Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 177: Box Office Dark Horse]

"Link, what do you think of this script?"

In the cafe, Renee Zellweger and Sandra Bullock anxiously looked at him.

Link leaned back on the couch, having spent half an hour reviewing the script for Speed. This script had made its way to him via Sandra Bullock, who wanted to know if he was interested in it.

Originally, the script had belonged to Paramount Pictures, but after some drama, it was dropped and returned to The Mark Gordon Company. The studio was planning to secure funding to produce the movie.

After reading the script, Sandra Bullock expressed her desire to play the lead role of Annie. However, the film lacked investment, and she was concerned that without funding, she wouldn't have the opportunity to portray the main character. She thought of Link and, through Renee Zellweger, reached out to see if Guess Pictures might be interested in investing. After receiving a positive response, she delivered the script to Link for his opinion.

After reading Speed, Link confirmed it was the action film that made Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock big stars, achieving a box office success of several hundred million dollars. However, the script he reviewed had a very different plot from the movie he had seen.

It clearly tried to capitalize on the success of Die Hard by forcibly integrating many comedic elements and oddball thrillers. The male lead, Jack, came across as overly self-important and not very likable. In the film, Jack was a serious-minded cop, responsible and level-headed, striving to protect the public during a crisis. Annie, the heroine, wasn't a damsel in distress; she was Jack's capable partner.

Had he not seen the original movie and only had the script to go by, he wouldn't have considered investing in it. Although there was potential for profit, the prospect didn't seem worth it. After identifying how the script should be revised, he considered that if Mark Gordon was willing to let him make changes and be involved in the production, he could come on board as an investor.

"The script is pretty rough."

"Really?"

Sandra Bullock looked somewhat disappointed; she had assumed Link would be into this kind of thriller, but his assessment was blunt -- it was poorly executed.

"However, it's not beyond saving. With some adjustments, it could become a worthwhile investment," Link said.

Sandra's eyes lit up. "Is there hope for this script? If you were to make changes, would you invest?"

"Can you make the decisions about altering the script?" Link asked.

"Absolutely! Jan de Bont, the director and screenwriter, is actively seeking investors and is open to changes as long as we secure the funding."

Sandra explained Jan de Bont's background -- how he had previously worked as a cinematographer on films like The Hunt for Red October, Die Hard, and Lethal Weapon 3. Now, Jan was determined to transition into directing, having caught the attention of Mark Gordon's studio.

"As long as they can secure the investment, they're flexible about revising the script."

"Tell Mark Gordon's studio that Guess Pictures is interested in investing in this project, but we want to be the primary production company. The studio can be involved as well, and Jan can stay on as director. If they agree to that, we can team up to make this movie."

"Great! I'll call them right now with the good news!"

Sandra jumped up and ran to a nearby payphone.

Link smiled, not stopping her. Previously, on the set of Final Destination, Sandra had made a brief appearance as a flight attendant, so they were somewhat familiar with each other.

Sandra had talent and looks and was putting in the effort, but she just lacked opportunities, which had put her career at a standstill approaching thirty. This film might just be her chance, provided she could seize it.

...

"Link, is this script truly worth investing in?" Renee Zellweger asked.

"Not as it is, but after I make revisions, it will be."

"You're incredible."

Renee looked at him with admiration.

"How are the films you're working on coming along?"

"I wrapped two, and I have three more to go. It'll keep me busy until the end of the year. But I love this busy lifestyle; shooting every day makes me feel hopeful."

Renee gazed at him with gratitude. "I know you're the reason for all this."

"Not at all; you earned it yourself," Link replied with a grin.

After joining UTA, Renee had benefitted from Link's support, receiving numerous opportunities, including a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film, Pulp Fiction, and the lead in New Line Cinema's art-house film, 8 Seconds. While these opportunities might not catapult her to fame, they offered decent pay and valuable experience that could help her career.

...

During their conversation, Sandra Bullock rushed back in, saying that Mark Gordon's studio had agreed. The project would be handed over to Guess Pictures, making them the lead production company, collaborating with the studio.

Mark Gordon and director Jan de Bont were on their way and would arrive within the next half hour.

Link chuckled, "It's getting late. Have them meet us at Guess Pictures tomorrow to discuss collaboration. I'll work on the script tonight so we can go over it together."

"Okay! I'll let them know."

"Wait! Use this."

Link called Sandra back before she could leave again and handed her the receiver for the call.

...

The next day, Link welcomed Mark Gordon and director Jan de Bont to the office of Guess Pictures, securing the new film project, Speed. The film had a modest budget of around twenty to thirty million dollars. Mark Gordon's studio contributed eight million.

The rest would be funded by Guess Pictures. After finalizing the revised script, Link assigned production responsibilities to Danny DeVito. He suggested Keanu Reeves for the lead role, and there were no objections; Link directly handed the script to Keanu for his input.

After reviewing the script, Keanu was enthusiastic about Jack's character, agreeing to join the project. The basic framework of the project quickly fell into place.

---

While Link juggled his new film plans, the box office results for The Wedding Banquet came in after its fifth week, recording earnings of $1.36 million -- a significant drop, with a cumulative total of $20.86 million.

The steep decline was due to Guess Pictures not continuing to invest in promoting The Wedding Banquet, causing a drastic reduction in its screenings. At the same time, the film had opened overseas, particularly in areas with large Asian and European populations.

Currently, the film had grossed approximately $5.62 million across 18 countries and regions. The total earnings were estimated around $40 million, delivering an impressive revenue-to-cost ratio of fifty-fold, marking it as a box office dark horse.

...

This week, The Firm brought in $15.53 million, crossing 150 million, with only a slight drop of less than 15%, significantly below normal expectations.

Many media outlets accused Paramount Pictures of still manipulating box office numbers and, even after being called out, failing to rectify their actions. This represented the arrogance of major film companies, which had reached an outrageous level.

However, Paramount countered the claims, stating that the lower drop for The Firm was due to viewer interest and categorically denying any inflation of box office numbers. Meanwhile, widespread praise for the film circulated in the media, crowning it as the year's top movie and a must-see of the year.

*****

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