Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 253 Oscars (First Half)
When Wu Yuchen attended the public relations reception, he was naturally interviewed by reporters:

"Wu, what's your opinion on Harvey Oscar the King?"

Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his head: "No one will ever be the King of the Oscars!"

The reporter immediately followed up, "Oh? Wu, do you not acknowledge Harvey's abilities?"

Wu Yuchen said with a smile, "No, I acknowledge Harvey's ability, but I have even more faith in the judges' judgment!"

He wasn't about to fall into the trap the reporter had set for him. Denying Harvey's past record would be tantamount to denying the judges and the Academy, which wouldn't benefit his ongoing campaign.

And to be honest, Harvey does have ability and vision. Most of the films he helped get nominated for Oscars are of good quality, and he can't lie about that.

He then changed the subject, saying, "However, there are many talented people in Hollywood besides Harvey. I hope the judges can also focus their attention on other talented individuals, not just Harvey. 'A Beautiful Mind' is an excellent film, and it deserves more attention!"

Wu Yuchen's meaning was also very clear: I won't say anything bad about the academy, but the academy also needs to be mindful of its influence. You can't keep giving the benefits to Harvey, it's our turn this year!

Amidst all this commotion, the Oscars ceremony has arrived.

On March 24, the 74th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

As Wu Yuchen walked the red carpet, he waved to the cheering crowds on both sides. He could sense that this year's red carpet was somewhat quieter than the previous two years. It wasn't that fans didn't want to come, but rather that this year's Oscars ceremony was under the highest level of security ever.

Fearing a repeat of 9/11, police and security personnel inspected and deployed troops in the surrounding streets two days in advance. While not to the point of having a guard every five steps, the dozens of police officers constantly patrolling the area were quite conspicuous. It is said that snipers were lying in ambush on the high ground of the surrounding buildings to ensure comprehensive defense.

With the addition of security personnel hired by the Oscar organizers, this year's Oscars were truly under tight security, as if there were any terrorists who might try to harm this group of the world's most famous stars.

When Wu Yuchen and the cast of "A Beautiful Mind" came down the red carpet, they heard an even louder commotion behind them. This must have been the loudest cheer on the red carpet that day. He turned around and saw that it wasn't Harvey's "Chicago," but "The Lord of the Rings."

Director Peter Jackson, accompanied by Gandalf in his white robes, the Elf Prince, the Elf Queen, and others, walked the red carpet, receiving cheers wherever they went. The phenomenal success of the *Lord of the Rings* films has ignited a frenzy among many. While the combined contract salary for the Elf Prince and the *Lord of the Rings* trilogy was only $175,000, now, with the film's release, some distributors are already asking for $5 million, making him an overnight sensation and increasing his value a hundredfold!
In fact, "The Lord of the Rings: The First Ring" received many nominations this year, and many judges have expressed their praise for it. However, everyone understands one fact: at most, "The Lord of the Rings: The First Ring" can only win some technical awards this year; it's impossible for it to receive any major awards.

Because this is only the first film, if we award it a major prize in the first one, what will happen when the third film is released and the ending is shown? Whether we give it a major award or not, it will attract a lot of criticism. The Academy isn't stupid, so they simply set a tone: no major awards for the first two films, and the third film will make up for it.

Therefore, Wu Yuchen is not worried that "The Lord of the Rings" will pose any threat to "A Beautiful Mind". The latter is slated for the 2004 Oscars, and with the momentum of three films, no one can compete with it.

"A Beautiful Mind" is one of the favorites for this year's Oscars, and with director John Woo and A-list star Russell Crowe in the cast, it was naturally placed in the center position.

However, whether it was the organizers deliberately causing trouble or not, the "Beautiful Mind" crew was right next to the "Chicago" crew, and Wu Yuchen could see Harvey's fat face as soon as he sat down.

Harvey also saw Wu Yuchen and gave him a fierce smile. Wu Yuchen chuckled and met his gaze, simultaneously shaking his index finger at him, indicating that he was out of the question. Others might be afraid of you, Harvey, but I'm not.

