Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 191: Confrontation]

"Link, the newspaper said you and Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, had a bet and won big -- congratulations, you're incredible!"

"Yeah, the paper also mentioned your film could rake in four to five hundred million; both you and your movie are phenomenal."

In a Midtown Manhattan restaurant, Link sat dining with the six main cast members of Friends. While filming Se7en, the set was close to the Friends location, allowing Jennifer Aniston to often drop by, and her friendship with Link grew over time.

Jennifer said the cast of Friends are all his fans. They talk about him a lot while filming and often asked her to invite him to join them for a meal.

Link happened to be free and accepted the invitation.

As the dinner kicked off, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry, filled with curiosity, bombarded Link with questions.

Link chuckled, "Not that much for now. Once I sell the merchandise rights, maybe there'll be a chance to hit four hundred million."

"That's impressive! You make more from one film than many public companies make in a year," Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe, chimed in.

"Link's box office numbers are always sky-high, and his films are really interesting. The New York Times called him an incredibly innovative director, and I completely agree," said David Schwimmer, who portrayed Ross.

Courteney Cox, who played Monica, lifted her glass and laughed, "Link has a keen eye for talent. When Jim Carrey was working on Ace Ventura, he shared the movie's creative process. He was going through a tough time, struggling to find roles, and was basically unemployed. With Link's encouragement, he started writing comedy, which led to him drafting the script for Ace Ventura. He initially had zero faith in the script and received no responses from studios.

But he bravely showed it to Link, who not only encouraged him but also guided him through writing it, eventually investing in the movie. After Ace Ventura was completed, everyone predicted it would make around forty to fifty million. Nobody expected it to gross over a hundred million; Jim instantly became a superstar, and all credit goes to Link."

Link downplayed his role. "Jim's a natural at comedy, the success of Ace Ventura relied heavily on his outrageous performance, and everyone contributed to that success. My role in the film was quite limited."

"You're an investor in the film; saying you didn't contribute is a stretch -- far too humble," Jennifer Aniston sweetly replied.

Link shrugged.

"I think what's most impressive about Link is his marketing strategy," Matthew Perry said. "Before Paranormal Activity came out, I saw so many supernatural stories in the press. They felt so real that I almost believed in ghosts. It wasn't until the movie launched that I found out it was all part of the promotion!

When The Blair Witch Project came out, the newspapers were all over the witches; I nearly accepted that witches were real! After seeing the movie, I rushed to the theater and realized it was all a sham. I felt sick from the shaky camera work!"

"Why do you always say 'almost'? Why can't you just let go of your doubts and fully believe that there are ghosts and witches in our world?" Matt LeBlanc asked, squinting playfully.

"I'm smart enough not to believe everything, unlike you," Matthew replied disdainfully, continuing, "The best part of the movie promotions was for Final Destination. You guys formed a pop band while promoting it, holding concerts and everything, which was incredible. Variety magazine said you pioneered a new way of promoting films."

"Though we've faced quite a bit of criticism along the way," Link shook his head. The idea of the cast forming a band was novel but received backlash from both the film and music industries.

Colleagues in the film industry accused him of being overly commercial and greedy, sacrificing artistry for box office numbers. Musicians felt the Grim Reapers Band was a joke -- a makeshift, non-professional group whose mediocre singing and dancing relied on the film's popularity, which they felt was undermining genuine artists in the music market.

"No matter how they criticize, it doesn't change the fact that Final Destination is an incredible film."

"Absolutely, the plot of Final Destination was superb! I wish I hadn't turned down the role of Billy. I regret that deeply," Matt LeBlanc pouted.

Matthew chuckled, "Come on, it's only now that you realize you regret it? That's pretty slow on the uptake."

Lisa added, "Thank goodness you didn't take it! If you had played Billy, Final Destination wouldn't have made nearly as much money."

"Nonsense, I'm a great actor! If I had played Billy, I could've done as well as Ben Affleck. Don't forget, I was the first choice for the role," Matt proudly patted his chest.

Link laughed as he listened to their playful banter.

...

After the meal, Link took a stroll down Fifth Avenue with Jennifer Aniston, chatting about the ongoing shoot of Friends as well as Link's new movie, Se7en.

Jennifer linked her arm through his, sharing numerous amusing anecdotes from the set.

She smiled sweetly while talking, and it naturally lifted Link's mood.

As they approached a hotel in Manhattan, their bodyguard, Wallace, suddenly shouted a warning. He and another bodyguard, Bob, rushed ahead to shield Link and Jennifer, with Wallace drawing his gun.

Link guided Jennifer back to the rear of the vehicle.

Through Wallace's shoulder, they spotted Robert Downey Jr. approaching hastily, wearing a tattered coat, disheveled, with a scruffy beard -- clearly struggling with addiction. His pallor was alarming, and he walked unsteadily, yet his eyes burned with fury and intensity.

Link took a fleeting glance before pulling out his phone to call the police.

...

"Link, you come out! You dirty bastard, I'm bankrupt because of you, left with nothing! This is all your fault, and I'll kill you!"

Robert Downey Jr. shouted, fists clenched in anger.

Link ignored him.

"Coward! Come out! Let's see who dies first in a one-on-one!" Robert yelled, hands stuffed in his pockets.

Link shook his head, "You're a bankrupt loser. I'm a billionaire. Why would I face you one-on-one?"

"You coward, you coward! Come out!" Robert's eyes bulged with anger.

He had initially planned to hire a hitman to take out Link, but couldn't muster the cash for that -- his ticket money was borrowed from Richard Gere.

Stuck without options, he prepared to take matters into his own hands. Yet Link was too careful, even while out shopping he had two bodyguards, leaving him with no possible chance.

The sound of sirens grew closer, echoing through the streets.

Seeing no opportunity, Robert prepared to retreat.

"Wait!"

Link stepped forward and shook his head, "Robert, you truly are a fool. Do you know why you went bankrupt? It's entirely due to your stupidity! When we made that bet, we only put a million on the line; how did that balloon to seventy-two million? Who was it that encouraged you, you fool, to gamble so huge?

I heard you guys raised thirty to forty million to boost the box office of The Firm -- who advised you to do that? And by the way, you probably don't know this, but you handed someone millions to suppress the reviews for Final Destination -- which Michael Ovitz didn't ask you to do. Where do you think that money went?"

Robert stood momentarily stunned, a look of disbelief washing over his face. "No way, Richard wouldn't lie to me."

"Don't you have Michael Ovitz's number? Why don't you call him and ask?" Link sneered.

Fists still trembling, Robert Downey Jr. glared at him, filled with confusion and rage.

*****

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