Bab 433: Chapter 433: Fighting Against Hollywood
It was evening, and the parking lot by Will Rogers State Beach was buzzing.
Jennifer Aniston leaned back in her seat, passionately kissing Arthur. "Mmm..."
Arthur unbuttoned her shirt and slid his hand inside her bra, feeling the softness. Jennifer Aniston reached down and tore open Arthur's pants.
Suddenly, Jennifer tightened her embrace around him. "Arthur, is Winona off filming Father of the Bride 2?"
"Yeah," Arthur replied with a smile, casually pulling down her bra. "What's the matter? Missing her? We can always catch up next time!"
Jennifer playfully bit down on Arthur's shoulder. "I saw her last time I was in New York. She's got a movie coming out in June, My Best Friend's Wedding, and wants me to attend the premiere."
Shortly after, Arthur leaned back in his seat, holding Jennifer Aniston close, and lit up a post-coital cigarette.
"We should head back. I've got to go to the Cannes Film Festival soon," Arthur said, mentioning that his ship, the Black Pearl, had already arrived in the Mediterranean, and Nicole Kidman would be there in a few days!
"Don't you want to check out Bad Boys when it premieres this Friday?"
"Eh, they're all newcomers. Not much to get excited about."
...
With the Cannes Film Festival opening, discussions about European cinema started to heat up, especially concerning France as the center of European film.
The French market was flooded with Hollywood releases, prompting many French filmmakers to call for resistance against Hollywood's invasion!
Off the coast of Cannes, aboard the Black Pearl, Arthur sipped champagne and glanced over at Cristiana Reali. "The entertainment scene in France is really buzzing lately, isn't it?"
French magazines like Film Handbook, Le Monde, and Liberation published various opinions from local filmmakers about Hollywood movies!
Cristiana Reali smiled. "There are quite a few supporters on both sides, but generally, those committed to artistic creation have some advantages."
Arthur sneered. "Luc Besson had to run off to Hollywood to shoot a movie like Leon: The Professional. Before it even premiered, his credentials were questioned by some French media!"
Currently, commercial and popular filmmaking in France faced severe setbacks, while on the other hand, some resisted in the name of arts over commerce.
But France had a strong lineup of commercial directors. With Luc Besson at the forefront and the support from French film leaders like Gaumont and Pathe, they were fighting Hollywood with Hollywood's own methods!
Cristiana Reali kissed Arthur on the cheek. "The WTO started this year, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade from the '40s. In last year's eighth round of negotiations, the U.S. showed quite a determination in urging Europe to open its markets and increase the freedom of trade in film services. Now, Hollywood wants to dominate the global film market!"
Arthur blinked. "It's a shame, really. Europeans invented cinema, and early on, French films were much more impressive than today's Hollywood. However, the two World Wars really hampered the industrialization of European cinema. A large number of talented individuals migrated to Hollywood, making it the center of the global film industry."
For Hollywood today, the European film industry looked like a rural operation.
European audiences willingly flooded theaters to enjoy Hollywood films!
"There are also a lot of political factors involved. You know what France was like before May 1968," Cristiana Reali said as she leaned back on the couch. "With the establishment of the WTO, global trade will undoubtedly become more accessible. Does MGM France have plans coming up?"
For years, Cristiana had stayed in France overseeing Galaxy's operations, witnessing its rise firsthand.
"They plan to partner with local cinemas in French-speaking countries like Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg to invest in a chain of multiplexes!"
To distribute independently, they needed to have cinemas; initial investments could lead to selling theater shares in the future.
"Those massive multiplexes in the States are undoubtedly attractive to audiences, and Gaumont and Pathe are following suit," she mentioned, noting that Pathe was currently the largest chain in France.
Arthur pulled Cristiana closer into his embrace. "No rush. The people from Galaxy Theater will also come here to conduct research and then join local brands through investments. We don't need to hold the reins; we're just laying the foundation for Galaxy's film distribution!"
As he spoke, Arthur leaned in and kissed Cristiana's neck, basking in her softness.
"Mmm, Arthur, is Sophie promoting Braveheart? Will she come to Cannes?" Cristiana asked as she nestled against him, enjoying the moment.
"I don't think she'll make it to Cannes. Braveheart releases in North America in a week, and afterward, she'll be heading to Paris. I'll come find you guys then," Arthur said, kissing her on the lips!
It just so happened that Cristiana had some business in Paris and wouldn't stay in Cannes for too long.
*****
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