After attending the production meeting, Simon spent the next few days revising the script.
Although he is working from home, Simon cannot slack off at all. The crew would come over every day to take away Simon's revised draft, and David Giller and Brian De Palma would frequently communicate with Simon on various details by phone.
The main creators of "The Butterfly Effect" have been confirmed, and all funds have been secured. Therefore, the production cycle is very fast, and filming is expected to start in early October.
Simon needs to complete revisions to the second version of the script within the next three weeks. Then, one week before the filming of the film started, Simon needed to adjust and revise some details of the script again based on the specific preparation status of the project. These were the two script revision tasks involved in Simon's contract with Fox.
After completing these tasks, Fox will gradually pay the remaining balance of US$60,000, and Simon has fully fulfilled his contract. During future filming, if the producer wants to revise the script again, they will need to re-sign the contract and pay additional remuneration.
While he was busy revising the script of "The Butterfly Effect", Simon also did not give up preparations for "Run Lola Run".
After being introduced by David Giller, Simon spent $3,000 to hire a production assistant to help him complete the detailed budget sheet for "Lola Run".
Simon originally wanted to do this job himself, intending to gain some experience.
The memories in my mind all come from professional technical talents. Although Simon had some production experience in his previous life, he was not suitable for Hollywood. This aspect can be said to be one of Simon's shortcomings.
It is precisely because of this that after Simon misremembered the budget cost of "Lola Run", although he noticed something was wrong, he still continued to work on it.
Fortunately, the results were pretty good.
It seems a bit helpless to give up making the film budget table myself.
The subsequent revisions of "The Butterfly Effect" will take a total of one month. If Simon had to complete the very trivial film budget table himself, it might also take another month. Then, raising funds, assembling the crew, selecting actors, etc., will take at least another month or two.
Even if everything goes well and everything is ready, it is likely to be December by then, with Christmas and New Year’s Day approaching. In order to avoid frequent production shutdowns that increase the budget, Simon can only postpone it until after the year.
Now, it’s all done for $3,000.
Simon works for a month and can get $60,000. It only costs $3,000 to hire a production assistant for a month.
The price/performance ratio is quite high.
Simon also realized that the best way is to work hard for others.
He gave up the idea of doing everything himself, and revised the script of "The Butterfly Effect" and prepared for "Run Lola Run" without delay. As long as the funds can be obtained, the film can be launched in October and will be screened at next year's Sundance Film Festival as planned by Simon. Thoroughly done before.
Simon worked hard for two weeks, and good news came from David Giller. Orion Pictures was very interested in "Run Lola Run", and it happened that Brian De Palma's house was planning to host it this Saturday. At a cocktail party, Orion Pictures President Mike Medowa agreed to take time to chat with Simon at the cocktail party.
Since he was going to attend a formal occasion, Simon made a special trip out on Saturday morning and bought a formal suit and leather shoes.
Near noon, Simon had just returned to the villa in Montana and was trying on the outfit he bought in the morning when the doorbell rang.
Today was not a working day, and Simon didn't know many people. He ran to open the door with some confusion, and then saw Janet Johnston standing in front of the door carrying a handbag.
The woman looked obviously more beautiful today. She was wearing a pink knee-length skirt and white leggings sandals, which made her whole person look more playful and girlish.
However, Simon had already deeply realized the little terror that this exquisite appearance might collapse at any time. He glanced at the woman in front of the door, then looked around, and subconsciously asked: "Where is Catherine?"
Janet was very dissatisfied with Simon's absent-minded attitude, but she had dressed up well. Where are you looking? Hearing Simon's question, he became even more angry: "How interesting, Kate and I are not conjoined."
Simon nodded helplessly and had the urge to close the door casually. After thinking about the consequences, he gave up. He turned sideways and let Janet in. Then he asked, "Jenny, do you have anything to do with me?"
Janet didn't answer immediately, and walked around in the empty living room, blinking her big eyes and asking Simon innocently: "Where is the furniture?"
The house rented for $2,700 a month was actually empty. Auntie, you have the nerve to ask this, but your conscience doesn’t hurt
Simon complained secretly and spread his hands angrily: "Yes, where is the furniture?"
If it's your own house, it doesn't matter if it's empty. Just slowly decorate and add to it. But this is a rented house, and Simon is a bachelor, so he really doesn't have much thought to take care of it.
After moving in, Simon simply added a few necessary furniture such as desks, chairs, wardrobes and mattresses, leaving other places empty.
