Chapter 167: Hi

[Chapter 167: Hi]

Despite the intimate relationship they shared, Nicole did not linger at Eric's mansion for even a day. That very day, she obediently moved into the apartment Eric had arranged for her.

As August rolled around, Running Out of Time that had been in theaters for four weeks still boasted box office figures exceeding $26 million -- a remarkable feat -- bringing its total gross to over $150 million. While it would take a stroke of luck to surpass that in the coming weeks, the film's North American total had already marked to clear the $200 million mark without any doubt.

Moreover, its overseas performance was even better than in North America. Even though most foreign countries had later release dates and several had not screened it yet, in the territories where it had, it had swiftly claimed twelve opening weekend box office crowns. Given this context, it was clear the international box office would far exceed that of the domestic.

Columbia had originally entered this project with the intention of boosting their stock price without expecting to turn a profit, but the reality was that they could not only break even but also make a tidy profit from ticket sales alone. The subsequent revenue from home video sales was also bound to contribute significantly to Columbia's coffers. Although the payback period for video sales was lengthy, over the next few years, this revenue could easily add up to over $100 million in profits for Columbia Pictures.

As for Eric, this project was now part of the past. All he needed to do was sit back and wait for his share.

With such a hit on their hands, Hollywood would typically rush to produce sequels. However, Eric was determined not to get involved in the making of a sequel. He knew that the classic nature of the first film was tough to surpass, and the sequels from his past life hadn't stood out.

If a strong sequel script surfaced in the future, Eric intended only to involve Firefly in a limited investment. If the Columbia came back with a tempting offer, Eric might even consider selling them half the rights that belonged to Firefly. After all, with Tom Cruise's character dead, and with only Tom Hanks remaining, a sequel would struggle to replicate the magic of the first film. Following the investment patterns in film, increasing costs for the sequel made profitability a daunting challenge.

...

With the previous project behind him, Eric dove into an intense work schedule for the latter half of the year.

First on his list was the two-episodes of Friends he needed to direct personally. Fox had already started drumming up interest in this project due to the product placements involved, generating significant public anticipation. Although Fox had high hopes, this project wouldn't consume much of Eric's energy, especially since he planned to stick to the second season's script from his past life, which would simplify production considerably.

As for his movie, even in the early stages of preparation, the promotional work had already kicked off, and the leads were soon announced. Many actors in Hollywood who had hoped to work with Eric felt disappointed once the leading male and female names were revealed. Tom Hanks faced minimal scrutiny over his role as the male lead. However, the sudden emergence of Nicole Kidman became a media frenzy. With the stars' names in the open, paparazzi quickly stripped Nicole's background down to the bare essentials in just a few days.

An Australian actress, a recipient of acting awards, had debuted at sixteen with no Hollywood experience...

Once her details came to light, she quickly became a hot topic of controversy. The disdain Hollywood often held for foreign actors seemed to have shifted to the media as well. Beyond the PR arranged by UTA, Nicole received scant praise and instead faced prevalent criticism. Most outlets deemed her unworthy of a leading role in Eric's new film. From the title, the media speculated that Eric was likely to return to lighthearted romantic comedies.

Thus, Hollywood reporters overlooked Nicole's current image and gleefully uncovered her less polished roles in Australian films and television, ripping her to shreds.

This criticism wasn't without backlash, with the Australian media being the most vocal. Eric, despite only having a handful of projects under his belt and a short rise to fame, had already garnered significant renown in Australia, rivaling that of big-name directors. Consequently, Australian outlets took great pride in one of their actresses landing a role in Eric's new film, launching extensive counterattacks against the American press regarding their critiques of Nicole.

Amidst this storm, Nicole felt no pressure at all. She understood that the more ruckus the media created, the bigger the spotlight would shine on her.

...

On August 2nd, a massive soundstage at Fox's lot quietly began filming. Among the six leads, only Jennifer Aniston possessed notable fame. The other young actors had previously been relatively unknown, but Eric selected them as they not only showcased solid talent but also bore similar style to the lead actors from his memories. Additionally, as newcomers, their salaries were remarkably low at just $5,000 per episode.

Eric initially wanted to capitalize on this and offer Aniston a higher pay rate; the information was kept confidential, ensuring that the other cast members would have no clue. Even if they did find out, they wouldn't dare complain -- after all, Aniston was not just more famous, but she was also the producer's daughter and the director's girlfriend. Comparing themselves to her would be rather laughable.

However, this kindhearted proposal from Eric was firmly turned down by the spirited young woman; she chose to take the same $5,000 per episode as the others. Unable to persuade her otherwise, Eric allowed this information to slip out, and unsurprisingly, it yielded positive results. Before long, just like in his former life, Aniston bonded with the other five leads, forming genuine friendships. This outcome greatly benefited the filming process, as their real-life camaraderie would contribute to on-screen chemistry.

"All set, Scene 1, Take 5!"

With the sound of the first assistant director's voice, the cast commenced their dialogue at a cafe in Central Park.

The scene depicted Ross, having divorced his wife Susan, appearing in the cafe with a gloomy expression and an umbrella in hand. In the original version, David Schwimmer's portrayal of Ross Geller made a striking entrance that left many viewers "in awe," simply with a casual "Hi." Instantly, audiences remembered the tall, lanky character dressed in an oversized coat.

*****

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