Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 332 Asahi, then Cannes

Generally speaking, many TV stations separate production and broadcasting. They do not produce TV series themselves, but allocate funds to the production department, which then produces the TV series.

Some TV stations also have their own production capabilities, but their structures are often rigid.

There are also some TV stations that do not have the ability to produce their own programs and rely solely on purchasing works from outside.

For example, TV Tokyo is the latter.

The situation at TV Asahi is different.

The relationships among several TV production companies in Japan are very complicated.

For example, Toei and TV Asahi appear to be closely related, but in fact, Toei is just the head office holding shares in TV Asahi and is the major shareholder of TV Asahi.

As a television production department under the Toei headquarters, it can of course ask TV Asahi to give priority to broadcasting its works, and will also give priority to providing works to TV Asahi.

However, this does not mean that Toei can arbitrarily influence the decisions of TV Asahi.

When TV Asahi broadcasts Toei's works, it uses a complex set of agreements, which is somewhat similar to the guarantee in writing a book.

If the minimum guarantee is not exceeded, you will receive the minimum fee; if the minimum guarantee is exceeded, you will receive a share of the profits.

When the ratings are high, the TV station uses a buyout fee, and when the ratings are low, the TV station uses a profit-sharing ratio.

For example, Kamen Rider V3 has a high viewership rating, so the TV station adopts a buyout model, that is, directly purchasing the TV series at a fixed price per episode.

For Toei, since it has already recovered its costs through some advance advertising, it can naturally accept this broadcast model.

However, the situation here at Armor Team is different.

As a new work with deep bundling, the ratings have not yet been verified, and Asahi TV's model is a mixed model.

That is, you spend a portion of the money to purchase each episode, and the remaining portion is shared.

Now TV Asahi wants to change the profit-sharing ratio, which means purchasing a work at a low price, and it is chosen at this time, so naturally there is only one option.

--promise.

If you don’t agree, don’t broadcast it. Change it to another TV station.

In the end, it is the producers who suffer losses anyway.

This is what is meant by "big stores bullying customers".

Gu Ming could go to TBS and talk to it, but TBS already has a work to be broadcast at that time. Not only can it not find a good time slot to use, but changing the platform in the middle will also have a great impact on the ratings.

Gu Ming did talk to Watanabe Ryosuke several times, but Asahi TV was extremely firm in its attitude.

If the dividend ratio doesn’t increase, the show won’t be screened. You can go find whoever you want.

"Oh fuck... TV Asahi is so infuriating. I shouldn't have taken over V3!"

Gu Ming scratched his head and had a headache in the office.

This matter originally fell on "Kamen Rider X", which is the successor to V3.

But now, since Kamen Rider has been replaced by Armor Sentai, it's his turn.

Gu Ming asked around and found out that TBS could broadcast it, but the time slot was not very good.

Several other TV stations also expressed dissatisfaction.

The TV stations that have time have too small platforms, while the TV stations that have large enough platforms don’t have enough time.

Tokyo Channel 12, which is the future Tokyo TV, expressed its willingness to cooperate with the broadcast, but Gu Ming did not want to consider Tokyo TV.

It's not that he looks down on TV stations.

It's just that he looks down on Tokyo TV.

Gu Ming was having a headache when he saw Koizumi tiptoeing in, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.

Gu Ming held his forehead and said, "Go ahead."

"Yes, Brother Furuya, Toho asked you, are you really not going to Cannes? The film has already been exhibited at Cannes, and Director Akira Kurosawa has already brought his team. It would be great if you, the male lead, could also go."

"No, not to mention that I have something else to do, the key is that I have to go to the United States soon."

Gu Ming sighed.

Go to Cannes for an eggplant.

What's more, he wants to finish the work before going to the United States again!
Gu Ming thought that he should go and talk to TV Asahi again.

If we lower our demands a little, there might be a possibility of reaching an agreement.

In any case, Toei will not accept the current ratio.

——Toei needs to make money too. If the TV station offers too little, we won’t accept it.

……

……

France, Cannes.

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world's three most famous film festivals and has a huge influence.

Whether it is a work or an actor, as long as they can win one of these awards, they will increase their fame and wealth.

Kurosawa is in Cannes right now.

If Gu Ming didn't come, Kurosawa wouldn't go to invite him.

It's just inevitable that I feel a little annoyed.

"Is that kid holding a grudge against me?"

"Um...it seems like he's going to America or something, and that Mr. George Lucas invited him to do a favor."

Kurosawa groaned, remaining noncommittal. "Really? I thought he wasn't coming to Cannes because he was holding a grudge against me."

