Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

After that first award for Best Supporting Actor, the award show went by in a blur. One after another, more awards were being given out to different movies. In the last few weeks before the voting ended, Dad and Warner Bros had scaled up the promotions of [The Perks of Being a Wallflower] and [Echoes of You] significantly. I personally didn't think we had any chance in a major category when a masterpiece like [Brokeback Mountain] was right there, but Warner Bros was adamant. They had just won Best Picture last year for [Million Dollar Baby] and wanted to repeat that feat this year.

Usually, when a movie is promoted so much, even if it doesn't win a major award, it ends up taking home a technical award or two, which was exactly what happened here.

"The Oscar for Best Cinematography goes to Leonard Sterling for [The Perks of Being a Wallflower]."

As soon as that was announced, I was on my feet, clapping hard as Leonard ran up from the back of the theater to accept his award. On his way to the stage, he stopped by my seat and exchanged a quick hug with me before continuing up.

I was thrilled about his win. Leonard was relatively inexperienced, but he brought something fresh to the film by crafting a visually stunning movie. He chose to shoot on film stock rather than digital, and the grainy look of the final product perfectly complemented the movie's 1990s setting. Leonard had devoted an immense amount of time to each shot, and combined with the storyboarding Stephen Chbosky had meticulously done, the result was a beautifully shot film. So I wasn't surprised we won this one.

The only surprise was that Leonard beat some legendary cinematographers like Wally Pfister, Emmanuel Lubezki, and Dion Beebe—artists whose names alone could attract actors to projects even if the director was unknown.

"Thank you to Troy Armitage and Stephen Chbosky for trusting me with their film," Leonard began his speech.

I used to think all those 'thank yous' were excessive, and that people like Harvey Weinstein and Steven Spielberg—thanked relentlessly at every award show—were overhyped. But now I realized how good it feels to be the one thanked for someone else's success.

The next award that caught me off guard was for Best Film Editing.

"And the Oscar goes to Mary Jo Markey for [The Perks of Being a Wallflower]."

I shot to my feet again, applauding another win for our film. This was the second victory that genuinely surprised me. Best Film Editing is often seen as a consolation prize for Best Picture because many believe the real magic of filmmaking happens in the editing room, not on set.

Mary was an old friend of Chbosky's. I agreed to let her take on the role because I'd seen her previous work, and I strongly believed that the film's storyboarding played a crucial role in enhancing the editing. Mary implemented fast cuts based on Chbosky's suggestions, creating a tightly paced movie that never dragged. The climax—Charlie's breakdown—was edited so masterfully that it probably clinched her the award.

As she walked toward the front, I hugged her as well before retaking my seat.

She finished her speech after thanking a ton of people, including me, when a beautiful woman discreetly approached and said, "Troy. It's time."

I turned to Rihanna and said, "See you in a bit."

She nodded in understanding as I got up and followed the woman. On the way, I waved to my family—Mum, Dad, and Evan, who were sitting just a few rows away from us. The commercial break had just begun, so it made sense they'd use this moment to get me ready for the next part of the show. As soon as I stood, a smartly dressed man appeared and took my seat—the seat filler, whose job was to ensure the Oscars didn't look empty to viewers at home.

A useless job, but a job nonetheless. Shaking my head to clear inane thoughts, I focused on the next segment of the show where I'd be the main attraction.

(Break)

"Oh my God! I'm so excited! I've never been this excited for the Oscars before!" Patty said, practically bouncing. "What wouldn't I give to be there in person to see Troy perform live?"

Claire nodded along. "I know! He hasn't done any concerts we could attend. I've wanted to see him perform in person for so long. I'd have spent all my savings and even dipped into my college fund to fly to Los Angeles if that were an option. The only time he performed live after [Billy Elliot] was with Rihanna in London, and that wasn't even announced in advance."

"Shhh!" Patty shushed her friend, her attention locked on the TV screen. "It's back!"

There was no announcement, no buildup—just the iconic opening music of "Blinding Lights" as the lights in the entire hall dimmed. A single spotlight shone brightly behind Troy, who stood at the back entrance of the theater. The light framed his silhouette in the darkness like a beacon.

