Chapter 15 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes, a small town in southern France, is located near the French port city of Nice, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is a famous holiday resort!
The annual Cannes Film Festival is even more crowded, attracting a large number of tourists.
When Aaron and Nicole Kidman arrived in Cannes, the opening ceremony had already been held, and Aaron's eyes were directly on other works shortlisted for the main competition unit.
The main creative members of "Sex, Lies, and Videotape", director Steven Soderbergh, and the leading actors and actresses James Spader and Andie MacDowell also arrived in Cannes later, the distributor Miramax specially held a press conference for the film at the hotel.
"Aaron, it's so beautiful here!" At the Carlton Hotel on the Promenade des Anglais in Cannes, Nicole Kidman hugged Aaron from behind and kissed him.
Aaron turned his head and kissed the other party, waving the documents in his hand, "There is also an Australian film shortlisted for the main competition unit, called "Sweet Sister", and the director is a New Zealand female director named Jane Campion."
"Do you want to sign her?"
"That depends on whether she has the idea of developing in Hollywood." Aaron is actually not very interested in these works that are too literary and artistic. If there is no commercial attribute, how can he make money?
Nicole Kidman smiled, "The Cannes screening of "Sex, Lies and Videotape" has a very high reputation;"
"Recently, many international distribution companies have come to inquire about the price!"
Aaron touched Nicole's face, "Don't rush now, I'm going to watch an Italian work that has been shortlisted. Do you want to go?"
"What movie?"
"Cinema Paradiso!"
"I'll go with you later," Nicole Kidman said, sitting in Aaron's arms, wrapping her arms around the man's neck, and kissing him.
Aaron also hugged Nicole in his arms and responded to the other's passionate kiss!
"Cinema Paradiso" tells the story of Toto, an 8-year-old boy living in a small town in Sicily, Italy at the end of World War II, and Alfredo, a projectionist at a cinema called Cinema Paradiso.
The two became close friends because of movies, and when Toto grew up, he left his hometown to venture out with the encouragement of Alfredo, and later became a famous director!
The film uses both montage and flashback narrative techniques, and there are two narrative clues, one is the memories of Toto in middle age, and the other is Toto's growth process from childhood to adulthood. These two clues also appear alternately in the film.
However, the film is too straightforward, and it is indeed a bit bland with a duration of more than two and a half hours!
"Director Giuseppe Tornatore is a young director of the new generation in Italy. He is only 33 years old this year. He became famous in Italy a few years ago with the film "The Man Called Professor";"
"Cinema Paradiso is his second feature film. The film did not perform well when it was released in Italy last year. The director edited it and it was not good when it was released again;"
"At the beginning of the year, Cinema Paradiso went to the Berlin Film Festival, but it received a bad review from the president of the Berlin Film Festival. The director withdrew the film and came to the Cannes Film Festival!"
In the deserted theater, Aaron and Nicole Kidman sat in chairs, enjoying the movie and explaining to each other.
Nicole Kidman smiled, "It seems that you like this movie?"
"Yes, I will go to meet the director of this movie, Giuseppe Tornatore, later!"
Aaron was in college in his previous life. When he ran a movie theater, he watched a lot of foreign movies. This kind of classic work can be said to be deeply remembered.
In the evening, Aaron took Nicole Kidman to meet Gabriele Carrossi, the representative of Italy's Cristoti Film Company, and Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of Cinema Paradiso!
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Aaron Anderson, the agent of CAA," Aaron smiled and handed them his business card.
"Good evening, Aaron!"
Aaron looked at the two of them and said, "I'm very optimistic about Cinema Paradiso and would like to represent you in underwriting its distribution in North America;"
"Well, you two may not know me, but the Sex, Lies and Videotape that is being screened now is promoted by me alone!"
"I see," both Gabriel Carosi, the representative of the production company, and Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of the film, had originally given up hope for Cinema Paradiso, now that an American agent is willing to underwrite the distribution rights, of course they have no objection!
In this way, Aaron quickly signed a contract with Cristoti Films, the producer of Cinema Paradiso.
"By the way, when is the screening event scheduled for Cinema Paradiso at the film festival?" Aaron asked at last.
"Three days later," Director Giuseppe Tornatore quickly responded.
Aaron nodded, "It's still in time. I will try to hold a press conference for Cinema Paradiso and invite the director of Sex, Lies, and Videotape to attend."
It is not difficult to hold a small film press conference in the name of CAA. Aaron can do it now.
Before coming, CAA has expressed that it will support him to the best of its ability!
In the following days, Aaron arranged for Steven Soderbergh and others to attend various cocktail parties, while discussing the distribution rights of Sex, Lies, and Videotape with some international distributors.
At the same time, the screening of Cinema Paradiso was also successfully held, with good reputation. The Cannes Film Festival seems to have a special liking for this type of work!
In the evening, at a cocktail party at the InterContinental Hotel on the Corniche, Aaron attended with the beautiful Nicole Kidman in a gorgeous dress.
"Oh, dear Aaron, you've been very busy recently," Harvey Weinstein walked over with a smile on his face.
Aaron put his arm around Nicole Kidman, "This is Harvey Weinstein, the head of Miramax;"
"Harvey, this is Nicole Kidman, also an actress. She starred in the Australian film "Over the Horizon" last month!"
"Good evening, Mr. Weinstein!"
Harvey Weinstein looked at Nicole Kidman in front of him with his eyes flashing, "You are so beautiful, beautiful lady!"
"Well, thank you," Nicole Kidman felt that the other party's eyes were too aggressive.
Aaron put his arm around Nicole Kidman and sat down, looking at Harvey Weinstein, "Miramax seems to have gained a lot this time!"
Harvey Weinstein has purchased the North American distribution rights for several works.
Listening to Aaron's words, the muscles on Harvey Weinstein's fat face trembled, "I didn't expect that the Italian movie "Cinema Paradiso" that I am optimistic about was also taken by you first!"
"Let's talk about it. You also know the screening situation of "Cinema Paradiso" in Italy," Harvey Weinstein didn't want the other party to make a random offer.
Aaron smiled and kissed Nicole Kidman on the cheek, "No hurry, tomorrow is the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival, we can talk about it after the awards ceremony."
The reputation of "Cinema Paradiso" is what made it famous, and it will be much easier with the award.
Aaron has already discussed the European and Japanese distribution rights of "Sex, Lies and Videotape" with several distributors, but the final result will have to wait until after the closing ceremony tomorrow!
END OF THE CHAPTER....