With the film wrapped, Simon began to focus on post-production.
Next year's Sundance Film Festival starts on January 16th, and counting from November 14th, 'Run Lola Run' only has exactly two months for post-production.
During the filming process, Simon got along very well with most of the crew members, and they even agreed to collaborate again if the opportunity arose in the future. However, to save money, Simon immediately disbanded the crew after filming concluded.
In the following days, only Kathryn and Janette remained by Simon's side to assist him with post-production, while other necessary behind-the-scenes personnel were only temporarily hired by Simon.
Despite such careful budgeting, in reality, because Simon single-handedly took on a large number of roles originally in the budget, such as cinematographer, editor, and composer, the leftover production funds for 'Run Lola Run' were actually still very ample.
Janette specifically calculated that out of the $650,000 budget, it was highly likely that less than $600,000 would ultimately be spent.
However, Simon did not become extravagant because of this.
For a film to succeed, excellent production is one aspect, and post-production promotion and distribution are equally important.
Simon had not considered handling the promotion and distribution of 'Run Lola Run' independently, separate from other film studios, as this was simply unrealistic for him at the moment. However, the extra tens of thousands of dollars would certainly come in handy during future promotional efforts.
Since editing had already begun during the production process, Simon only needed two weeks after filming wrapped to completely finish the rough cut of the film's footage. As December began, while continuing with fine-cutting, Simon also started working on the soundtrack for 'Run Lola Run'.
The musical style of 'Run Lola Run' is primarily fast-paced electronic music. Although Simon could compose the music, the actual recording required a professional band. WMA also represented a very large group of musicians, so Simon did not encounter too much obstruction in this regard.
Busy with all this, time unknowingly brought them to the end of the year.
Outside Simon's villa in the Montana district.
Today was already December 23rd.
Kathryn parked the car by the roadside and approached the villa door. Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, the door opened, and Simon appeared at the entrance, chatting in a low voice with another slightly overweight man in his early thirties.
Kathryn nodded to Simon and then greeted the man, "Good afternoon, John, I didn't expect you to come over today?"
The man named John, carrying a briefcase, smiled and nodded, "Yes, Ms. Bigelow, I was just about to leave. Also, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so happy holidays".
Kathryn also said, "You too, happy holidays".
As they spoke, Kathryn and Simon walked the man to the roadside. After watching him drive away, they entered the villa together.
Last month, several animated segments in 'Run Lola Run' were also completed. While everything else was fine, Simon was dissatisfied with the 2D animation effect of the opening sequence where a crowd gathers to form the film's title, 'Run Lola Run', and planned to re-do it using 3D technology.
In this era, there weren't many companies producing 3D animation.
After some inquiries, Simon finally contacted a 3D animation studio in San Francisco, a well-known one called Pixar. The man who had just left was John Lasseter, the vice president of Pixar.
Pixar was originally the animation department of Lucasfilm. George Lucas, entangled in his divorce, was forced to sell his assets. Coincidentally, Steve Jobs, who founded NeXT Computer after leaving Apple, was very interested in Pixar and bought the company at the beginning of this year.
Jobs originally hoped that Pixar's animation technology would boost sales of NeXT's graphics computers, but reality was not as he wished. To sustain Pixar's operations, the studio had to accept orders for animated commercials and similar projects from external clients.
Simon and Pixar had finalized the 10-second 3D opening sequence production plan at the beginning of the month, and John Lasseter had just personally delivered the finished product.
Walking into the living room, Kathryn saw a pile of documents and design drafts scattered on the coffee table. She naturally went to tidy them up, saying, "I'm going back to San Francisco soon. What about you?"
Simon casually sat on the armrest of the sofa, enjoying the sight of the woman busy, and said with a smile, "How about you take me home? You can introduce me however you like".
Kathryn rolled her eyes at Simon and said, "Jeanne wanted to take you back to Australia a few days ago, why didn't you go?"
"I'm afraid of flying".
"I'm flying this time too. Last time I just couldn't get a ticket".
"Oh, it seems I'm suddenly not so afraid anymore".
Kathryn listened to Simon's roguish tone, raised the files in her hand, and patted his knee with them before continuing to organize. However, after a moment's hesitation, the woman still softly said, "You, do you really want to come back with me?"
Simon felt Kathryn's tone become serious, and her face even flushed slightly. He quickly shook his head and said, "No, I'm not ready yet".
Christmas is a time for family reunions for Westerners, and Simon knew he was far from being at a stage to go home with Kathryn; doing so would be too abrupt.
Imagining Simon possibly being alone and lonely tomorrow night, Kathryn had originally softened. Hearing his refusal, the woman sighed with relief but also felt a faint sense of disappointment.
Averting her gaze from the young man beside her, Kathryn placed the tidied documents on the coffee table and said, "Well, I might not come back until after the New Year".
"Understood," Simon nodded, then earnestly cautioned, "And, on the plane, absolutely do not respond to any advances from your seatmate".
Kathryn glared at Simon, but a smile played on her lips: "You think everyone else is as shameless as you are".
Janette had gone back to Australia a few days ago, and after seeing Kathryn off, Los Angeles suddenly felt empty.
He had been doing audio editing recently, but there was no work the next day.
Most people were resting; staying cooped up in the studio would feel a bit too desolate.
He spent the morning busy, decorating the villa inside and out just like other homes, even stringing lights on the roof, and bought a Christmas tree.
He did receive a few calls inviting him to celebrate Christmas together, but he politely declined them all.
In the afternoon, he drove to the market again to shop, and also took some time to visit the motel where he had stayed when he first arrived in Los Angeles, bringing a box of pumpkin pie for the Spanish old man.
