My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television!

Chapter 68: Cultivating the Core Team Starts Now!

Inside the office of the Nohara Hiroshi Special Production Team, the atmosphere was completely different from the clamor of the outside world.

Here there was no champagne popped halfway, no flattery and fawning.

Only the faint fragrance emitted by cups of freshly brewed black tea, and the rustling sounds of pencils rubbing against drawing boards, as well as a focus unique to a group of souls suppressed for far too long reigniting, almost akin to scorching anxiety.

Time arrived at noon.

"Alright, seniors." Nohara Hiroshi gently placed a thick stack of manuscripts still radiating the fresh scent of ink, right into the center of the conference table.

That motion was like a brilliant chess player, unhurriedly dropping the first decisive piece after setting up a surefire winning position.

"This is the complete storyboard for the first episode of 『Tales of the Unusual』, 『The Frightening Touch』. Everyone can pass it around to take a look first."

His voice was calm, carrying a power that stabilized people's hearts.

Sato Kenji, this Level 3 Director wearing gold-rimmed glasses and looking quite refined, who was also the liaison dispatched to coordinate between Nohara Hiroshi and these veterans, was the first to pick up that manuscript.

That group of 'Kanto Faction' veterans beside him —— Executive Director Yamamoto Takeshi, Director of Photography Matsushita Kai, Art Director Oshima Nagisa, Screenwriter Kudo Ryosuke... all subconsciously moved closer.Their faces bore an prudence belonging to professionals, and also a consideration towards this overly young 'Section Chief'.

They came to fight a war, came to reclaim the glory belonging to themselves.

But the prerequisite is, this young general, truly is worth their following.

However, when their gazes touched those smooth and precise lines on the paper, that composition full of visual impact, and that camera language in the corners of the frames annotated with concise text which can be called the finishing touch.

That prudence was gradually replaced by astonishment.

Their gazes were shocked.

"This... this is..."

Kudo Ryosuke, that screenwriter wearing thick glasses and looking somewhat wooden, was the first to let out an exclamation.

He pointed at the final page of the manuscript, that shocking massive plot twist sufficient to overturn everything, in those eyes always carrying a dullness, exploded a radiance never seen before:

"The ending... actually could twist like this?! That man who saved the female lead, is the real murderer?! This isn't a good ending, but a bad ending!? This... this is simply a genius concept!"

Kudo Ryosuke was so shocked he couldn't even speak clearly.

Because this was truly an overly novel anti-trope concept!

You must know.

Don't talk about the current year 1990, even in 2025, this kind of anti-twist anti-trope movie and television ending, can be considered a small highlight.

Counting as a novel creative idea that makes one's eyes lit up.

Therefore to say.

Placing it in the Neon of the 90s.

Is simply like the Hiroshima atomic bomb, detonating loudly in their hearts, shocking everyone's brains!

Their thoughts were bombarded to the point of unable to focus!

Especially since even though everyone had seen that project proposal before and already knew this was a twist, being expressed through manga, gave them an even clearer cognition visually and conceptually.

They marveled even more towards the concept of this twist!

"More than just the ending!"

Yamamoto Takeshi beside them, that Executive Director with an eagle-sharp gaze, his face at this moment was also written full of undisguised shock.

He pointed at one of the pages, his voice carrying an excitement belonging to an insider: "Look at this storyboard! The close-up when the female lead touches the murder weapon for the first time, the camera slowly pushes from her fingertips towards her eyes, using the contraction of the pupils to express inner terror... This... this is no longer a simple manga storyboard, this can completely be used directly as a shooting script! The shot framing and camera movements have already been designed for you!"

"And this processing of light and shadow!"

Director of Photography Matsushita Kai also couldn't help but speak up, those eyes of his always bearing a bit of an artist's decadent temperament, right now were frighteningly bright:

"Look, before revealing the truth, half of Male Lead Two's face, is consistently shrouded in shadow. This... this is using light and shadow to imply the character's duality! Too brilliant! Truly too brilliant!"

Inside this small office, exclamations of amazement rose one after another.

This group of veterans marginalized by TV Tokyo for several years, whose hearts were long like dead ancient wells, at this moment, were thoroughly ignited by this thin manuscript before their eyes!

