Chapter 490 Kaiba Studio
Tong Zhonggui felt that Teacher Lin must admire Wang Xiaobo very much. Although Teacher Lin did not express it too strongly, Tong Zhonggui was very sure of this fact based on his understanding of Lin Weimin over many years of getting to know him.
He has also watched "Tang People's Stories" and "The Golden Age".
He did not like the style of "Tang Stories". In his opinion, it was just a Tang legend wrapped in the skin of Wang Xiaobo's own story. It was certainly well written, but it did not quite suit Tong Zhonggui's reading taste.
However, "The Golden Age" is really well written. Apart from the sensitive factor of QS, this novel gave Tong Zhonggui a very shocking feeling.
Tong Zhonggui's literary career basically began and ended with buzz, and over the years, scars, reform, root-seeking, reflection, all kinds of literary genres have come and gone, and it is difficult for creators to break away from the rut of these forms. Everyone is basically influenced by this or by foreign classics.
But the feeling that "The Golden Age" gave Tong Zhonggui was completely different from the feeling he had when reading the works of other domestic writers. He had only experienced this feeling in Lin Weimin's works.
It is a kind of unrestrained and uninhibited nature full of talent, with a distinctive personality that makes people impressed at first sight and is extraordinary.
Tong Zhonggui was discussing Wang Xiaobo's writing style with his colleagues in the editorial department. They all agreed that he understood humor and that his words gave people a very "ghostly" feeling, which refers to a feeling similar to that of a quirky person.
But his humor is different from Wang Shuo's Beijing-style "ruffian". Wang Xiaobo's humor is more self-deprecating, while Wang Shuo's humor is more sarcastic.
Compared with Wang Shuo's sharpness, Wang Xiaobo's humor is undoubtedly more acceptable.
"I think the most important thing is that his style is so unique..." Tong Zhonggui frowned and said thoughtfully, "I don't see any trace of other people in Wang Xiaobo. His works are different from any works of domestic writers we have seen in recent years. Although he also writes about educated youth, it is neither about scars, nor about searching for roots, nor about reflection. His style is unique."
Several colleagues agreed with Tong Zhonggui's words. Yao Shuzhi smiled and said, "It seems that you, Tong, really admire Wang Xiaobo!"
"He's the author himself, so of course he appreciates it!" everyone joked.
While everyone was chatting, Wang Shuo, who had not been seen for a long time, appeared in the editorial office.
Wang Shuo gained weight, his figure became rounder as did his face, his face was flushed, his voice was louder than before, he looked very proud of himself, and the editors teased him a lot.
There is a reason for everyone's ridicule.
1988 was a fruitful year for Wang Shuo. Last year, The Troublemakers was chosen by Mi Jiashan to be adapted into a movie, which was released at the beginning of this year. It was like a rallying cry for the wave of film and television adaptations of Wang Shuo's works.
"Half Flame, Half Sea", "Reincarnation", "Big Breath", one movie after another comes one after another, leaving the audience no chance to breathe.
There are more and more films with "Screenwriter Wang Shuo" on the screens of cinemas. He has digested his identity as a novice screenwriter at a very fast speed, and is wandering freely and happily in the ocean of movies.
In the past six months, Wang Shuo has been the talk of the town in the domestic literary world with the release of four adapted films. Many journalists and newspapers have even shouted the slogan "Wang Shuo Year".
For more than half a year, Wang Shuo was so busy that he didn't even get to see Lin Weimin, let alone show up in the editorial office of Contemporary Magazine.
"Busy! Too busy!" Wang Shuo sat on the sofa in Lin Weimin's office, crossed his legs, and looked in high spirits.
"You don't know, these directors invite me to dinner every day, and if I don't go, they will make trouble and say that I look down on them..."
The phrase "long-term poverty, suddenly rich" is very suitable for Wang Shuo. After listening to him bragging for a long time, Lin Weimin asked, "You didn't come back just to show off to me, did you?"
Wang Shuo had long been accustomed to Lin Weimin's sarcasm towards him, "How could that be possible!"