Kurosawa waved his hand casually.

Let’s not talk about that for now.

Today is a critical moment for the Cannes judging panel. The main competition unit will nominate several important awards.

Best Director, Best Work, Best Actor, etc.

George Lucas was not there, and the person who showed up at Cannes was Francis Ford Coppola, the director of The Godfather.

Although he is an American, he is of Italian nationality and has a certain influence. He also worked hard for a while to win the award for Shadow Warrior this time.

The three major international film festivals are not isolated from the real world and also need lobbying.

However, Coppola had some doubts about Kurosawa's publicity strategy.

Generally speaking, of course, priority would be given to competing for one of the awards, but Kurosawa wanted him to promote multiple awards including Best Actor, Best Director, and the Palme d'Or.

Coppola certainly did his best, but he couldn't help but feel a little concerned.

I don’t know if we can still win the Palme d’Or after dispersing our publicity resources.

The scene was like a dream, only the sound waves on the stage remained the same.

"…The Best Actress award goes to Anouk Aimee for 'The Untold Story'!"

Kurosawa folded his hands and remained calm.

Films participating in the Cannes Film Festival will also be screened simultaneously, and he has seen this movie.

However, Kurosawa did not like the film.

It was a film co-produced by France, Italy and West Germany, telling a story that Kurosawa disliked the most.

Kurosawa's preferences are very straightforward. He likes actors with masculine and powerful characters like Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai.

Of course, Kurosawa is not a traitor, he just likes actors like this.

Now we can add Akira Furuya here.

The Palme d'Or hadn't been awarded yet, but Coppola had already leaned over and whispered, "The Palme d'Or is probably already decided. It's definitely going to be this film, Shadow Warrior."

Kurosawa looked at Coppola without saying a word, but his eyes were full of questions.

"Cannes also needs to expand its influence to face the threat from the United States," Coppola explained.

Today, the European cultural community is very wary of both the US and the Soviet Union. Last year, a remarkable film, "Zhouguo Syndrome," won an award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Of course, this movie has nothing to do with the Zhou Kingdom. It tells the story of a nuclear leak accident somewhere in the United States, and after the United States melted through the earth's core, it became the Zhou Kingdom, so the movie is called Zhou Kingdom Syndrome.

After he said this, Kurosawa naturally understood.

In order to increase allies and attack enemies, and to divide the cake in some way, after winning such an important award as the Best Actress, Xuwu Piaomiao will most likely not win an even more important award.

"Best Actor. Wow, this is incredible. I didn't expect to see such a face, and I didn't expect such a situation to happen."

The host opened the envelope, frowned at first, but after confirming the text, he felt relieved.

“I have to say it’s a work of great imagination, and the bold colors and almost genius use of lenses in the film are also amazing. The protagonist’s performance is so unexpected, it’s as if it’s happening right before our eyes. He’s not performing, but being himself.”

"The winner of the Best Actor award is."

"The Void! Michel Piccoli!"

Kurosawa breathed a sigh of relief.

If it wins both the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, it’s basically certain that this film won’t win any more awards.

It seems that Shadow Warrior has a great chance of winning the Palme d'Or.

However, the host did not finish.

"……as well as!"

"Shadow Warrior! Furia Akira!"

Kurosawa was stunned.

Who the fuck is Furia Akira!
No one knows who Furia Akira is. The only thing that is certain is that this year's Cannes Film Festival laid a double yolk egg.

Kurosawa went on stage to receive the award, his thoughts somewhat confused.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that the host read out the Shadow Warrior's name again.

Palme d'Or.

"Shadow Warrior".

There is no second name.

The reality has changed somewhat. Originally, the Palme d'Or was a double yolk award. "Shadow Warrior" and "The Spring and Autumn of Jazz" - also translated as "Life is Like a Dream", both films won the Cannes Palme d'Or.

but now.

Cannes still laid a double yolk egg, but not in the Palme d'Or, but in the Cannes Best Actor Award.

Of course, Japan had reporters stationed on the scene, so soon everyone started whispering and discussing Shadow Warrior's award and who Furia Akira was.

Kurosawa spent a long time deciphering the handwritten cursive text before he was sure that it should be the Romanization spelling.

"Heh...it's worth all my training."

Kurosawa shook his head and explained, "Let's spread the word to Japan. Tell Akira that he's won the Best Actor award at Cannes. If he still holds a grudge against me, then take this award back as my apology! And then, celebrate!"

Because Shadow Warrior won the Palme d'Or!
(End of this chapter)