Chapter 694: What to do next time?
Lin Weimin could roughly guess Michael Phillips's mentality. He was the one who got the investment for "Sunny Days". Now it has won an award and the copyright has sold well. Jiang Wen has become famous. It is highly likely that his new movie will make money in the future. He would be sorry for his hard work if he didn't invest some money.
I believe Michael Phillips has communicated with Columbia Pictures a lot about this matter. They are definitely unwilling to give up their investment share in such a profitable business. But who can blame Jiang Wen for being the talent discovered by Michael Phillips?
However, Michael Phillips still didn't know Jiang Wen well enough.
Lin Weimin silently said sorry to Michael Phillips in his heart.
It's just a 2.5 million meter sword. With Lao Lao's strength, it's no problem.
I can afford the compensation!
Michael Phillips talked about copyright again. Farewell My Concubine won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, which caused quite a stir in the American film industry. Many American investors and production companies once again became interested in the copyright of Lin Weimin's works.
"...More than one person has told me that your cooperation conditions are too harsh!" Michael Phillips complained to Lin Weimin.
"You talk as if you don't make any money!" Lin Weimin retorted bluntly.
Michael Phillips was speechless. He had tasted the sweetness of "Farewell My Concubine". He could complain, but now even if Lin Weimin kicked him in the ass and told him to get out, he would have to hold on to Lin Weimin's thigh tightly.
"Dear Lin, we meet again!"
While Lin Weimin was talking to Michael Phillips, Roberto Benigni, the curly-haired and energetic young man who had not been seen for several days, appeared in front of Lin Weimin again.
"Hi! Roberto, long time no see!"
The two greeted each other, and Michael Phillips ran to Jiang Wen when he saw this. Having too many beautiful women was not a good thing, so he had to declare his sovereignty appropriately.
Roberto Benigni exchanged a few pleasantries with Lin Weimin and got straight to the point: "Lin, the copyright of Life Is Beautiful should have expired, right?"
Lin Weimin was not at all surprised by his words. He was not even a guest of the film festival, and he had not come all the way here to become an international friend.
“It’s due.”
Roberto Benigni was excited when he heard this, and looked at Lin Weimin with burning eyes, "Give me the copyright!"
"It's not impossible to give you the copyright, but I'm a bit demanding when it comes to film adaptations."
"I heard you, 30% profit, right? No problem, I promise you!" Roberto Benigni said without hesitation.
Good boy, are you eavesdropping?
However, since you are so generous, I won't bother with you.
"I also have certain requirements for the investment scale and script."
"As long as you let me write, direct and act in it, I can promise you all of this."
When faced with such a straightforward partner, Mr. Lin, who is always good at negotiation, didn't know what to say for a moment. Besides, wouldn't it be a bit unreasonable?
Lin Weimin had another detailed discussion with Roberto Benigni, only to find out that he had even found investment for "Life is Beautiful" and had set up a production company called Melampo.
After hearing his words, Lin Weimin remained silent.
"As long as I get your authorization, I can start writing the script right away, and the film will definitely start shooting next year." Roberto Benigni assured Lin Weimin.
He also thought that Lin Weimin was worried about the fact that "Life is Beautiful" had been shelved for five years. In fact, Lin Weimin was just considering the release time of the movie.
If all goes well, the film will be completed by mid-1994, which seems to be coinciding with the release of "Forrest Gump" and "The Shawshank Redemption."
Not to mention the poor performance of "The Shawshank Redemption" at the Oscars, "Forrest Gump" is so buggy that it is a perfect interpretation of American values. Lin Weimin feels that even the ten best film Oscars are not enough to beat it. This movie touches the hearts of Americans.
"I think you don't need to rush. Since you wrote, directed, and starred in the film, you must polish it into a masterpiece. Otherwise, how can you justify the hard work you put in?"
Lin Weimin's words made Roberto Benigni ecstatic, "Lin, do you agree to give me the adaptation rights of this novel?"
"Why not? I think you'd be a great candidate!"
Lin Weimin said this and extended his hand to Roberto Benigni.
Roberto Benigni did not reach out his hand, but rushed towards Lin Weimin and hugged him tightly.
"Lin, you are a man with vision. Believe me, your choice will not be wrong!" Roberto Benigni said excitedly.
After the excitement, Roberto Benigni couldn't wait to prepare the contract.
When Michael Phillips heard that Lin Weimin had given the copyright of "Life is Beautiful Anyway" to someone else just ten minutes after he left, he couldn't help but beat his chest and stamp his feet.
"You gave it to someone else, why not me?" Michael Phillips asked.
“Roberto has a lot of sincerity and I admire his talent.”
Michael Phillips looked at Lin Weimin doubtfully, "Do you really think so?"
"certainly!"
"Then talk to him and ask him to give me some of his investment share!"
Lin Weimin asked, "Didn't you just invest in Jiang Wen's new movie?"
"What's wrong with just investing in a new movie? He doesn't even have an idea for a new movie. This is a movie adapted from your novel, and as your old friend, I have to support you!"
"If Farewell My Concubine hadn't just made you millions, I would have almost believed it!"
Lin Weimin mercilessly complained about Michael Phillips, but he was not angry and just laughed and chatted.
