Chapter 1366 The "Leader" of the Entertainment Industry
Over in Singapore, director Yutaka Osawa and producer representatives were shocked after receiving a cross-border call from Tokyo.
They did not expect that Fog Studios would decide so quickly to bear all losses, abandon all filming results in Singapore, and let the crew go to France for filming.
Especially in Tokyo, they solemnly urged them to evacuate as soon as possible at all costs, tried their best to appease the main actors, and considered modifying the original settings of the script.
Such an order made them understand that the matter was irreversible, and more or less aware of the seriousness of the matter - if they did not leave here as soon as possible, there would probably be more trouble.
The burden on their hearts suddenly increased, adding a lot of panic, so the implementation under this situation also affected the emotions of the actors to a certain extent, and they became nervous and panicked.
In particular, there are some restrictions on objective issues, which exacerbate this negative effect.
For example, several Hong Kong actors and Japanese actors who originally had few roles had scheduling problems in terms of announcements.
Some mainland actors also have problems with their passports and visas.
These actors are a little confused about what to do. If they don’t solve it well, it won’t work.
But then again, "Crazy Rich Asians" is a big-budget production with a sufficient budget.
For Ning Weimin, anything that can be done with money is no big deal.
With the support of money, Yutaka Osawa quickly coordinated everything with the actors who had scheduling problems on behalf of the crew.
And that place in France can be regarded as half of Ning Weimin’s hometown, especially his relationship in the French film and television industry and the fashion industry, which is no less than that in Japan.
With the smooth communication from France and the financial guarantee from Crédit Agricole, the French Embassy in Singapore also quickly processed visas for actors from the mainland of the Republic.
So even though the entire crew left Singapore in a bit of a panic, as if they were on the run, they finally achieved safety in time.
And in France, Alain Delon was responsible for coordinating the filming and settling in the hotel. The favorable conditions in all aspects were beyond the expectations of the crew.
When they arrived at the place, they were no longer confused.
Some actors were even a little happy to see that the accommodation conditions were good because the crew was responsible for all expenses and the filming process was slowed down.
At this time, they don’t feel like they are here to work, but like they are here for vacation,
In short, this matter was handled in a timely manner and smoothly, and nothing happened that Ning Weimin did not want to see, which made him feel relieved.
Perhaps in the eyes of others, he is making a fuss out of a molehill.
He actually made such a decision before trying to communicate with the other party, which caused a lot of actual losses to himself. It was really unwise.
It is also easy for opponents to mistakenly think that they are too timid, and they will become more and more unscrupulous.
But Ning Weimin knows best in his heart where his psychological bottom line is and what he really cares about.
Money is nothing to him, whether it is hundreds of millions of yen, billions of yen, or even tens of billions of yen.
With his ability, this economic loss can be easily recovered.
But if the crew encounters legal risks or personal safety threats in Singapore, there will be nothing he can do.
Only by ensuring that all the people working for him are out of danger can he be able to deal with the dilemma calmly.
…………
On the second day after the "Crazy Rich Asians" crew arrived in France, Ning Weimin, Akira Okamoto, and legal lawyers from Matsumoto Firm went to Burning Project, the entertainment firm that had called them to challenge them.
Their visit this time was an uninvited visit.
The purpose is to find out as soon as possible why the other party is releasing malicious intent and deliberately targeting them.
On the surface, their move is a completely legitimate reaction, a direct response to the other party's provocation.
But the other party’s phone call is probably also a bait, just hoping that they will do it impatiently.
This will undoubtedly have the effect of lowering their self-worth and thus becoming passive.
So Ning Weimin got smart and agreed before they came this time that they would only visit in the name of Akira Okamoto's factory director.
Ning Weimin himself stayed behind the scenes as a supplementary personnel, observing the situation secretly.
Let’s talk if we can, but if we can’t talk, we can leave ourselves some leeway.
As expected, they soon received an obvious cold reception.
When he first arrived, Ning Weimin rushed to the front desk as a secretary and politely introduced himself to the female staff at the front desk.
“We are from Fog Film Factory. We were invited by the president of your company to discuss matters over the phone. Please inform us that Director Okamoto of Fog Film Factory is visiting.”< br>
Perhaps it’s because Ning Weimin’s handsome face is as lovable as a celebrity.
At this time, the female staff at the front desk was very enthusiastic and showed a smile that was much more sincere than a professional smile.
“Do you have an appointment?”
"This... you actually called us. The originally agreed time was not today. But we only have today's convenient time, so we came to visit the president of your company in person. You can ask, I think He will meet us."
