mijobooks Chapter 630 The Strictest Master in Japan
Chapter 630 The Strictest Master in Japan
……
……
Director Chen went outside to answer a phone call and learned that the investors of Japan Kadokawa Pictures Co., Ltd. had arrived at the gate of Tang City Scenic Area.
Also accompanying them was another actor cast as one of the two male leads in the film – Shota Rangu.
If it were just Shota Rangu visiting, Director Chen wouldn't even lift an eyelid.
Just assign the most experienced assistant director on set, along with two production assistants, to meet them at the entrance and show them the way.
This guy is not Gu Qing, whom he favors. Why would a director as big as him personally go to greet him?
But alas,
We still have to give face to Eiga Co., Ltd.
Director Chen has had his share of hardships.
Neither of the two male leads in this film were actually personally selected by him.
Huang Xuan, who was originally slated to be cast, was directly replaced by Gu Qing.
Thankfully, after meeting Gu Qing, Director Chen was knocked in the heart, otherwise he would have been so angry.
As for: Ran Gu Jiangtai.
He was the other half of the film's investor: Kadokawa Corporation of Japan, who personally selected the male actor, leaving him no room to interfere.
The prestige of Kadokawa Corporation of Japan is self-evident.
Its dominance in Japan is comparable to the dragon logo displayed before the release of a domestic film.
This is also why Director Chen had no choice but to condescend to go.
As a result,
Director Chen only has two protégés: Jing Tian and Tong Liya.
It can truly be said that he is incapable of both classical and vernacular Chinese.
……
—At the entrance of Tangcheng Scenic Area
When Shota Nagaya and two other Japanese male actors, along with the assistants and staff brought by the investors of the film company,
The moment the group of nearly ten people filed out of the minibus, almost everyone froze at the same time.
"Siguni—this is huge!!"
"This feels much more magnificent than the movie theater village..."
"Are we really... going to film here?"
The actors from Japan were stunned as soon as they got off the bus.
Looking up at the pavilions and palaces with their flying eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, the group of people couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
It's not that they're ignorant or naive; it's that... they've never seen anything like it before!
Toei Animation Studios, Japan's most luxurious and famous film and television shooting base, covers a total area of only 500 acres.
This is already the largest filming location in all of Japan, bar none.
Many historical dramas and period dramas were filmed there.
In the collective memory of Japanese actors, the film village was the ceiling of their perception of a "grand period film set".
But what about the Tang Dynasty city built by Director Chen?
The area that is currently open to the public covers a full 600 acres!
This is only the part that has been completed so far. If the entire planned area is included, the number is even more staggering and makes people's scalp tingle.
Not to mention,
The buildings on the two sides are completely different.
Most of the set rooms in the film village are old antiques built decades ago, with wood that has turned black and tiles that are very loose.
Some of the older ones are so old that even film crews dare not shoot action scenes inside, for fear of accidentally breaking the whole building apart.
Compared to the Tang Dynasty city that Director Chen painstakingly built, it's like heaven and earth.
"Is this... is this the ancient Tang Dynasty?"
What kind of lives do actors in China lead?
This is the most genuine and instinctive thought in the hearts of Japanese actors.
With his shiny bald head, Shota Ranya stepped onto unfamiliar land and, gazing at the magnificent buildings, gasped in astonishment.
The group of people were completely stunned.
"Shota, cheer up! Don't act like those country bumpkins from Saitama Prefecture, putting on airs like you've never seen the world before!"
The investors in the film company look older than Director Chen.
Looking at the bumpkins around him, he felt a deep sense of humiliation as a Japanese person who had experienced the Showa era. His face darkened as he hissed in a low voice.
"Didn't you experience the brilliance of the Showa era? It's nothing compared to what we had back then!!"
Rangu Jiangtai: "..."
But I'm a useless member of the Heisei generation...
As a typical post-90s generation, he had never actually seen what the Showa era was like.
but,
He dared not voice these thoughts.
"Hai... Hai..."
Ran Gu Jiangtai and the other two actors immediately lowered their heads, expressing their obedience with the most standard Japanese bow, responding humbly, their posture so humble as to be almost invisible.
The status of Japanese entertainers is even lower than that of their South Korean counterparts.
The large local firms wielded power to an outrageous degree, to the point that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were slave owners to slaves.
From the initial image and packaging of an artist upon their debut, to the roles they take on and the shows they appear on, everything is carefully planned and executed.
Furthermore, all aspects of their private lives—dating, marriage, and childbirth—are subject to strict contractual constraints.
The globally renowned Johnny & Associates can impose a dating ban on its idols until they are in their thirties.
Breach of contract will result in the payment of huge penalties!
Other than that,
Johnny Kitagawa, the boss of Johnny & Associates, who is known as the "Godfather of Asian Idol Training," also has a special fondness for the young male idols under his management.
Before he was imprisoned, a list of hundreds of perpetrators was released, involving thousands of people.
From Asian superstar Takuya Kimura to the currently popular Shunsuke Michieda, everyone has been implicated.
Even the most top stars have to bow their heads obediently in front of the executives of their agencies and endure unexplained pain.
……
"That's right! As men of the Showa era, straighten your backs!"
Seeing that the young men were relatively obedient, Tanaka's dark aura lessened slightly, but his disappointment in them only intensified.
His gaze swept past the staff bustling about the square, peering into the distance to confirm that Director Chen had not yet appeared.
Taking advantage of this lull, they began to give Ran Gu Jiangtai and the others a final brainwashing:
"You are professional actors who have emerged from the Japanese market, and you are fundamentally different from the artists in China who rely on popularity and looks to attract attention!"
"Shota, you won the Best Newcomer Award at the Venice International Film Festival when you were only 19 years old. Will the actor who plays opposite you be your rival?"
"Later, let the Chinese actors see your spirit!!"
"...That's really true."
These words inspired Shota Rangu, filling him with renewed confidence.
He may not be good at anything else, but his acting skills are absolutely top-notch.
The Venice Film Festival's Best Newcomer Award at the age of nineteen is not an honor that can be obtained easily.
Moreover, to be honest,
In the international film industry, I have never heard of any particularly famous young actors from China.
On the award lists of the three major film festivals, Chinese names are mostly concentrated on a few veteran directors and middle-aged actors.
The younger generation?
It seems there really aren't any big names or influential figures here.
Among his peers, he was unmatched!
And at that moment,
At the end of the stone-paved road in the distance, a tall figure slowly walked over.
Director Chen is a full 1.85 meters tall. Even though his bones have shrunk slightly with age, his physique still stands out like a crane among chickens in a crowd.
"Oh ho ho, Director Chen (Director Chen), it's been a long time!"
Mr. Tanaka spotted the tall figure immediately, a smile spreading across his face as he quickly strode forward to meet him.
He extended his hand, his face beaming with a warm smile.
But then an awkward scene unfolded.
Tanaka is only a little over 1.6 meters tall, which is not considered short among Japanese people.
But when he stood in front of Director Chen, it was as if he was covered by a mountain.
He had to tilt his head back to see Director Chen's face clearly. His outstretched hand was gently grasped by Director Chen's large hand and completely enveloped, to the point that even his wrist was no longer visible.
This scene is incredibly impactful.
Tall, charismatic, and a world-renowned director...
The confidence that Ran Gu Jiangtai and the others behind him had just built up instantly deflated when they saw this scene.
Director Chen at this moment,
In their eyes, he was like a big shot straight out of an old Showa-era movie.
They exuded a powerful aura that made them instinctively want to bow down.
The general of the empire!
……
Director Chen lowered his eyelids, looking down at Tanaka, who was a whole head shorter than him, and his lips twitched slightly, which could be considered a smile.
He didn't even bend over, just leaned forward slightly, touched Tanaka's hand briefly, and then withdrew it.
"Mr. Tanaka, you must be tired from your journey."
He spoke, his voice not loud, but with great strength.
Tanaka tilted his head back, his face beaming with smiles, saying "Not at all, not at all," while inwardly marveling:
This Supervisor Chen lived up to his reputation; he had an extraordinary demeanor and did not feel offended at all.
"Hello, Director Chen Kaige."
Ran Gu Jiangtai took a deep breath, carefully removed his hat, revealing a shiny bald head, and spoke in somewhat broken, colonel-accented Chinese.
The greeting was reserved, with the person bowing almost at a 90-degree angle, showing exceptional respect.
"Is this Shota Rangu, who starred in 'The Mediocre'?"
Director Chen put his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, and glanced at the young man in front of him who had been bowing and scraping before raising his head.
Wide chin, bald head, short and stocky, unremarkable appearance...
Is this Shota Rangu?
That's it?
Does he even deserve to play a dual male lead role alongside his beloved Lotte?
Director Chen's brows furrowed involuntarily, a feeling of indescribable disappointment and irritation welling up inside him.
He remembers it very clearly.
