Chapter 1341: This guy is a total BUG!!

"Naoki-san, do you want the Grand Prize trophy or not?!"

Otomo Yoshimura spoke with 120% confidence, patting his chest as he said,

"If you want the Grand Prize trophy, just say the word, and I'll get it into your hands!"

"....... Ahem."

Naoki Nagayama, who was currently enjoying A5-grade Wagyu sukiyaki, was startled and nearly choked.

"Otomo-san, if I were to say 'then go get it for me' right now, would you run out of this private room immediately to bring back a trophy?!"

After downing a mouthful of sake, Otomo Yoshimura let out a breath:

"What are you saying, Naoki-san? It doesn't happen that fast!!"

"At the very least, we have to wait until February, after the final results are announced!"

Otomo Yoshimura was referring to the results of the three major Japanese film awards to be announced in early February: the Blue Ribbon Awards, the Japan Academy Film Prize, and the Kinema Junpo Awards...

These three major film awards were not unfamiliar to Naoki Nagayama... he had won the top prize in all of them!

In fact, for the past few years, almost every year's Grand Prize had a share for Tree Friends, whether it was Best Film or Best Director, and sometimes it would be paired with Best Actor/Actress or Best Editing awards.

People in the industry had already joked that these film awards were actually opened for Tree Friends Films!

Other film studios had thought about competing, but... who knew that Naoki Nagayama and his Tree Friends were simply beasts!

They produced two or three films every year, and the quality of each one was excellent, as if they had no bottlenecks!

Moreover, last year's *Departures* even invited the retired Momoe Yamaguchi out; the film itself was very artistic and profound—it was a film shot entirely for the sake of winning awards!

How could anyone else compare!!

That was why Otomo Yoshimura could pat his chest and guarantee that as long as Naoki Nagayama wanted that award, he would definitely get it! He didn't even need to put much energy into Tree Friends' lobbying efforts.

"Forget it... winning so many awards is meaningless... the trophy cabinet is already full!"

Naoki Nagayama continued to focus his attention on the food. Just like completing achievements in a game, these awards lost their appeal once won.

Unless these major awards could come up with some new tricks!

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Otomo Yoshimura shook his head.

"Naoki-san's words would make the people in the entertainment industry who are desperately trying to win the Grand Prize cry..."

"Haha~"

The two laughed while eating lunch. Once the mood passed, Otomo Yoshimura continued:

"Then Naoki-san, the Oscar... you still want that, right?!"

"Ah... the Oscar..."

The Oscars in March were one of the goals back when *Departures* was being filmed.

The Palme d'Or focused more on innovation and artistry, selected by a small group of professionals. Unlike the Palme d'Or, the Oscars focused more on the combination of commercial appeal and film art, while also caring more about audience word-of-mouth... The Oscars were selected by over 6,000 people~

Therefore, it was much harder to "conquer" the Oscars with money!

"Naturally, we have to strive for the Oscar." Naoki Nagayama nodded. "But I heard at the end of last year that there is a formidable rival... *The Last Emperor*."

*The Last Emperor* was a film about the life of Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty... It was filmed by an Italian director and had received much acclaim in France and the United States.

Compared to *Departures*, one was a grand narrative of heavy history; the other was the life of ordinary people and the culture of life and death. They seemed to be perfect opposites!

"Yeah... *The Last Emperor*!"

Otomo Yoshimura also stopped drinking.

"It has a lot of good reviews..."

"Although it hasn't been released in Japan yet, I've learned some things from other directors who have seen it."

Naoki Nagayama said. In fact, he knew it from his own memory.

"The production and distribution companies of this film are very powerful... co-produced by eight European and American film companies, and co-distributed by the UK, US, Italy, and other countries... Tsk tsk tsk, I suddenly have a sense of absurdity. Isn't it exactly these countries that created the last emperor!"

After saying this, he immediately shook his head. This line of thought couldn't continue; if it did, it would become sensitive~

"Regardless, such background strength is indeed formidable! It's very advantageous in the competition for the Oscars!"

Otomo Yoshimura nodded, but he didn't look too worried:

"Naoki-san, our *Departures* also has a strong background! Produced by Tree Friends Group! Tree Friends Group distributes it worldwide..."

In this era, Japan's economy was taking off and entertainment was flourishing; it was undoubtedly the representative of Eastern culture in the world, and the Japanese people's self-confidence was already very strong.

Moreover, after so many years, Otomo Yoshimura had developed the spirit that Tree Friends was the best in the world... Even competing with Hollywood in the US, in his view, was not impossible!

Wasn't it said that someone in Japan was already going to buy an American film company!

"Besides, I have always had confidence in Naoki-san's films!"

Otomo Yoshimura downed another cup of sake.

"What's there to fear... A film that has only been released for a month, let it compete for next year's Oscars! This year's Oscar belongs to our *Departures*!"

"Hmm... Otomo-san is indeed confident!"

Naoki Nagayama felt that Otomo Yoshimura was even more confident than he was.

"However, according to the words of the teachers from the Great Eastern Nation, strategically we can despise the enemy, but tactically we must take the enemy seriously..."

