Chapter 198: Plans
Chapter 198: Plans
Jeffrey did not leave either. He sat on the sofa in Eric’s office eating lunch while discussing several matters with Eric.
“Eric, aside from Running Out of Time, none of our films so far have had budgets exceeding twenty-five million dollars. Isn’t giving Robert Shaye a fifty-million-dollar budget for two films all at once a bit too much?”
Hearing this question, Eric’s expression tightened slightly as well. He quickly finished the lunch in his boxed meal, pushed it aside, pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth, and said, “I don’t want to either, but if we want Robert to work hard, we have to give him some benefits first. Fifty million dollars is all. Besides, although I said I’d let him handle things entirely, if the films Robert chooses aren’t good enough, I definitely won’t sign the project proposals.”
Jeffrey had absolutely no doubts about Eric’s judgment when it came to films. Hearing Eric say this reassured him somewhat. “Still, Eric, giving Robert too much power definitely won’t be a good thing.”
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Eric said while signing one document, quickly moving on to the next. As he carefully read through it, he continued, “Once we finish integrating New Line’s resources and completely merge New Line with Firefly, the remaining matters will become much simpler.”
Jeffrey’s heart skipped a beat. The little guy really was ruthless. He was already thinking about driving Robert Shaye out. Still, Eric did indeed have the ability to do so. After all, Robert Shaye only held fifteen percent of the shares, while Eric had absolute controlling authority. If he wanted to remove Robert Shaye from his position, he would not even need to pass it through any board discussion. One signed document would be enough.
“Do you think I’m killing the donkey after it’s done pulling the millstone?” Eric smiled slightly and looked up at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey laughed awkwardly, though he admitted it honestly. “It really does feel a bit like that.”
“You know me, Jeffrey. I’m not a cold-blooded person. If Robert can stay within his proper boundaries and do what falls within his abilities, I absolutely won’t do something like kicking away the cook after finishing the feast. Unfortunately, his ambitions are too big. You definitely noticed it too. Bringing so many people with him today was a form of intimidation. He wanted to show us how important he is to Firefly.”
“I suddenly have some concerns too,” Jeffrey said after hearing Eric’s explanation. “Look, all those people today are Robert’s loyal subordinates. If you drive him out in the future, won’t they leave with him as well?”
Eric shook his head, looking relaxed. “Do you think that once Firefly grows stronger, those people under him would give up annual salaries and bonuses worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to follow him and start over? Or are there any major studios with that many vacant positions available to poach them all together? Neither is likely. If Robert leaves, I can just find another CEO to take over the already-established distribution channels.”
“But…”
Eric interrupted Jeffrey and patiently continued, “Jeffrey, you don’t need to worry so much. I said I might drive Robert out, but it’s not certain. Maybe after a year or two, he’ll recognize his own strengths, stop interfering in production, and focus on distribution. Then I won’t need to do something like that. Robert’s talent in film distribution is unquestionable.”
“I understand now,” Jeffrey nodded helplessly and lowered his head to continue eating.
Several knocks sounded at the door, but before permission was granted, the office door was pushed open. Drew, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, flew in and threw herself onto Eric, laughing and fooling around. She even leaned close to Eric’s ear to ask about last night.
Allen stood patiently at the doorway with a smile, watching the girl fool around with Eric. Only when Eric turned his attention toward him did he say, “Eric, the luggage and car are ready. To avoid special situations like traffic jams on the way, I think it would be best if we leave now.”
“Then let’s go,” Eric said, pulling the clingy girl off his lap. “Behave yourself while I’m gone for the next few days. If anything comes up, ask Jeffrey for help. Don’t cause trouble.”
“Tch, I’m not a child,” the girl complained as she scratched at Eric lightly, then said sweetly, “Eric, I want to go to Venice too.”
“Forget it. You definitely wouldn’t be able to stand it,” Eric said while rubbing the girl’s fluffy head. Recently, for some reason, Drew had cut her hair into a cute bob. Eric always found himself unable to resist rubbing it a few extra times. “A one-way flight from Los Angeles to Venice takes seventeen hours, and there’s a transfer in between.”
Drew truly could not stand it. Asking her to sit idly on a plane for seventeen hours would probably make the girl want to tear something apart, so she did not bring it up again. Holding Eric’s arm as they walked out, she said, “Eric, why don’t we buy a private jet? Then no matter how long the flight is, it wouldn’t be boring.”
“It’s not the right time yet,” Eric shook his head. “Wait another year or two.”
