Hollywood Hunter

Staying in the hilltop mansion in the small city of Cannes, Simon has gradually sorted out the idea of ​​shooting "Batman" these days.

In the initial plan, the single-player trilogy of "Batman" will be produced first, with the names following Nolan's "Batman: Hour of War", "Batman: The Dark Knight" and "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises". However, in terms of content, Simon intends to adopt a completely different plot setting and pave the way for the prototype of the entire dc movie universe through appropriate interspersion with the "Superman" series.

To realize the movie universe plan, the opening of the first part of "Batman" is crucial.

In fact, Simon also has a shortcut to success, which is to use the clown as the villain of the first part. As Batman’s biggest enemy and the most popular villain in the Batman series, the original time and space, Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan, the two major versions of the "Batman" series of the pinnacle of the work are the clown as the opposite No., the Joker, Batman’s lifelong enemy, does have irreplaceable popularity and status in both comics and reality.

However, after careful consideration, Simon gave up this idea.

To enable the clown, the first part must have a matching atmosphere. If the starting point of the story is too high, the sequel will no longer satisfy the audience's appetite, and repeatedly saving Gotham and saving the world can easily cause aesthetic fatigue. Therefore, Simon intends to put Joker as the ultimate boss of the trilogy in the final episode.

As for the opening of the moment, Simon does not intend to spend too much time on Bruce Wayne's experience of transforming into Batman, but starts with Batman's running-in process with the entire city after he began to fight for justice.

Suddenly, a voluntary policeman appeared in Sin City, and the public, the media, officials, criminals, etc. all responded and responded. At the same time, these branches will be around the main story of a high-concept mode of justice over evil. The villain appears, Batman defeats the villain, begins to gain recognition from the city, and the story ends.

Simon is hiding in Cannes to write the script of "Batman", North America, this year's summer film will officially open in May.

On May 13th, Paramount launched the seventh sequel to the classic horror film series "Friday the 13th". The 1,796 screen opening scale that Simon envied, earned $9.8 million in the first week. Although the box office is far from meeting the producers' expectations, compared to the ultra-low production cost of only $2.8 million, Paramount recovered most of the production and announcement budget in the first week.

Neither of the other two new films from independent producers except "Friday the 13th 7" caused any waves. The second place was "When Harry Meets Sally", which is also "When Harry Meets Sally" Eight weeks after the large-scale opening, he was officially squeezed out of the box office champions next week.

In the tenth week of its release, "When Harry Meets Sally" received another 6.13 million US dollars, with a total box office of 90.12 million US dollars, and continued to march towards the 100 million yuan mark without any suspense.

Although Hollywood has always envied Daenerys Pictures for making the first film with a box office of over 100 million in 1988, Simon is not satisfied with this result. Paramount was able to arrange nearly 1,800 screens for a horror film that cost only US$2.8 million to produce. During the entire release process of "When Harry Met Sally", the number of screens failed to exceed 1,500. During the golden box office harvest period of the week, the number of screens of the film was only in the early 1000s, which made Simon strongly feel that the traditional forces of Hollywood were deeply guarded and restrained by the latecomers.

If "When Harry Meets Sally" can get enough screen resources, the box office of this movie must have exceeded the 100 million yuan threshold, rather than stuck at the current embarrassing figure of $90 million. Although it is not difficult to break 100 million next, but with the arrival of a series of new films in the summer, the release scale and subsequent box office of "When Harry Meets Sally" is destined to shrink rapidly.

Immediately after.

On May 20th, the first major production film in the summer archive, "Fair and Cloud Meeting", was registered in theaters. This medieval fantasy film based on Western myths and stories was jointly produced by MGM and Lucasfilm, using a large number of industries. The most advanced special effects technology of Light Magic Studio.

However, the reputation of this $35 million large-scale production film is not satisfactory. Variety magazine commented on it as "a medieval version of "Star Wars" with a lot of myths and fables, old story and lack of innovation.

