Chapter 141: High-Concept Film

After one and a half months of intense, high-pressure filming, especially the month of location shooting later on, the actors were still somewhat better off, but the dozens of crew members were already exhausted. Because of that, the celebratory revelry after the wrap became especially unrestrained after such a long period of pressure suddenly relaxed. The party hall was a noisy mess, and from time to time, someone let out a few high-pitched howls.

Eric merely smiled and let it be. After all, everyone had been suppressed for a month. Now, even if they lost composure a little, it was understandable. Most of the actors from Running Out of Time received invitations to the party, and several main cast members also came to the venue.

However, after seeing the chaotic scene, Cruise, who carried himself with a certain status, stayed for less than twenty minutes before taking his leave. Although he came from the lower class, Cruise had now automatically placed himself among those at the top of the pyramid, so of course he could not possibly join these crew members in fooling around. Some older crew members and actors also left one after another. With Eric’s mental age, he truly could not enjoy this kind of wild party either, but as the director of Running Out of Time, he had no choice but to stay.

In the entire hall, Eric was the youngest. Although on set, when Eric put on a stern face and reprimanded others, he could appear very oppressive, at other times he still looked like a harmless young man. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠In addition, the crew members were all relatively familiar with Eric’s personality and knew he was someone who could take a joke, so he naturally became the target of everyone’s teasing.

After being forced to drink several bottles of beer under all kinds of pretexts, Eric finally escaped the crowd under the excuse of going to the restroom. He left the banquet hall and walked toward the restroom at the end of the corridor. When he came out, whether by coincidence or not, he happened to see Brooke Shields also coming out of the opposite restroom, lowering her head as she wiped her hands with a tissue.

“Hi, Brooke,” Eric greeted her with a smile. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

Brooke Shields also revealed a sweet smile. “It’s alright, though it’s a little noisy.” As the most beautiful woman at the party, Brooke Shields naturally became the focus of everyone’s attention. Brooke Shields also enjoyed the feeling of being sought after. It was only that Eric’s attitude toward her had always been lukewarm.

Seeing that Eric was about to leave after greeting her, Brooke Shields hurriedly stuffed the tissue in her hand into the trash can, caught up to him in a few steps, and reached out to tug at Eric.

“Brooke, is something wrong?” Eric turned around.

Brooke Shields hesitated before saying, “I just… I just wanted to say thank you, Eric. Thank you for giving me the role of Yoyo.”

This gratitude was not polite formality at all. Ever since Brooke Shields had been revealed as the actress joining Running Out of Time as the female lead, although quite a few media outlets had brought up how she had been nominated several times for the Golden Raspberry Awards and sarcastically implied that she could not possibly have obtained the role through ability, meaning there had to be some hidden story behind it, it was still undeniable that Brooke Shields’ popularity had risen again. The media’s attention on her quickly increased, and paparazzi appeared around her again when she went out. This situation had not happened for many years. The last time was when she had been close to Michael Jackson years ago. More importantly, this attention could bring her real economic benefits. During this period, she had already received several advertising endorsement offers.

“It’s nothing, Brooke. Your performance in Running Out of Time was still very good. I believe that after the film is released, your character will definitely leave a deep impression on the audience.”

“Then…” Hearing Eric’s praise, Brooke Shields looked at him expectantly and asked, “Eric, will we have a chance to work together again in the future?”

“Well…” Eric hesitated for a moment. He had not expected the woman to ask so directly. If he told the truth, it would definitely be: never again. However, Eric certainly would not say something so hurtful directly. “Brooke, you have to understand that this requires the right opportunity.”

Brooke Shields’ expression quickly dimmed. Her pitiful look would make any man who saw it feel somewhat unable to bear it. She was practically a little enchantress.

Looking at the woman’s expression, Eric even felt a faint sense of guilt. After thinking it over, he tentatively comforted her. “Brooke, I think you should put your energy into independent films next. Choose a few excellent scripts first and temper your acting skills.”

After Brooke Shields began acting in films at the age of twelve, up until she obtained this role in Running Out of Time, she had spent more than ten years mostly drifting around the independent film circle. She had long since seen through that circle. If one wanted to stand out from the independent film world, the most important thing was to have outstanding acting skills, use those acting skills to win some weighty film awards, and only then use that to break into the mainstream film circle.

But this path simply did not work for her, because she was too beautiful. Even if she had some acting ability, it would be overshadowed by that face and devilish figure, not to mention the fact that she did not possess that level of acting skill. Even if she returned to the independent film circle, she would still only be able to play vase roles, and there would be no way for her to make it out.

Brooke Shields certainly understood that even if she had to play a vase, she should do it in major productions. Even a supporting vase role in a major production would bring more influence ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than the lead role in a small flop production.

