I'm in Hollywood

Chapter 247: Come and go

Be part of something special - join my Patreon today! As a patron, you'll get exclusive access to 10 chapters ahead of the regular everyday release. I’d be incredibly grateful for your support. Visit https://www.patreon.com/inhollywood to join now. Thank you!

After nearly 20 days of intense shooting, "Sleepless in Seattle" finally wrapped up; however, Eric didn't enjoy any leisure moments at all because the shooting task of "Home Alone 2" was even more strenuous. Although the second part's plot mode is the same as the first, there are quite a few innovations, the most important being that, compared to the majority of the first part being in Kevin's home, the second part's plot is more abundant. In addition to the evil two thieves, there are also story branches such as the square hotel and Central Park.

"Do you have to leave so early?" Early in the morning, Eric walked out of the hotel room and saw Elizabeth with a simple backpack, ready to leave the hotel.

"..."

Eric was at a loss for a moment. He had initially resisted the girl joining the Sleepless in Seattle cast, thinking she could cause trouble. However, after spending a few weeks together, although the two of them still bickered privately, Elizabeth had done an excellent job with her job. Although it had not been a month, Eric and her had already established some tacit understanding.

After a moment of silence, Eric still shook his head and said, "Forget it; even if I agree, your dad would never let you stay with me."

Elizabeth's eyes flashed a hint of disappointment. Biting her lip, she softly defended, "My dad can't control me."

Eric chuckled and then asked, "Are you still planning to go back to Los Angeles?"

"You're really dumb, my family lives in Manhattan; you don't think everyone in the world should live in Los Angeles," the girl subconsciously teased Eric, seeing Eric's faint embarrassment on his face. He opened his mouth, then said, "I ... I'm going back to school, and thank you for the information you have provided me in the meantime."

"It's nothing, I'm just..." Eric said, stopping himself before he said too much. They were talking about their first meeting and Eric's graduation thesis on the success of his films at the box office. Eric was merely recounting some of the random analyses he had seen in his past life while providing some of his own ideas and details from when he was shooting.

Elizabeth waited a moment, seeing Eric say half and not continuing. She didn't ask further and said, "I plan to finish my paper before the end of the year. I'll start making my first movie at the beginning of next year, and it'll be released in the summer. Will you have a movie released by then?"

Eric nodded even though he won't be working as hard as this year next year, but the summer season is definitely not something he can ignore.

"How about we compare the box office at that time?" The girl's competitive spirit was aroused, and the words came out without going through her brain.

Erik subconsciously thought he could ask her for a zero, then remembered Elizabeth was making the famous "The Silence of the Lambs", a movie that had become so popular in its prequel that the box office would surely not be too bad. Over a hundred million dollars should be no problem.

Elizabeth said this and soon realized she was overreaching, fumbling with her backpack straps. "Nevermind, I'm sure I can't beat you. Well... goodbye."

Eric followed up with, "Well, bye... should I help you with your luggage?"

"No need; the bellboy has already taken my luggage downstairs, the taxi is waiting below."

"I'll send you down," Eric followed the girl to the elevator.

Eric watched a yellow taxi drive away, then he walked back to the hotel and towards the restaurant, where Nicole, wearing a slim fit jacket and jeans, was walking towards him.

"Eric. Good morning."

"Good morning," Eric said as he nodded to the lady."Breakfast?"

"Hmm." Nicole stepped forward and walked side by side with Eric towards the restaurant.

The two of them ordered breakfast and sat down at a table. Eric only asked, "By the way, when are you leaving?"

Nicole showed a faint hint of sadness: "You sent off Miss Murdoch with such reluctance, yet now you want to rush me away."

"Stop it," Eric gave the girl a gentle glare: "You know that's not what I meant."

Nicole could see that Eric wasn't in the best mood, and he stopped joking around. She said, "I haven't been back to Sydney in over half a year, so I'm taking the opportunity of this free time to go back home and spend some time with my family. As for when I'll be back, it depends on the publicity schedule of "Sleepless in Seattle"."

Eric suggested, "How about this? I'll tell them you'll be back after Thanksgiving?"

Nicole shook her head with a smile and said, "No need. Don't you remember? Australia doesn't have Thanksgiving, and since it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas is lively but always lacks that atmosphere, so it's not a big deal to miss it. I'll come back on time according to the schedule."

The two people chatted while eating. Nicole quickly finished the simple breakfast in front of her and wiped her mouth with a tissue. Looking around, she leaned over to Eric and said softly, "My ticket to leave tomorrow will be for a while. Can I come to your room tonight?"

Nicole's voice was not loud, but it was not small either. If someone paid attention to them, it was likely to be heard. Eric gave the bold girl a glance and finally nodded gently: "Be careful; don't always get touched by chance."

Nicole giggled; she had almost figured out Eric's character. Although this man was strong, he was not a harsh person. So sometimes she even enjoyed seeing Eric's helpless look when he clearly knew her tricks.

In the last few days of shooting for "Sleepless in Seattle", an assistant director had already started shooting some simple shots for "Home Alone 2" according to Eric's instructions, such as aerial shots of Kevin climbing the top of the Twin Towers or shots of a taxi passing over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Therefore, after the closure of "Sleepless in Seattle" yesterday, the crew had a day of rest, but Eric couldn't rest for a moment. Not only did he need to make countless calls to remotely control the post-production of "Sleepless in Seattle", but he also had to check the footage from the pre-production of "Home Alone 2" to determine which could be used and which needed to be re-shot.

The next day, Eric personally started shooting "Home Alone 2", and according to the order of easy first and then difficult, the first scene was placed in the Grand Plaza Hotel.

"Stu, wait a minute. You go straight from here; when you get to that place, stop and ask this gentleman for directions, and then go on. Remember, don't go too fast, got it?"

"Of course, Eric. Do you think I'm an idiot when you have to tell me something so simple again and again?" The little guy rolled his eyes. At that moment, the boy was wearing a heavy suit, a knitted cap on his head, and a small brown backpack on his back, standing beside Eric.

When Erik saw the little guy's words, he had a depressed look on his face, while on the other side, Donald Trump, who had specially come for a cameo, laughed out loud, looked at Stewart, and said, "What a funny little guy."

"Alright, anyway. Just remember, go to the entrance now, and we're ready to start." Eric said and walked towards the monitor while carrying the walkie-talkie, instructing the group scattered in the corridor to start burying their positions.

This long shot was not at all difficult for Stewart; with his pint-sized talent, just walking from the doorway through the hallway to the hall was no problem at all.

The hardest to come by are photographers and sound engineers.

Because it was a positive tracking shot lasting over half a minute, the cameraman, Nick, had to stoop and step back with the heavy camera while following the rhythm of the child. Therefore, although it was just a simple walking shot, it required at least five people to cooperate—the soundman, the cameraman, and several assistants. Along with the soundman and cameraman's movement, the lines connected to the microphone and camera had to be managed.

"Nigel, are you ready?" Eric walked up to the hotel lobby, where the director's monitor was set up, still holding the walkie-talkie to confirm one by one to everyone, and the walkie-talkie also occasionally sent out "ok" sounds.

Eric came near the monitor, and he saw a golden strand of hair faintly flashing behind the monitor. Eric quickly stepped forward and finally saw a little girl in a pink children's coat, lying behind the director's monitor and other equipment, curiously touching and looking around.

The little Lolita looks about ten years old, a bit taller than Stu, with a beautiful pink cartoon hair clip on her golden hair, beautiful bangs on her forehead, long eyelashes flashing twice from time to time, and a small pointed chin showing a hint of beauty.

When Eric looked at her, the little girl only glanced at him, still fiddling with what she was curious about, while the few staff members around her acted as if they didn't notice her.

What's going on? Has my position been unknowingly taken over by an alien from the planet Lolita?

"Hey, little one, who are you?" Eric stepped forward and blocked the little girl's hand that was reaching to press the button next to the monitor, while he couldn't help but reach out and pinch the chubby baby face of the little loli.

"Who are you again?" The little girl agilely dodged Eric's claws, looking at him warily.

Eric smiled and pointed to the seat behind the little girl, saying, "I'm the one who should be sitting there."

The little Lolita twisted her head, pouted her little mouth immediately, and disdainedly said, "Humph, why didn't you just say you were the director? Adults always like to beat around the bush."

"Okay, I'm Eric Williams. Can you tell me your name, little lady...Miss?" Eric said, reaching out to the little girl.

The little Lolita immediately stepped back with a disdainful face, not intending to shake hands with Eric at all. She raised her chin and said in a crisp, childish voice, "My name is Ivanka."

Eric raised an eyebrow: "Ivanka? Ivanka Trump?"

"Hmm." The little girl nodded.

Are you ready to join the exclusive club? Become a patron of mine on Patreon and you’ll get access to 10 chapters before anyone else. It’s a great way to show your support. Visit https://www.patreon.com/inhollywood to join today. Thank you!