Chapter 026: A Potential Crisis
Chapter 026: A Potential Crisis
Seeing Eric constantly shaking his head, Michael Krause finally started shamelessly pestering him.
“Eric, just write anything, okay? You can’t seriously let me come all this way for nothing, can you? I’ve been running around nonstop these days for Jurassic Park. Even my wife has started complaining that I only care about work now. And when you needed an advance on your royalties to make your movie, I immediately gave you two hundred thousand dollars without hesitation. Don’t you feel even a tiny bit touched?”
Watching a short, stocky middle-aged man stare at him with watery eyes while playing the emotional card made Eric shudder in disgust.
After thinking for a moment, he finally said, “Alright, Michael. I do have a decent idea. It’s also science fiction, though it’s only a rough concept for now without a detailed outline yet. The story was inspired by George Romero’s zombie films. It’s about a virus being researched by a biotech company that leaks out, infecting humans and turning them into the living dead…”
Eric roughly summarized the story of Resident Evil.
Although he had not particularly liked the Resident Evil film series in his previous life, thanks to the abnormal memory capacity he gained after reincarnation, he could still recount the story almost completely.
In his previous life, the Resident Evil series had been one of the most profitable game-adaptation film franchises. The production costs were never particularly high, yet the series earned more than a billion dollars at the box office overall.
Since Michael Krause insisted on him writing something, Eric figured he might as well claim the idea first.
Although he had not been some furious nationalist in his previous life, taking advantage of the Japanese was still the kind of satisfying thing people loved to see happen.
Michael Krause, however, looked somewhat dissatisfied.
“Isn’t this story a bit too niche, Eric? Zombie culture definitely has its fans, but the audience is still too small. How about changing it to something else?”
Eric shrugged and spread his hands, looking completely indifferent, as though saying take it or leave it.
Michael Krause had no choice but to compromise.
“Fine. Just write it out as soon as possible. With your current popularity, sales won’t be a problem anyway. Oh right, you can add a few adult elements into it too. Make it more intense. After all, you’re an adult now. Nobody’s going to criticize you for it…”
While enthusiastically rambling on with his suggestions, Michael Krause suddenly noticed the unnatural expression on Eric’s face.
Subconsciously turning around, he discovered Aniston standing behind him with her hands on her hips and her lips slightly pursed, looking exactly like she was saying: Go on. Keep talking.
“Ahem… Eric, I suddenly remembered I still have something important to do, so I’ll be leaving now. Goodbye.”
Having been caught red-handed encouraging someone’s boyfriend to write adult-oriented novels, Michael awkwardly grabbed his bag and immediately prepared to flee.
Even after opening the door, he still could not resist turning around to remind him one last time.
“Remember to write it as soon as possible!”
After Michael Krause left, Aniston asked, “Eric, you’re not really going to write what that guy suggested, are you?”
Eric smiled as he pulled Aniston into his arms, gently caressing her waist, which had become noticeably slender after more than two months of dieting.
“Of course not. Right now Columbia and Fox are promoting me as a role model for teenagers across America. How could I ruin my glorious image for a little bit of profit?”
“Heh, role model my ass. You’re just a huge pervert—ah, stop!”
After struggling lightly for a moment, Aniston was once again pinned down onto the sofa by Eric.
…
After a period of promotion, Home Alone and Back to 17 finally reached another critical stage: preview screenings.
On November 11, both films held critic screenings simultaneously.
At this time, internet marketing did not yet exist. Movie promotion mainly relied on newspapers, and audiences largely chose films based on newspaper reviews.
Therefore, film critics were an unavoidable hurdle in the promotional process.
Of course, after attending preview screenings, critics generally would not make overly harsh comments unless a film was disastrously bad.
After all, critics needed movies, but movies did not necessarily need critics.
If critics went too far, film studios could simply blacklist them.
The day after the screenings, reviews of Home Alone and Back to 17, which audiences had long been anticipating, gradually began appearing in major newspapers and magazines.
