stjorthotic Chapter 283 Kitahara Shin's High Appearance Fee
Chapter 283 Kitahara Shin's High Appearance Fee
Chapter 283 Kitahara Shin's High Appearance Fee
The atmosphere in the top-floor audition hall of Kitahara's agency was exceptionally solemn and dignified.
Outside the hall, a large number of familiar faces from the Japanese entertainment industry had already gathered. Among them were Masahiro Motoki, who had just received a direct invitation and was filled with trepidation, as well as many talented actors who had come to him after hearing that Shin Kitahara would be personally handling the film script.
Kitahara Shin, dressed in a simple dark shirt, sat quietly in the director's chair in the center of the audition room.
Looking at the cast list in his hand, his eyes were very calm. This time, his decision not to act in "Departures" himself, but to take the lead as screenwriter and director, was actually based on deep considerations.
First, some of the plot points and performances in this film are classics that heavily rely on the chemistry between specific actors. The pairing of Masahiro Motoki and veteran actor Tsutomu Yamazaki in the previous life had already brought the Eastern aesthetics surrounding life and death to a pinnacle. Shin Kitahara was certainly confident he could perform even better, but he was even more eager to see if the original cast, whom he had personally trained, could surpass that classic in this world.
More importantly, Kitahara Shin realized that while his acting skills had reached a high level, to break through that invisible bottleneck, he had to step outside the actor's perspective. He needed to sit behind the monitor and completely switch to a director's viewpoint to examine the entire film's rhythm and flow. Only by understanding how others acted, and grasping the most fundamental needs of the camera and lighting, could he truly perform at his own pace in the future.
"Next, Mr. Tsutomu Yamazaki," the assistant called out softly.
The heavy wooden door was pushed open, and a sprightly veteran actor with a full head of silver hair strode into the audition room. Tsutomu Yamazaki is known in the Japanese entertainment industry for his strong personality and talent, never showing any disrespect to any renowned director. But in front of Shin Kitahara, this senior actor unusually set aside all his arrogance, bowing slightly with utmost respect.
"President Kitahara, it is my honor to receive your script," Yamazaki Tsutomu said sincerely.
Kitahara Shin smiled and invited him to sit down: "You're too kind, Yamazaki-senpai. The character Sasaki is a carefree old man who has seen through life and death, treats examining the dead as a daily job, and also has a great love for food. I'd like to see your interpretation of that scene where he eats pufferfish milt."
Yamazaki Tsutomu nodded, closed his eyes, and paused for a few seconds to process what he was doing. When he opened his eyes again, his entire demeanor had instantly changed. Although he was sitting in an empty chair, he seemed to be holding a freshly baked delicacy in his hand, chewing with a complex gaze that was both almost greedy and filled with awe for life, mumbling his lines between bites: "So delicious it's almost unbearable—"
"Your emotions are strong, but restrain yourself a little." Kitahara Shin placed his hands on the table, pointing out the problem incisively. "Sasaki eats not because he's hungry, but because he's in contact with dead people every day. He needs the strongest, freshest taste of food to confirm that he's still alive. So you could relax your movements a bit more, with a touch of nonchalant clarity."
Upon hearing this unique insight, Yamazaki Tsutomu froze on the spot. He pondered Kitahara Shin's words, and a strong light suddenly shone in his eyes.
Without hesitation, he stood up and reenacted the scene as Kitahara Shin had requested. Sure enough, that strange, clear-eyed feeling of walking on the edge of life and death instantly came to life.
"I've learned so much!" After the performance, Yamazaki Tsutomu bowed deeply to Kitahara Shin from the bottom of his heart. As a veteran actor who had spent his entire life in the theater, he was completely convinced today. This young man not only understood theater, but his insight into human nature had reached a terrifying level.
After Yamazaki Tsutomu left with a look of admiration on his face, the audition room door was pushed open again.
The person who walked in this time was Masahiro Motoki, who is currently at a bottleneck in his acting career and sees this script as his ultimate opportunity.
He took a deep breath and strode up to Kitahara Shin. Although he tried to appear calm, his slightly tense jawline and the white fingers gripping the script betrayed his nervousness. Facing this president, who was younger than him but already wielded considerable influence internationally and had written such a phenomenal script, Motoki Masahiro felt a deep sense of awe.
"President Kitahara, I am Masahiro Motoki, here to audition for the role of Daigo Kobayashi." Masahiro Motoki bowed deeply.
Kitahara Shin leaned back in his chair, calmly scrutinizing him, and pointed to the center of the room: "Daigo was originally a cellist, and later became an embalmer. These two jobs seem completely unrelated, but they are connected in spirit and aesthetics. You can perform a short, pantomime of Daigo's first time independently preparing a deceased person's body."
