In China, secretly recorded videos generally cannot be used as evidence.
Even if the video content is extremely favorable to you, the premise of secret recording has already violated the privacy and other rights of the person being secretly recorded, so courts generally do not accept it.
Similarly, there is no such profession as a private detective in China. All individuals and organizations operating under the guise of private detectives who engage in secret filming, stalking, doxxing, and other such activities have already broken the law.
However, in the United States, the opposite is true.
Let alone private detectives, American police departments have salaried public detectives. For example, the Chinese-American detective Dr. Henry Lee can be understood as this type.
And private detectives are even more numerous. Because of their faster efficiency, their business is quite booming.
They not only handle civil cases like infidelity and catching adulterers, but also criminal cases such as murder, rape, theft, and domestic violence.
Moreover, private detectives have many methods for investigation and evidence collection, including surveillance, wiretapping, and secret video recording.
Because the purpose and premise of using illegal means are for the success of the case, as long as it does not involve hard violence like assault or detention, or coercion and duress, the actions of private detectives are allowed, and the evidence obtained can be accepted by the court.
So, even though this video was secretly recorded, it still has legal validity.
To get this video, Michael Dobbs must have put in a lot of effort, and the shooting angle was so perfect, with only Martin Bashir's face visible. It was definitely a specially constructed trap.
And getting this old politician to help would not have come cheap.
Eric didn't want to ask how it was specifically handled and directly said, "Billy, how much did it cost? Report it to finance, you choose the reason."
Billy nodded: "Also, I gave Michael Dobbs the house of cards script you sent me."
"He was very satisfied after reading it, praising the adaptation as excellent and eagerly hoping to see the finished film soon."
"And regarding the content about Princess Diana, Michael Dobbs requested that it not be released, and that only the part about Michael Jackson be made public."
"Why?" Eric asked.
"Eric, that's Princess Diana, the Princess beloved by the entire Commonwealth. That interview back then had too great an impact."
"Not only on Princess Diana herself, but also on the face of the entire British Royal Family. That interview tore apart the royal family's fig leaf, causing serious repercussions."
"Especially since Princess Diana passed away just one year after divorcing Prince Charles, there are too many conspiracy theories circulating about her death."
"Michael Jackson is just an entertainer, Princess Diana is a political figure. They are completely different."
"Michael Dobbs is worried about getting implicated?" Eric mused.
"It should be. In any case, that's his request."
Eric put away the USB drive: "Understood, I'll pay attention to it."
After sending Billy off, he picked up the phone. It had been so long, and Dan Jones hadn't given any news. This woman really didn't take her client seriously.
It rang for a long time before the call connected.
"Boss, calling so late at night, what can I do for you?" Dan Jones's lazy voice came from the other end.
Eric said sternly: "If I don't call, you won't take the initiative, will you?"
"Hehe, impatient? Don't rush, I'll come find you once I complete the task."
"How long will that take? There isn't much time left until the Michael Jackson case goes to court. If you can't do it, I have to replace you promptly."
"Cough, cough."
Hearing Eric mention replacing her, Dan Jones coughed a few times, then adopted a serious tone: "How about this, I'll come to MGM tomorrow to see you and report on the progress."
"You have results?"
"Partial results, but at least enough to let you know your money wasn't wasted."
"Alright, tomorrow at 3 PM, wait for me in the office."
The next day, after breakfast, Eric headed straight to the set.
Today was the final scene for blue is the warmest color, and filming would wrap up after it was shot.
As people gradually arrived, everyone was in an excited state for work.
Although more than a month of filming wasn't long, according to company regulations, they could take a few days off after wrapping up, and who wouldn't love a holiday?
Ashley and Mary held the script, familiarizing themselves with the last lines, Andrea patrolled back and forth on the set, while Neill Blomkamp directed the set dressing.
"Director, we can start filming!" Andrea's voice came through the walkie-talkie.
Eric picked up the megaphone and shouted: "blue is the warmest color, Scene 45, action!"
