"They hate me, obviously those judges just hate me, I didn't even get a single nomination! Damn it!"
"You'd better keep your voice down, Avril, or you'll be in the news if someone hears you."
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm going to curse!"
"Actually, it doesn't matter much. This year, we'll try to produce even better works, and at next year's Grammy, you'll definitely win a big award."
Avril angrily punched Eric's shoulder: "It's all your fault! You should have released'Something Just Like This' earlier. If it had been just half a month sooner, I wouldn't have missed the awards ceremony."
Rubbing the sore spot, Eric couldn't help but sigh, this girl looks so thin, but how can she be so strong.
He suddenly remembered news he had seen before, Avril had multiple experiences of fighting with people.
Once, facing four men, she and her boyfriend were completely unfazed, and the two sides fought to a draw.
The key was that she really dared to go up against them, and in the end, she only suffered minor injuries. Although the process was unclear, the four men couldn't have all beaten her boyfriend alone, so Avril must have taken some of the damage.
In short, this was a feisty tomboy with considerable fighting power.
This time, she didn't get anything at the Grammy, but this year she actually released her second album. Although the audience reception was good, it was clearly not favored by the judges.
And the official release date of the single "Something Just Like This" just exceeded December, making it ineligible for this Grammy, which was also the reason she got nothing.
Otherwise, with this song, she could have at least gotten a nomination for Best Rock Female Vocalist or Best Pop Female Vocalist.
Whether she could win an award was hard to say, but getting a nomination was already excellent.
The UTA quartet was undoubtedly the most dazzling of the night. All four were nominated for this year's Best New Artist Award, bringing the number of nominees to a terrifying 8, which also made history.
In the end, Mars Bro won the Best New Artist Award and greatly thanked Michael and Eric on stage.
Although Taylor Swift didn't win Best New Artist, she was nominated for two major awards: Best Country Album and Best Country Song.
It was a pity she didn't win, as it was her first album and still a bit green, but it was also a recognition of her songwriting ability.
Katy Perry was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance with "Stronger," and Eric and she were both nominated for Record of the Year, but unfortunately, they were both just nominations.
However, the big award was ultimately won by UTA, because there was also "Let It Go," which brought ice and snow to the entire summer.
It topped the Billboard charts for 11 consecutive weeks, and even after falling from the top spot, its popularity remains strong half a year later. "Let It Go" hasn't dropped out of the charts and still ranks 14th on the overall list, showing incredibly strong staying power.
This song has also become Celine Dion's most widely spread hit since "My Heart Will Go On," with even kindergarten children able to sing a few lines.
With such a huge influence, the Grammy naturally couldn't ignore it.
Celine Dion won the nomination for Best Pop Female Vocalist, and was nominated for Record of the Year, and also received a nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
The result was no surprise: she won all three, and her opponents also applauded sincerely, knowing they were not wronged in their loss.
"Let It Go" became the hottest song at the awards ceremony.
Compared to the quartet, Avril, who had only recently joined UTA, was naturally very frustrated.
With nothing to show for it, and not even a nomination, how could she face her younger sisters as the big sister without shame?
Just then, the paparazzi came over, snapping photos.
Eric was too lazy to stay there, so after saying goodbye to everyone, he got into the car and left.
Looking at the golden gramophone in his hand, he couldn't help but laugh.
He, a person who couldn't even read sheet music, had already taken two trophies from the Grammy.
This thing is the dream of so many people for a lifetime, and for those who have worked diligently their entire lives, it can't help but be ironic.
Beep beep beep!
Suddenly, a loud horn blared from behind.
Eric looked to both sides; there weren't many cars, and the road conditions were good.
What's going on? If you want to overtake, just overtake. Why are you honking the horn?
Beep beep beep!
The horn blared again. He frowned, but then saw his phone screen light up as well.
"Hmm? Stop."
Pete immediately turned the steering wheel and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Then the black Hummer came in front of Eric, and Avril beckoned: "Get in, let's go for a drive!"
