Unlike most commercial film directors, Gilbert is actually quite favored by professional film critics.
Nowadays, with the development of the internet and the emergence of movie rating websites like IMDb, everyone can become a film critic.
However, during awards season, these professional critics can still play a significant role.
Roger Ebert, Gilbert's number one fan and one of the most renowned film critics in the U.S., openly championed Gilbert on his show.
"Looking over Hollywood's history, there has never been a director quite like Gilbert. Over more than ten years, he has brought audiences countless brilliant films.
Gilbert's contributions to Hollywood have already ensured his place in its history."
The other critic co-hosting the show with Roger Ebert asked, "You mean to say the Academy must recognize Gilbert at this year's Oscars?"
"Of course," Roger Ebert said matter-of-factly. "Even though Gilbert has previously won Best Director at the Oscars, that's far from enough.
We must realize that aside from impressive box office numbers, the Lord of the Rings series possesses tremendous artistic value and influence.
It's no exaggeration to say that this film series has made a massive impact across the globe.
I've heard that in a distant and ancient country in the East, there are also many fans who love this series and are crazy about The Lord of the Rings."
To many in North America, China is essentially considered a cultural desert when it comes to cinema.
Although several famous filmmakers have emerged from there, like National Master Zhang, John Wu, and Jackie Chan, in the eyes of most North American audiences, it remains a mysterious and unknown land.
That Gilbert's films have managed to win over fans in such a place doesn't surprise North American moviegoers at all.
Roger Ebert listed a string of figures: "145 million viewers watched The Return of the King in North America. On IMDb, where average viewers rate films, 460,000 fans have rated the film, with an average score of 9.2.
Right now, the film ranks second on IMDb, just behind The Shawshank Redemption.
Many Hollywood celebrities, professional critics, and over a hundred media outlets have all given it rave reviews.
Considering its commercial success, if the Oscars ignore The Return of the King, it will become the Academy's greatest crisis in history…"
In fact, after Gilbert initiated his Oscar lobbying campaign, the Academy's rotating chair this year began calling familiar judges, urging them to vote for Gilbert.
"Arthur, are you still unwilling to vote for Gilbert?" asked Frank Felsen, the Academy's rotating chair, who personally visited former chair Arthur Joel.
Arthur Joel, a Jewish judge and former chair of the Academy, had gradually faded out of the film industry and Oscars in recent years, but he still held considerable influence.
Arthur Joel hesitated, "The Return of the King isn't my type of film. I don't want to vote for him. He's too obsessed with commercial films, and not the kind of Hollywood director I admire."
Frank Felsen nodded. "Indeed, Gilbert isn't a traditional Hollywood director.
But there are rumors that if Gilbert ends up empty-handed at this year's Oscars, he may withdraw entirely from the event. That's a scenario we can't ignore."
A traditional Hollywood director refers to someone like Spielberg who started with commercial films, succeeded, and then steered toward Oscars and arthouse cinema.
Even more traditional directors don't touch commercial films at all, focusing solely on independent cinema.
Of course, this is just how Academy judges like to think of things.
But in Hollywood, there are a select few who aren't swayed by these traditional views and have instead gone further and further down the path of big-budget blockbusters, becoming ever more successful.
Gilbert is one of them. It wouldn't be a problem if he weren't successful, but the issue is that Gilbert keeps succeeding.
The more successful he becomes, the more he proves the Academy's ideals are flawed—yet the Academy is still forced to acknowledge him.
What kind of negative impact would it have on the Academy and its aging members if a highly esteemed director like Gilbert chose to withdraw or boycott the Oscars over awards?
Frank Felsen had been lobbying tirelessly on behalf of the Academy and the Oscars, persuading conservative judges to cast their votes for Gilbert.
Arthur Joel clearly understood Frank Felsen's concern. He handed his ballot envelope to Frank and said:
"Frank, I'm old now and can no longer change the tide. Do as you think best."
Frank Felsen accepted the envelope and left Arthur Joel's residence.
As he got into his car, Frank Felsen was still thinking maybe this was a chance to show the outside world that the Oscars were reforming, becoming more youthful.
Of course, the so-called reform would only be superficial.
If true youthfulness prevailed, these old men in the Academy would lose their value altogether.
Young people can still move forward in the film industry, while these old men only have the Oscars left to point fingers at the new generation.
After visiting Arthur Joel, Frank Felsen continued visiting several other conservative judges, who in turn helped persuade others.
Apart from Arthur Joel, the other judges were relatively easy to convince and all agreed to vote for Gilbert.
