Back to 80: My Literary Life

Wu Tianmin still held the black artificial leather briefcase under his arms, his face full of spring breeze.

"Director Wu, please come in." Fang Minghua warmly greeted him into the room, poured him a cup of tea, and then said: Have a great New Year. Looking at your cheerful face, is there any happy event? "

"That's right." Wu Tianmin chuckled: "There is news from China Film Company. The copies of "Into the Dust" are selling quite well, and they are ready to pay us 1.08 million."

"Not bad, Director Wu, congratulations, you've made a lot of money." Fang Minghua immediately expressed his congratulations.

"It's considered a profit, not a loss."

Fang Minghua didn't mention the word box office because there was no such thing in this era.

Films produced by 16 film studios across the country are purchased, underwritten, and distributed exclusively by China Film Corporation.

The number of copies printed by China Film Company based on distribution needs is settled at a certain unit price and with the studio afterwards, and can fluctuate by 10% based on the base number of copies.

But no matter how much the production cost of the studio's film is or how it fluctuates, the acquisition price of China Film remains between 800,000 and 1.2 million!

As for whether it is 800,000 or 1.2 million, this is linked to the number of movie copies. The more copies you sell, the higher the post-settlement price will naturally be.

Don’t underestimate this 400,000, it was a huge amount in the early 1980s!

According to what Wu Tianmin once revealed to him, the cost of "Into the Dust" was about 630,000.

Now China Film has bid 1.08 million and made a total of 450,000. It can definitely be regarded as a big profit.

"Director Wu, I want to treat you." Fang Minghua immediately joked.

"It's an invitation. That's why I'm looking for you today. At six o'clock tonight at the May Day Hotel, I'll call the main people in charge of the crew to come. Everyone is busy and it's a Chinese New Year!"

"Okay, I'll come on time." Fang Minghua agreed immediately.

Someone please drink.

Put the manuscript aside for now.

"Xiao Fang, there is one more thing. I also want to invite Linda." Wu Tianmin said again.

"Okay, aren't you very familiar with Linda? Besides, we know each other through Linda's connection."

Indeed.

The winter before last year, Wu Tianmin wanted to make the film "Into the Dust". At that time, he didn't know Fang Minghua and he was not well-known. He was worried that Fang Minghua would refuse, so he asked Lu Yao's wife Linda to make the introduction, and the two finally collaborated.

So it's normal to invite Linda. Besides, she is also an employee of Xiying Film Studio.

But Wu Tianmin said one more thing: "I also want to invite Linda's husband Lu Yao."

Want to invite Lu Yao? !

Fang Minghua saw that he was hesitant to speak, and immediately thought of something.

Have you fallen in love with Lu Yao's "Life" and want to adapt it into a movie?

But this was his guess. The other party didn't say it clearly, and Fang Minghua couldn't ask directly, so he said, "Then tell Linda. Brother Lu is a generous person and likes to make friends with people in the literary and art circles. I guess he can come."

"I told Linda. Xiaofang, to be honest, I was interested in his "Life" and wanted to make it into a movie."

Sure enough!

"This is a good thing. You can go directly to Lu Yao or Linda. Did Linda say that you should shoot "Life" directly?" Fang Minghua felt strange.

You don’t need to tell me so solemnly, right?

But what Wu Tianmin said next surprised Fang Minghua: "Hey, you don't know, I told Linda yesterday, but guess what? Linda said that Lu Yao was discussing with the leaders of Shanghai Film Studio about the novel. There’s something to be said for that.”

ah? Is this happening? !

Fang Minghua didn't believe it.

"I plan to mention this to Lu Yao at the wine table during dinner in the evening." Wu Tianmin continued:

"Xiao Fang, I would like to ask you to find Lu Yao and talk to me again? I heard Linda said that you two have a very good relationship. Can you say a few more good words for me? I'm begging you."

Seeing Wu Tianmin's anxious look, Fang Minghua nodded in agreement.

"Okay, I'll go find him now."

"Thank you so much, Xiao Fang. No matter whether this thing happens or not, I want to thank you very much! I want to have a few more drinks with you at 1 o'clock in the evening!" Wu Tianmin regained his generous demeanor.

I'm so confused.

Is this how you treat me? !

After Wu Tianmin left, Fang Minghua took out a few pieces of White Rabbit toffee from Song Tangtang from the drawer, and then walked out the door to the Writers Association.

Is this historically true? Fang Minghua thought as he walked.

In fact, what he didn't know was that this was really the case in history.

At that time, several film studios were competing for the film adaptation rights of "Life". In the end, the copyright was obtained by Shanghai Film Studio and was planned to be handed over to a senior director in the factory for filming.

Of course, after many twists and turns, it finally fell into Wu Tianmin's hands.

Fang Minghua walked into the Writers Association. The weather was nice today and the sun was warm. When he came to the backyard, he saw Lu Yao sitting on her broken wicker chair and basking in the sun. His daughter Mingming was playing.

Seeing Fang Minghua coming, the little girl immediately called "Uncle Fang" and ran over.

Fang Minghua picked her up with a smile and stuffed her with the White Rabbit toffee in his pocket.

The little girl immediately smiled brightly, said thank you to her uncle, and skillfully peeled off a piece of candy and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Hey, Xiao Fang, your sister-in-law said, give Mingming less candy, be careful of damaging your teeth!"

"It doesn't matter, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after eating." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"You just love to get used to Mingming. When you get married and have a baby, I will probably get used to you." Lu Yao said with a smile.

The two chatted for a while, and Lu Yao said again: "Xiao Fang, how is your novel going?"

"I've written more than half of it, and I estimate it will be finished by the end of the month."

"Oh, I really didn't expect that you would have such wild ideas." Lu Yao sighed: "If it were me, let alone writing, I wouldn't even think of those."

"Brother Lu, we are different. What you are good at is realistic writing."

"Realistic writing? You also said that it will become outdated gradually." Lu Yao said in a self-deprecating tone.

"What others write may be outdated, but what you write will never be outdated."

"Haha, Xiao Fang, you complimented me again."

I'm not complimenting you. Almost thirty years later, your movie "The Ordinary World" is still being remade into a TV series and has received rave reviews. How can you call it outdated?

There is also this "Life", but the adaptation of "Life" is a bit bad.

Fang Minghua put the little girl down, moved a chair and sat on the edge and asked: "Brother Lu, I want to ask you something, has anyone asked you to adapt your article "Life" into a movie?"

"Xiao Fang, you don't know, I'm angry about this!"

Lu Yao's answer surprised Fang Minghua: "It's a good thing to adapt it into a movie. Why are you angry?"

"Hey, it's a good thing. The Shanghai Film Studio contacted me and said that he wanted to hand over this novel to a senior director from their studio. When I heard it, it was indeed a good thing. The quality of the film produced in this way is guaranteed, but I talked to him At that time, he actually proposed an adaptation plan, and the location shooting would be in Jiuzhaigou!"

"Why put it there?"

"I heard that although it is also backward, the scenery is good and the photos are beautiful."

"Isn't this nonsense? You are writing about the Loess Plateau Mountains. Naturally, it is suitable to shoot in Qinbei District." Fang Minghua said.

"I think so too, but the director doesn't agree and is in a stalemate."

Isn't this opportunity coming?

hey-hey.