Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 25: The Beverly Hills Mansion]

Link received an invitation to a bar in West Hollywood where he met director Steven Soderbergh through Quentin's introduction. Though Steven sported a bald head, he was still relatively young at twenty-nine, making waves as a new director. He had shot to fame in 1989 with Sex, Lies, and Videotape, establishing himself as a well-known figure in Hollywood. Like Quentin, he had also been discovered by Harvey Weinstein.

"Link, can you tell us why you insisted on releasing Buried in theaters when others didn't believe in it? Weren't you worried about losing money?" Quentin asked.

"Of course I was worried. My thinking was that since the film was already made, I had to find a way to get it into theaters so more people could see it. Initially, I wanted to partner with a distribution company, but unfortunately, they weren't interested. In that case, I had no choice but to raise funds to finance the film myself."

"Your initial funding of fifty thousand dollars came from me," Quentin reminded him.

"Thanks! So, can I redeem that script for fifty grand?" Link joked.

"What? You want to buy back the script? We signed a contract!" Quentin laughed.

"Just kidding, don't worry about it," Link said, taking a sip from his drink. "My idea was to release it for a few days and test the waters. If fans really didn't like it, I'd pull it quickly to minimize losses.

But after the release, fans actually loved it. The box office numbers kept rising day by day, and it turned into what the media called a box office miracle."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Quentin, Lawrence Bender, and Steven Soderbergh applauded him.

"Link, that's impressive. If it were me, I don't think I could have held on this long," Quentin raised his glass.

"Same here; making a movie costs a lot. Self-distributing is even more expensive. It takes not just confidence but guts. You're really brave, Link," Steven Soderbergh toasted him.

"Thanks! It felt like gambling, but fortunately, I won."

"Link, you not only won at the box office but also paved the way for many films overlooked by the studios. I think many directors will follow your example in the future," Lawrence smiled.

"Hopefully, their films will also do well."

Link chuckled, knowing his boldness stemmed from having a solid four-times return. Others weren't in the same position. If someone dared to emulate him, sticking with a movie that studios ignored, the risk of bankruptcy was very high.

"Link, when are you shooting your next film? Do you have any plans?" Quentin inquired.

"It's in the works. If all goes well, we should start filming next month," Link replied.

"Next month?! Are you serious?" Quentin leaned on the table, his muscles tense with disbelief.

If anyone saw them, they might think they were arguing.

"It's true! The script is finished, and now it's casting and setting up the shoot; a month is plenty of time."

"You finished the script already?! Are you even human?" Quentin exclaimed, banging on the table.

"I'm human! The storyline and characters for the second film are simple, so it was easy to write."

"You're really going all out, no wonder they call you hardworking and bold." Quentin frowned, unable to keep still on the sofa.

After completing Reservoir Dogs, he had thought he'd take his time with the next project, aiming to start filming the following year without rushing through the writing process.

But hearing Link say he'd start shooting next month made him anxious. He needed to focus and polish his script so he wouldn't fall behind.

"Link, what's the budget for this new movie? Have you figured it out yet?" Lawrence was curious.

"It won't be much, under a hundred grand."

"Under a hundred grand? That low?" Quentin prompted, surprised.

"I'm a new director; I want to start with a few low-budget films for practice. Once I have enough experience, I can try out bigger projects."

"You're right, Link. Gaining experience before going big tends to increase your chances of success. After I made Sex, Lies, and Videotape, I was eager to jump into Kafka, but that one tanked at the box office," Steven Soderbergh admitted.

"Link, are you going to opt for small stakes again? How about a little wager on the next film's box office? Who brings in better numbers wins?" Quentin challenged.

"Just box office? I'll consider it."

Link raised an eyebrow, recalling a dream he had while staying at a small motel in Park City. In that dream, Quentin wanted more than just a box office battle; he wanted to compare awards, too, especially since Pulp Fiction had been a commercial and critical success.

After worrying for a long time in the dream, he finally settled on the unreliable Lost in Translation as a contender in that dream.

"Besides the box office, how about awards? Let's see whose film quality is more solid. Are you up for it?"

