Chapter 119: Gothic Beauty

The Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, the location of the gala hosted by 20th Century Fox.

Charles was chatting about movies with Jeffrey Godsick, the president of 20th Century Fox, but did not see Ridley Scott around.

"Charles, tell me what you think about Kingdom of Heaven!" Jeffrey Godsick asked with a smile.

Charles took a sip of his drink, knowing he shouldn't pretend to be oblivious any longer, and replied, "Kingdom of Heaven has grand epic war scenes and an interpretation of medieval knightly spirit. Despite being over three hours long, it doesn't feel boring at all!"

Jeffrey Godsick glanced at Charles and then laughed, "You noticed too, the movie is over three hours long, so the cinemas can only schedule three screenings a day! Ideally, the length of a movie shouldn't exceed two and a half hours."

More screenings mean higher box office revenue. The difference between three shows and four shows a day is significant. Charles had already guessed why Ridley Scott and Tom Rothman hadn't shown up yet.

"A 3-hour and 12-minute movie cut down to two and a half hours, even if all the subplot scenes are removed, it will lead to incoherent and dull main plot," Charles kindly reminded Jeffrey Godsick, knowing Ridley Scott himself would surely say the same things.

"But Kingdom of Heaven has one awe-inspiring battle after another and impressive, grand siege scenes that are visually captivating. Ridley Scott's mastery of depicting heroes from a personal perspective is still as robust as ever. The actors' performances are outstanding, and the plot and dialogue are deeply compelling."

Facing Jeffrey Godsick's confident opinion, Charles could only nod and smile - the facts were as he said.

But, Charles added a thought to himself: if a two-hour-plus movie is filled with one battle after another, all jumbled together, besides the actors' tattered and dirty clothes and long, unkempt hair, there wouldn't be much else for the audience to see.

The higher-ups at 20th Century Fox weren't wrong. After all, Kingdom of Heaven wasn't like The Lord of the Rings, adapted from a powerful novel series, so the movie length was crucial to its plot progression.

Medieval knights of the Crusades were overly romanticized, making most people scoff. How could the dusty desert scenes compare to the scenic splendor of Middle-earth?

Charles believed that the storyline of Kingdom of Heaven meant to create a medieval knight hero would end in failure, whether it was the director's cut or the theatrical release.

European and American audiences had been familiar with grand war scenes for years. The expansive visuals of King Arthur and Troy were impressive, but what were the results? Modern war epics without artistic depth didn't have much appeal anymore.

Moreover, Kingdom of Heaven did not delve deeply into the historical animosities and causes of hatred between Christians and Muslims.

After parting with Jeffrey Godsick, Charles approached French actress Eva Green and extended his hand like a gentleman, inviting, "Beautiful princess, may I have this dance with you?" referring to her role as the sister of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem in Kingdom of Heaven.

With her wavy curls, smoky eye makeup, and fair complexion, she was the epitome of a sexy, enigmatic Gothic dark beauty.

"Good evening, Mr. Capet!" Eva Green cheerfully danced with Charles in the ballroom.

The 24-year-old Eva Green had left a deep impression on Charles with her Venus de Milo look in The Dreamers.

"Call me Charles, and I'll call you Eva! Your appearance in the movie was beautiful, and your performance was impressive," Charles sincerely praised, noting her striking presence in Kingdom of Heaven.

Eva Green nodded, a bit shyly. "Nice to meet you, I don't know many people in the States."

Charles nodded in return, acknowledging that while her facial features might not be classically beautiful, her perfect body and mysterious allure could captivate people.

She was also one who didn't mind showcasing her body in films, a Frenchwoman unreserved in revealing herself to the audience.

"You're quite special, unlike many Hollywood or French actresses, you have a unique charm, like a sexy black swan," Charles remarked, genuinely appreciating Eva Green's dedication to her craft.

However, starting from her audacious portrayal in The Dreamers, the roles she received seemed to consistently require her to exhibit her seductive, enigmatic side.

"Thank you. I don't mind showing my breasts in movies; every part of my body can serve art," Eva Green explained with a smile.

Charles nodded in agreement. Although many Hollywood actresses were also unreserved, they still lacked the boldness of European stars.

"I'd like to ask you out for dinner tomorrow. Are you free?" Charles got to the point.

Eva Green was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Then, see you tomorrow night!" Charles hugged and kissed her on cheeks before walking away.

Eva Green watched his departing figure move toward where director Ridley Scott was approaching.

After mulling it over, Eva Green went off to find her agent.

"Charles, sorry I'm late!" Ridley Scott apologized to Charles.

"No worries. I know you've put a lot of effort into Kingdom of Heaven," Charles replied, indicating he didn't mind.

Ridley Scott nodded and said, "I've always wanted to make a medieval knight movie, especially about the Crusades; In my view, the protagonist is an ordinary person swept up in monumental times. It's only through enduring pain and tragedy that they become a true hero, able to withstand everything without being swept away. Balian in Kingdom of Heaven is that hero!"

Charles smiled and transitioned the conversation, "Becoming a hero comes with a heavy price."

Ridley Scott shook his head with a wry smile, "20th Century Fox has decided to cut at least 40 minutes before its release!"

Not many directors had final cut privileges for their films, with studios often editing according to audience reception.

Charles wasn't at all surprised about the cuts to Kingdom of Heaven, as studios typically took into account the cinemas' preference for shorter film lengths.

"I've read the script for The Departed. Tomorrow, I'll bring my plan to Capet Pictures. For tonight, just enjoy the party," Ridley Scott suggested with a smile.

Charles nodded in agreement, understanding that Ridley Scott might be feeling frustrated over the significant cuts to his hard work.

*****

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