The literary era since 1979

Chapter 278 Win-win, I win twice

The plane bound for Hong Kong flew steadily among the clouds.

Steven Spielberg sat in first class, flipping through page after page of Saving Private Ryan.

At this moment, Lucas from next door took advantage of the time when the flight attendant was making the bed to come over for a visit.

"You have been reading this since you boarded the plane. What kind of novel is it that attracts you so much?"

"This is it."

Steven Spielberg held up the book and showed the cover to his friend.

Lucas said, "I think I've heard of this novel somewhere."

Steven Spielberg said that this was recommended to him by his father and he is considering buying the adaptation rights and making it into a movie.

Lucas was surprised and asked, "You plan to make it into a movie?"

Steven Spielberg handed over the novel and said, "I think the movie that was made can definitely win awards."

After Lucas took it, he took some clean clothes and went to the first-class bathroom to take a shower.

A little later, when Steven Spielberg came back in slippers, the flight attendant had already made his bed.

Lucas had already turned over one-third of Saving Private Ryan, and he immediately concluded:
"Steven, you're right. This novel is a good candidate for an Oscar!"

"It's not just for the Oscars, it's also for my father."

Steven Spielberg's tone was full of nostalgia, "When I was a child, he often told me stories about World War II, and his comrades in World War II would also come to visit our home."

"So you want to make a war film about World War II to pay tribute to the veterans and your father?"

Lucas suddenly realized.

"Yes, to pay tribute to my father. I will also invite him to attend the premiere of the movie."

Steven Spielberg's eyes flickered.

In fact, because his parents divorced when he was young, his relationship with Arnold Spielberg was very strained.

She always misunderstood that her father was having an affair and wanted to abandon his family, so the two of them were in a cold war and even broke off their friendship for 15 years.

It was not until a few years ago that the truth was revealed. It was not the father who cheated, but the mother. Arnold Spielberg deliberately concealed it in order to protect his ex-wife's reputation.

This makes me feel very guilty. Although I have tried every way to make up for it over the years, I still feel that I owe too much.

It’s just right, make “Saving Private Ryan” into a movie and give it to Arnold Spielberg!

"Okay, then let Catherine contact this Chinese writer and have a good talk with him."

Lucas handed the book back.

"I plan to give her a call when I get to Hong Kong."

Steven Spielberg looked out the window and saw the navigation lights on the wings flashing.

Outside the window, night turned into day without me noticing.

After a long journey, Fangyan finally completed a series of speaking events and reader meetings arranged by Random House.

But he did not return to Iowa immediately, but instead had a job interview in Florida with Mike's sister, Lou Diane.

"I have a PhD in Law from Harvard Law School. I previously worked in a large law firm, in charge of marketing and intellectual property..."

Fangyan flipped through her resume. It was absolutely flawless, just like her appearance.

I saw her sitting opposite me, with short, neat chestnut hair, long slightly curved eyebrows, a pretty face, a slender figure, and a well-proportioned figure. She was thin where she should be thin, and fat where she should be fat, especially her big headlights, which were really eye-catching.

"I want to remind you."

Luo Dai'an smoked a Lucky Strike cigarette and said, "I'm very expensive. If you hire me as a legal consultant, the fee is not low."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Your father has already told me."

"No, no, no, that's the fee I get for representing poor women, disabled people and minorities in court." Rodian held up two fingers and said it would be 50% higher than the original price.

Fangyan shook his head and laughed, saying nothing.

"You think it's too expensive? This is the friendship price!"

Luo Dai'an frowned and said, "If it weren't for the fact that you helped that idiot, the price would be different."

"You misunderstood what I meant."

The dialect revealed that the "idiot" was referring to Mike, "I'm going to hire you at the rate of a male lawyer."

Luo Daian looked around with interest and said, "This is the first time I've seen an employer take the initiative to raise someone's salary."

"Men and women are equal, and receive equal pay for equal work."

In dialect, there is a saying by a great man: "Women hold up half the sky."

The more Luo Daian looked at him, the more he liked him. "Just because of what you said, I'll take the job and give you a discount."

"Thank you, but before officially hiring me, I want to see if you are worth the price."

Fang Yan said: "Can you accept a test?"

