Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 9 Encountering the cold
After returning to West Hollywood, Link continued to work part-time at Burger King, Chinese restaurants, and pizza shops to earn some food and transportation money.

The next afternoon, when he passed by New Line Cinema, he visited the blonde woman at the front desk with a small gift and asked for news.

The blonde woman regretfully told him that the videotape was still in the archives and that President Robert Shea was busy with other things and had no time to organize people to watch it.

Link left with regret and returned to the restaurant to continue working.

While delivering pizza to the crew of "Dracula" next street, I ran into Matt Damon and Ben Affleck again.

Unlike the previous two times, there were two hot girls around them.

Link asks if Matt Damon's audition went well.

Matt Damon spread his hands and said he failed. The role was taken by a seemingly ordinary newcomer, and he still doesn't understand why he lost to the other party.

"Haha, don't be discouraged, at least your trip was not in vain."

Link looked at the hot girl next to the two of them and smiled with an ambiguous expression.

"Okay, you're right. How's your movie going? Is there a release date set yet?"

"It's still under negotiation, and I'm sure you'll see the film one day."

“We’ll stay tuned.”

Matt Damon bumped fists with him and continued shopping with Ben Affleck and two hot girls.

Link looked at the backs of the two men and two women. To be honest, he was a little envious, but he couldn't envy them for the time being.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck both come from wealthy families, attended prestigious schools, and have connections in the entertainment industry.

Coming to Hollywood to develop is not a desperate option, but a purposeful way to pursue the dream of entering the entertainment industry after having sufficient material foundation.

Their star journey is destined to be much smoother and broader than that of Link and the group of dreamers in the Youth Apartment.

Link was carrying the takeaway food and pedaling his bike hard, speeding down Hollywood Boulevard.

-

The next afternoon, Link went to New Line Cinema again and asked the blonde woman about the videotape.

The blonde woman told him that the distribution department had watched other directors' videotapes today, and according to the order, it would take a few more days for them to reach him, so she told him not to be anxious.

As they were leaving, the blonde asked him if he wanted to join her for a drink.

Link looked at the woman's makeup, which was more elaborate than yesterday, and politely agreed.

After drinking a few beers at the bar in the afternoon, Link took the blonde woman back to the small apartment.

Blonde women have better skin care and a good figure, but they drink more water.

If Link hadn't exercised regularly, with a 10% bonus to his physical fitness, he would probably have been defeated by the opponent's plump buttocks.

After seeing the blonde woman off in the morning, Link came to Burger King to work. He heard his colleague Chris Bauer say that Quentin's movie "Reservoir Dogs" would be released this Friday, and asked Link if he wanted to go see it together.

Link had seen it during the Sundance Film Festival, but he didn't agree to watch it with Chris Bauer and the others. Besides, a movie ticket was $8, which was enough for his meal.

He is not so wealthy now as to go to the cinema for entertainment.

Link worked part-time in several stores all day, running around, and had no time to inquire about New Line Cinema.

The next day when he was working at the Burger King, the blonde woman called him and told him that President Robert Shea had just transferred his movie and it should be under review at this time.

"Chris, help take over the shift."

Link took off his apron, handed the work over to Chris Bauer, and rode to New Line Cinema.

After arriving at New Line Cinema, I greeted the blonde woman and sat in the lounge waiting.

After waiting for less than 10 minutes, the blonde woman came over with the video tape of "Buried Alive".

I regret to tell him that President Robert Shea and his team have not watched the entire video. Their opinion is that the scene is too simple and there is only one actor, and his face is Asian.

There is no market for this kind of movie in the United States.

"Link, don't lose heart. President Shay also praised the overall conception of the film and your strong control of the camera. He said you are a promising director."

the blonde soothed.

"Thank you, at least there is some good news."

Link was a little disappointed but not depressed. He said goodbye to the blonde woman with a smile, took the videotape with him and left New Line Cinema after being separated for several days.

The next day, on the day Reservoir Dogs opened, Link arrived at Touchstone Pictures headquarters with the videotape.

Touchstone Pictures is a subsidiary of Disney Pictures and one of the famous independent production companies in Hollywood.

He produced the hit film "The Mermaid" in 1984, "The Color of Money" in 1986 with director Martin Scorsese, and "Good Morning, Vietnam" in 1987.

Its production and distribution capabilities are no less impressive than those of Miramax Films.

This time Link was luckier. At the entrance of the company, he met Kenny Baez, the big producer of Touchstone Pictures. Link took the initiative to introduce "Buried" to the other party and successfully aroused Kenny Baez's interest.

However, after watching the movie, Kenny Bates was also not optimistic about its market value and suggested that he find a videotape publishing company to release a videotape version of the movie, which might perhaps sell well.

Link could only leave with regret.

Over the next few days, he used his salary to re-copy six copies of the Buried videotape at the Burbank Imprint.

