446-50

Chapter 446: Missing Out 

Over the past week in the North American film market, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring continued to dominate the box office, raking in $32.7 million and holding the top spot. 

In second place was the much-talked-about Juno. Now showing in 2,476 theaters, it pulled in $21.6 million. 

Third place went to Warner Bros.’ Ocean’s Eleven, which, in its fifth week, earned $14 million. 

Meanwhile, Dunn Pictures’ Resident Evil saw a 45% drop in its second week, bringing in $10.67 million. Projections suggest its North American total will hover around $70 million. 

Columbia Pictures’ big-budget Black Hawk Down took a steep dive, dropping over 60% in its second week to just $6 million—failing to even crack the top ten. Its North American haul is capped at around $50 million, spelling a major loss. 

This news put Dunn Tanaka’s mind at ease. 

Disney’s probably going to cut ties with Jerry Bruckheimer now, right? 

After all, he’s flopped on two major commercial projects in a row. And if you look back further, his produced film Gone in 60 Seconds didn’t exactly shine at the box office either. 

The numbers don’t lie—he’s past his prime! 

As for Sony Pictures… they’re probably not going to tap Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay for Bad Boys II, are they? 

The new year kicked off with Dunn Pictures gearing up for another round of film preparations. 

Currently in the works are National Treasure and Gone Girl. For National Treasure, the core creative team is pretty much locked in. As long as they can align with Ron Howard, filming can start right after the Oscars in early April, with a planned release in August next year. 

For Gone Girl, Dunn has already lined up the leads: Mel Gibson as the male star and Nicole Kidman as the female lead, with another Aussie actor, Abbie Cornish, snagging a smaller role. The production duo of Kathryn Kennedy and Frank Marshall—husband and wife—are on board, and Reese Witherspoon will also pitch in on producing. As for the director? No debate needed—David Fincher’s the obvious choice. 

Another big project, Ghost Rider, got the green light from Dunn to Marvel Studios to start prepping. Resident Evil turned out great—box office and reviews crushed the original, showcasing Zack Snyder’s talent. Sure, he might still need to sharpen his leadership and management skills with more experience, but his directing chops? They’ve already met the high standards of folks like Bill Mechanic and Nina Jacobson. Pair him with a seasoned, steady-handed executive producer to handle the crew logistics, and he’ll be set. 

That one’s slated for a summer 2004 release—plenty of time. But another Marvel adaptation, Ant-Man, needs to pick up the pace. It’s set for October next year, just 21 months away, and they’ve only got a few script drafts done—no director or leads confirmed yet. 

Here’s Marvel Studios’ current roadmap: Spider-Man 2 hits in May 2002; Daredevil drops in May 2003, followed by Ant-Man in October; Ghost Rider takes the spotlight in May 2004, with Spider-Man 3 closing out the year in December; then 2005 brings Iron Man and Ant-Man 2: The Wasp Emerges… 

Dunn’s workload keeps piling up. With so many big decisions on his plate, he’s stepped back from the nitty-gritty of film prep. He just signs off on projects now and lets his team handle the rest. If he weren’t so swamped, he’d probably direct Gone Girl himself—but this year’s already too packed. 

Especially with all those old Hollywood sharks circling behind the scenes. 

Awards season is here! 

And Kirk Douglas’s influence is in full swing. 

The U.S. has a well-oiled film industry, and awards season brings dozens of accolades—think guild awards, Phoenix Critics Circle, Sound Editors Society, Visual Effects Union, Critics’ Choice, North American Film Critics, Producers Guild, African-American Film Critics… the list goes on. 

Too many to count! 

Beyond the Golden Globes and Oscars, the National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, and Los Angeles Film Critics Awards carry serious weight too. 

But then, a curveball hit. 

In the Best Actress nominations from the National Board of Review and the Los Angeles Film Critics, Natalie Portman—who gave a standout, widely praised performance in Juno—was nowhere to be found! 

The New York Film Critics did nominate her, but she didn’t win. 

This flew in the face of the overwhelming buzz from critics calling Natalie the frontrunner for Best Actress! Her role in Juno captured the spirit of American youth—an icon of the era. Some even thought she could snag the Oscar this year. 

But reality? She’s struggling to even get nominated. 

With the Afghanistan War in the background, it’s still unclear if the Oscars will go ahead as planned—the Academy hasn’t said anything official yet. 

The Golden Globes, though, aren’t waiting. On January 20th, they’ll hand out awards at the Beverly Hills Hilton! 

The pre-announced nominations crowned Dunn’s A Beautiful Mind the big winner, scoring six nods: Best Picture (Drama), Best Director, Best Actor (Drama), Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Score. 

The equally hyped Juno grabbed three: Best Picture (Drama), Best Director, and Best Screenplay—but no Best Actress nod! 

The Golden Globes are voted on by 96 journalists, mostly entertainment reporters. These folks rely on Hollywood connections for scoops, and they’ve racked up plenty of favors along the way. That makes the Globes ripe for manipulation. 

