Huayu: This director is pretty strong.

Chapter 148 The Eastern Thug Who Overturned the Card Table

"The outcome of the Palme d'Or is now a dead end."

Thierry sat on the sofa.

Chen Yansong started the engine.

The lighter fell onto the table.

"What are the organizing committee's backup plans?"

Chen Yan asked.

Thierry leaned forward.

Cross your hands and press them on your knees.

"Grand Jury Prize"

Thierry looked at Chen Yan.

"This is an honor second only to the Palme d'Or. Harvey can accept this result, and the three judges will also withdraw their resignations."

Chen Yan picked up the pencil on the table.

The pen tip traced across the schedule.

It left a black graphite mark.

"I refuse."

Chen Yan said.

Thierry stood up.

The hem of the suit jacket fluttered with the movement.

"This is already the optimal solution after all parties have negotiated."

Thierry raised his voice.

"If the Palme d'Or goes unclaimed, this film will be labeled controversial. The European media will tear you apart."

Chen Yan exerted force with his fingers.

The pencil in my hand broke.

Wood shavings fell onto the paper.

"Harvey doesn't want 'Broken Bridge' to be eliminated."

Chen Yan raised his head.

"What he wants is the pricing power in Cannes."

Chen Yan opened the file booklet on the table.

The pages turned with a rustling sound.

"In 1994, Miramax began to get involved in European copyright transactions."

Chen Yan read out the year on the paper.

"In 1997, Harvey bought out six European independent films, four of which were shelved. This year, he brought in a sponsorship budget of 20 million US dollars."

Chen Yan closed the document booklet.

Cardboard hits the table.

"He's not buying a movie."

Chen Yan looked at Thierry.

"He's buying the rules. Once the jury prize becomes a compromise, the main competition lineup for next year will be decided by Hollywood producers."

Chen Yan stood up.

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Today you sacrificed an independent film for Miramax's sponsorship."

Chen Yan looked at the curtains.

"Tomorrow, Hollywood studios will cramm the main competition section with their assembly-line productions. European art-house cinemas will only be left with the scraps left over from Hollywood."

Thierry stood beside the sofa.

He looked at the pattern on the carpet.

Chen Yan walked to the bedroom door.

He knocked on the door.

Three times.

The door opened quickly.

Su Wan was wearing pajamas with a black coat draped over her shoulders.

She was holding a notebook.

"Draft a public statement."

Chen Yan looked at Su Wan.

Su Wan opened her notebook.

Remove the pen cap.

Title: Capital's Strangulation of Art

Chen Yan spoke at a steady pace.

"Content: Miramax allegedly used sponsorship contracts to coerce the Cannes jury. Three European judges threatened to resign, interfering with the final Palme d'Or selection."

Thierry walked quickly to Chen Yan.

"You're crazy."

Thierry lowered his voice.

"Once this statement is released, Cannes' reputation will be completely ruined. You will also be completely blacklisted by the European film industry."

Chen Yan looked at Thierry.

"The statement will be sent to Le Figaro and Le Monde by fax at 8 a.m. tomorrow."

Chen Yan said to Su Wan.

Su Wan wrote the last line on the paper.

She closed her notebook.

"I'll do the layout."

Su Wan turned and walked back to her room.

The door closed again.

Only Chen Yan and Thierry remained in the room.

Thierry took a handkerchief out of his pocket.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Director Chen."

Thierry put the handkerchief back into his pocket.

"We can still negotiate."

"The card table has been overturned."

Chen Yan sat back down in his chair.

"Harvey bought out the rules with money, so I'm making the buying and selling process public."

Thierry looked at the broken pencil on the table.

"The film festival will be canceled due to the scandal."

Thierry said.

"If scandals are covered up, film festivals will die."

Chen Yan answered.

Thierry walked to the sofa.

He picked up his trench coat.

The sound of metal clanging came from the trench coat pocket.

Thierry took out a black voice recorder.

He placed the voice recorder on the table.

"This is a recording from yesterday afternoon in the organizing committee's meeting room."

Thierry released his grip.

"Harvey's assistant presented a specific sponsorship amount over the phone and specifically requested that 'Broken Bridge' withdraw from the Palme d'Or competition."

Chen Yan looked at the recording pen.

"French left-wing media have always been hostile to the infiltration of Hollywood capital."

Thierry put on a trench coat.

"The editor-in-chief of Libération is a friend of Quentin."

Chen Yan picked up the recording pen.

The fuselage was still warm.

"The recording must be leaked anonymously."

Thierry pulled up her collar.

"The organizing committee will release an official announcement tomorrow condemning external capital interference in the selection process."

"Suwan will handle it."

Chen Yan put the voice recorder into the drawer.

Thierry walked toward the door.

He gripped the doorknob.

"You are a thug."

Thierry turned his head.

Chen Yan did not answer.

Thierry opened the door.

He walked into the corridor.

The door panel closed.

Chen Yan opened the drawer.

He took out a voice recorder.

The bedroom door was pushed open.

Su Wan came out carrying a stack of printing papers.

Chen Yan handed the recording pen to Su Wan.

"Let's find an internet cafe."

Chen Yan said.

"Send the audio files inside to Libération's email address. Use an encrypted network."

Su Wan took the recording pen.

Put it in your coat pocket.

"Should we still issue a statement?"

Su Wan asked.

"No."

Chen Yan took the printing paper.

Tear it in half.

Throw it into the wastepaper basket.

"Someone is fighting for us."

Su Wan turned and walked towards the entrance.

She changed into flat shoes.

The phone on the table vibrated.

The screen lit up with a white light.

Chen Yan picked up her phone.

The caller ID showed Pierre.

Chen Yan pressed the answer button.

Turn on hands-free.

"Director Chen."

Pierre's voice was hoarse.

The speakers emitted the sounds of keyboard typing and women arguing.

"explain."

Chen Yan looked at the curtains.

"Gao Meng Cinemas's film scheduling system has been locked."

Pierre was breathing heavily.

"The French Ministry of Culture has issued an administrative order. Under the guise of fire safety inspections, they have ordered 300 cinemas owned by Gaumont to close for rectification."

Su Wan stopped by the door.

He was holding the doorknob.

"An official from the Ministry of Culture was standing in my office with police officers."

Pierre said on the other end of the phone.

"They are sealing off the server room. Ticketing interfaces for eighty cinemas in Paris have been cut off."

"How long will the business be closed?"

Chen Yan asked.

"No time limit."

Pierre's voice came through the loudspeaker.

"Until the fire safety assessment report was approved, Harvey used his government connections. He bypassed the film festival and went directly to the theaters."

"What about other cinema chains?"

Su Wan walked back to the table and asked.

"mk2 Cinema and UGC Cinema have also received rectification notices."

Pierre answered.

"Harvey has tied all of France's independent cinemas together."

Chen Yan looked at the movie schedule on the table.

"If it can't be released on time tomorrow."

Pierre paused.

"The pre-sale contract will constitute a breach of contract. According to the agreement, we need to refund double the deposit."

Chen Yan picked up the lighter on the table.

"I see."

Chen Yan pressed the hang-up button.

The phone screen went out.

Chen Yan pressed his finger on the ignition wheel of the lighter.

Su Wan stood by the door.

"Are you still going to internet cafes?"

Su Wan asked.

Chen Yan pressed the ignition wheel.

Flames shot up.

The data on the screening schedule was illuminated.

"go."

Chen Yan looked at the flames.

"Make the fire even bigger."