Since there is no airport in Cannes, the crew of the festival will have to get off the plane from Nice and then take a car to Cannes.

Martin came out of the airport and got into the same car as Mene and Bruce, and before the car had left the parking lot, he received a call from Nicholson from Los Angeles.

"You're in France, aren't you? There's one thing you can help look after. Nicholson counted the flight time and called: "The crew of "The Burning Plains" will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival, Jennifer Lawrence went to Cannes, I told her, if you have trouble, contact you." ”

Martin was angry and responded: "Small problem, your little girlfriend handed it over to me." ”

This was a bit ambiguous, and Nicholson specifically said, "I'll let you help take care of it, you bastard, don't take care of the bed!" ”

Martin was furious: "Old bastard, am I this kind of person? He asked rhetorically: "You go to Los Angeles and Atlanta and ask around, who doesn't know that my Martin Davis brothers are righteous first!" ”

Nicholson laughed: "Just say hello to you, it's okay normally." ”

Martin hung up.

Mene frowned and thought, "The Burning Plains movie is a bit familiar. ”

Martin hadn't heard it: "It's like a literary film." “

Bruce got the idea: "Our neighbor, Charlize Theron, is the heroine of the film. ”

Martin nodded: "The victim of the Oscar curse, she won the Best Actress, took on a commercial production, and wanted to become a single-resistance box office actress like Julia Roberts, but the box office failed miserably, and she returned to literary films." ”

Mene asked, "Boss, the Oscar curse only works for Oscar queens, right?" ”

"Pretty much." Martin didn't think about it carefully, and said casually: "Most of the male stars who won the Oscar will obviously go to a higher level in their careers later, and there may be unlucky people, but the proportion is much smaller than that of the actress." ”

The crew came to Cannes and stayed at the five-star Wuyang Hotel.

Just over 100 metres from the Palais des Festivals and the Esplanade beach, this hotel is packed every year during the festival.

Because neither Warner Pictures nor Paramount Pictures have any intention of competing for Best Actress, Cate Blanchett won't come from the UK until the day of the film's premiere, rather than coming early like Martin and David Fincher.

The three major film festivals in Europe also have rules of the game similar to the Oscars.

The power of the president of each jury is very intimidating in the selection of the current awards.

For example, when Isabel Adjani, the head of the demon actress, was the president of the jury, in order to make the directors and films she admired win awards, she not only turned against all the members of the jury at the time, but also acted as a demon like the role she played, quarreled with the organizing committee of the Cannes Film Festival, and finally got a golden palm double yolk egg out.

Similar situations are not uncommon at the three major European film festivals, as well as Quentin's praise of his ex-girlfriend Coppola at the Venice Film Festival, etc.

It can only be said that where there are people, there are rivers and lakes and disputes.

After Martin, David Fincher and producer Catherine Kennedy checked into the hotel, they only took a short break and joined the French production manager of the crew, Henry, into the chartered conference room.

Melanie, the Cannes PR manager hired by the crew, is already waiting here.

She shook hands with the four Martins one by one, asked the assistant to turn on the projection screen, came to the front of the conference table, and said, "Everyone, the situation has changed a little. ”

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

Melanie said: "Due to internal problems in the organizing committee of the festival, the announcement of this year's jury was delayed by a week compared to previous years, and the chairman of the jury is still Isabelle Huppert, and the other candidates are Shu Qi, Li Cangdong, James Gray, Elsa Argento, John Travolta, ......"

Katherine Kennedy said: "The two are from Hollywood, James Gray has worked with DreamWorks, and I can handle it. ”

Martin raised his hand: "Li Cangdong is Korean, and I have a way on my side." ”

David Fincher told the truth: "I'm making movies, and relationships aren't my specialty, and I'm not familiar with them. ”

Melanie glanced at Finch, turned on the laser pointer, and the red dot fell on Isabelle Huppert's name, and said directly: "The opinion of the chairman of the jury is the most important, get Isabel, and our probability of winning will be greatly increased." ”

Everyone here knows that.

If Isabelle Huppert favors it, and with the support of two or three judges, the film is sure to win a heavyweight award.

The three major European film festivals are divided into cake-style awards, which are more obvious than the Oscars.

Melanie, who specializes in Cannes public relations, has already started research, saying: "Huppert seems to be gentle and easy to get along with, but in fact he has an extremely stubborn personality, even tough, and has a fascist nickname among actresses in the French film industry. ”

In particular, she stressed: "She was not easy to deal with, she was torn up with Adjani for thirty years, and in the eighties and early nineties, she became only one Isabel in France, and her wrist can be imagined." ”

The two Isabelles are the two who stand at the very top of the circle of French film actresses, like Sophie Marceau and the like, from status to acting skills to awards, which are not at all a grade.

