Jack Valenty smiled undiminishedly and said to Eric, who was full of doubts: "Little one, Jurassic Park has caused a lot of trouble for my old man during this time. ”

Eric had already guessed something and asked, "What about the GATT?"

"Yes," Jack Valenti nodded, "You should know that I have been working on the GATT provisions on films for several years, and many things have been almost negotiated, but since the release of "Jurassic Park" in early June, there has been a relatively strong backlash in European countries. Jack Valenty said, glanced up at Eric, and continued with a smile: "I wanted to talk to you about this since last month, but you little guy has been unpredictable, and I am very busy with personal affairs, and I can't always find the right time, and this time I finally got my chance." ”

Eric was very aware of the final outcome of the GATT negotiations, so he was not too worried, and said, "Mr. Valenty, this time ......"

Jack Valenty waved his hand and said: "Listen to me first, regarding the negotiations of the GATT, we in Hollywood do not interfere in other aspects, but in the negotiation of films, in addition to the normal process, because of Hollywood's absolute dominant position, we also need to win over these European local film forces to speak for us, so as to force the governments of European countries to agree to include the film in the final agreement of the GATT to the greatest extent, in order to be able to find it accurately." Breakthrough point', Washington even used the power of the CIA, and everyone is sparing no effort to work on this matter. ”

Eric heard it clearly. If you are not the owner of Firefly Pictures. Jack Valenti wouldn't have said it so bluntly. In the face of some efforts by European government officials, there is naturally no need to worry about the seven major aspects, Hollywood is related to millions of jobs in the United States and billions of dollars in trade surplus every year, and it is impossible for the Washington authorities not to do their best, however, in terms of films. It is definitely necessary for the Seven National Congress itself to make its own efforts. The most violent conflict with Hollywood is, of course, the local film forces of European countries, if these people cannot be appeased, then, under the strong interference of such a force, even if the European governments are willing to compromise, it will be difficult to sign relevant agreements.

By this time, Eric had basically guessed the reason why Jack Valenty contacted him.

"Mr. Valenty, are you the ones outside?" said Eric, pointing in the direction of the hall outside the door.

Jack Valenty nodded and said, "So." Little one, this time. It's up to you to be generous and give these greedy guys some sweetness, so they won't come out to make trouble, and even speak for Hollywood. ”

Although Eric respects this old man who is running for the interests of Hollywood, he can't be a good money boy for no reason: "Mr. Valenty, this matter should be done by Hollywood, right?"

"Of course, everyone will do it together, I have already talked to Warner, Universal, Paramount and several film companies, but you should have heard the saying, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, the firefly has performed so dazzlingly in recent years, and it is also appropriate to pay more. ”

Eric realizes that he can't escape this time, although this matter is not mandatory, but if other film companies do what they should do, Firefly refuses to cooperate, maybe someone will make a note in the small notebook.

Although Jack Valenty just mentioned that "Jurassic Park" has brought trouble to his work, and he didn't complain too much, Eric can also see the huge resistance that "Jurassic Park" has brought to the negotiations of the "General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade" from the wind of the European media recently, and smiled helplessly: "Mr. Valenty, I can only say do my best, I'm not a superhero, if they want the lion to open their mouths, I think it's better to let them go to Captain America." ”

Jack Valenti laughed and said, "Your words are enough." ”

Eric asked again, "Mr. Valenty, can I know what the conditions of Warner's offer are?"

Jack Valenti nodded and said, "Of course, the main promises include the preferential licensing of the distribution rights of Hollywood films, and the receipt of a certain amount of European capital every year to participate in film investment without discrimination. ”

Investing, producing, and distributing Hollywood films can be said to be the two main ways for overseas capital to join Hollywood, and the current promise is nothing more than priority and indifference.

Hollywood movies are also good and bad, and blockbuster movies will definitely attract more competitors in the process of overseas distribution, and if you have priority at this time, it will be easier to get an agency distribution contract.

Indiscriminate investment is equivalent to investing a certain amount of money evenly into most of the films of a film company, rather than investing funds in projects that the film company is not optimistic about, or into the projects of a single production company, this model is equivalent to sharing profits and losses with the film company, the film company earns, the investors will definitely make money, the film company loses, and these investors will also lose money. And in recent years, there are not many film companies that lose money among the seven major Hollywood studios.

