Chapter 18: burn one's boats

Chapter 18: burn one's boats

The next date, Aniston, did not participate. Eric sent Aniston home and went alone to see the boss of the bankrupt movie company.

When getting off the bus, Aniston suddenly said: "Eric, can you leave me a copy of "The Devil's Home"? I can help you see, maybe... can give some advice."

Eric nodded and said: "Of course, no problem, just copy a few copies."

Aniston took the script and got off the bus. He waved his hand and looked at Eric to drive away. Like what he decided to do, he turned and walked into his apartment.

In a coffee shop in Burbank, Eric saw the owner of the small movie company called Firefly, which was introduced by Drew, Jeffrey Hansen, a white man of about 50 years old. Hey, it seems that the bankruptcy of the film company has dealt a big blow to him, and the whole person seems to be very decadent. Eric knows that it is best for a person to vent a circumstance in this situation, so he is not eager to discuss the crew, but patiently listened to the man who needs to talk about the past.

"My wife Sorina is a high school student at the Film and Television School of the University of Southern California. Do you know? She is a classmate with Francis Coppola, but she is just a farm girl from Maryland, without the deep foundation of the Coppola family. Otherwise, her achievements in the film must be higher than Francis, and she won many awards for the short film she shot at school."

"At that time, I was studying finance. Everyone called me a nerd. I don't know why. The young and beautiful wife will look at me. She said that if she wants to be a director, I will stay with her in Los Angeles to develop, from the most basic. I started doing my duties for about nine years. I still remember the kind of happiness that Sorina had when she pulled her first investment for her script. When the smile was married to us, I put the ring on her hand. It was still splendid. Later, we opened the Firefly Film Company. She was the director. I helped her as a producer and took care of everything. We took several movies together and made money for investors. They are still in Venice. The film festival won a special jury award. Unfortunately, a year ago, when Sorina drove back to Maryland to visit her parents, there was an accident..."

Jeffrey Hansen, who was unshaven, said that the voice began to whimper. He could see that his relationship with his wife was deep. Eric sat opposite and handed Jeffrey a paper towel, then quieted. Still waiting for him to continue.

"After my wife left, I felt that I should inherit her ideals. She always wanted to develop the fireflies and wanted to be a big director recognized by Oscar. I think that I have been a producer for so many years, and I am more than enough to be a director. So I mortgaged the company and raised a sum of money to shoot me to commemorate her first movie, but the result was not very good..."

"It doesn't matter, Jeffrey, it's just a failure. Which director in Hollywood has not experienced failure."

Jeffrey rubbed his wet eyes and said: "Thank you, thank you Eric, can you listen to me for so long, I feel much better now, after the company went bankrupt, my son almost broke off the relationship between father and son, he originally I don't agree with me as a director. I feel that I have ruined her mother's hard work for many years. I don't blame him. I just regret it. Well, don't say this. Listen to Drew, you need some people to help you. Making a movie?"

Eric nodded. "Yes, it's just a small one-million dollar movie."

Jeffrey shook his head. "No, a million is already a lot. My wife used more than 700,000 in her first movie. Right, can I know your age?"

"Of course, I am now eighteen. Jeffrey, you don't think I am too young and too impatient?"

"No, I am just making sure that you are an adult, a person with full capacity. After all, one million dollars is not a small amount."

"Oh?"

Jeffrey said: "Don't be like this, young people, I don't think it's self-confidence. I don't have any prejudice against young people. Many directors shoot their best movies when they are young. The older the age. Big, the film is more mediocre. Young people are always full of creativity, movies are a job of creating dreams. And, I believe my team can help you complete your movie, they are my wife. The team that I personally cultivated is very professional and tacit, but unfortunately because of me, they are going to be unemployed, and it is a good thing to receive your movie. Well, yes, can I see your script?"

"No problem," Eric took out the script and handed it to Jeffrey, then waited for Jeffrey to overtake his script.

After more than ten minutes, Jeffrey closed the script and handed it back to Eric. "A good comedy script is not complicated to shoot. It is very suitable for practicing. It has to be said that it is still wise to choose such a script." of."

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

Jeffrey Hansen wondered: "Eric, are you sure? My company has just gone bankrupt because of me."

Eric said: "Jeffrey, you may not be suitable as a director, but through your narrative, I think you are a very good producer. If this film is successful, I will set up my own film company. You can take care of me, and I can receive all the classes left by your wife, they don't have to lose their jobs."

