Made In Hollywood

Chapter 946: Epilogue

Time flies like an arrow; the years pass like flowing water. More than a decade has gone by in a flash, yet Hollywood remains the same glamorous Hollywood it has always been.

Although the Chinese market has risen and replaced North America as the world’s largest box office territory and Chinese films, benefiting from their home advantage, have surged rapidly—on a global scale, Hollywood is still the center of world cinema. That position has never been shaken.

As Duke once said, any nation or region that wishes to replace Hollywood cannot achieve it by relying solely on the films themselves.

Even though the year has already passed 2030, this world is still dominated by Western culture.

Just like Hollywood’s position in the global film industry, the Academy Awards ceremony remains as dazzling and magnificent as ever.

In front of the newly completed Rosenberg Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, thousands of journalists and tens of thousands of movie fans gathered, awaiting the start of the Oscars.

Would Duke Rosenberg appear at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony? That was the question every journalist cared about. If he were to be absent, the first Oscars held in the newly relocated theater would undoubtedly lose much of its brilliance.

"I don’t think he’ll come."

Standing in the media photo area, a reporter in his thirties shook his head. "Don’t forget, Duke Rosenberg hasn’t appeared at any Oscar ceremony since 2010. Rumor has it that his views differ greatly from those of many in the Academy. And really, does a director with a total box office of fifty billion dollars need the Oscars to add to his prestige?"

Many around him nodded in agreement. Indeed, just as the reporter said, in the global commercial film world over the past half-century, it had almost entirely been Duke Rosenberg’s one-man dominion. Whenever one of his films was released, countless movie fans flocked to theaters as if under a spell of frenzy, eagerly buying tickets and watching his work.

After Star Wars: The Force Awakens made him the first director in history to surpass twenty billion dollars in total box office, the eighteen films he made over the next eighteen years raked in another thirty billion. He thus became the first director in human history to reach fifty billion dollars in total box office revenue.

Of course, this achievement was partly due to the rapid growth of the Chinese market, but even looking globally, during the same period, no one could rival Duke Rosenberg. For the film industry, he was practically a living "bug" in the system.

Not to mention the total box office records—back in 2019, Duke Rosenberg’s Future War set a record for an original, non-adapted, non-sequel film by grossing over two billion dollars worldwide, leaving people utterly stunned. It also silenced those who had mocked him for only being able to adapt comic books and shoot sequels.

Would a director like that need the Oscars to enhance his aura? If anything, it was the Oscars that needed him to boost their prestige and appeal.

Think about it: Duke Rosenberg had been absent from the Oscars for more than twenty consecutive years. How did that make the ceremony look? Was it that the Oscars weren’t attractive enough—or that the Academy’s proclaimed fairness and justice were nothing but a façade? It was a blow that left the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rather embarrassed.

"Duke Rosenberg indeed doesn’t need the Oscar halo."

An older reporter suddenly spoke up. "But he will definitely walk the Oscar red carpet this year. Think about it—how much the Academy has already compromised to please him!"

Many nodded again. Over the past decade, not only had the Academy insisted on inviting Duke Rosenberg every year, but as a gesture of gratitude for his contribution to Hollywood cinema, they had even named the brand-new Oscar theater the Rosenberg Theater!

It was clear to everyone that the Academy was trying to flatter Duke Rosenberg.

"I’m certain Duke Rosenberg will appear at this year’s Oscars!"

This came from a local Los Angeles journalist, his tone resolute. "Have you forgotten? Sofia Coppola is very likely to win the Oscar for Best Director, and her film is also the frontrunner for Best Picture!"

Everyone knew about the decades-long friendship between Sofia Coppola and Duke Rosenberg. But the reporter’s firm certainty also stemmed from another fact—the title of Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-favorite film was Duke Rosenberg!

That’s right—it was a biographical film about Duke Rosenberg himself, and the only one officially authorized and approved by him.

Given Duke Rosenberg’s personality, it was almost certain that he would attend in person to support Sofia Coppola.

The reporter then added with a reminder, "And don’t forget—our Princess, Anna Rosenberg, has also received an Oscar nomination for Best Short Film this year!"

At once, all eyes turned toward the entrance of the red carpet. Everyone knew Duke Rosenberg and Scarlett Johansson would definitely show up to cheer for their daughter.

Just then, a brand-new luxury electric car pulled up to the red carpet. When the door opened, a familiar figure stepped out first. His deep brown hair had turned quite gray, yet his posture remained straight and dignified. He turned back to help a blonde woman out of the car—her figure still as graceful as ever—and that woman’s hand was holding another, smaller, fair hand.

The reporters on-site went wild, frantically snapping photos, as countless camera lenses focused in that direction.

