Chapter 1106: You should be thanking us Tree Friends instead!!

Inside the largest editing room of the Tree Friends building, all of Tree Friends' current director seeds were gathered: Kijima Shizhi, Matsuo Munao, Nishimoto Tomoyuki... even Yin Tangxiuyi had run over to join the fun.

It wasn't just because Naoki Nagayama was about to start editing *Ghost*, but because he was going to use the most cutting-edge special effects technology currently available to create the film's effects, and everyone had come to learn~

The editing room had introduced the most advanced SGI graphics workstations, as well as high-quality film scanners and recorders. With the massive mainframes, other supporting equipment, and all sorts of cables... the whole setup felt no different from a future computer server room!

Currently, Japan had no professional film special effects companies, so Tree Friends had no choice but to invite engineers from the United States who knew how to operate SGI graphics workstations to handle the work...

"Director Nagayama..."

The senior engineer, Luo Bote, whose hair was already somewhat gray, was German. He explained to Naoki Nagayama, who was sitting beside him, in German:

"Currently, the speed of the film scanner and recorder is very slow. The image patterns are very large, and the graphics workstation's computing power cannot handle overly long image processing. One minute at most..."

This engineer, Luo Bote, had been invited from the United States along with the graphics workstation. Like a lawyer, he charged by the hour. He could be considered a high-end talent who combined the skills of a special effects artist, technician, and engineer.

"Mm, I understand."

Regarding these early graphics workstations, even if Naoki Nagayama were a programmer in the future, he wouldn't know how to use them... after all, he wasn't exactly a tech geek.

He couldn't even quite figure out the three-button mouse of the current graphics workstation, so he could only communicate with the engineer...

"Although there are quite a few special effects scenes in the movie, most of them are only ten-second shots."

"Then that won't be a problem..."

Luo Bote nodded, feeling a bit more relaxed.

The SGI graphics workstation was a product just developed in the United States this year and didn't have much fame in Japan yet. Before coming to Japan, the company's CEO had instructed him to serve this film company, Tree Friends, well; it might just be the best advertisement for the product to enter the Japanese market!

And Naoki Nagayama actually knew how to use German. Although he also knew English, sometimes using one's mother tongue was more precise.

However, the other directors in the editing room naturally didn't speak German, and they weren't very proficient in English either, so Naoki Nagayama could only occasionally translate for them.

"This is the film scanner and recorder. It scans the images on the film into digital images, then edits them inside the workstation... and finally outputs them back to film through a digital-to-film process..."

"However, due to hardware limitations, it can only process images for short durations..."

"..."

Kijima Shizhi, Matsuo Munao, and the others listened intently. Although it was all related to film, they only had a half-understood grasp of this advanced image processing technology.

In their eyes, film special effects were still produced on the film itself, similar to frame-by-frame rotoscoping and background compositing, or using model photography, perspective, and double exposure. All these preparations for special effects were done during filming, and broadly speaking, they were all pre-production effects.

Not like now, where post-production special effects were made directly in the workstation~

"It looks like being a director in the future will require learning computer technology!" Nishimoto Tomoyuki sighed with emotion.

At the same time, he was also glad that the movie *Ghost* had been taken by Naoki Nagayama. If it had been him filming it, it might have turned into an ordinary romance film, let alone being able to produce so many special effects.

Yin Tangxiuyi stroked his chin, considering it from the perspective of a senior executive:

"Directors need to understand this method of special effects production, but the specific operations can be handled by sending dedicated personnel to learn!"

"Future film production work will definitely become increasingly specialized. The director should be responsible for the overall presentation, not doing everything personally..."

He looked at the cables covering the floor of the editing room and the complex mainframe of the graphics workstation... just looking at it made it seem so complicated and difficult to operate!

Naoki Nagayama heard this and nodded:

"Xiuyi-san, you could try suggesting to the professors at the Tokyo University of the Arts to add a course specializing in special effects production... Currently, the Japanese entertainment industry doesn't have professional special effects talent. If Tokyo University of the Arts tries it first, perhaps all the special effects artists in Japan will come from there in the future... That would be a huge influence!"

"That makes sense!"

Yin Tangxiuyi clapped his hands. He was currently coordinating the establishment of the Tokyo Film Association. Once *Ghost* was released and the name of the special effects artist became famous, if he could persuade his teachers to open this course, it would be a solid "political achievement" in the film industry!

Thus, he began calculating how to talk to his mentor~

Naoki Nagayama here had just said it casually, and turning his head, he continued to work with Luo Bote on the production of the special effects shots.

