Chapter 286: Is there really such a thing?

Suddenly being assigned a role, Naoki Nagayama was a bit caught off guard. He had originally intended to refuse.

"How can this be? I'm not an actor; I'm the screenwriter for this drama~"

Upon hearing this, Sugiura Taitai laughed: "Haha, that's true, Naoki-san is also the screenwriter and director. However, Naoki-san surely wants the story to be filmed perfectly, right~"

Nishi Rumi grew excited and chimed in from the side: "Yes, yes! Your appearance and temperament are a perfect fit. And as the creator of the script, your understanding of the characters is definitely above anyone else's. All things considered, no one is more suitable than Naoki-san!"

"Uh..."

That was true, but as a creator with such a high status, wouldn't acting lower his prestige?

Sugiura Taitai added fuel to the fire: "If Naoki-san participates, you'll be the investor, the producer, and the lead actor. You'll have absolute power throughout the entire film production process!"

Nishi Rumi specifically repeated: "Absolute power!"

The implication was that the film's production could be entirely according to Naoki Nagayama's wishes—where to film, how to film, when to film, and even things like changing actors mid-way (the unspoken rules) wouldn't matter at all!

Come to think of it, filming his childhood memories perfectly would be a very interesting thing, wouldn't it?

Thinking about it this way, it didn't seem impossible to accept.

As for the feeling of lowering his prestige, it was actually just his own psychological perception. Does a writer stop being a writer just because they filmed a drama? ~

"Ahem." Naoki Nagayama coughed twice and said pretentiously, "Since Taitai-san and Nishi Rumi-san are so warmly requesting it, I will reluctantly agree~"

Film studio, small office.

"So, Naoki-san is going to participate?"

Komori Masataka widened his eyes and looked uncertainly at Funamura Otomo. This manager, whose Mediterranean hairline was growing ever larger, was leisurely sipping a cup of tea.

"This is Naoki-san; I'm already used to it~"

Naoki Nagayama asked irritably: "Otomo-san, you make it sound like I'm always doing things that give people headaches."

"Isn't that so?" Funamura Otomo said gloomily, "You ignore the song production once it's done, you don't cooperate with film promotion, you don't care about company operations, you suddenly disappear for vacations, and you're always involved in scandals..."

"Hey, hey... being involved in scandals isn't my fault!" Naoki Nagayama interrupted quickly, not knowing what else Funamura Otomo might say.

"Oh~ so you only deny the scandals~"

Funamura Otomo glanced at him sideways. The glasses on his nose were fogged by the steam of the hot tea, and while they didn't flash with a sudden glint, this gaze already possessed one percent of Commander Gendo's aura.

"Otomo-san, you..."

"Well, actually, it's not bad if Naoki-san participates." Funamura Otomo immediately changed the subject, leaving Naoki Nagayama with nowhere to vent his frustration. "At least in the filming of the drama and its subsequent distribution, Tree Friend Film can gain more."

Naoki Nagayama nodded. That was indeed true. Then he remembered something else.

"Otomo-san, our agency currently doesn't have any male singers, right..."

"? What does Naoki-san mean?"

"Actually, theme songs like 'Meteor Rain', 'A Person's Romance', and 'Recalling Memories' are better suited for male vocals." Naoki Nagayama frowned. "If there's no suitable candidate, we'll need to hire outside help."

Funamura Otomo also frowned. That was true. If that were the case, wouldn't these three theme songs be given away to others for nothing?

One had to know that singles tied up with popular dramas usually had very good sales. If used to promote a newcomer, they might even shoot straight to the top of the Oricon charts.

"Naoki-san, the filming time should be next year, right?"

"Hai, it will probably be in January. Then I'm thinking of finishing the release around April. It would be best if it could be released before the romantic cherry blossom season."

In this era, there was no such thing as "Monday 9 PM dramas." According to the seasons, January, April, July, and October were all good times for drama releases.

Funamura Otomo nodded: "That's good. Then let's work hard to sign one or several male artists during this period!"

"Uh, just for a few songs?"

"That's not just a few songs! Naoki-san, do you know how the entertainment industry evaluates the songs you create now?" Funamura Otomo sighed. "Gold records falling from the sky! It means that whoever picks them up finds gold falling from the heavens. For a rising idol, it's even more of a golden stepping stone in the entertainment industry."