Every guest in the hall turned to catch a glimpse of the teen star who had shaken the music industry with just one album. As the music swelled, Troy began walking forward. He had swapped his black tux for an open beige jacket over a black T-shirt, paired with jeans and—Crocs.

"Is he wearing Crocs at the Oscars?!" Patty exclaimed, incredulous. It was one thing to wear them casually at home, but it was something else entirely to wear them on an international stage watched by hundreds of millions of people.

"He was wearing dress shoes before," Claire pointed out. "He must've changed into them, just like the rest of his outfit."

Their conversation was cut short as Troy began to sing.

~: I've been tryna call

I've been on my own for long enough

Maybe you can show me how to love, maybe

I'm going through withdrawals

You don't even have to do too much

You can turn me on with just a touch, baby :~

Troy's vocals were as strong as they had ever been—no noticeable difference from his record album. By this point, he had reached the stage, and wherever he moved, people in the audience stood up, seemingly in awe of his voice. By the time he reached the front near the stage, the entire audience was on their feet, applauding as if they were at a concert rather than a high-class formal event like the Oscars.

"Is the voice pre-recorded?" Claire asked skeptically. "Because he sounds exactly the same as he did on the album."

Patty could only shrug, unable to answer.

Just then, Troy reached the stage, and this time he wasn't alone. A whole array of backup dancers, both male and female, emerged and surrounded him from all sides, creating a truly memorable scene. The entire group, including Troy, performed an elaborate dance routine—all while Troy continued to sing flawlessly.

~:I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights

No, I can't sleep until I feel your touch

I said, ooh, I'm drowning in the night

Oh, when I'm like this, you're the one I trust

Hey, hey, hey! :~

As that part of the song ended, Troy spread his arms wide. Two girls behind him stepped forward, each taking a sleeve of his jacket and pulling it off completely, revealing that the black T-shirt underneath was actually a tank top. It showcased his defined arms—impressive for someone his age.

A group of boys then brought forth a giant drum, similar to the one he played in the movie. Troy quickly grabbed two drumsticks and began playing. The orchestra behind him seamlessly transitioned from the music of "Blinding Lights" to "Radioactive."

In an instant, Troy transformed his vocals from a polished pop sound to a gritty rock tone. Each beat of the drum resonated through the hall, holding the entire audience spellbound. By the end of the song, even the most traditional and reserved attendees were singing along with Troy.

~: Woah-oh, woah

I'm radioactive, radioactive

Woah-oh, woah

I'm radioactive, radioactive :~

Then came the final song of the night. A group of guys dragged a piano onto the stage. During this, Troy disappeared for a few seconds. When he returned, he was wearing a plain white short-sleeve shirt over the light blue faded jeans from before—and, of course, his infamous Crocs.

~: 'Cause all of me, loves all of you,

Love your curves and all your edges,

All your perfect imperfections :~

The opening was as powerful as ever. This time, there were no backup dancers or elaborate choreography. Instead, Troy sat at the piano, opting for a stripped-down performance with no accompanying instruments. This acoustic version of the song created such an intimate and emotional atmosphere that Patty couldn't help but feel deeply moved by it.

~: I give you all of me

And you give me all of you. :~

This final song was markedly different from the first two. While the first was a polished pop track and the second a hard rock anthem, the last was a tender love ballad. It effortlessly showcased Troy's vocal mastery and his ability to traverse multiple music genres with ease.

As "All of Me" came to a close, the entire hall rose to their feet in thunderous applause for what was undeniably a well-deserved performance. After hearing the range and quality of the three songs, Patty was increasingly convinced that Troy had been singing live. Surely the audience, filled with seasoned professionals, would have noticed if he weren't, right? But even if it had been pre-recorded, it didn't matter to her. Troy had created some iconic moments with his music, and the standing ovation from the crowd only reinforced the merit of his performance.

When he finished, Troy bowed politely to the audience before heading backstage.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a male voice announced, "please welcome our next two guests presenting the awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score: Emma Watson and Jamie Bell."

To Patty's surprise, two of Troy's co-stars stepped onto the stage.