“Home Alone creates an entirely new style of pure comedy storytelling, filled with childlike innocence, warmth, and humor centered on growth. The conflict between the clever little protagonist and the two bumbling thieves is entertaining for all ages. It must be said that seven-year-old actor Stuart Rankle’s performance in the film can only be described as stunning. Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Matthew Perry’s portrayal of Marvin is equally commendable. That naturally comedic face of his makes people laugh the moment he appears on screen…” — Los Angeles Times
“A genius director paired with a genius child actor delivers a Christmas comedy feast guaranteed to keep audiences laughing from beginning to end. Viewers are advised not to eat popcorn while watching this movie, otherwise you might end up spraying it onto the neck of the person sitting in front of you from laughing too hard…” — Chicago Tribune
“Back to 17 marks Drew Barrymore’s transformation. In the film, Drew completely sheds the cute little girl image from E.T. and plays a rebellious teenage daughter approaching high school graduation. Several emotionally explosive scenes in the movie showcase acting that is genuinely astonishing. Veteran stars Dan Aykroyd and Susan Sarandon continue to deliver excellent performances as always. However, special mention must be made of Eric Williams, who served as both screenwriter and lead actor. His performance in the film is nothing like that of a complete newcomer with zero acting experience. During his scenes opposite Drew Barrymore, he never falls behind in the slightest. Moreover, he is also the director of Home Alone, which is releasing during the same period. It must be said that this is a genius kissed by God himself. Otherwise, there is simply no explanation for why Eric Williams could be this exceptional…” — Empire Magazine
“Many people constantly complain about life’s disappointments. But after watching Back to 17, you may realize that you were never truly unhappy. Rather, negative emotions had completely enveloped you, isolating you from the happiness you already possessed. Only the protagonist in the film is fortunate enough to step outside his original shell and reexamine himself from another perspective…” — The Washington Post
There were many newspapers praising both films, though criticism was naturally unavoidable as well.
No matter how powerful the two major media conglomerates were, they could never completely control public opinion.
Besides, the other four major film studios certainly would not let Columbia and Fox dominate too comfortably.
The Chicago Sun-Times directly criticized Home Alone as an absurd work completely detached from reality, claiming the plot lacked logic and that the tricks played on the two thieves could never happen in real life, potentially giving children and teenagers harmful guidance.
Meanwhile, another newspaper, the Los Angeles Current Affairs News, presented even sharper criticism.
The paper made a huge issue out of the scene where Kevin used a toy gun in Home Alone, calling for the ratings board to reevaluate the film’s classification.
The news even caught the attention of a Los Angeles television station.
When Eric learned about the matter, he became somewhat worried as well.
From what he remembered, although firearms were widespread in America, regulations regarding scenes involving minors handling guns in film and television were extremely strict.
Uneasy, Eric immediately called Lester Reed, the executive responsible for Home Alone, to ask about the situation.
Lester casually told him not to worry and even revealed some hidden details.
The owner of the Los Angeles Current Affairs News was one of Universal Pictures’ shareholders.
Universal had an animated film titled The Land Before Time scheduled for release on November 18. Since it was, like Home Alone, aimed at children, this kind of move from a competing film was completely normal.
Columbia would naturally retaliate accordingly.
After hanging up the phone, Eric sighed.
He had already been dragged into schemes and intrigue this quickly.
At the same time, the incident gave him a strong sense of crisis.
Compared to those massive film studios, he was still just an insignificant little shrimp.
Right now, he posed no real threat to the major studios.
However, once Home Alone achieved the same massive success it had in his previous life, his existence would absolutely attract the vigilance of those giants.
Especially Columbia, which was about to be severely screwed over.
If by that time he still lacked sufficient power and refused to give up most of the profits, then what awaited him would likely be relentless suppression from the major studios.
Tom Cruise from his previous life was a perfect example.
As the films starring Tom Cruise became one blockbuster after another, the power and profit shares he demanded also continued increasing.
Eventually, when Tom Cruise earned more money from a single film than Paramount itself, Paramount owner Sumner Redstone publicly tore ties with him in newspapers.
At the same time, media outlets under Viacom spent years smearing Tom Cruise, directly driving his career into a downturn.
“Hey, sweetheart, what are you thinking about? Why do you look so worried?”
Noticing Eric standing beside the telephone in a daze after hanging up, Aniston gently tugged at his shirt.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Although Eric always acted extremely confident, Aniston still felt he was worrying about the box office performance of the two films.
After all, aside from the car left behind by his father, Eric had already mortgaged practically everything else he owned.
If he lost the Home Alone gambling agreement, he would go bankrupt immediately.
Wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and pressing her cheek against his back, Aniston softly said, “Honey, if something’s bothering you, talk to me about it. I may not be able to help much, but I can at least be a good listener.”
“It’s just that I suddenly feel…” Eric turned around and pulled Aniston tightly into his arms. “The road ahead might be difficult, Annie. Will you stay with me all the way?”
“Of course I will.”
Although Aniston did not fully understand the deeper meaning hidden in Eric’s words, she still answered without hesitation.
“Thank you, Annie. So, are you really not coming to New York with me? I can talk to James. It’s only a plane ticket.”
As the release dates for Home Alone and Back to 17 drew closer, both production crews also needed to travel to New York on the East Coast for promotion.
However, as a minor supporting character in Back to 17, Aniston was not included among the actors participating in the promotional tour.
Not wanting her boyfriend to worry over such a small matter, Aniston shook her head.
“It’s fine. I lived in New York for years already. There’s nothing new about it for me.”
The two cuddled together for a while longer before Aniston gently pushed Eric away and turned around to help him pack his luggage for the trip.