America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 503 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor

The Cannes Film Festival is entering its final day, with the closing ceremony and awards presentation about to begin.

Inside the room, Martin changed into a Brioni evening gown, put on a brand-new Cartier watch on his left wrist, and held a Nokia N98 concept phone in his right hand.

Bruce then came over and said, "The Cadillac car has arrived; it's downstairs."

Thomas, who traveled all the way from Los Angeles to Cannes, said, "A branch of the French Cola Cult organized a group of people to come here, all wearing red T-shirts."

Martin nodded slightly and reminded Bruce, "Don't forget to bring the commemorative Coke."

Bruce stuffed the prepared Coke into his pocket.

Thomas walked Martin outside, saying as they went, "I've spoken with all five of your GG sponsors. If you win the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award, you'll receive a $600 million bonus, plus a new product worth no less than $100 million."

Martin was very generous: "They'll deliver your stuff to Los Angeles—cars, watches, cell phones, you name it."

Thomas happily agreed.

As Martin was leaving, Bruce gestured for Thomas to slow down.

Thomas slowed his pace and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

Bruce said softly, "Take the best set of all of these for Menez... Yes, Menez might not go back to Los Angeles, give it to his agent first."

Thomas said, "I understand."

The group took the elevator downstairs, where Melanie, the public relations manager hired by the film crew, was waiting in the hotel lobby.

When she saw Martin, she came over, nodded to him, and said, "Hurry up and walk the red carpet."

Martin didn't quite understand what she meant.

Melanie said, "The economy has been bad these past two years, and the film festival organizers have gone to extreme lengths to make money this year, selling far too many red carpet tickets. We don't need to associate with those celebrities or be their background."

Martin briefly explained the Coca-Cola Cult.

"Just go straight there," Melanie suggested. "No need to linger outside. Wait for interviews and such after the awards ceremony."

The other party was a seasoned local public relations professional, and Martin listened to her advice and agreed.

After David Fincher and Kathleen Kennedy came down from upstairs, the three of them got into separate cars and headed to the Palace of Film Festivals.

It's only a little over 100 meters away; you'll arrive in no time.

Not only Martin, but the entire production team also signed a sponsorship agreement with Cadillac, so they would drive there no matter how close the location was.

Because many film crews were clear that they would not win any awards, there were significantly fewer film crews walking the closing red carpet today, and more celebrities walking the red carpet.

Martin estimated that the organizing committee would earn at least six or seven million euros from selling red carpet tickets during the entire Cannes Film Festival.

In addition to various brand sponsorships, registration fees, and transaction commissions...

The enduring success of Europe's three major film festivals relies not only on their brand and artistic merit, but also on their substantial financial resources.

Actress Cate Blanchett was absent, but Catherine Kennedy, David Fincher, and Martin walked the red carpet in front of the Lumière Hall once again.

Compared to the high-profile opening ceremony, they moved very quickly, only taking a brief photo op in the media area.

Martin is very particular; when taking photos, his watch and phone are both visible.

Then, he went alone to the area where dozens of people in red T-shirts had gathered, signed their names, and then raised a Coca-Cola can together.

"Cola Cult! Coca-Cola God of War! Long live Martin!"

The sudden shouts echoed throughout the entire seaside area.

Inside the hotel room, Harvey Weinstein sat on the sofa, quietly watching Martin walk up the steps.

"That bastard!" The flesh on his fat face trembled slightly.

Quentin's reaction was rather calm, saying, "He's learned all your skills."

"It was mainly my negligence." Harvey rarely reflected on this. "When Adjani checked into the Provence Hotel, I didn't pay much attention. I even chatted with her casually when we met, but it turned out to be the fatal flaw in our award bid."

Quentin casually pointed to Martin on the other side of the steps: "That means he's been watching us the whole time."

Harvey said, "I'm certain that Adjani and he are not on the same side. I don't know how he managed to get Adjani to Provence."

Quentin shrugged: "We lost miserably this time."

Inglourious Basterds didn't win a single award, not even a consolation prize from the jury.

Harvey saw it clearly: "With Adjani's appearance, we're not just at zero points in Huppert's eyes, we're at negative points."

Quentin glanced at his watch. "That's about enough. Let's go back to Los Angeles." He knew his old friend wasn't as magnanimous as he was, so he comforted him, "Winning and losing in the lottery is normal. Don't worry too much about it. You'll win it back next time."

Harvey smiled and shook his head. The two were in different positions, so their level of concern was naturally different.

Quentin Tarantino is only the director, screenwriter, and producer.

As an investor, failing to win any awards means that the public relations and publicity funds invested have gone down the drain, and the subsequent market will also be affected.

