Chapter 156: The Tapes

[Chapter 156: The Tapes]

"Actually, I'm rather helpless when it comes to such doubts," Eric Williams spoke candidly. "My age really is a hard barrier, as there are hardly any directors under thirty in Hollywood, let alone someone who's not even twenty yet." He continued, "I originally didn't need to respond to such skepticism; after all, reality is the best weapon against it. But as this belief has grown, I feel that even if I ignore the irresponsible media throwing around wild accusations, I should at least give an explanation to the fans who have always supported my films. Fortunately, due to some accidental factors, some footage from the filming process was preserved -- these tapes right here."

As Eric spoke, he pulled out over a dozen tapes from a small box and stacked them between himself and Sophia.

"Wow, are these... behind-the-scenes clips?" Sophia asked.

Eric shook his head. "No, if they were behind-the-scenes, I definitely wouldn't show up on camera. These are just some snippets I recorded with an extra camera while on set."

"So, you mean a documentary filmed from a third-party perspective? Is that allowed during the filmmaking process?" Sophia inquired.

Eric chuckled, "Generally, that's not allowed, as the contents of a film need to remain absolutely confidential. But the person who filmed these tapes had a unique identity; I believe she wouldn't leak the material, which is why I allowed it. It's precisely because of my leniency back then that I now have the chance to prove my innocence."

As Eric finished speaking, the audience leaned forward, eyes wide. Several fans even whispered, urging Eric and Sophia to play the contents of the tapes quickly.

"Alright then, I know everyone is eager, so let's take a look," Sophia said, not wanting to prolong the suspense. She casually picked one of the tapes and inserted it into the projector.

...

Suddenly, the large screen behind them flickered to life with a somewhat shaky image, as if the person operating the camera were quite inexperienced. After some time, the picture gradually stabilized, and a slightly bossy girl's voice rang out off-screen: "Allen, keep the audio steady! If I come out with no sound, you'll be in trouble."

Another voice, tinged with mild exasperation, replied, "Alright, Princess."

The audience burst into laughter, many recognizing that the girl's voice belonged to Drew Barrymore, closely associated with Eric. Remembering what Eric had said just moments before, they could understand that only someone like her could behave so freely on a film set; anyone else would surely be kicked out for such antics.

On the screen, the footage began to move, and many recognized it as a large soundstage. As they viewed the scale model of streets and buildings shown, soft gasps escaped the audience. After all, this was years before the internet became widespread; many had never seen such detailed model sets in person. Although people often watched movies, their understanding of the actual filmmaking process remained limited. Thus, the sight brought considerable surprise.

Amid some background noise, the camera operator walked into a room, revealing Eric wearing a green director's vest, demonstrating something animatedly to Tom Hanks. As the camera drew closer, Eric paused his conversation with Hanks, smiling as he reached over the camera, seemingly tapping someone on the forehead, eliciting a pained squeal from the girl and laughter from those nearby.

"Hey, kid, this Sony professional camera costs $128,000. If you break it, I'll have no choice but to turn you over to Columbia for repayment," Eric remarked after tapping Drew's forehead.

The camera wobbled briefly, and Drew's frustrated voice came on: "Ugh, that's so annoying! I've told you countless times not to tap my head!"

Waving his hand dismissively like he was shooing a cat or dog, Eric said to the camera, "Go, go, get back. We're about to start shooting."

As the camera pulled back, Eric's command for the crew to begin shooting rang out, and many crew members sprang into action. Hanks and some other actors took their places, and a script supervisor stepped forward, seemingly to clap the slate.

...

At that point, Sophia neatly pressed the stop button and explained to the audience, "Sorry, but the following footage will involve the movie's content, so we have to pause."

Although it was just a couple of minutes, the audience was engaged and expressed regret as Sophia halted the playback.

"Eric, I've become more curious about one question, and I'm sure the viewers at home are as well," Sophia asked, tapping into the public's interest. "Though it was only a brief clip, it was clear you have a special fondness for Miss Barrymore. You let her handle a camera worth over hundred grand like it was a toy! What exactly is your relationship with Drew?"

Eric hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before he said, "How should I put this? I met Drew while filming, and I quickly grew fond of this little girl."

Seeing some audience members getting ready to tease, Eric waved his hands to stop them. "Don't get the wrong idea; it's definitely not what you're thinking! I mostly see her as my little sister. At the time, Drew had picked up some bad... habits. Although she had gone to rehab a few times, it really didn't help much. Her mother was at her wits' end. I couldn't bear to see such a talented girl slip away, so I impulsively discussed it with her mom to let her move in with me. Maybe I could help her kick those habits. After some consideration, Mrs. Barrymore agreed, so here we are. I suppose Drew and I just clicked; she tends to listen to me well. Now, she has completely turned her life around, attending an all-girls school. I hope she graduates from high school successfully and, when she turns eighteen, chooses her own path freely."

Eric felt no pressure as he spun this tale. Being in the industry, he understood that such interviews were mere performances; as long as they served his purpose, that was all that mattered. He had seen countless stars become involved in messy breakup dramas after displaying their "loving" relationships on air; it would be foolish to take such interviews seriously and react with zeal or tears to their inspirational tales or romantic stories.

While Eric internally scoffed, he still played the role convincingly, his expression sincere and stirring, as if he were an angel sent by God to rescue wayward youths.

Sophia also displayed a moved expression, though whether it was genuine, Eric couldn't say.

"So, let's look forward to Miss Barrymore gracing the big screen once again, bringing us remarkable works. Now, let's check out what some of the other tapes have in store," Sophia stated as she selected another pre-chosen tape to play.

...

The shaky image resumed, this time revealing a blocked-off street surrounded by police cars and numerous camera cranes and tracks. The crew in the background seemed relaxed, chatting, drinking, or fanning themselves with clipboards -- indicating a temporary break.

A voice echoed in the background: "Hello everyone, I'm Drew Barrymore from ABC News. I heard there's been a bank robbery here. Let's interview the on-site commander, Mr. Eric Williams."

The camera zoomed in on Eric, wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap. It seemed the girl said something, then an oversized fluffy microphone reluctantly came into the frame, inching its way toward Eric and accidentally poking his nose, creating a comical scene. A boyish voice off-screen lamented, "Director, I was forced into this, don't blame me."

Seeing this moment made both Eric and Sophia chuckle, while the audience erupted in laughter.

Onscreen, Eric removed his sunglasses, looking somewhat resigned as he gazed into the camera, as if asking, "What now?"

"Mr. Williams, it's been reported there was a bank robbery here. How's the situation? Could you share some updates with us?" the girl asked earnestly.

"Alright," Eric replied, pushing the microphone slightly away, almost lazily. "We've got the situation under control. Reporter, over there, those two gentlemen robbers are playing poker with the SWAT team; it's all very peaceful and harmonious. Negotiator Hanks isn't genuinely chatting with that undercover officer; he's actually probing around. We discovered the undercover is a mole, so we plan to make an arrest soon. Police Chief Joe Pesci stepped out for an urgent matter and won't return for an hour. I can assure you that by then, the hostages will still be alive..."

Eric's humorous remarks again prompted fits of laughter from the audience. After this segment, Sophia smiled and selected a few more tapes for brief showings, mixed in with conversations between the two and interactions with the live audience. Before they knew it, due to the need to reshoot several scenes, the forty-minute talk show had taken over two hours to complete.

*****

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