Across America, Starting with the Boxing Champion

Chapter 411 Revenge and Audition

 The movie did not do well at the box office. Of course, Harvey was very angry, very angry. When he was angry, he smashed two ashtrays, three floor tiles, and was cut on his forehead by a piece of debris that popped up, which made him even more angry.

 Harvey sat on the sofa with a sullen face, letting his secretary with **** bandage his forehead.

Until his brother Bob came in, he continued to scold Link. "Bridesmaids" invested by Link was a low-cost follow-up film with no big stars to support it. It did not have much advantage over several wedding comedies of the same period.

 But it made 20.37 million U.S. dollars at the box office in the three weekend days, and he could make back the money in the next month, which made him unable to help but be angry.

There is also "Revenge of the Father" produced by Weinstein Pictures. I thought it would get a hit in the summer due to the influence and box office appeal of actor Sean Penn and actress Frances McDormand. good achievement.

Even if it’s bad, it should still be better than Link’s trash movie.

 But reality slapped me in the face.

“Bichi, you hurt me.”

 Harvey pushed away the female secretary who was disinfecting his wounds, picked up a band-aid, and slapped it directly on his greasy forehead.

　　Bob helped the female secretary up and secretly pinched her butt, asking her to go out first.

 The female secretary limped on her ankle and left carrying the medicine box.

Bob saw Harvey smashing the office into a mess again, and shook his head helplessly. In fact, before the movie was released, he did not agree to adjust the schedule to compete with Link's new movie.

The reason is very simple. "Revenge of the Father" is a literary and artistic film that is relatively niche. Most of the moviegoers are adults over thirty years old, as well as fans of Sean Penn and Francis.

"Bridesmaids" is a comedy movie, and its audience is over 13 years old. It is suitable for everyone. It follows the theme of "The Hangover" and is even more popular.

 There is not much comparison between the two movies.

Bob knew this, given Harvey’s years of experience releasing movies, but he still did it.

 First, I underestimated Link and the quality of "Bridesmaids".

 The second one is being carried away by anger and just thinking about doing something to embarrass Link without thinking about the consequences of losing.

 The result is that he is embarrassed.

"Harvey, there's no need for you to be angry about this. The film schedule of "Revenge of the Father" is lower than that of "Bridesmaids," so it's normal for its box office performance to be lower at the beginning. There are also comedy movies that have seen a larger box office decline, and literary films that have more stamina. We don’t necessarily lose.”

Bob comforted.

 Harvey took a few greedy breaths, and his neck and belly swelled up. With his fat face, he looked more like a tree frog in the swamp.

“I know that, but it’s also true that Bridesmaids won’t lose money. This **** is so lucky that the two movies he invested in in a row were both hits.

This will make people think that investing in movies is not difficult. It will also make people think that we veteran filmmakers are incompetent. It will also make people think that Link is a very powerful bastard. We have become his foil. Do you understand? "

Harvey shouted angrily, almost spitting his saliva into Bob's face.

Bob took a half step back and nodded.

He understood what Harvey was thinking. Link practiced boxing and singing every day, and only gave a sum of money to Catherine for investment, and did nothing else. Then the movies he invested in became hits one after another, and he was really lucky.

"Harvey, the success of "Bridesmaids" is the result of Catherine Baker and Broadbent's supervisors. It has nothing to do with Link, and we are not his foil."

Bob advised.

“That Katherine Baker is an outsider. The operation of Palm Beach Pictures mainly relies on Broadbent and several veteran producers. Can Broadbent be hired over?”

Harvey asked sullenly.

Bob shook his head, not thinking it was a good idea.

  Broadbent was originally the deputy director of the artistic film production group of Warner Pictures Production Company. His production level was not above the first level, and his strength and performance were much worse than those of several gold medal producers.

Let’s not say whether the other party is willing to poach him. Even if he can be poached, there is no guarantee that his next movie will be a hit.

 The job of making a movie mainly depends on factors such as vision, experience, luck, and the strength of the working team, not just an experienced producer.

If having a group of gold medal producers can guarantee that a movie will be a hit, the film market has long been monopolized by the six major film studios.

"Harvey, you are a top producer. No matter how good Broadbent is, he can't compare to you. There is no use poaching him."

Bob said.

 Harvey frowned and accidentally touched the wound. The stinging pain on his forehead made him hate Link again.

　　"How do you plan to lay a minefield for Palm Beach Pictures and Lionsgate?"

“Progress is slow. Palm Beach Pictures has limited funds and will not make higher-cost movies for the time being.