But there's no other way now. Harvey can't exactly go to the awards ceremony, drag Martin out, and shoot him for ten minutes.

He'll probably get headshot by Martin before he even gets to kill him.

Harvey kept a mental ledger, meticulously recording every detail, and he added Martin's new debt to it as well.

There will always be a day when old scores and new scores are settled together.

…………

Inside the Lumière Hall, Martin walked along the aisle and turned from the fourth row. Menez, who was sitting next to him, waved to him.

"Boss." Menez didn't look well; he had bags under his eyes.

Martin came over to him and patted him on the shoulder.

Menez asked with a smile, "When are we going to Morocco?"

Martin said, "The flight is the day after tomorrow, and the production team has arranged a press conference tomorrow."

Menez nodded: "We can stay one more day."

Martin saw Charlize smiling at him from ahead and said, "I'm going up ahead."

Menez said no more, only expressing some regret that he had only spent time alone with Isabelle Huppert this time, as there are many other older French artistic goddesses.

Sophie Marceau, Juliette Binoche, Emmanuelle Béart...

Menez suddenly slapped his head, cursing himself for being short-sighted and narrow-minded. He could have set his sights on the whole of Europe, like Monica Bellucci.

Charlize, wearing a fishtail dress, said, "Let me tell you a secret, I'm the presenter for the Best Actor award."

Martin said very seriously, "How about we talk about this after the awards ceremony?"

Charlize replied, "No problem."

Martin smiled and said, "I hope you'll be my lucky charm."

Charlize had a very good impression of her neighbor, saying, "I hope so too."

Martin took a few steps forward and sat down in the second row.

Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere of the awards ceremony, David Fincher thought of the Oscars again and asked Martin, "Has the LAPD and FBI responded to what I said last time?"

Martin knew he was asking about the adaptation of the Santa Monica Pier incident and said, "I've been in contact with them, and they keep saying they're seriously considering it. Although we can adapt it without them, I think it's best to get their support."

"Without them, a crucial link is missing," David Fincher added. "I don't have much of a connection with either side, so I can only ask you to keep an eye on things for me."

Martin replied, "I call to check on things every now and then."

The awards ceremony began soon, and many people were speaking French, which Martin couldn't understand at all. He could only wait patiently, occasionally getting distracted.

Awards were presented one after another, from the Un Certain Regard section to the main competition section, but no film was able to win two awards.

The three major film festivals are more focused on dividing the pie than the Oscars.

After British actress Charlotte Gainsbourg won the Best Actress award, Charlize Theron moved from backstage to the stage.

The South African actress didn't say any preamble; she simply opened the envelope, glanced at it, her gaze landing precisely on Martin, and said with a smile, "The Best Actor award goes to Martin Davis!"

Applause erupted. Martin clenched his fists, looking both excited and elated. He stood up and hugged David Fincher and Kathleen Kennedy, then high-fived several actors who reached out to him before striding onto the stage.

Charlize first handed Martin the box containing the Palme d'Or for Best Actor, and then gave him the certificate tied with a red ribbon.

Martin opened his arms and hugged her, whispering, "Sally, you really are my lucky charm."

Charlize smiled, a smile both cold and radiant: "Congratulations."

She voluntarily stepped aside.

Martin placed the award box on the wooden table in front of the microphone, with the crystal glass side facing the audience. Holding the rolled-up certificate, he said, "Thank you to the organizing committee and the jury for their recognition. Thank you to director David Fincher and Ms. Katharine Kennedy, and thank you to every member of the film crew..."

His acceptance speech was nothing special; it was all about gratitude.

Now that the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award has been won, it's only right to say some good things about Cannes.

Martin thanked everyone around him who deserved it, and then walked backstage with Charlize.

The two sides are neighbors and friends, and they talked as they walked, showing that they had a very good relationship.

The new Cocan City Oscar winner naturally received a lot of attention; cameras were constantly filming Martin, and Charlize was also caught on camera.

The two went backstage and chatted briefly with Charlotte Gainsbourg, who had won the Best Actress award.

Martin knew many European actresses who were all artists. He had memories of Charlotte Gainsbourg, for example. In Lars von Trier's film "The Hermit," Charlotte Gainsbourg made a great sacrifice for art.

The general level of explicitness in European theatrical films far exceeds that of Hollywood.

Martin didn't leave the backstage area for the time being; he watched the final award results from the side.

The Grand Jury Prize went to the French film "A Prophet," while the Palme d'Or unsurprisingly went to Michael Haneke, director of "The White Ribbon."

When Isabelle Huppert personally presented the award to Haneke, there was a lot of noise in the room.

The relationship between the two destined the Palme d'Or to face enormous criticism afterward.

(End of this chapter)