Chapter 53: Copyright Issues

Rachel rarely went home, so the two were in no hurry to return to the United States, as agreed at the time, they had to wait for the Premier League to start and then watch Manchester United play. But as soon as Christmas passed, Liang Xiaolong received good news, he was nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, and there were two nominations for each award, "Never Compromise" and "The Sun Is Like Me".

"Honey, you're amazing." Rachel cheered, the Golden Globe Award is over, but the Oscar is the most important and top award in the global film industry, as long as a filmmaker can get its nomination, it is a great honor, but Liang Xiaolong actually won two nominations. In this regard, Liang Xiaolong has been prepared for a long time, "The Sun Like Me" was originally the 70th (1998) Oscar Best Screenplay, "Never Compromise" was also nominated for the 73rd Oscars, and it is normal to be nominated at the same time in 95, a year that lacks good films.

Moreover, Liang Xiaolong's four films a year are popular and have accumulated enough popularity, if the Oscar Organizing Committee does not nominate him, fans may have to doubt the authority of the Oscar Organizing Committee. Of course, he is also inexplicably excited to be nominated for the world's highest award, and it would be even more perfect if he could go home with a little golden man.

There is not only one nomination, "The Sun Is Like Me" and "Never Compromise" were both nominated for the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. In addition, Julia was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her flawless performance in "Uncompromising", and Matt and Robin were also nominated for Oscars for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively for their outstanding performances in "The Sun Is Like Me". With a total of 9 nominations for these two films alone, Disney has been able to pull out the limelight, and Mark is even more smiling when he meets people, and his mouth is almost grinning to the back of his head.

However, no matter how many nominations there are, there is also a challenge to face, which is "Braveheart". The film won a total of 9 nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Makeup, and Best Original Score for Drama. Liang Xiaolong remembers that in his previous life, the film won many awards, and the best picture, best director and best screenplay were all covered.

For this reason, Mark specially called and asked him to go back to the United States to do some publicity and build momentum for the Oscars. Liang Xiaolong said: "Mark, I still have some things to deal with here in the UK, and I won't be able to go back until a few days later." Mark didn't understand: "Is there anything more important than the Oscars?" Liang Xiaolong didn't answer, he did have more important things than the Oscars on this trip to the UK, because it was related to the box office of nearly 10 billion US dollars and the future development of Yanhuang Film Company.

Cutting off the call, Rachel also persuaded: "My dear, it is rare for a filmmaker to be nominated for an Oscar once in his life, this time you have won two nominations, and it is very likely to win the little golden man, I think you should take advantage of this opportunity." Liang Xiaolong smiled: "Don't worry, I won't give up the Oscars, but the Oscars won't be awarded until February next year, so don't you have to rush back, don't we still have to watch football games?" Rachel gave him a blank look: "You can watch football games at any time, but Oscar nominations are not available all the time, go back to the United States." ”

"In a few days, I want to sign the rights to the film adaptation of a novel." Liang Xiaolong said his plan, and the biggest purpose of his trip to the UK was the film adaptation rights of the novel "The Lord of the Rings" (aka: The Lord of the Rings). In this regard, Liang Xiaolong's eyes have been red for a long time, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy in his previous life swept the box office of 3 billion US dollars around the world, which is simply a rebellious existence, if he can't sign its film adaptation rights, he may have to regret it for a lifetime.

The second is the adaptation right of the novel "Harry Potter", and the Harry seven-part series in the previous life also swept the box office of more than 6 billion US dollars, and Liang Xiaolong is even more unlikely to let it go. However, "Harry Potter" is still in the works, and it was not published until 97, and it is really difficult to buy the rights to its film adaptation. But this is also an opportunity, its author Rowling is not famous now, and because of her divorce from her husband, life is extremely difficult, and even had suicidal thoughts, if you can find her at this time and give her funding, I believe it will be easy to win the film adaptation rights.

In the previous life, the most profitable series of movies was "The Lord of the Rings", "Harry Potter", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Shrek", "Spider-Man", "Star Wars Prequel", "Transformers" seven series, and other series such as "Ice Age", "The Matrix", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Batman", "Jurassic Park" and other series are slightly worse.

Among the seven series in front, except for "Pirates of the Caribbean", the others are either adapted from novels or comic games, all of which involve copyright issues. In addition, "Star Wars Prequel" is based on the 1977 "Star Wars", and the copyright has already been vested.

Liang Xiaolong's first target was "The Lord of the Rings", and the author of "The Lord of the Rings", John . Tolkien died in 1973, and the rights to the novel are now in the hands of his son, Christopher Tolkien. Because he has the copyright of a large number of his father's works, Christopher is also a person, and it is not difficult to find him.

