Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Well, if you want to promote this book "Alive", I will provide you with a material. When Yu Hua wrote this book, he was inspired by your country's famous song "Old Black Slave". I think you can Make a fuss about this aspect,” Fang Minghua said.

"real?"

Fang Minghua told Demi that just after the Spring Festival in 1992, Yu Hua accidentally heard an American folk song "Old Black Slave". Because he was moved by the old black slave in the song who had gone through hardships but still embraced the world, he wanted to write A novel like this.

It was in a rented house of eight square meters in Yanjing that he wrote this book "To Live". In the voice of an old farmer, he told us about Fugui's rough life. Like an old black slave, Fugui had a hard and bumpy life, but he worked hard. walked down.

"This story is very interesting. We will process it carefully so that readers can better understand the book." Demi immediately took out her notebook and wrote it down.

Fang Minghua thought this was the end, but he didn't expect Demi to still ask him about the interesting stories that happened between him and Yu Hua.

All right

Fang Minghua thought for a while and then told him that when they first met, he pretended to be his cousin in order to see him.

Demi giggled when she heard this: "Although I have never met Mr. Yu Hua, I think he is a very interesting person."

Yeah, very interesting man.

The jokester.

Immediately, Fang Minghua took out another three-inch plate, which contained Mo Yan's "Big Breasts and Wide Hips" and Wang Anyi's "Song of Everlasting Sorrow", including the introductions of the two writers. He handed it to Demi as a publisher to publish. of books.

"Don't worry, just translate it and publish it according to market conditions." Fang Minghua finally said.

"OK! Mr. Minghua, I will also ask you writers a short story when the time comes." Demi said with a smile.

After explaining these things, Fang Minghua was about to leave. Demi originally wanted to report financial matters to him, but Fang Minghua refused.

Anything good to hear?

The financial statements audited by Zhang Qing Accounting Firm have been sent to his mailbox, so there is no need to repeat them.

After coming out of the publishing house, Fang Minghua didn't wander around and took a taxi home directly.

It's raining outside, cold and humid, but it's still comfortable at home, especially sitting on the sofa by the fireplace, holding a book, and petting the cat named Huahua.

Today when I opened the door, I saw Zhou Xuemei sitting on the sofa, still wearing reading glasses and knitting a sweater. There was a cradle next to her, and the baby was sleeping in it.

"Minghua, I just got a call from Los Angeles. He claims to be Wu Tianmin from Shengshi Film and Television. He said that he has negotiated with Warner Bros. Pictures and will sign the contract immediately. I hope you will go to Los Angeles and finally check the specific information and send it to In your email address." Zhou Yunmei said.

Regarding the contract, what should I see?

This is probably Song Tangtang's request.

Just go

When Wu Tianmin, Zhang Yimou and others come to Los Angeles, they should go and visit.

"Okay, I'll go up and take a look later."

Fang Minghua replied a few words and was not in a hurry to go upstairs. He looked at his daughter in the cradle again, touched her cute little face, kissed her gently, and then went upstairs with satisfaction.

In his bedroom, Fang Minghua opened his laptop. As expected, there was an email from Wu Tianmin in hotmai. It introduced the negotiation process in detail and invited him to help check the contract. It also included the details of the hotel they were staying in. address.

Fang Minghua didn't shirk and immediately sent an email saying he would be there tomorrow.

Now that he had decided, Fang Minghua immediately bought the ticket, and the next morning, Fang Minghua got on the plane to Los Angeles.

Li Li originally wanted to drive him, but Fang Minghua refused.

There's no need to do it alone.

The plane arrived in Los Angeles more than two hours later, and Wu Tianmin and the others naturally lived in Burbank, where Warner Bros. Pictures is located.

After randomly finding a KFC at Union Station for a quick meal, Fang Minghua changed trains and finally rushed to Burbank and found the Portofino Hotel where Wu Tianmin's team was staying.

At the lobby bar, Fang Minghua first checked in for a room and then asked Wu Tianmin about their room. Fang Minghua went up to the fourth floor and knocked on the door of room 416.

Soon the door opened, and Zhang Yimou appeared at the door. He was wearing a sweater and only a pair of long johns underneath. He was holding a book in his hand and was chanting something.

“Could you say it again??” (Can you say it again?)

Any questions?

Seeing that it was Minghua, Zhang Yimou smiled on his face: "Minghua? Come in quickly."

"What are you doing?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Learn English. I learned some when I was in college and left it all to the teacher. Alas."

Zhang Yimou shook his head. He already looked sad, but now he looked even more sad.

Fang Minghua laughed loudly after hearing this and entered the door. Wu Tianmin was half leaning on the bed watching TV. When he saw Fang Minghua coming in, he smiled and came over for a hug.

He was even wearing long johns!

"Minghua, thank you for your hard work. Please take out your tea and pour it for Minghua. The coffee in this room is really bad." Wu Tianmin ordered.

"Okay." Zhang Yimou was busy boiling water.

"The hotel you are staying in is of low quality. I saw it in the lobby and it was only a 2-star hotel. How can the conditions be better? Why don't you stay in a better hotel?" Fang Minghua asked.

"You don't know, the money spent now is the company's money. Let's make do with it first. When the contract is signed, the project will be officially launched. Then it will be spent on the film crew's money. Then we can change it to something better." Wu Tianmin explained with a smile.

Smart.

"Minghua, you drink coffee first, I'll call the others over." Wu Tianmin was about to walk out, but was stopped by Zhang Yimou.

"Brother, you talk to Minghua, I'll call him."

"Well, there's no need to call those two foreigners. There's also a translator. We're all from Xijing. Why do we need a Chinese translator?" Wu Tianmin ordered.

"Are the two foreigners from Zhang Qing and Meng Dawen's office?" Fang Minghua asked as he sat down on the bed.

"Yes, the two of them are very professional. One is in charge of the legal provisions in the contract, and the other is in charge of the financial accounts. This negotiation helped us a lot. Otherwise, we really wouldn't be able to deal with Warner Bros."

Fang Minghua chuckled: "After all, this is the United States. We are not familiar with the place. We have cooperated several times to understand their routines."

"Is there a next time?" Wu Tianmin was slightly surprised.

"Of course, the second Harry Potter book has been released, and I expect to start filming now next year."

"Ouch. It's become a series."

While the two were chatting, the door to the room was pushed open, and several people followed Zhang Yimou and walked in.

Lu Le, Cao Jiuping, Tao Jing, Du Yuan.

Fang Minghua knows everyone.

A total of five people came in, and only one was an employee of Shengshi Film and Television. This time he was responsible for logistics and finance.

Zhang Yimou actually brought over the main members of his creative team!

These people also knew Fang Minghua and greeted each other. Fang Minghua asked with a smile: "Most of you are from Xiying Film Studio. When you come to the United States as a group, Director Liu won't stop you?"

"What's wrong?" The person who spoke was Du Yuan, the only woman here.

Du Yuan and Zhang Yimou are from the same hometown, and they were also classmates who entered Beijing Film Academy in the same class in 1978. The two have collaborated for more than ten years. She is responsible for all the editing of Zhang Yimou's movies.

She is in her early forties and has short hair. She speaks quickly and speaks standard Guanzhong dialect: "The factory is about to close. The director of Emen is eager to come out and get a management fee from Shengshi Film and Television. He I wish you could all go out and walk as much as possible!”