Due to the poor outlook of the film, the publisher Fang MGM only arranged 1024 opening screens for "The Meeting of the Wind", which is not as good as "Friday the 13th 7", not to mention the upcoming "Crocodile Dundee". 2" and "First Blood 3", according to the public data of the issuer, the estimated number of opening screens for these two heavyweight new films will reach 2,800 and 2,500, respectively. Such an opening scale once again shows the full release The era has come completely.

Regrettably, as the most watched new film in this summer, Pulp Fiction is expected to have only 1,500 screens. Simon has no choice but to do so, because this is the limit of the screen that Orion Pictures can use. .

Moreover, the reputation of film critics of "Pulp Fiction" has been constantly changing since its premiere in Cannes. The change in media trends in North America is particularly obvious. Many well-known film critics have criticized the film’s excessive violence and Simon’s Plagiarism of classic films.

The reason for this situation is actually obvious. Too many people don't want to see "Pulp Fiction" too successful.

Simon also has no way of finding out which side is causing the problem.

The release date of "Pulp Fiction" is June 3, the previous week was Paramount Pictures’ Crocodile Dundee 2 and Columbia Pictures’ “Rambo 3” produced by the Samsung label. There are Fox's "Flying Over the Future" and Warner's "Funny Farm", followed by Disney's "Four Daughters and Two Moms" in the following week, Paramount's "Persidi Base", MGM's "Ghost Haunted 3" .

Three weeks before and after, just the new film released, the seven major film companies have assembled six. Even in the most popular schedule, the total amount of box office in a single week is actually fixed. If you score more, others will naturally be less.

In this case, "Pulp Fiction" happens to be the most eye-catching one among a lot of new films. Even Simon himself, if possible, will not hesitate to hit his competitors if possible.

Aware of this situation, Simon is no longer so optimistic about the award results of this film festival. Whether it is Simon himself or Orion, it is obvious that the network resources cannot compete with the seven major Hollywood. Others may just make a phone call, and the award may be gone.

So until May 22, the day before the closing ceremony of the film festival, the organizer officially sent a retention application to the award-winning crew. Simon was completely relieved until he was notified by the organizer.

Monday, May 23.

On the last day of the festival, the main daytime event is the re-screening of all nominated films from the main competition unit. At the same time, information about the crew that was retained also appeared in the local media in Cannes.

The crews of 5 of the 21 main competition films were retained, namely Simon’s "Pulp Fiction", Clint Eastwood’s "Rookie Parker", and Kieslowski’s "Killing" Short Films, Fernando Solanas's "South" and Chris Mengues's "Separated World".

Among the five films, Palme d’Or’s “Killing Short Film” is the most popular. Prior to this, the film had won the Fabici Award in the main competition unit. This is an award issued by the International Film Critics Association that is completely independent of the film festival organizer, which is similar to a weather vane.

As for "Pulp Fiction", among the six awards of Palme d’Or, Jury Prize, Jury Prize, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director, it is generally believed that Palme d’Or is unlikely, and the performance awards are even more important. No show, the jury is unlikely to give the best director to Simon, a young man who is just twenty years old.

Then, the final result is likely to be the jury award or the jury award.

Approaching seven o'clock in the afternoon.

Outside the movie palace on the seafront of Cannes, the closing ceremony will be much deserted compared to the starry opening ceremony.

The crew of "Pulp Fiction" received a notice yesterday that John Travolta, Samuel Jackson, and Nicole Kidman, who had already left Cannes, flew over again from the United States. Others such as Robert De Niro, Robert Redford, Madonna and Sean Penn stopped attending the closing ceremony for various reasons.

Speaking of it, this kind of fundamental purpose is still the itinerary of the movie promotion. Orion must bear the cost, and Simon's private jet bill will be sent to Orion in the future. Of course, the hilltop mansion in Le Cannet is not something that Orion can afford.

