I’m in Hollywood - Chapter 18

[Chapter 18 Breaking the boat and sinking the boat]

Aniston did not attend the next date, and Eric sent Aniston home to meet the owner of the bankrupt film company alone.

When getting out of the car, Aniston suddenly said: “Eric, can you leave me a copy of the script for “Home Alone”? I will help you to see, maybe… I can give some opinions.”

Eric points Nodding his head, he said, “Of course no problem, I just made a few copies.”

Aniston got out of the car with the script, waved his little hand and watched Eric drive away, as if he had made up his mind, turned and walked away into your own apartment.

In a coffee shop in Burbank, Eric met Jeffrey Hansen, the owner of a small film company named Firefly introduced by Drew. Haggard, it seems that the bankruptcy of the film company has hit him hard, and the whole person looks very decadent.

Eric knew that it was best for a person to vent in this situation, so he did not rush to discuss the crew, but patiently listened to the man who needed to talk about the past.

“My wife Solina is a top student at the USC Film School, you know? She is a classmate with Francis Coppola, but unfortunately she is just a farm girl from Maryland, without the deep background of the Coppola family, Otherwise, her achievements in film must be higher than Francis, and she won many awards for the short films she made in school.”

“I was studying finance at that time, and everyone called me a nerd. I don’t know why, young, beautiful and talented. My wife would like me. She said she wanted to be a director, so I stayed with her in Los Angeles, started from the most basic position, and did it for about nine years. I still remember Solina for her own script. The happy look when I got the first investment, the smile was even brighter than when I put the ring on her hand when we got married. Later, when we opened Firefly Films, she was the director, so I helped her Being a producer, taking care of everything, we made several movies together, all of which made money for investors, and also won a special jury award at the Venice Film Festival. Unfortunately, a year ago, Solina drove back to Maryland to visit When I was my parents, there was an accident…”

When the unshaven Jeffrey Hansen said this, his voice began to choked a little. It could be seen that he had a deep relationship with his wife. Eric sat across from him, handed Jeffrey a tissue, and then quietly Waiting for him to continue talking.

“After my wife left, I felt that I should inherit her ideals. She has always wanted to develop Firefly and become a director recognized by the Oscars. I think I have been a producer for so many years, and it must be more than enough to be a director. So I mortgaged the company and raised a sum of money to shoot my first movie in honor of her, but unfortunately it didn’t turn out well…”

“It’s okay, Jeffrey, it’s just a failure, which director in Hollywood doesn’t I have experienced failure.”

Jeffrey wiped the corners of his wet eyes and said, “Thank you, thank you Eric, for listening to me nagging for so long, I feel much better now, after the company went bankrupt, my son almost followed me Severing the father-son relationship, he originally did not agree with me as a director. He felt that I had destroyed the foundation that her mother had worked hard for many years. I don’t blame him, I just regret it. Well, let’s not talk about that. Listen to Drew, Do you need some people to help you make a movie?”

Eric nodded: “Yes, but it’s just a small budget movie with a million dollars.”

Jeffrey shook his head: “No, a million is a lot. Now, my wife’s first movie only cost over seven hundred thousand. By the way, may I know your age?”

“Of course, I’m eighteen now.

Jeffrey, you don’t think I’m too young .

Too impatient?”

“No, I’m just making sure you’re an adult and a person with full capacity, after all, a million dollars is not a small amount.”

“Oh?”

Jeffrey said: “Don’t be like this, young man, I think it’s you who is not confident. I have no prejudice against young people. Many directors make their best movies when they are young. The bigger the film, the more mediocre the film will be. Young people are always full of creativity, film is a job to create a dream. Also, I believe my team can help you complete your film very well, they are my wife The team that I personally cultivated is very professional and tacit understanding. Unfortunately, because of me, they will lose their jobs. It is a good thing to receive your film. Well, by the way, can I read your script?”

” No problem,” Eric took out the script and handed it to Jeffrey, then quietly waited for Jeffrey to flip his script.

After more than ten minutes, Jeffrey closed the script and handed it back to Eric: “It’s a good comedy script, it’s not complicated to shoot, and it’s very suitable for practice. I have to say that you choose such a script very wisely. Yes

.”

Eric put the script back in his backpack and said to Jeffrey: “So, Jeffrey, can you help me be the producer of this movie?”

Jeffrey Hansen wondered: ” Eric, are you sure? My company just went bankrupt because of me.”

Eric said: “Jeffrey, you may not be suitable to be a director, but through your narrative, I think you are a very good person. Producer, if this film is successful, I will set up my own film company, and you can help me take care of it, and I can take over all the team your wife left behind, so they don’t have to lose their jobs.”