Harvey snorted coldly, "We'll see after the awards ceremony starts!"
The first Oscar award today is the highly anticipated Best Supporting Actress.

Sitting next to Wu Yuchen, Jennifer Connelly was quite uneasy. To be honest, she thought this year was a sure thing, but unexpectedly, Catherine Zeta-Jones from Chicago came out of nowhere.

Speaking solely of Katharine herself, Jennifer Lawrence isn't intimidated by her, nor does she believe her acting is inferior. However, Katharine not only has her husband's support but also Harvey Weinstein's backing. No one can deny Harvey's Oscar PR prowess; as the newspapers have noted, he's nominated for Best Picture for ten consecutive years, achieving numerous accolades, leading many to consider him the King of the Oscars.

As if sensing Jennifer's anxiety, Wu Yuchen reached out and gently patted the back of Jennifer's hand, saying softly, "Jennifer, have confidence in yourself. You are in a position of strength."

Wu Yuchen wasn't just offering empty words of comfort. Jennifer had already been nominated for Best Supporting Actress twice in the past two years for her roles in "The Sixth Sense" and "The Web of Deception," and this year marks her third nomination. Those previous losses weren't in vain; they likely left many judges with a sense of compensation for her.

Then Wu Yuchen smiled at her and said, "And the person presenting the award on stage is Benicio. I have a feeling this will be your lucky day."

The presenter was Benicio, last year's Best Supporting Actor winner, who had partnered with Jennifer in last year's "Solo Network." Hearing this, Jennifer felt a little more at ease, then looked at the stage with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"The Best Supporting Actress is..."

Five nominees flashed across the big screen one by one. Besides Jennifer and Katherine, the lead actress from "Titanic," Fat Winston, was also nominated. All the women tensed up, leaning forward and staring intently at the stage.

Benicio pulled the slip of paper from the envelope, glanced at it, and then a bright smile immediately spread across his face. He announced in a drawn-out voice, "A Beautiful Mind, Jennifer... Connery!"

The entire audience erupted in applause. Jennifer Connelly instinctively covered her mouth the moment she heard the result. It wasn't until the people around her came to congratulate her that she reacted. The first thing she did was give Wu Yuchen a tight hug and whisper in his ear, "Thank you, darling!"

Wu Yuchen patted her back and smiled, "Now go enjoy your glory~" The camera on the big screen swept across the candidates one by one. Fat Wen showed a disappointed expression, while Catherine maintained a smile and clapped politely. As soon as the camera moved away from her, her face immediately fell, and she said to Harvey with a grim expression, "Harvey, you said I would win this award!"

Harvey had strongly urged her to submit her nomination for Best Supporting Actress instead of Best Actress, but now she hasn't even won Best Supporting Actress. If she had known this would happen, she should have submitted her nomination for Best Actress; at least a nomination would sound better.

Harvey's expression was also not good at this moment, but he still maintained a strong attitude and said, "Catherine, there are always risks in Oscar, and you still lack some foundation."

Clearly, Harvey meant that this was Harvey's first Oscar nomination, and compared to Jennifer's third nomination, he was far behind. He added that the failure wasn't his fault, but rather Harvey's own lack of experience.

Catherine clenched her fists, but she couldn't make a scene in this situation. Besides, even if her husband was someone important, she didn't have the right to vent her anger on Harvey. She could only swallow her frustration. To be honest, if it weren't for maintaining her composure, she would have left the theater to let off steam! Now, she could only pray that the film would win Best Picture, which would bring her some recognition.

At this moment, Harvey couldn't help but look towards the "A Beautiful Mind" crew, and his eyes met Wu Yuchen's. Seeing Wu Yuchen smiling at him as if he were mocking him, Harvey couldn't help but snort coldly, turn his head away and look away, thinking to himself that this year's Oscars had only just begun!

On stage, Jennifer Connelly was very emotional, her eyes already red:
"My God! I've fantasized about this scene countless times in my dreams, but now that it's actually happening, I'm speechless with emotion! It's no exaggeration to say that I feel like the happiest person in the world right now!"

