Hollywood Director 1992

"Boss, another call. You've been getting so many calls these past couple of days."

"It's good to get calls. Being in the entertainment industry, it's scary when no one calls."

In the Burbank - Turner Television TNT headquarters lounge, Link took the phone from his assistant, Liu Xiaoli, and chatted with Robert Shaye, who was calling.

Robert Shaye wanted to mend their relationship and find opportunities to strengthen their collaboration.

New Line Cinema is a very powerful film company. After being acquired by Warner Bros. Pictures next year, its strength will be further enhanced, becoming one of the few companies in the independent production field that can rival Miramax Films.

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Having the opportunity to cooperate with New Line to make movies is also a good choice.

Just like his agent Sam Haskell said, Hollywood is a Vanity Fair and an arena. Before you have the strength to dominate, teaming up brings greater gains.

"Sit down, don't stand. It's tiring to stand."

Link hung up the phone and handed it to Liu Xiaoli. Mobile phones are relatively large now. It's too heavy to put in your pocket and too uncool to clip on your waist, so it's best to let the assistant keep it.

"Boss, would you say you're a big star now? In the American entertainment industry, are you considered A-list or top-tier?"

Liu Xiaoli sat knee-to-knee on the fabric sofa opposite him.

Her white work bag lay flat on her smooth knees, her legs crossed, showing the elegance of a dancer. Combined with her delicate and gentle face of a young woman, even in Hollywood, where beauties are abundant, her appearance is top-notch.

"Call me Link, and I'll answer your question."

"No. It's working hours now. It's more appropriate for me to call you Boss. How about I call you Link after work?"

"Why make a simple relationship so complicated?"

"I'm your assistant. If I call you Link at work, people will think I lack professionalism."

"Call me Boss in public, and call me Link when it's just the two of us in private."

"Okay, Little Link."

Liu Xiaoli chuckled, amused by herself. She lowered her head, twirled a strand of black hair that had fallen beside her ear, and blinked with a smile, "Will you be angry if I call you that?"

"No, I just think Confucius was right."

"About what?"

"Only villains and women are difficult to deal with."

Before he could finish the sentence, Liu Xiaoli restrained the smile on her lips and glared at him fiercely.

It's just that she has a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, moist and affectionate.

When rolling her eyes, her expression seemed both reproachful and annoyed. This kind of look not only fails to deter mature men, but also easily makes people feel restless, making them want to offend her further.

"Mr. Link, sorry to keep you waiting. Please come with me."

A staff member from TNT Television Studio reminded him.

"Let's go!"

Link buttoned his suit and followed the staff to Studio Three of TNT Television to record an interview about him and the movie "Buried."

This interview was also one of the many television interviews he participated in after "Buried" became a hit, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

— —

"Director Link, welcome to TNT Television. You are much more handsome in person than in the movie."

Host Billy Crystal greeted him.

"Thank you! Your compliment may not be very creative, but it's true."

"Haha, hearing you say that, I'm full of expectations for the interview that follows. How about we start recording the show in three minutes?"

"No problem."

Link shook hands with Billy Crystal.

Billy Crystal is 45 years old this year, a famous American television host, actor, writer, and producer.

He has hosted comedy shows such as "Soap" and "Saturday Night Live", and played important supporting roles in relatively famous movies such as "When Harry Met Sally...", "The Princess Bride", and "Midnight Run".

He has also served as the live host of the Grammy Awards twice.

In the hosting industry, although he is not as famous as Winfrey Oprah, David Letterman, Larry King, and others, he is also a top-tier popular host.

The show he hosts, similar to a "Movie Talk" program, also maintains tens of millions of viewers in the United States.

"Good afternoon, viewers and friends. It's time for another episode of Billy Watches Movies.

This week, we have specially invited the most talked-about person in the entertainment industry this month, the most amazing box office success, and also the director and lead actor of the movie 'Buried,' which has the highest box office-to-profit ratio in film history, Director Link!!"

Clap clap clap!

After Billy Crystal finished his introduction, a warm round of applause rang out from the audience.

Link walked from backstage to the front stage, waving to greet the audience.

There were about four or five hundred people in the audience, including many Asian faces. Liu Xiaoli sat in a seat near the aisle, waving her fist at him and whispering encouragement, looking even more nervous than him.

"Director Link, please sit down!"

"Thank you!"

Link sat down on the sofa.

"Director Link, the latest news is that 'Buried' has been released in 21 overseas countries and regions for a week, grossing a total of $18.37 million.

Helping 'Buried's' global box office break the $30 million mark.

Also, the profit ratio of 'Buried' reached 1500 times, becoming the movie with the highest profit ratio in the history of world cinema.

This is very remarkable, and it may never be broken by anyone. Congratulations."

"Thank you! Thank you for everyone's support."

