Simon led Janette to George Miller, who was chatting with Nicole Kidman.
After exchanging greetings, Simon initiated the conversation, asking, "What were you two just discussing?"
Nicole Kidman, tall and elegant in a moon-white evening gown, replied, "George thinks my performance in 'Pulp Fiction' was excellent and hopes I can star in a film he's currently preparing".
As she spoke, Nicole Kidman smiled at Simon, seemingly wanting to see his reaction.
According to common Hollywood practice, production companies usually require newcomers starring in their films to sign multi-picture deals, so they can continue to reap the benefits after the actors become famous.
For the 'When Harry Met Sally' project, Meg Ryan not only took on the role of 'Sally' but also signed an option contract with Daenerys Entertainment. Now that 'When Harry Met Sally' is a box office hit, Daenerys Entertainment has the first right of refusal for Meg Ryan's next film, unless they voluntarily release her.
'Pulp Fiction' was no exception. Although the project belonged to Orion, the two newcomers in the film, Samuel L. Jackson and Nicole Kidman, each signed three-picture deals with Daenerys Entertainment.
Daenerys Entertainment's recent five-picture deal for the 'Batman' lead actor selection followed the same logic, only this contract required more films and a longer duration. After the era of big studios, such contracts, almost akin to indentured servitude, were rare in Hollywood, which is why they were mocked by the media as 'slavery contracts'.
Noticing the smile on Nicole Kidman's lips, Simon merely glanced at her before asking Miller, "George, can you tell me about your next film? I really liked 'The Witches of Eastwick,' but I'm even more eager for you to direct 'Mad Max 4'".
"Simon, you might be mistaken. I don't have plans for a next film yet; I just want to invite Nicole to star in a thriller that my production company intends to shoot, and I'll only be serving as a producer", George Miller explained, then added, "It's a film adaptation of a novel called 'Dead Calm,' which tells the story of a couple who, after accidentally losing their child, find solace through drifting at sea, only to unexpectedly rescue a stranger."
As George Miller finished speaking, Simon immediately recalled the film. In the original timeline, 'Dead Calm' happened to be Nicole Kidman's breakthrough role in Hollywood.
Simon just hadn't expected George Miller to be the producer of this film. However, it didn't surprise him at all. Both leads in 'Dead Calm,' Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman, were Australians, after all.
It all came down to the Australian contingent.
Although Simon didn't think that Nicole Kidman, at only twenty years old and with such a strong presence, could portray a young, traumatized mother well, he didn't point this out to George Miller directly. Their friendship hadn't reached that level yet.
Moreover, if George Miller really decided to do it, Simon would go along with it.
Nicole Kidman could never be considered a box office star; anyway, the three-picture contract was there, and letting her hone her skills in more films wouldn't hurt Daenerys Entertainment.
After chatting casually for a while, Simon was about to leave when George Miller, who had not mentioned the Cannes Film Festival in his earlier remarks, suddenly said, "Simon, I must say, your 'Pulp Fiction' this time is truly outstanding. It's the first time I've realized that a film can be so imaginative".
Simon, hearing George Miller's almost blunt statement, paused slightly. Noticing the shrewdness in the eyes of the seemingly honest middle-aged man, he quickly smiled and nodded as if nothing had happened, saying, "George, I'm glad you like the film".
Although Simon was only interested in the Palme d'Or, having secured two judges, he was no longer worried that 'Pulp Fiction' would come away empty-handed.
After all, Orion certainly wouldn't be indifferent; the connections of Mike Medavoy and others in the industry were definitely beyond Simon's reach. Moreover, compared to the Oscars with its numerous judges, the Cannes awards were much easier to manipulate.
Simon felt no qualms about his lobbying efforts. If there's an opportunity and you don't seize it, the award will simply go to someone else.
Just like 'Pulp Fiction' in the original timeline, who's to say it wasn't lobbied for?
