shows it all. Supposedly, Nicole was present during filming, saw Michael's… remarkable size, and was instantly captivated."
Matthew paused, surprised, then laughed. "So that's another way to pick up women?"
James chuckled. "You know what Michael told me? He said when that scene hits the screen, more women will be interested in him."
Knowing this was a joke, Matthew thought for a moment and said, "It does seem like Michael has a thing for women with darker skin."
"Right!" James snapped his fingers. "Now that you mention it, it makes sense. Even the white women he dates tend to have darker complexions."
He looked over at Michael. "So, Michael only likes women with darker skin tones?"
Matthew nodded slightly. "Seems so."
The two chatted a bit longer until Michael Fassbender, having finished socializing, joined them.
"I'm shocked, really," James said, shaking his head at Michael. "So you've always preferred women with darker skin?"
Michael feigned surprise. "You found out my biggest secret?"
James quickly pointed to Matthew. "It was his observation."
Matthew shrugged. "Michael, it's obvious. All the women around you have darker skin tones."
Michael didn't bother to deny it. "I just have a type. Unlike you, Matthew, who has so many types—you've been with women from Asia, Europe, South America, and North America."
James interjected, "There's one type Matthew hasn't tried."
Michael caught on. "Matthew, you really should try a Black woman. Their skin is as smooth as top-grade silk."
Matthew felt flustered. "I'm not sure I can handle that."
Although he had considered it, particularly with the influence of these two, the moment he saw someone with that distinct skin tone, any thoughts quickly faded.
Even if he enjoyed variety, there was a limit to his preferences.
The three men continued discussing women until the conversation shifted back to Oscar campaigning. Michael, familiar with both Matthew and James, didn't hold back, saying directly, "Oscar ballots have been sent out. If you can, please encourage those around you to vote for me."
Matthew immediately agreed. "Of course." He sighed. "Too bad it's the Oscars, though."
In other areas, he might have been able to help Michael more. But in the Oscar arena, his influence was minimal.
He'd considered attempting to hinder Harvey Weinstein's push for *The Artist*, which would have improved Michael's chances of a nomination. However, he was realistic enough to know that his influence in the Oscars didn't come close to Harvey Weinstein's.
The Oscars weren't his domain, after all.
He could let Weinstein dominate the Oscars for now, knowing that after this year, Weinstein wouldn't hold such sway for long.
Though he couldn't affect the Academy too directly, Matthew hadn't completely given up. He had Helen Herman work with media outlets, releasing some negative stories about *The Artist*.
He even reached out to Ilena Boyar to circulate through sites like TMZ, spreading the notion that *The Artist* was a dull, old-fashioned silent film, dampening audience enthusiasm.
Matthew's goal was straightforward: if he couldn't stop Weinstein from winning Oscars, he could at least hurt the film's commercial prospects by discouraging potential viewers from seeing it.
A costly flop would lead to doubt within The Weinstein Company, with some staff questioning Harvey Weinstein's decisions.
Indirectly, this would also benefit Bob Weinstein.
After so much planning, Matthew understood that the Weinstein brothers weren't a united front. Harvey might assume his brother stood firmly behind him, but Bob had long desired his own place in the spotlight.
Amanda's efforts had made great progress over the last six months, and Bob was less willing to stay in Harvey's shadow.
They still needed more time to gather solid evidence and witnesses on Ronan Farrow's end.
Matthew had also brought David Ellison into this small, secret group. With his financial support and media contacts through Oracle, David could prove to be a valuable ally.
Meanwhile, filming for *American Sniper* continued, with the production schedule becoming fragmented. They might be shooting in downtown Los Angeles one day and on the beach at Santa Monica the next. Matthew's scenes were gradually winding down.
Additionally, Chris Kyle, the film's inspiration, frequently visited the set. He was very pleased with Matthew's rugged look and the action scenes designed for him.
In media interviews, Chris Kyle had nothing but praise for Matthew and the film crew, commending their portrayal of his story.
The crew was also using Chris Kyle's presence for publicity. A modern-day sniper like him was easy to promote and would attract attention.
By the end of January, new information surfaced about Eddie Lowe—the assailant who had attacked Matthew. His case had finally reached trial.
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