Link turned to the audience who were applauding and thanked them.

"Link, as a director who is only 20 years old, achieving such amazing achievements at this age, what are your feelings? Can you share them with everyone here?"

Billy Crystal asked.

"'Buried' is an experimental independent film. The subject matter and style are relatively niche. There is a certain threshold for watching it, and it is not suitable for audiences of all ages.

And such a movie, defined as niche, has not only become a hit in North America after its release, but has also been supported by audiences all over the world. This is something I did not expect.

So, after hearing that 'Buried' was also a hit overseas, there was more surprise."

"Director Link, you said that before the release of 'Buried,' you didn't expect the film to be a hit. At the beginning of the release, how much box office revenue did you expect the film to generate worldwide?"

"Worldwide? I never thought the movie would be released overseas. Initially, I estimated that if 'Buried's' North American box office exceeded $100,000, it would prove that the movie was not bad and that I had some potential in directing movies.

Later, 'Buried's' North American box office broke 1 million, 10 million, and the global box office exceeded 30 million US dollars. These data are also unimaginable to me. I can only say that the power of movie fans is truly great."

Link said sincerely.

"Predicting 100,000, but the global box office exceeded 30 million, which is indeed unexpected.

I heard that at the beginning of the release, no film company was willing to distribute 'Buried.' You sold the script and self-funded the distribution.

When self-funding the film's distribution, were you worried that 'Buried' would perform poorly after its release and that all the invested funds would be lost?"

"No! Never."

"No? We know from the news that you are not financially well-off. The $20,000 for filming came from working part-time at burger and pizza shops, and from playing bit parts in film crews. The funds for self-funded release came from selling the script. This money is also a large sum for you. Aren't you worried about losing it?"

"Yes, first of all, you need to know that I am 20 years old this year. Earning 70,000 US dollars in a short period of time by doing odd jobs and selling scripts, even if I lose it, I am confident that I can earn more;

Secondly, 'Buried' is my debut work. Before starting to make this movie, I had already prepared myself for losses, and worry is a negative emotion caused by excessive attention to something. I didn't have much of it."

Clap clap clap!

Billy Crystal took the lead in applauding, and there was also a burst of applause from the audience.

"I heard that talented people are very willful and don't care about money. You should be that kind of person."

Billy Crystal laughed.

"I'm working hard to become that kind of person."

Link said modestly.

Clap clap clap!

Many audience members applauded.

Liu Xiaoli also clapped her hands, her eyes fixed on Link on the stage, feeling that his changes were too great.

When she saw him six years ago, he was still a thin, introverted young man.

He would blush when he spoke.

He liked to secretly stare at her butt and breasts, both perverted and timid.

He has undergone earth-shattering changes in the six years since they last met.

He had grown taller and more handsome, becoming mature and composed.

Talking to him felt like conversing with someone my own age, with an occasional hint of mischief, but not in an annoying way.

He had also become successful, a famous American director, a millionaire. For a Chinese person to achieve such success in a foreign land was truly remarkable.

It showed he was talented, a very capable man.

He had also become considerate and attentive, very good at taking care of people. Being with him felt like being with a reliable and trustworthy family member.

Liu Xiaoli didn't know if he was only like this with her, or with all his friends, but it felt good.

Liu Xiaoli shook her head, clearing the messy thoughts from her mind, and refocused her attention on the stage, on Link, who was speaking eloquently.

—

"Speaking of why I'm so determined to get 'Buried' released, the reason, of course, is that I'm not willing to give up easily. Many people have an idol during their growth, and my idol is Mr. Sylvester Stallone.

What I admire about him isn't his muscles and cool fight scenes, but his persistence and stubborn refusal to admit defeat.

I read an article about him in a magazine, about how after he finished writing the script for 'Rocky,' he kept looking for film companies to invest in the film.

He was rejected 1489 times before he got the chance to invest.

It is said that in order to raise enough money for filming, the producers had to sell their property.

Fortunately, their efforts were not in vain. After the release of 'Rocky,' it grossed $225 million worldwide with a budget of $1.1 million.

That was $225 million in 1976, which is very impressive.

When I was looking for film companies to distribute 'Buried,' I also set a goal for myself.

Unless 'Buried' was rejected by all film companies, I couldn't give up easily.

After being rejected more than thirty times, I heard that I could distribute the film at my own expense.

At that time, I was thinking, so it turns out that distributing a film is so simple, why not do it?

So I sold the script and raised money to distribute 'Buried' at my own expense, and then I succeeded."

Link spread his hands.

Clap clap clap!

A round of enthusiastic applause rang out from the audience.

"Stallone is amazing, and you are just as amazing. Your success will also inspire countless people to move forward," Billy Crystal said, putting down his hands. "Link, next let's talk about the topic of 'How did you embark on the path of becoming a director?'

