A black car drove into Century City in an unusually low-key manner, slowly entered the parking lot of the Death Star Building, came to the elevator entrance, Archbishop Márquez Costello pushed the door and got out of the car, accompanied by an assistant, walked into the elevator room, waited for the elevator to come down, and took the elevator directly to the top floor of the Death Star Building. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

This is the highest office floor of the CAA, and a staff member waited at the door of the elevator hall to lead Archbishop Márquez Costello and the two into a luxurious reception room.

"Wait a minute." The staff said politely, "Director Stanton is discussing work with Mr. Bill Rothes, and will be there soon." ”

Archbishop Márquez-Costello frowned slightly, but did not say anything, only nodded.

Things have developed to such an extent that even a tough man like him has to admit that Catholicism has fallen behind, especially on this part of the United States.

He sighed softly and subconsciously touched his hair, in just over a month, in the face of the double pressure of public opinion and the Vatican Holy See, the gray hair was at least one-third more!

"It's all this damn Murphy Stanton!"

Archbishop Márquez Costello couldn't help cursing in his heart, although the previous public opinion turmoil also put him under great pressure, but these external pressures can still be withstanded, but after the news of Murphy Stanton's announcement of the preparation of "Focus" came out, the impact was extremely bad, and even Pope Benedict XVI called several times, asking him to stop the project as soon as possible, otherwise it would ......

Although the Pope did not say it explicitly, he also knew that the consequences would be serious.

So, I can only pull down my face and come over and talk to Murphy Stanton, the other party may not care about him, but the face of the Vatican and the Holy See must always be given a little, right?

After waiting for about five minutes, the door to the reception room was pushed open from the outside, and Murphy walked in.

As soon as he saw Archbishop Márquez-Costello, he immediately smiled warmly, "Your Excellency, it's been a long time. ”

"Hello, Director Stanton." Archbishop Márquez-Costello stood up, "It's been a long time since I've seen him. ”

Murphy made a gesture of please, "Sit casually." ”

After speaking, he sat down on the sofa opposite Archbishop Márquez-Costello, and without waiting for the other party to say anything, he asked directly, "I don't know what happened to His Excellency the Archbishop?" ”

Having dealt with Murphy a few times before, Archbishop Márquez-Costello also has an understanding of his style of doing things, and said, "I am here on behalf of the Vatican, and His Excellency the Pope wants to invite you to visit the Vatican to clear up any unnecessary misunderstandings between us. ”

"That's right......" Murphy seemed to be lost in thought.

Archbishop Márquez Costello carefully observed Murphy, His Excellency the Pope is not an ordinary person, he is the leader of Catholics all over the world, and he can be on an equal footing with the political leaders of the five rogue states, I believe that such a formal invitation will also make Murphy Stanton think about it, and maybe he can cancel the "Spotlight" project.

He was able to say these words, of course, at the behest of Benedict XVI, and the whole of the Holy See now attaches great importance to Murphy Stanton and his new film "Focus".

The Holy See also has a huge cultural accumulation, and he has a better understanding of the influence of films, and he himself has heard it clearly, Murphy Stanton's "Focus" is obviously aimed at the next Oscars, once the film wins the best film, coupled with the influence that Murphy Stanton can bring after "Dark City", becoming one of the world's super directors, "Focus" will inevitably be widely circulated.

Now the impact of all kinds of unfavorable news can basically be limited to North America, and outside North America, although there are also media reports, the Catholic Church has been trying to control it, and the situation is not very bad.

If such a film is mixed with the thunderous momentum of Oscar and Murphy Stanton, I am afraid that many overseas regions will ......

Archbishop Márquez-Costello is well aware of the influence of Hollywood films, especially the high-quality masterpieces of superdirectors.

The text of the news in the media can be restricted, and even become a pile of old papers, and gradually forgotten, but a classic movie will be constantly mentioned, just like films such as "Gone with the Wind", which is still circulating today.

In that case, the Catholic Church will be nailed to the pillar of shame!

It's a pity that it's not the Middle Ages, and the other party is not a nobody, but a super director with billions of dollars in assets, otherwise he can disappear physically......

On the other hand, Murphy is also thinking about similar issues, images are more impactful than words, and movies are more influential than news, these are indisputable facts, and Pope Benedict XVI invited him to visit the Vatecan, undoubtedly to discourage him from filming "Focus".

