Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 623 They said they've decided I'll be the director.

The Tokyo International Film Festival was first held in Shibuya.

However, Shibuya's cultural hall 'Bunkamura' was not yet open at this time, so the film festival was held in a 'cultural village' in Shibuya. Despite its name, it wasn't actually a village, and the place was actually related to Toei.

In 1975, Shigeru Okada passed a resolution at Toei to open a Toei theme park in Shibuya, mainly to exhibit Toei's works, Toei's glorious history, and so on.

This theme park was the prototype of the later Shibuya 'Bunkamura'. It was renovated by 'Mitsui Fudosan' in the 1980s and finally completed in 1989, becoming the Shibuya cultural landmark 'Bunkamura'.

The name cannot be translated because it means "cultural village".

Currently, the construction of 'Bunkamura' is not yet complete, but the main screening room has been completed. The grand theater has 2075 seats and can accommodate 2,000 people for exhibitions at the same time. It claims to have the best and largest movie screen in Asia.

—It's actually uncertain.

The first Tokyo International Film Festival had a limited number of competition categories. In addition to the main competition, there was an international competition section that included films from Asia and other regions outside of Asia.

As for the other competition categories, they have not yet been announced, so the main content includes feature films and short films from Japan, as well as feature films and short films from overseas.

Due to Japan's unique customs, there is a separate 'animation' category in the competition.

Although he knew the venue wasn't finished yet, Gu Ming still came to see what was going on.

Before they could even get close, they were stopped by colored fences and workers.

"Stop for a moment, you can't go any further. This place is temporarily rented by the Japan International Image Promotion Association and will be temporarily opened in October."

The Japan International Film Promotion Association is the association responsible for organizing the Tokyo International Film Festival, with Shigeru Okada serving as its president.

Behind this association is a charitable foundation, which was established by Shigeru Okada at the urging of the five major Japanese film companies to donate money. Its main business is to donate money to the association to support the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Gu Ming casually pulled out his ID.

“Akira Furuya, a member of the Japan International Film Promotion Association and a member of the jury for the first film festival, came here specifically to check out the venue.”

"Huh? Ahh!!" The worker was slightly taken aback, but then suddenly realized what was going on.

"I see, I'm so sorry! You looked very familiar, it turns out you're Mr. Furuya."

The worker breathed a slight sigh of relief, stepped back a few paces, and casually pulled up the cordon to invite the group in.

Gu Ming didn't bring anyone else, just Tanaka and the other two to take a look around.

"What is your name?"

"My surname is Mitsui."

"Mitsui-kun, would it be convenient for you to show us around?"

"Of course, it's an honor."

Mitsui walked ahead and casually introduced the venue's layout to Gu Ming and his companion.

This place used to be an elementary school. Later, the land was purchased by Tokyu Corporation for development, and in 1967, Tokyu Department Store opened here.

Although it's called a department store, it's not an ordinary department store; it's more like a shopping complex, and it's extremely large.

Mitsui casually pointed: "You can see the Tokyu Department Store building from here."

"The main stadium has been completed, but the circular theater, underground parking, underground special level, and garden hall on the other side are all under construction. Only the main stadium is open to the public."

"Fire escape..."

Mitsui suddenly fell silent.

The fire escape route isn't finished yet.

Gu Ming leaned over for a look and was shocked.

The fire lane was piled with all sorts of garbage, along with the rough cement floor. There weren't even any emergency lights, and the insulation layer was completely missing. The entire fire lane was a complete mess.

Although the building is not yet completed, at least the main stadium has been put into use, and it should have passed inspection by now.

But even so, Gu Ming didn't know how it passed the inspection.

Mitsui maintained a polite smile and bowed: "Mr. Furuya is a sensible man, it's best not to interfere. At least you can still walk all the way down the fire escape."

Gu Ming understood, of course, and wisely chose to remain silent.

If it passes inspection before it's even finished, then there's a lot more to it than meets the eye! He doesn't want to get involved in that kind of thing.

After a brief tour, the main venue already showed signs of its future development, making it perfectly suitable as the venue for the first international film festival.

However, the fact that the fire escape wasn't completely covered still made Gu Ming feel uneasy.

"But I haven't heard of anything happening at the Tokyo International Film Festival, so it should be fine."

Gu Ming comforted himself with a few words before leaving after the visit.

……

……

Two weeks after Takeshi Kitano finished filming his short film, just before the opening of the Tokyo International Film Festival, Tsui Hark's short film was finally completed. It deeply moved Gu Ming.

Eight million yen! Takeshi Kitano didn't even spend eight million yen on that avant-garde short film! Tsui Hark spent eight million yen on a lousy film.

"Old Xu." Gu Ming clasped his hands together, his expression exceptionally serene. "Let's watch the movie now. You can wait for me at Tokyo Tower first."

Xu Ke retorted, "If the filming is bad, you'll throw me off?"

Gu Ming shrugged: "I never said that."

He was just thinking, "I haven't thrown it away yet!"

Gu Ming comforted Xu Ke: "It's okay, what if the filming goes well?"

Xu Ke scratched his head.

What if things don't go well? Will he still be able to return to Hong Kong?
The Tokyo Tower joke was just that. Gu Ming took him straight back to the office to watch the film.

Before even entering the room, I saw a pair of familiar-looking leather shoes lying outside the office door.

"My grass!"

Gu Ming reacted quickly, pulling Xu Ke and turning to leave.

It's normal to take off your shoes anywhere in Japan, but I've seen someone who takes off their shoes even before entering the office.

Before the two had taken more than a few steps, Haruki Kadokawa rushed out of the office.

"Don't run away!! I've come all this way, aren't you going to welcome me even once? This is so heartbreaking."

"I'm busy! I still have to watch films. Why are you always coming to see me instead of preparing for the film festival?"

"The preparations are complete; the rest is no longer my concern."

Kadokawa Haruki stepped forward, pulling Gu Ming and Xu Ke on either side, and put his arms around their shoulders: "Aren't you watching a movie? Count me in, let's see what fun things you guys have filmed."

Gu Ming sighed and could only take the two of them to the screening room.

Xu Ke's short film is only eight minutes long, incredibly short. In the eight-minute short film, besides the characters, there are only scenes.

Mount Fuji, the Shinkansen bullet train passing by, crowds of people...

A male actor who looks somewhat familiar passes by an female actor.

Akina, though not very fat anymore, still has a bit of baby fat.

After passing each other by, the story ends here.

Gu Ming slapped his thigh.

Okay, that's great.

"No one needs to be under Tokyo Tower!"

Xu Ke pulled his leg away.

Holy crap! You pervert, why did you slap my leg when you were just talking?!
Haruki Kadokawa stood up, but he was even more excited than Akira Tani.

"Great shot...great shot! What's your name, sir? Are you a professionally trained director? Are you from the Kanto region or the Kansai region? I've invested in this story, I'm going to make it into a film! And I'll release the original novel at the same time! This kind of poignant love story about parting is fantastic! It's sure to be a huge hit!"

Gu Ming reminded him: "He is from Hong Kong."

Haruki Kadokawa: "What's wrong with Hong Kong people? Hong Kong people can make movies too! How much did this short film cost? I'll give you ten times that amount of investment, and you turn it into a full-length movie!"

Gu Ming reminded him, "It cost eight million."

Haruki Kadokawa: ? ! !
Xu Ke's efficiency in spending money deeply impressed the honest and simple bookstore group owner.

They made a short romance film, costing a whopping eight million yen. Ten times that would be eighty million yen, which is enough to make some mid-budget films in Japan. Keep in mind that even top actors in Japan, like the later Takuya Kimura, only earn a few million yen for a movie, while new actors only need tens or hundreds of thousands.

Eighty million is enough to find ten Gu Mings to film The King of Fighters 1985!
He looked up at the blank screen where the movie had ended, then turned to look at Xu Ke, who was shrugging with an innocent expression.

Haruki Kadokawa hesitated for a moment, then finally let out a long sigh.

Eighty million it is, if it can be sold, eight hundred million is fine too.

Xu Ke covered his thighs to avoid being photographed, but he was filled with mixed emotions.

Oops!

You know, I'm a Vietnamese-Chinese director from Hong Kong, so why did I suddenly end up in Japan making a love story?

But Kadokawa Haruki has already told Furuya Akira, and they said that they've decided on me!
At that time, Xu Ke recited a poem.

Ask me to make a movie

The investment cost 80 million yen.

I absolutely have to film it!
(End of this chapter)