They looked at that young man who from beginning to end merely smiled peacefully. The depression, loneliness, and unwillingness in their eyes, were fading bit by bit, replaced by an ignited excitement and fanaticism.

They realized that they weren't following a lucky dog who rose to the top relying on factional struggles.

But a genuine, once-in-a-century genius!

A monster possessing absolute control and execution ability!

"How about it? Section Chief Nohara is formidable right?"

Amidst this silence bordering on pilgrimage, Minamura Hoshi's voice, carrying a bit of unhideable pride, quietly sounded out.

He stood with his arms akimbo. That young face was written full of the pride of sharing the glory, like a loyal servant showing off his own family's rare treasures to outsiders: "Tell you guys, this is still just regular operation! Back when we made 『Yamishibai』, the Section Chief was also like this, single-handedly completing all the core creative ideas and storyboards! Us ah, are merely his assistants playing second fiddle!"

"Right right!"

Haseji Kakeru also nodded vigorously. Those eyes always carrying a bit of bashfulness, right now also sparkled with the light of worship: "We've long witnessed the Section Chief's formidableness! Your current expressions right now, are exactly the same as when we first saw the manuscripts for 『Yami-shi-bai』 back then!"

He purposely read the three characters 'Yamishibai' word by word. That sense of superiority belonging to a founding member, was almost spilling out of his face.

This spiel made the shocked color on the faces of that group of veterans grow even heavier. They looked at the faces of these three young people wearing the 'you bunch of country bumpkins who have seen nothing of the world' expressions before them, that bit of modesty belonging to seniors in their hearts, was completely smashed to pieces at this moment.

"So, that's how it is!"

Yamamoto Takeshi let out a long breath of air, that breath as if taking away all his pent-up frustrations and unwillingness from the past few years.

He walked in front of Nohara Hiroshi. Lacking any superfluous formalities, he merely faced him, bowing deeply.

That was a bow full of resolution and respect belonging uniquely to a samurai, when seeing a lord worthy of their fealty.

"Section Chief Nohara." He straightened up. In those eagle-sharp eyes, all scrutiny and consideration had faded, leaving only pure conviction: "Starting from now, Executive Director Yamamoto Takeshi, obeys all your dispatches!"

These words of his, were like a bugle call.

"Director of Photography Matsushita Kai, obeying dispatches!"

"Art Director Oshima Nagisa, obeying dispatches!"

"Screenwriter Kudo Ryosuke, obeying dispatches!"

...

For a time, inside the office, echoes answering one after another, converged into a torrent sufficient to shake the entire building.

That was an ambition suppressed for too long, a blood-boiling resonance when finding an outlet worth burning for.

Nohara Hiroshi looked at the faces of this group of veterans before him with flames reigning in their eyes, and finally also revealed a high-spirited smile coming from the bottom of his heart.

"Very good."

He nodded his head. His voice calm, yet carrying a power allowing no room for interference as he spoke again: "Since everyone has no objections, then let's talk about, the subsequent 'equipment' issues."

He turned his gaze towards Yamamoto Takeshi: "Director Yamamoto, the script and storyboards are ready. The next step, is the actors."

"Hai!"

Yamamoto Takeshi immediately entered the role of Executive Director. He pondered for a moment, providing the safest suggestion: "Section Chief, I believe, the choice of Host, is extremely crucial. He needs to have sufficient national-level fame and a steady temperament, to anchor the show. I recommend Senior Tamori from the News Department, he hosted the evening news for thirty years, his image is deeply rooted in people's hearts."

"As for the actors of the episodic dramas."

He paused, continuing: "Considering our budget and the risks of an S-class project, I suggest, we can invite some veteran actors with solid acting skills but slightly lesser popularity, or some second-tier stars with topicality. This way guarantees the quality of performance, while also controlling costs."

This spiel was watertight, a standard answer any experienced producer would provide.

Also a passing answer.

Yet Nohara Hiroshi merely chuckled nonchalantly, shaking his head.

"Director Yamamoto, your suggestion is very good and very safe." His voice carried a trace of approval.

But subsequently the topic changed. Inside those clear eyes, sparkled a kind of confident light.

The current Nohara Hiroshi had already substituted himself into the identity of a Section Chief.

Right now.

He is the one issuing orders.

"But safe, has never been my style."

