1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 481
Michael Phillips had already made preparations before meeting Lin Weimin.

He became famous at a young age and is full of talent. It is unrealistic to say that Lin Weimin is easy to talk to, especially when it comes to works.

Bertolucci also said this when he communicated with Bertolucci.

But even though he had been mentally prepared, Michael Phillips still showed great discomfort when facing Lin Weimin's aggressiveness.

He is also a well-known producer in Hollywood for many years. Every project he handles, even the director, must follow his advice. He never thought that one day he would listen to a screenwriter.

Michael Phillips almost couldn't hold back his emotions several times and wanted to slap the table, but seeing Lin Weimin's reassuring expression, he still held back his temper. For Hollywood producers, being soft and hard is a compulsory course .

"Lin, you can't just make these excessive demands because you think I'm sincere!" Michael Phillips couldn't help but said.

Lin Weimin shook his head, "There is a saying in China that villains come first and gentlemen come second. Mike, I think you are also very clear that once the right to adapt the film is handed over, my control over this work will basically be zero. These requirements are just to enable the adaptation to maintain its original standard!"

"You should trust my level."

"Of course I believe in you, otherwise I wouldn't waste my words with you here."

Michael Phillips smiled wryly when he heard the words, this young over-the-top screenwriter was unexpectedly difficult.

Because there were too many details to discuss, Lin Weimin and Michael Phillips negotiated for two days before finally agreeing on all the details.

Then Lin Weimin made a special phone call to communicate with Arthur Miller. The adaptation of the film version of "Untouchable" will be based on the American version of the play, and Arthur Miller also contributed to the script of this version.

When Lin Weimin and Arthur Miller's company signed the contract, it was agreed that the copyright of "Intouchables" belonged to Lin Weimin, but Arthur Miller's company had to participate in the copyright operation in the United States. Now the copyright of the drama is redeveloped, Ah Thur Miller's company was sure to get a piece of the action.

After receiving a call from Lin Weimin, Arthur Miller welcomed the matter. The film adaptation of "Untouchable" will help expand the influence of the original play, and it will also help future reruns.

Under the premise of the consent of the three parties, Lin Weimin signed a contract with Michael Phillips and handed over the film adaptation rights of "Untouchable".

After the contract was signed, Lin Weimin received a script fee of 40 yuan, of which 10 yuan was to be distributed to Arthur Miller.

The high cost of the script made Michael Phillips feel a little bit pained. Lin Weimin joked: "Mike, you should have come to me earlier. One month earlier, maybe you can get this script for a hundred thousand dollars."

The blessing of the Oscar for the best original screenplay made Lin Weimin full of confidence when quoting, shouting a sky-high price of 50 meters. Michael Phillips had to cut the price for a long time to get to 40, and he couldn't do it anymore.

Michael Phillips was also very helpless about this, and his worth doubled after winning the award. This is the rule and reality of the film industry.

Fortunately, "Untouchable" is a feature film, and the investment is not too big. His initial plan is to invest 600 million dollars.

Lin Weimin just won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, so the 40 was worth it.

"Happy cooperation!"

"Happy cooperation!"

After the two sides shook hands, Lin Weimin suddenly said: "Mike, I still suggest you find a craftsman-type director. The script of "Untouchable" has been polished to perfection. A director who is too wild and unconstrained will only destroy the integrity of this work." .”

Michael Phillips nodded prudently, "I will consider it, and I will communicate with you again when I choose a director."

The contract has been signed, so it stands to reason that he can just treat Lin Weimin's words as nonsense.

But Michael Phillips was envious of Lin Weimin's other works. During the negotiation, he wanted to sign the exclusive adaptation rights of Lin Weimin's works, but he was frightened by Lin Weimin's big mouth, so he had no choice but to give up.

But he didn't give up. As long as the adaptation of "Untouchable" is a certain success and there is a basis for cooperation, it will not be difficult to cooperate with Lin Weimin in the future.

You must know that Lin Weimin's "The Kite Runner" is currently being performed on Broadway, and it is even more popular than "Untouchable".

The total sales volume of his novel "Farewell My Concubine" in the United States has exceeded 200 million copies, and the sales volume in other countries in the world should not be underestimated. This is not a small IP, and there is still a certain distance from the top IP in Hollywood. But as long as you operate with your heart, there is no problem at all if you make a lot of money.

Even his latest novel, "Life is Beautiful Anyway," has climbed to the top 20 of the "New York Times" bestseller list just two months after its publication.

In time, it will be another work that occupies the forefront of the best-selling list all the year round.

Not to mention that Michael Phillips also knows that Lin Weimin is young and has a large number of works. This is a walking IP library. How can he not maintain a good relationship?

After talking about the adaptation of "Untouchable", Michael Phillips declined Lin Weimin's invitation to visit Yanjing and hurried back to the United States. Getting the right to adapt is just the beginning, and there are still hundreds of thousands of miles away from the real birth of the film.

After Michael Phillips left, Lin Weimin resumed his normal life and work rhythm.

The script of "Burning" promised to Renyi before, has been produced after these days of creation, and he sent the script to Renyi.

In March, the team of Renyi Art Group who went to France for exchange and performance had returned to China. Lin Weimin heard them talk about their experience in France, and it was obvious that everyone was very excited.

So he handed Lin Weimin a letter, which was written by Alan Resnais to Lin Weimin. When Alan Resnais went to see the performance of the talent show, he asked the translator to translate his words to the performer, and then the After they finished writing, they sent it to Lin Weimin.

Lin Weimin accepted the letter without reading it. After talking about business, he was about to leave when Feng Yuanzheng waved at him furtively.

"It's so generous, it's not like stealing a few words!" Lin Weimin said.

