novelraw Chapter 6, "Two Angry Men"
Chapter 6, "Two Angry Men"
There aren't many movies that fit Lin Yu's ideas.
His initial idea was the classic film "Buried," with a simple setting consisting of only a coffin and extremely low cost.
Although the film's setting is small, it is not easy to make, as it tests both the director's skill in lighting and shadow and his control over pacing.
If the pacing isn't handled well, the whole movie will fall apart. Audiences aren't going to buy into a ninety-minute film about someone lying in a coffin whining about nothing.
If it's filmed well, it'll be called "Buried Alive"; if it's filmed poorly, it'll be called "Going to the Ground".
Most importantly, this film was made in 2010; Lin Yu is too late. Making it now isn't called homage, it's plagiarism.
Finally, after careful selection, he chose a film that perfectly met his criteria: small setting, low cost, fast production time, and high reputation.
Twelve Angry Men
The 1957 American film tells the story of twelve jurors deliberating on a case of juvenile patricide.
Under the jury system in the United States, a verdict can be reached by a unanimous vote of all twelve.
The vast majority of the film takes place in one room.
Twelve jurors from different social classes, backgrounds, and personalities initially decided the defendant was guilty by a vote of eleven to one, but ultimately unanimously acquitted him.
There are no grand scenes, no special effects, no action sequences, and even the soundtrack is minimal. It's just twelve men arguing, debating, and playing games in a room.
Everyone brings their own prejudices, experiences, and values, which collide, compromise, and change in this enclosed space.
This film has been remade in countless countries. Russian, Japanese, Indian... each version incorporates its own legal system and social realities, and all have received positive reviews.
This shows that the core of the story is universal, and as long as it is adapted properly, it can resonate in any cultural context.
The Chinese version of "12 Citizens" wouldn't be released until 2014. Lin Yu remembered clearly that although the film didn't do well at the box office, it received quite good reviews.
But it's 2011 now, so they should still be in the copyright negotiation stage, or maybe they haven't even started negotiating yet.
The copyright fee for this film shouldn't be too expensive. In the US, adaptations of old screenplays are usually a one-time cash payment plus a share of the box office revenue. For an old film like "12 Angry Men" from the 1950s, the copyright fee should be within an affordable range.
Lin Yu's plan is that this movie will only have a three-day expedited run in theaters, and he doesn't expect to recoup its costs through theaters.
The company will recoup its costs through online and television copyrights.
The original film was so well made, but it still ended up being a box office flop. This was determined by market trends, and it wasn't something Lin Yu could change on his own.
The most important thing now is to get the adapted screenplay done. If the screenplay is too bad, the copyright holders might not be willing to sell it. They also need to consider their brand image; they can't let a bad movie ruin the reputation of a classic.
As for how to localize the jury system, the Chinese version of "12 Citizens" provides a good answer—mock trial.
China does not have a jury system, but it can be set up as a classroom experiment in law school or a simulation exercise for lawyer training.
However, Lin Yu did not intend to directly adopt this plan.
If we were to cast twelve professional actors like in "12 Citizens," the cost might be too high to keep up with.
While we haven't yet entered a period of skyrocketing salaries, it's still not cheap. Even if you find middle-aged actors who aren't particularly famous, twelve people together still represent a considerable expense.
Moreover, it's difficult to guarantee that every actor will be obedient or respectful of the director.
The same actor can deliver different performances depending on the director. For inexperienced directors like Lin Yu, who lack both fame and experience, it's easy for actors to outwardly comply but inwardly resist.
Even if he finds someone to back him up, there might still be some who don't know their place. After all, some actors are genuinely individualistic, or perhaps a bit arrogant.
Moreover, with twelve middle-aged male actors gathered together, each with their own ideas and experiences, it's easy for a "domineering actor" to emerge. In that case, it won't be the director directing, but rather the actors teaching the director how to film.
Right? I'm talking about you, Jiang Wen, Director Jiang. Of course, Madam Lu is not wronged at all.
Hmm, I need to find an opportunity to get back at him.
Lin Yu had no desire to become the second Lu Chuan Taro.
Therefore, he plans to change it directly to a homework assignment related to current social issues in law school.
Twelve young students, along with one or two teachers, engage in a simulated discussion around a high-profile case.
This setting has many advantages.
First, it saves on actor salaries. Using students from the Beijing Film Academy directly eliminates the need for pay; at most, they'll receive a small fee and meal allowance. Moreover, the students will undoubtedly put in their best effort to get screen time.
Secondly, student actors are easier to manage. Lin Yu is the director and also a classmate; they're all in the same school and see each other all the time. Students don't have as many ideas as professional actors; they just act the way the director tells them to.
Secondly, young actors have more potential. While middle-aged actors may have good acting skills, they are also prone to developing fixed performance patterns. Young students are like blank canvases, making it easier for them to shape characters according to the director's vision.
Finally, the premise itself makes perfect sense. Law students are more natural discussing cases than a group of middle-aged people mocking a trial.
Of course, using student actors also carries risks. Their acting skills might not be mature enough, and there might be a sense of awkwardness. But Lin Yu believes that this risk is manageable.
The most important aspects of the story "12 Angry Men" are the dialogue and pacing. As long as the right people are chosen and they receive a little training, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Moreover, Lin Yu planned to use the revised manuscript to fool teachers Wang Chunzi and Wang Jinsong to back them up.
If the acting isn't good enough, they can practice on the spot. They pay a semester's tuition and get an extra month of acting training. How come all these good things happen to the students?
The students may not understand at first, but they will understand Lin Yu's good intentions later.
I'll suffer for my classmates, and I'll bear the blame.
Lin Yu thought about it more and more and felt that the plan was feasible.
I'm simply a genius.
With that in mind, he turned on his computer, created a new document, and titled it "Adaptation Proposal for 'Twelve Angry Men'".
I casually turned on the American version of "12 Angry Men," and while the movie played, I started typing on my keyboard, writing my own adapted script. A classic is a classic; every time I watch it, I discover new details.
Well, if we change it like this, we'll need to add a few more female characters to make the homework background seem more realistic.
Just as Lin Yu was racking his brains trying to figure out how to revise the script, the dormitory door was suddenly pushed open.
Wang Yanyang burst in, phone in hand, a look of glee on his face: "Brother Yu! Brother Yu! You're famous!"
"What's trending?" Lin Yu asked without looking up, still staring at the screen.
"Look at the forum!" Wang Yanyang shoved his phone directly in front of Lin Yu's face. "Your affair with Nazha is trending!"
Lin Yu then looked up and took the phone. The screen showed the web version of the Beijing Film Academy's online forum, with a post prominently displayed on the homepage.
"The most beautiful art student from the Class of 11 publicly confessed her love but was rejected? Pictures and proof included!"