Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 29: Guess Pictures]

"Link! Are you moving?"

"Link, are you really going to live in Beverly Hills?"

As Link and Chris Barnes carried cardboard boxes down the stairs, a group of young men and women surged forward to greet him.

"Yeah, I rented a small apartment over there."

Link placed a box in the trunk of his car.

"I am so envious!"

"I'm going to work hard to make films and become a movie star, then move to Beverly Hills too."

"Beverly Hills, the holy land for filmmakers, is so desirable."

A crowd of hundreds surrounded Link and his Cadillac, envy written all over their faces.

"The idea to work hard in acting is great. The film industry has been booming these past few years. In 1988, the North American box office was just $3.5 billion. Last year, it grew to $4.3 billion, and the number of movies being made each year is increasing too. That means more roles for actors like us. As long as we all work hard, one day we can be stars living in Beverly Hills -- maybe even more successful than I will be."

Link looked at his peers, raising his fist as he spoke. "So everyone, let's give it our all! Hopefully we will all reunite in Beverly Hills one day and continue being neighbors."

"Well said!"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Many cheered enthusiastically, with some even shedding tears in the moment.

...

Link waved and suddenly noticed Monica Bellucci watching him from the third-floor railing.

When she caught his gaze, Monica raised her hand and waved, her striking features lighting up with a radiant smile.

Link waved back, opened the car door, and jumped inside. Chris Barnes mentioned he wanted to check out his new place and help with moving furniture, so he got in as well.

Beep, beep--

The sound of two beeps echoed between the apartment buildings.

The brand-new Cadillac shimmered in the bright Los Angeles sunshine like a silver bolt of lightning, driving from the apartment area toward the bustling Beverly Hills.

...

"Wow, it's so beautiful here! Everywhere you look, it's filled with luxury shops and upscale clubs. Look at that girl -- she's stunning, just like the big star Jennifer Connelly. What a figure! Staying here must be amazing!"

Chris Barnes leaned forward from the passenger seat, eagerly taking in the upscale sights of Beverly Boulevard.

Beverly Boulevard was one of the two biggest shopping streets in Beverly Hills, the other being Rodeo Drive, which connected the area to downtown LA.

In under three kilometers, this street featured nearly every top brand in the world, including Chanel, LV, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana, along with many high-end boutiques, upscale restaurants, bars, galleries, clubs, and the most luxurious hotels.

This was a true gold mine; shoppers in Beverly rarely haggled -- doing so would be seen as uncouth.

On the main road, all that passed were luxury cars. Link's Cadillac DeVille was considered merely a mid-range vehicle here.

"Link, how much do the houses cost here? I need to calculate how much I should save to buy a place."

"Regular apartments in residential areas can go for a million dollars; mansions can cost several million. You can see them in the magazines."

"A million? Oh my God, please tell me how I can make a million!"

Chris Barnes flexed his biceps as though that would inspire some money-making idea.

...

The car arrived at 102 South Wilshire Boulevard, also known as the Golden Oak Apartments -- there were three high-rise buildings labeled A, B, and C facing the street, plus two additional ones, D and E, near Beverly Gardens Park, each with 16 floors.

Every floor had two to four units, varying by the size of the apartments.

Each unit had two elevators for easy access -- one public and one that went directly to the apartment.

Most of the residents were people from the entertainment industry, some owned property while others rented, representing the middle class of Hollywood.

When buying, the real estate agent had told him that celebrities like Mel Gibson, Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster, and director James Cameron had properties here too.

However, the agent hadn't disclosed which building their properties were in.

While heading up to the 12th-floor apartment in Building C, Chris Barnes admired the luxurious decor, running his fingers along the soft carpet, beautiful wallpaper, and gleaming crystal chandelier, gazing out at the panoramic view of Wilshire Boulevard from the floor-to-ceiling windows. He couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

...

Link made a call, and less than half an hour later, the furniture company arrived with a complete set of pre-ordered furnishings -- sofas, tables, cabinets, and art pieces -- all mostly Italian designer pieces in a light luxury style.

As the furniture was arranged, the apartment gradually started to feel like home.

---

After seeing off Chris Barnes, Link drove over to Guess Pictures on Hollywood Boulevard, where he met with the new head of production, Daniel DeVito, for a discussion.

At 45, Daniel had once been an actor, taking significant supporting roles in blockbuster movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Taxi Driver.