History’s full of bribery scandals—like that time a tycoon bought his mistress a Best Supporting Actress win, making national headlines. The Golden Globes committee swore they’d clean things up, but with the voting system unchanged, it’s all hot air. 

Natalie missing out on a nomination left Dunn in a foul mood! 

“I thought you might skip it altogether!” 

On the evening of January 20th, Dunn showed up as promised at the Beverly Hills Hilton with the A Beautiful Mind crew. Nicole Kidman, clearly in the loop about some rumors, leaned in and whispered to him. 

Dunn shot her a glance and said coolly, “Skip it? That’d be admitting defeat, wouldn’t it?” 

“Huh?” 

Nicole blinked, caught off guard. 

Dunn smirked, a cold edge to it. “If I don’t show up, it’d look like I’m throwing a tantrum—playing right into their hands. No, I’m not just attending—I’m making an entrance. You’re with me. We’re walking in together.” 

Nicole, in a sleek black gown with a high slit flashing glimpses of her pale legs, was already a head-turner. Her arm linked with Dunn’s as they stepped out sparked instant buzz that night. 

“Didn’t think they’d target Natalie as the weak spot,” Nicole sighed softly. “Poor Nat—dragged into this because of you. She was amazing in Juno.” 

Dunn’s expression stayed calm. “What’s coming will come. It’s fine.” 

Nicole gave him a curious look, sensing he was up to something. This guy wasn’t one to take a hit lying down. 

“No big deal. Let’s go—we’re here now.” 

Inside the hotel, Dunn slid an arm around Nicole’s slim waist, ignoring the mix of envy and resentment in the eyes of passing guys. At nearly 35, her beauty was still unreal—arguably the best in Hollywood. 

Along the way, they ran into Steven Spielberg, nominated for Best Director for A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Dunn, still brooding, wasn’t in the mood to chat, but Spielberg hesitated, then approached, lowering his voice. “Dunn, I’m on your side here.” 

Dunn’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Oh? If I recall, you’re all part of the same crowd, aren’t you?” 

Spielberg’s face stiffened, glancing at Nicole awkwardly. 

“Dunn, I’ll go take my seat over there. Director Spielberg, that’s a sharp bow tie tonight,” Nicole said smoothly, flashing a gracious smile. 

Spielberg nodded back. “Thanks—my wife picked it out herself.” 

Once she stepped away, he leaned in closer. “The Jewish bloc is the biggest force, no question—Hollywood was built by Jews. But that doesn’t mean we’re all the same.” 

“Oh?” 

“The old guard, the retirees—they cling to tradition and their own interests, ranking everything by seniority. But the active directors, actors, and execs? We see how those old ways choke out new markets.” 

Spielberg was laying it all out for Dunn, no holding back. 

Dunn chuckled. “Sounds like you’ve got beef with Kirk Douglas too?” 

Spielberg shook his head. “Not quite beef—but we’re not on the same side. His interests clash with mine.” 

Back in ’98, Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan was a lock for Best Picture—until Harvey Weinstein and Kirk Douglas teamed up to push Shakespeare in Love to the top. That stung Spielberg deep. He hadn’t dealt with either of them since. 

Same crowd? Sure. But profits trump all. 

Take Michael Eisner—Jewish too, but he’s still allied with Dunn. 

Dunn mulled it over. “Steven, do you think Nat’s got a shot at an Oscar nod?” 

The Globes were one thing, but the Oscars mattered. Every nomination was a lifelong badge of honor. Scarlett Johansson’s been grinding out arthouse films her whole career and still hasn’t nabbed one. 

Spielberg’s face turned grim. “Tough call. Like I said, the retirees stick together for their own gain. And who ends up working at the Academy, judging the Oscars? The retirees.” 

The veins in Dunn’s neck bulged instantly. 

Chapter 447: Giving You One Last Chance 

Is the Oscars fair?  

From the voting system’s perspective, it’s pretty fair!  

Every judge gets a vote, and the data is handled by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The selection process mirrors a presidential election, using a preferential voting system. There’s no room for rigging in any of these steps.  

But does that mean the Academy, which runs the Oscars, has zero influence over the results?  

Of course not.  

The Academy has to make sure the Oscars reflect American values and serve as a cultural export!  

When war breaks out, tons of entertainment awards like the Golden Globes keep chugging along without a hitch. But the Oscars? No way. Even now, the organizing committee still hasn’t confirmed whether this year’s ceremony will go ahead as planned.  

Why? Because political correctness is the Academy’s top priority!  

Take the previous lifetime, for example. At this year’s Oscars, Best Actress went to Halle Berry, and Best Actor went to Denzel Washington.  

Why? Simple—they’re both Black!  

During a tense time of national conflict, handing out awards like that fits the big-picture goals of racial equality and harmony. It’s all about aligning with the wartime theme of uniting the public.  

So here’s the question: Did Halle Berry and Denzel Washington really deserve those Best Actress and Best Actor awards based on their performances?  

Halle Berry didn’t win at the equally prestigious British Oscars or the Golden Globes.  

Her Oscar win was the “expected” upset of the night!  

And Denzel Washington? Even more laughable. Training Day is a crime-action flick—a straight-up commercial movie!  