Lin Weimin reminded again: "The investment in this movie is not small."
"Don't worry, I'm not greedy."
The next day, Lin Weimin found time to sign an agreement with Roberto Benigni and recommended Michael Phillips to Roberto Benigni.
Melambo Productions is just a family-style production company jointly established by him and his wife. "Life is Beautiful Anyway" is the company's first work. No one uses his own money to invest in making a movie. When Roberto Benigni heard that someone took the initiative to invest, he was overjoyed. He didn't expect that adapting Lin Weimin's film would have such benefits.
He has been coveting the novel "Life is Beautiful Anyway" for a long time and has also estimated the investment amount for the film. If he wants to completely restore the content of the novel, he will need at least 20 million US dollars.
Now that someone is taking the initiative to invest, he certainly would love it.
After the agreement was signed, Wu Yigong and Xie Jin took the initiative to find Lin Weimin.
"Weimin, I heard that your film "Life is Beautiful Anyway" was sold to an Italian company?" Xie Jin asked.
"It's not selling, it's just cooperation. I charge a fixed percentage of the profits."
"Oh, is that so? So there is no deal?" Xie Jin said with some disappointment.
Lin Weimin probably guessed the purpose of the two people's visit. Sure enough, after chatting for a few words, Wu Yigong said, "Weimin, can you report your project to the copyright trading project?"
Copyright transaction volume is a crucial indicator for every film festival, and Lin Weimin understands the feelings of the two.
"I have no objection. But I have to talk to Roberto about this. And Michael has also decided to invest in this film."
Wu Yigong was even happier when he heard that Michael Phillips had invested in this film. As one of the most influential international producers invited to the film festival, with Michael Phillips' investment, wouldn't it be more legitimate to include this film in the copyright transaction?
"Weimin, can I ask how much is the planned investment for this movie?" Wu Yigong asked cautiously.
Lin Weimin pondered and said, "About 20 million Mi Dao."
Wu Yigong was caught off guard. "How much...how much?"
"Twenty million meter swords."
After Wu Yigong confirmed it again, he looked at Xie Jin and began to hesitate.
Before the two came, they really didn't expect that this movie would require such an investment of so much money.
Twenty million rice knives, that's more than 100 million RMB!
From the opening of the film festival to now, the total number of copyright transactions has just exceeded 10 million RMB. If this project is really included in it, it would be a big deal!
If we do this, how will we handle the next session?
Lin Weimin was also half-in-the-bureaucrat, and he had guessed Wu Yigong's thoughts through his tone and expression. He didn't say anything, as it was just a harmless favor.
Wu Yigong and Xie Jin discussed for a long time, but in the end they could not resist the temptation of a copyright transaction amount of more than 100 million yuan.
Lin Weimin called Roberto Benigni and briefly introduced the situation. For Lin Weimin's sake, Roberto Benigni cooperated very well.
It's just reporting the transaction amount, there will be no tax inspection.
On the sixth day of the opening of the Shanghai International Film Festival, the organizing committee broke the news.
Italy's Melampo Productions, American Film Productions and China's Yanjing Film Studio have reached a cooperation and will invest 20 million US dollars in the film "Life is Beautiful Anyway".
For a brand new film festival like the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is not uncommon for copyright transactions to be zero. Now, three production companies have reached an investment of 20 million US dollars. We are all insiders in the industry and naturally know the value of an investment of this scale.
This news instantly ignited public opinion about the film festival, and made many foreign filmmakers who came to attend the film festival see the huge potential of the Shanghai International Film Festival.
As of the closing day of the Shanghai International Film Festival, the copyright contract value of the film festival exceeded 140 million yuan.
More than 110 million yuan of the contract value was generated by a movie called "Life is Beautiful".
On the afternoon of October 13, one day before the closing ceremony of the film festival, the jury was engaged in a heated debate.
This is the first Shanghai International Film Festival and the award arrangement is very simple, with only five major awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Special Jury Award.
After several days of watching movies and discussing, the seven judges had their own opinions on who would win the award.
The winners that have been agreed upon so far are Jan Declare, the lead actor of the Belgian film "The Priest of Darns", who won the Best Actor Award, the South Korean film "A Song of Elegy", who won the Best Director Award, the actress Oh Jung-hae, who played the leading actress in the film, who won the Best Actress Award, and the Hong Kong film "Cage Prisoners" who won the Special Jury Award.
The only thing that bothered everyone was who would win the Best Picture Award. The other judges were not particularly obsessed with it, but Lin Weimin supported "Sunny Days" and the Japanese director Oshima Nagisa supported the Taiwanese film "Hills Without a Word". The two had conflicting opinions and neither could convince the other.
The discussion seemed to be at a stalemate, and the closing ceremony was to be tomorrow.
Most film festivals have an unspoken rule that the winners will be notified of the award results in advance. Otherwise, if the winners run away in advance, wouldn’t it be embarrassing when the awards are presented?
The discussion lasted for more than an hour but had to be interrupted because the atmosphere was too tense. Everyone scattered in the corridor outside the meeting room to chat and smoke. At this time, a staff member of the organizing committee ran over to Lin Weimin and whispered a few words.
(End of this chapter)
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