Chapter 481 No Unfair Person Coming
Michael Phillips was mentally prepared before meeting Lin Weimin.
Lin Weimin became famous at a young age and is extremely talented, but it is not realistic to say that he is easy to talk to, especially when it comes to his works.
Bertolucci also mentioned this when he was communicating with him.
But despite being mentally prepared, Michael Phillips still showed great discomfort when faced with Lin Weimin's strong and aggressive attitude.
After all, he was a well-known producer in Hollywood for many years. Every project he handled had to be executed according to his opinions, even the director. He never thought that one day he would have to listen to a screenwriter's instructions.
Michael Phillips almost couldn't control his emotions and slammed the table several times, but looking at Lin Weimin's fearless expression, he controlled his temper. For Hollywood producers, being able to use both soft and hard tactics is a required course.
"Lin, you can't think that I'm sincere and make these excessive demands!" Michael Phillips couldn't help but say.
Lin Weimin shook his head. "We Chinese have a saying, first the villain, then the gentleman. Mike, I think you are also very clear that once the film adaptation rights are handed over, my control over this work will basically be zero. The requirements I raise now are just to ensure that the adaptation can maintain its original standard!"
"You should trust my level."
"Of course I believe you, otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my breath talking to you here."
Michael Phillips smiled bitterly when he heard this. This young and over-the-top screenwriter was unexpectedly difficult to deal with.
Because there were so many details to discuss, Lin Weimin and Michael Phillips negotiated for two days before they finally agreed on all the details.
Then Lin Weimin made a special phone call to communicate with Arthur Miller. The film version of "The Intouchables" will be based on the American version of the drama, and Arthur Miller also contributed to this version of the script.
When Lin Weimin and Arthur Miller's company signed the contract, it was agreed that the copyright of "The Intouchables" belonged to Lin Weimin, but Arthur Miller's company would participate in the copyright operation in the United States. Now that the copyright of the drama is being further developed, Arthur Miller's company will definitely get a share of the pie.
After receiving Lin Weimin's call, Arthur Miller welcomed the move, saying that the film adaptation of "The Intouchables" would help expand the influence of the original play and would also be helpful for future revival.
With the consent of all three parties, Lin Weimin signed a contract with Michael Phillips and handed over the film adaptation rights of "The Intouchables".
After the contract was signed, Lin Weimin received 400,000 yuan in script fees, of which 100,000 yuan was to be shared with Arthur Miller.
Michael Phillips felt a little pain in the ass for the script. Lin Weimin joked, "Mike, you should have come to me earlier. A month earlier, you might have been able to get the script for $100,000."
The Oscar for Best Original Screenplay gave Lin Weimin confidence when he made his offer, and he called out a sky-high price of $500,000. Michael Phillips haggled for a long time before getting it down to $400,000, but he couldn't bargain any further.
Michael Phillips was also helpless about this. His worth doubled after winning the award. This is the rule and reality of the film industry.
Fortunately, "The Intouchables" is a feature film and the investment is not large. His initial plan is to invest 6 million US dollars.
Considering that Lin Weimin just won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, the 400,000 yuan was worth it.
“It’s a pleasure to work with you!”
“It’s a pleasure to work with you!”
After the two shook hands, Lin Weimin suddenly said, "Mike, I still suggest you find a craftsman-type director. The script of The Intouchables has been polished to perfection. A director who is too imaginative will only destroy the integrity of this work."
Michael Phillips nodded cautiously, "I'll consider it, and I'll communicate with you again when I choose a director."
The contract has been signed, so it would be fine for him to treat Lin Weimin's words as nonsense.
But Michael Phillips coveted Lin Weimin's other works. During the previous negotiations, he wanted to sign the exclusive adaptation rights of Lin Weimin's works. However, he was frightened by Lin Weimin's high demand and had to give up.
But he did not give up. As long as the adaptation of "The Intouchables" achieved a certain degree of success and they had a basis for cooperation, it would not be difficult to work with Lin Weimin again in the future.
