096. Don't you feel ashamed when you're in your forties and you're full of dreams?
"Otomo-san, are you still at Starlight Office?"
"Well, I left some time ago."
"Hey, you just left the company where you worked for more than 20 years?"
"Ha, how can you tell with certainty when things change. After working in photo magazines for so many years, you will also want to change your lifestyle." Fangcun Otomo took a sip of wine and said, "Isn't Haruki-san starting to make movies too?
"
"Hahaha, that's right. Doing something for a long time will make people bored. Always look for a fresh feeling."
The pleasantries between old friends end here,
Haruki Kadokawa started making movies about five years ago. Kadokawa Pictures already has famous movies such as "The Inugami Family", "Proof of the World", "Proof of the Wild" and "Sengoku Self-Defense Forces".
However, compared with other established production companies such as Toho and Toei, Kadokawa is still an "upstart" in the film industry and lacks foundation and truly groundbreaking works.
"Otomo-san, you suddenly made a movie, which is surprising."
"Hey, I really didn't expect that a short film originally made as a joke could actually be edited into such a movie."
"I haven't heard of directors Shuichi Itou and Naoki Nagayama. Are they new directors?"
"That's right. Shuichi-san was originally an advertising director, and Naoki-san was an actor. Later, a few of us formed a small team called Shuyu Pictures."
When Fangcun Otomo talked about these people, the smile on his face never stopped, "Haru Shusang, have you heard of "Wonderful Stories of the World"?"
"Hey, it seems to be a late-night show? I heard that the twist is very interesting." Kadokawa Haruki seemed to have heard someone mention it, but as a romantic president of a large company, he usually has many activities late at night and will rarely go there.
Doing things like watching late night movies.
There are a lot of things to worry about at ordinary times. When I heard the name of the program, I probably only found out about it when my subordinates reported the trends of the TV station.
This meeting to discuss the distribution of the new film originally only required a certain minister to come forward.
It was also when the subordinate film production team mentioned the name of Yoshimura Otomo during the report that it aroused Kadokawa Haruki's interest.
"Haha, that was created by our Shuyou Pictures~"
"Oh? Is there already a well-known program on the TV station? That's incredible~"
Kadokawa Haruki and Yoshimura Otomo had another drink, "When I heard Otomo-san's name, I couldn't believe it. Now I know that Otomo-san is already famous in the entertainment industry~"
This sentence is obviously an exaggeration, but it is just a compliment to an old friend.
"Haruki-san is over-reputed. We are just a small team that has just been established. Compared with a big company like Kadokawa, one is in the sky and the other is on the ground."
"Stop talking like that, right now Kadokawa Pictures and your Shuyu Pictures are talking about cooperation~" Kadokawa Haruki watched the preview tape and didn't comment too much on the quality of "Ghost Chronicles", which was just average.
But this form is truly unique.
He had originally planned to enter the film industry, and even directed and filmed his own films. He was very familiar with the latest film forms in various countries. Such pseudo-documentary horror films were groundbreaking and would definitely become popular in the future.
If you can put the film into your own pocket, you will have a brand in the horror film field.
"Otomo-san, I won't beat around the bush with you. We at Kadokawa Pictures want to break into the film and television industry, and we hope to have groundbreaking films like "The Ghost Story" under our banner."
Yoshimura Otomo also became serious: "Haruki-san, we also hope to be under the wings of a big company, but we just don't know what the conditions of Kadokawa Pictures are like?"
"It's very simple. Shuyu Pictures can be merged into Kadokawa Pictures, and the film will bear Kadokawa's logo. Of course, the director and other people will still be the original people. Kadokawa Pictures will be responsible for the full promotion and distribution of "The Ghost Story", and the box office will be divided into 28%."
Kadokawa Haruki said it very lightly, but his words were very firm.
After listening to this, Fangcun Dayou silently drank a glass of wine.
In fact, this condition is not too harsh. Many start-up companies are actually captured by large companies in this way. The 28% share ratio is actually not unacceptable. After all, the film is basically zero cost.
but......
"Private Marseille, Spring Tree Mulberry, we may not be able to agree to the terms of the merger."
"Eh? Don't you need to discuss it with other people, Otomo-san? Such a share is a big profit."
"Haruki-san, it's not that I'm dissatisfied with the share, but I can't agree with the merger." Yoshimura Otomo continued, "I believe others have the same idea."
"As far as I know, Shuyu Pictures is just a leather company, right?" Kadokawa Haruki was a little puzzled. Couldn't hundreds of such companies be built casually?
"Hey, it's just a leather company with only three people." Yoshimura Otomo admitted, "But this company is the dream of a few of us! It's a company that has allowed Shuichi-san to become a great director and Naoki-san to become a rich man.
The company where I have the ambition to become the great president!”
"I was forced to sell it once when I was running the Wildcat Girl Group, and then I semi-voluntarily sold it once when I was making "Wonderful World Story"."
"Once or twice is okay, but the third time, wouldn't the so-called dream become a joke?"
Kadokawa Haruki didn't expect this. Can a middle-aged man who has worked hard in society for so many years still have such naive ideas?
But what happened when he suddenly felt a little moved when he said that?
"Otomo-san, you are already in your forties and you talk about your ideals all day long. Don't you feel ashamed?"
"...No road race! What a duck!" Then he muttered something like "What is the difference between a man without dreams and a salted fish" and "A man will always be a child until he dies", which made Haruki Kadokawa laugh.
Got up.
"Hahaha, when I heard Otomo-san say this, I feel a little emotional after a long absence."
Kadokawa Haruki is also a person with dreams, otherwise he would not leave a good publishing business aside and instead want to enter the film industry.
"Let's see, Otomo-san, if there is no merger, how about Kadokawa Pictures taking a stake?"
Kadokawa Haruki is a person who does things as he pleases, and Kadokawa Bookstore also has the capital to let him do whatever he wants.
"The division is divided into 30 and 70. There are three of you. If Kadokawa joins us, we will need at least 25% of the shares!
Haha, it’s your dream for me to become a shareholder~”
"That's it~"
Yoshimura Otomo thought seriously this time.
If Kadokawa becomes a shareholder, whether it’s the connections or capital behind it,
It is a huge temptation for new startups.
Even if they hold 25% of the shares, we still have 75% and still have a controlling stake.
"Chun Shusang, I may have to discuss this with other people, and I won't be able to give you a reply for the time being."
Now that I've said that, it's basically done.
"Hahaha, you really need to think about it carefully. You have to be careful about your dreams, Otomo-san~"
"But whoosh, you can't get over this joke, right?"
Kadokawa Haruki and Yoshimura Otomo also put down their work and continued drinking.
