America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 505 Chanel No. 5

No one expected that this year's Cannes Film Festival would end in such a chaotic manner. The battle between the two Isabelles will surely be etched in film history.

Martin quickly returned to the hotel, and related news kept coming in. The Cannes organizing committee spent a lot of effort to appease Adjani and prevent the matter from escalating to the point of calling the police.

Isabelle Adjani wasn't actually injured; this troublemaker was probably faking it at the time.

Martin waited until late at night, until Menez returned to the hotel, before he could finally relax.

The following morning, he specially invited Mennet to have breakfast with him.

At the dining table, Martin peeled an egg and asked, "Are you alright?"

Menez laughed sheepishly, "It just ruined my clothes, nothing else."

Bruce said, "You were the hero who saved the damsel in distress last night."

Facing Martin and Old Broglie, Menez didn't hide anything and said directly, "Actually, I could have pulled Huppert away, but I wanted to leave a deeper impression on him, so I stood in the middle."

Martin Chongmeng gave a thumbs-up: "Impressive."

Bruce retorted, "I never thought you'd be a jerk like that!"

Menne scratched her head: "I learned it from you. Last time you said you were going to find the Kardashian sisters..."

"Shut up!" Bruce snapped angrily.

Martin looked at Old Brooks: "Sisters? Old buddy, what did you say back then? You only loved Kohler."

"Kim forced her way in, and Kohler was worried about upsetting her sister, but she couldn't refuse." Bruce's face was full of grievance, as if he had been wronged. "What could I do?"

He abruptly changed the subject: "What did Isabelle say to you? You've done so much."

Menez said, "She's taking me to meet French director Jeanne Labrune this afternoon to recommend me for the lead role in her new film."

Martin asked with concern, "What are you planning to do next?"

"He's the male lead, after all," Mennet smiled. "I couldn't refuse Isabelle's kind offer."

He took a sip of milk and said, "Isabelle Huppert thinks that my pairing with her is very much in line with the current social situation in France, a white woman and a black man, after all."

Martin nodded: "An art film?"

Mennet simply stated, "The heroine in Isabelle Huppert's story is a free-spirited high-class escort who initially loved her job but later felt bored. Wanting to rekindle her passion for work, she sought out the male protagonist, a psychologist."

In preparation for this year's Cannes Film Festival, Bruce learned a lot about Yuper and said, "None of the characters played by your artistic goddess are normal."

Martin could imagine the final effect of the film after hearing Menez's description, in the style and tone typical of European art films.

Menez added, "This film won't start shooting until the second half of the year, so it won't conflict with the release schedule of Nolan's new film. I think it's worth a try. With Huppert on set, I can get to know more European filmmakers."

Martin won't interfere in this matter: "You make the decision yourself."

Bruce exposed Menez's true colors: "You just want to meet more European art icons, don't you?"

Menez grinned, revealing two rows of bright white teeth, and chuckled, "Old Bu, I'll introduce you to him later!"

Thomas rushed into the restaurant and approached Martin, saying, "It's urgent."

Martin gestured to the chair opposite him: "Sit down and talk."

Bruce poured him a glass of water.

After Thomas sat down, he said, "The company called. Chanel just contacted them, and Karl Lagerfeld wants to see you."

He came in a hurry, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and said, "I contacted Chanel headquarters using the contact information provided by the company, and confirmed that the person who called was Karl Lagerfeld's assistant. Karl Lagerfeld is currently in Cannes, and he wants to see you this afternoon."

Martin asked, "Why do you want to see me?"

Thomas said, "GG endorsement! He intends for you to be the spokesperson for Chanel No. 5."

"Wait a minute!" Martin asked, voicing his doubts. "Isn't Chanel No. 5 a women's fragrance? Why choose a male spokesperson?"

Thomas was equally puzzled: "I don't know either."

Martin frowned and thought to himself, "Could I possibly be someone Karl Lagerfeld would fancy? After all, what kind of men hasn't the old man seen and experienced?"

Thomas said, "We'll know once we meet."

Martin asked again, "Has Chanel No. 5 ever had a male spokesperson?"

"No, never before." Thomas was certain of this: "After Nicole Kidman's contract with Chanel No. 5 expired, Chanel refused to renew it. Like box office poison, her endorsements didn't work well."

After making the call, he inquired about many things: "This time, Chanel plans to hire one male and one female spokesperson. The female spokesperson is said to be Audrey Tautou, who played Coco Chanel in the movie 'Chanel'."

Martin was somewhat unfamiliar with the name Audrey Tautou: "Has she been in any other well-known films?"

Thomas said, "Emily, also known as Angel Emily."

The latter name reminded Martin of the corresponding movie, which should be "Amélie".

