1979: Literary Master, Starting from the Return of Educated Youth

Chapter 235 Adaptation?

After moving the luggage and having lunch, Xu Yuexin rode his motorcycle to Dazhalan to buy an electric blanket for his sister-in-law.

The reason for not driving is that this area is too busy and cars can't get in.

Compared with previous years, Dashilan is more lively, with crowds of customers on the streets and an increasing variety of goods.

Some self-employed merchants simply set up their stalls outside, making the entire street more lively.

Xu Yuexin walked into a store selling bedding and told the salesperson that he wanted to buy a large electric blanket.

"2.0×1.8 electric blanket?"

"We don't have any here."

The salesperson shook his head and said, "We do have 1.6×1.8, would you like one?"

"never mind."

After saying this, Xu Yuexin turned and left.

If you buy an electric blanket that is too small, your bed will be cold in one area and hot in another.

Xu Yuexin still wanted his sister-in-law to sleep more comfortably, so he went to the next store to continue searching.

As a result, the next one didn’t have it either.

After all, the average living area per capita is still very small these days, and most families cannot afford a large bed, so it is naturally difficult to buy a large-sized electric blanket.

Xu Yuexin asked at every shop along Dazhalan, and finally found one selling large electric blankets at the end of the street.

For 30 yuan, you can get a large-size electric blanket of 2.0×1.8.

Because there were too many people on the street and he was pushing a motorcycle, Xu Yuexin was already sweating after buying the electric blanket.

After returning home, Chen Yixiu was surprised to see him sweating all over.

"Why are you sweating so much?"

Chen Yixiu took out a handkerchief and handed it to Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin then told Chen Yixiu the whole story.

"Hard."

"You went to so much trouble to buy me an electric blanket."

Chen Yixue was somewhat moved and said, "Let me lay the floor."

She felt that Xu Yuexin was really caring towards her.

"The electric blanket is so big that you can't spread it out by yourself."

Xu Yuexin walked towards the main room and said, "Let's sleep together."

The two came to Chen Yixiu's bedroom. Xu Yuexin folded the quilt and sheets, picked them up and put them on the chair next to her, and spread out the electric blanket with her.

"Go take a shower."

After throwing the cup back on the bed, Xu Yuexin said, then went back to the bathroom in his bedroom and turned on the water heater.

After a while, the sound of bathing was heard from the bathroom.

At this time, the postman's shouting was heard outside the yard.

"There is a letter from your family."

"Is anyone home?"

"coming."

Chen Yixiu responded, trotted to the front yard, opened the gate, and signed for it after confirming that it was Xu Yuexin's letter.

After more than ten minutes, Xu Yuexin came out of the bathroom. His sister-in-law heard the noise and went to his bedroom with the letter.

"There's a letter for you, sent from the studio."

The sister-in-law handed the letter to Xu Yuexin and said.

When Xu Yuexin opened the letter, he found out it was from a film studio in Shanghai, saying they wanted to discuss with him about adapting "The Ming Dynasty 1566" into a TV series.

hiss.

This day has finally arrived.

Xu Yuexin put away the letter and took a deep breath.

Given the speed of development in the film and television industry in the past two years, as well as his popularity in the literary world, it was expected that a production studio would contact him for changes.

Xu Yuexin even felt that this day had come a little late.

Of course, he didn't actually plan to sell the film and television rights so quickly.

As for the reason...

It’s still because of the price.

According to the current market price of film and television copyrights, the other party could probably offer 1566 yuan for "The Ming Dynasty 500"?

At most 600?

Xu Yuexin shook his head in his heart.

If he can only sell it for this little price, he would rather keep the copyright and wait for it to appreciate in value in the future.

"Why, is there anything in the letter that makes you unhappy?"

The sister-in-law next to him noticed that Xu Yuexin looked unhappy, so she came over.

"Nothing. Someone wants to make my novel into a TV series, and I'm thinking about it."

"Being able to make it into a TV series? That's great."

The sister-in-law was surprised and asked, "Why are you unhappy?"

"I guess they won't offer too high a price, so I'm in a bad mood."

Xu Yuexin explained for his sister-in-law.

"Oh, because of this."

My sister-in-law said nothing more.

Like most people of this generation, my sister-in-law thinks it is a good thing that her work can be adapted and seen by more people.

As for the reward, she really didn't think much about it.

"Why, you don't agree with my idea?"