You should know that Lin Weimin's "The Kite Runner" is currently performing on Broadway and is even more popular than "The Intouchables".
The total sales of his novel "Farewell My Concubine" in the United States have exceeded 2 million copies, and its sales in other countries in the world are also not to be underestimated. This is a considerable IP, and there is still a certain gap from Hollywood's top IP, but as long as you work hard, there will be no problem in making a lot of money.
Even his latest novel, Life Is Beautiful Anyway, has climbed into the top 20 of the New York Times bestseller list just two months after its publication.
In time, it will be another work that will dominate the bestseller lists for many years.
Not to mention that Michael Phillips also knew that Lin Weimin was young and had a large number of works. He was a walking IP library. How could he not maintain a good relationship with him?
After discussing the adaptation of "The Intouchables", Michael Phillips declined Lin Weimin's invitation to visit Yanjing and hurried back to the United States. Getting the adaptation rights was just the beginning, and there was still a long way to go before the actual birth of the film.
After Michael Phillips left, Lin Weimin returned to his normal life and work rhythm.
The script of "Burning" that he had promised to the People's Art Theater has been completed after these days of creation, and he sent the script to the People's Art Theater.
In March, the National Theatre of China team that went to France for exchange performances had returned home. Lin Weimin listened to them talk about their experiences in France and could see that everyone was very excited.
Yi Shizhi handed Lin Weimin a letter. The letter was written by Alain Resnais to Lin Weimin. When Alain Resnais went to see a performance by the National Theatre of China, he asked a translator to translate his words to the people of the National Theatre of China, who then wrote the letter and sent it to Lin Weimin.
Lin Weimin took the letter without reading it. After finishing his business talk, he was about to leave when he saw Feng Yuanzheng waving at him stealthily.
"Just be honest and say a few words. It's not like you're doing anything sneaky!" Lin Weimin said.
Feng Yuanzheng felt a little embarrassed when he heard what he said, but then he became happy again, "Teacher Lin, I received an invitation letter from Professor Melsin!"
"That's great! Xiao Feng, congratulations, you're going to study abroad soon!" Lin Weimin said with a smile.
"Thanks to you!" Feng Yuanzheng thanked.
"It's just a reminder. Even without me, you'll be able to react in a few days. Have you talked to your dean?" Lin Weimin asked.
"No, I just received the invitation letter and planned to tell the dean tomorrow. I ran into you today and I want to tell you the good news!"
Lin Weimin patted his shoulder and said, "Okay, let's talk properly and be nicer."
"I understand. Thank you!"
Feng Yuanzheng bowed to Lin Weimin, and Lin Weimin helped him up and said, "Don't be polite, I'm leaving first!"
After returning home, Lin Weimin opened the letter that Alan Reinert had sent him.
Last year, when Lin Weimin went to France to receive the Prix Goncourt, the two met at a dinner party organized by Gallimard Publishing House and had a great conversation.
After receiving the award, Lin Weimin was invited to visit the theater where Alain Resnais filmed his movies, and they became close friends regardless of age.
Previously, Lin Weimin introduced Alain Resnais to the play "Jiajing and Hai Rui", and he was very interested in it. When he heard that the National Theatre of China had performed in France, he made a special trip to see it. After watching "Farewell My Concubine" and "The Horse Catcher", Alain Resnais praised it highly. The only regret he had was that he did not see the pioneering play "Jiajing and Hai Rui" mentioned by Lin Weimin.
At the end of the letter, Alain Resnais did not forget to congratulate Lin Weimin for winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Alain Resnais is a filmmaker, and although the films he makes are in a completely different style from those in Hollywood, he also knows that it is not easy to win this award.
After reading the letter, Lin Weimin looked happy. Since they couldn't speak the same language, writing letters was actually more convenient for them.
