Illusiveone
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91: Redoing my Life, The Oscars pt.2
🕑 Added 2024-07-30 13:33:50 +0000 UTCThe car drove slowly towards the Kodak Theatre, the epicenter of Hollywood’s grandest night. As we approached, I could see the bustling crowds and flashing cameras. Chris, other studio executives and the cast had planned to arrive at the same time.
This year, the competition was fierce. The King's Speech, Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The Social Network, Toy Story 2, True Grit, Winter's Bone. were all vying for the top honors. Considering how well the critics and audience received 12 Angry Men, along with the significant investment the studio had made in the campaign, there was a real chance we could win Best Picture.
Toy Story 2 was also nominated for Best Picture, as well as Best Animated Picture.I chuckled at the thought of Toy Story 2 winning Best Picture instead.
Lucy, sitting beside me, noticed my amusement. "What is it?" she asked.
"Nothing, just a funny thought," I replied.
"We'll be there soon," she reminded me. "Remember what I told you."
"Yes, yes," I said, slightly exasperated but appreciative.
My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the text. It was from Scarlett. I hadn't heard from her in a month. She has had good success in Hollywood after the Blair witch project getting supporting roles but still had not gotten the top spot yet.
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Scarlett: Good luck, hope you win! 💕😘
Me: Thanks!
Me: How did the audition go?
I typed remembering the audition I had practically forced her to go to.
Scarlett: It went well, I think. If I get it, it will be fun.
Scarlett: I was also just cast in a movie about the Tudors.
Me: That sounds great.
Scarlett: It is!
Scarlett: We should meet up sometime, maybe next week. I will be in LA.
Me: Yeah, we do have a lot to catch up on.
Scarlett: Tell me when you are free.
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I slipped my phone back into my pocket and watched as we inched closer to the Kodak Theatre. There were cars in front of us, and I could see Chris getting out of one of them.
The car came to a gentle stop at the drop-off point, and I took a deep breath.
"Ready?" Lucy asked.
"Absolutely," I replied, opening the door and stepping out into the throng of reporters, fans, and photographers leaving Lucy in the car.
The red carpet stretched out before me, lined with bright lights and flashing cameras. I could recognize Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Nolan in the middle of it as they were posing for pictures.
I looked to my right to see Chris waving for me to come over. Tom Hanks, J.K. Simmons, Dave, and Sam were already there.
"Aha, there he is!" Tom said as I approached.
I could hear the sounds of cameras clicking, and I put on my camera face, smiling as I walked towards them. Security personnel were managing the crowd, and I could hear my name being called by many of the journalists and photographers behind me.
"Daniel! Over here!"
"Daniel, look this way!"
"Mr. Adler, can we get a photo?"
Jasmine Blackwood, the head of PR for the studio, was also there. "Mr. Howard and Mr. Oldman will be here in a minute. Then event staff will lead you in," she said.
"Howard, always late," Tom said, chuckling.
"Looking forward to winning, Danny?" Tom asked, turning to me as the cameras kept flashing.
"I don't know, Tom. There are a lot of strong contenders," I said, trying to stay humble.
"Yes, there are... but I have a feeling you are going to win," Tom said, winking at me.
Just then, cars pulled up again, and Ron Howard and Gary Oldman arrived.
"Oh my, are we late?" Ron asked, looking slightly flustered.
"No, Ron, you are just on time," Chris said reassuringly.
"It's time," Jasmine said. The staff began to lead us to the red carpet.
Jasmine was there, efficiently coordinating the flow of people. Chris and Lucy had both told me to listen to her directions while on the red carpet as it has been for all the award shows I had been to before, so I was not completely inexperienced. She would point out where to stand and which reporters to talk to.
As we stepped onto the carpet, the lights seemed to get even brighter. Jasmine, a true professional, quickly pointed out our positions.
"Daniel, stand here. Tom, next to him. Ron, right here," she directed, her gestures smooth and practiced.
I took my spot, feeling the eyes of countless people on me. The backdrop behind us was adorned with the Oscars logo. I looked ahead and saw other celebrities posing and moving along the carpet. I spotted Colin Firth first, talking to some reporters.
"Daniel, over here!" a photographer called out.
I turned and smiled, trying to stay relaxed. The cameras clicked rapidly, capturing every angle. Chris, Gary Oldman, J.K. Simmons, and Sam and Dave then joined us to take a group photo. As the group was about to go their separate ways, I saw Mark Ruffalo walking from the entrance of the theater. He was nominated as well, but not for 12 Angry Men, instead for The Kids Are Alright.
"Just on time," I heard Jasmine mutter.
"Sorry guys, got lost in there," Mark said as he posed with us.
We also had to take photos with Tim Allen and Reese Witherspoon, and Toy Story 2 was nominated as well. So I had to spend a bit more time on the Red Carpet.
