America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 497: The Key Points of Cannes

Since there is no airport in Cannes, all crews attending the film festival need to get off the plane in Nice and then take a car 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 in Los Angeles.

"Have you arrived in France? There's something I need you to take care of." Nicholson calculated the flight time and made the call: "The Burning Plain crew will be screening at the Cannes Film Festival. 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 girlfriend to me."

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

Martin was angry: "Old bastard, am I that kind of person?" He asked back: "Go to Los Angeles and Atlanta and ask around. Everyone knows that I, Martin Davis, put brotherhood first!"

Nicholson laughed: "It's just a greeting, nothing serious will happen."

Martin hangs up.

Mene frowned in thought, "The Burning Plains movie sounds familiar."

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

Bruce knew something: "Our neighbor, Charlize Theron, is the heroine of this movie."

Martin nodded. "She was a victim of the Oscar curse. She won the Best Actress award and took on a commercial blockbuster, wanting to be a box-office star like Julia Roberts. But it failed miserably at the box office, so she returned to art films."

Mene asked, "Boss, the Oscar curse only works on Oscar-winning actresses, right?"

"That's about right." Martin didn't think about it carefully and said casually, "Most male stars who win the Oscar for Best Actor will obviously take their careers to a higher level afterwards. There may be some unlucky ones, but the proportion is much smaller than that of Best Actress."

The crew arrived in Cannes and checked into the five-star Five Oceans Hotel.

This hotel is just over 100 metres from the Palais des Festivals and the Croisette beach, and is packed during the annual film festival.

Because neither Warner Bros. nor Paramount Pictures have any intention of competing for the Best Actress award, Cate Blanchett will not come from the UK until the day of the film's premiere, instead of coming here in advance like Martin and David Fincher.

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

The power of the chairman of each jury in the selection of awards is terrifyingly great.

For example, when Isabelle Adjani, the leader of the group of naughty actresses, served as the president of the jury, in order to let the directors and films she admired win awards, she not only turned against all the members of the jury that year, but also acted like a naughty character she played, quarreling with the Cannes Film Festival organizing committee, and finally got a double yolk of the Palme d'Or.

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

All I can say is that wherever there are people, there are 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 met up with the crew's French production manager Henri and went into the booked conference room together.

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

She shook hands with Martin and the other three 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 a little."

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

Melanie said: "Due to internal issues of the film festival organizing committee, the announcement of this year's jury was delayed by one week compared to previous years. The jury president is still Isabelle Huppert, and other candidates include Shu Qi, Lee Chang-dong, James Gray, Asia Argento, John Travolta..."

Kathleen Kennedy said: "They are both from Hollywood. James Gray has worked with DreamWorks. I can handle it."

Martin raised his hand: "Lee Chang-dong is Korean, I have a solution."

David Fincher said frankly: "I am a filmmaker. Building relationships is not my specialty. I am not familiar with any of them."

Melanie glanced at Finch, turned on the laser pointer, and the red dot landed on Isabelle Huppert's name. She said directly: "The opinion of the jury president is the most important. If we can get Isabelle, our chances of winning will increase greatly."

Everyone here knows this.

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

The three major European film festivals’ award-giving style of dividing the cake is even more obvious than that of the Oscars.

Melanie is a professional in Cannes PR and has already started researching. She said: "Huppert seems gentle and easy to get along with, but in fact she is extremely stubborn and even tough. In the French film industry, she is privately nicknamed the fascist actress. Once she makes a decision, she rarely changes it and will definitely push it forward. In this respect, she is similar to her mortal enemy Adjani."

She emphasized: "She is not easy to deal with. She has been fighting with Adjani for 30 years. In the 1980s and early 1990s, she was overwhelmed. Now there is only one Isabelle in France. You can imagine her tactics."

The two Isabelles are two people standing at the top of the circle of French film actresses. People like Sophie Marceau are not at the same level in terms of status, acting skills and awards.

Martin recognized Melanie's voice-over, but said nothing more.

Kathleen Kennedy asked: "The festival hasn't even started yet and Huppert already has a suitable choice for the Palme d'Or?"

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

David Fincher also understood at this time: "The director of Isabelle Huppert's masterpiece The Piano Teacher." Melanie said: "Isabelle Huppert claims to be a student of Michael Haneke. She and Haneke are both teachers and friends. As long as The White Ribbon is of good quality, the Palme d'Or will be a foregone conclusion."

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

Martin just sighed in his heart that the Cannes Film Festival had not yet begun, but four-fifths of the Palme d'Or had already gone to a certain film.

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 build their reputation and make a lot of money next year.

Of course, all of this is based on reality.

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

Kathleen Kennedy looked at David Fincher. Even at her level, she still had to consider Fincher's thoughts.

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

Melanie said: "Martin is very well-known in France. My people can get in touch with Huppert and will recommend Martin to her."

Kathleen Kennedy said directly: "You invited Isabelle Huppert and several more judges to attend the premiere of the film."

According to the rules of the film festival, once the 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 unit.

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

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

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

David Fincher's ability lies in filming and producing movies. Since the meeting began, he has always felt that he has no room to show his talents at the film festival. Finally, he heard a question that he could answer, and he immediately said, "John Travolta and Tom Cruise are the two most famous members of Scientology in Hollywood."

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

Kathleen Kennedy felt relieved. If every actor was as proactive as Martin and could think of solutions, how much more worry would the production crew and investors have to worry about?
Martin left the meeting room and returned to his room. He first called Jessica and asked her to be responsible for communicating with the Korean side. He soon received positive feedback.

Then he found Tom Cruise's private phone number and called him.

Martin didn't expect that the favor he received from Tom Cruise would be used so soon.

However, this kind of favor will not be very useful after a long time.

Now is the time.

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

Martin smiled and said, "Tom, I need your help with something..."

…………

The Cannes Film Festival is about to open, and the main personnel of the crews who are determined to compete for the heavyweight awards have arrived in Cannes early.

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

Harvey, an expert in award operations, had long noticed the relationship between Isabelle Huppert, Michael Haneke and "The White Ribbon". Knowing that it would be too difficult to compete for the Palme d'Or, he turned his attention to the Jury Prize and Best Actor.

On a quiet night, Harvey and Quentin knocked on a door together.

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

Harvey smiled and said, "The film festival hasn't started yet."

The two sides had worked together on "Pulp Fiction" and were acquaintances. After a casual attempt to get closer, Quentin said directly: "We are old friends. You have to support me this time."

John responded: "I definitely support you personally!" He spread his hands and said: "You know the award mechanism of the film festival. I am just an ordinary judge. My personal support for you cannot guarantee that you will win. Isabelle Huppert is the key."

Xavi is confident: "I will handle Huppert."

He thought the Oscar would appeal to Per.

John nodded, "I have no problem with that."

Harvey and Quentin didn't stay long and soon said goodbye and left.

John sent them back when his cell phone rang. It was the leader calling. He answered the phone and said a few words. He was silent for a moment after hanging up.

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

Of course John wouldn't tell them, and if they asked, he would be vague.

(End of this chapter)