"We need to strengthen the promotion of *Departures* in the US, especially by letting the American distributors show their connections and resources..."

"We also need to unite with film industry figures in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, as well as European film critics..."

"Finally, we need to spend money!! Anyway, it's all about interests in the end..."

"In short, it cannot be underestimated..."

Listening to Naoki Nagayama's words, Otomo Yoshimura, who already had the experience of campaigning for the Palme d'Or, nodded:

"I understand, Naoki-san. I will arrange all of this!"

"Yeah!"

Naoki Nagayama picked up the last piece of beef from the sukiyaki pot and slowly put it into his mouth.

"Next, it's up to heaven's will!"

The awards would only be presented in February, but the nomination list for the Grand Prize would naturally be announced in January.

Tomoyuki Tanaka, Vice President of the Japan Academy Film Prize Association, looked at the nomination list handed over by Fumio Ishikawa and said with some emotion:

"For this year's Grand Prize, Tree Friends' *Departures* is on the nomination list..."

"Yes!"

Fumio Ishikawa nodded.

"*Departures* is undoubtedly the No. 1 in the Japanese film industry last year, both in terms of influence and box office."

"Yeah, yeah..."

Tomoyuki Tanaka nodded perfunctorily.

"Tree Friends Films, Naoki Nagayama, every film is No. 1... The Japan Academy Film Prize is like it's run by his family!"

"......"

Fumio Ishikawa didn't know how to respond for a moment and could only remain silent.

"By the way, did Tree Friends come to lobby you?"

Tomoyuki Tanaka continued to ask.

"I don't seem to have received a red envelope this year?!"

"No..."

Fumio Ishikawa said.

"I didn't receive one either!"

"???"

Hearing his confidant's words, Tomoyuki Tanaka was stunned.

Film companies giving red envelopes to award organizers and judges was almost undisguised in Japan, where the dross culture of gift-giving was prevalent. This was already an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry...

Everything in the entertainment industry was business, and the Grand Prize was no exception. As long as you wanted to win an award, you had to follow the rules~

What was going on? Did Tree Friends not want to win an award anymore?!

"Did Tree Friends forget?!"

"......."

For such a big company, even if the boss forgot, there should be someone specifically in charge of public relations to remind them!

Looking at his subordinate's expression, Tomoyuki Tanaka realized that this time Tree Friends really didn't want to send money to buy an award!

"Huh? Does Tree Friends Films think that our Grand Prize will definitely be awarded to them?!"

Tomoyuki Tanaka felt offended, as if an old guy who always gave out gold coins suddenly stopped giving pocket money and wanted you to be self-reliant...

"This..." Fumio Ishikawa, his subordinate, was a bit helpless. "Mainly because other films... none of them can fight!"

Last year, there was neither the 5 billion box office support from Toho's *The Adventures of Milo and Otis* the year before, nor literary films like *House on Fire*... *The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter*, which Tomoyuki Tanaka produced, only had 1.5 billion in box office...

There was a big production from Toho, *Dun-Huang*, but it was set to be released in the spring of this year...

"There isn't a single film that can compare to *Departures* in terms of box office performance, influence, or even artistry!"

Hearing his subordinate's words, Tomoyuki Tanaka became even angrier:

"Could it be that this is the confidence Tree Friends has to dare not send gifts?!"

"Yeah... if the Grand Prize isn't given to them... who should it be given to?!"

Fumio Ishikawa sighed.

"Tree Friends Films, this has left us with a difficult problem!"

If they ignored Tree Friends' film and forcibly gave the award to any other film, the authority of the Japan Academy Film Prize would definitely be dealt a huge blow!

Although the selection of the Japan Academy Film Prize in this era was somewhat biased towards large film studios, it hadn't reached the point of blatant black-box operations like in the late 90s; it still had to maintain a facade of fairness and decency!

If it was given to Tree Friends... then other film companies would follow suit in the future, and the unspoken rule of gift-giving would be broken just like that!

"......."

Tomoyuki Tanaka sulked, feeling that for the past few years, they had been like cows forced by Tree Friends to drink water...

"Tree Friends Films! Naoki Nagayama!"

"This guy is truly a rule-breaker!!!"

Fumio Ishikawa waited for his superior to finish venting and said calmly:

"Chairman... then should we still continue to award the prize to Tree Friends?"

"Let's follow this result for this session!"

Tomoyuki Tanaka secretly hardened his heart.

"Next year... I will discuss with the organizers of other major awards in the entertainment industry to come up with some new rules... to restrict these completely abnormal guys like Tree Friends..."

"For example, in principle, the same winner cannot win the Grand Prize twice in a row..."

"........ Yes!"

Forcing the industry to establish separate rules for Tree Friends... no other company had ever managed to do that!

It was just like how the UN would always exclude a certain great Eastern nation from various statistics and data in the future, listing it separately, otherwise the data would be unbalanced...

This is a BUG!

"Alright... notify the media to release this nomination list first!"

Tomoyuki Tanaka waved his hand.

"Presumably, the lists for other major awards have also come out by now..."

"Yes, I'll go do it right away!"

In the editing room, a busy day was about to end.

After Naoki Nagayama did some eye exercises for himself, he stood up and stretched... he was feeling a bit sore in his waist and back after the whole day!

"Minna-san, today's editing is about done..."

Naoki Nagayama patted the alarm clock on the table.

"Everyone, let's get off work and rest first... we'll continue tomorrow!"

"Yes!" X4

Masataka Komori, Muneo Matsuo, and the others all began to organize their editing tools, each of them showing a relaxed expression on their faces.

In an era without integrated software, this kind of detailed special effects editing work was really not something a human should do!

Naoki Nagayama was also preparing to go back to the office to tidy up and then head home, when suddenly he saw a flash of golden light from the corner of his eye... his heart stirred, and he remembered what he had talked about with Akina yesterday.

"Ah... Kijima-kun..."

Before the elevator closed, he called out to Kijima Xu.

"Come to the office for a moment later, I have something to communicate with you!"

"Yes!"

Kijima Xu was stunned for a moment and was about to follow Naoki Nagayama into the elevator, but the previous one had already closed, so he could only wait for the next one.

"Kijima..." Masataka Komori teased with a smile, "Did you do something bad recently? Are you going to be kept behind for questioning?!"

"What bad thing could I do!"

Kijima Xu shook his head, but what he was thinking in his heart was,

"Could it be about the paparazzi photos of Yoshihiko Noda, or some other dirt? Or is there a new mission?!"

During this period, as the go-to ninja, Kijima Xu had already become a favorite of Tree Friends' top management!

"Alright, if Naoki-san is looking for you, it's usually not a bad thing!"

Masataka Komori saw the doubt on his friend's face and comforted him.

"I'll wait for you downstairs, let's go have a drink tonight to relax!"

"Okay~"

This wasn't a lie; Naoki Nagayama usually looked for people for good things, either for a promotion and raise, or to give gifts... On the contrary, if Otomo Yoshimura looked for you, it was likely to report work or get scolded.

The big boss was kind, but the second-in-command was very fierce!

In the top-floor office, Naoki Nagayama didn't actually have much to do, just tidied up his scarf and coat and put away his mobile phone.

At this moment, Kijima Xu knocked on the door and entered:

"Naoki-san, you were looking for me?!"

"Ah... Kijima-kun!"

Naoki Nagayama didn't bother with formalities like asking him to sit down and just stood in front of the desk and said,

"I said before that I would give you the script for *Full House*, right?!"

"Yes!!"

Kijima Xu's heart began to race. Sure enough, Naoki-san hadn't forgotten!

"Hmm... Fuji TV has been urging us too... it should be released during the cherry blossom season this year..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded and continued,

"So after you finish helping with the editing of *Jurassic Park*, you can start preparing."

"The crew, equipment, and everything else will be provided by the company."

Naoki Nagayama looked at this backbone staff member in front of him.

"However, regarding casting, you need to put your heart into it... choose the actors who best fit the character settings... and don't limit yourself to artists under Tree Friends!"

Hearing this, years of experience in silently observing others made Kijima Xu's mind flash, and he understood Naoki Nagayama's unspoken meaning:

"Naoki-san, I don't have much interaction with actors in the entertainment industry... regarding casting, would it be convenient to give some suggestions?!"

Naoki Nagayama nodded with satisfaction, very happy that this subordinate of his understood immediately:

"As for casting, one thing is to see if the actor themselves fits the character, and the other is naturally to look at the added value of the actor..."

"For example, *Full House* is an idol romance drama, so the male and female leads naturally need to be young, handsome, and beautiful... It would be even better if they already have their own popularity!"

"For instance, the female lead is a young woman who is a bit reckless but sweet and cute... she is very similar to the popular female idol Yukiko Okada..."

"Other roles can also be selected according to this standard!"

Stopping at the right point, Naoki Nagayama only said they were very similar and didn't say they must be chosen.

But Kijima Xu already understood and nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, I will cast according to this standard!"

"That's good..."

Naoki Nagayama patted Kijima Xu's shoulder with satisfaction.

"Keep it up, Kijima-kun... I know that you actually prefer standing under the spotlight!"

"Yes!!!"

Kijima Xu's heart was filled with emotion... others, like Otomo-san, all wanted to use his stealth ability to make him a weapon in the shadows for Tree Friends...

Only Naoki-san remembered that his greatest ideal was to get the attention of others!!!

"Alright, go back and rest first... we'll see each other tomorrow!"

Naoki Nagayama took Kijima Xu downstairs together and met Masataka Komori, who was waiting downstairs...

After Naoki Nagayama got into his car and left, Masataka Komori asked:

"Kijima, how was it? Did you get a promotion and a raise?!"

"No..."

Kijima Xu looked at his friend and smiled.

"But... *Full House* is about to start preparation for filming!"

"Damn!"

Masataka Komori was immediately full of envy... Naoki Nagayama's script, it seems there is only *Full House* this year!!! ===== CHAPTER 1342 =====