In Oscar history, no action star has ever snagged Best Actor.  

Not even big names like Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, or Will Smith could pull it off.  

Compare that to the Golden Globes, which aren’t swayed by politics—tonight, Best Actor in a Drama went to Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind, and Best Actress in a Drama went to Sissy Spacek for In the Bedroom.  

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington? They’d be lucky to even get nominated there—they didn’t stand a chance of winning.  

So it’s obvious: their Oscar wins had the Academy’s fingerprints all over them!  

But the Oscar voting system is airtight—anonymous ballots, stats managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, no loopholes to exploit.  

So how does the Academy control the Oscars?  

The answer’s staring us in the face: they control the judges through influence!  

Right now, there are over 3,500 Oscar voters.  

More than 80% are American filmmakers, and over 45% are retired “old-timers.”  

With so many movies submitted for the Oscars each year, most of these judges—pushing seventy or eighty—barely have the energy to eat, let alone watch films.  

And all that in just two or three months?  

Even if every movie was a timeless classic like The Godfather or Schindler’s List, they couldn’t keep up.  

Watching them all would probably kill them!  

Ironically, this group is the backbone of the voting pool!  

A lot of foreign voters and active actors are too busy with work and don’t need Academy connections to get by. Most of them don’t vote or only toss a vote at a few well-known projects.  

But these “old-timers”? They’ve been left behind by the industry, with no direct sway in Hollywood anymore. To stay relevant, they lean on the Academy.  

It’s a natural alliance—two groups with shared interests, united at least when it matters most!  

In this wartime atmosphere, they’re teaming up with the Academy to crown two Black winners as Best Actress and Best Actor.  

Kirk Douglas fits into this mess too.  

His clout in Hollywood runs deep—master filmmaker Kubrick was his protégé, Francis Coppola worked under him, and a ton of those “old-timers” were his subordinates. His influence is massive.  

He can even meddle with the Golden Globes, making sure Natalie doesn’t snag a single nomination.  

A Beautiful Mind is too iconic, with too much buzz.  

Messing with that film would spark a public uproar, so they can’t touch it.  

But taking down Natalie Portman? That’s different. Juno was already divisive, and this year’s actress lineup is stacked—competition’s fierce.  

Suddenly, Dunn’s confidence wavers.  

With Unsinkable as last year’s global box office champ, he’d smoothly unlocked the “Steal the Heavens, Swap the Prize” skill through the Sunglasses System. It’s a rare treat—once a year max, insanely powerful, letting him swipe an Oscar win without anyone noticing!  

With that skill in his pocket, Dunn had been brimming with confidence, even ready to take on Kirk Douglas. If that old geezer pulled any dirty tricks, Dunn would activate the skill and snatch Best Actress for Natalie!  

Racial unity? Political correctness? Playing to the wartime tune? Screw all that!  

To Dunn, none of it mattered more than Natalie.  

But now, things are tricky. Kirk Douglas has serious pull!  

He’s managed to keep Natalie from even getting nominated!  

That’s awkward as hell!  

If Natalie doesn’t even make the shortlist, imagine the Oscars night—cameras panning to the five Best Actress nominees in the audience, and the presenter calls out “Natalie Portman.” That’d be a disaster!  

It’d shred the Oscars’ credibility and turn Hollywood into a global laughingstock.  

A full-blown scandal!  

And Natalie would take the heat.  

So now, Dunn has to secure an Oscar Best Actress nomination for Natalie!  

Otherwise, it’s all over.  

The Golden Globes ceremony drags on, covering both film and TV awards.  

Dunn uses the time to think hard.  

“Hey! What’s on your mind? You haven’t congratulated me yet!” Nicole Kidman beams, glowing with excitement, waving her pale hand in front of him.  

Dunn cracks a small smile. “Congrats! Best Supporting Actress—not bad. Told you, going for Supporting Actress instead of Lead would boost your odds!”  

Nicole Kidman stars in A Beautiful Mind, but her screen time’s limited. By runtime rules, entering as Supporting Actress made sense.  

“Even for the Oscars?”  

She’s already nabbed a Golden Globe Best Actress before—this Supporting Actress win doesn’t impress her much. She’s got her eyes on the Oscars.  

Dunn leans in, whispering, “I’ve got a hunch—this year’s Oscars are in the bag!”  

A Beautiful Mind is a masterpiece, with standout performances from Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman. But politics means Russell won’t defend his Best Actor title. As a consolation, the Academy’s almost guaranteed to hand Supporting Actress to Nicole—no question!  

“Thanks.” Nicole’s in a good mood, then teases Dunn. “What about you? Best Director’s coming up soon—think you’ll win?”  

Dunn snorts. “What do you think? Nat can’t even get nominated—me, win? Hmph! If I wasn’t worried about the PR fallout, I’d bet I wouldn’t even get a nod!”  

Nicole bites her lip, lowering her voice. “Film awards… they’re all the same worldwide. Our Australian awards, even Europe’s big three—they’re all rigged behind the scenes. It’s just about who’s got the most juice.”  

