King of Hollywood-Chapter 602 - 10 Standing Pat

"When he greets you, you should be puzzled, but not too obvious, just like... it’s your first time in this country." In the sound stage, Takashi Shimizu was explaining the scene to the leading actress of "Ju-on 2," his face still covered with a full beard. The translator stood by, ready to fill in and clarify whenever communication faltered, even though Shimizu hadn’t improved his English despite having a movie released worldwide.

"May I interpret that as puzzled but also on guard?" Jennifer Love Hewitt asked, her dark brown waves framing her somewhat melancholy face, standing next to the photographer who rigged the house in the movie and then got killed by Kayako—of course, he had nothing to do with Mr. Edison Chen. He was the popular Japanese TV actor Sorimachi Takashi, although it was unclear who had recommended him.

Adrian’s gaze lingered on Sorimachi Takashi for a while before moving away, his eyes crinkling slightly, looking somewhat sinister, but that look disappeared when he turned his attention to Love.

"How are you two getting along?" Adrian asked Nakama Yukie beside him.

"Not bad, Jenn is quite an intelligent girl," Yukie replied humbly, unconcerned with others’ gazes. In fact, most of the crew knew about her relationship with Adrian.

Adrian opened his mouth as if to comment further but after thinking for a few seconds and continuously watching Love, who kept her focus on the director and didn’t glance his way, he abandoned the idea. Although Love had always been Sarah’s "little sidekick," Adrian had had his way with her several times, but she always seemed compliant.

Adrian, who was familiar with women, knew that at least a third of her compliance was an act. But so what? He had given her plenty of benefits, and if she were truly a clever person—which Love had proven to be—she should know what she could do. Moreover, over the past year, Sarah had stopped concerning herself with their past issues; the "little sidekick" was no longer a valid title, so why worry about Yukie getting along with Love?

More importantly, Yukie’s role in "Ju-on 2" wasn’t significant. If Shimizu worked quickly enough, Adrian could easily take her back to Los Angeles with him.

"I’ll find a way, Mr. Adrian," Shimizu bowed as he responded to Adrian’s inquiry.

As one of the few Japanese directors capable of producing internationally influential work, following the release of "Ju-on," Shimizu, still an emerging director, leapt several grades, possibly even surpassing his mentor, Nakata Hideo. Adrian had taken away the movie adaptation rights of "The Ring" after all. But Shimizu still held Nakata in high respect.

Whether the lack of a banning was good or bad for him was uncertain. In his memory, the original Japanese version had rumors of someone dying from fright after less than two days in theaters, leading to an immediate halt in screenings and minimal box office returns. Similar rumors had surfaced when this version was released in Japan, but they were quickly clarified. Adrian wouldn’t allow anything to affect box office sales, as the Japanese film market was always a dumping ground for Hollywood.

This meant that Shimizu’s legendary status might not be as esteemed, since not every director carries the title of "making films that scare people to death," even if such a title was difficult to verify.

After a bit of contemplation, Adrian dismissed the thought. It was Shimizu’s concern, not his own. Even his statement of support did not weigh on Adrian’s mind; there was no need to be overly polite to the Japanese.

Regarding the animation side, things have been progressing very smoothly. The Japanese are indeed quite exceptional at 2D animation. Although Hayao Miyazaki has the highest recognition, Japan isn’t home to only Ghibli; several studios involved in producing "The Matrix" animated edition are very famous within the global animation circle.

Tokyo’s Studio 4°C, and STUDIO 4℃, of course, need no introduction, as they were part of the original production. Additionally, there is Oriental Light and Magic, which produced the Pokémon movie and released it in North America last year, attaining quite a commendable box office. Initially, AC Media acquired the North American distribution rights for Pokémon, and naturally, their film company handled the movie’s release. Besides making a tidy sum, they seized the chance to launch a new female singer through the theme song of Pokémon: Jessica Simpson.

Yes, that Jessica Simpson, who nearly became a member of MMC like Britney and Christina but ended up being eliminated. Spotted by a small music label, she spent three years recording an album that never got released because the company went bankrupt. She was supposed to sign with Sony Records, but MCM Records emerged, known for signing young singers and continuously debuting talented girl singers. So, ultimately, MCM signed her early last year, then trained her for a while, handing her the opportunity to sing the Pokémon theme song, which catapulted her to fame.

