Chapter 131: Oscar Blunder, Huaxia Person First Consecrated as God

As the opening guest's performance concluded, the Oscar awards ceremony officially began.

The host for this year's ceremony was Ellen DeGeneres, a veteran North American host and comedian.

After a humorous and witty opening, Ellen began inviting the award presenters.

For the sake of ratings, the Oscar presenters were all stars, usually paired as one man and one woman.

Much like many other film festivals, the first awards presented were the minor ones.

After Best Makeup, Best Art Direction, and Best Sound Editing, followed by a performance from Celine Dion, it finally reached the part Wei Jin wanted to see.

First was Best Adapted Screenplay; in terms of the importance of the award, it is lower than Original Screenplay.

Best Actor Tom Hanks and Best Actress nominee Helen Mirren took the stage, and after some awkward small talk:

"Please look at the big screen."

Some people had already started to get nervous, their palms sweating.

There was more than just Wei Jin among the Asians in the venue; the creators of the script for *Infernal Affairs*, Zhuang Wenqiang and Mai Zhaohui, had also come. Although they were already famous directors in Hong Kong, they still appeared much more reserved compared to Wei Jin.

Last year's Golden Globe Best Actress nominee and Oscar presenter Zhang Ziyi could only sit in a corner this year. Her outfit was youthful and fresh; indeed, the power of love is better at nourishing a woman.

However, it was strange that Li An, who won Best Director last year for *Brokeback Mountain*, did not arrive at the scene. By rights, he should have presented this year's Best Director award.

Wei Jin had assumed it would just be a normal process, but he did not expect the organizers to make a blunder.

When it was announced that the winner was William Monahan for *The Departed*, the voice-over introduced it as:

"This film is adapted from the Japanese film *Infernal Affairs*."

No one realized there was a problem; everyone's focus was not on this. Even the two original creators smiled throughout, offering applause to the winner.

But Wei Jin noticed it, and Jing Tian noticed it too. The two looked at each other, both feeling it was incredible—how could such a mistake occur? The scene of Wei Jin and Jing Tian looking shocked was captured by the cameras and transmitted back to the country.

Sa Beining: "Did the Oscars just make a mistake?"

Jing Wei: "It seems so. They got the nationality wrong, saying it was Japanese. Wei Jin and Jing Tian's expressions were very surprised."

Wei Jin, at the scene, was indeed very annoyed. This film was a remake of *Infernal Affairs*, but from beginning to end, no traces of the adaptation were seen, yet it could still win an award.

And the original *Infernal Affairs* had also participated in the Oscar selection three years ago, but was turned away at the door, with the reason being that it did not meet the entry criteria.

Such an approach was indeed very consistent with the style of the Americans, but making such a low-level mistake on the spot was simply insulting.

However, the scene remained harmonious, filled with smiles and applause congratulating *The Departed*. This was the first award the film received tonight, and it was a good omen.

Soon, the award relevant to Wei Jin arrived, and Best Original Screenplay began to be presented.

There were five films nominated for this award; in fact, the nominations for every Oscar category never exceed five.

The films receiving this nomination were *Babel*, *Room*, *Little Miss Sunshine*, *Pan's Labyrinth*, and *The Queen*.

At this moment, audiences across the country were also staring intently at their television screens. Sa Beining and Jing Wei were no longer exchanging glances and began to introduce the situation of the nominated works seriously.

In the end, the award was given to *Little Miss Sunshine*, a film telling a heartwarming American family story, which indeed fit North American values very well.

Domestic audiences were a bit disappointed, and the two hosts were also a bit low in morale; a bad start.

The awards continued; *Pan's Labyrinth* won Best Cinematography, *Little Miss Sunshine* scored another win with Best Supporting Actor, and *Dreamgirls* won Best Supporting Actress.

Soon, the competition for Best Foreign Language Film arrived.

Presenters Kate Blanchett and Clive Owen teased each other on stage, then revealed the suspense:

"The winner of this year's Best Foreign Language Film is *Room*, Wei Jin, Huaxia!"

Huge applause erupted at the scene. Most people present had already watched this film, and this was recognition of the award.

After hugging the two beauties, Jing Tian and Ceng Li, respectively, Wei Jin straightened his clothes and walked onto the stage. At this moment, there was already cheering in the country; as the first Oscar-winning director from the Mainland, everyone felt a sense of shared honor.

