Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Two Great Goddesses
As the Cannes Film Festival continued, more and more people from around the world flocked to Cannes. Filmmakers, media professionals, and tourists were arriving one after another.
On the 19th, Marion Cotillard had already followed the cast and crew of The Da Vinci Code back to the United States for promotional work.
Charles had also begun organizing his own work. His suite at the Eden-Roc Hotel in Cannes had essentially become his office. Sitting on the sofa, Charles took a sip of his coffee.
"Sophie Marceau had another wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet!"
"Sexy goddess Monica Bellucci and her actor husband Vincent Cassel appeared hand in hand on the red carpet."
"Spanish bombshell Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar attended the premiere of Volver on the red carpet!"
The newspapers on the coffee table were all reporting on the latest happenings at the Cannes Film Festival.
"That Spanish film by Pedro Almodovar, Volver, has received good reviews. Which company is the North American distributor?"
His assistant Phyllis Jones replied, "Sony Classics, Warner Independent, Fox Searchlight, and The Weinstein Company all seem interested in this Spanish film. Volver grossed $12 million in Spain when it was released in March and over $15 million in France. Volver has received high praise, so it's no surprise that North American independent distributors are interested!"
"This film is good. Capet Pictures will participate in the bidding. I estimate the North American market could also bring in over $10 million," Charles said. Capet Pictures was also an independent film company, but it had developed some major productions recently, giving it a different status.
"Alright, I'll notify the team!"
"Has the opening weekend box office for The Da Vinci Code come out yet?" Charles checked his watch. It was already evening, and France was only eight or nine hours ahead of Los Angeles. The results should have been available by noon.
"Oh, it's out!" Phyllis Jones smacked her forehead, almost forgetting. She quickly pulled out a report from her folder.
"The Da Vinci Code opened in 3,780 theaters in North America and grossed $79.5 million over the opening weekend. Our movie is a success!"
Charles took the report. The opening weekend almost hit $80 million, and there was no doubt it was the weekly box office champion.
Mission: Impossible III was in its third weekend, with the weekend box office dropping to $11.3 million, and its total North American box office crossed $100 million.
Warner Brothers' disaster film Poseidon was even worse. It opened in 3,560 theaters last week, grossing $22.4 million, but after 10 days, the total North American box office was only $36.8 million.
"Poseidon is indeed a disaster, but unfortunately, it's a box office disaster," Charles chuckled. Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema had been riding high with the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings series in recent years.
"This Friday, 20th Century Fox's comic book movie X-Men: The Last Stand will be our main competitor," Charles noted with a sense of relief about leaving the Deadpool character when they acquired Marvel.
'Mission: Impossible III doesn't have great word-of-mouth and is already losing steam. It won't hit the $150 million mark in North America.'
Charles had brought the live-action Transformers series under his wing, and soon Paramount would part ways with Tom Cruise.
'Mission: Impossible 4 will be a critical revival for the series. Should I take this opportunity to get involved?'
Cruise/Wagner Productions owned the production rights to the Mission: Impossible series, while Paramount held the distribution rights.
It was similar to the 007 series, where the production rights were held by the Broccoli family's Danjaq, LLC, and the distribution rights were held by MGM/UA.
"Phyllis, keep an eye on Tom Cruise's news. Maybe we'll have the chance to collaborate," Charles planned. Maybe he could bring Tom Cruise on board after Paramount gave him the boot.
"Sure thing!"
...
In Cannes, a grand ball was held in the Hyatt Martinez Hotel on the Promenade de la Croisette.
Charles was chatting with one of Europe's two great goddesses, Monica Bellucci. Monica had come to Cannes specifically to promote her new movie, The Stone Council.
"Charles! It's been a while, hasn't it?" Monica Bellucci hugged Charles. Her voluptuous and sensual figure indeed sparked imaginations.
"It certainly has been some time," Charles smiled and gave Monica a cheek kiss. Since they had previously worked together on The Passion of the Christ, Charles knew Monica Bellucci.
As one of Europe's top goddesses, the Italian national treasure Monica Bellucci, although already 42 years old, remained irresistibly attractive with her mature and sexy charm.
