Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 39 You want me to apologize?

"You want me to apologize? That's impossible."

In a Beverly Hills mansion, Robert Downey Jr. shouted into the phone.

"Why don't you apologize? You are a public figure, and you made a serious mistake by criticizing your peers' movies after getting drunk. Now mainstream public opinion thinks you are wrong and should apologize, so you should apologize. The longer you delay, the greater the negative impact will be."

"I make no apologies. Am I wrong to say that Buried was a shoddy film? What good can you get out of $2?"

Robert Downey Jr. sneered.

"There is a good chance that the global box office of Buried will exceed 4000 million US dollars next week. With a revenue ratio of 2000 times, what makes you say it is a bad movie?"

"Ridiculous! A movie with high box office must be a good one? I remember when I was a kid, you made a movie that only made a few thousand dollars. You told me that the quality of a movie does not depend on its box office performance, but on its artistic quality. Why are you using box office performance as a criterion now?"

"Shut up!"

Robert Downey Sr. angrily shouted over the phone, "Robert Jr., you are not the protagonist of the world, and not all movies you don't like are bad movies.

The film "Buried" is of extremely high artistic level. Whether it is the narrative structure, film style, or shooting technique, it is an above-average film and a mature work.

You don’t like this movie because you’re jealous of Link, a guy younger than you who’s more successful than you.”

"Nonsense! I'm jealous of him? He just got lucky and succeeded in one movie, but I'm one of the most popular actors in Hollywood and have succeeded in dozens of movies. Do I need to be jealous of him?"

“At least you can’t make a movie that grosses over $2 million with $4000.”

"Can you do that? Which of those movies you made made more than $1000 million?"

"Damn it! Just be willful and depraved. Let me see how depraved you can be."

Click! The sound of the phone being hung up heavily in the microphone.

Robert Downey Jr. also hung up the phone and turned to look at his agent Jimmy Rich who walked into the living room, "CAA also wants me to apologize to Link?"

"The company's opinion is that you should do what you want. If you want to apologize, then apologize. If you don't want to apologize, that's fine too. Link is just a new director, so don't take it too seriously."

"what is your opinion?"

Robert Downey Jr. poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to Jimmy Ritchie.

“I thought you apologized.”

Bang dong!

Little Robert loosened his fingers, and the wine glass that was supposed to be handed to Jimmy Richie fell heavily to the ground, and the dark brown wine soaked into the white carpet and spread out.

"I think it doesn't matter whether you apologize or not. First of all, Link is just a small character and won't have much impact on you. Secondly, to develop in the entertainment industry, you shouldn't only have friends, you should also have a few rivals. Having rivals and tempering you will also make you full of fighting spirit and become stronger."

"You're right. It makes sense. But a small figure like Link is not worthy of being my opponent."

Robert Downey Jr. handed another drink to Jimmy Ritchie.

"Yes, Link used the TV show to put pressure on you and forced you to apologize, but he underestimated you. As long as you don't want to, no one can force you to apologize."

"That's right, but he had the guts to force me to apologize and maliciously tease me on a TV show. I don't like this behavior. I want him to go back to the slums. What can you do?"

"He is now a client of WMA Agency and is worth millions, or even tens of millions. It is difficult to use conventional methods."

“What are the unconventional methods?”

"You can arrange a hit man, a car accident, or let him encounter financial fraud."

"Damn it! I just want to see him get into trouble, not commit a crime. What the hell is arranging a killer? Do you CAA also represent killer agents?"

"I don't know. But apart from unconventional methods, there is no other good way to deal with him at the moment. But there is still a chance. We just need to wait another year or two.

When his next movie comes out, if the box office is not ideal, even without our help, the media will mock him for being lucky and having a hit movie. Without luck, his movie will be just a bunch of shit.

From that time on, Link's career will experience a huge decline, and it will be a good opportunity for us to take action."

"That's a good idea. Let's put up with him for another movie. I want to see how high a slut from the slums can jump."

clang!
Robert Downey Jr. clinked his glass with his agent.

-

After the program "Conversation with Link, the Director of Buried Alive" was broadcast on TNT, the ratings reached a maximum of 1050 million. Although it did not break the record, it also entered the top ten of the program ratings list.

There are many topics in this program that have attracted the attention of the media and the public, including Link's path to becoming a director, Link's idol being Sylvester Stallone, Link not caring about money, the creative process of "Buried", and the failure of submitting a script.

Among them, the topic of "the conflict between Link and Robert Downey Jr." caused a great response in the American entertainment industry.

Since Robert Downey Jr. is a big star and a youth idol, and Link is a popular director and an inspirational figure, both of them are currently very popular, and everything involving them has selling points.

All major media outlets then stepped in to comment, analyze, dig deep, report, stir up trouble, and provoke fights, and this small dispute gradually evolved into a larger dispute.

In this dispute, Robert Downey Jr.'s fans firmly support their idol brother, believing that Robert Downey Jr. did nothing wrong, that drunken talk is common, and that everyone makes mistakes. They believe that Link should not care about it and should not bring up the past, and that Link is just riding on Robert Downey Jr.'s popularity to promote "Buried".