The ratings for the Movie Channel climbed steadily, making the executives who made the final decision to buy the broadcast rights overjoyed.

Sa Beinan: "This is the first time since the inception of the Oscars that the Mainland has won Best Foreign Language Film. Director Wei has blazed a new trail."

Inside a villa in Beijing.

"Mom, he really won the award! I knew it, Brother Wei Jin is just too amazing."

In front of the television, Liu Yifei jumped up excitedly and hugged Liu Xiaoli, muttering non-stop.

Liu Xiaoli patted her daughter's back with some doting, but what Liu Yifei did not notice was that there seemed to be a trace of lingering sorrow between Liu Xiaoli's brows. — Taking the Little Golden Man trophy from the presenter's hands on stage, Wei Jin's first sentence left everyone present stunned.

"I hope the Oscar organizing committee can issue an apology announcement tomorrow."

At this time, the camera cut to the audience; a crowd of stars and famous directors had stunned expressions, some not understanding what was going on.

"For the Best Adapted Screenplay award, *The Departed* is adapted from the film *Infernal Affairs*, and *Infernal Affairs* is a Huaxia Hong Kong film, not a Japanese film."

"Oh? Did I say it wrong?" Host Allen was a bit confused; he noticed such a small detail? "Yes, you said it wrong. The directing team can check the recording; I believe many people saw it."

"Alright, Wei, your time is running out, please deliver your acceptance speech."

Every winner's speech was only 1 minute long; if it exceeded the time, the program team would play music to prompt them, and Wei Jin had already wasted quite a bit of time.

"Thank you to the judges for their recognition, thank you to the Oscars for their fairness, thank you to my alma mater for the cultivation, and to those fans and friends who care about me from afar. I also want to thank those lovely people who have silently sacrificed for me and constantly tolerated me. I love you, I love you."

For the last sentence, Wei Jin expressed it once in English and once in Chinese. The first time was directed toward the camera; the second time was facing the direction of Ceng Li and Jing Tian.

For a moment, both the older and younger beauties were a bit teary-eyed. — In the live broadcast of the Movie Channel, host Sa Beining explained the matter of Wei Jin correcting the Oscar organizing committee's blunder.

Jing Wei said seriously and affectionately: "Director Wei Jin moved all the people of Huaxia today!"

Sa Beining also nodded: "Yes, I also want to respond to Director Wei: we all saw it."

This move by Wei Jin was actually very endearing. The Oscars got the nationality of *Infernal Affairs* wrong, and the people were angry but helpless. You didn't even have the qualification to speak on stage; would you just sit in the audience and shout? Moreover, at that time, the cameras basically didn't give any shots to the Asians present; the cameras were fixed on those big names like director Martin, Leon, and Nicholson.

Only Wei Jin had both the idea and the ability to stand on the stage to correct this low-level mistake and vindicate Hong Kong cinema, sacrificing his own precious speaking time to do so.

The final declaration of love in Chinese was an even clearer expression of his nationality, viewed by countless netizens as an expression of love for his motherland.

For this year's Oscars, someone specifically created an "Oscar Bar." At this moment, many netizens were cheering in the bar, cheering for Wei Jin's award, and even more so, boiling over with excitement for Wei Jin's speech. — Returning to his seat, Wei Jin hugged Jing Tian and Ceng Li and let them play with the trophy: "Li Jie, it's up to you next."

Wei Jin turned his head to look at Ceng Li; he didn't know if his methods would actually be effective, so he could only pin his hopes on luck.

The awards continued, and Wei Jin felt that after he won his award, the camera seemed to give him more shots.

Before this year's Oscars, domestic audiences, under the guidance of the media, had very high expectations for Wei Jin winning an award.

And now, the Little Golden Man for Best Foreign Language Film had already been won, so the audience's state of mind was relatively relaxed.

However, Wei Jin did not relax at all; the award for Best Actress was beginning.

When the award presenter Philip Seymour Hoffman walked onto the stage, Wei Jin felt his palms were already sweating; conversely, Ceng Li was no longer nervous at this moment.

"The winner of Best Actress... please look at the big screen... 'Room', Ceng Li, Huaxia!"