He stood up, walking to the whiteboard, picking up the pen, writing down two words beneath the title of 『Tales of the Unusual』.

——"Star Making".

"Our host, doesn't need any national-level fame."

Nohara Hiroshi's voice wasn't loud, yet clearly entered everyone's ears: "I need a unique image, mysterious temperament, preferably the kind of... 'symbol', that makes one unable to forget after one glance. He doesn't need to be famous, doesn't even have to be a professional host, but he must, be able to become the 'face' of our drama."

"As for the actors..." The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth, hooked into an even bolder arc: "I also don't need any veteran actors and second-tier stars. What I want, are those newcomers who just graduated from art schools, still carrying an aura of greenness, yet full of possibilities; are those washed-up actors who were once immensely popular, but due to various reasons sank, thirsting for a chance to turn over a new leaf."

He turned around, looking at that group of veterans shocked beyond measure by his decision, his voice carrying an unhurriedness that saw through everything.

"Everyone, have you thought about it, if this S-class project of ours succeeds, what does it mean?"

"It means, we not only created a great work. We also single-handedly, popularized a batch of... stars belonging to our own TV Tokyo, capable of being firmly controlled within our hands."

"It means, this small production team of ours, will possess its own 'direct line of descent troops'. In the future, whatever we want to shoot, whoever we want to use, will all be our own final say."

"This, is the true value of an S-class project."

The office was in a dead silence.

Everyone was thoroughly shocked by the grand and temptation-filled blueprint described in this spiel of Nohara Hiroshi.

They looked at this young man before them. That look in their eyes, was like looking at an omnipotent strategist.

They finally understood.

This young man's ambition, was never merely the success of a single work.

What he wants, is exactly to carve a path in this forest of power, a kingdom... genuinely belonging to himself, allowing him to gallop freely!

"I... I understand!"

Yamamoto Takeshi's body slightly trembled from extreme excitement.

He looked at Nohara Hiroshi. In those eagle-sharp eyes, for the first time, revealed a kind of worship bordering on fanaticism.

Then speaking in a deep voice: "Section Chief! I'll go contact the station's Artist Management Department right away! On our Kanto Faction side, there are also quite a few newcomers with potential hidden away, just suffering from having no opportunities! This time, it's just right to let them..."

"Very good." Nohara Hiroshi nodded head satisfyingly.

He knew, from this moment onwards, this former 'defeated general' army, had already thoroughly been twisted into a single rope by him.

A Kanto Faction project of course must use Kanto Faction people.

Back in the day they were all friends.

Were all colleagues.

Were all brothers they could converse well with.

But because Kanto TV was acquired by TV Tokyo, even if they transferred arriving at Kanto TV (Note: Should be TV Tokyo), they were also pushed out to marginalized positions.

And then because of previous relationships, they huddled closer together for warmth.

Now there's a good thing.

Have a good project proposal.

Of course they'll pull these friends, colleagues, and even brothers who are still down and out, still marginalized, still ostracized to escape the bitter sea together.

This way they will feel gratitude towards Nohara Hiroshi.

And when Nohara Hiroshi uses them.

It will also be handier!

Moreover towards Nohara Hiroshi, perhaps, this can also rapidly, accumulate a batch of backbones, belonging to himself.

After all Nohara Hiroshi is too young, so young he just graduated.

Even if brimful of talent.

Yet in terms of qualifications is just too weak.

Wanting to pass through normal methods, then one needs to use time to wear it down bit by bit, and then can harvest a batch of one's own backbones.

Now is very good, as long as 『Tales of the Unusual』 starts production.

Then the former ostracized Kanto Faction veterans will come over of their own accord.

Furthermore according to the 『Tales of the Unusual』 of the Neon of his past life, that is a national-level project IP broadcast for over thirty years, still in production upon his transmigration.

Then that signifies just by riding on the coattails of his past achievements alone, Nohara Hiroshi can eat for a lifetime!

And also relying on this record of merits.

Can successfully enlist over thirty years' worth of talents for his own use!

No one understands better than him just how popular 『Tales of the Unusual』 is, how blazing hot it is, how deeply seated it is in the hearts of Neon people, a power affecting an entire generation.

PS: Continuing to beg for monthly votes and recommendation votes~ If possible, everyone please recommend this book to your friends as well, and help spread it around~