Still Up to No Good

Cannes Carlton Hotel.

Nicole Kidman lay in the bathroom tub with Aaron. "Aaron, that Miramax executive, Harvey Weinstein, was way too obvious with the way he looked at people tonight!"

Aaron nodded, opening his eyes as he held Nicole in his arms. "That guy? He likes using roles to toy with newcomers who've just entered Hollywood."

"Be careful from now on. He might use a role to lure you to a hotel, just like last time."

Still, that fat man really did have an exceptional eye. He had his eye on both Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Cinema Paradiso?

"Yeah, making a name in Hollywood is really hard!"

Aaron pursed his lips. "Hard, but easy too!"

"How is it easy?"

"Once you know me, it becomes easy," Aaron said, patting the person in his arms. "I haven't properly pampered you these past few days. Tonight, hehehe!"

Nicole Kidman rolled her eyes. "You're so busy during the day. Will you still have the energy at night?"

"I have to..."

On May 11, the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony was held at the Palais des Festivals:

Sex, Lies, and Videotape, directed by American newcomer Steven Soderbergh, won Cannes' highest honor, the Palme d'Or, while James Spader won Best Actor;

Cinema Paradiso, by young Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore, won the Jury Prize;

Yugoslavia's Emir Kusturica won Best Director for Time of the Gypsies;

American actress Meryl Streep won Best Actress for A Cry in the Dark!

The Cannes Palme d'Or for Sex, Lies, and Videotape truly made Steven Soderbergh an overnight sensation.

Its distributor, Miramax, specially held a celebration party aboard a yacht at Cannes Port!

"Congratulations, Steven, James!" Aaron attended the party with Nicole Kidman.

One Palme d'Or and one Cannes Best Actor award—Sex, Lies, and Videotape was undoubtedly the biggest winner this time.

"Thank you, Aaron. You absolutely deserve a great deal of credit for the film's success," Steven Soderbergh said, visibly thrilled.

"Enjoy yourselves," Aaron said, patting the man on the shoulder. Miramax had invited quite a few guests from other film crews that night.

"Nicole, have you met that New Zealand director, Jane Campion?" Aaron asked Nicole Kidman, his companion beside him.

"Mm, we had a great chat. We might have a chance to work together in the future," Nicole said. Earlier, Aaron had specifically gone to meet Jane Campion and introduced Nicole Kidman to her;

At the moment, Jane Campion had no particular desire to go to Hollywood, but if she needed anything in the future, she could contact Aaron Anderson.

Aaron nodded. "Mm, I'm going over there to speak with Gabrielle Carosi, the representative from Cristaldi Film, the production company behind Cinema Paradiso. I'll be back in a bit!"

"Alright," Nicole Kidman knew Aaron was going to discuss distribution rights.

After Aaron Anderson left, Nicole Kidman took a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray, only to hear someone call out to her. "Miss Kidman!"

"Ah, good evening, Mr. Weinstein."

Seeing that it was Harvey Weinstein, Nicole Kidman greeted him as well.

Harvey Weinstein smiled. "You know Meryl Streep, right? A Cry in the Dark, the film that won her the award, was also distributed by Miramax!"

"Yes, I do. Meryl Streep is a highly respected actress in Hollywood."

"And an incredible performer," Nicole Kidman added.

Harvey Weinstein took a sip of his drink. "You're a new actress from Australia. Hollywood is different—it's extremely competitive."

"If newcomers don't have something eye-catching to show, it's very difficult for them to get ahead!"

Nicole Kidman maintained her poise. "Mr. Weinstein, what do you mean by something eye-catching?"

"Ha, your boyfriend Aaron Anderson is an agent at CAA. Didn't he tell you?" Harvey Weinstein looked Nicole Kidman up and down.

"You're very beautiful, and you have a great figure, though you're a little tall. Still, that's not much of a problem."

"Miramax has quite a few projects coming up. Perhaps we could work together!"

"Work together?" Though Nicole Kidman knew he meant no good, she could not help asking, "Mr. Weinstein, may I ask what kind of role it would be?"

Harvey Weinstein smiled. "Naturally, a high-quality artistic film. Isn't Meryl Streep an example?"

"Nicole, may I call you that?"

Nicole Kidman nodded. "Of course."

"Mm, establishing yourself in Hollywood isn't easy. This is the sacred ground and center of world cinema," Harvey Weinstein said, taking another sip of his drink.

"Only with sacrifice can there be reward. What Hollywood lacks is opportunity. So how can an opportunity be given to you?"

"So, Nicole, you need to be prepared to adapt to Hollywood!"

Nicole Kidman naturally understood. If she wanted a role, she would have to offer something extra.

"Oh, Harvey, do you have a role you want Nicole to audition for?" Aaron Anderson's voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"Aaron." Nicole Kidman walked over to the man and hooked her arm through Aaron's.

"Haha, Aaron, you must have gained quite a bit tonight," Harvey Weinstein said, raising his glass to clink it with Aaron's.

Of the two films he represented, one had won the Palme d'Or and the other the Jury Prize!

"Not bad," Aaron said, wrapping an arm around Nicole's waist as he looked at Harvey Weinstein before him. The man really was still up to no good, wasn't he?

"I just spoke with Cinema Paradiso's director Giuseppe Tornatore and Gabrielle Carosi, the representative from Italy's Cristaldi Film."

"The buyout price for the North American distribution rights is four million dollars!"

"Aaron, are you joking?" Harvey Weinstein's eyes widened.

Aaron shook his head. "Theatrical screenings, videocassettes, and television broadcasts—four million dollars for Cinema Paradiso is absolutely not expensive!"

"That's impossible. Two million dollars at most."

"Two million is too low. Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fine Line Features have both expressed interest..."

Fine Line Features was New Line's label specializing in the distribution of art films. New Line itself had originally only been a small company focused on distributing foreign films;

After accumulating capital, it began investing in low-budget horror films and entered the film production industry. The success of the A Nightmare on Elm Street series made New Line famous in the secondary film market, and it later established Fine Line as a label dedicated to producing and distributing art films.

In the end, Miramax bought the North American distribution rights to Cinema Paradiso for 3.2 million dollars!