America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Chapter 497 The Key Point of Cannes (Alliance Hierarch Additional Release 2)

```Since Cannes does not have an airport, crews coming to attend the film festival have to fly into Nice and then take a car to Cannes.

Martin emerged from the airport, joined Mene and Bruce in the same car, and had not even left the parking lot when he received a call from Nicholson in Los Angeles.

"You've arrived in France, right? There's something I need you to keep an eye on," Nicholson said, timing his call with the flight schedules. "The 'Burning Plain' crew will be presenting at the Cannes Film Festival. Jennifer Lawrence is there in Cannes, and I've told her to contact you if she runs into any trouble."

Martin was loyal and replied, "No problem, your little girlfriend is in my care."

That comment was a bit ambiguous, and Nicholson specifically remarked, "I'm asking you to look after her, not to take her to bed, you bastard!"

Martin got angry, "You old bastard, do you think I'm that kind of person?" He retorted, "Go around Los Angeles and Atlanta and ask, who doesn't know that I, Martin Davis, value brotherhood above all else!"

Nicholson burst out laughing, "Just letting you know, normally there shouldn't be any issues."

Martin hung up the phone.

Mene frowned in thought, "The movie 'Burning Plain' sounds somewhat familiar."

Martin had not heard of it, "Sounds like an art film."

Bruce, however, was aware, "Our neighbor, Charlize Theron, is the lead actress in that film."

Martin nodded, "A victim of the Oscar curse, she won Best Actress and then took on a big commercial production, aiming to become a box office-fighting star like Julia Roberts. But when the box office bombed, she returned to art films."

Mene asked, "Boss, the Oscar curse applies only to Best Actress winners, doesn't it?"

"Pretty much," Martin replied without recalling in detail, casually saying, "Most male stars who win the Oscar for Best Actor then see their careers climb to a new level. There may be some unlucky ones, but the ratio is much smaller compared to Best Actress winners."

The crew arrived in Cannes and checked into the five-star Wuyang Hotel.

This hotel was located just over 100 meters from both the Festival Palace and the Seaside Boulevard beach and was filled to capacity every year during the film festival.

Since neither Warner Bros. nor Paramount Pictures were intent on competing for Best Actress, Kate Blanchett planned to arrive from England on the day of the film's premiere, rather than coming over early to work the scene like Martin and David Fincher did.

The three major European film festivals likewise have Oscar-like game rules.

In each festival, the influence of the head of the jury in that year's awards selection is terrifyingly significant.

When actresses like Isabel Adjani, who leads her sect, chaired the jury, she not only quarreled with all the jury members that year to ensure directors and films she appreciated won awards, but also caused a scene like the characters she played, fighting tooth and nail with the Cannes Film Festival Committee, ending up with a shared Palme d'Or that year.

Such situations are not uncommon at the three major European film festivals, like Quentin promoting his ex-girlfriend Coppola at the Venice Film Festival and so on.

It just goes to show that wherever there are people, there will be conflicts and strife.

After checking into the hotel, Martin, David Fincher, and Producer Kathleen Kennedy took a brief rest before joining up with the French production manager, Henri, and headed to the reserved conference room.

The Cannes public relations manager, Melanie, employed by the crew, was already waiting there.

She shook hands with each of the four, had her assistant turn on the projection screen, stepped up to the head of the conference table, and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, there's been a change."

Martin looked toward the projection screen, which displayed the list of this year's jury members.

Melanie said, "Because of internal issues within the film festival committee, this year's jury was announced a week later than normal. The jury president is still Isabel Huppert, and other members include Shu Qi, Lee Chang-dong, James Gray, Aisha Akido, John Travolta..."

Kathleen Kennedy stated, "Two are from Hollywood; James Gray has worked with DreamWorks, I can handle him."

Martin raised his hand, "Lee Chang-dong is South Korean, I have a way with him."

David Fincher spoke honestly, "I make films, networking isn't my forte, and I'm not familiar with any of them."

Melanie glanced at Fincher, switched on her laser pointer, and the red dot landed on Isabel Huppert's name. She got straight to the point, "The jury president's opinion is most important. If we win Isabel over, our chances of victory greatly increase."

Everyone in the room knew this.

If Isabel Huppert favored the film and it similarly garnered the support of two or three other jurors, it was certain to win a major award.

The award sharing at the three major European film festivals was even more blatant than at the Oscars.

As a professional in Cannes public relations, Melanie had already done her re

Harvey was confident, "I'll take care of Huppert."

He felt the Oscars would have appeal to her.

John nodded, "That settles it for me."

Harvey and Quentin didn't stay long and soon took their leave.

As John saw them off, his phone began to ring; it was the call from the Sect Hierarch. He answered with a few words, then hung up and remained silent for a moment.

This time, he would have to apologize to Harvey and Quentin.

John, of course, wouldn't mention it; if they inquired, he would give an evasive answer.