The last scene wasn't difficult; it was just a simple dialogue, placed in the middle of the movie's plot.
Filming a movie isn't like acting in one; there's no need to follow the sequence. What to shoot first and what to shoot later mainly depends on which scene is more convenient.
Some actors might have a tragic death scene as their first scene on set, and their last scene might be everyone laughing and eating hotpot.
In the shot, Ashley and Mary leaned against each other, standing in front of a drawing board, admiring the graffiti.
Anyway, Eric called it graffiti. These were artworks bought by the props team, each worth hundreds of dollars, but he couldn't understand what made them noble at all.
"This painting is in the style of Gauguin, I imitated it. Do you know Gauguin? He's a French Impressionist master."
"This painting is in the style of Repin, it's my friend's. If you look at these two paintings, you'll find they are completely different, because Repin's style is more realistic, and he is Russian."
Emma, played by Mary, pointed to the collected artworks and introduced them one by one, as if recounting precious treasures. Her eyes were filled with light, making it clear at a glance that she was a girl who deeply loved art.
In contrast, Adele, played by Ashley, came from an ordinary background: an ordinary family, ordinary parents, attending an ordinary school, and working an ordinary job.
Her face revealed confusion and bewilderment. She understood nothing about art and wasn't interested in it, only mechanically listening to her lover's narration.
From this, it can be seen that their lives were completely different; they were people from two different worlds.
Their love stemmed from a fleeting glance, from the stirring of hormones, from love at first sight.
However, for people from two different worlds to stay together long-term, hormones alone are not enough; they also need common support, and they happened to have nothing in common.
People with different levels of sophistication can fall in love at first sight, but they cannot stay together forever.
Eating ravenously when hungry, crying loudly when sad, wanting to be loved when lonely, arguing when there's a rift, and breaking up after the pain—this is Adele's life, and it's the life of all ordinary people.
Under the camera, the Olsen Sisters precisely expressed this emotion, and this scene passed in one take.
Eric picked up the microphone he had just put down and shouted again: "Excellent! That scene is a wrap!"
He looked around, and finally, amidst everyone's expectant gazes, he said: "I announce that blue is the warmest color has wrapped!"
"Yeah!"
The set immediately erupted in cheers, and everyone clapped and applauded.
Eric walked up to Judy: "The movie's done, now get back to work properly."
He walked up to the gaffer: "Great job, Yellen!"
Then he went to the cameraman and gave a thumbs-up: "Hard work, Karl!"
Continuing to the sound department: "Lynne, your ability has truly opened my eyes!"
Then he went to the props team: "Volundir, you're a great captain, everyone did wonderfully!"
Like the leader of a praise group, Eric complimented everyone in the crew. He started as a basic gaffer and deeply understood the hardships of the lower-level staff.
Finally, he came to Andrea: "Andrea, I must thank you properly. You kept the crew running smoothly while I was away."
The British female director smiled: "It's nothing, Director. Mainly, your script was very detailed, so I didn't need to think too much."
"Hehe, what are your plans next?"
Andrea thought for a moment: "Nothing yet. I really didn't expect the movie to be filmed so quickly. It feels like I woke up and it was over. To be honest, it's a bit sudden, I'm not ready yet."
"Have you ever thought about directing your own film?"
Andrea slowly began: "I have, but I feel my abilities are still insufficient, so I want to start with short films. I'm afraid a big screen film would make investors lose money."
Eric burst into laughter: "There aren't many directors like you who are so willing to consider investors. Who doesn't want more money?"
"Mainly because I don't want to get a bad reputation. It's for the long term, you know."
"Hmm, how about this, would you be my assistant director one more time?"
"So fast? You're starting a new project already?" Andrea was a bit surprised.
"A political thriller TV series. We'll partner up again. I trust your abilities."
Hearing this, Andrea hesitated: "But Director, I still want to save time to prepare my script."
"Don't worry, I work very fast, as you've seen."
