Chapter 1113

Diplomatic banquets are supposed to be high-brow affairs, attended by socialites rarely seen in public, and are not something the average person cares much about. However, since they concern the national image, newspapers generally give them some face by placing reports on the second or third page.

This time, however, the report on the welcome for the Spanish princess was moved to the front page because of the participation of celebrities, which caught the editors' attention.

The photo in the report was of Crown Prince Naruhito receiving the Spanish princess, along with photos of him meeting with Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori. Perhaps the reporters also knew that the Nagayama couple were a hot topic of public interest, so they highlighted them in the report.

"Naoki Nagayama and his wife had a cordial and friendly conversation with Crown Prince Naruhito..."

Naoki Nagayama, sitting at the dining table reading the report, looked helpless.

"There were only two lines of pleasantries... does that count as cordial and friendly?"

On the other side, Akina was holding a baby bottle, feeding little Xia Hua. After hearing Naoki Nagayama's words, she said:

"There were smiles on everyone's faces in the photo; wasn't it cordial? Wasn't it friendly?"

"It's clearly a professional smile!"

But what surprised Naoki Nagayama even more was another aspect: the angle of the photo was so good that it actually made Naoki Nagayama, who is a head taller than Crown Prince Naruhito, look about the same height as him...

"The photographer from the Imperial Household Agency is too good!"

In this era without Photoshop, to have a two-minute conversation captured like this, the photographer's professional skills and reflexes are truly worthy of praise!

"I wonder if I can poach them~"

"... What is Naoki-san saying!" After Akina finished feeding Xia Hua, she started eating breakfast too. "These photographers are all official photographers with permanent positions! You can't poach them!"

"..."

Positions at the Imperial Household Agency, with lifetime employment, are probably even more outrageous than those in society; they might even be hereditary~

Shaking his head and casting the thought out of his mind, Naoki Nagayama looked at Akina:

"Does Akina have any schedule today?"

"I have to shoot the annual photo for 'Star' magazine..." Akina smiled. "I'm the cover star this year!"

"Oh?"

In the past, the annual cover of "Star" was basically a group photo of many people, such as Akina Nakamori, Seiko Matsuda, Kyoko Koizumi, Naoko Kawai, and the new generation like Yukiko Okada and Shizuka Kudo.

However, this year Seiko Matsuda retired due to pregnancy and childbirth, and Akina, who has returned, has undiminished popularity among fans. After the release of "Passion," she has been at the top of the charts continuously... Her status suddenly became unique, and coupled with the tilt of the agency's resources, she steadily became the cover star.

"Then congratulations to Akina!"

Naoki Nagayama raised his orange juice.

"Replacing wine with orange juice..."

"Who says such strange things~" Although she said that, Akina still raised her juice and clinked it with Naoki Nagayama's~

"What about Naoki-san today? Still going to edit?"

"Yeah... gotta catch up on the progress~"

The release date of "Ghost" is getting closer and closer~

At Narita Airport in Tokyo, a plane slowly landed.

As the plane taxied to the apron, passengers walked out of the boarding bridge one after another...

And a group of people carefully found their luggage at the baggage claim area.

"Videotape footage..."

Masataka Komori, who had tanned quite a bit, carefully checked the footage before letting out a sigh of relief.

The most important thing from this trip to Paris was not missing~

"Komori-san, the larger equipment will be sent back by consignment, and it is estimated that it will arrive tomorrow." A crew member reported to Masataka Komori.

"Hmm, there's no other way."

He took his luggage and said to the crew members Kyohei Shibata, Chikako Aoyama, and others:

"Minna-san, we're finally back. Let's rest for two days first... Starting the day after tomorrow, we'll continue filming~ The meeting place is the filming base in Ota Ward!"

"Hai~" XN

After pulling his suitcase out of the terminal, he waved goodbye to everyone and then got into the car that came to pick him up... Masataka Komori now also has a private car service~

"Komori-san, going straight home?" The driver was someone he knew.

"No, go to the company first... I need to report the filming situation to my superiors." Masataka Komori said, "And then I have to go to Ota Ward..."

"Just got back, not resting first?"

"I rested for a long time on the plane!" Masataka Komori shook his head. As a director, naturally, there isn't much time to rest.

"Once a Thief" is in a tense filming stage, and the schedules of the lead actors are very tight. Leslie Cheung has even returned to Hong Kong to rehearse for the year-end awards, and he has to rush to Tokyo in three days...

"Hai."

The driver didn't say much and drove Masataka Komori directly towards Ikebukuro.

Having not been to the Tree Friend building for more than half a month, Masataka Komori felt a sense of returning home the moment he saw the building.

"Komori-kun, long time no see!"

