Just as Murphy spotted Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein also noticed Murphy. The portly Jewish producer wasted no time and walked straight over.
"Long time no see, Murphy." His pudgy face was beaming with a forced smile.
"Indeed, Harvey." Murphy stood up, "It's been a while."
Harvey Weinstein spread his arms and gave Murphy a light hug, "I'm on your side regarding the Catholic Church and 'Diego Rose' situation!"
Murphy nodded, offering a polite response, "Thanks, your support boosts my confidence."
"I've had enough of those people for a long time." Weinstein's brash tone made it seem like he was being sincere, "They need a good lesson."
Murphy smiled but chose not to respond.
Weinstein smoothly shifted the topic, "So, how many Oscars are you expecting this time?"
"Just getting a few nominations would be nice." Murphy glanced past Weinstein to see Meryl Streep already seated, "Seeing you here, my confidence plummets. With your double insurance, who can take those major awards?"
"You're too modest."
Despite his words, Weinstein's face showed a hint of pride, "Why not work together again next year? I'll pull out all the stops for you."
"I'd love to continue working with you." Murphy spread his hands helplessly, "Unfortunately, I've signed a multi-year contract with 20th Century Fox. If I breach it, they'll sue me to bankruptcy."
Weinstein shook his head, "What a pity."
He raised his thick hand and patted Murphy's shoulder, "I was planning to help you end your streak as an Oscar bridesmaid."
Of course, Murphy didn't believe such flattery and replied nonchalantly, "Doesn't matter. I'm still young; I have plenty of time to wait."
"My crew is almost here." Weinstein pointed to his table, "We'll chat more later."
"Sure." Murphy responded warmly, "I'll be waiting for your call."
Weinstein, also smiling warmly, said, "Once I'm done with this round of busywork, I'll call Bob and Quentin, and we'll all get together."
As soon as Weinstein turned around, his smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, calculating look.
Although the Oscar nominations hadn't been announced yet, Weinstein sensed a real threat from Murphy Stanton and his "Diego Rose."
He had closely followed the series of events from Christmas to New Year's. If he believed this was merely a controversy between a Hollywood film and the Catholic Church, he would be naïve. Having maneuvered in the Oscars for years, both at Miramax and Weinstein Company, he could see through the layers of conflict to the hidden intentions.
Murphy Stanton might be trying to use the Catholic Church as an external enemy to galvanize a portion of Hollywood and realize his Oscar ambitions!
This possibility was significant!
He wasn't entirely sure, but some Academy voters he interacted with expressed anger over the Catholic Church's interference with Hollywood and showed general support for Murphy and "Diego Rose."
While these sentiments didn't guarantee anything, they made Weinstein, an Oscar campaign veteran, feel a genuine threat, especially with the timing so close to the awards.
Reflecting on this, Weinstein admired Murphy's skill. If his strategy involved underhanded tactics, Murphy's move was a transparent strategy. Even if Weinstein saw through it, what could he do? Tell the industry that Murphy Stanton orchestrated it and that they shouldn't support him...
The public narrative had escalated to a point where opposing Murphy Stanton almost equated to supporting the Catholic Church's interference with Hollywood and opposing Hollywood's creative freedom. In the liberal Hollywood environment, positioning oneself against such freedom...
Thinking about this, Weinstein quickly dismissed the idea. He wouldn't be foolish enough to make himself the industry's enemy.
After sitting down, he continued to ponder the issue, increasingly convinced that Murphy Stanton and "Diego Rose" posed a significant threat to Weinstein Company's Oscar campaign.
Weinstein Company had invested heavily in this Oscar season, with "The Artist" and "The Iron Lady" as their double insurance. Without the Oscar halo, these films might take years to turn a profit.
The time cost alone was unacceptable to Weinstein and his shareholders.
Following the Oscar nomination announcement, Weinstein focused on Murphy and "Diego Rose." As the list was revealed, his concerns grew. "The Artist" and "Diego Rose" dominated, while "The Iron Lady" was overshadowed.
What should he do? How could he bring down Murphy Stanton and "Diego Rose"? Weinstein thought long and hard until the nomination announcement ended. He finally decided on a familiar tactic: creating a scandal.
He had used this strategy to undermine Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Roman Polanski, costing them Best Director or Best Picture awards.
This tactic was effective, so why not continue using it? Moreover, considering "Diego Rose's" protagonist and his relationship with Murphy Stanton, there was plenty to exploit. And Murphy Stanton wouldn't be able to clear his name easily!
Meanwhile, Murphy breathed a sigh of relief as "Diego Rose" received a slew of nominations.
The just-announced list had his biographical film receiving ten Oscar nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture.
After all the planning and effort, achieving this initial success was a relief.
He glanced at Weinstein Company's table, where Weinstein seemed deep in thought.
Was he plotting how to deal with his competitor? Murphy never shied away from assuming the worst intentions in others, especially since they were direct competitors.
Having worked with Miramax before, Murphy knew exactly what kind of person Weinstein was.
It was time to consider how to counter Weinstein Company. They were the biggest hurdle. "The Artist" had also garnered ten nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Picture.
With ten nominations each, the two films would directly compete in many categories.
Murphy didn't believe Weinstein would play by the Academy's rules and compete fairly.
If he did, pigs would fly.
If memory served, Weinstein Company had been the biggest winner of this Oscar season. Weinstein's double insurance strategy had paid off, with "The Artist" winning Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture, while "The Iron Lady" secured Meryl Streep another Best Actress award.
"The Iron Lady" could be set aside; it wasn't a threat to "Diego Rose." Murphy saw "The Artist" as the main competitor.
Frankly, "The Artist" was only a mediocre film among the recent Best Picture winners, but film quality was just a basic criterion for the Oscars, not the key to winning.
Few believed the Oscars awarded the best films, but they did recognize the nominations' professionalism.
All awards were voted on by their respective guilds: actors by the Screen Actors Guild, cinematographers by the American Society of Cinematographers, and so on. Getting a nomination signified excellence in that category. The Oscars were then a game of fame and fortune.
"The Artist" was an eye-catching film because it was a black-and-white silent film!
In the era of 3D and IMAX, it went completely retro. Its theme, plot, scenes, and performances all harked back to old Hollywood, paying homage to a forgotten time. The film opened in 1927, a significant year as the Academy was founded then.
Murphy had to admire Weinstein's knack for knowing his audience. A film that defied its time perfectly matched the tastes of the Academy's older members.
Even the protagonist's experiences and character echoed Douglas Fairbanks, the Academy's founding figure.
With the right campaigning, such a film couldn't fail to win the hearts of the Academy's elders.
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