Chương 20: Chapter 20 - Movie preview
Everyone in the theater, including Aniston who hadn't been a part of the filming, was clearly aware of the Home Alone's content. As the story progressed, however, everyone including Jeffrey roared with laughter, especially when Kevin pranked the two robbers.
The one hundred minutes of the film quickly passed like this. Everyone stood up and applauded, once the last line of the end titles disappeared.
"I have to admit, this movie is really great. Eric, I should congratulate you in advance." Jeffrey patted Eric on the shoulder and said sincerely.
"Thank you, Jeffrey, I wouldn't have been able to do it without your help. At least, I wouldn't be able to complete filming within two weeks."
People greeted each other for a while, then gradually dispersed, as everyone had things to do. They had planned to throw a small party, but seeing Eric's stubbly and tired face, they thoughtfully dropped it. Their director had overexerted himself for half a month and needed to rest.
The next step was to plan the film's release. As he'd be going to the 17 Again preview screening tomorrow, Eric thought it would be a good opportunity to pitch to the 20th Century Fox's Distribution Department. He believed that once the executives watched the movie, they would agree to release it on schedule. Although he'd have to share some of the profits, he didn't have a choice in the matter due to his lack of experience and connections.
Perhaps waiting until the 17 Again was released would have made things easier for Home Alone, but by then, the New Year would have passed. As a Christmas comedy, it had to be released in that period, and Eric didn't want to wait another year to release it as they had put much effort into this.
Annie had obtained a temporary license and drove Eric back to his home. The young man stored the movie reel away, and dove on his bed, too tired to stay awake longer.
Aniston wanted Eric to shower before sleep, but noticing his tired face, she could only sigh and undress him before covering him up with a blanket and leaving the room.
Eric hadn't been home for close to a month, and with no one to clean up, the place was full of dust. Aniston rolled up her sleeves and went to find the cleaning tools. Unlike her Friends character 'Rachel', a spoiled girl who didn't know how to use a washing machine, the real Annie had long been self-reliant.
In the study, Aniston found a variety of books on 'basic music theory'. She was picking them up to wipe the dust when a document slipped out of one of the books. Aniston curiously picked it up and found a mortgage agreement.
...
Around what he assumed was noon, Annie had asked if he wanted something to eat. Eric had groggily refused and fallen asleep once more. When he woke up again, it was already dark.
Eric turned on the lights and looked at his watch; it was way past nine.
He thought Annie had left, but as he dressed and stepped out of the bedroom, he could faintly hear the sounds of the TV from the living room.
Coming down, he saw her curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow as she watched TV.
"Hey, Annie, good evening." Eric kissed her cheek.
"Eric, you're up. Go take a shower, I'll fix you something to eat."
Eric didn't notice the strange look Aniston was giving him. He showered for a half-hour, shaved, and when he returned to the living room, Annie was back on the sofa with dinner ready.
"Wow Annie, this Chinese fried rice is delicious." Eric praised as he ate.
"You mentioned you like it, so I learned the recipe." Aniston smiled as he gobbled it up. She waited until he finished before asking: "Eric, did you; take a mortgage on your house?"
Eric was getting up to do the dishes when he heard Annie. He looked at her, wondering how she knew when he hadn't told anyone about it.
"When I was cleaning the study, this fell out of a book." She answered at Eric's look, lifting a document from the coffee table.
Eric put down the cutlery, took a look at the documents before nodding: "I was short by 200,000$ for the Home Alone filming, so I took a mortgage on the house."
"Then, you also sold the piano in the study?" Aniston had come to Eric's home a few times and had seen the Strauss before.
Eric nodded again.
Aniston frowned as she said: "Eric, I think you were too impulsive. Although everyone agrees that Home Alone is great, you never know if it might fail and lead you to bankruptcy."
"Don't worry, Annie. A few months ago, I was just a broke high school student. Now, I have successfully published a novel, written a screenplay, starred as the main lead, and even made a movie. How many people my age have done this? So, even if I failed this time, I believe that I'll easily stand up again. We are still so young, we ought to enjoy life and strive for success. Great success always comes with the risk of enormous failure. I don't want to become an old fossil looking back at his dull and placid life, full of regrets towards his younger days. That would be too miserable."
"Oh, when you say it like this, it sounds so amazing. But you're not fooling me with those words, Eric!"
...
The morning sun hit her face. Aniston subconsciously turned to avoid the disturbing light but couldn't and grumpily woke up. Eric came into the bedroom holding a tray and saw his girlfriend awake. He smiled and said: "Hey babe, good morning."
Aniston pouted and said: "Well it's not a good morning, you bastard."
"Come on, I spent an hour making this delicious ribs soup for you."
"Don't want it, I'm dieting."
"Make an exception for today, you won't gain weight just because of this, come on, taste it, how's the flavor?"
"Wait, I need to brush my teeth first."
"…I'll take you to the bathroom."
"Shameless!"
After a warm breakfast, Aniston called and asked for a leave from the convenience store owner. The boss was quite accustomed to it as many people dreamed of stardom in L.A and needed time to attend auditions or be on set early. He knew that Annie was one of them, and they had reached a mutual understanding when she looked for the job.
The two lovers lazed for a while before Eric left for the 17 Again movie preview. He wanted to try and close the matters of Home Alone at the same time.
At ten o'clock in the morning, in one of the 20th Century Fox luxury theaters, the Publicity Department, the 17 Again crew, film-makers, and a dozen other representatives were all present.
Before the start of the screening, Eric approached James Brooks and Penny Marshall and wanted them to introduce him to people from the 20th Century Fox Distribution Department.
"Eric, you want to release your movie for Christmas?" James Brooks was startled. He also knew about Eric making a movie as soon as he had wrapped up 17 Again, but didn't expect him to complete it so fast.
"Yes, James, it's a Christmas comedy, so it would be best if it was available in theaters during that period. It wouldn't have the same impact if the release date is off."
James Brooks sneered to himself. While he recognized Eric's talent as a screenwriter and actor, he didn't believe that he could produce an interesting comedy. Directing a movie required years of experience, after all. However, it was a minor favor, so he promised he would introduce him to some people.
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