America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 303 The French Kiss

The appearance of Jean-Marie Messier, the CEO of Vivendi Universal Group.

The paparazzi reporters around the square on the first floor of the Vivendi Building were all excited.

Everyone found that beside Jean-Marie Messier, there were several executives of the group.

They are even more excited.

Vivendi Universal Group has a very high status in France.

Because in fact, it is not just an entertainment media network company.

Its predecessor was the French general water group.

This group was established in the nineteenth century by order of Emperor Napoleon III.

Later changed its name to Vivendi Universal Group and began to enter other markets.

At present, this group company has achieved the ultimate in many fields.

For example, it itself is already the largest water treatment company in the world.

In terms of waste disposal, Vivendi owns Onyx, the third largest comprehensive waste disposal company in the world and the number one in Europe.

In terms of transportation, Connex, the number one privately operated company in Europe, is a subsidiary of Vivendi.

In terms of energy, Dakya Group, which ranks first in Europe, is also one of its subsidiaries.

Then there are the media and Internet industries mentioned earlier.

Vivendi Universal Group is also the second in the world and the first in Europe.

The CEO of such a huge group was born with unparalleled power.

Some French people said that what Jean-Marie Messier sometimes said in Paris was more useful than the current general Chirac.

Such a big man suddenly brought a group of executives with him.

Among these executives are the CEO of Vivendi Entertainment and the heads of several other subsidiaries.

Not to mention entertainment journalists in Europe and France.

At this moment, even other more elite reporters would be excited and excited to see these big figures appearing together.

With so many big names coming out, there will undoubtedly be news.

Even if they gather together, it can be one of the bigger news in Europe.

Their appearance must be accompanied by the security guards of the Vivendi Building.

The reporters couldn't get any closer.They even discovered that the security guards of the Vivendi Group were clearing the venue, as if they wanted to clear a spacious venue.

The reporters cooperated quite well, because they were all curious about what Vivendi was doing to clear the field.

Many paparazzi reporters have even sent out the news, informing their friends or newspapers, or other well-connected colleagues to come over.

10:15 am or so.

Vivendi's security personnel successfully cleared the venue.

Paparazzi reporters, and passersby around.

I saw a group of high-level executives of the Vivendi Universal Group gathered together, headed by the CEO.

They didn't know what they were talking about, and they looked as if they were waiting for some big shot.

A paparazzi reporter couldn't help whispering, "Is Chirac coming today?"

Chirac is the current leader of France, and he is still a relatively accomplished one.

He has a good reputation among the French folk, and his support rate is very high.

Looking at the senior management of the Vivendi Universal Group, everyone felt that the person who came today must be a big shot.

If you talk about a big man in France, then of course it is the Grand Commander Chirac.

"I haven't heard? If Chirac is coming, there will be an itinerary notice."

"That's right. If the commander came, the commander of the guard would have come here long ago."

"That's right. It's not Chirac who is coming. Maybe Lionel Jospin is coming?"

Lionel Jospin is the current Prime Minister of France and is regarded as the head of the French government.

The paparazzi reporters' speculations are inconsistent, but they all have one thing in common.

That is, these high-level executives of Vivendi should be waiting here for some big shots to appear.

Otherwise, it would be so hot in Paris at ten o'clock in the morning in mid-August.

Isn't it uncomfortable to blow the air conditioner in a skyscraper?

Why run to the square below to bask in the sun?
Passersby around, as well as other company employees who work in the Vivendi Building.

Or some visitors who want to enter and exit the Vivendi building, these people's guesses are the same as the reporters.

at this time.

Not far from the square of the Vivendi building, under a shady tree.

Several elites in the European entertainment industry are also guessing who the Vivendi executives are waiting for.

"Is Chirac really coming?"

The speaker was a man in his thirties named Luc Besson.

He is a well-known French director, producer, screenwriter and actor.

in September last year.

Luc Besson started his own film company Europa Films.