Masahiro Motoki nodded solemnly, walked to the center of the area, and knelt down with his knees together.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then stretched out his hands and began to mimic the motion of wiping his body with a towel. His performance was very earnest, his expression conveying awe of death, a hint of a beginner's awkwardness, and the solemnity one would show when facing a family member.
For a typical commercial film director, this is absolutely acceptable, and could even be described as an excellent performance.
But Kitahara Shin gently tapped the table, signaling a halt.
"Mr. Motoki, you're overdoing it with your emotions and your actions." Kitahara Shin stood up and walked over to him. "Although Daigo is facing death, he's an art student who loves music at heart. Do you remember how you play the cello? It's gentle, long, and has a unique rhythm."
As he spoke, Kitahara Shin knelt down and gestured with his long, slender hands in mid-air.
In that instant, Kitahara Shin's aura completely changed. His hand movements seemed to be gently wiping something, or as if he were playing an invisible cello.
"You should treat the act of preparing the body for burial as if you were playing a farewell piece," Kitahara Shin's voice was deep and gentle. "The movements should be soft and fluid, carrying a profound tenderness towards the end of life, rather than simply being solemn or forceful. Death is also a door, and you should be the elegant guide."
Watching Kitahara Shin's fluid, even somewhat sacred, hand movements, Motoki Masahiro felt a chill run down his spine.
He suddenly realized! This was the perspective the director wanted, the very essence of the character!
Kitahara Shin stood up and returned to his seat. Motoki Masahiro knelt down again, closed his eyes, and seemed to hear the whispers of a cello in his mind. This time, his outstretched hand was no longer stiff; each wiping and tidying motion seemed to carry the rhythm of music, exuding a gentle calming and supreme dignity.
The entire audition room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was drawn into that strange state of life and death by Masahiro Motoki's current state.
"Very good." Kitahara Shin smiled with satisfaction, picked up the pen on the table, and drew a heavy circle next to Motoki Masahiro's name on the cast list.
"Mr. Motoki, go back and have your agent clear all your schedules for the second half of the year." Kitahara Shin closed the folder, his tone calm but revealing an undeniable determination. "Also, find a good teacher in advance for intensive cello training. I don't want to see you using a hand stunt double on camera when filming officially begins."
Masahiro Motoki paused for a moment, then his eyes instantly reddened.
In the Japanese entertainment industry, auditions for any important role usually involve lengthy and tedious meetings and discussions by the production committee before the agency subtly notifies the applicant. But Kitahara Shin didn't need to consider anyone's opinion. His domineering ability to decide on the spot and set the schedule, along with the absolute approval from top professionals, made Motoki tremble slightly with excitement.
He stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to Kitahara Shin without hesitation, his voice even choked with emotion: "Thank you for your guidance, President! I will begin special training immediately upon returning home, and I will absolutely give it my all to live up to your expectations!"
Seeing the future Best Actor standing respectfully and intently before him, Kitahara Shin knew that this world-shaking production was now a sure thing.
As evening fell, the auditions came to an end. Meanwhile, all of Japan was enjoying its weekly ratings extravaganza.
On television, the most crucial and climactic episode of the middle part of "Great Teacher Onizuka" is being broadcast.
This episode features a major emotional outburst from the character of Fuyutsuki Azusa. Played by Nanako Matsushima, the female teacher Fuyutsuki Azusa has always lived within the expectations of those around her and the hypocritical rules of the workplace. When she faces pressure from school officials for protecting her students, and even contemplates resigning and giving up her teaching career, it is Eikichi Oniwa who drives his beat-up motorcycle, smashing through the school's glass gate and bursting in.
"Did you become a teacher to please these old men, or to please those kids?"
On the screen, Kitahara Shin, with his dyed blond hair, pulled Nanako onto his motorcycle, speeding away in the night wind. On the rooftop, facing the weeping Fuyutsuki Azusa, Oni didn't offer any grand principles; he simply used his characteristically rough manner to roughly ruffle her hair, giving her his strongest support.
The two gazed at each other in the night, without embracing or kissing, but the feeling of their souls being redeemed, coupled with the undeniable tension of ambiguity they had cultivated in real life, drove the audience in front of the television crazy.
"This is so sweet! The way Onizuka-sensei looks at Fuyutsuki-sensei is practically drool-worthy!"
"My god, Kitahara Shin's blond hair isn't unconventional at all; in fact, it's so handsome it makes me want to scream! Where can you find that kind of bad boy who's reliable enough in crucial moments?!"
"Waaaaah, Nanako is so lucky! I want Kitahara-kun to pinch my cheek like that too!"
