Chapter 161: La Vie en Rose

In a suite at the Ritz Paris, Charles lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, his hands tightly gripping the bed sheets, tense.

After a while, Eva Green lifted her head and reached for some tissues on the table beside her to wipe her mouth.

Turning his head, he noticed a French song, La Vie en Rose, playing on the television.

"Is this by the French chanson queen Edith Piaf?"

Eva Green nodded, "One of the most popular female singers in France."

"Now, a French film company is planning to shoot her biopic!"

Charles nodded. Wasn't this the movie that won Marion Cotillard the Oscar for Best Actress?

"Already in the works?" Charles asked.

"Yeah, and France's Channel 4 has agreed to provide some funding. But Edith Piaf holds a significant place in the hearts of the French people; her biopic needs a lot of money, nearly a budget of 20 million euros."

French art films usually didn't have big budgets, rarely exceeding 10 million euros unless it was a commercial film from Luc Besson's EuropaCorp.

"20 million euros!" Charles chuckled. Capet Pictures could easily invest in the production.

France's Channel 4, Germany's RTL, and the UK's Sky Network were Europe's three most renowned pay-per-view channels.

France's Channel 4 has always been one of the investors in many French films. Combined with the French Film Subsidy Fund, it solved many funding issues for French filmmakers.

Eva Green observed Charles' expression, guessing something, and asked, "Is Capet Pictures interested in this biopic?"

Charles nodded, "Yes, let's make it the first French film Capet International Pictures invests in and produces!"

"There have been several movies about Edith Piaf's life before in France. Is Capet Pictures really going to invest?"

Edith Piaf passed away in the 1960s. Her 47-year life was full of ups and downs, from a humble birth and a tragic childhood to becoming France's national treasure and the queen of chanson, the "Little Sparrow" Edith Piaf had a legendary life.

"The Da Vinci Code has already collaborated with a French film company. This movie can further deepen cooperation with French companies," Capet Pictures had to capture the European market quickly, and investing in local films was essential.

Charles, staying in Paris, immediately began preparing for Capet Pictures to invest in the Edith Piaf biopic.

French director Olivier Dahan and producer Alain Goldman were already preparing for the film titled La Vie en Rose.

Upon hearing of Capet Pictures' interest, they quickly reached an agreement with Charles. With Capet Pictures' financial support, the film's preparations accelerated quickly.

La Vie en Rose had a production budget of $25 million, which was significant in France but considered low-cost in Hollywood.

However, an evident art film would hardly have much market in North America. Capet Pictures needed to secure both French and EU film funds.

"According to Mr. Alain Goldman's estimate, with French film subsidies and TV station funding, Capet Pictures might have to invest around $20 million," reported Phyllis Jones after seeing off producer Alain Goldman.

Charles nodded, "As for the female lead, Marion Cotillard should play the role. Her performance in Love Me If You Dare was impressive, and with The Da Vinci Code releasing next year, her commercial appeal will further strengthen!"

Charles' investment in La Vie en Rose wasn't just for awards but also for profit - he wouldn't invest just to help Marion Cotillard win an Oscar.

Establishing Capet International Pictures' French branch had its advantages too.

"Okay, back in the States, our Little Miss Sunshine has crossed the $55 million mark at the North American box office, and it's expected to reach about $60 million by the end. And, Hostel has made $35 million since its release in September!"

Charles chuckled. It appeared that the gory horror film Hostel was doing well. "Matrix Pictures should go ahead with the sequel; with the experience from the Saw series, it should be much easier. Remember, strictly control the budget. Hostel just capitalized on the audience's curiosity."

Phyllis Jones nodded, "Boss, Dona found a good property in London, near Knightsbridge; a three-story standalone villa with a garden..."

She placed some photographs of the house on Charles' desk, showcasing Victorian architecture.

Charles examined the pictures and details - it had a significant area and three floors, but the price was steep!

"10.5 million pounds, with convenient transportation and wealthy neighbors, suitable for you, boss."

Charles laughed, "Nice, it suits me well!"

Even though the pound was strong against the dollar at that time, 10.5 million pounds was roughly over 18 million dollars, but Charles had the money.

"Boss, Dona mentioned she needs to return to the States. YouTube is preparing for financing. She will check if we can continue to invest to maintain the ownership percentage."

Charles nodded. But generally, startup companies wanted more investors. Dawn Investments maintaining a 40% share would be challenging.

"Let her go back. YouTube has been developing well this year and likely attracted the attention of major internet companies. Additionally, YouTube's copyright disputes with Hollywood production companies are intensifying, becoming a significant issue!" Charles wanted to manage YouTube himself if it wasn't for the legal battles over internet rights.

The conflict between Hollywood and Silicon Valley over internet copyright had become prominent, and the debate over internet copyright legislation was a focal point.

Wall Street, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and the military-industrial complex represented America's financial, media, technology, and manufacturing powers.

They influenced each other yet balanced one another. Charles was confident he could penetrate the capitals of Wall Street, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley.

However, he was completely clueless about the military-industrial complex, oil, and energy resources!

"Once La Vie en Rose is on track, we'll head back to the UK. You can't rush the international market; it needs to be approached gradually!" Charles still primarily focused on securing the English-speaking market.

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