Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 287 The Person Playing Takeda Shingen
The three guests took their seats, but Kurosawa had no intention of introducing each other. It was obvious that the two guests did not want to know who Gu Ming was.

Gu Ming sat down and looked at the two of them out of the corner of his eye.

Although Coppola's works are well-known, he himself is not that well-known. Gu Ming did not recognize this Oscar-winning director.

Instead, it was George Lucas, the founder of Industrial Light & Magic and the creator of Star Wars, who was immediately recognized by Gu Ming.

"George Lucas actually came to Kurosawa? Looks like there's something big going on!"

Gu Ming sat upright and naturally didn't say much, just waiting for Kurosawa to talk.

Kurosawa spoke slowly, but his voice was not low at all.

"Speaking of the last collaboration with Fox, it wasn't very satisfying."

George Lucas said: "Fox still has its own ideas about the work, and conflicts are inevitable."

Gu Ming listened and had a rough idea of what was going on.

Akira Kurosawa was once invited to shoot a special movie, the famous "Tora! Tora! Tora!"

This code name was also the code name used by Japan during the Pearl Harbor attack.

That’s right, it’s just so fantastical. The Americans made a movie about the Japanese bombing the United States and found a Japanese director to shoot it.

Putting aside the details of the film, Kurosawa and Fox had many conflicts during the filming process. The final result was that Fox declared that "Kurosawa was mentally ill and no longer suitable for the duties of a director", and therefore fired Kurosawa from the crew.

That incident dealt a huge blow to Kurosawa Akira, so much so that he was unable to recover for a long time.

Although Gu Ming knew these things, he certainly would not tell them out loud to provoke Kurosawa Akira. Instead, he acted as a good listener and made some flattering comments from time to time. It can be said that he gave Kurosawa Akira enough emotional value.

George Lucas and Coppola also took the opportunity to say a lot of words of advice.

"Fox can't see through real stars."

"You are the immortal master of the film industry!"

"The film industry can't do without you, just like Star Wars can't do without me!"

"For the sake of the eager anticipation of moviegoers around the world, please return to directing! We will do our best to convince Fox, and they will not interfere with any filming matters."

Gu Ming found it funny and thought that Kurosawa Akira was being put on such a high pedestal that it was really embarrassing.

Wear it a thousand times, but flattery never wears it.

It's clear that Kurosawa enjoyed this very much.

So Kurosawa finally stood up and for a moment, blocked out the large amount of sunlight coming in through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Gu Ming narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his head.

Kurosawa Akira is indeed a very tall man.

The height of 1.81 meters is not fake.

The sunlight from outside the window shone in and enveloped his body. His body outline seemed to have turned into a silhouette, like a god that mortals could only admire from afar but could not get close to.

"Actually, I've been thinking about this film for a long time, but I just regret that no one has the discerning eye to discover it. Please follow me, I have something to show you."

George Lucas and Coppola stood up and followed behind. When Gu Ming was wondering whether he was included, Kurosawa Akira had already walked past him.

A large hand fell on Gu Ming's shoulder.

"Furuya Akira...right. You should come and see it too."

Gu Ming said yes and followed closely.

Several people followed Kurosawa to a study, but it was obviously just a simple residence. Gu Ming took a look and felt that there was nothing decorated in the study, not even a few books, but just a lot of manuscripts and other things piled up.

Seeing Kurosawa Akira make a casual gesture, Gu Ming raised his hand and picked up one of the books.

"this is……"

Gu Ming looked at it carefully. On it was a portrait of a samurai. The bald samurai was wearing a haori and sitting upright, with a man kneeling in front of him.

Gu Ming felt as if he had seen this face somewhere before. His appearance and temperament should be that of a well-known actor.

Gu Ming was sure he'd seen this person's work, but for a moment, the name stuck in his mouth, unable to pronounce it. "This will be a very special story... I plan to spend six months training the actors, from horseback riding to military battles, learning how to become a true Warring States samurai. Then, we'll build a genuine ancient castle—Tsutsujizaki-kan, the historical residence of Takeda Shingen!"

Gu Ming instantly looked up and looked at Kurosawa Akira.

Take half a year off from work for special training!
Build a city for a play!

This is indeed Kurosawa's style.

However, although actor training is very professional, for Japan, which is becoming increasingly commercialized, it is almost impossible to take half a year off from work and completely out of the audience's sight.

Gu Ming secretly clenched his fists and thought about this matter in his heart.

If he is asked to take a leave of absence for half a year, is that possible?
Gu Ming believes that the agency will continue to operate, but he has completely faded out of the audience's business in the past six months. The popularity he has just accumulated will gradually disappear within half a year.

This kind of thing is not uncommon. For example, what Korean stars fear most is military service, because after two years of military service, even the most popular stars will become obscure.

The reason why Wang Dazui evaded military service not long ago was also for this reason.

It is impossible for an actor who aims to rise to prominence to stay out of the audience's sight for so long.

"But what's so scary about that? I'm famous, right?"

Gu Ming couldn't help but want to slap himself.

He is not a celebrity. If he loses his fame, he will just return to behind the scenes.

If Kurosawa Akira wanted to use him, Gu Ming would definitely leave his job for half a year without hesitation to do the training that Kurosawa Akira wanted.

As Gu Ming browsed through the director's handwritten manuscripts, it was clear that this was indeed Kurosawa's painstaking work.

Not only Gu Ming, the other two also had the same idea.

"Please, Mr. Kurusawa, I will do my best to convince Fox. Please continue filming this movie!"

"I just don't know which actor you plan to use as the protagonist?"

Kurosawa raised his lips slightly, somewhat proudly saying, "I've already spotted someone who is a very suitable actor."

Gu Ming knew who it was.

Nakadai Tatsuya!
Kurosawa said, "That's a famous Japanese actor who once starred in 'Zatoichi'!"

Gu Ming couldn't help but hum.

I haven't heard that Tatsuya Nakadai played Zatoichi!
Zatoichi is also a well-known swordplay film in Japan, with many different versions filmed, such as the 1962 version, the 1989 version...

The 1989 version also starred Kanako Higuchi.

Just as Tani Akira was thinking about Nakadai Tatsuya, Kurosawa Akira finally said the name.

"That's the actor from Zatoichi, 'Katsu Shintaro'!"

Gu Ming: ...?
Isn't it Nakadai Tatsuya!!
Gu Ming thought back to the drawing he had just seen and couldn't help but punch himself in the face.

really.

No wonder that face looks so familiar. It can be said that it is completely drawn based on Katsu Shintaro.

Katsu Shintaro, a Japanese swordplay actor, participated in "The Tale of Zatoichi" in 1962 and became a big star in the swordplay film, or as the term later said, a "big man".

You can say that.

Katsu Shintaro's current fame is higher than Kurosawa Akira who has been out of the spotlight for many years!
Gu Ming shook his head secretly.

If it's Nakadai Tatsuya, then it's still possible to try, but if it's Katsu Shintaro, Gu Ming feels that he might not be able to grab this position.

As we all know, Kurosawa Akira is known as the "Emperor of Movies". He is famous for his autocratic behavior and will not easily change the people he chooses.

unless.

If Katsu Shintaro is killed by a car tomorrow, and then Nakadai Tatsuya and Mikawa Toshiro are killed by cars one after another, then Kurosawa Akira may consider Tani Akira.

(End of this chapter)