1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 515 What's Your Secret
The revision of the script of the American version of "Farewell My Concubine" lasted for nearly a month and was finally completed. Since there was no need to make revisions on the historical and cultural background, the first draft of the script was completed very quickly.

But it is precisely in this situation that Lin Weimin and Arthur Miller are more cautious and cautious in repairing the script. The complete oriental culture and historical background is an extremely bold attempt, and they have to do so.

The script has been released, but it is far from being finalized. Next, the actors of the crew need to go through a rough layout over and over again on the stage, and revise the content of the script word by word before the final draft will be finalized.

Arthur Miller did not participate in the production of "Farewell My Concubine" this time. He is getting older and less energetic. It takes a lot of energy to spend a few hours a day discussing the script with Lin Weimin. .

So this time, the producer of "Farewell My Concubine" became Arthur Miller's old partner Kermit Bloomgarden. Before the script was released, Kermit Bloomgarden had already started the preparation of the crew Work.

In the preparation of the crew, the first problem to be faced is the problem of actors. "Farewell My Concubine" is destined to need a large number of Asian actors due to its completely oriental cultural and historical background.

As soon as the news came out, it detonated the Broadway drama circle in just a few days.

On Broadway, it's not that there are no Chinese or Asian actors, but that there are too few people in their early years.

Most people can only hang out at the bottom of Broadway. For the dreams in their hearts, they rely on part-time jobs to make ends meet all year round, and occasionally play some marginal roles.

Now there is finally a drama with a Chinese protagonist, and it is still a work supported by top Broadway dramas such as Arthur Miller and Kermit Bloomgarden. Countless Asian actors are focusing on "" In the drama "Farewell My Concubine", resumes flooded in.

Although the work is written by Chinese people, it is now being performed in the United States. Everyone is of yellow race, and they all speak English. Theoretically, the opportunities are equal.

Of course, this equality can only be theoretical.

With Lin Weimin, a Chinese screenwriter, Chinese or Chinese-American actors must be the priority.

This is not because Lin Weimin intends to deliberately interfere with the crew's casting. Even if he doesn't speak, the other main characters in the crew will subconsciously consider his feelings as the original author and screenwriter.

Lin Weimin didn't take care of the crew's preparation and casting. Sometimes he wanted to take Tao Huimin to travel in the United States, but his wishful thinking was interrupted by Arthur Miller before he could implement it.

"Interview?" Lin Weimin was a little surprised.

"That's right. The New Yorker's interview. They had a reporter who saw the performance of "The Kite Runner" that day and knew that you were in the United States. They called me to find out about you, and then asked me to ask You, can you accept their interview." Arthur Miller explained.

Seeing Lin Weimin's embarrassed face, he knew that he wanted to refuse. The two had known each other for so many years. He knew Lin Weimin's personality quite well, and he knew that he didn't like being interviewed very much.

"You's work has been in the United States for so long, it should be shown in front of the public. "Farewell My Concubine" is in preparation, and this can be regarded as a kind of publicity for the dialogue drama."

Arthur Miller's persuasion made Lin Weimin hesitate. Speaking of being able to promote "Farewell My Concubine", this is also a kind of responsibility to the partner!

"Okay, but you have to make it clear to them, don't ask some miscellaneous things!" Lin Weimin made his own request.

Arthur Miller complained: "A guy with as many affairs as you, you really should find an agent."

"A broker costs money, but you don't."

Lin Weimin retorted, Arthur Miller was speechless.

After talking on the phone for a long time, Arthur Miller said: "We have already communicated, and we will pay attention to the scale of the interview when the time comes. Is it okay to make an appointment the day after tomorrow?"

"No problem, you know, I have time anytime." Lin Weimin said coolly.

"Reporters don't have time!"

After staying at Arthur Miller's house for half a day, and returning home to rest for a while in the evening, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Both Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin were a little surprised. They lived in Dakota's apartment, and rarely had guests visit their door on weekdays. If acquaintances like Arthur Miller and his wife wanted to visit, they would call in advance.

Lin Weimin came to the door and glanced at the cat's eye. There was a middle-aged blond-haired Caucasian woman standing at the door.

He opened the door, and the Caucasian woman, wearing black-rimmed glasses, warmly greeted Lin Weimin and introduced herself as Annie Lipowitz, a photographer.

Lin Weimin took a look at her, "Excuse me, what's the matter?"

"I'm your downstairs neighbor. Recently I heard that a new neighbor has moved upstairs. I made some cookies."

Anne Lipowitz gestured to the things she was carrying, and Lin Weimin hurriedly said, "Sorry, we're just staying here, please come in!"

After letting Anne Lipowitz into the room, Lin Weimin called Tao Huimin, and she went to make some coffee.

They sat down on the sofa in the living room and exchanged a few pleasantries. Tao Huimin was a little surprised when she heard the name of Anne Lipowitz, and found a copy of "Vanity Fair" she had placed beside her bed.

During this time in the United States, Tao Huimin has been practicing English hard, and finds some English reading materials every day. Her favorites are entertainment and gossip magazines.

