I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 99: The concept of national participation! The shock of "Super Change"!

"Then, tell me, are you still qualified to stand here and talk to me?"

Nohara Hiroshi uttered these words indifferently.

The words were light, yet as heavy as Mount Tai. Every word was like an invisible hammer, hitting Keina Tanaka's already collapsed defenses hard, crushing his pitiful, remaining self-esteem into dust.

For a guy like this who has completely lost confidence, we need to be ruthless and use serious drugs to treat him.

We must give him a mental boost.

So Kei Tanaka stared blankly at the young man in front of him. His calm eyes were like two bottomless ancient wells. They could not reflect his current embarrassment, but seemed to be able to absorb his entire rotten soul.

qualifications?

What qualifications does he have?
A loser abandoned by the times, a living dead who had given up on himself, a waste who felt that even standing in this office full of vitality and hope was a desecration of this holy place.

"Heh..." The corner of Kei Tanaka's mouth curled up into an arc that was uglier than crying and full of self-mockery.

He didn't even bother to refute or feel any emotion.

th.

However, his past as a second-level variety show director still made him feel a little unwilling.

Especially the young man in front of me.

He is really too young.

The young man, who looked to be in his early 20s and not much older than his son, said such rude words to him in such a rude manner.

Kei Tanaka really wants to see this variety show plan.

So Kei Tanaka stretched out his hands, which were trembling slightly due to long-term alcoholism, and mechanically, like a walking corpse, picked up the thin document on the table, which seemed to carry his final judgment.

He didn't even look at the young man's face, but just fixed his eyes on the white cover.

On it, written in a unique artistic font that he had never seen before, full of childishness and magic, were a few large words that seemed to be jumping.

——"Super Change".

“…Grandstanding.”

Kei Tanaka let out a dry, disdainful chuckle from his throat.

what is this?
A child's graffiti?
He turned the first page with an almost numb scrutiny.

Then, his pupils suddenly shrank.

"Um!?"

For the first time, a faint ripple, like a candle in the wind, appeared in those eyes that had long been corroded by alcohol and despair and were as dead as water.

[Program Core: Creativity comes from life and from all people.]

[Program concept: We don't need celebrities, because every ordinary person can be the brightest star in their own life.]

[Program format: No threshold, everyone can participate, real-life imitation show.]

These few lines of words, like some weak electric currents, instantly penetrated his long-numbed nerves.

A reality show imitation show with no barriers for everyone to participate?

what is this?
He subconsciously continued to look down.

There are no fancy words or empty theories, only specific and executable ideas full of wild imagination, outlined in the simplest language and the most intuitive simple drawings.

[Creative example 1: Bowling.]

[Props: Black backdrop, black tights, white gloves.]

【Performer: One person.】

[Presentation: The performer is shrouded in a black bodysuit, blending seamlessly into the black background. Only their white-gloved hands are clearly visible under the lighting. One hand curls into a ball and rolls on the ground, while the other extends its fingers, mimicking the scattering of pins after being struck...]

There are also a few short cartoons drawn at the end, which just describe this paragraph of text, just like illustrations.

People can see what this means at a glance.

Vivid and specific!
'boom! ’

Tanaka Kei's brain seemed to be struck by a thunderbolt!
His professional brain as a variety show director, which had long stopped working, suddenly began to work crazily and uncontrollably at this moment!

The specific image instantly emerged in front of his eyes - on the dark stage, two white gloves, like elves endowed with life, performed a pantomime full of fun and visual impact!

This... this is simply...

His breathing stagnated, and for the first time, a ray of almost greedy, burning light belonging to a creator burst out from those dead fish-like eyes!

He couldn't wait to turn to the next page.

[Creative Example 2: Pouring beer.]

[Props: Several yellow and white tights, a large transparent glass prop.]

【Performers: Multiple people.】

[Presentation: Several performers in yellow tights "flow" from a height into a giant glass like liquid. Then, several performers in white tights slowly rise from below, using the ups and downs of their bodies to imitate the rising, dense, white foam of beer...]

"boom--!"

Kei Tanaka felt as if the top of his head was forcibly lifted open by an invisible force!
His mind, which had long been corroded by failure and alcohol like a swamp, was completely washed away at this moment by a torrent of creativity!

He was like a traveler dying of thirst in the desert who suddenly discovered an oasis and began to desperately and madly swallow the sweet spring water that could save his soul!

He flipped through the pages one after another, his pair of empty eyes widening and brighter, until finally, two raging fires burned in them, enough to start a prairie fire!

He saw the ingenious idea of ​​using the simplest bed sheet and a fan to imitate Marilyn Monroe's classic moment!
He saw the amazing idea that a grand fireworks display could be created by stacking human bodies and using the interplay of light and shadow!
He even saw the brilliant idea full of black humor that could perfectly recreate a working typewriter using only a few human limbs!
This...how can this be called a variety show project?!

This is clearly a gold mine that has not yet been mined and contains endless treasures!
Do not!
This is simply a divine secret book that is enough to subvert the existing landscape of the entire Japanese variety show industry!
However, when he came across the detailed plan for the program's competition system and promotion model, his heart, which was already beating violently due to extreme shock, almost exploded from his chest!
[Season 1: Establishing Godhood and Setting the Standard.]

[Source of contestants: No auditions will be conducted. All actors will be selected who have excellent acting skills and strong expressiveness (with a core of in-house artists from the Kanto faction).]

[Goal: To use the most professional people to present the most perfect performance. In the first season, we raised the creative level and artistic standard of "Super Change" to a peak that all imitators can only look up to and cannot reach!]

