A widower's entertainment

Chapter 413 [Status] (Please Subscribe)
Lin Youcheng wrote the screenplay for the sequel to "Infernal Affairs" for a Hong Kong film company, but it didn't generate much buzz in mainland China. After all, Lin Youcheng had written screenplays for American companies, so what he did in Hong Kong was nothing.

There wasn't much of a reaction in mainland China, but it was a different story in Hong Kong. The film market is very complex, and one thing can involve the interests of many parties. For example, Jet Li has had a lot of conflicts of interest because of making movies, and many people even wish for his immediate death.

As for the production of "Infernal Affairs 2" by Lam Sing Film Company, it is naturally clear to many that the film will definitely do well at the box office. Among them is screenwriter Lam Yau-shing. It does not have a direct impact, but some film companies will follow suit and make police and undercover films.

This may also be the butterfly effect of Lin Youcheng flapping his wings.

It's important to understand that at this time, Hong Kong cinema should have truly experienced a boom in martial arts films. Cinemas were filled with films from the beginning to the end of the year, such as Tsui Hark's "Green Snake," Ching Siu-tung's "Swordsman II," Jet Li's "Fong Sai-yuk," Yuen Woo-ping's "Iron Monkey," Tony Leung and Anita Mui's "The New Legend of the Condor Heroes," Brigitte Lin's "The Bride with White Hair," and Zhang Xueyou and Zhang Manyu's "The Mad Monk." All the well-known directors, stars, and screenwriters in Hong Kong created a grand spectacle of martial arts films. However, due to the success of "Infernal Affairs," many film directors also made police and gangster films, which also stole a lot of the spotlight from martial arts films.

Lin Youcheng didn't pay much attention to the filming in Hong Kong. Although he was the screenwriter for "Infernal Affairs 2" and his company had invested in it, he mostly left the decision-making to Xu Feng, the producer, since the main production and investment company was still Wan Chen Film Company.

Lin Youcheng also didn't think Xu Feng would not want to make a good film, after all, they had already invited Leslie Cheung as the lead actor.

Although Lin Youcheng did not specifically manage the production of "Infernal Affairs 2" in Hong Kong, he was indeed considering the development of his own company.

Actually, Lin Youcheng is quite well-known in China as a writer and screenwriter. He won international awards and earned an incredible amount of script royalties because of his collaboration with American screenplays. However, in mainland China, he is more often regarded as a literary creator because these are all his own works.

The works also possess literary depth, so naturally they don't consider them to be commercialized, which is different from Wang Shuo.

But in reality, many domestic literary authors are now transitioning to film and television literature. It can be said that the writer who has made the most thorough transition between literature and film and television is not Lin Youcheng, but Zhang Xianliang, a writer from Northwest China. This literary writer who wrote "Spirit and Flesh" is the real commercial pioneer. He directly invested all his money, raised 70 yuan in royalties, and founded the later famous Western Film City Company, which is the Zhenbeibao Western Film City that created "A Chinese Odyssey".

It can be said that people like Zhang Xianliang are truly successful in transitioning between literature and film.

Although Lin Youcheng didn't intend to establish a film and television city, he had already established a film and television company, so he naturally needed to consider the company's future development.

Of course, Lin Youcheng was not in a hurry. After all, he knew very well that no matter what time it was, the most important thing was capital. Even Huayi Brothers, which was very powerful in the industry, did not gradually decline. There were still many film and television companies that broke through with good works. In addition, there were platform capital that directly controlled the discourse.

Lin Youcheng was not concerned because he was clear about the future development of film and television.

In the early stages of capital accumulation, besides funds, the depth of his works is naturally also important. Of course, Lin Youcheng's current depth of works can definitely be said to be the best in China. After all, Oscar-level awards have made Lin Youcheng invincible, especially since he continues to cooperate with American companies.