Xu Yuexin is currently thinking about the price of copyright and is in a somewhat sensitive state.

So when he saw that his sister-in-law didn't say anything, he immediately started asking.

"I... never thought about it that way."

The sister-in-law thought about it for a while, and said to Xu Yuexin frankly, "If I were the author, and someone wanted to adapt my book into a TV series, I probably wouldn't care about the remuneration."

"Why not?"

Xu Yuexin asked in return, "Novels are the fruits of the author's hard work, and the author should be properly compensated for his creation."

"The royalties for the number of copies of Ming Dynasty 1566 alone have already reached nearly 20 yuan."

“Why can others buy its film and television rights for just a few hundred dollars?”

Xu Yuexin was not angry with the film studio; he just felt that the current market situation for film and television copyrights was abnormal.

By the end of the 80s, the TV drama copyright of "Ordinary World" was sold for only 700 yuan, while the per capita disposable income of Beijing residents had reached 1500 yuan.

The film and television copyright of a phenomenal work is less than half a year's salary for an ordinary person, which is absolutely abnormally low.

If he didn't have any emotion at all when facing such unreasonable market conditions, he wouldn't be Xu Yuexin.

Hearing Xu Yuexin's words, the sister-in-law hurriedly comforted him: "Don't be angry, I didn't tell you the price."

"Whether you say it or not, the market is there."

Xu Yuexin spread his hands and said, "Of course, I'm not angry, I just want to change the situation."

"how to change?"

The sister-in-law asked with a little doubt.

Although she is not the author, she knows that if she wants to make the book into a TV series or a movie, she can only find a production studio.

As long as all the production studios are unwilling to pay high prices, even well-known authors will be helpless.

"Make it clear to the studio."

Xu Yuexin said confidently, "I am not short of money now anyway. If the money he offers me is not satisfactory, I would rather not shoot it."

"Then... I wish you success."

The sister-in-law thought about it for a long time and finally gave her blessing.

Deep down, the sister-in-law felt that Xu Yuexin's actions had little hope.

But at this moment she admired Xu Yuexin's courage and determination.

The next day after receiving the letter, Xu Yuexin called the phone number of Hengguang Film Studio, the sender of the letter.

Hengguang Film Studio is a medium-sized film studio located in Shanghai. It has previously produced two historical TV series.

Xu Yuexin didn't expect to reach an agreement with the other party, but he had to show his attitude to the other party. "Hello, is this Hengguang Film and Television?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"I'm Xu Yuexin. I received your letter yesterday."

"Oh, it's you. Hello, hello. We are writing to you this time mainly to discuss the issue of cooperating in the filming of "Da Ming 1566"."

"Let's talk on the phone first."

"Okay, let me introduce the situation here."

"Our studio has studied the book 'Da Ming' and believes that it is cleverly conceived and has a very lofty purpose, making it very suitable for being made into a TV series."

"At present, we have found the right director and actors, and we are just waiting for you to discuss it, then we can sign the contract and start filming."

"Oh, I see. How much are you prepared to pay for our adaptation rights?"

"This price is of course a good deal. We are prepared to buy it for 400 yuan."

Yes, that’s exactly what happened.

It’s only 400 yuan, and it’s still a good deal.

After hearing this, Xu Yuexin shook his head in self-mockery and felt speechless.

The person on the other end of the phone noticed Xu Yuexin's silence and immediately guessed the reason.

"Excuse me, do you think the price of 400 is too low?"

"Then we can add another 50, 450, how about that?"

"Not much."

"Excuse me, but nowadays the average worker earns 800 or 900 yuan a year. Do you think it's appropriate to charge 400 yuan for a book like this?"

“It’s not 400. It’s 450.”

"Does it make any difference? The work is the author's hard work, and it is sold for such a small amount of money. I cannot accept it."

"Moreover, the book 'Da Ming' currently has nearly 20 yuan in royalties just for the number of copies printed, while the film and television adaptation rights can only be sold for a mere 450 yuan. Don't you think this is ridiculous?"

On the phone, the people from Hengguang Studio were silenced by Xu Yuexin.

A book with sales of millions of copies and royalties reaching six figures, but the rights to adapt it into a TV series can only be sold for 450 yuan.

Under the strong contrast, everyone would find it unreasonable.

Let the studio guys think about that.

Xu Yuexin thought about it and didn't urge him just because he was silent.

The phone was silent for a long time, until nearly half a minute later, there was a sound again.

