Chapter 020: Test Screening
Chapter 020: Test Screening
Although everyone in the screening room, including Aniston, who had not taken part in filming, clearly knew the specific content of Home Alone, as the plot progressed, especially during Kevin’s pranks on the two foolish burglars, laughter filled the screening room again and again. Even an old man in his fifties like Jeffrey Hansen could not help laughing loudly.
The one-hour-and-forty-minute movie ended before they realized it. When the final line of credits finished rolling, everyone stood up and applauded together.
“I have to say, this movie is truly outstanding, Eric. I think I should congratulate you in advance,” Jeffrey Hansen said seriously, patting Eric on the shoulder.
“Thank you, Jeffrey. And thank you, everyone. Without your help, there’s no way I could have completed Home Alone in just half a month.”
After everyone exchanged pleasantries and compliments for a while, they gradually dispersed. After all, everyone had their own matters to attend to. They had originally planned to hold a small celebration party, but seeing Eric’s unshaven, exhausted appearance, they all consciously gave up the idea. Eric had overdrawn too much energy over the past half month, and everyone knew he needed a proper rest.
Next came contacting distributors for the film. Coincidentally, tomorrow was the test screening for Back to 17. Eric felt this might be an opportunity to pitch Home Alone to 20th Century Fox for distribution. He believed that as long as Fox’s executives saw the film, they would definitely agree to his distribution plan. Even if he had to give up some of the profit share in the end, that was acceptable. After all, he had no foundation yet.
Perhaps after Back to 17 was released, it would be easier to sell Home Alone, but by then, even New Year’s would probably have passed. As a Christmas comedy, releasing it at any other time was definitely not a good choice. He could not wait until next year, could he? After putting in so much effort and seeing success almost within reach, he did not want to delay things for another year.
Aniston, who only had a temporary driver’s license, drove Eric’s car and brought him back to his house. Eric put the film copy away, said a few words to Aniston, then plunged headfirst onto the bed and refused to open his eyes again.
Aniston originally wanted Eric to shower before sleeping, but seeing that he had already fallen into deep sleep, his face still clearly exhausted, she could only sigh softly in distress. She took off his clothes and shoes, covered him with a blanket, then turned and left the bedroom.
Because Eric’s house had not been cleaned for more than half a month, it was covered in dust. Aniston rolled up her sleeves, found some tools, and began cleaning. In Friends, Rachel was a spoiled girl who would not know how to do laundry even with a washing machine placed in front of her, but in reality, Aniston had long since learned to rely on herself.
On the desk in the study, Aniston picked up a thick copy of Basic Music Theory and wiped the dust from the desktop with a rag. Suddenly, a document slipped out from the book in her hand. Aniston curiously picked it up and discovered that it was a house pawn agreement.
...
No one knew how much time passed. Around noon, Eric vaguely felt Aniston asking whether he wanted to eat something, but in his drowsiness, he refused and fell asleep again. When he woke up, the bedroom was already dark.
He reached out familiarly for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Then Eric looked at his watch. It was already past nine at night.
Annie should have left by now, Eric thought. He put on his clothes and walked out of the bedroom, faintly hearing the sound of a television from the living room.
Walking downstairs, he saw Aniston curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow while watching a TV drama.
“Hi, Annie. Good evening.” Eric walked over and leaned down to kiss Aniston’s cheek.
“You’re awake, Eric. Go take a shower. I’ll make you something to eat.”
Eric did not notice anything unusual in Aniston’s expression. He answered and turned toward the bathroom. After spending half an hour showering and shaving off the stubble on his face, Eric walked out of the bathroom. Aniston had already returned to the sofa, with a prepared dinner placed in front of her.
“Oh, Annie, you really surprise me. You actually know how to make Chinese fried rice. Mm, it smells great.” Eric took a bite and praised her.
“You said you liked it, so I specially learned how to make it.” Aniston watched Eric wolf down the food with a smile. She patiently waited until Eric finished eating before finally asking, “Eric, did you... did you mortgage the house?”
Eric was about to bring the dishes back to the kitchen. Hearing Aniston’s words, he looked up in confusion. He had not told anyone about this. How did Aniston know?
“When I was cleaning your room, I happened to see this fall out of a book.” Facing Eric’s puzzled gaze, Aniston took the pawn agreement out from beneath the coffee table.
Eric had no choice but to set down the dishes. He took the document, glanced at it, and nodded. “Home Alone was still short two hundred thousand dollars in production funds, so I had no choice but to mortgage the house.”
