The headquarters of Studio Ghibli is located in Koganei City, a suburb of Tokyo, only ten kilometers away from the Park Hyatt Hotel where Eric stayed.
From the outside, this is just an ordinary small building with a height of five or six floors.
It's already summer, and unknown green vines have covered the walls outside the small building, giving the white building a bit more vitality.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, in the open workshop on the third floor, Caroline politely thanked the staff who brought her a cup of coffee again. Although she knew that the animators around her were secretly looking at her, this time she But he wasn't shy, he just looked intently at the figure who was chatting with the director named Hayao Miyazaki in the cubicle not far away.
There is some pity in my heart.
He had the charisma and the gregarious skills to get acquainted with strangers in a minute, but she knew that he had never been a gregarious person.
It is only because of the position of the individual that he has to form this kind of personality that is like a split personality.
If possible, she knew that he would prefer to stay alone in a large empty house quietly, sitting at a messy desk full of documents, drafts and books to pass the whole day in silence.
Perhaps, it would be best to have another woman who is as quiet as a cat, with long legs, bare feet, wearing a white shirt, and a delicate face.
Nothing to desire, just embellishment.
She happened to see this situation when she went to the Angle Manor to deliver documents to him on a weekend. At that time, he was obviously much more relaxed than usual.
Now.
I really want to hug him.
Or, let him hug himself.
I also have some slight regrets, if I can speak Japanese, I can sit next to him and be closer to him like the translator invited by the company.
During this time, Caroline could clearly feel Eric's growing sense of insecurity. In fact, since getting acquainted with him, she has gradually understood that he has always been an insecure person in his bones. He seems to know the direction of the whole world well, but he can't see his own future clearly.
What Steve Mitnick said on the plane must have bothered him even more.
Those people are really disgusting.
Originally, Hayao Miyazaki was still very resistant when he heard Eric Williams suddenly coming to visit the studio. He didn't want his work to be disturbed, but he also knew that such things could not be refused. So I just hope that, as I have done many times in the past, I will receive him politely and then send this great man away.
However, after a short time together, Hayao Miyazaki discovered that Eric Williams was completely different from those who came to visit out of curiosity or admiration or other purposes.
This young man with a special status seems to be running to hide.
Although Eric Williams sent his next-door animator away to occupy the other's desk, it is still a bit uncomfortable, but as long as it doesn't make the whole studio unable to work, these details are still tolerable .
Then I politely chatted with the other party through the beautiful female translator sitting between the two of them.
Then I realized that the feeling of chatting with this young man was actually pretty good.
"Actually, I just want to make a story about pursuing the reason and strength of life. This society is becoming more and more impetuous, and people are becoming more and more numb. They don't know what they should pursue and how to live. However, it can be done in the end. I'm not sure what it will be, I can only do as much as possible according to my own goals."
Beside the desk, the animation master, who is about to be sixty years old, is concentrating on drawing the sketch in front of him, while explaining the work he is making in a gentle tone.
Eric also lowered his head, compared with the sketch left by the animator just now, holding a pencil and carefully depicting a scene of Chihiro in the boiler room, at the same time, as if chatting with an old friend, casually Said: "I think that most people can only see a bizarre adventure story, and you can't expect them to understand too much."
"This is enough. Audiences don't like preaching. It's just what we filmmakers need to do to deeply understand the meaning of some things. We integrate these things into our own works. If the audience is willing to interpret, Naturally better. If they don't want to, they can also see a good story."
"I'd rather just give them a simple story right now."
"Eric, you are too pessimistic."
"Maybe, if in a movie, I'm probably the kind of villain who thinks that human beings are not worth saving and chooses to destroy the world."
Hayao Miyazaki laughed: "Fortunately, you are living in reality. This is really everyone's luck."
Eric also smiled, handed over the draft page he had just drawn, and said, "Hey, Miyazaki, how about my drawing?"
Hayao Miyazaki took over the drawing. He didn't expect much at first, but after seeing it, he showed a surprised expression on his face: "It's great, Eric, but it's a bit realistic. If you can practice in the studio for three months, you will definitely become a Animators of the highest order."
"Why don't we discuss my salary now?"
"Forget it, it's more of a question of selling everyone in the house."
The three people in the cubicle all laughed, causing other people in the studio to look this way.
Realizing that the three of them had affected other people in the studio, Miyazaki quickly stopped his expression, lowered his head and drew a few strokes on the sketch in front of him, and then asked tentatively, "Why do you want to come to my place?"
"I'm your fan."
"You are not, Eric, you have lost your childlike innocence."
"Yeah, when Coyle told me that the company invested in your new movie, my first thought was how much money could I make this time?"
"I regret to tell you, Eric, that very few of my films make money."
"But they must be good movies that are still worth recalling after many years. That's enough. I'm actually a capitalist with a bit of artistic pursuit." Eric smiled, looked up to the side, and said, "I heard you Planning to retire?"
"I originally planned to retire, but later I felt that maybe I could do another one. After "Spirited Away" is finished, I really want to retire."
"Heh, what do you plan to do after retirement?"
Hayao Miyazaki was silent for a moment before he said, "Of course it's like an ordinary old man."
"Then it's better to keep going."
"I'm old, Eric, and I'm no longer as energetic as I was in my thirties and forties. I'm even worried that if I continue, I may die halfway through."
"In this way, you are also a pessimistic person. However, I still suggest that you continue to do it. People who give up their jobs will age faster, and it is completely meaningless. In fact, there are two old guys in Hollywood. , are older than you, maybe sixty or seventy years old, but they still insist on working and are ambitious. Every time I see them, I think they can work for another twenty years."