He stood up and took out the manuscript from his bag. "Look! I just finished writing it and sent it to you. It's still warm!"
Lin Weimin finally smiled a little, "Not bad, you still think about me!"
"Look at what you said. I can forget anyone but you. Let me tell you, I didn't send you a few manuscripts I wrote before because I knew you had high standards and you wouldn't like them even if I sent them to you. But I put a lot of effort into writing these two novels."
When Wang Shuo said this, there was a hint of pride between his brows, and it was obvious that he was very satisfied with these two works.
Since it is described as a "volume", it is at least the size of a novella.
Lin Weimin flipped through some novels, one was "Never Treat Me as a Human Being" and the other was "Forever Lost My Love". Feeling the thickness of the manuscripts, it seemed that the total number of words was about 130,000 to 140,000.
He smiled and asked, "Your efficiency this year is pretty good! I remember you've published four or five articles in other publications, right?"
Wang Shuo smiled proudly, "Don't tell me, I don't know what happened this year. No matter how I write, there are results. It's like I have no control over the pen in my hand. I write whatever I want, and the results are pretty good!"
Wang Shuo is turning 30 this year. With many years of creative experience and the confidence gained from having many of his works adapted into film and television works, coupled with the welcome from readers and audiences, his creative confidence has reached an unprecedented height. This stage should be the peak of his creative career.
"Don't get too cocky. Life is short, so try to write more," Lin Weimin warned.
"You are becoming more and more like a teacher!" Wang Shuo said sarcastically.
The two of them talked about the issue of royalties again.
"Just give it as you think fit!" Mr. Shuo is no longer a humble man today. He waved his hand casually, revealing the lavishness of a nouveau riche.
He is now a rising star in the domestic literary world, so Lin Weimin will certainly not treat him unfairly.
The two novels paid him 5,200 yuan in royalties, with the standard rate reaching 45 yuan per thousand words.
Looking across the country, there are only a handful of writers who can meet this standard, which is worthy of Wang Shuo's current status and fame.
Wang Shuo stood up and bowed to Lin Weimin, "You are so kind!"
Lin Weimin smiled, and Wang Shuo said, "What's going on? Let's go out for a meal tonight. We haven't seen each other for a long time. Why don't we have some fun together?"
"Sure!"
After agreeing to Wang Shuo's request, Lin Weimin's Mercedes Benz appeared in front of Jimen Hotel at around six o'clock in the evening.
"This place is almost becoming your base, right?" Lin Weimin asked Zheng Xiaolong with a smile as soon as they met.
"The old place, just for the comfort." Zheng Xiaolong replied.
At the beginning of the year, "Desire" was broadcast on CCTV-1 and became a national hit. Not only did it make several main actors in the TV series famous, but even Zheng Xiaolong and his group of behind-the-scenes staff became hot figures and became famous in the domestic TV circle.
When we met today, he seemed quite smug and looked very similar to Wang Shuo.
When Lin Weimin entered the restaurant, most of the people who were having dinner today had already arrived. He looked around and saw that they were all familiar faces.
In addition to the two key figures Zheng Xiaolong and Wang Shuo, there are also Feng Xiaogang, Zhao Baogang, Hai Yan, Ye Daiying, Ge You, Xie Jing, Ma Dudu, Liang Tian...
There were more than ten people at the table. If you count them carefully, it seems that the so-called Beijing circle in later generations seemed to have appeared like this.
"Teacher Lin, please take your seat, please take your seat!"
Everyone enthusiastically pulled Lin Weimin to the main seat, and Feng Xiaogang pressed him down on the seat.
Everyone was present, the food and wine were served, and everyone raised their glasses.
Wang Shuo's face turned red after drinking just two glasses. He sat on Lin Weimin's right.
"Weimin, a while ago, Liu Yiran and I were revising a script at the Yanying Studio guesthouse. We were just chatting about nothing, and we came up with an idea."
"What's the idea?" Lin Weimin asked casually.
“We want to set up a studio.”
"studio?"
Lin Weimin glanced at Wang Shuo, then glanced at the other people present. No one looked surprised. It was obvious that everyone had agreed on this matter. It seemed that they had come here today just to invite him.
