Gilbert's acceptance speech was not the usual conventional one. Instead, he used slightly bolder words to tell everyone that he was just getting started.
The audience was not surprised and responded with applause. Gilbert hadn't even turned twenty-nine yet—being a little bold was normal.
Many in the audience thought to themselves, If I had won the Oscar for Best Director before turning twenty-nine, I'd be even bolder than he is.
Tonight, Gilbert had also set a record. At under twenty-nine years old, he became the youngest person ever to win the Academy Award for Best Director.
There had been nominees under thirty for Best Director before, but no one had ever won the award before turning thirty. Gilbert had done it.
During his backstage interview, Gilbert once again spoke with confidence:
"I hope that in the future, when people think of Hollywood, they think of me first. I am the final destination of all journeys."
On this night, at the peak of his success, no one thought Gilbert was being arrogant, nor did they think he was wrong.
This was exactly how a young man should be—bold and ambitious. What kind of genius isn't?
On this night, with the theme of absolute dominance, Chicago triumphed completely. After Gilbert won Best Director, Chicago also took home the award for Best Picture.
However, as per tradition, the producers went on stage to accept the award, giving Gilbert a brief moment to rest.
And so, by the end of the night, Chicago had been nominated for twelve awards and won eleven, losing only in the Best Original Song category to Shakespeare in Love.
But that hardly mattered. Chicago was the undisputed biggest winner of the night.
Every major award, except for Best Supporting Actor, had been claimed.
Shakespeare in Love was in a miserable situation. In the previous timeline, it had dominated the Oscars, but now it had only won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song.
However, on the bright side, no one would ever again call Shakespeare in Love the most undeserving Oscar-winning film in history.
In a way, Gilbert had also helped restore the Oscars' reputation. The Academy should be thanking him.
Interestingly, last summer's smash hit The Matrix, also directed by Gilbert, only won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Although The Matrix had received widespread acclaim, its genre worked against it. The Academy didn't favor it, so it didn't stand much of a chance.
It was fortunate that Gilbert had made Chicago as well. Had he only relied on The Matrix, even Harvey's best lobbying efforts might not have secured it a single nomination.
The Academy's voters of this era still had some integrity—though their definition of "integrity" was sometimes puzzling, making it unclear what exactly constituted an "Oscar-worthy" film.
With the Oscars wrapped up, Chicago had won big—not just at the box office but also in awards.
After the Oscars, there was always a celebratory banquet. The Chicago team once again received congratulations from all sides.
Just as Gilbert finished making his rounds, Gwyneth approached him.
"Did you do this on purpose?"
"Gwen, be fair. We didn't do anything," Gilbert replied innocently.
Gwyneth was furious. "You knew I needed this award, yet you still fought me for it."
Naomi Watts appeared at Gilbert's side just in time, shooting a sharp look at Gwen.
"Ms. Paltrow, please be mindful of where you are. This is a public event," Naomi said coldly.
"The awards were decided by over six thousand Academy members. If you're unhappy, you're free to file a complaint."
Gwyneth, though temperamental, wasn't foolish enough to directly offend Hollywood's six thousand veteran voters.
So, she merely shot them a cold glare and walked away.
After she left, Naomi looked at Gilbert with concern. "Do you think she'll cause trouble for us?"
"No," Gilbert shook his head. "I'll talk to Uncle Steven later. He'll remind her."
Gwyenth had been able to act like a Hollywood princess largely because of her godfather, Steven Spielberg. So, when Spielberg spoke Gwyneth would have to listen.
Gilbert couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated. He had met Spielberg's other goddaughter, Drew Barrymore, and compared to Gwyenth, Drew's manners were far superior.
The Oscars' aftermath continued into the next day, with fresh headlines covering the event extensively.
This time, no one accused the Academy of favoritism.
Except for a handful of media outlets that thrived on controversy, most mainstream entertainment media agreed that Chicago had rightfully earned its accolades.
"At last night's Oscar ceremony, Chicago won eleven awards, sweeping the competition..." — Los Angeles Times
"Gilbert won the Academy Award for Best Director before turning twenty-nine, making him the youngest winner in Oscar history." — Los Angeles Business Journal
"Tom Cruise finally achieved his Oscar dream. The gap between him and Tom Hanks is gone—Hollywood's two Toms are now equals." — Variety
"Naomi Watts, the embodiment of the Hollywood dream. Just a few years ago, she was unknown. Now, she's an Oscar-winning actress and one of Hollywood's most prominent stars." — The Hollywood Reporter
"From Britain to Hollywood, Catherine has undergone a stunning transformation. Her portrayal of Velma showcased her unrivaled charm, making her a deserving winner of Best Supporting Actress." — Film Magazine
Although the Oscars are becoming more niche and conservative, there is no denying their immense influence.
