Chapter 399: TV Interview
[Chapter 399: TV Interview]
"Director Link, congratulations on becoming a billion-box-office director and the top-grossing director worldwide. Before achieving these titles, did you ever imagine hitting these milestones in your directing career?"
In the CBS TV studio, host Stephen Colbert asked.
Across from him, Link wore a dark suit, sitting calmly on the couch. Beside him were Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, and Michelle Reis.
This was the promotional event for the movie Rush Hour.
Due to Link's huge recent fame and high public interest, the host immediately focused the interview on him.
Link shrugged and said, "No, before entering the film industry, I had two goals: first, to make money and achieve financial independence through film; second, to create meaningful films that conveyed my ideas and earned peer recognition.
As for a single film grossing a billion dollars or having the highest total box office, those goals felt too far-fetched and unrealistic."
"Yes, a single film hitting one billion at the box office and having the highest global total box office are indeed ambitious targets. In Hollywood, only the Big Four directors think about these, and others don't even dare dream it. But Director Link, you achieved these seemingly impossible goals at only 24 years old. That's truly remarkable."
Stephen Colbert said, clapping his hands.
Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Michelle Reis, and the hundreds of audience members also started applauding and shouting Link's name loudly.
Link waved back appreciatively, and the crowd's cheers grew louder and persisted for a long time.
...
"Link is amazing. We might make films all our lives and still not make as much at the box office as his single film did," Robert Rodriguez said thoughtfully in his apartment.
"All our lives? You're getting ahead of yourself. Our careers are just starting. We still have decades to shoot movies continuously. Eventually, one of our films will outgross Link's and even surpass The Sixth Sense or Jurassic Park," Quentin said, gulping a cold beer.
"I might do it, but you won't. You said you'd only direct about ten films in your life," Rodriguez joked.
"That was before. Now I've decided to direct more, aiming for 100 films before retirement. My writing and directing ability aren't any less than Link's. I don't believe my box office will lag behind his by much," Quentin said firmly.
Rodriguez laughed heartily and clinked his beer with Quentin, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
...
"Director Link, many media outlets praise you as the most successful director in the film industry. What is the secret to your success? Could you share it here?" Stephen asked.
Link waved his hands, "I wouldn't call myself the most successful director. Film is an art, and directors are creators of that art. When judging an artist, we can't just look at the market value of their work -- that's too one-sided.
We need to evaluate from multiple perspectives -- artistic quality, groundbreaking achievements, influence within the field, and impacts on other areas.
From that viewpoint, directors like Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Francis Ford Coppola are true masters of cinema and the most successful.
They pioneered various film styles and made major contributions to narrative techniques and cinematic innovations.
Although my total box office ranks first, my understanding of film as an art is still shallow. When I make movies, I continue learning from my predecessors and follow in their footsteps," Link said, speaking seriously and humbly.
He didn't want to call himself the world's most successful director. Given his current achievements and influence, he didn't deserve the title. If he claimed it, he'd get lambasted by peers and fans the next day.
He definitely didn't want that.
Stephen chuckled, "Director Link, you're really modest. You've made many pioneering contributions, such as found-footage style films and circular narrative structures.
Also, media saying you're the most successful mainly refers to the commercial aspect -- your films consistently succeed at the box office and win fans' favor, something very few directors can do. That's remarkable."
The audience applauded once again.
Link thanked them again. Under Stephen's further questioning, he began sharing his secrets to box office success.
...
"Dad, why are you laughing?"
At the Coppola home, Sofia noticed her father Francis Ford Coppola grinning proudly.
He glanced at her, "Did you hear what Link said? He called me a master filmmaker and said his success is because he learns from us and innovates.
Hmph! Even Link knows my techniques are great and that he should learn from me. But you don't get it. How did I end up with a daughter as clueless as you?"
The elder Coppola lamented.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not clueless."
Sofia's mother Eleanor Coppola intervened before it became another argument, "Sofia's smart. Learning from Link is the right choice. His films never fail -- great box office and critical acclaim. At 24, he's the top global box office director and won the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Lion, Cannes' Palme d'Or, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Oscar statuettes.
And you? You lost millions on Apocalypse Now, Rumble Fish, and The Outsiders, having to make movies you didn't want just to make money.
If Sofia learned from you, her films would flop too. The home video of The Man from Earth sold over $250 million worldwide with a near 10,000 times profit. Can you do that?"
"Mom, you're so sweet," Sofia said warmly, hugging and kissing her mother, resting her head on her shoulder and looking at her father triumphantly.
