Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 362 Prince Videotape Support Plan

Tokyo, Extreme Action Agency.

There were a dozen young men and women in the room, staring nervously at the big thing in front of them.

"It's...it's so big! It can't be this big!"

"Slower, slower...put it all in."

“Oh no, it’s the end!!”

The cable was successfully connected to the computer, and everyone cheered.

I can’t explain why I’m so happy, but I just feel like I’ve done something very sacred.

The computer in front of you is a medium-sized computer produced by IBM. It is a commercial computer. It is impossible to play games on it. There were not many games in the 1980s. This computer is purely a productivity device.

Gu Ming pinched his fingers and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm turning it on!"

As the switch clicked, there was another cheer in the office.

"Brother Gugu, what can this thing do?"

"It's all English letters, I don't recognize them at all!"

"It's too complicated!" I said.

"Brother Gugu, Americans are so stingy. They don't pay wages, but they give this?"

Gu Ming raised his hand and signaled everyone to stop.

"I bought this with my own money. This thing is called a computer! It's amazing! Americans use it to design special effects."

Of course, a computer cannot produce the special effects that Gu Ming wants, but it would be best if it can help with the filming.

"This is productivity equipment, and most people probably don't know how to use it. I'll have to put up a job ad and see if there's anyone who can read English and use a computer."

College students in the 1980s had a very high salary. Gu Ming heard that Japanese college students could even get money when looking for jobs, even if they didn't get a job, and could also travel at public expense.

Not like later generations...

Gu Ming calmed down the restless crowd for the time being.

"We'll talk about the computer later. Since this thing can be turned on, don't touch it for now. Wait for the IBM engineers! I want to discuss something else with you guys right now."

After gathering everyone together, Gu Ming finally spoke.

"This time, I bought a set of video equipment."

Seeing no reaction from the crowd, Gu Ming added, "I'm planning to have everyone practice shooting some short videos, maybe 20 to 30 minutes, or even 10 minutes. The content, the subject matter, it doesn't matter. Just shoot whatever you want, and then find someone to distribute it on the videotape market."

The cost of this kind of short film can be high or low, the lowest might be one million yen, and the highest might be ten million yen.

——Akio Jissoji once joined a film project to shoot a low-budget film, and he shot the film with a cost of 10 million yen.

But that was 70 million yen in the s.

In the 1980s, if the value of the Japanese yen rose, it would probably be 20 to 30 million or even more.

This is considered a medium-sized investment.

Gu Ming didn't want to take so much money, so he just took a few hundred thousand yen and everyone filmed something to practice and then released it to the videotape market.

After listening to Gu Ming's words, everyone looked confused.

"Brother Gugu, this is a bit too difficult. I can act, but I can't film at all."

"I haven't even had a good role. Until now, I've only been a stunt double. Filming is so difficult."

Gu Ming shrugged: "That's why I asked you to try to pat it."

But everyone still laughed and didn't take it seriously. It was obvious that they didn't think they were suitable for film roles.

Even though Gu Ming repeatedly emphasized that this is not a movie, it is at most a short film.

Nijiamoto Tatsumi looked at everyone and suddenly said, "How about I give it a try? Actually, I do have some ideas. This trip to the United States has deeply touched me. I want to make a short film. Maybe, maybe it should be about ten minutes long?"

Gu Ming couldn't help but exclaimed, "Please elaborate."

"Look, when I was designing the action over there, I talked to that guy named Marcus. He said crime in the United States is rampant, even scarier than here. The Yakuza are like children playing house by comparison... He told me a story about a robbery where someone, after careful planning, robbed a bond office."

Gu Ming thought for a moment, but replied, "If you want to film it, then let's try it. However, the story can be slightly modified. Don't make it so complicated. You don't need any elaborate plans. Just have a tough guy rob and kill people. Whatever's fine."

Videotape is a very special medium.

Apart from the collections of some film and television enthusiasts, there are basically only a few specific types of videotapes that are popular.

Especially the harp.

Especially bloody.

Many American horror films have extremely low ratings, but are extremely popular in lower-end markets such as videotapes.

Nijiamoto Tatsumi nodded and took note of it silently.

"I'll give you 500,000 yen first. You can use all the equipment as you like. Ask Ooka Shinichi to help you with the filming. If you need anything else, we'll let you know later!"

Everyone looked up instantly.

There is such a thing!

You can get 500,000 yuan just for making a short film?
Gu Ming smiled.

"This money isn't so easy to get. If you want to shoot something, you have to tell me what you want to shoot first. Otherwise, I won't agree. So let's do this for now. Wait for someone to take care of this computer. Then, if you have nothing to do during this period, you can cooperate with Erjiaben to shoot that short film."

Everyone kept nodding.

Just give it a try!
……

……

Niemoto Tatsumi certainly never became a director, but he later worked as a shajinshi, or action director. He was a natural at mise-en-scène.

This short film is only a dozen minutes long and the content is unremarkable. Tatsumi Niemoto chewed on his pencil for a while and thought about it, and he roughly arranged a plot.

It is said that there is a man named Miura who is very good at fighting but not very smart. He has always envied others for being rich since he was a child. He accidentally heard that robbery can make money, so Miura decided to rob. As a result, he happened to meet other people who were also robbing. The two sides fought a fierce battle. In the end, Miura fled with a sum of money and a beautiful store clerk.

There is no plot and no special content. The only big scenes are fighting, fighting and fighting for no reason.

Gu Ming didn't care and let Erjia Ben Chenmi do whatever he wanted.

He brought this video equipment back with the intention of doing one thing.

See if there are any talented people around you who can shoot short films and distribute videotapes.

In reality, low-budget video productions, like later online movies, had appealing gimmicks, some were of good quality, and were short. While they weren't highly regarded, if done well, they could generate substantial revenue.

After settling in, Gu Mingfang took Zhen Zidan and prepared to go for a walk around Toei.

"Dennis."

"uh-huh?"

"...First of all, don't use "hmm" when answering me. It's not polite. Then, let me tell you about your situation. The movie role I promised you will start a little later, but I have a role in a TV series that I can give you a try. Give it a try."

Zhen Zidan looked up instantly.

Oh wow, this is great! I have work to shoot right after arriving!

As for the fact that the TV series was not included in the five film contracts, Zhen Zidan didn't care.

(End of this chapter)