He wasn't exactly distinguished looking, with a large head, balding, and a chunky physique, adding black-rimmed glasses to his benign appearance, which relegated him to minor roles.

As he aged, his acting opportunities dwindled.

Starting in the mid-'80s, Daniel transitioned into producing and had worked for 20th Century Fox for five years, contributing to the making of films like The War of the Roses, becoming an experienced second-tier producer.

When Link established his production company, he posted a job listing at the Producers Guild seeking an experienced producer.

After the announcement, he received over ten applications.

After reviewing resumes, Link reached out for chats with three candidates, ultimately selecting Daniel DeVito for the head of production role at Guess Pictures.

...

Besides Daniel, the company had operations manager Michael Leeson overseeing various responsibilities, along with three other employees.

With Link and soon-to-be-hired Chris Barnes, the core team at Guess Pictures stood at seven.

The company had three main focuses.

First, to continue discussions with the United Theatres and 20th Century Fox to ensure timely revenue-sharing of box office returns.

Second, to prepare for new films, finding shooting locations while also recruiting some technical talent.

As a director, Link couldn't always go it alone. He needed a few regular crew members for future large-scale shoots to help develop teamwork and synergy.

Third, to gather scripts and acquire rights for bestselling books for film adaptations, considering potential investments in fitting small film projects.

---

"Link, based on your requests, I found five properties -- let me know if any meet your needs."

Daniel pushed some paperwork toward Link while sitting at the desk.

Link reviewed the documents, noting that the properties had similar interior styles, all requiring minimal adjustments for filming.

He looked over the addresses and rental prices, selecting a moderately priced option located in a more remote area in Irvine, about an hour's drive from Beverly Hills -- still not too far.

He handed Daniel the property information, asking him to arrange for someone to rent the place and set it up according to his sketches.

"Link, how are we casting the actors? Should we put out a casting call?"

"No need; I'll handle the lead role. I have someone in mind for the female lead. Are you interested in acting? The psychic role could be yours. The supporting female roles can be chosen from extras; they don't need to be too skilled, and they must be affordable since our budget is tight."

"Got it."

Daniel smiled widely, having heard rumors about Link making millions from directing movies. He had thought he was now working for a wealthy boss.

But he found that Link was extremely cost-conscious during production. The budget for the last film was $20,000, and the new film wouldn't exceed that amount either -- the set had to be the cheapest, and even Daniel was being pulled to cameo.

He wasn't like other directors who insisted on only the best for their films.

It seemed Link had grown accustomed to a frugal lifestyle and was reluctant to spend money. Yet as the producer of the company, he felt obligated to advise Link.

"Link, are you sure about a $20,000 budget for this film? I mean, the company isn't short on funds -- why not invest a bit more?"

"Daniel, I've shown you the script. The plot is simple enough. It can be filmed with a handheld camcorder for just $20,000. Why spend more?"

"Link, I understand what you're saying."

Daniel hesitated for a moment, fixing his glasses as he continued, "I mean, shouldn't we consider a different script?"

"Change the script? Why?"

"Link, you're now a notable Hollywood director, and many are looking forward to your second project. I think you should be more cautious in your selection. While Paranormal Activity has an interesting premise, the plot is quite simple, and that filming method poses risks.

Based on my experience, I doubt many will watch this film, so I would recommend choosing a more mature script for production."

Daniel spoke uneasily, beads of perspiration forming on his shiny forehead.

"I understand your concern, but don't worry. Since the movie only costs $20,000 to produce, it's not a big deal if it fails. Besides, I'm confident I can make a good film. As producer, focus on your duties and leave the creative aspects to me; that's the best support you can give me."

"Okay, I get it."

Hearing Link's response, Daniel held his peace and left the office.

...

Link continued reading in the office, flipping through newspapers. During the break, operations manager Michael Leeson came by to report on the status of office furniture and equipment purchases, staffing progress, and financial approvals.

As the company had just launched, there were various tasks to juggle. Link would be busy filming with little time to manage these details. He planned to have Michael hire an assistant to handle the company's needs and report back to him, ensuring higher efficiency and managing unexpected issues while he was away from the office.

"Also, can you get me a larger desk? A solid piece of mahogany would be great."

Link tapped the surface of his desk, finding the wooden table too flimsy. He imagined a big desk like the ones he had seen in the dream, sturdy enough that a woman with Nicole Kidman's figure could confidently gallop atop it without it wobbling.

"Sure thing, sir. I'll have that arranged shortly."

Michael noted it down.

*****

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