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Chapter 133 After the Cocktail Party

Chapter 133 After the Cocktail Party (Please subscribe, collect, recommend, and vote for monthly tickets)
Is Identity a good movie?

To be precise, its creativity was absolutely amazing in 2001.

The theme is actually the treatment and trial process in which a doctor and a judge try to help a patient remove multiple personalities.

The murders are all fake, but fictional characters created in the patient's mind.

The narrative technique is also very ordinary.

By placing several characters in a closed dramatic space, each character's foreground and background, as well as conflicts and contradictions, including their fear of the unknown, are all very sensitive, thus creating a highly tense drama.

Twenty years later, it seems a bit old-fashioned.

In fact, if you put Titanic twenty years later, the post-00s might not necessarily accept it.

But now...

The original film has been released many times, but as of 2023 it still hasn't broken the $ million box office mark.

The ending, in particular, felt a bit forced and out of place with the tension and gruesome death that preceded it.

But it’s a good idea after all!

The problem...

In directing and screenwriting.

Screenwriter Michael Cooney is a director and screenwriter.

But his works are unknown.

Director James Mangold is an experienced director.

By the time he directed Identity in 2002, four of his films had already been released.

There have been many works since then, but overall, they are neither high nor low. They are not particularly excellent, but they are not bad either.

In his previous life, Liu Jin had taken his classes when he was studying at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

He himself said that the script of ID had problems. He and Michael mentioned this idea during a casual chat in 2002. Michael then spent days to write the script, which was then passed the green light panel of Columbia Pictures.

Of course, there’s the influence of James Mangold.

After all, his previous film "Girl, Interrupted" performed well, and the investment in "Identity" was not high. Columbia Pictures approved this project for his sake.

In James' own words: I should polish this script a little more!
Now, Liu Jin told David Lynch the outline of this story.

Moreover, during their communication, he discovered that David Lynch had a quick reaction and a very sharp mind.

Whenever Liu Jin encounters a problem while sorting out a story, he can often come up with a solution quickly.

The pleasure of brainstorming made Liu Jin very happy.

When he was writing online articles in his previous life, he loved brainstorming with others the most.

Especially during the period when online literature was developing at its fastest pace, he and Lao Mao, Birdman, Qishier and others would often get together to drink tea, discuss stories, and talk about plots. That was also his happiest time. After he left Chengdu, such exchanges became less and less frequent.

And now, he experienced that joy again.

"Amos, when will you finish the story?"

"what?"

"I like this story. It's right up my alley."

“I’m not a screenwriter, I’m just a writer.”

David Lynch was startled and glanced at Liu Jin, "Why?"

"Screenwriting is too hard, I don't like it. I prefer to write my stories into novels and publish them. Whether they are adapted into movies is none of my business. I'm just a storyteller. I don't do the craft of screenwriting."

Liu Jin said this with a look of disgust on his face.

His refusal also surprised David Lynch.

Even Sophie Marceau and Naomi next to him were worried about him.

What a great opportunity!

Being recognized by David Lynch is equivalent to opening the door to Hollywood.

This is the dream of many Hollywood screenwriters, but Liu Jin actually refused?
"Don't you want to go to Hollywood?"

Liu Jin laughed out loud when he heard this.

He took a glass of champagne from Sophie Marceau and said with a smile, "What should I do in Hollywood? Actress? Is there room for Asian actors in Hollywood? Director? That's a talent... Just like the mysterious, gloomy, and intertwined characteristics of director Lynch's films, which are your unique style; and Chinese director Zhang Yimou, his keen sense of color is his talent.

His imagination and unique romanticism are also his characteristics.

Even if I knew, I couldn’t imitate or learn it… Rather than being a third-rate director, it’s more comfortable to write.

As for the screenwriter..."

Liu Jin hesitated for a moment, raised his glass and said with a smile: "Cheers to the screenwriters!"

David Lynch couldn't help but laugh.

“Cheers to the screenwriters!”

He is in this circle, how could he not know the hard life of screenwriters?
"So, you're not going to Hollywood."

"Not interested in."

"Alright then, no need to force it... But you have to keep this story for me. What was it called?"

"IDENTITY."

