As I walked down the red carpet, the fshes from different cameras almost blinded me. I was wearing a white coat over a bck shirt, bck pants, and a bck tie with a white checkered pattern on it. The only piece of a different color was my pocket square, which was maroon. Overall, I loved my getup because it was a little unique from what everyone else was wearing. Just as at es, I had received sponsorship from many luxury brands but had settled on Gucci this time. My hair iked up perfectly, keeping my look stylish enough for a kid.

  A grin was etched on my face as I made my way through reporters when one woman thrust a mi my dire, “Troy! What do you think of your ces to win tonight?”

  “Very slim,” I answered bluntly.

  “But [Billy Elliot] is the most nominated film tonight!” she excimed.

  “Yes, and we are extremely lucky to have that honor,” I bowed my head a little. “But I stand no front of Tom Hanks. The man gave his life’s best performan [Cast Away]. It would be a travesty if he doesn’t win tonight.”

  That was my ho opinion. Tom Hanks in [Cast Away] was so much better than Russell Crowe in [Gdiator] that it ainful to know that Hanks would not win his third Best Actor Oscar this year. The man single-handedly carried the film, stranded on an isnd, and not for a single moment did it feel b. He underwent a massive body transformation as well. It’s just that the odds were stacked against him because of his two back-to-back Oscar wins in ‘93 and ‘94.

  “Do you feel sad that [Harry Potter] was not nomionight despite earning so well?” another reporter asked, trying to stir up some troversy.

  “[Harry Potter] doesn’t need awards,” I said fidently. “It has received the best aossible already: people’s love. What more could we want? An indie film like [Billy Elliot], oher hand, is made on a very small budget. Our marketing efforts are also very limited pared to [Harry Potter], so award reitions like tonight’s e a long way to help us promote our film. To people at home, if you are seeing this, go watch my film [Billy Elliot]. I guarahat you’ll love it.”

  The reporters arouarted chug at my shameless plug-iweeerviews. Then again, I was a kid, so they couldn’t expeuch from me.

  “I think that is enough of your interview, Troy,” Dad called out from behind me. “Shall we go on in?”

  “Steve!” Someone presented a mic to Dad, who looked surprised at being reized. “Do you think you will win the award tonight?”

  “I don’t know,” Dad regained his posure before saying smoothly. “I hope so. Who doesn’t like winning?” He didn’t wait for a follow-up question, rather pced a hand on my bad guided me inside.

  “You o learo cut them loose,” he chided me when we were away from the cameras and mics. “You indulge them too much.”

  “I romoting my film,” I defended myself. “I have a stake in it after all.”

  Dad ughed at that. “How I fet that? I’ll have to end you on this, your business senses are too sharp. The reason I agreed with your eous request of making two simultaneous musicals in London and New York is because you saw something in [Harry Potter] and [Billy Elliot] that none of us could. So even if it is highly likely you will make a loss, I am willing to bet on your vision because we as a family have earned much more from the first [Harry Potter] film than you could lose in this musical.”

  That was true. Dad’s earnings from the film had exceeded 100 million. And that was excluding the home sales, TV broadcast rights, and merdise profits, which he would receive for eternity. Not to mention streaming ptform fees ter on. That one purchase of ￡125,000 ba 1997 robably the best iment ever made by anyone, as it would easily make our family a billion before the decade was over. And it was all thanks to me and my insightful knowledge.

  Without wasting much time, we took our seats in the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s main party hall. I noticed that this time our seats were much better tha time when we were chucked into the TV se at the very end. The film se front, to begin with, and evehe table we were assigned was in the front aer.

  “This seems like they are pandering to us,” Mum noted idly as she rejoined us at our table.

  She didn’t like getting clicked on the red carpet, so she usually took the side entrao the hotel when Dad was there to take care of me. Some of the non-celebs take that entrao avoid the media frenzy. Then again, not many, because Los Angeles is the breeding ground of narcissists. People here are so vain, they would do anything for fame. Sihey already have more than enough moo do whatever they want with it.

  I saw that ge firsthand from my first Golden Globes two years ago to now. At that time, nobody paid me any mind, but now, everyone wants my attention.

  More of the A-listers have shaken my hand than I recall: Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, Gee ey, Mel Gibson, Sandra Bullock, Renee Zellweger, Julia Roberts, and so many more. Then there were also tless ‘extras,’ as I like to call them. People who werely well-known or celebrities themselves but wao be seen cozying up to them, like CEOs of up-and-ing panies or people with old family money who could fly in their private jets to LA specifically to attend this show.

  Now that I think about it, we afford a private jet of our own now. Something to think about ter.

