Chapter 833: You had better understand what you are doing!

A goldfish's memory only lasts 7 seconds; I don't know who came up with this conclusion, but it later evolved into a way to describe the fleeting nature of human memory~

However, if you apply this conclusion to the entertainment industry, it seems to hold some truth. One hot news topic after another in the entertainment industry has a very short lifespan—fleeting and transient.

It's just like Seiko Matsuda's marriage announcement... after one week, it could no longer occupy the headlines of the newspapers.

Today's headlines are—"Shocking: Renowned Director's New Work to be a Bloody Zombie Movie!", "Reportedly, Naoki Nagayama's New Work is a Total Flop!", "A Movie Completed in Just One Month?! Shoddy Work?", "Non-stop Shots... A One-Take Zombie Film"...

Exaggerated headlines paired with some intentionally released footage have made discussions about Naoki Nagayama's new film, *One Cut of the Dead*, frequent. Numerous movie fans are very curious about this mysterious film, and there is no shortage of "haters" bad-mouthing it.

*Paranormal Activity*, *The Gas Station Attack*, *Hachiko Monogatari*, *A Scene at the Sea*, *Crows Zero*, *April Story*, *Kikujiro*...

Each one can be considered a blockbuster, pushing everyone's expectations for Naoki Nagayama's film works to the absolute limit.

"Director Nagayama's movies can't be that bad, right?", "Isn't 'shoddy work' a bit too harsh?", "But one month is, more or less, a bit short...", "Let's just wait until the movie is released to see for ourselves!"

Numerous comments have spread; supporters, opponents, and neutral, objective people are all waiting for the release of the new film...

And at this moment, Naoki Nagayama... is sitting in Sanmaiju drinking tea with someone!

"Of course it was intentionally leaked!" Naoki Nagayama said to Masaki Kobayashi across from him, "This movie is a bit novel, so I'm lowering everyone's expectations first..."

"Oh? I see the audience is even more curious now!" Masaki Kobayashi said while drinking the freshly picked spring tea, chatting with Naoki Nagayama, "There are also many old friends in the film industry who are very interested. These critics have very sharp tongues!"

"Hahaha, then this movie will surely give them a big surprise!"

Naoki Nagayama laughed.

"To put it bluntly, the first half hour is a pile of crap!"

"..."

Masaki Kobayashi was just about to eat a piece of brown tea snack; upon hearing this, his expression froze, and he silently put it down.

"Naoki-san, at such a critical time for the Palme d'Or competition, releasing this movie... you know the consequences, right?"

"Isn't it just 'icing on the cake' if the movie is good, and 'adding frost to snow' if the reviews are bad?" Naoki Nagayama waved his hand, "As for the Palme d'Or, I have already made all the preparations I can... but I am also very confident in the movie I have on hand!"

"Didn't you just say it was still a pile of..."

"You have to wait until after the first half hour!" Naoki Nagayama hurriedly interrupted, "I guarantee the latter part is worth the price of admission! The one-take shooting technique, the play-within-a-play plot arrangement... in short, experienced people like Masaki-san will smile knowingly, and ordinary audiences will laugh out loud, right?"

The movie *One Cut of the Dead* is scheduled for a preview on April 28th. That day is a weekend, perfect for going to the cinema for entertainment, and it will also be released during the period of late April to early May...

During this time, holidays come one after another, which happens to be Japan's Golden Week, and many companies will be on holiday.

"Masaki-san, at the preview..." Naoki Nagayama raised his teacup to offer a toast, "Please, you must watch until after the first half hour!"

"Oh ho? Naoki-san has really piqued my interest this time!"

Masaki Kobayashi nodded happily. In fact, in these past few years, which of Naoki Nagayama's movies has he not been interested in?

Not just him, a host of new and old directors will go to watch Naoki Nagayama's movies. His films seem to be able to innovate every time, providing inspiration to directors!

Unknowingly, Naoki Nagayama seems to have become a benchmark figure for 1980s cinema.

When discussing the most representative film directors of the 80s in later generations, Naoki Nagayama will definitely be the first one mentioned!

This pair of friends, one old and one young, were leisurely drinking tea and chatting on the second floor of Sanmaiju, and even had lunch there~

At the Tree Friend studio, the distribution department staff began to get busy.

Toshihiko Sugiyama received calls from time to time or made calls, while Eiichiro Watanabe was busily reviewing piles of promotional materials... including various press releases.

Most of the reports in the newspapers today were from Tree Friend's own hand, all following Naoki Nagayama's previous instructions.

"Eiichiro, the newspaper offices have been contacted, and we will continue to spread the news tomorrow." Toshihiko Sugiyama said to Eiichiro Watanabe, "Have the follow-up press releases been confirmed?"

"Hai, they have all been confirmed!" Eiichiro Watanabe nodded, then revealed a strange smile, "When we distributed them to the editors of each newspaper, they thought it was a joke! How could they all be derogatory remarks..."

