Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 565 Offering Sacrifices in Exchange for Box Office Success
In the reception room, Ryuichi Sakamoto leisurely sipped the tea served to his guests.

Since Gu Ming moved to this proper office building and rented two floors, he started buying better quality tea to serve guests. He couldn't very well have people drinking top-grade broken tea every day, spitting and spitting.

Ryuichi Sakamoto looked around the decorations in the meeting room. Most of them were various works that the agency had participated in producing over the years. However, there wasn't a single poster related to Tani Akira in the meeting room. They were all various works and films starring other actors.

Ryuichi Sakamoto stood in front of a wall containing some of the romantic films that Shochiku had invited Kanako Higuchi to film.

Some people may not have very good acting skills, but they are good-looking enough to be considered perfect "pretty faces" just by standing there.

Yes, Nanzi is just that kind of pretty face.

But regardless, she is considered a somewhat famous actress.

"However, it still has to be the pill-making master."

Ryuichi Sakamoto crossed his arms and looked at the other wall.

They've played leading roles before!
Just as he was about to take a closer look, Tanaka and Tani Akira entered the reception room.

As soon as Sakamoto Ryu turned around, he recognized Gu Ming at a glance. Sure enough, he looked much like the character in the movie: tall, strong, and heroic.

"Furuya-kun!"

"Mr. Sakamoto!"

"Sigh, just call me Sakamoto."

"That won't do, Sakamoto-kun, please have a seat."

After a few pleasantries, the two sat down, and Tanaka tactfully left the room.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, much like Taniguchi remembered, wasn't exactly handsome, but he had a unique kind of toughness, like those big-chinned men in old American movies, like Q.

Ryuichi Sakamoto doesn't have such a big chin, but his face is definitely a rather rugged type.

"Well then, let's get straight to the point. I heard that the Americans are inviting Mr. Furuya to star in a war blockbuster. I think such a film must need a soundtrack. I have some experience with this, so I'm here to recommend myself."

Gu Ming held Sakamoto Ryuichi's hands tightly.

"It would be best if Sakamoto-kun could help, but I won't lie to you, this matter is very difficult. The film production company is Universal Pictures, and they have already arranged everything. As an actor, I have no right to interfere."

Gu Ming wouldn't act in it, so naturally he didn't want Sakamoto Ryuichi to fall into this trap as well.

It's not a good thing that a man went to act in a gay film!
Ryuichi Sakamoto responded with an "oh," sounding slightly disappointed.

"However, Mr. Sakamoto, you've come at the right time. Actually, the revenue from 'Onimusha' is quite impressive, so I'm planning to take a big gamble and use the revenue to produce a big-budget international film. It might involve overseas filming, shooting in multiple locations, and having actors from multiple countries, etc..."

It is no exaggeration to say that Gu Ming estimated the cost of this film to be at least one billion yen.

One billion yen is roughly equivalent to about five million US dollars at this point in time.

This can definitely be called a big production, because many movies don't even gross five million dollars.

For example, Jackie Chan's "Project A" ultimately grossed $17 million at the overseas box office.

Historically, Japan's rationed income was around 3 billion yen.

Yes, that's right, Japan contributed the majority of the revenue.

Therefore, according to later generations, the box office needs to reach more than three times the production cost to break even, so the box office revenue must reach at least 15 million US dollars.

That is, around 5 billion yen domestically.

After Gu Ming finished speaking, Sakamoto Ryuichi did not think much about it, but immediately nodded: "That is a very ambitious idea. It would be best if I could be of use in this! Since Mr. Gu is willing to trust me, I will do my best."

Although it was only a verbal agreement rather than a written one, Gu Ming knew that the matter was most likely settled.

"However, verbal agreements need to be put into writing as soon as possible."

Gu Ming muttered something to himself, but his body gradually relaxed.

Ryuichi Sakamoto has created many popular pieces of music, such as "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," which, like the film's title track, won a music award that year. "Speaking of which," Sakamoto suddenly thought, "if Furuya-kun went to America to make a movie, would he still have time for this big-budget production?"

"Hmm..." Gu Ming looked a little worried, but quickly shook his head: "There's no need to worry too much about that. I'll handle things well with the Americans."

Ryuichi Sakamoto leaned back instantly.

Hey!
Something's not right with that expression!

He thought of many things in an instant, and finally, a certain idea became clearer in his mind.

He might have been scammed by the Americans!
Ugh, why are Americans so mean!

Seeing that Gu Ming didn't want to talk about it, Sakamoto Ryuichi wisely didn't ask any further. After a few polite words, he claimed that he hadn't turned off his gas stove and left.

As Ryuichi Sakamoto walked out of the building, he let out a long breath, a certain possibility coming to mind.

"It seems this movie might not come to fruition! Maybe the Americans have broken their promise. I knew Americans were all bad!"

……

……

In the blink of an eye, it's already June.

Onimusha's box office revenue has gradually stabilized and is no longer generating significant profits.

With the current screening period, only a pittance of box office revenue remains. By the end of the screening period, it may only increase by another four or five hundred million yen.

Currently, the publicly disclosed box office figure for Onimusha is 8.2 billion yen.

Gu Ming did the math and felt a little regretful, but there was nothing he could do about it.

If we do everything we need to do, then launching a massive marketing campaign would be counterproductive.

"It seems that the film will only barely reach 9 billion yen in the end. It should do well overseas, but it is destined not to reach 10 billion yen in the domestic market."

This is beyond the effect of marketing, unless Gu Ming gives people money to buy movie tickets, but that would be too outrageous.

In comparison, last year's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial received 9.6 billion.

At the Takakura Club, Tani Akira met both Okada Shigeru and Kadokawa Haruki.

One was the producer, and the other was the president of the distribution company; however, they were noticeably more friendly towards Gu Ming. An actor who could earn money without much work, and who didn't charge 2.08 million yen a day on set—who wouldn't like that?

"What a pity," Shigeru Okada sighed. "Even under the best-case scenario, the box office won't reach the level of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The movie is too gory, and many children are restricted from entering."

Haruki Kadokawa scoffed, "Can't kids just sneak in with tickets? If they want to see it, there's always a way. It's not about the level of gore; it's just that the market has reached this level."

No matter how you look at it, nine billion yen is not a small amount.

"My plan failed; it is fate!"

Gu Mingwen read a sentence in a very formal and literary way.

Facing the two men's gazes, Gu Ming explained, "Actually, there's one last step. Before resorting to offensive large-scale marketing and maximizing box office revenue, there's one last step."

"However, this might mean that I will completely sever my cooperation with Universal Pictures."

But still the same sentence.

It doesn't matter; Gu Ming doesn't need to cooperate with Universal Pictures.

Universal Pictures' truly major IP is nothing more than "Fast & Furious," a pure American action movie franchise where Asian characters are rarely seen. Korean characters are an exception, but their involvement in the plot is minimal; the seventh installment was quickly pulled from theaters, only to be hastily revived in the ninth.

and so.

Gu Ming plans to sacrifice Universal Pictures as a sacrifice, in exchange for the final box office results!
(End of this chapter)