Tao Huimin pointed to one of the names on "Vanity Fair" and asked, "Is this you?"

Annie Lipowitz nodded with a look of pride on her face.

Tao Huimin said to Lin Weimin: "Weimin, she is a very famous photographer!"

Lin Weimin nodded slightly. The photographer who can live in Dakota's apartment is of course famous.

Annie Lipowitz was famous for her celebrity portrait photography in her early years as a photographer for Rolling Stone magazine.

In 1983, she became the chief photographer of "Vanity Fair" magazine, and has contributed to "VOGUE" magazine for a long time. She has photographed almost all the big names in the American film and television industry, and she has also appeared in political figures such as the President of the United States and the Queen of England. in her lens.His works have won numerous awards, toured exhibitions and published albums, and his fame and influence in the American photography industry are second to none.

"Recently, everyone said that an Asian writer lived in Rex Reed's house. I was very curious, so I came to pay a special visit." Annie Lipowitz explained the reason for her visit, and complimented: " I have also seen your work, it is very good!"

"Thank you!"

After chatting for a while, Annie Lipowitz said: "Tomorrow there will be a small salon at my home, all my good friends, writers, booksellers and editors, can I invite you to join me?"

Lin Weimin hesitated for a moment. It was hard to refuse when someone came to visit, so he said, "Okay, we will visit on time."

In the afternoon of the next day, Lin Weimin and Tao Huimin rang the doorbell of Anne Lipowitz's house with the gifts they had prepared.

When the two entered, several guests had already come to Annie Lipowitz's house, and Annie Lipowitz introduced them to each other.

Seeing so many people at once, Lin Weimin was dizzy just remembering their names.

There are seven members of Anne Lipowitz's family including herself, two of whom are the editors of Vanity Fair magazine Sharon Delano and Peter Peron, young painters from Alabama Richmond Burton, author Susan Sontag with her agent Andrew Wylie and Roger Strauss, owner of Faller-Strauss-Giroud.

Lin Weimin was taken aback when he saw Peter Peron. This was one of the two white guys he had seen at the Westside Bookstore before.

The two smiled and shook hands, and Annie Lipowitz couldn't help but sigh the wonder of fate.

"It should be said that New York is too small!" Lin Weimin laughed.

He and Tao Huimin sat down, and everyone looked at them unconsciously, and Tao Huimin moved a little uneasy.

The host, Annie Lipowitz, smiled and said, "I'm sorry, but I told everyone that I invited a talented and handsome young Chinese writer to our salon. Everyone is very curious about you and your wife."

"Lin's name, we have often seen it in American newspapers in the past two years." Roger Strauss, a businessman, spoke very well, and complimented Lin Weimin.

Peter Peron said: "I remember when "The Last Emperor" won the Oscar, our "Vanity Fair" also published the name of the screenwriter Lin. The name of the Chinese is impressive."

The slightly awkward atmosphere became relaxed under a common topic. Obviously, today's salon Lin Weimin, a writer from China, has become the theme.

All of you here are people in the cultural circles. They are no strangers to Lin Weimin, who has frequently been featured in newspapers and magazines for his awards in recent years, but this is the first time he has seen him in real life.

Everyone is not very familiar with Lin Weimin, but they all hang out in the circle, communicate with each other, and within a few minutes, they can piece together Lin Weimin's achievements in the United States in the past few years.

Literature, drama, film and television, writers like Lin Weimin who have blossomed in all aspects are rare in the cultural circles of the United States, especially Lin Weimin has a Chinese identity, which makes everyone even more curious.

The topic revolved around Lin Weimin and gradually became hotter.

Susan Sontag is a famous writer in the United States. She became famous in the 60s. She is a writer of the same era as Richard Yates. She has a wide range of creative fields, including novels, literary criticism, and drama.

This year she just completed her commentary collection "AIDS and Its Metaphors". At this time, AIDS has not appeared for a few years. The appearance of her won word of mouth in the American cultural circles.

Unfortunately, just like what happened to Richard Yates, Susan Sontag's fame has not been converted into benefits, and sales of her works are still mediocre.

There was a fire in her London apartment the year before last, and Susan Sontag didn't even have the money to buy a new apartment. Finally, with the help of her friends, she returned to New York to settle down.

The fire in London destroyed Susan Sontag's property and awakened her desire for money.

As a literary worker, she doesn't have a strong desire for money, but she never wants to experience the predicament of having no place to stand.

This year, the review collection "AIDS and Its Metaphors" is finished, and she puts her energy on novels and plans to write a novel.

Among the many genres in the field of literature, the novel has always been the best-selling type in the book market.

Roger Strauss is a bookseller, others don't know, he knows best but Lin Weimin has published five novels in the American book market, the sales volume varies, but even the lowest-selling book "Chasing the Murderer" is still crushing. It has suppressed the sales of works of many native American writers.

When talking about novels and book sales, Susan Sontag couldn't help asking Lin Weimin curiously: "Lin, do you have any secrets? You are obviously a foreign writer, but your works are better than most of our American writers." The sales are even better!"

(End of this chapter)