Chapter 93: I’ll Leave This to You
Chapter 93: I’ll Leave This to You
“You finished the entire script in just four days?” Jeffrey Katzenberg picked up the topmost script, Scent of a Woman, glanced through it, and asked Eric in surprise.
“They’re only first drafts,” Eric replied as he stepped back a few paces and comfortably sat down on the sofa. “During filming, there’ll definitely be a lot of revisions based on the actual situation.”
Then he asked, “That story outline I faxed you before—the one asking you to approach Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise—did either of them respond?”
Jeffrey flipped through his work records.
“They both replied. The invitation sent to Tom Hanks was for Sean’s role, but Hanks wants to play Andy instead. He thinks the character is morally ambiguous and has strong flexibility, with more room for acting performance. As for Tom Cruise, he also expressed strong interest in the script, but he hopes the cross-dressing scenes involving Andy can be changed. He doesn’t want his image among fans to be damaged.”
The next film Eric planned to shoot was precisely the peak masterpiece from his previous life’s Milkyway Image—Running Out of Time.
While writing the script, Eric directly used the English names of Andy Lau and Lau Ching-wan for the two male protagonists.
If he had to choose two Hollywood actors to replace Andy Lau and Lau Ching-wan, who could possibly fit better than Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks?
One was an idol-type actor, the other a powerhouse performer. The similarity to the original pairing from his previous life was uncanny.
Of course, Hanks was still somewhat handsome right now, though only barely. Soon enough, age would catch up to him. If Hanks were cast in Andy Lau’s role, with his current image, could he really make that girl on the bus fall in love at first sight? Did he have no self-awareness at all?
“Jeffrey, they probably don’t know the other received an invitation, right? Let the information slip to both of them and see if you can arrange a time for everyone to meet together.”
“Alright, I’ll contact them later,” Jeffrey replied. Then he added:
“Oh, and Herbert Ross has agreed to let Firefly invest in Steel Magnolias. But Kapoor is insisting Julia’s salary must be five million dollars. If that happens, the film’s production cost will reach at least thirteen million. Herbert Ross previously only secured four million in investment, so Firefly would need to add another nine million. Maybe you should talk to Kapoor and see if Julia’s salary can be lowered a bit. After all, this is an ensemble cast and Julia doesn’t have that much screen time. I think three million at most would be reasonable. Any higher and the gains won’t justify the cost.”
“I’ll call Kapoor,” Eric nodded.
“Oh right, make a copy of the Scent of a Woman script and give it to Al Pacino so he can begin preparing. Also, that bottom script—send the outline separately to Wes Craven, William Friedkin, and Jonathan Demme and ask whether they’re interested in directing it.”
After taking notes, Jeffrey looked at the final script.
“The Others?”
Eric nodded.
Perhaps another translated title would be more familiar to audiences: The Others. But Eric felt Uninvited Guest suited it better, because the film’s English title was precisely The Others.
As for the three directors he favored:
Wes Craven was the famous director of the A Nightmare on Elm Street series, and later the Scream franchise.
William Friedkin had directed The Exorcist in 1973. That horror film had once been called Hollywood’s number one horror movie. Of course, after Japanese horror films began rising in Hollywood, that title gradually became unstable.
Lastly, Jonathan Demme was still just a struggling small-time director at the moment, though in the parallel timeline he would explode into fame two years later with The Silence of the Lambs.
The reason Eric included Jonathan Demme alongside the two already-famous horror masters was because of Virginia Madsen.
Eric had no doubt that a major-twist horror film like The Others would receive approval from the first two horror masters. But he could not be certain whether they would accept Virginia as the female lead.
On that point, Eric had no intention of compromising.
Jonathan Demme, on the other hand, would not have the leverage to bargain with Eric.
“Should the invitations be sent one by one or simultaneously?” Jeffrey asked again.
“Send them all at the same time. Make it clear the female lead has already been decided. That point is non-negotiable.”
Jeffrey revealed an ambiguous smile.
“Eric, which girl have you fallen for this time?”
“Virginia Madsen.”
Jeffrey recalled the busty actress who had left together with Eric at the Pretty Woman celebration party.
“Eric, I have to remind you,” Jeffrey rarely adopted the posture of an elder lecturing a junior, “investing in films is something that requires extreme caution. You can’t promise someone a lead role just because of a one-night stand. It’s not worth it. Even if you handed her a massive check afterward, you still shouldn’t make promises lightly. Because if the female lead causes the film to fail, you’ll be the one suffering losses of several million or even tens of millions of dollars. With that amount of money, even the highest-class call girls could number in the thousands.”
Eric had never been the type to take out frustration on people who sincerely advised him.
After patiently listening to Jeffrey’s warning, he explained:
“Don’t worry, Jeffrey. I know exactly what I’m doing. I already had Kapoor sign Virginia. If she didn’t have potential, I wouldn’t have done that. Back then, neither you nor Kapoor were optimistic about Julia either. Look at things now.”
“As long as you know what you’re doing.”
“Then I’ll leave things here to you, Jeffrey.” Eric stood up. “I told you on the phone before about Amy contacting me. Today I’m meeting with Barry Diller to discuss it.”
“You seem to have gotten used to saying ‘I’ll leave this to you,’” Jeffrey joked. “I’m considering asking for a raise.”
In truth, he very much enjoyed his current busy and fulfilling life.
Compared to the dispirited state he had been in when they first met, Jeffrey now looked much younger. His entire face glowed with vitality.
Eric knew Jeffrey was joking.
Jeffrey was currently Firefly’s president, and with the additional profit shares he received from producing Eric’s films, even without owning Firefly stock yet, his income already stood among the very top tier in Hollywood.
“If you insist, then I’ll raise it by one dollar.”
After joking around for a bit, Jeffrey stood and escorted Eric out the door, reminding him:
“Don’t completely fall out with Fox. Try to be tactful.”
Eric shrugged.
“When tens of millions of dollars in profits are involved, tact won’t help no matter how carefully you phrase things. Who told Fox not to pay attention to the contract details in the first place? I’m not even breaching the agreement. Anyway, I’m definitely not letting Columbia’s opportunity slip away. Honestly, even if Barry Diller were in my position, I think he’d make the exact same choice.”