Since Europa Films was established last year, it has shot five films in a row, four of which have been released.

Four films a year, for a newly established independent film company.

This score looks excellent.

Many well-known independent film companies in Hollywood do not make so many films in a year.

But in fact, none of the five films produced by Europa Films has an investment of more than 200 million US dollars.
They are all typical small-investment French literary and artistic films, and they have not even gone out of France.

Fortunately, the investment cost is low, the box office is not bad, and the follow-up can be paid back by selling DVDs.

It is difficult to make a lot of money, but it is easy to make money back and even make money.

Next to Luc Besson, a slender, beautiful woman who looked to be in her thirties but still gave off a sense of clarity asked, "Is Chirac coming today?"

"I don't know. I haven't heard of such news." Luc Besson said.

"Who is Chirac?"

Another beautiful woman next to the two said, a black-haired woman who was much younger than the one in front.

The Spaniard's "ignorant" speech made the two Frenchmen in front a little speechless.

Fortunately, the two Frenchmen thought at the same time-we don't seem to know who is the leader of Spain?
Thinking of this, the two Frenchmen also understood that a Spaniard who didn't stay in Europe very much didn't know the name of the French commander.

"Chirac is the commander of France." Luc Besson reminded.

"Oh no wonder Jean-Marie Messier comes along," says young Spanish actress Penelope Cruz.

"It shouldn't be that Chirac is coming." Sophie Marceau, who spoke earlier and was older, said:
"If Chirac had come, the Grand Commander's Guard would have come here long ago. Some important figure must be coming."

The two beauties standing beside Luc Besson at this time.

It was Penelope Cruz, who was later known as the Spanish national treasure.

And French Kiss by Sophie Marceau.

Three European entertainment elites who have made their way to Hollywood.

The reason why we are here together today.

It was because at the invitation of Luc Besson, they planned to make a movie together.

The movie has no title until now, only a simple script.

Screenplay written by Luc Besson himself.

As the most Hollywood-like well-known director in the whole of France, maybe even the whole of Europe.

It is impossible for Luc Besson to be willing to let Europa Films only shoot the kind of small-investment productions that have been made this year.

Since June this year, Luc Besson has been traveling around Europe.

He wants to use his own Europa Films to take the lead in shooting a blockbuster film.

He didn't dare to think about the great novel for the time being, but he also imagined it would be like the "The Fifth Element" he filmed in [-].

Prove your ability with a global box office of hundreds of millions of dollars.

It would be even better if he could win a Cesar Award or some Hollywood award.

Luc Besson felt that if it could be done.

Whether it is for himself or for European films.

It will be an exciting thing.

For this blockbuster, Luc Besson found many investors.

These investors were happy to invest when they saw Luc Besson.

After all, he is already a famous director.

But when they heard that he was going to shoot a European blockbuster, they all retreated.

In desperation, Luc Besson played the empty glove white wolf method.

With his connections and fame, he invited Sophie Marceau, Penelope Cruz, Monica Bellucci, Isabella Adjani and other well-known European actresses.

His idea was to lure these well-known European actresses over and sign a cooperation agreement of intent.

Then take these intentional cooperation agreements and go to investors to make investment.

Monica Bellucci, Isabella Adjani and others declined Luc's invitation.

Developed in Hollywood, Sophie and Penelope just returned to Europe recently.

The two agreed to come over and read the script.

Today they came to the Vivendi Building to read the script at Luc's Europa Film Company.

As a well-known French director, the headquarters of Europa Films is of course also rented here.

Now because the venue has been cleared, the three of them and their entourage cannot enter.

This leads to the above dialogue.

Just when Sophie Marceau and Penelope Cruz, two Europeans who are not British, are conversing proficiently in English, discussing the affairs of the two leaders and Prime Minister.

Wearing sunglasses, Luc Besson suddenly shouted:
"Hey, wait a minute, look over there. There seems to be a convoy coming."