Kei Tanaka's body trembled violently.

All the blood color on his face, which looked a little swollen due to long-term alcoholism, faded away in an instant.

He knows it all too well.

He knew too well how vicious and... brilliant this move was!
This isn't a variety show at all!
This is a trap!

A grand scheme, using the resources of the entire Kanto faction as pawns and that young man's unparalleled talent as the key, was laid out to nip all competitors in the bud! He could almost see it: when the first season aired, the entire Japanese market would be completely captivated by the phenomenal performances of those professional actors!
And at that moment, the brand "Super Change" will be directly pushed onto the altar of "art" and "creativity"!

By then, all those who try to imitate it will appear so clumsy and so... ridiculous in the face of this insurmountable mountain.

However, this is not the scariest thing.

When his eyes fell on the plan for the second season, he felt his breathing completely stagnant.

[Season 2: Gods preach, and the whole nation celebrates.]

[Mode: Completely open auditions! Preliminary rounds will be held in every city in Japan! Final rounds will be held in every region!]

Promotion: Deepen collaboration with major cities to fully broadcast the regional finals! Transform each region's representative team into local heroes! Elevate a simple variety show competition into a nationwide holy war where the honor of one's hometown is at stake!

[Interaction: Introducing the new 'Phone Support' and 'Text Voting' modes! The final champion will be decided half by the professional judges on site, and the other half by the general audience watching TV nationwide!]

"Boom--!"

Kei Tanaka felt as if his brain was being bombarded by countless atomic bombs!
His worldview as a variety show director, which had long been destroyed by failure, was completely crushed into dust at this moment by this grand blueprint full of hegemonic power!
Everyone participates!

Regional confrontation!

Vote by phone!

This... this is no longer a show!

This is to build an unprecedented huge business empire that can bind all the people of Neon together!
He couldn't imagine how terrifying the energy would be if this model succeeded!

That will no longer be a simple ratings!
That would be a huge cultural weapon that was enough to influence public opinion, boost the local economy, and even... to a certain extent, influence public opinion!
After all, there are indeed deep-rooted stubborn forces in Japan.

This is inextricably linked to the feudal states, lords, and daimyo that remained in the regions during the Warring States Period and the shogunate's feudal era.

There are big names and once famous families between cities.

There were also feudal lords and provincial rulers between counties.

Even between regions, there were once different loyalties.

Go up one level at a time.

Arranged downwards layer by layer.

As a result, the people have their own local forces between these cities, counties, and regions.

If we really start telephone voting, we will start pager and text message support.

In order to help the team they support win, local people will call their friends to start popularity voting and watch variety shows together in groups.

In this case... the ratings and audience stickiness... will definitely reach a terrifying level!

It really is the kind that everyone participates in!

This is so scary!

And the young man who conceived all this...

Kei Tanaka slowly raised his head.

He looked at the young man who had been sitting there calmly from beginning to end, as if he had just casually thrown out an ordinary document. In those eyes that had long been filled with shock, all the numbness, all the despair, all the self-mockery, at this moment, quietly melted away like ice and snow.

Instead, there is a kind of purest fanaticism that comes from the depths of the soul after witnessing a true miracle!
He finally understood.

He finally understood why he failed.

He finally understood why Deputy Director Ming Rihai had handed over the team, which he regarded as a great disgrace, to this young man without hesitation.

Because they are not in the same dimension at all.

He, Kei Tanaka, is just a craftsman struggling within the old rules.

And the young man in front of me is the god who created the rules!
"……I."

Kei Tanaka slowly stood up from the chair.

His back, which had seemed a little hunched due to his self-degradation, straightened up uncontrollably, little by little, at this moment.

The flame that had long been extinguished in his dead fish-like eyes was rekindled at this moment by a boiling magma called "hope"!
He looked at Nohara Hiroshi, whose face looked a little swollen due to long-term alcoholism. All the dejection had faded away, replaced by an expression of shame and embarrassment.

Then, under the gazes of everyone with a mixture of astonishment and understanding.

He put his feet together, stretched his body like a javelin, and bent down deeply, deeply towards the young man.

A standard ninety-degree bow full of respect and submission!

"sorry!"

His voice was no longer hoarse or numb, but full of energy and loudness, as if he had survived a disaster!
"Nohara...Section Chief!"

"It was me who was blind! It was me who was looking at the world from a narrow perspective! It was me who used my limited knowledge to guess at your lofty ambitions!"

"Please... please give me another chance!"

"I, Kei Tanaka, am willing to offer my long-rotten heart to you, to this great work that can change the times!"

These words were so powerful, like a clarion call announcing the death of the old self and the rebirth of the new self, echoing in this vibrant office.

Kenji Sato and Takeshi Yamamoto, who were standing by, looked at the dramatic scene in front of them, and saw a smile of relief that came from the heart in each other's eyes.

They knew that Kei Tanaka, who had fought alongside them at Kanto TV and was full of talent and vigor, was back.

No, it's rebirth.

Under the command of a more powerful monarch named Nohara Hiroshi, he gained a gorgeous new life that was enough to allow him to burn out all his light and heat.

And Nohara Hiroshi, looking at the man in front of him who had been reborn, finally showed a satisfied smile on his face.

He slowly stood up, walked up to him, stretched out his hand, and patted his still slightly trembling shoulder heavily.

"Welcome back, Director Tanaka."

His voice was calm, yet it carried a power that was enough to make even the most stubborn stone nod.

"Go clean yourself up."

"Then, come back for the meeting."

"Remember to call the elites in your team and tell them that a new battle has begun."

(End of this chapter)