Chapter 1136: It won't be too much trouble, will it? Otomo-san?

In Japan, it is customary to visit all partner companies after the New Year.

For general partners, it usually suffices for the liaison staff or the public relations department to make a trip, but when encountering a semi-monopolistic company like a television station, it is naturally necessary for senior management to go in person.

Otomo Yoshimura and Shuichi Yin Tang split the duties for Asahi, TBS, Tokyo, and Nippon Television (NTV), while Fuji Television, which has the most cooperation and the best relationship with Tree Friend, was naturally left to Naoki Nagayama, who counts as half of their own!

Standing at the entrance of Fuji Television, Naoki Nagayama felt a bit sentimental:

"Feels like I haven't been here in a long time..."

During the second half of the year, he was either filming movies or editing, so he really didn't have much time to come to Fuji Television. Even at the end of the year, Akina only participated in the Japan Record Awards and the Red and White Song Battle.

Just as Naoki Nagayama arrived at the entrance with his driver and assistant, Zhian Toda, Department Manager Kazuki Takano, Otomo Sugiura, and Rumi Nishi came out to greet him together.

"Naoki-san, long time no see~" "Naoki-san, Happy New Year..." "Naoki-san..."

"How can I be so bold as to have Department Manager Takano come out to greet me personally?" Naoki Nagayama shook hands, looked behind them with a smile, "You aren't waiting for other distinguished guests, are you!"

"Haha, Naoki-san is the distinguished guest!"

Kazuki Takano said while pulling Naoki Nagayama inside,

"You're one of our own at Fuji Television! Of course, we all have to come out to greet you to show our sincerity!"

"Department Manager Takano, you're making me feel embarrassed..."

While in the elevator, they went on to talk about things before the New Year, and Kazuki Takano once again congratulated Naoki Nagayama's wife on winning the Record Award:

"Winning the Record Award twice with pop songs, Akina Nakamori's name can already be written into history!"

"Akina was just lucky; these past two years happen to be a new trend... everyone likes pop music now!"

Rumi Nishi smiled and said:

"What Akina-chan achieved is well-deserved!"

"Haha, then I thank you on Akina's behalf~"

Otomo Sugiura changed the subject:

"Naoki-san, I also watched *Ghost* this year... it really is an excellent movie!"

"Ha, to receive affirmation from Otomo-san is truly rare!" Naoki Nagayama said with a smile, "Otomo-san is a producer with wide experience and knowledge after all!"

"Naoki-san is a great director who keeps producing masterpieces!"

"Hahaha~"

Amidst the mutual flattery, the group arrived at Department Manager Takano's office, and Zhian Toda put down the gifts they had brought.

The gifts for partner companies couldn't just be one item; it was a box of specialty snacks, along with some movie discount coupons under Tree Friend.

"A small token, not much of a gift..." Naoki Nagayama gave the coupons to Department Manager Takano, "Colleagues at Fuji Television, if you have time, you can go watch a movie. Besides the current *Ghost*... our *Once a Thief* will also be released at the end of February..."

"Tree Friend Film's efficiency is truly high!" Kazuki Takano said with emotion after accepting the coupons, "Before the New Year there was *Ghost*... after the New Year there is another major work... not to mention some low-budget films!"

Munao Matsuo also directed a horror film, *Black House*, but it didn't make much of a splash...

Currently, the only ones under Tree Friend who can truly support its reputation and box office are the founders like Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang, as well as the four first-generation directors, Masataka Komori and Xu Mudao.

The subsequent talent still needs to continue to work hard!

"Tree Friend is full of talent!"

Otomo Sugiura poured hot tea for Naoki Nagayama,

"Under Naoki-san's leadership, there will definitely be more masterpieces in the future!"

"Yes, yes..." Rumi Nishi also nodded in agreement, "Naoki-san himself is incredibly talented..."

"..."

Naoki Nagayama had been a bit surprised when he was at the entrance, but now that he found these three were flattering him even more enthusiastically after arriving at the office, the sense of incongruity felt even stronger.

"I say, Department Manager Takano, Otomo-san, and Rumi Nishi-chan... you are making me blush!"

"What happened? To make you all so enthusiastically praise me?" Naoki Nagayama made a fearful expression on his face, "You... don't tell me you want to borrow money?!"

"..."

The other three people in the office all had black lines appear on their foreheads!

Zhian Toda, who was acting as a background board on the side, almost laughed out loud...

"Cough, cough, cough..." Kazuki Takano was a department manager after all, with wide experience and strong adaptability, so he coughed a few times to break the strange atmosphere, "Naoki-san... you are joking."

Rumi Nishi also spoke up: "That's right, Naoki-san is joking... no matter what, we wouldn't borrow money, we aren't poor..."

"..." Naoki Nagayama was a bit skeptical; there weren't many people in all of Japan who dared to say they weren't poor in front of him now.

"Alright, alright..."

Otomo Sugiura waved his hand and took over the topic,

"The reason we are a bit enthusiastic today is because... hehe... Naoki-san, did you write a new script this year?! Is it also a romance drama?"

"???" Naoki Nagayama was surprised, "Otomo-san, your news is too well-informed, right? Even inside Tree Friend, not many people know about *Long Vacation*..."

After he gave the *Long Vacation* script to the people at the script center, they hadn't formally discussed it yet! Right now, only the three executives and the people at the script center should know about it... There is a traitor among us!

"Hahaha, the Japanese entertainment industry is so small, and the screenwriter circle is even smaller... news travels very fast..." Otomo Sugiura smiled, "But so it's called *Long Vacation*... it really sounds very relaxing... is it a romance drama?"

Tree Friend's content staff were actually very loyal; Otomo Sugiura actually only knew that Naoki Nagayama had created a new script, he didn't even know the name...

But since it had reached this point, Naoki Nagayama had no intention of hiding it:

"Hmm, it is indeed a romance drama... but the script is only initially completed and is still being proofread... so it hasn't been announced to the public yet..."

"Hahaha, Naoki-san's script, there definitely won't be any problems!"

Rumi Nishi continued to praise him, and Otomo Sugiura also spoke his purpose at the right time:

"Naoki-san, the *Love Generation* and *Tokyo Love Story* you previously collaborated on with our Fuji Television... have already made Fuji Television's romance dramas a trademark!"

"After three times, Fuji Television's 'Monday 9 PM Drama' will be able to form a brand!!!"

"For this *Long Vacation*, please, absolutely do not give it to other television stations, absolutely must air it on Fuji!!"

It's no wonder Otomo Sugiura was so nervous; it's just that Tree Friend had previously had television dramas that they gave to TBS, Asahi, and even Tokyo Television, all of which allowed them to earn excellent ratings... For Tree Friend, Fuji Television was not the only choice!

Department Manager Kazuki Takano didn't watch the show from the sidelines this time either, but lowered his posture:

"Naoki-san, no matter what, you are also a shareholder of our Fuji Television... good things, of course, should be given to our own people first..."

"Our television station definitely won't let Tree Friend suffer a loss either!"

"And in the process of production and airing, we will give Tree Friend the greatest autonomy!" Otomo Sugiura hurriedly added, "The director and actors will definitely be decided by Naoki-san personally! You can also bring up any other requirements!"

"Hmm..."

Naoki Nagayama supported his chin with one hand.

When he wrote this *Long Vacation* at the time, he actually thought that none of the three major romance dramas could be missing... Now, airing it on Fuji Television also aligns with his previous plan.

However... since they had all offered their necks, not cutting a slice to let them bleed a little seems to be failing their "good intentions"!

"Department Manager Takano, Otomo-san... actually, I have been collaborating with Fuji Television for so long, giving *Long Vacation* to Fuji is of course fine..."

Hearing this, Otomo Sugiura's face showed a smile, and he was about to speak, but heard...

"However..."

Naoki Nagayama also showed a smile,

"There are still some small conditions, and I hope they can be satisfied..."

"... Naoki-san, please speak!"

"Actually, in the new year, our Tree Friend Film has brought in many new employees, not many, just... of course, they are all top students in film majors... they have read many books, but have no practical experience..."

Naoki Nagayama made a troubled expression,

"But... I, Shuichi-san, and the two directors below are all very busy... Tree Friend doesn't have much time to train them right now."

Kazuki Takano and Otomo Sugiura listened to Naoki Nagayama's words and asked, "Naoki-san's meaning is?"

"I mean... Fuji Television has so many television drama projects to produce every year, can Tree Friend's new employees come to your production crews to practice... to master some experience..."

"..."

Ah, so it's using Fuji Television's resources to help Tree Friend train employees?!

New people come in, we Fuji teach and train them, and then they return to Tree Friend as skilled workers to help you make money?!

Heh... pfft... such a request, Naoki Nagayama, how can you say it out loud?!

Such conditions, we...

"We agree!" Otomo Sugiura said with a firm tone, "We are just short of manpower this year! Being able to have new employees help out is really the best thing!"

"Then the salary..."

"The salary during the period will also be paid by Fuji Television! After all, they are working for the television station's projects!"

"Really? Won't it be too much trouble for Otomo-san?"

"Not trouble, of course not trouble!!!" Otomo Sugiura's face didn't show a trace of reluctance... he still responded with a smile.

"Then that's great!! We'll settle it like this!"

"Good!"

While speaking, the atmosphere in the office became even more harmonious!

Zhian Toda, who had been acting as a background board and watching coldly from the sidelines, looked at this scene, and his respect for Naoki Nagayama in his heart was simply like the surging river, continuous and endless!

