Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

Comparing himself to Charlie Chaplin, a top star of the silent film era and the founder of United Artists, who made many classic films but never won the Best Actor award at the Oscars.

It was even less likely for Link.

Having seen too many similar stories, Link began to doubt whether aiming for the Best Actor Oscar was a bit unrealistic.

Following his doubts, he remained determined to achieve this goal.

In the future, he planned to make one or two decent films each year and become a top actor, regardless of whether he could win an award, he would at least give it a try.

"Link, there's a supporting role in this movie that suits you. Do you want to give it a try?"

Joaquin said with a smile as he smoked.

After some thought, Link declined, mainly because he didn't have time.

He currently had three films on his hands: "Rust and Bone", "Buried", and "The Avengers".

After the release of "Thor" and its first-week success, Miss Anna received a call from Marvel Entertainment. They were preparing for the "Avengers" and had parts for Captain America.

The extent of his role would depend on the box office results of "Captain America" in July.

Marvel wanted him to schedule in advance, with shooting expected to start at the end of the year.

Under the contract he signed with Marvel Studios last year, which included a clause for sequels, he couldn't turn down this role.

There was also "The Flowers of War". At the beginning of the year, he was rather busy and shot intermittently for more than ten days, barely completing his scenes.

Now that production had entered post-production, director Zhang called to say that some scenes needed reshooting and asked if he could take a couple of days to come back; it would only take two or three days.

There was also "Friends with Benefits". After he purchased Lionsgate Films, Silver Screen Treasures wanted to continue the collaboration, offering him to stay on as the lead actor and proposing a raise. Link declined.

"Are you still singing nowadays?"

Link turned to Joaquin and asked. The guy announced he was leaving the acting world to become a rap singer in 2009, tried it for half a year without much success, was infamously late for a performance, got heckled by the audience, and ended up in a shouting match that caused quite a stir.

"No more. Being a singer is too hard. I really admire you now. To transition from Boxer to singer and become a top music star in just two years, that's incredible," Joaquin Phoenix kept praising.

Link smiled lightly. Being a singer indeed wasn't easy. Without those music reserves, he wouldn't have the momentum he had now.

"Hey, Link, and Joaquin, you're here too?"

While they were chatting in the café, Amy Adams walked in gracefully from the backlight with her small purse.

Wearing an off-white long dress with her wine-red curls draped over her left shoulder, she revealed a gentle smile on her fair and plump cheeks. As she said 'you're here too', her blue eyes met Link's, and the smile at the corner of her mouth carried a peculiar sweetness.

"Amy, are you here for the audition too?"

Link greeted her.

"Yes, I've seen the script. The leading lady's role suits me very well, so I decided to give it a try," Amy Adams smiled.

"Good luck! Director Anderson is very strict with actors."

"I'll do my best," Amy Adams brushed her hair beside her ear and smiled faintly, turning back toward the audition office.

Link watched her swaying figure, thinking that she had matured, and become even more appealing than before.

"I'm going to check out the office."

Joaquin dropped his cigarette butt and headed to the audition office as well.

A while later, Ms. Mandy walked into the café and shared that both the casting director and Director Anderson felt Amy Adams was more suitable for the leading lady than Emma Stone.

Amy's temperament was closer to that of the character Mary, while Emma Stone was too young and lacked maturity.

Link said to follow the directors' preferences; he wouldn't interfere with the production's choices.

After all, his purpose for investing in the making of this film was to make money, not to promote artists under his label.

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"Mandy, for the artists under Palm Beach, we try to provide them with as many audition opportunities as possible, securing roles for them under the premise of fairness, but don't spoil them too much. Let them face some challenges; it will help them improve,"

Now, Palm Beach Agency doesn't only have Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone; they've signed five more actors with fine acting skills.

There's Octavia Spencer and Chris O'Dowd, both of them from 'The Help' 'Bridesmaids' casts. The former is a Black actress, and the latter is the male lead in 'Bridesmaids'. The remaining three were also signed from the casts of 'Scandal Plan', 'Bridesmaids', and 'The Help'.

These actors are all quite talented and can be cast in supporting roles in movies produced by Lionsgate Films and Palm Beach Films. Once they become famous, they'll help the company make money.

"Alright, I've recently taken an interest in two young actors with great potential and am considering signing them. What do you think?"

Ms. Mandy said with a smile.

"You're the president of Palm Beach Agency, so it's your call, but make sure you pay some attention to Selena too, don't let her turn into a wild child,"

"I understand,"

Ms. Mandy replied with a light laugh.

Link spent half a day at Palm Beach Films, observing the auditions for 'The Master' and discussing with Catherine the company's films for this year and the next.

Aside from 'The Help', which is being scheduled, there are 'The Silver Linings Playbook', 'The Master', and 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'.

Then there's 'Land of Hope', recommended by Megan Ellison, adapted from a novel by the renowned author Matt Bondurant about the legendary tale of a family of three bootlegging liquor, establishing a crime family, and growing powerful after World War I.

The movie reminded Link of another one he had seen called 'Lawless', and given its decent quality and the production cost of only 26 million US Dollars, he agreed to cooperate with Megan.

Palm Beach Films' total investment share in these four movies amounted to 35.2 million US Dollars, a sum entirely within their budget. After the box office funds from 'Bridesmaids' come back, with more money on hand, they'll invest in the latest movie projects.

Ding dong!

As he drove home, he received a thank you message from Amy Adams.

Link replied that there was no need for thanks; she was very suitable for the role of Mary.

Ding dong!

Amy Adams suddenly sent over a photo, a snapshot of her and a baby, about one year old, with black hair, twinkling blue eyes, and a chubby, cute little face.

"This is my son Chris, isn't he adorable?"

"What a handsome little guy."

"Thank you!"

Link continued to look at the photo, somewhat puzzled about the reason for her sending it.

Was Amy Adams hinting that this child had something to do with him?

He had never seen Amy Adams' husband, didn't know if he had black hair, and since Amy Adams herself was a descendant of Italian immigrants, with ancestors who had black hair and blue eyes and fair skin.

Just from the photo, he couldn't tell if the boy looked like him.

Moreover, Amy Adams had her child before the Oscars, and calculating the dates, it seemed related to him, but he couldn't be sure.

"Amy, when is the child's birthday?"

Link thought it over and asked.

"Do you want to come to Chris' birthday party? I'll invite you next time he has one,"

Amy Adams said.

Link replied, 'Okay,' but didn't continue to ask further.

As long as Amy Adams didn't say the child was his, he would act as if it were not the case to avoid any misunderstanding and adverse impact on her family, while also steering clear of showing undue concern.

Ding dong dong!

On his way back to his bayside villa, Ivanka called to say she would be working half an hour late dealing with urgent matters, and told him to go ahead and eat without waiting for her.

Link asked what the matter was.

Ivanka said that since yesterday afternoon, there had been a surge of negative reviews for 'Bridesmaids' in the newspapers and online, leading to a 35% decline in today's box office performance compared to yesterday, a 60% drop beyond the normal downturn, which was very abnormal.

Since Lionsgate Films was also involved in distributing the movie, their distribution department was now in contact with Warner's distribution company, preparing to tackle the problem together.

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