"What are you doing?" Lin Weimin already had some guesses in his mind and asked knowingly.
"We want to set up a film and television creation team composed of writers with the nature of an art salon. We can get together and talk about anything. If anyone has a good idea, we can brainstorm and promote it. Then we can find a production studio or TV station to invest in filming, and we will sell the copyright for the adaptation."
Wang Shuo stared at Lin Weimin and asked, "How about it? Are you interested in participating?"
Lin Weimin shook his head decisively, "Not interested!"
Wang Shuo's face was full of disappointment. Feng Xiaogang smiled and said, "What did I say? How could a god-like figure like Teacher Lin join your little group?"
His jokes well covered up the embarrassment of Wang Shuo being rejected by Lin Weimin, and everyone laughed.
Lin Weimin said: "Don't treat people badly!"
He pondered and said, "Your idea is good, but I have very little time to devote to film and television creation, so I really don't have the energy to participate in this."
"I understand, I understand!" Zheng Xiaolong toasted Lin Weimin with a glass of wine and said, "You have to work at the Chinese Literature Society during the day, write in your spare time, and have meetings and participate in activities from time to time. You are really too busy."
Wang Shuo joked, "I originally wanted to drag you to be the leader of the martial arts world!"
Lin Weimin shook his head. "Those who become alliance leaders often die young. I don't have the courage."
Everyone laughed, and he added: "But your team's proposal is quite interesting. How many people have you recruited?"
Wang Shuo counted on his fingers: "Me, Liu Yiran, Wu Bin, Haiyan, Dudu, Mo Yan, Liu Zhenyun..."
"Mo Yan and Liu Zhenyun, you guys are here too?"
Mo Yan and Liu Zhenyun had very little contact with Wang Shuo's circle, and Lin Weimin didn't expect Wang Shuo to bring them in as well.
Wang Shuo said complacently: "I shamelessly went to the National Academy of Arts to find them. Thanks to my reputation, they agreed to participate."
Last year, Liu Zhenyun enrolled in the graduate writer class jointly organized by the National Academy of Arts and Yanshi University. He was in the same class as Mo Yan and Chi Zijian. However, his home was not far from the National Academy of Arts, and he had to go to work, so he studied part-time.
"Okay, you have a lot of face!" Lin Weimin teased.
Listening to Wang Shuo listing off the names of the people in detail, Lin Weimin was certain that this should be the team he knew in later generations.
Wang Shuo pulled Lin Weimin and said, "If you don't want to be the leader, then it's fine for you to be a consultant, right?"
Lin Weimin looked at everyone's eager eyes and said, "Sure, it's no problem to be a consultant."
Everyone was immediately delighted and excited to be able to bring Lin Weimin in, even if it was just as a consultant.
He was so happy that he drank several more glasses of wine.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for attending our workshop!"
Haiyan, Ye Daiying and others came to toast one by one. Lin Weimin couldn't resist after two glasses. "If you want to force me to drink, just say so. Don't do these tricks!"
Everyone laughed for a while and then sat down.
"What is the name of your creative team?" Lin Weimin asked.
Everyone looked at each other. They were so busy recruiting people that they didn't even consider this issue.
Wang Shuo said: "I haven't really thought about this, why don't you come up with one?"
Feng Xiaogang also asked: "Teacher Lin, what do you think?"
"I can't say I have a brilliant opinion, but I feel something for you guys, a bunch of rough old men."
"What's the meaning?"
"Do you know what seahorse is?" Lin Weimin asked.
Most people looked confused, but Feng Xiaogang was very clever and said, "Seahorses reproduce only in males."
"That's right!" Lin Weimin gave Feng Xiaogang an encouraging look.
Wang Shuo concluded: "There are no females at all. It's all males that give birth. What the hell, a bunch of seahorses!"
Everyone burst into laughter when they heard this.
“What a good name!”
"Just call it Seahorse!"
Hippocampus Studio was born at a dinner party at Jimen Hotel.
(End of this chapter)
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