Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 305-316 [The fate of Akina Nakamori]

After half an hour.

It was almost noon and Li Yishu asked someone to arrange a dinner, but suddenly she received a cross-border call from the United States.

It was Amy who called and said that Wu Yusen came to her house and wanted to sell the copyright of "Heroes of the Underworld".

Upon hearing the news, Li Yishu immediately realized that Wu Yusen was at the end of his rope. It seemed that the box office of "Heroes of the Underworld" overseas was also very dismal.

Lee Ye-su took the microphone and asked, "Do you know how much the movie made overseas?"

"The exact amount is still unclear, but I have contacted Max, the head of Columbia Pictures' distribution department, and he said that it has not even made 10 million yuan at the box office, and it has already been taken off the screen in Europe. Although it has not yet been released in Asia, it is clear that Columbia Pictures no longer believes that the film can be revived in the Asian market."

It was already late at night in North America. Amy thought of Wu Yusen whom she met in the afternoon. His haggard appearance was in stark contrast to his high-spirited appearance when the movie was released more than a month ago.

Hearing that it hadn't been released in Asia yet and that the copyright of the video tape was in his hands, Li Yishu said thoughtfully, "It should be night time in North America now. How about this, Amy? You contact Wu Yusen tomorrow morning and tell him that I'll be in Los Angeles in a few days. We can discuss the details when we meet."

"Okay boss, I'll contact him tomorrow morning."

"Well, call Harvey tomorrow and tell him I'm coming to Los Angeles. We can start shooting Chicago. It will officially start in early August."

After chatting for a few more sentences, Li Yishu hung up the phone.

Wu Yusen has failed twice in a row in Hollywood, and no film company will give him another chance in the future.

Hollywood never believes in tears. One failure is enough. A second failure is basically a hopeless situation.

Moreover, this time Wu Yusen also attracted investment from Hong Kong and Taiwan. It was not difficult for Li Yishu to imagine how desperate Wu Yusen must be at this moment.

We can only blame his bad luck!
Although Li Yishu set a trap for Wu Yusen at that time and asked him to return to Hong Kong to attract investment, the failure had nothing to do with Li Yishu. It was Wu Yusen himself who was unlucky and chose to release the film during the schedule of "The Lion King" and "Forrest Gump".

Add to that the similar theme of "Speed", and you're being attacked from three sides. Not to mention Wu Yusen, even Li Yishu would have a hard time winning.

noon.

Inside a Japanese restaurant.

Li Yishu took a sip of sake and said, "Tanaka, Music Times needs to pay more attention."

"President Li, what do you mean?" Ichiro Tanaka frowned.

Before leaving Japan last time, Li Yishu asked Ichiro Tanaka to acquire a small music company, change its name to Music Era, and register it under the name of Art Entertainment Group.

The acquired company is not large, with less than ten employees and only three singers. In addition to Izumi Sakai, the other two are singers previously signed by the company, Oshima Mie and Shiina Hikaru.

Both of them have released records, but the sales were average, with the highest-selling album only selling about 10,000 copies. Under such circumstances, they naturally didn't make much money, so the company's main business was based on recording studios, specializing in recording albums and records for some folk singers and underground singers.

Ichiro Tanaka acquired such a small company because he took into account that the company was not large in scale, but had complete recording equipment and relevant professional talents, including cooperation with record recording factories, so that it could be integrated into the art and entertainment group.

But now from what Li Yishu said, it seems that she wants to expand the scale of Music Era.

"The era of music cannot always rely on Quanshui alone."

Li Yishu reminded: "You can try to sign some new artists, and then collect some songs from the outside. If you find a suitable one, you can release it. As long as you can achieve self-financing, it will be fine."

Originally, he wanted to acquire the music company in order to better serve Izumi Sakai, but when he chatted with Izumi Sakai last night, he clearly felt that she had a strong sense of responsibility.

Perhaps because she felt that Li Yishu had spent a lot of money to buy her contract and acquired a company, she felt that Li Yishu should not suffer any loss. Therefore, Izumi Sakai not only did not relax during this period, but became more and more busy, because she wanted to release more records and make more money.

Ichiro Tanaka glanced at Izumi Sakai and nodded repeatedly: "Understood, President Li, I'll arrange it later."

"Okay, let's not talk about work anymore."