Movie star Kiefer Sutherland publicly accused Link of becoming arrogant and rude after becoming famous and having no respect for Robert Downey Jr., and hoped that Link would publicly apologize to Robert Downey Jr.

Those who support Link believe that Link was very magnanimous in not caring about Robert Jr.'s nonsense and giving him a chance to apologize.

But Robert Downey Jr. still did not apologize. It was either because he did not realize his mistake, or out of arrogance, he did not think it necessary to apologize to Link, the new director.

Either way, Robert Jr. did a very bad job and it was disappointing.

Neutrals believe.

Robert Downey Jr. is a public figure. He publicly criticized his peers' movies, which had some negative impact on the box office. This is Robert Downey Jr.'s fault and he should apologize.

In the process of promoting "Buried", Link was indeed suspected of riding on the popularity of "Chaplin" and he should reflect on himself.

Both of them were given fifty lashes each.

The controversy sparked by the TV interview lasted for several days in the American media before gradually fading away.

After the overseas box office performance of "Buried" was reported last week, its North American box office performance surprisingly declined. Coupled with this wave of publicity, "Buried"'s North American box office performance was even higher this week.

On Saturday weekend, the attendance rate of hundreds of theaters showing "Buried" was over 80%, and many theaters had to increase the number of screenings of "Buried" to meet the audience's demand.

As of Monday, the sixth week's box office results for "Buried" were released, with sales of $201 million in 385 theaters in North America. The attendance was close to the level of the third week. In the weekly box office rankings, it jumped back from ninth place to third, only behind the latest releases "Walk the Walk" and "Basic Instinct".

This wave of box office growth also helped "Buried" successfully break through $1500 million in North America, reaching an astonishing $1656 million.

Overseas, "Buried" earned $28 million in 1474 countries and regions this week.

Although it was a significant drop from last week's $1837 million.

However, "Buried" has grossed more than 1000 million U.S. dollars overseas for two consecutive weeks, and its current cumulative box office is 3311 million U.S. dollars.

For a movie that cost only $2 to produce, this result is still amazing.

The media originally predicted that "Buried" would gross about $5000 million worldwide.

With the box office figures released this week, 5000 million is no longer enough to stop the growth of "Buried."

There is also a great chance of 6000 million or even 7000 million.

This also led to the increasingly exaggerated box office revenue ratio of "Buried", from 1000 times to 3000 times, and Link's halo as a "genius director" became more and more dazzling.

The Los Angeles Times called Link the "golden boy" of directors, saying that no one knows better than him how to turn $2 into $5000 million at the box office.

USA Today praised Link for showing all independent filmmakers a way to create huge box office results even with minimal investment. His success also gave independent filmmakers courage and confidence. At the same time, the success of Buried also made Hollywood film companies put aside their "arrogant" attitude and pay more attention to independent films.

The Washington Post commented that a movie directed by an Asian director and starring Asian actors was able to sell more than 1600 million US dollars at the box office in the United States, proving that Hollywood is more inclusive than in the past.

The Global Times stated that "Buried" is the first film in film history starring Chinese and with a box office of over 5000 million US dollars. It is also the first film directed by a Chinese and with a box office of over 5000 million US dollars.

"Boss, look at how many people are praising you in the newspapers. Are you considered a big star now?"

In the office, Liu Xiaoli handed him a cup of tea with a smile on her face. Her slender white fingers contrasted beautifully with the emerald green porcelain cup.

"Why do you always care about this kind of thing?"

"I have been on the set of 'Beijingers in New York'. Chinese people are easily discriminated against in Hollywood and it is difficult for them to gain a foothold. Now you have become a big star in Hollywood. I am proud of you."

Liu Xiaoli blinked her peach blossom eyes, and her pretty cheeks were filled with smiles. She was like the peach blossoms in April, beautiful and dazzling, or like the sweet spring water in the mountains, with a hint of coolness and sweetness in her smile.

A compliment from this woman seemed to be better than thousands of words in the pile of newspapers on the table, and I felt refreshed all over.

Lin Ke smiled gently. Listening to Liu Xiaoli's sweet words, he couldn't help but think of how he had gotten up early and worked late for this movie, lying in a small wooden box every day, and shooting a shot dozens of times until he was completely satisfied.

Sometimes I would continue filming in the middle of the night when I was alone.

After the filming was completed, in order to save money, I stayed in the editing room for three consecutive days to edit the videotapes. Every day, I ate bread when I was hungry and drank mineral water when I was thirsty.

It took three days of working day and night to complete the editing of the film.

At the Sundance Film Festival, in order to promote his film, he looked for film producers everywhere to watch "Buried", but was rejected by all of them.

The day he left Park City, he was almost out of ammunition and food.

After returning to Los Angeles, in order to get the film released in theaters, he continued to look for film distribution companies. He approached more than 30 companies, but was still rejected.

Finally, he was forced to sell the script and publish it at his own expense.

Fortunately, those who work hard will be rewarded.

All the efforts in the past have paid off.

(End of this chapter)