The Cannes Film Festival is a highly hierarchical cinematic event.
Stars of different calibre have their own circles, media reporters with different backgrounds and qualifications have press passes representing different levels of access, and various types of guests appear on the opening ceremony red carpet at distinctly staggered times.
As the most anticipated film in the main competition unit of this film festival, the crew of 'Pulp Fiction' arrived at the Palais des Festivals on the Cannes waterfront just as the red carpet ceremony was nearing its end. Even so, after getting out of the car, staff still ran over to signal Simon and his group to wait for a moment.
After signing some autographs for the screaming crowds on both sides of the road by the entrance, the crew was finally able to enter a few minutes later.
In the 1980s, the Cannes Film Festival red carpet was just a short stretch on the twenty-four steps of honour at the entrance of the Palais des Festivals. As Simon and others stepped onto the media aisle leading from the roadside to the steps, the reporters on both sides immediately erupted.
Besides Simon and Janette, the 'Pulp Fiction' crew also included Robert De Niro, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Sean Penn, and Robert Redford, who had previously led the 'The Milagro Beanfield War' crew down the red carpet and had specifically returned. More than half of the nine people were highly anticipated A-list stars.
Most of the guests attending the opening ceremony had already entered half an hour before the red carpet ceremony. At this time, only the 'Pulp Fiction' crew was on the media aisle, so everyone naturally became the focus of attention for the reporters on both sides.
After a series of cooperative poses, Simon initially wanted to continue walking forward with Janette, but was politely stopped by staff. After posing for a moment under the flashing lights, everyone was finally able to ascend the steps of honour, followed by another round of photos.
While standing at the top of the steps for a group photo, Simon saw the figures of this year's main competition unit judges appearing at the end of the media aisle. As per tradition, the main competition unit judges usually step onto the red carpet at the last moment. Clearly, 'Pulp Fiction' was scheduled for the second to last wave.
Entering the Lumière Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals, which can accommodate over two thousand people, the film festival opening ceremony quickly began.
Compared to the lively hustle and bustle of the red carpet ceremony, the indoor opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival seemed rather uninspired.
The host of this opening ceremony was French actress Mathilda May. Simon only remembered her for appearing in the final film of Spanish director Bigas Luna's 'Iberian Trilogy'.
The half-hour opening ceremony followed a very fixed procedure, without the relaxed humour of the Oscars. After a serious opening speech, the host invited the members of this year's main competition jury to take their seats on stage, gave a brief introduction, interspersed with a song and dance performance, then proceeded to introduce this year's nominated films, and then concluded.
Watching Mathilda May, dressed in a sky-blue evening gown, begin her curtain call on stage, Janette leaned against Simon in the audience and whispered, "It's so boring, Simon. Are we really going to stay and watch the opening film?"
Simon nodded and said, "If you don't want to watch, you can go back first".
Janette rubbed against Simon's shoulder and said, "Of course I'm staying with you".
After the opening ceremony, some guests usually choose to leave early.
However, after seeing the information about this year's opening film, Simon decided to stay after the opening ceremony.
Because the opening film was titled 'The Big Blue', directed by Luc Besson. In his previous life, "The Big Blue" was one of France's most successful films in the 1980s, playing in theatres for an entire year. This alone was enough to prove the film's excellence.
Simon had also seen this movie in his previous life, though it was through a pirated DVD, and he liked it very much. Now, having the opportunity to rewatch it on the big screen, he naturally wouldn't miss it.
Upon learning of Simon's intention to continue watching the opening film, the rest of the crew also stayed, intrigued.
After a brief intermission, the screening of the film quickly began.
'The Big Blue' has two story lines: the competition between two top divers played by Jean Reno and Jean-Marc Barr, and the romantic relationship between the male and female protagonists played by Jean-Marc Barr and Rosanna Arquette.
In Simon's opinion, the focus of the story is actually Jacques, played by Jean-Marc Barr. This protagonist, who has been obsessed with the sea since childhood, treating dolphins as family and thus unable to integrate into this world, ultimately follows the call of his heart, abandoning everything to return to the sea.