Afterwards, the few people continued to talk about some prospects and expectations for the New Year's new plans, and also set the approximate production time for *Long Vacation*...

More than an hour later, they parted ways in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere~

During this time, Department Manager Kazuki Takano also wanted to invite Naoki Nagayama to stay for a meal, but was politely declined by Naoki Nagayama in the name of having things to do back at the company~

When Naoki Nagayama's car disappeared from view, Otomo Sugiura clutched his chest:

"Seven people... that's our department's quota for the whole year!"

Under the lifetime employment system, television stations are very cautious and strict about recruiting new people... and this time helping Tree Friend train new people, even the salary has to be paid by this side, all costs are within the production bureau!

The key is that after training the people well, they have to return to Tree Friend, and I have to start training new people from scratch again next year!

One in and one out, this is two years of delay...

You have to know that in Japan, companies generally let new employees become skilled employees who can stand on their own after two years, this is equivalent to a gap in new people for the production bureau~

No wonder Otomo Sugiura, as the department head, also felt very heartbroken!

And on the other side, Naoki Nagayama indeed hadn't just made up an excuse, he really had to go back to the Tree Friend building.

Zhian Toda drove the car back to the headquarters in Ikebukuro, and Naoki Nagayama went straight to the editing room... not the one for *Once a Thief*, but another one.

*Ghost* had already been set to enter the American film industry, but for the movie's foreign language dubbing, Naoki Nagayama still didn't feel at ease handing it over to foreign distribution companies. After all, even in the 21st century, foreign dubbing for movies is very awkward.

There were already three people in the editing room, one of whom was wearing a glittering Rolex on his arm~

"Naoki-san~"

Xu Mudao hurriedly greeted him when he saw Naoki Nagayama arrive.

"Xu Mudao-kun..." Naoki Nagayama didn't stand on ceremony either, walked straight to his side, and looked at the other man and woman, "Are these two the dubbing artists?"

"Hai, they were hired from a translation company... according to Naoki-san's requirements, they both grew up abroad since they were children, and their native language is English~"

Naoki Nagayama's English is very good, he can dub the male lead himself... but Akina can't... she can only be said to be barely able to have daily conversations... and Jun Yan Tian Yuan is even worse!

In this era, people who know foreign languages are a type of talent themselves, generally only found in foreign trade companies and translation companies, or specifically trained by large enterprises or departments, just like diplomats... and foreign language dubbing actors are even rarer!

Naoki Nagayama was actually a bit worried about the English of Japanese people...

And foreign dubbing actors who know Japanese are even fewer. To be precise, most foreign dubbing actors know Indo-European languages, and they have more obstacles when dubbing for Japanese, and emotions cannot be expressed~

Xu Mudao continued to introduce:

"These two are Saka Nonaka and Huizi Fujita..."

"Hello, I am Naoki Nagayama!" Naoki Nagayama naturally greeted them in a friendly way first, "Do you all know the task you are here for?"

"Hai!" Saka Nonaka nodded, full of anticipation, "I am very happy to be able to dub for *Ghost*!"

"Me too!"

"Then... let's try it out first!" Naoki Nagayama was noncommittal, "Whether you can ultimately become the dubbing candidates, I still have to make the final confirmation!"

Xu Mudao gave them the two script books, and then played the clip of *Ghost*~

"You can hear me?"

"Who are you?! You are ghost? Leave me alone!!"

"..."

A simple scene, the plot where the male lead meets the medium.

Naoki Nagayama listened to the spoken language of the two dubbing artists and nodded slightly. Sure enough, they didn't learn English in Japan, so their spoken language wouldn't be Japanized!

"Two... your spoken language has no problems... but you are relatively unfamiliar when dubbing, you shouldn't have dubbed often before, right?"

"Yes, our main job is actually business translation... occasionally we take on some dubbing tasks, but most are science videos or instruction manuals!"

"Ah..." Naoki Nagayama tapped the table, "Then there is no other way, you can only practice more during this period... the emotions of movie dubbing need to be richer..."

Fortunately, it's not simultaneous interpretation, people really calculate money by time~

"Okay!"

The two dubbing artists naturally wouldn't refuse, the fee for this task is not low... and they are also very interested in dubbing for the hottest movie!

Later, when talking about interesting things with family and friends abroad, they can also say that they participated in the production of *Ghost*!

After signing the contract, he gave the full script book to the two of them, and for the next month, both of them would come to the Tree Friend building to familiarize themselves with the plot.

Xu Mudao would show them the movie...

Only after they were familiar would he let Naoki Nagayama come over to start dubbing together. After all, Naoki Nagayama himself is very familiar with the plot, and the lines were even written by him... so it's impossible to train together in the early stage.

By that time, it would be almost time to have talked with foreign distribution companies~

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1137 =====