A widower's entertainment

Chapter 395 [Wealth] (Please Subscribe)

Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

Paramount Pictures producer Freeman truly admires Lin Youcheng, the Eastern screenwriter. After reading Lin Youcheng's latest screenplay, "The Hunt," he was quite shocked because he never expected Lin Youcheng to write such a story—a story about a man experiencing lies.

After losing his job, the male protagonist works at a kindergarten and becomes close to the children. His best friend's daughter also attends the kindergarten and has feelings for him. One day, the girl makes a heart-shaped sticker for the male protagonist and kisses him. The male protagonist immediately tells the girl she shouldn't have done that. So, the girl tells the kindergarten supervisor, and the male protagonist gives her…

Freeman knew very well that the story Lin Youcheng wrote, "The Hunt," was not complicated. It was just that rumors put the protagonist in a predicament. However, what surprised him was the script. Lin Youcheng's script was still quite complete, and the scenes seemed quite clear. Even before filming, Freeman could feel the cool color tone of the script's visuals.

Yes, it is a cold and dark story. Even though the dilemma set for the protagonist is not complicated, namely how to deal with the rumors in the village caused by a child's retaliatory lie, the rumors themselves can be rationally debated and refuted. However, the fact that the rumors are aimed at harming children makes it almost impossible to defend oneself.

Freeman was well aware, not only in the Western world, but all over the world, that harming children was an extremely despicable act, and that this despicable act was more closely linked to the perpetrator's moral depravity and even mental illness than many other crimes.

Freeman looked at Lin Youcheng. He knew very well that the screenplay Lin Youcheng had written was quite brilliant, and could even be said to absolutely deserve to be made into a film. Moreover, it was very suitable for competing for awards because the human nature questioning in the whole story was quite profound, and to some extent, it also had the correctness of an art film.

"Lin, your script is fantastic!"

This was Freeman's true thought. As a producer, he was well aware of the script's excellence, and most importantly, the production cost would not be too high, making it a low-budget film. This was undoubtedly what made Freeman even happier.

Whether it's Hollywood companies or other overseas film companies, the reason they want to collaborate with Lin Youcheng on films is not simply to pursue pure cinematic art, but also because of profit. This is the unchanging law of the capitalist world; ultimately, it's all about profit.

Low-budget films undoubtedly mean much less initial investment in capital. The key is that Lin Youcheng's script is an exceptionally good low-budget film, and it also involves the tearing apart of human nature, which means it is suitable for award competition. Such a film is naturally a script that producers who have been in Hollywood for a long time absolutely cannot miss.

Lin Youcheng was not surprised by Freeman's words. Of course, if Freeman felt it was inappropriate, he would naturally contact other producers.

Of course, if Freeman's offer isn't right, Lin Youcheng might not necessarily hand over the script to Freeman.

Freeman was well aware that Lin Youcheng's status and position were different now. Although the copyright price of "The Truman Show" was high, its subsequent success made Freeman quite excited throughout Paramount Pictures. Therefore, he would not deliberately try to lower the price for Lin Youcheng.

After all, Lin Youcheng is the best screenwriter at the Cannes Film Festival and an internationally renowned screenwriter. Many Hollywood directors want to collaborate with this mysterious Eastern screenwriter. It's impossible that Freeman would offer a low price for the script rights. Moreover, the story of "The Hunt" is quite exciting in itself.

Fortunately, although Lin Youcheng has considerable influence now, he didn't ask for an exorbitant amount, demanding $1.1 million for the script copyright.

Without a doubt, this price is something that many literary and film professionals in China can only dream of.

After all, Zhang Guoshi later offered Yu Hua less than 30,000 for the film rights to his novel "To Live," while Lin Youcheng negotiated a million dollars for the script rights with Paramount Pictures. This difference is why the literary world was so abuzz with the news.

It is precisely because Lin Youcheng, this domestic author and screenwriter, has truly made history in the literary and film circles, becoming the first person in the true sense.

Of course, this is also because Lin Youcheng's scripts are worthwhile; otherwise, why would the Hollywood capital world be interested in Lin Youcheng's scripts?

Freeman, of course, agreed without any objection.

According to Freeman, the script is excellent and the production cost will not be too high. Even if the box office performance is not good, the distribution rights in other countries and the DV release will not result in a big loss. Most importantly, Freeman has great confidence in Lin Youcheng's script "The Hunt". Of course, the most important thing is to give the script a suitable team.

"Lin, you really should go to Hollywood. Many directors want to work with you."

After Freeman and Lin Youcheng finalized the copyright price for the script, they naturally started discussing film production. To be honest, Lin Youcheng, this Eastern screenwriter, is indeed someone that many Hollywood directors want to work with. This isn't just polite talk; after all, the scripts Lin Youcheng writes are undeniably strong.

Spielberg really liked your novel "The Truman Show" and said he would love to have the opportunity to work with you on a science fiction film.

Lin Youcheng was somewhat surprised to hear Freeman's words, after all, Spielberg was undoubtedly a great director in Hollywood.

It's worth noting that Spielberg directed classic films like "Jaws" back in the 1970s, which broke box office records. He went on to direct science fiction films like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," action-adventure films like "Indiana Jones," science fiction family films like "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," and produced "Back to the Future." He also directed the fantasy romance film "Always" a couple of years ago, and last year released the thriller "Cape Fear." It's fair to say that Lin Youcheng's previous screenplays have greatly pleased Spielberg.

In fact, besides "The Truman Show," films like "Every Day," "The Lake House," "The Time Traveler's Wife," "Atonement," and the latest "Amour" have all greatly impressed Spielberg. This is why Spielberg praised screenwriter Lin Youcheng in front of the media and expressed his hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with Lin Youcheng on a science fiction film.

