Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 24: Million-Dollar Deal]

"Hey, Link, congratulations on the success of Buried! I regret that we didn't get to collaborate last time because of some errors in the distribution department."

"Mr. Weinstein, everyone makes mistakes -- no need to dwell on it."

"Ha! Well said, Link. Is the distribution rights to Buried still in your hands? Let's set up a time to discuss it."

"Mr. Weinstein, I apologize, but I'm currently tied up with promotions and won't be able to return to LA anytime soon."

"No problem, I can arrange for someone to meet with you."

"Sounds good! I'd love to talk to your company."

...

After the success of Buried, Link found himself fielding calls from numerous heads of film distribution companies. These included big names like Miramax's Harvey Weinstein, New Line Cinema's Robert Shaye, and Carolco Pictures' Mario Kassar.

Not only did they apologize for undervaluing Buried's potential, but they also presented tempting offers in hopes of securing distribution rights. With the market shifting in his favor, Link wasn't in a hurry to sell his film rights. After hearing offers from over ten companies, he ultimately sold the overseas film rights and home video distribution rights to 20th Century Fox for a staggering $2.2 million plus 10% of the overseas box office revenue.

The North American distribution continued to be in the hands of United Theatres. Although they didn't have the expertise of specialized film companies, the collaboration had been smooth. United Theatres submitted box office data on time every week, and their figures were reliable. Meanwhile, this past weekend, the first installment of box office earnings had already been transferred into Link's bank account.

Switching partners last minute could lead to unnecessary complications.

...

By the third week of Buried's release in North America, the number of theatres screening the film expanded from 116 to 487, making it accessible in nearly every city with a population of over 100,000.

Link continued to travel to various cities to promote Buried and amplify its reach. The buzz surrounding the film was intense, featuring headlines like "300 Times Box Office Return," "The Year's Biggest Dark Horse," and "The Struggles of a Genius Director."

Link's success with Buried propelled him into the spotlight, making him a well-known figure in Hollywood. However, fame came with its own baggage.

...

After Buried's weekly box office numbers surpassed those of Chaplin, a reporter from USA Today asked Robert Downey Jr. about his thoughts on Buried during a promotional event. They inquired if he had seen the movie and how he felt about Link.

Though Chaplin had received decent reviews, its box office performance lagged. Despite a production budget of $30 million, it had only grossed $8.137 million in North America and was expected to finish below $10 million, leaving Carolco Pictures facing a potential loss of twenty million dollars.

Adding to the tension was the fact that Chaplin and Buried were released at the same time. The production costs for Chaplin were several hundred times higher than those of Buried. Yet, Chaplin was now considerably overshadowed by Buried's impressive performance.

Many media outlets highlighted the comparison between the two films, creating a sensationalized narrative. The USA Today reporter aimed to spark some news by interviewing Downey.

On that same day, before the event, Downey appeared to be either intoxicated or on substances. When asked about Buried, he unleashed a tirade in front of numerous media representatives, calling the film a shoddy, trash piece that didn't deserve to be mentioned alongside a classic like Chaplin. He claimed that Buried's success was merely a result of media hype, a name lacking substance.

He even took a jab at Link, mocking him for trying to ride the coattails of Chaplin's red carpet moment.

...

Downey's remarks quickly made headlines, creating a stir in both the United States and the entertainment industry. As a prominent Hollywood star publicly criticizing a fellow filmmaker, his behavior was seen as not only rude but also reckless.

Some media criticized Downey for being petty, accusing him of jealousy over Buried's box office success compared to Chaplin. Others reported allegations that Downey had been drinking and using drugs before the event, impacting his behavior.

At the same time, reports surfaced showing Link at the Grove Shopping Center for Buried's premiere, with photos of him speaking in front of a giant Chaplin poster and comparing the posters of both movies, seemingly to validate the rumors that Buried was simply leveraging Chaplin's popularity.

Additionally, tabloids sensationalized Link's backstory, claiming he was an orphan who had once been a thief and drifter, living hand-to-mouth, uneducated, and lacking cultural refinement.

While these stories impacted Link's public image negatively, they also confirmed the uphill battle Buried had faced leading up to its release, adding to the film's allure.

...

Some media outlets took the opportunity to interview Link during promotional events, asking for his thoughts on Downey and Chaplin.

In response, Link refrained from mentioning Downey. Instead, he praised Chaplin and expressed his admiration for the comedy legend, stating how thrilled he was to see a biopic about him released.

The American Forum dubbed Link as "a cultured and rational individual."

---

By the third week of Buried's run, it grossed $4.268 million across 487 theatres, placing it second that week in box office rankings, only trailing behind the classic erotic film Basic Instinct.

This brought Buried's North American total to $10.38 million, yielding an astonishing return of 519:1, second only to Eraserhead and Rocky in terms of profit ratios.

...

As time went on, Buried's hype began to diminish; its audience attendance and daily box office numbers started to decline below acceptable levels.

To maintain profitability, United Theatres began scaling back the number of showings in regions where the film had already been released.

By the fourth week, the number of theatres screening Buried dropped to 218, and it earned $1.39 million. In the upcoming weeks, the distribution would gradually reduce theatre counts until Buried's box office potential was fully tapped, with an expected North American total around $15 million.

...

In the fifth week of its release, Link received the box office revenue shares for the first four weeks, totaling $4.15 million. Combining this with overseas rights and videotape royalties, Link made over $6.5 million from the film.

Due to California's high income tax rates, Link registered a film company called Guess along Hollywood Boulevard to collaborate with United Theatres in the name of the company. This way, a portion of the earnings could be funneled into the company's accounts, potentially saving him over a million dollars in taxes.

Additionally, news about how Link turned a $20,000 investment into millions spread quickly, and soon others were aware that he had become a millionaire.

...

"A few weeks ago, Link flew from Los Angeles to New York to pitch me a script for self-distribution, and now, he's a millionaire. If I had known Buried would be this profitable, I would have spent big at Sundance earlier this year to secure distribution rights for $50,000, then flipped it for $5 million. That would have been so cool. What a missed opportunity,"

Quentin Tarantino lamented at a bar on Covell Avenue.

"I think the most regretful people right now aren't you but the film companies that turned down Buried. Reports say Link pitched the film to over thirty companies before anyone would bite. Now that it's a hit, they effectively flushed millions of dollars down the drain, and a few execs might lose their jobs over it," Lawrence Bender chimed in.

"The success of Buried is indeed surprising. After seeing it, I thought it was good, but I didn't expect it to perform this well," added director Steven Soderbergh.

"I guess we didn't have as deep an understanding of what the audience wanted as Link does. When Link arrives, let's ask him about it. Hey, Link, over here!"

Tarantino waved toward the aisle as Link entered, dressed in a loose T-shirt and blue jeans, radiating sunshine.

He looked a bit thinner and darker than a few weeks prior but appeared more spirited and handsome; his presence was striking.

"Becoming rich really does change a person's aura," Tarantino said with envy.

*****

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