In the evening, Charles Capet received an invitation from Naomi Watts, whom he hadn't contacted for a long time, and drove to the blonde Lady's villa.
"Why did you suddenly think of inviting me over for dinner tonight?" Charles Capet asked, clinking his glass with the Lady.
Naomi Watts took a sip of wine and explained with a smile, "I'm currently discussing a sino-us co-production film script about a story that happened in a remote mountainous area of China in the 1920s."
"I wanted your opinion!"
"Another sino-us co-production film?" Charles Capet had previously researched mission: impossible iii, and what was a so-called sino-us co-production film if not finding a location in China and adding a Chinese actor?
It still told a Western story, expressing Western righteousness and portraying the East as backward and ignorant.
"It's a film based on Somerset Maugham's novel the painted veil, and the male lead is Edward Norton," Naomi Watts had always known that Charles Capet had a deep understanding of Chinese culture.
In Charles Capet's impression, there had never been a successful sino-us co-production film; they were all, at most, just a superficial adoption of Eastern culture.
Charles Capet shook his head and said, "I haven't heard of it. Give me the script to read later!" In fact, if there was truly a good story about Eastern culture, Charles Capet himself would be very willing to support it and promote traditional Chinese culture.
Naomi Watts nodded. A drama film adapted from a famous female literary novel required considerable acting skills.
"It seems you've reduced your output this year?" Charles Capet suddenly asked. After all, after Naomi Watts became famous, she always had at least four films released a year. Looking at this year's project plan, she would probably only have two films released next year.
"King Kong took a lot of time. Many scenes were reshot this year. Director Jackson has very high demands for the film," Naomi Watts smiled.
"There are also a lot of special effects, and I always cooperate with the behind-the-scenes staff!"
"That's true. King Kong is set to be released in December this year. It's a monster blockbuster with a production cost of 200 million US dollars, and audiences are looking forward to it!" Charles Capet finished the steak on his plate and wiped his mouth.
Soon, Naomi Watts handed Charles Capet the adapted script for the painted veil. Charles Capet, sitting on the sofa, began to flip through it.
Of course, Charles Capet was only concerned with the story set in China within the script. Originally, it was just a story about a female protagonist cheating on her husband, going to Shanghai, China, with her husband from England, and finally the male protagonist dying while helping to deal with cholera and the plague.
A veil covering love, marriage, humanity, and life!
"How long do you plan to film in China?" Charles Capet, who had roughly skimmed the script, put his arm around Naomi Watts as they leaned on the sofa.
"It will take about three months. The crew has already sent people to find suitable ancient Chinese towns, and the Chinese film company is very cooperative with us," Naomi Watts explained.
"A love and marriage story of an English couple in China in the twentieth century. The novel's author always has many fans, and this kind of film is quite popular with film critics," Charles Capet himself felt nothing for this film. Besides the astonishing scenery, everything in the film showed how ignorant, backward, and numb Chinese society was in the twentieth century.
Naomi Watts was startled, leaned closer to Charles Capet, and responded with a smile, "You don't think highly of this film?"
"I always pursue commercial films. This kind of independent art film is not my style, and," Charles Capet said, shaking his head. He figured Naomi Watts wouldn't understand even if he explained.
Charles Capet reached out and ran his hand through Naomi Watts's blonde hair, smiling as he said, "Since Mulholland Drive, I always feel like you haven't changed much?"
Naomi Watts, wearing a white silk camisole nightgown, looked up into Charles Capet's eyes and explained with a smile, "It's only been three or four years. In a few more years, it will be very different."
Charles Capet leaned into the Lady's ear, "Darling, protein helps with beauty!"
Naomi Watts slapped Charles Capet's thigh, then unbuckled Charles Capet's belt and lowered her head.
Hollywood was as decadent as ever, but another disaster unexpectedly struck the United States.
In late August, Hurricane Katrina struck the southern US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, causing catastrophic damage; furthermore, the flood defenses in New Orleans, Louisiana, breached due to the storm surge, leading to 80% of New Orleans being submerged by floodwaters, leaving countless victims.
"New Orleans is a bit tragic," Charles Capet watched the news on TV in his office, but quickly turned off the television.
Donations had been made, prayers offered, Cape Entertainment and Charles Capet had done their best. The government's inadequate relief efforts were simply unavoidable.
After all, the main victims in New Orleans were the impoverished black community, and it was already good enough that the old men in Congress would even allocate money.
Charles Capet was currently keeping a close eye on the progress of the iron man film. Director Jon Favreau's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which was to be released at the end of this year, was his work.
"For the male lead, Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage have been ruled out because the boss said not to use such superstar actors. Now the director and producer are wavering between Robert Downey Jr. and Jake Gyllenhaal," Phyllis Jones reported.
"Robert Downey Jr. is a drug addict who has quit twice, but the director is optimistic about him, and Robert Downey Jr. also promised that he has quit drugs. He has no demands for his salary and can sign a ten-picture deal!"
Charles Capet looked at the two resumes, then put down Jake Gyllenhaal's. After all, Robert Downey Jr.'s Stark was too deeply ingrained in people's minds.
"Robert Downey Jr. it is. He's been through so many auditions and has been recognized by many people," Charles Capet finished, then looked at the choices for the female lead, Pepper Potts.
"Rachel McAdams, TBD? Gwyneth Paltrow, backup?"
Phyllis Jones explained, "Rachel McAdams isn't very keen on playing this kind of role!"
mean girls and The Notebook had essentially made the sweet-faced Rachel McAdams the new American sweetheart, despite her being Canadian.
"Notify Kate Beckinsale to audition," How could Charles Capet accept Gwyneth Paltrow? She wasn't as beautiful as Kate Beckinsale, and she was even a year older than Kate Beckinsale.
"For War Machine Colonel Rhodes, choose the black actor Don Cheadle," Charles Capet didn't want to argue about salary with Terrence Howard in the sequel again.
"Oh, okay!" Phyllis Jones noticed that the boss had a certain favoritism towards Kate Beckinsale.
"The script needs to be adapted quickly; the film is set to be released in '07!" Charles Capet didn't forget to remind her.
Phyllis Jones nodded, muttering to herself that even with a script, they couldn't start production yet, as the filming funds hadn't been approved.