The opening of this Cannes Film Festival is May 11.

On May 9, Simon and his party set out from Los Angeles and flew to New York on the Gulfstream IV they had just received, and then flew directly to Cannes.

As Gulfstream's latest long-range business jet, the Gulfstream IV has a range of 7,800 kilometers and can easily complete a transatlantic flight of about 6,000 kilometers.

However, the Gulfstream IV, which can carry about 20 people, actually only has 12 seats for passengers in the cabin.

Simon, Janet and Jennifer occupied three. Orion Pictures President Mike Medowa also went together this time, as well as Robert De Niro, John Travolta, and Nicole Kidman.

, Samuel L. Jackson, Madonna and Sean Penn and other leading and supporting actors, the entire cabin was filled immediately after everyone boarded the plane. This was even before Simon's two bodyguards Neil Bennett and Ken Dixon personally

When serving as a pilot, other people's followers can only take separate commercial flights.

French time is 9 hours ahead of the West Coast of the United States. Everyone set off at 10 a.m. Los Angeles time. After a total of 11 hours of flight, it was already around 6 a.m. on May 10 when they arrived in Cannes.

Cannes Airport.

When everyone got off the plane, the obvious celebrity status was immediately apparent. De Niro and Travolta, two long-established A-list superstars, have each confirmed that they will stay in a friend's local mansion in Cannes. Madonna and his wife

After renting the apartment in advance, the rest of the group followed Mike Medova to the hotel that Orion had prepared.

Naturally, Simon has not been reduced to staying in a hotel with everyone.

We all agreed on a meeting time in the evening, and Simon and the others took a car to Le Cannes, a district in the northeast of Cannes. More than half an hour later, the car drove several times along the tree-lined winding mountain roads from Le Cannes, and then drove off.

Entered an iron gate at the top of the mountain.

Simon got off the car and walked to the southern edge of the courtyard. Looking at the unobstructed view of the city of Cannes and the bay beyond, he nodded and said: "I like it here."

Janet also came over and said: "It's very similar to the house we have in Palisade, but this place is bigger, with a total area of ​​1.5 hectares, which is more than three times the size of the property in Palisade."

While the two were chatting, a brown-haired woman in a light gray business suit came over holding a stack of documents, smiled and introduced herself in fluent English: "Mr. Westeros, Miss Johnston, hello, I

This is Sofia Fesi, do you want me to give you two a detailed tour?"

The house purchase procedures had been completed before Simon and Janet arrived in Cannes. Simon also knew the details of the property very well. Hearing this, he still nodded and said: "Okay."

"Please follow me," Sofia Fesi made a gesture of invitation, followed Simon slightly sideways and walked towards the mansion, while motioning to the villa at the entrance: "This is the annex building, used to house security and security personnel.

Servant and former owner Mr. Brent was a man who treated his employees very well, so the design of the annex is also very exquisite. Let's go directly to the main villa. This main villa covers an area of ​​18,000 square feet, with a total of 69 rooms on three floors.

The rooms include a total of 16 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, other libraries, gyms, and screening rooms. Oh, and there is also a very spacious basement, which was originally used as a wine cellar..."

After flying for 11 consecutive hours, both Simon and Janet were very tired. After simply listening to Sophia Fessy's introduction, Simon sent the other party away.

Thousands of miles away, although this mountaintop manor can be bought, it is impossible to arrange it as you like in Los Angeles. Simon just asked Sofia Fesi, the agent, to replace all the bed sheets, bedding and sofa covers in the villa in advance.

The kitchen was rearranged, but nothing else was touched for the time being.

They found the ordering number of a nearby restaurant from the information left by Sophia Fesi. After breakfast, Neil and Jennifer were left to take care of themselves. Simon and Janet went to the master bedroom on the third floor.

After taking a shower, Simon came out of the bathroom in his nightgown and looked at the brighter sunshine on the spacious terrace outside the bedroom. However, Simon suddenly lost much sleepiness and walked straight towards the terrace.

Looking down while leaning on the balcony railing, the buildings in the manor are of typical Spanish style, with red roofs, white walls, columns, arcs, and fountains. Although Simon is not interested in this architectural style at all, Simon saw this in Los Angeles

After receiving the information about the manor, I immediately decided to buy it.

The location here is so good that the original owner would never easily sell this property, which is destined to increase in value, unless he has no choice.

Moreover, the asking price of 35 million francs, based on the exchange rate of European currencies that have continued to depreciate in the past two years, only costs more than 5 million U.S. dollars. After Simon agreed to pay in cash, the fraction was wiped out, and both parties finally confirmed that the price would be 5 million U.S. dollars.

Price deal.

Although the real estate value in Cannes at this time is far from comparable to that of Los Angeles, the three times the area, the castle-like villa, the superb mountain top view, and the US$5 million are completely worth it in Simon's opinion.

Janet also came out of the bedroom quickly, hugged Simon and followed his gaze, saying, "What's the matter?"

Simon hugged Janet's slender waist and rubbed it, and said: "It suddenly occurred to me that if there were some bodyguards wearing sunglasses and holding submachine guns standing in the yard, it would completely recreate the scenes in many movies. My character would definitely be a drug lord."

"It's so tiring to sell drugs, and it doesn't make as much money as my man." Janet rubbed her cheek against hers, and said with a smile: "However, the scene you mentioned definitely needs one or two beautiful vases to accompany it, how about I put it there?"

Kidman called, you must have been coveting her for a long time when you chose her as the heroine, right?"

