Chapter 162: Uma

[Chapter 162: Uma]

"Link, how's your movie coming along?"

"Everything's going smoothly!"

"I heard in the news that you've been pushing the young actors around on set, doing dozens of takes for one shot, often filming late into the night, causing actors to break down from lack of sleep and earning the title of 'tyrant of the set'," Quentin teased.

"Rumors. I'm shooting a horror movie; it's normal to film at night. It's just part of the job," Link replied confidently.

"Is it true that you ran into trouble with local mobsters while filming in New York?" Robert Rodriguez asked curiously.

"Not exactly mobsters, but you know P. Diddy and Jay-Z, right? I had a run-in with them on a plane while I was on the way to New York, selling script to Quentin. They held a grudge after that. When I went back to New York for filming, they sent people to annoy the crew, causing some minor losses. Luckily, the production was insured, so it wasn't a big deal," Link explained.

"Diddy used to be in the game; he sold drugs before switching to rap after the crackdown on gangs in the '80s. He's still got a lot of those guys in his circle, so just watch yourself when you're in New York." Quentin had lived in New York for seven years and knew the scene well.

"I'll be careful," Link said, clinking glasses with Quentin. Now a multi-millionaire and a celebrity in the entertainment world, he had money and connections. Even though Diddy had a lot of influence in New York, Link felt confident he was untouchable.

Still, it was always smart to keep an eye on potential threats. During his time in New York for filming, he had met several figures in law enforcement and politics. He planned to use some connections in the government to put a little pressure on those guys with records.

"Robert, Richard, how's your filming going?" Link asked, glancing at Robert Rodriguez and director Richard Linklater.

"I'm still prepping my film; planning to start shooting next month," Robert said with a smile.

"Sounds good! Wishing you all the best."

"I just finished filming mine; it's in post-production now," Richard added.

Link asked, "Did you find a distributor? If not, consider Guess Pictures. We just completed a merger with Trimark Pictures and Good Machine, significantly boosting our distribution capabilities, surpassing all independent companies."

"Great! I've been worried about distributing my film. They just suggested I collaborate with you, and now that you mentioned it, once I finish shooting, I'll reach out to Guess Pictures for you," Richard smiled.

"Awesome!" Link and Richard clinked their beers together.

...

Richard, a true Texan, was 33 years old and had worked offshore in the Gulf of Mexico for two and a half years after high school. He pursued his passion for cinema and came to Los Angeles with $18,000 to make movies.

He had two projects, Slacker and Dazed and Confused, which were relatively unknown low-budget films. However, he wrote, directed, acted, and funded everything himself. Like the other four in the group, he was a talented director who had risen from humble beginnings, which was why they all got along so well.

Though not yet famous, Richard had a bright future ahead. His notable works included Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Boyhood. He received multiple Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

His films were known for their artistic depth and a delicately nuanced style, giving him the title of a cinematic poet -- rather ironic given his rugged beard and sturdy build.

...

"Look, here comes a beautiful woman!" Robert nudged Link's shoulder, and Link looked up to see Uma Thurman, the lead in Pulp Fiction. She was the one Quentin had called about introducing to him.

However, during filming Pulp Fiction, tabloids buzzed about rumors between Quentin and Uma, which both heavily denied, especially since Uma was married. Her current husband was Gary Oldman, the star of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

"Hey, Uma! Long time no see. You still look stunning," Link exclaimed, standing up to warmly greet Uma.

"Link, you're looking great too! I've been chatting a lot with Renee on set; she says you're the best man in the world and is completely smitten with you," Uma laughed.

Renee Zellweger, whom Link had recommended for a minor role as Butch's girlfriend, didn't have much screen time but had potential to shine.

"Uma, do you often talk about Link on the set?" Quentin frowned, clearly bothered.

"Just a casual chat. What's the problem?"

"Stop chatting and focus on the filming," Quentin huffed lightly.

"You all should be talking about Quentin," Robert jested.

Link shot Quentin a glance, grinning. "Uma, when are you free? Let me take you out for coffee?"

"Hey, Link, what are you up to? With all those rumors floating about your girlfriends, why bother Uma? Isn't that kind of shallow?" Quentin interjected as he pulled Uma to sit beside him, keeping her away from Link.

"It's just coffee; what's the worry?" Link shrugged.

"Who's worried?" Quentin replied while rolling his eyes, warning Uma that Link was a notorious playboy with dozens of girlfriends.

Uma remarked that having many admirers indicated a man's charm, and Link's numerous girlfriends suggested he had a lot to offer, much to Quentin's chagrin.

Link laughed as they continued to chat and drink.

---

After a short gathering, Link returned to the set to continue filming.

At that point, Final Destination was 80% complete, with just the beginning, end, and several indoor scenes left to shoot.

The film opened with a class from Abraham High School traveling to Paris, led by two teachers. Everything goes awry when the main character, Alex, has a terrible premonition of an impending explosion, prompting them to evacuate the plane.

This segment was shot in two parts: the exterior scenes were filmed at JFK International Airport in New York. Link had spent $1.5 million buying a retired Boeing 747 to blow up in the skies surrounding the airport.

The interior scenes involved the students boarding the aircraft, showing Alex's nightmares and the calamity that unfolds during the flight, filmed at Universal Studios.

Universal was the largest film studio in Hollywood, with a modern city, ancient architecture, a magical castle, and underwater worlds suitable for disaster films. 

"Scene 2, Take 1, Camera 3, begin!"

With the call, the crew began their tasks, and Link settled into his director's chair, script in hand, watching the monitor intently.

*****

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