During this period, Simon even contacted a real estate agent and tried to sublet the house. However, the few potential tenants immediately gave up the idea of leasing when they heard that not only was there no furniture in the villa, but the asking price was so high.
Now, Simon can only wait patiently until the one-year contract expires, and then check out.
Janet didn't seem to feel Simon's resentment, but she became happy in the blink of an eye: "But that's good, it just so happens that we can redecorate this place together."
Simon caught one word suspiciously: "We?"
Janet said enthusiastically: "Yes, Simon and Janet. Doesn't it sound a lot like Bonnie and Clyde?"
Simon nodded, took a step forward, put his hand on Janet's back: "Come on."
Feeling Simon's broad palm gently pushing her forward, Janet's fair face suddenly turned red. She moved obediently with Simon's strength and said: "You little bastard, it's noon now. But, well, in the basement, actually Not bad either.”
Simon felt a black line drifting past his eyes, came to the door, opened the door and pushed the woman out, saying: "Jenny, I'm glad you can come. Goodbye."
Janet stood blankly at the door, blinked a few times, then turned around and looked fixedly at Simon standing inside the door, with a weird look like I'm just watching whether you dare to close the door.
Simon really didn't dare to close the door. After a moment of confrontation, he was defeated and started again: "Hi, Jenny, why are you here?"
Janet glanced at Simon with a look of disdain, then re-entered the door, pulled out a sixteen-fold picture frame from her handbag, handed it to Simon and said, "Here, you coward."
All right.
It seems that I have another title.
Simon thought so, took the picture frame, and found that it was a very poor pastel painting. Several strange little people with alien qualities were standing hand in hand on the grass, surrounded by flowers and trees, with the sun and moon high above their heads. hang.
The whole painting is clearly the work of a child.
Later, after noticing a few lines of small words on the lower right side of the picture, Simon realized that this was a very special letter of thanks from UNICEF. Thanks to Simon for generously donating US$500,000 to the foundation. This painting is also from a Latin American child in need who will be rescued.
The $500,000 is obviously the compensation Simon received from Matthew Broderick some time ago.
At that time, Simon casually gave it to Catherine and asked her to donate it for him. Although "Run Lola Run" is currently short of funds, Simon has not regretted his original move at all. He has never regarded the money as something he should have. If Janet hadn't sent this painting today, Simon would have almost forgotten about it.
Janet waited for Simon to look at it for a moment before speaking again, with a much normal tone, and said: "Actually, there are some receipts and the like, but I guess you are not interested, so I just threw them away. I framed this painting myself, why? Sample?"
Simon nodded and said, "Very good. Hang it up later. It will be a little bit of decoration in this room."
"That's it, my work is done."
Janet said, taking the picture frame from Simon's hand again, looking around, and found that there happened to be an inconspicuous little hook on the wall facing the door in the living room, which should have been left by the previous residents of this house. So I walked over and hung up the picture frame in my hand.
After taking a few steps back to look at him for a moment, and nodding with satisfaction, Janet walked towards Simon again, took his arm and said, "Okay, let's go have lunch, your treat."
Simon was forcibly dragged out by Janet, and weakly suggested: "Actually, there is still pasta in the kitchen that I cooked last night, which is enough for the two of us."
"Don't worry, I'll help you empty it when I get back."
"Um, is it okay if you don't come back?"
"Kate went to Arizona. I'm scared to live alone in Malibu. I'll stay with you for the next few days."
“Jenny, it’s not good for you to be like this.”
Janet patted Simon gently: "Okay, I'm kidding you, you courageous little boy."
The two walked out of the villa, and the woman's burgundy Ford was parked on the roadside. Simon rarely went out during these days, so he didn't find time to buy a car. At this time, he could only drive Janet's car out to eat.
Opening the car door, Janet proactively gave up the driver's seat to Simon and guided the boy all the way to a French restaurant near Brentwood Country Club.
After sitting down in the restaurant, Janet suddenly realized that Simon was wearing a very formal shirt, trousers and brand new leather shoes. Prior to this, Simon had always dressed casually in T-shirts and jeans. Simon is a typical dresser, and the formal attire he is currently wearing does not make anyone feel strange at all. Janet, who is a bit nervous, has not noticed much just now.
Now that she discovered this change, Janet naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Then, Simon had an additional female companion who wanted to rush to the cocktail party with him tonight.