Chapter 213

In CCTV. com's online live studio.

Zhu Jun smiled: "Haha, it seems everyone misunderstood. Chen Nuo should have had a draft early on and said it on purpose. I apologize to Chen Nuo and all the 'Nuo Rice' for the misunderstanding just now. Hehe."

Bi Chenggong also followed suit and laughed, even putting his hands together and bowing to the camera: "Me too, haha, I even said Chen Nuo lacked a sense of humor; it seems I'm the one who lacks a bit of humor. However, I really didn't know that Chen Nuo's eloquence was so good. Hahahaha, it seems that time at the Tokyo press conference really wasn't reading from a script. My mistake, my mistake, I won't dare to do it next time."

Zhang Yibai looked at the shameless appearance of Zhu Jun and Bi Chenggong and sighed again that next time there was such a thing, a 10,000-yuan appearance fee would absolutely not be enough.

Mainly because it's very easy to be accidentally injured. For example, those netizens in the live studio right now, weren't they spraying him along with them?

"Stupid host, if apologizing were useful, what would we need the police for?"

"Can CCTV. com not invite these idiots next time? Can't you find anyone else? Where's Dong Qing?"

"What about the ones swiping the screen just now? Why don't you continue swiping? What's wrong with Yang Guo and Little Dragon Maiden, what's the problem, say it!"

"That person must have slipped away early. Wow, Brother Nuonuo's words just now were so great, it's truly so moving."

"Brother Nuonuo's eloquence is so good, and he really respects us girls especially."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going to copy this down and show it to our stupid head teacher, let her know not every star is uncultured!"

Not only were the 'Nuo Rice' on China's CCTV. com moved, but women all over the world watching the Oscar live broadcast also relaxed their brows.

Women from various countries who knew Chen Nuo introduced proudly to the people around them that this handsome and humorous young man with an Asian face was actually the Chen Nuo that Angelina Jolie just mentioned, and the Joker he mentioned was a pun, and so on.

And in households all over the world that didn't know Chen Nuo, many people couldn't help but open their computers and start searching online.

On the global hot word list of the Google search engine, the word 'Chen Nuo' rushed into the top five within ten minutes. Before it, two were related to it: one was Oscar and one was Asian male actor.

It can only be said that Chen Nuo, this scumbag, truly understood women's sensitive points thoroughly.

Whether it was physiological or psychological, he knew them like the back of his hand.

A large part of the women in the world watching TV were like this, so how could Liu Yifei be an exception?

Leaving the interview area, Chen Nuo exchanged a few pleasantries with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Mainly Angelina Jolie.

It could be seen that the conversation between them last time gave Angie a very good impression of him.

Moreover, after listening to his advertising slogans just now, Angelina's attitude toward him was even more unusual.

Although Chen Nuo didn't know at this time that Angelina Jolie had lowered her face earlier and made an advertisement for him in front of the whole world,

this didn't hinder him from responding to Angie's enthusiasm.

When he and Angelina performed the cheek-kissing greeting, the intimate feeling between the two even made Pitt's expression a bit stiff.

Afterward, Chen Nuo took Liu Yifei to walk the red carpet again to take photos for photographers. Only then did he discover that Liu Yifei seemed to be moved by his nonsense.

The distance between her body and his didn't get closer, but when she spoke, there was a little nasal sound.

It was just that her tone was a bit confused.

"Chen Nuo, did you remember wrong? I haven't climbed glaciers or fished for cod, and yes, I did encounter robbers preparing to rob outside a department store, but that was in Buenos Aires, that was the time I went to Antarctica..."

This instead gave Chen Nuo a fright. "What? You were really robbed?"

Liu Yifei gave an "ah" sound, turned her face over at once, her brows slightly furrowed, like a breeze blowing over a snowy field, leaving some light marks. "Didn't I tell you? Then why did you just..."

"I did tell you, of course I did, I just had a slip of the tongue... hmm, hurry and turn your head back, let's take two more photos and then we should enter."

Chen Nuo did as he said, and after only ten seconds or so, he walked into the Kodak Theatre with Liu Yifei.

This was a building specifically designed and built for the Oscar ceremony.

In the future, because of the bankruptcy of the Kodak company, it would be renamed the Hollywood Highland Center.