Kadokawa promised him that they would find him a new generation of 'Takuya Kimura' in Japan.
"This is what Takuya Kimura looked like when he was young? I don't remember."
Director Chen's brows furrowed slightly, and the image of Gu Qing, with his upright posture and gentle, handsome features, involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
The difference between the two is like heaven and earth, the gap is so large that it cannot be bridged.
He likes the filming style of having two male leads.
At the very least, your other male lead should be worthy of him!
Fortunately,
Director Chen realized that he was filming during the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty was a golden age, attracting tribute from all nations!
In that era, when the Japanese envoys to Tang China crossed the ocean to Chang'an, what did they see of the young men of our Great Tang?
Looking up, absolutely looking up.
The young men of the Tang Dynasty, with their upright postures like pine and bamboo, and handsome faces like the moon and stars, riding horses through Chang'an in white robes, were truly dashing and unrestrained, with unparalleled elegance.
As for the Japanese...
Shorter, more ordinary, more reserved – that's what's historically appropriate.
That makes perfect sense, absolutely perfect.
Director Chen's brows relaxed completely, and he reluctantly pulled a hand out from behind him, reached out, and gave Ran Gu Jiangtai a perfunctory pat on the shoulder:
"Not bad, it's a good winter melon... uh... a good seedling!"
He changed his words without changing his expression, turned his head, and glanced at the translator beside him.
The translator, a young Chinese man who had worked on several projects with Director Chen, turned around without batting an eye and smiled at Shota Ranya in fluent Japanese:
"Director Chen said that Jiang Tai is a very good actor and he has high hopes for you."
"Arigato, Arigato".
Ryotani Shota was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"Director Chen, Shota is one of the most outstanding young actors of our generation in Japan. I believe he will not let you down on set in the future!"
The film company's investors also felt proud, straightening their slightly hunched backs, though they only barely reached Director Chen's chest.
"Even your Mr. Tony Leung praised Jiang Tai's acting skills."
And this time,
The translator in the neon-colored mirror seemed to sense the host's confidence and translated it directly as,
"Director Chen, Jiang Tai is not only the best actor in Japan, but also the best young actor here. This is what Mr. Tony Leung said."
"Who?!"
After listening to the translator's boastful and provocative remarks, Director Chen's expression darkened slightly.
Liang Chaowei?
Isn't that just one of his former underlings, Wei Zai?!
Praising the acting skills?
How many people in the entertainment industry have praised his Lotte brand?
It might not be ten thousand or eight thousand, but it must be at least a thousand or eight hundred!
"Gu Qing, who plays Bai Juyi, is also an extremely outstanding young actor in my opinion."
Director Chen maintained his composure and said calmly.
His words carry far more weight than Liang Chaowei's.
But who would have thought,
"Gu Qing? Who is Gu Qing?"
"Isn't it Huang Xuan?"
The Japanese have always had slow internet speeds, and they had never even heard of Gu Qing before, so they looked at each other in confusion.
"Supervisor Chen, I will have a good exchange and discussion with him."
After listening to the translation, Ran Gu Jiangtai assumed that Director Chen had introduced him to a very excellent actor, and hurriedly smiled and said.
The Japanese people's strange expressions, including Shota Ranya's reply, made Director Chen lose face. He cursed inwardly, "Vulgar and rude, truly barbarians!!"
He flicked his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and snorted heavily through his nose, "I look forward to your sparring match."
finished,
He turned around without looking back and strode forward.
Director Chen's sudden displeasure left all the Japanese present completely baffled.
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Weren't we just having a nice chat? Why did you suddenly turn hostile?
but,
They quickly found a reasonable explanation for themselves and nodded silently to themselves:
Perhaps all great directors have such eccentric personalities; it's normal for talented people to have a bit of a temper.
Without giving it any further thought, the group quickened their pace and followed Director Chen inside.
……
After passing through the square and winding through several corridors, the view suddenly opened up, and a simple and elegant palace-style building appeared before everyone.
Director Chen's originally gloomy face instantly relaxed when he saw the figure standing in front of the door.
Gu Qingzheng stood on the steps under the corridor, his figure elegant and graceful. The winter morning light shone from the side, coating him with a thin, almost transparent golden halo.
Like a spring breeze.
Director Chen felt a refreshing and comfortable feeling rise from the bottom of his heart.
The frustration caused by those Japanese people earlier dissipated almost entirely the moment Gu Qing was seen.
Director Chen deliberately slowed down and fell to the very back of the crowd.
He's over 1.8 meters tall, so even standing behind him, he has a clear view of what's in front of him.
Director Chen cleared his throat, waved loudly towards Gu Qing, and said in a clear, resonant voice:
"Lotte!"
The shout reached the ears of everyone in front clearly.
"Supervisor Chen?"
Mr. Tanaka, who was walking in front, stopped in confusion and looked back at Director Chen, who was lagging behind. He clearly did not understand.
Shota Rangu panicked and wanted to take a step back, not daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with Director Chen.
Just as these Japanese people stopped, turned around, and hesitated in a panic, Gu Qing had already noticed the commotion.
He was holding a hot water bottle in his hand, his head slightly tilted to the side, talking to Da Tian Tian beside him.
Hearing Director Chen's voice, Gu Qing raised his eyes and looked at the tall figure waving at him from behind.
Gu Qing casually put the hot water bottle into the hood of Da Tiantian's down jacket, causing her to exclaim "Ouch!"
With a smile, she lightly stepped over the steps in front of her and walked towards Director Chen.
now,
Ran Gu Jiangtai and the others had already turned around and were facing Gu Qing who was walking towards them.
The translator stood at the front, opened his mouth, and instinctively wanted to translate Director Chen's previous sentence.
But when his gaze fell on Gu Qing who was walking over, the words caught in his throat.
Are all Chinese actors... this tall?
This was Shota Ranya's first reaction.
He looked up at the approaching young man, and the first thought that came to his mind was envy.
Pure envy based on height.
His own paper documents state that he is 1.72 meters tall.
But the height of Japanese male celebrities is even more deceptive than the way Japanese people talk.
Actually,
Without wearing shoe lifts, his height is only a little over 1.65 meters.
"What's the use of being tall?"
Ran Gu Jiangtai gritted his teeth and mentally encouraged himself.
"Actors rely on their acting skills; being too tall can actually hinder their performance!"
He quickly suppressed the envy that had just arisen with this thought, and his gaze fell on Gu Qing's clothes.
He wore a simple black down jacket, the style of which was as ordinary as could be, except for a dragon logo printed on the chest.
Other than that,
It looks no different from what any ordinary young person on the street would wear.
Ran Gu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, touching his bald head. At least in terms of appearance, he had won.
But when Gu Qing's voice became clear and he approached, almost within arm's reach.
Ran Gu Jiangtai endured the glaring sunlight, tilted his head back and squinted to look, and when he moved his gaze to Gu Qing's face,
Fragments of light greet the dawn.
"...まじで(Is this true)?"
He opened his mouth almost silently, lost in thought, an unbelievable idea flashing through his mind.
Gu Qing stopped a few steps away from them, her gaze falling on Ran Gu Jiangtai and the others, then she slightly turned her head.
"Director Chen, who are these people...?"
His voice wasn't loud, but every word was as clear as a carefully polished piece of jade, warm yet with a natural, crisp quality.
The sound, as it entered his ears, reminded Shota Ranya of the snow that never melts on Mount Fuji.
It is cool and quiet, with an ancient charm that is not of this world.
"Even her voice is so beautiful..."
Ran Gu was in despair.
Mr. Tanaka, can I really keep him under control?
It can't be suppressed.
It's absolutely impossible to suppress.
Even if he has full confidence in his acting skills, how could Shota Rangu not understand Japanese girls?
He couldn't even imagine what would happen when the film was released.
When he and this person named Gu Qing appeared on the screen at the same time.
How will the Japanese girls, who are in Japan's home turf, react?
Will they support themselves in the same way they support local actors?
They've probably defected!
When it comes to idol worship, Japanese girls are the originators.
"Mr. Tanaka, this is Gu Qing, who played Bai Juyi in 'The Legend of the Demon Cat'."
Director Chen had somehow caught up from behind at a leisurely pace.
He had his hands behind his back, his chin slightly raised, and a very cheerful and comfortable smile on his face.
So comfortable, so very comfortable.
From the moment Gu Qingchao walked over, he had been observing the expressions of the Japanese people in front of him.
From initial doubt, to stunned silence after Gu Qing approached, to now being ashen-faced and speechless.
In just a few short steps, the expressions on the faces of these Japanese people changed faster than turning the pages of a book.
Absolutely wonderful!
Director Chen noticed every micro-expression.
"Rakuten, these are guests from Japan,"
Director Chen suppressed his smile, feigning calmness, but slightly raised his chin and gave Gu Qing a meaningful look.
The two seven-foot-tall men looked around and saw only the heads of Japanese actors.
"This is Mr. Tanaka, an investor in the film industry, Shota Shinohara who plays Kukai, and Hiroshi Abe who plays Abe Hiroshi..."
The translator next to them helped convey the meaning.
Ran Gu Jiangtai straightened his back, not wanting to show any weakness.
Judging from his appearance, he is older than Gu Qing.
In Japan, where hierarchy is strictly observed, Gu Qing would at least have to bow and shake hands with him.
Ran Gu Jiangtai was mentally calculating how he should respond if Gu Qing bowed to him.
However, the next second...
Shota Rangu's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"Hello, Mr. Tanaka."
Gu Qing had a very faint smile on her lips, neither cold nor particularly warm.
He reached out his hand, his fingertips lightly grasping Mr. Tanaka's palm, and then naturally withdrew it in less than a second.
"How...how dare he?!"
Shota Rangu's jaw almost hit the ground; his mind went completely blank.
Why not put on a smile?
Why don't you bend down?
Why not hold Mr. Tanaka's hands with both hands and shake them vigorously, while repeatedly saying "Please take care of me"?
That's Mr. Tanaka!
Mr. Tanaka of Kadokawa Pictures Co., Ltd.! !
In the neon lights,
Let alone young actors like him, even those veteran actors who have won countless awards,
When you see Mr. Tanaka, you must bow down with utmost respect and lick him with the most enthusiastic and humble attitude—yes, lick him!
Are all Chinese celebrities this arrogant?
Shota Rangu's pupils dilated as his worldview was shaken to its core at that moment.
But what he couldn't understand even more was yet to come.
After releasing Mr. Tanaka's hand, Gu Qing turned her gaze to him.
Those eyes, as clear as a deep autumn pool, lingered on him for a moment before settling on his shiny bald head.
A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Qing's eyes, which quickly transformed into genuine admiration and appreciation.
"Kukai? May I call you that?"
Gu Qing smiled and spoke, her tone noticeably more sincere than when she had spoken to Mr. Tanaka earlier, "Khon Nichkawa."
As an actor, shaving his head without hesitation before filming for a role is a commendable act of dedication.
"What?! This isn't right!"
Shota Ranya froze on the spot.
His brain seemed to have crashed, but his body had already reacted before his consciousness could.
Ran Gu Jiang Tai grasped Gu Qing's outstretched hands with both of his.
at the same time,
He straightened his back just now, then habitually bent over again. "Kong Nichiwa, Kong Nichiwa."
He even felt flattered.
This person...this person must be crazy, right?!
Shota Rangu was completely unable to comprehend what was happening before his eyes.
In his cognitive system,
An actor who dares to be indifferent to investors should be even more arrogant towards his peers, so why is it the other way around?
This is unreasonable, this is completely unreasonable.
Gu Qing released his grip, unaware of the turbulent thoughts churning within the bald man before him.
If he knew,
They'd probably find it hilarious.
In the global ranking of artists, Chinese artists undoubtedly stand at the very top of the pyramid.
They earn a lot of money, have a high social status, and are always surrounded by admirers and glamorous wherever they go.
If they are currently popular celebrities, they can do whatever they want.
He was pampered by the company and protected by those around him; at every banquet he met, there were only big capitalists and wealthy businessmen.
Money gives you confidence; the more money you make, the more confident you become.
It can be said,
Aside from those professional, truly internationally authoritative fashion runway events,
Looking at the entertainment industry worldwide,
Whenever top celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry start their "show-off" mode on the red carpet,
The level of buzz it generated in various fandoms on foreign websites in later generations was on a completely different level.
What they always receive are overwhelming flowers and words of praise.
Because their entertainment industry is too monotonous, too depressing, and too bland.
Even walking the red carpet requires looking ahead and behind.
If you dare to dress prettier than your seniors, then you're in for a world of trouble backstage.
In South Korea,
There's an unspoken rule about walking the red carpet.
Unless you have a top luxury brand to back you up, you can only wear black and white clothes.
Awards have to be given to seniors first, meals have to be eaten by seniors first, being humiliated on variety shows, being made inappropriate jokes, being slapped in public—these are all common occurrences.
You have to act like a grandson in any situation.
Artists raised in this environment are the most steadfast fighters against feudalism.
The suffering I endured
Once I've earned enough seniority, I'll definitely get my revenge!
The domestic entertainment industry isn't exactly great,
Compared to other entertainment circles, it's practically paradise.
……
...(End of this chapter)