1978 Synthetic Writers

Chapter 370 Open a bottle of Lafite from last year

After learning about Weinstein's identity, Jiang Xian still maintained a smiling expression.

He opened his arms and hugged Weinstein warmly.

"Hey, are you coming from Los Angeles? I heard Hollywood is over there."

"Los Angeles? Oh no, I live in New York. New York is my home."

"That's great. New York is a good place. At least there won't be any wildfires. If you live in Los Angeles, you'll be unlucky. Maybe your mansion will be burned down by a wildfire one day."

"what?"

Weinstein didn't quite understand what Jiang Xian meant.

But this is not important. Weinstein has met too many literary people, and these people are generally mysterious and do not need to be understood.

Speaking of which, making movies in China nowadays is a task assigned by the state. The literary editors of the film studio are responsible for the script, and then the film studio assigns the script to the directors in the studio to shoot.

The film shooting and production system in the United States is different.

The system in the United States is closer to that in China in later generations, and there is a very key role called "producer".

The "producer" of a film is responsible for all matters related to the production of the film, including finding a script, a director, and investment.

Weinstein played such a role.

"I heard that it is difficult for you Chinese to access foreign movies," Weinstein said with a smile on his face.

"good."

Jiang Xian said, "I have watched some foreign movies."

“How many American movies do you watch?”

"Which one do you want to talk about?"

Weinstein folded his hands.

"Like The Godfather. You know The Godfather?"

“Best Oscar-winning film.”

"That's right." Weinstein lit a cigar for himself and leaned back slightly. "The director of this movie, Francis, and I are very familiar with each other. We produced and distributed his Apocalypse Now, and we have worked together before."

"Is it."

"Apocalypse Now" is another masterpiece.

When Weinstein mentioned Francis, Jiang Xian still felt a little moved.

What man doesn't like the movies he makes?

Seeing this, Weinstein immediately smiled and said:

“Just give me your novel, sir, and I can assure you that Francis will be very interested in it.

How about having your novel filmed by the director of The Godfather?

Weinstein?

Smith trembled all over and looked at Jiang Xian with anger in his eyes. He wished he could agree on his behalf.

"really?"

Jiang Xian also showed some shock at the fat guy in front of him.

"Mr. Weinstein, are you sure you'll ask Francis to direct?"

"Of course!"

"it is good!"

Jiang Xian slammed the table, "Can you guarantee that Francis will shoot it? As long as you promise me that Francis is the director, we will sign the contract now!"

"Haha."

Weinstein leaned back on the sofa with a relaxed look on his face, his eyes full of comfort.

"No problem, I'll have someone prepare the contract for your two novels now."

"Mr. Weinstein." Jiang Xian interrupted him.

"what happened?"

“Isn’t it a bit early to discuss a contract now?”

Weinstein frowned, "Haven't you decided to sign the contract?"

"correct."

Jiang Xian nodded, "Then call Mr. Francis over."

"What?" Weinstein frowned.

Jiang Xian repeated it again.

"I told you to call Francis over here, call Francis over here."

"Call over?"

Weinstein's fat face showed a hint of surprise.

"I do not quite understand what you mean."

"Sign a contract."

Jiang Xian knocked on the table as if it was a matter of course. "Since we are signing a contract between you, me, and Francis, shouldn't we three be the ones to negotiate?"

Weinstein rubbed his hands. He had never expected Jiang Xian to say such a thing.

"Haha, Jiang, you are too impatient. You know, Francis is the godfather of the film industry. He is very busy and has a tight schedule. He is not in New York right now. Let's just talk about the two of us today. I will talk to him later."

"Then I won't talk about it." Jiang Xian crossed his arms across his chest, looking very awkward.

"I won't talk about it while Francis is away."

"This"

Weinstein moved his fat butt, feeling a little uneasy.

Jiang Xian sneered in his heart.

Others don't know, but he knows it too well.

Weinstein's usual tricks can be summed up in two words: "painting cakes".

He used the same tactic against Chinese producers.

