Chapter 41

Just chatted in the Chen Yanxi for a while. Everyone was very enthusiastic, and Lin Nan received a lot of contact information alone.

Counting the time, he left this side. There were signs for the exchange meeting, which were very conspicuous. Lin Nan went over alone, and Hu Ge stayed in the Chen Yanxi.

"Should we go over and take a look? Didn't the class teacher say that many film and television companies, producers, and directors would come?"

I don't know who mentioned it. Everyone looked in that direction with tacit understanding. The school's meaning was very clear; this is also equivalent to half a promotion meeting.

Smart students understood the meaning as soon as the teacher greeted them for the first time.

Lin Nan met an acquaintance, from Shanghai Film Group.

"Lin Dao came to Shanghai, why didn't you say you were going to the group to sit for a while? Ren Zong mentioned you some time ago."

This is not false. Lin Nan's first film was helped by Shanghai Film Group, but later he got closer to China Film Group.

The post-production and distribution of "Apart Together," and Enlight Media's promotion of "Crazy Stone"—suddenly, Shanghai Film Group had nothing to do with it.

Ren Zong must be nagging, but the Film Academy is in the north after all, and China Film Group is closer, occupying an innate advantage.

"It has to be next time. After attending the exchange meeting, I have to catch a flight. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've seen Ren Zong."

"Then next time. Let's go in first..."

The people from Shanghai Film Group smiled, and the two left their names on the sign-in book together.

The Shanghai Theatre Academy made it quite fancy, actually inviting some media.

Lin Nan saw many signatures: Huayi, China Film Group, Xi'an Film Group, and other film companies, famous directors, screenwriters, as well as literary and art troupes, stage play troupes, and other units, as well as some TV drama production companies.

The venue was already very lively. Taking advantage of the organizer's platform, everyone chatted very happily. It was impossible to judge how much was true and how much was false.

Tang Ren's Cai Yinong also came and was chatting with several screenwriters. Lin Nan also saw Lu Chuan.

Although the box office of "Kekexili" flopped badly and the copyright didn't sell well, the Golden Horse Best Film and the Tokyo Film Festival Jury Prize made him a well-known director as a matter of course.

Lin Nan's entry attracted a batch of attention, including this Senior Brother Lu. He turned around and walked towards the crowd of Huayi people in the distance.

Many people greeted Lin Nan, mostly heads of film companies, and some directors and screenwriters.

The exchange meeting entered the main topic, starting from the outstanding works and awards of film and television data, stage plays, and operas in the past two years, and presented them to everyone in the form of a report.

The first half was quite official, but there were private goods in the second half, counting the good achievements made by the Shanghai Theatre Academy in recent years, especially citing some excellent students.

Lin Nan looked at the person from Shanghai Film Group next to him with a puzzled face, thinking to himself, don't be so direct, it's one of the three major art academies after all.

Who knew that the person from Shanghai Film Group smiled and lowered his voice, "Film and television exchange meetings, especially those held by academies, are actually the theme. You haven't been to the Film Academy's exchange meeting, have you?"

The other party looked at Lin Nan with a certain expression, determined that Lin Nan was attending this kind of exchange meeting for the first time.

"I was rash..."

Lin Nan turned his head and continued to listen to the speech above.

"The film and television industry is changing with each passing day and is booming. Everyone sitting here is the pillar force of the domestic film and television industry. I also hope that everyone can give the academy's students an opportunity to show themselves and give young people a stage..."

Lin Nan listened. Every year, the number of crews is increasing, but it is far from the growth ratio of practitioners. Art academies are also worried about the employment rate. It's not enough to just produce a few vanguard soldiers.

There are too many examples of students in art academies who graduate but cannot engage in their own industry. It's not that they don't want to, but they have no opportunity. The school thinks of ways on this point, and the starting point is very worthy of praise.

Literary and art troupes and stage play troupes generally like students from theatre academies, and the two theatre academies have indeed produced many excellent stage play actors, but the mainstream is not stage plays after all.

The latter part is the real exchange meeting. Many companies brought projects and spots, but they are definitely not important resources. This is already enough. Later, there will be special audition channels left for students here.

Companies, and companies with directors and screenwriters, also took this opportunity to chat about cooperation or recruitment.

Lin Nan socialized for a while and took the opportunity to slip out of the venue.

There were many students outside, and the academy did it intentionally.

Seeing Lin Nan's figure coming out, many people's eyes lit up.

A little girl ran over, "Hello Lin Dao, I am Wang Xiaochen from the '04 Chen Yanxi of the Shanghai Theatre Academy..."

"I am Jiang Shuying from the '04 grade..."

By the time Lin Nan saw Hu Ge, five people had already greeted him.

"Isn't there a reception banquet later? Why did you come out?"

"Not very suitable for that occasion. My flight is tomorrow, a long journey. I have to rest my spirit tonight, so I came to tell you."

"Where to? Such a long journey." Hu Ge asked curiously.

"California."

Hu Ge nodded, "Then I'll treat you to another meal this afternoon, just as a farewell for you."

"No problem."

