Chapter 16: A Thief's Heart Never Rests
Cannes, Carlton Hotel
Nicole Kidman and Aaron lay together in the bathtub.
"Aaron, that Miramax guy, Harvey Weinstein, his gaze tonight was way too direct!" Nicole complained.
Aaron opened his eyes, still holding Nicole close. "That guy… he likes to use roles to toy with newcomers just arriving in Hollywood. Be careful. One wrong move and he might try to lure you to a hotel, just like last time."
Still, the fat man did have an extraordinary eye for talent. He had picked up both Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Cinema Paradiso.
"Hollywood fame really is hard to achieve!" Nicole sighed.
Aaron pursed his lips. "Hard, yes… but also simple."
"Simple? How?"
"Knowing me makes it simple," Aaron said, patting Nicole's shoulder. "I haven't properly pampered you these past few days. Tonight… hehe!"
Nicole rolled her eyes. "You've been busy all day—how do you still have energy at night?"
"Of course I do…"
---
May 11 — Cannes Film Festival Closing Ceremony
At the Palais des Festivals:
American newcomer Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape won the Palme d'Or, and James Spader took Best Actor.
Italian young director Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso won the Grand Jury Prize.
Yugoslavian director Emir Kusturica earned Best Director for Time of the Gypsies.
Meryl Streep received Best Actress for The Cry of the Night.
The Palme d'Or solidified Soderbergh's sudden rise to fame.
Miramax hosted a celebration aboard a yacht in the Cannes harbor.
"Congratulations, Steven! James!" Aaron greeted them, Nicole by his side.
With the Palme d'Or and Best Actor in hand, Sex, Lies, and Videotape was the biggest winner of the festival.
"Thanks, Aaron. You were instrumental in the film's success," Soderbergh said, visibly thrilled.
"Enjoy the night," Aaron replied, patting his shoulder. Tonight, Miramax had invited many cast and crew members to celebrate.
"Aaron, have you met the New Zealand director Jane Campion?" he asked Nicole.
"Yes, we had a nice chat. Hopefully, we'll work together in the future," Nicole said. Aaron had introduced her to Campion beforehand. While Campion had no immediate plans for Hollywood, she could reach out to Aaron if needed.
Aaron nodded. "I'm going over to speak with Gabriel Carosi from Cinema Paradiso. I'll be back soon."
"Okay," Nicole replied, understanding he was negotiating distribution rights.
As Aaron left, Nicole took a glass of champagne from a waiter and was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Ms. Kidman!"
"Ah, good evening, Mr. Weinstein."
Harvey Weinstein smiled. "You know Meryl Streep, right? The film that won her the award, The Cry of the Night, was distributed by Miramax."
"Yes, I know her. Ms. Streep is one of Hollywood's most respected actresses," Nicole replied.
"And a phenomenal actress," Weinstein added, sipping his drink. "You're a newcomer from Australia. Hollywood is different—competition is fierce. New actors who don't stand out rarely get noticed."
Nicole remained poised. "Mr. Weinstein, what do you mean by 'standing out'?"
He smirked, eyeing her. "Your boyfriend, Aaron Anderson, is a CAA agent—didn't he tell you? You're beautiful, with a great figure, though a bit tall. But no matter. Miramax has several projects coming up. Perhaps… we could collaborate."
"Collaborate?" Nicole asked cautiously, aware of his intentions. "Mr. Weinstein, may I ask… what kind of roles are you referring to?"
Harvey Weinstein smiled. "Of course, I mean high-quality art films. Isn't Meryl Streep a perfect example?"
"Nicole… may I call you that?" he added.
Nicole Kidman nodded. "Of course."
"Well, making a name for yourself in Hollywood isn't easy. This is the temple and the center of world cinema," Weinstein continued, taking a sip of his drink. "You reap what you sow. Hollywood lacks opportunities. The question is, how do you make those opportunities come to you? So, Nicole, you need to be ready to adapt to Hollywood."
Nicole understood perfectly: securing roles meant making additional sacrifices.
"Oh, Harvey… are there roles you want Nicole to audition for?" came Aaron Anderson's voice from nearby.
"Aaron," Nicole said, slipping her arm through his.
Weinstein laughed. "Aaron, I suppose tonight has been quite fruitful for you," he said, clinking glasses with him.
Aaron had two films under his belt as an agent: one had won the Palme d'Or, the other the Grand Jury Prize.
"Not bad," Aaron replied, holding Nicole's waist. He eyed Weinstein, thinking the man's scheming heart hadn't died yet.
"I just spoke with Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of Cinema Paradiso, and Gabriel Carosi, representing Cristaldi Film Company. The North American distribution rights are sold—four million dollars."
"Weinstein's eyes went wide. "Aaron, are you serious?"
Aaron shook his head. "For theatrical release, VHS, and TV broadcast, Cinema Paradiso at four million dollars is an absolute bargain."
"That's impossible! At most… two million."
"Two million is far too low. Both Samuel Goldwyn and Fine Line expressed interest."
Fine Line, New Line Cinema's art-house label, had originally been a small company specializing in foreign film distribution. After accumulating capital, it invested in low-budget horror films. The success of A Nightmare on Elm Street made New Line famous in the secondary film market, leading them to establish Fine Line for producing and distributing art films.
In the end, Miramax purchased the North American distribution rights for Cinema Paradiso at 3.2 million dollars.