Jasmine satisfied moved us along the carpet; she was like a shadow, stopping us at key spots where notable reporters stood. "Daniel, this is where you talk to Entertainment Tonight," she said.
I walked over to the reporter.
"Daniel, how are you feeling?" he asked.
"I am feeling great. It's my first Oscar nomination, so I'm very excited," I replied.
"Who are you wearing tonight?" the reporter asked.
"Tom Ford," I replied with a smile.
"You are the youngest person to be nominated for Original Screenplay. How does it feel to make history?" he asked.
"It's surreal. I did not expect this when I began writing the script. It was just a fun project for me, but here I am," I answered.
"12 Angry Men and Toy Story 2 have both been nominated for Best Picture, both written by you..."
I answered his questions as best as I could, and when I was signaled to move on, I moved away politely, saying thank you.
Jasmine guided me to the next stop. "You'll be speaking with Variety next. They will want to know about your future projects," she said.
"Thank you, Jasmine," I said.
I spoke with the reporter from Variety, discussing my future projects. They seemed particularly interested in my upcoming projects and the rumored Superman movie.
I also saw Mark Ruffalo and J.K. Simmons talking to a reporter together; they were in the same category after all.
As I neared the end of the red carpet, I had one more thing to do.
Tom Hanks was speaking to one of the reporters. He called me over, which we had planned beforehand. I walked over to his side, and he turned to the reporter with a smile. "This is the genius behind the movie," Tom said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
The reporter's eyes lit up. "Daniel Adler! What an incredible job you've done with 12 Angry Men. How does it feel to work with greats of the industry like Tom Hanks and Ron Howard?" he said in a british accent.
"It's been an absolute dream come true," I replied. "Working with such talented individuals has been an amazing learning experience and an honor."
After finishing up the interview, I moved towards the end of the red carpet, where we passed through a security checkpoint. As I looked behind me, I saw the cast of True Grit. I was not the youngest nominated person here; that would be Hailee Steinfeld, who was posing with Jeff Bridges.
We entered the theatre. The lobby was alive with conversation and laughter, lit with a golden light that made everything seem almost magical. There was a grand staircase in the center, adorned with plush red carpeting and golden railings, giving the room an air of opulence.
"I see your fellow screenwriters over there," Chris said, pointing to a gathering area with lounges where people could sit and mingle.
"I'll meet you by the stairs when it's time," I said before walking over to the nominees in my category.
David Seidler from The King's Speech, Mike Leigh from Another Year, Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, and Eric Johnson from The Fighter, and Christopher Nolan from Inception were all present, engaged in animated conversation.
I approached the group, and Mike Leigh was the first to spot me. "Ah, I knew we were missing someone. Welcome, young man, and congratulations," he said warmly.
I greeted them politely, my eyes drifting towards Christopher Nolan. Meeting him was a significant moment for me; he was the director behind the best Batman movies in my previous life, and now Stardust owned the rights.
If only I could get him to direct the Batman movie I had planned.
We talked for some time, discussing our projects and experiences. To my surprise, Christopher Nolan asked to speak with me privately as the others dispersed.
"I hear that Stardust now owns the rights to Batman," Nolan began.
"Yes, we do," I answered, my curiosity piqued.
"You know, I approached Nebula years ago wanting to make a Batman movie," he said, a hint of regret in his voice.
'Oh, he did try to make Batman movies,’ I thought.
"They did not want to do it. They did not like my vision for it," he trailed off.
"Tell me, Mr. Adler, is Stardust planning to use Batman?" he asked, his interest evident.
"Well, there have been some talks," I started.
"Oh," he reacted, his expression thoughtful.
"If you are interested, Mr. Nolan, I'm sure we can work something out," I said, trying to keep my excitement in check.
"Thank you, Mr. Adler, and good luck," he said before leaving.
'Holy shit,' I thought. 'I really need to make this happen.'
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It was time for the ceremony to begin. I met Chris by the stairs, where the ushers led us to the theater. Chris and his wife, J.K. Simmons and his wife, and I were seated in the second row. The usher, a young man with a professional demeanor, guided us to our seats.
"Right this way, Mr. Adler," he said, leading us through the crowded theater. "You have some excellent seats tonight."
We followed him down the aisle, weaving through the sea of tuxedos and gowns. He stopped at our row and gestured for us to take our seats. "Here you go, gentlemen."
"Thank you," Chris said, nodding politely as we settled in.
I was seated directly behind Javier Bardem, whose broad shoulders filled the seat in front of me. Tom wasn't there yet; he was presenting the first award.
Soon, the ceremony began. James Franco and Anne Hathaway stepped onto the stage, they started the show with a series of jokes.
I was included as well.
"We have some records broken tonight," Anne said with a smile. "The youngest nominee for Original Screenplay, Daniel Adler."
I immediately smiled as I saw the camera focus on me, and there was a round of applause.
