Chapter 37: Learning from Stallone

[Chapter 37: Learning from Stallone]

"Hey boss, another call for you. You've been getting a lot of calls these days."

"More calls are better. In showbiz, when no one calls, it's a scary thing."

In the break room at Turner Broadcasting's TNT headquarters in Burbank, Link took the phone from his assistant Lily's hands and chatted briefly with Robert Shay on the line.

Robert Shay wanted to mend their relationship and strengthen their collaboration opportunities. New Line Cinema was a powerful film company, and after being acquired by Warner Bros. the following year, its strength would only grow, making it a notable competitor in the indie film scene alongside Miramax. Collaborating with New Line on a film was a solid choice.

As his agent, Sam Haskel often said, Hollywood was a place of vanity and a battleground. Without the power to dominate alone, banding together often yielded better results.

...

"Take a seat. Don't just stand there; it's tiring."

Link hung up and handed the phone back to Lily. The current phones were bulky, and carrying one in his pocket felt heavy. It was more convenient to leave it with his assistant.

"Boss, are you considered very popular now? Are you at A-list status or the top tier in the entertainment scene?" Lily asked, sitting on the fabric couch opposite him.

She placed her white work bag on her lap, crossing her legs elegantly like a dancer. Given her refined and gentle beauty, her appearance was top-notch even in Hollywood, where there are so many beautiful women.

"You should call me Link when you ask me that question."

"That's not right. It's work time, so it makes sense to call you boss. I can call you Link after hours, how about that?"

"Why make things complicated with such a simple relationship?"

"I'm your assistant. If I call you Link while we're working, others might think I lack professionalism."

"In public, you can call me boss, but when it's just the two of us, call me Link."

"Alright, Mr. Link," she smiled, amused by her own words. She tucked a loose strand of black hair behind her ear, grinning as she asked, "Will you be upset if I call you that?"

"No, not at all."

Her pretty almond expressive eyes... they easily disarmed men, compelling a push to draw closer.

...

"Mr. Link, thank you for waiting. Please follow me," a staff member from the TNT studio reminded him.

"Let's go!"

Link buttoned up his suit jacket and followed the staff member, with Lily trailing behind, to the recording hall for segment three of TNT's programming, where they would conduct an interview about his film, Buried. This was just one of many interviews he participated in following the film's success; nothing too complicated.

...

"Director Link, welcome to TNT! You're even more handsome in person than in the movie," host Billy Crystal greeted him warmly.

"Thanks! Your compliment may lack creativity, but it's appreciated for its honesty."

"Ha! Hearing that makes me look forward to the upcoming interview. How about we start recording in three minutes?"

"Sounds good to me."

Link shook Billy Crystal's hand. At 45, Billy was a well-known television host, actor, writer, and producer in America. He had hosted shows like Soap and Saturday Night Live and featured in notable films like When Harry Met Sally... and The Princess Bride. He had also hosted the Grammy Awards twice. Though not as famous as Oprah Winfrey or David Letterman, he was nevertheless an A-list host.

His film-oriented program drew in millions of viewers each week in America.

[T/N: This is AU.]

...

"Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome back to Billy's Movie Show. This week, we have a special guest: the director and star of the film Buried, which has generated the most buzz in the entertainment world this month and achieved a stunning box office record! Please welcome Director Link!!"

Applause erupted from the audience after Billy's introduction. Link stepped from backstage and waved to the crowd. There were about four to five hundred people in the audience. Lily waved a fist toward him and whispered encouragement, looking even more nervous than he felt.

"Director Link, please take a seat!"

"Thank you!"

Link settled down on the couch.

"Director Link, the latest news indicates that Buried opened in 21 countries and regions overseas, grossing a total of $18.37 million in its first week. This helped push Buried's global box office to over $30 million, with an incredible earning ratio of 1500x, making it the most profitable film in cinema history. That's truly remarkable! No one may ever break that record -- congratulations!"

"Thank you! Thank you all for your support."

Link turned to the applauding audience and expressed his gratitude.

"Link, as a 20-year-old director achieving such extraordinary success, how do you feel about it? What can you share with everyone?"