But the change of sponsor didn't diminish its status as the permanent venue for the Oscar ceremony since 2002.

Liu Yifei was clearly not here for the first time; she must have visited before.

When entering the door, she took the initiative to introduce it to Chen Nuo, saying that the names of all Oscar winners from 1928 to the present were displayed on the pillars on both sides.

"Chen Nuo, after tonight, your name will definitely be engraved on it too. Look, it will be in this format: Nuo Chen, 2008, The Dark Knight."

Liu Yifei stretched out her finger, pointing at a name on the pillar, and said seriously.

Chen Nuo looked over from behind her side, seeing the light of the crystal chandelier on the ceiling reflected in her eyes, her pupils almost becoming pale gold, appearing exceptionally focused.

The expression on her fair face was also exceptionally firm, without the slightest bit of joking.

Clearly, she truly thought so in her heart and believed in it firmly.

At that moment, even though Chen Nuo's heart was like iron and stone, he couldn't help but feel a trace of being moved.

"I hope so."

Chen Nuo smiled as if to cover it up.

In fact, not only Liu Yifei, why wouldn't he want to win this award?

How he longed for it.

Apart from the realistic significance of box office for "The Message," etc.

From a higher level, this award was not just a Best Supporting Actor award to him.

Chen Nuo felt that if, in over an hour, he was truly lucky enough to hold that little golden man, thereby being able to engrave his name on these pillars, and leave his handprints openly on the Hollywood Boulevard outside...

Only then could he be justified in saying to himself, who had just been reborn three years ago: "Enjoy this life to the fullest, kid. The path you chose is not wrong. So keep walking. Perhaps, the meaning of you living again lies in this."

To put it bluntly, Chen Nuo didn't know if he was full, or if the thought that had been in his mind all along had gradually turned into some kind of obsession.

In short, in his view, the joke from the beginning, about winning an Oscar for Best Actor and proving something to the world, had become something that must be achieved.

It even rose to a level unrelated to money and interests.

However, the Best Supporting Actor award was still hanging in the balance, and thinking about the future was of no use.

Chen Nuo tidied up his complicated thoughts and walked into the circular hall of the Kodak Theatre together with Liu Yifei under the guidance of the staff.

His seat for this Oscar was in the third row on the left, next to Nolan.

This was already the best position in the entire "Dark Knight" crew.

Because for this Oscar ceremony, except for Nolan and Chen Nuo, stars like Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman didn't attend.

Although after Warner's public relations, "The Dark Knight" finally didn't have only Chen Nuo as a lonely nomination at the Oscars like at the Golden Globes.

However, it was also unrelated to heavyweight awards such as Best Director, Best Picture, or even Best Actor and Actress.

The Oscar judges seemed to give this movie, which was the highest-grossing film in the world in 2007, and also the second highest-grossing film in history, and still ranked first on IMDb with a 9.5 rating, as if out of pity,

some irrelevant awards like Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Art Direction.

Speaking of which, there were a full eight nominations,

but...

even Michael Slane was furious at Warner's internal meeting, saying that Warner Bros. had been humiliated again.

Under these circumstances, Christopher Nolan naturally sat next to Chen Nuo.

He brought his producer wife with him.

Thus, four people, four seats, two men in the middle, and their respective partners on the sides.

It also made it very easy for the photographers on the scene to capture the expressions of the two core figures simultaneously.

The Oscar ceremony opened on time at 7:00 PM.

At this time, the Kodak Theatre was already full of well-dressed men and women, with all 3,400 seats occupied.

All kinds of superstars gathered here, and the eyes of the whole world followed to this place.

Host Hugh Jackman was undoubtedly at the peak of his looks at this moment. When he walked out from the backstage, he was truly handsome, dashing, and full of style.

Making Chen Nuo feel a bit jealous.

"Good evening, welcome to the Academy Awards ceremony. Undoubtedly, tonight is the grandest festival in the film world over the past year..."

After the usual opening welcome speech, Hugh Jackman pointed out the theme of this year's Oscars: "As everyone knows, the Academy loves diversity."

"For example, Kate Winslet. Ladies and gentlemen." Hugh Jackman reached out to guide the lens, letting it fall on the face of the actress who played Rose in "Titanic."

