Chapter 862: Settled a big shot!

"Director Imamura, I've long heard of your great name, but we've never met..."

Naoki Nagayama stood up and bowed to greet the old man who came with Masahiro Shinoda.

"Not at all, Director Nagayama's name is like thunder to the ears....... having achieved so many honors....."

Shohei Imamura, who wore glasses and looked very scholarly, smiled and replied. Looking at this face, no one could tell that the films this director shot were all exploring the underclass of Nihon and the lower body of people...... filthy and messy, fetishism and voyeurism, full of desire-filled Nihon people.....

"That's because the predecessors had pearls before us....."

The one invited to Sanmaiju by Masaki Kobayashi and Masahiro Shinoda today was the winner of the previous Palme d'Or, Shohei Imamura.

He, along with Nagisa Oshima, Masahiro Shinoda, and Seijun Suzuki, were known as the "Four Great Directors of the Nihon Film New Wave Movement", leading the Nihon Film New Wave Movement......

At the same time, he had also collaborated with Masaki Kobayashi, so he could be invited~

Twenty years ago, these few people were the banners for most of the cutting-edge filmmakers!

And now, the cutting-edge filmmakers of that year had become the mainstream, while Shohei Imamura was the most famous big director among the few leaders.

Two consecutive Palmes d'Or had fallen on Nihon directors, new and old handing over the baton, raising the national sense of honor of Nihon by a large margin~

If these two winners called for the holding of the Tokyo International Film Festival at the same time, it would definitely attract everyone's following!

"Imamura-san, please taste this year's Gyokuro new tea...... it's very fresh, and the aroma is even better than before......"

"That's something I can't miss....."

Masaki Kobayashi also said: "Yes, Naoki-san's tea is a top-grade product!"

After a few pleasantries, Naoki Nagayama invited Shohei Imamura and Masahiro Shinoda to sit down and taste the tea in the private room of Sanmaiju.

It was as if today was just to make friends.

"Opening a tea house on a commercial street like Ginza...... Nagayama-san really has a sense of sentiment~" Shohei Imamura praised the antique furnishings in the room. "Sure enough, it has a feeling of finding quiet in the midst of noise!"

"It's just a young man's temporary arrogance~" Naoki Nagayama laughed. "Just happened to get a little achievement, and forgot himself...."

"If you aren't arrogant, can you still be called a young man?!"

Shohei Imamura actually appreciated Naoki Nagayama very much, young and talented, having drive in everything he did...... actually, it was very similar to when he was young.

When he was young, he was an assistant director for Yasujiro Ozu, and he was also indignant at Yasujiro Ozu's rigid shooting, and was very angry at those big directors who shot mainstream films by following the rules......

That was why he took a different path, started shooting films with personal style, anti-mainstream films...... and incidentally started a film new wave movement~

Masahiro Shinoda said on the side:

"Yes, this guy Naoki-san, actually didn't prepare anything, and boasted in front of everyone, wanting to hold the Tokyo International Film Festival....."

"Haha~" Shohei Imamura laughed. "It's not like he didn't prepare anything, right? Masahiro-san and Masaki-san were pulled onto the boat, and now he's come to pull me onto the boat....."

Masaki Kobayashi didn't deny it either, relying on his deeper seniority, and said directly:

"Since you know, Imamura, what are your thoughts?"

Actually, Shohei Imamura had already considered the matter of the Tokyo International Film Festival when he agreed to come today.

He appreciated Naoki Nagayama's talent and drive, and was very interested in the Tokyo International Film Festival...... However, if he wanted to pull him onto the boat, he still had to understand Naoki Nagayama well!

"Hmm.... this Gyokuro tea is really not bad...." Avoiding Masaki Kobayashi's question, Shohei Imamura took a sip of tea, and then sighed somewhat. "Sure enough, it's a favorite of the upper class....."

Turning the topic:

"Nagayama-san....... speaking of which, I heard you wrote a novel called *Lost Paradise*?"

"Hmm..... hmm?"

It felt like he hadn't paid attention to this novel for a long time. He had always used the pen name Sato, and even if the media broke the news that he was the author, he didn't respond positively..... suddenly hearing it from someone else's mouth, Naoki Nagayama felt somewhat strange.

"Ah..... that....."

In the end, he didn't deny it,

"Hai, it is indeed me...."

"Hahaha~ really amazing!"