Inside the screening hall.
Simon quickly immersed himself in the beautiful blue ocean scenery of the film. He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly realized that Janette had unconsciously wrapped her arms tightly around his arm. This was a habitual small gesture of hers, and Simon hadn't paid much attention to it initially.
However, as the film, over 160 minutes long, progressed to the latter half, when the male and female protagonists, separated for the first time, spoke on the phone, and Simon heard Jacques' story about encountering mermaids, he finally noticed Janette's unusual behaviour.
"Do you know how to meet a mermaid? You have to swim to the bottom of the sea, where the ocean is bluer, where the sky becomes a memory. Lying in the silence, you decide to stay there, embracing the resolve to die, only then will mermaids appear. They come to greet you, to test your love. If your love is sincere enough, pure enough, they will accept you and take you away forever..."
As this prophetic dialogue ended, Simon heard a slightly trembling voice beside him: "Simon, I want to go home".
Simon turned his head and saw that Janette, who usually carried a hint of carefree madness, had a face full of tears.
Immediately putting the movie aside, Simon took the woman's handbag, pulled out a tissue,
He wiped her face and said without hesitation, "Okay, let's go back".
Nicole Kidman, who was sitting on Janette's other side, also noticed her unusual state. Seeing the two of them stand up, she quickly moved aside. Simon led Janette, who was still clinging tightly to his arm, out of the hall. It wasn't until they were in the car that he patted Janette, who was nestled against him like a kitten, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Janette lifted her face, didn't answer his question, but instead asked, "Simon, you'll never leave me, right?"
Simon immediately nodded: "Of course".
Janette's eyes still held worry as she said, "Actually, you're very much like Jacques in the movie, that kind of detachment that completely doesn't fit into this world. I'm very worried that one day you'll suddenly lose all interest in everything and then just disappear".
Simon smiled and shook his head, saying, "How is that possible? I've made so much money, and I don't even have an heir yet. How could I suddenly disappear?"
Janette paused, then added, "I... a few days ago, I saw some documents you left in your study".
"What is it?" Simon asked, puzzled. "I usually keep a lot of things in my study".
"It's..." Janette avoided Simon's gaze, leaning on his shoulder. "It's about... about a will. You've already made a will, haven't you?"
"Don't many people do that? Just in case," Simon didn't deny it, leaning his head against the woman's soft blonde hair. "If I suddenly die, you'll become the richest little rich woman in the world. Hey, let's discuss this now: you can date women then, but whatever you do, don't find a boy toy, or I'll be very embarrassed".
Janette ignored Simon's joke, her voice rising with a touch of excitement, "I don't want your money!"
Simon quickly pulled Janette back into his arms, gently patting her slender waist and softening his voice, "Jenny, you're really overthinking this. Okay, perhaps some of your guesses aren't wrong. But, um, if you also want a story, my UFO broke down, and Earth's technology can't fix it, so I can only stay here forever and ever".
He carried too many things that a young person his age simply couldn't possess. With Janette's clever mind, having spent so much time together, she must have made countless guesses. Simon just hadn't expected the woman to react so strongly tonight because of a movie.
Janette's rapid breathing calmed down slightly upon hearing Simon's words. She hugged his waist tightly and said, "Simon, I love you. No one in this world loves you more than I do".
"I know".
"But you don't believe in love".
"I do believe in it. I just never thought I'd be loved by a girl", Simon said with a smile. "Actually, I'm a very selfish person. I remember a very interesting question: between the person you love and the person who loves you, which one would you choose to spend the rest of your life with? I'd choose the latter. So, as long as you don't run away from me, I'll definitely cling to you for the rest of my life".
Janette's body softened further, leaning bonelessly against Simon, and she whispered, "You can go to Jenny's room tonight. She likes you too".
"I know, that's why I kept her by my side. Isn't that awful?"