The key is Lin Youcheng's status in the film industry. Now, the Venice Film Festival has invited Lin Youcheng, a screenwriter, to serve as a jury member in the main competition, which is quite rare. After all, Lin Youcheng is just a screenwriter, but now he has been invited to serve as a jury member of the three major film festivals based on the depth of his works. This is enough to show Lin Youcheng's international influence and status.

However, Lin Youcheng did not agree to serve as a jury member for the main competition section of the Venice Film Festival.

In his opinion, he might consider being the chairman of the judging panel.

However, Lin Youcheng was also well aware that the jury of the main competition section of the three major film festivals was said to be composed of people from the film culture and art circles of various countries. The members were all highly respected directors, actors, screenwriters, film critics, composers, and so on. One of them served as the chairman of the jury. However, in a real sense, most of the jury members were directors and actors, especially the chairman of the jury. It was almost impossible to have a screenwriter serve as the chairman of the jury.

Of course, this is largely true. Many directors are also screenwriters, and most of them write and direct their own films. Pure screenwriter judges are few and far between. Some even write, direct, and act in their own films, making their identities more diverse. It is only natural that they would be invited to be chairpersons of the jury.

It's incredibly difficult for someone like Lin Youcheng to become the president of the main competition jury at a film festival, especially the three major film festivals. The fact that the Venice Film Festival invited Lin Youcheng to serve as a jury member for the main competition is, to some extent, a testament to his status in the film industry. After all, his screenplays, such as "Atonement," "Love," and "The Truman Show," are undoubtedly classics and have won international awards.

Lin Youcheng felt that perhaps if he continued to accumulate experience in the film industry and his influence and status reached a certain level, even if he was repeatedly invited but refused, they might still ask him to serve as the chairman of the jury in order to get him to join the jury.

In fact, no matter when, it's always about letting your work speak for itself.

For example, Zhang Yimou and Gong Li have both served as chairpersons of the jury at the three major film festivals.

Of course, this is on the premise that he must have enough qualifications and status to keep those international directors and screenwriters in check.

This was actually an invitation from an international judge. In fact, China has always received such invitations to judges. After all, Lin Youcheng's status and position as an international screenwriter are undoubtedly number one. The Golden Rooster Awards had invited Lin Youcheng to serve as a judge several times before. However, sometimes it was because Lin Youcheng had a film that was released that year and was participating in the selection, so he could not participate. Other times, Lin Youcheng declined.

Given Lin Youcheng's influence in the domestic film industry, or rather, his status in the Asian film circle, many film awards have long hoped to invite this bigwig to attend.

However, Lin Youcheng rarely participates in such events. For example, he did not attend the Oscars ceremony, let alone other award ceremonies. When the film "Love" was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Golden Horse Awards, the Golden Horse Awards repeatedly tried to invite Lin Youcheng, a literary giant, through Hou Xiaoxian. It was a very sincere invitation, and it was clear that they really hoped that Lin Youcheng, the writer and screenwriter, could come to Taiwan to participate in the Golden Horse Awards.

Despite repeated invitations, Lin Youcheng still did not attend. Even so, the Best Original Screenplay award was unsurprisingly given to "Love".

In Lin Youcheng's view, the film "Infernal Affairs" will definitely win him another Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay, and he might even win the Best Original Screenplay Award at the Golden Horse Awards again. He has already won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Screenplay, and more than once, for films like "The Message" and "Atonement". If it weren't for the fact that the Golden Rooster Awards also consider other films, Lin Youcheng would have won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Screenplay more than twice. Films like "The Dog" definitely deserve the Best Screenplay Award, but obviously they can't keep awarding it to Lin Youcheng, and the film has also won other major awards.

Lin Youcheng didn't care about these things, because he knew very well that with the depth of his works, he would never lack film awards.

Just like he previously thought, winning the Best Screenplay Award at one of the three major European film festivals is not impossible. After all, there is still a long time to go. What he may need to consider is whether to give the screenplay award or another award. After all, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for a film like "Amour" is definitely better than winning the screenplay award, because that would prove even more that he, as the screenwriter, wrote a brilliant script.