Ever since Akina Mori's "Second Love" hit number one on the Oricon charts, the reputation of creator Naoki Nagayama had become even more resounding. Funamura Otomo had already received many requests for songs from other agencies, but he had rejected them all.

Besides Naoki saying that his creations were all based on inspiration and he didn't want to accept custom-made songs, it was also because his own agency didn't have enough to go around, so how could he let them go?

"Is that so? Then Otomo-san, you handle it~"

Naoki Nagayama shrugged. Charity begins at home, after all. If it was suitable, he would let his own artists sing them.

"By the way, how is it going with Xiuyi-san? Can he finish within a month?"

Both of their gazes turned to Komori Masataka. This guy had also been dragged to the set recently to assist his "Master."

"Ah, Xiuyi-san's filming is going quite smoothly. After this period of rushing, he says he can finish filming before the end of the year. If the subsequent editing work is a bit faster, he will definitely be able to catch up with the filming of 'Boys Over Flowers'."

"Is that so..." Naoki Nagayama felt they were a bit too optimistic. Because the previous films of Tree Friend Film all had the memories in Naoki Nagayama's brain as a reference, they could be edited so smoothly. This time, without him...

"Well, just treat it as training. Anyway, Xiuyi-san and Masataka-kun will have to learn to be independent in the future~"

Naoki Nagayama looked at the two of them like parents looking at their thriving children.

And Yin Tangxiu, who was being discussed back and forth by the group, sneezed loudly at this moment. Disheveled and unkempt, he held a megaphone and let out a hoarse voice:

"Minna-san, the weather is great today, so we must film as quickly as possible! That guy from the Songye Society over there, hurry up and put on the black suit! Don't lose the ruffian aura!"

After the Songye Society successfully bought shares last time, Yin Tangxiu didn't hesitate and directly borrowed a batch of young delinquents and tattooed Yakuza from the society to act as extras. And don't you know, the feeling of filming suddenly came to life.

A young school delinquent felt a bit resentful after hearing the order. He leaned over to the adult Yakuza and asked in a low voice:

"Boss, that guy is really too arrogant, always making us do this and that, not taking the Songye Society seriously at all... Should we go and teach him a lesson!"

The Yakuza who seemed to be the leader slapped the delinquent on the head: "Teach him a lesson? Teach him what? Don't you know that when this guy went to the headquarters last time, he called the leader 'Big Brother'?"

"Eh? Could it be that he is also a member of the underworld?!"

"I don't know either, but someone who can call the leader 'brother' without changing his expression must not be simple! You guys better film obediently. Maybe you'll become big stars in the future!"

This Yakuza was also quite young, which is why he hung out with these delinquents. For a low-level Yakuza, if they could become actors, who would want to do this life-risking business!

Yin Tangxiu saw that a few people were dragging their feet and immediately shouted through the megaphone: "You guys! What are you still dawdling for? Why don't you hurry up and change your clothes!"

"Hai!!"

Ever since he got this megaphone on set, Yin Tangxiu felt like a peerless swordsman who had found a top-tier sword. His whole person was full of aura.

Come to think of it, he had previously gone to Naoki Nagayama's hometown to learn the daily life of authentic gangsters from the direct line of the Yamaguchi-gumi. It was indeed very helpful.

Now, even to those Yakuza from the Songye Society, he could shout with full aura.

Just as the few people from Tree Friend Film were discussing next year's plans, a major decision concerning them was unfolding in Tokyo.

The jury of the Mainichi Film Awards was tallying the preliminary film recommendations for this year in order to select the nominations for the major awards.

However, at this moment, one of the jurors, Shi Qi Cong, raised a question: "Chairman Honma Kazuyuki, this year's films are a bit strange..."

Honma Kazuyuki said in a knowing tone: "There are very few people nominating 'Hachiko Monogatari', right."

"Eh? There are indeed very few recommending it for the Japan Film Grand Prize, but there are good nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay."

"Right. After all, the word is already out; there definitely won't be a Best Actor or Actress, and there won't be a Best Film award either. Even though we have already guaranteed fairness to the audience, that can only happen after the works are nominated. We have no choice; Tree Friend Film is destined to suffer this loss this time..."

Shi Qi Cong shook his head: "That's not the point."

