1980 My literary era

Lin Weimin can roughly guess Michael Phillips' psychology. He invested in "Sunny Days". Now that he has won an award and the copyright has been sold, Jiang Wen has become famous. It is a high probability that the new movie will make money in the future. If you don’t invest a sum of money, you will really be sorry for your hard work.

Michael Phillips must have communicated with Columbia Pictures about this matter. They would definitely not be willing to give up their investment share in a steadily profitable business, but who made Jiang Wen the seedling discovered by Michael Phillips?

However, Michael Phillips still doesn’t understand Jiang Wen well enough.

Lin Weimin silently said sorry to Michael Phillips.

It’s only a 2.5 million-meter knife. With his old strength, it’s no problem.

I can afford it!

Michael Phillips talked about the topic of copyright again. "Farewell My My Concubine" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, which caused a lot of repercussions in the American film industry. Many American investors and production companies once again I 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.

"It's as if you didn't make any money!" Lin Weimin said back unceremoniously.

Michael Phillips was speechless. He had tasted the sweetness of "Farewell My Concubine" and complained, but now Lin Weimin had to hug Lin Weimin's thighs even if he kicked his ass and told him to get out.

"Dear Lin, we meet again!"

While Lin Weimin was talking to Michael Phillips, the curly-haired spirited young man Roberto Benigni, whom he hadn't seen for several days, appeared in front of Lin Weimin again.

"Hi! Roberto, long time no see!"

The two said hello, and Michael Phillips ran to Jiang Wen's side upon seeing this. It's not a good thing to have too many warblers, so he had to declare his sovereignty properly.

Roberto Bernini exchanged a few words with Lin Weimin and said straight to the point: "Lin, the copyright of "No matter what, life is beautiful" should have expired, right?"

Lin Weimin was not surprised by his words. He was not even a guest at the film festival, and he did not come here just to be an international friend.

"It's due."

Roberto Bernini 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. I'm a bit strict on the conditions for film adaptation."

"I heard, 30% profit, right? No problem, I promise you!" Roberto Benigni said without hesitation.

A good boy listens to the corner, right?

However, seeing as how generous you are, I won’t argue with you.

“I also have certain requirements regarding investment scale and script.”

"As long as you let me write, direct, and act, I can promise you all of this."

Meeting such a happy partner, Teacher Lin, who has always been good at negotiating, didn't know what to say. Besides, wasn't it a bit unreasonable?

Lin Weimin had another detailed discussion with Roberto Benigni and found out that he had even found investment for "No Matter What, Life is Beautiful" and set up a production company called Melanbo. .

Lin Weimin was silent after hearing what he said.

"As long as I get your authorization, I can start writing the script immediately, and the movie will definitely start filming next year." Roberto Benigni assured Lin Weimin.

He also thought that Lin Weimin was worried about the experience of "No Matter What, Life is Beautiful" which had been shelved for five years. In fact, Lin Weimin was only thinking about the time when the movie would be released.

If everything goes well, the film will be completed in mid-1994, which seems to coincide with "Forrest Gump" and "The Shawshank Redemption."

Not to mention the fact that "The Shawshank Redemption" was a secret star at the Oscars, "Forrest Gump" is too buggy and is a perfect interpretation of Rice's values. Lin Weimin feels that even ten Oscars for Best Picture are not enough. It's amazing. This movie really touched the hearts of Americans.

"I don't think you need to worry. Since you are writing, directing, and acting, you must polish it into a masterpiece. Otherwise, how can it be worthy of the hard work you put in?"

Lin Weimin's words made Roberto Benigni ecstatic, "Lin, do you agree to give me the right to adapt this novel?"

"Why not? I think you'd be a perfect fit!"

Lin Weimin said and stretched out his hand towards Roberto Bernini.

Roberto Bernini did not reach out, but rushed towards Lin Weimin and hugged him firmly.

"Lin, you are such a discerning person. Believe me, your choice will not be wrong!" Roberto Benigni said with great excitement.

After the excitement, Roberto Bernini couldn't wait to prepare the contract.

Michael Phillips heard that he had left for ten minutes, and Lin Weimin handed over the copyright of "No matter what, life is beautiful" to others, and couldn't help but beat his chest.

"You gave it to someone else, why not me?" Michael Phillips asked.

"Roberto is sincere and I admire his talent."

Michael Phillips looked at Lin Weimin dubiously, "Do you really think so?"

"certainly!"

"Then tell him to give me some investment share!"

Lin Weimin asked: "Didn't you just cast Jiang Wen's new movie?"

"What's wrong with a new movie he just cast? He doesn't even have an idea for a new movie. This is a movie adapted from your novel. As an 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 complained mercilessly about Michael Phillips, but he was not angry and was laughing and joking.

