Volume 1: Japanese Storm Chapter 20: Hatsune Plan (1)

  "Yi Tian, you need rest, do you know? Rest is the key to overcoming small obstacles! Combining work and rest is the foundation of success!"

  Yoriyasu: "Jerry, are you trying to divert my attention? This won't do! Don't you know that the Asian market is currently in its pioneering stage and three Grammy Awards can't bring the most intuitive feeling to the market?! We need albums, singles! By the way, Jerry, when will you start preparing for the album you promised me?"

  Seeing Eita's eyes glowing, Jerry felt a bit fearful. Having one Toshiro Watabe was already terrifying enough, he didn't want another one to appear. Good grief, if that happened, he would go crazy! He carefully glanced at Eita and asked, "Eita-kun, do we need to prepare for the album now?"

  Yoda: "Of course, the faster the better!"

  "Hey, Iida-kun, how's the movie?" Jerry asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Yoda: "Of course not, wait, Jerry is talking about a movie?"

  Jerry: "Yeah, movie! The Ring!"

  Yoda Tsune: "Midnight Bell"? That famous horror of Neneko-san? You're saying it's going to be made into a movie?! This is too great! Wait, Jerry-kun, you mean you're going to participate in the filming of this movie? Who's the director? Which film company? Not choosing Robonica Films isn't an option?"

  "Alright, alright, Inoue-san, calm down, don't get too excited! It's Nakahata Hideo from Robonica Films, you probably don't know him! Koba knows him though! Nakahata Hideo is his student! For now, I haven't accepted his invitation yet! But for the sake of your market expansion plan, I think I'll have to accept it!"

  Miura Tomokazu and Kuroki Hitomi star in "Midnight Bell" under the direction of Nakada Hideo.

  Since the second peak in the 1950s and 1960s, the film factory system began to disintegrate, and Japan gradually entered the era of independent filmmaking! Now most Japanese film directors are more like independent filmmakers in some sense. They hold their own scripts, find actors, props, investors, and build a team! And Nakada Hideo? Except for being an assistant director, he has never received training in these aspects! Compared to producers, he is more like a pure cinematographer! So, letting him take charge alone and direct the entire crew's operation is really a bit difficult for him!

  This guy. How can he not look like a master of horror movies that will be popular in eight years? Jerry remembers, Hideo Nakata's debut "Don't Look Up" won't appear until next year! Looks like he still needs to learn after all!

  Nakata Hideo: "Jerry-kun, I need your help!"

  Jerry: "You shouldn't be looking for me for help! You should go to Robonica Film Studio, they have lighting technicians, prop masters, makeup artists, all the staff you need for film production, you can find them there! Even if you want an assistant director, they have one too! So, don't look at me! I'm only 9 years old! Okay, I've released singles and albums, but that's just being a singer! An actor? No, I'm not an actor! Tian Jun? You can't be serious about wanting me to act?! Tell you what, no way!"

  Nakata Hideo: "Jerry, you can't do this! You brought in Miura Tomokazu, you brought in Kuroki Hitomi, you brought in the film's production funds, and not only that, but you also drew out the storyboards. And now you think you can just wash your hands of it?! Is that right? That's what you think, isn't it?! You're being totally irresponsible! Yes, completely irresponsible!" Jerry: "Hey Nakata, with a face like that, you look just like a dissatisfied housewife who's not getting any!"

  "Stop smiling at me! Jerry, I'm being very formal and serious in our conversation! You can't be so irresponsible! It was you who encouraged me to come out and direct my own film in the first place! Can you really forget that?! I spent all my time rewriting the script, calculating the scary scenes, thinking about the music needed for the film... I even turned down Mr. Shinoda's offer to be an assistant director for his new film "Cold Water Bath"! I told him this time, I don't need his guidance, I want to make a new film on my own ability! But I put so much time into "Midnight Bell", and yet you won't even help me out?! You're the culprit, Jerry, you're the real culprit!"