Jeffrey was obviously heart-wrenching. He had already been disheartened and planned to return to his home farm. I can hear Eric’s plan and have a different thought. The team that the wife left behind has been working with the couple for many years. They are not only an employment relationship, but also a very good friend. Because of his own mistakes, the old friends who have cooperated for many years are unemployed, and Jeffrey is quite embarrassed.

Not thinking about how long, Jeffrey nodded: "Well, Eric, I promise you."

"So, the cooperation is pleasant." Eric excitedly picked up a cup of coffee and touched Jeffrey. The cooperation between the two was officially reached.

Next, the two men began to go straight to the theme to discuss the preparations for "Little Ghosts".

In the talk, Jeffrey also learned about what Eric did during this time, and it was not surprising. Now that the cooperation has been confirmed, Eric will also bring his plan to Jeffrey.

"I plan to finish the film in a month or so, and then take advantage of the influence of "Jurassic Park" and "Return to Seventeen" to make "Little Ghosts" appear during Christmas. I think, in order to give Returning to the seventeen-year-old screenwriter and starring set a director's aura to create greater box office benefits, presumably the 20th Century Fox will not release the "Little Devils" for us, so as long as we work hard to make the film Ok, this kind of family Christmas comedy will definitely make us make a profit."

Eric remembers the box office of the "Little Ghosts", which was recorded in the Guinness Book of the previous life. His heart is full of embarrassment. Even if this "Little Ghosts" only gets half of the past box office results, it is more than enough for him to realize his ideals.

Two people in the coffee shop have been negotiating to the beginning of the Hua Deng, determined a lot of things, after leaving contact, Eric drove home.

Just arrived home, Eric received another good news, the Langkel couple agreed to let Stewart play Kevin, Eric and the couple discussed the details, the Langkel couple also agreed to Eric The proposed 50,000 US dollars paid and 1% of the box office share.

Although the pay is only one-tenth of Eric's "returning to the seventeen-year-old", if the box office results are as amazing as the past, only one percent of the box office split will make them both close together. There is nothing to worry about Eric. After all, this movie requires Stewart Langkel to take the lead.

The next day, Eric let Jeffrey Hansen come forward to sign a contract with the Langkel couple. The couple also knew that Eric would be the director of the film. The couple who were somewhat hesitant saw Ai. Rick deliberately prepared a 50,000-dollar check and signed the contract directly.

The next step was to prepare the funds. Eric had originally had $590,000. After dealing with Michael Klaus, Michael quickly agreed to pay him about $200,000 in royalties within ten days. After checking the book, the owner of the piano shop reluctantly agreed to return the goods, but still calculated the depreciation of two thousand dollars.

At the end of the gap of about 200,000 US dollars, Eric bit his teeth, contacted a pawnshop, and soon mortgaged the house at a low price of 200,000 US dollars, 10% interest per month, if half a year There is no money in it, and the pawnshop will take back the house. To put it bluntly, it is a special loan shark.

Looking at the check in his hand, Eric sighed, and now it’s a ruin. If it fails, I don’t know if Aniston will take care of himself.

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but think of Drew. I can’t see Drew’s experience of being in the body of the 40-year-old uncle in Eric’s body. If possible, after shooting “Returning to Seventeen” Eric doesn't want to have too much overlap with Drew. He feels Drew's feelings, maybe even more than a woman.

Perhaps for a long time, the girl's emotions will gradually turn weaker, but for the "little devil", he has to find Drew to help, and entangle the two people again.

After the shooting funds were all ready, Eric and Jeffrey began to choose the corner for the crew. Eric plans to pick two thieves, Harry and Marvin, from the TV comedians, but unfortunately a few of them are sent out. The invitation, the other party is not the wrong period, or the film is too low.

After two days of rushing, Eric suddenly received a call from Aniston.

"What, you said your father wants to invite me to dinner?"

On the phone, Aniston’s voice was amazed: “Yeah, have you been bothered by the actors of The Little Ghosts these two days? I told this to Dad that he promised to contact some comedians.”

Aniston had a very relaxed tone on the phone, but Eric knew that things were not that simple and at the same time moved. Aniston’s relationship with his biological father, John Aniston, was very cold, and John Aniston’s abandonment of his wife and daughter for his own career made Aniston still stunned. Past John Aniston still worked hard to make the reluctant daughter forgive himself. It can be seen that now Aniston is not as easy to ask for his father’s help for himself.

Eric gratefully said to the microphone: "Thank you, Anne, I will arrive on time."