Penelope and Sophie stopped talking and looked in the direction Luc pointed.

Sure enough, it is on the left side of the square of the Vivendi Building, facing the direction of the Champs Elysees in Paris.

A convoy of 7 black cars slowly entered the square on the first floor of the Vivendi Building.

The security personnel of Vivendi Universal Group quickly stepped forward to greet and command the parking.

Luc Besson couldn't help being a little envious, and said curiously:
"I don't know who it is. It's such a big show. Six Rolls-Royces, one... Am I right? That car seems to be a Cadillac?"

Cadillac sells well in the U.S. and a little in Canada.

But it has been selling poorly in Europe, the ancestral land of the car.

Before China had risen, Cadillac generally only existed in North America.

On the European side, Cadillacs are rarely seen.

Unlike Rolls-Royce, you can see it everywhere.

The three Europeans in front of me have all been to Hollywood and have been in the United States for a long time.

Otherwise, it is estimated that even Luc Besson would not recognize Cadillac.

"How come American cars are here?" Penelope Cruz wondered.

"Could it be the rich people from the United States?" Sophie Marceau guessed softly.

There is no need for the three Europeans to continue guessing.

Because the people in the convoy had already started to get off after stopping in front of Jean-Marie Messier and others.

The first one to come down was a black man who felt very strong from such a long distance.

The next few came down, one or two were also tall and strong guys.

"The basketball player or the rugby player?" Luc Besson said quietly, "In our place, we don't play both."

The people who came were certainly not NBA superstars or football superstars.

Soon the three of them saw these people coming down from the Cadillac sedan in the middle of the convoy.

A tall man in a suit came down.

Because the distance is too far, and there are no telescopes and other things.

The three of them couldn't see each other's specific appearance.

It can only be seen with the appearance of this person.

Jean-Marie Messier, who had been standing still, and other Vivendi executives immediately moved.

They all came to the tall man in the suit, hugged him, shook hands and talked.

Even if it's too far away to see facial expressions.

The three of them seemed to feel the warm and friendly greeting from the CEO of Vivendi and those senior executives.

Under the welcome of Vivendi's senior executives.

The man in the suit soon walked into the Vivendi building with Jean-Marie Messier and others.

After they entered, the security at Vivendi's gate quickly evacuated.

Ten minutes later, the entrance of the building returned to normal.

Everyone is free to enter.

The three European entertainment elites who watched a scene also walked in low-key.

After arriving at the office on the 23rd floor rented by Luc Besson.

Penelope Cruz still couldn't help but said curiously:

"Who the hell is here? Even Jean-Marie Messier looks like that."

"I don't know." Luc Besson said: "I can only be sure that it should be an American. The rich man in the United States. But don't worry, I have sent someone to find those paparazzi. They were very close just now, and they With the equipment, we should be able to know who it is."

Penelope Cruz thinks so too.

Half an hour later.

In the offices of Europa Films.

The trio who were discussing the script now knew who was here just now.

"It's actually Abe Smith!"

Among the three people present, the younger, Penelope Cruz, who is only 27 years old this year, is a little excited.

Sophie and Luc were also surprised.

The main reason is that these three people have all seen the world of Hollywood.

From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, all three stayed in Hollywood.

So the trio knew better than anyone in the European entertainment circle what the name Abel Smith meant in Hollywood.

I also know the status and fame of this person in the United States.

The temperament has always been very indifferent, and Sophie Marceau, who reveals a literary atmosphere from the inside to the outside, smiles:
"It's understandable in this way. If Abel Smith comes, even the CEO of Vivendi will indeed have to greet him."

Luc Besson couldn't help but nodded.

Compared with the two goddesses, the big director is more concerned about Abel's status as the richest man in the world.

The richest man in the world is here.

Let alone Vivendi.

It is estimated that even if Abel wants to go to the Elysee Palace, Chirac will invite him to go.

