Chapter 526: You Want My Family Fortune

[Chapter 591: You Want My Family Fortune]

Edgar Bronfman Jr. watched as Arthur left the banquet hall. All he wanted was to see Galaxy's latest blockbuster flop; he was just looking for a good laugh. But Arthur's mind was already on acquiring his family's assets, the Schieffelin wine business.

"I wanted to see some comedy, and you want my fortune!"

The critically acclaimed director of United Artists' film, The English Patient, Anthony Minghella, was there, along with the star-studded cast of Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, and Kristin Scott Thomas. Sophie Marceau was happily chatting with her fellow French compatriot, Juliette Binoche.

...

Meanwhile, Arthur ran into Robert Redford, who talked about the upcoming film The Horse Whisperer, with its lead actress set to be Kristin Scott Thomas, who had recently shone in The English Patient.

"Where are you planning to shoot it?" Arthur inquired.

"On a farm in Montana. I got really familiar with the ranches there when I filmed Legends of the Fall. The scenery fits the movie perfectly..."

...

"Hey, Robert!" After chatting with Redford, Arthur ran into the Hollywood director Robert Zemeckis. After all, their collaboration on Forrest Gump a few years ago had captivated audiences worldwide.

"Arthur, good evening," Robert Zemeckis greeted him warmly, embracing him.

"I just crossed paths with Judy; you two collaborated on that sci-fi flick Contact, right?" Arthur smiled and clinked his glass with Zemeckis. The celebrated director paired with megastar Jodie Foster to adapt the bestselling novel.

Zemeckis chuckled wryly, "We've run into some minor issues with the film, but I think Warner Bros. will sort it out quickly."

Since completing Forrest Gump, Zemeckis hadn't found a decent project until last year when he adapted the sci-fi novel Contact by the late Carl Sagan. The film was set to release this year.

Contact was based on the work of astronomer and physicist Carl Sagan, who had just passed away the previous year. However, Warner Bros. and Sagan's estate were embroiled in a lawsuit with Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope. The lawsuit claimed that Sagan's original work took inspiration from an idea of Coppola's and alleged that according to a 1975 unilateral contract, Sagan was supposed to share the book revenue with American Zoetrope but had not fulfilled the agreement. They sought at least $250,000 in compensatory damages and an injunction against the film's production.

Arthur scoffed, "What's this? Creative inspiration from over twenty years ago?"

"Is a little thing like this really going to trip up Warner Bros.?" He figured American Zoetrope had no grounds to stop the film. They had no way to prove that Sagan's novel had been plagiarized. Clearly, with Contact about to hit cinemas and Sagan having recently passed, it seemed like a classic case of opportunism from Coppola's side.

Zemeckis shrugged. "But they are Francis Ford Coppola's company."

"Forget all that," Zemeckis said, changing the subject. "The promotion for The English Patient has been impressive, hasn't it?"

"Oh Robert, haven't you always been keen on pushing the boundaries of film technology?" Arthur found it puzzling that Zemeckis would be interested in a dramatic art house film like The English Patient.

Looking at Zemeckis's previous works, like Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Forrest Gump, all were laden with special effects!

Zemeckis raised his hands, "I'm a filmmaker too; I appreciate art. From my perspective, The English Patient is a deeply emotional and dramatically rich film, with stunning visuals, music, and performances. It also delves into human nature, love, and war."

Arthur blinked, "The theme of the film revolves around a morally lost love."

In truth, both The English Patient and Sleepless in Seattle were love stories. But at their core, they wore the pretty cloak of romance, while fundamentally exploring themes of betrayal and moral decay.

Zemeckis smiled, "United Artists has really ramped up the marketing for The English Patient."

"Greed is the best motivator," Arthur replied. The increased promotion could yield greater revenue, and both The English Patient and Evita were expanding their release scope due to awards buzz.

Box office numbers kept climbing, and as the word-of-mouth grew, their influence expanded. Soon, they would have more international releases, and even the video rental market could bring in more profits.

...

After finishing his chat with Zemeckis, Arthur glanced at his watch; it was time to leave.

He then sought out Sophie Marceau, and the two departed the Bel-Air hotel together.

They arrived at a bar in West Hollywood.

On the bar's sofa, Arthur and Sophie clinked their glasses. "After Tomorrow Never Dies hits theaters this summer, they'll be rushing to adapt the next 007 script right away. Are you really not interested in playing a Bond girl?"

Sophie shook her head, "I've got enough fame already. Ever since Braveheart was released, I've received quite a few scripts. There's no need to borrow the Bond girl cachet to boost my visibility, and the scripts I've been steering towards are mostly in the dramatic genre. Last year and this year, I've been a part of romance films."

Arthur chuckled, "You know, romantic films aren't all bad; at least they're easier to shoot."

Sophie forced a smile, "They're no match for the American sweethearts. Producers and directors gravitate towards blonde-haired, blue-eyed, sweet-smiling women. I just can't compete with the local stars in Hollywood."

"You have your own advantages," Arthur said, giving her a gentle kiss. "That French allure, Eastern elegance, and international recognition are all high enough. Your beauty is so unique. Look at the American sweethearts now -- Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Aniston -- they can't match your international fame."

However, the domestic market was large enough; these stars were well known.

"Alright, I'm quite satisfied with my current life and situation. This overly commercialized entertainment industry in Hollywood doesn't really suit me," Sophie added.

She didn't lack money; acting was just a job and a passion for her.

"Just wait and see; one day I'll help you find a unique script or see if there's a suitable biopic out there," Arthur suggested, knowing biopics had a strong chance of garnering awards acclaim.

"Okay, let's go dance." Sophie said, pulling Arthur along.

*****

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