Shohei Imamura, who had always been concerned with "the lower body of people", laughed loudly, feeling that he had met a fellow person,

"I didn't expect Nagayama-san to be so young, yet able to understand it so deeply..... especially the suicide by dying together at the climax..... it's simply amazing......"

"......."

Naoki Nagayama didn't know what to say for a while~ especially with two old friends present, there was a feeling of social death~

"Hahahaha~" "That's true!" "It was indeed described very realistically...."

The atmosphere in the private room suddenly became much livelier, and several people started chatting around the novel, whipping the author on the side......

After the conversation was exhausted, Shohei Imamura seemed to recall the previous question, and asked with a calm tone:

"Nagayama-san....... speaking of which, you planned the Tokyo International Film Festival...... is it to raise your own reputation and status to another level?"

"Hmm...." Naoki Nagayama didn't answer immediately, but thought about it for a while, "Perhaps there is...."

Masaki Kobayashi said with a smile:

"This isn't a problem either, it's natural for a man to hope that his career will flourish!"

"People without ambition can't get things done!" Masahiro Shinoda also helped persuade, "Imamura-san, this only has benefits for the Tokyo International Film Festival...."

"I didn't say it was wrong either!" Shohei Imamura laughed. "You two guys don't be so nervous~ I just want to understand Nagayama-san's real thoughts~"

Naoki Nagayama continued:

"Actually, at the beginning, I didn't have this idea...... until I went to the Cannes Film Festival..... Imamura-san, you have also been there, you should understand that kind of shock....."

"All filmmakers and film enthusiasts in the world have come to Cannes...... countless stars and directors....... all kinds of films....... more importantly...... in just one week, I saw more than a billion in film transactions....."

"If a film festival like this can be held in Tokyo, it will undoubtedly be a huge driving force for the film industry! It's also an opportunity....."

Shohei Imamura nodded, and also recalled the experience in his mind...... that week indeed shocked him greatly.

"So..... you want to hold a film festival yourself? What if it can't be held? What if no one comes to participate? What if the desired result isn't achieved?"

A series of questions were raised from Shohei Imamura's mouth,

"By then, Nagayama-san..... everyone will be watching your joke!"

"......." Naoki Nagayama was silent for a moment, and then showed a brilliant smile, "Haha, so what......"

"I've tried it, so what if I fail?!"

"Anyway, I'm so young...... there are plenty of opportunities in the future!"

The other three old people in the room heard this and felt as if they had been mocked. They were all over sixty!

Turning their eyes to Naoki Nagayama, they realized again that the guy opposite was only in his early twenties...... unlike them, old things who were half in the grave, cherishing their few feathers, his future still had infinite possibilities!

Thinking about it this way...... a bit jealous!

"......."

Looking at the old people with unkind eyes opposite, Naoki Nagayama also felt he had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly remedied it,

"Moreover, with the support of so many experienced predecessors, the film festival will definitely be a success!"

"......"

In the end, Shohei Imamura sighed,

"Alright, since you've said so..... we predecessors can't let you stand in front alone...."

Saying this meant he agreed! Naoki Nagayama was overjoyed:

"Haha, that's really great!"

"Let's talk about how to stand for you~"

Since he had already agreed, Shohei Imamura didn't avoid anything and started talking about the things afterwards~

"Imamura-san..... what do you think of the position of jury president?"

"......"

Fuji TV building.

Naoki Nagayama, who came to Fuji TV in the evening, was in a very good mood~

He settled a big shot in the afternoon, and in two days at the Tokyo International Film Festival's preparation meeting, it would really be as stable as Mount Tai.....

Shohei Imamura didn't just represent himself, but also all the directors who participated in the film new wave movement, as well as the filmmakers who recognized this movement! And he also had huge prestige among the public~

So Naoki Nagayama was in a very good mood coming to Fuji TV, preparing to pick up his girlfriend for a big meal in the evening.

But since he was here, he naturally had to see acquaintances. Naoki Nagayama came to the office of Production Group 1 with familiarity.

"Naoki-san?"

Rumi Nishi saw Naoki Nagayama first, and then shouted with surprise. The people beside her, Taishi Sugiura and Yasushi Akimoto, also looked over.

"Naoki-san, why did you come over today?" Taishi Sugiura hurriedly stood up to welcome him. "Sit down quickly~"

"I came to pick up Akina...." Naoki Nagayama nodded to the familiar employees and sat down. "What were you just chatting about?"