"This show will likely start filming in about a month, and the estimated filming time will be similar to blue is the warmest color, or perhaps a bit longer, at most two months."
"In short, you'll have plenty of preparation time this year. The short film will start shooting next year, and MGM will invest in it for you."
Eric directly offered the temptation of investment. It was just a short film, and he had money!
Sure enough, Andrea instantly gave in. No matter how reserved you are, you'll succumb to the old man's financial offensive.
"Then it's settled. I'll give you half a month off, and then come to me for the script to participate in the preparations, okay?"
"No problem, I also need to go back to England."
"It's a deal!"
People on the set gradually left until Neill Blomkamp invited Eric to a party, but he declined.
He just made a symbolic invitation, after all, who would want to party with their boss? It would just be awkward. The guy happily left with a bunch of people.
At this moment, only Eric and the Olsen Sisters remained on the huge set.
Eric said, "Go close all the doors."
Mary looked at him with a smile: "Why close the doors? You're not thinking of doing something bad here, are you?"
"Bad things? No, what I want to do is something romantic!"
With that, he turned off the lights in the studio, and the three of them were plunged into darkness.
"Eric, what are you doing?" Ashley asked.
At this moment, the lights suddenly came on, but they weren't fluorescent lights; they were movie lights.
Eric adjusted the background projector, and the light instantly transformed into a brilliant starry sky projected onto the studio ceiling, as beautiful as being in the universe.
"OMG!" The two sisters exclaimed simultaneously.
Eric fiddled with the effect lights again, and a shimmering curtain of light instantly enveloped the entire scene. Aside from the lack of actual rain, it was no different from being in a misty drizzle.
"How is it now? Is this scene romantic enough?"
Ashley ran over in a few steps, her petite body suddenly throwing itself at Eric.
One of them was nearly 190cm tall, the other less than 160cm. Eric caught her with one hand, then performed a Latin wrap, holding her at his waist.
He used the same technique to hold Mary, and the two sisters hung like pendants on either side of Eric's body.
"How come I feel like a dad with his daughters?" Eric kissed them both repeatedly.
Mary hooked his neck and whispered: "Really? Do you like being called Daddy?"
Eric's heart skipped a beat, unashamedly nodding: "Trying it out wouldn't be so bad."
Hearing this, Ashley bit his earlobe and whispered: "Daddy, want to know what's under my clothes?"
On the other side, Mary pressed her leg against Little Eric and rubbed: "This little pervert is getting bigger and bigger. What is he craving?"
"Uh, I think he needs a sense of being enveloped right now."
"Hehe, what a coincidence, Little Mary needs a sense of tightness right now."
Spreading out the pre-prepared blanket, their already light clothes instantly scattered, and the three of them rolled together naked.
The brilliant lights shone on them, and an intoxicating aura drifted through the air.
Human pyramids, sandwiches—moments later, the ground was already wet in one spot.
MGM Building, Eric sat in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.
This body was still young. If it were before his transmigration, after lunch, Eric would have to take a walk and then a nap.
If he didn't take a nap, he wouldn't last the evening. After thirty, his body was hollowed out, he really couldn't take it anymore.
However, Americans generally don't have the habit of taking naps. They have an hour and a half for lunch and rest, then continue working.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded, and Chen Xing led Dan Jones in.
After instructing not to be disturbed, Eric said, "Have a seat."
Only the two of them remained in the office. The woman opened her black bag and took out something that looked like a lipstick.
Seeing this, Eric was a bit speechless, thinking, *What are you doing putting on makeup here, trying to seduce me?*
Although this woman had some looks, he had already been 'juiced' three times by Ashley and Mary that morning, so he was a bit swollen and in a 'Buddha-like' state.
Dan Jones glanced at him: "Boss, I know what you're thinking, but the lipstick is just its disguise. In reality, it's a wiretap."
As she spoke, she operated it, and a sound immediately came from the lipstick.
"Hiss."
Eric leaned back strategically, filled with awe.
You thought it was a razor, but it's actually a hair dryer!