“You think Kirk Douglas has more juice than me?” Dunn shoots her a sideways glance.  

Nicole isn’t fazed, rolling her eyes. “So far, yeah. At least this awards season, you’re not beating him. Even Nat’s getting dragged down because of you—what’s your excuse?”  

“Hmph! We’ll see about that!”  

Dunn’s face darkens, frustration simmering.  

Nicole’s perfect brows furrow slightly. “Watch yourself—cameras are rolling.”  

Dunn’s expression doesn’t budge. After a pause, he mutters, “Nicole, what if…”  

He trails off.  

“Huh? What?”  

Dunn hesitates, then slowly says, “What if I just burn bridges with the Golden Globes for good?”  

“What?!”  

Nicole gasps, nearly shrieking!  

She knows Dunn too well—this guy’s capable of anything.  

Cutting ties with the Golden Globes? For anyone else, it’s unthinkable.  

For Dunn? Totally plausible!  

“Dunn, you… don’t do anything crazy, okay?!”  

Nicole panics, losing her cool.  

Right now, she misses Natalie—when Dunn’s about to blow up like this, only she can rein him in.  

Dunn’s face hardens, lips purpling as he grits his teeth. “Depends on the Golden Globes’ results. I’m giving them one last chance!”  

Nicole’s stunning face pales, words tumbling out in a mess. “Dunn, you… you’ve gotta calm down! Best Director’s a tough race—Spielberg’s in it too. Even if you don’t win, it’s… it’s fine!”  

“Best Director? I never counted on that!”  

“Then what’re you talking about?”  

“I mean Best Screenplay!” 

Chapter 448: Breaking with the Golden Globes! 

In his past life, at this year’s Golden Globes, A Beautiful Mind swept up Best Picture (Drama), Best Actor (Drama), Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay. 

But for Best Director, it lost out to Robert Altman’s Gosford Park. 

Even though Dunn Tanaka’s version of A Beautiful Mind earned more praise and box office cash than the original, he didn’t expect the Globes to suddenly grow a heart and hand him Best Director. 

His sights were set on Best Screenplay. 

In the original, Akiva Goldsman won that award for A Beautiful Mind. This time around, Dunn wrote the script himself. If he didn’t snag this one, it’d be crystal clear—he was being targeted by the Golden Globes! 

Natalie missing out on a nomination was bad enough, but stripping him of an award he deserved? Dunn wasn’t above teaching the Globes committee a lesson! 

If this were the Oscars, he’d keep his mouth shut and swallow the bitterness—think Leonardo DiCaprio, running the gauntlet for years, eating dirt, and still kissing up to the Academy every time. 

The Oscars are the global temple of cinema, a dreamy gala dripping with prestige, tangled up in politics. Even Dunn couldn’t take them on. 

The Golden Globes? That’s a different story. 

Sure, it’s America’s second-biggest film award after the Oscars, but in terms of scale, influence, political clout, and authority, it’s not even in the same league. 

Plenty of A-listers don’t get half as excited about the Globes as they do for the Oscars. 

All things considered, Dunn had more than enough room to flip the table on them! 

“Six Feet Under! It’s Six Feet Under!” Nicole Kidman grabbed Dunn’s arm, buzzing with excitement—more hyped than he was. “Look, look! Six Feet Under won! The Globes aren’t out to get you after all!” 

In the big TV category—Best Drama Series—Six Feet Under beat out 24, Alias, CSI, The Sopranos, and The West Wing to take the crown. 

But that didn’t prove the Globes were fair. It was just business as usual. In his past life, Six Feet Under won this award too. 

“The real test is Best Screenplay. If they don’t give it to me, that’s straight-up targeting!” Dunn watched the Six Feet Under crew rush the stage in a frenzy, clapping mechanically, his face blank. “Screwing over Natalie? Fine, I can chalk that up to the Globes kissing Kirk Douglas’s ring—I’ll settle that score with the old geezer later. But if they snatch Best Screenplay from me too… hmph!” 

Nicole laughed, half-exasperated. “Snatch it from you? Who says it’s yours by default? Besides, it’s just a lousy screenplay award—does it even matter that much?” 

“It’s not about how big the award is—it’s the principle!” Dunn’s face hardened. “What’s mine is mine! I can choose to pass it up or give it away, but no one gets to yank it out of my hands! Even if it’s trash, I’m the one who decides!” 

Nicole was speechless. She discreetly pulled out her phone and texted Natalie. Dunn’s temper was spiraling—she couldn’t rein him in anymore. If this blew up, it’d rock the whole entertainment world! 

A bit later, the TV awards handed out Best Supporting Actress, going to Rachel Griffiths from Six Feet Under. No surprise there—last year, it was the top show behind Band of Brothers. Awards like that were par for the course. 

Then, in the Best Miniseries category, Band of Brothers won without a hitch! 

Normally, the three big producers—Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Dunn Walker—would all take the stage. 

Spielberg adjusted his bow tie, stood up, and gestured for Dunn to join him. 

Dunn forced a thin smile, waved him off, and stayed planted in his seat—no intention of stepping up. 