And this time the person speaking changed.

"Hello, Comrade Xu. I'm Chen Lin, the director of the production department. You can just call me Lao Chen."

"When our comrades communicated with you just now, some words may not have been said clearly, which led to some misunderstandings between the two sides."

"It's okay, Director Chen."

"That's right. The current market price for the rights to our novels for film and television adaptations is roughly like this. The general price for adaptations is between 200 and 300 yuan."

"As for the 450 yuan this time, it was the price our production department discussed for a long time before coming up with. It's mainly because of the quality and popularity of your work."

"If we raise the price any further, the factory may not approve it. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I know you didn't mean to lower the price."

Xu Yuexin said calmly, "I have also learned about the market price of adaptation rights before."

"But the market is like this everywhere, which doesn't mean I have to compromise."

"If I can't get a satisfactory price, I'd rather leave the work alone and not adapt it."

"Uh... Comrade Xu, you don't have to do that. Adapting the book "Da Ming" into a film and television drama can also increase the popularity of the book itself."

"No need. My book is already well-known enough. I don't need to promote it by sacrificing my own legitimate interests."

"..."

The director of the production department was also silenced by Xu Yuexing.

He didn't expect that this young writer far away in the capital would be so tough.

The main focus is not to add oil or salt.

"How about this, you tell me your ideal price and we can discuss it?"

"Haha, that's definitely higher than the print run fee I'm currently receiving."

Higher than the remuneration for the number of copies printed?

Chen Lin was almost frightened to death by Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin just said that the royalties from the print run of the book "The Ming Dynasty 1566" reached nearly 20 yuan.

Spend so much money to buy the film and television adaptation rights?

If he dared to pay, the factory director would probably fire him from his position as director of the production department the next day.

Chen Lin thought to himself.

"Well, that's really too high, far beyond what our factory can afford."

“I hope we can have a chance to cooperate next time.”

"I hope so. Goodbye."

Xu Yuexin hung up the phone after saying this.

Xu Yuexin had not originally intended to make the deal, and this result was within his expectations.

Even if it becomes a topic of conversation for others in the end, Xu Yuexin wants to make his position clear: the author's rights to film and television adaptation are valuable.

Cannot be bought and sold cheaply.

……

After the call with Hengguang Studio, everything returned to normal.

In the days that followed, Xu Yuexin no longer received calls from the studio.

He also focused all his energy on creation and did not contact Hengguang Studio again.

Time passes day by day, and the Spring Festival is approaching.

One afternoon, Xu Yuexin, Chen Qiaoqiao and Chen Yixiu were planning to buy New Year's goods at home when the phone rang.

"Hello, is this Comrade Xu Yuexin?"

Xu Yuexin picked up the phone and heard Director Chen's voice.

"Correct."

"Hello, Comrade Xu, I'm Chen Lin, Old Chen. I called you today mainly to ask for your thoughts on the film and television adaptation of the work "Da Ming"."

“I have a lot of ideas.”

Xu Yuexin said with a smile, "But the most important thing is to give enough money first."

"Ahem, regarding the money issue, I'm afraid we can't do what you ask."

"Two hundred thousand is too much."

"We still can't come to an agreement on the money, right? Then... I'm afraid I can only say I'm sorry once again."

Under the gaze of Chen Qiaoqiao and Chen Yixiu, Xu Yuexin spoke directly.

All problems ultimately come down to money.

If we can't agree on money, there's no need to discuss other issues.

"That's not necessarily true."

Chen Lin said carefully in the receiver, "I have a workaround. Would you like to hear it?"

"You said."

Xu Yuexin said in a casual tone.

Xu Yuexin is just insisting on his own interests and is not stubborn.

As long as Hengguang Studios can come up with a plan that satisfies his interests, he is willing to accept it.

"That's right. Aren't there many state-owned factories that are accepting individual businesses to register with them?"

"I wonder if you can register as a self-employed person and register under the name of our production department."

"When we start filming, our production department will pay part of the money and you will pay part of the money. We can moderately tilt the profit sharing in your favor."

"For example, we each contribute 50% of the funds, and in the end you get 60% and our production studio gets 40%, which is considered as compensation for the value of your work."

"What do you think of this plan?"

Chen Lin said in a rather earnest tone.

Hiss... Invest in making a movie?
This was beyond Xu Yuexin's initial expectations.

(End of this chapter)