Ning Weimin chose his words carefully and tried to sound confident.
Because now he is not sure of the other party's intentions. Who knows what the other party is planning.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
This was probably not the first time that the female clerk at the front desk had encountered this kind of thing. She touched the intercom phone and covered the phone and asked softly. sentence.
This phone call turned out to be a crucial turning point, and soon her expression turned strange.
Although she had deliberately hidden it, probably because she had little professional experience, Ning Weimin still noticed the clues when her eyes widened and her expression froze.
"I'm sorry, the president is having a very important meeting, and it's not convenient to see you at the moment..."
Ning Weimin could not hold his breath, but he did not expect to see him right away. people.
"What about the vice president? You should have someone else who can make the decision, right?"
"The vice president is also in a meeting. In fact, all the main leaders of the office are in a meeting. Otherwise, please come back next time after making an appointment. Do you think it's okay?"
Ning Weimin thought for a while and felt that the front desk He didn't tell me that the president was not here because the other party wanted to talk.
The other party refuses to meet, probably just to put on airs and further undermine their prestige.
He immediately said, "We can wait!"
Ning Weimin didn't care about the other party playing such meaningless tricks. In his opinion, this only proved the other party's petty ambition.
He has the stomach to tolerate clowns before he detects the opponent's trump card.
As expected, the female staff member covered the phone and whispered a few more words, then showed an awkward smile, stood up, and led Ning Weimin and the others to a waiting room.
And politely prepared a pot of coffee for them, and then...disappeared.
The three of them, Ning Weimin, just sat there drinking the pot of coffee. They sat there for three hours, and their buttocks hurt from sitting, and no one came to greet them.
At this time Ning Weimin looked at his watch, it was almost half past six! This is already past closing time for most businesses.
So Ning Weimin stopped waiting and didn't even go to the front desk to ask. He stood up and asked Akira Okamoto and the lawyer to leave together.
He believed that his side's sincerity had been fully expressed.
If you leave at this time and the other party doesn't keep you, it means that the other party has no intention of interviewing at all and is just playing tricks on them.
There is no point in staying any longer.
The result was just as he expected. As soon as a few people walked out of the door of Burning Project, an entertainment agency, and when they were waiting for the elevator, the front desk lady who was responsible for receiving guests ran over to chase them.
Her face turned red, and she changed her words and said, "The president asked them to wait a little longer."
In this way, under Ning Weimin's eyes, several people walked back and waited with their last patience to meet.
Probably the other party has teased them enough and earned their face.
Perhaps they are really afraid that their patience will be exhausted and they will walk away and become villains in vain. This time, they only waited a token amount of ten minutes before the front desk lady informed them that they could see the president, and then personally led them to the innermost part of the affairs office area.
At this time, it was long past the off-duty time, and there was no one in the corridor. The artists, office staff, and visitors from related industries who could have been seen by chance were all gone.
The lights were dim, and all office doors were closed, with metal handles shining.
Probably because the air-conditioning was too strong, Ning Weimin felt a chill down his spine as he walked in the empty corridor.
The footsteps of the front desk lady who was leading the way were particularly loud on the linen carpet.
Finally arriving in front of the president's office, the receptionist stopped, knocked on the door gently, and then looked back at the guests.
Soon, someone inside opened the door wide.
A character who looked like the president’s secretary did not introduce himself, but gestured for several people to walk in.
The president's room is very spacious and brightly lit. People who don't know it might think they have walked into a gallery.
A variety of Japanese paintings, large and small, are hung on the three walls. The themes include landscapes, figures and flowers. The heavy colors of the artworks and the thick golden frames complement each other.
On the wall in the center of the back of the office hangs a large-scale print with a historical theme, which is commonly known as "Ukiyo-e" by the Japanese.
A middle-aged man on the seat in front raised his head, revealing a stern and smiling face.
This expression is actually very contradictory. The eyes are cold, but the corners of the mouth are smiling.
Perhaps the only way to describe it is with an old Chinese saying: "Smiling on the skin but not on the flesh" is the most appropriate way to describe it.
"President, this is Director Okamoto of Fog Film Factory."
The guest has already arrived, and the lady at the front desk moved a few steps and introduced Okamoto, who was standing behind him. Ben Akira.
"Oh, here we come."
This was his greeting when they first met.
“Are you President Su Fang?”
“Yes, I am Ikuro Su Fang.”
This man has a very narrow eyebrow, several wrinkles, and nostrils A bit big, with thin lips, protruding cheekbones, and a flat and strong chin.
When he said this, his tone was full of confidence.