After getting the backup, he took the video tape to visit other independent film companies, including Castle Rock Pictures, Trimark Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Carlock Pictures, Miramax Films, Good Machine and more than 20 other independent film companies.

All were rejected without exception.

Some film companies raised some questions after watching the movie and refused to cooperate.

Some rejected him outright.

The film company’s opinion is that the film is well-made and has some novel ideas, but it has little market potential and will definitely lose money after its release, so it is not worth investing in.

After watching the movie, some people with more harsh words said to Link in front of him that if this kind of movie could make money after it was released, he would drink urine while standing upside down.

Link also thought about seeking cooperation with the seven major Hollywood film studios.

The current seven major Hollywood film studios are Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Columbia-TriStar Pictures, and MGM-United Artists.

The seven major film studios are currently the seven film studios in the world that produce the largest number of films, with each producing an average of 15 films per year, and also generating the most box office and peripheral profits.

The main purpose of the seven major film studios in making movies is to make money. They pay more attention to the commercial attributes of the movies, with artistic attributes taking second place.

The subject matter and plot of "Buried" are very niche, even independent film companies are not optimistic about it, and the Big Seven Studios will not be interested in it.

After being treated coldly again and again, Link was in a dilemma.

Just give up. The movie has 4 times box office subsidies, and the loss will be too great if you give up.

If you don't give up, no film company will be willing to release it.

Link began to consider whether to delay for a few years, and wait until he became famous and had box office appeal in the future to release the film. It would not be difficult to distribute it then.

But he didn't know whether there was a time limit for the four times box office subsidy.

"Link, give up and stop running around. Your movie is too weird. No film company will release it."

In the small bar, Chris Bauer pressed his shoulder and persuaded him.

Link leaned against the bar, looked at the dancer twisting on the round table in the middle, took a sip of beer and said:
"Don't worry, it's just that I've been rejected dozens of times. Many world-famous works were rejected dozens of times by publishers before they were published, such as The Diary of Anne Frank, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, etc. Mine is nothing."

"How can movies be compared with classics? Movies that are not favored by distribution companies really have problems. It is useless to continue to run into obstacles. Besides, you have already run to all the film distribution companies you should run to. Who will you find to cooperate with next? If no one cooperates, are you going to distribute the film yourself?"

Chris Bauer said.

"There are hundreds of Hollywood film companies, and many of them haven't tried it yet. Wait, I'll distribute it myself? Distribute it myself? Hmm, that seems like a good idea."

Link squinted his eyes and looked at the dancer's shaking hips, and suddenly felt that this method was feasible.

Distributing a film is much like publishing a novel.

Publishing companies are eager to buy copyrights for works with potential.

For works with no potential, those who want to take a gamble can publish them at their own expense.

For example, Moby Dick, the representative work of the famous American writer Herman Melville, was submitted to dozens of publishing houses, but no one was willing to publish it. Later, Herman Melville paid for the publication of Moby Dick out of his own pocket. After its publication, Moby Dick sold well and was called "the greatest American novel."

The same is true for movie releases in the United States. Not all movies need to be reviewed and rated by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) before they are released.

Many art house films are not submitted to the MPAA for rating prior to release.

This type of film is subject to more restrictions when it is released and cannot be released on a large scale.

The problem that "Buried" is facing now is that it cannot be released.

If there is a cinema willing to show "Buried", even if there is only one cinema and it only shows it for one day, according to the 4 times box office subsidy regulations, the box office results will not be too bad.

As long as the box office performance is good enough when the film is released, theaters will definitely be willing to extend the screening period for the purpose of profit, and even attract the attention of film distribution companies.

Link took a big sip of cold beer to calm himself down, secretly pondering the feasibility of this matter.

After repeated thinking, he found that this could be done by skipping the distribution company and negotiating directly with the theaters.

After thinking this through, Link decided to give it a try.

"Hey, Link, I heard you're still looking for a film distribution company. You've approached dozens of them and asked them to distribute your film. Have you been successful?"

Several young men and women living in the youth apartment squeezed through the crowd, carrying beer bottles.

"No, success is not that easy, but I am on the eve of success."

"Haha, we guessed it a long time ago. It's not that easy for you, who has only been an extra for a few months, to switch to acting in movies. If you can do it, thousands of people in Hollywood can do it."

A young man with a flowery tattoo on his arm laughed.

"Link, come back. Be an extra first and train for a few years. Maybe one day we can become big stars like Tom Hanks and Schwarzenegger, living in a mansion, driving a sports car, and making millions of dollars for a movie. Wow, that's so cool."

"Yes, Link. Being a director is too difficult. It's easier to be an actor."

"Link, let's be actors together. We are still waiting for you to give me some advice on my acting skills. You are very good at giving advice on acting."

Several young men and women said.

"That sounds good. I will seriously consider your opinions."

Link gestured to the others with the bottle in hand.

(End of this chapter)