I’m in Hollywood

Chapter 237 – Isn't that too tiring?

“I didn't expect you to be quite resourceful.
It's just that everyone else has become a fool, and you're the only one still being shrewd.”

It was another morning, and in Eric's room, Elizabeth was sitting in a chair next to a small wooden table, watching Eric brush his teeth in the bathroom and asking.

“I'm the director, the one in charge of the entire crew, just like the alpha wolf in a pack,” Eric said, wiping the foam from his mouth, “and if I make a mistake, it's as if all of you have made a mistake as well.”

“Hmph, you sure can talk your way out of things.” Elizabeth huffed and puffed, seeing Eric walk out.
She pointed to the breakfast tray in front of her and said, “Here, for you.”

Eric was not polite either, and he pulled the tray in front of him and quickly ate it.
He knew Elizabeth had already eaten.
According to the lady herself, she was on a diet and only ate an apple and a glass of milk for breakfast during this time.
But in Eric's opinion, it was definitely because Elizabeth couldn't stand the hygiene conditions here and couldn't find a place to make her own breakfast, so she had to simplify things, and the lady also ate very little for the other two meals.

Looking at Eric starting to wolf down his food, the girl helplessly picked up the file in front of her and read out today's shooting schedule and a few other things to Eric, reminding him of some things that he needed to set aside extra time to deal with.
These were originally Alan's jobs, but since Elizabeth insisted on coming, Eric naturally delegated this part of the work to her while also taking the opportunity to enjoy the view every morning.
Although she was aware of Eric's “lewd” thoughts, Elizabeth did not reject them.

“Right.
I think you definitely need to take a look at this newspaper.”

“What?” Eric put down the glass and picked up the newspaper.

This is a copy of the Seattle Times.
It is the largest newspaper in circulation in Washington State.

Of course, this is not what Eric cares about.
What he was paying attention to was the headline on the front page of the newspaper.

“Sony acquires Columbia Pictures for $5.5 billion.”

Although I had known that Sony might complete the acquisition in September, I was worried about the problem of 《Running Out of Time》 future revenue sharing after the Japanese acquisition of Columbia, but Eric couldn't keep it on his mind all the time.

Eric read the article carefully, let out a sigh of relief, and put the newspaper aside to continue his breakfast.
From the article, he saw a piece of news that, due to public pressure, Japanese people issued a statement saying that Sony will not be involved in the management of Columbia Pictures.
The company will still be managed by the American team, and Sony will only maintain an investor status.
Since nothing will change, there shouldn't be any twists and turns in the distribution of 《Running Out of Time》.

Elizabeth stared at Eric for a while before she couldn't help but ask, “Are you feeling proud of yourself right now?”

Eric swallowed the food in his mouth and looked up, puzzled, wondering, “What do I have to be proud of?”

The woman raised her eyebrows and said, “Or maybe you didn't read the fourth paragraph of the article carefully.
Because of the movies 《Home Alone》 and 《Running Out of Time》, Columbia's stock price has risen, and the Japanese have paid at least 700 million dollars for it.
Isn't that something to be proud of?”

Eric shrugged.
“Of course I'm proud, but it's not to the point that I'm jumping around with joy since the Japanese didn't put the 700 million dollars into my bank account.”

“What about 《Running Out of Time》? I heard about the contents of that contract, Firefly didn't invest a penny yet they got more than half of the box office profits.”

Why are you looking at me with those eyes as if I took advantage of you, even though I got the bigger share of the profit? Colombia also made money out of it.
At this point, Eric pretended to be angry and said: “And you just said that the Japanese paid 700 million US dollars for it.
So if you count it up, I'm still in the minus.
On average, each of my movies made the Colombia shareholders 35 million US dollars, but they wouldn't give me a penny.”

The girl was so surprised by Eric's brilliant logic that her mouth opened slightly.
After a while, she said, “You really are…”

“Alright.
These aren't things you should be worrying about now,” Eric finished his breakfast.
Taking out a napkin, he wiped his mouth and said, “What's most important now is that we finish filming this movie.”

“Now that you mention it, I remember something else,” the girl said, raising her head and looking at Eric, who was picking up clothes by the wardrobe.
“I have been reading the script these days, and I feel that this movie is…
strange.”

“Strange?” Eric turned and gave the girl a glance.

Elizabeth nodded: “Yes, don't you think it's too far-fetched for two strangers, one of whom has never seen the other, to start talking intimately and the other to act like they are long-lost friends when they meet for the first time?”

Eric, wearing a coat, said to Liz, “I don't think so.
Have you ever heard of…fate?”

The young lady repeated the phrase that Erica had puzzled out after a moment, then shook her head.
“I don't think it's possible; how could there be something destined in this world?”

“Everything has already happened, things that can no longer be changed, are predetermined, which is what is called fate.
Like me and you, me and Jane, me and Drew, me and Vee…

Elizabeth rolled her eyes dramatically: “With the way you're talking, I get the urge to punch you.
And, don't put me in the same category as other women, okay?”

Eric smiled: “Alright, just kidding.
Actually, in the far east, there is a very romantic point of view, called 500 glances in the previous life, in exchange for a passing in this life.”

Elizabeth asked, “What does that mean?”

“This will take a while to explain,” Eric looked at his watch and said: “Everyone must have left already, let's go too and we can talk on the way.”

This small hotel is less than a kilometer away from the seaside cabin used for filming by the crew, so everyone in the crew walked there.

After exchanging greetings with others, the two of them walked side by side down the street.
Elizabeth asked, “What were you saying?”

Eric nodded and said, “Eastern Buddhism has the view that life does not end, that their souls will reincarnate and have past lives.
So, think about it, you should understand now, right?”

“Five hundred lifetimes of looking back, for just a passing glance in this lifetime,” Elizabeth murmured to herself before looking at Eric and asking, “Isn't that…
too much?”