Eric shook his head: "Your car is too flashy, it's already been recorded by the media. If you really want to go for a drive, get in mine."
A few minutes later, the two drove towards the beach, while Pete drove Avril's Hummer away.
"Eric, your car seems different from the last one. Is it my imagination?"
"Of course it's different. I change to a new car every month to prevent those paparazzi from tracking me."
"Every month?" Avril was a little surprised.
"Yes."
"Well, you're really rich. This car looks very expensive."
"When you have hundreds of millions of dollars coming in every month, money's importance in your mind will gradually decrease, truly becoming just a string of numbers."
"But I don't just drive luxury cars. Luxury cars are too ostentatious. In fact, I drive cars worth tens of thousands of dollars too. What I need is concealment."
"Why are you so concerned about privacy? Are you always secretly dating, afraid of scandals breaking out?"
Eric nodded: "That's right, I actually have six girlfriends, and we live together. Plus, I have several more on the side."
"Hahahaha. Can your body handle that?"
Avril burst into hearty laughter, opened her beer, and gulped down half the bottle, clearly not believing what Eric said.
Living with six girlfriends? Why don't you just say you're Superman? Bragging!
To this, Eric could only sigh, "See? When I tell the truth, people don't believe me."
Alas! Why is trust between people so difficult?
"Beer?"
"OK!"
Drinking a little beer didn't affect driving. Avril put the remaining half bottle in his mouth, and he chugged it down in one go.
"Hey! Look at that, do you think I can hit it?"
"It's a bit far, probably not."
"Don't underestimate me, watch this, bitch."
With that, she opened the sunroof and climbed out, the beer bottle accurately smashing onto a high GG sign by the roadside, exploding right on the chest of Alessa Moore, who hadn't yet evolved into a milf.
"Yes! I hit it!"
Eric gave a thumbs up: "Impressive, but I don't understand, why hit Alessa Moore?"
Avril shrugged: "How should I know? Maybe it's because I'm drunk."
"Come on, Avril, you look perfectly sober."
"Really? But I always feel a bit tipsy, wanting to do something only a fool would do."
"You're just in a bad mood. I'll write a song for you in a while. Anyway, the Grammy is held every year, so you can win next year."
It was better not to mention the Grammy; as soon as it was brought up, Avril's temper flared up again, and she started a furious tirade.
After raging for more than ten minutes, Eric could only nod in agreement, as he wasn't familiar with the people she was railing against, and in many cases, he hadn't even heard their names.
Unconsciously, the car drove to the seaside.
Late at night, it was quiet here, and there was no one around anymore.
Looking at the still-ranting punk girl, Eric rolled his eyes.
"Come on, girl, no matter how fiercely you curse, it won't change the facts."
Avril suddenly looked at Eric's trophy, grabbed it, rolled down the window, and threw it out.
"Ah? What the hell are you doing!"
Before he could finish speaking, a rush of heat enveloped him as Avril's tongue plunged into Eric's mouth.
Under attack, especially with his vision obscured, there was a bang as the car crashed into a tree.
Although the speed wasn't fast, the deployed airbags still squeezed the two together.
Unbuckling their seatbelts, the two climbed out of the car.
Looking at the dented front of the car, Avril said somewhat awkwardly, "I think I really had too much to drink."
"You're definitely very drunk. Why did you suddenly kiss me just now?"
"I don't know, maybe it was a sudden impulse."
"Then continue."
"Huh?"
Eric picked her up and placed her on the trunk, but Avril seemed to sober up, shaking her head like a rattle.
"Eric, I'm really drunk, we can't do this, and what if someone sees us?"
"It's so late, no one will show up."
"Wait, wait, it's cold, too cold, I'll catch a cold."
"It's okay, two people can generate heat through friction. Eskimos like to use this method to keep warm."
"No, I'm afraid of the dark, it's too dark here."
"That's why you should hold me tighter."
