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

Chapter 72: "The Frightening Touch" Filming Completed!

This exclamation from the bottom of his heart, everyone present could clearly feel just how heavy and precious that recognition belonging to an industry titan was.

Nohara Hiroshi upon hearing this, that humble smile on his face yet did not change the slightest bit.

He merely slightly bowed again, his voice gentle and sincere: "Director Kurosawa, you over-praise me. This junior just happened to stand on the wind outlet of this era, luckily grasping some things young people like."

His posture was set very low, without a single half-point of the arrogance of a youth achieving early success.

This ease and clear-headedness, made the appreciative hue in Kurosawa Eiji's eyes grow even thicker.

"No, this is not luck." Kurosawa Eiji waved his hands. Those eyes having witnessed countless worldly sinkings and floatings, at this moment yet carried loneliness and frankness even he himself hadn't noticed: "Nohara-kun, to tell you the truth, me coming here this time, indeed harbored selfish motives."

He scanned around at those both familiar and unfamiliar faces inside this office, those old subordinates who once followed him to film Taiga Dramas, who also once commanded the winds and clouds in Kanto TV, now yet all seemed to have found a new lord like retainers, surrounding this young man, their eyes sparkling with a long-lost light.

"I filmed samurai for a lifetime, talking about loyalty and honor for a lifetime."

Within Kurosawa Eiji's voice, carried a stubbornness and pride belonging to craftsmen of the old era, yet also revealed an unhideable desolation: "But at the end of it all, I yet realized, in this era, no one is willing to listen to me tell these outdated stories anymore."

He mockingly smiled, that smile carrying a bit of bitterness:"My last movie, completely failed at the box office. On the television station's side, the ancient war drama I wanted to film, was also indefinitely shelved by the higher-ups due to not matching market expectations. That boy Asumi, because of this matter, didn't suffer any less hitches with the board of directors representing this old fellow."

"Sometimes I also wonder, am I really... old, and have fallen behind this era."

Kurosawa Eiji's gaze, landed back onto Nohara Hiroshi's body. That gaze, was no longer a senior's scrutiny of a junior, but a pure truth-seeker, facing a wise man who grasped a new truth, possessing a unique focus and thirst.

"So, I wanted to come to your place to have a look, look at exactly how you young people work. Also genuinely, wishing to learn, exactly how that 'urban legend' from your mouth... captures people's hearts."

This speech, he spoke incredibly openly, without the slightest bit of concealment.

A legend standing at the pinnacle of the industry, actually capable of so frankly acknowledging his own predicament, and humbly requesting guidance from a young man a generation younger than his grandson.

This chest and bearing, caused all the Kanto Faction old veterans present, to be moved.

Their eye sockets even became slightly red.

Nohara Hiroshi's heart also surged with a sincere respect.

He looked at this old man before his eyes, that exquisite suit appearing somewhat large due to the washing of the years, making his entire person appear somewhat emaciated, but that straightened spine, and those eyes even though slightly murky, yet still sharp like an eagle, still emitted a kind of unyielding character belonging to top-tier creators.

A thought, like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky, instantly lit up Nohara Hiroshi's mind.

"Director Kurosawa." On Nohara Hiroshi's face, suddenly blossomed a brilliant smile. Within that smile, carried a bit of just right slyness and sincerity: "If you don't mind, on my side, I do indeed have a role, that might... be very suitable for you to come 'learn' for a bit."

"Oh?" Kurosawa Eiji's brows raised, becoming interested.

"Our 『Tales of the Unusual』, needs a 'storyteller' running through the beginning to end."

Nohara Hiroshi's speaking speed wasn't fast, yet carried a fascinating magical power: "He is a mysterious man wearing a black suit and sunglasses. He is both an observer, and a guide. At the beginning of every story, he will use an emotionless tone, to guide the audience into a bizarre and wondrous world; and at the end of every story, use a few strokes of the finishing touch, to trigger the audience's profound thoughts regarding humanity."

"He doesn't need too much acting. What he needs, is a calm stability having seen a thousand sails passing by, a sharpness having seen through worldly affairs, and also a kind of... aura capable of making the audience believe the story he is about to tell next is absolutely not simple, just by looking at him."

