In the restaurant, Ronan and Jessica Philton sat facing each other, savoring some delicious steaks.
"Ah..."
A soft exclamation came from Jessica Philton as a small piece of meat slipped from her mouth, which would typically fall downwards under normal circumstances. But as a woman who couldn't see her own feet when she looked down, tragedy struck as the meat landed on her substantial bosom, staining her pristine white t-shirt.
"Here we go again." Jessica Philton picked up the small piece of meat, threw it onto the table, and complained, "This happens every time we eat."
Ronan glanced at the conspicuous stain on her bosom, and couldn't help but speculate about Jessica Philton's perpetually unkempt chest... no, the clothes on her chest. It led him to a conclusion: while others might drop food occasionally while eating, it would typically fall downwards. But for Jessica Philton, unable to see her feet, the food only had one direction to go - straight into the bosom.
Ah, the woes of having a large bosom.
With a sigh, Ronan pulled out a napkin and handed it to Jessica Philton. "Do you want to wipe it off?"
Jessica Philton looked down and smiled sheepishly. "Thank you."
Taking the napkin, she gently wiped the t-shirt stained by her elevated bosom.
Perhaps due to its naturally soft texture, as she wiped the grease off her t-shirt, those two large masses trembled and jiggled uncontrollably.
Ronan quickly picked up his water glass and took a sip, diverting his gaze to Jessica Philton's face with its smooth, tan complexion, forcibly suppressing the memory of her disheveled appearance.
"How much longer until the editing is finished?" Ronan asked.
Jessica Philton put down the napkin and thought for a moment before replying, "It'll take some more time." She explained, "You want to maintain a horror atmosphere while keeping the DV selfie effect authentic. Editing is more challenging than I anticipated."
Suddenly remembering something, Ronan added, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, edit a five-minute clip focusing on the Blair Witch and the disappearance of the two college students."
"No problem," Jessica Philton replied initially, then asked, "Are you planning to use it for promotion?"
Ronan nodded lightly. "Yes."
Curious, Jessica Philton asked, "Are you trying to capitalize on the disappearances?"
Though a tech enthusiast, her mind was far from dull. Only someone with skill could handle such intricate editing work.
"It's confidential," Ronan reminded her. "Don't forget, we've signed non-disclosure agreements."
Understanding the implication behind his words, Jessica Philton replied, "Of course, I'll keep it confidential. I'm too broke to afford any penalties." She then added, "Are you really planning to exploit disappearances?"
Ronan shrugged. "Two actors have gone missing, I'm just planning to get all of North America to help find them."
"Is this false advertising?" Jessica Philton inquired.
Ronan shook his head. "It's a business strategy, not false advertising."
In business, there's no room for falsehoods.
Jessica Philton wasn't foolish; she went straight to the point. "Don't put my name in the credits for this film."
"Don't worry," Ronan reassured her. "This is a self-shot DV recording after editing. It's not a movie, so there won't be any credits for cast or crew."
If the film listed directors, producers, or actors, it would be an admission of guilt.
Jessica Philton voiced her concern, "Will it pass the unions and the MPAA?"
"The MPAA is manageable; worst-case scenario, we'll rate it R," Ronan wiped his mouth with a napkin, then remembered Jessica Philton had just wiped her chest with it, pushed it aside, and continued, "The Directors Guild has regulations for opening and closing credits, but none of the people involved in this film are union members, so we don't have to abide by their strict rules."
Back then, the opening credits of "Star Wars" didn't comply with the Directors Guild's regulations, and since George Lucas refused to change them, he simply quit the Directors Guild altogether to ensure the film could be released.
To this day, George Lucas remains a non-union member.
After discussing the editing of "The Blair Witch," Ronan remembered the lack of talent under his command and asked, "Jessica, do you have any long-term plans for your career?"
Without hesitation, Jessica Philton replied, "Editing."
Ronan earnestly advised, "I think you should broaden your horizons and think more long-term."
Jessica looked at Ronan, not quite understanding his meaning, and asked, "Isn't being an editor great?"
"Editing is crucial in post-production," Ronan had seen Jessica Philton's dedication and attitude towards her work. As a tech enthusiast with a knack for it, she likely had untapped potential. "You'll likely work on more film projects in the future, maybe even top-tier productions. You might need a team to assist you. Don't you want to build a team?"
Jessica Philton directly replied, "No, because I don't have the money to pay others."
"Salaries can be handled by hiring a crew," Ronan didn't give up. "As a post-production supervisor, you could still oversee editing and wield greater authority."
Understanding Ronan's point, Jessica Philton scratched her head. "Are you suggesting I should aim to become a producer?"
Ronan nodded. "A technically-oriented producer, which aligns with your interests." He pondered for a moment before adding, "Think further ahead, you could take Catherine Kennedy as a model."
Catherine Kennedy started as Steven Spielberg's secretary and assistant. She gradually climbed the ladder from assistant producer to producer, working on numerous blockbuster films such as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," the "Back to the Future" trilogy, "Jurassic Park," "Twister," and many more. She's one of the most successful female producers in Hollywood.
After George Lucas retired, she became the head of Lucasfilm.
"I never thought about that," Jessica Philton scratched her face. "I've been so focused on studying editing techniques; I haven't considered long-term goals."
Ronan continued, "Jessica, you're a career-oriented woman. You should set yourself a long-term career plan."
Jessica Philton nodded. "I'll seriously consider it once I finish editing this film."
After finishing lunch together, they returned to Warner Bros. Studios. Instead of heading to the office building, Ronan went straight to the studio where "Final Destination" was being filmed.
The pre-production phase of the project was nearing completion, and filming would officially begin soon.
Ronan found the director, James Huang. "Are there any difficulties?"
James Huang wasn't one to beat around the bush. He replied directly, "Funding! To achieve the desired shooting effects, the budget may exceed our estimates."
Ronan was prepared for this. "Keep it under control," he reminded James Huang. "I can handle going over budget, but not by too much. I can't justify it to the investors if it's too high."
James Huang pulled out the latest plan and looked it over. "I've estimated it roughly; it won't exceed $2 million."
Ronan, knowing the importance of supporting the director, didn't hesitate. "Okay, James, $17 million. I'll take responsibility for the extra funds. But I can't do more than that."
James Huang immediately smiled. "Thank you for your support, Ronan."
"But I have a condition," Ronan wouldn't make a deal that wasn't profitable. "You have to direct the sequel to 'The Purge 2,' and if there's a sequel to 'Final Destination' in the future, you have to direct it as well."
James Huang scratched his dark hair. "Ronan, this... it's too far off; you should talk to my agent."
Ronan didn't persuade further; instead, he asked, "James, if you were to pursue projects with major studios, could you get the same level of support I'm offering?"
James Huang remained silent. Although the producer of the film crew was Ronan, he rarely interfered with his normal work. Financially, he almost always granted requests, but directors at his level didn't have it as easy.
However, such promises couldn't be made lightly. James Huang pondered for a long time before saying, "Ronan, I'm very grateful for your support, for making my dream into a film. In the next two years, under the same conditions, I'll prioritize working with you."