Billy Crystal asked, leaning closer.

"Buried is an experimental independent film, and its subject matter and style are quite niche. It has certain barriers to access, making it not suitable for all audiences. I didn't expect a movie defined as niche to perform exceptionally well in North America and gain worldwide support; that came as a pleasant surprise. So when I heard about its success overseas, I felt predominantly delighted."

"Director Link, I heard that before the release of Buried, you never thought it would become a hit. What was your box office expectation for the film globally?"

"Globally? I never even envisioned the film would be released overseas. My initial expectation was simply that if Buried made over $100,000 in North America, it would prove that I had some potential as a director. Then, to see Buried surpass $1 million, then $10 million, and finally exceed $30 million globally -- that was beyond what I could imagine. All I can say is that fans are truly powerful."

Link replied sincerely.

"Predicting $100,000 but achieving over $30 million is indeed a significant surprise. I've heard that at the onset, no studios were willing to distribute Buried, and that you sold your script and financed it yourself. When you self-financed, did you worry that the film would perform poorly and you'd lose all your investments?"

"Not at all! Never!"

"What? From what the news says, you aren't in a strong economic position. I heard you managed to scrape together that $20,000 by working at burger joints and as an extra on sets? And the funds for the self-funded screening came from selling the script -- a substantial amount for you, I'd think! Didn't you worry about losing it?"

"Yes, first off, you need to understand that I'm only 20 this year. I have made $70,000 in a short period of time by doing odd jobs and selling scripts; even if I were to lose it, I still had confidence in making more. Secondly, Buried was my first film. Before shooting, I had prepared myself mentally for the possibility of loss; worrying is just a form of negative emotion that arises from excessive focus on outcomes, and I didn't indulge in that."

Applause broke out, led by Billy.

"They say talented individuals tend to be reckless and don't care about money -- you're definitely one of those people," he quipped.

"I'm working hard to become that person," Link humbly replied.

...

More applause filled the room. Lily clapped along, her eyes glued to Link on stage, amazed at how much he had transformed.

When she first met him six years ago, he was a scrawny, introverted kid who blushed while talking. He was shy, often sneaking glances at her behind. In the past six years, he had undergone a total metamorphosis. He was taller, more handsome, and exuded maturity. Talking to him felt like conversing with a peer -- there was a hint of mischief, but nothing to complain about.

He had become successful, a prominent director and a millionaire. He had also become thoughtful and attentive, making him feel reliable, someone who you can rely on and trust.

Lily wasn't sure if he treated only her this way or if he was like this with all his friends, but it felt wonderful. Shaking her head to dismiss her scattered thoughts, she redirected her focus back to Link, who was engaging the audience eagerly.

...

"To explain my determination to get Buried released, it's simple. I simply refuse to back down. Many people have an idol during their growth; mine is Sylvester Stallone. What I admire about him is not his muscles or his flashy fight scenes, but rather his persistence and refusal to give up.

I came across an article about him in a magazine, detailing how after finishing the script for Rocky, he relentlessly sought out film companies for investment. He faced rejection hundreds times before finding a backer.

It is said that to gather funds for filming, the production team even had to sell their homes. Stallone even sold his dog for $40. Fortunately, their efforts paid off, as Rocky was released with a $1.1 million budget and grossed $225 million worldwide -- an impressive feat for 1976!

[T/N: The reason for the movie rejection from studios though they valued the script was they did not want him as the lead, they wanted to cast a big-name actors like Robert Redford or Burt Reynolds.]

When I was searching for a studio to distribute Buried, I set my own goal. I wouldn't give up unless I faced rejection from every studio.

After over thirty rejections, I learned I could self-finance the film. I thought to myself that it couldn't be that easy. So, I sold my script, gathered money, and embarked on the journey to release Buried. And I succeeded."

Link shrugged, nonchalantly.

Applause erupted from the audience.

"Stallone is incredible, and so are you! Your success will inspire countless others to keep pushing forward," Billy Crystal remarked. "Link, let's talk about your journey to becoming a director. We know from the news that before directing, you worked at the Better Booch juice factory in Los Angeles and spent months as an extra on film sets without any formal education or training in directing.

