Chapter 403: No Market for Lolita-Style Romance

In 1994, Galaxy released masterpieces like Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction.

They also had commercial hits like The Mask and Dumb and Dumber, those goofy comedies!

Not only that, French director Luc Besson's movie Leon: The Professional, which he filmed in the United States, gained international fame. It did great in France with both word of mouth and box office success.

However, in the US, Leon: The Professional didn't do quite as well. It premiered in November and only made $5.3 million in its opening weekend, with a total domestic gross of $19 million.

Los Angeles, Brentwood.

"Leon: The Professional doesn't have a great reputation in America for sure; the French version is 136 minutes long," Sophie Marceau smiled as she spoke. "Even the international version is 133 minutes!"

Arthur shrugged with both hands, "People here in the US are really conservative about that Lolita-style romance stuff. If we didn't cut it down, it wouldn't have been rated R but NC-17 instead. During the test screenings, audiences couldn't accept the romantic elements between the male and female leads at all!"

It was clear that Leon: The Professional was not popular in the US. It didn't receive a single nomination at any awards.

"But at least it got rave reviews internationally," Arthur didn't sound too disappointed. "The domestic box office was nearly $20 million, after all."

However, in this version, the role of young Mathilda was played by child star Christina Ricci instead of Natalie Portman. Who knows how different Natalie Portman's life might have been?

Fortunately, last year Galaxy had already released good movies like Speed, The Shawshank Redemption, and Four Weddings and a Funeral, so they weren't all concentrated in one year.

Sophie Marceau smiled, "French artistic films rarely make it big in Hollywood. Leon: The Professional still has a strong Hollywood style. Movies like the Three Colors Trilogy and Queen Margot don't have much impact in Hollywood!"

Arthur put his arm around Sophie Marceau's shoulder, and kissed her, "In Hollywood, they mostly choose Italian and Spanish films when it comes to European art cinema. They really don't value French films."

Moreover, Hollywood commercial films were taking up more and more of the French market. Otherwise, Luc Besson wouldn't have chosen to use Hollywood methods to fight Hollywood.

Sophie Marceau pulled Arthur over to sit on her single sofa while sitting in his lap, "Gaumont is ready to support Luc Besson in making a large sci-fi film. The current budget is $80 million, which Gaumont definitely can't handle on its own. They will surely seek Hollywood partners. Does Galaxy MGM have any interest?"

Arthur knew that Luc Besson was preparing The Fifth Element. Although The Fifth Element had a decent reputation and good international reviews, just like Leon: The Professional, it didn't make a big splash in the American market.

Plus, $80 million probably wouldn't even be enough. Though Gaumont was the main investor, Arthur wouldn't put too much money into a French film. Luc Besson was better suited for making cost-effective action films. Galaxy already had plenty of good movies and didn't need The Fifth Element.

Arthur shook his head, "You know, Galaxy MGM has several big projects coming up. We don't really have the energy to support Luc Besson right now. Besides, Leon: The Professional already made him famous internationally. I'm sure he won't lack support from major Hollywood distributors."

"Well, okay," Sophie Marceau also knew that Arthur valued the commercial aspect of films more than their artistic value.

"Didn't Galaxy invite some members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) to attend a ball at the hotel?" Sophie Marceau wrapped her arms around Arthur's neck affectionately.

"Aren't you going to check it out?"

"What's the point? If I get a chance to have dinner with HFPA Chairman Philip Berk, that's good enough," Arthur shook his head. "Or maybe chat a bit at a movie celebration if HFPA members are there, but I wouldn't go out of my way to engage them."

"HFPA is the organizer of the Golden Globes. If you want to win, you really can't ignore them," Sophie Marceau could see clearly that compared to French artistic films, Hollywood leaned much more toward commercialism.

"By the way, famous Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni gave my agent a very artistic script!"

From Sophie Marceau's expression, Arthur could tell what kind of script it was and sighed, "Italian director, artistic film... apart from erotica, what else could it be?"

Sophie Marceau laughed, "You know, we European women don't reject such films!"

"Don't you have a Hollywood romance film to shoot? Why take a European role? Next year when Braveheart is released, you're definitely going to be super famous," Arthur patted her shoulder as a reminder. "In Hollywood, showing a bit is no big deal, but avoid taking too many intimate scenes. People here are actually really conservative.

Look at Sharon Stone. Now she's pretty much just a sex symbol; she can't shake off that label. And you know how messy the European art circle is. Didn't French 'Casanova' Gerard Depardieu once harass you?"

"Okay, okay. Ever since I've been with you, I've changed my style," Sophie Marceau shrugged. "The projects I'm involved in now seem to be getting more and more commercial!"

Arthur hugged her and slid his hand into her lingerie, feeling the softness, "But your fame is growing too. Isn't Fan-Fan a romantic art film?"

"And my paychecks are getting larger and larger," Sophie Marceau leaned into Arthur, "Actually, I've been considering directing myself. Would you support me?"

"You want to be a director?" Arthur was surprised, "That's not a big deal. You can start by being an assistant director in a crew to learn, or try writing a script to practice first."

"Well, it's just a thought. I haven't decided when to do it."

"Anytime..." Arthur was about to speak when the phone rang. Sophie Marceau laughed, "Answer the phone first. Haven't you touched me enough?"

Arthur pulled his hand back and picked up the phone. It was Carl Anderson calling, "Boss, a section of the oil field in northern Somalia has been taken over..."

*****

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