It was only then that Adrian discovered his record company had signed Jessica Simpson. Still, his first reaction was, why are there as many girls named Jessica in the United States as there are girls named Kate in the United Kingdom?

Okay, that’s beside the point. Returning to the animated version of "The Matrix," aside from those mentioned above, Avex Group’s Avex mode studio also joined the production. As one of the local pillar industries, Japanese conglomerates often dabble in animation production, and Avex is no exception. Since AC Media is one of the board members of Avex, their participation is not an issue. Moreover, Avex mode studio’s technology is excellent, not lacking compared to long-established studios like STUDIO 4℃.

While most of the animation studios involved are Japanese, there aren’t none from the U.S. either. Hanna-Barbera studio, which is part of AC Media’s TBS, is also a member. That’s the studio founded by William Hanna and Nathaeine Barbara, known for producing "Tom and Jerry," "Scooby-Doo," and more. When TBS "looted" MGM, it also acquired this studio, and now it’s part of AC Media’s empire.

Although AC Media mainly focuses on Pixar’s 3D animation in movies, most of what they broadcast on TV is 2D animation, so they haven’t neglected 2D. Besides acquiring the North American distribution rights to Pokémon from Nintendo, they also secured the rights to a series of animations like "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "South Park"—the former is popular with kids, and the latter’s dark humor is much-loved by adults. As a result, Hanna-Barbera studios have also seen significant development, with "The Powerpuff Girls," which they produced over two years ago, enjoying high ratings. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"I’m very pleased, everyone. I hope this can continue," Adrian said to the heads after being thoroughly briefed on the situation.

All of them were top-tier animation studios, and the competitive atmosphere was good. Having started work on "The Machine’s Revival" since late last year, they have now completed a third of the first part. If they maintain the pace, it could be broadcast by the end of this year or early next year at the latest. Of course, Adrian didn’t plan on too many gimmicks, so the original starting Buddha statues and such were all scrapped—being cryptic often just makes things worse.

He was quite satisfied with the performances of the major studios and didn’t have much else to say, offering encouragement after fully understanding all aspects and then concluding that side of the business.

The two main issues were addressed as such. As for the other temporary issue that Claude had forced upon him...

"Mr. Adrian, I am Matsushima Nanako," said a woman with an indescribably gentle demeanor who bowed deeply to Adrian, sitting on the sofa. Her simple attire gave her a homely vibe.

Kneeling on the carpet peeling an apple, Yukie couldn’t help but lift her head and sneak a glance at the other. Though Nanako appeared calm, the timid helplessness hidden in her brows wasn’t subtle.

Had she also been like this at the beginning? Suddenly, such a thought arose in her mind.

"Yukie." Adrian called her name at that moment, and Yukie immediately put down the knife, wiped her hands with a napkin, bowed slightly, and then left the hotel suite. As she closed the door, she saw Nanako bowing her head submissively to sit next to Adrian, who unceremoniously lifted Nanako’s chin. She couldn’t help but sigh softly.

"Is there a problem? Since Ed said Matsushima Nanako is good, those guys will definitely want to curry favor with him and will surely send her over," Ayumi Hamasaki said nonchalantly as she drank at the bar, having invited her out.

"But..." Yukie seemed hesitant as if she wanted to add something.

"What buts? Yukie, that’s just how society is, especially in Japan, where women are often still just accessories," Ayumi Hamasaki shrugged. "Look at me, I’m now the most popular singer in all of Japan, and at Avex Records, I can almost sit on an equal footing with those producers. But how many people know of the bitterness and effort I’ve put in? And I still need Ed’s support. I don’t mean to bring up the past, Yukie, but to be honest, if you hadn’t been taken to the United States by Ed, even with your achievements now, the same situation as Matsushima Nanako would eventually have fallen onto you."

"I don’t mean to talk about that, Ayu..." Yukie wasn’t angry. Ayumi Hamasaki was just like that with friends she got along with privately—very direct in her speech. Even if most of her rebellious image was constructed, you need a foundation to build that image, right? Moreover, Ayumi Hamasaki and Yukie had even tumbled in the sheets with Adrian.

"What I mean is... you know, Mr. Sorimachi is currently shooting ’Ju-on 2,’ and Miss Matsushima seems to be dating him. Isn’t Ed going a bit too far?" she said, sounding worried.

