Chapter 834: This man, truly cannot be underestimated!!!

Watching the song playing on the TV, Naoki Nagayama's expression couldn't help but become a bit strange~

"

There is a time when we heed a certain call

(When we hear the earnest call)

When the world must come together as one

(The whole world should unite as one)

Just you and me

(It depends on you and me)

We are the world

(All within the four seas are one family)

"

The charity action on the other side of the ocean finally spread to Japan... This charity song, *We Are the World*, composed and written by Michael Jackson, was sung by all the big names in the American music scene to raise funds for the humanitarian plight in Africa.

Naoki Nagayama roughly understood that this song would raise more than 60 million US dollars for charity, and would later promote a Live Aid charity concert that shocked the world.

This is one of the greatest and most important performances on Earth. Rock stars practiced the philosophy of letting music change the world.

"Japan doesn't seem to have a similar charity concert?" Naoki Nagayama recalled, but he really didn't know much about the history of the Japanese music scene in 1985, and had no impression at all.

"The date of the Live Aid concert should be exactly July 13th... which happens to be Akina's birthday..."

On the TV, the MV footage of many rock stars singing together flashed by. Every one of them was a shining star of the time, and this year's Live Aid was a world-famous concert in the history of world music.

"Charity..."

Naoki Nagayama, who had stayed in Japan for more than five years, could now be said to have achieved success and was very wealthy... It was time to carry out some charity work... The relationship between China and Japan was just right in this era, and there were many China-Japan friendship charity organizations...

Messy thoughts kept spinning in his head, and for a moment, Naoki Nagayama didn't know what he should do.

Just at this time, Akina Nakamori, who had just answered the phone in the room, came to the side of the sofa:

"Naoki-san!"

"Hmm?" Naoki Nagayama looked at his girlfriend with a happy expression, "What good thing happened?"

"Nothing special... just Momoe-san invited us to her house for dinner this weekend~" Akina Nakamori had a smile on her face. Going to a friend's house for dinner was naturally very happy.

"Does this kind of thing need to be reserved in advance? Momoe-san is just downstairs..."

"Because it's a big meal!" Akina Nakamori explained, then looked at the program her boyfriend was watching, "Is this... an American song?"

"Hmm, the top of the latest American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart." Naoki Nagayama said, "This song was sung by Michael Jackson and more than 40 other singers. All album profits will be donated as charity funds..."

"Honto?"

Although Akina Nakamori can now speak simple English, she doesn't pay much attention to foreign affairs... A little academic slacker~ But she is already learning!

"Hmm, this song is just the beginning..." Naoki Nagayama said, "There is also a charity concert on July 13th..."

"July 13th?" Akina Nakamori was even more surprised.

"Akina, do you want to go?" Naoki Nagayama asked, "This concert brings together the big names of Western pop music. It can be said that the stars are gathered~"

"Eh~~~"

Akina Nakamori stared at the TV screen, feeling a bit moved. After all, rock music is very popular in Japan now, and she also likes rock music very much. If she could go and participate... not to mention it was on her birthday...

"Naoki-san, but in July, there is a national tour..."

"Is the time set?" Naoki Nagayama asked.

"Not yet, but it's usually around mid-July... just at the birthday node." Akina's eyes were a bit pitiful...

Naoki Nagayama said directly:

"If Akina wants to go, then just explain the situation to President Hanami. Anyway, this year's tour schedule shouldn't be as urgent as before!"

"......." After thinking about it, Akina Nakamori still felt that celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend was more important, "Hai, I will explain it to Hanami-san properly!"

When the newspapers in Tokyo once again published many reports blackening Naoki Nagayama's new film, the preview of *One Cut of the Dead* finally began.

The "Bungeiza" in Ikebukuro welcomed Tree Friend's new film again, and another movie poster will be added to the display case at the street corner of the entrance.

The weather in late spring and early summer was very good. There was a slight chill in the early morning, but when the bright sunshine shone on the body, the whole person felt a little hot, and the thin spring clothes could be reduced a bit.

"Naoki-san......"

Standing in the lobby, Munao Matsuo was a bit nervous, because just a moment ago, he saw the editor-in-chief of *Kinema Junpo*, the producer of Shochiku, the director of Toho and Toei...

Senior figures who could only be seen at award ceremonies and industry forums walked past him one by one, and after greeting Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Itou, they entered the screening hall.

"What's wrong?" Naoki Nagayama maintained a business smile, which was the experience he gained only after asking his girlfriend, "Nervous?"

"Hai....."

After all, he was a young director just starting out, but he was actually credited as an assistant director in *One Cut of the Dead*, which really made him a bit flustered.