  The award ceremony began, and as expected, it was as b as ever. Although it was o knoon for which film or TV show, in the end, it was insequential. [The West Wing] and [Sex and the City] were major winners iV department, bagging the top awards, while in the movies, it was more evenly spread out with awards going to [Croug Tiger, Hidden Dragon], [O Brother, Where Art Thou?], [Traffic], [Gdiator], and [Almost Famous]. It was a big letdown that [Billy Elliot] had lost in four of the six categories it had been nominated for.

  And then came the category I was nominated in. Hiry Swank, st year’s Best Actress winner, came on stage.

  “I’m here to present the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture–Drama,” she read off of a teleprompter. “Here are the nomiom Hanks: [Cast Away]; Javier Bardem: [Before Night Falls]; Russell Crowe: [Gdiator]; Troy Armitage: [Billy Elliot]; Geoffrey Rush: [Quills].”

  When my name was called, the camera zoomed onto my face, to which I waved enthusiastically.

  “And the award goes to,” Hiry Swank opehe envelope in her hands and looked straight into the crowd. “Troy Armitage, [Billy Elliot].”

  “What!?” I excimed in shock. This was not supposed to happen. Why would the Golden Globes give an award like that to me when Tom Hanks, the more deserving actor, was sitting right there?

  Before I could be any more shocked at my sele, Dad and Mom hugged me, bringi of my stupor, which made me realize that this was a televised ceremony. Not to mention, it’s live. So I forced a huge grin on my face as I ran up the stage a few moments ter, where Hiry Swank hugged me and handed me the Golden Globe trophy.

  “I was not expeg this at all,” I began my speech. “This is like a st-minute pop quiz your teacher springs on you.” The crowd ughed at my joke. “Thank you to the Hollywood Fn Press Association. I don’t know who you people are, but every winner seems to thank you, so you must be someone important.” Mhter. “Having said that, I don’t think I was the Best Actor of this lot. Mr. Hanks, Mr. Bardem, Mr. Crowe, and Mr. Rush, all of you were far superior to me, and maybe someday I be good enough to actually deserve this award.” While I could end it at this point, I wao promote my film as well, so I spoke more. “[Billy Elliot] is a film we made because we want to tell people that it is okay to have dreams that are different from the norm, and all it takes is a little acceptance from your family to have a big happy ending. Thank you.”

  I didn’t want to bore everyone by spouting a list of names, so I kept the speech short. Moreover, I didn’t prepare anything because I was not expeg this award at all.

  The rest of the circus was as usual; I araded around for the media to ask questions, a time I used to generously promote [Billy Elliot]. I was backstage when they annouhe big winners of the night: [Gdiator] for Drama, and [Almost Famous] for Musical/edy.

  And just like that, the night was over. After winning an Oscar of all things, the prestige of these other awards just fades away. As was usual with these award shows, I, along with my parents, were io a bunch of parties, but we avoided them in favor of going home to rest. Or more like Mum and I went home, and Dad went to a few parties for socializing. It was something he couldn’t ignore being the producer of [Harry Potter], and a nominee for the night as well.

  To be ho, I was happy at being excluded from the parties. For a kid, they are very b. Everyone is there to drink, fuck, make es, or all three of them. I couldn’t do the first two, and the third one was a little difficult when people treat you as a kid. So I’d rather have my beauty sleep, and then have a few interview sessions over the few days to promote [Billy Elliot] befetting the fuck out of America. I have to attend an early m news session as well, so it is better to get rest as soon as possible.

  (Break)

  Benji was watg TV and was more than happy to know that his favorite actor, Troy Armitage, had just won a big award like the Golden Globes. He hadn’t seen the film [Billy Elliot], but hearing Troy’s speech about acceptand dreams had Benji intrigued.

  So the m, he went to his parents and asked early, “I want to go see [Billy Elliot].”

  “Who’s that?” His dad lowered his neer and asked in fusion. “A friend of yours?”

  “No, Dad,” Benji groaned. “It’s a movie. It has Troy Armitage in it. He’s Harry Potter.”

  “Oh,” Dad made a noise of uanding. “That boy. Yeah, he was good in [The Sixth Sense]. Okay, let me see.” Dad turhe pages of the neer rapidly before ing to the review se. “Oh yeah, here it is. Four stars? They say that this film is very good.”

  “Yes,” Benji agreed. “He just won a Golden Globe yesterday for it. I want to see it.”

  His father tinued reading through the review se until he reached the st line, which gave the film a rating of ‘R’. He turo Benji with an apologetic look, “Sorry, son, it is rated R. Not for kids.”

  Benji frowned and waue badly when his mom finally spoke up, “Is this the boy you are talking about?” She ointing towards the TV, which was on mute.

  On the news were a couple of m news anchors talking with Troy Armitage. Immediately, Benji perked up and nodded, “Yes. Please turn up the volume, Mom.”

  Which she did.

  “gratutions on the Golden Globe win, Troy,” the female reporter was saying.

  “Thank you, Susan,” Troy smiled back.

