Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 19 The Marble Boy Stands at Attention

What is Haruo Nakajima doing?
Check the status of Haruo Nakajima.

Nakajima Haruo is playing marbles!!
It was already afternoon when Wangu's staff found him. Nakajima Haruo barely raised his head from the pachinko machine, somewhat surprised: "What? It's already so late! Okay, let me hit one more, just one..."

The staff was so anxious that they almost cried.

"Mr. Nakajima, this is a really important meeting! We can't delay any longer!"

Nakajima Haruo sighed, agreed reluctantly, and was pulled away by the staff, looking back every few steps.

The staff called Mantani, and unexpectedly, the call was finally transferred to Mantani Eiji.

The slightly old voice made the staff stand at attention instantly.

"Give the phone to Mr. Nakajima? Yes."

He handed the microphone to Nakajima.

"What's going on?" Nakajima Haruo muttered and answered the phone.

Wangu Eiji's voice made him stand at attention instantly.

"Yes, Mr. Wan Gu!"

"Ah... no, how should I put it? Actually, I'm sick. I have a slight cold."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

What responded to him was a somewhat calm, even indifferent attitude from Mantani Eiji.

"Okay, you don't need to come anymore. Xiaoyi and the others have already taken care of this matter."

Nakajima Haruo was a little flustered for a moment.

As a special effects actor, although Toho often had special effects filming, after leaving Mantani Eiji, it became difficult for him to find special effects filming work.

Toho does not have only Eiji Mantani as a special effects director. For example, the director of Godzilla is also very good.

But no one can be stronger than Eiji Mantani.

"Mr. Wangu! Please! Please give me another chance!"

Nakajima Haruo begged desperately several times.

On the other side, Eiji Mantani didn't know what he was thinking, but he finally sighed.

"Nakajima, when will you finally give up playing marbles? Have you forgotten how cheerful you were when we were filming Godzilla? Godzilla is a great production, and it's also an important one I participated in as a stunt supervisor. Nakajima, I still remember every detail of the filming of Godzilla."

Haruo Nakajima could only hold the microphone and keep begging.

"Yes, yes! I remember everything! Mr. Wangu, please give me another chance. I will definitely quit playing marbles and won't play again! At least, at least not during the filming period!"

Eiji Mantani didn't respond, just sighed and hung up the phone.

Hearing the busy tone on the other end, Nakajima Haruo actually breathed a sigh of relief.

If Mantani Eiji didn't agree, he would just say no directly.

This attitude is actually a kind of tacit approval.

Nakajima Haruo breathed a sigh of relief and turned to walk towards the billiard room.

Wangu staff was slightly startled: "Mr. Nakajima, what are you doing!"

"Since we don't need to go to Wangu anymore, why not play for a while?"

Nakajima Haruo curled his lips and said, "As for you, don't talk too much after you return to Wangu! Otherwise, you will be in trouble!"

……

……

Haruo Nakajima was playing pinball, and Tani Ming received a 10,000 yen prize.

Everyone has a bright future.

The next day came in a blink of an eye, and Gu Ming came to Wangu again to work with Kurobe Jin to continue recording the advance episode.

Wang Guyi plans to finish the recording in the next few days and submit it to TBS, so that TBS can start broadcasting the advance episodes continuously next Monday, which is to meet TBS's needs and also serve as a kind of warm-up for the program.

Although Gu Ming was wearing an iron barrel, he read his lines very clearly.

Wan Guyi crossed his arms, his eyes always fixed on Gu Ming.

"I didn't expect Furuya-kun to be so good at dialogue. Even though it's a little strange that Ultraman speaks in a Kansai accent, the emotions expressed are so rich."

Wan Guyi was somewhat amazed. In his impression, beginners couldn't achieve great things just by relying on their enthusiasm.

But Gu Ming's line delivery skills were surprisingly good.

He is not much inferior to Kurobe Susumu, an actor who has been with Toho for many years.

Gu Ming stayed in Wangu for a whole day, cooperating to complete the filming of the advance part.

Except for the final part where Ultraman needs to appear, all the dialogues were recorded.

Gu Ming was about to leave with the others when Wan Gu suddenly called him.

"Gugu-kun, come here for a moment."

"Yes, what's wrong?" Gu Ming knew that Wan Guyi was probably in trouble, so he lowered his hands and walked in front of Wan Guyi.

"The tape will be ready by the weekend. After that, I will take it to meet with TBS's broadcast director, Mr. Kagi Takeshi."

Wan Guyi walked around for a while, and seeing that Gu Ming was still waiting, he continued, "If Gu Gujun has time by then, come with me to TBS."

Gu Ming was stunned this time.

TBS, Tokyo Television, is a well-deserved giant if calculated by platform.

It is not surprising that Wan Guyi came from TBS, so he has a good relationship with TBS.

But Gu Ming just couldn't figure it out.

He was not an employee of Wan Gu, nor a photographer, and he didn't understand the technology. Gu Ming was a little confused as to why they wanted to take him along to deliver the tape.

Wangu smiled and said, "I don't want to hide it from you. Furuya-kun, you are very good at reciting lines. Where did you learn it?"

——Of course I learned it when I was a supporting actor!
The recitation in Peking Opera is also very important.

Gu Ming shrugged slightly and said, "When I was in school, I joined the drama club."

"Well, I was thinking that Furuya-kun's line reading skills don't seem like a complete newcomer."

Wan Guyi brushed the matter aside and moved closer to Gu Ming in a very intimate manner.

"Although it's not a major role, TBS has been producing period dramas, set in the Warring States period, or the period of respecting the emperor and expelling the barbarians. They need actors with good dialogue skills and good looks. Even though there won't be many scenes, TBS has always been very generous. I promised Mr. Kashii Takeru that I would help recommend some actors."

Gu Ming stood at attention instantly.

This time he understood.

This can be considered as a kind of recommendation from Wan Guyi in his personal capacity.

It was probably because the suggestion Gu Ming had made before was really good, and he was also surprised by Gu Ming's skills, so he had such an opportunity.

Although they are not important roles, it is not easy to establish a relationship with a platform like TBS.

Gu Ming's emotions instantly reached their maximum. He bowed slightly and said, "I'm very grateful."

Wan Guyi just waved his hand.

"What I'm doing is nothing. In fact, even if I don't do it, my father might help you put in some tips and introduce you to other companies. Even Toho needs outstanding actors."

Given the relationship between Eiji Mantani and Toho, Toho would not refuse if he just said hello and introduced someone.

Of course, a main role was out of the question, but a minor role would probably be fine. And a supporting role that only appeared for a few seconds was absolutely fine. Toho could have as many roles of that caliber as Mantani Eiji wanted, but they were just worried that Mantani Eiji wouldn't take them.

Even though Wangu has various problems, one thing that cannot be changed is that Wangu is a family business.

While loose management and lack of supervision also mean that Wangu does not have the various problems of large companies and there is no strict concept of superiors and subordinates.

After encouraging Gu Ming for a few words, Wan Guyi stood up and walked towards other staff members.

Gu Mingze secretly pinched his fingers.

Bonuses and such are secondary.

However, being able to put forward suggestions this time and gain recognition from Wangu has actually opened up another path.

"Then, let's just wait and see how the final broadcast turns out, right?"

Gu Ming thought about this secretly.

As long as there are no problems when the preliminary episode is broadcast, he will be truly integrated into Bankai.

That identity allows you to call yourself one of our own.

(End of this chapter)