He knew Diago's children were all grown and married, and he was celebrating the holiday with just his wife. Seeing Simon, he looked very pleased, claiming he was looking forward to his movie, and even opened the box of pumpkin pie on the spot to taste it, praising it repeatedly.
So he joked that the pumpkin pie was left over from Halloween.
Seeing the old man's suspicious, almost-gagging expression, he quickly corrected himself.
Speaking of which, those two extra-large pumpkins from Halloween hadn't gone to waste; they were processed into pumpkin pies and distributed to everyone on the crew.
This box, of course, was bought from the store, good and fresh.
He stayed at the motel for over an hour, chatting with the old man, playing guitar, and then went home.
Evening.
He only prepared a very simple dinner; being alone, he didn't like to waste food.
After eating, he watched TV idly for a while, then simply retreated to the music room, sitting by the Steinway piano Janette had given him, idly playing and pondering the final piece of music for 'Run Lola Run'.
Actually, all the music had already been completed, and he was very satisfied, with no intention of changing it.
He was just passing the time.
Ding-dong-ding-dong, ding-dong-ding-dong.
At some point, he suddenly remembered the thought he had at Brian's party that night.
That movie.
An old, seasoned bandit, cautiously maintaining his 'business,' carefully guarding his few brothers, occasionally fantasizing about retiring, growing old, moving to an inconspicuous Pacific island nation, watching the algae that glows only once a year.
Suddenly, he met a woman who captured his heart.
But he held back.
Insisting.
I am alone, but not lonely.
How could it be that he wasn't lonely?
Ding-dong-ding-dong, ding-dong-ding-dong.
At ten o'clock, he finally decided to rest, but the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
It must be a hallucination.
But the ringing continued.
Hmm.
A hallucination shouldn't last this long.
So he left the music room.
Opened the door.
Janette Johnston stood gracefully outside the door, wearing a crop top t-shirt, tiny hot pants, with fluffy blonde hair, a flushed face, two long, straight, fair legs, and pink flats.
Like a Barbie doll.
Seeing him somewhat dazed, she habitually fluttered her long eyelashes a few times, her bright eyes fixed on him, and her husky little voice said, "Little boy, were you just thinking that whoever came knocking on your door at this hour would be your girlfriend?"
He shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "No, thinking that way is too risky. It would be terrible if it were a man".
She also laughed.
Then.
She raised her arms: "Come, hug me".
Without further hesitation, Simon stepped forward and lifted her light body.
She felt cold to the touch.
So he felt a little pity, pretending to scold her, "It's winter now, are you playing performance art dressed like this?"
Janette wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing against his body, feeling warm, but not to be outdone: "So silly, it's summer in Australia".
As she was saying this, a wallet clattered from Janette's hot pants pocket onto the floor. Simon glanced down and saw a passport and plane ticket scattered from the wallet, but he ignored them and carried the woman directly to her bedroom.
He wrapped Janette in a blanket, picked out a few clothes from her wardrobe and handed them to her, then ran to boil water.
After a flurry of activity, Janette had changed her clothes, and holding a hot cocoa, she was still sitting on the bed, looking very content.
Simon sat on the edge of the bed, looked at the woman, and asked, "Why did you come over at this time?"
"I was worried you'd be too lonely by yourself, see how good I am to you".
Simon smiled and said, "I've always been alone, it's fine. But you, suddenly running off on Christmas, your mom and dad must be sad".
Janette's heart inexplicably tightened when she heard Simon casually say he was always alone. She reached out and touched his cheek, saying, "I've already seen Mom. As for the old man, he won't be sad. Besides, there are a bunch of people with them, so it doesn't matter if I'm not there".
Simon turned his face and pricked Janette's palm with his stubble, saying, "Your family is quite big".
Janette pulled back her hand and said, "Yes, two older brothers, two younger brothers. I'm the only girl in the family, you know. So, if you ever bully me, you'll get a really bad beating".
Simon chuckled, "Oh, that? It's not certain who will beat whom".
Janette rolled her eyes at him, finished her hot cocoa, and handed the empty cup to Simon, saying, "I heard piano music when I was at the door. Were you playing?"
Simon set the cup aside and nodded.
Janette, however, suddenly became enthusiastic again, raising her hand towards Simon: "Carry me over, I suddenly want to hear you play the piano".
Simon saw the woman already pouncing her way into his arms, caught her, but said, "Didn't you change your clothes? You can walk yourself, right?"
Janette clung to Simon: "Putting on shoes is a hassle, hurry up, hurry up".
Simon had no choice but to pick Janette up again, carry her to the music room, place her on the bench, and then sit down himself.
Seated at the piano, Janette skilfully plinked a few notes, then stopped, saying, "You play".
"What do you want to hear?"
"I don't know, just play anything".
Simon looked at Janette, who was leaning beside him, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's sing. I'll play, you sing".
"Mm-hmm".
Simon pressed the keys, gently playing an opening melody.
Janette took a moment to distinguish it, then smiled and reached out a finger to 'mess around', plinking away, but perfectly matching the notes of the tune.
Then, a slightly husky female voice, with a special charm, began to sing softly.
*When I was a little girl, I asked my mama.
*What will the future hold?
*Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?
*Mama said.
*Que Sera, Sera.
*Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see.
*When I grew up, and fell in love.
*So I asked him.
*What will the future hold?
*Will we have rainbows every day?
*My love said.
*Que Sera, Sera.
*Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see.
...The faint singing, accompanied by the piano, drifted through the villa, chasing away the loneliness hidden in every corner of Christmas Eve.