"In fact, this further proves my point. Regardless of whether or not their dating is true, even if it were, what difference would it make? It’s all just a matter of a word from the big shots. Also, Ed, that big lecher, always goes after what he wants without holding back, so stop worrying so much," Ayumi Hamasaki shook her head and then whispered into Yukie’s ear with a laugh, "If you’re really worried, I happen to have a few friends in the circle. Maybe you could introduce them to Ed?"

"You haven’t drunk much, so why do you always talk like you’re drunk," Yukie said, slightly embarrassed, turning her head to the side.

Alright, she was indeed a bit worried. Even though there were many women around Adrian, Asians included, and Xilei Lin had specifically made a trip to Tokyo a few days ago, Yukie was still unique. Naturally, she wouldn’t want this uniqueness to be shattered. Although generally, she was both docile and lively, she wasn’t foolishly lacking in schemes.

However, had Yukie known the real reason for Adrian’s interest in Matsushima Nanako, perhaps she wouldn’t have felt that way.

Since arriving in Tokyo, Adrian had been continuously in touch with people from Sony. Although Sony Records was just a part of the corporate group, it was almost squeezed out of Japan by Avex, making it relatively easier to gather relevant information. And here in Japan, on their own turf, they could have some thoughts of their own, making now a good opportunity for them.

But after a few days passed and many cocktail parties attended, there had been little progress. The Sony side had been very respectful towards him, as if the events in the United States had nothing to do with them. This was also related to insufficient intelligence; Sony Record’s movements were still unclear. So, Adrian simply took the initiative to find a breakthrough and made it known to the Sony executive the company sent to accompany him that Matsushima Nanako seemed pretty good.

He had plenty of options, like Sakai Noriko, but since she got married the year before last, it seemed likely that Yuichi Takaso had almost played her out. Among the three top actresses of Japanese dramas, from the mid-1990s to the mid-2010s, Takako Tokiwa had already been played, Nakama Yukie he had taken to the United States, so it was the perfect opportunity to try the currently popular Matsushima Nanako. In fact, he had entertained this idea long before; otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt anything odd when he saw Sorimachi Takashi on the set of "Ju-on 2."

Without a doubt, that night Nanako took the initiative to visit him, with a submissive demeanor that was very much to Adrian’s liking, and he gleefully accepted the offering. However, things once again went contrary to his expectations; although he pretended to be casual and let slip a hint in front of Nanako, she showed no reaction whatsoever, and Sony made no response either.

Could it be that the notion of Japanese people using women as spies only existed in fiction? Adrian pondered gloomily. Could it be that the initial setup itself was flawed? Perhaps the entire Sony Group might not care, but it wouldn’t make sense for Sony Records to show no reaction at all.

Thus, the unfortunate Nanako had to bear the full brunt of his dissatisfaction.

"Alright, then we’ll adjust our plan and watch the changes for now," Claude later said, "It’s evident that Disney is just here to cause trouble. If it were Warner announcing the acquisition of Universal Music, that would demand serious attention, but right now, I think it’s very likely they’re just looking to inflate the share price to scupper our acquisition."

In the end, the success or failure of an acquisition is decided by funding. If there were infinite funds available, no matter how high the opponent drove up the share price, they could be swallowed whole. Their opponents’ reactions were thus baffling.

They had discussed it several times without reaching a conclusion. In the end, they decided to hold their position, not to inject additional funds for the time being, and just to drag things out with them for a while. After all, acquisitions typically take a month or two. Whatever the opponents were scheming, it would eventually come to light.

Consequently, when Adrian returned to Los Angeles, he began to make final preparations for "Winter’s Bone." The studios in Missouri were all set. He only needed to confirm the actors for the little boy and little girl roles to start shooting.

"You guys have done a great job, Pike. I’ll start supervising the final auditions right away," Adrian said to the casting director while flipping through the forms of the child actors; he was very satisfied with their work.

"Wait, who is this?" he suddenly asked, coming across a form for a little girl.

"Oh, she’s from Georgia. Her family just moved to Los Angeles. Even though she doesn’t have much acting experience and she has blond hair and blue eyes, she has a very ethereal quality. I think you should see her performance yourself," Pike explained.

"I will," Adrian muttered, stroking his chin as he nodded and scrutinized the form.

(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, I welcome you to vote for it on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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