novelraw Chapter 78: All 39 Chapters of "Tales of the Unusual" Filmed! In Less Than A Month!
Chapter 78: All 39 Chapters of "Tales of the Unusual" Filmed! In Less Than A Month!
When Takeshita Ai personally had someone send that project proposal stamped with a bright red 'Approved' seal, along with that master tape that created a miracle, back to the 【Nohara Hiroshi Special Production Team】, the entire office was instantly drowned by a tsunami-like roar of cheers!
"Ohhhhh——!"
"It passed! We passed!"
"Awesome! We did it!"
Minamura Hoshi and Haseji Kakeru, two hot-blooded youths, were so excited they resembled two monkeys jumping up and down, bouncing and leaping in joy.
That pure and scorching joy belonging to youths, infected everyone present.
Kitagawa Yao even tightly covered her own mouth, those always sparkling big eyes already filled with tears of excitement.
Even those Kanto Faction veterans who were long accustomed to seeing wind and waves, at this moment also couldn't resist revealing heartfelt smiles, patting each other's shoulders. Those faces somewhat worn by the vicissitudes of time, radiated a long-lost brilliance anew.
In the corner, Kurosawa Eiji was holding a cup of hot tea, peacefully watching that segment of his performance as the 'storyteller' on the monitor.
He looked at that self on screen enveloped by soft lighting and profound darkness. On that face always carrying a bit of seriousness, at this moment also surfaced an indescribable amazement.He had guest-starred in many roles, perhaps a tragic samurai, or a righteous elder, but never thought, merely sitting peacefully like this, using an approach nearing recitation to tell a story, could actually create such an eerie and yet fascinating sense of mystery.
He clearly remembered, during filming, Nohara Hiroshi didn't give him any guidance regarding the performance.
That young man merely told him: "Director Kurosawa, just treat it as telling your grandson a bedtime story, only that, this story, is slightly... dark."
It was exactly such a simple, near-straightforward guidance, paired with that tricky camera angle, that just right interplay of light and shadow, and that rhythm control precise down to the millisecond during post-production editing...
Ultimately, it actually presented this kind of artistic effect overflowing with high-class feeling that even he himself felt unfamiliar with.
"This young man..."
Kurosawa Eiji set down his teacup, inside those eyes having seen countless worldly sinkings and floatings, sparkled an unprecedented lament and admiration: "He simply isn't shooting using a director's techniques, he is using a kind of... a kind of near-instinctive intuition, capturing the souls of light, shadow, and humanity. Truly a... natural-born monster ah."
This isn't praise, but stating a fact.
Because Kurosawa Eiji truly witnessed, the reality of Nohara Hiroshi on the filming set, entirely taking over costumes and makeup, camera work, lighting, as well as the actors' expressions and eye angles, and the final editing.
Back then he only felt Nohara Hiroshi dabbled widely.
Even worrying he would bite off more than he could chew.
Now...
Kurosawa Eiji saw the complete first episode in its entirety, even pondering it over himself, fearfully feeling that if given an afternoon's time, he absolutely couldn't achieve such a degree of completion.
And that's even under the circumstance of having many people helping.
Therefore.
Only then did Kurosawa Eiji look at Nohara Hiroshi, sighing with emotion, this is a true monster-like genius!
In fact, not only him, everyone viewed Nohara Hiroshi as a monster.
Exceeding mortals!
『Clap clap clap!』
"Everyone attention for a moment!"
However, right amidst this carnival of victory, that young man viewed as a monster by everyone, yet merely peacefully clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention over.
"Alright everyone, the celebration stops here."
Nohara Hiroshi's voice wasn't loud, yet reverberated like thunder, attracting all gazes towards him.
He walked before the whiteboard, picking up a marker, and under that title of 『Tales of the Unusual』, wrote down two brand-new names —— 『The Rumor of Machio』, 『Sugoroku』.
"Passing the audit, is merely obtaining the admission ticket. The true battle, only just begins now."
His gaze swept across everyone, carrying an irrefutable resolution speaking in a deep voice: "Now, I announce, starting from now, we enter the next stage of filming."
He paused, speaking a sentence that caused the entire office to instantly sink into dead silence.
"Today's goal, is exactly to completely finish both of these episodes!"
"..."
If the prior cheers were a volcanic eruption, then at this moment, the entire office was like a vacuum zone entirely drained of air.
Everyone was like being given a freezing spell, staring blankly at that young man standing before the whiteboard. That gaze, was like looking at a madman who just announced he was going to tear down Tokyo Tower with his bare hands.
One day, filming two episodes?!
This is no longer madness, this is launching a suicidal provocation against the production rules of the entire television industry!
"No, not just today."
Nohara Hiroshi seemingly felt the power of this bomb was still not big enough. He turned around, looking at those faces written full of shock and sluggishness, once again tossing out an even more world-shocking plan.
