บท 26: Chapter 26: Screening Reviews
[Chapter 26: Potential Crisis]
Michael Krauss watched as Eric Williams shook his head repeatedly, finally resorting to a touch of desperation. "Eric, come on, just write anything! You can't leave me high and dry after I came all this way, can you? I've been swamped with work for Jurassic Park lately; even my wife is starting to complain about how much time I'm spending on it. Plus, when you wanted to advance your royalties for your movie, I happily gave you $500,000. Don't you feel the slightest bit appreciative?"
A short, stout middle-aged man was trying to play the sympathy card in front of Eric, and Eric couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. After a moment, he finally spoke up, "Alright, Michael, I do have an interesting idea. It's in the sci-fi genre, but it's just a rough concept with no detailed outline yet. The story is inspired by George Romero's Zombie series and centers around a virus leak at a biotech company that turns humans into the living dead..."
Eric briefly recounted the plot of Resident Evil. In his previous life, he had watched the Resident Evil series - he wasn't a huge fan, but thanks to his reborn memory, he was able to recount the story in its entirety.
In his previous life, the Resident Evil series became one of the most profitable movie adaptations with relatively low production costs, grossing over a billion dollars in total. Since Michael Krauss was so insistent on him writing something, he figured it was best to stake a claim on this idea.
However, Michael Krauss seemed somewhat dissatisfied. "Eric, is this story too niche? While there are plenty of fans of zombie culture, the audience is still relatively small. How about we brainstorm something else?"
Eric shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, giving the impression that he was indifferent. Michael Krauss had no choice but to relent, saying, "Alright, just write it up as soon as you can. With your current fame, sales won't be an issue. Oh, and feel free to add some adult elements to it; it has to be a bit spicy. You're an adult now, and no one will fault you for it..."
As he continued to ramble on with his suggestions, Michael Krauss suddenly caught sight of an unnatural expression on Eric's face. He instinctively turned around and found Jennifer Aniston standing right behind him, hands on her hips, pouting in a way that seemed to say, 'Well, go on.'
"Um, Eric, I just remembered I have some errands to run. So, uh, I'll see you later." Caught up in encouraging Eric to write an adult novel, Michael quickly grabbed his bag and attempted to make a swift exit, but not before turning back to say with a hint of awkwardness, "Make sure you write it quickly!"
After Michael Krauss left, Aniston questioned, "Eric, you're not actually going to write what that guy suggested, are you?"
Eric smiled, wrapping his arm around Aniston's waist and caressing her slim figure, which had become quite delicate after over two months of dieting. "Of course not. I'm currently being promoted by Columbia and Fox as a role model for American teenagers. Why would I jeopardize my shining image for a little pocket change?"
"Heh, a role model? You're just a big flirt. Oh, no, please!"
After a light struggle, Aniston found herself pushed back onto the couch by Eric.
...
After a while of promotion for Home Alone and 17 Again, they finally reached a crucial moment: the film screenings.
On November 11, both films held simultaneous screenings for critics. In those days before the internet hype, movie promotion primarily happened through newspapers. Audience decisions largely depended on film reviews published in those papers.
Therefore, critics represented an unavoidable hurdle in the movie promotion process. Of course, the critics at these screenings would generally avoid harsh criticisms unless the movie was utterly unbearable. After all, critics needed movies, while movies didn't necessarily need critics; going too far could only lead to being blacklisted by studios.
The day after the screenings, various newspapers and magazines began publishing the eagerly awaited reviews of Home Alone and 17 Again.
"Home Alone created an entirely new narrative model for pure comedy, filled with innocence and heartwarming moments of growth. The antics between the quirky young protagonist and the bumbling burglars appealed to audiences of all ages. One must say, Stuart Ronkel, the seven-year-old actor, delivered a performance that could be described as astounding. Similarly, newcomer Matthew Perry's portrayal of Marvin was noteworthy; his comedic face would make anyone burst out laughing upon appearing on screen..." - The Los Angeles Times.
"A genius director and a genius young actor presented audiences with a holiday feast of laughter. I advise viewers not to eat popcorn while watching, lest they risk spraying it on the necks of those in front of them..." - The Chicago Tribune.
