Chapter 178: Alienation

[Chapter 178: Alienation]

Thinking of actors, Eric suddenly remembered that Michael Madsen, who played Mr. Kim in his previous life, was Virginia's brother. Although he had known Virginia for more than half a year, he had never met her brother. He had only learned through his conversations with Virginia that she was very close to her brother.

Eric recalled Michael as a rugged type -- someone who seemed born to play villains. However, from Virginia's accounts, he knew that Michael Madsen was a very versatile individual. He had been a magician, loved photography, and was passionate about writing poetry. Compared to that, acting seemed more like a side job to make ends meet.

Though they had never crossed paths, Eric considered Michael part of his inner circle now that Virginia was his woman. He firmly believed that good things should not be shared with outsiders.

After confirming some details with Quentin about the script, Eric said, "Hey, Quentin, I happen to have a great suggestion for the role of Mr. Kim. I'm sure you'll be pleased."

Quentin Tarantino noted Eric's smile; even if he wasn't entirely satisfied, he knew he had to accept it. Still, Eric's previous agreement not to meddle in the film's content already delighted Quentin. Bringing someone into the mix was something he could live with. According to protocol, Eric, as an investor, could pick all the actors without any issues.

"No problem, Eric. I trust your recommendation will be solid," Quentin replied with a smile. As they were about to continue their conversation, a staff member knocked on the door. "Director Williams, it's time."

Eric glanced at his watch and stood up. "Well then, that's it for now."

Quentin and Lawrence quickly stood and shook Eric's hand again. After that, they seemed a little lost; what was next?

As Eric was about to leave, he caught sight of the two's expressions and chuckled, patting his forehead. "Sorry, I've been so busy lately that I've been a bit forgetful. Follow me."

He called over his assistant, Allen, and briefed him about the two men. Then he turned back to them, saying, "This is Allen, my assistant. He will take you to meet Mr. Jeffrey Hansen. You can discuss the specifics with him."

...

After seeing the two off, Eric planned to return to work when a certain girl unexpectedly approached him.

Surprised, Eric asked, "What are you still doing here?"

Drew seemed to be in a funk already and retaliated, hands on her hips, "Why should I go? I'm not going anywhere!"

Shrugging, Eric figured the girl had been pretty well-behaved when she had visited the set a few days earlier. "Fine, suit yourself. Just don't cause any trouble."

"Eric, I feel like nobody really likes me here," the little girl lamented as she hugged his arm, leading him into the work area of the studio. She leaned in closer and whispered in his ear. Back on Running Out of Time set, she was treated like a princess; everyone catered to her every whim. Here, however, the staff hardly knew her, and while they were polite, they maintained an aloof distance.

Eric called for the crew to start preparing before he gently ruffled Drew's hair, laughing as he explained, "Don't you get it? Jennie's father is the producer of this TV series. Everyone here is hired by John. Jenny is the princess here. If she doesn't like you, then everyone else will naturally keep their distance."

"Ugh, that's so snobby!" Drew pouted.

"It's just a natural reaction for people to avoid danger and seek benefit. It's not even office politics. If they get too close to you, they might face some unfounded backlash," Eric joked as he settled into the director's chair, taking the shooting log from his assistant.

The real reason Drew felt alienated was that Aniston had become exceptionally popular on set. Though she had her favorites, the little girl was excellent at making friends, getting along well with her fellow co-stars and captivating most of the crew. There was also the fact that her father was the producer, adding to the distance the crew maintained from Drew, who was seen as Aniston's potential rival.

In contrast, while Drew was also socially adept, she had a quirkiness to her character. Before Eric showed up, she was self-aware enough to grasp that she didn't quite fit in. But now, with Eric backing her, she seemed unleashed, acting like a spoiled little princess. She could waltz around the set with a camera worth six figures while the crew didn't dare send her packing.

But Eric didn't worry that this attention would lead Drew to misbehave. He knew she understood what she was doing. The little girl had lacked proper affection growing up, and once she started receiving love from Eric, it made her somewhat 'greedy' -- wanting to soak up as much as she could while she could still indulge.