An informant also reported that the specific movies Palm Beach Pictures makes mainly depend on Kathryn Baker's wishes, not other producers. The projects we sent failed to pass through Kathryn Baker.

The same goes for Lionsgate. Originally there were 22 film production plans for this year. After Link and Iwaka took office, ten were directly cut off, including the projects we arranged. "

Bob said helplessly.

 Harvey gritted his teeth bitterly, feeling extremely unhappy.

 Having been in Hollywood for decades, he is not without opponents.

On the contrary, he has been able to reach this point precisely by defeating powerful opponents, stepping on their shoulders, and ascending to the throne of the number one person in Hollywood's powerful list.

As a veteran of many battles, he thought he could easily defeat newcomer Link Baker.

 After two rounds of competition, one was a draw and the other was a loss, which made him very unhappy.

"How are the other plans going? I really, really don't want to see Link stay in Hollywood right now."

".Not smooth."

Bob explained helplessly.

After the fight with Link in March, he used various methods to send women to Link's side, hoping to use this method to trick Link.

It's a pity that Link, a playboy, didn't accept the call at all. When he met a beautiful woman he didn't know, he didn't even look at her. There was no chance of misunderstanding with him.

The same goes for little Epstein and Diddy. Link doesn’t go to bars or attend random parties, so there’s no chance to get him into trouble.

 “That means we can’t deal with him at all?!”

 Harvey's blood pressure soared when he heard this, and he looked at Bob with a look of trash.

"Harvey, don't be too anxious about this kind of thing. The more frequently you attack, the more vigilant Link will be, and the lower the probability of success. Let's take our time and find the right opportunity before we attack. As long as Link is still in the entertainment industry, there will always be a chance. Trick him."

Bob advised.

"Take your time? You put it simply. Do you know how many people are watching my jokes now? As long as Link is still in Hollywood, those people will continue to laugh at me, saying that I am a Hollywood tycoon and Link is a little kid." Even the newcomers in the film industry can’t deal with it. This is a great shame and a great shame for me, do you understand?”

 Harvey roared with his face flushed red.

 The muscles at the corners of Bob's eyes twitched.

 Harvey was so flattered by the media and people around him that when others said he was a Hollywood tycoon, he really regarded himself as a tycoon.

And Link is no small figure. He is worth more than 2 billion U.S. dollars and is the boss of Lionsgate Pictures.

 Lionsgate Pictures is the eighth largest company in the film industry, sometimes the seventh largest, with greater market capitalization and production capabilities than Weinstein Pictures.

 When dealing with such a person, it is normal that there is no way to defeat him easily.

“Harvey, don’t worry, I’ve been thinking of ways to deal with Link during this period. After thinking for a long time, I finally discovered a weakness in Link. If we start from this aspect, we might have a chance to defeat him.”

Bob sat on the sofa, crossed his fat legs and lit a cigarette.

"explain!"

 “Iwaka!”

 “Evaca?”

“Yes, Ivaca is Link’s weakness. Link’s current worth and fame are largely due to her.

Without her, Link Music would not be as big as it is now. Without her, Lionsgate would not be as stable as it is now. Without her and the connections of the Thompson family, Link would not have the momentum it has now. He couldn't withstand the attack of Little Kunas and the others. "

Bob waved his fist and said in a serious tone.

 Harvey heard his words and touched his big belly thoughtfully.

"So I suggest that we make a fuss about the relationship between the two and find a way to break up their relationship. Without Ivaca to manage Link Music and Lionsgate Pictures, the two companies will definitely fall into chaos. Without the protection of the Thompson family's connections, Link is just a simple billionaire and will be easier to deal with.”

Bob said with a firm voice.

 Harvey nodded in agreement, reached out and patted Bob on the back, laughing and saying, "Dear Bob, I'll leave this matter to you."

“No problem, you can rest assured that I will do the work.”

Bob flicked the ashes of his cigarette and said calmly.

"In addition, the box office of "Bridesmaids" is a bit high. Let's find some professional film critics to review it and find a way to bring it down. Didn't Link predict that the box office of this movie will be 4 to 5 billion? I want it to be 4 to 5 million. Ten thousand."

Harvey sneered with a toad-like mouth.

Bob thought for a moment and nodded.

"Bridesmaids" grossed more than 20 million in three days over the weekend. I found someone to write some negative reviews of "Bridesmaids" and pushed the movie's second-week box office to less than 10 million. The maximum box office in North America was only 40 to 50 million. This is right. It's not difficult for him to do.

  —

 “How is Rami Malek’s acting?”