Lin Weimin wrote a letter back to Alain Resnais, in which he not only expressed his gratitude but also invited him to visit China when he had time and to watch "Jiajing and Hai Rui".
The next morning, Lin Weimin went to the foreign literature editorial office of the publishing house.
"Xiao Guo, do you have time?"
Guo Xugang is an editor in the publishing house, specializing in French. He is responsible for editing French literary works in the foreign literature editorial department.
At the Guowen Publishing House, the translation of many foreign classics was assigned to senior translators in the company or scholars from various Yenching universities. Editors like Guo Xugang, who were trained in related fields, had fewer opportunities.
"Teacher Lin, what do you need?" Guo Xugang asked as he stood up.
Usually, in the Guowen Society, older colleagues would call him "Weimin", while the younger people would uniformly call him "Teacher Lin". Very few people would call him by his title.
"I have something I want to trouble you with." Lin Weimin took out the letter he wrote to Alain Resnais. "I wrote a letter to a friend in France. I would like to trouble you to translate it for me."
Guo Xugang took the letter and said happily: "No problem, please wait for me for a moment."
Lin Weimin said: "Don't worry."
"It doesn't matter. Your letter is not long. Ten minutes will be enough." Guo Xugang said.
Seeing this, Lin Weimin waited in the office for a while and chatted casually with several other editors.
Translating a letter is not like translating a classic, so it does not require careful consideration word by word. As expected, it did not take Guo Xugang long to translate the contents of the letter, and he copied it for Lin Weimin.
"Thank you so much, Xiao Guo!" Lin Weimin threw out a pack of cigarettes.
The cigarettes were Marlboro Red, made in the United States. They were sold at the Friendship Store for 40 yuan in foreign exchange coupons per pack.
"Teacher Lin, you don't need it!" Guo Xugang hurriedly handed the cigarette back to Lin Weimin.
Lin Weimin pushed the cigarette back. "Payment for writing! Paidment for writing!"
Seeing Lin Weimin's firm attitude, Guo Xugang thanked him and took the cigarette.
Guo Xugang tore open the cigarette box on the spot and distributed cigarettes to everyone in the office. "Today, thanks to Teacher Lin, we can also smoke some foreign cigarettes."
Everybody laughed. There were many heavy smokers in the editorial offices of Guowen Publishing House. It was normal to hear smoke as soon as you pushed open the door of the editorial office.
While chatting and smoking, Guo Xugang asked, "Teacher Lin, I see the person you wrote to is called Alain Resnais, is he the French director?"
Lin Weimin nodded and said, "Yes, I met him when I went to France to receive an award last year."
Guo Xugang said enviously: "You are really a man of great learning and you are always friendly to common people."
Lin Weimin smiled and waved his hand. The people around him heard Guo Xugang's tone and asked curiously, "Is this Allen Reinai famous?"
It is true that Alain Resnais is a great French director, but his works have never been introduced into China. Only a few people have seen his works through internal reference films, so not many people in China know his name.
Guo Xugang knew Alain Resnais only because his major was French. He said with a slightly exaggerated tone: "He is very famous! He is an important director of the French Left Bank School and one of the flag bearers of the French New Wave."
The term "Left Bank School" is unfamiliar to Chinese people, but when it comes to the French New Wave of films, many people who have read "Popular Cinema" know that this is a film movement with global influence.
Since he is one of the flag bearers of the French New Wave, he must be awesome.
After hearing Guo Xugang's explanation, everyone nodded in conviction and looked at Lin Weimin with admiration in their eyes.
Xiao Guo’s words were a bit explicit, but his meaning was correct.
Lin Weimin chatted with everyone for a while and then left. Everyone set their eyes on Guo Xugang's Marlboro and smoked a whole box of cigarettes before letting Guo Xugang go.
After work, Lin Weimin went to the post office to mail the letter.
A few days later, May was approaching, and Lin Weimin was busy with the publication of the fifth issue of "Contemporary" when he received an infuriating news from the Literature Association.
(End of this chapter)
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