American fame and fortune

Since there is no airport in Cannes, the crew coming to the film festival need to get off the plane from Nice and then drive to Cannes.

Martin came out of the airport and got into the same car with Mene and Bruce. Before the car left the parking lot, he received a call from Nicholson from Los Angeles.

"Have you arrived in France? There is one thing that you can take care of." Nicholson made the call while calculating the flight time: "The crew of "The Burning Plain" will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and Jennifer Lawrence went to Cannes. I told her to contact you if she encounters any trouble."

Martin was loyal and responded: "It's a small problem. I'll leave your little girlfriend to me."

This was a bit ambiguous, and Nicholson said specifically: "I asked you to help take care of it, you bastard, don't take care of me on the bed!"

Martin was angry: "Old bastard, am I this kind of person?" He asked back: "Go to Los Angeles and Atlanta and ask around. Who doesn't know that my brother, Martin Davis, puts loyalty first?"

Nicholson laughed and said, "I just wanted to say hello to you. Nothing will happen to me normally."

Martin hung up the phone.

Mene frowned and thought: "The movie Burning Plains sounds a bit familiar."

Martin had never heard of it: "It's like an art film."

Bruce understood: "Our neighbor, Charlize Theron, is the heroine of this film."

Martin nodded: "A victim of the Oscar curse. She won the Best Actress, took on a big commercial production, and wanted to become an actress like Julia Roberts who could stand alone at the box office. As a result, she failed miserably at the box office. It’s back to the art film.”

Mene asked: "Boss, the Oscar curse is only effective for Oscar-winning actresses, right?"

"Absolutely." Martin said casually, without thinking carefully, "Most male stars who win Oscars will have their careers significantly improved. There may be some unlucky ones, but the proportion is much smaller than that of best actresses."

The crew came to Cannes and stayed at the five-star Five Oceans Hotel.

This hotel is only more than 100 meters away from the Palais des Festivals and the Corniche Beach, and is fully booked during the film festival every year.

Because neither Warner Pictures nor Paramount Pictures have any intention of fighting for the best actress, Cate Blanchett will not come from the UK until the day of the film's premiere, instead of in advance like Martin and David Fincher. Come and operate.

The three major European film festivals also have game rules similar to the Oscars.

The power of the chairman of each jury is terrifying in the current award selection.

For example, when Isabelle Adjani, the head of the demon school actress, served as the chairman of the jury, in order to win the award for the director and film she admired, she not only fell out with all the members of the current jury, but also acted like a demon like her character. I got into a big fight with the Cannes Film Festival organizing committee and ended up with a Palme d'Or double yolk egg.

Similar situations are not uncommon at the three major European film festivals. Quentin also praised his ex-girlfriend Coppola at the Venice Film Festival and so on.

It can only be said that wherever there are people, there will be rivers and lakes and disputes.

After Martin, David Fincher and producer Kathleen Kennedy checked into the hotel, they just took a short rest and then joined Henry, the French production manager of the crew, and entered the reserved conference room together.

Melanie, the Cannes public relations manager hired by the crew, is already waiting here.

She shook hands with the four Martins one by one, asked her assistant to turn on the projection screen, came to the front of the conference table, and said, "Everyone, the situation has changed."

Martin looked at the projection screen, which showed the list of members of this year's judging panel.

Melanie said: "Due to internal problems in the film festival organizing committee, the announcement of this year's jury was delayed by one week compared to previous years. The chairman of the jury is still Isabelle Huppert, and other candidates include Shu Qi, Li Cangdong, and James Gray. , Elsa Argento, John Travolta..."

Kathleen Kennedy said: "Both of them are from Hollywood, James Gray has worked with DreamWorks, I can handle it."

Martin raised his hand: "Li Cangdong is Korean, and I have a solution here."

David Fincher told the truth: "I work in movies. Relationships are not my specialty. I am not familiar with them."

Melanie glanced at Finch, turned on the laser pointer, and the red dot fell on Isabelle Huppert's name, and said directly: "The opinion of the chairman of the jury is the most important. If we deal with Isabelle, our probability of winning will greatly increase."

Everyone here knows this.

If Isabelle Huppert favors it and two or three judges support it, the film will definitely win a heavyweight award.

The three major European film festivals have a cake-like award selection, which is even more obvious than the Oscars.

Melanie specializes in Cannes public relations and has already started research. She said: "Huppert may seem gentle and easy to get along with, but in fact he has an extremely stubborn character, even tough. There is an actress secretly in the French film industry. She is nicknamed fascist. Once she makes a decision, she rarely changes it and will definitely push it forward vigorously. This is similar to her mortal enemy Adjani."