Amidst the applause in the hall, Kate Winslet revealed a somewhat shy smile.

Hugh Jackman's Australian-accented English sounded extremely clear and clean: "As a British person, she played a German in 'The Reader,' so she received an Oscar nomination." "Similarly, ladies and gentlemen, in 'The Dark Knight,' Nuo Chen,"

The photographer was already pointing the lens at Chen Nuo and Liu Yifei's side by this time.

As soon as Hugh Jackman's words fell, the director's room called for a switch, and Chen Nuo's face appeared on the big screen on the scene and the TV screens of Oscar viewers all over the world.

Maybe it could be considered American hospitality, but at this time, the applause in the hall was actually even louder than for Kate Winslet, and there were even people whistling.

And Chen Nuo also revealed a somewhat embarrassed smile, even turning his head to say a word to his partner.

What he said seemed to be a joke, because Liu Yifei also followed him, revealing her signature sweet smile in front of several hundred million viewers worldwide, which was that kind of dimpled sweet smile without showing teeth.

This smile added perhaps a million fans from all over the world to her, and at the same time, it made Liu Xiaoli, in front of the TV screen, excited with tears in her eyes.

She felt that such a shot was truly worth more than a hundred million. Because Zhang Ziyi relied on those two Oscar appearances, she earned far more than two hundred million!

Moreover, Liu Xiaoli also felt that her previous belief that Chen Nuo didn't know how to hype or attract fans was simply blind.

Because she could guarantee one hundred percent that Liu Yifei definitely wasn't made to laugh by Chen Nuo.

Doesn't she know her own daughter? If she were really laughing, it definitely wouldn't look like this.

Liu Xiaoli didn't guess wrong.

Chen Nuo really wasn't telling a joke, but: "Smile, smile more beautifully. Whether you can earn money for the company depends on this moment."

After Chen Nuo finished greeting everyone, Hugh Jackman continued: "As a Chinese person, he played an American white man in an American comic book, and was nominated for an Oscar."

After speaking, he gestured on his face, meaning that no matter what, at least the Joker's face was white.

"Luo Bote Downey Jr. An American, in 'Tropic Thunder,' played an Australian pretending to be an American black man, and was also nominated for an Oscar."

Amidst the faint laughter in the hall,

Hugh Jackman helplessly spread his hands and said: "And as for me, an Australian, in 'Australia,' I played an Australian. So, I'm here as a host now."

This time the laughter in the hall was much louder. It was indeed a bit humorous; Chen Nuo and Liu Yifei were both amused.

"This is the Oscars."

"We respect artists of different races and nationalities all over the world. We admire their performances and marvel at seeing them in various forms on the screen, bringing brand-new feelings to the audience."

"It is precisely because of them that the art of film becomes colorful and enduring."

As the words fell, applause thundered in the hall.

The camera lens swept across the faces of Kate, Chen Nuo, and Luo Bote Downey Jr. again, and all three were clapping seriously.

After the applause subsided, Hugh Jackman said a few more jokes teasing the Academy, and then this Australian actor, who came from a stage background, performed an extremely wonderful song and dance.

And he also ingeniously strung together the names of all the films nominated this year in the lyrics.

When Hugh Jackman sang about "The Dark Knight," he sang: "Why are comic book adaptations never nominated for Best Picture? Why is the whole world obsessed with the Joker, and everyone goes to see 'The Dark Knight,' so much so that it grossed ten billion, yet it still proves nothing..."

At this time, Chen Nuo noticed a smile containing anger on the face of Christopher Nolan beside him.

Afterward, he turned his head and said seriously to Chen Nuo: "Chen, in the future, I must film an unprecedented 'Batman 3,' to let those arrogant Americans in the Academy know that they were wrong from the beginning. Are you willing to join?"

Chen Nuo looked at the angry and unwilling eyes of this yellow-haired British gentleman and shrugged: "Of course, I'm in."

Nolan smiled, "OK, let's turn the Kodak Theatre upside down in the future."

After the opening dance, it was the first award.

Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

It was indeed the 80th Oscars. The Academy was truly making it incomparably grand this time.

They actually invited five male actors who had won Best Supporting Actor in the past to introduce the five Best Supporting Actress nominees this year.