Simon and his party rushed to the outside of the Cinema Palace. The closing ceremony of the red carpet ceremony is drawing to a close. This time, everyone also quickly entered the Rubiel Hall inside the Cinema Palace through the media channel.

Perhaps the organizer has specially arranged that the seats of the crew of "Pulp Fiction" are adjacent to the crew of "The Wind and Clouds". This special effects film led by Lucasfilm will be the closing film of this festival.

However, Simon did not see George Lucas, only the director Ron Howard and the leading actor and actress Fang Kimmer and Jonnie Wiley attended the closing ceremony.

After the opening of the painting last Friday, due to the failure of word-of-mouth, "The Meeting of the Wind" only got $8.3 million in the box office in the first three days of the weekend, which was far lower than the producers expected. The film can only expect subsequent releases through various channels to recover the expensive production and publicity costs.

In fact, Simon has always been paying attention to "Fair and Cloud Meeting", such a movie that uses the most advanced special effects technology of this era can provide him with a lot of reference for making "Batman".

Moreover, Ron Howard, a commercial film director who is inferior to Spielberg but very diverse, also made Simon very interested. The two took advantage of the short leisure time before the ceremony to start chatting for a while and exchanged business cards.

Seven o'clock in the evening.

The closing ceremony of the 41st Cannes Film Festival officially began.

The host was still Matilda May at the opening ceremony, and the atmosphere of the award ceremony was as meticulous as it was at the opening ceremony.

After Matilda May’s emotional speech, the guests came to the stage, and the first award was the “Technical-grand-prize”. Yes, the name of the award is the technical-grand-prize, which is also one of the most in Cannes Film Festival. Few technical awards.

This kind of marginal technical award has no result envelope or trophy, only a certificate. While waiting for the actress named Jane Birkin on the stage to announce the result, Simon's heart couldn't help mentioning it.

If "Pulp Fiction" won such an award, it would be a big joke. This kind of technical award is actually a consolation award. Tell the creator in advance that nothing will happen to you.

Fortunately.

Jane Birkin quickly announced the result, Clint Eastwood's "Rookie Parker" was lucky enough to win this award, which is actually expected by many people. Seeing the old cowboy stepping onto the stage with a squeezed smile, Simon did not hesitate to clap vigorously with everyone.

Next, after several awards such as the Golden Camera and Best Short Film were awarded, after a period of singing and dancing, Matilda May began to introduce the judges of the main competition unit on stage. Many people in the hall also raised their spirits, because the next step is The six most important main competition units are awarded.

The judges were sitting on the stage. The best actress was announced first. The result of the best actress award this time was the rare'Three Yellow Eggs', the three in Chris Mengers' "Separated World". The heroine shared this honor.

The best actor award goes to the black movie star Forest Whitaker in "Rookie Parker". Simon remembers that he is still one of the few black Oscar winners for best actor. However, Forest Whitaker's presence in Hollywood has not been strong. Although his acting skills are very good, he can only play some humble supporting roles in most cases.

The organizers of Cannes obviously did not have the idea of ​​permuting and controlling the rhythm of the awards. After awarding the best actor and actress, the best director immediately. After Argentine director Fernando Solanas won this award with "South", this ceremony only left the three most critical awards: Palme d’Or, Jury Prize and Jury Prize.

Of the five retained works in the main competition unit, "Rookie Parker" and "Southern" have been passed, and the final three awards are destined to only be attributed to "Pulp Fiction", "Murder Short Film" and "Segregated World" Three movies.

The guest of the Jury Prize is the famous French director Louis Mahler.

Watching the old man on the stage slowly introducing the award, Simon felt a small hand stretched out and pressed it on the back of his hand, so he turned the palm of the woman's hand and shook it, and whispered to Janet next to him: "It won't be Right?"

Janet blinked suspiciously, then shook her head: "I don't know, Natasha didn't tell me."