Because under the operation of Americans and Forbes.

The world's richest man has long been a cultural symbol, a cultural symbol that symbolizes wealth.

The emergence of such a cultural symbol will naturally be welcomed in capitalist countries.

"What is Smith doing at Vivendi?" Penelope Cruz wondered, "Does he want to buy Vivendi?"

"It's possible." Sophie Marceau agreed.

Unlike the two women, Luc Besson knew it was unlikely.

That's Vivendi, how could it be acquired casually.

But thinking of Abel's easy acquisition of MGM, as well as things like Dreamworks and other companies.

Luc Besson wasn't sure either.

"I don't know." Luc Besson said:

"But this actually has nothing to do with us. The world's richest man is too far away from us. Two beautiful ladies, I think what we should discuss now is our movie."

Luc Besson's realistic words also brought the attention of the two European goddesses back to reality.

Yes, no matter how powerful Abel Smith is, no matter how powerful he is in Hollywood.

That has nothing to do with them either.

European actresses, no matter how beautiful they are, no matter how good their acting skills are.

Going to Hollywood can only be a match.

This point, they who have been beaten by Hollywood, are very clear about this.

Instead of expecting to be caught by the eyes of big shots, it is better to strengthen yourself and make a good movie.

If European cinema can rise to compete with Hollywood, then they can also benefit.

Thinking of this, Sophie Marceau and Penelope Cruz devoted their energy to the conversation with Luc Besson.

It's just around noon.

Luc Besson's Europa Films received an invitation.

The invitation comes from overhead giant Vivendi Entertainment.

It is a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Group, which is responsible for European film, television and other entertainment businesses.

"Spike invited me to a party tonight."

Luc Besson raised the invitation letter in his hand to the two European goddesses.

"The location of the reception is at the Chepsey Hotel in Saint-Ouen."

When the two European goddesses heard the name of this hotel, they were no strangers.

Because this hotel can be regarded as one of the venues for high-level receptions in the entertainment industry in Paris.

Many receptions and events in the European entertainment industry like to be held there.

For example, the highest award in the French film industry, the Caesar Awards, is usually held in this hotel after the award ceremony.

"Spike's invitation."

Penelope Cruz had an envious look on her face, "That must be a big party."

If Jean-Marie Messier, as the CEO of Vivendi Universal Group, is No. 1 in the European entertainment industry.

The president of Vivendi Entertainment, Spike, who is in charge of specific affairs, is the second person in the European entertainment industry.

Many times, the CEO of Vivendi Universal Group doesn't care about the entertainment industry.

The specific person in charge is still this Spike.

Spike has held this position for more than ten years.

In the past ten years, "Spike's Invitation Letter" has become synonymous with the most exclusive reception in the European entertainment industry.

Any European actor, singer, director, or practitioner is eager to get an invitation from Spike.

A person who can get an invitation means that he/she already belongs to one of the elites in this small European circle.

It is not the first time that Luc Besson and Sophie Marceau have taken this kind of invitation.

Penelope Cruz hasn't been there yet.

The main reason is that when she was very young, she went to the United States to develop.

Rarely returned to Europe.

Even if she wants to go to Hollywood more.

But she was European after all.

If she can have greater fame and recognition in Europe, that would be a very happy thing for her.

Luc Besson saw this desire in Penelope Cruz.

Thinking of bringing a female companion to the reception, Luc wanted to bring Penelope in.

Now in order to fool the two of them into making a movie for himself, Luc Besson is willing to do many things.

Just when the director was about to speak.

The phone in Penelope Cruz's pocket suddenly rang.

"Sorry, take a call."

After a few minutes.

Penelope Cruz came in with a happy face, "I've been invited too! Spike's invitation."

Another hour later.

The trio discovered that Sophie Marceau had also been invited.

The trio simply decided to go to the reception at Saint-Ouen Marcheps Hotel in the evening.

(End of this chapter)