Feng Yuanzheng was a little embarrassed by what he said, but he became happy again in a flash, "Mr. Lin, I have received an invitation letter from Professor Mersin!"

"Good news! Xiao Feng, congratulations, you are going to study abroad soon!" Lin Weimin laughed.

"Thank you!" Feng Yuanzheng thanked.

"Just a reminder, without me, you will 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 I plan to tell the dean tomorrow. Didn't I meet you today, I wish you good luck!"

Lin Weimin patted him on the shoulder, "Okay, let's talk about it, and have a better attitude."

"I understand, thank you!"

Feng Yuanzheng bowed to Lin Weimin, and Lin Weimin saw him help him up, "You're welcome, I'm leaving first!"

Back home, Lin Weimin opened the letter brought to him by Allen Reneto.

Last year, Lin Weimin went to France to receive the Goncourt Prize for Literature. The two met at a dinner organized by Gallimard Publishing House and had a good talk.

After receiving the award, Lin Weimin was also invited to visit the theater where Alain Resnais filmed the film, which was considered a good old friend.

Before Lin Weimin popularized the drama "Jiajing and Hai Rui" for Alan Renai, he was very interested. He heard that Renyi had performed in France, so he went to see it. The Horseman, Alan Resnais was full of praise, the only regret is that he did not see the pioneer drama "Jiajing and Hai Rui" that Lin Weimin said.

At the end of the letter, Alan Resnais did not forget to congratulate Lin Weimin for winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Alain Resnais is a filmmaker. Awards are not easy.

After reading the letter, Lin Weimin looked happy, but the language barrier made it more convenient for the two of them to write the letter.

Lin Weimin wrote back a letter to Alan Resnais, in addition to expressing his gratitude to him, he also invited him to visit China when he had time, and then invited him to watch "Jiajing and Hai Rui".

On the morning of the next day, Lin Weimin ran to the foreign literature editing room in the agency.

"Xiao Guo, do you have time?"

Guo Xugang is the editor of the agency, specializing in French, and is responsible for the editing of French literature in the foreign literature editorial office.

In the Guowen Society, the translation work of many foreign classics is handed over to senior translators in the agency or scholars from various universities in Yenching. There are not many opportunities for editors with professional backgrounds like Guo Xugang and the others.

"Mr. Lin, what's the matter?" Guo Xugang got up and asked.

Usually, in the Guowen Society, older colleagues would call him "Weimin", and young people would call him "Mr. Lin", but very few people would call him for his position.

"I would like to trouble you with something." Lin Weimin took out the letter he wrote to Alan Resnais, "I wrote a letter to a friend in France, and I would like to trouble you to translate it."

Guo Xu just took the letter and said happily: "No problem, just wait for me a while."

Lin Weimin said: "Don't worry."

"It doesn't matter, your letter is not long, ten minutes is enough." Guo Xugang said.

Seeing this, Lin Weimin waited in the office for a while, chatting casually with several other editors.

Translating a letter is not translating a masterpiece, and there is no need to scrutinize word by word. Sure enough, Guo Xugang did not spend long before translating the content of the letter and copying it for Lin Weimin.

"Thank you so much, Xiao Guo!" Lin Weimin casually threw out a pack of cigarettes.

The cigarette is red Marlboro made in Rice, which is sold in the Friendship Store, and a foreign exchange certificate costs 40 yuan.

"Mr. Lin doesn't need it!" Guo Xugang hurriedly handed the cigarette back to Lin Weimin.

Lin Weimin pushed the cigarette back, "Enhancement fee! Enrichment fee!"

Seeing Lin Weimin's resolute attitude, Guo Xugang thanked him and put away the cigarette.

Guo Xu just tore open the cigarette case on the spot, and distributed a circle of cigarettes to everyone in the office, "Today, with the help of Teacher Lin, we will also smoke some foreign cigarettes."

Everyone laughed. There are many smokers in the editorial rooms of the Guowen Society. It is normal to open the door of the editorial room and enter the editorial room on weekdays.

While smoking and chatting, Guo Xugang asked: "Mr. Lin, I see that the person you wrote to is called Alain Resnais. Is that the French director?"

Lin Weimin nodded and said, "Yes, we met when I went to France to accept the award last year."

Guo Xugang said enviously: "You are really a great scholar in talking and joking, and there is no white man in your contacts."

Lin Weimin smiled and waved his hands, and the people next to him heard Guo Xugang's tone and asked curiously: "Is this Alan Resnais famous?"

It is true that Alain Resnais is a great French director, but his works have never been introduced in China, and only a few people have seen his works through the channel of internal reference films, so his name is not known to many people in China.

Guo Xugang knew that Alain Resnais was entirely because his major was French, and he said in a slightly exaggerated tone: "Very famous! He is an important director of the French Left Bank School and one of the standard-bearers of the French New Wave. "

The "Left Bank" is unfamiliar to Chinese people, but when it comes to the French New Wave, many people who have watched "Popular Cinema" know that this is a film movement with world influence.

Since it is one of the standard-bearers of the New Wave of French cinema, it must be powerful.

Hearing Guo Xugang's explanation, everyone nodded in conviction and looked at Lin Weimin with admiration.

Xiao Guo's words were a bit explicit, but there was nothing wrong with the meaning.

Lin Weimin chatted with the big guys for a while and then left. Everyone focused on Guo Xugang's Marlboro and smoked a whole pack of cigarettes before letting Guo Xugang go.

After work, Lin Weimin went to the post office to post the letter.

A few days later, as May was approaching, Lin Weimin was busy with the publication of the fifth issue of "Contemporary", but he got an infuriating news from the Cultural Association.

(End of this chapter)