How much does your film cost? $800 million for North American rights, I bought it!
Then once the deal to buy the film was announced, everyone who wanted to buy the film gave up because everyone knew Weinstein had bought it.

Weinstein only paid you a $20 deposit.

After all the other buyers were gone, after a while, he said he didn't want it anymore, but he was willing to sacrifice the $20.

What will you do now?
You tell him that everyone else has left, so can you buy it cheaper? He says okay, how about this, $100 million.

This is Weinstein.

But Jiang Xian didn't take him seriously at this moment.

In later generations, this fat pig controlled lightning in Hollywood, and no one knows how many Hollywood female stars he slept with on the red sofa.

But now he is still a newcomer and can't be ranked high in the film industry.

And find Francis for him?

Just blow it!
He used Francis as a pie to negotiate terms with Jiang Xian, making Jiang Xian grateful to him and making Jiang Xian make concessions in certain aspects.

Jiang Xian guessed that he went to Francis and said, "I know a friend named String, whose novels are popular all over the United States. Do you want to film his novels?"

Francis said the novel was great and he really wanted to make a film about it, but Weinstein made demands on him, asking for salary, kickbacks, and so on.

In the end, whether it was Jiang Xian or Francis, both people on the side had to appreciate Weinstein's favor and be grateful to him.

The reality is that Weinstein only needed to cheat both sides to reap the benefits.

tui!

Nausea.

Jiang Xian was too familiar with his routine.

In addition, he had heard too many disgusting things in later generations, so Jiang Xian now looked shrewd and calculating.

Want to sign a contract? Sure, ask Francis to come over and discuss it.

Otherwise there is nothing to talk about.

Are you still painting a rosy picture for us, the working people who will become slaves in the future?
tui!

Practice more! You, Weinstein, may be able to fool those young and ignorant rookies who are preparing to venture into Hollywood.

Are you trying to play this on me?
It doesn't work.

It was exactly as Jiang Xian had imagined.

Weinstein couldn't get Francis to come.

Of course, he was using Francis as a pie to win over Jiang Xian.

He and Francis did know each other, and they had some conflicts.

They had previously distributed "Apocalypse Now" to Francis, but after its release, it was poorly received at the box office and received a dead silence from the film critics. Under such circumstances, their distributor did nothing, which made Francis very dissatisfied with Miramax.

Weinstein drummed his fingers on the table, looking at the young Chinese face opposite him. He even regretted what he had said about Francis. He really didn't expect that this Chinese man would be harder to win over than those American agents.

"Hey, Jiang, do you know how much script royalties are paid in the United States?" Weinstein changed the subject.

"The script fee?"

Not to mention, Jiang Xian was really interested. He looked up at Weinstein with a look of eagerness to hear more.

Weinstein introduced that there is a Writers Guild in the United States, and its members have a minimum wage standard.

If a screenwriter is well-known, he or she can make more money.

But some people start from a high point from the beginning.

"In Hollywood, everything is negotiable. You know Sylvester Stallone's Rocky?"

"Rocky?"

Jiang Xian knows it too well.

He has read all six.

Not only have I seen it.

There is also a video in later generations.

A 9-year-old fan recited classic lines from the movie "Rocky" with Stallone, and it quickly became a hit on the Internet.

"All of Hollywood knows that Sylvester Stallone failed 1000 times in finding a producer. Finally, a company wanted to buy Stallone's script "Rocky" for $36, but the condition was that Stallone could not play the leading role."

Weinstein shook off these Hollywood secrets and returned to his most comfortable and relaxed state.

"We all know he refused."

"36."

When Jiang Xian heard this number, he felt a little sorry for the screenwriters in China.

36 US dollars, that is more than 70 RMB.

70 for a script!
The maximum amount of money a screenwriter in China can receive in royalties is a little over 2,000 yuan.

"River."

Weinstein put his hands on the table. He was still a little kid, but he looked like a very powerful boss. "My distribution channels in the United States are not much worse than those of the big Hollywood studios. We are the biggest in the independent film industry. You can be completely assured of the production and distribution of your novels by handing them to us. As for the copyright fee, we can also give you a price that satisfies you."

"Satisfied with the price?"

