Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Box Office Poison
In Hampstead, North London, Charles bought a new two-story villa with a garden, spending 7 million pounds for more than 900 square meters of living space.
Hampstead Heath, known as the 'lungs of London,' has vast green areas, near Parliament Hill, Hampstead Park, and Golf Club. It's one of London's old rich neighborhoods.
Compared to the bustling Knightsbridge, Hampstead is much more low-key and quieter!
Charles leaned into Eva Green's arms, flipping through a newspaper, "The screenwriters' strike, many actors joined in and started a shift system."
The Hollywood screenwriters' strike had been ongoing for a week with no sign of improvement. Not only did the Mayor of Los Angeles urge both sides to negotiate again, but even California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was also lobbying for a resolution between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America.
"It seems quite serious, with many people participating in the strike," Eva Green reminded.
"Over 45% of the screenwriters in the West Coast Guild are unemployed. Even those with jobs often have side gigs," Charles shook his head and then pulled out another newspaper, smiling. "You French are probably the most familiar with such scenes, right?"
Strikes were a daily occurrence in France.
This fall, not long after his ambitious social security reform plan, newly elected President Sarkozy faced widespread strikes.
On October 18, the long-planned nationwide railway strike took place, paralyzing the entire French rail network for 24 hours. Then, on October 28, airlines held a 24-hour strike, causing all airports in France to shut down simultaneously. Yesterday, seven major unions of the French National Railway Company (SNCF), out of a total of eight unions where only the Independent Train Drivers' Union announced non-participation, officially declared an "indefinite strike!"
Thus, the railway strike ignited a massive strike across all public sectors in France, followed immediately by the Paris Public Transport Company and others, protesting the social security reforms together.
Eva Green felt a bit awkward, and Charles teased, "Spring work, summer vacation, autumn strikes, and winter holidays. The French really have it good!"
Thinking about his own tough life in his past life, the French seemed so privileged.
"Maybe it's the economic downturn now; you know how big the impact of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis is," Eva Green defended.
"Well, your strikes are as common as eating and drinking, anyway," Charles didn't worry, knowing the old imperialist nations were wealthy and their high welfare policies bred many parasites.
"So, how's Thor coming along?"
"Not bad, the demands on the actors aren't high, mainly focusing on the special effects," Eva Green had confidence in this aspect.
"Has Jordan Scott's Cracks started filming yet?" Charles didn't need to worry about the mess in Hollywood now, given the strikes.
Capet International Pictures' UK branch had just released Atonement with good results and feedback. Cracks was also a British film and should continue the success.
"Ah, Jordan contacted me before, planning to start filming after the New Year. She's still casting!"
Eva Green, with her Bond girl fame and starring in Thor, had no shortage of popularity. Among non-English-speaking European actresses, she was one of the best.
"That's good," Charles now had the energy to focus on European films. Capet International Pictures' French branch and EuropaCorp were about to finish shooting Taken; the Spanish branch had created Woody Allen's drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona this year. Moreover, the French film La Vie en Rose was pretty good this year. Who knows how the adaptation of The Intouchables was coming along?
Just as Charles was thinking about this, his phone, placed on the side, rang. Nicole Kidman was calling.
"What is it, Nicole?" Charles sat up, one hand holding the phone, the other around Eva Green.
"Uh, I'm pregnant and need to withdraw from The Reader," Nicole Kidman explained hurriedly over the phone, "I didn't want to, but luckily Anthony Minghella and Scott Rudin found Kate Winslet to replace me! You don't blame me, do you?"
"Of course not," Charles was only surprised for a moment, "Has Kate Winslet finished Revolutionary Road?"
"Yes, finished. She has the schedule now, and director Stephen Daldry likes her too!"
Charles sighed, "Nicole, your luck is terrible! Another good opportunity missed."
"Oh, I really wanted to act in the movies you like. The Invasion released in August failed, so now the papers are directly calling me box office poison!"
The Invasion, with an 80 million dollar production cost, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, managed only 15 million dollars at the North American box office and 25 million dollars overseas, totaling 40 million dollars worldwide. A huge loss.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you have another fantasy film The Golden Compass releasing this month, also with Daniel Craig," Charles glanced at Eva Green in his arms, who also played a witch in The Golden Compass.
"There's also Margot at the Wedding premiering today," Nicole Kidman reminded over the phone.
"Take good care of your baby!" Charles genuinely admired Nicole Kidman, The Golden Compass next month flopped, this year's drama-war film Australia also did; her choices were simply astounding!
After hanging up the phone, Charles couldn't help but chuckle. Box office poison indeed.
The Oscar-winning Nicole Kidman had faced continuous box office failures since 2004.
Whether it was low-budget films like Dogville, Birth, Fur, or Margot at the Wedding, or big productions like The Stepford Wives, Bewitched, The Interpreter, and The Invasion, they all failed miserably.
Last year, her animated film Happy Feet, where she voiced a character, was the only one that didn't lose money, and most of her films not only had low box office earnings but also poor reviews.
This year, Nicole Kidman hoped to make a comeback with two big productions, The Invasion and The Golden Compass.
However, The Invasion had already bombed, and Margot at the Wedding, an art house film, was unlikely to succeed. They had to pin hopes on The Golden Compass next month to turn things around.
Box office poison, truly terrifying!
*****
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