When facing Jodie Foster, Levi unabashedly called the Cannes Film Festival a gimmick concentration camp. This approach made Foster a little embarrassed, but she also admitted that Levi basically didn't mean anything wrong.
Just like the Berlin Film Festival over-respects political films and the Venice Film Festival over-respects new-concept films, the Cannes Film Festival places an unimaginable emphasis on film gimmicks.
Levi is not opposed to using gimmicks in movies. For example, the movie "Fight Club" produced by Enigma Company and directed by David Fincher, premiered at this film festival and received good reviews. It's all about gimmicks.
This movie was released much earlier in Levi's memory, but in this world, because Levi bought its script, it has always remained in Levi's hands and has not been able to be filmed. It wasn't until David Fincher found Levi that they discussed the filming of this movie, which was just completed this year.
Director David Fincher has excellent camera sense and editing skills. This film is also quite distinctive as a representative work of his early style. It's just that Levi knows very well that David Fincher's movies are not yet fully mature.
Fincher is a director that Levi admires very much, and Levi also liked his films in his previous life. In his movies, from Fight Club to Zodiac to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the use of camera is obviously progressive.
Although Fight Club is highly rated, it is not very good when it comes to camera use. Levi knows that such a movie, in the eyes of real insiders, will not get much praise if the Oscars judge it. It's definitely hard to get awards.
However, as a representative of sharp editing style, it can be pretty popular in the gimmick concentration camp of Cannes. People here like this kind of unique style. They like to watch movies like this.
Throw on a gimmick, and you'll get good reviews here; that's what's happening at the Cannes Film Festival. A good director like David Fincher will not be addicted to using gimmicks and knows how to hone his skills, but what about other directors? What are the consequences of indulging in these? These are also unthinkable.
But, in any case, a movie with gimmicks may not necessarily be an excellent movie, but the value of discussion will be very high.
Levi was in no mood to waste all his time chatting about movies with this bunch of idlers. If he had that time, he would rather see other movie gimmicks to find inspiration.
Therefore, he left all the work of film review to Jodie Foster. He has other things to do.
"I really don't understand what you directors think. If you really don't like the work here, why did you come here? You might as well go back to the United States to shoot movies early."
Jodie Foster's response to Levi's behavior expressed some confusion, but Levi didn't defend himself.
Filmmaking always requires some inspiration. Although Levi has many future movies in his mind, there are still some filming techniques, such as how to use which skills to shoot which places; these are all specific skills. If you don't learn, you won't make progress.
"Besides, there are no movies to shoot back in the United States. After all, the competition there is a bit more intense this year."
Levi doesn't think there is any need to shoot a movie this year: the competition for this year's summer vacation is very fierce. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Fast and the Furious, Pearl Harbor... A large number of movies are being released at this time, and Levi has no interest in going back and getting involved.
After Levi's X-Men was completed and it was confirmed that large-scale special effects movies could indeed recoup their costs, the entire Hollywood is now crazy about making such movies.
This is the first year, and it can be said that it is also the most competitive year.
When it comes to box office competition, it's great when you can win, but if you're not sure, there's no need to fight hard.
Moreover, he still has some other things he wants to accomplish here in Europe.
"Besides, you can't come in vain when you come to Europe. Since you are here, you have to gain something. Although I am not very enthusiastic about this film festival, I have always been very interested in European films."
"Oh? What are you interested in European movies?" These words made Jodie Foster have some questions.
"First of all, I really want to know if there are any suitable scripts for me here in Europe. I am a director; is it strange to want to find a script?"
This is a reason, Jodie Foster nodded.
Levi is a director, and he is also a director who knows how to create. Three of his five films were scripts he wrote himself. However, Levi is also well-known for his ability to search for scripts. He can even go to Asia to find good scripts. Jodie Foster can believe he came here to find some good scripts in Europe.
European movies have their own uniqueness. Although most European films are limited in scale and cannot capture the same momentum as Hollywood, European movies also have many advantages in terms of content, storyline, innovation, and shooting techniques.
It's not surprising to her that Levi wants to choose a movie here.
Moreover, Cannes is originally a film festival, and such an occasion is the venue for selling and purchasing film scripts and finished products.
But she didn't know that what Levi was talking about was a script, but actually, it wasn't exactly a movie script. What Levi wanted more was a TV drama script.
As time enters the 21st century, the filming of TV series now begins to take more new directions. TV dramas from public channels have received less attention than before, while TV dramas from pay channels have become more popular.
These are the future development trends of the TV drama market.
Levi came to Europe with this plan in mind. American TV series may take some time to develop in this direction gradually. However, before that, he can try to acquire some European TV series and adapt them into American TV series.
Compared with American TV series production, European TV series have their own characteristics.
Many British dramas are known for being short and concise. Compared with American dramas, they are more suitable for broadcast on pay channels.
This was also the first thing Levi paid attention to when he came to Europe.
After all, his company not only produces movies but also produces many TV series.
Although 9/11 is about to happen, Levi can immediately create a TV series such as 24 Hours after 9/11 as long as he is more unscrupulous and can film for several more years.
However, at the same time, he should be prepared to collect better TV series preparations, and cooperation is also a consideration for the future.
"Moreover, in addition to TV scripts, what I also need is to find some outstanding actors to shoot movies for myself."
After finishing his first idea, Levi also came up with his second idea.
"Aren't there enough good actors in the United States?"
Jodie Foster asked dissatisfiedly after hearing Levi's words. She herself is a leading American actor. She was a little dissatisfied when she heard Levi wanted to find actors in the United States.
"It's different. When it comes to acting skills and adaptability, I admit that American actors are very good, but European actors have more characteristics. Compared with American actors, their temperament can be said to be very good and unique."
When discussing this issue with Jodie Foster, Levi also commented, "Most American actors are too general in temperament. After all, the American movie audience is predominantly working-class. The requirements for film actors also need to be close to the people.
This makes American actresses rarely have that particularly unique temperament, and more of them have a very people-friendly temperament."
As the most popular actress in the United States, Jodie Foster doesn't object to this. She listened to Levi's words and nodded slightly.
The temperament of actors is often affected by the market, and there is no way around it.
"In comparison, European actors have their own characteristics. European actors are not necessarily better-looking than American actors but have different temperaments.
British actors have developed their temperaments through years of performing Shakespeare's plays and can have ladylike temperaments, which American actors do not have.
As for actors from the European continent, Sophie Marceau's ethereal temperament, Monica Bellucci's sexy but not erotic temperament, and Penelope's charming but not mean temperament are very unique.
Even the recent new actors are the same. The French new actor Marion Cotillard has a unique temperament of resenting women. It's hard for young American actors to have this feeling..."
Levi mentioned all relatively famous European actors, and these names also reminded Jodie Foster of each character, and she couldn't help but nod.
However, these names also made her a little strange.
"Why are you talking about women?"
"I thought this was our common hobby..." Levi shrugged.
Levi's joke made Jodie Foster roll her eyes at him. Although she was known to be gay, she was not someone who was proud of it and didn't like people making fun of her.
Seeing her look, Levi also knew that he shouldn't joke, "Actually, the most important thing is that I am also preparing a new movie and a new script. When preparing movie scripts, it is natural to think about the temperaments of different actors and how to choose between them in the movie."
Jodie Foster nodded, and after nodding, she spoke curiously, "So, how are you preparing for your new movie?"
"It's just started, but believe me, it will be a good story."
*****
Thanks and kudos for my patreons
Scott DePaepe
MMMCMXCIX, or 3,999
Britanna
Marcelo Maia
Danny York
Mandy G
DragonEz
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