  "Shut up, Jerry! Your face is starting to turn cold. Seriously, the more you talk, the worse it gets! Alright, calm down a bit! Nakata-kun, I need to tell you two things. Helping you get in touch with the two leads was just a coincidence! I happened to meet them while participating in the food variety show "Recipe Thing Army"! As for the storyboards, do you think I drew them specifically for your movie? Don't be naive! Those were just doodles that Mina wrote in her free time. Do you know what doodles are? They're careless scribbles! Wake up, those were just reference materials for you! And another thing, don't you think many of the shots are unreasonable? It's because of the filming budget, yes, even the filming budget was invested because Mina liked your adapted script. So, never say that I'm doing everything for you! I'm telling you, this will make you look arrogant, self-absorbed, and self-righteous! Yes, not a single word is wrong! I'm not as great or altruistic as you think. Got it? Nakata-kun, your loud accusations are unreasonable, so calm down! Or go to the corner toilet and splash some cold water on your face!"

  Nakata Hideo was kicked in the face by a small guy, and his suppressed anger had nowhere to vent, so he kicked the chair hard, the chair was kicked to the side, and Nakata Hideo also let out a scream!

  This guy is really immature! Maybe after this movie is finished, he should go to the United States and learn how to be a qualified filmmaker.

  Watching Nakata Hideo sit on the ground with a thud, hugging his legs and wailing, Jerry also burst out laughing. "Alright, Nakata-kun, let me think about it! If Inada-kun doesn't push me too hard, maybe I can squeeze out some time! But don't get your hopes up too high, you don't know that before going to America, I promised him!"

  Nakata Hideo wailed and asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay?! Right, Jerry?! Are you sure you'll be okay?!"

  Jerry helplessly said: "Yes, yes, I promise you, I will think it over carefully!"

  Nakata Hideo asked again: "You can't go back on your word! Jerry, you have to follow through on what you say!"

  Jerry: "Of course! I'll put my money where my mouth is!"

  Jerry said that after, Nakahata Hideo stood up as if nothing had happened, patted his butt and said "Thanks a lot! Well, I'll be off then!"

  Jerry was flabbergasted!

  The employees of Si were shocked because a loud roar came from Cai's office!

  This bastard, actually came up with a desperate trick on me!

  Tanaka Nana looked at Jerry holding his hair and burst out laughing!

  This little guy is quite delicious!

  Jerry: "That's roughly how it went! I've also read the script revised by Nakata-kun, and just like Nana-chan said, it's actually not bad at all! The role of Takayama Youichi is also closer to my age! Nakata-kun meant that this would only be a guest appearance and wouldn't take up much time! I've taken a close look, and indeed there are only a few scenes! Moreover, for the new album, I still don't have a complete idea!"

  Yoda Tsune: "If that's really the case, I think it's no problem! However, Jerry, handing over a bestseller like 'Midnight Bell' to a newcomer director like Nakata Hideo, isn't that a bit too hasty?"

  Jerry: "Yoda-kun, I'd like to ask you, who do you think would be the right person? Koizumi Katsuhiro? Kurosawa Akira? Or Shinoda Masahiro? You should know that each of them has their own suitable domain, in other words, none of them are suitable! It's just like when pink films first emerged, no one knew what kind of impact they would have, and no one expected that such a genre would produce so many classics! Now, horror movies are like those pink films back then, needing someone new who isn't bound by conventional frameworks to explore truly new territory! Nakata Hideo is just such a newcomer! So please don't bring up the issue of experience! Experimentation requires courage and taking risks! If Nakata Hideo really fails because he's too young, as you said, well... let's just say it's money down the drain, or a contribution to the progress of Japanese cinema!"

  Yoda Tadashi: "Alright, Jerry-kun, if you insist... I hope that guy won't make you lose face!"

  Jerry: "Although that guy doesn't look very reliable, I believe he won't let us down! And about the new album, I don't have any clear ideas for now, so let's still use movies to expand our market for the time being!"

  Yoda Tsune: "On the condition that Nakata's movie is a huge success! Otherwise, not many people would be willing to spend money buying video tapes!"

  Jerry: "You're kidding me! You're the president of Jie Entertainment, how can you say something so depressing?! Is this what a president should be like?!"

  Yoda shrugged: "The fact is just like I said, this point, Jerry must also admit!"

  Jerry: "Alright, alright! You're right! Is that okay?! Ah, about the future development of Kyubey Corporation, I have a plan! Inada-kun, please wait for a moment!"