Late September, Sunset Tower Hotel, Los Angeles, penthouse suite.
This was a closed-door script meeting with the core creative team. The large, long conference table was piled high with drafts, coffee cups, and ashtrays.
The news that Keanu Reeves was confirmed to play the male lead was like a shot in the arm, instantly accelerating the entire team's progress.
At that moment, Aaron Sorkin was leaning against the whiteboard, while David Fincher, wearing glasses, was twirling a pencil in his hand, staring at the script outline on the table.
"Trilogy?"
After listening to Lin Qi's idea, David Fincher stopped twirling his pen and shook his head without hesitation.
"Lin, I know a lot has happened in Boston these past few years, there's plenty of material. But as a drama leaning towards business warfare and thriller, a trilogy is too drawn out. Audiences will experience serious aesthetic fatigue watching over three hours of locker room deals and conference room battles in the theater." Fincher tapped the table with his pencil. "The most suitable length is two parts. Tight and concise, without a single unnecessary embellishment."
Aaron Sorkin immediately nodded in agreement. "I agree with David. Two films are just the right amount of time to complete a full character arc."
Sorkin picked up Mark and drew an undulating curve on the whiteboard.
"The core conflict of the first part, the upper part, is 'establishing a dynasty.'" Sorkin's speech quickened, entering his most familiar rhythm. "At the beginning of the first part, Lin, your character has to be a somewhat annoying guy. Under immense external pressure, you become an extremely anxious control freak. You frantically engage in micromanagement, not only interfering with the scouting department but even reaching into the coaching bench, interfering with team formations."
"For the first half hour, the audience might think you're a neurotic, unapproachable oddball. But as the story progresses, when they see you facing the oppression of an owner like Gaston, when they see you using your professional skills to overturn those outdated rules, and when you actually bring victory to the team, the audience will start to switch sides."
Sorkin drew a heavy circle at the top of the curve, then turned his pen downwards.
"The climax of the first film was winning the championship in the shortened 1999 season. The audience would give you a standing ovation. In the second film, Pete's character comes into play. Even though you've won, you're still as tense as a string that could snap at any moment. And in the following season, the old-school, humanistic basketball philosophy that Pete represents begins to influence you in reverse."
"The plot anchor for the second part is that high-stakes gamble: signing the injury-plagued Grant Hill. Your data team told you it was a poison pill contract, but Pete's 'human touch' and trust in the player convinced you. You endured everyone's ridicule, allowing him to focus on recovery for almost two seasons. Ultimately, on the NBA Finals stage, a recovered Hill shone brightly, winning the Finals MVP."
"This is the ultimate proof of your transformation from a cold-blooded manager to Kingmaker with passion." Sorkin looked at the lines on the whiteboard. "You went from initially disliking each other to cooperating. At the end of the second part, the control freak who was under immense pressure finally learned to let down his guard. In the process, the team also achieved the feat of four consecutive championships."
Fincher leaned back in his chair, looking at Lin Qi: "First, make the audience hate you, then respect you, and finally understand you, even love you. That's the law of filmmaking. What do you think?"
Lin Qi listened quietly. He had to admit that the people in Hollywood were indeed very professional in controlling public sentiment and pacing storytelling.
In Sorkin's writing, Lin Qi is split into two extremes: Keanu Reeves represents absolute rationality and data, while Brad Pete represents the stripped-away "human touch." This dramatic treatment makes the film more intense.
But Lin Qi knew very well that once the movie became a hit, curious reporters and fans would definitely dig into his real background. When they opened the newspapers and discovered that the real Lin Qi not only possessed Keanu ' ruthless scheming, but also single-handedly demonstrated the human touch of "giving a seriously injured veteran a minimum salary and patiently waiting for the star to recover" as seen in Pete's role, the public would be caught in a huge psychological contrast.
"So, the half that Pete played was also himself."
By then, the real-life Lin Qi will be seen by the public as even more impressive and incredible than the fictional protagonist in the movie who is influenced by a scout and needs a two-man team.
Of course, all of this requires sufficient funding for extensive publicity and to bribe film critics and sports columnists across the United States to "coincidentally" discover and widely publicize this "hidden truth."
"Okay. Let's film it in two parts, first and second." Lin Qi made the final decision.
"Now that the script structure is set, let's talk about the most practical issues." Fincher put down his pencil, his expression turning serious. "Lin, I'm a slow filmmaker. Sorkin's lines are too dense, Keanu and Pete need a lot of rehearsals. I estimate that the initial location shooting alone will take four months, which will be very expensive."
Lin Qi knew very well that even if the film flopped in theaters, the loss wouldn't affect his finances. He had the ability to come up with a very extravagant budget; after all, this was to maintain control over the narrative of his public image, and this money had to be spent.
But he couldn't possibly say something as stupid as "no budget limit" in front of these Hollywood veterans. In Hollywood, if you show no concept of budget, every aspect of the production will be found to be falsifying expenses exponentially.
Lin Qi placed his hands on the table, speaking calmly.
"The first and second films were shot back-to-back, with a production budget of $80 million, earmarked for this purpose and deposited entirely into a third-party production oversight account." Lin Qi looked at Fincher and Sorkin, "I need top-notch cinematographers and the best editors."
Fincher raised an eyebrow; that number was quite ample for a drama film.
"Regarding the interior of Boston Garden," Lin Qi added, "There's no need to spend a fortune on CGI effects or rebuild the set. Just find an abandoned, run-down arena outside Los Angeles and do some minor modifications. I still have the iconic parquet flooring from the Celtics' old arena stored in Stephen Curry in Boston. Before filming starts, I'll have it flown over and installed; the texture will be absolutely realistic."
Fincher nodded in satisfaction. "This will save a lot of money on art direction, and live-action footage is always better than CGI."
Lin Qi did the math in his head. The production cost was $80 million, plus at least tens of millions of dollars for global publicity and marketing, which already amounted to an investment of over $100 million.
But Lin Qi felt it was well worth the money.
David Stern's ban portrayed him the Admiral the media as a "troublemaker" who broke league rules.
If this kind of public opinion is allowed to fester, any commercial moves he makes in the NBA in the future will face unimaginable obstacles.
But this investment of over 100 million dollars will completely reshape his public image on the big screen. From a control freak with micromanagement skills in his early years, he will gradually transform into a " Kingmaker " who understands basketball, has passion, and changes the league.
In a sense, this is more than just a movie. It will be the most expensive and meticulously planned public image campaign in American history. Fans, players, and other NBA executives will all have their perceptions subtly reshaped by this film.
As long as we can seize the narrative power of history, we can change our future situation of being surrounded by enemies.
" The Los Angeles stuff is done. You'll be handling location scouting and pre-production work with my producer."
Lin Qi stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, extended his hand to the two main creators, and glanced at the watch on his wrist.
The time is almost up; the 2002-2003 season is about to begin, and the NCAA season will start soon.
Lin Qi needs to go and see the people who truly determine the future.