"Charles, you need a new car!" Liv Tyler said weakly, pressing down on Charles.
Charles leaned back in his chair, holding Liv Tyler in his arms, and nodded in agreement, "I'll go buy an SUV tomorrow; it's more convenient!"
He should have driven the Mercedes-Benz A GT; at least it had more space than this 360.
"Mm," Liv Tyler lifted her head and kissed Charles for a while, then rolled over and sat in the passenger seat, her disheveled clothes revealing the intensity of their previous battle.
"My boyfriend and I are planning to register our marriage in the Caribbean Sea for Christmas!"
"Oh, this is pre-marital indulgence!" Charles understood immediately.
Afterward, Charles drove Liv Tyler to his villa in Santa Monica Palisades. After one night, they probably wouldn't contact each other again, so he cherished the moment.
At the same time, the passion of the christ, which Charles invested in, finally found a distributor: New Market Films, a small independent distribution company.
New Market Films would release the passion of the christ next year, approximately three months from now.
However, controversy was already unavoidable. IMDb was the first to declare it "riddled with errors and merely grotesque."
Mel Gibson, facing immense controversy, began to defend it: "Christ became man, and we became murderers. the passion of the christ is the greatest hero story ever told, and it is also the greatest adventure story, and the greatest love story."
the passion of the christ sparked a huge religious controversy between catholicism and judaism. After New Market Films took over distribution, its popularity remained consistently high.
jewish people and Catholics began large-scale debates, and it was even accused by jewish people of being an anti-Semitic film.
However, Charles had already arranged for American religious authorities to watch it, and they confirmed that it did not violate doctrine and was faithful to the Bible, endorsing the film.
Charles was originally just an investor and rarely formally participated in the film, but he was still cornered by ubiquitous reporters at the film company's entrance.
"What is Entertainment Weekly writing?! What anti-Semitic tendencies? What religious war ignited in Hollywood?" Charles ripped up the newspaper in his office. Charles absolutely dared not wear the hat of anti-Semitism.
"Alright, Charles, this is a tabloid, just like the American Chinese News, specializing in reporting news that doesn't align with facts," Evelyn Capet comforted him.
"Look, serious reports like The Denver Post, The Dallas Morning News, and the San Francisco Chronicle all state that the passion of the christ respects the Bible."
"The Christian Science Monitor has many Washington celebrities and Christian authorities who have given positive reviews!"
Charles walked to the office window, pulled back the curtains, and could still see reporters waiting at the company entrance.
"Are jewish people afraid their wounds will be reopened?" Charles's eyes narrowed, and a seed in his heart rapidly sprouted.
"Charles," Evelyn quickly came over and pulled her son's hand, "Don't be impulsive. Mother knows you're annoyed by the reporters, but you absolutely cannot say these things outside."
"They do their own disgraceful deeds, and then don't let others speak of them. They always portray themselves as a vulnerable group," Charles was angry, but he also somewhat envied their assertiveness. Thinking of the country across the Pacific Ocean, he felt a pang of sadness.
"Charles, reporters are just looking for news; just ignore them," Evelyn was worried that Charles, being young and hot-blooded, might not be able to hide his emotions.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. How can this small matter affect me? I just..." Charles shook his head helplessly. The secret deep within him would always be his alone.
"Once the movie is released, its success will shut them up!" Charles said calmly.
What were reporters scoffing at? Nothing more than making a money-losing film at the risk of offending jewish people. Just like Martin Scorsese, who offended Christians with The Last Temptation of Christ and lost everything.
"Christmas is coming soon. How about you take a vacation in Miami, the Caribbean Sea, or Europe? Get some good rest for a while, what do you think?" Evelyn still felt her son was too young, and his fiery temper might lead him to say inappropriate things under the provocation of reporters.
"Is that necessary? My two films, wedding crashers and mr. & mrs. smith, are in pre-production, not to mention I'm currently preparing to acquire Pacific Theater Chain Company in California?" Charles frowned.
"Moreover, the center of the controversy is Mel Gibson, as he spearheaded the film. Then there's James Caviezel, who plays Jesus. There hasn't been much discussion about the other supporting roles and me."
Evelyn Capet lightly tapped her forehead and advised, "Then won't you be depressed by the reporters' interviews? If you lose control then, it will affect your image."
"Tsk tsk, lose control of what?" Charles looked puzzled. "You don't think I'd resort to violence like before, do you?"
Charles said, spreading his hands in shock, "Now I'm a millionaire worth tens of millions of dollars. Why would I get into trouble over something like this?"
"Alright then," Evelyn saw that Charles was quite rational, so she let him be.
Later in the evening, the reporters seemed to have dispersed, and Charles went home.
"Charles, why did you choose to invest in the passion of the christ? Aren't you worried about sparking a new round of religious debate?" Indeed, as soon as Charles stepped out, he was stopped by reporters in front of his car, who questioned him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the passion of the christ has been viewed by evangelical Christians in Colorado Springs, religious leaders in Pennsylvania, and church district leaders in Southern California. It fully complies with religious doctrine and is completely faithful to the Bible;"
"Just as many believers say, the passion of the christ is a film about love, with no intention of creating a debate with judaism, but simply a story about the greatest love!"
"Alright, alright, everyone, please move aside. I'm going home. Goodbye!"
The reporters persisted, "So, does this film contain anti-Semitic ideas?"
"Religious films have always been overlooked by Hollywood. Why did you choose to invest in one?"
Charles was too lazy to respond, honked his horn, and drove away from the main entrance. He shouldn't have bothered with these reporters.
It was a good thing he was only an investor. Charles truly didn't know how much the leading Mel Gibson would be pestered by reporters!
Alas, it's all fate.