When facing the greetings and handshakes of the big shots, he didn't know what to say... He could only bow continuously, almost 90 degrees!

"Straighten your back..." Naoki Nagayama patted him on the back, "Today you represent the face of Tree Friend!"

"....... Hai!"

Seeing this "junior" who was older than himself even more tense, Naoki Nagayama shook his head and comforted him:

"Munao-kun, this is just a small scene... If you can't handle this now, what will you do when you stand on the podium of the Blue Ribbon Awards or the Japan Academy Film Prize in the future?"

"Blue Ribbon? Academy Prize?" Munao Matsuo was stunned, "Me?"

"Of course... If this movie doesn't win you a Best Newcomer award, wouldn't that damage my reputation?!"

Naoki Nagayama laughed. This *One Cut of the Dead* will definitely win awards. Although the grand prize might be difficult, he is very confident in awards like Best Newcomer, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing.

If with his current fame, he couldn't even do this, then it would truly "damage his reputation."

"......"

Munao Matsuo couldn't speak. In his mind, he imagined himself standing on the award podium... This was something that, in his expectations, should only happen after ten or twenty years of hard work. Could it be so easy?

It felt like a fake...

"Naoki-san!"

Just at this time, a call woke Munao Matsuo up. He saw an old man who looked very kind walking in with a friend.

"I came with Masahiro!"

Masaki Kobayashi and Masahiro Shinoda accompanied each other to watch the preview screening of "One Cut of the Dead."

"Haha, Masaki-san, Masahiro-san, thank you very much!" Naoki Nagayama revealed a sincere smile on his face and hurriedly took his two friends to the second row, "I specifically left seats for you!"

"Naoki-san... Masaki-san previously stated repeatedly that we must stay for the first half hour. What is going on?" Masahiro Shinoda asked suspiciously.

"About this, Masahiro-san will know after watching the movie." Naoki Nagayama kept him in suspense, "It's about to be released!"

"Heh, still keeping secrets..." Masahiro Shinoda didn't pursue it, but he said, "I seem to have seen other acquaintances just now... Kinji Fukasaku seems to have come too..."

"Is that so~"

Naoki Nagayama heard a familiar name again. Kinji Fukasaku seems to have an opinion about him. It's a pity that he only saw him from afar and had no impression of him.

"Then welcome him to comment..."

"So confident?" Masahiro Shinoda was surprised, "Kinji Fukasaku will definitely belittle it!"

"Haha, is there anyone else who will listen to him?"

Although the laughingstock incident had passed for quite a while, Kinji Fukasaku's jokes were still circulating in the director circle!

After chatting with his two friends for a while, Naoki Nagayama returned to the lobby to continue receiving those attending the preview. There were many industry insiders, many film enthusiasts, and naturally many young college students.

Everyone came for Naoki Nagayama's reputation, wanting to see the specific situation of the new film.

"Naoki-san... it's about time..." Shuichi Itou said, "The screening is starting, let's go in too!"

"Hmm~"

Unlike ordinary movies, *One Cut of the Dead* had no opening credits from the beginning. As soon as the projector was turned on, the short film began to play directly...

With the young actors' artificial acting, the zombies' stiff movements, and Munao Matsuo's angry rush into the frame halfway through... *One Cut of the Dead* officially began to play.

"What the hell is this?!" Kinji Fukasaku, wearing a low-brimmed hat, watched for a minute, and such a thought popped into his mind, "Did the cinema play the wrong movie?!"

Although he was very unhappy with Naoki Nagayama, he had to admit that Naoki Nagayama was the most talented and outstanding director in recent years, had won many high-level honors, and had the demeanor of a master at a young age.

His movie... couldn't be at this level on the screen!

At the same time, whispers began in the screening hall, and bursts of buzzing sounds came continuously, making Munao Matsuo, who was sitting in the front row, full of anxiety.

"Naoki-san..."

"Munao-kun, quiet!" Naoki Nagayama didn't explain much, "Watch the movie!"

"......."

Munao Matsuo could only force himself to continue watching... In fact, he couldn't even watch the short film in the first half hour himself!

Seeing that Naoki Nagayama, who was sitting in the front row, didn't move, everyone else could only continue watching.

However, those reporters and critics had already begun to arrange Naoki Nagayama's new work in their hearts...

Shaky camera, nonsensical plot, awkward acting... As *One Cut of the Dead* played, the audience's voices grew louder and louder.

"What is this!", "So bad!"

"Eh? That director looked at the camera! He said 'One Cut of the Dead' to the camera!"

"It seems like he's talking to us..."

"Awkward acting... stalling for time?"

