There is nothing in this world that makes people feel better than being in love with each other.
There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is surrounded by love.
On December 23, after meeting Ning Weimin, Matsumoto Keiko felt that her soul was free again.
In recent days, the rope that has been binding my mind and torturing my body has been completely broken, and the feeling of being truly alive has returned.
Her heart can beat again, her blood can circulate again, her palms can sweat again, and her body can feel hot again...
Although she also knew that day that Ning Weimin would be returning to China during the New Year, it would be difficult to see him again in the past few days, which would be a bit disappointing.
But having said that, the Red and White Song Concert has entered the final rehearsal stage, and I need to devote myself wholeheartedly.
Besides, I always have to go home to spend time with my parents during the New Year.
Even though she longed for them to spend more time with each other, it was really difficult for her to spare the time.
If you think about relaxing after the holidays, once Ning Weimin returns to Tokyo, they will have plenty of time together.
This is also an indescribable happiness, so why rush it?
She was happy and sweet. When she got up on December 24th, she remembered that tomorrow was Christmas.
She even had a positive thought about what happened at the Shochiku Film Annual Conference a few days ago and wanted to remedy it.
She was going to apologize to Shochiku Pictures' president Omoto in person, and planned to give the president another face and accept the invitation to shoot "The Man in the House on Fire".
In this way, Matsumoto Keiko not only quickly put on makeup and dressed herself up, but also brought a bottle of good wine - Yoichi whiskey worth 300,000 yen as a gift, and drove to Ofuna Studios, also located in Ota Ward, to meet the studio.
Longer.
Since people could come and go here at will in the past, and the shipyard was like their own home, Matsumoto Keiko didn't say hello in advance at all.
The unprepared Junichi Sakimoto was caught off guard by her childish sudden attack.
Originally, he was in the finance department, furious because of the serious account deficit of the theater company's theater industry, and he was pursuing the responsibility for the mismanagement of funds in kabuki performances with the person in charge of the finance department.
As a result, I learned from the secretary that Matsumoto Keiko had arrived at the studio and hoped to see him soon.
Having made Matsumoto Keiko famous with his own hands, President Omoto, who had a bit of a father complex, had no choice but to give up and temporarily gave up pursuing the reprimand of the person in charge of the finance department. He hastily tidied up his appearance and ran back to his office to entertain guests.
"President, excuse me. I'm here to apologize to you today. I really did not perform well at the dinner a few days ago. That's why the media misunderstood me and caused a bad impact on public opinion. This incident
It must have caused you considerable trouble, right?"
Keiko Matsumoto, who was waiting in the office, was very polite. When she saw Junichi Omoto, she immediately stood up from the sofa and bowed deeply.
"Don't say that, it's actually not that serious. Besides, I didn't consider it well at the time. After thinking about it, I should have communicated with you first."
Junichi Omoto said very kindly, and bowed slightly in return.
But contrary to his forgiving tone, his expression was slightly nervous.
The reason for this different appearance is mainly because Junichi Omoto thought that Keiko Matsumoto might really resign this time.
Whether it was because he was too deeply conflicted with Fukasaku Kinji to cooperate, or he was dissatisfied with the pressure exerted by public opinion at the annual meeting.
As long as Matsumoto Keiko is determined to quit, the lack of participation from this big star will directly affect the fans' expectations for the movie "The Man on Fire" and have a negative effect on the box office.
Matsumoto Keiko saw this and felt very clear in her heart.
So in order to dispel the president's doubts, I quickly brought out the gift.
"President, I'm really sorry. You see, I also brought you a Christmas gift."
"Oh, such a good whiskey, and it also has a pure smoky flavor. It's rare that you remember my taste, but I can't drink whiskey with the taste of Suntory."
Japan's local whiskey brands have always been in a dual-peak confrontation, except for Suntory and Nippon.
It is different from the sweeter and lighter local whiskey produced by Suntory.
