[Chapter 328: Adopting Link?]
As Apollo 13 screened at the Pacific Theatre, the ArcLight Cinema, just seven or eight streets away, began to showcase Link's fifth film, The Butterfly Effect. The ArcLight was one of the largest and most luxurious theatres in Hollywood, boasting over two thousand seats.
In the front row, Hollywood film stars filled the seats -- A-list, B-list, and C-list celebrities, nearly a hundred of them. The back rows were packed with audiences, fans, journalists, and critics.
"Link has a huge influence in Hollywood," observed Michelle Yeoh while looking at the front row filled with major Hollywood stars.
"Absolutely, being the king of Hollywood isn't something just anyone can achieve," replied Jackie Chan, crossing his arms.
"He is such a remarkable man. It's rare for a such a wealthy person to direct movies," director John Woo added thoughtfully.
Jackie Chan nodded in agreement, noting that Link was worth over three billion dollars, making him the owner of the most lucrative film company in Hollywood. He was also a bestselling author, and even if he chose to do nothing, he would earn millions each year.
But Link actively directed movies, producing two or three films a year, which was more than many other directors. That level of dedication was indeed impressive.
...
Clapping erupted as the crew finished taking their bows, and the host announced that the film was about to begin. The Butterfly Effect started slowly, and audience reactions remained calm -- until the lead character discovered a diary that allowed him to travel back in time, which sparked murmurs throughout the crowd.
"Harvey, if you could travel back in time like the main character, which day would you choose and what would you do?" asked Bob Weinstein, turning to his older brother, Harvey Weinstein.
"I..."
Harvey was about to answer but then realized the childishness of the question. "We're adults; why ask such a silly thing?"
"I'd go back to the 1992 Sundance Film Festival, buy Link's Buried, and get him to sign a twenty-film contract, with a hundred billion dollars in penalties to keep him making movies for life," Bob chuckled, stroking his double chin.
Harvey grimaced; if he could go back to 1992, he thought he'd likely find a way to eliminate Link instead. Link was far too talented, ambitious, and disruptive to be managed with a contract.
While Hollywood had no shortage of great films and directors, it lacked brilliant talents capable of recognizing good cinema, and he considered himself one of those talents.
To avoid any chance encounters, it would be best to eliminate Link entirely.
...
"Jodie, if you could go back, how old would you want to be?" a voice chimed in from the audience.
Michelle Pfeiffer nudged her friend Jodie Foster.
"Twenty!" Jodie said after some thought.
"Why not earlier? Wouldn't it be better to go back when you were just starting out?" Michelle asked.
"Too early, and I wouldn't qualify for adoption," Jodie said with pursed lips.
"Adoption? Adoption of what?" Michelle and her friends, Diane Lane and Meg Ryan, looked at her curiously.
"Adopting Link!"
"WHAAT?!!" The three stared at her, surprised. Given Jodie's age of thirty-three, that meant thirteen years earlier -- Link would have been just ten years old; she was qualified to adopt him.
"Jodie, I knew you loved Link! That's a funny proposition. If I could go back, I'd adopt him too, give him the best life and have him call me 'Mommy' -- that sounds fun!" Michelle laughed, covering her mouth.
"Are you both serious?" Diane raised an eyebrow at them, aware of their close ties to Link and how they loved him, but the idea of adopting him and having him call them 'Mommy' seemed a bit much.
"I'm not raising him; I want to discipline him! I want him focused on studying and making films, not just being a playboy," Jodie replied, a hint of wickedness in her smile.
"No way! Link can't be too focused; if he's too committed to one person, his partner will get hurt, and you can't let that happen," Michelle chimed in.
"Why?" Jodie and the other two looked at her curiously.
Michelle smiled faintly. "You'll find out someday."
...
"Darling, Michelle wants to adopt you, and I think that's a splendid idea. I'm on board with it too," Monica said with a playful smile.
Link's expressions darkened; it seemed he had been too soft on them, leading to bolder comments. Tonight, he planned to teach them a lesson.
...
As the film progressed to its climax, audience reactions grew increasingly enthusiastic.
Some praised Leonardo for looking dashing in a suit on screen, betting he would become a major star after the film's release. Others complimented Julianne Moore and Renee Zellweger on their acting, especially Renee's portrayal of a streetwalker that left a strong impression.
Many were impressed by the lead character's repeated attempts to change his past, only to make matters worse instead.
As the film concluded, the protagonist realized he could not save anyone, least of all himself, and to prevent further catastrophe, he traveled back to his mother's womb and committed suicide using the umbilical cord.
This scene caused many gasps throughout the audience, with shout-outs of "Oh my God, that's terrifying!" and "Incredible, that twist was brilliant!"
...
"Link's movies never disappoint," Juliette Binoche remarked.
"Indeed," Sophie Marceau smiled.
...
"They're always so real, profound, and raw. Absolutely fantastic films," critic Rudding Batchelor told his companion, who nodded in agreement.
...
"Remarkable. Link has such a solid foundation and continually progresses in his pursuit of innovation. He could compete for the Oscar for Best Director in the future," said director Martin Scorsese to his colleague, Francis Ford Coppola.
Coppola's response was a mere hum. He recognized Link's growing directorial prowess and leadership among young filmmakers. However, Link was also a potential threat, as Sofia Coppola had been with him for over three years without any signs of breaking up. If it continued like this, she might lose precious time.