James added, "Are we sure that's him? I was told he was just a kid." The audience laughed at the bad joke, and I laughed along, trying to look as natural as possible.
After their opening monologue, it was time for the first presentation. Tom Hanks walked onto the stage to present the award for Best Art Direction, which was won by Alice in Wonderland.
Tom stayed on stage to present the next award, which was for Cinematography. "And the Oscar goes to... Inception," Tom read out.
It was expected. Inception had stunning visuals and a fantastic narrative structure.
A few categories later, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis stepped onto the stage to present the award for Best Animated Feature Film.
"The nominees are," Mila began, "Toy Story 2..."
"The Illusionist," Justin added.
"And finally, How to Train Your Dragon," Mila finished.
"We got this," Chris whispered in my ear. I looked to the other side and saw Dave and Sam nodding at me, their faces filled with anticipation.
"The winner of the Best Animated Feature is... Toy Story 2," Justin and Mila said in unison.
We stood up, congratulating each other with hugs and handshakes. The usual things we did when we won an award. We walked up to the stage as a group, with Chris, Tom Hanks, Dave, Sam, Tim Allen, Reese Witherspoon, and others from the studio.
Chris gave a good speech, even throwing a little shot at me. "Daniel was very upset that we did not win last time," he said, to the audience's laughter.
I laughed it off, though I was a bit embarrassed. Chris thanked everyone again, and we returned to our seats.
The next category was Best Adapted Screenplay, which was won by Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network. Tom had returned after presenting and sat next to me in his assigned seat.
The presenters of Best Adapted Screenplay, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin, stayed for my category as well: Best Original Screenplay.
"This is it, Danny," Tom said, patting me on the shoulder.
"The nominees are," Javier said with his accent, "David Seidler for The King's Speech, Mike Leigh for Another Year," Josh Brolin continued, "Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson for The Fighter, Christopher Nolan for Inception, and Daniel Adler for 12 Angry Men."
"And the Oscar goes to," Javier said, pausing for dramatic effect, "Daniel Adler!"
Thunderous applause filled the room. ‘The fuck, I won,’ my mind screamed. I didn't get up in shock; Chris and Tom had to nudge me to my feet, hugging me as they did. My body moved automatically as I truly believed I would not win.
I walked up to the stage and took the Oscar from Josh and Javier.
"Congratulations," they both said to me.
I was then led to the podium to give the speech. My mind had completely gone blank as I stared at the Hollywood A-listers.
"I... umm... I had a whole speech prepared, but it's all gone now," I said to laughter from the audience.
"First and foremost, I want to thank the Academy for this incredible honor. Standing here tonight is beyond my wildest dreams. I want to start by thanking the amazing team that brought this story to life. To our director Ron Howard, to our great producers Chris Henderson, Dave, Sam.
"To the exceptional cast: Mark, Mackenzie, J.K., Michael, Stanley, Pedro, Bob, Jim, Gary, Christoph, Jon," I listed the cast quickly. "And especially Tom Hanks, without whom this movie would not be possible, a person from whom I have learned a lot.”
"I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, my mom, who has been with me all the way, and my girlfriend, Haley," I said, waving to the camera. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I finished to applause.
I walked back to my seat, my hands still cold.
"Great speech," Tom and Chris said. I saw Dave and Sam giving thumbs up from across the aisle.
The remaining categories passed by me in a blur as I was still high from winning. J.K. Simmons won his first Oscar for Supporting Actor, and Toy Story 2 won another one for Best Song. So far, Stardust had won a total of four Oscars, and if all went well, we could top it all off with a win for Best Picture.
Finally, it was time for the Best Picture category, the final one. Steven Spielberg came onto the stage.
"Well, Chris, this is it," I said.
"Yes, this is it," he repeated.
"In a moment, one of these 10 movies will join On the Waterfront, Midnight Cowboy, and The Deer Hunter. The other nine will join The Grapes of Wrath, Citizen Kane, The Graduate, and Raging Bull," Steven said to much applause.
When he puts it like that, I won't mind losing, I thought.
"Either way, congratulations, you are all in good company."
Spielberg began to list the nominees: The King's Speech, Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, 12 Angry Men, The Kids Are All Right, The Social Network, Toy Story 2, True Grit, Winter's Bone.
"The winner is," Spielberg said, pulling out the envelope, "12 Angry Men."
"Holy shit, we won," I said in a low voice.
Chris stood up and hugged his wife, then turned to hug me. "We won," he said.
"Yeah, we did."
"We did it," Tom said.
Dave, Sam, the cast members attending, the executives—all came together and began walking. I walked up to the stage again, this time with everyone, and faced the audience. Chris took the award from Steven Spielberg and began his speech.
‘Yeah today is a good day’ I thought.
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I will post chapter 92 and the bonus chapter later today or tomorrow.
