Seeing the stocky middle-aged man in front of him playing the emotional card, Eric couldn’t help but have the chills. He thought for a moment, and said: “Well, I do have a science-fiction one in mind, but it’s just an idea, no specific outline yet. It’s based on George Romero’s living dead series, a biotechnology company is studying a virus when it is suddenly leaked, infecting humanity at the same time….”
Michael Klaus was somewhat dissatisfied: “Don’t you have anything else ? A lot of people do like zombie stories, but the audience is just too small…”
Eric shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, as if saying ‘do what you like’, so Michael had no choice but to say: “Alright, then start writing as soon as possible, with your current fame, we shouldn’t worry about the sales volumes. By the way, you could add some adults elements, anyway you’re of age now, no one will say anything about it…”
Blabbing about his own proposal, Michael suddenly noticed that Eric’s face looked unnatural, he subconsciously turned around and found that Aniston was standing behind him, her mouth slightly opened, she was looking at the middle-aged man in a way that screamed: ah, so that’s what you’re like !
“Cough, Eric, I suddenly remember I have some things to do, so I’ll be going now.” After instigating her boyfriend to write about that kind of things, Michael was embarrassed as he awkwardly made his way towards the door and left this sentence before running away: “Be sure to start writing as soon as possible !”
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After he left, Aniston asked: “Eric, you’re not really going to write according to that fellow’s suggestion… right ?”
“Of course not, I am now being promoted by Columbia and the Fox as a model for young people in the United States, how could I damage that glorious image for some petty profits.”
……
November 11th, the two films held simultaneous screenings for the press. In this era where Internet didn’t exist yet, the viewers relied mostly on newspapers when it came to pick a film, therefore, the movie’s reviews were something that one could not avoid. Of course, after the critics who participated in the preview watched the movie, as long as it wasn’t completely repulsive, they would generally not make too incisive remarks. After all, the critics’ needed movies to survive, but movies didn’t actually need them that much.
“A genius director and talented young actors, have dedicated themselves to make you happy this Christmas. To those who will go watch the movie, I advise you not to eat popcorn, or you’ll likely spray it all over your seated neighbors when you laugh out loud….” – Chicago Tribune.
A lot of newspapers paid tribute to the two movies, so critics were also inevitable, after all, no matter how powerful the two giants were, they couldn’t control all the media, not to mention that the four other big players weren’t about to let Columbia and the Fox gloat too long.
He anxiously phoned Lester Reed and inquired about the matter, the former casually reassured him, and let him in on an inside story.
If at that time he didn’t have enough strength to stand up for himself, then he could only wait while those giants suppressed him.
His past’s Tom Cruise was splendid example, since the movies he starred in sell so well, his authority and share of the profits got higher and higher, until finally, the paycheck he received even exceeded the Paramount Pictures’ CEO by many times. The owner, Sumner Redstone, had therefore openly and directly lost all decorum with Tom Cruise in 2006, while Viacom’s media had kept discrediting him for several years, making his career hit rock bottom.
“Hey baby, what’s up ?” Noticing Eric had gotten off the phone but was still in a daze, Aniston gently tugged his shirt.
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“Oh, nothing.”
She grabbed her boyfriend’s waist from behind, and leaned her head against his back, as she whispered: “Baby, if there’s something on your mind, I might not be able to help much, but I should still be qualified enough to listen.”
“I just suddenly felt that……” Eric turned around and took Annie in his arms as he said: “The future might be more difficult to tread on than I thought, Annie, will you still go down the road with me ?”
“Of course I will.” Aniston didn’t understand the underlying meaning of Eric’s words, but still decisively acquiesced.
“Thank you, Annie. Are you really not coming to New York with me ? I can arrange for James to get an extra ticket.”
Annie didn’t want to bother her boyfriend for something this small, she shook her head and said: “No, I lived in New York for many years, there’s really no point in going again.”
The two lovers hugged for a while before Annie gently pushed him away and turned to tidy up his travel luggage.