Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 563 I would rather die than act in this movie.
Joyce Herlich is an American and a film producer.

When Gu Mingchu first saw this old woman, the name was unfamiliar to him.

It sounded like he'd seen the producer's name somewhere before, but Gu Ming couldn't recall ever hearing of any films he'd produced.

Accompanying Joyce Herlich was a Japanese director named Nagisa Oshima. Tani Akira met the two of them in his office on the seventh floor.

After a brief introduction, Nagisa Oshima gave a slight bow and tried to be friendly, saying, "Come to think of it, I'm from Kyoto, and Furuya-kun is from Nara. We're both from the Kansai region!"

"That's right, it seems we're all from Kansai."

Gu Ming was a little overwhelmed by this level of politeness, so he simply changed the subject: "Mr. Oshima, and this American, you've come all this way, surely not just to have tea with me?"

Gu Ming looked at the American old lady in front of him. She was sixty years old and seemed to be in good health. However, when her gaze occasionally fell on him, Gu Ming felt a shiver run down his spine.

Nagisa Oshima then laughed and said, "Furutani-kun's straightforwardness is really not like that of a Kansai person. Well then, I'll be frank. There's an international film here, and in my opinion, there's no one more suitable than Furuya-kun. So, I hope Furuya-kun can participate in it."

He spread his hands and sketched the scene for Gu Ming: "This is a story about friendship and love in a prisoner-of-war camp. The story is adapted from the work of a British novelist and is set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp on the island of Java in the South Pacific. It tells the story of Japanese Major Seinoi and British Army Captain Jack, who are torn between national grievances and personal feelings."

Gu Ming seemed to be deep in thought.

It sounds plausible; it might just be an American war epic like "Letters from Iwo Jima" or "Flags of Our Fathers."

Of course, in Japan, no one would normally act in this kind of film, but Gu Ming doesn't mind that kind of thing.

Gu Ming was just about to soften his tone when he heard Nagisa Oshima recount the character's name, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He started to feel that something was off about the movie.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Oshima just talked about love."

"Correct."

"Yonoi and Jack sound like two male names!"

"Yes, because they are two men."

"Two men, and they're talking about love?!"

"Correct!"

Gu Ming gasped for breath at Li An, inwardly cursing him.

I'm so damn Brokeback Mountain!

Gu Ming gradually remembered what the movie was about.

This movie is the famous "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence".

This is a very famous cover film.

Of course, this film had a great influence, and it was not simply an LGBT film. The film also starred a young Ryuichi Sakamoto and Takeshi Kitano, who was already famous in the Japanese entertainment industry at the time. Overall, although the film was of good quality, Gu Ming would never have acted in it because of its subject matter.

He didn't want future generations to discover the works he had acted in and look back.

Nest!

Cover plate!

Nagisa Oshima held Akira Tani's hand tightly, his face full of enthusiasm and eagerness: "This movie was originally planned a long time ago, but I earnestly request Ms. Joyce to wait until Mr. Furuya's schedule is available, because in my mind there is no one more suitable to play the role of the protagonist than Mr. Furuya."

Gu Ming immediately shook off Oshima Nagisa's hand.

We're both from the Kansai region, so we're practically fellow townsmen at the market!

Gu Ming considers Oshima Nagisa to be a fellow townsman, and Oshima Nagisa wants to take his fellow townsman to shoot cover films!
Nagisa Oshima, unperturbed, continued, "Actually, Ms. Joyce initially refused, but I showed her Mr. Furuya's work, including his videos, and only then did she agree." Gu Ming looked at Joyce, the American old lady, who gave him a tender look, and with a slap, her goosebump-covered hand was about to land on him.

Gu Ming exclaimed "Holy crap!" and instantly did a somersault, landing behind the sofa.

"Sorry! I won't be appearing in this film. You'd better find someone else. I think Ken Takakura would be quite good! Ken Ogata would also be fine!"

Gu Ming would rather die than act in a movie like that! Not only would he have to act in a slapstick film, but he'd also have to have his thigh touched by an old American producer. He might as well be dead.

Despite being so clearly rejected by Gu Ming, Joyce didn't seem angry. She simply took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, then casually tossed it on the sofa and whispered a few words to Oshima Nagisa.

Gu Ming has good hearing and can roughly hear some words. Based on his level of English at the construction site, he can also understand some of what is being said.

“Sexuality…”

Gu Ming gasped.

They even called him a sex man!

Nagisa Oshima stood up and bowed, saying, "Since you, Furuya-kun, are unwilling, I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience. Let's meet again next time. I hope you will reconsider."

Gu Ming refused: "I'm not considering it. You guys go find someone else!"

After seeing the group off, Gu Ming breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't even dare to sit on the sofa. He carefully used a mop to pick up the handkerchief and put it in the wastepaper basket. Upon closer inspection, he found that there was even a phone number written on it.

Even if you leave me your phone number, I still won't go!

Gu Ming pressed his forehead, his head throbbing.

Of course, Gu Ming acknowledges that this is a classic film with a good reputation, but he doesn't necessarily have to participate in all classic works.

"Oh right, and that guy, Takeshi Kitano! We can't let him act in that!"

Takeshi Kitano actually has a decent reputation in Japan, but Gu Ming strongly suspects that Kitano suffered from some kind of aftereffect when he starred in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" and was exposed by an American old lady, which led him to make a movie like "Yasuke Satirous Oda Nobunaga".

Now that things have calmed down, Gu Ming thought carefully and finally found the name of the old lady Joyce in his mind.

This person has produced many Asian films, such as "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" and the famous "The Last Emperor".

Hmm, the last emperor...

Many people defend this film, saying things like the director was from the Italian Communist Party and was a comrade-in-arms, etc.

In fact, none of these people had ever seen the original film of The Last Emperor.

Gu Ming had seen it. The meaning in this film was particularly obvious, with a distinctly underworld perspective, and Puyi was portrayed as an innocent white lotus in the film.

What a pity.

Puyi was no innocent girl!

"That old lady has ulterior motives! She's been searching all over Asia for people to make these weird and bizarre movies. I don't care how much she slanders Japan, but she can't make me act in a pornographic film! That would be too horrible!"

But after thinking for a long time, Gu Ming suddenly turned his face away.

You don't necessarily have to make a film, but you can use some of the things you learn from them.

Thinking about it carefully, this is, after all, an American producer, and the subject matter is quite frightening; at first glance, you might mistake it for a war blockbuster.

He didn't plan to act in the film, but Gu Ming thought he could make use of this American propaganda machine!

(End of this chapter)