Chapter 1207: Acting advanced class, actually in the political arena!!

The continuous days of overcast rain finally had a temporary pause, and the clouds that had been covering the sky dissipated, revealing the azure sky that had been washed by water again.

Taking advantage of this rare gap, the crew of "Departures" quickly assembled, came to the house location that had been prepared long ago, and wanted to complete the last bit of outdoor shots.

"We must hurry during the day today, and there are some shots at night too!"

Naoki Nagayama said to everyone,

"Thank you all for your hard work!"

"Hai..." XN

The crew responded in unison, making people feel the concerted effort of the crew.

Naoki Nagayama didn't delay too much and started explaining the scene directly.

"Tomokazu-san, the scenes outside the encoffining office are not too many, mainly the shots of being tangled about whether to go collect the corpse after hearing the news of the father's death..."

"Mainly divided into two stages, running out like self-abandonment, just bumping into the wife who came to look for you... the second is the sudden change of mood, turning back halfway to find the president to borrow a car."

"Mainly grasp the changes in expression during the running..."

"Momoe-san, play a good green leaf in this scene, just show the gentleness and companionship of a wife..."

Tomokazu Miura and Momoe Yamaguchi nodded. For the two of them, this scene really couldn't be considered too difficult.

Outside the office that had already been scheduled, the crew's cameraman had already set up the camera, mainly filming from two camera positions, and other personnel were already prepared...

Naoki Nagayama took a walkie-talkie this time:

"Everyone in position, ready... Action!"

Just seeing the news of the death of the father who hadn't been seen for a long time, he rushed out of the house gate somewhat angrily and somewhat blankly, and even had a kind of ugly feeling of being caught when seeing the wife who happened to come over, just wanting to throw everything away and escape...

And after running out for more than ten meters, hearing the wife's call, the complex emotion towards the father in his heart surged up again.

After showing a tangled feeling on his face, he suddenly turned and ran towards the office again... he wanted to borrow a car to collect the remains of his father whom he hadn't seen for a long time...

Naoki Nagayama looked at Tomokazu Miura's expression, from the original blank anger, then converted into entanglement, firmness, and relief, and praised in his heart.

"Sure enough, it's a senior actor... this kind of change in expression is really well-grasped."

You know, although Tomokazu Miura was an idol star when he was young, relying on a face was enough, but after marrying Momoe Yamaguchi, his career declined. During this period, he really played quite a few small roles, which also polished his acting skills well.

Now performing, it can really be considered as having more than enough energy~

"Cut!" Naoki Nagayama shouted. "Very good... this take is OK.

"Next, we..."

From the morning, the crew of "Departures" had been moving outdoors, filming one location shot after another... The field staff were so busy that their foreheads were sweating, and lunch was only a bento on the set~

Just like that, they filmed until night...

The last outdoor shot was by a small river, and it wasn't a scene for the male and female leads.

This was a shot of the male lead walking with his father by the river in the night when he was a child; it was the only scene where the male lead's father appeared alive in the whole play...

"Didn't expect the last shot to be you!"

Naoki Nagayama said to the actor who played the corpse before,

"You are really too lucky!"

"......" Yes, it's really great not to have to play a corpse this time!

"I know you don't have much experience as an extra, but it doesn't matter... this filming doesn't need you to have too many acting skills!"

Naoki Nagayama directly analyzed the plot for this extra,

"Before this, there is a close-up of the hand, just exchanging the pebble in the hand with the son...

And afterwards, you just need to smile at the camera... we will handle the rest!"

"....." The extra nodded. "I know!"

"Alright, you don't need to speak... go find the makeup artist to touch up your makeup!"

"....."

Finally, Naoki Nagayama called Kiba Shizuka:

"Kiba-kun, the last shot needs a gradual change of the father's face from blurred to clear... no problem, right?"

"That's for sure!" Kiba Shizuka nodded confidently. "This is the basic skill of a cameraman!"

"Mm, that's good... grasp the time, this shot is about three seconds..."

