Exciting 1979!

Chapter 123 Melinda's Telegram (Guaranteed 1 Update)
That night, Wei Ming rushed to finish the 2,000-word preface to "The Wonderful Book of Heaven".

In order to increase the word count, he started directly from "The Toothless Tiger", which was entirely about his own mental journey in creating children's stories over the past six months, and also allowed readers to have a more comprehensive understanding of Teacher Wei Shenshe.

The next day, Wei Ming dialed the phone number of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio according to the number provided by Aunt Xiaoyan. The number was not from the factory director, but from the production director Wang Bairong.

Wei Ming knew this person; he had heard about him from Liu Rulong in his previous life. Later, when the Shanghai Animation Film Studio changed its leadership, he became the deputy director. He was mainly responsible for introducing the Japanese animation assembly line and engaging in OEM to benefit the factory.

However, he later left the Shanghai Animation Film Studio and joined a private animation company.

According to Aaron, he is a very flexible and capable person. Paper-cut animations such as "Mr. Nan Guo" and "The Mouse's Wedding" are his works.

"Hello Director Wang, I'm Wei Something."

"Oh, hello, Writer Wei."

Wang Bairong held the phone with an unnatural expression on his face. You guys, let me be the bad guy, huh!
He continued, "I don't know if your editor has made it clear to you, but this is what happened: our Shanghai Animation Film Studio is going to collaborate with the BBC on an animated film."

Wei Ming: “Yeah.”

"Based on the script provided by the other party, we thought that there was a section about fox spirits, oh, that is, the plot about fox spirits in "Ping Yao Zhuan" was quite interesting, so we planned to re-adapt it based on this section. It happened that "Tian Shu Qi Tan" was also adapted from "Ping Yao Zhuan", which coincided with some of our screenwriters' ideas, so we planned to adapt it based on "Tian Shu Qi Tan"."

"it is good."

Wang Bairong: "Then it's settled. I'll ask you to review the script after our screenwriter finishes writing it..."

Ok?
Wei Ming narrowed his eyes and thought, damn, it turns out he doesn’t plan to ask me to write the script!
Wang Bairong thought to himself: Yes, this is international cooperation, with both China and the UK making progress. It’s such a great honor, and so many screenwriters and directors are eyeing it. Your novel is already so well written, I can just revise it accordingly, it’s not difficult, and our employees will definitely be given priority.

That's the truth, but Wei Ming is not so easy to compromise. He interrupted the other party directly: "The script doesn't have to be that troublesome. I can do it myself. After all, it's my story and I'm most familiar with it."

Wang Bairong advised: "Writer Wei, this is not a short film script, it is a movie script, a 90-minute movie script, and it is an international collaboration, so the requirements are very high. Not only does it need the approval of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, but it also needs to suit the tastes of the British side."

Wei Ming: "I know the tastes of British people quite well. I used to have a British girlfriend."

Wang Bairong: “…”

He was stunned for a moment. Who asked about your girlfriend? Why are you showing off to me?

But to be able to have a foreign girlfriend, this Wei guy is really something!
"Writer Wei, listen to me," it was the intention of the entire factory to have our own staff to adapt the film, so Wang Bairong could only continue to persuade Wei Ming, "This cooperation is very important. We can't give such a heavy burden of screenwriting to a newcomer like you who has only written a short film script."

Wei Ming: "Toothless Tiger is not my only screenwriting work. I have also written feature film scripts."

"Have you written it?"

"Yes, I have. If you don't believe me, go to Shanghai Film Studio and ask Director Xie Jin. He is considered the most famous director in China. He praised my writing skills."

"What? You worked with Director Xie Jin?" Wang Bairong was shocked at first, then questioned, "Impossible, I've seen all his movies, how come I don't remember..."

Suddenly, Wang Bairong thought of a piece of news he had read recently, which seemed to say that Shanghai Film Group and Beijing Film Group were competing for the rights to adapt a very popular novel. In the end, Shanghai Film Group won, and the director was Xie Jin.

What novel is that? Oh, it’s “The Shepherd”, written by Wei Ming!
"Excuse me, Writer Wei, what is your real name?" Wang Bairong asked hesitantly.

"Wei Ming."

"Is that Wei Ming who wrote the novel?"

"It's me," Wei Ming said, "Is there anything to talk about now?"

Wang Bairong felt that there was something to discuss, but he had to discuss it with the factory leaders.

If he was just a fledgling fairy tale writer, even if he was recommended by Mr. Jin Jin, then I would have to accept it a little.

But standing before them now is a new generation of leading figures in the Chinese literary world who have risen most rapidly in the past six months. Each of his novellas has set off a reading craze.

Who would have thought that Wei Shen, who writes fairy tales, also has a big account for serious literature?
The financial officer of Shanghai Animation Film Studio said that I wanted to get it because I needed to transfer money and she knew the real name of "Wei Shime".

But it was just a momentary thought. After all, this name is quite popular. There are too many people named Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong nowadays.

After confirming the real name of "Wei Shime" from the Finance Department, Wang Bairong reported the matter to the factory leaders.

The author of the original work wanted to adapt the book himself, and the other party is a very popular figure in the literary world today, and his name can often be seen in several major mainstream newspapers.

Although they are not from the same system, they have to take Wei Ming's wishes into consideration.

