Chp 17 : New Project?

"Al, you got a call from someone named Robert Zackimis... Oh, I'm sorry, Al you got a call from Robert Zemeckis!" In the morning, Mary who picked up the telephone told Al.

"Robert Zemeckis? Why is he calling me?" Al said

"Just pick up the phone brat!" Mary lost her patience and start to curse him, Al hurriedly came to her and grabbed the phone from her.

"Hello, Mr. Zemickis? Why are you calling me?"

"Hello Al thank God you are there. Can I meet you up at the orphanage? It's really rude of me to tell you these things via phone line."

"Okay just come over. I'm sorry that you can only meet me here, I don't have an assistant yet to take me everywhere currently."

Al's net worth has touched more than $20 million for his book royalties and stocks but he didn't yet hire a manager or assistant so he called himself an efficient person, not a cheap man. (Okay our protagonist only just self-entertaining himself right now.)

"It's okay Al, it's me who has business with you," he said reassuringly.

He closed the phone, Mary who was still staying in the living room was reading a book.

"Mary, I think I need to hire a driver, assistant, and financial manager. I can't always depend on you when I'm going to travel anywhere." He said shamelessly.

"YOU THINK!!" Mary really wanted to hit Al with a book in her hands right now. She has told Al many times but he always had an excuse to avoid this kind of topic.

"Okay Mary, calm down, it's fine, everything's gonna be okay so relax." Al knew he was so fked up and disappeared completely from Mary's vision.

Actually, Mary knew why Al did this. Now Mary's role to Al is like his mother hen outside the orphanage. He was so afraid that he will see no familiar faces beside him.

She sighed, 'Al, although you are really mature, you are still a kid after all.'

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A few hours later, Robert Zemeckis finally arrived at the orphanage.

"So the reason that I find you are like this Al. I'm supposed to direct a movie <Cocoon> but because I screwed up at the box office with my two films, <Cocoon> was canceled. Now I need a movie project and Spielberg recommended me <Sixth Sense> script."

Now Al understands his purpose is after hearing his explanation.

He wanted to direct the <Sixth Sense> but this film is a cooperation between Al and Spielberg. So using Spielberg and Al's friendship, he hoped he can be qualified to take over this project.

"When I heard Spielberg said that you made this script, I was really surprised. This script is simple but the plot twist is amazing. Al, what I must do to be the director of this film?"

If you see this scene, a 30 year's old man asking permission from 12 year's old boy, everyone will be laughing.

But currently, the situation is serious so Al won't be joking. Now Robert Zemeckis thinks that his career is dependent on this boy.

Al's mind was flashed, as far as he knows, Robert Zemeckis has become the producer of <Ghost Ship> and <House of Wax>. Although it got a negative response, Zemeckis has proven that he can produce horror movies.

He also directed <Forrest Gump> so his ability to direct heart-warming stories was also good.

Well, Night Shyamalan is still 12 years old, so nobody in Hollywood who can direct <Sixth Sense> besides Robert Zemeckis.

"Well I know you are a great director Mr. Zemeckis, I watched <Used Cars> and<I Wanna Hold Your Hand> and I really like it, it's a great film so I'm sure you are the director we search for." Smiled Al.

"Ah, but the shooting will be held after <E.T.> screened first Mr. Zemeckis. That way I get more baggage to convince some investors. Did you also know my deal with Steven?"

"Yes, Steven has already explained it to me before."

"Okay Mr. Zemeckis, I can't wait to cooperate with you!"

"Me too, I hope we have a nice cooperation!"

Both of them shake their hands.

Robert Zemeckis left the orphanage, Al went to the living room and discuss his previous problems with Mary.

First, he made his own studio company and named it Muspelheim Films.

So now there were 3 companies under his name, Yggdrasil Corp. which still a shell company, Nidavellir Investment, and the last were Muspelheim Films.

"I swear Al you got the weirdest naming sense I ever know. I don't know what will your children's names are in the future." Mary sigh.

"Don't worry, our children name will be common, for boys lets try David and if its a girl let name her Helen." He teased her.

"Huh, who wants to have a kid with you brat!" She hit Al's head....again.

But suddenly, they heard a sound opposite of them.