"Chatting about my love variety show." Yasushi Akimoto interjected. "*Love Master* has already started broadcasting......"

"Eh? When?"

Naoki Nagayama was surprised,

"I don't seem to have noticed...."

"......."

Yasushi Akimoto's mood suddenly fell. Naoki Nagayama's reaction showed that this program didn't cause heated discussion among the audience.

Taishi Sugiura hurriedly said: "It was last Thursday....... the ratings were okay, reaching 25%!"

"So it was last Thursday...... I said why didn't I notice!" Naoki Nagayama patted his forehead. "That must be because of Seiko Matsuda-san's wedding! Everyone was discussing this wedding at that time....."

"Yeah, yeah~" Rumi Nishi also nodded. Seiko Matsuda's 200 million wedding was definitely the dream of every ordinary unmarried young woman. "It was too gorgeous! By the way, Naoki-san, you went to the scene, right?!"

"Hai, I went to the scene with Akina!"

"That's really enviable!"

Everyone in the room could be considered middle-level people in the entertainment industry, but the venue was only so big, and they couldn't squeeze into the list of 500 celebrities.

After saying a few words to Rumi Nishi, Naoki Nagayama returned to the topic just now:

"Just now I saw you all looking worried..... isn't the rating okay~"

"Just worried that the second episode will jump off a cliff!"

Yasushi Akimoto was a bit worried. One had to know that for the first love variety show, Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori's *Love Journey*, the entire program team was very confident, because every episode had attractive points......

Skiing in Hokkaido, walking in the forest, the sea of flowers in the vacation house, the maple leaves in the Red Fish Garden...... thinking about it now, it was still vivid in his mind.

But the current *Love Master*, the scheming and conflicts of the love masters in the vacation villa, although very interesting and sweet, didn't seem to have as many highlights compared to before......

"Definitely not!" Naoki Nagayama patted Yasushi Akimoto's shoulder. "I have confidence in Akimoto-san!"

I don't know why, but Yasushi Akimoto felt full of emotion at this moment! Although he had always treated Naoki Nagayama as an opponent, getting the recognition of an opponent, wasn't this the best acknowledgment?!

This was the bond between real men, right?!

"Arigato, Naoki-san!"

However, emotion was emotion, Taishi Sugiura still had to be responsible for the program's ratings. Taking advantage of Naoki Nagayama being here, he also asked him to help come up with ideas.

"Since it's a love master...." Naoki Nagayama touched his chin. "Why not edit some controversial shots as a preview for the next episode and try it? For example, two conversations that were clearly at different times, edited to look like an explosion of argument?"

"Or other scenes, like two people are already in love, edit a shot of a third party looking over? Leave suspense...."

"You television stations should be more familiar with these than I am~"

This kind of small trick was what those people who created short videos in the future liked most! Strong conflict, high reversal..... attracting people's eyeballs in the shortest time!

Taishi Sugiura and Yasushi Akimoto looked at each other and nodded.....

Actually, they were also doing editing, but they didn't break that bottom line..... after all, this era was still very simple, and random editing was just lying to people~

However...... it seemed it wouldn't hurt to try?

In other aspects, Naoki Nagayama didn't have any good ideas either, after all, people's programs had already been produced.

After chatting for a while, looking at the time, Naoki Nagayama prepared to go to the studio to pick up Akina Nakamori......

But at this time, Taishi Sugiura suddenly thought of something:

"By the way, Naoki-san...... can we produce that 'Of course' game you mentioned before into a variety show?"

"Oh? Are you going to make a comedy show?"

"No..... just want to try the effect as an interactive game in other programs first......" Taishi Sugiura didn't hide it either, directly stating his thoughts.

"Haha, of course you can~"

Before, Naoki Nagayama told them about this game, and he didn't have the intention of making it into a program himself. He didn't seem to have that much interest in planning a variety show now.

"However..... it's best to find guests who can play a bit.... for example, Tamori-san, Sanma Akashiya, etc..... speaking of which, Takeshi Kitano can also try..... his kind of cold jokes are also very interesting!"

"This game needs resident comedians to always be interesting!"

Taishi Sugiura showed a look of gratitude:

"Hai, I will pay attention!"

"Hmm, time is almost up~" Naoki Nagayama said to everyone. "Then I'll go pick up Akina!"

"Bye-bye~" ===== CHAPTER 863 =====