Li Yishu picked up the wine glass and looked at Kitano Takeshi with a smile: "Kitano, I'll leave the preparations for the crew to you. After a break for more than half a year, I think it's time to announce your grand return to the Japanese film industry!"

Kitano Takeshi solemnly picked up the wine glass and said with a serious face: "Don't worry, Director Li, Kitano will do his best!"

"Kitano-san, I believe in your ability!"

Li Yishu smiled brightly and then drank the sake in the glass in one gulp.

after an hour.

After coming out of the Japanese restaurant, Li Yishu said goodbye to Ichiro Tanaka, Takeshi Kitano and others, then got into Izumi Sakai's car, preparing to go for a good stroll in Ginza.

"Jingle Bell……"

Just then, Izumi Sakai's cell phone rang. She parked the car on the side of the road, took out her cell phone and found that it was a call from her good friend Akina Nakamori. After answering the call, there was a conversation in Japanese.

"Akina, I'm afraid I don't have time."

"Where are you?"

"I'm in Ginza."

"I'm in Ginza too. I'll come find you now."

"This one……"

Izumi Sakai subconsciously looked at Li Yishu and refused: "No, Mingcai, I really don't have time."

"Well, that's a shame."

As soon as she hung up the phone, Li Yishu asked curiously, "What's wrong, Quanshui?"

Izumi Sakai shook her head: "Nothing, just a good friend asked me to go shopping, she is also in Ginza."

Hearing this, Li Yishu smiled and said, "It's okay, Quanshui, since your good friend asked you out, let's go shopping together. It's just right that when you buy clothes later, someone can help you analyze them."

"Then..." Izumi Sakai was a little moved: "Then should I call her back?"

"Haha, sure, you can call her back. I also want to get to know Quanshui's friends. To be honest, I haven't met Quanshui's friends in the past few years."

Li Yishu didn't mind meeting friends brought by Izumi Sakai.

"Okay!" Izumi Sakai also wanted to meet Akina Nakamori. They were both very busy with work. She had become even busier since she changed to a new company. Not only did she have to compose songs herself, but she also had to give guidance to the contracted singers in the company.

Now that Li Yishu is finally here, we have the chance to go out and play, and Mingcai also has time, so it's natural for them to go together.

Ten minutes later.

After parking the car, Li Yishu and Izumi Sakai waited downstairs in the Ginza Building.

"spring!"

With a crisp voice, Izumi Sakai looked back and immediately smiled happily: "Akina-chan, you're here!"

Li Yishu also turned around at this time and saw a familiar face.

Akina Nakamori!

So thin! Too thin! Lee Ye-su has a deep impression of this Japanese original singer. In addition to the "Golden Screen Incident" that caused a sensation in the late 1980s, the live video of her singing the song "The Hard Ship" went viral in the short video era.

I just didn't expect that Akina Nakamori in real life is so thin. Her arms, exposed in the summer, are not skin and bones yet, but they are almost the same.

It seems that she still can’t get over the scumbag incident!

Li Yishu was just thinking like this.

"Izumi, who is this?" Akina Nakamori glanced at Li Yishu, who was tall and strong-looking. She looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him.

Izumi Sakai introduced, "He is the producer Lee Yi-su."

Akina Nakamori was stunned at first, then she remembered who it was and exclaimed, "Is it the famous Chinese director who filmed Love Letter?"

"It's him."

"Oh my god, he...you, Quanshui, are you and him really...lovers?"

"Yes!"

Izumi Sakai's face was filled with a happy smile. This was the first time she had revealed it to her friends.

"It turns out to be true. You have concealed it too deeply."

Akina Nakamori covered her mouth. Japanese newspapers had reported the scandal between the two many times, but there had never been a positive response and no conclusive evidence. Now that she had received confirmation from Izumi Sakai, she still felt very surprised.

Izumi Sakai shook her head: "No, it's just that Li Jun is not in Japan most of the time. You know my personality, I don't want everyone to know."

"Okay. So, can Supervisor Li speak Japanese?"

"No, you can use English."

Hearing this, Akina Nakamori quickly said in her broken English: "Hello, Director Li, I am Akina Nakamori, a good friend of Quanshui, and I am glad to meet you."

"Hello Ms. Nakamori, nice to meet you too. I've heard your songs before, and they're beautiful."

Li Yishu extended her hand politely.

This grip feels like holding a chicken claw.

"Thank you Director Li, I really like your film "Love Letter" and I often imagine how great it would be to have a Fujii Itsuki who loves me till death."

The corners of Akina Nakamori's eyes were red, with faint tears in them, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly. She looked at Li Yishu's face and recalled the scenes in the movie.

She had watched this movie countless times. Every time late at night, she would hide in her room and watch it with the videotape.

Izumi Sakai bit her lip, stepped forward and hugged Akina Nakamori's arm, pretending to smile and said, "Okay Akina, didn't you agree that I would go shopping with you? I also want to buy some clothes, so you have to help me with some suggestions."

"No problem, let's go."

Akina Nakamori smiled brightly, took Izumi Sakai's hand and walked into the mall.

Li Yishu, who was left behind, was also sighing. Such a great singer ended up like this. Damn it, that guy named Kondo!

"Goodbye Fountain!"

"Goodbye Akina."

After dinner in the evening, watching Akina Nakamori leave in the car, Izumi Sakai couldn't help but sigh. As a good friend, how could she not know that although Akina Nakamori appeared cheerful on the surface, she was already hurt inside.

Li Yishu noticed her expression and asked, "Are you thinking about Miss Nakamori?"

Izumi Sakai asked in surprise, "Mr. Li knows about Akina?"

"This incident was quite a sensation at the time, and I also watched the news."

"Mr. Li, why is Mingcai so unlucky? The men she met either cheated on her or used her to make money."

Li Yishu raised an eyebrow: "Using her to make money?"

"Last year, Akina opened her own agency, but the sales of her records were far from ideal. A few days ago, she asked me to meet her, hoping that I could lend her some money. She said that her current boyfriend and agent had been using her to make money and had taken away all the company's money, so that they couldn't even pay the employees' salaries..."

Izumi Sakai was very helpless and she felt very sympathetic towards Akina Nakamori.

When Akina committed suicide due to love in 1989, Izumi felt very sympathetic towards this girl, but public opinion was also overwhelmingly in support of Akina. Who would have thought that after being rescued with great difficulty, she would be used by Kondo Masahiko.

In order to restore his image and save his career, Kondo Masahiko used the pretext of an "engagement press conference" to completely sever his ties with Akina, and Akina took all the responsibility and negative impact on herself.

At that time, Quanshui thought that Mingcai was so pitiful. She had to bear everything and eventually lost 40 kilograms. She went from being a lively and cheerful girl to a poor person suffering from depression.

Later, after becoming a singer, he met Akina Nakamori, and the two quickly became friends. I thought that Akina Nakamori would get better and better, but who would have thought that she was first cheated of her feelings and now she is being cheated of her money.

Li Yishu patted her shoulder and said comfortingly, "Quanshui, if you really want to help her, why not sign her to Music Times and reshape her image."

"May I?"

Izumi Sakai's eyes lit up.

She wanted to bring Akina Nakamori to the company. Although Music Times was not a large company, at least it had Lee Yi-su backing it up, so it wouldn't be like Akina Nakamori's own agency, where she was deceived and exploited by her agent's boyfriend, and the company's money was taken away.

"of course."

Li Yishu nodded, "I still admire Miss Nakamori, but because of what happened before, she is so depressed that she can't extricate herself. As long as she embraces a new life, I believe she will cheer up again."

Akina Nakamori is only 29 years old now, and she still has a long way to go in the future.

Talented singers are the same as talented actors, they become more and more beautiful as they get older. Now Japan's top singer Miyuki Nakajima is 42 years old, but her concerts are still packed and her albums are selling better and better.

As long as Akina Nakamori is strong and regroups, she will be able to return to the top with her past fame and hire others to create high-quality songs.

"I also hope that Akina can cheer up, but..."

Izumi Sakai sighed.

"Because of that Kondo Masahiko?"

"Yes, I think Akina must be in great pain. Li Jun may not know that not long after Akina committed suicide, Kondo Masahiko married a rich girl, and the wedding house was bought by Akina."

hiss! !

Li Yishu's scalp tingled. How could a person be so shameless!

He thought for a moment and said, "Quanshui, ask Miss Nakamori later. If she is willing to sign a contract with the company, I will give her a big gift!"

The mid-to-late 1990s was the golden time for the emergence of feminism in Japan. As long as Li Yishu spent some money, she could make the Japanese magical girls completely nail Kondo Masahiko.

You have to know that the little fairies in the mainland are nothing compared to the Japanese magical girls.

(End of this chapter)