In the Palm Beach Pictures office building, Link looked at Rami Malek leaving the audition office and asked.

“Not bad, he takes acting seriously and he is a real actor.” Joaquin Phoenix said.

Link nodded, this is the audition scene for the movie "The Master".

After Megan Ellison read the script, she felt that the story was very good, and the quality of several films directed by director Paul Anderson in the past were very good. The male protagonist Joaquin is also a very good actor. After thinking about it, he agreed invest.

 The production cost of this film is 32 million U.S. dollars, with Palm Beach Pictures investing 12 million, Lionsgate Pictures investing 10 million, and Annapurna Pictures investing 10 million.

After the funds were secured, the production crew that had been suspended resumed operations and began the first round of film auditions to select other major roles except the male protagonist.

Link read the script and found that there was a male lead role that suited the image of Rami Malek very well. Considering that he had good acting skills, he gave him an audition invitation through the crew.

If Rami can get this role, he will be signed to the Palm Bay Agency for training, hoping that he can win the Oscar for Best Actor in the future.

 When he thought about the Oscar for Best Actor, Link was a little speechless.

When he was still a boxing champion and singer, the media commented that he was too successful in boxing and music, and that he was too handsome and wealthy. Out of jealousy and rejection of outsiders, it was almost impossible for the thousands of Oscar Academy judges to cast their votes. give him.

 He has almost no chance of getting a statuette.

Since he bought Lionsgate Pictures and became the boss of the eighth largest production company in the film industry, the media has deleted almost all of the original text and republished it, saying that he has 100% no chance of winning the Oscar, even if he works hard. Not until one hundred years old.

Compare Chaplin, a top star in the silent film era and the founder of United Artists, the former eighth film company in Hollywood. He made many classic movies but never won the Oscar for Best Actor.

Link is even more unlikely.

Having seen too many similar news, Link also began to wonder if his goal of winning the Oscar for Best Actor was a bit unrealistic.

 After doubting it, he remained firm on this goal.

 From now on, I will make one or two good movies every year and become a top actor. Whether I can win an award or not, I will give it a try first.

“Link, there is a supporting role for you in this play, do you want to try it?”

Joaquin smoked a cigarette and smiled.

Link thought for a moment and refused, mainly because he didn't have time.

 He currently has three dramas on his hands, "Rust and Bone", "Buried Alive", and "Avengers".

In the first week after the release of "Thor", Ms. Anna received a call from Marvel Entertainment, saying that "Avengers" was being prepared, and Captain America would be included in the film.

 The exact number of scenes will be determined by the box office results of "Captain America" ​​in July.

What Marvel means is that he should arrange the schedule in advance and expect to start filming at the end of the year.

The performance contract he signed with Marvel Studios last year included a clause for producing a sequel, and he cannot turn down this role.

There is also "Jinling Thirteen Hairpins". He was quite busy at the beginning of the year and worked on the set for more than ten days intermittently, barely finishing the scenes.

Now that the crew has entered the post-production stage, director Zhang Da called and said that some scenes needed to be reshot. Please take the time to go back. It only takes two or three days.

Originally, there was also "Friends with Me". After he bought Lionsgate Pictures, Screen Treasures planned to continue the cooperation and let him continue to be the leading actor and give him a salary increase, but Link refused.

 “Are you still a singer now?”

Link looked at Jacques and asked. This guy announced in 2009 that he would quit the entertainment industry to become a rapper. He worked for more than half a year, but there was no improvement. He was also scolded by the audience for being late for the performance. Jacques scolded the audience. , causing quite a stir.

"No, it's too difficult to be a singer. I admire you very much now. You turned from a boxer to a singer and became the top star in the music industry in just two years. This is amazing."

Joaquin Phoenix praised repeatedly.

Link smiled softly. It was indeed not easy to be a singer. If he didn't have those music stocks, he wouldn't be as popular as he is now.

“Hi, Link, and Joaquin, are you here too?”

The two were chatting in the coffee room, and Amy Adams walked over from the backlight carrying a small satchel.

Wearing an off-white dress, long burgundy curly hair draped over her left shoulder, a gentle smile appeared on her fair and round cheeks. When she said "You are here too", her blue eyes looked at Link, and there was more of a smile on the corner of her mouth. Some strange flavors.

 “Amy, are you coming to audition too?”

Link greeted.

“Yes, I have read the script. The role of the heroine is very suitable for me, so I will come and give it a try.”

 Amy Adams laughed.

 “I wish you good luck! Director Anderson has very strict requirements for actors.”

"I will work hard."