"Starting from today, until the end of June. Within this less than a month's time, I want to completely finish filming all thirty-nine episodes, of the first season of 『Tales of the Unusual』!"
『Boom——!』
This time, everyone's brains, thoroughly crashed.
One month, thirty-nine episodes?!
Just what kind of concept is this?
This is equivalent to averaging more than one episode's filming volume every day! Still needing to account for post-production time!
In the entire history of Neon television, this is an unheard-of, unseen miracle! No! This simply isn't a miracle, this is a fantasy tale!
"Nohara-kun, calm down a bit!"
Even the always steady Kurosawa Eiji, at this moment also couldn't help but stand up. On that face always carrying a bit of seriousness, for the first time surfaced a smear of deep worry: "I know you are very talented, and very driven. But, the filming of live-action dramas, and animation production are completely two different matters! It needs time to polish, needs actors to accumulate emotions, needs scenes to be arranged, needs..."
"Senior Kurosawa, I understand your concerns." Nohara Hiroshi interrupted his words, yet his face lacked the slightest wavering of being dissuaded.
He walked to his own desk, taking out a stack of manuscripts thick like a brick, raising it above his head.
"But, with me here, none of these are problems."
He distributed that stack of manuscripts, handing one copy to every core production member present.
On it, were all the complete storyboards for the first ten episodes of 『Tales of the Unusual』.
From the small town falling into madness due to an absurd rumor in 『The Rumor of Machio』, to that eerie chess game deciding life and death in 『Sugoroku』... Every single camera shot, every single scene, every single character's micro-expression, was accurately, depicted onto the paper by him using that godly drawing brush.
"Minamura, Haseji, Kitagawa."
Nohara Hiroshi took out another materials list, his gaze landing on those three veterans who were already flabbergasted by this operation of his, instructing in a deep voice:
"On this, marks all the clothing, props, and makeup requirements needed for every episode. The three of you, immediately go contact the relevant departments, I don't care what methods you use, within today, you must prepare all materials for the first three episodes for me!"
"Director Yamamoto, Section Chief Sato." He then turned his gaze towards those two Kanto Faction old generals: "The dispatching of actors, on-site execution, will still rely on you two."
Finally, he looked at that group of team members still in immense shock, unable to extricate themselves, his voice like a bell striking the final decision, clearly, transmitting into everyone's ears:
"I know, this sounds like an impossible task."
"But, what I need you guys to do, is very simple."
He paused, inside those clear eyes, burning a kind of flame sufficient to ignite the entire world.
"That is, completely, thoroughly, trust me."
"Follow my rhythm based on the manuscripts I gave you. I guarantee you guys, us, can not only complete it, but complete it, better than anyone!"
The office was completely silent.
Everyone looked at that young man standing in the center of the crowd, as if his body contained a sun, radiating infinite light and heat.
That near-arrogant confidence, that spirit disdaining everything, like the fiercest virus, instantly infected everyone present.
That bit of doubt and fear generated in their hearts due to basic reality principles, at this moment, was entirely crushed to pieces by a more primal, more fiery urge named 'following the strong'!
"...Hai!!"
Not knowing who it was, took the lead roaring out first.
Subsequently, the tsunami-like responding voices, converged into a torrent sufficient to shake the entire building!
"Hai!!"
"We understand! Section Chief!"
"Let's do it! Damn it! This daddy's entire life has never been this crazy before!"
On those faces, all hesitation had receded, replaced by an uplifting fighting spirit of breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats, who but me (arrogance/determination)!
Even Kurosawa Eiji, this industry titan accustomed to seeing wind and waves, at this moment was also deeply infected by this vitality and madness belonging to young people rushing at his face.
He looked at that young man strategizing and planning, looked at this team whose hot blood was entirely ignited by a single sentence of his, that heart which had already become quiet due to the years, unexpectedly uncontrollably started beating violently anew.
He suddenly felt, perhaps he, truly was old.
But to be able to personally witness during this final period of time, and participate in such a madness destined to be recorded in the annals of history...
How fortunate!
Thus, a filming frenzy that appeared to the outside world near miraculous, officially pulled open its curtains.
The entire 【Nohara Hiroshi Special Production Team】, became a precisely wound machine, operating at high speed with an inconceivable velocity.
Morning, Studio 5, 『The Rumor of Machio』.
Afternoon, Studio 3, 『Sugoroku』.
Evening, post-production room, editing, dubbing, music directing, accomplished in one go.
Time, in this crazy creation, seemingly lost its meaning.
The boundaries between day and night became blurred, exhaustion and excitement interweaved.
From the suffocating 『The Locker』 in episode four, to the inexplicably eerie 『The Spirit in the Dark』 in episode five; from 『The New House』 full of Japanese horror atmosphere in episode six, to the thought-provoking 『The Gift』 in episode ten...