“And the piano in the study...” Aniston had visited Eric’s house several times before and really liked that Strauss piano.
Eric nodded again.
Aniston frowned in worry. “Eric, I think you were too impulsive. Although everyone thought Home Alone was good today, what if it fails? You could go bankrupt at any time.”
Eric got up and sat beside Aniston, pulling her into his arms. “Don’t worry, Annie. Look, a few months ago, I was still a penniless high school student. Now, in just a few months, I’ve successfully published my own novel, written a screenplay and starred as the male lead, and now I’ve produced a film. How many people my age can do all that? So even if I fail, I believe that with my abilities, I can easily stand up again.
“We’re both still so young. Of course we should fight with everything we have a few times. Whether we succeed or fail, at least we’ll have cried and laughed. Otherwise, when we grow old, with white hair, and look back on our lives only to find them dull, tasteless, and uneventful, like a tiny meteor that never even drew a single streak of light across the sky, how regretful would that be?”
“Oh, Eric, when you say things like that, you’re really too... charming. I think you’re basically seducing me, you bad guy.” Aniston could not help raising her face and kissing Eric’s lips.
Eric tightly held Aniston’s waist and kissed her back passionately.
Aniston felt Eric’s hands growing bolder, but she did not stop him like she had in the car last time. Instead, she tightly wrapped her arms around Eric’s waist, her pretty face flushed red, her eyes slightly narrowed.
...
The morning sunlight fell across her face. Aniston’s eyelashes trembled, and she subconsciously turned over to avoid the annoying light. But this unintentional movement pulled at a certain sore place, and the girl’s eyes opened instantly from the pain. After a few seconds of confusion, Aniston quickly remembered what had happened last night. While her face flushed, she also resentfully thought of the bad guy who had tormented her so badly. But when she turned her head and looked around, she found that she was the only one left in bed, which made Aniston feel a little sad. What girl would not hope to wake up in the arms of her considerate boyfriend?
Her small, aggrieved emotions had only just begun to brew when Eric walked into the bedroom carrying a tray. Seeing that Aniston had woken up, he smiled and said, “Hi, baby. Good morning.”
Aniston pouted. “Not good at all, you bastard.”
“Alright, I apologize. To show my apology, I specially spent an hour making delicious pork rib soup for you.”
“I don’t want it. I’m still losing weight.”
“Today is a special situation, so forget about losing weight for now. Come on, taste it and see how it is.”
“Mm, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
Eric placed the tray on the bedside table, directly lifted the blanket, and picked Aniston up. “Her Highness the Princess must have trouble moving. I’ll carry you.”
“Annoying.” Wearing only Eric’s oversized shirt, with endless spring scenery beneath it, Aniston coquettishly complained but obediently let Eric carry her out of bed.
After the warm breakfast, because it was inconvenient for her to move around, Aniston had no choice but to ask the convenience store owner for leave again. The convenience store owner seemed already used to this kind of thing. Many young people working in Los Angeles with dreams of becoming stars would often ask for leave to try their luck on film sets. The convenience store owner also knew Aniston was one of them, so when Aniston accepted the job, both sides had already reached an understanding.
The two stayed close for a while before Eric had no choice but to drive away from home. Today happened to be the test screening for Back to 17, and he wanted to try settling Home Alone’s distribution while he was there.
Around ten in the morning, dozens of people gathered in 20th Century Fox’s luxurious screening room, including people from the distribution department, publicity department, and theater representatives. Back to 17 producer James Brooks, director Penny Marshall, and several lead actors who had no other engagements also came to the venue.
Before the film played, Eric went to James Brooks and Penny Marshall, hoping they could help introduce him to the head of 20th Century Fox’s distribution department.
“Eric, you mean you want that low-budget film of yours to be released during the Christmas season?” James Brooks was somewhat surprised. He had also learned from others that after completing Back to 17, Eric had produced a film himself. He had not expected it to be finished so quickly.
“Yes, James. It’s a very interesting Christmas comedy, so it would be best to release it during the Christmas season. Any other time definitely wouldn’t fit.”
James Brooks felt somewhat dismissive. Although this boy had surprised him many times since they met, he absolutely did not believe that Eric, a newcomer, could produce any interesting comedy film. Eric’s ability as a screenwriter and actor could still be called talent, but directing was not something one could handle with talent alone. It required years of accumulated experience.
However, out of consideration for their relationship, he still agreed to help make the introduction.