Nohara Hiroshi's gaze, without the slightest avoidance, looked straight at Kurosawa Eiji.

"I feel, this role, belongs strictly to you."

Inside the office, instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone was completely shaken by this bold to the point of crazy idea of Nohara Hiroshi's.

Letting a national treasure-level Level 1 Director, guest star as the host of an episodic drama?!

This... this is simply unheard of!

Even Kurosawa Eiji himself also slightly froze. Soon after, on that face always carrying a bit of seriousness, actually couldn't resist slightly raising the corners of his mouth, hooking up an arc of not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He acted as a director for a lifetime, and indeed liked to guest star as a passing-by commoner or a transparent extra with a few lines of dialogue in his own movies.

But like this, properly starring as a core character running through the entire drama, it's still the first time someone proposed an invitation to him.

And also at a time he was at his most down and out, most in need of a stepping stone.

He picked up that storyboard manuscript of 『The Frightening Touch』 from the table, flipping through reading it again.

That novel superpower setting, that exciting and tense assassin bridge section, especially that final shocking grand twist at the end sufficient to overturn everything making one strike the table in admiration...

Just by looking at the images on this paper, countless ideas were already surging out within his mind.

This project proposal, will absolutely succeed!

Moreover.

It will be a massive success!

Capable of participating in such a destined to become classic work, even if merely acting as a 'storyteller', to him, is also an extremely enticing and incredibly respectable matter.

"You kid..."

Kurosawa Eiji pointed at Nohara Hiroshi, within those sharp eyes, sparkling with the light of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, yet also overwhelming appreciation: "You truly know how to find a stepping stone for this old fellow."

He gently set down the storyboard manuscript, then using a tone carrying a bit of playfulness said: "Good, this role, I accept. However, let me declare beforehand, my appearance fee is very expensive."

"Couldn't ask for more!" On Nohara Hiroshi's face, blossomed the smile of victory.

He knew, it's done!

"Since it's like this..."

Within Nohara Hiroshi's eyes a glint flashed, that decisiveness and efficiency belonging to a decision maker, once again fully revealed: "Then we shouldn't delay, let's start shooting immediately!"

He turned around from his own desk, taking out a few stacks of brand-new draft paper and a pen, his movements fast like a gust of wind.

"I will write out all the host's lines for the first ten episodes right now. Director Kurosawa, we will strive, to finish shooting all your scenes at once this afternoon!"

"What?!"

This decision once again caused everyone inside the office to gasp.

It was already 2:30 PM, writing scripts, setting up locations, testing lighting equipment... even if just shooting simple host lines, without three to five hours it's simply impossible to finish!

Not to mention, that's ten episodes' worth of scenes!

"Don't worry."

Nohara Hiroshi seemingly saw through everyone's doubts. He didn't even raise his head, the pen tip dancing on the paper, emitting a rustling sound: "The host's shooting scene is very simple, just in a special room. Director Yamamoto, you immediately go to the prop warehouse, help me find a retro leather single sofa, an old-fashioned desk, and also a soft-light desk lamp. Section Chief Sato, please coordinate the studios, I need an all-black background, the quietest studio."

"As for the script..."

He handed the piece of paper he just finished writing to Kurosawa Eiji. On it was the opening monologue of the first episode. The handwriting was elegant, yet forceful.

"You take a look first, the rest I will have ready right away."

Looking at this young man commanding the troops, arranging all matters in an orderly manner, while he himself operated at high speed like a precision machine, Kurosawa Eiji was thoroughly speechless.

He received that piece of draft paper, looking at the text on it, merely taking one glance, he was deeply captivated by that mysterious and thought-provoking unique charm revealed within the lines of text.

...

Half an hour later, TV Tokyo, Studio 3.

Kurosawa Eiji changed into a neat black suit, wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, sitting quietly on that retro leather sofa.

The soft light of the desk lamp, reflected half of his face with sharp contours, while the other half of his face, perfectly hid within the darkness, constructing a mysterious and unpredictable atmosphere.

