[Chapter 135: Jealousy]
Francis Ford Coppola leaned back on the sofa, exhaling deeply. Suddenly, he recalled what Sofia had said -- she criticized him for being too arrogant as a director, claiming he had lost sight of the average audience. After pondering it for a moment, he couldn't help but think there was some truth to her words.
Was he really going to take a page from Link's book, lowering his standards to make films that even the uneducated would enjoy? The moment this thought crossed his mind, he forcefully shook his head.
He couldn't go down that path; Link's way of thinking was fundamentally flawed. He could not allow himself to be misled by Link's misguided approach. If he let his thoughts deteriorate while making movies, the quality of his films would plunge as well. In a few short years, he would end up as a director of low-grade films, and that was something he could never allow to happen.
He figured it was time to have a word with Sofia, to steer her away from hanging out with Link.
---
As The Blair Witch Project entered its fourth week in theaters, The Hollywood Reporter published an article stating that Link was the film's director. The news of Trimark Pictures' acquisition by Guess Pictures sent shockwaves through Hollywood.
Many people who read the article displayed looks of disbelief.
"Is this for real?" Bob Weinstein glanced at the newspaper and then at his brother, Harvey Weinstein.
Harvey nodded. He was familiar with Mark Amin and, upon seeing the news, immediately called for confirmation. Amin, without hesitation, confirmed that the merger between Trimark Pictures and Guess Pictures was indeed true.
Harvey pressed on, asking if Link was the one behind The Blair Witch Project. Amin chuckled but offered no answer, simply stating that a non-disclosure agreement prevented him from revealing any details related to The Blair Witch Project.
This response nearly confirmed Link's directorial role and acknowledged that the film was a project of Guess Pictures.
Having been established for only a year, Guess Pictures had already scored two massive hits, each earning over $100 million at the North American box office, effectively netting around $500 million.
"Should we get the investors involved and buy Guess Pictures?" Bob asked, staring at the 'profits of approximately $500 million' written in the paper. His retinal vessels turned red; Link had earned more in a single year than the brothers had in over a decade.
"Let's not rush. It would be difficult to acquire them while Guess Pictures is still on the upswing. Let's wait until his next film project flops; at that point, acquiring Guess Pictures and Link's projects will be much easier," Harvey spoke through gritted teeth, barely containing his jealousy.
...
"Link truly is an incredible guy," Robert Shaye, president of New Line Cinema, remarked while chatting with vice president Simon Fels, who nodded in agreement.
...
"If only we had signed Link back when we had the chance," Mario Kassar, president of Carolco Pictures, lamented.
...
"Link, tell me the truth -- did you really direct The Blair Witch Project?" Quentin asked, picking up the phone after seeing the news.
"No, I was too busy last year; I had no time to make a film," Link replied with a laugh from his office.
"I asked Sofia, and she said yes."
"She must have been joking," Link chuckled, glancing at Sofia, who smiled back.
"Link, do you dare to swear to God? If you're lying, you would become a quick shooter and be impotent -- come on, do you dare to swear?" Quentin teased over the phone.
Link's mouth twitched slightly. "Enough of that. How's the prep work for Pulp Fiction? My new project is already in motion, and the set is under construction. Once casting is done, filming will officially begin. Can your film start this month?"
"Don't change the subject! The fact that you're dodging the question probably means the Hollywood Reporter's scoop is true, you bastard! You shot three movies last year?"
"I only chase speed and box office numbers in filmmaking, not quality. Don't be too envious."
"Damn it, Link! You really are a bastard for cranking out three movies in a year, all hits. How are the other directors supposed to survive?" Quentin replied, seething over the phone.
"Competition among colleagues is fierce. I'm in it to make money, not to worry about everybody else," Link joked.
"You're a real piece of work. The paper says you've unlocked the secret to box office success. Is that true? Give me the code!"
"It's simple; you just have to let me handle the executive production and editing for Pulp Fiction, and I'll guarantee it'll be a box office hit."
"Not a chance. Pulp Fiction is my movie, my baby; I would never hand it over to anyone else."
"Then, regrettably, you won't be able to share in my box office secrets."
"Hmph, I don't care. Even without your secrets, my movie will still be a hit, and it's likely to score major awards while your movies will probably never see an Oscar."
"Ha! You don't need to worry; I won't be far behind you."
...
After finishing his chat with Quentin, Link continued discussions about the filming of Final Destination with Sofia, Danny DeVito, and James Schamus, the head producer at Good Machine.
After over two months of preparation, the crew was finally assembled. The director's assistant, co-director, cinematographer, art director, costume designer, and prop staff were all in place.
The sets required for the script were also under construction, expected to be completed by the time filming started.
The only thing left was to finalize the six lead actors who had yet to show up.
Link, busy with work, hadn't been able to attend the earlier casting sessions. He had written down the character descriptions and passed them along to Danny DeVito and Sofia, asking them to select a few suitable newcomers.
By the final round of auditions, he planned to choose the most fitting candidates from the selections they had made.
"Link, are we casting for the female lead too? I thought you were just going to give that role to Jennifer Connelly," Sofia teased.
"She's too big of a star. Having her play the lead character, Clear Rivers, would upstage the rest of the cast. Other roles should also feature celebrities; otherwise, it might distract from the overall quality of the film."
Before starting on Final Destination, he had considered casting Jennifer as Clear Rivers, but she was in a transitional phase in her career and didn't want to take on a role that was primarily a pretty face, requiring little acting skill.
Moreover, after reading the script for Se7en, Jennifer had expressed interest in the role of Tracy, indicating she would excel in that part. Link had agreed to let her audition for it.
"So, you're still concerned about box office numbers. I thought you only cast your girlfriends as leads," Sofia mocked.
"I'm more reliable than that. I've said it before -- the goal of making films is to make money and win awards, not to promote someone else. When it comes to casting, I always choose what's best for the role, not for personal relationships."
"That's what you said. Your criteria for this role are that she should be young and beautiful, a sweet-looking type, tall with attractive features, and she should appear like a good girl on the outside while being a rebellious spirit on the inside, with a hint of wildness and mystery."
Sofia recited the character card requirements and shot a glance at Link, "Isn't that a bit much? Where are we going to find an actress like that?"
"Danny, is that excessive?"
When he wrote the casting requirements, Link had also been specific, and Danny had helped find suitable candidates based on those guidelines.
Danny shook his head, "Not at all. The more detailed a director and writer are when selecting actors, the easier it becomes to find the right fit. Vague requirements make it harder. Link has designed the character card with such clarity that it greatly facilitates our audition process rather than hindering it."
"That's right," James Schamus nodded in agreement. "There are countless newcomers in Hollywood -- thousands. Finding someone similar in that sea of talent or who can capture the essence of the character type is quite easy. Our task is to identify the most suitable one from among them."
"Got it. It's like Link prepared a missing person report for casting. We just need to use this blueprint to find the best match. This sounds like an exciting job," Sofia said, nodding while pinching the character card with her fingers.
*****
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