"Gasp, Al and Mary want to have babies! Everyone Al and Mary want to have babies!!" It was Laura who heard them and run off to tell other kids.

Now both of them are having a severe headache. How will they explain it to everybody? So they decided to continue their works.

Soon, Al already got the contact of an assistant, driver, and financial manager by Mary's recommendation.

The assistant is used to work with Mary's boss when she worked in her previous firm. Her name is Jessica Florence, a brunette-haired woman of Italian descend. She quit her job this year because she didn't stand with her boss's pervertedness anymore

Luckily, Mary called her or she will be unemployed this year.

The driver was Jason Barnes's recommendation. In these few months, he was doing a great job, not only as a security but also sometimes help Mrs. K as the caretaker.

The driver also an ex-army, his name is John Mick. Somehow his name was familiar to Al, he was a big man with scary face but really kind and gentle. Never judge a book by its cover.

The last is a financial manager, Mary's college classmate and good at stocks and counting coins. She works as a stockbroker before but quit because she sick of Wall Street's environment.

Women who have a normal job have hard times in the 80s moreover women in Wall Street. Not only harassment from co-workers but also sexist attitude by old sharks.

So job easily landed to her, her name is Nancy Smith another beautiful brunette. Al doesn't know but he thinks that Mary deliberately choosing brunettes.

Al now glaring Mary with stink-eye while Mary kept smiling.

At night, this big family is discussing how important privacy is and also, talk about birds and bees.

Al was also sure that this night, the kids are all having a nightmare, especially Laura.

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Days, Weeks, Months, and Years have passed. from New Year celebration to Easter day.

March 29th, 1982 where 54th Academy Awards was held in the usual place. The winner for best films is <Chariots of Fire> and <Raiders of Lost Ark> swept the technical awards, he then saw Steven Spielberg in television.

The preparation for <Sixth Sense> is going well, the budget approximately $10 million. Why almost a quarter from the future budget?

How can this be? First of all, the USD is still a strong currency, second, Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg was a good commercial director who could control the budget.

The original director, Night was a rather young director at that time so he was not really good at cost-control and also, the lead-actor is Bruce Willis.

He was paid $14 million with a dividend, too bad his pay is not as good as his play. He ultimately suppressed by Haley Joel Osment, a newcomer who played the kid in <Sixth Sense>

Although felt humiliated, he still got almost $90 million as final pay. So, what can you expect from an action star to play a role in a drama film?

But back to <Sixth Sense> preparation, he meets with Steven several times, to discuss their films and observing the post-production of <E.T.>

Al just realized that at present time, there is no such thing as digital editing. 80s people still use the linear editing technique.

(Skip if it's hard to understand)

Unlike digital editing which they can just cut any part of videos and put where and whenever they like, this era movie editing must be done manually by cutting and sticking the physical form of film using scissors and glue.

For only one movie, the film reel length almost reaches 300 meters and it will be hard for the editor to check all of it then edit it.

So the solution is by copying the film to the tapes and from that tape, they must edit this in chronological order to another tape, it's called linear editing.

Also if you want to edit the part from the minute 13.00 sequence, you must play the tape from 00:00 until reach that part and then cut the part and place it on another tape.

Once the editing by tape is completed, then the editor has some mental pictures to edit it on film by cutting and sticking the film and synchronize it with sounds effects with special equipment.

Also, the difficulty will be harder when they will use special effects.

(Skip It if it's hard to understand)

After another culture-shock, Al already hanged into it. He needs to learn about basic video editing and find someone who can do it in the future OR he can make the software himself, he still got a fkin huge sized library in his head.

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Today another special day, 1st June 1982, now Al is 12 years old.

The orphanage tenant was having a big celebration party and another surprise is little Drewie is coming with her mother!

His two favorite sisters, Alice and Drew are present at his party, who don't feel happy when they see these two having fun.

Al and Drew were exchanging the letter after they finish filming.

Truly, he was convinced that she can't write when he saw her expression after he said that she can't write before.

Her letter was unreadable and some of the words were clearly written by her mother albeit she made the words a bit uglier.

After having a party, the premiere date of <E.T.> will be held on 10th June 1982 in TCL Chinese Theatre.

They have screened it before at Cannes Film Festival and receive a good response.

So Al can't wait this day to come.

To Be Continued.....