Michael B. Jordan won. Timothée lost. And it wasn't even close.

Let me tell you a story about two actors and one Oscar.

Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for "Marty Supreme." He had the momentum. He had A24. He had every single industry prediction locked in his favor. And then he ran a campaign that made voters actively not want to vote for him.

It all started with that “leaked” zoom video. Which honestly, seemed like marketing genius, but that was just the beginning. It went on and on. I’m talking about the $250 branded jackets. The orange ping-pong balls. Standing on top of the Las Vegas Sphere in an orange suit. Spending $100,000 of his own money to do SNL. Launching a career retrospective at the American Cinematheque — at thirty years old. Calling his own performances over the last seven or eight years "top of the line" and "top-level sh*t."

At thirty.

It was a little cringe, but I think the town would’ve let it go. Maybe even called it the new day for marketing. After all, "Marty Supreme" did over $100M at the box office. Think about that - it’s a movie about ping-pong!

So it worked…until it didn’t.

At a CNN/Variety town hall with Matthew McConaughey, he said "no one cares" about ballet or opera. He joked about losing 14 cents of value. His grandmother, his mother, and his sister all perform with the New York City Ballet. Then the internet came for him and it was ugly.

Was it a case of overexposure? Did people stop liking him? The Oscars has always been political, but is it also a popularity contest?

Now let's talk about Michael B. Jordan.

Jordan didn't do stunts. He didn't stand on buildings. He didn't call himself a generational talent in interviews. What did voters say about him? "Kind, courteous, respectful, and someone everyone enjoys collaborating with."

He won the SAG Award right in the middle of the Academy's final voting window — and his speech was humble and heartfelt. "Sinners" surged late in the season, and Jordan rode that wave by doing the one thing Chalamet forgot to do: he let the work speak.

Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor.

"Marty Supreme" went home with nothing. Zero wins across every category.

Here's the truth: this industry has a long memory. The way you campaign is part of the story. The way you move through rooms, the way you talk about your own work, the energy you carry, people file that away. It’s called, YOUR BRAND. And when it's time to vote, they remember.

Leonardo DiCaprio spent a decade being told he was the best actor without an Oscar. His approach? Show up, do the work, don't let your personal life or your ego become the headline. He won for "The Revenant”, not because of a campaign, but because the body of work made it undeniable.

That's the lesson. Confidence is not entitlement. Showing up prepared is not the same as showing up loud. And it’s always about one thing - the work.

So here's what I want you to think about, even if you're nowhere near Oscar territory yet: how do you show up in rooms? How do you talk about your own work? Are you letting the work lead or are you leading with the ego?

Winning at film festivals has a lot to do with how you show up during the festival. Be there, be present, be grateful. Enjoy the process and remember festivals are run by a lot of tired volunteers, so, be nice. Because everyone is always watching, and in Hollywood, people like to root for the underdog, for the humble and they love to tear down the arrogant. The easiest thing to do is to let the work speak for itself.

There's a lane between humble and invisible. Find it.

Talk soon,

Nicki

P.S. Tomorrow I'm going to tell you about a woman who made Oscar history last weekend... and I'm pretty sure you haven't heard nearly enough about her yet. Also: if you've ever wondered how to fund your film without owing anyone your soul, I teach a free class on exactly that. Click here to Register: WEBINAR LINK