Hollywood Director 1992

"Director, Ms. Gong is here."

On the New York film set, while Link was directing a scene, his assistant brought a voluptuous Chinese beauty to the set.

The woman was wearing a gray trench coat, blue jeans, and long boots, dressed in a casual American style. Although her figure wasn't as curvaceous as the European and American actresses, she possessed a captivating charm unique to Chinese women.

"Gong Li, welcome to the film set."

"Link, am I interrupting your work?"

Gong Li greeted him with a smile.

"No, I'm just explaining the scene to the actors."

Link shook hands with Gong Li and invited her to sit in the director's area.

He had invited Gong Li to develop her career in Hollywood at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Several months had passed without any news, and he had assumed she wasn't coming.

He received a call from Gong Li over the weekend, jokingly saying she was coming to America to rely on him and asking if he would take her in.

Link welcomed her, asking her to first familiarize herself with the environment in Los Angeles and learn about the Hollywood film industry. He would chat with her about work after he finished his current film.

Gong Li stayed in Los Angeles for a few days and then called to say she wanted to visit the set. Link arranged for his assistant to receive her.

"How do you feel after staying in Hollywood for a few days?"

The weather was a bit cold, so Link had his assistant prepare hot cocoa. They chatted while drinking.

"There are too many powerful actors in Hollywood. After coming here, I realized that I'm just an ordinary actress."

Gong Li said with a smile while holding her cup.

"Hollywood actors come from all over the world, and there are indeed many with good acting skills. But your level, whether in China or abroad, is top-notch. You can't be considered an ordinary actress."

"Thank you! But in the eyes of a great director like you, aren't all Oscar winners and Cannes Film Festival Best Actresses just ordinary actors? Who would dare to show off in front of you?"

Gong Li blinked and smiled.

Link chuckled, "It's okay to show off in front of me, as long as the acting is good, I don't mind. Do you have anything to do these next two days? Would you like to cameo in a role in the movie? It's not a big part, only four lines."

"Sure, Director Link, please give me more guidance in the future."

Gong Li agreed without hesitation.

Back in China, she only knew from news reports and rumors in the industry how amazing Chinese director Link was in Hollywood, with his tens of billions of dollars in wealth, being the boss of a major film company, and the box office of one of his movies being equal to the total box office of all Chinese movies, and so on.

Some of the rumors were exaggerated to the point of being unbelievable.

It was only after arriving in Hollywood that she realized the rumors were true.

Link was one of the top 300 richest people in America, one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Almost every one of his movies was a blockbuster, and his film company was even more successful at the box office than the seven major studios.

He was also one of the directors that Hollywood actors most wanted to work with.

Being able to play a role in his movie, even a cameo, was a good opportunity.

Gong Li also wanted to work with Link once.

Link called his assistant to give Gong Li an actor's contract and a script with her lines.

He asked Gong Li to prepare and shoot in two days.

The character Gong Li was playing was a doctor.

The male lead, Cole, was invited to his classmate's birthday party but was locked in the attic on the top floor by his classmates.

That attic had once been the site of a murder, and ghosts lived inside.

After Cole was locked inside, he let out a scream. His mother, Mrs. Silver, rushed over to rescue him and took him to see a doctor.

The doctor told her that Cole was fine, but he had several injuries on his body. The doctor suspected that Cole was experiencing domestic violence.

The lines and acting for this scene were not difficult.

However, it took three takes before it was approved.

The reason was that Gong Li's performance couldn't blend in with the European and American actors and seemed out of place.

Link was also patient with his own people. He explained the scene to Gong Li again and again, slowly guiding her.

"Gong Li, relax, don't be so tense. This is just a small role, it doesn't require too much acting skill or too complicated emotions."

"Okay, I'll try again."

Gong Li nodded and sat down again.

"Scene 78, take 2, attempt 4, action!"

"He doesn't have a heart condition, he's fine. He can go home after resting."

Gong Li, wearing a white coat, sat behind her desk, holding a pen and writing.

Holly Hunter, who played Mrs. Silver, revealed a relaxed yet painful expression. Relaxed because her child was okay, and painful because her child had encountered such a problem.

Holly Hunter had played a mute mother in "The Piano," and she was very good at this kind of emotional performance. Her performance was very infectious.

"There are many bruises and scars on your son's body. I'm very worried."

The doctor glanced at Mrs. Silver, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"Those were left from sports. Do you think I hit him?"

Mrs. Silver said, choking with emotion, "Do you think I'm a bad mother?"

"Mrs. Sloan is over there, she's a social worker at the hospital."

The doctor pointed to the next room.

"Cut!"

Link looked at the camera. There were no major problems with this take. Holly Hunter was an Oscar winner, and Gong Li was a Venice Film Festival Best Actress. Both of them performed well in this set of shots.

The only pity was that Gong Li's part was too small, and she couldn't show much of her ability at all. The two actresses couldn't have an acting showdown on the spot either.

"Link, my acting style is very different from Hollywood actors. Do I have a chance to gain a foothold in Hollywood like this?"

Gong Li found him after filming and chatted with him.

"Yes, whether it's the film industry in China or Hollywood, the acting styles of actors are almost the same, nothing more than method acting, experiential acting, and presentational acting. The difference lies in the appearance and language. This has little impact. Hollywood not only has white actors but also black people, Mexicans, Italians, Japanese, etc. As long as you are willing to put your mind to research and study, differences in appearance will never be an obstacle to your entry into Hollywood," Link said.

Gong Li nodded, looking at him with a smile, "Link, you are very good at making movies. If I encounter problems during my research, can I ask you for advice?"

"Of course, we are friends."

Link smiled and told Gong Li to look at the scripts more often when she had nothing to do. If she encountered a suitable script, she could bring it to him, and he could arrange investment. He could also find suitable roles.

"Thank you! Link, are you free this afternoon? How about I treat you to a meal?"

Gong Li hesitated and said.

"I don't have time this afternoon, there are still three scenes to film. How about I treat you to a boxed lunch instead."

When it was time for the crew to eat, Link invited Gong Li to eat a boxed lunch with the crew.

Gong Li was a little surprised. Originally, she thought that Link was taking extra care of her because he had intentions towards her, so she prepared to take the initiative and invite Link to dinner, and then decide whether to accept his help based on Link's performance.

However, after meeting, Link behaved very upright from beginning to end. His words and actions were polite, and he didn't even look around randomly. He didn't seem to be as lecherous as the rumors said.

Gong Li ate the crew's boxed lunch, occasionally glancing at Link, very curious about what kind of person he was and what he thought of her.

Across the table, Link ate his meal while looking at the director's script, with no other thoughts in his mind.

During work, he only had work in his mind, no women. He wouldn't spend his mind on figuring out women. Doing so would not only waste time and brain cells but also affect the quality of work, and even affect the box office and physical subsidies. It was very uneconomical.

His view on Gong Li was to let things take their course, not to pursue or force anything. Where things would end up would depend on fate.

Gong Li finished filming and stayed on the set for a week, then said she wanted to go to the acting school in Los Angeles to see it.

Link supported her decision.