Unfortunately, although Brooke Shields had some fame, she was still only a somewhat prettier star, not enough to attract the interest of Hollywood’s mainstream film circle. In this circle, actresses who possessed both beauty and acting skills were everywhere. Few major productions dared to take the risk of inviting a vase who had been nominated several times for the Golden Raspberry Awards. Eric could be considered the first director in recent years who dared to “eat crab.”

“Eric, I know my own ability. If I return to the independent film circle, I’ll never be able to make it out. You… are you free tomorrow? Maybe I could treat you to dinner as thanks.”

“No need, Brooke.” Eric refused. Noticing the woman’s embarrassed expression, he quickly added, “To be honest, after Running Out of Time is released, I believe that with the influence of the role you played, you’ll definitely receive quite a few film offers. As long as you choose scripts carefully, even if you play vase roles in a few films, as long as the films are big hits, you’ll definitely be able to enter the ranks of A-list actresses. So there’s really no need to place your hopes on me.”

Brooke Shields had originally been very disappointed by Eric’s refusal, but after hearing Eric’s last few sentences, she suddenly saw the light. Although the woman was not very smart, she could still understand these matters. If Running Out of Time made her popular, she really would not need to go back to shooting small-budget films.

“Then, Eric, I still have to thank you.” After Brooke Shields figured this out, she finally showed a satisfied expression, as if the series of disappointed expressions just now had never appeared on her face. After speaking, the woman blinked her pretty eyes twice, then suddenly stepped forward, held Eric’s shoulders, and kissed the corner of his mouth lightly. Seeing Eric’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠somewhat stunned expression after her sudden sneak attack, the woman gave him a bright smile and turned back toward the banquet hall.

Eric touched the corner of his mouth, shook his head with a laugh, and also walked toward the banquet hall.

“Eric, you were gone so long. Don’t tell me you had a romantic encounter?” Seeing Eric appear, Tom Hanks came over, handed Eric a glass of champagne, and teasingly nodded toward Brooke Shields, who was chatting with someone not far away.

Eric took the champagne and drank a sip, revealing a smile that said, you understand.

Hanks also showed a wicked smile. The two exchanged disgusting looks for a few moments before Hanks finally restrained his expression slightly. If they kept joking, people would start misunderstanding. “Eric, do you have any clue about my next film yet? I’m waiting.”

As he spoke, Hanks stretched out five fingers and waved them in front of Eric, as if reminding him not to forget the promise of five films with box office grosses over one hundred million. In their previous agreement, Eric had not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠counted Running Out of Time among the five films.

“The script has been ready for a long time,” Eric said. “After you finish post-production dubbing for Running Out of Time, you can start preparing.”

Hanks could be considered a workaholic. Especially in recent years, he had accepted two or three films every year. In the acting circle, this absolutely counted as diligent. Hearing Eric’s words, Hanks also became energized. “Tell me about the plot first, alright?”

“Let’s go over there and talk.” Eric pointed to the sofa in the corner. A man and a woman had just left it and walked toward the dance floor. Hanks nodded, and the two walked over.

“This is also a romantic comedy. The title is Sleepless in Seattle. It’s a script I happened to think of when I went to New York.”

“A romantic comedy?” Hanks hesitantly touched his face. A few years ago, Hanks had still been somewhat handsome, so it made sense for him to act in romantic comedies. But after he passed thirty, Hanks basically had nothing to do with the word “handsome” anymore.

“Eric, do you think my image suits this kind of film?”

“Don’t rush. This isn’t an ordinary romantic comedy between a young man and woman,” Eric explained. “You’ll be playing a single father in the film.”

“A single father?”

“Alright, stop interrupting, Tom. Let me finish explaining the plot, alright?”

“Okay!” Hanks raised his hands.

Only then did Eric continue. “The story is like this. After his wife dies unexpectedly, the devoted Sam has a hard time forgetting her for a very long period. So he decides to leave Chicago, that painful place, and moves to Seattle with his eight-year-old son, Jonah. A year later, during Christmas, his son Jonah calls a relationship hotline called Sleepless in Seattle, wanting to find a new wife for his father, who still has not walked out of the shadow of losing his wife. By coincidence, this emotional phone call connects Sam’s family with a woman named Annie, far away in New York. Although Annie is already engaged, she is moved by Sam’s devotion and cannot help writing him a letter. But this letter falls into the hands of Sam’s son Jonah. Jonah feels that Annie and his father are very compatible, so he takes it upon himself to reply for his father and arranges for the two to meet on the top floor of the Empire State Building in New York on Valentine’s Day.”

“An Affair to Remember?” After hearing Eric’s explanation, Hanks blurted it out.

Eric nodded. “This film will have quite a few scenes paying tribute to An Affair to Remember.”

“Eric, based on what you said, won’t the story of this film seem a little too simple?”

Eric smiled and spread his hands. “Tom, I only gave you the general outline. This is a standard high-concept film. A simple, clear, and even somewhat conventional story is precisely the most important feature of high-concept films. If a film wants to become a big hit, it must first have a simple and clear storyline. The rest depends on the director’s and actors’ ability.”