Countless female fans stomped their feet in excitement in front of the TV. Kitahara Shin's complete transformation into a delinquent, which subverted his previous image, not only did not cause him to lose fans, but also allowed him to fully unleash his dangerous masculinity, winning over countless enthusiastic viewers who were originally indifferent to traditional handsome men.
As night deepened, the bustling day finally came to an end.
Kitahara Shin pushed open the door to his private residence, changed into slippers, and was greeted by a very warm and inviting aroma of food.
In the spacious and comfortable living room, three stunningly beautiful women are in the same space, creating a scene so harmonious it feels almost unreal.
Izumi Sakai, wearing a loose, solid-colored sweater, sat at the outermost large wooden table. The table was covered with route maps from all over Japan and densely packed musical notation. She was biting her pen, diligently studying her upcoming national tour route.
On the large, soft sofa in the center of the living room, Rie Miyazawa and Akina Nakamori were snuggled together watching TV.
Seeing Kitahara Shin walk over and sit down on the sofa, Rie just hung up the phone. She turned her head, her beautiful big eyes fixed on Kitahara Shin, and couldn't help but click her tongue, saying, "My manager just called me and said that a large commercial brand wants to invite me to make an appearance, offering a fee of 30 million yen. But before hanging up, she gossiped to me about something about you."
Rie paused deliberately, her tone carrying an exaggerated disbelief: "I heard that several wealthy multinational corporations wanted to invite you to their annual meetings, even if it was just for a five-minute speech, and the appearance fee they offered had soared to 200 million yen! But the vice president of Ota didn't even ask you before rejecting you outright."
Two hundred million yen—that's just for a five-minute appearance. In the Japanese entertainment industry of the 1990s, this was an astronomical price, practically a game-changer. This also proves that Kitahara Shin's current status and value have long surpassed that of ordinary celebrities; he's become a true financial tycoon and a priceless asset. Getting him to appear is no longer a matter of money.
Hearing this outrageous number, Akina leaned closer and teased with a smile, "I saw a street interview on the news today, Shin-kun, you probably have the most female fans in all of Japan now, right? With such a terrifying net worth, it feels like all those currently popular young boy bands combined can't even compare to you."
Kitahara Shin casually picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and shook his head with a smile: "I didn't actually pay much attention to those offers, but Ota was right to refuse. I don't like those purely commercial social engagements."
Rie Miyazawa's eyes lit up, and she suddenly suggested, "Since you're so popular, and the songs you casually hum are really catchy, why don't you try releasing an album, or sing and perform on stage? Maybe that would make your fans who have always supported you even happier."
Kitahara Shin blinked, then decisively waved his hand: "Singing is out of the question. I'm not really interested in being a singer and releasing records. It's a completely different field, and I'd rather stick to making movies. But—" He paused, then casually added, "If there's anything particularly interesting to collaborate on, I might consider giving it a try."
Upon hearing the words "special collaboration," Akina Nakamori's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned to look at Izumi Sakai, who was working not far away.
As if by telepathy, the spring water also raised its head, and its clear and gentle eyes lit up slightly.
Akina immediately sat up straight, looked at Kitahara Shin, and said with a smile, "Speaking of collaboration, I've seen you constantly working on set, so busy you're nowhere to be seen. Although you're busy now, Izumi is about to start the first stop of her national tour at the Budokan in Tokyo."
Akina deliberately dragged out the last syllable, looking at him with a slightly expectant gaze: "When the time comes, you can be a special guest and make an appearance at her concert, right? That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Kitahara Shin paused for a moment, then pointed to himself: "You want me to make an appearance?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Akina, Rie, and Izumi, who were sitting on the sofa, all turned their heads at the same time, their eyes fixed on him.
Quanshui put down her pen, a gentle smile appearing on her fair face, and softly replied, "Of course, besides you, who else could be this special guest?"
Rie, gloating from the side, added, "But let's make this clear first, we can't afford your exorbitant appearance fee of 200 million yen, so you're basically just free labor!"
It was only these few close female confidantes, whom he cherished dearly, who could speak of such an opportunity to appear in public—an opportunity that would be fiercely contested by major investors who would spend a fortune to obtain—with such confidence and ease.
Looking at the three women before him, each with a distinct personality yet all staring at him with expressions of amusement, Kitahara Shin felt a sudden surge of tenderness and helplessness. Outside, he was a ruthless and decisive financial tycoon feared by the entire industry; but at home, faced with the combined pressure from these women, he was clearly powerless to resist.
"Alright then." Kitahara Shin smiled and sighed, nodding helplessly. "Then I'll just be your free labor. Just tell me in advance what you want me to perform."
Upon hearing his agreement, Izumi, Rie, and Akina exchanged glances, their eyes revealing a triumphant smile.
On this quiet night, the television was still playing a noisy drama, but the living room was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere that belonged only to the four of them.