Chapter 247: Coming and Going
Chapter 247: Coming and Going
After nearly twenty days of intense filming, Sleepless in Seattle finally wrapped. However, Eric had no time at all to enjoy any leisure, because the filming workload for Home Alone 2 ahead would be even heavier. Although the second film followed the same plot structure as the first, it also contained quite a lot of innovation. Most importantly, compared to the first movie, where most of the scenes took place inside Kevin’s house, the sequel’s plot was much richer. Besides the scenes of pranking the two stupid thieves, there were also side storylines involving the Plaza Hotel, Central Park, and more.
“You’re leaving this early?” Early in the morning, Eric walked out of his hotel room and saw Elizabeth carrying a simple backpack, about to head outside.
Hearing Eric’s voice, Elizabeth stopped and turned around, blinking at him. “Do you want me to stay?”
“……”
For a moment, Eric did not know how to answer.
Back then, he had always resisted the woman joining the Sleepless in Seattle crew, believing this little girl would likely bring trouble. But after spending several weeks together, although the two of them still bickered endlessly in private, Elizabeth had handled her actual work very well. Even though it had not yet been a month, some tacit understanding had already formed between them.
After a moment of silence, Eric still shook his head and said, “Forget it. Even if I agreed, your father definitely wouldn’t let you stay by my side forever.”
A trace of disappointment flashed through Elizabeth’s eyes. Biting her lip, she softly argued, “My father can’t control me.”
Eric gave an awkward chuckle, then asked, “Are you planning to go back to Los Angeles?”
“You’re really dumb. My home is in Manhattan. Don’t tell me you think everyone in the world is supposed to live in Los Angeles,” the woman instinctively teased Eric. But after seeing the faint embarrassment on Eric’s face, she opened her mouth, then said, “I… I’m going back to school. Also, thank you for the materials you gave me during this time.”
“It’s nothing. Actually, I only…” Eric stopped himself midway. If he continued, he would expose himself.
What the two of them were referring to was actually the graduation thesis Elizabeth had mentioned during their first meeting, an analysis of the box office success of several of Eric’s films. Eric had merely wracked his brains to recount some hindsight analyses and articles he had casually seen in his previous life, while also providing some of his own filming ideas and details.
Elizabeth waited a moment. Seeing Eric stop halfway without continuing, she did not press further. “I plan to finish my thesis before the end of the year. Early next year, I’ll start producing my first movie, and then release it during the summer season. Will you have a movie released then?”
Eric nodded. Although he would not work himself as hard next year as he had this year, there was no way he would give up the summer box office season.
“Then how about the two of us competing at the box office?” The woman’s competitive spirit suddenly surged, and the words slipped out before she even thought.
Eric instinctively wanted to say he could give her a handicap of one zero, but then remembered that the film Elizabeth intended to produce was the legendary The Silence of the Lambs. Since the movie had gained such enormous fame in his previous life, its box office certainly would not be bad. Breaking one hundred million dollars would definitely not be a problem.
After saying it, Elizabeth quickly realized she had overestimated herself. Flustered, she tugged at her backpack strap and said, “Forget it. I definitely can’t beat you. Then… goodbye.”
Eric replied, “Then goodbye. Um… do you want me to carry your luggage?”
“No need. The bellboy already took it downstairs. The taxi is waiting below.”
“Then I’ll walk you down.”
Eric accompanied the woman to the elevator.
Watching a yellow taxi drive away, Eric finally turned and walked back into the hotel toward the restaurant, just in time to see Nicole approaching in a fitted little jacket and jeans.
“Morning, Eric.”
“Good morning,” Eric nodded at the woman. “Getting breakfast?”
“Mm.” Nicole stepped forward and walked beside Eric toward the restaurant.
The two ordered breakfast and sat down at a table. Only then did Eric ask, “Right, when are you leaving?”
Nicole revealed a faintly resentful expression. “You looked so reluctant to part with the Murdoch family’s second daughter, but now you’re already trying to chase me away?”
“Stop it.” Eric lightly glared at the woman. “You know that’s not what I mean.”
Nicole noticed Eric was not in a very good mood and stopped joking around. “I haven’t gone back to Sydney for over half a year, so I plan to take advantage of this free time to go home and spend time with my family. As for when I’ll return, that depends on the promotional schedule for Sleepless in Seattle.”
Eric suggested, “How about this? I’ll tell them to let you come back after Thanksgiving?”
Nicole smiled and shook her head. “No need. Did you forget? Australia doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Besides, it’s summer there in the Southern Hemisphere. Christmas is lively, but it always lacks that sort of atmosphere, so missing it doesn’t matter. I’ll come back on schedule according to the promotional arrangements.”