Liu Jin thought about it and decided to use the original name.

As I recall, Director Mangold mentioned in class that he and Michael Cooney discussed this idea in March 2002.

In other words, Liu Jin had to complete and publish this story before the end of the year.

I owed a debt for no apparent reason!
Liu Jin thought for a moment and said, "My price is not low."

"Hahaha, do I look like a poor director with no money?"

How much money does David Lynch have?

Liu Jin didn't know.

But he knew he would win the Best Director award at Cannes for Mulholland Drive.

Therefore, if he wanted to buy the copyright of this novel, his bid would not be too low. Of course, if he didn't bid, the most likely option would be for the film company to pay. After all, with his fame and status, it shouldn't be too difficult.

"Okay, I'll finish this story as soon as possible."

"Then I'll wait!"

David Lynch smiled happily, like a happy child who had received a gift.

……

"Is Amos here too?"

Luc Besson was also invited to the reception.

When he heard Ajani talking about Liu Jin, he immediately became excited.

"Where is he? I was looking for him." "What for?"

"I really like his book 'Father'. But his agent has been unwilling to relent and is even unwilling to negotiate.

I understand the Chinese people. What they value most is human relationships.

I'll talk to him and see what he means..."

Ajani couldn't help but laugh.

"why are you laughing?"

"I'm laughing at you, Europa Films... I spent $2.3 million in real money to get the adaptation rights to his book 'Amelie.' And Europa Films is only offering $800,000? Oh my god, you have to understand, 'Father' has a far greater influence than 'Amelie.' If Miramax hadn't just invested in 'Amelie,' I would have let that old pervert Harvey buy the adaptation rights to 'Father.'"

"Two million three hundred thousand dollars... Harvey is actually willing to pay two million three hundred thousand dollars for the adaptation rights?"

Luc Besson was stunned and blurted out: "He is just a Chinese."

“But he’s a good writer.”

The French discrimination against China is ingrained in their bones.

Even though Luc Besson has collaborated a lot with Chinese filmmakers, he still subconsciously reveals his arrogance.

However, he was smart and immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing.

I looked around and saw that no one was paying attention, so I breathed a sigh of relief.

"How much do you think it would cost to get the adaptation rights?"

"Amos's book, 'Father,' is predicted by a reading magazine to have sales exceeding two million in France."

Anjelica glanced at Luc Besson with some disdain in her heart.

Liu Jin is not one of those Chinese filmmakers.

No matter how famous you, Luc Besson, are, it means nothing to Liu Jin.

If he really conveyed what he just said to Liu Jin, he probably wouldn't be able to get his hands on the copyright of "Father".

That's a tough guy who will go to court if he disagrees with something!

"three million?"

"At least three million."

Anjelica still hopes that the novel will be adapted into a film by a French filmmaker.

But French filmmakers...

In Anjelica's opinion, Luc Besson is closer to the Hollywood type. She is afraid that if she is selected by an old-school director, he will explore the distortion of human nature.

"Three million is too much."

Luc Besson couldn't help but complain.

"What do you mean three million is too much?"

David Lynch walked over accompanied by Naomi and happened to hear Luc Besson's complaints.

"Uh, a novel."

"What kind of novel is it that requires three million for the adaptation rights?"

"It's the work of Amos, the one I was just chatting with you about, 'The Father Trapped in Time.'"

"Amos's work? That should be worth something."

Luc Besson was stunned and looked at David Lynch in confusion.

David Lynch laughed and said, "I was just chatting with that guy. He came up with a good story based on my style, and I like it very much. I have already made an agreement with him that as soon as his work comes out, I will buy the adaptation rights."

"what story?"

David Lynch laughed and said, “Secret!”

"By the way, where is he?"

"he?"

David Lynch suddenly laughed and glanced at Naomi beside him.

Naomi laughed too.

"Maybe Naomi was too charming and Amos looked at her a few times, so Sophie got angry and took him away."

"Amos, Sophie... you mean Sophie Marceau?"

"Yes!"

"Damn bastard, when did he hook up with Sophie!"

As he spoke, Luc Besson couldn't help but glance at Naomi.

This girl is really beautiful.