Right then, his phone buzzed with a text from Natalie: “Nicole says you’re about to go to war with the Globes?” 

Dunn fired back: “Yup.” 

Natalie: “Don’t. We both know who’s behind this—Kirk Douglas.” 

Dunn: “And the Globes are his accomplices!” 

Natalie: “If you do this, Kirk gets to sit back and watch the fireworks. Don’t fall into his trap!” 

Dunn: “The Globes? They can’t trap me!” 

Natalie’s replies slowed. Spielberg was already onstage, giving a spirited speech. A minute later, her next text came: “The Globes have sway. This could hurt your career.” 

Dunn typed back: “I build my career to make your life better—not to sacrifice your happiness for my success. That’s putting the cart before the horse!” 

After the Best Miniseries award wrapped, it was back to the movies—and the moment Dunn had been waiting for: Best Screenplay! 

Nicole’s nerves kicked in hard. She traced a cross over her chest, clasped her hands, and muttered a prayer: “Please, let Dunn win this. God bless, hallelujah!” 

The presenter was Stephen Gaghan, the Traffic screenwriter—an old acquaintance. 

He cracked a few lukewarm jokes, then slowly opened the envelope. His smile faltered, looking forced as he lifted his head and said, “Julian Fellowes, Gosford Park.” 

The second he finished, the Gosford Park crew erupted in applause. 

Over at A Beautiful Mind, things went quiet. 

Nicole’s face drained white as paper. Her glance at Dunn carried worry—and a flicker of fear. 

This was it. Trouble was brewing. 

Sure enough, Dunn hissed through gritted teeth, “They actually went for it. Alright—great!” 

Next up, Best Director went to Robert Altman for Gosford Park too. 

Nicole’s heart sank like a stone. All joy from the night evaporated. She stared blankly, a chill settling in: “Done. It’s over. We’re toast!” 

The whole A Beautiful Mind crew was in a funk. 

Yeah, Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman nabbed acting awards, but who was the real soul of this film? 

Dunn Walker—producer, director, and writer rolled into one! 

Now, the Globes had ripped two awards out from under him. No way he’d be happy about that! 

Especially after Natalie Portman didn’t even score a nomination. 

On Dunn’s other side sat Ted Sarandos, Dunn Pictures’ VP of production and executive producer on A Beautiful Mind. He knew his young boss’s temper well and leaned in, whispering, “Our people are running this awards dinner.” 

The message was clear: it’s our team—don’t trash our own gig! 

The Golden Globes dinner was produced by Dick Clark Productions, a company Dunn Pictures had acquired. If Dunn made a scene, he’d be tanking his own operation. 

“NBC’s broadcast fees only net us 10%—the Globes Association takes the lion’s share,” Dunn shot back. “Sacrificing a small loss on our end to hit the enemy harder? Worth it.” 

No way he’d back off over a measly 10% cut. 

The Globes dinner had been Dick Clark Productions’ gig since day one—decades of partnership. Dunn had plenty of leverage and guts to take them on! 

Twenty minutes later, the night was winding down. Just one award left—the big one: Best Picture (Drama)! 

But this one was a no-brainer. 

The five nominees were: In the Bedroom, Mulholland Drive, The Man Who Wasn’t There, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and A Beautiful Mind. 

In the Bedroom, Mulholland Drive, and The Man Who Wasn’t There were too niche—touchy subjects. They hadn’t won squat all season. 

The Fellowship of the Ring? Forget it. No chance. 

It’s just the first of a trilogy. Everyone in Hollywood knows the best is yet to come. If it won now, what happens with the next two? 

Even ignoring reviews and fan hype, logic alone pointed to A Beautiful Mind as the winner! 

Presenter Cameron Crowe called out “A Beautiful Mind,” and the room exploded—the loudest cheers of the night! 

The buzz for A Beautiful Mind was deafening. It earned this win fair and square! 

Maybe… some of that applause was for Dunn, a quiet show of support. 

They were all insiders. Everyone knew what was up with this year’s Globes. 

Natalie Portman not getting a single nomination? That was outrageous! 

Tilda Swinton from the long-forgotten The Deep End got a nod, but Natalie didn’t? There had to be some shady dealing. 

The Globes have a rap sheet of scandals. While the Oscars keep tweaking their voting to stay legit, the Globes cling to their 90-something journalist panel, stuck in the past. 

That baggage had a lot of guests clapping extra hard for Dunn. 

Speaking out publicly? No way. But applause? That they could do. 

With A Beautiful Mind clinching Best Picture, Dunn smirked, rising slowly. Ted Sarandos stood too—he was the exec producer, ready to hit the stage. 

The rest of the crew watched Dunn with eager eyes. 

For big awards like this, the whole team often goes up. 

But Dunn motioned them down, pressing Ted’s shoulder. “Sit. I’m going alone.” 

“Huh? Wait—” 

Ted froze, stunned. 

Not because he cared about the spotlight—he didn’t. But because he saw it now: Dunn was dead serious. 

Sure enough, Dunn’s voice dropped cold: “Let the gunfire come at me alone!” 

