The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 694

Once the awards ceremony ended, with the Oscar evening barely half over, many attendees left the Kodak Theatre and made their way to the Hilton for the Oscar Night party hosted by Vanity Fair.

The party was more vibrant than the ceremony itself, which had a much higher barrier for entry. The Oscar Night party had a lower threshold and was open to a wider swath of Hollywood.

Matthew, of course, had received an official invitation, and had also arranged for one for James Wan, signed by Tina Brown.

He arrived by car at the Hilton hotel, and just as he entered the ballroom, James Wan walked over to meet him.

"When did you get here?" Matthew asked, finding an empty table and sitting down.

James Wan sat beside him. "Five minutes before you." He watched Matthew wave over a waiter to bring a plate with a freshly cooked steak and commented, "I've never been to a place like this before. I was always curious, and now I see..."

Matthew picked up his knife and fork, asking, "And what do you think?"

James Wan glanced around the room. "It's surprising. All those glamorous actresses from the red carpet, they're all here... eating."

Slicing off a piece of steak, Matthew said as he put it in his mouth, "That's normal. Everyone's hungry." He swallowed his food and added, "Like me, they just haven't eaten today. Most of them started dieting a few days ago, and now that the ceremony, where they have to project a perfect image, is over, they're probably starving."

Basically, at every Oscar after-party, you could find celebrities devouring food as if they were possessed."Matthew's right," an elegant female voice sounded from behind them. "I haven't eaten a proper meal in five days."

Before James Wan could even turn around, a beautiful woman in a red dress approached with a tray and sat down next to Matthew.

James recognized her—one of Hollywood's leading actresses born after the 1980s, Anne Hathaway.

Anne Hathaway set down her plate, not bothering with further conversation, and focused on her vegetable salad, apparently famished.

James Wan glanced from Matthew to Anne Hathaway, instantly recalling Matthew's notorious reputation as a playboy. He hastily came up with a random excuse, preparing to leave.

As Anne Hathaway continued to enjoy her snack, Matthew said to James, "Look around. There are plenty of beautiful women here with an agenda, and a director is one of their most popular targets. Go and enjoy the night."

James Wan immediately nodded and enthusiastically headed off into the crowd.

The Oscar Night party, where entry could sometimes be bought, often attracted a large number of models and starlets. So-called lingerie models and Sports Illustrated types flocked to the party as if possessed, because this was where their most valuable targets were.

If you were lucky, you might get noticed by directors, producers, and agents and become famous. If you were extraordinarily lucky, you might even manage to become a rich man's wife and secure both fame and fortune.

After finishing her meal, Anne Hathaway took a napkin and delicately dabbed her bright red lips before turning her head to look at Matthew. With a smile, she said, "I haven't eaten real food for so long. It's been nothing but nutritional fluids and meal-replacement powder..."

Matthew had just finished his steak. He took a sip from his water glass and replied casually, "Same here."

With nothing else to worry about, they fell into easy conversation. After a while, Matthew suddenly noticed a short, heavyset figure walk past, glancing in his direction.

Even though the man had turned away, Matthew saw that it was Harvey Weinstein.

Watching Harvey Weinstein walk away, Matthew shook his head slightly. Weinstein had viewed him with animosity for a long time now, a fact he was well aware of.

As a renowned Oscar campaign mastermind, one who had just propelled Kate Winslet to the Best Actress throne, Harvey Weinstein was predictably one of the most popular figures at the Oscar Night party. Even Kate Winslet herself seemed willing to let him keep a hand on her waist.

Given Harvey Weinstein's track record with the Oscars, there were far too many people eager to curry his favor, including some of the industry's top stars.

In the eyes of those chasing an Oscar, Harvey Weinstein was a monumental figure.

Matthew suddenly recalled his first encounter with Harvey Weinstein, and how many people had come after him over the years...

Before the start of tonight's award ceremony, Harvey Weinstein had seemed displeased with his new collaboration with James Wan.

Matthew shook his head slightly. Things were different now. A few years ago, he would have been worried about Harvey Weinstein; after all, the man was a major Hollywood boss. But now, he was a boss too. Even with all his power, Weinstein couldn't hinder him.

Besides, he had an ally.

