pertwk Chapter 465 Oscar's Xenophobia
Chapter 465 Oscar's Xenophobia
Meanwhile, in another upscale apartment in Beijing, Li Binbin was leaning against the headboard in his bedroom, holding an iPad with news of Fu Yibai's airport interview on the screen.
She had just finished showering and was wrapped in a dark purple silk robe. Her hair was still half-wet, with a few stray strands clinging to her slender neck.
She wasn't looking at Fan Binbin, but at Fu Yibai.
Li Binbin zoomed in on the photo, his finger tracing Fu Yibai's face across the screen, from his eyebrows and eyes to his jawline, and then to his Adam's apple.
She was completely captivated by the man on the screen. His status as an industry leader and his handsome appearance deeply attracted her.
Looking at the man on the screen, she recalled the night of the China Film Group's celebration banquet.
The shock of that night still makes Li Binbin feel hot when he thinks about it.
She put down her iPad and slipped her fingers under the hem of her robe.
"Fu Yibai..."
She closed her eyes, her lips parted slightly, and her voice was so soft that only she could hear it.
Her breathing became rapid, and the images of that night kept replaying in her mind.
"Waiting for you to come back."
Her voice was broken and intermittent, filled with suppressed gasps.
"This time, I'm going to...drain you completely."
After a long time, her body suddenly tensed up, then went completely limp, and she lay motionless on the bed.
The panting gradually subsided in the quiet bedroom.
Li Binbin opened his eyes and raised his hand to tuck the hair that had fallen across his face behind his ear.
She reached for the iPad, glanced at Fu Yibai's photo on the screen, and a satisfied smile curved her lips.
"Director Fu, please come back soon."
She placed the iPad on the bedside table, pulled the blanket over herself, and turned off the bedside lamp.
Los Angeles International Airport.
As soon as Fu Yibai and Fan Binbin stepped out of the arrival gate, a young woman in a black suit came to greet them.
She was Margaret's assistant, named Amy, of Chinese descent, fluent in both Chinese and English, and spoke concisely and clearly.
"Director Fu, Ms. Fan, Ms. Margaret is waiting for you at Franchise Films."
The car is outside.
The stretch Lincoln drove out of the airport and headed along the wide Los Angeles highway toward Franchise Studios.
Margaret was waiting in the charter studio's conference room.
She wore a dark blue suit skirt today, and her blonde hair was a bit shorter than last year, making her look more capable.
Upon seeing Fu Yibai and Fan Binbin enter, she stood up from behind her desk, opened her arms to hug Fan Binbin, and then shook hands with Fu Yibai.
"Was your trip smooth?"
"It was alright, I slept for more than ten hours on the plane."
Fu Yibai sat down on the sofa, and Fan Binbin sat down next to him.
Amy poured coffee for the two of them, then quietly closed the door and left.
Margaret didn't exchange many pleasantries. She picked up a neatly bound document from the table and sat down opposite Fu Yibai and Fan Binbin.
"Let's start with the public relations situation."
She opened the document, which was filled with a list of Oscar voters, public relations budgets for each award, and summary data on voting intentions.
"Interstellar's dominance in technical awards is overwhelming; it has virtually no rivals in the Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography categories."
There are two competitors vying for Best Original Screenplay and Best Production Design, and our chances of winning aren't good, so we're focusing our public relations efforts more on other awards.
Fu Yibai nodded, and Margaret continued.
"Matthew's performance was unanimously praised by the judges, but the competition this year was too fierce."
Colin Firth's performance in "The King's Speech" was so strong that he practically swept all the Pre-Speech Awards.
Our PR team's assessment is that the chances of winning Best Actor are around 30%.
Margaret told the truth.
Fu Yibai was not surprised.
He knew Matthew's acting very well, but he had also seen Colin Firth's performance in "The King's Speech," a role that naturally appealed more to the Oscar judges.
"What about Best Actress?"
Margaret paused for a moment, then looked at Fan Binbin.
"The case of Best Actress is rather special."
The PR team has done its best, and Binbin's performance at the judges' screening received a lot of praise.
However, during the voting process, the judges faced significant obstacles in accepting actors of Chinese descent.
Margaret phrased it very tactfully, but her meaning was clear.
Fan Binbin nodded.
"I see."
Fu Yibai's expression darkened for a moment.
"Did you fight for every single vote?" he asked.
"Every vote."
Margaret's voice carried a hint of apology.
"But the Oscar voting mechanism has its limitations; the composition of the judges determines their biases."
Fu Yibai didn't say anything more.
He certainly understood what Margaret meant.
It's not that the public relations efforts were insufficient, nor that the performances were not good enough; rather, the Oscars stage itself has a political nature.
For a Chinese actress to win the Best Actress Oscar, the obstacles she needs to overcome are far greater than the performance itself.
Fan Binbin reached out and pressed down on the back of Fu Yibai's hand.
"Being nominated is already a great achievement."
She looked at Fu Yibai, her smile faint but composed.
"I started as an extra when I was a struggling actor in Beijing, and I've worked my way up to where I am today, standing on the Oscar nomination list, competing with Hollywood's top actresses."
This alone has surpassed all my dreams.
"Venice this year."
Fu Yibai said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"The Woman Who Left, I'd like to award you Best Actress."
Fan Binbin smiled.
"I'll be waiting."