Chapter 449: The Enforcer Becomes the Scapegoat  

By now, calling Dunn a genius doesn’t even cut it. Flipping through his résumé from the past few years, “miraculous” is the only word that fits!  

This was Dunn’s first win of the night. As he stood up, nearly everyone in the room rose to their feet, clapping for him.  

It was almost like worship.  

The loudest moment of the evening!  

Except… the A Beautiful Mind crew didn’t quite match the energy. Their reaction was noticeably lukewarm.  

They’d all overheard Dunn’s earlier chat with Ted Sarandos.  

To them, this standing ovation felt like the calm before a storm—lightning and thunder about to crash down.  

Stepping onto the stage, Dunn flashed a smile as he took the trophy from Cameron Crowe, tossing it lightly in his hand with a playful smirk.  

Cameron congratulated him, then, during a quick hug, whispered fast, “Steven asked me to remind you—stay calm!”  

Dunn glanced at him, amused. Oh right, Cameron Crowe’s one of Spielberg’s protégés.  

“I’ve got it under control!”  

Dunn waved it off casually and stepped up to the mic. The banquet hall fell silent instantly, guests settling back into their seats, their eyes twinkling like stars in the night sky.  

“Wow! This is wild—I actually won!”  

Was that a joke?  

Dark humor, maybe?  

Some guests didn’t catch it at first, but polite chuckles rippled through the crowd anyway.  

Up on stage, Cameron Crowe’s knees buckled—he nearly faceplanted. He shot a look at Spielberg in the audience, his face dripping with dread.  

Trouble’s brewing!  

Dunn kept his cool, grinning as he continued, “I didn’t expect to win, so I didn’t prep a speech or anything. But since I’m up here, I’ve gotta say a few words. You guys can judge how I do off the cuff.”  

“Let’s start with the Golden Globes’ organizers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Everyone knows it’s a group of journalists covering the American film industry. They kicked off the Golden Globes back in 1944, and tonight marks their 59th year. Over those decades, the Globes have grown bigger, more influential.”  

“But the number of judges? That’s barely budged—still just around 90 entertainment reporters. No professional voting body, no solid voting system. That’s why, unlike the Oscars or Emmys, they don’t have a bunch of technical awards.”  

The audience was thrown off.  

What’s he getting at?  

A history lesson on the Golden Globes?  

What’s the point?  

Then Dunn’s tone shifted, his voice rising a notch. “But over the decades, some issues have cropped up. The Golden Globes’ judges are all members of the Hollywood Foreign Press—just 90 or so people. Every awards season, film companies throw lavish parties, giving producers, directors, and actors direct access to these voters.”  

The room erupted in gasps!  

Faces twisted in shock.  

What’s Dunn doing? Airing the Golden Globes’ dirty laundry?  

Most people had heard whispers of his beef with Kirk Douglas.  

But was this really necessary?  

All this over Natalie Portman not getting a nomination?  

Isn’t that a bit much?  

Last year, Natalie did win Best Supporting Actress at the Globes, after all.  

No nomination this year, and he’s tearing the whole thing down? Overkill, right?  

Dunn didn’t care. He pressed on, calm as ever. “Back in 1975, at a media mixer in Dallas, a bunch of judges openly said they’d ‘remember’ the studios that treated them extra nice. In 1981, tycoon Meshulam Riklis invited voters to Vegas for a good time. The next year, his girlfriend Pia Zadora conveniently snagged Best Newcomer.”  

Now the hall was buzzing.  

Dunn was dropping real scandals—headline-making messes from the past!  

The bribery fiasco especially—after that, the Golden Globes issued a public apology, stripped Pia Zadora of her award, and even axed the Best Newcomer category to save face.  

But this was Dunn’s acceptance speech for Best Drama Motion Picture! He was dragging the Golden Globes through the mud!  

Backstage, Leslie Nielsen, the executive vice chair of the Golden Globes committee, was in charge, calling the shots. Hearing this, his face went white. He started yelling, “Stop him! Make him stop!”  

Greg Bonner, the night’s producer, frowned. “Stop? How?”  

Director Lloyd Bochner chimed in, “Yeah, Mr. Walker’s on stage. We can’t just drag him off, can we?”  

“You idiots! You useless clowns!” Leslie Nielsen was practically climbing the walls, pointing at them, trembling with rage. “Mute him! Cut the mic!”  

Greg and Lloyd exchanged a glance, lips twitching, shoulders shrugging faintly.  

They acted like they hadn’t heard the furious committee bigwig.  

Greg turned and walked off, head high.  

Lloyd went further, barking into his headset, “Stay calm, keep filming, business as usual!”  

Leslie Nielsen nearly spat blood, eyes bulging red and terrifying. “Lloyd, are you insane? Didn’t you hear what he’s saying? If he keeps going, we’re done—finished! Did you hit your head or something?”  

Lloyd smirked dismissively. “On the contrary, I’m perfectly clear-headed.”  

“You heard Dunn Walker! He’s trashing the Golden Globes! If it goes down, you’re going down with it!” Leslie was losing it.  

“Me, go down? Ha, that’s rich. If I interrupt my boss mid-speech, that’s when I’m toast!”  

