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Chapter 195: The background
🕑 Added 2025-01-17 17:48:30 +0000 UTCNo matter what the relationship between Gilbert, Leo, and Madonna is, the North American public remains quite entertained by the incident.
This event did not damage the reputation or fame of the three; in fact, it gave them a major boost.
Gilbert didn't involve Charlize Theron, aiming to protect her.
Afterward, Gilbert explained to Charlize Theron, "I didn't let you stop Madonna because, at the event, you can't offend the Oscars. If you want to win an Oscar, you have to play by the rules."
If Charlize Theron had slapped Madonna like Naomi Watts or had Leo kiss Madonna, it would've created more of a spectacle.
The situation would escalate, but Charlize Theron's actions might also upset the Academy.
While the audience might enjoy seeing actresses fight, the Oscars have always strived to maintain a high-quality, elegant image for the awards ceremony.
No matter how rough or unpolished a person is behind the scenes, when they step on the Oscar stage, they must look like a polished star, free from any image damage.
If Charlize Theron had slapped Madonna, it would have shattered the Oscars' carefully cultivated image.
A kiss like Leo's wouldn't have been an issue because he's male and Madonna is female. But if Charlize Theron had kissed Madonna, it would have provoked the conservative old white men at the Academy.
It's safe to say that Charlize Theron would have to pay a price if she ever tried to get close to the Oscars again.
Given the urgent situation at the time, there was no gentler way to stop Madonna from kissing Gilbert.
Fortunately, Charlize Theron listened and didn't do anything extreme, which made things much easier. It's just a bit of a shame she missed the chance to get more publicity.
Charlize Theron asked Gilbert, "What about you? After this, do you think you'll offend the Oscars too?"
She's still very concerned about Gilbert's Best Director award, something she's been holding onto.
Gilbert reassured her, "Don't worry, Sally. The Oscars can't ignore me forever. I'm their star, the Hollywood icon."
This statement was certainly true—there was no one with a more solid identity than Gilbert. With Jewish and Italian heritage, his influence in Hollywood was considerable.
Especially the Italian heritage—while the Jewish community had Spielberg, there was no one left to carry the torch after the Coppola directors stepped away.
So the Italian community set their sights on Gilbert, hoping he would lead them.
The Squid community also supported him, promoting the myth of the Squid people as the smartest race, creating countless geniuses and great figures who had a massive impact on the world.
And Gilbert is a prime example. If it weren't for the blessings of God, could Gilbert have achieved such success at his age?
North America is an immigrant country, where ethnic identity has historically been more important than national identity, and even now, ethnic identity still plays a significant role.
Communities in North America are highly segregated: white communities are the best, and others are more or less the same—Black, Latino, Asian, and Chinese communities are clearly separated.
Even among white communities, Italians, Irish, and Anglo-Saxons have distinct areas.
Gilbert's complicated ethnic background allows him to gain recognition from both of North America's largest ethnic groups. Given his status, it would be hard for the Oscars to refuse him.
And besides, it was Madonna who caused trouble, not Gilbert. Why should the Oscars think that Gilbert offended them?
Charlize Theron thought about it and agreed. Gilbert's situation was unique; unless he deliberately caused trouble, the Oscars wouldn't give up on him—he's a young director they were grooming.
Though calling him young, Gilbert wasn't exactly a spring chicken. He had been working for nearly seven years.
Normally, directors get their first chance in their 30s or 40s, but Gilbert, after directing six films, was about to release his seventh this year.
And by the time of his birthday, he would still only be 27 years old.
It was said that many wealthy North American families, whose children were uneducated or misdirected, encouraged them to learn from Gilbert. He had become the "ideal child" in North America.
Gilbert's father had been asked for parenting advice several times at Squid community gatherings.
Old Gilbert had no idea why his son had so much talent and such strange, brilliant ideas. All he did was make sure Gilbert didn't starve, and let him grow up on his own.
In the end, Old Gilbert gave a rather free-spirited answer: "Don't restrict the child, let him grow freely and do his thing."
Surprisingly, many parents found this answer insightful and adopted it.
Seeing how many people believed it, Old Gilbert was dumbfounded. He thought he could even write a book titled Gilbert's Growth Story: How to Raise a Talented Child.
The Madonna incident passed, and unless Madonna was out of her mind, she should understand Gilbert wasn't interested in her and would stop causing trouble.
The aftershocks of the Oscars were still rumbling, and Gilbert started discussing his upcoming projects: "Sally, did you watch the kung fu movie I had you check out?"
"I did," Charlize Theron nodded. "I even went to a kung fu school in Chinatown for a few months. But honestly, it looks a bit flashy and impractical."
