Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 303: Script Reading]

The purpose of the production team's discussion session was to facilitate face-to-face communication, allowing the actors to share their research on their respective characters, voice any difficulties they encountered, and offer suggestions on the spot.

Link, along with two writers, answered questions in real-time. If constructive feedback arose, they were open to revising the script based on the actors' requests. Typically, rookie actors would shy away from voicing their opinions in such settings.

However, seasoned veterans and big-name stars would present numerous suggestions, such as tweaking lines to fit their speech patterns, or adding and removing dialogue to enhance emotions or refine character portrayals.

Even though the characters in the script were crafted by the writers, the portrayal in the film relied on the actors. They needed to adjust lines or scenes to fully embody their roles, ultimately presenting them through their performances.

Whether through method acting or experiential approaches, the ultimate goal remained to bring the characters to life effectively. During this process, disagreements often arose over script changes, particularly among big-name actors and seasoned professionals, who sometimes became highly agitated over just a few lines. Some actors even threatened to walk away. Such occurrences were common in a production environment.

This made it crucial for a director to demonstrate strong leadership and management skills. A good director had to be an exceptional leader, skilled in team coordination, making decisions, and resolving conflicts among crew members.

Moreover, they needed to excel at inspiring the cast and crew. Only directors who combined artistic talent with leadership abilities could guide a team effectively to create exceptional films.

This was why the bar for becoming a director was set so high. Link, having directed numerous films and boasting extensive experience, was also the owner of a successful film company known for producing hits that resonated both critically and commercially. His reputation earned him considerable respect on set, as the cast and crew were willing to follow his lead.

During the script discussion session, Link preferred to foster a democratic atmosphere where everyone felt free to speak their minds. He reassured them not to worry about saying the wrong thing; their shared goal was to create a blockbuster film.

...

The cast of the Batman Forever film certainly wasn't made up of shy newcomers. As the script reading began, Gary Oldman was the first to voice his concerns about the character of Two-Face. "Two-Face" was a classic villain from the Batman comics, created in 1941. Initially deemed too dark, fans had rejected him until the horror genre re-emerged in the '70s, leading to the character's gradual acceptance on television and in films.

Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, suffered abuse from his father during his youth, where his father would use a two-headed quarter to decide whether to hit him. Harvey despised his father, vowing never to become like him. As an adult, he became a local district attorney, distinguished for his integrity and effectiveness, and served as Gotham City's attorney.

His collaboration with Gotham's Police Commissioner, Jim Gordon, and Batman led to substantial improvements in the city's safety, punishing several villains and crime bosses. However, just one day before his wedding, in a courtroom confrontation with mob boss Maroni, a vial of acid was thrown in his face, disfiguring him and leading to his fiancee leaving him.

This trauma unlocked the inner demons he had suppressed, causing him to descend into madness and ultimately become the villainous Two-Face. He blamed Batman for not protecting him during the trial and sought revenge against both Batman and everyone else.

Compared to the comic counterpart, the film version of Two-Face was depicted with even more malice and aggression, with a more extreme portrayal to heighten the film's drama. Oldman expressed his dissatisfaction with this exaggerated, sinister portrayal and preferred a more understated approach that would create a chilling effect.

He hoped to modify the script to present Two-Face as a cold, calculating psychopath, contrasting sharply with the flamboyant Riddler.

Link, however, rejected this idea. Since Batman held a cool, humorous demeanor, Two-Face needed to be a contrasting comic relief character. If both were too serious, their dynamic would resemble an overly somber showdown that lacked entertainment value.

He explained to Gary Oldman that Two-Face, after being disfigured, suffered from multiple personality disorder and was tormented by a fixation on "fate" and "dichotomy." His temperament swung from cold and detached to erratic and furious.

In his performance, Oldman needed to exhibit both the frightening bravado of Two-Face and his cold, calculating side. The challenge lay in how to express this complex psychological state, truly testing his acting skills.

Oldman perked up upon hearing Link's explanation, growing more enthusiastic about the character. As a seasoned actor, he didn't shy away from complex roles; he feared simplicity.

...

After he spoke, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman chimed in simultaneously. Following the principle of letting women go first, Kidman initiated her requests regarding her character, Dr. Chase, whom Link had crafted as an original role serving dual purposes: to offer some romantic interest for Batman and to illustrate Batman's true love for Catwoman.

Nicole proposed making Dr. Chase a psychiatrist with a solid professional background, intrigued by Batman's duality. She suggested that when confronted with Two-Face and the Riddler, Chase should take an active role in analyzing their psychological states, assisting Batman in defeating them, rather than merely serving as eye candy.

Link considered her suggestion carefully and found it valid. He planned to discuss it with the two writers for potential inclusion in future drafts of the script.

