Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Metropolis Remake?
Francis Ford Coppola's new film Youth Without Youth left Charles completely uninterested and untouched after watching it.
If it wasn't for Sofia Coppola's invitation, Charles would never have wasted his time on this type of film.
In the evening, Charles and Scarlett Johansson went to Coppola's estate in Napa Valley. As a famous wine-producing region in California, Napa Valley was well-known.
Napa City, located between San Francisco and Sacramento, was just a small town. Francis Ford Coppola started purchasing land and vineyards in the valley back in the 1970s.
Now, Coppola Winery had become an American wine brand. Through over thirty years of development, the entire Coppola estate owned more than 2,000 acres of land, with over 300 acres dedicated to vineyards.
The Coppola estate displayed many props from Francis Ford Coppola's previous movies, including posters and costumes from the Godfather series, and prop guns and theater photos from Apocalypse Now.
"Remake the 1927 German silent film Metropolis?" Charles was astonished hearing this idea from Sofia Coppola at the Coppola estate.
The 1927 Metropolis, a classic sci-fi film from the silent era, was considered the peak of expressionism. But by today's standards, the story wasn't that novel anymore!
It told the story of humans divided into two classes living in two completely different worlds. However, a great change began when the son of the ruler of Metropolis fell in love with a girl from the underground city.
"How about you take a look at the proposal? Maybe you'll like it?" Sofia Coppola, of course, hoped Charles would invest. After all, her father had this idea for Metropolis for over a decade, but unfortunately, couldn't find investors.
Charles nodded, "I'll take the proposal back and look it over!"
No matter what, Charles couldn't directly embarrass Sofia Coppola.
After chatting for a bit with Francis Ford Coppola, Charles left Napa with Scarlett Johansson and returned to Sacramento.
Francis Ford Coppola was living off the perks from the success of the Godfather series. Other than Apocalypse Now, he didn't really produce any notable works.
"Sofia, get some rest early. This Metropolis idea has been around for years, and no one wanted to invest in it to begin with. We can't force it," Francis reminded his daughter.
Sofia smiled and nodded. From the look on Charles' face after reading the summary, it was clear that he had no interest in the project.
The Coppola family's glory all stemmed from the high status of the Godfather series in film history!
After returning to the Courtyard by Marriott in Sacramento, Charles called Phyllis Jones in Los Angeles.
"Francis Ford Coppola's project? The company received the proposal but eliminated it in the first round!" Phyllis Jones responded after checking. Despite being a renowned director, Francis Ford Coppola's project was discussed by a dedicated team at the company.
"Hollywood film companies and producers don't see much potential in his Metropolis project. The initial funding was his own, but when he couldn't secure further investments, he stopped. Then he made this low-budget film Youth Without Youth," said Phyllis.
"Alright, I understand. Metropolis indeed doesn't seem worth investing in; the story's a mess," Charles acknowledged, though he respected Coppola for creating the Godfather. But you couldn't just ignore business because he's the Godfather's director; business is business.
In reality, Charles held more respect for directors like Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan over Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Jackson, and George Lucas.
Because the latter three rested on the laurels of a single series, producing mostly failed works otherwise, while Scott and Nolan continuously delivered quality films, with more than just one or two renowned works.
At night, after his tussle with Scarlett Johansson, Charles cuddled with her to keep warm.
"Seems like there weren't many people at Coppola's estate tonight!" Scarlett Johansson remarked, always having thought of Coppola as a big figure.
"It was just a private screening. How many people would be there? Coppola's more like a winemaker now than a Hollywood director," Charles said while caressing her sleek body.
"Pity though!" Scarlett Johansson sighed.
"Pity? Coppola's winery is worth at least $200 million now. With further development, it's not any less prestigious than some directors and big stars," Charles said, squeezing her chest a bit.
...
Spending a few days vacationing at Lake Tahoe, Charles was sure not to be bored.
About 100 kilometers from Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, nestled between the Sierra Nevada and Carson Ranges, is the largest alpine lake in America and the second deepest. It's shared by California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California and one-third in Nevada.
The water in Lake Tahoe is crystal clear and a deep blue. It's renowned as a skiing and summer resort with a unique dual character: luxury casino hotels on the Nevada side and the rustic charm of the California side's Paradise Resort.
South Lake Tahoe City, located on the southern shore, is the largest city around Lake Tahoe. At the end of the lakeside road in the suburbs sat Charles' new vacation villa in the woods.
With a 1,500-square-meter lot, the three-story building faced Lake Tahoe directly. A pier stretched into the lake, and the clear blue water was mesmerizing.
"In winter, you can come skiing. There are countless ski resorts nearby and several casino resorts to the east. It's definitely the perfect weekend getaway for folks from the Bay Area," Charles lay on a deck chair on the pier, enjoying the sun and breeze from Lake Tahoe.
Scarlett Johansson, wearing a green bikini, came over with two glasses of champagne, sat down beside Charles, handed him a glass, and then took off her sunglasses with a sigh.
"What's the matter? The scenery here is lovely," Charles took a sip of champagne. Scarlett seemed unhappy.
"Sigh, I got a call from my agent. I need to shoot an ad for Moet Champagne!" Scarlett Johansson said, giving Charles a playful scolding glance.
"Well, I'm just a small shareholder of LV, rarely involved in LV affairs," Charles laughed. Moet Champagne is an LV brand.
Then, Charles cuddled Scarlett Johansson and kissed her, leaving more indulgence for next time!
*****
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