Chapter 401: The Matrix

[Chapter 401: The Matrix]

"Link, are you busy?"

At noon, Link was in his office writing the screenplay for Saving Private Ryan when Daniel DeVito waddled in, his round belly prominent, carrying a few folders.

"What's up?"

Link asked his assistant to pour a glass of iced tea for Daniel.

"Harvey came to me again yesterday, talking about co-investing in a movie."

"I remember you didn't reach an agreement last time."

"Yeah, the projects I showed him last time didn't catch his eye. This time, for some reason, he's very eager to collaborate."

Daniel shrugged.

"Which project did Harvey pick?"

"Like you said, I presented the more arthouse projects to him. He chose Evita."

By the end of the year, Guess Pictures had started filming the projects greenlit earlier, while several others got the go-ahead around June and July, including Out of Sight, Nothing to Lose, and Evita starring Madonna.

Evita's production cost was $55 million; Madonna herself invested $15 million. Guess Pictures put in $40 million, and if Miramax participated, half of that share could be transferred.

"Evita's script is solid. If the film turns out well, it could be a dark horse. Harvey choosing it shows some good taste."

Link sipped his coffee.

"Harvey is a decent producer but nowhere near your level in selecting scripts," Daniel said with a grin. "By the way, I got a fascinating script recently -- The Matrix. It's from the Wachowski brothers, who directed Assassins. They mentioned parts of the story were inspired by The Net, so they sent the script to our company for consideration. I read it and found it quite promising."

"The Matrix?"

Link raised his handsome brows.

"Yes! Here's the script."

Daniel flipped through his folder and pushed a blue-covered script toward him.

Link skimmed through it. It was similar to what he remembered about The Matrix.

...

It told the story of Neo, a hacker who discovered that his world was controlled by an AI system called the Matrix, robbing people of freedom and independent thought. To fight the Matrix, he teamed up with the mysterious Trinity and Morpheus, the leader of the hacker group, battling data-driven computer enemies.

Reading the script, Link couldn't help but visualize Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss clad in black leather suits, dodging bullets.

The film's concept was indeed cool and quite unconventional.

Given the general public's current limited internet literacy, many might find the script hard to understand. But this was the dawn of the internet era, making such subjects fresh and intriguing -- one reason The Matrix series became a blockbuster.

...

"So, boss, what do you think?"

Daniel asked while holding his tea cup.

"The story is engaging, with major innovations beyond The Net's premise. Definitely worth investing in."

The script closely matched the film he remembered, with only slight plot differences. He didn't plan to revise it himself, trusting the Wachowskis would make necessary changes during production.

"When the Wachowskis submitted the script, they said they wanted to direct the film themselves. But their last movie, Assassins, bombed at the box office. It cost $50 million but only made about $30 million, causing Warner Bros. a big loss.

That suggested their skills were average. Plus, this is a sci-fi movie with lots of effects, likely a high-cost production. Giving such a big project to them was a big risk.

Should we take the script and have you direct? Your work on The Net was excellent; I believe you could do a great job here."

Daniel adjusted his glasses.

Link thought it over and declined.

The Matrix was intended as a series; shooting three films could be troublesome. The Wachowskis were capable and ambitious; they might not give up directing.

Better to let the Wachowskis direct and have the company profit from the movie.

"Let the Wachowskis direct. My schedule is full next year; I won't have time. Besides, they're young directors still growing -- we should have patience and confidence in them."

"Alright, how about you serve as executive producer? With you overseeing it, the project would be more secure."

"That works!"

Link agreed.

...

Daniel then discussed other film projects.

This year, the company independently produced or co-produced 21 films; 10 had completed shooting.

These included The Rock and Primal Fear directed by Link, Jim Carrey and Tom Shadyac's comedy Liar Liar, Sofia Coppola's Girl, Interrupted, Paul Thomas Anderson's new movie Boogie Nights, and Paranormal Activity 3.

Also, collaborations like 12 Monkeys with Columbia Pictures, Fight Club with Miramax, and The Long Kiss Goodnight with New Line Cinema.

The remaining dozen or so films were in production or preparation.

Because Guess Pictures had few big-budget movies this year, only five, including The Rock and Liar Liar, had budgets exceeding $50 million; the others were lower cost.

By August, the production department had about $85 million left. Besides investing in The Matrix, they could finance one or two low-budget films.

Link didn't have time to read scripts or choose projects, so he delegated that to the production department.

...

After Daniel left, Link noted The Matrix's name in his notebook.

Earlier entries included Saving Private Ryan, Gia, The Waterboy, and Shakespeare in Love -- films Guess Pictures planned to shoot by year-end and next year.

He closed the notebook and continued writing the Saving Private Ryan screenplay. That film was already greenlit; budgeted at $70 million, starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Giovanni Ribisi, and Vin Diesel -- the original cast.

Filming locations were mainly European WWII battlefields: Curracloe Beach in Ireland, Selham Park in England, and Normandy in France.

The production's set designers were already on-site making preparations.

The lead actors were undergoing military training in Texas.

Filming was scheduled to start in October.

...

[T/N: Joan Chen called to inform The Sino-Dutch War 1661 had finished filming. Link planned to spare some time in September for final touches.]

...

Knock Knock!

A knock sounded at the office door. Link called out, "Come in."

"Hey, darling, are you busy?"

Before the woman entered, a seductive laugh came through the door.

It was fair-skinned beauty Nicole Kidman.

Nicely dressed in a women's suit and pencil skirt paired with black stockings and high heels, her rosy lips accentuated her pale skin, and a golden ponytail swayed behind her -- styled exactly to Link's taste.

"Not busy. What brings you here?"

"I was out shopping with some friends nearby and thought I'd come bother you since you're still working."

Nicole smiled as she sat on his lap, wrapping her slender arms around his neck, leaning in intimately. "Do you think I'm too annoying?"

"Never! I like balancing work and play."

Link smiled gently, his hands sliding to check the quality of her stockings and her body temperature.

"Really? Then can I come bother you every day?"

"No problem; as long as I'm in the office, you can come by anytime."

"Haha, forget it. Monica and Lily like to keep an eye on this place, to see who's sneaking around with you at the company. If they catch me, I'll get scolded at the meeting tonight, maybe tied up and punished like last time."

Nicole wriggled playfully in his arms to increase skin contact.

Link chuckled and while inspecting her outfit, he noticed her sexy lingerie underneath -- obviously, she came to deliver food.

Without further ado, he lifted the woman onto his desk, unwrapped the food, and started enjoying the meal.

*****

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