Hollywood starts with an agent

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 and is a famous holiday resort!
The annual Cannes Film Festival is packed with people, attracting a large number of tourists.

When Aaron and Nicole Kidman arrived in Cannes, the opening ceremony had already taken place, and Aaron's eyes were directly on the other works shortlisted for the main competition unit.

The main creative members of "Sex, Lies, and Videotape", including director Steven Soderbergh, and the leading actors 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 around and kissed the other person, waving the documents in his hand. "An Australian film has also been shortlisted for the main competition unit. It's called 'Sweet Sisters,' 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 her career 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 and said, "Sex, Lies and Videotape was screened in Cannes and received very high praise;"

"Recently, many international distribution companies have inquired about the price!"

Aaron touched Nicole's face and said, "There's no rush now. I'm going to see a shortlisted Italian film later. Do you want to go?"

"What movie?"

“Cinema Paradiso!”

"I'll go with you later," Nicole Kidman said, and then she sat in Aaron's arms, put her arms around the man's neck, and gave him a kiss.

Aaron also hugged Nicole in his arms and responded to her 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 friends despite their age difference because of movies. When Toto grew up, he left his hometown and went out to explore the world 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 middle-aged Toto, and the other is Toto's growth process from childhood to adulthood. These two clues also appear alternately in the film.

However, the movie is too straightforward and with a running time of over two and a half hours, it is indeed a bit bland!

"Director Giuseppe Tornatore is a member of the new generation of young directors in Italy. He is only 33 years old this year. He gained some fame in Italy a few years ago with the film 'The Man Called Professor'."

"Cinema Paradiso is his second feature film. It didn't do well when it was released in Italy last year, and the director's edited version didn't do well again."

"At the beginning of the year, Cinema Paradiso was presented at the Berlin Film Festival, but it received a terrible review from the president of the Berlin Film Festival. The director withdrew the film and it was later shown at 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 and said, "It seems you like this movie, right?"

"Yes, I'm going to meet the director of this movie, Giuseppe Tornatore, later!"

Aaron had watched many foreign films when he was in college and running a cinema in his previous life, so he had a deep memory of these classic works.

In the evening, Aaron took Nicole Kidman to meet Gabriele Carosi, a representative of the Italian Cristoti Film Company, and Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of "Cinema Paradiso"!
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Aaron Anderson, an agent from CAA," Aaron said, smiling and handing them his business card.

"Good evening, Aaron!" Aaron looked at the two of them. "I'm very optimistic about Cinema Paradiso and would like to underwrite its North American distribution on your behalf."

"Well, you two may not know me, but I'm the one who's promoting the film 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' that's showing right now!"

"I see," both Gabriele Carossi, the representative of the production company, and Giuseppe Tornatore, the film's director, had originally given up hope for Cinema Paradiso.

Now that there are American brokers willing to underwrite the issuance rights, of course I have no objection!

In this way, Aaron quickly signed a contract with Cristofori Films, the producer of "Cinema Paradiso".

"By the way, when is the film festival scheduled to screen Cinema Paradiso?" Aaron asked finally.

“In three days,” director Giuseppe Tornatore quickly responded.

Aaron nodded. "There's still time. I'll 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, and Aaron can definitely do it now;
Before coming here, CAA had already expressed that they would support me to the best of their 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 held smoothly and received good reviews. The Cannes Film Festival seems to have a special liking for this type of work!

In the evening, Aaron attended a cocktail party at the InterContinental Hotel on the Corniche, where he was accompanied by the beautiful Nicole Kidman in her best attire.

"Oh, dear Aaron, you have been very busy lately," Harvey Weinstein walked over with a smile on his face.

Aaron put his arm around Nicole Kidman and said, “This is Harvey Weinstein, the head of Miramax;”

"Harvey, this is Nicole Kidman, also an actress. She starred in last month's Australian film, Over the Horizon!"

"Good evening, Mr. Weinstein!"

Harvey Weinstein looked at Nicole Kidman in front of him and his eyes sparkled, "You are so beautiful, beautiful lady!"

"Well, thank you," Nicole Kidman felt that the other person's look was too aggressive.

Aaron put his arm around Nicole Kidman and sat down, then looked at Harvey Weinstein and said, "Miramax seems to have reaped a great deal this time!"

Harvey Weinstein has purchased the North American distribution rights for several works.

Harvey Weinstein's fat face trembled as he listened to Aaron's words. "I can't believe you got the first chance to buy my favorite Italian film, Cinema Paradiso!"

"Let's talk about it. You know how Cinema Paradiso is performing in Italy," Harvey Weinstein said, not wanting the other party to make a random offer.

Aaron smiled and kissed Nicole Kidman on the cheek. "No rush. 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 blessing of awards.

Aaron has already discussed the European and Japanese distribution rights for "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" with several distributors, but the final decision will have to wait until after tomorrow's closing ceremony!
(End of this chapter)