Lloyd let out a scornful huff, his gaze dripping with mockery and disdain.  

So clueless!  

“Boss?”  

Leslie froze, dumbfounded.  

Then it hit him—the company producing tonight’s ceremony, Dick Clark Productions, was a fully owned subsidiary of Dunn Films!  

Dead.  

He was so dead!  

As vice chair of the Golden Globes committee, he had no real power here. Dick Clark Productions held the reins—he’d been sidelined!  

…  

The audience was stunned too.  

Why hadn’t they cut Dunn’s mic? Couldn’t staff just escort him offstage?  

They’re letting him ramble on like this?  

Tomorrow’s headlines would explode!  

But everything at the venue rolled on like normal.  

It almost felt like the Golden Globes committee was okay with Dunn’s speech.  

No way, right?  

The committee would let him say this outrageous stuff?  

And… Dunn wasn’t done!  

“You’ll see rumors in the papers all the time—Foreign Press members taking cash, trips, perks from studios, then pushing those companies’ films or shows in the vote. And the organizers? They’ve been quietly selling red carpet photo spots to random no-name outlets.”  

Dunn’s face turned serious, scanning the crowd like some righteous warrior, bold and unyielding. “I’m not slandering or making this up—I’ve got proof! The Golden Globes gala is produced by Dick Clark Productions, under Dunn Films. Whether they sold those spots? Easy to check.”  

Now it clicked for everyone.  

Dunn was dropping a bombshell!  

“The Globes’ judges double as press critics. With personal stakes and benefits on the line, they can easily sway media takes on a project. Some have even been sued by old studio partners, accused of taking lavish gifts for nomination favors.”  

“I’m saying all this because I want Hollywood—hell, filmmakers worldwide—to have a fair, open shot at competition, like the Oscars. But what the Golden Globes have been up to lately? It’s heartbreaking, frustrating, exhausting!”  

“I used to think this shady stuff was just old history. But dig a little, and nope—it’s still happening! Tons of studios host screenings for the Foreign Press, dressed up as boozy parties or fancy dinners. You barely see that at other press events.”  

“The ‘Hollywood Foreign Press Association’ label’s got this shiny, misleading vibe. When winners thank them over and over on stage, people assume it’s some elite crew of media pros picking the best—such a supreme honor.”  

“But is that the truth?”  

Was Dunn’s speech out of line?  

To a lot of folks, sure.  

But to him, it was restrained, clever even.  

He knew the root of this mess was Kirk Douglas. Still, no way could he name-drop him here—tomorrow, the world would be buzzing with Hollywood’s ugly infighting.  

The Golden Globes? Just an award show run by a handful of reporters, not deeply tied to Hollywood itself.  

Smearing them wouldn’t tarnish Hollywood’s image. That was enough.  

So Dunn’s rant stayed laser-focused on the Golden Globes and the Foreign Press, not a whisper about Kirk Douglas.  

The Globes love playing enforcer, sticking their nose in other people’s fights, huh?  

Fine—then they can sit tight and take the fall as the scapegoat! 

Chapter 450: Hidden Motives? 

Dunn’s sudden outburst sent the entire Golden Globes committee into a panic. The pressure crashed down on them like a mountain. Leslie Nielsen tried every trick in the book to convince the event’s production team to step in and shut Dunn down. 

But that was a dead end. 

They all worked for Dick Clark Productions, and their loyalty was to the company’s interests—meaning Dunn, who represented it! 

With no other choice, Leslie pivoted to Plan B: the broadcaster. 

The Golden Globes dinner was being aired live on NBC, beamed out to viewers across the U.S. 

If they could just kill the feed, Dunn’s wild rant wouldn’t reach the public—problem solved. 

Except the event’s production rights belonged solely to Dick Clark Productions. The broadcast deal wasn’t with the Globes committee—it was between Dick Clark and NBC. 

Cutting the signal through the production side was off the table. The only shot was convincing NBC directly to pull the plug. 

But NBC wouldn’t budge! 

The network had been struggling lately, its market share dipping to around 25%, trailing CBS by a solid 10 points. 

The Golden Globes live broadcast was NBC’s highest-rated program of the year! 

No way they’d let that slip through their fingers. 

Plus, there was the public’s right to know! 

If NBC cut the feed and blocked North American viewers from the truth, they’d be public enemy number one. The Globes’ scandal could even drag NBC’s credibility through the mud. 

Whether it was ratings or reputation, NBC wasn’t about to interrupt the signal! 

Joseph, the network’s operations head, shut it down flat: “No chance. This is a show people love. We’ve got no reason—or right—to cut it off.” 

Leslie was desperate, his tone practically begging. “But didn’t you hear what Dunn Walker’s saying? He’s spouting nonsense, stirring up trouble! As the broadcaster, you’re supposed to deliver objective, accurate content—not inflammatory rumors!” 

“Rumors?” Joseph smirked, unfazed. “Mr. Nielsen, we’ve got a whole team that reviews broadcast content for violations. If they flag something, we’d kill the signal in a heartbeat. But so far? Nothing. We’re a media outfit—no outside force gets to meddle with the free flow of news!” 