Even if that couple said nothing and didn’t so much as glance at the crowd, they still stole the spotlight from everyone else. They were, without a doubt, the radiant center of attention at the Rosenberg Theater.

Duke Rosenberg and his wife had arrived—the King of Hollywood’s Commercial Cinema was in attendance!

Not just the journalists—fans lining both sides of the red carpet erupted into thunderous cheers upon seeing Duke, as if worshipping the god of their hearts, even though that god’s eyes were fixed only on Scarlett Johansson and their daughter.

A young girl stepped out of the car, led by Scarlett Johansson, and stood between her and Duke.

"Sweetheart," Scarlett said calmly, noticing her daughter’s hand gripping her arm tightly in excitement. "Relax, and mind your manners."

Duke added softly, "Haven’t you gotten used to scenes like this by now?"

As his daughter, from the moment she was born, she had been destined to live under the spotlight of countless gazes. It was both a blessing and a burden.

But what pleased Duke most was that his daughter wasn’t just intelligent—under the guidance of him, Scarlett, and her late grandmother—she had also grown calm and composed.

Anna Rosenberg smiled slightly, presenting her most graceful demeanor. She looped one arm through Duke’s and the other through Scarlett’s, whispering, "Don’t worry about me."

She wore a moon-white mermaid-style gown, her golden hair—just like her mother’s—elegantly tied up, accentuating her delicate face and those ocean-deep, luminous eyes. Yet unlike Scarlett, Anna’s physique had inherited Duke’s traits—slender and tall, standing five feet eight inches, her posture and expression radiating the same confidence and determination that Duke embodied.

Though hailed by the media and the public as Hollywood’s "Princess," Anna Rosenberg was keenly self-aware—she knew that her journey as a director had only just begun.

Just as Duke had been his mother’s pride, Anna was Duke’s greatest pride, and he firmly believed that she would be the pride of his entire life.

The year Anna was born, Duke’s trusted assistant and close friend Anna Prinz had passed away in an accident. To honor her memory, Duke named his newborn daughter Anna.

Born into such a family, having grown up surrounded by cinema from birth, it was only natural that Anna Rosenberg would one day follow her father’s path and become a director herself.

At present, she had already shown outstanding talent and worked hard enough. Her second short film, Early Summer, directed by herself, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Film. Although it couldn’t prove too much, it was still a kind of recognition and encouragement.

"Duke, look over here!"

Just like before, Duke held his daughter’s arm and walked down the red carpet at a normal pace. When they reached the media section, the reporters almost went into a frenzy.

"Mrs. Johansson, could you smile for us?"

"Miss Rosenberg, this way! Over here!"

Compared to Duke and Scarlett Johansson’s calm composure, the young Anna was far more curious about this world. Having grown up under the spotlight since childhood, she wasn’t afraid of the media at all.

She turned her head and gave a gentle smile toward the press area.

"She’s so beautiful!"

Many reporters sighed while taking pictures. "Truly one of God’s favorites."

"Even though she isn’t a real princess, all the royal families in the world together couldn’t find one as beautiful as her!"

Another reporter exaggeratedly said, "Aphrodite has descended from Mount Olympus and come to Hollywood!"

After walking the long red carpet, neither Duke and Scarlett nor Anna Rosenberg had any interest in giving interviews. They went straight into the Rosenberg Theater and entered the VIP lounge for a brief rest.

"Hey, Duke, Scar, Anna,"

Just as they stepped into the lounge, a familiar voice called out, "Over here."

Duke turned his head—Leonardo DiCaprio was waving at them, and beside him stood Sofia Coppola, the hottest contender for Best Director at this year’s Academy Awards.

Leonardo had also aged, but he remained as elegant and charming as ever, with a long-legged blonde model standing beside him, as usual.

The model wasn’t very old, but after so many years, everyone, like him, had long grown used to Leonardo’s style.

By now, Leonardo was no longer the perpetual Oscar runner-up. Since winning his first Best Actor Oscar, he had gone on to win two more, now possessing three Best Actor statuettes in total.

"Hi, Leo. Hi, Sofia."

After Duke greeted Leonardo and Sofia Coppola, Anna walked up beside Sofia, looped her arm through hers, and said, "Godmother, you’re definitely going to win!"

Then she turned toward Leonardo and said, "What a pity, Godfather. Like my dad, you don’t have a film competing this year."

Leonardo laughed and said, "How could I ever compare to your father? He doesn’t need something like an Oscar statuette at all."

...

Hi For access to additional Chapters of

Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)

Made In Hollywood (Completed)

Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)

Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)

The Great Ruler (30 Chapters)

Join pateron.com/Translaterappu