Lin Mingyang and Rhett-George had a good conversation, Rhett-George described to him what he saw and heard in Rwanda, both of them were immersed in the exchange of pure film experience, but Williams was in a hurry, and he frequently glanced at Rhett-George during the conversation, but the other party was suddenly unaware and ignored.

Ritter George provided Lin Mingyang with a lot of useful inspiration for making African-themed films, but he did not mention the tension between himself and MGM in the end, and Williams had to take the initiative to find Lin Mingyang and ask him for help after the conversation between the two ended.

"I think the script and subject matter of this film are very deep, and it is definitely a classic reflective film, but George is very stubborn, and I am worried that if these continue, MGM will probably withdraw its investment." Williams told Lin Mingyang what happened, and then expressed his concern about the matter.

"Actingly, Don Cheadle is closer to acting in his true colors, while Denzel Washington needs to make up for it with mature acting, and from an outsider's point of view, I'm happy to support Ritter's directorial choice. This is my personal suggestion for reference only, and you can pass it on to Mr. Lupin, and I am afraid that there is nothing I can do about it. Although Lin Mingyang and Ritter George can talk very well, after all, it is an internal matter of MGM's own company, and he is now "notorious".

Williams didn't get the result he wanted, but on the way back to his room, his mind came alive. If he simply told Lu Ping's suggestion, the effect might be minimal. In a previous conversation in the café, Lin Mingyang also revealed a very important information, he is planning to make a film related to Africa. Williams felt that he could use this to make some fuss, MGM was really looking for high-quality films to invest in, and Lin Mingyang would definitely need investment if he wanted to make a movie, and if his script could attract MGM's attention, then his opinion would also be able to influence MGM's decision-making.

It can be said that this is beneficial to all three parties. After figuring out these joints, Williams decided to play a role between Lin Mingyang and MGM.

Lin Mingyang had no idea about the matter, and in the following days, he followed Professor Clear's investigation team through the streets of the Rwandan capital. The data collection of the investigation team progressed rapidly, and the plot in Lin Mingyang's mind gradually became clear. This story originally existed in his memory, and this trip to Africa touched him a lot, and then he had the idea of making this film in advance.

Before the script was written, Lin Mingyang had already begun to consider the source of investment in the film, continuously injecting funds into Facebook, Youtobe and Rotten Tomatoes, plus investing in "Lord of War", most of his personal assets have been used. And Lin Mingyang is studying at Harvard, so it is impossible to put all his efforts into a film, he just wants to provide the script, and then get the actor of the film, and leave other things to the producer to deal with.

After returning to Harvard, Ginny was busy writing the manuscript of this trip to Africa, and did not have time to chase Lin Mingyang for the interview, and Lin Mingyang also took advantage of this rare gap to write the script. Just when he was struggling with the investor's affairs, Williams called and told him good news.

MGM decided to continue working with Ritter George, and the film "Hotel Rwanda" did not have the same as Lin Mingyang remembers, the investor withdrew halfway, and the director finally paid for the filming out of his own pocket.

At first, Lin Mingyang was just happy for Ritter George, and he didn't realize that the change had something to do with him, until Williams suggested that MGM President Lupin wanted to meet with him. As soon as he fell asleep, someone gave him a pillow, and Lin Mingyang felt that this matter was probably not as simple as he imagined.

MGM has survived the bankruptcy crisis, but the business is only trying to be maintained, and they desperately need some good movies to open up the situation. I heard that Lin Mingyang had a new script in his hand, and Lupin originally decided to fly to Boston to interview him in person, but just as Lin Mingyang was going to Los Angeles, he took the initiative to send it to the door, and of course Lupin would not refuse.

The time for the two was in the evening, and Lupin paced anxiously in his office, smoking, sometimes reaching for his watch, sometimes looking out the window at the sunset. On the issue of whether to cooperate with Lin Mingyang, he is actually very conflicted in his heart, on the one hand, the movies made by Lin Mingyang's script must have box office guarantees, which MGM needs most at present; But on the other hand, Lin Mingyang is not as easy to deal with as ordinary screenwriters and actors, he always has a lot of "harsh" requirements.

Lu Ping thought about it for a long time, and finally decided that as long as Lin Mingyang's request was not excessive, he would try his best to meet him. After making this decision, a stone in his heart finally landed. He didn't continue to walk back and forth in the office, but quietly sat back in his office chair.

Three minutes later, the assistant pushed the door and invited Lin Mingyang in, and Lupin was a little surprised to see him come empty-handed. Lin Mingyang himself was very casual, took off a chair and sat down, and said with a smile: "Mr. Lupin, long time no see!" ”

Lu Ping always felt that Lin Mingyang smiled a little "ill-intentioned", he squeezed out a smile on the corner of his mouth as if he coped, and asked the question he was most concerned about: "Felix, you didn't bring the script here this time?" ”

Lin Mingyang didn't spare him, "I'll have someone send you the script later, but before that, I have to make sure if you're interested in this subject, which is the basis for us to establish cooperation." ”

"I've heard Williams say your new script has something to do with Africa?"

"To be precise, it's related to African diamonds. In 1999, a brutal civil war broke out in Sierra Leone, but at that time everyone was concerned about the 'zippergate' incident of the US president. My script is set against the backdrop of the Sierra Leonean civil war, and the whole story revolves around a reddish diamond, which involves a lot of political, war-revealing and controversial topics, and directly implies the incognito relationship between the interests of the diamond industry and the war in Africa. The audience may like it, but the diamond tycoons with a stake in it will certainly not be happy. ”

Because of the sensitive topics involved, Lin Mingyang had to say ugly things first. Diamonds were once described by Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe as "a woman's best friend", a symbol of love and loyalty in the eyes of a lover, a symbol of wealth, charm and goodness. People have long been accustomed to the jewels of diamonds, but now he wants to expose the shady scenes behind the diamond trade, and the strong contrast makes this subject matter extremely controversial and challenging.