"There is no need for that. The next few films I make will focus solely on box office returns and not awards. If I compare these films with yours, the chances of winning are too small."

"Alright, then we'll just stick to box office numbers. Loser buys drinks here."

"Deal!"

Link offered a fist bump.

...

"Hello, Director Link! It's great to see you here," the famous action star Bruce Willis approached, flanked by two lesser-known actors, extending a warm greeting.

"Mr. Willis, it's a pleasure to meet you," Link shook hands with Bruce and his companions.

"Director Link, Buried is such a profound film. My wife and I really enjoyed it," Bruce said.

"Thanks!"

After seeing Bruce off, several other industry folks came to chat, including directors, actors, producers, casting directors, and agents. Link accumulated over thirty business cards, most suggesting potential collaborations.

...

"Link, what's it feel like to be starstruck by these celebrities?" Quentin joked.

"It feels pretty good," Link admitted, realizing that being poor meant feeling less than even a dog, while rubbing elbows with the wealthy and famous was exhilarating.

"Yes, it can be addictive, hard to resist. But this is Hollywood, a cutthroat arena; no one stays in the spotlight forever. Steven knows this well," Quentin said, glancing at the bald director.

Steven Soderbergh rubbed his smooth scalp, forcing a smile.

"Indeed, that's true. After the success of Sex, Lies, and Videotape, I was hot in Hollywood, but now not many recognize me. It takes more than talent to stay on top in this town."

"Steven, this is temporary. With your talent, you're sure to be an Oscar-winning director one day," Link lifted his glass toward the future Oscar winner.

"Ha ha, thanks for the encouragement, Link," Steven replied, clinking glasses with Link, while Quentin joined in.

While drinking, Quentin also relayed the reasons for inviting Link out. One was to celebrate the box office success of Buried and Link's rise to fame.

The other was to convey a message from Harvey Weinstein, the head of Miramax, who expressed admiration for Link's work and hoped he would consider collaborating with them on future films.

Quentin praised Harvey's production skills, noting that Miramax was among the best in independent film distribution and was very capable in publicizing the Academy Awards.

In short, aligning with Harvey Weinstein could lead to fame and fortune.

"Those are Harvey's words. Whether you wish to collaborate or not is entirely up to you," Quentin shrugged.

"I get it," Link said, not harboring any moral objections. He wasn't particularly swayed by later revelations of Weinstein's misconduct and didn't feel any animosity toward him. He prioritized his own interests when it came to collaborations.

If working with Miramax would offer more benefits, and he would absolutely consider it. 

...

"Hello, Director Link! Great to see you here!"

Before long, others approached Link for introductions. Since he didn't have much of a network in Hollywood yet, he was keenly appreciative of anyone who initiated conversation.

---

After sitting at the bar for a bit, Link bid farewell to Quentin and the others and headed outside. He drove in his new Cadillac to Beverly Hills to check out some houses. He was preparing to move.

After gaining fame, living in a regular apartment had become inconvenient and unsafe.

Just like the time on a Wednesday when he returned home to find a crowd of women waiting in the hall, some even stripping right in front of him as they called his name, all eager to pounce on him.

Moreover, the apartment complex was filled with dream chasers, and having someone like him living there made him a target for interruptions.

He decided Beverly Hills would be his new home.

There was a saying in the industry: You only truly establish your place in Hollywood once you own property in Beverly Hills.

With its pleasant environment and proximity to major studios, many stars had taken up residence there since the 1930s, making Beverly Hills a renowned neighborhood for the rich.

Luxurious mansions lined the streets, mostly consisting of villas.

Link considered that living alone in a mansion might be too lonely. Ultimately, he purchased a mid to high-end apartment at 108 Wilshire Boulevard.

The apartment, located on the twelfth floor, was approximately 3,000 square feet, with three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and three living areas. It included a study, coffee room, billiard room, gym, equipment room, and kitchenette, featuring large windows facing Wilshire Boulevard.

Nearby, there were plenty of upscale bars, nightclubs, designer boutiques, Hilton hotels, and celebrity homes, making it one of the most vibrant areas of Beverly Hills with excellent security.

The apartment cost two-point-two million dollars, a price Link could comfortably afford.

*****

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