"Chairman Honma Kazuyuki, I discovered another film, 'A Scene at the Sea', submitted by 'Hyogen-sha'." Shi Qi Cong held the scorecard. "And this film, besides being nominated for Best Film, also has Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Score, and Best Newcomer..."

"Eh? This obscure, niche film has 5 nominations? Is there really such a thing?"

These vote counts were cast anonymously by each juror, basically representing the unanimous attitude of all jurors. Besides the efforts of two directors like Masaki Kobayashi behind the scenes, the quality of the film itself must be solid.

"I remember, this film is also under Tree Friend Film, right?" Honma Kazuyuki recalled.

"Yes, but it was distributed by Art Theater, the Iwanami Theater chain. However, it has already been rolled out to theaters nationwide, and the opening week's box office seems very good."

"The screenwriter and director are both Naoki Nagayama."

"Naoki Nagayama? He is also the screenwriter for 'Hachiko Monogatari', right~"

The old-school production companies in the film industry were guarding against Tree Friend Film's blockbuster "Hachiko Monogatari", but they didn't expect such an "art film" to emerge as a dark horse.

Chairman Honma Kazuyuki, who was already dissatisfied with the big production companies manipulating the selection, thought of the fierce competition after the nominations were announced and couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"Hahaha, it looks like the competition for some awards this time will be very interesting."

Shi Qi Cong looked at the nomination list: "However, the Best Screenplay award will likely still fall to Naoki Nagayama~"

"Yes, both films were nominated. The third in votes is 'The Convenience Store Robbery', which is also him..."

"What a monster!" Shi Qi Cong finally exclaimed in admiration.

Rewinding time a bit, the rare, brilliant winter sunlight shone into a 1DK apartment bedroom in Nakano.

A young girl in blue silk pajamas was hurriedly tidying up the bed.

This morning, Akina Mori was woken up by a phone call from Koji Okawa. Last night, she had been "tormented" by the words of that guy Naoki Nagayama, tossing and turning until one or two in the morning before she truly fell asleep. And in her dream, that hateful figure had actually appeared.

Even after getting up, thinking of the content of the dream, Akina Mori still blushed a little.

She hammered the pillow a few times to vent her anger:

"Hateful guy!"

But there was no time for the girl to continue complaining. Koji Okawa was waiting downstairs. Akina hurriedly washed up, changed her clothes, and went downstairs. Whether to put on makeup or not didn't matter; she would have to put on makeup again when she arrived at the filming site anyway.

"Sumimasen, Koji-san, for making you wait so long~" Akina opened the car door and quickly slipped into the Subaru parked downstairs. "Let's go~"

"Ah, daijoubu." Koji Okawa started the car and took a look at Akina Mori in the rearview mirror. "Akina-chan, didn't you sleep well last night?"

"It's not that I didn't sleep well... I just had a lot of dreams..."

Come to think of it, although she had only slept for about 4 hours, Akina was very energetic, and there were no dark circles under her eyes. As expected of a young person.

Koji Okawa didn't ask any more questions after confirming the state of his idol, and then began to introduce the schedule for today.

Akina Mori listened for a while. After confirming the schedule, the phone call from last night flashed through her mind—Naoki Nagayama's request for a concert ticket again.

She muttered in her heart: "I won't give it to you..."

But she honestly asked: "Koji-san, have the tickets for the Osaka concert been made yet?"

"Eh? The Osaka concert?"

"Hai."

"They should be ready. They're in the office of Akina's publicity department, right? After all, it's being held in the middle of the month."

"Then please save one for me, Koji-san, is that okay?" Akina leaned forward slightly, leaning closer to Koji Okawa who was driving.

Koji Okawa was an experienced driver. He was multitasking, keeping an eye on road conditions while talking to Akina: "Ah, no problem. Is Akina-san giving it to a friend in Osaka?"

Generally speaking, the agency would reserve enough tickets for related parties, and the seats would definitely be very good.

"Hmm, there is a friend I care about."

Akina secretly said in her heart, "But not in Osaka."

"I understand~" The manager didn't ask any more questions. It was just a ticket, so he agreed directly.

Akina Mori, having received the reply, felt relaxed. Looking at the sunlight outside the car window, she put on silver headphones and pressed the play button on her Walkman. A pleasant melody rang out—it was actually "Silent Love".

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen 'A Scene at the Sea' yet~"