Jeff Li was obviously heartbroken. Originally, he was disheartened and planned to return to the farm in his hometown for the rest of his life.

But when I heard Eric’s plan, another idea came to my mind. The cast and crew left by his wife had been working with the couple for many years. They were not only employees, but also very good friends. Because of his mistakes, his old friend who has worked together for many years lost his job, and Jeffrey is still quite guilty.

After thinking about it for a long time, Jeffrey nodded and said, “Okay, Eric, I promise you.”

“Then, happy cooperation.” Eric excitedly picked up a cup of coffee and touched Jeffrey. The cooperation is officially reached.

Next, the two of them went straight to the topic to discuss the preparations for “Home Alone”.

During the discussion, Jeffrey also learned about what Eric had done during this time, and couldn’t help but be amazed.

Now that the cooperation has been confirmed, Eric has also revealed his plans to Jeffrey.

“I’m going to finish the film in about a month, and then take advantage of the influence of Jurassic Park and Back to Seventeen to have Home Alone come out over Christmas. The screenwriter and starring role of Returning to Seventeen are put on a director’s halo to create greater box office benefits. Presumably 20th Century Fox will not be stingy in releasing “Home Alone” for us, so as long as we work hard to make the film Well, this family-friendly Christmas comedy will definitely make us a fortune.”

Eric remembered the box office of “Home Alone” that was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in his previous life, and his heart was full of longing, even if this life “Home Alone” only won Half of the box office results in his previous life were more than enough for him to realize his ideals.

The two negotiated in the coffee shop until the beginning of Hua Deng, and determined a lot of things. After leaving the contact information, Eric drove home.

As soon as he got home, Eric received another good news. The Runkels agreed to let Stewart play Kevin, and Eric discussed the details with the couple. The Runkels also agreed with Eric. The proposed $50,000 remuneration and a 1% share of the box office.

Although the salary is only one-tenth of Eric’s in “Return to Seventeen”, if the box office results are as amazing as in the previous life, only one percent of the box office share can make the couple close their mouths , Eric has nothing to feel bad about, after all, this movie needs Stuart Runkel to play the role.

The next day, Eric asked Jeffrey Hansen to come forward and sign a contract with the Runkels. The couple also knew that Eric would be the director of the movie. The couple, who were hesitant, saw Ai After Rick prepared a check for $50,000, he directly signed the contract.

The next step is to prepare funds. Eric originally had $590,000 in his hand. After negotiating with Michael Krauss, Michael happily agreed to advance him about $200,000 in royalties within ten days.

The owner of the piano shop reluctantly agreed to return the item after checking it, but still calculated the depreciation fee of $2,000.

In the end, there was still a shortfall of about $200,000. Eric gritted his teeth and contacted a pawnshop. He quickly mortgaged the house at a low price of $200,000, with 10% interest per month, if half a year If the money is not paid within, the pawnbroker will take back the house.

To put it bluntly, it is a very high interest rate loan.

Looking at the cheque in his hand, Eric sighed, and now he is a sinking ship. In case of failure, I wonder if Aniston will take him in.

Thinking of this, I can’t help but think of Drew. Based on the experience of the 40-year-old uncle in Eric’s body, UU reading www.sonicmtl.com How can I not see that Drew has already liked him to the core, if possible, after filming ” After returning to Seventeen”, Eric didn’t want to have too much interaction with Drew. His feelings for Drew may be more about his daughter than a woman.

Maybe after a long time, the girl’s feelings towards him will gradually fade, but for “Home Alone”, he had to seek Drew’s help and entangle the two again.

After the filming funds were all ready, Eric and Jeffrey began to cast non-stop for the crew. Eric planned to choose two stupid thieves Harry and Marvin from TV comedians. Unfortunately, a few were released. After receiving the invitation, the other party is either unable to miss the schedule or thinks that the salary is too low.

After running for two days, Eric suddenly received a call from Aniston.

“What, you said your dad wants to invite me to dinner?”

Aniston’s voice on the phone was excited: “Yeah, aren’t you worrying about the cast of “Home Alone” these two days? I told my dad about this. thing, he promised to help you get in touch with some comedians.”

Aniston’s tone on the phone was very relaxed, but Eric knew that things were not that simple, and at the same time was a little moved.

Aniston’s relationship with his biological father, John Aniston, is very cold, and John Aniston’s behavior of abandoning his wife and daughter for his own career makes Aniston still brooding.

In the previous life, John Aniston still had to work hard to get his stubborn daughter to forgive him. It can be seen that now Aniston seeks his father’s help for himself is not as easy as he said.

Eric gratefully said to the microphone. : “Thank you, Annie, I’ll be there on time.”

[End of this Chapter]