On the contrary, Akira Okamoto acted very restrained after entering the door.
Perhaps it’s because Fog Film Factory has just started, and he, as the director, doesn’t have the feeling of an industry boss yet.
Especially when the identity of the other party is confirmed, he subconsciously becomes shorter.
I have the urge to bow, but I don’t want to be too humble due to my identity and purpose.
I couldn't help feeling embarrassed for a while, so after thinking about it I had to step forward and extend my hand with a slight bow.
However, even the thin noodles were not given to him.
Perhaps seeing his guilty conscience, Zhou Fangyuxiong was not even polite at all.
Instead of extending his hand, he sat quietly in his seat and just casually pointed at the chair opposite him, as if giving orders to his subordinates.
“Sit down.”
Akira Okamoto immediately felt humiliated and wanted to look back at Ning Weimin for a moment.
But when he remembered the purpose of coming today, he still held it back. He reluctantly moved his lips but didn't say anything, and just did it silently.
As for Ning Weimin and the accompanying legal lawyer, they were completely ignored by Zhou Fang Yuxiong.
They didn't even deserve to have seats, so they could only stand behind Akira Okamoto.
As a result, under such circumstances, Ning Weimin got his first impression of Zhou Fangyuxiong.
Arrogant, domineering, arrogant, arrogant.
It turns out that this is the "leader" of the Japanese entertainment industry.
Why does this person look like a villain?
This is a bit inappropriate. If he really has this kind of personal quality and can't even pretend, then how on earth could this person climb to this position?
Is he determined to win over us, or is there someone behind him to support him?
Ning Weimin observed silently and thought in his heart.
Yes, Ning Weimin already knew the relevant information about this being President Zhou Fang before coming here. He heard a lot of rumors about him through the mouths of Akira Okamoto and Mitsuru Watanabe.
But it was only now that he compared the things he remembered with the person in front of him.
According to two subordinates, with the decline of the major film studio system and the rise of television entertainment, the living conditions of artists in the Japanese entertainment industry have also changed drastically.
Now five economic firms have monopolized 80% of the artist resources.
The entire industry calls them the "One Super Four", so they have a high say in the entertainment industry.
And which firm is the most powerful among these five?
There is no doubt that it is BURNINGPRODUCTION.
This company is amazing.
Although looking at the tax payment and presumed income rankings of entertainment firms, BURNING seems to be far less lucrative than other firms. The business entity is not large, and there are not many first-line stars. At most, it is the size of a medium-sized firm. .
But in fact BURNING is a super aircraft carrier company.
The reason why it is called the big brother in the entertainment industry is that nearly half of the small firms in the entertainment industry are affiliated with BURNING or have business support relationships with BURNING.
In other words, more than half of the artists in Japan are more or less managed by BURNING.
Although these offices are not named BURNING, they are collectively called the "BURNING system", which is the "combustion system".
So it can be imagined that the president of BURNING Agency, Ikuo Sufang, has a say in the entertainment industry.
And his own experience of making a fortune is even more miraculous.
It is said that he was originally just a poor loser who worked as a driver for a politician and formed a certain fate.
Then he went to work in an artist agency. After being fired by his boss, he started his own company.
Because when Japan tightened copyrights, they took advantage of the copyrights of golden songs in advance and made a fortune.
Then he hooked up with the Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest organization in Yakuza, Japan, who was interested in getting involved in the entertainment industry. From then on, he relied on coercion and inducement to continuously annex artist management companies and grow.
Even now he has the ability to manipulate the media's public opinion. If any media dares not to do what he wants, he will notify his artists to block this media and never accept interviews again.
But then again, as far as Ning Weimin knows, the Yamaguchi-gumi's power is not in Tokyo, and the case of Ikuo Shubo involving gangsters was several years ago.
Judging from the time, it was precisely after he became successful that he began to pay attention to whitewashing.
Moreover, in media reports, some people have repeatedly praised him as a well-educated, humble and polite man.
So according to Ning Weimin, it would be great to make money by exploiting artists and monopolizing copyrights, but this guy is mentally ill to get involved with Yakuza.
Maybe he is just a showman who likes to scare people with Yakuza, and he has been trying to clean up his innocence for so many years.
Otherwise, with the current rampant Yakuza in Japan, he would not have had any trouble in the past two years.
To put it another way, even if he can use his influence to let the media completely block his negative news.
But even if he really plays dirty, he may not be Axia's opponent.
After all, Axia has Inagawa behind her. He is the real local snake in Tokyo. How could he be allowed to show off his power in the name of Yamaguchi-gumi?
(End of this chapter)