Chapter 717: Who is worthy of it?
Richard Stengel is a well-educated journalist, but when he looks at Lin Weimin, he still has some European and American perspectives. Lin Weimin easily breaks this stereotype with jokes.
As the interview entered the second half, as he talked more and more deeply with Lin Weimin, Richard Stengel exclaimed: "Today's material is so much that I feel like I can write a series of reports."
"If you have a page, I don't mind."
Richard Stengel laughed and said, "Let me ask you a more practical question. I am particularly concerned about the 'Project Hope'. When 'No One Left Behind' was released in the United States, there was a lot of publicity in the news. I heard that the foundation also raised a lot of funds from the United States because of this."
"That's right. I have to thank Roger, the boss of FSG Publishing House, for this. He took great pains to promote my novel. Not only did he promote the novel, he also brought the concept of 'Project Hope' to the Western world."
"Can you tell me the origin of this matter?"
"sure……"
Lin Weimin told Richard Stengel about the establishment of the China Youth Education Development Foundation and the Hope Project, as well as the achievements made by the Hope Project since its establishment.
Richard Stengel could not help but marvel: "In just a few years, more than 1,600 schools were built? More than one million out-of-school children benefited?"
"Yes. It's a surprising number, isn't it? China is a country with a large population. Any number multiplied by 1.2 billion will be very large, and any number divided by 1.2 billion will be very small."
Richard Stangl nodded knowingly.
"The China Youth Education Development Foundation is a growing foundation. If you have the opportunity, you are welcome to visit our Hope Primary Schools in central and western China," Lin Weimin invited.
Richard Stengel looked serious, "I'll seriously consider it."
Then he asked, "Thanks to the publicity for the 'Hope Project', No One Left Behind achieved excellent sales after its release in the United States. I remember that it ranked in the top three of the New York Times bestseller list for nearly six weeks. So far, the cumulative sales have exceeded one million copies. It seems that you are not opposed to marketing methods and market behaviors?"
“Why should we reject it? Once a novel is printed into a book, it is not only a literary work, but also has the attributes of a commodity.
Since it is a commodity, shouldn’t it be marketed and promoted?
I think I should be thankful that at least a lot of people have read my novel.”
Richard Stengel followed Lin Weimin's words and asked naturally, "So, it is because of this philosophy that you spared no effort to help Richard Yates realize his last wish of publishing a collection of his works?"
"It's not like I've spared no effort. Roger may have done more, and I just proposed an idea and did some publicity work."
Although Lin Weimin spoke very modestly, Richard Stengel was well aware of the role Lin Weimin played in this matter.
"That was important to Richard Yates, I think."
"certainly."
As Lin Weimin spoke, he pulled out a book called "Contemporary" from the bookshelf.
"There is a novel I just published called "The Thirteenth Son of the South China Sea" in it. There is a passage in it that I wrote based on Richard's experience, through the mouth of the character in the novel."
Richard Stangl was extremely curious. He took the book and asked Lin Weimin to point out the passage to him.
"I want to prove that articles have value! In another thirty or fifty years, no one will remember those stocks. Gold stocks and world events are all passing clouds. But a good script will still be appreciated by people fifty or a hundred years later. Even if I die, no one will forget my name and my play. This is called articles have value!"
After listening to the translation, Richard Stengel savored the meaning of this passage carefully. As a journalist, he could naturally understand the idealism of a creator hidden in this passage.
He was also a little excited, "This paragraph is really well written, this is the value of art!"
"That's right, this is the value of art!" Lin Weimin said solemnly.
Richard Stengel looked at Lin Weimin, his eyes full of appreciation and even admiration.
What a romantic idea it is to use fiction to give voice to a deceased friend!
If Lin Weimin didn't say it, no one might know it a hundred years after his death.
But when I interviewed him, he told me about this. This is the mystery of interviews and news.
All the interviews today were worth it just for this discovery.
"This novel must be introduced to the United States!" Richard Stangl said hopefully.
"You need to discuss this with the publishing houses," Lin Weimin said with a smile.
After a few jokes, the interview continued and Richard Stengel finally asked about "Farewell My Concubine" which has recently taken North America by storm.
"I have always believed that Farewell My Concubine would achieve good box office results. This has been verified in China and Hong Kong before North America, but it was beyond my expectation that the box office in North America would be so good."
"The popularity of Farewell My Concubine in the United States has gradually become a cultural phenomenon. Some media say that you are the foreign writer with the greatest influence on the United States since World War II. What do you think about this?" Richard Stengel asked seriously.