...

After Kidman's input, Carrey eagerly started to express his ideas. The first script reading lasted over three hours. Half the cast shared personal opinions, and Link along with the writers addressed each one. Due to time constraints, the other half of the actors would address their comments at the next reading.

After the reading, Link hosted a dinner for the production team at a hotel, hoping to strengthen the camaraderie among the actors and help them become more familiar with one another for a smoother filming process.

...

"Link, thank you for accepting my proposal during the meeting."

At the party, Nicole Kidman approached Link holding her glass.

In the brief hour since he last saw her, she had changed into a stunning red strapless gown that accentuated her ivory shoulders and elongated arms. Around her swan-like neck was a sapphire necklace very similar to Monica's flashy Patek Philippe, and she wore a platinum watch that sparkled with elegance.

"You're welcome. Your suggestions made a lot of sense, and actually, I had similar ideas for the script. Initially, I considered those elements but was worried they might complicate the plot too much. After some discussion with the writers, we agreed to weave in those ideas to make Dr. Chase a more rounded character -- it's a positive evolution for the film," he replied.

"I'm so glad; I thought we were on the same page."

Nicole giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Link, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"In your mind, what kind of woman am I?"

"A charming and beautiful woman. That aligns with Dr. Chase's character," Link responded.

"Would you be captivated by me?"

Nicole took a step closer, her abdomen nearly brushing against him.

"Nicole, you're married," Link reminded her.

"Right! Last time in the restroom, when you did those things, what made you forget I'm a married woman?"

Nicole's face flushed, charmingly annoyed as her breaths quickened.

"Last time was something else; you know that better than I do," Link replied coolly.

"But you said I'm charming, why can't we go out?"

Nicole looked at him with a pout.

Link shook his head. "Nicole, I prefer to pursue women openly, not secretly. If you weren't married, you'd likely be in my bed right now, not standing here talking to me."

Nicole paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, covering her mouth and shaking with amusement.

Suddenly serious, she gazed at Link and said, "Link, I think I've fallen for you. I genuinely love you and can't stop thinking about you, our conversations -- everything."

"I know that what I said before may have made you think I'm some reckless woman without shame, but I promise from now on, I'll be the kind of woman you would want -- someone who takes love more seriously," she added.

Link was astonished. He wondered how she'd changed so dramatically. During their phone chats, Nicole had used flirtatious language; just a while ago at the Golden Globe Awards, she had displayed provocative gestures to incite him.

Now, in this personal environment, where she had a perfect opportunity, she suddenly seemed reserved and reflective about her past behavior.

This was strange.

Was it a strategic retreat?

Considering her role as Michael Ovitz's emissary -- and her sharp mind -- Link found it unwise to underestimate her.

"Let's interact as friends from now on, okay?" Nicole suggested sincerely.

He looked at her beautiful face, those captivating azure eyes, and found it hard to detect any disingenuousness. Raising his glass, he replied, "Sure!"

Nicole smiled and clinked her glass against his, sipping red wine. A flush crept to her cheeks as she moved gracefully, exuding charm.

...

"They look awfully cozy together," Ben Affleck remarked when he noticed Link and Nicole standing together, envy flickering in his eyes.

Link, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, stood tall, facing Nicole in her stunning red dress. The pair seemed more suited for each other than Nicole and Tom Cruise.

Link was precocious; not only could he attract younger women, but now he was also pursuing a married one. What a beast!

"Who?" Ryan Phillippe inquired.

Ben Affleck nodded toward Link and Nicole. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Mrs. Kidman is married," he cautioned.

"I'm not jumping to conclusions; I'm just saying they look happy together. You're the one making unfounded assumptions," Ben grinned.

"Let's hope Link knows to keep it under control and doesn't make any mistakes," Jim Carrey chimed in, raising his glass.

"Come on, that's Nicole Kidman. If you were in his shoes, could you control yourself?" Ben challenged.

"Of course! I'm a married man," Jim replied, displaying his wedding band.

Ben raised an eyebrow in disbelief; Given Jim's fame, there had been plenty of media buzz about his love life -- even rumors of divorce surfaced -- making it clear he wasn't as ethical as he touted.

...

"What are you guys chatting about?" Drew Barrymore and Salma Hayek suddenly approached, cutting the conversation short.

Ben quickly fell quiet, turning to the two women. Upon seeing Drew's cute face and captivating charm, he couldn't help but smile, flashing what he thought was his most charming grin.

Just as he was about to speak, Drew noticed Nicole leaving and abandoned the conversation with them to approach Link along with Salma.

Ben clenched his fists tightly, his mood souring.

"Damn it, he even stole my future girlfriend; Link is infuriating!"

*****

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