  “How does it feel to achieve so much at ye?” the male anchor asked. “When I was 12, I didn’t even know the relevance of awards, but not only do you have two Golden Globes, you also have an Oscar, an Emmy, and a BAFTA. What’s on your list?”

  Troy chuckled, “That’s kind of you, Liam. But we don’t make films for awards. At least I don’t. For that matter, I retty sure Tom Hanks was gonna win.”

  “Let’s agree to disagree,” Susan argued. “I saw [Billy Elliot] just yesterday, and it was the best film of the year that I have watched. I couldn’t stop sobbing by the end of it. It’s that good. Especially your performa's a mastercss of ag.”

  “Thank you, Susan,” Troy kept a hand on his chest. “It means a lot.”

  “I haven’t seen the film yet,” Liam said. “But I pn to. I have heard that it is a very British film. Do you think it will be suitable for Ameri tastes?”

  “Well, Susan, aren't you Ameri?” Troy gri the female reporter, who ughed at his quip. Troy tinued, “It is a human film. If you are a human who has ever had a dream that you couldn’t fulfill, then this film is for you. In fact, I’m a little mad at your MPAA fiving this film an R-rating.”

  “e on,” Susan argued. “It has a lot of curse words.”

  “Yes,” Troy agreed. “But most kids hear those ‘curse words’ at home or in their school. Tell me you heard your first f-word after you turned 17, and I’ll take back my statement.”

  Susan couldn’t argue with that, so she asked, “What would you suggest to our viewers arents as well?”

  Troy turned directly to the camera, as if addressing Benji and his family directly, “Ask your kids what the f-word is. If they are old enough to know the word, they are old enough to watch this film. We didn’t include it in the movie because of the shock factor, but this is how the miners, whom this film is based on, speak. I guarantee you, you will love this film if you like the underdog story.”

  “Like [Rocky]?” Liam asked.

  “Yes, exactly like [Rocky],” Troy grinned. “But there is no pung here, just a lot of dang.”

  “’t wait to see it,” Liam said before turning to the camera. “Troy Armitage everyone. [Billy Elliot] is in a ema near you.”

  The show then cut to a ercial.

  Benji turo his dad and before anyone could say anything, Benji shouted, “Fuck! That’s what the f-word is.”

  He was expeg some sort of rebuke from his parents, but he didn’t expect them to burst out in ughter.

  “Oh my God!” His mother doubled over in ughter. “That was so funny.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Benji crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. “So we go see the film?”

  “Alright son,” his father finally agreed with his request. “Since you seem to know the word, we’ll take you. But if we hear you repeat that word to anyone, you’ll be grounded for life.”

  “I promise, I won't,” Benji said, looking i.

  Dad nodded in satisfa, “Alright the ready.”

  Seeing as it was Saturday, and his parents were also free from their work, the family of three went over to their movie theater, only to see a line f outside. It wasn’t a very long o definitely would take some time for their turn at the ter. From hearing the people around them talk, most of them were there for [Billy Elliot].

  Thankfully, they weren’t sold out by the time their number came, and Benji’s dad got them three tickets. They bought a big tub of pop and soda a ihe hall.

  As soon as the movie started pying, Benji was entrahe dang in the film was so cool that even he wao learn ballet. Just before the climax, when Billy annouo his family that he got into the ballet school, Benji whooped with delight, along with most of the viewers in the hall. That was the best feeling he had had in a movie theater. Eveer than [Harry Potter].

  He looked at his mother on the right, who was g at the se. His dad wasn’t faring aer. He didn’t get the g part, but at least Benji was satisfied that his parents liked the film as well.

  “That was a very good film,” Mom ented when it had ended and they exited the theater. “I want to see it again.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Dad agreed.

  “It’s a shame that you wouldn’t have eve me e if Troy hadn’t given that interview this m,” Benji retorted.

  “e on son,” Dad patted his back lightly. “At least be happy that you watched your first R-rated film with us and not in some sleazy theater.”

  “Don’t give him ideas,” Mom chided before turning to her son. “If you want to waty more of this type of film, you will tell me and I’ll decide, okay?”

  Before Benji could reply to that, a man with a microphone and a camera guy behind him came up to them, “Hello. Care to share which film you guys watched just now?”

  “[Billy Elliot]!” Benji said excitedly. “It was so good! Tell them, Dad.”

  “Yes,” Dad cleared his throat. “It is a very good family film.”

  “Would you reend it to your friends and family?” the reporter asked.

  “Oh definitely,” Mom spoke up this time. “I’m telling all my friends to watch this film with their families. It’s a must-watch.”

  “Thank you for your time,” the man smiled at the family before moving to the people ing out of the theater.

  _______________

  AN: I know how it looks. No, Troy is not winning every award out there all the time. I included this win only for promotion of Billy Elliot, and I hope I made it apparent with a fan's POV.