Riguo only makes the most authentic Scotch whiskey, with a strong smoke and peat flavor.
The Yoichi whiskey sent by Keiko Matsumoto is a representative of Nippon Fruit’s high-quality products.
Sure enough, Keiko Matsumoto's efforts to do what she wanted were not in vain.
Seeing this bottle of good wine, Junichi Omoto's expression immediately softened greatly.
However, my worries have not all been eliminated, so I simply made it clear.
"Keiko, you gave me such an expensive drink. You still have something to say, right? Are you afraid of disappointing me, so you brought such a high-end gift? After all, you still don't plan to collaborate with director Fukasaku again and star in "
"The Man in the Burning House"?"
"Why would the president think so? If you are worried about me resigning, then don't worry. For your sake, I will agree to participate."
"Ah? Really? Qingzi, you finally agreed?"
At this time, Junichi Omoto was unexpectedly overjoyed, so he hurriedly reiterated the conditions.
"That's great! Don't worry about the salary, I keep my word. You can compare it with the highest salary for a leading actor, which is 50 million yen. After starring in this movie, you will break the salary record for actresses in Japan. Regardless of Takakura Ken,
It’s still Atsumi Kiyo, and it’s at this price now. How about it? Let’s just settle this matter? I’ll have someone notify Director Fukasaku right away.”
However, Keiko Matsumoto temporarily stopped President Omoto with a playful smile and an embarrassed gesture.
"You see, you are anxious again. Before we really decide, I have a small request."
"Oh, when I heard what you said, I was shocked again. I'm a little worried. Qingzi, are you going to make another embarrassing request to shirk it?"
"President, you don't need to be trembling. Then I'll just say it. I don't really care about the remuneration. I can just follow the past standards. However, I will not appear in explicit scenes again..."
"What? What did you say?"
If the self-explosion of timidity just now was a strategy to force Junichi to retreat in order to advance, then now he was really shocked.
Because the film "The Man in the Burning House" is adapted from Tan Yixiong's autobiographical novel of the same name, describing the love life of a middle-aged writer.
The focus of the story is the protagonist's free and unrestrained love experience.
The male protagonist in the play has a wife and a family, and then meets two women whom he falls in love with, with whom he has various entanglements.
Although the essence of the film is to depict the struggles and conflicts between people, it also reveals the heaviness and helplessness of life.
But there are also some sentimental scenes.
And this is the main reason that attracts viewers to pay for tickets.
To put it bluntly, the selling point of this kind of literary drama is the complex emotional relationship between male and female characters, as well as the sexy and passionate scenes between the male and female protagonists.
What's more, this is the type of film that Matsumoto Keiko is best at, and she became famous in one fell swoop through such films.
The reason why Junichi Okimoto and Kinji Fukasaku insisted on letting Keiko participate was because of her unique position in this type of film.
It can be said that Keiko Matsumoto has already developed an excellent reputation among male audiences and has a strong box office appeal.
As long as she stars in this kind of movie, the audience will definitely buy it and the box office will be a hit.
Just like Atsumi Kiyo's comedies, Takakura Ken's tough guys have become the most profitable brands in the Japanese film industry.
But now Keiko Matsumoto suddenly says she won't shoot passionate scenes, which will undoubtedly greatly reduce the appeal of the film to the audience.
As the president of Shochiku Pictures and the producer of this movie, Junichi Okimoto, can he not be anxious?
"Qingzi, why is this happening? Why do you suddenly become concerned about this kind of thing when you are so fine... I mean, what happened? That makes you have such strange thoughts?"
"Isn't this normal?" Keiko Matsumoto asked calmly.
"President, this type of film is obviously not suitable for me anymore. There are wrinkles on my face now, and my figure is starting to get out of shape. Even if I am willing to shoot, who is willing to watch it? I should look for other roles.
The direction. Besides, I don’t want to damage my image in the eyes of movie fans..."
