Every winter, Los Angeles enters its rainy season, typically wrapping up by the end of February or early March. However, starting in late February this year, LA was engulfed in an unusual stretch of continuous drizzle. While the rain wasn't heavy, it posed several inconveniences for the Oscars ceremony, especially for the red carpet event. Of course, the committee wouldn't cancel the red carpet because of a little rain. Not even a downpour could stop the stars from strutting the red carpet to grab attention.
For female stars, the Oscars red carpet night is the most crucial opportunity to be in the spotlight.
At the awards ceremony, with A-listers and mainstream media gathered, what the nominees wear on the red carpet will dominate the news and online media in the following days.
Unlike Matthew and Alexandra Daddario's last-minute preparations, most stars looking to attend the Oscars start getting ready over a month in advance. Custom dresses and body sculpting are just the basics. Many opt for plastic surgery, Botox, and liposuction.
This is the busiest season for LA's cosmetic industry.
There are even more services for stars whose red carpet appearance can't be salvaged by plastic surgery alone. If a star lacks height, long legs, or sex appeal, Hollywood stylists can work wonders under their clothes.
For instance, padding and compression garments can make the overall look more perfect, and even wearing fake buttocks can make the rear look rounder.
For these stars, the red carpet isn't about meeting men. They wouldn't want any man touching these artificial enhancements.
To prevent accidents, their stylists stay close by with needles, tape, and band-aids for emergencies. There have been many instances of dresses splitting or tearing on the red carpet.
Some even wear dresses pre-cut to their shape and then have them sewn on, making it impossible to go to the bathroom for the duration of the event, which can last six to seven hours.
In some mermaid-style dresses, it's nearly impossible to move one's legs, which can be quite unfortunate.
Consequently, another peculiar service has emerged in Hollywood, provided by many reputable plastic surgery clinics in Beverly Hills.
To ensure they look their best and prevent bloating, many Hollywood stars take extreme measures with their diet.
In the days leading up to the awards, some stars refuse to eat or drink anything. Instead, they go to certified clinics for intravenous vitamin injections to keep their energy levels up and avoid mood swings and fatigue.
Matthew wasn't initially aware of this until he heard about it from Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett, a curvaceous type, is a typical example in this regard.
Scarlett also mentioned that many female stars bring strong painkillers to endure the pain of wearing high heels for several hours.
Women's fashion often involves a lot of physical discomfort.
Additionally, Scarlett told him about an even more shocking "vampire facial."
Scarlett, known for her less-than-perfect skin, would get these treatments before important red carpet events or awards. Doctors would draw her blood, put it in a centrifuge, and then inject the platelet-rich plasma back into her face using micro-needles to stimulate collagen and elastin growth.
To steal the spotlight on the red carpet, Hollywood actresses go to lengths unimaginable to men like Matthew, who are naturally blessed.
An army of dermatologists, makeup artists, hairstylists, stylists, and personal trainers on standby contributes to the effortless beauty seen on the red carpet.
In comparison, Matthew felt that he and Alexandra Daddario were quite unprofessional, considering they just wore regular clothes and hadn't eaten since lunch.
If the Oscar directors and producers dared to cancel the red carpet due to rain, they wouldn't survive the night. The women who had gone to great lengths for their looks would tear them apart.
To handle the bad weather, the committee set up white canopies over the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Kodak Theatre. They even erected a large tent at the red carpet's start, big enough to hold several hundred people, where stars could wait before stepping onto the red carpet.
Matthew's red carpet slot was relatively late, so he and Alexandra Daddario arrived when the tent was already crowded.
"Don't be nervous," Matthew said to Alexandra, who was holding his arm tightly. "Just stick with me and pretend we're heading to our favorite restaurant."
Alexandra's grip on his arm tightened, her icy blue eyes darting around the tent. "It's my first time at the Oscars. How can I not be nervous?"
She gently tugged at Matthew's arm, "Clint Eastwood is coming over."
Matthew turned to see Clint Eastwood, his hair gray, approaching them. He quickly stepped forward to greet him, "Hi, Clint."
Clint Eastwood extended his hand to shake Matthew's, "Long time no see, Matthew."
"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Matthew smiled and introduced his companion, "Clint, this is Alexandra Daddario, my friend."
Clint Eastwood, though old, still had a young heart. Understanding the implication in Matthew's words, he politely exchanged a few words with Alexandra.
He then turned back to Matthew, "I wanted to thank you for the Spike Lee situation." Seeing Matthew about to respond, he raised his hand to stop him, "Matthew, let me finish. I've been fed up with Spike Lee for a while. Apart from cursing him, there wasn't much I could do. You've now made him persona non grata in Hollywood. It's truly gratifying. We've gotten rid of a pesky fly."
"You're too kind," Matthew said with a smile.
Clint Eastwood ignored his modesty and solemnly added, "Matthew, if you ever need this old man's help, don't hesitate to ask."
Hearing this, Alexandra Daddario couldn't help but be amazed. For someone of Clint Eastwood's stature, such words were rare. It sounded like a promise.
Coming from an elite background, Alexandra wasn't as naive as she appeared. She maintained a delicate balance with Matthew.
A major Hollywood director, someone who had battled in the industry for decades, owed Matthew a huge favor...
She could imagine that if Matthew needed it, Clint Eastwood would undoubtedly provide significant assistance.
As Matthew and Clint Eastwood continued their light-hearted chat, Alexandra occasionally smiled, though she couldn't contribute to the conversation. She still acted as if she were part of it.
After a while, Clint Eastwood took his leave, and just as Matthew was about to leave the tent entrance, he heard a somewhat familiar voice from behind.
"Matthew Horner!"
The voice wasn't loud but carried anger. Matthew turned to see a middle-aged man he recognized standing not far away.
Seeing the man who had brought him into Hollywood, Matthew greeted him like an old friend, "Hi, Johnny, long time no see. I've missed you."
Johnny Lee Miller, initially taken aback by Matthew's shamelessness, didn't know what to say.
Matthew, acting like an old friend, patted Johnny's arm, "What's wrong, Johnny? Don't you recognize me? We're old friends!"
Alexandra, standing by Matthew, looked at Johnny Lee Miller's unfamiliar face. She didn't recognize him and deduced he wasn't a big star. She knew most of Matthew's friends, either personally or through Amanda's introductions. This man wasn't one of them.
Curious, she wondered why the man looked so bewildered, like he wanted to cry but couldn't.
Suddenly, she thought of a possibility. Had this man suffered greatly at Matthew's hands?
"Matthew Horner!" Johnny Lee Miller, upon calling out Matthew's name, had considered many possibilities but hadn't anticipated Matthew's shamelessness. Not only did Matthew face him, but he also fabricated a friendship.
How could someone be so shameless?
"Johnny, what's wrong?" Matthew maintained his friendly demeanor, "Having trouble?"
Then it dawned on him, "Oh... I get it, the videotape."
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