Francis looked awkward and frustrated. Eleanor was three years older, had been his senior at school, was now head of the household, and often managed his film sets like a housewife. He couldn't argue with her words.
He could only scowl and say, pointing at smiling Sofia, "You're 25 and still no serious boyfriend, and you're messing around with that womanizer Link. Will you be with him forever? For your future, I think it's best to keep away from Link."
"Link's my man. We've been together over four years. Our relationship is stable, and I'm happy," Sofia said quickly before he could continue.
"Link's not just my man, he's my mentor. With his guidance, I directed three films, greatly improving my skills and earning tens of millions in pay and shares. I'm ahead of my peers in film achievements. Without Link, I couldn't have done this. Dad, you should bless our love instead of causing trouble," Sofia said boldly.
"Ridiculous. Link's a scoundrel with dozens of girlfriends. How could you have love with a playboy?" Francis retorted loudly.
"You don't know Link or how good he is. Don't interfere if you don't understand," Sofia shouted back.
"Enough. Stop it," Eleanor said, annoyed by their bickering. She blocked them from continuing and turned the TV volume way up, forcing them to stop.
Sofia snorted softly and turned to watch Link on TV. She noticed the outline on his trouser leg, chuckled, covered her mouth, and quickly texted Monica and Jennifer to watch the interview.
Francis shook his head helplessly, thinking he couldn't save that stubborn girl. Watching Link speak confidently on TV, he felt annoyed. Link had a good image, was worth billions, and was a talented director, but his morals were rotten.
...
"Director Link, can we talk about the shooting incident?"
...
Hearing Stephen's question, Francis's eyes lit up. He wanted to use this to persuade Sofia to leave Link for someone reliable. But before he could speak, Eleanor slapped him and told him to be quiet.
Francis sulked and watched Link's interview gloomily.
...
When the July shooting occurred, Link was on set with no time for media interviews or public comments.
Though over a month had passed, the event still attracted public attention.
Viewers were curious about his thoughts.
CBS wanted to use this opportunity to ask questions to boost ratings.
Link wanted to promote Rush Hour simultaneously.
When the host asked, Link briefly described the event, explaining that his quick reactions and bodyguard's warning helped him avoid the shooter.
Talking about the bodyguard and shooter's street gunfight, he joked with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker about Rush Hour's gun battle scenes, discussing whether bullets curve and if anyone can really dodge bullets, engaging the audience.
"Director Link, after the shooting, Star Weekly revealed that this incident is linked to top executives of the Big Seven Studios. They suggested it might have been orchestrated. How do you view these claims?"
Stephen asked.
"I've read that tabloid. It's very entertaining, like a spy thriller script. But their info is inaccurate, and there's no solid evidence proving the Big Seven's top execs were involved in the assassination attempt.
Law enforcement can't use those rumors to trouble the execs, which is unfortunate," Link said.
"Why unfortunate? Do you hope the rumors are true?" Stephen pressed.
Link smiled, "If it were true, those Big Seven presidents would have a lot of trouble. Imagining them worried about this, I find it amusing."
The audience laughed at his regretful expression.
...
"Don't include me. I never said I wanted to get him," said Terry Semel at Warner Brothers, shaking his head.
"Star Weekly said you attended that meeting and made comments against Guess Pictures. So you're not entirely uninvolved," Richard Fox noted.
"Damn! There's a mole there. If I'd known, I wouldn't have gone. Now Link's suspicious, and we need damage control," Terry complained.
Richard shrugged, not present at that meeting, so no comment.
...
Stephen then asked about the suspect P. Diddy and how he and Link got into conflict.
P. Diddy case was under trial, involving hiring a gunman to shoot Link and multiple criminal charges.
Court resources indicated the case was complex and would take about six months to conclude. Evidence showed P. Diddy would be facing at least 10 years in prison.
Link didn't comment much, only expressing faith in New York police and gratitude, hoping such events wouldn't happen again.
Stephen asked a few more questions before turning the focus to Rush Hour.
...
The interview lasted 85 minutes, with CBS broadcasting a roughly 30-minute segment -- first about films, then a personal feature on Link.
After airing, Link's words sparked public discussion and media excerpts, highlighting his humility after hitting the billion-dollar mark; his next goal to win the Best Director Oscar; hoping Big Seven execs go to jail; admitting to dating multiple girlfriends; and the outline on his trouser leg -- whether it was a belt or something else.
*****
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