"Why isn't the camera moving again?!"

"Roar roar, the thighs of those two zombies are a bit scary..."

"Eh, why did that big sister stand up with an axe on her head?!"

"Why is the rising camera so slow..."

Whispers came from the back row, which Naoki Nagayama could hear clearly. These audience members seemed to have the intention of letting the director hear them. Who told the director to offer such a film?

Is this playing with all the audience?

Even the directors in the industry were mostly frowning at this time. They naturally saw the shoddy work in this part, and could even guess that they must have seen the clapperboard through the actors' eyes and expressions.

What made them curious was, could Naoki Nagayama really have made such a bad movie?!

Although everyone had some complaints and confusion in their hearts, seeing the director in the front row, they still gave him face and no one chose to leave!

Half an hour later, the screen went dark, and the subtitle "One Month Ago" slowly appeared...

The movie officially began!

"Ah, isn't this an actor? How did he become a director?"

"So that's it... he accepted a commission from a TV station to broadcast live in one take!"

"Zombies... live broadcast... one take... how could there be such a stupid plan?", "Is zombie culture very popular?"

As the movie continued to play, the pits buried one by one began to be filled.

Everyone watched the early preparation process of the movie, feeling that the fierce director in the short film was actually a gentle "good guy" who was bullied behind the scenes, constantly communicating and compromising between the producer, actors, and the crew... and finally came up with the live broadcast script.

And what was surprising was that during the official live broadcast, the two leads actually had a car accident... so the director had to save the situation himself, and his own wife was also dragged in to save the situation...

"So it was forced!"

"Haha, I see that director scolding the actors, there must be some personal grudges!"

Watching the current behind-the-scenes production process of the movie, recalling the film watched before, the audience finally began to react, and some even revealed a knowing smile.

Seeing the zombie lying on the ground after makeup, having to rely on the director's human operation:

"Hahaha, the uncle playing the zombie is drunk! He turned into a puppet!"

Seeing the weak assistant director cry:

"Oh ho ho, the weak assistant director was vomited on... so pitiful, hahaha~"

"Wow... so the sound engineer had a stomach ache!"

When seeing the actor playing the sound engineer forced to poop in the corner while putting on makeup because he couldn't find a toilet, the audience burst into laughter.

"Hahaha~ really disgusting... but so funny!"

As the movie continued, the audience discovered the beauty of this movie. Every awkwardness in the first half hour was a foreshadowing for the subsequent movie, and now it felt like a sudden realization.

Coupled with the unexpected and funny development, the audience laughed very happily.

"Oh my! The little girl setting up the camera fell flat on her face! It looks so painful! But it's also very funny! Hahaha~"

"So the scene of slashing people and spraying blood was actually done by blowing through a straw?!"

"Hahaha, so the scene of the zombie's leg was used to look at the writing board..."

The audience's discussions became positive; they were purely happy because of the funny parts of the movie, while the experienced directors and industry insiders at this time were full of surprise.

"So... this is a movie that tells the process of movie production!"

Masahiro Shinoda muttered to himself in surprise, using a funny way to let everyone understand the true production process of a movie.

Although some of the points were a bit exaggerated, the conflicts between the producer and the director, difficult actors, sudden events, accidents... each one is a factor that must exist in the movie production process.

"And it's not as boring as other documentaries... the behind-the-scenes footage isn't boring either..." Masaki Kobayashi also whispered, "Directors will laugh when they see this, right!"

The one-take filming, the play-within-a-play technique, and the concerted efforts of the film crew members and the final warmth...

"One Cut of the Dead" contains the director's thoughts and explorations on the future of film, while also taking into account fluency and fun; the camera settings, the coordination and transition of the screen, and the interpretation of the plot are all incomparably coherent and natural.

"This is a... real movie!"

Masahiro Shinoda's evaluation of Naoki Nagayama increased again, truly regarding him as a banner figure in the film industry.

And in another corner, Fukasaku Kinji's expression went from initial suspicion to disgust, then to sudden realization and surprise, and finally turned into a deep frown...

"This guy Naoki Nagayama... has leveled up again!"

In fact, famous directors in the film circle know that shooting a commercial film is not too difficult, and making a commercial film a big hit is a skill... but to shoot a truly good movie, it requires the right time, the right place, and the right people.

It requires the script, actors, director, and even the current film environment to be suitable...

And this "One Cut of the Dead" indeed made veteran directors' eyes light up.

Fukasaku Kinji believed that soon, the bold and aggressive new directors who had seen this movie would play with one-takes and plays-within-plays to their hearts' content~

"Naoki Nagayama, this man... is indeed not to be underestimated!"