Chapter 324

In a small theater in Inglewood, Los Angeles, Charles Capet and Kristen Stewart were watching a movie.

The movie, an R-rated action film released last month by Lionsgate called War, was a fierce, bloody modern action movie starring Jet Li and Jason Statham.

"Charles, why did you think of bringing me to this kind of movie?" Kristen Stewart, who had just landed the lead role in Twilight, asked as she came out for a date with Charles.

"Because I think these kinds of movies are good," Charles replied.

Charles thought that Taken, which was being filmed in France, was similar in style but noted that War had very low box office performance.

"Looks like nowadays, young people prefer movies with special effects or teen dramas," Charles said, holding Kristen Stewart in his arms with a smile.

"You probably like movies like Iron Man!"

"They're okay, but I heard Ang Lee's Lust, Caution won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. His previous film, Brokeback Mountain, was also good. I liked it a lot!" Kristen Stewart shook her head.

"You like that kind, huh!" Charles glanced down at the beauty in his arms. She was only 17 this year; she must have been 14 when Brokeback Mountain was released, right?

It seemed Kristen Stewart not only liked men but also women. Maybe she was already a bisexual icon in the making?

Lust, Caution is officially going to be released in North America at the end of the month, but I can ask Focus Features to send a copy to you," Charles whispered in her ear.

"Thanks!" Kristen Stewart said as she kissed Charles.

...

Amidst the escalating tension between the Hollywood Writers Guild and the Producers Alliance, many sensed the smell of gunpowder in the air.

Stockpiling scripts and rushing to complete movies and TV show scripts became the top priority for all movie and television production companies.

Under the mediation of the U.S. Department of Labor, both sides finally restarted negotiations for a new labor agreement.

At a large Hollywood Producers Alliance party, executives and producers from various major and medium-sized film companies were in attendance.

Donna Langley had just finished chatting with her former boss, Universal Studios President Ronald Meyer, when she ran into Stacy Snider, the current president of DreamWorks.

"Donna, congratulations," Stacy Snider, who was president of Universal before 2006, was once Donna's superior.

Now, Donna Langley, who was in charge of Capet Pictures, had risen in status, far surpassing the current DreamWorks.

After all, DreamWorks was now just a subsidiary of Paramount, having shut down all its distribution systems.

"At the time, Steven even went to Rhode Island to negotiate with Hasbro executives, trying to get Michael Bay to direct the live-action Transformers. Unfortunately, Charles Capet got there first," Stacy Snider said with a regretful tone.

Donna Langley smiled and remained friendly with her former boss. "Actually, I also considered inviting Michael Bay to direct Transformers at Capet Pictures, but Charles outright refused. He said that although Transformers is simple, it was intended to be a series of movies. If there was no plot, audiences would get tired of all the explosions by the third film!"

"Sigh, Charles's eye for selecting projects is truly unmatched. Unknown directors and actors always seem to shine in his movies," Stacy Snider, now mostly helping Steven Spielberg manage DreamWorks, remarked. Most of the movie ideas and productions were still managed by Spielberg himself.

"Will there be any chance to collaborate? Donna, Steven is still Hollywood's top director!"

Donna Langley smiled. "Collaboration is definitely possible, but Capet Pictures does not allow directors and stars to take home half of the profits from a movie; We're not against big stars and directors, but if the company invests $100-200 million in making a movie, and finds out that the director and lead actor make more than we do, that's not something that can happen at Capet Pictures!"

Donna Langley's point was clear: Steven Spielberg, as a director, took too much. Even their own company's movies were like that, let alone those from other companies?

Paramount's War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, saw the two of them take home half of the profits. Paramount invested $132 million, but earned less than what they made!

"With Marvel Comics under its belt, Capet Pictures is now focused on special effects blockbusters, reducing the importance of actors," Stacy Snider knew of Capet Pictures' announced film projects. Ordinary directors and new actors could shoot according to Capet Pictures' mechanisms.

The main focus was on special effects scenes; did the actors' skills matter? Not really.

"But Donna, do you think these movies have soul?"

Donna Langley paused and then smiled. "At our level, do we still care about that? Besides, Capet Pictures has won the Oscar for Best Picture two years in a row, and you know how many Oscar nominations we get every year? Our achievements in artistic films can't be easily matched. Charles also supports feminism, isn't this kind of film company enough?"

Stacy Snider managed a bitter smile, unable to argue. You could say he promoted the development of Marvel's special effects films, but his company's arthouse films were critically acclaimed!

"Times have indeed changed. Perhaps it's time for another transformation in Hollywood," Stacy Snider sighed.

"Stacy, Hollywood is evolving, and from now on, it's truly the era for young people like Charles!"

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.