"Your Excellency, Archbishop." Murphy said slowly, "I wonder when His Excellency the Pope invited me to the Vatican?" ”

Of course, the sooner the better, but Archbishop Márquez-Costello could not say the same, and said with a smile, "It is better that before the New Year, Director Stanton can attend the Vatican's New Year's prayers." ”

Participating in New Year's prayers? Murphy wasn't interested, and he wasn't a Catholic.

"My time doesn't allow it." Murphy deliberately said, "I'm going to prepare for next year's Oscars, and I'm going to prepare a new film ......"

Listening to Murphy talk about preparing for the new film, Archbishop Márquez-Costello slowly put away the smile on his face and said, "There is always a squeeze in time. ”

Doesn't the other side even give His Excellency the Pope face?

"yes......" Murphy seemed to really think about the words of Archbishop Márquez-Costello.

Archbishop Márquez-Costello smiled faintly, Benedict XVI and the Vatican are almost equivalent to the leader of a great power and a great power.

Murphy seemed to have thought about it, and said, "I plan to attend the Venice Film Festival next year, and then I will visit the Vatican by the way, Your Excellency the Archbishop, what do you think?" ”

"Participation in the Venetian Film Industry?" Archbishop Márquez Costello subconsciously asked, "You want to go to the Venice Film Festival?" What works do you use to participate? ”

"Of course, it's my new project, Spotlight." Murphy rightly said, "Stanton Work and Twentieth Century Fox have officially applied to the Venice Film Festival Organizing Committee to compete in the competition section. ”

"What?" Archbishop Márquez-Costello stood up, "You're going to do this!" ”

His face was full of shock and anger!

"Your Excellency the Archbishop said so, I don't understand." Murphy slowly stood up and said unhurriedly, "This is a joint production between Stanton Studios and Twentieth Century Fox, and it is also our planned plan to compete in the competition section of the Venice Film Festival. ”

The smile on Archbishop Márquez Costello's face disappeared without a trace, and to this extent, Murphy Stanton's position and attitude have been incomparably clear.

"What do you want to do?" Archbishop Márquez-Costello was full of anger in his heart, "There are some things that we have a limit tolerate!" ”

The Vatican and Catholicism have taken the initiative to extend a hand of reconciliation, and Murphy Stanton not only did not shake it, but also took the initiative to slap them on the hand, how could he not be angry?

Murphy Stanton clearly didn't take the Vatican and the Pope seriously!

"What did I do?" Murphy also put away his smile and said calmly, "I'm just a director, making movies I want to make, that's all." ”

Archbishop Márquez-Costello looked straight at Murphy, "Are you taking me for a fool?" ”

"Your Excellency!" Murphy interrupted him, "I remember I told you that the freedom to make a film is the most basic right of a Hollywood director!" ”

"Freedom?" Archbishop Márquez-Costello sneered and said dryly, "Director Stanton, I don't think you have figured it out yet, your new film is no longer facing the Diocese of South-Central California!" It's not me anymore! ”

There was a hint of warning and threat in his tone, "The Vatican and His Holiness the Pope are currently very concerned about you and your film, they are very dissatisfied with the content of this film, and you want to participate in the Venice Film Festival?" I promise you won't even be able to get into Italy! ”

Hearing this almost naked threat, Murphy didn't seem to care at all, "Whether I can go to the Venice Film Festival or not, I believe that the organizing committee of the film festival will have its own considerations, even if I can't go to Venice, I will go to the Cannes Film Festival or the Berlin Film Festival." ”

Speaking of this, Murphy took a step forward and looked at Archbishop Márquez Costello without fear, "This is America, a land full of freedom and democracy, and freedom of speech is the most basic right of Hollywood and citizens, and it is sacrosanct!" ”

Before Archbishop Márquez-Costello could speak, Murphy added, "I'm sorry, I still have work to do. ”

After saying that, Murphy left Archbishop Márquez-Costello alone and left the reception room calmly, leaving Archbishop Márquez-Costello stunned to watch him leave.

"This bastard!" Archbishop Márquez-Costello almost cursed, "Rejected the hand of friendship between Catholicism and the Pope!" ”

But he instantly calmed down again, it's the twenty-first century, it's not the Middle Ages, and Murphy Stanton is right when he says it, this is America.

The country, though very inconsistent, is not at the mercy of Catholicism, and those people, especially those in Hollywood, shout about freedom and democracy all day long, but do things that are not good......

"What should I do?"

Even if he got in the car and left, Archbishop Márquez Costello couldn't think of any way to stop Murphy Stanton, in the face of such a super director, his so-called archbishopric status and the power of the Catholic Church could not play much role at all in the land of original sin in the United States.