The two chatted while eating. Nicole quickly finished the simple breakfast in front of her. After wiping her mouth with a napkin and glancing around, she leaned close to Eric and softly said, “My flight is tomorrow. I’ll be gone for quite a while. Can I come to your room again tonight?”
Nicole’s voice was neither loud nor especially quiet. If someone nearby happened to pay attention to them, they could very likely overhear it.
Eric glared at the bold woman, then finally nodded lightly. “Be careful. Don’t always get caught at the worst possible moment.”
Nicole smiled, using Annie’s sweet smile from Sleepless in Seattle. She had more or less figured out Eric’s personality by now. Although the man was very domineering, he was not a harsh person. Sometimes she even enjoyed watching Eric clearly realize she was playing little tricks, yet still wear a gloomy and helpless expression.
During the final days of filming for Sleepless in Seattle, one of the assistant directors had already begun shooting some simpler scenes for Home Alone 2 according to Eric’s instructions, such as aerial shots of Kevin atop the Twin Towers, or taxi scenes crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.
Therefore, after Sleepless in Seattle wrapped yesterday, the crew had a day of rest and adjustment. But Eric still could not relax for even a moment. Not only did he have to remotely supervise the post-production of Sleepless in Seattle through countless phone calls every day, he also needed to review the footage already shot for Home Alone 2 to determine what could be used and what needed reshooting.
Only on the second day did Eric personally begin filming Home Alone 2. Following the principle of easiest first and hardest later, the opening scenes were set inside the Plaza Hotel.
“Stu, later on, just walk straight from here. When you reach that spot, stop this gentleman and ask for directions, then keep going. Remember, don’t walk too fast. Got it?”
“Of course, Eric. It’s such a simple thing, and you still keep repeating yourself. Do you think I’m an idiot?” The little boy rolled his eyes. At that moment, he was wearing thick winter clothes, a knitted hat on his head, and a brown little backpack as he stood beside Eric.
Seeing Eric’s gloomy expression after hearing the boy’s words, Donald Teplang, who had specially come to make a cameo appearance, burst into laughter and looked at Stu. “What an interesting little guy.”
“Alright. As long as you remember,” Eric said. “Now go to the entrance. Let’s get ready to start.”
After saying that, he walked toward the monitor while using his walkie-talkie to instruct all the extras scattered through the hallway to take their positions.
This long take truly was not difficult for Stu at all. With the little guy’s acting skills, simply walking through the corridor from the entrance into the lobby was no problem whatsoever.
The difficult part was actually for the cameraman and sound technician.
Because this was a frontal tracking shot lasting over half a minute. Since camera tracks could not be laid down, cameraman Nickell could only carry the heavy camera by hand while bending forward and retreating in sync with the boy’s pace. Therefore, although it was only a simple walking shot, it required at least five people working together. Besides the sound technician and cameraman, there were several assistants moving along with them, coordinating the gathering of the cables connected to the microphone and camera.
“Nickell, are you ready yet?” Eric walked into the hotel lobby, where the director’s monitor had been placed. Still holding the walkie-talkie, he confirmed things with everyone one by one, while voices replying “OK” occasionally crackled through the device.
As Eric arrived near the monitor, he noticed a head of golden hair faintly visible behind it. Walking closer, he finally saw a little girl in a pink children’s coat crouched behind the director’s monitor and a pile of other equipment, curiously touching and examining things.
The little loli looked to be around ten years old, slightly taller than Stu. Her golden hair was clipped with a pretty pink cartoon hairpin, with a beautiful lock of bangs hanging over her forehead. Her large eyes with long lashes blinked from time to time, and her pointed little chin already showed traces of becoming a beauty in the future.
Seeing Eric looking at her, the little girl merely glanced back once before continuing to fiddle with things curiously as if no one else existed. The surrounding staff also acted completely unsurprised by her presence.
What was going on? Had his position somehow been occupied by an unidentified Lolita alien without him noticing?
“Hey, little one, who are you?” Eric stepped forward, blocking the girl’s hand as she tried to press a button beside the monitor, while also being unable to resist reaching out to pinch the little loli’s baby-fat cheeks.
“You first. Who are you?” The little loli nimbly dodged Eric’s evil claw and stared at him warily.
Eric smiled and pointed at the chair behind her. “I’m the person who’s supposed to be sitting in that seat.”
The little loli turned to glance at it, then immediately pouted disdainfully. “Hmph. You could’ve just said you’re the director. Adults always like talking in circles.”
“Alright then. My name is Eric Williams. And this little lo… little lady, may I know your name?” Eric said as he extended a hand toward the little girl.
The little loli immediately retreated a step with a disgusted expression, showing absolutely no intention of shaking Eric’s hand. Lifting her chin with a crisp childish voice, she declared, “My name is Ivanka.”
Eric raised an eyebrow. “Ivanka? Ivanka Teplang?”
“Mm.” The little loli nodded.