Three films discuss seniority. Both Kieslowski and Chris Mengers have been famous for a long time. Both "Short of Murder" and "Separated World" are excellent enough, and "Pulp Fiction" falls to the last jury. Award, totally reasonable.

On the stage, Louis Mahler finally opened the envelope, glanced down, and read the result in the eyes of everyone's expectation: "The one who won the Jury Award is "The Short Film of Murder", congratulations!"

Rushing--

In the applause from the audience, Simon clearly felt that many eyes around him were looking over.

From the very beginning, Kieslowski’s "Short Film of Murder" has been the most popular work of the Palme d’Or at this Cannes Film Festival. The film not only received the highest media rating of 4.6, but also won the master’s reputation as a weather vane. Fabian Prize in the competition unit.

right now.

Cannes awarded the final jury award among the three major awards to "Momicide Short Film", and Kieslovsky obviously missed the final Palme d'Or.

As for "Segregated World", this film about the past apartheid struggle in South Africa has been able to break through to the present, and it still has the aura of absolute political correctness on the subject.

Although the film director Chris Mengers is the winner of two Oscars for Best Photography, "Separated World" is only his first directed film. Apart from its intention, this film is completely incompatible with "Pulp Fiction" in other aspects. compared to.

however.

Compared to Berlin and Venice, the Cannes Film Festival is the least focused on conception.

After Kieslowski gave her acceptance speech, the French Caesars Award actress Sandrine Bernell stepped onto the stage to present the jury award. When everyone in the Rubiel Hall heard the name of "Separated World" , The ending is no more suspense.

Chris Mengers was still on the stage, and Simon had noticed some figures around the hall quietly leaving their seats and hurriedly walking outside.

By Simon's side, Janet's face has become flushed, and the faces of the others also have obvious joy. After all, being able to leave their mark in a Palme d'Or film at the Cannes Film Festival will definitely help them a lot in their next career.

Even John Travolta, the first-line actor who quickly became popular with "Grease", can finally get rid of his awkward position as a youth film actor after ten years of fame. The title of'Dance King' is no longer appropriate for an actor who is thirty-four years old and approaching middle age.

The last moment comes.

This time the award-giving guests are the chairman of the jury Eto Scola and Natasha Kinsky.

The double yolk egg incident that slightly worried Simon did not happen. The two guests exchanged a few words, and Eto Scola opened the envelope, and Natasha Kinsky read the result without suspense: " The Palme d’Or is "Pulp Fiction."

Even though this result had been expected, there was a very short but obvious pause on the scene.

then.

There was warm applause.

In the past life, I can only be an obscure bystander, watching the glory of others and cheering others. At this time, feeling the applause around him, even if he had two lives in his mind and there were too many people's experiences in his mind, Simon couldn't help overflowing some excitement in his body.

He stood up and hugged Janet tightly for a moment, and then hugged and shook hands with Travolta and others and the main creators of "The Meeting of Winds and Clouds". Simon quickly walked onto the stage amidst the still unstopped applause in the hall.

Reaching out and shook it with Eto Scola, and thanked him softly, Simon saw Natasha Kinski next to him with open arms and approached him, so he embraced the woman in cooperation.

but.

Natasha Kinsky took the opportunity of the face-to-face ceremony to get to Simon's ear and directly said, "Lend me the house."

Simon was also very simply, smiling and whispering back: "Don't borrow."

Natasha Kinsky hugged Simon a little, changed the other side and continued to face him: "Do you want to see me self-destruct in public?"

Simon actually wanted to see it, but considering the consequences of this woman's madness, he decisively surrendered: "borrow."

Natasha Kinsky snorted contentedly before releasing Simon. The small movements between the two did not arouse others' suspicion. Even if they noticed, they basically thought that Natasha Kinsky was congratulating Simon.

After being entangled for a while by Natasha Kinsky, he came to the microphone, and Simon pondered for a moment and began to improvise his acceptance speech.