"Whoa," she exclaimed. "They're having Ron and Hermione give him the award?"

"Makes sense," Claire replied. "If he is the guaranteed winner, it's poetic to have the presenters be people who know him personally."

Jamie Bell spoke first, taking the microphone. "When I first met Troy seven years ago, I hated his guts. He'd won the lead role in [Billy Elliot]—a role I was also competing for. At that time, I was sure I could've done it better than him. I even planned to make the shoot as difficult for him as possible. But all of that went out the window once I got to know him. Troy is the best friend anyone could ask for, and he's impossible to hate. He's the kind of guy who'd help you out, even if he barely knew you."

The audience applauded politely as Jamie wrapped up the introduction of his friend.

Emma Watson took over. "When I first met Troy, [The Sixth Sense] had just been released, and he was already huge. Wherever we went, whoever we met, everyone acted as if they already knew him. Yet, none of that ever changed him as a person. The Troy I met and fell in love with when I was nine is still the same guy today. The only difference is that, besides being an actor and a dear friend, he's now also a singer, dancer, musician, and producer. Anything I'm forgetting, Jamie?" she asked rhetorically.

The audience laughed and responded with polite applause.

Jamie then opened the envelope in his hand and grinned. "I know I don't actually have to do it this way since we all know the winner, but I've wanted to do this for a long time, so please indulge me."

The crowd chuckled, and Emma shook her head fondly at Jamie's antics.

"And the Oscar for Best Original Song goes to Troy Armitage for 'All of Me.'"

"Yes!" Patty exclaimed, standing up. "I knew it! I knew he'd win for 'All of Me.' That's my favorite song of his."

"It was obvious that the old fogies would go for the ballad," Claire noted. "Although I like Radioactive more."

Troy, still clad in his casual white shirt and jeans, walked out from backstage. He hugged his two friends one by one, starting with Jamie and then Emma. A young woman standing beside Jamie handed him the Oscar, which he passed to Troy.

With the statuette in hand, Troy stepped up to the mic at center stage, while Emma and Jamie took a few steps back.

"First of all, thank you to whoever decided to have Emma and Jamie present this award to me," Troy began, glancing back at his friends. "Thank you both for those touching words just now."

He turned back to the audience. "Thank you to the members of the Academy for this honor, though I hardly think I'm the best musician. I've only just started, and there are so many talented people out there who deserve this more than I do."

The audience erupted in applause at his humble statement.

"I'd also like to thank one person without whom I wouldn't be standing here: Evan Spader, my brother in all but blood. It was his idea to make [Echoes of You]. So, brother, this award is as much yours as it is mine."

The camera panned to Evan in the audience, capturing his touched expression before returning to Troy.

"I want to thank my parents, who have supported me ever since I was a kid; Douglas Saunders, who helped me produce these amazing songs; and our incredible sound mixing and engineering team—I'll thank you all personally as soon as this show is over. Thank you, Stephen Daldry, for making this movie such a beautiful piece of art. To our cast and crew—Emily, Rihanna, and so many others—you've made this journey unforgettable.

"Lastly, I want to thank all the amazing musicians who came before me and inspired me to write my own songs. Thank you."

Troy bowed slightly as the audience erupted into another round of applause.

The woman who had handed Jamie the statuette guided Troy backstage as Emma and Jamie resumed speaking into the mic.

Emma began, "Music is magic in itself. It defies logic and has the power to calm us or invigorate us."

Jamie continued, "Background scores in movies play an essential role in conveying a story without the need for words."

Emma nodded and added, "Here are the nominees for Best Original Score:

Brokeback Mountain – Gustavo Santaolalla

The Constant Gardener – Alberto Iglesias

Memoirs of a Geisha – John Williams

Echoes of You – Troy Armitage

Pride & Prejudice – Dario Marianelli."

This was the moment Patty had been anxiously awaiting and could barely contain her excitement for.

"He won't win this," Claire said matter-of-factly. "Everyone already knew he was going to win at least one award. They're not giving him another."

"Yeah, but the music from [Echoes of You] is so good!" Patty protested, though deep down she feared her friend might be right.

Just then, Jamie Bell opened the envelope containing the name of the winner.

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