A "Boom—" went off in Wei Jin's brain, and the huge, noisy sounds of the venue seemed to be automatically blocked out; he immediately stood up and hugged Li Jie: "Li Jie, congratulations, we did it."

Although she had mentally prepared herself for not winning the award, when this huge surprise descended upon her, Ceng Li still could not help but weep with joy, holding Wei Jin tightly; she knew that all of this was brought to her by the man before her, and she had given her life to him.

Jing Tian, who was to the side, also offered applause of blessing at this moment; this was what Ceng Li deserved, the first Asian Oscar Best Actress, she was worthy of it. —— At this time, the viewership ratings of the domestic Movie Channel had soared to an incredible height.

Sa Beining: "Audience friends, please remember this moment, we have witnessed history, witnessed a miracle! This is the first time in 79 years that the Oscar has awarded the honor of Best Actress to a Huaxia person, an Asian, or even a person of the yellow race; this is not only a victory for Huaxia people, but also a victory for Asians, and even more so a victory for all yellow-skinned people. Let us cheer for Ceng Li and applaud for Huaxia!"

Countless viewers, whether they knew Ceng Li before or not, were cheering and applauding for her at this moment; in a certain sense, this Best Actress award could boost morale even more than Best Foreign Language Film, it had been a full eighty years.

The many women who had had relations with Wei Jin before the television sets also put aside their prejudices and jealousy at this moment, sincerely applauding for Ceng Li.

Even though they had been jealous when they learned earlier that Ceng Li was nominated for Oscar Best Actress, having the first one meant there would be opportunities in the future; however, they were already thinking about how to get Wei Jin to put in some effort again.

Zhang Ziyi, who was at the scene, seemed to foresee herself winning an award, and was the first to stand up, excitedly applauding for her old classmate.

All the Asian stars present at the scene also sent their applause of blessing to Ceng Li; driven by them, the other guests then began to applaud one after another, which showed how much of a shock this choice for Best Actress had brought them.

Ceng Li walked onto the stage elegantly, took the Little Golden Man from the hands of the presenter Philip Seymour Hoffman, took a deep breath, and tried her best to calm her mood:

"First of all, I want to thank the judges for their affirmation. This is the first time in 79 years that an Asian has received this Little Golden Man. She belongs not only to me, but also to all yellow-skinned people. Praise the inclusiveness of the Oscars."

"Here, I want to thank my parents for their upbringing, thank my alma mater Central Academy of Drama for its cultivation, and thank everyone in my life who has given me help. Finally, I want to thank you, Wei Jin; meeting you is the greatest luck of my life." —— Ceng Li and Wei Jin, having achieved their wishes, were completely relaxed at this moment, quietly waiting for the end of the awards ceremony.

Subsequent developments did not exceed Wei Jin's expectations; the competition for Best Actor was very fierce.

Leonardo gave up on "The Departed" and focused on publicizing "Blood Diamond".

Will Smith also encountered one of the most important works of his acting career, "The Pursuit of Happyness", and the calls for him to win were very high.

Unfortunately, they encountered Forest Whitaker, the black actor who swept the awards season; he ultimately won Best Actor for his brilliant performance in "The Last King of Scotland", becoming the fourth black Best Actor in Oscar history.

The presentation of Best Director that followed was very interesting; the presenters were Francis Ford Coppola, Lucas, and Steven Spielberg.

Seeing that the presenters were these three, Wei Jin knew that this Oscar trip had come to an end.

The great names of these three were simply thunderous to Hollywood audiences.

Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather", Lucas's "Star Wars", and Steven Spielberg had even more representative works.

But they also had one thing in common: they were known, along with Martin, as the "Four Greats" of 80s Hollywood.

With them presenting Best Director, the organizing committee was almost showing their cards; no wonder Li An did not come to the scene, for his presenting an award would not have the same gimmick as these three presenting an award to their old brother.

Sure enough, no accident occurred; Best Director was awarded to Martin Scorsese.

The suspense for the Best Film award was revealed by Best Actor Jack Nicholson, and it was still given to "The Departed".

With this, the 79th Oscar awards ceremony came to an end.

The first update today, I implore all book friends to give a subscription, follow-up read, and collection; you must turn to the last page for the follow-up read, thank you everyone! (End of this chapter)