Nohara Hiroshi personally operated the camera.

He wasn't sitting behind a director's monitor, but carrying a portable camera, aiming at Kurosawa Eiji from a tricky yet precise angle.

"Director Kurosawa, let's try a take." Nohara Hiroshi's voice clearly transmitted into everyone's ears through the walkie-talkie: "You don't need to look at the camera. Just look at that patch of empty darkness in front of you, use the tone you normally use chatting with an old friend, and recite your lines."

Kurosawa Eiji took a deep breath, slowly opening his mouth.

"Humans, are an inconceivable creature..."

His voice was hoarse and steady, carrying a worldly-wise vicissitude, as if every single word, contained an unknown story.

"Cut!"

Nohara Hiroshi decisively called for a stop.

"Perfect! This is exactly the feeling!" He set down the camera, his face full of excitement: "Director Kurosawa, your feeling is exactly right! We'll go straight to the next take!"

For the following hour, the entire film crew, witnessed a filming bordering on miraculous.

Nohara Hiroshi filmed all ten episodes of the lines, using an unimaginable speed, completely finishing it.

Every take, was basically passed in one go.

Kurosawa Eiji this veteran director, exhibited an astonishing sense of camera and dialogue foundation.

While Nohara Hiroshi, used his camera directing that was almost akin to predicting the future, to unleash the charm of this old man to its absolute maximum limits.

When the final take finished shooting, within the entire studio, erupted thunderous applause.

"Too formidable..."

"I've never seen such fast filming..."

"The team of Section Chief Nohara and Director Kurosawa, is simply godly!"

The Kanto Faction old veterans, looking at the playback on the monitor, their eyes, were filled with a reverence approaching fanaticism.

However, Nohara Hiroshi did not leave them too much time to sigh over this.

He clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention over.

"Alright everyone, warm-up over." He glanced at his watch. The hour hand, pointed perfectly at 4 PM.

"Section Chief Sato, Director Yamamoto, are the actors for the first episode all in position?"

"In... in position!" Sato Kenji and Yamamoto Takeshi hurriedly answered. They had just recovered from that high-efficiency filming.

"Very good." The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth, hooked up an arc of confidence, "Notify downwards, all personnel, gather in Studio 5 in half an hour. Today, we will film the entirety of 『The Frightening Touch』!"

Boom!

This decision, like a genuine atomic bomb, violently detonated within everyone's minds!

One afternoon, plus one evening, to film an entire episode of a drama?!

This is no longer madness, this is challenging the production rules of the entire television industry!

"Section Chief... this... this is impossible right?"

Even Yamamoto Takeshi who always had an abundance of confidence towards Nohara Hiroshi, at this moment also couldn't resist raising a doubt: "We haven't even built the sets yet, haven't rehearsed the actors' blocking..."

"Unneeded."

Nohara Hiroshi interrupted his words. He passed down that thick stack of storyboard manuscripts, handing one copy to each person.

"Sets, lighting, camera angles, every single action of the actors, the pause in every single line of dialogue, inside here, it's all drawn out completely clearly."

He looked at that group of old veterans shaken beyond measure by his decision. His voice was calm, yet carried a power allowing no room for interference.

"What you need to do, is very simple."

"And that is to give up all your past experiences, forget all your habits, starting from now, completely, thoroughly, trust me."

"Follow my rhythm, I guarantee, before 8 PM tonight, we, will finish work and go home!"

...

Night fell, the brilliant lights coming on.

When this massive steel forest of Tokyo, began showing its enchanting and brilliant other face, the Studio 5 of TV Tokyo, yet harbored an extremely busy scene.

"Lighting crew! Press down the number 3 light another 15 degrees! I need to see a trace of struggling light on the female lead's face!"

"Camera 2! From the bottom pushing up, give me a close-up of the male lead's hand! Yes! Exactly this angle!"

"Kaoruhana! Don't be afraid! Imagine you truly touched that chilling malice! Your pupils! Contract a little bit more! Excellent!"

Nohara Hiroshi's voice, echoed deeply into every single corner of the studio.

He was like a god of war with infinite stamina, weaving back and forth on the set, dispatching all personnel.

