Made in Hollywood

"Duke, I am very optimistic about you and "Saving Private Ryan"."

Hearing the words of the veteran academy who was obviously Jewish, Duke said quickly, "Thank you for your support, Mr. Hoffman."

"Don't be too distracted. Although there are constant film critics who say bad things about you in front of me, if we don't even support ourselves."

He raised his glass to Duke and said before drinking, "Then Hollywood is not Hollywood."

After talking to him a few more words, Duke stepped aside and breathed a sigh of relief. This was a party he held at home. It was aimed at the awards season. In this circle, even if he was reluctant to do something, he could not Totally refused, not to mention that if the film can really win the best film, he will also directly benefit.

This is Duke's first use of the grand ballroom in the manor. The grand ballroom with thousands of square feet is full of guests, including Nancy Josephson and Penny Kelly among the crowd. Roaming and fighting for his support, there are also crew members such as Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as production representatives such as Jeff Robinoff.

Like the previous Duke, they communicated with members of the directors’ union, actors’ guild, and producer’s union specially invited at the party, ≦, and tried hard to promote their roles and films in order to win the support of each other.

This can be said to be the most common scene before the awards season. The academy does not prohibit public relations. Instead, it considers this to be a manifestation of the will to compete freely. During the special time of the awards season, parties like this will be staged in the City of Angels almost every day.

Not only the party, Duke, like everyone else, also prepared gifts for those who came to the party, such as champagne, souvenirs, and "Saving Private Ryan" videos and vcds.

Sending some exquisite but not particularly expensive gifts to the judges is an open secret of Oscar.

In addition. Like all top parties in Hollywood, Duke will not ban actors or models who are looking for opportunities to enter. Those academy members who hold the right to vote, like handsome men and beauties, and people with special habit are not a few, as long as both sides watch By the way, no one will stop them.

"Hi. Duke."

Among the crowd not far away, Jeff Robinoff walked out, with a formulaic smile on his face, came to this relatively quiet place where Duke was standing, and whispered, "Many people said To support us."

"Don't forget this special time period this year."

In Duke's view, as long as Warner and Fox's public relations are in place, "Saving Private Ryan" is at least 70% likely to win the best film, as for the best director. He thought he might hope to get a nomination, but he was basically hopeless to win the award. According to the few fragments in his memory, Mel Gibson once won the best director, not only because of the film, but also because of the lack of strong competitors. .

Under normal circumstances, the college will award the best director and best film to the same movie, but this year is a special situation. If not sure, the academy will separate the two awards and engage in a balancing trick. This is also a method they occasionally use.

Thinking that Mel Gibson might get the best director, Duke couldn't help frowning. He was never a magnanimous person, and he would never do things like complaining with virtue.

Shaking his head slightly, Duke stopped thinking about this and asked the side. "Jeff, why do Warner and Fox have to let me keep the party at home?"

"This is because you want to convey the importance of Oscar to the outside world."

After cooperating so many times, Jeff Robinoff also understands Duke’s mentality and simply explained, “If you don’t value Oscars by yourself, and you don’t show an attitude of actively fighting for awards, then the college will ignore you. They won’t award the Little Golden Man to someone who doesn’t value the award."

Hearing the words of Warner’s CEO, Duke immediately remembered David Fincher, the famous personality director, who was not very fond of Oscars and didn’t like public relations. He rarely attended public events before the awards ceremony. After being optimistic several times, they all returned empty-handed.

According to Jeff Robinoff, David Finch’s defeat was not an upset, but the most normal situation.

Maybe he will come back empty-handed again and again like David Fincher? Duke thinks it is very possible. After all, the disadvantage of age lies here. He himself does not think that Oscars represent everything, let alone a madman.

Skilled in socializing among the crowd, tactfully rejecting some hints, and always having a charming smile on her beautiful face, Catherine Zeta Jones is a fish in water at such a party, even though she meets a lot of people who are gracious to her at night People, but can't be interested in the slightest, charming eyes are always catching the figure of the master here.

Although this is only a party convened by the owner in his own name, it is the top party in Hollywood. Zeta Jones only turned half a circle and saw countless faces that she had envied and used as a goal for her to make it to the top of Hollywood. The place, she relies on the identity of the heroine of "Chicago". She wants to truly become a part of this circle. What is the fastest shortcut?

