Chapter 1142

After Naoki Nagayama had been editing for three days, Masataka Komori, who had already been discharged from the hospital, rushed anxiously to the Shuyou building.

"Naoki-san, leave the rest to me!"

In the editing room, Masataka Komori pulled Naoki Nagayama's arm, thanking him while trying to take over the operation of the editing console.

"I have fully recovered! It won't affect the subsequent editing!"

"....... I still have a little bit left...."

"Leave it to me!" Masataka Komori pleaded, "Naoki-san, if you keep editing, the whole movie will end up being in your style!"

"What do you mean by my style..."

Naoki Nagayama said with dissatisfaction,

"It's clearly transitioning to a more excellent style!"

"Naoki-san, this is different from the plot rhythm edited previously!"

Masataka Komori hugged Naoki Nagayama's arm and wouldn't let go,

"The beginning was a relaxed rhythm, but now it's all turning into a tight action movie!"

"Wasn't the gunfight arranged from the start?"

"Gunfights can also be a bit more relaxed!"

Masataka Komori absolutely could not let Naoki Nagayama continue editing today. If it were just a part, it would be fine, but according to Naoki Nagayama's work efficiency, in a few more days, he might be able to edit seven or eight-tenths of the second half of the movie's plot!

The director originally had a unique editing style; if this continued, others might be able to tell that the movie was edited by two different directors!

"In short... we can't let the audience feel that this movie was edited by two directors!"

"......"

Naoki Nagayama finally stood up. After all, the director of this movie was Masataka Komori; he couldn't just snatch his subordinate's work!

"Then good luck~"

Naoki Nagayama patted Masataka Komori's shoulder and took a look around at the others in the editing room... someone definitely must have snitched!

"Sigh... I had clearly planned the subsequent editing..."

Hearing Naoki Nagayama's words, Masataka Komori breathed a sigh of relief. He cast a grateful look toward Yukiyuki Nishimoto.

If Yukiyuki Nishimoto hadn't mentioned the soaring editing progress when he called to check on him, he might still be resting at home~

"Naoki-san, please rest assured and leave it to me!"

Masataka Komori said,

"I will definitely edit the most excellent effect!"

"Hmm~~~"

Answering casually, Naoki Nagayama walked out of the editing room feeling a bit lonely.

After so many years and so many movies, he had developed feelings for the atmosphere of the editing room; staying inside made him feel very at ease...

The feeling of bringing the ideas in his mind into reality was sometimes addictive~

He didn't expect to be kicked out by a junior now~

Sigh... old people have no human rights!

Harboring such thoughts, Naoki Nagayama returned to his office, opened his computer with some depression, and prepared to play a game of exciting Othello... Minesweeper hadn't been written yet~

However, Naoki Nagayama didn't have much idle time; before long, the office door was knocked open.

"Ha, Naoki-san is indeed in the office!"

Shuichi Itō said with a smile,

"I was worried you had already gone home!"

"Generally speaking, I only go back in the afternoon..."

For Naoki Nagayama, when there were no movie projects, he would come to work in the morning and could go home to rest in the afternoon; sometimes he would also go to Shuyou Capital in Shinjuku to sit for a while.

This was strongly requested by Tomoaki Yoshimura and Genta Nakai, saying that as the company grew, the backbone always needed to appear in front of everyone from time to time; this was a kind of encouragement for the company atmosphere and the employees' work attitude~

If it weren't for this, Naoki Nagayama could go a long time without coming!

"What's wrong?" Naoki Nagayama asked.

"Let's go! Let's go for a drink!" Shuichi Itō said with a smile, "It's time to use Naoki-san's yakuza background!"

"...... Shuichi-san, let's be clear, Grandfather's Nagayama Group has already disbanded. Be careful, or I'll sue you for slander for such smears!"

Naoki Nagayama shook his head,

"Also, what kind of matter involves the yakuza?"

"Didn't we talk about it before? We need to talk to various agencies about establishing the Tokyo Film Association..."

Shuichi Itō leaned against the office desk,

"Today we have an appointment with Ikio Suō of the Burning system. Isn't it said that he has a complex network of relationships and has connections in both politics and the yakuza?!"

"So you're dragging me along to see such a dangerous guy?" Naoki Nagayama widened his eyes, "What if I get kidnapped?"

Looking at his clowning friend, Shuichi Itō had black lines on his forehead:

"Naoki-san... in the rumors on the street, you are much more dangerous than Ikio Suō!"

"Ha?"

"Things like putting paparazzi in sacks, confronting large-scale police forces, sending yakuza bosses to prison, breaking into the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters..."

Shuichi Itō slowly listed Naoki Nagayama's "heroic deeds,"

"Although none of them have been confirmed, in the eyes of some people, perhaps you are the more dangerous one!"

"Ha?"

Naoki Nagayama was surprised. When did his reputation start to become so tarnished?!

"Wait a minute! Although I have some connections with the Nagayama Group, I have never participated, right?" Naoki Nagayama rubbed his temples, "How could these charges be pinned on me?"

"I never put paparazzi in sacks!"

"You made a certain paparazzo become a monk!" Shuichi Itō reminded him, "And now, one kilometer around Sanyingyuan is a no-go zone for paparazzi!"

Regarding this point, Naoki Nagayama was speechless:

"Then... then I didn't confront the police, right? I have a very good relationship with the police-san; I even donated money before!"

"Those two times at the Harajuku KTV... there were dozens of police cars..."

"That was summoned by Grandfather!" Naoki Nagayama said subconsciously, then felt helpless, "Then I certainly didn't send anyone to prison, right?!"

"The day the Shinjuku KTV opened... the head of the Toa Society!"

Shuichi Itō reminded him,

"He was caught by the police on the spot! It is said that in prison, he claimed it was because of you!"

"I... that was Big Brother Kaede..." Naoki Nagayama was even more speechless, "Then what about breaking into the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters?!"

"Didn't Kumahara Nagayama kill someone from the Ichikawa Society first, and then Kaede Nagayama went to Kobe to save people?" Shuichi Itō asked, "Didn't you go?"

"That was Uncle and the others..."

"They have the surname Nagayama! And you are called Naoki Nagayama, and you are their relative!"

Speaking of Kumahara Nagayama, many people don't know him, but speaking of you, Naoki Nagayama, then everyone knows!

So anything that happens is definitely counted on your head!

"......."

Naoki Nagayama never expected that his reputation had already been damaged~

"These don't have much to do with me..."

"I know!" Shuichi Itō shook his head, "But when gossiping, who cares about you... facts are never as interesting as stories!"

"....."

Holding his head with both hands, Naoki Nagayama's mentality was a bit broken,

"So my image in the entertainment industry is similar to a 'yakuza prince'?"

"Hahaha, of course not! These are just things said casually when drinking in private..." Shuichi Itō laughed, "It's just adding a layer of aura to you among those who have connections with the yakuza. In the eyes of ordinary people, your image, Naoki Nagayama, is very positive!"

"On the surface, Naoki-san is still a clean and innocent great writer and well-known director..."

"..... That's good~" Naoki Nagayama felt slightly comforted.

Shuichi Itō patted Naoki Nagayama's shoulder,

"So, accompany me to meet Ikio Suō... use your aura to scare him!"

"......."

In the end, Naoki Nagayama was still dragged by Shuichi Itō to attend the drinking party!

Because it was a lunch meeting, it was arranged at a Japanese restaurant in Shibuya with good privacy.

When Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Itō arrived, Ikio Suō had not yet arrived, so the two went into the private room to wait for a while.

"Have Shuichi-san and Ikio Suō met before?"

Naoki Nagayama had heard of Ikio Suō's reputation, but he had never had contact with him.

"Met once or twice, at industry gatherings." Shuichi Itō said, "He is a person who seems very thorough."

"Thorough?"

"Hmm....."

Naoki Nagayama nodded. Shuyou's initial intersection with Ikio Suō seemed to be during the Wild Cat Group transfer incident.

However, the Wild Cat Group incident had already passed. The person who handled it originally seemed to be Etsuro Kikuchi, who later went to the Onyanko Club. After the Onyanko Club disbanded, there was gradually no news.

Just as the two were discussing how to deal with Ikio Suō later, the sliding door of the private room was pulled open...

"Itō-san! Long time no see!"

A middle-aged man who looked very humble and gentle walked forward enthusiastically. First, he greeted Shuichi Itō, and then looked at Naoki Nagayama,

"Mr. Naoki Nagayama... I've heard so much about you! Only today have I been able to meet you..."

"President Suō, nice to meet you... but I have also heard much about you!"

"Hahaha~" Ikio Suō laughed, then introduced the person who came with him, "This is Department Manager Masato Oda of the Burning Agency..."

"Nice to meet you..."

After the etiquette of meeting, the four sat on both sides of the square table, and at this time, the waiter also began to bring the dishes up.

"Nagayama-san is really hard to meet!" Ikio Suō said with a smile, "I've been to so many parties and gatherings, yet I haven't encountered you even once!"

"Haha, I don't like those kinds of occasions myself... everyone is putting on airs, it's very restrictive!"

Naoki Nagayama also responded with a smile, then looked around the private room,

"How can it be as enjoyable as drinking and chatting in a private room!"

"That's true!"

Ikio Suō nodded repeatedly; indeed, if there were any matters, it would be impossible to say them on those occasions.

And on the other side, Masato Oda had already picked up his wine glass:

"Nagayama-san's words make sense, how can it be as enjoyable as drinking... come, let's have a drink first!"

"Cheers!"

Masato Oda came today to liven up the atmosphere and accompany them in drinking~

So, with appetizers, the few of them raised their glasses to toast repeatedly, and in a flash, they had already drunk several rounds.

When the atmosphere was heated up, Shuichi Itō began to talk about the topic of today's meeting:

"Since the Tokyo International Film Festival was held, the number of domestic and foreign tourists coming to Tokyo every October has been increasing... there are also many famous people in the world film industry... however, we don't have an organization that can represent the Japanese film industry to receive them..."

"After communicating with famous people in the industry... Shuyou proposes to establish a Tokyo Film Association..."

"I wonder what President Suō's opinion is on this?"

Ikio Suō listened silently to Shuichi Itō's words, then drank a glass of wine and responded with a smile:

"Establishing an association that can represent the Japanese film industry is naturally a good thing... however, this association... what exactly can it do for the film industry?"

Masato Oda also spoke up:

"There are so many associations in the film industry... what's the use, they are all just empty titles..."

"Oda, wine can't even block your mouth!"

Ikio Suō scolded him with a smile, then looked at Naoki Nagayama,

"That's right... Nagayama-san, what is the difference between the Tokyo Film Association and other associations?"

"Regarding this point..."

Shuichi Itō spoke up,

"Our idea of calling for the establishment of the Tokyo Film Association has also been communicated with officials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology... the government will provide policy support and even provide support funds to encourage the development of the film industry..."

"Isn't there the Film Promotion Association for that?!"

Masato Oda still spoke directly,

"And what other film support organizations are there...

Every year they say a bunch of nonsense, and in the end, the support is all given to Toho and Toei! It makes no sense at all!"

"....."

This time, Ikio Suō did not scold him, but instead poured himself a drink... it seems this was his opinion!

Naoki Nagayama drank the wine in his glass in one gulp and put down the glass:

"No... this time, the support fund will be provided by the Shuyou Group!"

"We will take out about 2 billion in funds to establish a fund...

At the same time, we call on other big-name production companies and relevant personnel in the film industry to donate..."

Naoki Nagayama said,

"Plus the appropriations from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the revenue from the Tokyo International Film Festival, it is expected that we will eventually be able to get a capital pool of 5 billion..."

"This fund will be used to support the Japanese film industry, for example, film production by new directors, providing support to actors in difficulty, wage subsidies, etc...."

Listening to Naoki Nagayama's narration, Ikio Suō thought silently.

Since there was a real fund, it was equivalent to having real power; there were more things that could be done, and the influence that could be created would be greater!

However... what exactly is Shuyou's purpose in doing this?

Pure charity?!

"2 billion..."

Ikio Suō said,

"This is not a small expenditure... Nagayama-san, taking out so much money, don't you feel the pain?!"