The audience gave her a round of applause. Everyone felt it was only natural for her to win the award, since they all knew she had been nominated three times in a row, and it would be a bit unreasonable if she didn't win.

Jennifer Connelly composed herself slightly and then began to express her gratitude:
"There are many people I want to thank, but first and foremost, I want to thank director Wu Yuchen. It was he who discovered my strengths and gave me the opportunity to play such a great role and step onto this stage. He is truly the best director in the world!"

At that moment, the big screen also focused on Wu Yuchen, who was seen with a gentle, warm smile, listening to the expressions of gratitude on stage. This scene not only caught the eyes of the viewers but also deeply touched the hearts of all the actors present.

Audiences might not notice the details, but most of the actors present knew that Jennifer Connelly's three consecutive Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress were all thanks to Wu Yuchen. It's fair to say that since she hooked up with Wu Yuchen, her career has undergone a dramatic transformation, leading to great success!
"The Sixth Sense," "The Internet," and today's "A Beautiful Mind" have not only brought her an Oscar, but also critical acclaim and box office success. The first two films alone have grossed nearly $10 billion, and with "A Beautiful Mind" added to that, who knows how much it will bring in.

Many actresses look at Jennifer Connelly with envy and jealousy, wishing they could take her place! At the same time, they all deeply agree with Jennifer Connelly's statement: Wu Yuchen is the best director in the world, capable of bringing both Oscars and box office success to his leading ladies. What leading lady wouldn't like such a director? Absolutely the best!

As for sacrificing oneself, he's already in Hollywood, who cares about that!

Amidst applause, Jennifer Connelly stepped down from the stage with her Oscar. After she sat down, Wu Yuchen smiled and said to her, "Darling, you looked absolutely stunning! You were the most radiant woman in the world!"

Jennifer Connelly, her eyes sparkling with desire and her voice sweet and alluring, exhaled a fragrant breath as she said, "Then tonight you will be the most dazzling woman in the world, the queen!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and then looked away from the podium.

Harvey was also looking at the second award being announced, another nominee for *Chicago*. However, this second award made him even more upset: "Best Film Editing… *A Beautiful Mind*!"

Losing two awards to "A Beautiful Mind" in a row cast a shadow over Harvey's mind.

The third award for Best Makeup went to "The Lord of the Rings," and the fourth award for Best Costume Design went to "Moulin Rouge!"

Wu Yuchen also applauded. "Moulin Rouge!" is Nicole Kidman's Oscar-contending film, and it garnered numerous nominations at this year's Oscars. Having just divorced Tom Cruise last year, she now seems fully focused on her career, determined to prove herself.

"Best cinematography... The Lord of the Rings."

"Best art direction... The Lord of the Rings."

"Best animated feature film... Shrek".

"Best sound effects... Black Hawk Down."

"Best sound editing...Black Hawk Down."

"Best Supporting Actor... 'Hand in Hand'"

"Best visual effects... The Lord of the Rings."

"Best soundtrack... The Lord of the Rings."

The Lord of the Rings crew achieved a series of successes in the first half of the event, keeping Peter Jackson all smiles as he received congratulations, thanks, and applause from the stage. He never stopped smiling.

On the other hand, Harvey was radiating an oppressive atmosphere, his face constantly tense and never relaxing. His film *Chicago* received 13 nominations, but nine of those nominations have already been awarded, and *Chicago* has won nothing!
Although most of these awards were technical and not particularly important, in previous years, it was impossible for him to receive none of his nine nominations! This made Harvey vaguely feel that he was being targeted!
Harvey thought of the rumors that had surfaced recently, the reports that he, Harvey, had already dominated the Oscars, and the faces of Wu Yuchen, Spielberg, and others flashed through his mind. He could no longer remain calm and couldn't help but curse inwardly, "A bunch of damned guys, all they know how to do is use dirty tricks!"
He clenched his fist, then exhaled. It's alright, none of this matters. The important awards later will determine who the real winner is tonight!

(End of this chapter)