Just like the subsequent year when Quentin served as jury president, Michael Moore's documentary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' won the Palme d'Or. The media generally suggested the French wanted to annoy the Bush administration, but what was the reality?
Award selection is in the hands of the judges. If the film festival organizers dared to intervene with a remark like 'Let's annoy Bush a bit', they'd be exposed for interference in a scandal in a minute.
So what was the reason?
It's simple.
'Fahrenheit 9/11' was financed and produced by Miramax. It's well known that the Weinstein brothers and Quentin were as close as can be. Then, 'Fahrenheit 9/11' won the Palme d'Or. This documentary, with an investment of $6 million, grossed over $200 million worldwide at the box office alone, and the Weinstein brothers made a killing.
That's the inside story.
Ultimately, the Cannes Film Festival is, after all, a commercial film celebration, not as sacred as some people imagine.
Through this grand event, millions of tourists flock to this French coastal town every year, and this is the fundamental reason why the Cannes Film Festival continues. As for the award results, they are not that crucial to the organizers. In fact, the more controversial the results,
The results of the selection, from a certain perspective, can further enhance the reputation of the Cannes Film Festival.
After parting ways with George Miller, Simon was about to greet some acquaintances at the party when Jennifer approached him and said, "Boss, Nastassja Kinski is here too. Would you like to go chat with her?"
Nastassja Kinski, the European actress who began a relationship with Roman Polanski at 14 and was propelled to fame by him, was also one of the judges at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Among the ten judges this time, Simon could only contact William Goldman and George Miller, whom he had just spoken with. Although he knew some of the others, he hadn't met them in person, and his connections couldn't reach them.
Simon, guided by Jennifer, approached a couple with Janette. The female assistant then whispered in his ear, "That man is Kinski's husband, Ibrahim Moussa".
Simon nodded. After the couple greeted another guest, he stepped forward and extended his hand to Nastassja Kinski, saying, "Hello, Ms. Kinski".
Nastassja Kinski wore a somewhat conservative round-neck, long-sleeved gown tonight. Hearing Simon's greeting, she looked at him with a clearly bewildered expression and didn't take his outstretched hand. Instead, she wiggled her slender fingers and stammered, "You, um, you are, oh, I remember, you're Simon Westeros. By the way, what exactly does 'Westeros' mean?"
Simon hadn't expected such a reaction from the beautiful brunette, even suspecting she might be high.
He subtly withdrew his hand and smiled, "'Westeros' is a surname I chose for myself; it doesn't have any other meaning".
"Ha, do you think I'm stupid?" Nastassja Kinski said, her gaze drifting to Janette beside Simon, her eyes suddenly lighting up: "Esmeralda, I saw you in a movie a few days ago, your performance was truly amazing".
As Nastassja Kinski spoke, she approached very familiarly, directly taking Janette from Simon's hand. Like close sisters, they linked arms and were about to walk off somewhere else. Janette gave Simon a wink and then, smiling, chatted with Nastassja Kinski as they walked away.
Simon grew even more puzzled about what was happening.
In his memory, this controversial and beautiful actress, besides liking older men, didn't seem to have any lesbian tendencies.
Nastassja Kinski's husband, seeing his wife abandon him and walk away, clearly looked displeased. He briefly greeted Simon and then turned and left.
Simon looked around, shrugged, and walked towards the 'When Harry Met Sally' crew.
'When Harry Met Sally' was also scheduled for a screening at the Cannes Film Festival this time. Of course, since the overseas rights had already been sold to Disney, Disney was naturally managing this event.
Around ten o'clock, Simon decided to leave. He searched the party but couldn't find Janette, and Jennifer didn't know where she had gone either.
Just as he was getting anxious, Robert Redford told Simon that he had seen Janette and another woman leave the ballroom about half an hour earlier.
Simon left the party and found Neil Bennett waiting outside, only to learn that Janette had already returned to the hilltop estate in Le Cannet.