"Hahaha, it's all to support the film industry!"

Shuichi Itō laughed it off.

"Nagayama-san..."

Ikio Suō shook his head,

"There are only a few of us here, so let's not say such official jargon...

What exactly is your purpose in establishing the Tokyo Film Association? Why come to consult me?"

"Because I hope to get President Suō's support!"

Naoki Nagayama spun his wine glass, paused for a while, and said,

"President Suō's Burning Agency can almost influence more than half of the actors and artists in Japan; it is a force in the Japanese film industry that cannot be ignored!"

When he said this, both Ikio Suō and Masato Oda had a look of self-satisfaction on their faces.

These were words spoken by one of the few people in the entertainment industry today!

"As for the purpose of establishing the Tokyo Film Association..." Naoki Nagayama continued, "On one hand, it is to enhance Shuyou's status; on the other hand, Shuyou hopes to be able to step overseas."

"Step overseas?" Enhancing one's own status is certain; Ikio Suō also wanted to enhance his own status.

"Entering the markets of other countries, having an official status is very important..." Naoki Nagayama said, "We can't go into politics, we can't be officials... so a semi-official identity like the president of an industry association is very suitable for discussing some matters."

At the beginning, establishing the Tokyo Film Association was just a momentary impulse to consolidate and enhance Shuyou's status in the industry.

Later, Naoki Nagayama discovered that if movies like "Jurassic Park" were to be introduced abroad, having an official organization would be much better, and it might be able to promote cooperation between the film industries of the two countries, etc.

This would be very beneficial for Shuyou's future development.

"So, the first president will be Nagayama-san?"

"No... Shuichi Itō will be the first president!"

He actually gave the title to someone else? Ikio Suō couldn't understand Naoki Nagayama even more.

"Then... can our Burning Agency also compete for the president position?!"

Masato Oda asked.

"Of course! As long as the contribution to the Tokyo Film Association is high, then it's possible!" (Take out 2 billion in real money first!)

"......."

Choked, Masato Oda silently lowered his head and began to eat and drink, which also made the atmosphere in the private room relax slightly.

Ikio Suō also drank a few glasses of wine before continuing to ask:

"Nagayama-san... I'll ask clearly...

What good does this do for the Burning Agency?

What good does it do for me?"

At this time, Ikio Suō, with a slightly flushed face, finally had the feeling of an overlord. A person who could go from a thug to someone who could influence half the sky of the entertainment industry could not be a humble gentleman.

"....."

Naoki Nagayama was silent for a moment,

"Let's not talk about things like making money!"

Naoki Nagayama looked into Ikio Suō's eyes:

"If you become the president of the Tokyo Film Association, it will allow Department Manager Suō to step onto a bigger stage!

Standing together with those high-ranking officials and councilors..."

"I will not give up the first term as president, but for the second term, I can promise that Shuyou will fully support Department Manager Suō in the election!"

As the president of a talent agency, perhaps he could call the wind and rain in the entertainment industry, saying he would promote an artist and they would be promoted, saying he would ban an actor and they would be banned...

But could he represent Japan to receive foreign guests?

Could he stand with foreign political dignitaries to accept interviews?

Could he be on the invitation list for the Emperor's birthday?

Could he discuss the development direction of the film industry with the Prime Minister?

Could he influence Japan's policies?

But the president of the Tokyo Film Association could!

This was an enhancement in status and qualification! Becoming a member of a national decision-making group from the president of a company!

"A bigger stage, huh?"

Ikio Suō tasted the cold sake in his glass, but felt incomparably hot,

"The next president..."

Ikio Suō actually relied on councilors with yakuza backgrounds to rise to the top. In the past, he was considered a gray glove, earning money and laundering money for the powerful people in the upper echelons...

Now that he had become the president of one of the top agencies in the entertainment industry, he had achieved some results, so naturally, he was not satisfied with always being a gray glove and wanted more!

The atmosphere in the private room was a bit cold for a while, and then Ikio Suō was heard pouring wine and raising his glass again:

"Come, come, come, Nagayama-san, let's have another drink!

"And then... let's continue to chat about the Tokyo Film Association~"

(End of chapter)