“Mm.” Drew nodded. The group arrived downstairs, and the girl was the first to jump into the business vehicle. “I’ll take you to the airport.”
“Eric, I won’t go. I still have some things to handle later,” Jeffrey patted Eric on the shoulder. “Have a safe trip.”
“Goodbye, Jeffrey.” Eric waved at Jeffrey and got into the vehicle. Allen sat in the front passenger seat and, after confirming Eric and Drew were seated, instructed the driver to depart.
Allen would accompany Eric to Venice. Originally, they had needed to find a translator since the local language in Venice was Italian. However, Allen’s mother happened to be Italian, and Allen had grown up in both English and Italian environments, so speaking Italian posed no problem at all. That saved them the trouble of finding a translator.
Fortunately, the drive from Burbank to Los Angeles International Airport only took one hour and ten minutes. When they arrived, there were still thirty minutes before boarding time, allowing Eric and Allen to calmly complete the boarding procedures.
“Allen, what are you flipping through?” While waiting to board, Eric noticed Allen carefully checking his carry-on bag and asked curiously.
“Books. I brought a collection of Stephen King novels to read on the plane. Eric, did you bring one?”
Eric spread his hands helplessly. In his previous life, he had often taken long-distance trains, but the environment on trains was not suitable for reading. He had never taken such a long flight before either, so he had not thought about it. Besides, Drew had packed his luggage yesterday. Given the girl’s personality, there was no way she would have remembered such a thing either.
“There are still a few minutes left. Maybe we can buy one. There’s a large shopping area outside the hall,” Allen suggested proactively.
“I’ll go. Eric, you two wait here. If I can’t make it back in time, just board directly.”
Eric was about to say there was no need for the trouble when the girl had already dashed off.
Just as Drew ran out of the waiting hall, Eric and Allen heard the boarding announcement over the speakers. The two looked at each other.
“Let’s line up first. Maybe she can still make it,” Eric said. Allen did not object, and the two dragged their luggage toward the boarding gate.
Ten minutes later, only Eric and Allen remained at the gate. All the other passengers had already gone inside, and the staff beside them were also urging the two to board. Eric gave one final glance behind him and saw a running figure charging toward them. The girl directly stuffed a thick hardcover book into Eric’s hands. Without saying anything more, she bent over, panting heavily, and waved for the two of them to hurry inside.
Eric knew there was no need to be polite with the girl. He stuffed the book into his shoulder bag, said goodbye, and entered the gate with his luggage.
The massive Boeing passenger plane roared as it lifted from the ground, only stabilizing after quite some time.
In first class, Eric unfastened his seatbelt. Beside him, Allen took out a schedule and began explaining it to Eric.
“After transferring in London, we’ll arrive in Venice on September 2nd at three in the afternoon local time. Mr. Demme and Ms. Madsen said they’ll meet us at Marco Polo Airport. In the evening, there’s a meeting with Director John Landis. There are no activities on the third, so you can rest for a day and recover from jet lag. On the fourth is the film festival opening ceremony red carpet, and the committee has invited you to attend the party afterward. Our return flight is on the afternoon of the fifth, and we’ll arrive back in Los Angeles at five in the morning Eastern Time on the sixth. Eric, is there anything else that needs to be noted?”
Eric listened patiently, then shook his head. “Nothing else. Let’s leave it at that.”
If possible, he originally no longer intended to attend the Venice Film Festival. Although he had planned to go at first, as his schedule became increasingly packed, he had started considering skipping it. However, after the Venice Film Festival learned he might appear, they proactively sent him an official invitation, hoping he would attend the opening ceremony.
Originally, The Others had no ambitions regarding awards, so Eric skipping the event would not have mattered. But after Michael Eisner proposed that publicity strategy, The Others now had a chance of winning something. Under those circumstances, Eric could no longer easily refuse.
The invitation had been personally signed by this year’s jury president, Andrei Smirnov, and was full of sincerity. If Eric refused to give him face, it would directly leave a bad impression in the man’s mind. Compared to the thousands of Academy voters at the Oscars, the Venice Film Festival only had nine judges. They simply sat together and discussed how to divide the awards.
Therefore, to avoid The Others returning empty-handed because of his own actions, Eric could only force himself to make the trip.
Letting out a helpless sigh, Eric stopped thinking about these troublesome matters and casually pulled the book the girl had bought him from his bag.
After one glance, he could not help laughing.
Walden.
What kind of book had this girl bought? Who could possibly read essays on a plane?
Forget it. He would just use it as a sleeping aid.
Thinking this, Eric tore away the plastic wrapping around the book.