Returning to their residence with Jennifer, Simon searched the brightly lit villa and found his way to the third-floor terrace. He discovered that not only Janette but also Nastassja Kinski was there. The two were curled up on lounge chairs on the third-floor terrace, sipping red wine and chatting.
Seeing Simon appear, Janette sat up and greeted him. Nastassja Kinski merely gave Simon a faint nod, looking rather indifferent.
Simon walked to Janette's lounge chair and sat beside her, glancing at Nastassja Kinski. The woman had already changed out of her conservative gown and was now wearing a light pink silk nightgown, with two outrageously long legs extended. The clothes were clearly Janette's.
Reaching out to embrace Janette's waist, Simon leaned into her ear and whispered, "What's going on?"
As soon as Simon spoke, Nastassja Kinski, from the other side, interjected, "Mr. Westeros, I have very good hearing".
Simon simply looked at her and said, "Then you explain it to me?"
Nastassja swirled the red wine in her hand and said indifferently, "Jeanne and I get along very well, and I plan to stay here for the night".
Simon smiled and said, "But you must understand, Miss Kinski, the man in our house makes the decisions".
"What a coincidence, it's the same in my house," Nastassja Kinski said, glancing at Simon. "That's why I couldn't stand it anymore. Are you planning to make Janette run away from home too?"
Simon saw Janette looking at him with a smile, reached out, and pinched her chin, saying, "Our Janette is very well-behaved; she won't run away from home. But you, does your husband know? I wouldn't want him to call the police and cause trouble".
Nastassja Kinski changed her posture, lying lazily on the lounge chair. "I had someone tell him I wouldn't be coming home tonight".
"Well", Simon said helplessly, "it's very late already. I'll have someone arrange a guest room for you".
Nastassja Kinski raised her wine glass towards the master bedroom: "This one is nice. Janette and I will sleep together."
Simon feigned displeasure and asked, "What about me then?"
Nastassja Kinski gave Simon a sidelong glance: "You can come too, but if you dare touch me, I'll bite that thing off".
The woman's tone was flat, but Simon felt a chill down his spine and retreated directly, standing up and saying, "Alright, then you two get some sleep early".
Amidst Janette's schadenfreude laughter, Simon left the terrace.
Although he still felt a bit strange, but it was already very late. Simon changed to another bedroom and quickly fell asleep.
Still a bit jet-lagged, Simon woke up again after less than six hours of rest; it was only a little past five o'clock. It was already summer, and though it was only five in the morning, the outdoors was already bright. Simon's new bedroom was still on the third floor, also with a spacious terrace.
After washing up, Simon got dressed and went out onto the terrace, admiring the beautiful view of the small town of Cannes with its white buildings stretching along the hillside and the bay with its golden ripples. As he casually stretched, a slight sound came from the other terrace.
A graceful figure, wearing only underwear, lazily emerged from the bedroom, leaned on the railing, and gazed into the distance with a somewhat melancholy expression. A moment later, noticing Simon on the other side, the woman neither screamed in anger nor showed panic or shyness. She calmly turned and floated back into the bedroom.
Simon couldn't help but touch his nose.
This was truly, too peculiar.
After breakfast, Simon dispatched Ken Dixon to drive Nastassja Kinski away. Only then did Janette explain to Simon that Nastassja Kinski was having a spat with her husband. The Egyptian businessman had always wanted Kinski to retire from acting. After years of tug-of-war, the actress gave birth last year and reluctantly agreed, but after only a few months, she took on the role of a Cannes Film Festival judge, announcing her return, and the couple inevitably began to argue.
Simon had no interest in other people's domestic affairs. After Janette explained and also indicated that she had managed to sort some things out, he put the matter out of his mind.
The opening ceremony was at 7 PM, but before that, the organizers had arranged a media photo call for the main creators of the nominated works. Simon was busy with this all morning, and after a short rest in the afternoon, the 'Pulp Fiction' crew began to assemble. Around 6:30 PM, everyone departed from the hotel booked by Orion and travelled by car to the Palais des Festivals on the waterfront in Cannes.