I'm in Hollywood

CHAPTER 21 - ANOTHER STARTING POINT

CHAPTER 21 – ANOTHER STARTING POINT
Posted on February 11, 2017 by Elawn

The 17 Again movie preview went very smoothly, both the 20th Century Fox executives, and cinema's representatives were unanimously optimistic about this campus comedy. For the Thanksgiving/Christmas period, if Eric hadn't appeared, the 20th Century Fox was originally planning on releasing the comedy Working Girl, starring Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver, on the 23rd of December.

Now, with 17 Again, their once empty Thanksgiving timetable was full. After discussion, they gave the OK for the movie to be released on November 18th which Eric found very satisfactory. He had searched through his memory and couldn't remember any interesting movie that had been released in November 1988, so it would be smooth-sailing for 17 Again. If it had been released in December, it would have to go against top grossing movies like Rain Man, Twins or Naked Gun.

Near noon, James brought Eric to a forty-year-old middle-aged man with rimmed glasses. This was the 20th Century Fox's head of the Distribution Department, director Carter Hunt. James introduced the two of them a bit before quickly leaving. Although he had a good relationship with Eric, he wouldn't go so far as to ask for favors' on his behalf.

"Hello, Mr. Hunt." Eric shook hands with the man, and the other politely praised Eric's performance in 17 Again.

However, once Eric explained his intentions to Carter Hunt, the latter immediately refused: "I'm sorry, Eric, this year's release schedule is already full, we can't afford to squeeze in a low-budget comedy, I'm really sorry."

The reason was definitely bullshit, if the movie had been directed by Spielberg instead, he was sure that Carter Hunt would be so happy he'd start jumping.

Although he had been rejected, Eric didn't give up: "Mr. Hunt, please take a look at it at least, I brought a copy, you only need to spend a little more than an hour to watch it, I guarantee you that this is a great movie."

Carter Hunt shook his head once more. A lot of small film companies tried to sell him those kind of stuff on a daily basis, especially now that it was the holidays period, since they lacked a distribution channel, they would constantly seek him out. Carter knew that those films had little to no commercial value, let alone the low-budget comedy of an eighteen-year-old, it was just a waste of time.

"Eric, you know, I'm very busy with work right now, and I have to go back to the headquarters this afternoon to handle the distribution of 17 Again. I'm sorry."

Eric was really unwilling and cheekily kept insisting a few times, before Carter Hunt lost his patience and found an excuse to send him away.

"Eric, how did it go ?" Penny asked once he returned.

Eric shook his head as he wryly smiled and Penny patted his shoulder before comforting: "Don't be discouraged, Eric. You know, many movie releases' cost even higher than the making of the movie itself, and if they don't get a good box office, the one to shoulder the responsibility would be the head of the Distribution Department, so you see, Carter has his own difficulties. I get that you made that movie with your own money, so after the release of 17 Again, while the hype is still ongoing, I could help you get back some of your money by releasing it direct-to-VHS. But after that I think you should focus more on acting and writing, you shouldn't let your talent go to waste."