Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 636 Rarely Asking for a Help

Gu Ming wasn't joking.

He really couldn't act, so he decided to become a director.

Once an actor reaches a certain level, there's one thing they have to do: cherish their reputation.

They cannot accept specific endorsements or films, cannot play villainous roles, cannot fail in films, and must die if they do something bad. They need to regularly invest in art films and be more cautious in their public statements.

These things are all important.

The reason why Jackie Chan has been frequently criticized since 2020 is not because of his messy love history, but because he started making a lot of bad movies that he knew were bad, but still made them anyway.

Such as 'Detective Pu Songling', 'Panda Project', 'Vanguard', 'AI Face-Swapping Legend'...

The script itself reeks of being rubbish. Jackie Chan has been making movies for so many years, he can usually tell whether a film is good or bad just by looking at it once.

But he still took the photos anyway.

With feathers scattered all over the ground, it naturally loses its original status.

So Gu Ming plans to direct a film, but he intends to find a reliable assistant director first.

Gu Ming already had a choice for this person, and coincidentally, this assistant director was indeed a genius in Japanese action filming.

Ginza, 'Chicken's True Flavor' restaurant.

Sitting in front of Gu Ming was another person who looked fierce and didn't seem like a good person.

Takashi Miike, 31 years old, is a director who received guidance from Takeshi Kitano in this timeline.

Gu Ming discovered Takashi Miike while regularly watching the video films that were sold on video platform 91. This director was a typical 'gangster violence film' director who was very good at creating those kinds of shots.

That's why Gu Ming asked him to be the assistant director.

"Michi-kun, please have a seat."

Miike Takashi sat down, nervously watching Gu Ming.

This made him nervous, after all, it was quite astonishing that someone who was just filming a video movie suddenly came to receive this kind of task.

What's more.

The person in front of me is none other than Akira Furuya.

Gu Ming pushed the contents of the plate forward.

"Michi-kun, eat up."

Takashi Miike took a deep breath.

Lantern...

In 1989, Kumei appeared on a TBS interview program, where he mentioned his unique hobby of treating people to lanterns, and that this hobby was inherited from designer Narita Toru, who had worked at Toei and Mangoku.

According to Gu Ming at the time.

The lantern is a link, and it will eventually be passed down to the next person.

This has almost become a ghost story in the mouths of many up-and-coming directors, screenwriters, and actors.

Some people say that if you meet Akira Furuya, you don't need to be nervous; he will be very friendly and invite you to dinner and even pay the bill for you.

However, that's all there is to your relationship.

If Akira Furuya invites you to eat lanterns, then it's a different story.

This means he has discovered a potential in you that you yourself were unaware of, and he is ready to give you an important role!
Takashi Miike looked at the lantern in front of him, his eyes filled with tears.

I didn’t expect such a good thing to happen!
But this tastes awful!
Indeed, good things and delicious food cannot coexist.

"Okay, I'll eat it!"

With a spirit of sacrifice, Takashi Miike swallowed the lantern attached to the bamboo skewer with great difficulty.

Gu Ming nodded in satisfaction.

"Isn't it amazing that you managed to eat it all?"

Takashi Miike smiled wryly and then made a joke: "Please don't make things difficult for me. If I want to eat it again, I might need to practice."

“It’s alright, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice later.” Gu Ming got down to business: “I’ve recently had some ideas for a Japanese drama and plan to direct it myself. I watched the video clip you made for the deal with 91 Recording and I really liked it. So, I’m thinking of having you as my assistant director.”

Takashi Miike looked up instantly.

The lantern-carrying meal wasn't a waste after all!
"Wait, you mean, the director? You're not planning to act in it yourself?"

Gu Ming shook his head: "I can't act in it. This is a gangster TV series, a kind of 'chivalrous film' of the new era, so I can only work as a director and a master assassin."

"Oh!! I see." Takashi Miike immediately became serious and bowed deeply: "Please rest assured and leave it to me! I will do my best!"

……

……

When it comes to yakuza films, Japan has an abundance of suitable actors.

For example, Takeshi Kitano and Yutaka Matsushige don't look like good people. And then there are Tadanobu Asano and Naoto Takenaka, who look like bad guys when they stand in front of the camera.

Even before filming began, people flocked to the production, wanting to act or try to get in through connections.

Although Akira Furuya can't act, there's a growing consensus in Japan that he has excellent taste, and following him is definitely the right choice.

"First, we need to eliminate all actors who are effeminate and handsome, regardless of any connections they have."

"Choose someone with a more rugged and imposing appearance."

Gu Ming casually flipped through the list: "By the way, remember to find this person for me as soon as possible. Although it's just a small role in the film, I believe he won't refuse."

Tanaka nodded and wrote down the list.

Takeshi Kaneshiro... well, he looks Japanese.

People with the surname Kinjo are most likely Ryukyuans.

Gu Ming interrupted, "He lives on that island now."

"Which island? Oh!!"

Tanaka suddenly realized something.

There's only one island that I'm not allowed to write about.

Gu Ming didn't want to say anything more.

Takeshi Kaneshiro's father is Japanese and his mother is from Taiwan, so it's not wrong to call him a Japanese actor. At eighteen, Kaneshiro is still quite green, but it would be good to cast him in small roles in films beforehand to cultivate his viewing habits.

Watching Takeshi Kaneshiro and John Lone regularly can help improve the overall aesthetic sense of Japanese people!

Gu Ming made arrangements before heading to the reception room.

Normally, Gu Ming doesn't want to accept actors who get in through connections, but this one is different.

In the reception room, Ishinomori Shotaro, who had gained weight and still looked fierce, but was beginning to show signs of dejection, had been waiting for a while.

Upon seeing Gu Minglai, Ishimori Shotaro immediately stood up.

"Furuya-kun."

“Mr. Onodera.” Taniaki bowed slightly and invited Shotaro Ishinomori to sit down.

"It's a rare treat to meet you. You must have come to see me for something. Please tell me, and I'll help if I can."

Shotaro Ishinomori breathed a slight sigh of relief, but thinking of his family, he still spoke up: "Um, Furuya-kun, actually, you've met my eldest son, the boy named 'Onodera Takeshi'."

Gu Ming thought about it and remembered it.

Yes, I have indeed seen it.

"I wonder if this child will have the honor of having a tiny role in Furuya-kun's work."

Gu Ming's expression softened slightly.

Onodera Takeshi later appeared in some productions, but his acting career wasn't very successful. He then went on to perform rakugo (traditional Japanese storytelling), which he did quite well. Overall, Ishinomori Shotaro did make efforts for his son.

Shotaro Ishinomori claimed to have drawn 10,000 manga in his lifetime. He later handed over his work to his second son, but his eldest son also had to pave the way.

“Since it was Mr. Onodera who asked, I will certainly do my best. Let the child give it a try.”

Gu Ming emphasized: "I can't give him important roles, but some supporting roles are fine."

Shotaro Ishinomori breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much, Furuya-kun!"

"It's nothing, no need to be so polite." Gu Ming thought for a moment, then gently reminded him.

"Mr. Onodera, please take care of your health. You should stop smoking and drinking, and stop riding your motorcycle."

Shotaro Ishinomori grinned, revealing a different expression.

"That won't do! My life would be so boring without these things!"

(End of this chapter)