Finally, the Best Supporting Actress award was taken away by the Spanish beautiful actress Penélope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," from the hands of Christopher Walken.

Best Supporting Actor was the 8th award presented in this long awards ceremony.

It happened to be after the song and dance performance by Beyoncé and Hugh Jackman.

And at this time, in the viewership statistics in ABC's control room, the US viewership had officially broken through the 40 million mark.

Rosen Hanks also clapped his hands and said: "Alright, everyone perk up, it's five presenters again. Be ready to switch screens at any time. I'm really afraid these women will cause trouble; the seven-second delay won't be enough then."

During the commercial break on TV, five past Oscar Best Supporting Actress winners walked onto the stage, lifting their skirts.

They were Eva Marie Saint, Anjelica Huston, Whoopi Goldberg, Tilda Swinton, and Angelina Jolie.

The commercial break ended, and in the eyes of global viewers, five curtains rose, revealing five presenters dressed in grand attire.

First, Eva Marie Saint started the introduction.

"An actor's actor—this term is often used to describe someone who is dedicated to the acting profession, strives for excellence, and is humble and polite. For example, Philip Seymour Hoffman. In 'Doubt,' Philip plays Father Flynn, a role that makes the audience shuttle between truth and illusion. Philip, you make us sway, guess, and be confused in uncertainty..."

In Eva's black-accented English, she praised Philip Hoffman's performance, and his face also appeared on the big screen.

Chen Nuo looked at his biggest opponent but found it hard to generate hostility.

Because the expression of that man on the big screen was clearly recalling his performance in the movie during Eva Marie Saint's introduction.

The look in his eyes behind his glasses was full of emotion, even sentimentality, and then tears faintly flickered.

Philip Hoffman, he wasn't any star, but the kind of true actor that Li Er spoke of; he was an opponent he should respect, not an enemy to resist and attack.

A strange emotion suddenly surged in Chen Nuo's heart.

Perhaps the result tonight had nothing to do with success or failure, and there was no victory or defeat to speak of.

All the public relations and lobbying, all the Warner and Miramax stuff, were actually floating clouds that didn't matter.

At this very moment, it was just a mutual salute between one excellent actor and four other excellent actors.

Next, one after another, past Oscar Best Supporting Actress winners introduced one after another Best Supporting Actor candidate this year.

After Tilda Swinton, who was in fourth place, finished introducing Iron Man Luo Bote Downey Jr. from "Tropic Thunder,"

it was the turn of the 69th Oscar Best Supporting Actress winner, who was also a nominee for Best Actress this year, Angelina Jolie.

Angelina looked at the camera with her soft, gray-blue eyes and said slowly: "Among all the films this year, among all those amazing, eye-catching roles, the most unforgettable one for us might be the man wearing Joker makeup in the movie."

Angelina continued: "He poked his head out of a speeding car in the night wind of Gotham City, laughing wildly under the night, enjoying the chaos he created in the human world."

Chen Nuo looked at Angelina Jolie in a white dress on the stage, listening to this world-class superstar introduce his performance in her eyes at a very slow speed.

For a moment, he also fell into memories of the past.

His face appeared on the big screen.

This face with black hair and black eyes was undoubtedly the most special face that had appeared on the big screen of the Oscar ceremony tonight so far.

"Chen Nuo."

Angelina Jolie, as she promised during the interview, read the name with the correct word order.

"His role as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' made us feel uneasy throughout the 120-minute movie viewing process."

"We were so afraid, and also so curious, about what kind of prank this man would pull next to make our hearts stop."

"His subversive, bold performance attracted all our attention in the movie and also set off a wave of imitation all over the world."

"He once faced countless doubts, but ultimately crushed these doubts."

"He left us with a uniquely charming classic character this summer."

After the big screen showed Chen Nuo's Joker look in "The Dark Knight," Angelina Jolie looked toward Chen Nuo and smiled: "Actor from China, Chen Nuo, I congratulate you on your extraordinary work this year."

Chen Nuo took a deep breath, rubbed his slightly sour nose, and also squeezed a smile at Angelina Jolie.

After the applause of the whole audience, Eva Marie Saint opened the envelope. She didn't drag it out, nor did she play any tricks; she read the name in the envelope directly.

"Nuo Chen, The Dark Knight."

(End of chapter)