"First is the first shot... passing through a person..."

Naoki Nagayama opened the special effects shot manual he had organized and began processing the first special effects shot according to the plot development.

The male lead had just discovered he had become a ghost and experienced the special effects of passing through a moving stretcher and a doctor's body in the hospital...

"When passing through objects, you only need partial coverage. The main thing is that when passing through an object and restoring the body, there needs to be a gradient process based on the object's movement..."

"Luo Bote, let's focus on this special effect today!"

"Okay, Director Nagayama!"

The news that Naoki Nagayama and Akina Mori had returned to Tokyo was already known to the entertainment industry.

However, because Naoki Nagayama had already plunged into the editing room and was usually nowhere to be found, many media outlets could only call Tree Friends' publicity department, wanting to interview Naoki Nagayama.

"An exclusive interview? Sorry, that's impossible... Nagayama-san is currently engaged in intense film editing work. You know, he has a release deadline for the film!"

Ishikawa Jin from the publicity department used official jargon to deal with the media, but he didn't forget to give them a sweet treat:

"However, this weekend, *Ghost* will hold a completion disclosure event. If everyone has questions, you can ask them then."

"The location is at the 'Bungeiza' cinema in Ikebukuro. Of course, we will send invitations to all our media friends..."

"Thank you for your support!"

After skillfully hanging up the phone, Ishikawa Jin let out a breath.

He said to the senior deputy director beside him, Eiichiro Watanabe:

"Fortunately, Nagayama-san is already back... otherwise I'd have to think about how to answer the media~"

"You'll get used to it... You can't be too close to these media, but you can't be too distant either... How does that saying go? 'Be close and they become disrespectful; be distant and they become resentful'..."

Eiichiro Watanabe reviewed the final film promotion plan and finally stapled the plan together:

"Ishikawa... you can start writing the press release now, and then let the media publish their reports according to the press release..."

"Hai, I understand."

Ishikawa Jin nodded, but there was still one question:

"Then if the other leads are interviewed..."

"Just tell their agents in advance not to spoil the plot." Eiichiro Watanabe stood up, ready to send the plan to the department head's office. "They can say whatever else they want; it'll just increase the buzz."

"Hai..."

Eiichiro Watanabe knocked on the door of Toshihiko Sugiyama's office:

"Department Head... the promotion plan for *Ghost* is ready. Please take a look..."

Toshihiko Sugiyama, who was on the phone, nodded, signaling Eiichiro Watanabe to put the plan down, while he continued to speak into the receiver:

"Department Head Yamashita... our Tree Friends' screening schedule naturally needs to be increased!"

"I know, I know, the Christmas screening schedule is tight, and Toho and Toei also have films being released in the Christmas season...

But you know, our Tree Friends' films have always been big hits, and what's more, this time it's a film directed by Nagayama-san himself... and it's a romance film!

Let me tell you, Nagayama-san said it's the kind that will make girls cry!"

"Think about it, how many young people will it attract to the Aeon cinema to watch the movie?

After crying from watching the movie, won't they sit in the mall's dining area for a while to calm down?"

"Won't they buy, buy, buy in the Aeon mall to soothe their wounded hearts?"

"Won't the boy beside them open his wallet to buy gifts to make his girlfriend smile?"

"Isn't this a huge boost for Christmas sales?!"

By the end of his speech, Toshihiko Sugiyama's tone was high and mighty:

"This is our Tree Friends empowering Aeon, attracting popularity!!!"

"You should be thanking us instead!!!"

"..."

After a burst of righteous indignation, Toshihiko Sugiyama listened to Department Head Yamashita's promise on the other end, and only then did he reveal a smile.

Finally, Toshihiko Sugiyama hung up the phone with a satisfied face~

"Ha, Department Head Yamashita agreed to increase the screening schedule!!!"

Generally speaking, it's the film production companies that beg the cinema chains to increase screening schedules, but Eiichiro Watanabe watched Toshihiko Sugiyama's speech lift Tree Friends to a high pedestal, and he couldn't help but want to applaud the department head!

"Department Head, you're truly amazing!!" Eiichiro Watanabe hurriedly congratulated him, "You actually made the Aeon cinema back down in just a few sentences!"

"Amazing what, it's all thanks to Nagayama-san's fame!" Toshihiko Sugiyama waved his hand, seeing this quite clearly. "If it weren't for his previous films being recognized by the industry, how could the negotiations have gone so smoothly."

