Chapter 614: Francis Coppola

The 2010 MTV Music Awards took place on the night of September 12 at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

Currently, the globally popular Lady Gaga was leading with 13 nominations, in contrast to last year's scandal where Kanye West bullied Taylor Swift during the awards.

This year, Lady Gaga drew attention with her outlandish and eye-catching outfits, especially her ensemble made entirely of meat slices!

At the same time, the Venice International Film Festival held its closing ceremony. Sofia Coppola won the Golden Lion for Best Film with her movie Somewhere.

Because the president of the jury at this year's Venice Film Festival was Quentin Tarantino, who had a past romantic connection with Sofia Coppola, the movie Somewhere didn't receive such high praise and the festival was quite controversial.

At the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Sofia Coppola held a celebration party after returning to Los Angeles, and Charles attended with Scarlett Johansson.

"It's a pity Black Swan didn't win," Scarlett Johansson said with a chuckle, dressed in a sexy sleeveless low-cut dress while chatting with Charles.

Charles, who no longer cared much about these things, didn't even think highly of the Oscars, let alone Venice International Film Festival. This year's Oscar Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker, had set the record for the lowest box office earnings of any film to win the award.

Now, except for the box office, everything else was fake!

"Why? Do you think Sofia shouldn't have won the Golden Lion?" Charles smiled.

"The Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival's judgment is mostly subjective, especially influenced by the jury chairman's preferences. Quentin Tarantino is an unconventional person. It isn't much of a surprise. In 2004's Cannes Film Festival, Fahrenheit 9/11 winning the Palme d'Or was also controversial, and Tarantino was the jury president that year too."

Charles shook his head, putting an arm around Scarlett Johansson's waist. "Alright, let's go congratulate Sofia!"

"Scarlett, Charles," clearly delighted, Sofia Coppola warmly hugged them both.

"Congratulations, Sofia, you're the fourth female director in history to win the Golden Lion!" Charles wasn't stingy with his praise.

Sofia Coppola smiled, glancing at Scarlett Johansson beside her, "Thanks," then moved closer to Charles' ear, "Didn't expect that you're quite loyal, huh?"

Charles nodded, "I always have been."

"Alright, eh, where's your mother? Didn't she come with you?" Sofia Coppola seemed not to see Evelyn.

Charles shook his head, "I came from Burbank. As for my mother, I don't really know!"

Sofia Coppola looked up and suddenly saw Evelyn Capet approaching from a distance, immediately breaking into a smile, "Here she comes, let me go greet her."

Charles glanced in the same direction and saw his mother too.

In a moment, Charles and Sofia Coppola's father, Francis Coppola, sat together.

Since Francis Coppola's return to filmmaking with Youth Without Youth in 2007, followed by last year's semi-autobiographical film Tetro, he was currently attempting to shoot a 3D thriller drama, Twixt.

Francis Coppola's legacy was undeniable, with the Godfather series being his crowning glory in film history.

Unfortunately, the past remains the past. When the times change, they show no mercy!

Francis Coppola today was more of an outsider in Hollywood, much more like a winemaker than a director.

"Charles, you're not even 30 and already Hollywood's top man," Francis Coppola smiled. "In 10 years, from a small company like Capet Pictures, you built the Capet Empire. When I filmed The Godfather, I couldn't have scripted a story like that!"

Charles smiled, "Mr. Coppola, it was the era that made me, not the other way around."

"But the era chose you, and there are many people in Hollywood," Francis Coppola shook his head.

"Hollywood certainly has changed, but your name, Charles Capet, will always leave an indelible mark on Hollywood!"

"Charles, what does Hollywood look like to you?" Francis Coppola suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Charles looked surprised at Francis Coppola but hadn't answered before Francis started speaking again, "Is it just about producing special effects blockbusters, chasing visuals and sensations while abandoning storyline and humanistic concerns?"

Charles smiled, "Today's society is different from before, the pursuit of profit is deeply ingrained. The clash between cinematic art and commerce no longer has any advantage, it's all about seeking commercial returns!"

Francis Coppola looked at Charles and reminded him, "Charles, the movies you developed before like No Country for Old Men, Lost in Translation, The Departed, Juno, and Walk the Line were all full of emotion. The harmonious blend of art and commerce, you can do it well. Capet shouldn't always just develop franchise movies, original stories should be one of Hollywood's features!"

Charles sighed. Francis Coppola was undoubtedly a great director.

However, his Cinematograph Film Company's business could be considered a complete failure commercially. The commercial and artistic success of The Godfather allowed him to freely make the films he wanted.

Cinematograph Films' war drama Apocalypse Now led him into financial difficulties, and then his all-in bet on the romantic film One from the Heart similarly failed.

Following that, Francis Coppola directed The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, Peggy Sue Got Married, and Gardens of Stone, but none of them achieved significant artistic or box office success.

"Mr. Coppola, do you think Hollywood is just Hollywood?" Charles shook his head. Your disappointment at unmet dreams and all those brave enough to dream deserve respect.

Unfortunately, Hollywood has never been just about movies!

Francis Coppola smiled, "Yes, you are indeed beyond our reach now. But I hope you still put more thought into the movies, after all, that's your foundation!"

*****

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