Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 16 Quentin's Ecstasy
Before dawn in the morning, Link got up early and woke up Quentin who was still sleeping to sign the contract and transfer the money.

Quentin got up cursing and repeatedly asked Link if he really wanted to sell the script and that he couldn't go back on his word once he sold it.

Link said it was true and he would never go back on his word, so they could sign the contract.

Quentin thought this was a good idea, and the two of them went to the neighboring Wall Street law firm - Rogers & Jones, and signed a draft contract under the notarization of a lawyer.

Then I went to Citibank to transfer the money and complete the transaction.

When Link saw the numbers in his Citibank account, he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the trip was not in vain.

Go outside and call Jerome Preston in Los Angeles to ask about his discussions with the manager of the Union Theatre.

Jerome Preston reluctantly told him that William Mason, manager of the Burbank Union Theater, agreed to reduce the amount of the deposit, but the minimum was 2 U.S. dollars, and he would not do it for less than 2 U.S. dollars.

"Link, there's really no need to bargain for a deposit of $20,000 or $30,000. If you're short of money and don't want to borrow from others, how about this: I'll pay the deposit for you first, and then when AMC headquarters distributes bonuses in the future, I'll deduct it from your share, how about that?"

"Jerome, thank you for your kindness, but no thanks. Please tell Manager William Mason that I will give him the full $3 deposit. I hope that when Buried Alive is released, I can get some prominent display space in the theater to promote the movie."

"Do you have the money to pay the deposit? Where are you going to earn $3 in three days? You're not going to rob a bank in New York, are you?"

"Of course not. Look at the movies and see which robber is Chinese. Chinese people get rich by using their brains, not by doing that. I wrote a script and someone took a fancy to it and sold it for a good price."

Link glanced at Quentin who was talking on the phone in the car.

Before coming to New York, I asked Jerome Preston to help negotiate the price and lower the amount of the deposit because I was worried that the script would not be sold for more than $3.

Now scripts sell for $5, and money gives cowards courage.

He also doesn't need to act too shabby. In America, being too shabby will make people look down on him. But if he makes tens of thousands of dollars in three days, people will only admire him if they tell others about it.

"A script sells for tens of thousands of dollars? Tsk tsk, Link, I have to say, you are an incredible guy. You are so talented, why don't you continue to be a screenwriter, or a promising marketer, but instead waste your energy on a movie project that is doomed to have no hope? Why do you do this? Sometimes I really don't understand the train of thought of people like you."

Jerome Preston said with a complicated tone.

Link laughed and asked Jerome Preston to help contact several theaters to release the film. After returning, he would sign a distribution contract and promote the film.

-

In the car on the street, Quentin saw Link still on the phone, so he took out his newly bought Motorola phone and called producer Lawrence Bender.

After the call was connected, Quentin told Lawrence in an excited tone that he had bought a great script at an extremely low price, almost the same as the price he paid for the coat last time.

"Scripts? You used to say other people's scripts were rubbish. How did you think of spending money to buy other people's scripts?"

“Haha, that’s different, this script is really great and very much to my taste, I bet this movie will be great.

I am even thinking now, should I shoot this new script first, and then shoot the script I am writing in two years?

Writing a script is such a pain in the ass. I spent half a year writing and lost half my hair, but I still couldn’t write a script that satisfied me.”

Quentin said.

"Let's not talk about changing the script first. Let's talk about it when you return to Los Angeles. First, tell me where you bought the script. If it's a good script, why did the screenwriter sell it at such a low price? Did you meet a scammer?"

“Absolutely not, the person who sold me the script was called Link, the Chinese director who was almost as handsome as me.

He is indeed a very good guy, and his writing talent and directing ability are not much worse than mine. But he may have some problems with his brain, and he is a stubborn person. The reason he sold the script was that he wanted to distribute "Buried" at his own expense. "

"Self-funded distribution of Buried? That weird movie he wrote, directed and starred in."

"Haha, yes, it's that movie. I told him many times, 'Don't bother, man. That movie doesn't have any selling points and will lose money even if it's released.' He didn't believe it and went to look for film distribution companies to cooperate with. I heard that he looked for 50 or 60 companies, but no one was willing to help him distribute Buried.

Even so, he refused to give up and even wanted to distribute the film at his own expense.”

Quentin glanced at Link in the phone booth and said in a low voice, "It takes money to distribute the movie at your own expense. He has no money so he can only sell the script. Do you know what's even funnier?"

"what?"

“Haha, in order to sell the script, he flew from Los Angeles to New York and personally delivered this great script to me.

I asked him how much he wanted to sell it for, and he said it didn't matter. I tentatively said $5, and he didn't bargain. He held out his hand and said it was a pleasure to work with me.

Quentin grinned and chuckled.

"Link may be a good screenwriter and a potential director, but he's probably not very good at negotiations and deals."

"I thought so too, so when I signed the contract with him, I felt a little guilty. It felt like I was bullying an honest man."

"Link is willing to trade, so you don't need to feel any psychological burden."

"I understand. No more talking. Link is here. I need to take him to the airport."

Quentin hung up the phone and looked at Link who was sitting in the passenger seat. "Why don't you stay in New York for a few more days?"

"Buried Alive" is coming out in two days, and I need to go back and take care of some things."

Link puts on his seatbelt.

"Where will it be shown? Will it be shown in New York?"

Quentin started the car.

“It’s only showing in one theater in Burbank for now.”

“Only one?”

The muscles at the corners of Quentin's mouth twitched.

In the film industry, even if a movie has no market potential, it will still be screened in at least 4 theaters when it is first screened.

Link was busy selling scripts to raise money to distribute the movie at his own expense, but in the end he only contacted one cinema.

"A theater has 10 screens, which is not much, but I believe that in a few weeks, not only New York theaters will show "Buried", but theaters in all cities in the United States will show "Buried"."

"Ah yes, you are right. I hope your dream comes true."

Quentin gritted his teeth and kept thinking about sad things so as not to burst out laughing in front of Link.

The car arrived at Kennedy International Airport. Link got out of the car and waved goodbye. Quentin looked at his back in the distance, rolled up the car window, and leaned over the steering wheel and laughed.

(End of this chapter)