"What projects have you been working on lately?" Charles asked Monica Bellucci.
"Just finished filming an action movie by New Line Cinema called Shoot 'Em Up, with Clive Owen!" Monica Bellucci shrugged and smiled.
"Shoot 'Em Up!" Charles thought for a moment - it seemed to be a gunfight action movie. But Monica Bellucci would undoubtedly also have a sensual performance in it.
Ever since she became a global sensation in 2000 with Malena, Monica Bellucci had quickly gained Hollywood's attention.
Afterward, she participated in the latter two sequels of The Matrix series and co-starred with Bruce Willis in the war film Tears of the Sun.
In contrast to Sophie Marceau, who had been mostly making movies in Europe, Monica Bellucci had appeared in Hollywood films more frequently.
"You know, in Hollywood movies, I'm just the synonym for sexy," Monica Bellucci explained self-deprecatingly.
Charles looked at Monica Bellucci again and responded with a smile, "Being sexy and capturing the attention of men worldwide isn't an easy feat!"
Monica Bellucci shook her head and laughed, "Showing off the body and breasts in movies?"
Charles replied, "The body is also a part of art, isn't it? It's a form of artistic expression!"
Monica Bellucci nodded in agreement, endorsing Charles's perspective, having starred in many movies that showcased her body.
"Maybe, next time the media criticizes my nude scenes in movies, I can use your words to shut them up!" Monica Bellucci covered her mouth and laughed.
"Absolutely," Charles said, looking at Monica Bellucci's smiling face, thinking how gorgeous she must have been when younger!
Besides, Monica Bellucci had been married for several years by then.
"Next time you're in Hollywood, let's grab a meal together," Charles invited.
Monica Bellucci looked at Charles and gladly agreed.
"Monica, Charles, good evening!" Sophie Marceau, known as the French Kiss, walked over.
"Good evening, Sophie!"
Monica Bellucci and Charles each hugged Sophie Marceau, the other great European goddess.
Monica Bellucci's current husband was a French actor, and she had starred in several French films, so she knew Sophie Marceau.
Charles had also met Sophie Marceau a few years back when he visited France, so he recognized her too.
Monica Bellucci's current French movie, The Stone Council, initially had Sophie Marceau set to play the lead role.
Sophie Marceau had declined the role, and the producers then approached Monica Bellucci to replace her.
"I'm really happy now, being able to hug both goddesses of Europe," Charles joked, holding Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci, each of whom planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Charles, are you also a fan of Monica?" Sophie Marceau suddenly winked at Charles. At 40 years old, Sophie Marceau showed her playful side.
"Of course I'm her fan," Charles answered without hesitation, considering he had said he was Sophie Marceau's fan when he first met her in France.
Seeing her husband, Monica Bellucci smiled, bid farewell to Charles and Sophie Marceau, and said, "I need to go over there, you two chat!"
"So, she married a Frenchman?" Charles looked disappointed and regretful after Monica Bellucci left.
"Hmm, isn't it true that you have some French ancestry too, Charles?" Sophie Marceau said, still hugged by her fan.
"Not the same!" Charles shook his head.
"Charles, shouldn't you let go of me?" Sophie Marceau asked with a helpless smile.
"Can't a fan get close to his idol?" Charles was nonchalant; wasn't France a country that pursued romance?
"Looks like you do prefer French women!" Sophie Marceau laughed.
Charles smiled and released her, and both sat on the sofa. He asked, "Sophie, I heard you've become a director again?"
In 2002, Sophie Marceau wrote and directed her first film, Speak to Me of Love, winning the Best Director Award at the 26th Montreal World Film Festival.
"Yes, it's a police thriller. This time I'm directing and acting in it," said Sophie Marceau, who didn't star in her first directed film.
If Charles remembered correctly, that movie was called Trivial. However, he had doubts about Sophie Marceau's directing abilities.
"Come to my place, I'd like to hear your story!"
Sophie Marceau nodded and followed Charles, preparing to leave the Hyatt Martinez Hotel and head to Charles's suite at the Eden Rock Hotel.
*****
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