Martin said, "Alright, I'll go see him this afternoon."

Thomas stood up: "I'll go and give them a reply."

At 2:30 p.m., Martin arrived at the marina in Cannes and boarded a white luxury yacht.

Under the sunshade on the top deck, Karl Lagerfeld and his boyfriend Baptiste Jabicone rose to greet them.

Martin shook hands with Lagerfeld, and Jabicorn nodded slightly as a greeting.

The latter was an unknown model last year, but after a chance encounter with Lagerfeld, he is now a hot male model throughout Europe.

Kind words don't cost anything. Martin glanced at Lagerfeld's signature sunglasses and white hair and said, "I never expected to have the honor of meeting the Caesar of the fashion world in Cannes."

Lagerfeld smiled: "The number one actor of the post-80s generation in Hollywood, truly deserving of the title!"

He said, "Congratulations on winning the Oscar and the Cannes Best Actor award. Martin, there are very few young actors like you who have achieved such great success in both the artistic and commercial fields."

Even in front of the sophisticated Lagerfeld, Martin echoed his own refined taste with words: "God gave me an exceptional talent, and my efforts have brought that talent to fruition, nothing more."

Lagerfeld nodded slightly and asked, "What do you think of Chanel No. 5?"

"The most iconic fragrance for women." Martin spoke as if he were an artist: "Compared to abstract emotions or beauty, it awakens their souls."

He combined some of his experiences from his previous life to say this, in which many girls sold their souls and bodies for Chanel No. 5.

Martin directly asked the question that had been bothering him: "Chanel No. 5 has never had a male spokesperson before, so why did you choose me, Lagerfeld?"

Lagerfeld calmly stated, "It seems absurd, even absurd, for a man to interpret the most classic women's fragrance."

Martin waited for him to continue.

Lagerfeld said, "But the definition of Chanel No. 5 is revolution, breaking with convention. You are a vibrant young person, and time has imbued you with a unique mature charm; youth and maturity are perfectly blended in you!"

He looked Martin up and down carefully: "I can see that beneath your charming appearance lies a wild and unrestrained heart. The masculinity you exude will make countless women's hearts flutter."

Martin felt extremely uncomfortable hearing these words coming from a man who had a boyfriend; he even got goosebumps.

But he remained seated as a mountain, merely revealing a faint smile, appearing extremely confident.

Lagerfeld continued, "If a man as outstanding as you is captivated by Chanel No. 5, it sends a message that everyone will be captivated by Chanel No. 5!"

He emphasized the last sentence: "This will make Chanel No. 5 even more legendary."

Upon hearing this, Martin grasped the key point: in this age of information overload, even Chanel No. 5 needs to generate buzz.

Based on his understanding from his numerous interactions with Cartier, luxury goods require more sophisticated marketing methods.

Martin said politely, "I am deeply honored by your kind consideration."

Lagerfeld nodded slightly to him.

Martin didn't mince words: "Carl, I can't give you a definite answer right now. My agency and team need to weigh the pros and cons."

He has always believed in getting paid to do things, and the five major sponsors just paid $600 million for the Cannes Best Actor award: "I currently have business collaborations with several brands, and I need to let them know as well."

This matter involves many aspects, and Karl Lagerfeld didn't expect Martin to give an immediate reply.

"Alright, now that we've finished with the business, we can talk about something else," Lagerfeld asked. "Interested in going sea fishing together?"

Martin glanced subtly at Bruce and Thomas, and said, "Of course, I've never fished on a luxury cruise ship."

Soon, the yacht slowly started and sailed out of the dock area.

There were fishing rods on the boat. Martin had tried sea fishing when he was in Los Angeles. Although he wasn't a skilled angler, he handled the fishing rods quite well.

Before dark, the yacht returned to the dock, and Martin said goodbye and left.

After descending the long pier, Martin got into the car and said to Thomas, "Go back to Los Angeles and discuss this matter thoroughly with the agency. I can't be sure what the long-term consequences will be."

Thomas, who had never encountered this before, said, "Once you sign with Chanel No. 5, your influence will be enormous. Are you worried about the negative impact?"

Martin said, "If it's not suitable, I'd rather turn it down."

Thomas said, "We don't need to give an answer yet; we'll see how things go."

Martin advised, "Make sure to speak to all the sponsors."

The three returned to the Wuyang Hotel, where Mene called to say that she wouldn't be coming back tonight and that they should meet at the front desk in the lobby when checking out tomorrow.

The following morning, Martin and his group parted ways with David Fincher and Thomas, first taking a flight to Paris, and then flying from Paris to Morocco to meet up with the Nolan crew there.

(End of this chapter)