"That's a bit exaggerated." Lin Weimin continued calmly, "We can't treat the popularity of Farewell My Concubine as a single event."
“We Chinese often say that the right time, the right place and the right people are all indispensable elements for the success of a great cause.
The novel "Farewell My Concubine" has been published in the United States for more than ten years and has gained tens of millions of readers. The drama has been performed on Broadway for five years and has been loved by more than 2 million audiences. This is a prerequisite for the success of the movie.
But the success of this film is also inseparable from the efforts of investors, producers, directors, screenwriters, photographers, actors, Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globe Awards, Oscars... the world's top awards, and the unique preference of the American media. "
At this point, Lin Weimin laughed mischievously, "I'm very glad that Schindler's List has already been released. Not only do we have no competitors, but it also leaves us with a lot of media coverage."
Richard Stengel also laughed and said: "In that case you should thank Director Spielberg."
"I've already thanked you." Lin Weimin winked at him.
Richard Stengel suddenly realized, "Oh, I almost forgot that the movie "The Intouchables" you worked together on also did very well at the box office. I remember that there was news that he was going to direct "Life is Beautiful Anyway", but later the cooperation was cancelled due to opposition from the Jewish community, right?"
"It's just a small group of people, but that small group of people can often influence the silent majority," said Lin Weimin.
"It's a shame that I can't see the movie adapted from this novel in the cinema."
Richard Stengel is, of course, referring to Life Is Beautiful Anyway.
"There is no need to regret. This novel will be adapted into a movie soon, and I have handed it over to a very talented director and actor."
Richard Stangl became interested after hearing this and asked a few more detailed questions.
After talking about irrelevant things, he returned to the interview track.
"Your works have become popular in Hollywood now, but according to the information I have collected, you don't seem to be keen on cooperating with Hollywood, and even seem to be a little reluctant?"
Lin Weimin pondered and said, "It's not that I'm rejecting you. I just want to find a partner who can respect my wishes, not a boss."
"The Last Emperor", "The Intouchables", "Farewell My Concubine"...
Every movie written by Lin Weimin or adapted from the original work has been both critically and commercially successful, so when he said "cooperation", Richard Stengel was not surprised. Lin Weimin deserves such respect.
"I've seen many of your works, and they are very worthy of adaptation. Hollywood will definitely not miss such a good opportunity. I think The Kite Runner is a good choice." Richard Stengel suggested with interest, "This play is adapted from The Horse Lassoer, right?"
"That's right."
"The sales of The Horse Catcher in the United States have exceeded 4 million copies. Coupled with the popularity of The Kite Runner on Broadway, the movie will definitely not be inferior to Farewell My Concubine."
As the interview came to an end, Richard Stengel let himself go and began to approach his enthusiastic readers.
"Of course I will consider it if there is a chance, but for now I still have to finish the adaptation of "Life is Beautiful Anyway"."
By the last question, Richard Stengel had regained his elite journalistic rationality and logic.
“Not counting domestic awards in China, the Naoki Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Prix Goncourt, and the Strega Prize, it’s hard to find a living writer with better luck in winning awards than you.
Having won so many literary awards, what do you think of the Nobel Prize in Literature? Do you think you will win the Nobel Prize in Literature in your lifetime?
The question was old-fashioned and not unexpected, and Lin Weimin could fully understand it.
Regardless of whether it is a literary award in the United States or the many literary awards in European countries, the only one that can confidently say it has global influence is the Nobel Prize in Literature, which is the result of hundreds of years of accumulation.
"Talking about awards is cheesy, but readers love it," said Richard Stengel with a smile.
Lin Weimin nodded slightly. He pondered for a moment, then said slowly: "I have answered this question several times. The answer is actually the same. The Nobel Prize in Literature is the icing on the cake. Whether I win or not, the award will not cause any loss, and neither will I. We should still treat it with a normal mind. No one can enter a strong man's house and steal his furniture."
“The Gospel of Mark!”
Richard Stengel was a Christian and immediately understood where Lin Weimin's last sentence came from.
He looked at Lin Weimin. The man in front of him was calm and composed, but his nonchalant tone showed his strong inner confidence.
No one can enter a strong man’s house and take away his furniture - Mark 3:27.
In his mind, the "furniture" is already in his home.
Richard Stengel thought for a moment that he was so arrogant that he would quote such a sentence.
But he threw this idea behind his mind. He won the Naoki Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Goncourt Prize, the Strega Prize, etc.
Among all the living writers, is there anyone who has achieved such a brilliant record?
If such a writer does not win the Nobel Prize in Literature, who else deserves it?
(End of this chapter)
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