Lin Weimin reminded again: "The investment in this movie cannot be small."

"Don't worry, I'm not greedy."

The next day, Lin Weimin took the time to sign an agreement with Roberto Benigni and recommended Michael Phillips to Roberto Benigni.

Melanbo Production Company is just a family-run production company jointly owned by him and his wife. "No matter what, life is beautiful" is the company's first work. How can you invest your own money in making a movie? I heard that Someone took the initiative to invest, and Roberto Benigni was overjoyed. He did not expect that adapting Lin Weimin's film would have such benefits.

He has been coveting the novel "No matter what, life is beautiful" for a long time, and has also estimated the investment amount for the movie. If he wants to completely restore the content of the novel, he will not be able to do it without 20 million yuan.

Now that someone is taking the initiative to invest, of course he wants it.

After the agreement was signed, Wu Yigong and Xie Jin took the initiative to find Lin Weimin.

"Weimin, I heard that your movie "No Matter What, Life is Beautiful" was sold to an Italian company?" Xie Jin asked.

"It's not selling, it's just cooperation. I receive a fixed percentage of the proceeds."

"Ah, is that so? That means there is no deal?" Xie Jin said with some disappointment.

Lin Weimin probably guessed the purpose of the two people's visit, and sure enough, after chatting for a while, Wu Yigong said: "Weimin, look, can your project be included in the copyright trading project?"

Copyright transaction volume is a crucial indicator for every film festival, and Lin Weimin understands the mood of the two.

"I don't have any objections. But I have to say hello to Roberto, and Michael. He has also decided to invest in this movie."

Wu Yigong was even more happy when he heard that Michael Phillips had invested in this film. As one of the most important international producers invited by the film festival, with the investment of Michael Phillips, this film was included in Isn’t it justifiable to change the name in the copyright transaction?

"For the people, can I ask how much investment you plan to make for this movie?" Wu Yigong asked cautiously.

Lin Weimin pondered and said: "About 20 million meters."

Wu Yigong was caught off guard, "How...how much?"

"Twenty million meters."

After Wu Yigong confirmed it again, he looked at Xie Jin and hesitated in his heart.

Before the two came, they really didn't expect that this movie would require so much money.

Twenty million meters, that’s more than 100 million yuan!

Since the opening of the film festival, the total number of copyright transactions has just exceeded 10 million yuan. If this project is really included in it, it will be a big star!

If you do this, what will happen next time?

Lin Weimin was considered to be a semi-official. He had already guessed Wu Yigong's mentality through his tone and expression. He didn't say anything. It was just a harmless favor anyway.

Wu Yigong and Xie Jin discussed it for a long time, but in the end they couldn't resist the temptation of a copyright transaction worth more than 100 million.

Lin Weimin called for Roberto Bernini and briefly introduced the situation. Because of Lin Weimin's reputation, Roberto Bernini was very cooperative.

It just reports the transaction amount, and 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.

Italian Melanbo Production Company, American Film Production Company and China's Yanjing Film Studio have reached a cooperation and will invest 20 million meters in the film "No matter what, life is beautiful".

For a brand-new film festival like the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is not unusual for the copyright transaction to be zero. Now, the Three Kingdoms Production Company has reached a large investment of 20 million US dollars. Everyone is in the industry, so naturally they know The value of an investment of this size.

This news instantly triggered public opinion about the film festival, allowing many foreign filmmakers who came to participate in the film festival to see the huge potential of the Shanghai International Film Festival.

As of the closing day of the Shanghai International Film Festival, the festival's copyright signing amount exceeded 140 million yuan.

More than 110 million of the signed contracts were created by a movie called "No matter what, life is beautiful."

On the afternoon of October 13, one day before the closing ceremony of the film festival, the jury was having a heated debate.

This is the first Shanghai International Film Festival, and the awards are very simple. There are only five awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Special Jury Award.

After several days of viewing and discussion, the seven judges all had their own opinions on the award.

It has been agreed that Jan de Clare, the star of the Belgian film "The Priest of Darnes", won the best actor award, the Korean film "Elegy" won the best director award, and Oh Jung-ha, who played the heroine in the film, won the best actress award. , the Hong Kong film "Cage People" won the Special Jury Award.

The only thing that made everyone tangled up was the award for the Best Picture Award. None of the other judges were particularly persistent, but Lin Weimin supported "Sunny Days" and director Nagisa Oshima supported the Bay Island film "The Silent Hill". The two If people have conflicting opinions, no one can convince anyone.

Seeing that the discussion has reached a deadlock, the closing ceremony will be tomorrow.

Most film festivals have an unspoken rule, which is to notify the winners 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 was chatting and smoking in the corridor outside the conference room. At this time, a staff member of the organizing committee came to Lin Weimin and whispered a few words.