Amy Adams brushed her hair around her ears, smiled slightly, turned around and walked back to the audition office.

Link looked at her swaying back. This woman was more mature and more flavorful than before.

 “I’ll go to the office and have a look.”

Joaquin dropped his cigarette **** and also went to the audition office.

 After a while, Ms. Mandy walked into the coffee room and said that both the casting director and Director Anderson believed that Amy Adams was more suitable for the heroine than Emma Stone.

Amy Adams’s temperament is more similar to the heroine Mary, while Emma Stone is too young and not mature enough.

Link said that in accordance with the wishes of the directors, he would not interfere in the crew's choices.

 After all, his purpose in investing in this film was to make money, not to praise his artists.

"Mandy, for Palm Bay's artists, we provide her with as many audition opportunities as possible and help them get roles while ensuring fairness, but we don't let them be too spoiled and let them go through more training. It can also help them make progress.”

Now the Palm Bay Agency not only has Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, but also signed five actors and actresses with good acting skills.

There are Octavia Spencer and Chris O'Dowd, these two are cast members of "The Help" and "Bridesmaids". The former is a black actress, the latter is the male protagonist of "Bridesmaids", and the rest The three are also actors signed from the crews of "Scandal Project", "Bridesmaids" and "The Help".

These actors are all good and can be arranged to play supporting roles in films produced by Lionsgate and Palm Beach Pictures, and help the companies make money when they become famous.

“Okay, recently I have taken a fancy to two good young actors and am going to sign them. What do you think?”

Ms. Mandy smiled.

“You are the president of the Palm Bay agency and you have the final say, but if you have time, you should pay more attention to Selena and don’t let her become a wild child.”

"I see."

Ms. Mandy smiled softly.

Link spent half a day at Palm Beach Pictures. In addition to visiting the audition work of "The Master", he also chatted with Catherine about Palm Beach's movies this year and next year.

In addition to "The Help" which is being scheduled, there are also "Silver Linings Playbook", "The Master" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild".

There is also "Promise Land" recommended by Megan Ellison, which is adapted from a novel about a gangster legend by the famous writer Matt Bondurant. It tells the story of a family of three selling bootleg liquor after the end of World War I. The story of a family gang that grows from strength to strength.

This movie is somewhat similar to a movie called "Lawless" that Link has watched. The quality is good and the production cost is only 26 million US dollars, so he agreed to cooperate with Megan.

Palm Beach Pictures’ investment share in these four films totals 35.2 million U.S. dollars, which is completely affordable. When the box office funds of "Bridesmaids" are recovered, more funds will be available to invest in the latest film projects.

 Ding dong!

As he was driving home, he received a thank-you message from Amy Adams.

Link wrote back and said you're welcome, she was perfect for Mary's role.

 Ding dong!

Amy Adams suddenly sent a photo, which was a photo of her and a baby. The baby was about one year old, with black hair, blue eyes, and a cute chubby face.

 “This is my son Chris, isn’t he cute?”

  “A very pretty little guy.”

"Thanks!"

Link continued to look at the photo, a little confused as to why the other party sent the photo.

Is it difficult for Amy Adams to imply that this child is related to her?

He has never met Amy Adams's husband, and he doesn't know if he has black hair. Amy Adams is also a descendant of Italian immigrants. Her ancestors also have black hair, blue pupils, and fair skin.

 Just from the photo, he couldn't tell whether the child looked like him or not.

In addition, the date Amy Adams gave birth to her child was before the Academy Awards. Calculating the date seems to have something to do with her, but she can't be sure.

 “Amy, when is the child’s birthday?”

Link asked after thinking for a moment.

 “Are you going to Chris’s birthday party? I’ll invite you to his next birthday.”

Amy Adams said.

Link replied "Okay" and did not continue to ask further questions.

As long as Amy Adams doesn't say that the child is his, it will be treated as if there is no such thing, so as not to cause misunderstandings and bring bad influence to the other party's family, and also to avoid showing wrong attentiveness.

Ding dong dong!

On the way back to the Bay Villa, Ivaca called and said that she would have to work overtime for half an hour today to deal with urgent matters, and asked him to eat first without waiting for her.

Link asked what was going on.

Ivaca said that there were a large number of negative reviews of "Bridesmaids" in newspapers and on the Internet yesterday afternoon, which directly led to a 35% drop in today's box office performance compared to yesterday, exceeding the normal drop of 60%. This data is very abnormal.

 Lionsgate Pictures is also involved in the distribution of this film, and now the distribution department is contacting Warner Distribution Company to prepare to jointly resolve this matter.

 (End of this chapter)