The Golden Raspberry (3)
The top floor of the hotel. As a man stepped out of the elevator, a flood of attention instantly locked onto him.
"Sion!"
"Look over here, please!"
Click! Click! Click-click-click!!
"Sion! Just a quick word, please!"
"You've become the first-ever winner to actually attend the Golden Raspberries...!"
"Don't you think this is a historic moment?!"
A relentless barrage of camera shutters. Flashes went off like lightning as reporters lunged forward, desperate to wring a quote out of him. In an instant, the venue erupted into chaos.
Waiting on the stage, anxiously trying to keep things under control, Will Johnson realized the moment of truth had finally arrived. He quickly called out to the hotel security guards provided for the event.
"Keep the reporters back, please!"
At his command, the hotel guards rushed forward, forming a human wall to block the reporters from crossing the line.
Amidst the frenzy, Sion Lee maintained a relaxed smile, casually waving his hand. Even as Murphy tried his best to guide him inside, Sion handled the press with effortless grace.
Johnson approached him, his voice tense.
"M-Mr. Lee! I'm Will Johnson."
What had been a peaceful, low-key gathering of a few cinephiles had instantly transformed into a chaotic circus. Although Johnson considered himself well-acquainted with the realities of Hollywood through his work in film advertising, he couldn't help but be utterly overwhelmed by Sion Lee's sheer, larger-than-life presence.
You've had a rough time, haven't you.
Observing the dark circles under Johnson's eyes, Sion spoke up. "Since this is already my third win, I figured it was about time I showed up to collect it."
"Ha, haha..."
Johnson could only offer an awkward laugh. Given that the entire premise of the ceremony was built on mockery and satire, he had absolutely no idea how to respond to someone saying, "I came because I won."
Should he say congratulations? Or offer his condolences? This unprecedented situation had drawn an immense amount of attention, and those who had gathered here were harboring a wide variety of thoughts.
This guy is completely out of his mind.
Coming to the Golden Raspberries to accept the award in person? This is going to make massive headlines.
It's a clever move timed right before his movie release... I absolutely cannot underestimate him.
While various reporters were lost in their own calculations, their eyes collectively drifted toward one spot. It was the television network 'CBS'.
Entertainment Tonight. The most influential entertainment news show in America had sent a crew to cover the event.
The presence of a major network filming Sion and the Golden Raspberry Awards signaled something very simple. The "Golden Raspberries," which had previously received zero attention from major media outlets, was about to be thrust into the spotlight of the general public, who knew nothing about the indie scene.
And this was all the result of a single actor's status—Sion Lee.
To the gossip-sensitive crowd gathered here, Sion seemed subtly but undeniably different before and after filming his indie movie. While his confident and somewhat reckless public persona remained intact, the self-destructive, bridge-burning antics that used to cause irreparable scandals had completely vanished. Instead, he was now masterfully feeding the media exactly what they wanted in terms of "show business."
Did his agency hire a brilliant consultant?
They say his acting has improved too, so maybe he's actually worth keeping an eye on.
I wonder what kind of shocking statement he'll make today...
Everyone began to watch Sion with intense curiosity.
Guided by a still-flustered Will Johnson, Sion walked to the center of the convention hall and took his seat. Instantly, the other nominees and industry insiders sitting around him with tense faces naturally focused all their attention on his presence.
Why did Sion show up to accept the award today? And what would he say in his acceptance speech?
As anticipation filled the room, Sion casually crossed his legs and waited for the ceremony to begin.
Before long, the lights dimmed to a slightly tacky opening theme song. A single spotlight illuminated the stage, and a man in a suit stepped up to the microphone. It was the man who had greeted Sion—Will Johnson.
With countless cameras trained on him, Johnson slowly began to speak as the music faded.
"W-Welcome, everyone, to Hollywood's... 'least' glamorous night..."
This opening line, which had been used for eleven years, was a parody of the Academy Awards. But unlike previous years, Johnson had completely lost his confidence in front of this massive crowd. He looked down at his cue cards and began to read the lines written on them.
"Today, we have drawn the attention of so many people. Contrary to those expectations, our event features absolutely no glamorous congratulatory performances or comedy shows. It is simply me, a non-professional, continuing to present awards to the worst films and the worst actors of the year. Of course, the recipients of these awards are..."
Normally, the next line would have been, "never actually here." But Johnson's anxious gaze drifted toward Sion, who was sitting dead center in the audience.