"Yeah... Naoki-san is truly unexpected."

For the new film of a director with an excellent reputation, the newspapers are actually all negative reports... Ordinary people would think there must be a conspiracy behind it, while another group of people would become even more interested in the new film~

"There are still three days until the preview. At the preview, there will definitely be many reporters!" Eiichiro Watanabe said, "Should we maintain this tone then?"

"Naoki-san will definitely accept interviews then, let him decide for himself!"

Toshihiko Sugiyama took the prepared materials and knocked on Otomo Yoshimura's office door:

"Otomo-san, these are the preview and other promotional materials..."

"Hmm, I'll take a look in a while..." Otomo Yoshimura was also busy himself; he put the materials aside and then asked, "For the subsequent nationwide release, have the theater chains been arranged?"

"Hai, the major theaters in all major cities have had their screening times arranged." Toshihiko Sugiyama reported, "Other small cities are being scheduled... but there will definitely be no problem before the release!"

"Hmm, that's good!"

Otomo Yoshimura looked down at another proposal in his hand, his face showing difficulty:

"Hire internet trolls? Make voices heard through various channels... and actually request to find people in various school clubs to promote it..."

"Where did Naoki-san come up with this idea?"

Film promotion in this era actually only has three main channels: newspapers and magazines, television stations, and offline billboards.

Relying on word-of-mouth fermentation is very difficult...

However, Naoki Nagayama did not forget the importance of word-of-mouth; instead, he proposed the idea of finding trolls in schools, which left Otomo Yoshimura feeling a bit helpless for a moment.

"Where are we going to find such trolls! Giving some money to newspapers is fine... but offline..."

Toshihiko Sugiyama heard his boss's distress, so he said:

"Otomo-san... actually, when promoting movies in the past, I came into contact with many film enthusiast clubs in schools. Why not start with them?"

"Film enthusiasts, are they willing to be trolls?"

"Ha, those poor students were very happy just to get some merchandise and free tickets in the past... If there is a budget this time..."

"Of course there is!" Otomo Yoshimura immediately affirmed, "Sugiyama-san, if you can find them, there is a budget of 500 yen per person! No cap!"

"Hai, then leave it to me!"

Toshihiko Sugiyama immediately nodded and agreed!

How could the students not be willing?

It's just like how university students are willing to hand out flyers for an afternoon for a 100-yen part-time job in the future; now, they only need to write a positive review to get paid... that's much higher than 50 sen per post, right!

Tree Friends Film was going all out to promote "One Cut of the Dead," and Naoki Nagayama himself returned to the studio after parting ways with Masaki Kobayashi.

"Otomo-san... I will be interviewed by reporters during the preview screening," Naoki Nagayama said. "I already spoke with Masaki-san today, and I've also contacted some friends in the industry and film critics... I'll arrange for some of our own people to be there, and have them randomly interviewed as well."

"Will they all say good things?"

Film critics in this era still value their reputations quite highly; after all, unlike the flood of 'experts' in later generations, every one of them now carries weight.

"Not necessarily... but I've begged them to make sure they watch for at least half an hour!"

"Is the first half hour really that bad?" Yoshimura Otomo complained. "Naoki-san... is there really no problem with doing this?"

"Ah, I almost forgot, Otomo-san hasn't seen it yet!"

Naoki Nagayama only then remembered that after the editing was finished, it was sent directly to the film technical factory for copying.

However, after thinking for a moment:

"Come with me!"

"?"

"We shot some footage before that can give you a rough idea of the first half hour of the film."

They had practiced many times before, so there were discarded versions.

"This..."

Yoshimura Otomo was ultimately dragged to the editing room by Naoki Nagayama, and then began watching the previously filmed one-take footage.

The light in the small editing room was dim, and the projector cast the footage from the practice sessions onto the screen; Yoshimura Otomo's expression began to turn strange.

The shaky camera, the low-quality costumes and props, the incomprehensible plot, the bizarre acting... all of this seemed like a shoddy work filmed by an elementary school student holding a camera.

"........ Naoki-san......." Yoshimura Otomo's face turned pale. "Are you going to show this kind of work to the audience?"

He regretted it now; because of his confidence in Naoki Nagayama, he had supported his promotional plan without hesitation and arranged the times for the preview and the official release...

But now, Yoshimura Otomo felt this would be the beginning of the collapse of the Tree Friends brand!

"Haha, didn't I say, the real movie only starts after half an hour!"

Naoki Nagayama turned off the projector indifferently and pulled open the curtains.

"Letting Otomo-san watch the first half hour today is to make Otomo-san understand... the storm of public criticism that will come after the movie is released..."

"There will definitely be people who can't even last half an hour and will leave!"

"....... But Naoki-san, it's really hard to endure!" Yoshimura Otomo had lingering fears. "Watching that short film earlier, I almost felt sick!"

"How about it, it's very novel, right!" Naoki Nagayama was still smiling.

"......." Looking at his president's smiling face, Yoshimura Otomo suppressed the complaint that was about to blurt out. "Naoki-san, you had better know what you are doing!"

"Of course I know!"

Naoki Nagayama knew while filming that if this movie were broadcast in this era, it would very likely suffer from cultural maladjustment... after all, the current audience might be a bit more conservative, and the first half hour is indeed a screening process.

Moreover, there is currently no sufficient platform for the audience to voice their opinions, allowing everyone to learn about the brilliance after the half-hour mark, thereby letting the movie become a hit due to word-of-mouth.

However... doesn't he still have his fame!

And the resources of Tree Friends... as well as other newspaper media and critics who took the red envelopes...

Using this to attract the audience to the cinema, and having them persist until after the half-hour mark is the same thing!

Anyway, in the end, the movie is indeed very interesting~

"Otomo-san... so don't be scared when the time comes!"

"....... I'm already scared now!"

Yoshimura Otomo looked at the confident Naoki Nagayama and chose to believe him... after all, he is Naoki Nagayama!

Tomokazu Miura, who returned from the Taiga drama set, adjusted his emotions and walked towards his home in the Takanawa 80 Building.

"I'm home~"

Tomokazu Miura, who opened the door and changed his shoes in the entryway, said this towards the inside of the room, and then saw Momoe Yamaguchi walk to the entryway, saying very gently:

"Welcome home!"

Then she reached out and took the coat and bag from his hands.

"How was Yutaro today?" Tomokazu Miura walked towards the inside of the room, asking about his eldest son's day.

"Yutaro was of course very good; after drinking his milk in the morning, he ate some baby food, then played happily with his toys, and slept soundly until three o'clock at noon!"

Momoe Yamaguchi shared the happy life of her son joyfully.

"He hasn't cried even once until now..."

"Is that so?" Tomokazu Miura was also very happy to hear this; seeing Yutaro in the playpen, he picked the little guy up very excitedly. "Yutaro, Daddy is home!"

"Wah~~~" The little guy cried without giving him any face!

"...... Really, and you said he didn't cry all day! You made him cry as soon as you came back!" Momoe Yamaguchi hurriedly took the struggling son and coaxed him slowly, while smelling Tomokazu Miura. "You smell like cigarettes... no wonder Yutaro is crying!"

"...... Well....."

Tomokazu Miura was helpless; in this day and age, men smoking is a fashion! Especially since he was still on the film set...

"How was the filming today?" Momoe Yamaguchi continued to ask. "It seems like it's almost over, right?"

"Hi, it will end by May!" Tomokazu Miura said. "After that, it's the director's editing, and the subsequent promotional cooperation..."

"It won't be broadcast until the second half of the year, right?"

"Hmm..."

Speaking of this, Tomokazu Miura stopped, because he had no work after this... there were no projects for the time being, and the agency had no way either.

He didn't want to go on variety shows either, otherwise most of them would ask about Momoe Yamaguchi... he is an actor, not an idol.

Just at this moment, the phone at home suddenly rang, and Tomokazu Miura went to answer it, and then his expression began to change~

"Notified me to audition?" "A new drama in May?"

"Shuichi Itang of Tree Friends Film as the director..."

"Hi, I understand, I will attend on time!"

Tomokazu Miura, who hung up the phone, happened to see Momoe Yamaguchi's gaze.

"Is it new work?"

"Hmm~" Tomokazu Miura nodded. "It's an audition for a role in a new Tree Friends TV drama... a project by Director Itang, expected to start filming in May."

"That's really great!" Momoe Yamaguchi smiled. "Tree Friends' new projects are very sought after right now!"

"Love Generation" had just ended, and the hit TV drama allowed Tree Friends to gain a firm foothold in the TV drama field; many actors were willing to participate, let alone with Shuichi Itang at the helm!

"It's just an audition opportunity... it's not certain yet!" Tomokazu Miura tried his best to keep his expression calm.

"My dear, you will definitely be fine!"

Momoe Yamaguchi was full of confidence in her husband; in terms of acting skills, Tomokazu Miura was definitely up to the mark; just looking at his ability to participate in the filming of a Taiga drama was proof enough.

It was only because of marrying her that he encountered resistance from some of the public, which led to other projects being unwilling to take the risk.

Tomokazu Miura smiled and didn't brag; a real man should speak with facts.

However, he suddenly thought of something:

"Do you think, could it be Naoki-san..."

Momoe Yamaguchi also thought of it: "It must be because of Naoki-san!"

There are not that many coincidences in the world; the couple who had been hustling in the entertainment industry knew this even better.

Momoe Yamaguchi thought for a moment:

"My dear, after you get the role, let's invite Naoki-san and Akina-chan to our house for dinner!"

"Hmm!"