"Mmm", Janette nodded vigorously, tightening her grip on Simon's arm. "But you have to promise you'll never leave me".
"I promise".
Janette paused for a moment, opened her mouth as if to say something else, but ultimately swallowed her words.
Jennifer hadn't joined them for the opening ceremony tonight. When Simon and Janette returned to the hilltop mansion in Le Cannet, the female assistant was sitting alone in the spacious, almost empty, living room on the first floor, quietly organizing some documents.
As the two entered, seeing Janette's appearance, Jennifer immediately stood up with concern and asked, "What's wrong?"
Janette didn't answer. Simon smiled and said, "She got too engrossed in the movie and cried".
Jennifer, hearing Simon's playful tone, gave him a slight glare. She stepped forward, pulled Janette to sit with her on the sofa, and then said, "Ms. Pascal just faxed over some documents from New York regarding those few reality shows. I've already organized them".
Simon nodded, walked over, picked up the faxed drafts Jennifer had just stacked, and sat on a nearby sofa. He casually chatted with the other two women while flipping through the faxes in his hand.
The Hollywood writers' strike was still ongoing, but the May TV upfronts season arrived as scheduled. Although this year's upfronts were destined to end quietly, the necessary procedures would not be skipped.
While Simon rushed to Cannes, Amy also took the four reality shows that Daenerys Pictures had been developing for several months to New York. Due to the time difference, although it was already past 9 PM in Cannes, it was still before 4 PM in New York, which was still working hours.
Speaking of which, Simon had originally planned to return to the United States after attending the opening ceremony and the premiere of 'Pulp Fiction'.
However, his schedule didn't allow him to do so.
The opening ceremony of this year's Cannes Film Festival was on May 11th, which was today. Subsequently, the premiere of 'Pulp Fiction' was scheduled by the organizers for May 15th, the first weekend of the festival. If it were just these, Simon could naturally leave the following Monday and return after 'Pulp Fiction' won an award.
However, after the premiere of 'Pulp Fiction', he also had to attend the Cannes premiere of Robert Redford's 'The Milagro Beanfield War' on May 17th. This was a favour he couldn't refuse.
Immediately after, on May 19th, was the Cannes premiere of 'When Harry Met Sally'.
Although the overseas rights had already been sold to Disney, this film was still produced by Daenerys Pictures. Selling the rights and then completely turning your back on it as a hands-off boss would definitely damage one's reputation.
After May 19th, it was the weekend again. Even if Simon didn't need a two-day weekend, others certainly wouldn't be able to do without it, so there was no need to return to the United States.
The closing ceremony was on Monday, May 23rd, so Simon ultimately decided to stay until the end of the film festival. This was also why he had bought a house in Cannes in advance. If he were only staying for a few days, there really wouldn't be a need for such trouble, but for two weeks, he didn't want to stay in a hotel anymore.
From May 11th to May 23rd, including the time spent traveling, it basically occupied most of May. Simon couldn't return to the United States, so the promotion of the reality shows could only be left to Amy. In terms of business operations, Simon was very confident in Amy.
What's more, he had promised Amy a 5% share of the company's annual net profit. If he had to personally handle everything, that money would have been wasted.
Flipping through the documents Amy sent, among the four reality shows, the four major TV networks generally showed interest in two of them: one was 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', and the other was called 'Survivor'. Simon was not surprised.
'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' and 'Survivor' were the two hottest reality shows in the United States in the 1990s, and they were also the two reality shows that sparked the reality show craze on American television.
Not many people were interested in the other two reality shows, and Simon couldn't help but admire the TV networks' foresight, because the other two reality shows were indeed ones he had randomly picked out. One was called 'Big Brother', which was far less successful than the former two in his original timeline, and the other was even a cable TV network show in his original timeline, called 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'. This was actually an entire 'Real Housewives' series, but in Simon's memory, only 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' seemed especially successful.
As for the reason for doing this, ultimately, Simon still couldn't shake the mentality of adding sand to the mix.