Finally, they discussed and decided to let Wei Sheshi write the script first. If it was not well written, he would not have to revise it. Instead, they could let the old screenwriters in the factory revise it. Both of them would be considered screenwriters, with Wei Sheshi's name coming first.

Wang Bairong thought this idea was good, so he called back, but Wei Ming didn't answer.

But Wei Ming said that he would continue to call the Shanghai Animation Film Studio tomorrow.

At this time, at Wei Ping'an's home, the couple had already known about this.

Lu Xiaoyan was furious: "How can this be done? This is too much. You actually want to get rid of our Xiao Ming!"

Wei Pingan was not surprised: "If this film is successful and really wins international honors and profits, it will be a great achievement. The Shanghai Animation Film Studio will definitely want to let its employees share the profits."

Wei Ming's mentality is also very peaceful. It is normal for people to be emotional, but when it comes to real interests, he will not give in.

Fortunately, he was not an unknown person, otherwise he would have been controlled by them. After all, there was only one company in the country that could make animated films, and he had no choice. However, thinking about the future, more and more key employees of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio would resign and go to the south or Japan after the market-oriented reform in a few years, Wei Ming's mind became active.

But I still need money first, and I don’t know if Melinda will have any surprises.

As the saying goes, if you keep thinking about it, there will be a response.

Back in the dormitory, Qiao Feng smiled and pointed to the table: "There is a telegram sent to you from England, take a look."

Only Brother Feng is steady. If those two guys were still here, they would definitely come over to see what Melinda wrote.

It's easy to guess who else could have sent the message from the UK except her.

It has been almost ten days since she left.

After flying to London via Hong Kong, she first returned to her hometown in Edinburgh, and then soon arrived in London.

Although international telegrams were still expensive, Melinda did not skimp on words and wrote a full three lines in this telegram.

She told Wei Ming her new address in London, and also told her that she had joined a publishing company as an editor and had started translating "Jumanji", with good progress.

Finally, she said jokingly: What do you think about me submitting this novel to myself?
Wei Ming: You are such a clever little fellow!
The next day, Wei Ming did not rush to call the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. Instead, he went to the post office first and sent a transnational telegram to Melinda.

I don’t know what to say for a moment. I miss you so much that I can’t sleep.
inappropriate.

Finally, he told her about his upcoming collaboration with the BBC to develop "The Magic Book".

Wei Ming didn't dare to say much. This cost him more than 20 yuan, which was a month's salary. If it wasn't something urgent, he would just write to him later.

Wei Ming then called Director Wang of Shanghai Film Studio directly from the post office.

The other party's attitude has softened and he said that Wei Ming could write the script himself.

"We believe in your ability to be recognized by Director Xie Jin." Wang Bairong said with a smile.

Wei Ming asked again: "How much money does the British side plan to invest this time?"

Wang Bairong: “I’m not sure about that.”

Wang Bairong: Even if I know, I can’t tell you.

Wei Ming: "Did they pay a deposit?"

"Deposit?"

It seems that there is no such thing. Wei Ming said, "If they don't give us a deposit, they will let us write the script first. If they want to withdraw from the project after we finish writing it, then I won't have written it in vain."

"Even if the script is not accepted, you will not be asked to write it in vain. You will be paid a certain amount."

It is generally not less than one tenth of the normal manuscript fee, which is equivalent to the author's hard work fee after the manuscript is rejected.

"I think it's safer to ask them to pay a deposit. Now they just say one word, but our Shanghai Animation Film Studio requires full cooperation. What if they suddenly say they don't want to play anymore?"

Wang Bairong: What? Our Shanghai Animation Film Studio. This guy is quite good at getting close to us.

However, what Wei Ming said does make some sense. The leaders are just too kind. Asking the other party to pay some deposit is actually for the purpose of promoting the project better.

After hearing Wang Bairong say that he would discuss it with his superiors, Wei Ming asked again: "Then how will the Shanghai Animation Film Studio pay my royalties after they receive the foreign exchange deposit?"

“Of course it’s RMB.”

"Don't the Shanghai Animation Film Studios get some overseas remittance coupons as a reward for the foreign exchange they earn?"

Wei Ming has no use for foreign exchange now and cannot get it, so he wants to get some overseas remittance coupons that have super-currency treatment in China and buy some things that cannot be bought with RMB.

Wang Bairong was silent. It seemed that there really was some, but it was usually a benefit for meritorious employees in the factory.

But thinking that "Wei What" was Wei Ming after all, Wang Bairong admitted: "There should be, but I'm not sure how many and when. After all, this is the first time we have tried this kind of cooperation."

"Then please ask Director Wang to help me. If there are any overseas remittance coupons, I would like to exchange some of them with my own royalties. Of course, I am not from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, so you can understand if they don't give me any. I just said it casually."

Wang Bairong: You don’t sound like you were just saying this casually.

But he still said: "I will discuss it with the factory manager."

"There's also the matter of the deposit."

Otherwise, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio would not be able to earn a single cent of foreign exchange.

However, Wei Ming was still worried. At that time, they could just say that the overseas remittance vouchers were employee benefits, and he would have no temper if they didn't give them to him.

So Wei Ming felt that he had to increase his importance a little more.

So that night he went to Uncle Ping'an's house and discussed with Aunt Xiaoyan that he might write fairy tales for other magazines...

(End of this chapter)