This demonstrates Lin Youcheng's genuine influence in Hollywood. Not only do domestic film directors want to collaborate with him, but internationally renowned directors also seek to work with him.

Lin Youcheng said with a smile, "Of course, if I have the opportunity, I would like to work with director Spielberg."

Freeman would also discuss some of the script's content creation with Lin Youcheng. Of course, these decisions were ultimately up to the director, and Freeman would mainly listen to Lin Youcheng's opinions and ideas.

Clearly, Freeman came to Beijing specifically for Lin Youcheng's script. Now that the deal was done, Freeman didn't linger and obviously planned to prepare for the low-budget film "The Hunt".

Of course, when Freeman left, he once again sincerely invited Lin Youcheng to Hollywood.

"Lin, you really should go to Hollywood, that's your world!" Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded, saying, "I'll definitely have a chance to go sometime."

Freeman added, "I really hope to see you at the Oscars later. I believe The Truman Show deserves every award."

Clearly, Freeman, or rather Paramount Pictures as a whole, is very optimistic about the performance of "The Truman Show" at the Oscars. Even though it is a comedy, it is an extraordinary comedy, especially since its box office performance and critical acclaim make it one of the most popular and widely discussed films of the year. It is impossible for the Oscar judges to be indifferent to "The Truman Show".

Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded when he heard Freeman's words.

In fact, Lin Youcheng knew very well that the film that was happiest at the Oscars ceremony in March was the Western film "Unforgiven," which won four awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Sound Editing. The Best Actor award went to Al Pacino's "Scent of a Woman," and the Best Actress award went to Emma Thompson's "Howards End." Both of these films were nominated for Best Picture. As for the Best Original Screenplay award, it went to "The Crying Game." In Lin Youcheng's opinion, "The Truman Show" was definitely on par with these films. As for whether it would win an award, that would naturally depend on the judges' choice and whether Paramount Pictures would put in a lot of effort in public relations.

"Hoping The Truman Show wins an award!"

This was also Lin Youcheng's honest opinion. As the screenwriter, he naturally hoped that "The Truman Show" could sweep the Oscars, although he knew it would be difficult, but it was just a hope.

Whether he wins an award or not will not have much impact on him as a screenwriter. After all, his screenwriting skills have long been recognized. Even if he doesn't win an award, some media people will speak out on his behalf as an Asian screenwriter.

……

The People's Literature magazine office in Beijing.

Zhang Wei didn't seem particularly surprised that Lin Youcheng had already sold the screenplay for "The Hunt," given the story's remarkable nature. However, he was still somewhat taken aback when Lin Youcheng mentioned that it had been sold to a Hollywood company.

But I was only slightly surprised; I was mostly just curious.

Zhang Wei was naturally very curious whether Lin Youcheng had sold the copyright of his script for another million dollars this time.

Although Zhang Wei didn't ask directly, he felt that the price must be quite high. However, considering that Lin Youcheng had exported the script again and earned such an astonishing amount of foreign exchange, Zhang Wei still found it difficult to calm down.

"Looks like it'll be at least another million!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Wei murmured to himself, his heart filled with turmoil.

Hearing Zhang Wei's words, his colleagues on the other side of the editorial department couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Wei snapped out of his daze, shook his head, and said, "It's nothing. I just talked to Youcheng about the novel being accepted as a manuscript. He also told me something else: he's already sold the screenplay for the novel 'Hunting'."

"So soon?"

Clearly, Zhang Wei's words surprised the editors in the editorial department. After all, the novel had undergone three rounds of review and proofreading at the magazine, and the latest issue had not yet been published, yet Lin Youcheng's novel's movie script had already been sold. This was really too fast.

One editor pressed him directly: "Which director did you sell it to? This story isn't easy to film!"

Zhang Wei said directly, "The producer from the company in the United States flew in directly from the United States."

"A company from the US! The price for Lin Youcheng's novel script must be quite high."

"Definitely! The previous fees were millions of dollars; I'm afraid Lin Youcheng will get that same high fee again this time!"

"The price offered by the United States must be high, and they even flew directly to Lin Youcheng, so they must really want this script. Another million, it's unbelievable. Just how much money does Lin Youcheng have now?"

"I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to spend all of this in several lifetimes!"

Undoubtedly, even the editors of People's Literature magazine, these literary workers, inevitably discuss royalties, especially Lin Youcheng, a writer and screenwriter who stands out in the domestic literary circle. He is truly someone they look up to. This is all because the copyright price offered by foreign companies to Lin Youcheng is simply too high. One million dollars is enough for domestic literary workers to look up to. The key is Lin Youcheng's creative passion; who knows how many millions of dollars he could have earned.

There's no way around it; it's simply because screenwriter Lin Youcheng's foreign exchange earnings from royalties are just too outrageous.

Even if writers and screenwriters in China want to collaborate with foreign film and television companies like Lin Youcheng, it's difficult for them to command such exorbitant script copyright prices as he has. This is because Lin Youcheng's previous works have all been extremely successful.

Listening to the editors' discussion, Zhang Wei thought that although Lin Youcheng earned a lot of money, he also seemed to spend a lot. Just the number of courtyard houses and houses he knew of was quite large. Originally, Zhang Wei did not understand why Lin Youcheng wanted to buy so many houses, but now he felt that since Lin Youcheng was not short of money, it didn't matter how many houses he spent.

They really are rich!
Even so, Zhang Wei couldn't help but feel envious and marveled at the script royalties of writer Lin Youcheng, which were truly outrageous!

(End of this chapter)