[Chapter 145: The Oscars]
On March 29, the 65th Academy Awards took place at the Los Angeles Music Center. Since Step Up was not the kind of film the Oscars usually favored, its chance of receiving any nominations was basically zero. Linton and Universal didn't bother entering it at all.
He initially thought this year's Oscars had nothing to do with him, but unexpectedly, in early March, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sent him an invitation to attend as a presenting guest.
As the hottest rising male and female stars of 1992, Linton and Sharon Stone starred in box office hits across the board. Although neither received any Oscar nominations, the Academy couldn't ignore their popularity.
For the sake of TV ratings, they had to invite both of them as special guests and presenters. Of course, Naomi, the lead actress of Step Up, also received an invitation, but within the industry, it was widely believed Linton carried the Step Up box office, so she did not get the honor of being a presenting guest.
Among Linton's women, Madonna got an invite thanks to A League of Their Own crew, and Winona through the Bram Stoker's Dracula crew.
When Cameron, Jennifer, Catherine, Heidi, Christina, and even Sophie Marceau learned Linton had a VIP invitation and could bring a date on the red carpet, they all called him, hoping to accompany him to the Oscars.
In the end, considering Cameron's film The Shallows was about to be released and needed exposure, he gave her the slot but promised the others he'd try to get them chances next year.
...
As the highest honor in the film industry, the Oscars' status and influence were undeniable. Annual TV viewership regularly exceeded 40 million, second only to the Super Bowl.
Naturally, the ceremony became the premier stage for movie stars to showcase themselves and boost their visibility.
The Oscars red carpet was a glamorous showdown where actresses competed to outshine each other.
To present their best images in the spotlight, every female star preparing for the red carpet would start about two weeks in advance -- beauty treatments, dieting, custom-made gowns, and strictly following nutritionist-designed diets.
On the day of the ceremony, from 10 a.m. onwards, eating and even drinking water were prohibited.
Because the dresses, crafted for maximum beauty, often required several assistants to help put on, the stars absolutely could not use the restroom during the entire event.
For actresses, attending the Oscars was like a battle -- it was difficult but everyone eagerly embraced it.
Madonna and Winona had been through this in previous years.
But this year, things were simpler, as Jennifer discovered something special about Linton.
Other women realized that being with Linton made them glow and shine in a way no makeup or beauty treatment could achieve.
More importantly, their bodies were invigorated from inside out, making them feel years younger, surpassing any cosmetic or surgical effect.
Thus, Madonna, Winona, Naomi, and Cameron quietly moved into Linton's estate three days early to avoid paparazzi.
Linton started his first-ever five-player game, dealing with four women at once, with passionate sounds lasting all night.
Nourished by Linton's vitality, the four women's states improved daily -- their complexions becoming more youthful and their looks more radiant.
...
Nicole Kidman also realized this effect. As a top actress, she too received a guest invitation from the Academy and was preparing for the red carpet.
Even though Tom was currently in a tricky relationship phase, she repeatedly called Linton asking for a meetup, all of which he refused.
To comfort her, Linton promised to arrange them to meet in April.
...
Since this was a top-tier event, brand sponsors were naturally involved.
Armani suits, Timex watches, and Jones shoes had all sent their latest products for Linton to try and choose.
Madonna, Winona, and Naomi were all in-demand stars with their own endorsement deals.
They had carefully selected exclusive gowns, shoes, jewelry, watches, and handbags for the red carpet, ensuring no duplicate outfits would appear on site.
Only Cameron, who was not yet a top star, had to rent everything herself.
For upcoming stars, expenses were substantial, and good items were prioritized for the bigger stars.
Madonna introduced Cameron to her endorsement brands, resolving the issue and allowing Cameron to borrow ideal attire free of charge.
...
On the afternoon of March 29, Linton escorted Cameron down the red carpet, the cheers on both sides echoing.
Linton realized the Oscars ceremony truly was unique.
From the luxurious scene setup, the scale and enthusiasm of the fans, the number and caliber of the stars present, to the large number of media reporters participating -- no event compared, not even the AMAs or the Grammys.
After walking past the red carpet area to the media interview zone, myriad microphones were thrust towards him.
"Mr. Anderson, you've had three consecutive singles topping the Billboard charts for long periods. What's your secret? Anything you want to say to your fans today?"
"Mr. Anderson, has the mastermind behind the sabotage of Step Up 2 been found? Did the actors' union play a role?"
"Mr. Anderson, what kind of film is Speed, and when will it be released?"
Linton answered effortlessly, promoting his single Sold Out, the movies Step Up 2, and Speed, finally introducing Cameron to everyone.
"This is Cameron Diaz, lead actress of the movie The Shallows, which I wrote. It's set to release on April 16. Please give it your support."
...
Entering the auditorium, the front row was reserved for nominees and presenting guests, rows two to ten for nominated production crews, behind that the Academy members and other guests, and finally some seats for sponsors.
Linton and Cameron's seats were front row, right side.
Unexpectedly, Sharon Stone was sitting right next to him and warmly hugged him immediately upon meeting.
Before the ceremony began, Sharon invited Linton for a night at the Four Seasons Hotel.
"Darling, I booked a room for three nights at the Four Seasons. Can you keep me company tonight?"
"I can't tonight, I already have a date."
"We can all go together, I don't mind."
"Really can't tonight. Maybe tomorrow night I'll come find you."
"You're so conservative. Fine, here's the room key. Be early tomorrow night, don't bail on me."
*****
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