He didn't sit behind the director's monitor. He was right beside the actors, right next to the cameras, using the most intuitive method, to tell everyone, exactly what he wanted.

And the entire film crew, from director to stagehands, all seemed akin to wound-up gears, operating precisely with an unprecedented high efficiency.

They looked at the storyboard manuscript in their hands, then looking at Nohara Hiroshi's on-site dispatching, a ridiculous yet shocking feeling, spontaneously emerged in their hearts.

Because everything Nohara Hiroshi requested on the site, was actually exactly identical to what was drawn on that storyboard manuscript!

Accurate without the slightest deviation!

This simply felt as if they were participating in an already destined to end performance, directed by a prophet capable of seeing into the future.

Ko Kaoruhana and Fujii Itsuki, as well as Male Lead Two Watanabe Ryu, these three selected male and female leads, were even more thoroughly conquered.

They had never seen this kind of director.

He wouldn't tell you about some elusive illusionary feelings; he would directly tell you, where your eyes should look, what arc your mouth should use to twitch, in what second your breathing should become hurried.

This kind of guidance precise down to the millimeter, allowed these actors who already possessed decent foundations, to unleash their inner potential to the extreme.

While Kurosawa Eiji who had constantly stood in the corner, silently observing all of this, on that weather-beaten face, was already shrouded by a bottomless shock.

He looked at that young man swimming left and right handling matters with ease on set, seemingly in control of everything. A thought, uncontrollably, crazily popped out from the bottom of his heart.

This young man, isn't filming a television drama.

He is using an approach bordering on divine miracles, to reproduce a perfect world that had already long existed within his brain!

7:50 PM at night.

"Good! Cut! Passed! I announce, 『The Frightening Touch』, all filming completed!"

When Nohara Hiroshi's loud and resonant declaration sounded out, inside the entire studio, it first fell into dead silence, then subsequently, erupted an ear-shattering massive cheer of surviving a disaster capable of lifting off the roof!

They... really did it!

In less than four hours, they really, finished filming an entire episode of a television drama!

"Editor!"

Nohara Hiroshi didn't pay attention to everyone's cheers. He pulled over the editor who was already on standby nearby, stuffing reels of videotapes still carrying warmth into his embrace: "According to the storyboard order I provided you, piece together lens 2, 5, 8 of Camera A, and lens 3, 6, 9 of Camera B, adding the sound effects I gave you, right now! Immediately!"

Half an hour later, when that roughly edited, yet already completely imbued with an atmosphere of suspense and psychological horror final product, played on the monitor.

Everyone held their breath.

That flowing narrative, that tense pacing, and also that final shocking grand twist sufficient to make everyone's scalp turn numb...

This... is this really a piece of work they filmed, within a short few hours?!

"Monster..."

Not knowing who it was, muttering to themselves using an almost inaudible voice.

While this word, like a seed, took root and sprouted within the hearts of all Kanto Faction veterans.

They looked at that young man currently peacefully discussing certain camera lens details with Kurosawa Eiji. All the admiration and conviction within their eyes, at this moment had sublimated into a kind of absolute fanatical fervor bordering on looking towards the heavens!

They knew, starting from today, a brand-new era belonging to Nohara Hiroshi, had already, officially arrived.

"Overtime tonight!" Yet at this moment, Nohara Hiroshi still didn't plan on letting them go, directly waving his hands saying: "Music Director! Next arrange the music library for me! We'll finish all the background music tonight!"

Saying this, Nohara Hiroshi energetically looked at the members of this Section who carried fanatical gazes, clenching his fists saying:

"Tomorrow! We'll send the project proposal format and the produced first episode, to the Audit Department for review!"

"And then, continue filming!"

"Hai!" Everyone present did not hesitate the slightest bit, immediately straightening their bodies, slightly lowering their heads towards Nohara Hiroshi, slightly bowing, loudly answering.

Because Nohara Hiroshi had already conquered them using his capabilities.

Conquered everyone!

The strong should receive worship, the strong should receive respect, the strong should receive the absolute support of everyone.

Nohara Hiroshi is exactly the strong one.