"No, you already have six girlfriends, I can't be the seventh."
"It's all lies, only a fool would believe it."
"But I do!"
"Avril, it's like a dream."
"This is the periphery of the Kodak Theatre, the site of the Oscar Awards ceremony, where media from all over the world are gathered."
"The 2005 Oscar countdown has begun, and countless awards will be presented today."
"Hello everyone, I'm your host Chris Connelly."
"Hello everyone, welcome to Awards Night, I'm your host Jen Karr, let's go interview these superstars."
On February 27th, the 77th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Kodak Theatre.
The same golden splendor, the same star-studded glamour.
A long red carpet, a venue full of celebrity guests, countless frenzied spectators.
At this moment, even the most seasoned film buffs would find many stars they didn't recognize here.
There were too many; nowhere else in the world could gather so many stars.
"Eric, look here, strike a handsome pose."
"Nicole, why don't you come a little closer? It would look more comfortable that way."
Eric took the opportunity to hug Nicole tightly. You asked for it, I'm just cooperating with the work.
After a flurry of flashes, the two finally separated.
"Nicole, your performance in 'la vie en rose' was brilliant. Do you have confidence in winning the Oscar for Best Actress?"
"I don't know, that depends on the judges' opinions. Everyone is excellent, and it wouldn't be a surprise whoever wins."
"Do you think your chances of winning are the greatest, especially since you've already won the Golden Globe for Best Actress?"
Eric patted Nicole's beautiful back, signaling her to leave: "Let me answer for her. Everyone wants to win, and I want to too, but no one has absolute certainty."
"Winning is great, not winning is fine too. Didn't Forrest Gump's mother say, 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get,' isn't that right?"
After speaking, he was about to leave but was stopped by the transitional host, Chris Connelly.
"Eric, I found you."
Eric smiled, thinking, "Found your mom's Pete."
"MGM's movies have been continuously pulled from release recently. Why are you doing this?"
Since the collapse of The Big Six, not only MGM, Universal, Sony, Paramount, and Fox were happy, but many second and third-tier companies were also delighted.
It could be said that the entire Hollywood, except for Disney and Warner Bros. who were unhappy, everyone else was overjoyed.
Then DreamWorks, New Line Cinema, Lionsgate, and other companies jointly approached them, complaining bitterly about the grievances and losses they had suffered over the past year.
The implication was that they hoped to re-plan the release schedule.
The younger brothers all had a large number of backlogged films, and they hoped the big brothers would give up some slots and let them go first.
The request was actually very reasonable, and Eric also had this intention.
Give them some benefits, so they wouldn't be lured away by Disney and Warner Bros. again.
Then, he organized a new meeting with various companies to sort out the current chaotic situation.
Ultimately, it was decided to reserve two months for the various second and third-tier companies. The five major studios would, in principle, release a maximum of two films per month, and these could not include A-list blockbusters.
This request was not excessive, as blockbusters were usually released in late May.
Moreover, after a year of intense competition, the A-list inventory of several companies was pretty much depleted.
As the new leader, MGM, Eric led by example, ensuring no new films would be released during the two-month period, which led to the announcement of several previously scheduled films being pulled.
As for after two months, things would naturally return to the old model, with everyone discussing and ensuring everyone got a piece of the pie.
Disney and Warner Bros. were not invited to this meeting. MGM would launch targeted attacks on the two companies in the future.
"The withdrawal of films is a rather complex issue, involving many aspects, and it's considered a behavior to re-regulate the market."
"So, after this, Hollywood will return to its former state?"
"Yes, this is good for everyone, and I mean every industry professional, and countless shareholders. Everyone can confidently enter the market; times have changed."
"But Disney and Warner Bros. don't seem to have made any relevant statements. Why?"
Eric smiled: "I'm not sure about that. You can go interview Michael Eisner and Barry Meyer."
After speaking, he ignored the host and pulled Daddario and Liu Yifei, who were passing by, leaving the red carpet with one on each arm.