Winning an Oscar significantly elevates a person's fame, status, and industry clout.
Tom Cruise no longer lags behind Tom Hanks. The two biggest stars of the '90s are now evenly matched in prestige.
Naomi Watts, at the age of thirty, has ascended to the pinnacle of Hollywood's female stars, claiming the top spot among actresses.
The last person to hold this position was Julia Roberts.
Hollywood is a place where new talents constantly rise to replace the old.
No one knows when Naomi Watts will be overtaken, but at this moment, she is undoubtedly Hollywood's number-one actress.
Catherine has also firmly established herself. Though she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, industry insiders know this was simply a result of Chicago's award strategy.
Her performance was no less impressive than Naomi Watts'. Had the campaign focused on a Best Actress nomination, she wouldn't have been without a chance.
However, the person whose fame and status soared the most from the Oscars was undoubtedly Gilbert.
Before this year's ceremony, Gilbert was already recognized as one of Hollywood's finest directors. But whenever people discussed the absolute best, his relatively short career often led them to overlook him.
That won't happen anymore. Now, with an Oscar in hand and an outstanding track record at the box office, Gilbert is undeniably in the conversation for Hollywood's top directors.
Even The Washington Post, which had long been critical of Gilbert, admitted that he was a deserving winner.
In their report, The Washington Post noted that since the 1990s, Hollywood's globalization efforts had been significantly influenced by one director: Gilbert.
His consistent output of films had opened up new international markets, spreading Hollywood's cinematic culture across the world. The Washington Post suggested that the Academy may have taken this into account when awarding him the Oscar.
However, The Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert disagreed with this perspective. In his article, he countered The Washington Post's argument.
Ebert asserted that even without considering external factors, Gilbert deserved the award purely based on the artistic and technical merits of Chicago.
These debates among critics were just part of the post-award buzz. Meanwhile, Gilbert's fans enjoyed the spectacle.
One of the immediate effects of the Oscars was a massive expansion in Chicago's theatrical release. Originally playing in just over a hundred theaters, the number skyrocketed to 1,200 after the awards, significantly increasing its screen presence.
This allowed Chicago to capitalize on its Oscar success, ensuring that its North American box office would surpass $170 million without issue.
For a musical film, this was an outstanding achievement. To put it in perspective, the total budget, including production and marketing, was only $50 million.
More importantly, with the Oscars boosting its prestige, Warner Bros., which handled international distribution, launched the film's overseas release.
While it wouldn't perform like a traditional Hollywood blockbuster, Chicago still earned an impressive $38.9 million in its first week across international markets.
That number might seem modest at first glance, but musicals inherently have a niche audience.
Without Gilbert as the director, without Tom Cruise, and without the Oscar wins, Chicago wouldn't have achieved even that.
Moreover, the international rollout was still in its early stages. So far, the film had only opened in about ten countries across Europe, South America, and Mexico.
As its release expanded to additional territories, its box office numbers would continue to grow.
Fortunately, industry professionals were managing these aspects. Meanwhile, after an intense period of work, Gilbert finally had a chance to take a break.
Of course, he wasn't completely stepping away—there were still matters that required his attention.
Following the Oscars, Gilbert spent two weeks in China. The sets for The Lord of the Rings were nearly complete. The White City, the Hobbit village, the Rohan capital—everything was built and ready.
The horses had been fully trained, while weapons, armor, costumes, and props were all meticulously crafted.
Two massive soundstages built in Qingdao were finished and ready for filming. Local authorities had also assured their full support, promising resources and personnel to ensure smooth production in China.
Besides The Lord of the Rings, another major project involving Gilbert had also entered active discussions.
The Harry Potter book series, thanks to continuous promotion by Disney and Warner Bros., had become one of the most widely recognized literary franchises.
As a result, adapting it into a film series was now a priority. After returning to North America, Gilbert participated in meetings regarding its development.
Since he was busy with The Lord of the Rings, Gilbert confirmed that he would not direct Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
However, he would serve as a producer, ensuring that the film adhered to the envisioned creative direction.
...
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (30 chpater)
MV Director (30 chapter)....
Douluo Dalu:Breaking Clan(30 chapter)
Made In Hollywood (50 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter (30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu