Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 108 Ben discovered the highlight
Ben Affleck has a dream of becoming a director and he usually takes the initiative to learn knowledge related to directing.

In his inherent understanding, all Hollywood movies are shot by shooting one shot and then the second, and finally all the shots are combined together and edited and post-produced to become a qualified movie.

But Renée Zellweger told him that Link didn't shoot it that way at all, he treated the movie as an experiment.

First shoot it from beginning to end once. If you are not satisfied, shoot it a second time, and a third time, until you are satisfied.

Judging from what I've learned about directing in the past, this way of making a movie won't work.

Making a movie is very expensive. After shooting once, the crew’s expenses will double for the second and third times. The higher the cost, the higher the risk.

No film studio could afford such a huge expense.

No film company would allow its directors to waste money like this.

Ben Affleck subconsciously felt that this was not a good idea.

But the fact is that Link made the movie this way.

The first Buried was a critical and commercial success, with box office revenue exceeding 3500 times.

The second "Paranormal Activity" had a box office revenue ratio of 3 times, becoming the two films with the highest revenue ratio in the current history of world cinema.

If Link's approach doesn't work, how could these two movies be big hits?
It also suppresses all the big-name directors in terms of box office data.

Could it be that Link’s way of making movies is the orthodox one?
Are other directors taking the wrong path when no one watches their films?

If you make movies like Link, you can become a big director and a billionaire?
"Hahaha~"

Ben Affleck clapped his hands and danced excitedly.

Compared to Matt Damon's desire to be a big star, he wants to be a director more. Just as Link said in an interview, the director is the coolest person in the crew, and everyone else is the director's tools.

Being a director in Hollywood is much more exciting than being an actor.

The reason he didn't choose to be a director before was that he lacked confidence.

After hearing about Link's method of filming movies, he seemed to see a bright road to success -

As long as you learn Link's method and shoot a movie over and over again, you will definitely make a great movie.

"Ben, what are you laughing at? Did the Blair Witch control you?"

Matt Damon put his arm around his shoulders and shook him.

"Haha, Matt, I know how to be a director now. Maybe we can take back the Good Will Hunting script and shoot it ourselves."

Ben Affleck suppressed his excitement and told Matt Damon his idea. He wanted to learn from Link and shoot a movie several times over, then choose the best version to show, and this version would definitely make money.

Matt Damon listened and shook his head.

"Ben, have you considered the production cost of Good Will Hunting? I've made a budget. It costs at least 1000 million U.S. dollars. One take costs 1000 million, two takes costs 2000 million, three takes costs 6000 million. With an investment of million, it will take at least million U.S. dollars to get back the money. Can the best version of Good Will Hunting get million at the box office?"

"Yes, it definitely can. Buried and Paranormal Activity both earned thousands of times the box office revenue. Our Good Will Hunting is not bad either. I'm not talking about a thousand times the revenue, but a hundred times, no, at least ten times, right?"

Considering that 1000 times the cost of 100 million is 10 billion, Ben Affleck is a cautious person and didn't dare to think too much.

"Don't let that foolishness creep in. Even if you want to be a director, don't learn from Link. The budgets of Link's three films are very low. Buried cost $10, Paranormal Activity cost $, and The Blair Witch Project cost $. You want to learn from him to make a movie with a production cost of tens of millions? Even if you are a billionaire, it won't be enough to pay for it."

"Ben, you can learn from Link and write a few cheap scripts and shoot them. Maybe you can become a great director."

Renée Zellweger brushed the leaves off her butt, stood up and walked towards the set.

"Sounds reasonable."

Ben Affleck rubbed his chin.

"Everyone, it's time to enter."

"Move according to the previous arrangement."

On the small town road, Link, wearing a baseball cap, held a camera and pointed it at Renée Zellweger, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon.

This scene was shot when the three of them came to the town of Wilton and interviewed several residents. The next step was to enter the forest where the legendary Blair Witch lived. "Scene 7, shot 1, start!"

Filming for the second version of The Blair Witch Project begins.

"Who wants the first shot of the opening ceremony?"

Ben Affleck said off-camera.

The camera swept across Matt Damon and Renée Zellweger. Matt Damon was squatting on the ground adjusting his watch, and Renée Zellweger was squatting behind the rearview mirror of the car applying lipstick.

"Of course it is me."

Renée Zellweger came over, stood behind the camera, and became the one taking the camera.

The camera is aimed at Ben Affleck, who is holding a slate tool and filling in information such as time, scene number, shot number, number of times, director, and documentary name on it. This is in preparation for the three of them to shoot a documentary.

"Do you want us to cut our fingers and put some blood on it?"

Ben Affleck asked, putting away his pen.

"No, we're going to keep this for later."

Renée Zellweger said, holding a handheld camera.

"Come and kiss this thing."

Ben Affleck kissed it and handed the slate to Renée, and in the shaking camera, Renée Zellweger also kissed it.

“This is our first act.”

“There’s my lipstick marks on it.”

Renée Zellweger said:

"Mike, come on, give me a kiss."

Ben Affleck handed the baton to Matt Damon's mouth, and Matt took a bite out of it.

"Don't eat it, we still have use for you."

Renee Zellweger said.

"Cut!"

"Good, move on to the next one."

This set of shots is in black and white, shot with a handheld camera. The lens is shaky and the picture is not clear, but it looks real.

"Wait, is it okay to shoot like this?"

Sofia Coppola asked, sitting behind the monitor and looking at the screen.

"Sure! The three of them performed pretty well."

"You call this good? The performances of the three of them have no sense of hierarchy and appeal at all. Also, your camera design is too crude, cutting in from all angles, sometimes long shots, sometimes medium shots, sometimes close-ups, and constantly shaking? Can a shot of this quality be accepted?"

Sophia asked.

"Sure. This is a documentary. It's shot by the heroine Annie. It's similar to a personal travel video. Naturally, the quality won't be too high. In this scene, they just need to act a little relaxed and treat this shoot as a real adventure. There aren't many other requirements."

"Okay, I won't argue with you. I want to see what kind of monster you'll end up with if you continue to shoot like this."

Sophia said.

"Just wait and see, it's going to be a great movie."

Link smiled softly and asked the three to continue filming.

(End of this chapter)