Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 300: Don't Want Link to Misunderstand]

After wrapping up his work at the company, Link took some time to join the crew of the film Hachi: A Dog's Tale as a producer and unofficial script consultant. He also provided hands-on guidance to Jodie Foster with her directing.

While Jodie Foster had previously directed a television series and a film, she lacked systematic training, leaving her storytelling, camera work, and overall control a bit underdeveloped. When handling complex scenes, her inexperience sometimes showed.

Now, under the careful mentoring of Link, a master filmmaker, her directing skills were improving rapidly. Whether it was managing camera movements, overseeing the narrative, or coaching actors, she exhibited significant growth.

...

"How did you get so good at this?"

After following his advice to complete a shot, Jodie looked back at him, her striking blue eyes filled with awe and respect.

She had spent three days preparing for that shot, filming it over thirty times, but remained unsatisfied, almost causing the leading actor, Robin Williams, to walk off the set.

Once Link arrived, she sought his guidance. After reviewing her footage, Link quickly pinpointed the issues and suggested ways to improve.

Using his advice, she captured the desired effect on her first try. The feeling was exhilarating; if Link hadn't been a guy, she might have jumped into his arms for a hug.

Link chuckled, "You did a great job too. This shot is like a college math problem. You're at a high school level, but I explain it once, and you nail it -- better than I expected."

"Who's at a high school level? I'm a college graduate, alright?"

Jodie shot him a look. She was a Yale alum, while Link was still in high school. Yet, every time they talked, it felt like conversing with a professor.

She often felt inadequate compared to him, which sparked a deep curiosity: how was he so talented?

"Alright, college girl, hurry up with the shooting. I've got to start filming Batman next week, so I don't have much time to be here. If you have questions, ask while you can."

Link lounged on the couch with his legs crossed.

"Why do you keep yourself so busy? Wait, you're not actually busy. You're just spending all your time chasing women. If you weren't so much of a flirt, you could easily make three films a year," Jodie teased.

"You could read a hundred more books each year instead of eating snacks, hanging out, gardening, and pampering yourself. After thirty years, your knowledge would rival the top scholars in the world. Can you pull that off?"

Link replied with a grin.

"That's not the same! Snacking, shopping, and beauty routines are essential parts of life. Without those, life gets dull. Pursuing girls isn't a necessary activity," Jodie countered.

"For me, it's all the same. I don't care about snacks or shopping. I'm about the ladies. That's my form of keeping a healthy balance in life. Just because that pastime is a bit niche doesn't mean you can judge me for it."

"That actually sounds reasonable. Whatever, enjoy your pursuits. It's not my business."

Jodie waved him off and went back to preparing for the next shot.

...

During a pause in filming, the lead actors approached Link to say hi. The trio included Robin Williams, Joan Allen, and Cameron Diaz.

As an unofficial script consultant, Link explained characters and lines to the actors during shoots. He focused on how to capture the story's context and the emotions behind the characters, emphasizing the evolution of character relationships and emotional arcs -- everything had to be covered in detail.

This wasn't just nagging; it was an essential part of the process.

Many celebrities in the entertainment industry were illiterate. Many actors became stars purely based on their looks and curves without pursuing further education, leaving their cultural understanding shockingly shallow.

These individuals found it challenging to read newspapers, let alone grasp complex dialogue.

For them, reading scripts was like a middle school reading comprehension exercise, often providing answers that were incorrect or imprecise, with significant gaps from the expected response.

Such scenarios resulted in footage that didn't meet standards.

In these cases, the script consultant would break down the screenplay and lines for the actors with lower cultural literacy, slowly guiding them through the performance.

If an actor was particularly frustratingly lacking in skills, the consultant would minimize their lines or simplify them to 'ABCDEFG' and have someone dub over later.

Fortunately, the lead actors in Hachi: A Dog's Tale were relatively well-educated -- Robin Williams had a background from a performing arts school and over twenty years of acting experience, having also taken on roles as a director, writer, and producer; he was one of the top talent in the industry.

Joan Allen came from a theater background with high cultural sophistication and artistic understanding.

In contrast, Cameron Diaz was younger and less experienced, with slightly lower comprehension skills, but she had impressive natural talent. She was gentle, composed, and quick to grasp, able to deliver performances above standard after a couple of explanations.

...

"It's great to have you here," Jodie Foster exclaimed after finishing a set of shots, unable to hold back her admiration.

Only after her words left her mouth did she remember Link was nearby, causing her cheeks to flush. "I mean, you're really good at guiding actors. Your descriptions of the plot and emotions are spot on. No other meaning."

"If you want to thank me, you can take me out to eat."

Link smirked.

"Why would I treat you? This movie is yours; you're the script consultant."

Jodie recalled that Link could have easily turned down this job; he was there at her invitation. She scrunched her nose. "Alright, I'll take you out, and we can have the crew's takeout."

She couldn't help but laugh; her exquisite, thoughtful face sparkled.

"You look beautiful when you smile. You shouldn't always have that serious face on," he said.

"Who asked you for your opinion? And don't try those lines on me; they won't work. I'm not falling for that."

Jodie shot him a glance, brushing her short hair away from her ear, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Link chuckled, sitting in front of the monitor, continuing to guide her on how to shoot more effectively, enhance the quality of the footage, and elevate the artistic level. He provided detailed hints, covering everything comprehensively.

Jodie listened intently, sometimes leaning against him without even noticing.

...

Under a nearby awning, Cameron Diaz was reading her script. Once in a while, she would look up at the director's area and see the two engaged in animated conversation, appearing quite close. She felt a surge of surprise.

She had heard that Jodie Foster didn't typically like men and often reacted coldly to those who approached her. Yet seeing her interact with Link was completely different; she was so feminine around him. Link must be something special.

"Hey, Cameron!"

As Cameron gazed at Link, she noticed that someone was watching her. It was Matt Dillon, playing the second lead, Michael, who was supposed to be Cameron's character's fiance in the film.

Cameron turned to him, blinking her beautiful big eyes. "Matt, what's up?"

"Are you free this afternoon? Want to catch a movie together? I have two tickets for Miami Rhapsody, and it's getting great reviews," Matt asked.

Cameron smiled gently; she was beautiful and had an amazing figure, never lacking admirers.

"Sorry, Matt, I made plans with Director Link this afternoon."

"Director Link?"

Matt glanced at the director's area and remembered the gossip surrounding the two. He quickly took a step back, "Miss Diaz, I did not mean to interrupt. Have a great date!"

"Thanks!"

Cameron Diaz smiled at his retreating figure.

She had turned down Matt Dillon quickly and decisively because she didn't want Link to misunderstand; plus, she genuinely wanted to discuss the script with Link that afternoon and hoped for his insights -- not as an excuse.

*****

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