"17 Again marked a transformation for Drew Barrymore. She completely shed the adorable little girl image from E.T. and instead played a rebellious daughter about to graduate high school. Drew's emotional outbursts throughout the film showcased acting skills that were truly impressive. The performances of superstar Dan Aykroyd and Susan Sarandon remained outstanding. And Eric Williams, who wrote and starred in the film, exhibited a performance that was nothing like that of a rookie without any acting experience. He held his own against Drew Barrymore during their scenes, and he's also the director of Home Alone that hit theaters at the same time. One could say he's a genius blessed by the heavens; it's hard to explain why Eric Williams excelled like this..." - Variety.
"Many people constantly complain about the dissatisfaction of reality, but after watching 17 Again, you will realize that you aren't truly unhappy; rather, various negative emotions have completely overshadowed the happiness you possess. However, only the protagonist in the film managed to escape his original shell and view himself from a different perspective..." - The Washington Post.
Numerous papers praised both films, though some criticisms were inevitable. After all, no matter how powerful the two media conglomerates were, they couldn't control all opinions, especially since the other four major studios wouldn't allow Columbia and Fox too much satisfaction.
The Chicago Sun-Times directly criticized Home Alone as a completely unrealistic farce, arguing that the plot lacked logic and that the pranks on the two clueless burglars could never happen in real life, potentially leading to misguided influences on young audiences.
Another publication, The Hollywood Reporter, took an even sharper stance, making a big deal out of the scene where Kevin held a toy gun in Home Alone and calling for the rating agency to reassess the film's classification. This news even captured the attention of a local television station in Los Angeles.
...
When Eric learned of this situation, he felt a little concerned. In his impression, although gun violence was rampant in America, there were strict regulations regarding underage people holding firearms in films.
Anxiously, he called Lester Reed, the producer of Home Alone, to inquire about the matter. Lester nonchalantly reassured him, hinting at hidden details. The owner of The Hollywood Reporter was a shareholder in Universal Studios, which was about to release a children's animated film called The Land Before Time on November 18, making this sort of behavior quite normal as it was a competitor to Home Alone. Columbia would counter such actions accordingly.
Hanging up the phone, Eric sighed. He had already fallen into a web of deception so soon. This little incident sparked a feeling of crisis within him. Compared to those cinematic giants, he was still a negligible figure, posing no real threat. But if Home Alone achieved massive success as it did in his previous life, his existence would certainly attract the giants' attention, especially Columbia, who was about to face a significant challenge.
If, at that point, he lacked sufficient strength and didn't want to relinquish a large portion of his profits, then he could expect intense oppression from the power brokers.
In his previous life, Tom Cruise served as an example. As Tom starred in one hit movie after another, his demands for power and profit-sharing escalated. Eventually, when he began earning more than the studio, Paramount Pictures, everyone at Paramount, led by Summer Redstone, publicly severed ties with Tom Cruise in the newspapers. The media under Viacom then mired Tom Cruise in a smear campaign that ruined his career.
"Hey, darling, what are you thinking about? You look so glum," Jennifer noticed Eric staring blankly after his phone call. She gently tugged at his shirt.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Even though Eric always acted self-assured, Aniston sensed that he was worried about the box office for the two films. After all, he only had the car his father left him, and he had put everything else up for collateral. If he lost the bet on Home Alone, he would go bankrupt.
Wrapping her arms around Eric from behind, resting her cheek against his back, Aniston softly said, "Darling, if you have something on your mind, why not talk to me about it? I may not be able to help much, but I can be a good listener."
"I just suddenly feel..." Eric turned around and pulled Aniston into a comforting embrace. "The road ahead might be a bit rough. Aniston, will you stay with me on this journey?"
"Of course, I will." Aniston didn't fully grasp the deeper meaning behind Eric's words, but she decisively chose to respond affirmatively.
"Thank you, Jenny. So, you really won't come with me to New York? It's just a matter of a plane ticket after I speak with James about it."
As the release dates for Home Alone and 17 Again grew closer, both crews needed to head to the East Coast, to New York, for promotion. However, being merely a supporting character in 17 Again, Aniston was not included in the lineup of actors who would promote the film.
Not wanting to burden her boyfriend over such trivial matters, Aniston shook her head, saying, "No need. I lived in New York for many years, so it's not really fresh to me."
After a brief moment of warmth shared between them, Aniston gently pushed Eric away, turning to pack his travel bag.
*****
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