Hayao Miyazaki was obviously curious about the two old guys mentioned by Eric. The female translator sitting in the middle took the initiative to explain a few words. She obviously knew Redstone and Murdoch.
After listening to the female interpreter's explanation, Hayao Miyazaki still shook his head: "It's different, I'm really out of energy. I've been trying to do my best all my life, if I can't do half of it in the end, that would be too much." Bad. Fame for life."
"You don't have to worry about this at all. To put it seriously, even if you die halfway, as an artist's posthumous work, it's still very selling, and they will definitely finish it for you."
"Of course I know this, I'm just worried that they don't pay enough attention."
"Then I'll help you watch."
"Um?"
"I mean, if that unfortunate accident really happens, I'll watch it for you and let them finish it with their hearts." Eric said, glanced at the female translator sitting between the two, and said with a smile: "Hey, Miss Zuotian can testify."
Hayao Miyazaki finally put down the paintbrush in his hand, turned his head to look over, then looked at the bright-eyed female translator sitting beside him, and said, "Eric, are you serious?"
"Of course," Eric nodded, "I won't promise people easily."
"It doesn't make sense," Hayao Miyazaki shook his head, his expression moving, but hesitant, rubbing his hands on his pants habitually, and said, "We just met."
Eric laughed and said: "I'm a big shot, so naturally I have to do some unreasonable things occasionally to show my maverick.
Hayao Miyazaki also smiled, and sat back again, but picked up the sketch that Eric had just handed over again, examined it carefully, then picked up his pencil, hesitated, and said: "Ai Rick, when you come to Japan in the future, you can come and sit down again."
"must."
I stayed in Studio Ghibli for an afternoon, and after get off work, I was asked by Hayao Miyazaki to have dinner at a nearby restaurant before Eric got on the car back to the city center.
As night fell, the streets were already flickering with neon lights.
The buildings in Tokyo City are very dense, but there are not too many high-rise buildings. The black SUV walks through the streets, more like shuttling through a small county town. It wasn't until entering the Shinjuku area that I could occasionally see skyscrapers with lights in the dense building gaps.
Caroline sat next to Eric, and when she got into the car, the girl snuggled up like a kitten, hugged one of Eric's arms, and rested her head on his shoulder.
Eric stared at the neon lights outside the car window for a while, rubbed his head on Caroline's soft blond hair, and said with a smile: "It's a pity, usually in this posture, men can feel the softness. of a bunch."
"Eric, you're so bad," Caroline said lightly, but moved her body slightly, and said in a low voice, "What about now?"
"Well, I'll give you a passing grade."
Eric looked very reluctant, but Caroline curled her mouth and rested her head on Eric's shoulder again contentedly.
After escaping for a short time, one always has to face the surging reality.
As soon as they woke up the next day, everyone began to prepare for the Tokyo premiere of "Iron Man", so busy until ten o'clock in the evening, the work here was over.
The Tokyo premiere is only part of the promotional plan for "Iron Man" in Japan, and the film will be released simultaneously with North America again this time. After the premiere, the next work was continued by Budweiser's Japanese branch. Eric led the crew to board the plane to London non-stop.
The study room in the front cabin of Boeing 747.
"Eric, the CACI team has arrived in London. This is an established security company in California whose main business is information security. Miss Barrymore and Miss Murdoch's aircraft inspection work has begun. After we arrive, They can conduct a full investigation of the aircraft immediately, however, detailed inspection results will take about a week."
Compared with a simple trip to Japan, besides the London premiere on the 26th, Eric has many other things to do when he arrives in the UK, and he will need to stay for about a week.
So he nodded and continued to look at the list of candidates for "The Bourne Shadow" in his hand.
Mayer paused for a moment, saw that Eric had no objection, and continued: "Also, regarding secure mobile phones, Nokia Labs has a similar commercial secure mobile phone plan, but it has not entered the product line. Kelly found a Canadian company The company's products, the other party's main product is security mobile phones. I passed the information to Nokia's engineers for a look, and they recognized the company's technology. One of the engineers also suggested that Nokia should acquire this company if possible. company."
Eric raised his head this time: "Canadian mobile phone company?"
Mayer handed over a document and said, "Yes, this is the document."
Eric took it and opened it.
Blackberry, blackberry.
With a smile, Eric simply browsed through the documents and said, "Let Nokia make a detailed assessment report, and if possible, buy this company. In addition, if you can really ensure safety , not just at the top of the company, we can promote this phone throughout the company.”
"OK."
Mayer nodded and started jotting things down in a memo.
Eric raised the candidate list of "The Bourne" just now, turned to Caroline and said, "The others are okay, but I don't like Katie Holmes as the liaison officer Nikki. , this girl is too mediocre, and has absolutely no qualities that can be remembered by the audience, let them find someone else. In addition, there is also a heroine, several candidates are good, but let them add Naomi Watts Come in and see how the audition goes."
Caroline was a little puzzled: "Naomi Watts?"
"Nicole's best friend," Eric said with a smile, "Nicole called me, let her try, I also think she is quite suitable."
While chatting, the reminder of the video call sounded, Eric connected it at will, the screen on the wall lit up, and the girl's delicate face appeared in the video.
As soon as it was connected, the girl shook a black ashtray in her hand: "Eric, guess what this is?"
"Bug?"
"Well, is it so easy to guess?"
"Why don't you just tell me what's going on over there?"
"Okay," said this, the girl took another box and shook it in front of Eric, making a clattering sound, and said, "Look, these are all collected recently."