...
As the film reached its conclusion, the lights in the theatre brightened again.
The audience erupted into waves of applause and cheers, with Juliette Binoche, Rudding Batchelor, and others standing to applaud.
...
"This film is amazing! It's the most entertaining movie I've seen this year," Lawrence Bender exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically.
"Absolutely fantastic; it seemed even better than the screening version," Robert Rodriguez added, also applauding.
"I'd bet this film will gross over a hundred million in North America."
Ben Affleck clapped and chimed in.
"Do we even need to bet? Other than Link's debut film Buried, when has he not crossed the one hundred million mark in North America?" Joaquin Phoenix said.
...
"Leonardo, your performance in the film was incredible! Congratulations!" Edward Norton turned to Leonardo DiCaprio.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Leonardo exclaimed, bubbling with excitement.
The Butterfly Effect was Leonardo's first major film, and hearing so many positive comments thrilled him.
...
"Renee, did you hear? Everyone loves this film," Jennifer Lopez, who played a minor role in the movie, enthusiastically remarked to Renee Zellweger.
"Yes, I heard. We made a wonderful film," Renee replied with a smile.
"And we owe it to Link," Julianne Moore said, looking fondly at Link up front.
...
"It seems Link has another hit on his hands," Susan Sarandon applauded.
"That's Link for you; it'd be stranger if his film didn't succeed," Tim Robbins joked.
...
The audience buzzed with discussions filled with admiration for the film, while Quentin Tarantino sat with a furrowed brow, looking serious.
"Quentin, what are you thinking? Why not share your thoughts?" Lawrence Bender asked as he turned to him.
Quentin shook his head, frowning at Robert Rodriguez. "You just said this version was better than the screening version, right? Is that true?"
"Definitely, this version surpassed the screening; Link probably made some excellent edits afterward," Robert shrugged.
Quentin then turned to Richard Linklater and Steven Soderbergh, seeking their opinions. The directors who attended the screening felt the on-site version indeed surpassed the earlier one in quality and viewing experience.
"What's the issue?"
"There's a significant problem," Quentin replied, glaring at Link in the front row. "Link already has an incredible talent for filmmaking. After finishing, he spends enormous time refining every shot to enhance the film. Who can rival his dedication to crafting films so intricately?"
Robert, Steven, and others furrowed their brows at his words.
Anyone who had directed knew that meticulously refining shots after completing a film was an incredibly taxing and time-consuming process.
The more precise the refinement, the more time it required.
The Butterfly Effect had looked near perfect at its screening, yet Link chose to continue refining it, like a tireless master sculptor.
His dedication to filmmaking was undeniably commendable but not great for his peers.
If everyone adopted this approach and spent excess time on post-production, they would significantly reduce their filmmaking efficiency.
However, if they didn't take his model seriously, they'd be left trailing behind him, unable to catch up.
"Link's films are not just great because of his skill and acute market sense, but also due to his relentless pursuit of excellence. This attitude toward perfection is something we should emulate," Richard Linklater said gravely.
"I understand, but refining shots like Link does on a hundred-minute film can take over a month. It's costly and time-consuming -- a hard challenge," Robert Rodriguez admitted, throwing up his hands in despair.
"If Link manages to make incredible films and do it, how can we not follow suit?" Steven laughed wryly, touching his bald head.
At a loss for words, Robert felt the tension weighing on him.
When faced with the challenge of mirroring Link, it seemed impossible. Yet at the same time, watching Link thrive while leaving them behind was unbearable.
"This guy sure could stir up trouble for us," Quentin grumbled at Link's back.
...
"Ha! Link, what an incredible film! It's innovative and profound. I could watch it again right now after just one viewing!"
"Thank you! If you liked it, feel free to see it as many times as you want; don't be shy."
"Link, The Butterfly Effect was fantastic. I wish you all the success with it!"
"Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it."
As the film ended, stars like Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Madonna, and Nicole Kidman surrounded Link, offering their congratulations. Link expressed his gratitude to them.
...
After the premiere, Guess Pictures hosted a party at a hotel, inviting all friends, colleagues, and media personnel to discuss the film and share updates from the entertainment industry.
During the party, Link received praise and congratulations from directors like Martin Scorsese and Ang Lee. He also faced complaints from Quentin, Robert, and other filmmakers, along with playful harassment from Nicole Kidman and Madonna, and admiration from Michelle Yeoh, Diane Lane, and Sharon Stone.
...
However, Link remained focused on the promotional aspects of The Butterfly Effect, currently uninterested in other matters.
Given the pressure from the seven major studios on the film's promotional channels, he approached Harvey Weinstein, inviting Miramax to participate in the promotion and distribution of the film, offering an additional 8% cut of the box office.
However, Harvey declined, noting that Miramax had several films slated for release during the summer season, leaving limited resources to support the promotion of The Butterfly Effect.
Link expressed regret but wasn't disappointed. He intended to win over Miramax as an ally against the seven major studios, but since Harvey was unwilling to participate, he decided not to push it. With Guess Pictures' current financial resources, they might not win against the majors, but they wouldn't take too much of a hit.
...
After a busy day, the party ended around eight o'clock, and Link took the women home to rest.
The necessary tasks had been completed. Now, he could only wait to see how the box office would perform and if he could achieve a good outcome despite the pressure from the seven major studios.
*****
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