From the driver's seat came the voice of Chloë Sevigny.
"Doesn't matter, just find a discreet hotel."
At that moment, the phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, Eric answered:
"Sorry, Gadot, I'll have to work late. Yes, I need to draft the shooting plan and review the footage. You'd better rest."
*Cough, cough.*
"What? You're asking whose voice that is? It's Patty, she just choked on her coffee."
"Oh no, the coffee spilled on the equipment. I need to fix it immediately."
Hanging up, Eric looked angrily at Sevigny:
"Madam, you did that on purpose!"
"Heh-heh, my throat was just tickling."
"Oh really? Then prepare some ice."
"Ice? Why? It won't help the throat."
"It will help reduce the swelling."
Sevigny burst out laughing:
"Is that really necessary?"
"Maybe not, but it's future preparation. You'll have to pay for this, madam!"
.....
The next day, as soon as Eric arrived on set, Chris Evans ran up to him holding several newspapers.
"Director, we've been caught!"
"What? We were so careful, and they still got us? Wait, was it because of those girls? I warned you about maintaining confidentiality—you're future stars."
"No, no, not about the bar. It's about yesterday's shoot."
Eric finally understood and took the newspapers. The entertainment sections featured images of exploding cars on their covers.
Flipping through, he saw that each newspaper focused on different aspects: the set, the actors, and even himself as the director.
But overall, there was nothing negative; the articles were neutral and fairly decent.
At that moment, Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot approached. Eric glanced at their faces but noticed nothing unusual.
"We tried so hard to keep everything hidden. Did it all get exposed?" Gadot asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, these things are inevitable. We can avoid the paparazzi, but we can't hide from the residents of these buildings," Eric pointed at the surrounding apartments.
"Yes, they can sell photos or videos to journalists. I've heard that some people even make a business out of it," added Patty.
"Well, let's not worry about the media. As long as there's no negative feedback, we can consider it free publicity."
Soon, Chloë arrived as well, but she was walking with noticeable discomfort.
"Sevigny, what's wrong with you?"
Chloë smiled awkwardly:
"I accidentally twisted my ankle last night."
Jenkins immediately wanted to call a doctor, but Sevigny quickly stopped her:
"I've already seen one; it's nothing serious. It'll pass soon."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, it won't affect the shoot. And I don't have any action scenes, *cough, cough*."
During the conversation, Chloë suddenly coughed a few more times.
Gal Gadot, standing nearby, frowned as she recognized the voice and looked at Sevigny intently.
Unfazed, Sevigny reached for a newspaper:
"Did something interesting happen?"
She took the paper and, while hiding behind it, lightly brushed her finger across Eric's palm.
Feeling the tickle, Eric gathered his thoughts and, opening a bottle of mineral water, said:
"Enough chatting; it's time to get to work!"
At the director's command, everyone took their positions.
Once he was sure no one was around, Eric called Patty over to the monitor.
"Eric, what's going on? You're being so mysterious."
"You know what I want to ask."
Their eyes met. Patty Jenkins covered her mouth with her hand, squinted, and smirked:
"Yes, you're safe, Director. I'm not one to gossip."
"Gadot just asked if I was working with you last night. What was I supposed to say? But please, don't use me as a cover in the future."
Eric gave her a thumbs up:
"You're a great woman!"
"No, I don't want to be great. I just don't want minor issues delaying the shoot."
"Absolutely. That's why I'm adding a million dollars to *Monster*."
Patty's eyes lit up:
"Really? Then please, use me as a cover more often. I love covering for others."
Eric thought she had a point. He wasn't worried that Gadot would cause a scandal—they weren't in a relationship. But if her mood soured and it affected the shoot, that would be a problem.
From his experience, he knew that younger actresses often acted on emotion, unlike the Olsen sisters or Sevigny, who had been in the business for years and could laugh such things off.
The filming of *Transformers* continued, while photos and videos from the set were actively discussed online.
The main topic of discussion was whether Eric Cooper really knew how to direct movies.
When MGM announced the director's name a month ago, it sparked a wave of mockery among fans. But after the release of the visual effects footage, everyone started anticipating the movie again, and interest in the director himself subsided a bit.
Then, when photos surfaced online of Eric commanding the set with a megaphone, everything flared up again. The audience was puzzled.
Online debates erupted: some saw it as a PR stunt, while others hailed Eric as a genius.
The media, of course, couldn't miss this opportunity. And who better to answer the question than renowned Hollywood directors?
The paparazzi began hunting down famous filmmakers. First on the list was Steven Spielberg, the box office king. Taking off his glasses and recalling their meeting with Eric on the set of *Catch Me If You Can*, he said:
"Yes, I've seen the news. Eric Cooper really does have directorial skills."
"From my perspective, directing takes years to master, but there are geniuses in this world. And that cannot be denied!"
Journalists also caught up with the Wachowski brothers, who were working on *The Matrix*. Their schedule didn't overlap with MGM's, so they didn't mind commenting.
Larry Wachowski said:
"I don't know Eric Cooper personally, but I know his father, Charlie Cooper. He's a very talented man."
Andy Wachowski added:
"Yes, we want to say that talent runs in the Cooper family. Eric is an Ivy League graduate, and that's where gifted and creative people go."
The Coen brothers, known for their mastery in the detective genre, also gave a brief interview. Their opinion was unique:
"Maybe it's a joke. Maybe Eric Cooper taught himself to direct, and no one noticed."
"These videos prove his abilities. If you want the truth, dig deeper."
"Look for his friends, his classmates. The answers are there."
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