Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 621 Old Xu, I really need to control you.

That said, some directors' styles are well-known, such as Wong Kar-wai. Some of his works are truly excellent, but almost all the actors who have worked with him say they have no idea what he's filming.

Wong Kar-wai is also a remarkable person who can turn gangster films into romance films, and who can bankrupt a Hong Kong triad boss through his films.

While Xu Ke wasn't quite that excessive, he certainly went above and beyond when it came to spending money.

Less than two weeks after Gu Minggang relaxed, he heard a message being subtly passed on to him.

Xu Ke spent all five million yen.

When Tanaka finished his report, Gu Mingren was dumbfounded.

"No, a short film! Five million yen! What did he do? Ten million yen is enough for Mr. Akio Jissoji to make a movie!"

After leaving TBS in his early years, Akio Jissoji, as an independent director, received the Asian Directors Special Fund, with a total budget of 10 million yen. He spent 8 million yen to make a film.

Gu Ming only wants to make a short film now, while Xu Ke spent five million and still hasn't finished it.

Gu Ming's first thought was that Lao Deng must have embezzled his money.

Meeting Gu Ming's gaze, Tanaka was even more helpless than Gu Ming: "I did ask someone to audit it, and the flow of funds should be fine. The accounts are basically clear and traceable. But the problem is that this person seems to have gone mad. He is single-mindedly shooting all kinds of scenes, landscapes, trains, pedestrians, Shinkansen, he shoots everything, even mountains and rivers."

Gu Ming covered his face with his hands and let out a long sigh.

I was so happy that I completely forgot about such an important matter.

Xu Ke sometimes spends money even more ruthlessly than Wong Kar-wai.

Wong Kar-wai spends a lot of money because he doesn't know what he should film. He has images in his mind, but he can't describe them, so he has to keep torturing the actors.

Tsui Hark is different. He wants to film everything, and he wants to film everything well, so he films everything and spends money everywhere.

When Tsui Hark made The Legend of Zu, he spent a lot of money on scenery, characters, and everything else, but he lacked one thing—content.

Although the movie "The Legend of Shushan Swordsmen" was almost the best it could be, it just didn't tell a good story. As a result, after everyone who went to the cinema was amazed by the scenery of "The Legend of Shushan Swordsmen", their second reaction was...

What's this movie about?
Nothing was said, because Xu Ke forgot.

Gu Ming was about to get up, but then suddenly sat down again.

"What did he do when he ran out of money?"

Tanaka shook his head: "I don't know, but he's still filming with a crew, mainly actors from Hong Kong. Should we remind him about the funding, or perhaps send him another sum of money?"

"No, don't call yet. I'm going back to Nara for a few days. If anyone comes looking for me, just say I'm not here, and don't touch the money."

Gu Ming got up, tidied himself up, and prepared to leave.

We must correct Xu Ke's bad habit of not taking money in the short term.

Gu Ming gave him five million yen to make a short film because Xu Ke was indeed good at making things, but not to let him waste five million yen!

Five million yen, plus another three million, would be enough for Akio Jissoji to make a low-budget romance film.

When it came to Xu Ke, the short film wasn't even made.

If he didn't delay for a while, Gu Mingzhen felt that he was starting to treat money poorly.

……

……

Just as Gu Ming had thought.

Tsui Hark is definitely having a blast filming now!
Hong Kong is well known to be a small place with limited filming locations. For a long time, when films were shot in Hong Kong, they were always filmed in studios, such as the iconic plastic waterfall.

So later, artists including Jackie Chan began to travel to various parts of the world to film, such as Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and so on.

Jackie Chan has traveled to Europe to film on location more than once.

Xu Ke rarely has such an opportunity. Although Cinema City is quite famous now, it is still a small company with many partners and doesn't have that much money to film everywhere.

Even though Japan is a small country, it still has a population of over 100 million, with diverse landscapes stretching from north to south. Now, Gu Ming has given him five million yen, allowing him to use any equipment and location he wants, and telling him he can film whatever he wants—Xu Ke is absolutely thrilled!

Today, in Shizuoka Prefecture, outside Mt. Fuji.

Xu Ke was personally overseeing the filming of Mount Fuji, and he could vaguely hear the lighting technician rambling on and on.

"I heard they're out of money."

"All you do is waste money."

Xu Ke stood up, somewhat annoyed, but after thinking for a while, he didn't know what to say, so he simply grunted, put away his camera, and turned to leave.

"Nansheng!" Xu Ke turned around and went to find Shi Nansheng: "How much money do we have left?"

Shi Nansheng looked at Xu Ke with a rather mournful expression.

"See for yourself."

The accounts have all kinds of expenses.

Xu Ke didn't care at first, but after taking one look, he panicked instantly.

They were truly broke and owed over 100,000 yuan. Fortunately, some local residents were fans of Gu Ming and heard that they were helping to film a short film. They didn't charge for accommodation, otherwise they wouldn't even have a place to stay for the next few days.

"Then, what should we do?" Xu Ke scratched his head.

He thought five million was a lot, but how did it all disappear in the blink of an eye!

Shi Nansheng complained somewhat irritably, "What else can we do? Either you swallow your pride and ask for money, or you go begging for alms, or we'll just have to pay for it ourselves."

Xu Ke fell silent, lit a cigarette, and amidst the swirling smoke, his thoughts became chaotic.

"No, I can't take the money. It's the first time I've helped someone, and I'm already asking for money. If word gets out, where will I, Xu Ke, put my face?"

Shi Nansheng snorted twice, somewhat sarcastically: "You really have a manly spirit. So what are we going to do, use our own savings to cover it up? With the way you're filming now, we'll have to put in hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars before the final film is even out!"

Xu Ke could only show a helpless expression.

What else can he do? He's too embarrassed to go back and ask for the money back.

"We'll have to ask our friends for donations. Let's borrow some more money and at least finish the film."

"You're really something. Other people make money from making movies, but you have to put money out of your pocket."

Shi Nansheng muttered a couple of things, but didn't say anything more, and started preparing to make a phone call.

Even if we have to pay out of pocket, there's no other way; at least the final product has to be made!
After a series of fumbled phone calls, I finally managed to borrow some money, enough to keep the film crew afloat.

However, we can't film at Mount Fuji anymore; the important thing is to get back to Tokyo and finish the film.

I was just packing my things to leave when I suddenly received another phone call.

Faced with Xu Ke's questioning gaze, Shi Nansheng raised his head.

“Gu Sheng. He heard we were at Mount Fuji and said he was coming to visit the set soon. Maybe he heard about the lack of money and is coming to check the accounts.”

Xu Ke slammed his fist on the table.

"What else can I do? It's their money, so why can't they check the accounts? Let them check if they want, I have a clear conscience... right?"

Xu Ke himself felt a little guilty saying this.

He didn't actually embezzle any money, but he certainly didn't use it wisely; he spent it all on taking pictures of scenery.

With a sense of unease, Xu Ke straightened his collar slightly.

Bring it on! The worst that can happen is I'll get a beating!

(End of this chapter)