After seeing Masataka Komori, the receptionist Xing Jiahua greeted him with some surprise.

"Didn't you just come back today? Why come straight to the company?"

"There are some things to report." Masataka Komori said with a smile, "Hua-chan, are Naoki-san and Xiu-san here?"

"Hmm... Xiu-san is not here, but Naoki-san is editing a movie in the editing room."

"As long as Naoki-san is here." Masataka Komori nodded, "I'll go find him..."

"I'll take you there~"

After getting into the elevator, Xing Jiahua was still talking about how Masataka Komori had tanned after going out... It was already late autumn in Tokyo, while Paris was still sunny.

After knocking on the door of the editing room, Masataka Komori saw a group of people busy.

Besides Naoki Nagayama, the familiar Xu Mudao and Tomoyuki Nishimoto were there, as well as a few unfamiliar people who seemed to be new editors.

"Komori-kun?"

Naoki Nagayama turned his head.

"You're back?"

"Hai, just got off the plane." Masataka Komori nodded and looked into the editing room. "Naoki-san is editing 'Ghost', right... Who are these new faces?"

"Ah, they are all newly recruited people." Naoki Nagayama smiled. "With the development of special effects technology, the era when only a few people could edit a movie is passing. I think editing work will become more and more subdivided in the future... so I'm training a group of newcomers in advance..."

"I see." Masataka Komori nodded. It seems the company has grown stronger again!

And these people have been trained by Naoki-san, so they can be used for his own editing later!

"Everyone, take a break first..."

Knowing that Masataka Komori was looking for him to report, Naoki Nagayama said to the members of the editing room, and then came to the lounge with Masataka Komori.

"Komori-kun, how do you feel about this trip to Paris?"

"Haha, Paris is indeed the capital of art, with all kinds of beautiful buildings, rich cultural heritage, and the natural scenery is also excellent... The location filming for 'Once a Thief' in Paris has basically been completed!"

"Haha, in this movie, Paris can be said to be the most comfortable part. How is the performance of the lead actors?" Naoki Nagayama asked with a smile.

"Kyohei Shibata is indeed an experienced actor, and Leslie Cheung's interpretation is also very dashing and casual, which is very consistent with the characteristics of the character."

Masataka Komori did not skimp on praise for the two male leads.

"In contrast, Chikako-chan is slightly green... but this kind of purity might better show the protection the two male leads have for her..."

"Hmm, Chikako-chan is still very young after all... but her innate conditions are very good, just let her naturally radiate charm."

"Once a Thief" is a relaxed commercial film, not some literary film, so there is no need for the heroine's acting skills to be very prominent.

And Chikako Aoyama has a temperament that is mature yet innocent; just appearing on the screen is enough to attract many viewers!

Commercial films with a fast pace these days are all like this: the male lead leads the play, and the beauty is the supporting role. Chikako-chan is actually very good as a vase.

"So what is the plan after coming back?"

"I let the crew rest for two days." Masataka Komori said, "During this period, I want to go to Ota Ward to see if the scenes I instructed before have been set up..."

"Ah, is it the mechanism for the art museum and the wine cellar?"

"Yes!"

I don't know why, but everyone likes to watch clips of stealing art. There are many such plots in movies around the world, and there are also popular characters in Japan similar to Cat's Eye and Kaito Kid.

The scenes of stealing art in "Once a Thief" are very fun and explosive: breaking through the anti-theft measures of the art museum, using red wine to observe infrared rays in the wine cellar, and explosion scenes... these all require special scenes.

Before Masataka Komori left, he asked the filming base to create such scenes.

"In that case, Komori-kun won't have any rest~"

Masataka Komori smiled:

"Hahaha, to borrow a word from Naoki-san, why sleep long before death, there will be a long sleep after death... Life is hurried, how can there be so much time to rest!"

"....... Komori-kun, you have gained deep insights from this trip!" Naoki Nagayama was a little surprised. "What makes you so urgent?"

"It's the schedule!"

"..."

"During those rainy days in Paris, I was so anxious that bubbles were coming out of the corners of my mouth!"

"......"

Masataka Komori reported his overseas filming experience to Naoki Nagayama in the lounge, and then requested the company to rent the banquet hall of the Imperial Hotel to film the dance scene. After getting Naoki Nagayama's permission, he hurried away again.

Paris is a place where there are no acquaintances and no connections, and he is unfamiliar with the place, so everything about the crew's filming has to rely on himself... So after coming back from abroad, it is obvious that Masataka Komori has grown...

Even his skin has become thicker!

"Tree Friend Film, there are successors!"

Naoki Nagayama nodded with satisfaction and returned to the editing room.