Perhaps within Hollywood, David Ellison couldn't compare to Harvey Weinstein, but outside that circle, David Ellison's financial power surpassed Weinstein's many times over.

In this country, money often meant a great deal.

Harvey Weinstein's primary business was concentrated in the world of independent film, while Matthew operated in the realm of commercial blockbusters.

As for Weinstein's unfriendly gaze, he didn't care. After all, plenty of people in Hollywood looked at him that way.

Anne Hathaway noticed Matthew's gaze follow Harvey Weinstein and muttered, "These people will do anything to get on Harvey Weinstein's good side for an Oscar."

Matthew smiled. "It's a shortcut."

Anne Hathaway glanced toward Meryl Streep, who was following close to Harvey Weinstein. "She projects such class, but is she just waiting for a chance to spread her legs for him? And how is she not repulsed? He's so fat and ugly."

"Really?" Matthew feigned a mild, inquisitive interest.

Anne Hathaway shrugged and replied, "Considering Harvey Weinstein's usual behavior, do you think he'd pass on the women who are practically begging for it?"

Matthew had thought Anne Hathaway had some inside information, but it turned out to be just speculation.

However, Harvey Weinstein's reputation in that regard was truly abysmal, as he often used coercion to get what he wanted from women.

He also shared a certain reputation with Harvey Weinstein: he liked beautiful women, but he never forced them. He never flirted with women who weren't interested, with the sole exception of Karolina Kurkova, who had a reputation for being a proper lady.

Like Harvey Weinstein, he was drawn to beautiful women, but he never coerced them. Except for Karolina, he never did anything without the other party's consent. His reputation as an honest and decent man was well-known.

Many of the actresses he was rumored to have been with, such as Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Alba, had spoken about their relationships with him in interviews, and most of their comments were complimentary.

The social circle itself was a chaotic mess of relationships. And amidst all the chaos, he and Leonardo DiCaprio maintained a similar style—they both had reputations as playboys, yet few people spoke ill of them.

Harvey Weinstein, however, was a completely different story.

Whether in his career or his particular brand of fame, he and Harvey Weinstein were nothing alike.

Seeing Harvey Weinstein break free from the crowd and disappear from view, Matthew looked away and began to speak quietly with Anne Hathaway. After so many years of training, he was no longer the ignorant newcomer he had been when he first arrived in Los Angeles, and from time to time, he managed to make Anne Hathaway press her lips together in a happy smile.

***

Harvey Weinstein was mingling when he suddenly noticed a slender, shorter figure and immediately walked over.

James Wan was chatting with a minor starlet. She had once played a supporting role in "Troy," but her career had stalled in recent years. This young Australian actress was named Rose Byrne. For James, who had once studied in Australia, it wasn't hard to find a common topic of conversation.

"We should go to Australia when we have time... I haven't been back in a long time."

Rose Byrne smiled. "Alright." Then she asked, feigning casualness, "Do you have time? Aren't directors always busy?"

James Wan knew these women wouldn't be tempted without seeing a real opportunity, so he replied immediately, "I'm relatively free for now."

Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment crossed Rose Byrne's face, and she began to think she was wasting her time.

But just as she was considering whether to leave, James Wan's voice came again. "I won't have time after October. I'm planning a new horror film that I'll be working on with Matthew Horner."

"Oh... Wonderful!" Rose Byrne was still smiling. "Let's travel around Australia together sometime. The scenery in my hometown is just magnificent..."

James Wan smiled back.

"James Wan?"

A voice suddenly cut in, laced with an air of superiority. "The director of 'Saw,' aren't you?"

James Wan turned his head, and upon seeing the pudgy face, he quickly said, "Hello, Mr. Weinstein."

"Follow me." Harvey Weinstein glanced at him and said bluntly, "I need to talk to you about something."

Hearing this, James Wan was slightly annoyed. He had been on the verge of success, but someone had jumped in and ruined it all.

But he moved in independent film circles and had heard a great deal about Harvey Weinstein's dealings. As a minor director, he didn't want to offend such a big shot.

James Wan whispered something to Rose Byrne and followed Harvey Weinstein out of the ballroom.

"I have a private room upstairs. Let's go up and talk," Harvey Weinstein said.