What opportunity or motivation opened the door to such a major career shift, from laborer and extra to director? Can you shed some light?"

Link took a sip of water and grinned at the eager audience. "The answer to that question might be a bit boring, so be prepared."

Laughter erupted from the crowd, and Lily smiled, leaning in to soak in his words as he continued, "For the past year, I worked as an extra on over thirty film sets. Besides making some money, it was also an interest of mine.

When I watched films, I used to think actors were extraordinary, untouchable. After spending some time as an extra, I realized the coolest person on set was actually the director. The director was the boss, using clever shooting techniques and language to transform ordinary actors into something remarkable.

So I thought, if the director was so cool, why not try to be one myself? With that idea, I bought lots of directing books at the bookstore, studied the material, and watched classic films.

While on set, I would try to position myself near the director to learn how they shot scenes, managed the set, and instructed the actors. I found that I had a knack for guiding actors; many fellow extras enjoyed listening to me give direction. The performers I advised often delivered superb performances, easily winning the director's approval.

That encouraged me a lot. After a few months of learning, I figured I was ready -- so I jumped in, and I succeeded."

"Three to four months of observing on set and you learned how to make a movie? Is filmmaking that simple?" Billy Crystal asked in disbelief.

"For unfamiliar things, they seem difficult until you start working on them, and even then, it's tough.

But if you persevere and tackle challenges bit by bit, you'll find those challenges gradually fade away, making way for your success. So whether directing is tough doesn't lie in the work itself but rather in your attitude, courage, and how much you're willing to sacrifice for your craft."

Link pointed back at Billy.

"It's incredibly difficult. Link, while what you say sounds simple, I've tried my hand at directing, and it's not that easy. I dreamed of creating films like Starship Troopers or Alien.

But every time I picked up a handheld camera to shoot, I couldn't even capture a family gathering properly, let alone direct a real film." Billy shook his head, with an expression that said, "Don't try to fool me," on his face, eliciting more laughter from the audience.

"Filming with a handheld camera is easy! I'll make one for you next time."

"Are you serious?"

"You can keep looking forward to it."

"Alright, I'm looking forward to it! Link, as you transitioned from wanting to direct to actually becoming one, what do you think was the key factor in your journey -- talent, hard work, or luck?"

Billy asked.

"All of it -- each component is essential. I possess a fair amount of talent; I quickly learn whatever I study -- acting, cinematography, screenwriting, directing, design, etc. I can now handle 90% of the roles on a set."

"Ninety percent? So it's true that for Buried, you were essentially the only person there?"

"Of course, that's not possible. I had one person assist me with props and logistics."

"So only two of you?"

"Yes."

Applause echoed again.

"It's unbelievable -- only you could have directed a film like Buried. No other director could replicate that feeling of isolation and dread you conveyed, as having a larger crew would disrupt that atmosphere."

"I don't know; while shooting, I spent most of my time lying in a coffin. After a while, it did feel somewhat suffocating," Link said while mimicking a choking motion.

Laughter erupted in the audience.

"Link, after deciding to direct, why did you choose to shoot Buried? Was it because the script was simpler to film or had a smaller budget?"

"Not at all.

After preparing to try my hand at directing, I wrote five scripts including Buried and submitted them to various studios. If one was picked up, I could jump on the opportunity to direct -- if not, I could still join the crew as a screenwriter to learn more while earning some adaptation fees.

Unfortunately, I received no feedback on any of my submissions. I had no choice but to gather my funds and shoot the lowest-budget film, Buried. Everything unfolded as a well-timed choice rather than a planned arrangement."

"So you still have four scripts lying in various studio warehouses?"

"Yes!"

"Your script Buried has turned a massive profit, and you sold another for $50,000, so those four scripts must be fantastic.

Hey, producers out there! Have you heard? Four amazing scripts are just sitting in your warehouses right now. I suggest you check them out before missing out on more fantastic films, just like Buried." Billy shouted into the camera.

Laughter filled the audience.

*****

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