She particularly emphasized: "She is difficult to deal with. She has been with Adjani for thirty years. In the 1980s and early 1990s, when she was overwhelmed, she became the only Isabel in France. Her skills can be imagined." And know.”

The two Isabelles are two people who stand at the top of the French film actress circle, like Sophie Marceau, from status to acting skills to awards, they are not at the same level at all.

Martin recognized Melanie's voiceover, but didn't say much.

Kathleen Kennedy asked: "Has Huppert already had a suitable choice for the Palme d'Or before the festival even started?"

Melanie said directly: "One of the films participating in the competition this time is "The White Ribbon", directed by Michael Haneke."

David Fincher also understood at this time: "The director of Huppert's masterpiece "The Piano Teacher"."

Melanie said: "Huppert claims to be a student of Michael Haneke. She and Haneke are both teachers and friends. As long as the quality of "The White Ribbon" is not bad, there is no doubt about the Palme d'Or."

This is not the first time a similar situation has occurred, and both Kathleen Kennedy and David Fincher can accept it.

Martin just sighed in his heart. The Cannes Film Festival has not yet started, but four-fifths of the Palme d'Or has already gone to a certain movie.

Melanie, the external public relations manager, must first ensure that the crew can win a big award, so that she and her team can continue to gain fame and still make a lot of money in the coming year.

Of course, this is all based on reality.

She added: "In my opinion, the first award I strive for is Best Actor, and the Palme d'Or is second."

Katherine Kennedy looked at David Finch. Even at her level, she still had to take Finch's thoughts into consideration.

David Fincher said: "The priority is to ensure that the crew can win a big award."

Melanie said: "Martin has a high reputation in France. My people can contact Huppert and will recommend Martin to her."

Kathleen Kennedy said directly: "You invited Huppert and a few more judges to the film premiere."

According to the film festival regulations, once the film festival begins, except for the premiere, the judges are not allowed to have private contact with any crew members of the films participating in the competition.

Melanie promised: "I will invite Huppert and at least three judges to participate."

Kathleen Kennedy recalled Martin's previous words and asked him: "Can you handle the Koreans?"

Martin nodded: "I'm going to make a call right now." He pointed to the projection screen and asked: "Is John Travolta a member of the Church of Scientology?"

David Fincher's ability lies in shooting and producing movies. After the meeting started, he always felt that he had no room to perform at the film festival. Finally, he heard a question that he could answer and immediately said: "John Travolta" and Tom Cruise are two of the most famous members of the Church of Scientology in Hollywood."

"I tried to get John Travolta's support," Martin said.

Katherine Kennedy felt comfortable. If every actor was as proactive as Martin and could think of solutions, how much worry would the production team and investors have to worry about?

Martin left the meeting room and returned to his room. He called Jessica first and asked her to be responsible for communicating with the Korean side. He quickly received positive feedback.

Then, he found Tom Cruise's personal phone number and called it.

Martin didn't expect that Tom Cruise's favor would be used so soon.

However, this kind of favor becomes less useful after a long time.

Now is the time.

The call came through quickly: "Hi, Martin."

Martin smiled and said: "Tom, I have something to ask you for help..."

…………

The Cannes Film Festival is about to start, and the main crew members who are interested in competing for heavyweight awards came to Cannes early.

"Inglourious Basterds" is one of the films in competition.

Harvey, a master of awards operations, has also paid attention to the relationship between Isabelle Huppert, Michael Haneke and "The White Ribbon" early on. Knowing that it is too difficult to compete for the Palme d'Or, his eyes turned to the Jury Prize and Best Actor. actor.

In a quiet night, Harvey and Quentin knocked on the door of a room together.

John Travolta opened the door and let the two people in, then quickly closed the door and said, "You shouldn't have come."

Harvey smiled: "The film festival hasn't started yet."

The two had collaborated on "Pulp Fiction" and were considered acquaintances. After casually getting close, Quentin said directly: "We are all old friends. You have to support me this time."

John responded: "I will definitely support you personally!" He spread his hands: "You know the film festival's awards mechanism. I am just an ordinary judge. Supporting you personally does not guarantee that you will win. Isabelle Huppert is the key. "

Xavi is confident: "I will handle Huppert."

He felt that Oscar would be attractive to Pell.

John nodded: "I have no problem."

Harvey and Quentin didn't stay long and quickly left.

When John sent them back, his cell phone rang, but it was the leader calling. He answered the call and said a few words, then hung up and was silent for a moment.

This time, he wants to say sorry to Harvey and Quentin.

Of course John wouldn't say it out loud, and if they asked, they would answer vaguely.