Because he clearly understood that the most important thing was the work itself, and that the work was capital, he wasn't particularly anxious about the company's affairs.

If Lin Youcheng were to place a job advertisement in the newspaper, announcing the establishment of his film and television company and the need to recruit directors, actors, and other related staff, the people who would come knocking on his door would probably surround the entire Fuxing Road, creating a massive crowd.

Lin Youcheng wasn't in a hurry. He was also privately considering what the company's first project would be. After all, if it was the first project, there would naturally be a corresponding crew, and then everything would fall into place naturally.

"Youcheng, I heard you turned down an invitation to join the jury at the Venice Film Festival?"

Chen Aige also heard about this. He won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "Farewell My Concubine" and was invited to be a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival. Naturally, he agreed without hesitation. He also heard that Lin Youcheng had been invited, but Lin Youcheng declined.

Chen Aige would naturally ask Lin Youcheng about this matter as well.

Lin Youcheng nodded and said, "I refused, but I didn't expect you to come to me."

Chen Aige couldn't help but feel a little regretful. If he and Lin Youcheng had become members of the jury, it would have been an extremely rare opportunity. However, he also knew that Lin Youcheng wasn't interested in international award ceremonies. He hadn't even attended the Oscars before, so it was a bit unexpected and a pity that he was rejected as a jury member at the Venice Film Festival.

"I didn't expect you to refuse."

Upon hearing Chen Aige's words, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but laugh, saying as if jokingly, "If you want me to be the chairman of the judging panel, I might consider it, but as for being a judge, forget it."

Although judges can gain some influence within the judging panel, the chairperson of the judging panel still holds the dominant power to some extent.

When Chen Aige heard Lin Youcheng say this, she really didn't expect Lin Youcheng to say it like that. Although it sounded like Lin Youcheng was just joking, after all, it was quite difficult for Lin Youcheng, a screenwriter, to serve as the chairman of the jury, and there was almost no hope. But for some reason, Chen Aige felt that it was not entirely hopeless for Lin Youcheng to actually serve as the chairman of the jury of the three major film festivals.

After all, Chen Aige knew very well that Lin Youcheng had collaborated with Universal Pictures on two films, both of which were award-winning works, as well as the one with Paramount Pictures. Lin Youcheng, this screenwriter from China, had a very strong influence in Hollywood, or rather, internationally.

It could even be said that, to some extent, screenwriter Lin Youcheng's influence and status are stronger than those of several domestic directors.

Even though he won the Palme d'Or for "Farewell My Concubine," Lin Youcheng's scripts have won awards at the Venice Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Oscars, and major awards at that. If Li Shaohong's "The Reader" competes for an award at next year's Berlin Film Festival, it will further enhance Lin Youcheng's influence as a screenwriter.

Because all of these award-winning notebooks were written by Lin Youcheng.

Foreign filmmakers and audiences clearly recognize screenwriter Lin Youcheng. More importantly, Lin Youcheng is not only a screenwriter, but his published novels have also received a great response overseas, such as "The Time Traveler's Wife" and "The Devotion of Suspect X".

Chen Aige looked at Lin Youcheng and said with a smile, "If only it could really be like that, we could win more awards for our films."

Chen Aige clearly understood what the jury chairman meant. For example, "Farewell My Concubine" won the Palme d'Or but not the Best Actor award because of a single vote. To some extent, if the jury chairman were one of their own, that single vote would not have been a problem.

After all, a truly powerful jury president can award Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor to a single film.

Lin Youcheng just smiled when he heard Chen Aige's words; he understood what Chen Aige meant.

In fact, the jury president, to some extent, signifies influence and status, and truly represents one's position in the film industry.

There's still a long time to go, and who can say for sure what will happen in the future!
(End of this chapter)