Eric thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Valenty, the issue of distribution rights can be discussed, but it is more difficult for Fireflies to accept the indiscriminate investment. ”

"These are all things that can be discussed," Jack Valenty smiled, "Of course I know about the situation of fireflies, and last year's profitability of fireflies made many people envious." However, I just want you to know that Eric ......" Jack Valenty retracted his expression, and even changed his more formal title: "This negotiation is related to the interests of the whole of Hollywood, so it is definitely not the time to be stingy, if this negotiation breaks down, the next negotiation to reach this level of progress does not know when it will be, the GATT has been torn since 1947, and it has been entangled for more than 40 years, during which it has broken down many times." And this time is the most complete. ”

Eric nodded solemnly. Although the memory of the 1993 GATT was successfully signed. But Eric wasn't sure if he would mess up something that was supposed to happen because of his butterfly.

Jack Valenti noticed Eric's expression, smiled with satisfaction, reached out and patted Eric's knee, and said, "Eric, you know, I can't force you to agree to anything. You are doing this for yourself, I don't get any benefits from this old man, although you are very young, but since you can make such achievements at this age, I think you must understand the stakes, although the seven Hollywood majors have always been competitive in China, but in the face of external forces, the interests are always the same, and everyone should go all out on major events related to the future of Hollywood's development. ”

Eric was able to realize. Jack Valenty is so serious, still because he feels too young. He could only nod solemnly again: "Mr. Valenty, I will do my best." ”

"Then I'm relieved," Jack Valenty stood up and said, "I don't know their specific requirements, you need to communicate with each other personally, let's go, these greedy guys must be in a hurry." ”

Back in the hall outside, the reception had already begun, and in the bright and brilliant lights, the hall was crowded with people, gathering in twos and threes, or toasting softly, or whispering, and there were also a couple of men and women on the dance floor dancing slowly to the sound of soft music.

However, the moment the door of a room on the west side of the hall opened, the whole hall seemed to be silent for a second, and then the atmosphere was restored. The same group of people who had greeted Eric in person also came over again.

Eric smiled as he conversed with the men, and before they knew it, they were in a relatively quiet corner where a set of sofas was set up.

The waiter brought champagne to everyone, and the host, Nicolas Seydoux, asked, "Eric, you don't seem to have a female companion?"

Because of the contract with several films, Claudia signed her endorsement contract and hurriedly returned to Los Angeles, and even the follow-up commercials had to be filmed in the Los Angeles studio, of course, it was impossible to stay in Europe to accompany Eric.

"Who left me without a girlfriend," Eric shrugged.

Everyone chuckled and Nicolas Seydoux continued: "French girls are very passionate and romantic, you can talk to them later." ”

Eric glanced at the men and women shuttling down the hall and smiled, "I'd like to talk to them now." ”

There was another burst of laughter in the corner.

A group of people said a few innocuous words, at this time the different forces basically got together, and even belonged to different countries, and in this case, of course, it was impossible to talk about specific things, Eric only revealed in the subsequent casual chat that he would continue to stay in Paris for a week or so, and hinted that the fireflies would cooperate with them to a certain extent, and everyone quickly dispersed satisfied. Jack Valenti didn't stay at the party for long, and within half an hour, the old man received a phone call and had to leave in a hurry.

Eric shuttled through the party hall, taking one business card after another from the people just now, and made some preliminary appointments, although there were no substantive issues involved in the conversation, but when these things were done, more than an hour still passed quietly.

Eric was just about to take a break when he happened to see a brunette in a black backless evening dress in the crowd, and then he remembered the theme of tonight's party, the celebration reception of "Fang Fang".

Although the plot of "Fangfang" is as scattered as ever like many French movies, the details are full of exquisiteness, the first meeting on a rainy night, dinner in a strange mansion, waking up on the beach, gazing in the mirror, etc., all have a deep impact, and Eric's favorite is undoubtedly Sophie's shot dancing in front of the mirror with a brisk jazz girl.

"Hello, Miss Marceau," Eric said without hesitation, changing a glass of wine from the waiter's hand, and the young man who was chatting with Sophie Marceau saw Eric, raised his glass consciously, and walked away.

Sophie Marceau seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and when facing Eric, a hint of irritability between her eyebrows was still relatively clear, as the most high-profile woman at the party. There must have been a lot of people who came to talk to them. Sophie Marceau knew Eric's identity. But his tone did not seem very warm, and he said lightly: "Hello, Mr. Williams, it's a pleasure to meet you." ”

Eric didn't mind the girl's cold tone, and when she looked at the French rose up close, it looked even more innocent and moving, and Sophie Marceau made Eric feel like a delicate work of art, even in her films. This woman was so beautiful that Eric often felt that such a stunner should not even appear in those rough art movies with blurry images.