Martin picked up Melanie's voiceover, but didn't say much.

Katherine Kennedy asked: "Before the festival even started, Huppert had the right Palme d'Or option?" ”

Melanie said directly: "Among the films participating in the competition this time, there is a "White Ribbon", directed by Michael Haneke. ”

David Fincher also understood at this time: "The director of Huppert's masterpiece "The Piano Teacher". ”

Melanie said: "Huppert claims to be a student of Michael Haneke, and she and Haneke are also teachers and friends, and as long as The White Ribbon is of good quality, the Palme d'Or is not in suspense. ”

This is not the first time that a similar situation has been accepted, and both Katherine Kennedy and David Fincher can accept it.

Martin just sighed in his heart, the Cannes Film Festival has not yet started, and four-fifths of the Palme d'Or has already fallen into the hands of a certain film.

Melanie, the external PR manager, must first ensure that the crew can win an award, so that she and her team can continue to build a reputation and still make a lot of money in the coming year.

Of course, all this is based on reality.

She added: "My opinion, the first award to fight for, is placed on the best actor, and the Palme d'Or is placed in the second place. ”

Katherine Kennedy looked at David Fincher, and even at her level, she still had to take into account Finch's thoughts.

David Fincher said: "The priority is to make sure the crew gets an award. ”

Melanie said: "Martin is very well known in France, and my people have access to Huppert and would recommend him to her. ”

Katherine Kennedy said directly: "At the premiere of the film, you invited Huppert and a few more judges to attend. “

According to the rules of the festival, once the film festival begins, except for the premiere, the judges are not allowed to privately contact any members of the film crew participating in the competition unit.

Melanie assured: "I will invite Huppert and at least three judges to attend. ”

Katherine Kennedy remembered Martin's previous words and asked him, "You got the Koreans?" ”

Martin nodded, "I'll go call." He pointed to the projection screen and asked, "Is John Travolta a member of Scientology?" ”

David Fincher's ability in filming and making films, after the start of the conference, he always felt that he had no room to play at the festival, and finally heard a question that could be answered, and immediately said: "John Travolta and Tom Cruise are two of the most famous members of Scientology in Hollywood. ”

"I'm trying to enlist John Travolta's support," Martin said. ”

Katherine Kennedy felt a sense of comfort, if every actor was as proactive as Martin and could think of a way, how much worry would the production team and investors have to spare?

Martin left the conference room, returned to his room, and first called Jessica to take charge of communicating with the Korean side, and quickly received positive feedback.

Subsequently, he found Tom Cruise's personal phone number and called it.

Martin didn't expect that Tom Cruise's favor would be used so soon.

However, this kind of favor is not easy to use for a long time.

Now is the time.

It quickly connected: "Hi, Martin." “

Martin smiled and said, "Tom, there's something I want you to help with......

…………

The opening of the Cannes Film Festival is imminent, and the main crew who are interested in competing for heavyweight awards have arrived in Cannes early.

"Inglourious Basterds" is one of the films participating in the competition section.

Harvey, a master of award management, also paid attention to the relationship between Isabelle Huppert and Michael Haneke and "The White Ribbon" early on, knowing that it would be too difficult to compete for the Palme d'Or, and turned his attention to the Grand Jury Prize and Best Actor.

On a quiet night, Harvey knocked on a room door with Quentin.

John Travolta opened the door, let the two of them in, quickly closed the door, and said, "You should not come. ”

Harvey smiled: "The film festival hasn't started yet. ”

The two sides have collaborated on "Vulgar", and they can be regarded as acquaintances, so they casually set it up, and Quentin said directly: "We are all old friends, you have to support me this time." ”

John replied, "I'm sure I'm behind you personally!" He spread his hands: "You know the award system of the festival, I am just an ordinary judge, personal support does not guarantee you to win, Isabelle Huppert is the key." ”

Xavi is confident: "I'll get it to Pell." ”

He felt that the Oscars would be attractive to Pell.

John nodded: "I don't have a problem." ”

Harvey and Quentin didn't stay long and quickly left.

John sent them back, and the phone rang, but it was the sect leader calling, he answered a few words, hung up and was silent for a moment.

This time, he's going to say sorry to Harvey and Quentin.

Of course John wouldn't say it, and if they asked, they would be vague.

(End of chapter)