We know from the news that before you became a director, you worked as a worker at the Better Booch juice factory in Los Angeles, and you worked as an extra in the crew for a few months.

And you have not received any education or training in directing.

So what kind of opportunity or motivation made you complete this transformation, from a worker, an extra, to a director, can you talk about it?"

Link took a sip of water, looked at the many viewers in the audience, and smiled: "The answer to this question will be more boring, everyone be prepared."

Hahaha!

The audience cooperated with a burst of laughter.

Liu Xiaoli also curled the corners of her lips and quietly listened to him say: "In the past year, I have worked as an extra in more than thirty film and television crews, not only to earn money, but also as a kind of interest.

When I used to watch movies, I always thought that actors were amazing, omnipotent.

After working as an extra in the crew for a while, I found that the coolest person in a movie is the director.

The director is the boss of a crew, who uses clever shooting techniques and lens language to make originally ordinary actors look cool.

I thought, since the director is cooler, why not try to become a director?

After having this idea, I bought a lot of directing books in the bookstore, learned relevant knowledge, and watched a lot of classic films.

At the same time, when I was an extra in the crew, I would try to get close to the director's area, learn how to shoot, how to control the set, and how to guide the actors in filming?

I have a good talent for guiding actors in filming.

Many people who work as extras with me like to listen to my directing when filming.

The actors who have been guided by me often perform very well after going on stage, and it is easy to get the director's approval.

This also gave me a lot of encouragement and courage.

After studying for three or four months, I felt that it was almost time, so I did it, and then I succeeded."

"You can learn how to make movies by watching the crew for three or four months? Is making movies that simple?"

Billy Crystal asked in disbelief.

"For things you are not familiar with, you will feel it is very difficult before you start doing it, and it is even more difficult after you start doing it.

As long as you can persevere, overcome difficulties little by little, then you will find that the difficulties are also disappearing little by little, making way for your success.

So whether it is difficult to be a director or not does not depend on the job of director itself, but on your attitude and courage.

And to what extent you can sacrifice for this career."

Link pointed to Billy Crystal.

"Too difficult. Link, although you make it sound simple, it's too difficult to be a good director. I've tried it.

I once fantasized about being able to make cool movies like 'Pitch Black,' 'Alien,' and 'Days of Thunder.'

But when I picked up a handheld camera to shoot, I couldn't even figure out how to film a family gathering, let alone be a director."

Billy Crystal shook his head with a frown, with an expression that said, "Don't try to fool me," causing a burst of laughter from the audience.

"It's very simple to make a movie with a handheld camera, I'll make one for you next time."

"Are you serious?"

"You can stay tuned."

"Okay, I'm looking forward to it. Link, from when you wanted to be a director, to when you became a director, to when you became a famous director, the process you went through was smoother than many directors.

Here comes the point, what factors do you think played a key role during this period, talent, hard work, or luck?"

Billy Crystal asked.

"All of them, none are indispensable. Relatively speaking, I have good talent, and I learn things very quickly, acting, photography, screenwriting, directing, art design, etc. Now I can handle 90% of the positions in the crew."

"90% of the positions? So the rumor that there was only you in the entire crew of 'Buried' is true?"

"Of course not, there is also a partner who helps manage props and logistics."

"So there are only two people?"

"Yes."

Clap clap clap!

Applause rang out.

"That's incredible. A movie like 'Buried' can probably only be made by someone like you. If other directors were to make it, they definitely wouldn't be able to capture your sense of loneliness and despair, as well as the thrill that runs through the whole film, because there are too many people in their crews, which can easily destroy this atmosphere."

"I don't know, but when filming, I spent most of my time lying in a coffin every day. After a long time, I did feel like I was suffocating to death."

Link said, clutching his neck.

Hahaha!

The audience laughed.

"Link, after deciding to become a director, why did you choose to film 'Buried'? Was it because this script was easier to film and required less investment?"

"No.

After preparing to try to be a director, I wrote five scripts, including 'Buried,' and submitted them to major film companies.

If a film company liked a script, I could take the opportunity to propose to be the director. Even if I wasn't allowed, I could join the crew as a screenwriter, learn more knowledge, and earn a sum of adaptation fees by the way.

Unfortunately, after submitting several scripts, there was no feedback at all.

Reluctantly, I could only save money to film 'Buried,' which had the lowest cost.

All of this was not planned in advance, but rather the most suitable choice was made."

"So you still have four scripts in the warehouses of several major film companies?"

"Yes!"

"The 'Buried' you wrote was a box office hit, and another script sold for $50,000. Those four scripts must be very good.

Hey, producers from major film companies, did you hear this news? There are four very good scripts lying in your warehouses, I suggest you take a look, don't miss other good movies after missing 'Buried.'"

Billy Crystal shouted at the camera.

Hahaha!

The audience laughed.