"Forget it, I'll just go back," Drew said, using Eric for support as she stood. Since she wasn't welcome, she didn't want to expend energy trying to change that. "Eric, did you complete what you promised me last night?"

"What promise?" Aniston chimed in, walking over with a script in hand. Hearing Drew's words, she gave Eric an annoyed frown.

"Check the table in my study. I got inspired and wrote a ton. Just pick whichever one you like to try out," Eric replied, giving the little girl a look that signaled he'd explain later.

Drew smiled sweetly; then, as if to tease Aniston, she suddenly leaned over and gave Eric a kiss on the cheek, leaving a bright lipstick mark, before she sashayed away.

"Dressed like that, she looks like a streetwalker," Aniston remarked with a hint of jealousy as she watched Drew leave. At just over five foot tall, the little girl had a slender figure and porcelain skin that many women envied. In this regard, Aniston, with a slightly darker complexion, felt a pang of jealousy.

As if sensing something, Drew suddenly turned around at the door of the studio, opened her little sun umbrella, put on heart-shaped sunglasses, and pirouetted in an extravagant fashion, then blew a playful raspberry at Aniston before walking backward with a cheeky grin.

This scene not only irked Aniston but left many crew members momentarily stunned. Everyone present was part of the industry and had seen films directed by Kubrick; several had seen Drew's playful display. Dressed in a tee and hot pants, revealing her delicate arms and fair legs, along with her black nail polish, she effortlessly blended youthful playfulness with feminine charm -- causing a stir among all the men who were still at a normal hormonal state.

"This is ridiculous," Aniston exclaimed, her face scrunching up with discontent as she turned to Eric. "Are you sure she's going to that Catholic school and not somewhere else?"

Eric laughed and held Aniston's hand lightly, saying, "Alright, Jenny, don't be upset. Drew's just like that; you've seen it before. By the way, what did you need from me?"

Aniston pointed at Eric's cheek, saying, "First, wipe off that lipstick mark from your face."

Eric felt a bit awkward as he found a napkin and rubbed at his cheek until Aniston was satisfied before she begrudgingly said they could discuss the script. She had some ideas she thought were pretty solid.

...

In the days that followed, filming progressed steadily. Meanwhile, Eric had lunch with the Weinstein brothers from Miramax, discussing acquisition matters. However, given that the brothers had just successfully released a film that Steven Soderbergh directed and won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, they had set a price that greatly exceeded Eric's expectations.

Adding to the complexity was the fact that Firefly Films had already begun discussions with Robert Shay about acquiring deals, which caused Eric to temporarily abandon his ambitions of swallowing Miramax. The reason Miramax had thrived in the independent film scene in his previous life, ultimately catching Disney's eye, was largely due to Soderbergh's fame and, more crucially, the acclaim for Quentin's films. The latter proved even more significant; unexpectedly, Quentin's success propelled independent filmmaking into the spotlight, leading to Miramax's impressive growth.

Now, with Quentin on Eric's team, there was no chance he would push Quentin away. Without Quentin, however, the future of Miramax looked uncertain; though they still had Soderbergh, his shine had dimmed after his meteoric rise. He had spent the subsequent decade in silence, failing to produce noteworthy works, and only began to find success again in the new millennium. Given this scenario, it was unlikely that Miramax could rise along its original trajectory.

Eric's initial desire to acquire New Line alongside Miramax stemmed from his appreciation for the Weinstein brothers' talent in awards promotion. In his previous life, they earned a reputation as pushers of Oscar winners, which made him eager to have them under his wing. Fortunately, Eric had an edge in selecting projects since he had a wealth of classic films stored in his mind from his past.

Not having acquired Miramax did not concern Eric.

History had already shifted, and perhaps with the talents of the Weinsteins, they might still thrive within the independent film scene. But shining as brightly as they once did was no longer feasible because of Eric's presence. Their growth trajectory might mirror New Line's, gradually building up. Thus, even if Miramax prospered for another decade, Eric saw a chance to eventually reel them in to help enhance his own Oscar campaigning efforts.

*****

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