Of course, real kung fu techniques had mostly faded with time, leaving only the form behind.
In China, it might be different, but in Chinatown's martial arts schools, the masters probably couldn't beat a street thug. Besides, who uses fists in this day and age? A gun would do the trick, right?
And if a handgun isn't enough, I'd go for an AR-15 or AK-47 and spray some bullets. The kung fu master would kneel.
It's not like the movies, where even the best kung fu masters fear bullets.
Gilbert chuckled, "That's exactly what I want. Flashy kung fu. It will help with the scene design for the next movie."
"The character you play is very important, with a lot of action scenes. You're not just a pretty face, so pay attention."
"I understand. I'll work hard," Charlize Theron was pleased and immediately embraced Gilbert, giving him a kiss to show her appreciation.
Just as Gilbert was about to take things further, Cameron Diaz returned: "I'm back!"
Seeing both of them half-dressed, Cameron Diaz couldn't resist. She immediately kicked off her heels, took off her skirt, and joined in.
Seeing Charlize Theron so happy, she eagerly said, "Sally, leave some room for me."
Charlize Theron made some space, and Cameron Diaz screamed before joining in.
After returning to Japan, Noriko Sakai broke up with her screenwriter boyfriend. Naturally, she had to since the boyfriend had been "fed to the fish" by Hiroshi Suzuki.
Later, Noriko Sakai introduced Gilbert to her friends, including Shizuka Kudo and the beauty queen, Norika Fujiwara.
Sakai mentioned that the three would be heading to Las Vegas in June or July, and it was clear what they intended to do.
But hearing that Gilbert planned to go to New Zealand, Sakai changed her plans too, deciding to follow him there.
Wherever Gilbert went, they were sure to follow.
Gilbert's charm was undeniable. He even thought about, someday, getting close to a Chinese entertainment star.
Compared to European and American actresses, Gilbert was more familiar with the stars from Chinese-speaking regions.
He was even planning to visit Korea, hearing that he had many fans there too.
But these were just passing thoughts; it wasn't something he was actually set on doing.
After the Oscars, Gilbert took a few days off before diving back into work.
He first watched the movie starring Jackie Chan. Last year, Gilbert's agent, Sheena Boone, officially signed Jackie Chan.
This year, a joint venture between Melon Studio and Warner Bros., with Gilbert as the producer, officially started filming Rush Hour, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Jackie Chan and famous African-American comedian Chris Tucker.
The film began shooting in February and was currently in progress.
At the Rush Hour set, all the staff were stunned, watching Jackie Chan perform extravagant stunts.
Initially, director Brett didn't want Jackie Chan to perform the dangerous stunts himself. He hired several stunt doubles, but none of them worked well, so they had to let Jackie Chan step in.
When Jackie Chan came down, Gilbert applauded and cheered for his spectacular performance.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Jackie Chan greeted Gilbert, "Gilbert, hello…"
"Jackie, you were amazing. Your moves were elegant and stylish. This movie is going to be a hit with the audience."
"Thank you, I hope the audience will like it," Jackie Chan replied.
This was Jackie Chan's first Hollywood film, and naturally, he wanted to succeed.
At this point, Jackie Chan was in the perfect position. North America had just kicked off a kung fu craze, with Eastern violence aesthetics becoming the trend.
It was because of this wave that stars like Bruce Lee gained success.
In a few years, when the trend faded, it would be harder for Chinese actors to make a mark in Hollywood.
After chatting for a bit, Gilbert asked Jackie Chan about someone: "Do you know Yuen Woo-ping?"
"Of course," Jackie Chan blinked, quickly asking, "Why?"
"Well, I'm working on a film and want to invite him as the action director. But I thought it might be rude to contact him directly, so I was hoping you could help me get in touch with him," Gilbert explained.
Jackie Chan was intrigued and asked, "You're making a kung fu film?"
"From a certain perspective, yes," Gilbert didn't hide it.
"Okay, I'll reach out to him," Jackie Chan immediately agreed. "He's always wanted to work in Hollywood. I'll help you."
"Thanks, Jackie."
Jackie Chan was excited when he heard it was a kung fu film. He knew this was his area of expertise. But he didn't want to ask for a role, as that would seem too forward.
Meanwhile, Jackie Chan was curious—what exactly was Gilbert's kung fu movie? An American, making a kung fu film?
Jackie Chan didn't know that the kung fu aspect was just a gimmick for the film. What Gilbert truly planned to make wasn't a kung fu movie at all.
After visiting the Rush Hour set, Gilbert attended a media screening for Good Will Hunting, a film directed by his friend Sofia Coppola, produced solely by Melon Studio, with Gilbert in attendance to support her.