Weinstein placed his hands on the table and bowed his head to think for a moment, "How about $20 for a novel?"

$20 million? !

Smith couldn't keep calm again.

He looked at Jiang Xian with his mouth wide open, more anxious than he was, wishing he could agree on his behalf.

"."

Jiang Xian chuckled, then looked at Weinstein excitedly, "Are you sure? $20 for one novel, and $40 for two novels."

"This little money is nothing to our company." Weinstein said with the aura of a big boss.

Jiang Xian was secretly happy in his heart.

Pretend, keep pretending.

$40 is nothing?
Miramax is not a particularly large producer in Hollywood now.

Take the movie "Rocky" for example.

He also heard the story of the filming of "Rocky". Stallone failed more than 1000 times in looking for a producer. Finally, the producer decided to invest $100 million in Stallone to shoot the film.

I heard that the producers even mortgaged their property in order to raise the 100 million budget.

40 million.

This is just buying the copyright.

I haven’t even paid for the script yet, and the money for filming is still waiting.

"Are you so confident about the box office of the movie adapted from my novel?"

"Jiang, you probably don't know how famous these two novels are in the United States today," Weinstein said with a smile.

"Then let's sign the contract now!"

"Look, he's in a hurry."

Weinstein's face was full of relaxation. "Listen, Jiang, our contract still needs some time to prepare. Our company is not here, but in Los Angeles. The West Coast is separated from here by a whole country. How about this, give us two or three days."

"Two or three days?"

Jiang Xian showed off his acting skills, "I thought I could go back to Iowa today."

“You can live in New York first.”

"I didn't bring anything."

"Relax, we will take care of everything, including accommodation and food. We can still pay for your expenses." Weinstein smiled enthusiastically, "Jiang, you have definitely never been to New York. You can take advantage of these two days to go shopping here."

Wait for Jiang Xian to leave.

Weinstein's brother Bob was a little surprised and asked, "Harvey, the copyright fee for these two novels is $40. Isn't this number too high? Are you so confident in his novels?"

"Don't worry, Bob."

Weinstein chuckled and said: "These Chinese people only get paid a few dozen dollars a month. How have they ever seen so much money? What have they seen?
This is America, our home turf.

My subordinates told me that several Hollywood producers have come to New York, and they all want to see this string. I will use this price to repel them. After they leave, I will lower the price. Who else can string be sold to if it doesn’t sell to us? "

After saying that, Weinstein couldn't help but light up another cigar, feeling proud of his idea and not feeling guilty at all.

Jiang Xian was arranged to stay in this hotel.

According to Smith, the hotel he was staying in was of great importance: the Plaza Hotel in New York.

“There’s an old New York saying: Nothing that happens at the Plaza Hotel is unimportant.”

Smith said, "This is the most fashionable place to stay in New York. The Plaza Hotel is synonymous with celebrities."

In fact, Jiang Xian was no stranger to this restaurant.

When he thought carefully, he could remember the existence of this hotel from movies like "North by Northwest", "Scent of a Woman", "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Mission Impossible".

and also
Have you all seen "Home Alone"?
In the second part, the protagonist Kevin lived here alone.

I heard that after the movie was released, the actor who played the protagonist Kevin in the movie also received a privilege in this hotel: he can enjoy all the facilities provided by the hotel for free for life.

Also.

This hotel has changed hands several times.

There are Hilton and Saudi princes
There is also a New York real estate tycoon nicknamed "King of Understanding".

I visited the antique chairs, French sofas, carpets, bathrobes, porcelain, wine glasses, bed sets, and toiletries in the room.
"Smith, I must thank you very much this time. You helped me find a good home for my novel."

Jiang Xian took Smith's hand affectionately as if he had seen a great benefactor.

"I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

"No need."

Smith was a little embarrassed and said, "Jiang, I'm just introducing Weinstein to you."

"Don't be polite to me."

Jiang Xian said, "Let's go to the best restaurant in New York tonight and open a bottle of last year's Lafite to celebrate for me."

"It's not my money anyway."

(I will keep waiting for more)

(End of this chapter)