Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 97 Jealousy

"3 million dollars? Link, are you crazy?"

In the Hollywood Cricket Bar, Quentin Tarantino stared at Link with jealousy.

"It's not 1 million. Everyone who should have seen Paranormal Activity has seen it. The maximum box office revenue for Paranormal Activity is around 2.98 million. The box office revenue for Paranormal Activity in North America is around million."

Link said modestly, holding his beer.

"Is there a difference between 2.98 million and 3 million? You only spent $2 on this crappy movie, and it got 3 million at the box office. This is absolutely the worst thing in the world."

Quentin cursed.

"Quentin, Link is our friend. Paranormal Activity is a big hit, we should congratulate him. How can we say it's bad?"

Baldhead Steven Soderbergh persuaded.

“It’s not good news for me that his movie is doing well.

A few months ago, in this bar, I made a bet with him about whose second movie would do better at the box office. His crappy movie made $3 million. Do you think I still have a chance of winning? "

Quentin said angrily.

"Ah, I remember now. This seems to be hopeless. Paranormal Activity is expected to make 3 million in North America and more than 3 million overseas, which is million US dollars. There has not been such a high box office in the past five years.

Unless director George Lucas is willing to let you direct Star Wars 7, there is still a chance."

Steven Soderbergh laughed.

"That's it. My movie has to face a doomed ending before it even starts filming. Do you think I'll feel good?"

Quentin picked up the beer and gulped it down.

Link shook his head. "You can't just see that the movie is a big hit. You also have to see how many people are criticizing me, how many people are hostile to me because of this movie, and how much trouble this movie has brought to my career. After seeing this, I think you might feel better."

"Link's idea is right."

Steven Soderbergh said: "The huge success of Paranormal Activity has made Link famous in the world film industry, but this movie has also really affected the interests of many people, including film companies and many cast and crew members."

"And the audience, the audience is the most important."

Link added.

The experience of this "Paranormal Activity" is somewhat similar to that of the future "Mixed Hearts".

The quality is above average, not great.

However, the publicity was too exaggerated and overwhelming, which affected films released during the same period. It also caused many fans of the leading actors in films released during the same period to be unhappy with the film and speak ill of it.

The same goes for "Paranormal Activity", the popularity is far beyond what a $20,000 movie should bear.

The box office was high, but there was also a lot of abuse.

In addition, Link earned more than 200 million from "Paranormal Activity", but the entertainment industry capital failed to get a share of the profits. Given the profit-seeking nature of capital, it would be strange if they didn't get jealous and suppress him.

"Yes, these disadvantages are not conducive to Link's development in the film industry. In the future, he will encounter more difficulties in Hollywood than us. Quentin, you should comfort Link."

Steven said.

"Link, if you had the chance to do it all over again, would you choose to film Paranormal Activity again?"

Quentin asked.

"Of course. Box office is also a kind of honor. No director would complain that his movie box office is too high."

Link smiled slightly.

Quentin snorted and turned to look at Robert Rodriguez, who was silent. He was also the director of "The Elegy of the Killers" and a new star in the circle. "Robert, what do you think of Link's "Paranormal Activity"? "

“Without a doubt, this is a masterpiece.”

Robert Rodriguez is in his early twenties, with black curly hair, short stubble, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his facial features are very Mexican.

However, he was born in the United States and speaks standard American English.

"Masterpiece? Are you praising Link too highly? Besides, we are just friends, so there is no need to take it too seriously. To put it bluntly, Link won't be angry."

Quentin said.

"I'm telling the truth. For independent filmmakers like us, if we want to gain a foothold in Hollywood, box office performance is the first factor we must consider, and word of mouth is the second.

The seven major Hollywood studios will only work with directors with box office potential, rather than directors who can only win awards.

Link spent $2 to make Paranormal Activity, which grossed over $5 million worldwide after its release, with a box office revenue ratio of an astonishing 2.5 times. This is a number that no one has ever achieved before, and it will never be achieved in the future. It is no exaggeration to call it a masterpiece.”

Robert Rodriguez shrugged.

"Quentin, are you not convinced? Why don't you try making a movie with $20,000?"

Steven joked.

Quentin snorted. The $20,000 he was paid to make a movie was probably not enough to cover the crew's daily expenses.

"I pay more attention to details when making movies, and I focus on the quality and artistry of the movies. This means that the budget of my movies cannot be too low. If the budget is too low, the movies I make will not be very good."

Quentin's eyes turned and he came up with a good idea.

"Link, I lost this time. How about we make another bet on the third movie and see whose movie can win more awards? The loser will buy everyone a drink."

"No need. I'm preparing for my third movie, and your second movie is still a long way off. There's no point in gambling like this. By the way, when will you shoot your second movie? What's the budget? Do you still want investment? Guess what, the film company will be a good partner."

Link asked.

After becoming famous, not only did he establish Guess What Pictures, Quentin also founded a film company called A Band Apart, which can be translated as "Outlaw Pictures", taken from the title of a film by French director Jean-Luc Godard.

Outlaw Films is also one of the producers of Quentin's second film.

"The initial budget is $1000 million. Do you want to invest? I can give you a 40% share, but there is one condition: you cannot interfere with my filming. I also said this to Harvey Weinstein."

Quentin said.

"Are you sure you don't want me to interfere with the filming? I have a keen eye and a high level of appreciation. Under my guidance, your film will become more refined and more popular with the audience."

".No, I am a director and movies are my sons. I just hope that he looks like me when he is born, not anyone else."

Quentin said decisively.

"as you wish."

Link raised his glass and smiled.

He also understood why Quentin was so decisive in accepting his investment.

First, the investment in this movie is indeed relatively high, and there are certain risks, so we need an additional partner to bear the risks.

The second is that after the introduction of Guess Pictures, the film producers became three companies. He could take the opportunity to gain control over the crew and the right to edit without being interfered with by Harvey, known as the "Big Scissors".

For a director, nothing is more important than controlling the crew and getting the final editing rights of the film.

(End of this chapter)