The next morning, Hu Ge drove Lin Nan to the airport.

In the waiting room, Lin Nan contacted Tom. He would arrive in Los Angeles around 8:00 on the morning of the 5th.

After a 12-hour flight, Lin Nan slept for 8 hours. By the time he landed, it was the beginning of another day.

"The air isn't sweet either..."

Following the crowd, he saw many people holding signs to pick up passengers from afar. Lin Nan scanned the circle, looking for his target.

Someone was shaking a cardboard sign, waving, and shouting loudly, "Line here..."

A slightly chubby man in his thirties, with short brown hair and glasses, half a head shorter than Lin Nan, was Tom.

"Welcome to Los Angeles."

After getting closer, Tom spoke standard Mandarin and gave Lin Nan a hug.

When they first met, Lin Nan was very surprised by the other party's Mandarin. Finally, he knew that the other party had taken the initiative to hire a Chinese teacher and had learned Chinese. The purpose was very simple: to facilitate work and communication with Eastern clients.

"Lin, they have urged several times. They have taken a fancy to your script. You are simply a genius..."

Tom did not spare his praise. Working for Lin Nan for so long, it was not only easy but also earned a lot of US dollars.

"This time I still need you to help me find a professional lawyer. There can be no problems with the contract." Lin Nan sat in Tom's car and said.

Tom, who was driving, was obviously excited when he heard this, "So, you have already decided to sell the script?"

"Talk about the first one first; the others are later. What about other companies?"

"There are many companies contacting me, and many directors have consulted, but none have clearly expressed it. But I have a 60% certainty that they will not give up."

Lin Nan nodded. Tom had been passing messages for him, and the conditions he reported were indeed not the asking price of a newcomer. At the very least, he was a newcomer here at that time.

"Don't worry. At worst, I'll invest money to do it myself and find a company to distribute it, right?" Lin Nan smiled.

"Yes, I have read every script you sent. You really should come to Hollywood; you belong here."

"Congratulations again, Berlin's Best Director. God, you are still so young. At that time, I was still taking the qualification certificate..."

Tom chattered all the way; he was a talkative American.

Lin Nan checked into a star-rated hotel. Tom asked him if he wanted to go to Hollywood to see. The giants of the film industry were all there, as well as beautiful female stars.

"No, you can contact the people at Lionsgate. Tell them I'm here."

He can play anytime, but at least he has to do his business.

"Okay, shall we make an appointment for tomorrow?"

"Just tomorrow, let's go to Santa Monica."

"OK."

Staying in the hotel, Lin Nan prepared for the meeting the next day.

Santa Monica, 22 kilometers away from downtown Los Angeles, is the destination of Lin Nan's trip.

A resort with famous coastal attractions, it is also the headquarters of Lionsgate in America.

The next day, Tom came very early. As Lin Nan's agent here, he had the obligation to serve him.

"Lin, I have already communicated with the people at Lionsgate yesterday. They will welcome us at the company."

"Then let's go." Lin Nan fastened his seat belt and said.

The car drove all the way to Santa Monica. Lin Nan was still thinking about his conditions. Lionsgate had always wanted to spend a sum of money to buy out the script copyright directly, but Lin Nan didn't agree.

After pulling for a long time, Lionsgate finally compromised and invited Lin Nan to talk face-to-face. This is what Lin Nan had to do on this trip to America.

Lionsgate is an independent film company that originated in Vancouver. Last year, "Saw" used a small amount to gain a large one, creating a box office legend.

The script that the other party took a fancy to this time is the "Insidious" series. When Tom told Lin Nan about this, the latter could only think of the word "fate" in his mind at that time. It was too coincidental.

Arriving at the Lionsgate headquarters in Santa Monica, the person who received Lin Nan and Tom was a person in charge of the production department, as well as the director of "Saw," James Wan.

"Welcome, Lin Dao Nan." James Wan came up.

"Hello, Director Wan." As a Chinese-American, it was no problem for Lin Nan to call him that.

"When Tom told us that the script came from a young director, we didn't dare to believe it until the news from Berlin came. Lin Dao is really a genius."

"You're too polite. 'Saw' is very amazing."

"Thank you, but speaking of which, Leigh Whannell didn't come today. He likes your script very much, almost to the point of fanaticism..."

Lin Nan felt quite embarrassed at this moment.

"James, don't rush to chat; we still have business to talk about." The person from Lionsgate interrupted James Wan's words in time.

In a conference room, Lin Nan and Tom sat together, opposite James Wan and two Lionsgate executives. James Wan's degree of being valued was reflected all at once.

"Lin Dao, if we can cooperate successfully today, if there are no accidents, I will direct it." James Wan said.

A Lionsgate executive spoke first, "Lin, it's a pleasure to meet you in person. Our previous offer for the two 'Insidious' scripts was 1 million US dollars. At that time, Tom said you refused.

You know, many senior screenwriters in the Writers Guild only get 100,000 to 200,000 dollars for a film at most.

In view of this, we specifically learned about you. Currently, you have written and directed three films, released two, both of which made a lot of money, and the third one won the Silver Bear. You are very excellent."