"...well, we actually have one with us tonight. Yes..."
Forcing an awkward smile, he quickly flipped the cue card to move on to the first category. And the very first category was none other than 'Worst Actor'.
His face grew even paler.
Of course, this order was in accordance with a long-standing eleven-year tradition. Unlike the Academy Awards, which start with Best Picture, the Golden Raspberries always began with Worst Actor. This was because mocking a famous, absent actor right off the bat was the best way to instantly hype up the atmosphere of the venue.
Damn it, I don't care if he throws a punch, just please don't let him pull out a gun.
Feeling his heart hammering against his ribs, Johnson forced himself to focus. It was too late to back down now; the Golden Raspberries had accumulated too much bad karma over the years. Yet, because he truly believed in the significance of this event, he steeled his resolve. Even so, he couldn't stop his voice from trembling slightly.
"N-Now, for our first category..."
As the words 'Worst Actor' flashed onto the screen behind him, everyone held their breath and focused.
"Which actor, more than anyone else in this year's cinema, sent audiences packing and put them to sleep faster than a sleeping pill? Let's introduce the nominees...!"
Since the winner, Sion Lee, was already in attendance, introducing the other nominees felt somewhat pointless. Nevertheless, Johnson went ahead and introduced the formidable lineup of nominees exactly as written on his cue cards. Scenes from their respective movies played on the screen, and naturally, among them was Sion Lee's infamous scene from Deadly Summer Camp.
"What a scaredy-cat. How... a-dor-a-ble."
...This is torture.
Although he had braced himself, watching that scene was still so cringeworthy it made him want to throw up. Even so, it was far more bearable than when he had first returned to this era and rewatched the movie. That was because he hadn't just been sitting idly by doing nothing all this time.
Yeah. Just smile. Smile.
Sion decided to focus on how precious this moment was—a turning point where he was actively reshaping his career and image as an actor. He waited for the final announcement. He needed to act as calm and unfazed as possible to make his acceptance speech all the more dramatic.
Once the nominees were finished, Johnson continued.
"And the 'Razzie' goes to..."
To whom would the Golden Raspberry trophy, the 'Razzie', go?
"Sion Lee, for Deadly Summer Camp!"
A shocking result...! Of course, it wasn't shocking at all. But just like any other award ceremony, once the winner was announced, upbeat music began to play, and the audience started to clap.
Enjoying the slightly awkward atmosphere, Sion stood up and walked up to the stage as if he had been waiting for this exact moment. He accepted the gold-plated raspberry trophy with a look of profound gratitude, as if he were receiving an Oscar, and even held it high in the air to egg on the crowd's cheers.
Ultimately, he couldn't hold back his laughter and let out a chuckle.
Watching this unfold, many in the audience were utterly dumbfounded.
His mental fortitude is absolutely insane.
Wow, is that really the Sion Lee I used to know?
Did he completely change after overcoming the grief of losing his family?
Ha, I never thought I'd live to see the day an actor actually accepts this trophy in person.
This isn't just amusing, it's practically legendary.
Applause and stares filled with shock, disbelief, absurdity, and dry laughter washed over him. Feeling the weight of their reactions, Sion stood before the microphone.
A single spotlight illuminated him. Looking straight into the eyes of the countless people shining in the darkness, Sion began to speak in a smooth, calm voice.
What would his first words be? While everyone listened with bated breath, his opening line was surprisingly ordinary.
"Thank you, everyone."
But the ironic remarks that followed made the crowd chuckle.
"Ah, what a truly glorious moment this is."
In truth, Sion had deliberated quite a bit over this part. Should he deliver a speech about his philosophy on film and acting to show how much he had matured? Should he use this to build anticipation for his upcoming movie, Swing in Chicago, which was set to release next week?
But he didn't want to make such a blatantly obvious, one-dimensional speech that screamed "shameless self-promotion" or "PR stunt."
"I am... incredibly delighted to receive the 'Worst Actor' award for brightening up the year."
The Golden Raspberry Awards was a parody event deeply rooted in satire and mockery, a tone it would maintain far into the future. Therefore, Sion decided that the best approach was to play along with the spirit of the event.
"Because of this, the Golden Raspberries, which have been shunned by the industry for eleven years now, actually got to invite an actor of my caliber to accept this award in person. If you hadn't huddled in a backroom to plan this cute, petty little show, the chances of you giving me anything resembling an award would be absolutely zero, even if I lived dozens of lifetimes."
