Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 644 Hollywood's Backyard

Every March, there is the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, known as "March Madness," along with college spring break, the Oscars, and so on.
Springtime in March is very lively in the United States, attracting a lot of attention.

Even this year, with Nasdaq tech and internet stocks inflating to an alarming degree and Wall Street like oil on fire, Los Angeles remains a scene of extravagance and debauchery.

Countless parties, cocktail parties, and press conferences are held, and countless glamorous Hollywood stars enjoy the spotlight and extravagance in luxury hotels!

"What? You're saying that France is a good place to shoot a blockbuster and they've invited you to be the lead actress?"

In the bedroom of the villa in Mandeville Canyon, Beverly Hills, Aaron lay on top of Sophie Marceau, looking at the beautiful, mature, and sexy woman beneath him with a look of surprise on his face.

A French director making a blockbuster? Wasn't the blow from Luc Besson's "Joan of Arc" just big enough?

Sophie Marceau rolled her eyes at the man on top of her. "France makes commercial films too. The script is adapted from Arthur Benedet's 1920s mystery horror novel, *The Phantom of the Louvre*."

"The development of 'Phantom of the Louvre' has cost over 1 million francs!"

Of course, 1 million francs is less than 2000 million US dollars at the current exchange rate, but it is a huge investment for a French film.
After all, they can't be compared to Luc Besson. Both "The Fifth Element" and "Joan of Arc" were developed according to the Hollywood commercial film model. The former cost 4.5 million francs, and the latter also cost 4 million francs.

Moreover, Arthur Benedetto's horror novel "The Phantom of the Louvre" has been adapted twice: the earliest silent film of the same name, "The Phantom of the Louvre," and the miniseries in the 1960s!

The main story revolves around a ghost from the Louvre entering the body of a girl named Lisa and stealing ancient Egyptian treasures.

Aaron smiled. "French commercial films, well, only comedies are somewhat good, or Luc Besson's Hollywood-style commercial films."

"Any other directors in France who can handle commercially successful drama films?"

Sophie Marceau scratched Aaron's back and kissed him. "The director is Jean-Paul Salome, quite famous in France."

"Furthermore, the production team is trying to get inside the Louvre to film!"

It's worth noting that the world-famous Louvre Museum has never allowed a film crew to shoot inside before.

"Are there any Hollywood film companies involved in the investment?"

"No, the main investors are all French, including cinemas, television stations, and film funds."

"What, are New Moon Pictures or Twilight Pictures also interested in getting involved?"

Sophie Marceau smiled, flipped over and pinned the man down, her chestnut hair flying in the wind, exuding French charm!

Aaron shook his head. "If Dawn gets involved, it will definitely change the style of this film. The French filmmakers probably won't accept it."

Without a doubt, "Phantom of the Louvre" was another attempt by French cinema to move towards commercialization. Now, Luc Besson has retired from directing and is mainly managing EuropaCorp, which he founded.

France certainly needs other commercial films, but in Aaron's view, too much stubbornness has made the French inexperienced in the film industry and simply unable to control such a purely commercial film.

“That’s true, and besides, movies of this caliber really don’t interest Hollywood,” Sophie Marceau said, pressing her arm against the man’s chest.

“However, in recent years I have mainly been filming in Hollywood. This time, producer Alain Sader and director Jean-Paul Salome invited me to return to France to make a film, so I couldn’t refuse!” Moreover, as one of the most dazzling stars in French cinema today, Sophie Marceau is currently very famous.

The decision to invite Sophie Marceau to "Phantom of the Louvre" was also intended to leverage her fame, and having her serve as one of the film's producers also reflected a desire to align with Hollywood.

The North American market is a place that commercial films from all over the world want to conquer!

Aaron thought for a moment and then reminded her, "Right now, among French actresses, no one has the commercial value to match you."

"In the arts and culture world, even the extremely famous Juliette Binoche is not as famous as you. The fact that 'The Phantom of the Louvre' approached you is also a form of insurance."

"However, French films often have some neurotic and boring scenes, which are extremely chaotic. This is a major taboo in commercial films. If you're going to make a fantasy thriller, you must focus on the plot and mystery, and create suspense."

"Actually, I really don't have a high opinion of so-called French commercial films. French films are not made for the audience!"

Sophie Marceau lay down to the side, her sexy and alluring body on display, and said, "Maybe it's because I've been in Hollywood for too long, but now when I think about things, I always consider them from a business perspective."

“I suggested they approach Luc Besson to work on the script adaptation.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea,” Aaron said, propping his head up and looking at the woman, reaching out to stroke her soft skin. “When it comes to understanding commercial films, there’s really no one in France who can compare to Luc Besson.”

"The French action comedy 'Taxi' is pretty good, isn't it written and produced by Luc Besson?"

Taxi was released in 1998, and its sequel, Taxi 2, will be released in France at the end of this month.

Sophie Marceau said somewhat helplessly, "Unfortunately, Luc Besson is the president of the jury at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival this year, and he's quite busy."

"There's not much time before the Cannes International Film Festival in May."

Aaron shook his head, got up, went to the sofa, poured himself a glass of wine, and said, "It's nothing serious, anyway, you're mainly making Hollywood films now."

Even if "Phantom Crisis" fails, it won't affect you much!

Sophie Marceau got out of bed, pulled on her pajamas, walked slowly to Aaron's side, poured him a glass of wine, and then lit a cigarette.

"Hollywood films are becoming increasingly dominant globally, in Europe, Asia, and Latin America."

"My friends in France told me that the EU is now very worried about the Hollywood film invasion!"

Aaron's lips twitched. "Uh, for so many years, hasn't Europe always been Hollywood's backyard?"

The French have always been proud and arrogant, with a strong sense of national pride, and they look down on Hollywood in various ways.

Right now, the French market is still flooded with Hollywood's "movie industry garbage"!
Sophie Marceau glanced at Aaron, "Vivendi took control of Pathé last year, seemingly wanting to enter Hollywood..."

(End of this chapter)