Luo Daian was not surprised: "It's Amblin Entertainment who asked you for the copyright of the novel, right?"

Fangyan glanced at Mike, who was scratching his head awkwardly, nodded and said, "Yes, I would like you to talk to them on my behalf." Luo Daian was obviously well prepared, and she mentioned Amblin Entertainment, an independent film studio founded by director Steven Spielberg, producer Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall.

"Based on your professional qualities, how much should we ask for?" Fangyan looked left and right.

Luo Dai'an took out a stack of information from his bag. "According to my research, Hollywood film companies usually quote between $10 and $15 for best-selling books. If the original author adapts the script, the price can be over $25."

Fangyan asked: "Is there a script worth millions?"

"No, the highest is only over 70, and it was written by an Oscar-winning screenwriter."

Rodian flipped through it and asked, "Can you write a script?"

Without waiting for Fangyan to speak, Mike replied, "Of course, he is one of the best screenwriters in China! He has even won an award!"

"Hollywood only recognizes the Oscars and the Golden Globes."

Luo Dai'an said: "But this can also be used as a demonstration of ability. I think the offer should not be less than 35 US dollars."

Small!

The layout is small!

Fangyan knew very well that "Saving Private Ryan", with its pure American theme, was definitely an Oscar-level movie.

The reason for the failure was not because of the film or political correctness, but because of Weinstein.

Relying on the financial offensive, "Shakespeare in Love" was made the worst Oscar-winning Best Picture in history.

For a film like this, if it weren't for the current market price in Hollywood, I would even want to directly offer $100 million.

But now, I can only give you a half-price discount, 50 US dollars!

"50 million?!"

Mike was startled, but Rodian fell into deep thought.

"It's a win-win offer, don't you think?"

Dialect looks left and right.

"Win-win?"

Mike couldn't believe it. Spending 50 US dollars to buy the adaptation rights of a best-selling book was a sky-high price, and it would shock the entire Hollywood.

“This is exactly the effect he wants.”

Luo Dai'an came to his senses and said, "35 is the cost of the novel copyright and script adaptation, and the other 15 is the cost of marketing."

Mike saw the two of them smiling at each other and was puzzled.

"You've been in China for so long, why are you still such a fool!" Luo Dai'an rolled his eyes. "Spielberg spent 50 to buy the script at a sky-high price. Isn't this big news?"

Once reminded, Mike slowly figured it out.

Originally, "Saving Private Ryan" was a bestseller that won the National Book Award and topped the New York Times and other rankings. It was also a World War II-themed work written by a Chinese writer. Whether it was in the early or later stages of the film, it was undoubtedly an excellent publicity gimmick.

More importantly, the person who bought the copyright was Spielberg, who won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the movie before it was even made.

With an investment of only $15, you can get free publicity from media outlets across the U.S., earning millions of dollars in return.

"But Spielberg may not agree to it, right?"

Mike hesitated and said, "This is $50! That's the price of an Oscar-winning screenwriter!"

"For him, there is no loss. After all, he didn't pay the money, but the film company did."

Fangyan spread his hands and thought, why not spend the Hollywood film company's money to promote himself and Spielberg's name?

Mike said: "According to what you said, it is indeed a win-win situation."

"No, he'll win more."

Luo Dai'an smiled and said, "With this big news, we will definitely be able to boost the sales of Saving Private Ryan again and make a lot of money."

"It's a win-win situation, which means I want to win twice."

Fangyan stretched out two fingers and gestured over and over again.

Can “win-win” still be understood in this way?

Mike and Luo Diane were both stunned.

"Just kidding, this is a win-win solution, isn't it?"

Fang Yan looked at Luo Dai'an and said, "You can be formally hired and get more consulting fees and commissions."

Then he looked at Mike and said, "You can do the same as me. After all, I won't be the only one whose name is signed on the script."

Rodion noticed that his brother was very excited, and he knew very well that even if he didn't ask for a penny, as long as the script had his name on it, it would be his ticket to Hollywood.

"Whether this win-win solution can be realized depends on you."

Fangyan crossed his arms and said, "Can I count on you?"

Luo Daian pondered for a moment, then said confidently, "Leave it to me. I'm very expensive!"

(End of this chapter)