Chapter 265: Controversy

In the Hilton Garden Inn near the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Charles Capet sat on the sofa in his pajamas, sipping champagne and admiring the night view of Times Square.

Alexandra Ambrosio, fresh out of the shower and wrapped in a robe, joined Charles on the sofa after pouring herself a glass of champagne.

"Why didn't you go to see this year's Victoria's Secret show in person?" Alexandra asked curiously.

"It's just a bunch of guys with their minds full of pixels sitting there. Lost interest after watching it once last year," Charles shook his head.

"Adriana went to Miami to shoot a commercial; otherwise, she could have joined us for the movie premiere tonight," Alexandra laughed, knowing that red carpet events were great for exposure.

Charles put down his glass, pulled Alexandra into his arms, and lifted her chin for a kiss.

After the kiss, he said, "All you Victoria's Secret supermodels have long legs, slim waists, and full chests. No wonder so many men go crazy for you!"

Alexandra shook her head with a hint of resignation. "Many of us come from humble beginnings and don't have any advantages besides our looks and figures."

"That's enough. Victoria's Secret supermodels are at the top of the modeling pyramid," Charles said, a bit surprised at how many sexy models South America produced. Was it really the environment?

"So many beautiful women come from Brazil!" Charles said as he leaned in for another kiss, this time unbuttoning Alexandra's robe.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Capet returned to the hotel room and started asking her assistant about Princess Jasmine of New York.

"Molly Bloom used to be an American skier who retired after an injury. She got into Harvard but dropped out after a year. Worked as a waitress at a bar in Hollywood and got into private poker games.

Because Molly Bloom was meticulous and reliable, she built her own network, causing jealousy from the bar owner, and they went their separate ways.

Molly Bloom moved to New York to start her own poker games, quickly finding a way in through her abilities and connections. Tobey Maguire was one of her partners, bringing Hollywood stars to her games.

Not just Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, but also Leonardo DiCaprio and tennis player Pete Sampras have attended her games."

Evelyn, sitting in a chair, listened to the report and asked, "Is there any extra service in those games?"

Evelyn couldn't help but worry. The Atlanta Gold Club scandal in the early 2000s had exposed many athletes, politicians, and wealthy individuals' dirty secrets.

People like Michael Jordan and Bill Gates were regulars at the Gold Club.

With gambling often tied to organized crime, there was no telling what Molly's poker games might involve, but Evelyn knew she had to be careful.

"I asked Matt Damon's and Ben Affleck's agents. They said they're just there to play cards!"

Hearing the assistant's response, Evelyn waved her hand. "I don't care about the others, but after The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean's Thirteen release next year, Matt Damon will be a top Hollywood star. His agent needs to remind him, as a high-profile star, to be mindful of his actions."

Such matters were beyond Evelyn's control. Big stars had their private lives, and the agency's job was to help maintain their reputation.

"Understood, I'll remind them!" The female assistant glanced at Evelyn and, seeing no further instructions, left the room.

By late October, Capet Pictures' Matrix Pictures released Saw IV, which did not disappoint with a $60 million box office in North America and over $50 million overseas.

In November, everyone thought it would be dominated by Sony Pictures' blockbuster Casino Royale, which grossed $94 million in North America in just ten days.

However, a week later, Capet Pictures released 300, a different kind of epic, which grossed $70.8 million in its first weekend in North America, snatching the weekly box office crown from Casino Royale.

Nevertheless, 300 certainly wasn't a good movie, focusing only on visual impact and action aesthetics.

With the box office success of 300 came controversy.

The strong political implications and distorted historical depiction of war caused a huge backlash in Iranian society.

All of Iran was furious, with Iranian media, officials, and bloggers condemning the film's negative and barbaric portrayal of King Xerxes I and the Persian soldiers.

"The film seems to suggest that Iran has always been the root of evil, and that modern Iranians' ancestors were ugly, harmful savages," complained an Iranian official, even suggesting it was a "cultural war" launched by Hollywood, or even the United States, against Iran.

Some American critics also saw political undertones in the film, viewing it as a way for America to tarnish Iran's image.

Other critics pointed out signs suggesting the film aimed to attack the Persian culture, which modern Iranians pride themselves on, to undermine the current Iranian Islamic regime.

As for the instigators, Capet Pictures, they weren't concerned with these issues. The bigger the controversy, the more it boosted the box office.

Capet Pictures' marketing team had been worried about how to promote the film internationally since the main creators were relatively unknown.

Iran's strong reaction made 300 an international news hotspot, attracting a lot of attention.

In a calm acceptance of the controversy, Zack Snyder told The New York Times, "Controversy is a byproduct, and I think that's fine!"

At home, Charles mumbled to himself, "Capitalists are truly shameless!"

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.