"That is definitely also thanks to Department Head Sugiyama's eloquence!"

"Hahaha, you kid are getting better and better at buttering me up!"

"Not at all, not at all, everything I said is the truth!"

Toshihiko Sugiyama laughed and scolded him, but he felt very pleased inside.

This guy Eiichiro Watanabe, after a few years of tempering in the workplace, his path is getting wider and wider!

He opened the promotion plan for *Ghost* and flipped through it briefly. The general content of this plan was what had been discussed before, and there was nothing that needed changing.

"Mm, we'll go report this plan to Xiuyi-san and Nagayama-san at noon." Toshihiko Sugiyama said, "It just so happens that both of them are here today..."

"At noon?"

"Both bosses are in the editing room right now... I heard a lot of people are learning special effects production in there..." Toshihiko Sugiyama closed the plan.

"We can only report briefly while they're eating. Anyway, this is a mature plan..."

"Okay~"

Why do company leaders like to discuss work while eating?

Because that's one of the few times they have free time to communicate freely!

While the Tree Friends company in Tokyo was exceptionally busy, on the other side of the ocean in Paris, another Tree Friends film crew was also busy.

"Masataka-san, the light is very good today, we can film!"

Hearing his subordinate's report, Komori Masataka let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay, have everyone gather in the lobby!"

The film crew had just arrived in Paris when they encountered a rare rainy day, which worried him to death... You have to know that every day the crew stays here is money burning!

Not to mention the lead cast... every day of the schedule was burning money like crazy!

They had already finished filming all the indoor scenes in the past few days, and there was still quite a bit of time left... He could only give the crew members a holiday to go shopping in Paris, which was simply delightful!

Especially Chikako Aoyama, who hadn't been abroad much, and under the leadership of Leslie Cheung, she had shopped through all the commercial streets of Paris... Even the rain couldn't stop a girl's determination to shop!

However, Kyohei Shibata stayed in the hotel very steadily...

"Minna-san..." Komori Masataka clapped his hands to attract the attention of the crew members, "It's finally cleared up! We must seize the time today and catch up on our progress!"

"Hai!" "Okay!" "..."

At an outdoor cafe in Paris, the white tablecloths were dazzlingly neat, and the fresh flowers on the tables were in full bloom. Under the brilliant sunshine, the three leads were chatting happily around a small table.

Chikako Aoyama had changed into a casual dress, with black hair accessories, fair skin, and bright red lips, full of mature charm. The two large pearl earrings revealed an aura of luxury.

And Leslie Cheung and Kyohei Shibata beside her were in casual and loose clothes, their expressions relaxed and harmonious, chatting while drinking coffee...

Chikako Aoyama suddenly looked up, staring at the cathedral not far away:

"Do you know what place that is?"

"Of course I do, it's Notre Dame~" Kyohei Shibata joked on purpose.

"It's Notre-Dame de Paris..." Chikako Aoyama corrected, her eyes looking into the distance, full of longing. "I really hope to hold a wedding there... with many flower girls accompanying me into the cathedral, and the whole road covered with beautiful morning glories..."

"Cut!"

Komori Masataka shouted.

"Chikako-chan, you don't have to force your eyes open so wide... The sunlight here is already strong, you can be more casual, squint a little..."

"But you can't squint too much, you need to let the camera see the changes in your eyes..."

"..."

Chikako Aoyama wanted to curse inside. It was already hard to open her eyes facing the sun, and there were so many requirements!

However, she still tried her best to adjust her performance according to the director's requirements...

There were still many exterior scenes for *Once a Thief* being filmed in Paris, and they would be going to film by the Seine later! After that, there were suburbs, the seaside...

Komori Masataka was anxious inside, but on the surface, he didn't show it at all, still strictly demanding the actors' performances.

So what if it's over budget? It's all the investors' money burning!

Besides, I have the powerful Tree Friends behind me!

At worst, I'll get scolded by Xiuyi-san when I go back!

After this scene passed, Komori Masataka wiped the sweat from his face and looked up at the sparkling Notre-Dame de Paris under the sun... The next shot was to film there!

In this day and age, there weren't that many restrictions on filming, no need for permits or anything. As long as it didn't affect traffic, even famous scenic spots could be filmed at will...

While the crew was packing up the equipment, Komori Masataka thought of the country:

"I wonder if Nagayama-san's *Ghost* has started editing yet!"

?? Early film special effects production is indeed very troublesome... I can't even find the information~ Does any expert know about it?

? (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1107 =====