*Chapter 383: Meeting Harvey*

In the original Captain America comics, Captain America becomes a super soldier after receiving the serum. However, since the concept of gaining strength through injections might be associated with drug use and have negative social effects, the film adaptation depicts Steve Rogers undergoing physical training first, followed by oral medication, serum injections, and exposure to Vita rays to stimulate muscle growth and complete the transformation.

In the script, exposure to Vita rays is described as a very painful process. The stronger the ray's energy, the greater the pain, which an ordinary person would be unable to withstand. Thus, during filming, Link needs to emit a pained cry.

“Turn it off! Turn it off!”

In the lab on set, Agent Carter heard Steve crying out in agony from inside the experimental chamber.

“Turn it back, Mr. Stark, turn it back, shut it off!”

Dr. Erskine shouted.

Howard Stark, Iron Man’s father, was holding the control valve, preparing to reduce the intensity of the Vita rays.

“No! Don’t stop! I can endure it!”

Link, inside the chamber, gritted his teeth and shouted.

Stark continued adjusting the energy valve, setting the Vita rays to 100%.

Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions occurred in the lab, the lights in the chamber dimmed, and white smoke began to rise.

Just as everyone thought the experiment had failed, the chamber door opened, revealing Link, who was naked from the waist up, with his muscles all swollen.

His firm chest, eight-pack abs, solid deltoids and trapezius muscles looked like awakened pythons, all coiled beneath his skin. When he moved, the muscles slid under the skin, creating an extremely powerful and visually impactful impression.

“Sexy!”

“Link’s physique is incredible!”

“This must be what the real Captain America looks like.”

The crew members admired Link’s physique; men were envious, and women’s eyes were warm with admiration.

Director Johnston nodded in satisfaction; this was exactly the effect he wanted. When casting, the body type was an important consideration.

Among all the auditioning actors, Link’s muscles weren’t the biggest, but they were the most proportionate, with the most aesthetically pleasing muscle lines and appeared the most powerful.

However, for better visual effects, he had asked Link to gain some additional muscle mass before shooting, and Link had added over ten pounds. Now, the results looked very impressive.

“Link, how do you feel…”

Agent Carter approached to ask, but as soon as she spoke, she slapped her lips and gave an embarrassed smile.

“Cut!”

“Take it again!”

“Steve, how do you feel?”

Agent Carter gazed at his strong, sexy muscles with a heated look, reaching out to touch his warm chest muscles but stopping midway.

“I’ve grown taller.”

Link straightened up and gasped for breath.

“It does look like you’ve grown taller.”

Agent Carter handed him a piece of clothing.

“Cut!”

“Next!”

The crew had been shooting in New York for over ten days. In late October, they moved to Universal Studios in Los Angeles for filming, and Link came along to discuss collaboration with Harvey Weinstein.

He and Palm Beach Pictures’ production supervisor, Broder Bent, met Harvey at an Italian café on Hollywood Boulevard. The café offered delicious Italian coffee and a variety of desserts, including tiramisu, cheese cakes, golden bread, pigeon cakes, and Italian custards, all of which were quite tasty.

When Link and Broder arrived at the café, Harvey was already there, chatting with director David Russell in a booth. Upon seeing Link, Harvey sized him up with a cold, penetrating gaze, but this expression lasted less than a second before he suddenly burst into laughter, extending his arms and calling out, “Link, you’re even younger and more handsome in person than in the photos!”

Link gave a gentle smile and thanked him, seeing Harvey extend his arms in a hugging gesture.

He quickly reached out, shook Harvey’s right hand, and complimented his films, calling him a leader and godfather of modern cinema, praising him profusely.

Harvey laughed heartily in response, also praising Link for his youth and talent, listing all his titles.

The atmosphere between the two was more harmonious than Link had expected, which made him even more cautious.

Harvey was known for his cunning and unscrupulous ways. He was infamous in the film industry for using near-fraudulent methods to acquire many film sources at international film festivals, editing them, and distributing them in North America for profit.

Many of the deceived filmmakers were from China.

One Chinese director named Feng had publicly criticized him, saying that Harvey would offer a very high price for North American rights to a film he was interested in, such as $10 million, and pay a $200,000 deposit. Other distributors, seeing Harvey’s high offer, would withdraw from the competition.

Without competitors, Harvey would then delay the deal, and after repeated follow-ups by the filmmakers, he would lower the price from the initially agreed $10 million to $1 million or even lower, offering to help with “Oscar campaigning” as a lure.

At that time, filmmakers couldn’t find suitable distributors and were eager to monetize their films, so they reluctantly agreed, suffering significant financial losses.

Harvey was deceitful but greeted Link with a smile. Link had to be extremely cautious in handling the upcoming conversation.

After sitting down, Link handed the collaboration details over to Broder Bent to discuss.

Bent, a top producer Link had recruited from Warner Bros. for a high price, was 50 years old and had been involved in production since the early '90s. He had worked on over forty films, including notable works like Becoming Jane, In Bruges, and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

He was also one of the producers of The Gossiper, serving as Palm Beach Pictures' production supervisor, and was highly skilled in film production.

While Link chatted with David Russell, who seemed unaware of Link’s conflict with Harvey, Russell explained the reasons for not collaborating with him on Silver Linings Playbook.

The script idea for Silver Linings Playbook came from Bradley Cooper, who found it promising and sought Russell for collaboration.

Bradley Cooper was a well-known actor who had appeared in several successful TV dramas such as Sex and the City 2 and Alias seasons 1, 2, and 3. He gained fame in 2009 with The Hangover and became a top star, having previously collaborated with Link on Valentine’s Day.

Link nodded in understanding. He wasn’t very interested in the lead role of this film, as he had four or five other projects on hand and didn’t want to add more to his plate.

Additionally, with his rising status, he planned to take only one or two good roles per year after finishing these projects next year, using the rest of his time for training, managing Link Music, investing in films, or other investments, aiming to increase his capital.

“Broder, it’s settled then. I believe this will be a pleasant collaboration.”

Harvey, with his protruding belly, shook hands with Bent.

“Yes, we also look forward to working with you.”

Bent replied with a smile.

“Link, how about you? Any concerns?”

Harvey, with a frog-like grin, looked at Link with a meaningful expression.

Link shook his head, saying he didn’t understand much about film and would just provide the money. He hoped Harvey, Bent, and Russell would handle the rest, aiming to make some profit from this film.

Harvey laughed and said that was a given. He then pulled Link aside and quietly asked when he could return the materials.

Link stared at Harvey’s greasy face and cautiously said that all the materials had been destroyed. Even if they were exposed in the future, it wouldn’t be from his side, as he had obtained them from others and had not collected them intentionally.

He expected Harvey to react angrily and end the collaboration on the spot, but that didn’t happen.

Harvey merely squinted his eyes, smiling and saying it didn’t matter. He valued the collaboration more than the insignificant materials.

Seeing Harvey’s attitude, Link’s wariness increased even more.

(End of Chapter)