He directly addressed the history and authority of the award—and thoroughly mocked it. It was a piece of dark comedy that only a seasoned stand-up comedian could pull off.
Will Johnson let out a chuckle and gave him a thumbs-up in agreement.
"Great reaction, Johnson. You're a true professional who has been talking nonsense for eleven years. In that spirit, let me say that this is an award that even Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino has never received. As I go on to win countless other awards in the future... say, an Oscar or whatever else... this cute little trophy will always have a special place in my display case. Right next to them. This very gold-plated raspberry."
Hearing this playful acceptance speech, which concluded with a wink, everyone's eyes widened. It was a bold, natural declaration of ambition that treated the trophy of America's largest film awards as if it were a mere afterthought.
Looking around at the stunned crowd, Sion grinned and hoisted the trophy high, like a professional wrestling champion.
"Everyone! Did you all think it was impossible?"
Indeed, they did. Everyone believed that an actor like 'Sion Lee' could never reach those heights. Until now, he had been consumed as a 'star' rather than an 'actor'. He was viewed as a product sold for its pretty packaging rather than an artist showcasing acting talent.
"Just a few days ago, didn't everyone think it was impossible for me to show up at this ceremony and accept this award? And before that? Did you ever think I'd be invited to the opening premiere of the Sundance Film Festival, or that the media would go wild over my acting? In just a few short months, I have effortlessly shattered every single stereotype about me!"
Standing at the very peak of the Golden Raspberries, Sion mocked their very doubts.
"So look forward to it. Along with 'that guy' releasing next week, I will continue to show you. The process of me turning the impossible into the possible."
Finally, he shouted with supreme confidence.
"Thank you!"
It was a speech that instantly captivated the audience with humor and ambition. In this event of satire and mockery, Sion's confidence shone brilliantly. Hearing applause that was several times louder than when he had walked up, Sion happily stepped down from the stage.
A few days later, CBS's Entertainment Tonight show was broadcast.
Following the words of the anchor dressed in slightly dated attire, the screen transitioned. On stage, Sion was smiling triumphantly as he delivered his acceptance speech.
Sion gave a light wink at that part.
Watching the broadcast on a massive 32-inch CRT television, a man grinned. The corners of his lips stretched wide, forming his signature, intense expression.
Sipping a glass of Scotch whisky on the rocks, he offered his thoughts.
"Damn kid. Before I knew it, he's started exuding a real cowboy vibe fit for Hollywood. Did he get some kind of brain-reconstruction surgery? And this cheeky bastard is already throwing his elder's name around so casually?"
He chuckled and continued to watch the broadcast.
"You don't know a damn thing, Mr. Expert."
The man glanced at the front page of the newspaper that his housekeeper had left next to him.
"Sion's actions are drawing an explosive response from the younger demographic, spanning from teens to those in their twenties. Most of them reacted positively, saying things like, 'It's actually cool,' 'It's badass,' and 'It's better to just admit failure.' Meanwhile, some experts expressed concern, stating, 'This seems to highlight a growing generational gap.'"
"An actor is all about the 'face'. No matter what, they are the ones who have to stand at the forefront and lead."
In the end, what appeared on the screen was the actor's face. What appeared in movie promotions was that face. What people remembered was that face. Therefore, if one was truly conscious of their position as a Hollywood actor where the most capital gathered, they had to maintain a consistent performance even in this massive 'reality' and live as the entity the public desired.
In that sense, the man thought the version of Sion Lee he was seeing lately was absolutely fantastic. A teenage boy who was once Hollywood's problem child was now breaking through the suffocating reality surrounding him in an entirely new way.
Whether that will serve as a wake-up call to Hollywood, or if he'll get blacklisted by the higher-ups and plunge straight into the abyss remains to be seen.
Feeling intrigued, the man shouted toward the adjacent room.
"Reb!"
At his call, his partner and fellow Hollywood actress, Rebecca Broussard, appeared.
"What is it, Jack?"
"I'm thinking of going to see a movie later. Want to come along?"
"A movie? Where?"
"To the theater, of course."
"That's unusual for you. You used to complain about everyone recognizing you and always looked for private screenings."
"For this movie, I want to see the audience's reaction."
Looking at his partner, who was expressing her doubts in various ways, the man—Jack Nicholson—winked and stood up from his seat.