Chapter 035: I’ll Show You Our Affection Another Day
Chapter 035: I’ll Show You Our Affection Another Day
Eric was just about to speak when Barry Diller continued, “Eric, don’t rush to refuse. Perhaps you don’t know this yet, but Home Alone’s male lead, Stuart Rankle, has already signed with CAA. CAA has expanded very quickly over the past few years, and its appetite has grown larger and larger. Some time ago, Michael Ovitz was dissatisfied with MGM’s arrangement for a film and directly stormed into MGM headquarters, where he had a huge argument with MGM’s CEO. In the end, MGM had no choice but to compromise. You can imagine that if you independently produce Home Alone again in the future and CAA really fails to understand the situation and makes an outrageous demand, then you’ll simply have to drag things out and see who has more patience. Eric won’t survive on this one film alone.”
“Mr. Barry Diller, if we keep talking, this will definitely end unpleasantly. I’ll state my terms directly. I can sell Home Alone’s overseas rights to Fox for twenty-five million dollars. But next year, I will produce three films, including Home Alone 2. I need Fox to sign a package distribution agreement with me. I want a thirty-five percent North American share and a ten percent overseas share.”
The reason Eric did not choose profit-sharing for the overseas rights was because he suddenly realized he urgently needed money. Besides, compared to taking a share, twenty-five million dollars was definitely a deal in his favor.
Barry Diller patiently listened to Eric and frowned. “Eric, Fox can indeed accept the twenty-five million dollar price. But based on what you said earlier, the films you plan to make are all low-budget films. In that case, the share you’re asking for is too high. Only major productions can get that kind of share. If it were only Home Alone 2, Fox could still consider it. As for the other two…”
Seeing Barry Diller shake his head, Eric smiled slightly and said confidently, “I believe my films are worth that price. How about this, Mr. Diller? Shall we sign another gambling agreement?”
“Uh…”
Barry Diller was directly choked by those words. Because of the storm caused by the gambling agreement, Columbia president Blount Cohen’s position was now precarious, and he could be kicked out at any time. Barry Diller was not stupid enough to follow in his footsteps.
“Perhaps I should reveal my terms. I believe the other film companies would be very interested. Michael Eisner has called me more than once to invite me.”
Barry Diller smiled. “Eric, you can’t fool me on that point. I know why Michael contacted you.”
Eric shook his head. “No, Mr. Diller, I’m not trying to fool you. I’m saying that after that incident, Mr. Eisner contacted me again.”
As his former assistant, Barry Diller understood Michael Eisner very well. He was an extremely proud person, so Barry Diller was quite surprised that Michael Eisner was willing to come back after being rejected once. What he did not know was that during that meeting, Eric’s performance had left a deep impression on Michael Eisner.
Barry Diller did not believe Eric would lie about something so easy to expose. At the same time, his regard for Eric rose by several points. He still trusted the judgment of his former assistant. Barry Diller was not indecisive like Blount Cohen. After pondering for a moment and quickly calculating the pros and cons, he made his decision directly.
“Alright, Eric. I agree.”
“Then, happy cooperation.”
Eric raised his right hand.
Barry Diller smiled and raised his hand, lightly clapping palms with Eric. The two of them had basically reached an agreement, and the signing afterward would only be a matter of course.
…
“Hi, Eric, I missed you so much.”
When Eric returned to the cocktail party hall, a pale green figure drifted straight over and threw herself into his arms.
The girl’s excited voice drew many gazes from around the hall.
Eric hurriedly stopped Drew from getting any more intimate. After all, the girl was only thirteen now. It was one thing to be close in private, but if she behaved like this in front of so many people, who knew how the rumors would spread?
Drew also realized the occasion was inappropriate and stuck out her little tongue. She let go of Eric’s waist, then quickly changed positions and tightly held his arm instead. Her slightly swollen chest rubbed against Eric’s arm without the slightest concern, giving Eric a rather guilty sense of enjoyment.
“Drew, why are you out? Is your treatment over?” Eric asked as he walked toward Penny Marshall’s group. He turned his head toward Drew, and whether by coincidence or not, when he lowered his gaze, he happened to see through the somewhat loose collar of her aqua-green dress and caught sight of the pair of bare little rabbits inside. The girl was not even wearing a bra.
Drew keenly sensed Eric’s gaze and gave a satisfied, slightly sly smile. She straightened her small chest so Eric could admire certain scenery more easily, then said sweetly, “I was supposed to be discharged tomorrow, but I heard you’d be attending this cocktail party tonight, so I ran out early.”
“Drew, you just came out of rehab. It’s better not to drink anymore.”
“How could I? The waiters here won’t serve me alcohol anyway. I’m only thirteen,” Drew denied with a strange look.
Eric suddenly remembered that this was indeed the case. This was America. The law required people to be eighteen before they could drink. No matter what happened in private, people still had to obey the rules on the surface, especially in a well-known place like the Hilton Hotel, where they paid even more attention to such details to avoid criticism.
In the country where Eric lived in his previous life, even seven- or eight-year-old children were encouraged by adults to drink a little wine. If they could drink a few cups of hard liquor, that was definitely considered a sign of promise. However, perhaps because of lifestyle habits, despite legal restrictions, Eric felt that there were far more drunkards in the West than in the East.
“Hi, Eric. It’s been a week. What have you been busy with lately? There’s been no news about you at all. Are you planning to retire early?” Penny Marshall saw Eric and Drew and walked over to tease him.
Eric casually took a glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray, walked to Penny Marshall’s side, and smiled. “How could that be? I’m eighteen, not eighty. How could I retire? I was just rushing a novel manuscript.”
“A new novel? I want to read it, I want to read it!” Penny Marshall had not even replied before Drew took the lead, tugging Eric’s arm and calling out.
Penny Marshall teased, “Hey, Drew, be a little ladylike. Eric likes quieter girls.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Drew pouted and retorted, “Aniston isn’t ladylike at all. Huh, right, why isn’t that fat girl here? Wahaha, Eric, did you break up?”
Eric knocked Drew on the head. “Alright, Drew. Annie happened to have something else tonight. How could we possibly break up? I’ll show you our affection another day.”
“Ugh, Eric, that line really hurts.” Drew rubbed the spot Eric had knocked and pouted.
…
“This way.”
Penny Marshall led Eric and Drew to a long table and introduced them. “This is Ms. Elizabeth Perkins, the female lead of Big. This one you definitely know, Mr. Tom Hanks.”
“Hello, I’m Eric Williams,” Eric greeted them. “Mr. Hanks, I really liked your Big. The child you played in it was so convincing. How did you manage it?”
Tom Hanks smiled modestly. “Just call me Tom, Eric. As for how I did it, you can ask Penny.”
When this topic came up, Penny Marshall was clearly a little proud as she explained, “Here’s what happened. During filming, I had David Moscow, who played the young Josh, perform according to the script first, then had Tom follow his performance. That little troublemaker David even used it to tease Tom. Speaking of which, if David were a few years younger, he would have been perfectly fine playing Kevin in Home Alone. By the way, Eric, do you have plans for your next film?”