However, Liang Xiaolong can't take the liberty of coming to the door, that will only make people feel that they don't understand etiquette. Liang Xiaolong first asked Carl to contact Christopher in the name of the company, and after explaining his intentions, Christopher agreed, Liang Xiaolong came to the door: "I take the liberty to visit, and I ask Mr. Tolkien to forgive me." "It's an honor to meet some of Hollywood's most famous editors. ”

After the two sides met, Liang Xiaolong chose to get straight to the point and directly explained his intentions: "Mr. Tolkien, I think you should already know what I mean, I don't know what you think?" Christopher smiled faintly: "Mr. Liang, Warner Studios also came to me before, but I refused, do you know why?" Liang Xiaolong thought about it for a while and said, "Are you afraid that they will ruin your father's hard work?" ”

Christopher nodded: "That's right, I know how big the background of this novel is, how difficult it is to change, and not everyone can adapt it." And if it fails, the novel is ruined, and my father's name is damaged. In this regard, Liang Xiaolong strongly agrees, just like the epic masterpiece "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", who has the ability to turn it into a movie? No, John Woo filmed two episodes of the Battle of Chibi alone, who dares to say that he has the ability to integrate the history of the Three Kingdoms for many years into more than 100 minutes of footage?

Liang Xiaolong just smiled faintly and returned the question to Christopher: "So does Mr. Tolkien think I can adapt "The Lord of the Rings" well?" Christopher said: "I've seen your films, and most of the success of the four films is due to the script, especially "Tomb Robbery" has proven that you have the ability to write blockbuster scripts. After thinking about it, Christopher said: "However, the background of "Tomb Robbery" is far less than "The Lord of the Rings", and adapting the novel is definitely more difficult than writing the script alone. So, if you can adapt "The Lord of the Rings", I don't know. ”

"To say it is to say nothing." Liang Xiaolong was secretly depressed, but he couldn't show it, so he just smiled faintly: "Then Mr. Tolkien is willing to gamble with me?" Christopher asked rhetorically, "If I sold you the adaptation rights, what kind of movie would you make it into?" Liang Xiaolong said: "Filmed into a trilogy, with a large production of special effects, each with an investment of more than 100 million." Christopher laughed: "It's a tempting statement, but your company shouldn't have the conditions to shoot blockbusters, right?" ”

Liang Xiaolong laughed: "That's right, our company does not have the conditions to shoot blockbusters at present, but it doesn't mean that there will be no in the future." How much does Mr. Tolkien think I can make next year? Christopher was stunned, this young editor is a super master of Hollywood's box office grabbing, and if a few new movies are launched next year, it will not be a problem to make more than a billion dollars. Liang Xiaolong said: "Even if our company does not have this condition, we can also shoot in joint ventures with other companies, you may not know, now those Hollywood giants want me to help them write scripts, and then shoot in joint ventures." ”

Christopher added, "And when are you going to shoot?" In this regard, Liang Xiaolong did not hide it: "2000. Christopher wondered, "So late?" Why? Liang Xiaolong smiled bitterly: "I would like to invest in filming as soon as possible, but now Hollywood simply does not have this technology." In "The Lord of the Rings", the dwarves, elves, demons, Gollum, etc., with the current special effects technology, it is impossible to be as original as in the novel. ”

Christopher asked, "Then what do you think 2000 is okay?" Liang Xiaolong said with a smile: "In recent years, special effects technology is in the stage of take-off, and I can safely say that by 2000, there will definitely be this ability." Although Liang Xiaolong is suspected of empty words, Christopher also has some understanding of this aspect and agrees with Liang Xiaolong's words.

And Liang Xiaolong's sincerity and ability have also been recognized by him: "Mr. Liang, you are indeed the best candidate to adapt "The Lord of the Rings", I can buy the adaptation rights and sell it to you, so how much copyright are you ready to pay me?" Speaking of this, Bruce Leung couldn't help but think of the lawsuit between Christopher and Warner Pictures in his previous life, because Warner concealed the market prospects of the film, paid too little copyright fees, and was sued by Christopher in court.

Liang Xiaolong didn't want to have a problem in this regard, and of course he couldn't tell him that this was a super movie that could make a billion box office: "Ten million dollars, plus a 1% box office share." "Ten million dollars is definitely a very high number without knowing it, and the one percent box office share is not a small amount, a total of $3 billion in box office is equivalent to paying $30 million in royalties:"Of course, the one percent box office share can only wait for 2,000 years later. ”

"Very fair price, so happy to cooperate." Christopher stretched out his hand, and Liang Xiaolong hurriedly shook it: "Mr. Tolkien, the day after tomorrow at the latest, my company will send someone to sign a contract with you." ”

But when Liang Xiaolong called Carl, he was immediately scolded by Carl: "My dear brother, you are an idiot in the business field, ten million dollars, plus a 100% box office commission, are you stupid?" Liang Xiaolong smiled: "Man, believe me, compared to the value of "The Lord of the Rings", this money is nothing. Karl said angrily: "If it were me, fifteen million would be able to buy out, you would be an idiot, an idiot who doesn't know how to bargain." Liang Xiaolong smiled bitterly: "I know you are powerful, but you must not delay me in this matter, it is best to complete the signing tomorrow." ”

ps: There is one more more, a new week has begun, guys are awesome.

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