"The name Blood Diamond was not given specifically for the film, and in some African countries, diamonds are used by the military to finance the purchase of armaments, and it is also the reason for years of war. Every diamond from a war-torn country is clinged to the blood of an African miner, or a war victim. As one of Africa's major diamond exporters, Sierra Leone's diamond exports generate about $200 million a year, which naturally goes into the pockets of the rebels during the war to buy weapons for war use. It wasn't until the end of the civil war in 2002 that this sad cycle of bad names stopped. ”

"We think diamond suppliers will protest because the rate of conflict diamonds in circulation has dropped to less than 0.2 percent, do you think this theme will still be relevant at this time?" Lupin raised his doubts.

"The problem of conflict diamonds may have been curbed, but similar problems still exist, and in addition to diamonds, there are many other precious resources in Africa, because the conflict over resource interests has not stopped. Almost every discovery of valuable natural resources, whether diamonds, rubber, gold or oil, brings tragedy to the country where it is produced, and to make matters worse, the proceeds of these resources rarely serve the people of that country. The causes of this are more worthy of reflection than the results. ”

"What other requirements do you have besides getting an investment?" After listening to Lin Mingyang's introduction, Lu Ping had already decided to take down the script, so he put everything on the bright side to test what kind of reaction Lin Mingyang would have.

To his surprise, Lin Mingyang did not open his mouth this time, but made a request that MGM couldn't ask for.

"You decide how much you want to invest, but I will play the leading role!

Lu Ping looked at the fine stubble on Lin Mingyang's chin, and suddenly realized in his heart, at first he thought that Lin Mingyang was too busy writing scripts during this time and had no time to trim. Now it seems that Lin Mingyang should be preparing for his future role, and everything, including whether he will accept this script, is probably in Lin Mingyang's plan.

Although Lin Mingyang made a clear statement, Lupin was still a little uneasy, the film "Legend of the Night" changed the coach halfway, which made the producer suffer enough, and this matter was hyped up in Hollywood, and Lupin didn't want to repeat the mistakes of the past. In order to avoid a similar situation from happening again, it is necessary to find a director who can "match" Lin Mingyang from the beginning.

"And what about the director?"

Lin Mingyang did not hide it, and said bluntly: "After reading the script, you will definitely be able to find a large number of suitable candidates, to be honest, in fact, I also want to be the director of this film, but unfortunately I still have to go to college now, and I don't have so much energy and time for the time being." ”

Lupin smiled bitterly, "You are the screenwriter of the film, and you want to be the leading actor, of course we have to find a director who is recognized by you, otherwise how can you cooperate?" ”

Lin Mingyang naturally understood the meaning of Lu Ping's words, but this made him very depressed: "In the eyes of your producers, my image is really so bad? ”

Lupin's answer is playful: "Some questions are wrong with the incompetent, but become a surname in the capable." Felix, I admit that you are extremely talented, but you must also have shortcomings. In fact, you just need to put your surname a little more restrained, and more people will compete to cooperate with you. ”

From "The Legend of Autumn" to "The Last Samurai", the kind of spectacular, large-scale, and somewhat epic films have always been the director's best performance themes, and his films are unique in Hollywood with a strong cast and the prophetic surnames revealed in the works, and they have successfully honed the acting skills of many stars and helped them to become more brilliant on the road to fame. Films set against the backdrop of the Sierra Leonean civil war are exactly the genre that Rick is good at, and MGM is a good match for that.

Lin Mingyang wrote the script for "Blood Diamond" and insisted on playing the leading role in the film. Lu Ping believes that this is a positive signal that Lin Mingyang wants to get rid of the shackles of a handsome boy and change to the powerful line after his acting skills have matured.

And the theme of "Blood Diamond" is simply created to suit the taste of the Oscar judges. Films that reveal the inside story of the high-secret industry have all become the favorite of the academy, and at the same time, this film involves the dual theme of political war and unveiling, which can be doubly attractive. Lupin believes that Lin Mingyang must have written this script with the idea of hitting the Oscars, and Edward Zewick won seven awards including Best Picture and Best Director in one fell swoop for his film "Shakespeare in Love" in 1999.

Edward Zewick knew nothing about the Blood Diamond until he received the script, but as he learned more, his fascination and horror intensified, and he decided that it was a story that needed to be told.

But Edward Zewick had never been to Africa before, and his knowledge of the subject was even more lacking. In order to prepare for the work, in addition to studying a lot of background information, Edward Zewick contacted Lin Mingyang before the film began to prepare, hoping to get his help.

The script for "Blood Diamond" is the product of Lin Mingyang's memories and his experiences in African refugee camps, and he does not have a lot of material at his disposal for the civil war in Sierra Leone. The three movies Lin Mingyang has directed are all youth comedy movies, and the costumes and props don't need to be particularly careless at all, because the camera goofs or common sense in this kind of film may not work, and he has never paid special attention to these aspects.

Director Edward Zewick's inquiry reminded Lin Mingyang that a mature director not only shows his grasp of the camera and his unique understanding of the plot, but also has the ability to control the sense of the times of the whole film, especially when shooting this kind of film with history as the background, the preparation before shooting is particularly important, which is a big test for the director's skills.

Compared with the other party, Lin Mingyang saw his own gaps and shortcomings, and although he did not provide much help to Edward Zevik, he recommended to the other party a "Crying Freetown" filmed by the famous Sierra Leonean journalist and filmmaker Solyls Semura, which is the most authoritative documentary about the civil war in Sierra Leone. When he wrote the script, he used to refer to this film.

(To be continued)