Everyone understood the reasoning this year, The Return of the King had to sweep the Oscars. Otherwise, it would cause a huge stir in Hollywood.
If they didn't want the Oscars and the Academy to blow up, then no matter what, their votes had to go to Gilbert.
They couldn't afford to think, "Someone else will vote for Gilbert, so I can vote however I want."
If one person thinks that way, then countless others will too.
So the best way is to not think at all—just vote according to the plan.
At Melon Manor in Malibu, Gilbert returned home after a long day of work, where his butler, had prepared dinner for him.
Naomi Watts, heavily pregnant, sat beside Gilbert, listening as he talked about work while eating.
"The Super Bowl trailer got a pretty good response. Looks like our pirate story really is appealing," Gilbert said.
Naomi Watts pointed to a newspaper article and said, "The paper says that at first, people thought Pirates of the Caribbean was just a historical drama.
But they didn't expect it to have some fantasy elements, which really caught them off guard."
After finishing his meal, Gilbert wiped his mouth, and once Butler cleared the dishes, she served a pot of tea.
The two moved to the living room to chat. On this topic, Gilbert said, "A plain pirate story isn't all that captivating.
When people hear the word 'pirate,' they think of treasure, looting, and treasure hunting. In a sense, this is a 16th-century Indiana Jones."
"Exactly," Naomi Watts said, then brought up another topic. "I've already filled out and mailed in my Oscar ballot."
"Did you vote for Sally?"
"Of course. Sally's been working the publicity circuit non-stop. You should help out too."
Gilbert nodded, "Naturally. I've already called some familiar Academy members. They all said they'd support Sally."
Neither of them mentioned The Return of the King. Given the current momentum, the Academy wouldn't dare go against public opinion by snubbing it.
Naomi Watts grinned happily, "The Academy probably didn't expect you to turn out to be this kind of director, putting them in such a tough spot."
But Gilbert didn't think it was difficult for the Academy: "People have always seen me through a lens. They call me the poster child for commercial directors.
But have they forgotten The Sixth Sense? Forgotten Chicago?
Just because a film makes money doesn't mean it lacks artistic merit, does it?"
"Academy traditionalists probably do think that way. Usually, the higher the box office, the lower the artistry." Naomi Watts scoffed, clearly disdainful. She saw this as one of the Oscars' bad habits.
Indeed, the Academy usually favors low-budget, low-grossing independent films.
Yet the foundation of Hollywood the reason Hollywood dominates the world is precisely because of one big-budget commercial movie after another.
Naomi Watts was very interested in the Oscar ballot and asked, "Honey, did you fill yours out?"
"Already done. Scarlett helped me fill it in." Gilbert laughed, "She wanted a taste of being an Oscar voter."
"I think Scarlett has a lot of potential—maybe she'll be a future Best Actress!" Naomi Watts laughed as well.
There are two ways to become an Oscar voter: one is by invitation from the Academy, and the other is automatic by receiving an Oscar nomination.
Of course, if you skip voting for too many years in a row, the Academy can revoke your voting rights.
Both Gilbert and Naomi Watts automatically gained voting rights by receiving Oscar nominations, making them regular targets for awards season lobbying.
Just a few days ago, Gilbert was pinned down in bed all night by Charlize Theron, who conducted her own intense lobbying campaign. She eventually fell asleep with a satisfied and content smile.
Truthfully, many voters cast their ballots quite casually. To put it simply: whichever film they've heard of, that's what they'll vote for.
In that regard, The Return of the King clearly held a huge advantage its name was everywhere last summer.
This year's Oscar voting started right after the nomination list was announced and runs until one week before the awards ceremony.
Once the ballots are mailed back to the Academy, the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers is responsible for tallying the votes, sealing the results into envelopes.
These envelopes are kept strictly confidential and placed under the custody of an insurance company, adding an air of suspense and anticipation.
It's not until the night of the Oscars that each envelope is opened, one by one, and the winners announced.
Everything that could be done had been done. Sheena Boone assured Gilbert: "The Return of the King has a great chance. We're seventy percent confident it'll take at least seven to nine awards."
Gilbert expressed his reassurance: "Thanks for all the hard work. After the Oscars, come over to my place as a guest."
Sheena Boone's face lit up with a smile: "It's my duty. This year, no one can compete with us."
While the world eagerly speculated on who would be this year's Oscar winner, the moment of truth had finally arrived.
The biggest winner of the year would soon be revealed.
.....
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(40 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)
The Great Ruler (30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu