Tokyo Sound

"It's okay, you take it."

After handing over the notebook with a bit of force, Tanabe Yukichi turned around, hunched his shoulders due to the slight chill, and walked towards the only station with light nearby.

"Hey, young man." Kishi Katsuhiko suddenly called out softly.

The young man looked back.

"Keep going." Kishi Katsuhiko gave a gentle and powerful smile, and clenched his fist and shook it lightly to encourage.

The young man was stunned. The ancient orange light of the station cast thin shadows on his face. He opened his eyes and seemed to want to say a lot, but in the end he just nodded in response. At the end, he even gave a faint smile as a parting blessing. He left again, his figure disappeared behind the facilities of the station, and he never raised his thin and heavy shoulders.

……

Shuji Okita always stays in front of the monitor.

This is the part where Yukiichi Tanabe finally chooses to escape. He abandons the movie and without telling anyone in the crew, he plans to secretly escape back to Tokyo by car.

When they discovered that the director had left in the middle of the night, the assistant director and staff hurriedly drove to the only station in the area.

The young man saw a familiar figure rushing towards him. He wanted to run with his bag, but there were people on both sides, so he had to jump under the platform. He slipped on the gravel and stumbled and fell in the middle of the track. The assistant director in the peaked cap, contrary to his previous good temper and hard work, also jumped off the platform and grabbed the director's hat. The young man struggled to get up, his face full of panic and pain.

"What on earth do you want to do!" The assistant director was so angry that he was shaking, and he slapped the director hard on the head.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The young man shouted. His voice rose and fell from low to high, from fear to crying with shame. Even though he didn't look up at his face, the skill of the lines alone was enough to express his emotions.

"Hey, the train is about to come into the station!" the staff on the platform reminded anxiously.

This train was whistling and slowing down as it entered the station.

The assistant director dragged the director onto the platform, but the director still held his head and knelt on the ground, trembling all over.

"You're the director now! Isn't that great?!" The assistant director threw his hat to the ground, feeling very disappointed.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry..."

At this time, the young man finally raised his face, which was wet with tears, his eye sockets and ears were red and hot, his hair was tightly stuck to his brows, and his eyes were full of pain. They were as fragile as glass, and the sad look upwards was too much like a wild deer abandoned by the tribe, with a cotton-like despair in his helplessness.

He stared at the empty sink and listened to his own heartbeat. He couldn't stand himself, but he couldn't abandon himself either. This bone-gnawing despair would slowly torment him until the end.

"Cut!"

hum.

This was the sound of the makeup artist sister flashing in. She helped the second male lead up distressedly and wiped the tears mixed with dust on his face with a tissue.

Jumping off the platform, falling, being dragged, etc. were all real. She felt a little pain when she watched from the side. She rolled up her trouser legs and saw that her knee was indeed a little scraped. She immediately produced an alcohol swab and - a bandage?!

"Not really." Yin Ze was speechless. He was indeed crying and looked embarrassed, but the action design was assisted by the corridor. The fall was real, but the recovery was very accurate. It was just a little scratch, and I'm afraid it will be fine after eating supper later.

"Are you okay?" When Shuji Okita saw that he actually took out a bandage, he nervously slipped into the scene.

"No problem, fine." Yin Ze said easily.

"As expected, he is the man who left one of Battousai's scars." After checking and finding that there was nothing serious, Okita Shuji said with emotion.

"Sorry, I slapped too hard just now." The actor who played the assistant director was also standing nearby.

"That's big, any smaller would seem deliberate." Yin Ze smiled proudly, "Filming is not a comfortable job, you have to endure some torture, don't apologize. And in terms of danger, you might be hit by a tree when you cut down the tree at the beginning."

Everyone finished another shot and chatted happily.

The train station scene is considered a "big scene" in the film, and there is even a thrilling scene of jumping off the tracks. That being said, it's actually nothing, just a carriage, parked outside the camera, and slowly passed by after the actors got on the platform. If you insist on saying that the most likely injury is jumping off the half-person-high platform and falling. What's more, the second male lead's jump and fall are too real, as if he really stepped on a stone and fell down.

She has an idol face that can make a lot of money just by showing close-ups, but she is willing to act ugly, cry with tears and nose running, and fall down whenever she wants. Her acting skills, character, and professionalism are all top-notch. She also eats her plate clean every time, proving that she cherishes food and has a good character.

This perfect new generation actor directed his first serious movie with a running time of more than 60 minutes by himself.

"Ronin Kenshin" and "Little Forest" are just internships.

I never thought such a talented actor would have to make his debut in my movie. Okita Shuji sighed.

Whether it is the train station or the hot spring shop, the longer the shooting takes, the more money it costs. Now that it has been solved, the director will of course give back the remaining money to everyone who has worked hard.

"You've all worked hard tonight, let's take a day off and rest up." Okita Shuji said. Now the schedule can be said to be much more relaxed.

"Why not just do it all at once?" Yin Ze said. The later he finishes filming, the less vacation time he has. To some extent, this may be a bet with his agent.

"After such a tiring night shift, it's time to take a break. It would be bad if you're not in good shape during the day. Let's have barbecue for supper. Order whatever you want." Okita Shuji said without any hesitation.

"You have indeed thought it through carefully." Yin Ze agreed.

Chapter 13: Nothing But a Mirror Image

There are many memories of summer. The more literary ones are fireworks shows, cool watermelons, sunsets on the beach, popsicles and sodas in the smoke, and the gentle skirts of girls that support all the summer. The boy's heart is moved by the wasteland on a summer night, which can't be cut or burned, and when the wind blows, the weeds connect to the sky.

But you have to make a choice. Men just want to go to the night market stalls. Plastic chairs are lined up, charcoal grilled pork and ice beer blend perfectly in the tongue cavity, and they sweat profusely while eating. There are noisy voices and busy traffic. Although they are on the street, the round table with friends is a small world of its own. Even the scorching heat has become a condiment to chew.

It might not be very healthy, but it's definitely refreshing.

Yin Ze has been to many yakiniku restaurants in Tokyo. The skewers here are called yakiniku, and the main ingredients are chicken, of course there are also pork, beef, lamb, vegetables, etc. The utilization rate of materials is very high, and it is said that no chicken can leave the yakiniku restaurant intact.

"Warm a pot of wine and have a plate of peanuts." Yin Ze ordered with reserve.

"So reserved?" Okita Shuji smiled and shook his head. "It saves a lot of money. Go ahead!"

"Boss, give me ten skewers of everything on the menu!" Yin Ze was indeed good at listening to Party A's opinions and immediately gave up his reserve.

Even though Okita Shuji is a director, he doesn't often see such a dramatic change, but when he looked back at the crew members who were almost filling up the small restaurant, he thought the meal was just right. The second male lead is really thoughtful.

"Is there any Kyoto Tamano Hikari?" Yin Ze put one hand on the counter, a toothpick in his mouth, like a cynical playboy going to a bar.

"Yes." said the boss.

"I want 94 pure rice ginjo." Yin Ze nodded.

"No problem." said the boss, with a look in his eyes that suggested you were an expert and knew how to enjoy life.

"The sauce-grilled ones are sweet and fresh, while the salt-grilled ones are salty and fresh. Sake also has sweetness, freshness, bitterness, and sourness, so the Japanese cuisine is usually paired with sake not only because of habit, but also because of the taste compatibility factor." Yin Ze explained to the director and the leading actor, "The one I want performs very well when it is hot, with a bright aroma and a mellow taste, which is very suitable for pairing with skewers."

"I learned something new about life." Yakusho Kanji nodded. Professional actors must constantly summarize their experiences and extract information from life to use as feedback in their performances.

Okita Shuji reluctantly nodded. He knew that this was a top student from the University of Tokyo, so it was normal for him to have a wide range of knowledge... In the past few days, he had talked about his experience in playing cards, finger-guessing techniques, drinking, his feelings about the human body in art, and even used beautiful girl photos as examples. Sure enough, his strong acting skills were supported by a solid foundation.

If you haven't even finished high school and don't know much about worldly things, what kind of performance can you expect?

But if the producer was here, he would have keenly discovered the blind spot - if the things the dog thief said were summarized, wouldn't it be wine, sex, money and anger? And you still say that this is not the sludge of society, not a hypocritical villain? !

"Would you like to drink something, Yakusho-san?" Yin Ze asked.

"It's okay during the day, but forget about drinking at night. I'm old." Yakusho Kanji waved his hand.

"Then have two cups." Yin Ze snapped his fingers.

"It's okay, I don't want to drink." Okita Shuji declined.

"I'll have two drinks."

"?"

The ingredients of a decent yakitori restaurant are all branded chicken, which is of course more expensive than frozen food, but tastes better. Besides, the high price is not the fault of the chicken brother, but the fault of the diners.

Now the chicken has been peacefully turned into a string, and the minotaur eats it one by one, his eyes sparkling and his mouth full of oil. At the same time, he asked the boss to increase the spiciness. Especially the lantern string, the immature eggs and the connected internal organs, the mixed taste is unique.

"Come on, Mr. Okita." Master Yin skillfully picked up the wine glass as if by muscle memory and began to speak, "Look, this wine glass is round and full of wine. I wish you all a successful career. Leader, leader, it is because of your leadership and guidance that the crew can work together. Thank you for your hard work!"

"Mr. Yakusho, it's an honor to have the opportunity to dine with you. I could only see you on TV before, and I admire your acting skills. So I must toast you with this glass of wine. First, I wish you further success in your career, and second, I want to express my admiration for you." Master Yin picked up the second glass.

As they drank the wine, the director and the leading actor were delighted and laughed continuously.

"I want to finish all the big shots first, so I will shoot the last scene in the story the day after tomorrow. I will slowly make up for the scenes in between," said Shuji Okita.

The last scene in the script is also the last shot of the zombie movie. Many extras are needed, a lot of blood plasma is used, and a water truck is used to simulate rain. Considering the scale of the film, it can be called a big deal. This is actually a very suitable part for the final shot. Sometimes, considering the emotional progression of the leading actors, it will be put at the end for shooting, but the two male actors are both powerful, so these things don't happen.

"This store is great. I'll come back again after the photo shoot." Okita Shuji nodded.

……

Katsuhiko Kishi, dressed in a black suit, opened the door. He and his son attended the anniversary of his wife's death today. He was really outrageous. He was busy with the film crew these days and even forgot to clean up before the anniversary of his death. It was his son who took care of the house and ironed his suit and pants.

The assistant director outside was wearing a peaked cap. He looked at Kishi Katsuhiko, who was reeking of alcohol, and couldn't help but say, "We're wrapping up."

"Oh, I know." Kishi Katsuhiko nodded.

"It looks like it will rain in the morning, so we should try to shoot more in the morning." The assistant director hesitated, then suddenly smiled in confusion, "How should I put it? If you, Uncle Ke Yan, weren't there at the wrap-up, I would always feel like something was missing. Your help to the crew is really beyond our ability to repay. Director Tanabe has also been influenced by you and has become more responsible. Moreover, even the villagers who became extras were found by you... So, please come and witness it to the end."

Kishi Katsuhiko was stunned for a moment, his eyes flashing with a faint light, and he pursed his lips.

An ordinary uncle who has been working in a small village all his life is still worried about his son's education. Can such a person become a ray of light in other lives?

After seeing off the assistant director, Kishi Katsuhiko returned home and saw his child sitting in front of a homemade chess board, placing the shogi pieces one by one.

They used to play chess like this often.

"Would you like to have a plate?" asked the son, sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Ah, come on." Kishi Katsuhiko walked over and sat down.

The father and son, who once fought each other, placed their chess pieces silently.

And the solid ice called "misunderstanding" is quietly melting away in a sudden "rain".

……

Tanabe Koichi was wrapped in a raincoat, standing in the pouring rain. He stretched out his hand, letting the water splash on his palm. He raised his head, looking at the rain curtain across the sky, his body was also stained with a thin layer of water vapor, and looking at those, he felt a kind of spiritual coldness.

The zombie extras, whose faces were painted black and blue and whose clothes were covered with bloody handprints, also stood outside shoulder to shoulder with umbrellas. The water drops were as big as soybeans, making the tent tarpaulin rattle.

The rainstorm also brought freezing cold wind. Everyone was wearing tattered costumes and felt cold, so they had to rub their hands to warm themselves up.

However, the miracle really happened as Katsuhiko Kishi said.

"The sky is going to clear up," said the uncle who has lived here all his life. "It will clear up for a while."

The incessant rain seemed to have cut off the source of the water. Dark clouds gathered and dispersed, and beams of light penetrated and shone directly onto the earth.

“Official shooting!”

Tanabe Yukichi looked up at the sky. His young eyes were firm, and his tone of voice was so reliable and steady that even the director of photography and the assistant director looked at him sideways. He mustered all his strength and yelled at a voice that was close to breaking.

“Ready—go!”

The director's voice is the starting point of the movie world.

The survivors screamed and attacked the zombies. Single shots were fired one after another, and smoke rose. In the chaos, the girl named Linzi finally saw the zombie that killed her fiancé again. After a fight, Linzi was finally drowned in the middle of the zombie tide. Both she and her father were bitten through the neck, blood splattered, and they were surrounded by the zombies.

"Where can we find our future..." the protagonist said the last line.

The action of bending down and biting continued until the word "Cut" was heard.

The zombies straightened up, and even the survivors who were bitten to death came back to life, crawled up, and looked at the young man in the distance, waiting for him to give the final answer.

Tanabe Yukichi's hands kept waving. This shot passed. The film finally ended and the shooting was completed.

The extras and crew members immediately raised their hands and shouted in celebration.

Dark clouds are gathering, thunder is rumbling, and the sky is gloomy, but I hope the wind and rain will come and keep you here.

The staff ran back to the tent carrying the machines in the continued heavy rain.

The young director had no time to hide from the rain, so he sat down on the grass slope where puddles of water had accumulated.

"It's a success." The lumberjack walked over and said softly.

The young man and the old man who saved each other laughed at each other through the rain.

Tanabe Koichi took off the hood of his plastic raincoat, revealing his face, which was cleaned by the rain. He turned his head and smiled like a dream come true, pure as a child. At this moment, people felt that his eyes were falling on their hearts, just like the silence in the morning sunshine falling on the lonely fields that have been harvested.

Shuji Okita, who was standing in front of the monitor, let out a long sigh.

……

Two weeks later.

"What? You are almost done filming? Are you kidding me?" The producer, who finally returned to the set, was shocked when he learned of the progress.

"Well, it's just an everyday film. It doesn't require any special sets. The crew only needs to be in the double digits. As long as the actors are skilled, it's normal to go fast." Okita Shuji said cheerfully.

"Then the rental period will be much shorter than expected. So the budget will be..." the producer said hurriedly.

"Well, I decided to use the extra money to treat the whole team to a good meal. You came at the right time, go change your clothes, we will have a banquet in the evening and a barbecue at midnight." Okita Shuji patted the other's shoulder.

"?"

The residents of the small village participated in a film shoot, and this new thing can probably be talked about for a long time. When they learned that there was a wrap-up party, they all came to watch the fun. Okita Shuji was a straightforward person. He used the extra money to buy a lot of food and drinks, drove a small truck back, and asked the chef who accompanied the team to cook. He also listened to the opinions of the top students of the University of Tokyo and decided to adopt a model called "flowing banquet", setting up many tables for people to eat as they came.

Of course, villagers who participated in the extras were also invited.