"Naoki-san, Komori-kun left?" Xu Mudao asked suspiciously, "I wanted to have a drink with him after work!"

"Mudao-kun... Komori-kun is now fully devoted to the film industry!"

Looking at Xu Mudao in front of him,

"You can't fall behind either!"

"? Ah? Why are you talking about me suddenly?" Xu Mudao was confused. "Naoki-san, what do you mean by saying that?"

"It means hurry up and work! You want to have a drink before the work is finished?!"

Naoki Nagayama scolded with a smile,

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Don't dawdle!"

"......."

In the studio in Shibuya, Akina Nakamori was changing poses under the direction of the photographer.

The clothes she was wearing followed the capable style characteristic of the new era of women... The theme of this issue was clearly urban women in the wave of the new era, and the magazine cover would also become a trend next year~

After shooting a set of clothes, the art director and the stylist discussed:

"The shirt can be a little looser... shoulder pads, shoulder pads are still needed... to highlight the masculine spirit!"

"The eyeshadow can be more obvious, the eyes sharp..."

"Capable..."

Akina Nakamori listened to their discussion and suddenly thought of Masako Owada, whom she had met before... short hair, earrings, evening dress... and the high-spirited mental outlook, confident temperament...

This is the characteristic of the new era of women!

Career-minded! Confident! Making money! Relying on yourself!

Such a girl, even she was attracted to her!

Even when Masako said she liked Naoki Nagayama, she had a little sense of crisis... If Naoki-san met her, would he be tempted...

"Ano... would short hair be better?" Akina said directly to the art director Hiroshi Fujii. "For career-minded women, short hair is more neat."

Hiroshi Fujii was stunned for a moment and nodded:

"Indeed... we can try... wearing a short wig."

"And the earrings can be changed to studs..." Akina continued. "If you want to highlight career-mindedness, a trench coat might also be a good choice."

"Akina-chan is indeed very sensitive to fashion~"

Hiroshi Fujii said kindly,

"Akina-chan, do you have any other ideas? You can say them all!"

Hearing Hiroshi Fujii's words, Akina was not stage-frightened. She originally had her own unique understanding of styling and matching, and had even been praised by professional design studios.

"Even for career-minded women, there will be a love for beauty, and there will be some tendencies for their own image..."

Akina picked from the accessories and matching clothes,

"So in inconspicuous places, there will be unique ingenuity... rings, bracelets... belts..."

Listening to Akina's narration, Hiroshi Fujii's eyes were full of appreciation.

The assistant next to him saw the smile on the boss's face and was a little terrified... You know, this art director Hiroshi Fujii has always been arbitrary when shooting, and even more poisonous and mocking of other people's opinions.

Even if the object is a top artist, he will not change his thoughts and attitude!

In his eyes, artists are just moving plastic models, just do their own duty! I didn't expect him to be so kind when facing Akina Nakamori!

"Akina-chan, you can be a designer, do you have any other ideas?"

Then Akina walked towards the metal cigarette case that Hiroshi Fujii put on the table...

"Cigarettes!"

If you say the most stereotypical influence of men and women in the workplace, then it should be that men can smoke, but women cannot!

Akina took the cigarette from the table, then took out one and held it in her hand, playing with the cigarette case with the other hand:

"For career-minded women, the image of smoking should be a big breakthrough... However, an exquisite cigarette case can be considered one of the unique ingenuity."

"Eh?!!"

Hiroshi Fujii was surprised, and then thought about it, it was indeed a bold and very good idea... However, if such a cover photo is taken, it will cause a shock to the entire entertainment industry, right?!

"Akina-chan, it's indeed an unexpected idea... However, in this way, for Akina's image..."

"Daijoubu!" Akina shook her head, she was already seeking a transformation. "I'm already married and have children, so naturally I can't hold on to my previous image..."

She is not Seiko Matsuda, who can always maintain a sweet idol image!

She is Akina Nakamori, who has always been a trendsetter!

She also wants to be a confident career-minded woman!

Hearing the affirmative answer, Hiroshi Fujii no longer hesitated:

"Then let's try it according to Akina-chan's opinion!

Everyone, go find an exquisite cigarette case... If you can't find it, go to a nearby high-end cigarette shop and buy one! By the way, buy a box of women's cigarettes..."

"Akina, you can start changing clothes... We'll try the styling later... And then when the props arrive, we'll start shooting!"

"..... Hmm!" Akina nodded. "Then there is only one problem left!"

"What problem?"

"I don't smoke!" Akina said very seriously. "What should the demeanor of a smoker be?"

"Ah?!!"

"Also, I can't really smoke, I can only perform it... Otherwise, it's not good for the baby at home..."

"......."

(End of this chapter)