[Chapter 96: Turning Bad News into Good News]
"Alright, Link, I believe you," Billy Crystal announced, microphone aimed at the audience. "I think after your explanation, everyone else believes you too. This isn't just hype, right?"
"Yes, we believe Link!" came the calls from the audience.
"This was an accident, not hype."
"We love Paranormal Activity; that movie was awesome!" Hundreds of fans cheered from the stands.
"Thank you! Thank you all for your support," Link replied with a smile, grateful that those photo ops had paid off. He would definitely be signing more autographs for the fans soon.
"Link, congratulations on clearing up the misunderstanding. Now, let's return to the last question. You said you would spend a year proving there was no hype; how are you going to prove that in a year?"
"I intend to use my next film to demonstrate it. After the next film releases, I won't do any hype at all. I'll rely entirely on word of mouth. If the box office numbers reach a successful level, it will prove that my film can sell without any marketing gimmicks. If not, it'll mean that the success of Paranormal Activity was just luck or hype. How does that sound?" Link stated with a chuckle.
"Wow, Link, are you serious? You're willing to bet on the box office of your third film? The media has been calling you lucky, but luck doesn't last forever. With the successes of Buried and Paranormal Activity, your third film will definitely lose money. Aren't you afraid of losing?" Billy Crystal pressed eagerly.
"I'm not afraid. Before shooting Paranormal Activity, I mentioned using this film as an experiment to explore the film market and understand the audience's tastes. Now, I feel I know both the market and the audience well; I'm confident I can make a film they'll love," Link said with an arrogant smile.
...
"Bragging! This guy is full of himself! So cocky," Robert Downey Jr. scoffed at the television.
"Link's getting carried away. Ever since the successes of Buried and Paranormal Activity, he's grown complacent and thinks luck is his talent. I'd bet that his third film will definitely crash," Kiefer Sutherland said.
"That's a good thing. Once his third film bombs, I'll be sure to replay this moment a hundred times on our show so everyone can see his true colors," Robert added with a smirk.
"Yeah, let's get some media outlets to spread the word so Link can't worm his way out of it."
"Let's do it," the two clinked their bottles together and laughed heartily.
...
"Link is making a huge mistake if he thinks he can get away with saying that," Lawrence Bender remarked, puzzled.
"Hmph! You think he's still the old Link? He's not. He's the big director Link now, 100-million-dollar Link. With two low-budget hits under his belt, it's natural for him to feel invincible. It's normal for him to say something like that," Quentin Tarantino replied, grinning.
"Will Link cry if his third film flops?"
"Link is only 20 this year. He just started and has been lucky so far. A setback will be good for his growth. I can't wait to see his face when he's confronted with reality," Quentin chuckled.
...
"Dad, Link said he understands the market and the audience and is confident that his next film will continue to be a hit. Is that true?" Sofia Coppola asked her father, director Francis Ford Coppola, as he entered the living room.
"The film market changes every month. Audience tastes are unpredictable. No one in Hollywood would dare to say they fully understand the market and its audience. Link's confidence comes from his youth and lack of experience; a fresh lamb isn't afraid of a tiger," Director Coppola shook his head.
"Are you saying his next film is destined to fail?"
"I can't say for certain, but with his current mindset, making a good film will be very challenging," Coppola waved his hand dismissively as he left.
Sofia frowned and picked up the phone, deciding to call Link to tell him to be careful and to tone down his arrogance.
"Haha, Sofia, as soon as you heard Link might be in trouble, you call him, and then you say he's not interesting?" Milla Jovovich teased, leaning on Sofia's shoulder.
"I've decided to join his crew to learn. He's my colleague, and knowing he might face difficulties, I can't just sit back and do nothing."
"Got it; you're just colleagues -- the purest kind of colleague relationship," Milla joked.
Sofia ignored the banter and continued to try reaching Link.
---
After the new episode of Billy's Movie Show aired, Link once again became a hot topic in the entertainment scene.
On one hand, he denied any involvement in the hype surrounding Paranormal Activity's release during the interview. Prior to this, it was widely believed that he had orchestrated the whole thing. His public denial led many to doubt him.
Another point that boosted his popularity was his claim in the interview that he'd figured out the ins and outs of the film market and had a good grasp of what audiences liked, exuding extreme confidence in his next project. This displayed unusual arrogance.
The airing sparked a major controversy in Hollywood. Many filmmakers criticized Link, stating he had become arrogant after the successes of Buried and Paranormal Activity, mistaking pride for understanding the market and audience preferences. In reality, they believed he knew nothing, predicting a complete disaster for his next film.
...
Renowned director Stephen Frears told The Globe and The Mail, "Filmmaking is a highly complex endeavor and an intricate art. In this field, even masters like Alfred Hitchcock, Ridley Scott, and Orson Welles wouldn't dare claim they understand the film market or audience preferences. Others certainly can't achieve that."
...
Prominent film critic Rudy Bachelors commented that the success of Paranormal Activity at the box office could inflate anyone's ego. As the director, Link had the leverage to feel proud, but success with Paranormal Activity didn't guarantee success with his next film. It didn't mean he had matured into a skilled director.
As a newcomer, Link ought to treat the responsibility of directing with more seriousness and not fall into arrogance. That kind of arrogance would surely lead to disappointing results.
...
After watching Link's interview, everyone concluded he had got ahead of himself, and it was only a matter of time before he stumbled and faced significant losses. Many eagerly anticipated his next move.
...
Link didn't initially react to all of this. He was busy preparing for his new film, The Blair Witch Project, out shopping with Monica, and dating Jennifer Connelly.
His days were hectic but fulfilling, leaving little room to worry about the media uproar. However, the news coverage had its silver lining. Paranormal Activity maintained solid ticket sales in its eleventh week, breaking the $10 million mark with a $10.18 million weekend, earning fifth in the box office.
It became the first film of 1992 to stay in the top five in North America for ten consecutive weeks. The total gross for Paranormal Activity reached an impressive $286 million in North America, making it the first film of the year to surpass $280 million at that market. The $300 million mark seemed just within reach.
*****
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