And then to episode eleven 『The Murderer Regrets』, episode thirteen 『The Monkey's Paw』, episode seventeen 『A Flaw』, episode twenty-one 『The Inn Without Time』, episode twenty-eight 『A Live Crab』, episode thirty-one 『Plastic Surgery』, episode thirty-six 『The Human-Faced Plant』, and the final episode, the 『Grandpa's Love Letter』 full of warmth and regret...
Thirty-nine bizarre and wondrous worlds, under Nohara Hiroshi's memory that could be called the absolute blueprint and the localized polishing of Kudo Ryosuke this veteran screenwriter, were perfectly displayed before the cameras.
They were no longer simple urban legends, but incorporated more profound dissection regarding this parallel Neon world, concerning human hearts, human nature, family, workplace, and that interpersonal relationship uniquely belonging to Neon society, depressing yet distorted.
Every story, was like a sharp scalpel, precisely cutting open this seemingly peaceful and prosperous society, also tearing away that shiny and beautiful skin.
Revealing underneath the hair-raising, yet incomparably authentic flesh, blood, and veins.
When the last day of June, the final camera shot of the thirty-ninth episode 『Grandpa's Love Letter』 completed filming, the entire film crew, was like soldiers who had experienced a long and arduous expedition, finally arriving at the endpoint.
They did not cheer.
Merely peacefully collapsing in various corners of the set, bearing a kind of exhausted yet satisfying smile of surviving a disaster on their faces.
『Phew——』
"Finally completed!"
While Nohara Hiroshi, at this time also exhaled a long breath of air.
This one month to him.
Was equally a massive test!
But looking at those thirty-nine master tapes, condensing all his heart's blood, and also carrying all his ambitions, he knew, he won this bet.
Time, arrived at the end of June, the distance to July 1st, that premiere date deciding life and death, left only the final few days.
The entire Kanto Faction, because of this unprecedented 'grand battle', became unprecedentedly united.
Or rather.
United beside him, Nohara Hiroshi.
Those previously marginalized artists, due to frequently showing their faces in this S-class project, not only honed their acting skills, but even obtained concrete income.
And those Kanto Faction old veterans, were even more thoroughly convinced by Nohara Hiroshi.
Because, after the project concluded, Nohara Hiroshi made a decision that exceeded everyone's expectations.
That gigantic sum of budget reaching tens of millions of JPY saved precisely because of the super high efficiency this time, he did not hand it upward, nor did he pocket it for himself, but using the name of 'overtime pay' and 'project bonus', distributed it entirely in full to all Kanto Faction members who participated in the project!
When those artists received those heavy envelopes far exceeding their expectations, the gaze they used to look at Nohara Hiroshi, was already no longer just admiration.
But a kind of absolute loyalty sufficient to make them go through fire and water!
Who could not love money?
They knew, following this young Section Chief, not only would there be meat to eat, but even soup to drink!
This, is the true, one of our own!
The leader of the Kanto Faction!
Production Department Building, meeting room, Deputy Director Asumi, Kurosawa Eiji, Sato Kenji, Yamamoto Takeshi, and Nohara Hiroshi, these five figures representing the core power of the old and new generations of the Kanto Faction, gathered together.
The atmosphere was unprecedentedly harmonious.
"Nohara-kun, this time, you truly established an unparalleled merit for our Kanto Faction ah!" On Asumi's face, blossomed an unprecedentedly brilliant smile, that laughter hearty and thoroughly delightful.
"Yeah." Kurosawa Eiji also stroked his beard sighing with emotion: "I've filmed for a lifetime, yet have never seen a director like you, capable of squeezing the potential of the entire team to the extreme limit. You kid, are a natural born material for doing this."
Kurosawa Eiji had already shown plenty of the master tapes to Asumi.
Therefore Asumi would be this happy.
Others don't know.
He, Asumi, after all was a leader who immersed himself in Kanto TV for more than twenty years, rising up step by step from the grassroots level. Even in TV Tokyo, relying on his excellent grassroots experience, he firmly held the position of Deputy Director in the Production Bureau.
Therefore Asumi's breadth of vision, his standards, are all top-tier.
Furthermore, when Asumi first watched the first episode of 『Tales of the Unusual』, he knew, this gamble that he specifically requested Nohara Hiroshi to produce, which was near a political high-stakes bet.
He successfully won it!
And then watching episode by episode, until the final episode of 『Tales of the Unusual』, finishing watching all 39 episodes of the entire season.
The original worry he had about filming too fast and causing a drop in quality.
All completely vanished into thin air!
Instead, looking at those exquisite images, clever directing, and accurate camera shot transitions, as well as the actors' near-perfect acting skills.
All made his heart settle down into his stomach.
Only wild joy appeared in his mind.
"You over-praise!"
Nohara Hiroshi merely smiled peacefully: "This is the result of everyone's joint efforts. I merely, happened to know that correct path, and exactly how to walk on it, that's all."
This isn't modesty, but fact.
This has to thank the Neon of his past life.