Back to 80: My literary life

Chapter 248 247 "Mr. Fang, have you joined the Writers Guild?"

"So expensive?" Scott was surprised.

Although this price is not the most expensive script in Hollywood, it is far higher than the price of ordinary scripts.

Scott frowned and fell into deep thought.

Fang Minghua drank coffee slowly.

He is in no hurry.

Even if Scott gave up the purchase, he was not worried that the script would not sell.

After "Inception" was released that year, it received 9 Oscar nominations and won 4 awards. It also won many international awards such as the American Saturn Award and the French César Award.

The global box office has reached more than 8 million, and the cost is only more than 1 million. It is definitely a huge profit.

Even if Christopher Nolan wasn't filming the film now, it wouldn't be much different if it were filmed by another well-known director.

"What's wrong? There's something wrong with the contract?" Fang Minghua's heart tightened.

After the contract is signed, Fang Minghua will certainly not forget to go to the lawyer named Robert in the city to review it.

Robert suddenly became enthusiastic again.

Fang Minghao complained in his heart, but said: "Thank you, I signed another contract, please help me take a look."

"There's no problem with the contract."

"Screenwriters Guild?" Fang Minghua stopped and looked at each other. He really didn't know about this.

"Signed again?"

I don’t know if I am shocked that the script written by Fang Minghua is very good, or I am complaining about who is stupid enough to be willing to spend so much money to buy it?

Although he couldn't understand it, he still had professional qualities. Robert read it carefully before telling Fang Minghua.

Robert took the contract and glanced at it, and suddenly shouted: "My God!"

Robert couldn't help but shake his head after speaking.

The script was a good one and he believed in Scott's vision.

Sure enough, Scott gritted his teeth for the last time and said: "OK, I agree to the price, and I want to sign the contract immediately!"

"Mr. Fang, have you joined the Writers Guild?"

But Robert said something to remind Fang Minghua.

"NONO." Robert quickly replied: "It's the contract amount you signed, 100 million U.S. dollars! A movie script can actually sell for 100 million U.S. dollars?! It's crazy!"

The lawyer named Robert was sitting in the office doing nothing. When he saw Fang Minghua coming, a smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you." Fang Minghua paid the legal fees and was about to leave.

What's so good about instant coffee?

"Dear Mr. Fang, what are you doing here today? Do you want to have a cup of coffee with me?"

"No problem." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

He immediately rushed to the law office in the middle of Ferson Street with the contract in hand.

"Mr. Fang, you are from China. You don't know much about many laws in our country. As a lawyer, I am happy to provide you with detailed information, but you have to pay a consulting fee." After speaking, he pointed to the fee schedule posted on the wall.

$100 an hour.

"Okay." Fang Minghua decided.

"Ok!"

Robert immediately ran to the data room, rummaged through the cabinets and finally took out a stack of data. He cleared his throat and started talking: "The Writers Guild of America (The Writers Guild of America) is a long-standing union organization in the film and television industry. It is composed of professionals in the film and television industry. composed of screenwriters.”

“The most important job of the union is to negotiate the Basic Agreement (AMPTP) on behalf of screenwriters and the employer industry association (a producer organization with equal status to the union) Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). ). This basic agreement is protected by labor law and must be observed by all members of both organizations in the U.S. film and television industry."

Robert started from the nature of the union, to the origin, development, organizational structure and main responsibilities of the Writers Guild.

After chatting for an entire hour, Fang Minghua didn’t understand a lot of things, but he did understand the most important sentences.

Can provide legal aid to union members, recover royalties for members, etc.

"Mr. Fang, do you understand?" Robert then asked, "If you don't understand, I can continue to tell you." Damn it!

Doesn’t that mean you have to charge money again?

Fang Minghua nodded quickly and said he understood.

"OK, Mr. Fang, I personally suggest that you join the Screenwriters Guild, which can protect your personal rights. Of course, you need to pay some fees to join the union, and the procedures are also quite troublesome. You are here for a study visit, and your time and experience are limited. You can Entrust me with this matter and I will ensure that it is handled well for you." Robert said.

"Is there a charge?"

"Yes, but you are my high-quality customer and you are Chinese. We Americans are very friendly to China. I can give you a preferential price: 200 US dollars."

Who knows whether you are really friendly or fake.

Is $200 high or low?

However, Fang Minghua didn't want to worry about this matter, so he agreed to his conditions.

"OK!" Robert Magic took out a piece of paper from the drawer and handed it to Fang Minghua.

"This is an entrustment contract. You can just review and sign it."

Fang Minghua read the contract carefully and signed his name at the end.

"Bless you, we have a happy cooperation." Robert stood up and smiled and stretched out his right hand: "Mr. Fang, if you encounter any difficulties or need to handle matters in the United States, you can come to me. I will be happy to provide you with all services."

"Thank you."

But Fang Minghua also knows that he is serving the beauty.

But that's a pretty good attitude.

After finishing these things, Fang Minghua felt relaxed.

Of course, I also need the script of "Inception", and then write it into a novel and submit it to "Fantasy and Science Fiction" magazine. The editor-in-chief personally called me to make an appointment, and I couldn't break my promise.

And the benefits must be maximized.

But there is no need to rush this matter, just get it done before leaving the United States.

Fang Minghua's life became leisurely.

The study visit at IWP is very relaxed. You are not here to study or get a diploma. You are just here to study. There is no writing task. Of course, when you go back, you will probably write an article about your study visit and submit it to the Writers Association. .

However, Zhang Xianliang seems to be busy. He is writing his first novel "Half of a Man is a Woman". He has not finished the manuscript in China and is preparing to come to the United States to continue writing.

After dinner this afternoon, Fang Minghua and Zhang Xianliang took a walk along the river.

Perhaps because Zhang Xianliang is older, he likes to go out and wander around after dinner in the evening, and then go back to the hotel to write.

Iowa is a quiet, staid city with little nightlife except for one bar.

The water level in the Iowa River rose sharply today. The water waves can be seen in the shadows, and the reflections shine on the bridge piers, forming a prism.

There are also unknown flowers and tree trunks on the shore. Some trunks take on the shape of human faces, while others look like upright squirrels with long white beards growing out of the corners of their mouths.

The two of them walked aimlessly along the river bank, talking about learning and communication while walking.

"Minghua, what do you think of what they said?" Zhang Xianliang asked.

Fang Minghua was referring to the class. He thought about it and said, "I haven't listened as much as you. I feel that the lectures are very technical and "anatomy"-style, focusing on the internal structure of the novel. We in China tend to analyze the relationship between novels and the outside world." relation."

"Yes." Zhang Xiandian nodded.

"And American novels in general are very simple, primitive, wild, and lack a sense of history, so I personally don't like Hemingway or Jack London."

"The United States only has so much history, so how can it have any sense of history?" Fang Minghua laughed after hearing this: "And among these college students and even writers, how can any of the writers in our country have experienced so many things?"

While the two were chatting, they saw a young oriental man walking over in a hurry.

It was the Korean writer Kim Dong-wook who came to study with me.

(End of this chapter)