Noticing the look between the girl's eyebrows, Eric asked, "Is there anything bothering you, Miss Marceau?"

"No, Mr. Williams," Sophie Marceau shook her head, and in a faint tone, raised her glass to Eric.

Eric took a sip of red wine before saying, "So." Let me guess, don't you really like this party?"

"So what?" said Sophie Marceau, raising an eyebrow slightly. Said.

Eric laughed, "If that's the case, maybe I can help you with this?"

"How to fix it?"

Eric said, "How about I take you away?"

"That's rude," Sophie Marceau shook her head.

Eric smiled, didn't answer immediately, made a gesture of invitation to Sophie Marceau, and walked out of the crowd, and Sophie Marceau followed with a little hesitation. Eric and Sophie Marceau dodged the crowd and came to the terrace of the villa, and a couple of men and women who had been chatting on the terrace noticed them coming, and the girl was about to say something, but the middle-aged man just patted the girl on the back, smiled and said hello to Eric, and left with his female companion.

The terrace is the same as this villa, with a small garden beneath the carved stone guardrail, which is lush under the bright street lamps of the manor, and the garden is also filled with figures.

Eric leaned comfortably on the stone railing, looked at the girl next to him and couldn't help but take a deep breath, and said, "Isn't it a lot easier?"

"Don't you like parties either?" asked Sophie Marceau.

"A party is supposed to be a place where people can have fun, and even if it's bad, it's supposed to be a place to relax after a long day at work. If the whole party is full of people approaching you for all sorts of purposes, I don't think anyone can get the pleasure they deserve from such a party. ”

Sophie Marceau followed Eric's example, leaning on the railing, dragging the red wine glass that was almost finished in her hand, and her expression suddenly showed a touch of girlish cunning: "Then what is the purpose of your approach to me?"

"I think I should have known you in my last life, so I came up and said hello," Eric said 'Tell the Truth'.

Sophie Marceau was stunned for a moment, and suddenly laughed, a twenty-seven-year-old woman, with a little baby fat on her face, a natural and innocent smile, and the girl raised her glass and touched Eric, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Williams, this is the most interesting conversation I've ever heard." ”

Eric took a sip of red wine and said, "Then what do you think is the success rate of my accosting this time?"

Sophie Marceau tilted her head and smiled: "Judging from the current situation, zero points, you must know that girls are the most hated men who hate rhetoric." ”

Eric sighed with regret, "Looks like I'm going to have to work harder." ”

Sophie Marceau said: "I think if you shift the target, the success rate may be perfect in an instant. ”

Eric nodded pretendedly, looked in the direction of the hall, as if picking something, and then, very appropriately, a small figure in a princess dress ran towards the two of them with a clattering step on the floor.

It was a little girl of seven or eight years old, small and with a white baby face.

"Eric, are you Eric, the director of the Great Dinosaur movie?" the girl was not in the slightest interest in Sophie Marceau, and rushed straight to Eric, and asked in French with a little face on her face.

Eric doesn't know much French, just some very simple everyday communication words, and he doesn't have much time to learn French in his current situation, and most of the people who talk to him at the whole party will take the initiative to use English, if it weren't for the unusually clear pronunciation of 'Eric' in the girl's pronunciation, Eric wouldn't even know what the little girl was talking about.

Helpless, Eric could only make a look of help to Sophie Marceau: "Sorry, Sophie, I don't know much French, can you help me translate?"

"Of course it's no problem," Sophie nodded, "The little guy is asking you if you're the director of the big dinosaur movie." ”

The little girl saw that Eric ignored her, but chatted with Sophie, and immediately pouted dissatisfiedly, and muttered a few more words of French, which Eric did not understand at all.

Sophie smiled and continued to translate: "She said that you are so rude to treat a little lady with such an unfocused attitude. ”

Eric looked at Sophie innocently, "And how do I answer him?"

Sophie smiled, pointed at Eric and said a few words of French to the little girl, and watched the little guy say a few more words, Sophie smiled and said to Eric with interest: "She said she forgave you, and said that you are so stupid, she can speak fluently at the age of two and a half, and you are in your twenties but you haven't learned yet." (To be continued......)