Those amber eyes looked at the tall figure again.

"Saving Private Ryan" is so popular, how much can Duke Rosenberg get this time?"

There was a quiet discussion next to him. Zeta Jones turned to look. It was the famous Hollywood filmmakers Catherine Kennedy and Anne Hurd. Only the former said, "Obviously, Duke signed a contract. With the step-sharing agreement, the box office of the film exceeds $600 million, and his box office share will reach 20%."

Anne Hurd agreed, "Yes, this is one of Hollywood's top directing contracts. Also, although he doesn't know the specific ratio, he definitely has a peripheral share of the film."

What is the surrounding share? Zeta Jones has no idea, but what is the 60% box office share? She can easily calculate it.

He is not only a successful director, but also a billionaire?

Just thinking of this, Zeta Jones heard Catherine Kennedy’s words again, “It seems that Duke has taken more shares from the box office of "Independence Day." I have the exact news that the shares are more than those of "Saving Private Ryan." Just a lot more."

"It should not be less than 150 million US dollars!" Anne Hurd echoed.

150 million dollars?

Zeta Jones felt a little dizzy. The so-called successful directors in Hollywood are racking their brains for the film's box office to exceed the $100 million mark. The winners are often excited and forget about it, and the young director who is only twenty-five years old, Can you get 150 million U.S. dollars from just one movie?

Most importantly, he is still working hard despite such success and huge wealth...

In the same crew, Zeta Jones knew how hard the other party worked. He was like an unknown person desperately eager to succeed, and even ignored her few hints.

Is success and career really that attractive? Zeta Jones didn't know, she only knew that if she was the owner of such a large fortune, she would laugh out of her dreams.

Seeing that there were fewer people around the party host, Zeta Jones wanted to go over and say hello, but just walked a few steps, and a familiar figure came from the side.

"Hi, Kate, I didn't expect you to come to Hollywood too."

Seeing Sophie Marceau take the initiative to say hello, Zeta Jones had to stop, "Hello, Sophie, you look so beautiful tonight."

The other party was wearing an all-black short sling and low-cut evening dress. The skin was extraordinarily fair, and the tight-fitting design also highlighted the exquisite and graceful curves, especially the fluffy short brown hair and the lazy makeup, just like She is the girl who longs for love and nourishment most in adolescence. Even if she thinks she is rich in capital, she can't help but feel jealous.

"Kate, you are good too." Sophie Marceau just said hello, "I have something else. If I have time, I will invite you to dinner."

After speaking, she turned around and walked to the front side. Zeta Jones couldn't help frowning. The other party went to Duke's side.

Although it wasn't far from where Duke was, Sophie Marceau had countless thoughts in her mind when she walked this short tens of feet.

After thinking and preparing for a long time, she agreed to the demands made by Mel Gibson and Caa. Anyway, this kind of debauchery was nothing to her, and she knew how attractive she was to men. , This will not consume too much hands and feet.

But she still hesitated. In the past month or so, she has learned about some of the situation in CAA. The two interest groups headed by Martin Bob and Ino Martin are fighting fiercely within CAA. If Martin Bao Bo loses in the competition and will inevitably step down. The promise made by Mel Gibson is no different from the wild man farting.

There must be rewards for hard work. This is her bottom line.

Even if there were doubts in her heart, Sophie Marceau did not slow down in any way. She had another plan in her heart, a plan to reap some benefits from the top director on the opposite side with the help of CAA's calculations and influence.

The party gradually came to an end. Duke shook hands and sent away many guests. Amid the crisp sound of high heels landing, an unusually tall French woman walked in front of him.

"Sophie, when did you come?"

Duke was very sure that he had not invited her. When he held the hand that the other party extended, he could feel Sophie Marceau's fingers twitching slightly in his palm.

"I came with my friend." Sophie Marceau showed the most charming smile, "Seeing you have been busy, I didn't come to say hello."

"The hospitality is bad."

The visitor was a guest, and Duke made a courteous sentence, and then asked, "Are you going to leave? I'll let someone see you off."

Sophie Marceau shook her head slightly, and suddenly took a step forward, leaning in Duke's ear, and whispered, "Actually, I have something to talk to you alone." (To be continued.)