Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 474 Think it over again, this is your last chance.

Laughter is an expression that can numb people.

Especially when you maintain the same expression all day long, it's easy to fall into a state of numbness.

Gu Ming certainly wouldn't do anything else; he would simply follow the script as much as possible and cooperate with the publicity efforts.

I just don't know why, but the audience today seems a bit off.

During the Q&A session after the screening, Gu Ming stood on the stage with his hands covering his crotch, a gesture that is considered quite polite in public.

"Yes, I really like France. The food is great and the people are very welcoming. It truly deserves its reputation as a great power in European history."

Facing the audience, Gu Ming spoke eloquently.

Hiroko Yakushimaru nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Nakajima's translation also uses French as a paraphrase.

"No, France has a bad security situation. I don't like France. Although France has some excellent food, I still prefer the wasabi from my hometown. The French are very rigid and not as warm as the Italians. It reminds me of France in 1941..."

Although Gu Ming couldn't understand French, he could clearly sense that something was off about the atmosphere outside the venue. The audience was whispering among themselves, and there was a sense of impending tension in the air. People were frequently pointing in his direction, and their gazes were not friendly.

"That's strange. Is there something wrong with the script I memorized? Why do they all have that expression?"

Although Gu Ming was somewhat suspicious, he immediately raised his hands, made a grabbing motion in the air, and made a quiet gesture.

"Friends, I am very happy that you can come to see this film today. It is my honor to be in France on this great day."

Nakajima translates: "Alright, you can leave now, because you are not qualified to watch my movie. You are like a bunch of chattering flies standing in the movie theater. You cannot understand what film art is at all. I will not say another word to you."

Inside the cinema, the buzzing of discussion grew even louder.

Gu Ming couldn't help but click his tongue.

Not quite right!

He looked at Nakajima, the translator.

"Nakajima-kun, are you sure your translation is correct? Something seems off about them."

“Something’s not quite right.” Nakajima turned around and bowed. “It seems the locals are somewhat hostile towards us Japanese. I’m trying my best to appease them.”

A Frenchman in the front row stood up and pointed at Gu Ming.

"Enough! People like you, get out of France."

Nakajima pressed his hands down: "This is a Japanese movie, it's your turn to leave."

Gu Ming raised his voice slightly: "What exactly are they saying? Translate it carefully."

Nakajima succinctly stated: "They told us to get out."

Gu Ming frowned: "What did you say to them?"

Nakajima said, "I told them that we are friendly and I hope they can understand."

"Is that so?"

Gu Ming squinted, recalling the translations he had heard over the past few days.

"That doesn't make sense. Although I haven't studied French, the words they used for their self-introductions these past few days were clearly not that word, and when they mentioned Japan, they used words translated from English. You're saying they told me to get lost... but I haven't heard them say those words at all?"

Gu Ming admitted that he couldn't understand French, but after being in a French-speaking environment for the past few days, he had some impression of a few common words such as hello, goodbye, you, me, and him.

This group of spectators left cursing and swearing. Even though they didn't actually fight, Gu Ming could clearly see that they were suppressing some kind of anger, and something seemed off.

“Nakajima-kun”.

Gu Ming pressed down on the microphone on the stage, his tone gradually lowering.

"Are you sure you're really translating exactly as I said?"

Nakajima, the translator, bowed deeply: "It's the real deal, Mr. Furuya. I've lived in France for ten years, and my French is excellent. There's absolutely no problem with it."

"Is that so? That's for the best."

Gu Ming didn't say anything more for the time being, but simply turned around and led Yakushimaru Hiroko backstage to wait for the next movie to start. The second movie had significantly fewer audience members, more than half the number of the first one.

“Nakajima must have said something wrong. Hiroko, you stay here and handle things for a bit. I’ll go out and check on things.”

Gu Ming added: "When you need to go on stage later, don't speak first. Do more gestures or use French phrases that anyone can understand, such as 'hello' and 'thank you.' That way, you won't need an extra translator."

Hiroko Yakushimaru said, "Do you think there's a problem with Nakajima's translation?"

“It’s not that I think there’s a problem, it’s that his translation is definitely problematic. Although I don’t understand French, I should at least be able to say some common words. But he hasn’t said any of the words we’ve heard these past few days. I need to find someone else who understands French.”

Gu Ming didn't quite understand why Nakajima the translator wanted to do this, because it was said that Kadokawa Haruki had given him a lot of money, but it was always good to be on guard.

After settling in, Gu Ming quickly left the screening room.

Just a few steps outside the door, Gu Ming saw a crowd gathered there, whispering among themselves.

As soon as Gu Ming came out, the group looked up at him, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

The pointing and whispering around clearly indicated that something was wrong.

Gu Ming quickened his pace, bypassing the people.

Gu Ming could vaguely sense someone approaching, but since the other person didn't get too close, he simply ignored it.

After waiting outside for a while, Gu Ming saw Sha Qin walking over with a bag.

"Furutani-kun? Why did you come out when you weren't inside doing promotions?"

She waved the item in her hand: "I didn't know what to buy, so I bought a set of ties. It should be a very suitable gift for a man."

"Let's not talk about that now."

Gu Ming grabbed the tie.

“I think there’s a problem with this person’s translation! Go in through the side door later and listen from the audience. I’m afraid that if you stand on the stage and show that you understand French, he might stop translating like that. If he’s right, that would be best. If he’s wrong, you can point out his mistake directly.”

The two exchanged a glance and nodded to each other before Gu Ming returned to the theater.

As another movie ended, Gu Ming led Yakushimaru Hiroko onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon."

Gu Ming glanced at Nakajima, the translator. His lips moved, and the words he uttered were similar to what Gu Ming remembered, at least including the words "ladies" and "gentlemen".

Judging from the audience's reaction, there's clearly nothing wrong with it.

"I am the lead actor in this film, and I am very happy that everyone came to see my movie."

Nakajima, the translator, uttered another sentence.

There was a slight commotion in the audience.

Gu Ming clenched his fist and moved a few steps closer to Nakajima, the translator.

"Nakajima-kun, are you sure your translation is really okay?"

The translator, Nakajima, bowed repeatedly: "I guarantee with my integrity that there will be absolutely no problem."

Gu Ming said, "Nakajima-kun, please reconsider. This may be your last chance."

The translator, Nakajima, bowed again, seemingly indicating that everything was indeed alright.

Gu Ming looked towards the audience seats.

Under the dim lights, a slightly hesitant female voice rang out from the audience seats; she was clearly not a French speaker.

"In Japanese, the word for disgust and nausea is 'kimo,' right? I don't think I heard the actor pronounce 'kimo' at all."

Nakajima, the translator, was slightly taken aback.

The woman's voice continued to press for answers.

"Based on my understanding of Japanese, what the lead actor just said sounded like he was welcoming us to the movie. No matter how you look at it, his actions and words didn't sound like he was telling us to get lost, did they? Are you really translating according to the correct pronunciation? Otherwise, how could there be such a big difference?"

(End of this chapter)