Chapter 341

Charlize Theron, now 32, carried a calm and cool aura, no wonder she was called "Venus"!

This year, she was named the Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire magazine.

She was also named the winner in In Touch magazine's selection of the "Top Ten Women with the Sexiest Legs in the World"!

"Charles, it seems like you're spending less and less time in Los Angeles," Charlize Theron said with a smile on her face.

"Not really," Charles spent shorter durations in the U.S. this year too. "What about you? What have you been up to lately?"

"Filming, working on the independent drama film The Burning Plain!" Charlize Theron had two projects this year; the other one was Hancock.

"A movie similar to your In the Valley of Elah from this year?" Charles wasn't one to know much about those random indie films. Charlize Theron liked to play small parts in art films.

Charlize nodded, "Dramatic films help improve my acting."

"I still prefer how you looked and your body in AEon Flux," Charles said with a smile, although that movie was a flop after Charlize Theron received her first commercial blockbuster paycheck of 10 million dollars following her Oscar win for Best Actress.

The only high-grossing film Charlize Theron had coming up was Hancock with Will Smith next year. She didn't have many other commercially successful films.

Charlize shook her head, "The competition in Hollywood is fierce now. My commercial appeal isn't high, even though I've won an Oscar for Best Actress. I don't get many commercial film offers!"

Of course, Charles knew that Charlize Theron didn't want to be just a pretty face anymore. She didn't care about her image but wanted scripts with depth.

"Let's go. Let's find a place for a drink. After all, you're one of the artists I recommended my mother to recruit. See if I have any advice for you," Charles thought Charlize had a pure passion for movies. She was also a sexy beauty who didn't mind sacrificing her image. Such talent shouldn't be wasted in Hollywood.

The Peninsula Hotel had its own bar, and Charles and Charlize soon found a table.

"Charles, the writers' strike has been going on for almost a month now and it's having a major impact. Hasn't your movie company prepared to handle it yet?" 

"The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers comprises over 350 companies, all aiming for profit. Even if I could disregard this loss, can other companies do the same?"

Charles shook his head with a smile, but he still supported the Alliance's tough stance since it protected their own interests.

Charlize suddenly realized that Capet Pictures' film and TV business profits were absolutely top-notch and one-of-a-kind.

"The economic environment is poor now, with Hollywood being out of work for too long, and more people losing jobs. Many behind-the-scenes workers in the film and television industry have also joined in!"

Charlize explained further.

Charles looked at Charlize and casually laughed, "Charlize, you're a big star. No matter how long the strike lasts, you guys have money. It's only the lower-ranked people who suffer from unemployment and lack of funds.

Many movie companies stocked up on scripts and projects before the strike. Now, you should take on more commercial movies. You've already won the Best Actress Oscar, so you don't need to focus on art films as your main business!"

As Charles was talking, he suddenly noticed Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino sitting together not far away.

Quentin Tarantino's historical war film Inglourious Basterds received 6.8 million euros in funding from the German Federal Film Fund at the European film market, the largest single investment from the 60 million euro total fund.

Weinstein Company and Universal collaborated on the project, but Charles was concerned with the German Federal Film Fund, as Capet Pictures' The Reader only received 2.6 million euros in funding.

Inglourious Basterds receiving 6.8 million euros was almost three times what The Reader got, which naturally irritated Charles.

"What are you looking at?" Charlize also turned to look, smiled, and said, "What? Do you want to work with him?"

Considering the relationship between Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino, there was no need to think much. Uma Thurman had divorced in 2004.

Uma had been with Quentin Tarantino since the filming of Pulp Fiction, essentially becoming his go-to leading lady.

"Work with him?" Charles shook his head. "I just feel bad that his new WWII movie Inglourious Basterds got so much more funding from the German Federal Film Fund than my The Reader."

Movies on WWII often received funding from the German Federal Film Fund since Germany's parliament was practically managing Germany on America's behalf.

Especially when it involved the Jewish narrative, the more it pleased the Jewish community, the more funding it received. Depicting the Jewish plight and Nazi atrocities, the more funding flooded in!

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