"Hai!"

Under the ripples of the river, the light on the shore seemed to have fluctuations, making the actor's face have some changes in light and dark.

In order to reflect this change in light and shadow, the whole scene couldn't use big lights, so this extra had already put on a pale makeup, filming more clearly in the night...

"Just look at the camera and show a gentle smile when looking at the child."

Seeing the extra's somewhat blank look, Naoki Nagayama wasn't surprised; it was just an extra, so he continued to explain to him,

"Look at a pet dog, show a smile, just restrain it a little... understand?"

"....."

In order not to ruin the makeup, the actor could only nod.

Seeming to want to harmonize with the quiet night, Naoki Nagayama's voice when shouting start was also gentle...

"3, 2, 1... Action!"

So, just seeing this unknown extra, looking at the camera with a slight smile... while Kiba Shizuka was focusing gently and steadily...

A few seconds of scenes actually had a kind of solemn feeling~

Until seeing Kiba Shizuka's eyes, Naoki Nagayama shouted:

"Cut!"

Then hurried to the director's monitor to look at the footage just filmed.

The whole crew fell into a short silence, everyone's eyes looked at the director who was checking the camera... until Naoki Nagayama raised his head from the camera, then looked around the whole crew:

"This take is OK!"

Then took a deep breath once and said loudly:

"Minna-san, all the shots are finished!"

"Our 'Departures' has wrapped up!"

"Oh oh oh~~", "Wrapped up!", "Finally finished filming!", "Go find women~", "Can rest now!", "...."

With Naoki Nagayama's words, everyone in the crew cheered, applauding and celebrating one after another. For a time, the side of the quiet small river became a source of joy!

"Alright alright... everyone hurry up and pack the props! Prepare to go home and rest!"

"It's already very late today, so let's not celebrate... in two days I will book a hotel, and everyone will have a good wrap-up banquet!!!"

By the time Naoki Nagayama returned to Mountain Cherry Garden, it was already late at night.

The lights of the whole Mountain Cherry Garden had been turned off, but the dutiful butler Afu hadn't rested yet, and didn't turn off the lights until Naoki Nagayama returned.

It was so late, little Xia Hua and Akina naturally went to bed, a desk lamp was left in the living room of the West Building, and the warm yellow light made people feel a burst of warmth.

Ah, of course, there was also Eitaro enthusiastically welcoming his owner's return...

"Yoshi yoshi... Eitaro is a good dog!"

Naoki Nagayama gently comforted the excited dog, signaling that he couldn't bark loudly, and then took off his coat and came to the living room, conveniently pouring himself a glass of whiskey with ice from the wine cabinet~

After being busy all day, lying on the soft sofa, the moment the cold whiskey entered his lips and tongue, his whole person relaxed.

Even if he didn't feel too tired physically, the spirit that had been tense all day was also relieved.

After a while......

Until the sound of footsteps came from the stairs, and then he saw Akina walk down from the stairs, and after seeing Naoki Nagayama in the living room, she walked over:

"Naoki-san?"

"Ah... Akina..." Naoki Nagayama put down the wine glass. "When I came back, did I wake you up?"

"I wasn't asleep yet either... I saw the car lights from the window..."

Akina shook her head, walked behind Naoki Nagayama, and her cool hands touched her husband's forehead, gently massaging his temples.

"Are you very tired today?"

"Ran to many places..." It can be said that he didn't stop from morning until late at night. "But today 'Departures' has finished filming!"

"Wrapped up, huh?" Akina also laughed. "Finally..."

"Yeah... next is editing..." Naoki Nagayama nodded. "In two days, we have to hold a production completion disclosure meeting."

Naoki Nagayama still maintained Tree Friend's good tradition of completing a movie within a quarter.

"Let's not worry about those for now... they are all things for later!"

Akina shook her head.

"Wrapped up today, let's celebrate!"

Saying this, she also went to the wine cabinet to take two glasses, and skillfully prepared cocktails... Nowadays, Akina had long been familiar with simple home cocktails.

Then she turned on the record player and put a blues record in... Soon, the soft melody rang in the living room~

"Won't this wake up Hua-chan?"

"Daijobu, the bedroom soundproofing is very good!"

While saying this, Akina held Naoki Nagayama's hand, pulled him up, and started to dance slowly in the living room...

The light dance steps didn't have a fixed style. In the soft rhythm, they gently shook their upper bodies, occasionally turning around, and the smiles on their faces made people couldn't help but laugh together~

Even the dog's head nodding look seemed to be immersed in the music.

The cold wine slid down the throat, but the blood slowly became hot. By the time the wine glass was empty, Naoki Nagayama's eyes were full of a bright face~

No words all night~

When he came to the Tree Friend building again, he just happened to see Kiba Shizuka moving the crew's equipment and stacks of materials to the storage room.

"Naoki-san!"

Kiba Shizuka stopped when he saw Naoki Nagayama.

"The materials are all brought over... I'll organize them in these two days..."

"What about the other members of the crew?"

"I let everyone have a holiday for a period of time..." Kiba Shizuka said. "Afterwards, it should be Masataka-kun's side filming a new movie."

"Oh? What movie is Masataka-kun filming again?" Naoki Nagayama was a bit surprised.

"It's other projects created by the Script Center, cooperating with Kadokawa..."

Now Tree Friend Films' business had also developed very well. Besides the scripts Naoki Nagayama wrote himself, there would be films filmed together with other production companies.

However, the directors were all directed by second-generation directors of Tree Friend and below; Masataka-kun going out could already be considered a big production~

"Kadokawa, huh..."

Naoki Nagayama trusted Haruki Kadokawa's vision relatively well; after all, Haruki Kadokawa really liked movies and was very talented.

"Kadokawa Films seems to have invested in several animated films this year?"

"Hai... 'Neo Tokyo,' a very interesting animated short film."

This short film was released at the beginning of the year, but it wasn't for profit at all; it was a very avant-garde animated short film.

"Perhaps influenced by Naoki-san, Tree Friend produced 'Slam Dunk' in the anime world..."

When Tree Friend announced that it was going to enter the anime world, it really caused an uproar in the industry. Everyone thought Naoki Nagayama was messing around...

However, it was different afterwards. Once "Slam Dunk" came out, everyone knew Naoki Nagayama was serious, so many film production companies followed suit and started producing anime.

Kadokawa was one of the more famous ones~

The two walked towards the elevator while talking, and the small cart was full of film materials for "Departures."

Naoki Nagayama came directly to his office this time, and then called the Publicity Department's Eiichiro Watanabe using the phone on the desk.

"Watanabe-kun..." Naoki Nagayama didn't talk nonsense. "'Departures' has already wrapped up..."

"Already wrapped up!"

Eiichiro Watanabe was surprised, and immediately thought of the previous publicity plan.

"Then, the subsequent publicity and momentum can also start!"

"Mm... trouble you to prepare for the wrap-up banquet..." Naoki Nagayama continued, "According to the previous publicity plan, the completion disclosure meeting can also be together... it's more convenient."

"Hai!"

Eiichiro Watanabe nodded immediately. This "Departures" itself was Naoki Nagayama's masterpiece, plus the joining of Momoe Yamaguchi and Tomokazu Miura, it was already very much in the spotlight.

Now that it has wrapped up, such news is naturally a hot spot for the media, and the wrap-up banquet and completion disclosure meeting are naturally a great opportunity for media publicity~

"I will immediately set out to contact, and it can be arranged by tomorrow!"

"Next, we still need to produce relevant advertising materials and other posters." Naoki Nagayama said, "Regarding Momoe-san and Tomokazu-san, the fan club can preheat first... for others that need their cooperation, tell me directly!"

Because he had promised Momoe Yamaguchi before that he wouldn't disturb her too much, Naoki Nagayama was still very trustworthy in this regard!

"Hai!"

Tapping his fingers on the desk, Naoki Nagayama thought about the various processes after "Departures"...

"And this time, 'Departures' was aimed at big awards from the beginning, so before the trial screening, we need to contact film critics, well-known domestic and foreign filmmakers in advance... Besides domestic, foreign publicity also needs to be taken into account..."

Naoki Nagayama calculated silently.

"The date of the trial screening, let's set it for mid-July!"

"This..." Eiichiro Watanabe was a bit surprised. "Less than a month, is the editing too rushed?"

"Leave the editing to me."

Naoki Nagayama said directly. With the finished film in his head, if he really livered it, he could even finish editing within two weeks.

"Hai, I understand!"

Eiichiro Watanabe nodded.

"Our Publicity Department will handle these immediately!"

"Mm... thank you for your hard work~"

Watching Eiichiro Watanabe go to get busy in a hurry, Naoki Nagayama felt somewhat dazed.

Sure enough, when you are a boss, you only need to open your mouth, and then you can let your subordinates do the rest... No wonder so many people like to be bosses!

Speaking of which, his real business of coming to the company today had already been finished in a few words!

Then... can he go back?

"Bang bang..."

Just when Naoki Nagayama was letting his imagination run wild, the office door was knocked, and he saw Xiu-yi Yin-tang's high-spirited face.

"Naoki-san! You really are in the office!"

"Xiu-yi-san, are you actually in the company today?"

Naoki Nagayama was a bit surprised. During this period, Xiu-yi Yin-tang was basically socializing outside every day for the sake of the proposal!

"Yeah..." Xiu-yi Yin-tang said with a smile, "Have good news to tell you!"

"Our 'Proposal' is going to hold a hearing!"

"Hearing?"

"Yes, it's letting experts and professors in related fields discuss it, and listen to their opinions. Then let the committee ask questions and question the content of the 'Proposal'..."

Xiu-yi Yin-tang talked about the process of the hearing, and then asked Naoki Nagayama,

"Naoki-san, you go too!"

"Me? I'm not a brick expert or a beast!" Naoki Nagayama refused full-heartedly. "Aren't you looking for those industry bigwigs to listen to their opinions!"

"Ha?" Xiu-yi Yin-tang was speechless. "You are the newest big director in the film industry, and among young directors, no one can compare to you..."

"And Tree Friend, who controls the six major film production companies in the entertainment industry..."

"And you are also a standing committee member of the Tokyo Film Industry Association..."

"No matter from which aspect, you are already a bigwig in the film industry!"

A few words made Naoki Nagayama blush:

"...... Xiu-yi-san, sure enough, you have mixed in the political arena, and the ability to flatter is becoming more and more refined! Natural..."

"Hahaha~"

Xiu-yi Yin-tang laughed loudly and sat on the sofa.

"This sentence is not bad..."

"During this period, I have realized it. Smiling tigers, flattery, thick-skinned

"The skills of those guys in politics are a cut above those in the entertainment industry!"

"I even feel that, in the future, acting classes should just go to the political arena for a stint..."

"Uh..."

Naoki Nagayama gave a dry laugh. So, if you can't make it in politics, you can just come to the entertainment industry and perform a dimensional strike?!

Eh? Wait... it seems there really is a group of people in the future who, after failing to make it within the system, switched to the entertainment industry and seem to be doing quite well for themselves...

"So, Naoki-san, come with me to the hearing next month!"

Shuichi Ido said earnestly,

"This is the first major event for our Tree Friends and the Tokyo Film Industry Association!"

"Hmm... the editing should be mostly done by then..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded,

"Then let's go together!"

Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Ido chatted for a long time about the hearing for the "Proposal," until noon... This made Naoki Nagayama feel that he hadn't been doing nothing all morning after all~

After returning from lunch, Naoki Nagayama felt there was nothing left to do, so he simply went straight to the editing room on the third floor and began working on the editing of "Departures" with Shizhi Kijima.

(End of chapter)