“This is the Golden Globes!” Leslie roared, nearly losing it. “Don’t you get it? If this stinks up the Globes, how does that help NBC? You’ve been their exclusive partner for decades!” 

Joseph chuckled. “You’ve got it twisted, Mr. Nielsen. NBC’s never been partners with the Globes—we don’t do business with them. Our deal’s with Dick Clark Productions. They’re the ones who gave us the broadcast rights, not the Globes committee.” 

Leslie nearly choked on his own frustration. 

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! 

Back in the day, the Golden Globes were a nobody in Hollywood. It was their partnership with famed TV producer Dick Clark that turned things around. The dinner-party format broke through, vaulting the Globes to America’s second-biggest film and TV awards show, right behind the Oscars and Emmys. 

Who’d have thought the very thing that made them would come back to bite them? 

Dick Clark Productions getting scooped up by Dunn Pictures had flipped the script in a way no one saw coming! 

Back in the awards hall, Dunn’s speech rolled on. 

After the initial uproar settled, the guests quieted down. Every word, every syllable from Dunn rang clear through every corner of the room. 

“A Beautiful Mind is a film I directed. Tonight, it’s the big winner—Best Picture (Drama), Best Actor (Drama), Best Supporting Actress. Three major awards. By all accounts, I shouldn’t be the one stirring the pot. But conscience and justice can’t just vanish for the sake of profit!” 

“I can’t pretend to stay quiet just because A Beautiful Mind won. That’d be irresponsible to every filmmaker out there! Hollywood’s been around for decades—it needs a clean, transparent foundation. That’s the mission Dunn Pictures carries: ‘New Order, New Model, New Power, New Hollywood.’” 

“Fairness, justice, transparency—that’s what every film award should strive for. But the Golden Globes? Not fair, not just, and definitely not transparent! The committee’s backroom deals toy with one filmmaker after another. I’m not about to compromise with scandal just because I got a trophy!” 

Dunn’s words grew sharper, more forceful—hitting straight to the core! 

No matter how you sliced it, his speech was righteous, noble, and dripping with political correctness! 

The room erupted again, guests standing to applaud, cheering him on. 

Though plenty of faces looked… complicated. 

Especially the old-timers in the industry—they weren’t buying Dunn’s stunt. 

On the surface, he was calling out injustice, demanding a healthier voting system for everyone. 

But in reality? It was all hot air—impossible to pull off! 

The Oscars’ voting system was airtight, modeled after U.S. presidential elections—nearly flawless. 

But at what cost? How much manpower and money went into it? 

Conservative estimates pegged it at no less than $50 million! 

Was it worth shelling out that kind of cash just to keep filmmakers feeling “fairly treated”? 

The Oscars had Academy dues and its own revenue streams to bankroll it. But the Hollywood Foreign Press Association? What did they have to lean on? A more complex, robust voting system would bankrupt the Globes. 

Compared to the European Big Three film festivals, the Globes were already plenty “fair and just.” 

Of course, only the seasoned vets thought that deep. The younger crowd? They ate Dunn’s words up like gospel! 

Hollywood’s obsession with seniority was suffocating. 

Who’d speak for the new generation? Only Dunn Walker! 

Whether this outburst was really about Natalie Portman’s snub or not, his fiery, righteous rant struck a chord with the youth. 

The applause stretched on, many treating Dunn like a hero. 

“Of course, I’m not saying this to attack the Golden Globes or the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Let’s call it… tough love! The Globes are a world-class award. All this criticism and finger-pointing—it’s just fuel to get better. I believe the committee can own up to past mistakes and make changes.” 

Dunn tossed in a half-sincere, half-playful follow-up. 

From start to finish, he never mentioned Natalie’s missing nomination or the Best Screenplay award slipping through his fingers—that’d make him look petty. 

To rally the crowd, you’ve got to stoke their emotions from their perspective, letting them fight for your cause without even realizing it. 

His speech had run over ten minutes now. This felt like the right stopping point. He glanced around with a grin. “I’m grateful the Globes committee let me finish. Their patience surprised me. Guess they’ve seen their mistakes and want to turn over a new leaf—good stuff!” 

Then he hoisted his trophy high and leaned into the mic for his final line: “Lastly, thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press for giving me Best Picture (Drama). Thanks to the Golden Globes, and to everyone on the A Beautiful Mind crew! Thanks for hearing out my suggestions—appreciate it!” 

Backstage, Leslie Nielsen slumped in his chair. When word came that Dunn had finally stepped offstage, he let out a grimace uglier than a sob. 

The Globes, generous? 

Generous, my ass! 

If the dinner staff weren’t all Dick Clark Productions employees, he’d have sent someone up to yank Dunn off the stage ages ago. 

This Dunn Walker—had he planned this all along? 

Stepping on the Globes’ neck to push some secret, shady agenda of his own! 

Last year, splashing big cash to buy up the floundering Dick Clark Productions—it was fishy from the jump. 

Listen to that speech—off-the-cuff? No way! 

He’s got ulterior motives, no question!