"Nonsense!" When Jun Omoto heard what she said, he couldn't help but get angry.
"If it were someone else, it might make sense. But if you say it, this is nonsense that should be thrown into the sea. You are the undisputed number one beauty in Japan, and you are also a witch who never ages. You look good.
Look at yourself, now is the golden age for a woman to have the best appearance and figure. It would be unreasonable for you not to dedicate your best self to the big screen..."
However, Keiko Matsumoto was not happy when she received the praise, but instead added fuel to the fire.
"The president is really good at lying. If that were the case, the role assigned to me wouldn't be Ye Zi. It should be the first heroine - the writer's wife, right?"
"Sure enough, it's still because of this!"
Junichi Omoto could not hide his excitement, thinking that this was the truth about Keiko Matsumoto's dissatisfaction.
"Are you still dissatisfied with the role? Is it because of this that you resent Director Fukasaku and refuse to cooperate? Then I can tell you that this matter has nothing to do with him. It was completely decided by me. It's because I think Ayumi Ishida is the best
For an actor who is suitable for a writer's wife, the role of a good wife and loving mother is almost a copy of her image, as long as the true character speaks for itself. It is also because she joins that you can make your role more charming."
"There's another thing you don't know. Ishida's salary is only 12 million yen. It's not even one-third of yours. Although she took the initiative to make some concessions in order to get this role. But in comparison
, it is enough to show how much Shochiku Pictures values you. You are always our most important star. No actress in the entire agency can compare with your value. You are the box office of this movie.
Responsibility is the guarantee for the success of this film. You don’t have to believe Fukasaku, but do you also have to doubt my words?"
"Qingzi, I know you are a very ambitious and hard-working actor. You always want to break through yourself, expand your acting skills, and gain more recognition for your acting skills. But it is difficult to grasp the taste of the audience now. It is becoming more and more colorful.
TV programs have also diverted more and more theater audiences away from the TV station. In fact, not only have the films you shot in recent years not been successful, but the box office of the company's well-received movies has also begun to decline significantly. So whether it is you or the company,
We have to cater to the audience’s preferences first and attract everyone to the cinema before we can talk about anything else..."
President Omoto was moved emotionally as he spoke, his fat face wearing glasses tilted back slightly, and he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Then he couldn't help but take out his pipe and light it to calm down his emotions.
In fact, this was also an opportunity for him to vent the pain and pressure he had hidden in his heart for a long time.
Matsumoto Keiko fell silent. She was not indifferent to the blunt words of the president who praised her so much.
So I thought about my words and told Junichi Omoto the truth.
"President, no matter whether director Fukasaku and I have good or bad feelings, I have always been grateful to you. Although it was the old president who signed me from Daiei to Shochiku Pictures Company in the first place. But later, without your support
With patient guidance and tireless cultivation, I will not become famous and become a real star. It can be said that at Songzhu Pictures, you are like my father in my career. Of course I believe what you said, and I want to apologize to you. Just now
I am willful."
As Matsumoto Keiko bowed her head and bowed her head, Junichi Momoto showed joy in his eyes. He thought Matsumoto Keiko had changed his mind.
However, what Matsumoto Keiko said next really frightened him and he realized that he was in big trouble.
"...However, my decision cannot be changed. President, I am already thirty-three years old, and I am no longer a child who doesn't understand anything. Now I think more about my future than just my career.
, and emotional belonging. You know, my father has always been dissatisfied with me because of the movies I starred in, and almost disowned me. Is this the case with my family, let alone my lover? Yes, my career has grown in the past two years.
It's not going well, but at least I'm starting to change my screen image. My future can't always be maintained by playing one type of role. I hope you can understand that this is a choice I made carefully. Of course, for
In return for your years of care, I will definitely star in this movie and am willing to moderately reduce the salary. As long as you agree to this condition. Can you accept it?"
When listening to Matsumoto Keiko's story, Jun Omoto opened his mouth wide and forgot to smoke his pipe.
When he came to his senses, he found that the pipe had been extinguished.
He didn't care about smoking anymore, threw his pipe on the table, and just asked.
"What? Are you in a relationship? Are you dating a man?"
"Well, I won't hide it from you, it's like this."
"How old is the other person? What does he do?"
"The other person is a few years younger than me, and he... owns a restaurant."
Originally it was not an easy question to answer, but now Keiko Matsumoto feels it’s nothing.
After all, the person in charge of the restaurant is still much more respectable than the real estate agent.
But before he had time to be happy about Ning Weimin's "real cause," to Matsumoto Keiko's surprise, Junichi Fukumoto firmly opposed it.
"Are you serious? No! You must cut off contact with this young man who owns a restaurant."
"Why?" Keiko Matsumoto asked in confusion. "Do you look down on his profession?"
Junichi Omoto said flatly, "It has nothing to do with career. As long as you date a young man, nothing good will happen. You should find an older man who can give you a good life or help with your career."
.”
"This is like the answer from a life coach."
Although Keiko Matsumoto was dissatisfied, she still refused as politely as possible.
"Thank you, I will seriously consider it. But for now, I hope you can understand my difficulties."
However, Junichi Omoto is like a full-time father, with anxiety and impatience.
He didn't pay attention to methods at all, and he didn't care whether Matsumoto Keiko was willing to listen. He just insisted on his own opinion and continued to speak in a lecturing tone.
"Listen to me, Qingzi, young men have nothing. But you are different. You have fame, status, and money. On the other hand, young men have nothing and are alone. This is his strength. Because he has nothing.
If you are afraid, you can do whatever you want. And your loss is obvious. This kind of victory or defeat has been clear from the beginning..."
"Our relationship is not that utilitarian, and the relationship between men and women is not a war..." Keiko Matsumoto really couldn't stand listening anymore.
"Childish thoughts. You also said that you are not a child. How many times have you been in love? You spend all your time acting. You can't be immersed in "Dotonbori River" just because you starred in that drama.
In the plot, right? That's a story, it's false. You will destroy yourself if you do this. Let me ask you, does your father know who your romantic partner is? I don't believe that if he knew, he would support you.
choose!"
These words completely ignited Matsumoto Keiko's anger.
Since the bad relationship with her father stemmed from her career choices, every word Junichi Omoto said struck a chord in Matsumoto Keiko's heart.
"President, you seem to have forgotten the advice you gave me when my father objected to my explicit scenes. Now support it if it's good for you, and oppose it if it's not good for you. Isn't that hypocritical?"
Keiko Matsumoto couldn't maintain her low-brow posture any longer. She rolled her eyes upward and stared at Junichi Omoto's face.
"President, I respect you very much. But whether it's my family or my feelings, they are all my private affairs. You seem to have no right to interfere. I don't want you to think that I can only be someone who surrounds you with the old man."
A vase that adds luster to a man's side. Could it be that you hope that I will never find my own happiness? Do you only deserve to associate with someone like Director Fukasaku? Or do you think of me as someone who can accompany others with drinks and be an extramarital partner?
A geisha? Such words are too cruel and should not have come out of your mouth..."
Having said this, Matsumoto Keiko could no longer remain strong and cold.
The woman's weakness came next, causing her eyes to turn red, her head lowered, covering her mouth and sobbing, and she quickly left Omoto's office.
Not even a polite word of farewell.
Junichi Omoto in the room was also stunned by these questioning words.
It took a long time to react, and finally realized that I seemed to have said something excessive.
But I don't know how to remedy it.
Next, should I chase Matsumoto Keiko back in person, or should I make a phone call and apologize later?
After thinking about it for a while, I finally dialed the phone first and called Kinji Fukasaku.
When the call was connected, he frowned and said, "Kinji, Keiko's situation is very troublesome. I'm afraid the shooting plan for "The Man on Fire" will have to be greatly adjusted..."