Chapter 157: Winners

Chapter 157: Winners

(3rd Person POV)

Selina and her co-host Dylan kicked off the ceremony with playful jabs at attending celebrities.

"Lewis Light - who could forget this superstar? His role in 'Serial Mage' was unforgettable. Playing that deranged mage experimenting on children... he traumatized kids worldwide!" Selina's delivery drew appreciative laughter. "Surely he's a frontrunner for tonight's Golden Laurel."

Lewis took the joke gracefully, chuckling as fellow actors elbowed him playfully, whispering comments.

"Lewis was brilliant, true - but let's not forget Michael Corleone," Dylan interjected.

The mention of "Michael Corleone" drew every eye to Arthur's table.

"Now there's a chilling villain - one who'd even kill his own brother. Not exactly less disturbing than Lewis's role," Selina noted, casting a glance toward Arthur. "Perhaps Arthur was just channeling his demonic nature."

Fresh laughter rippled through the audience.

Arthur smiled, impressed by both hosts' natural chemistry. His mind already working on ways to bring them to Hellfire Got Talent.

"Now," Selina transitioned smoothly, "let's begin with our first category - Best Supporting Actor."

The category raised eyebrows - dominated by three actors from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly."

Clint, Benny, and Lei had all positioned themselves as supporting actors, creating an unprecedented situation that drew curious looks to their table.

"Hope there's no hard feelings when I win," Lei announced with theatrical arrogance.

"Don't get cocky, Elf. That award's coming home with me," Benny shot back.

"Hehe, when's the last time a dwarf actor won anything prestigious? Dream on," Lei chuckled smugly.

"Don't count me out just yet," Clint reminded them both.

On stage, Selina and Dylan built the tension before announcing in unison, "Best Supporting Actor goes to - Benny Cave!"

Applause erupted while Benny sat frozen in disbelief. His earlier bravado with Lei had been just that - he'd actually been pulling for Clint to win.

"Mr. Cave? We're waiting," Selina called again warmly.

Clint broke Benny's stupor with a friendly nudge.

Benny swallowed hard, momentarily struggling with his chair height before making his way through the focused gazes of the audience.

Once on stage, Selina thoughtfully adjusted the microphone to his level.

Soft laughter rippled through the audience. The unspoken truth hung heavy - Arthur deserved the directing award, but the academy's ties to Titan Pictures and other major studios ran deep.

"Still, I'm grateful for this recognition," he continued smoothly. "Another trophy for the collection. Perhaps I should consider switching careers entirely."

More appreciative chuckles followed.

"I have only myself and my helpful assistant to thank-" Arthur said, his "assistant" actually being his system. Then, with a grin, he added, "And since we're on TV, I'd suggest everyone pick up a copy of Demonfather from your local film store. Enjoy my films, and thank you!"

His casual departure from the stage, award in hand, spoke volumes.

The Best Picture announcement proved anticlimactic - both "Demonfather Part 2" and "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" lost to "Cold Blooded."

Industry veterans exchanged knowing glances. Arthur's films clearly deserved the honor, but some truths remained better left unspoken.

The politics were transparent - Atlas, Titan, and other major studios had clearly influenced the Academy's voting.

They'd thrown Arthur the Best Actor award despite Lewis Light's superior performance in "Serial Mage" as consolation - or perhaps mockery, forcing a director to accept recognition as an actor instead.

After all, true filmmakers took greatest pride in their craft behind the camera.

***

The next day, the Golden Laurel Award Ceremony broadcast across Empirica's states on television.

Public dissatisfaction erupted when the beloved "Demonfather Part 2" lost to "Cold Blooded," a relatively unknown film. However, Arthur's Best Actor win as Michael Corleone sparked renewed interest in Demonfather, driving tourists back to Horn Kingdom to visit the sequel's filming locations.

News channels and newspapers stoked public interest with rumors that Titan Pictures, still bitter over their losses to Hellfire Studio, had orchestrated the outcome to diminish Arthur's potential awards. The television coverage painted Titan Pictures as unprofessional, damaging their reputation with these apparent machinations.

Though Demonfather and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly missed the prestigious Best Picture trophy, they'd achieved something more valuable - capturing audiences' hearts.

***

Arthur brushed aside the award politics, focusing instead on recruiting rising talents Selina Taylor and Dylan Smith.

Their agency's excessive demands complicated negotiations. After careful consideration, Arthur secured only Selina Taylor for seventy thousand dollars.

Morris Golden Agency celebrated what they saw as an outrageous overpayment.

Who would invest such money in a rising actress from a faltering telenovela with increasingly inconsistent plotting?

The industry watched in surprise as Arthur immediately pulled Selina from the show, forcing writers to kill off her character. Though he paid additional penalties for breaking her contract with the network, Arthur considered it a worthwhile investment.

He had extensive plans for Selina's future.