Simon shook his head and said: "No."

How could Janet believe it? She wrinkled her little nose and said, "Humph."

Simon smiled and stretched out his hand to pick up Janet and walked towards the bedroom, saying: "Okay, even if there were some before, they are gone now."

Janet wondered: "Why?"

Simon gently threw Janet on the big bed, turned to draw the curtains, and said: "Last time I did a math problem for Ron MacMillan, and then I found that I suddenly didn't have much interest in women."

Janet turned around and lay down on the big bed charmingly, and asked even more curiously: "What math problem?"

Simon came over and sat down on the big bed and said, "It's nothing. I'd better not tell you, otherwise you will think that I objectify women."

Janet blinked, turned around and ran next to Simon and said, "You mean feminism? I'm not a feminist."

Simon hugged the woman and said, "Are you still a male chauvinist?"

"Why not? I am a male chauvinist."

Simon put his big hand into Janet's flimsy pajamas and groped around. When the woman narrowed her eyes like a kitten, he smiled and said, "Confirmed, you can't be a male chauvinist."

Janet held down Simon's hand that was about to withdraw and groaned: "Who said a male chauvinist has to be a man?"

Simon remembered that many men also claimed to be feminists, and nodded in agreement: "It seems, that is indeed the case."

Janet suddenly opened her eyes again, looked at Simon and said, "You have already bypassed me. What kind of math problem is this?"

"Still don't want to tell you."

"Okay," Janet stopped asking, but added: "But you have made Nicole Kidman famous. If you don't want it yourself, it will be an advantage for others."

Simon smiled and pinched Janet's nose: "Are you sure you don't want to find an excuse to bite me?"

Janet opened her little white teeth and bit Simon's shoulder, saying, "I'm going to bite you where you don't need an excuse."

Simon actually understood why Janet bit him the night after the Oscars last month. Perhaps it was some kind of sixth sense unique to women. She felt that Sandra might be a threat to her, so she had an attack.

However, it is obvious that Janet does not think that Catherine and Jennifer can threaten her low position.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that is indeed the case.

Because of their age, it is difficult for Catherine to get together with Simon. As for Jennifer, the female assistant has no fighting power in Janet's eyes.

With these thoughts in his mind, Simon just patted Janet's waist and said: "Go to sleep, there is something else to do tonight."

The two slept until evening, when Jennifer knocked on the door, and Simon and Janet woke up.

The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow, but Simon will actually start to get busy today. There will be a gathering of Hollywood filmmakers in the evening, and the two of them have already confirmed that they will attend.

After getting up and washing themselves briefly, Simon and Janet set off to a hotel in the city.

The party was about to start, and as soon as the two entered the banquet hall, Robert Redford, who happened to be chatting with someone nearby, came over.

Robert Redford can only be regarded as a cameo in "Pulp Fiction". According to his status, he does not need to attend this film festival. Redford is indeed not here for "Pulp Fiction", but for "Pulp Fiction".

His own directorial work "The Battle of the Beanfield".

"The Battle of the Beanfield" is the second film directed by Redford.

Compared to "Ordinary People," the first film he directed that was both well-received and well-received eight years ago, "Battle of the Beanfields," a film adapted from a novel about a New Mexico farmer's struggle with real estate developers to protect water sources, received very average reviews.

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The producer, Universal Pictures, scheduled the film to be released in mid-March. It has been nearly two months now, and the box office has only exceeded US$8 million. Compared with the film's production cost of US$22 million, the North American box office is only US$8 million.

Already doomed to lose money.

In order to make up for the losses, Universal Pictures sent the film to the Cannes Film Festival for screening in order to promote European distribution. Naturally, Redford was duty-bound and led the crew to rush over.

Having been in Hollywood for so many years, Robert Redford is accustomed to the ups and downs of movies. At this time, he was obviously not affected by the box office failure of "The Battle of the Beanfields". He greeted him warmly and said: "Simon, you are here at the right time."

, I just happen to recommend it to you."

With that said, Redford brought Simon and Janet to the person he had just chatted with, and said: "William, this is Simon, Simon, this is William Goldman."

Simon smiled, shook hands with the other party, and said, "Hello, Mr. Goldman."

William Goldman is in his sixties, has silver hair, and is wearing a light gray plaid shirt. Although his expression looks a little serious, he is very warm and talkative when he speaks: "Hello, Simon, Bob is more than just

You were mentioned to us once, maybe we can get together again when we get back to Los Angeles."

"Of course, no problem," Simon nodded and introduced: "This is my girlfriend, Jenny."

William Goldman shook hands with Janet again, and they casually chatted about some trivial matters in Hollywood, without mentioning too much about the Cannes Film Festival.

However, Simon knew that he unknowingly owed Redford another recognition.

William Goldman is a Hollywood screenwriter. His famous work happens to be "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" that made Robert Redford famous. Over the years, William Goldman has also been a first-line screenwriter in Hollywood.

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If that were all, Redford's recommendation might not be anything.

However, William Goldman has another identity. He is one of the ten judges of this Cannes Film Festival. Compared with the Oscars, where personal preferences are often very obvious, the final award results of the Cannes Film Festival are actually more variable.

Whether it was before or in the years to come, the judging results of the Cannes Film Festival are usually very different from the evaluations of the outside media. There are often films that are praised by the media but ultimately fail to receive any success. Some films that are poorly evaluated by the media often even become upset.

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If you say that there are not factors that are completely separate from the movie, you won't believe it.
To be continued...