[Chapter 467: Golden Globe Awards]
On Saturday, February 10, 1996, the 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony took place at the Hollywood Hilton Hotel.
Because Linton Anderson had received a nomination for Best Screenplay, he attended the event alongside key members of the production teams of The Sixth Sense and As Good as It Gets.
Since NBC began broadcasting the Golden Globes live, the event's popularity and influence had grown significantly, with many viewers considering it a bellwether for the upcoming Oscars.
This year, the Golden Globes committee had set up a long red carpet at the hotel entrance, allowing stars to showcase their style and charm.
Cristiana and Monica were both dressed stunningly and hoped Linton would accompany each of them on the red carpet. This put Linton in a bit of a dilemma, but eventually, Cristiana took the initiative and suggested, "Why don't the three of us walk the red carpet together?"
"Sure, I don't mind," Monica also agreed.
Thus, Linton made a grand appearance once more, walking the lengthy red carpet to the cheers of numerous fans present and the attention of millions of viewers watching live on television.
He linked arms with Cristiana on his left and Monica on his right, and the three of them beamed with excitement as they passed through.
...
Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes awarded prizes in a more formal banquet setting. Led by the staff, they moved to seats near the stage, where the organizers had reserved three round tables specifically for the film crews of The Sixth Sense and As Good as It Gets.
Fortunately, the two crews were seated closely together, so Linton wasn't too troubled. Ultimately, the three of them sat tightly beside each other at the same table.
...
Another team associated with Linton was also present: the ER television series, which had earned three major nominations -- for Best Drama Series, George Clooney for Best Actor in a Drama Series, and Sherry Stringfield for Best Actress in a Drama Series.
Vivian Chow had also arrived, though she was not nominated for any awards.
However, the ER crew did not sit with Linton's group. It was well known in Hollywood that there was a hierarchy, with television being regarded as far less prestigious than film. This was reflected at the Golden Globes banquet where TV crews were seated behind the film crews.
Producer Grace naturally brought her team to Linton's table to meet, and Linton made introductions between the three crews.
He even kept Vivian Chow at his table, seating her next to Cristiana -- a subtle message to others that Vivian was his.
...
As time passed and more attendees arrived, food and drinks were served, and the ceremony officially began with a relaxed, festive atmosphere.
Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes were more lighthearted and casual. The host was bold on stage, cracking witty, sometimes risque jokes at the expense of the stars.
Even Linton walking the red carpet arm-in-arm with both Cristiana and Monica became a joking topic. One of the hosts, Johnny Carson quipped that Linton walking with two goddesses fulfilled the dreams of many men -- though he wondered if after the ceremony, Linton would still be holding hands with them back at the hotel for a wild evening.
The audience responded with a mix of boos and envious glances toward Linton.
...
Undeniably, Harvey's PR efforts had been effective -- three days and nights of an open yacht party had paid off visibly.
The Sixth Sense won Best Drama Motion Picture.
As Good as It Gets won Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture.
Jack Nicholson took home Best Actor in a Drama.
Cristiana won Best Actress in a Drama.
Monica received Best Supporting Actress.
Linton received Best Screenplay.
Both The Sixth Sense and As Good as It Gets had been showing in theaters for eight weeks; they had already been pulled from theaters in most overseas markets.
The Sixth Sense had grossed $291 million in North America and earned $360 million internationally.
As Good as It Gets had earned $141 million domestically and $163 million overseas.
But unlike other release periods, the films hadn't been pulled from domestic theaters yet, since it was awards season.
Both films were kept in limited release in many theaters, waiting to expand their distribution scale after winning important awards.
With such prestigious Golden Globe wins and the resulting buzz, plus the upcoming intensive media coverage lasting several days, the two films were expected to expand their theater count to over 1,000 theaters each the next day, generating another box office surge.
Even if they failed to win anything at the Oscars later, the value of the film rights would increase significantly from these accolades.
...
Sure enough, the next day, after the company's distribution department communicated with theaters, the release scale expanded from fewer than 100 theaters to 1,200 theaters for both films.
Media coverage of the Golden Globes was overwhelming, with significant promotional impact.
Because it was Sunday, combined with the Golden Globe buzz, The Sixth Sense earned $3.12 million at the box office that day, while As Good as It Gets made $3.08 million.
---
Then on February 12, the 68th Annual Academy Awards Nomination Luncheon was held at the Beverly Hills Regent Hotel.
As expected, Braveheart became the biggest winner at the nominations luncheon, receiving ten nods. It was undeniable -- the film's style was exactly what the Academy favored.
The Sixth Sense also did well, receiving six nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.
As Good as It Gets earned five nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Original Score.
Harvey's PR team had perfectly achieved their second goal.
Cristiana and Monica showed Linton just how wild and high the excitement could get at the party...
---
With the Oscar nomination announcements, Harvey's PR campaign shifted entirely underground; any visible lobbying stopped immediately.
The Academy had clear rules forbidding lobbying of voters after nominations were announced.
Cristiana and Monica could finally take a breather.
With the Oscar nods publicized, The Sixth Sense and As Good as It Gets' exposure increased even more, prompting additional media to cover the films actively.
Naturally, Linton's own media outlets went full throttle to promote the two films.
Encouraged by the Oscar nominations, even though it was a Monday, box office receipts were still strong: $2.84 million for The Sixth Sense and $2.77 million for As Good as It Gets.
The company's distribution team seized the opportunity to negotiate further with theaters. Given it was a quiet season for moviegoers and competition was weak, the number of theaters showing both films expanded again to 1,500.
In the following week, The Sixth Sense grossed $20.33 million domestically, bringing its total North American box office to $311 million.
As Good as It Gets earned $18.15 million more, pushing its North American total to $159 million.
*****
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