Chapter 23

A youth film isn't difficult to make. Just focus on the theme of young boys and girls and their hormones, add a bit of violence, and as long as the production is done with care, and you don't cast middle-aged men as high school students, you don't have to worry about it turning into a bad movie.

Shen Zhenghui himself was somewhat eager to try it out. In fact, in his memory, there was indeed such a youth campus film—the South Korean movie "Ma Jook Street Cruel History." He had forgotten most of the plot, but he remembered the final scene where the protagonist practiced nunchucks at home and eventually beat up the school bullies. Just thinking about this scene made Shen Zhenghui feel his blood boil.

Actually, the story doesn't need to be too complicated. It's just about the triangular love affairs of youth, students bullying each other, and fights and brawls. Making the story and scenes more extreme might actually resonate more with young people. Shen Zhenghui knew that "Young and Dangerous" was very popular at the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the 21st century. He had a hunch that if they made a violent youth campus film, it would have a bright future in Japan, not to mention that the Japanese themselves liked this kind of thing.

"Is it a youth film? Do you think it will attract people to watch?" asked Fukuda Mitsumi.

"I think it can. First, the cost is not high, and second, it's easy to create a buzz," Shen Zhenghui said, pursing his lips.

"Third, you just graduated, so you still remember things from school, right?" Fukuda Mitsumi added.

"Not really. The content of the film will definitely be greatly exaggerated compared to reality," Shen Zhenghui squinted. "I think the script will be easy to handle. We can find... forget it, I'll write the script myself."

"You're really enthusiastic!"

"Ha ha, every man has a bit of a dream, especially when I want to make a film with violence, a tribute to Bruce Lee."

"I can understand." Fukuda Mitsumi nodded and then said, "Although I know this is still uncertain, how do you think we should find actors?"

"Actors?" Shen Zhenghui suddenly remembered the girl he met on the plane. "The female lead must be pure and beautiful. I met a girl on the plane, and I think she's good..."

Fukuda Mitsumi's eyes narrowed.

"Indeed, she's good. Both her appearance and demeanor fit the student role," Shen Zhenghui explained.

"Is she famous?" Fukuda Mitsumi asked calmly.

"We're making a low-budget film!" Shen Zhenghui rubbed his nose.

"How do you attract young people to the cinema without stars?"

"I'll invest in making this film."

"That's not the issue!" Fukuda Mitsumi slapped the table. "Your thinking always jumps around. Have you figured out what you want to do?"

At that moment, a knock came at the door. The driver stood awkwardly at the entrance. "President, do you want to leave? It will be too late, and there won't be anyone at the company."

Fukuda Mitsumi stood up, full of resentment. "Let's go," she turned to look at Shen Zhenghui. "Do you want to see it? Or should I just take you to rest? You must be exhausted today."

"It's fine, let's go see it." Shen Zhenghui also stood up. "I also want to know what resources I have."

Fukuda Mitsumi's company only existed on paper. Its assets were mainly shares in other companies. If needed, the resources it could mobilize would be sufficient to achieve its goals. Shen Zhenghui didn't gain much from the office visit; he only received the prepared materials, which detailed the cooperative companies and resources of Fukuda Mitsumi's cultural comprehensive company.

"I can't sleep tonight." Shen Zhenghui patted the stack of papers in his hand. "I need to write out the outline of the movie in my head. Can you prepare paper and a pen for me?"

Fukuda Mitsumi rolled her eyes. "I won't try to dissuade you." She said, "But remember, we have to meet President Murahama tomorrow to discuss animation production. You need to have a plan."

"I will." Shen Zhenghui nodded and then said with a sigh, "This makes me feel like I'm back in the days before the college entrance exam."

"Sad?"

"Not really, busy and fulfilling."

"Is that so?"

"Of course, it's the impression I have looking back after getting through those days. At the time, it was probably unbearable. I even considered suicide."

"You were a top student, and you considered suicide?"

"Uh..." Shen Zhenghui blinked, mixing up two memories. "Even top students have their own troubles."

"Ha ha, I understand. You don't have to tell me about men's troubles." Fukuda Mitsumi said irritably.

"You're definitely misunderstanding."

"Fine, let me misunderstand." Fukuda Mitsumi pouted and then said casually, "By the way, do you have the contact information of the girl you met on the plane? Give it to me first. I'll check it out, and if it's possible, I'll have my agency sign her."

"Isn't your agency just on paper?"

"This is early preparation. Who knows, she might become a star!"

"This, her name is Aizawa Tomochika. She's a small actress, and I have her contact information..."

"Okay, write it down for me." Fukuda Mitsumi said.

Shen Zhenghui wanted to say that this girl had probably acted in such films but couldn't bring himself to say it.

Fukuda Mitsumi took the contact information Shen Zhenghui wrote and left, leaving him alone in the guest room. He felt a surge of excitement, more than when he made the "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" animation, and more passionate than when he saw his company's comic magazine. "Am I actually suited to be a filmmaker?" Shen Zhenghui muttered to himself. He started writing the script outline, but inadvertently developed it into a novel outline. Feeling a bit helpless, he thought, "I'm still lacking a bit of talent. I need to find a professional to work with me. Also, I heard that directors need to do storyboards. I'm terrible at drawing, so I need help with that too." He reluctantly put down his movie script and started writing the key points of cooperation with GONZO. After the successful release of "Blue No. 6," "Battle Angel Alita" could be put on the movie production schedule. At the same time, they needed to produce a TV animation to gain experience for the future production of "Full Metal Panic." Shen Zhenghui calculated that with GONZO's current staff, the movie version of "Battle Angel Alita" would not be released until 2004, and other projects would be delayed.

Shen Zhenghui didn't care that it was already late at night. He picked up the phone and called Yan Kai first. "How many of your animators, designers, and technicians are available?"

Yan Kai wasn't sleeping; he was working overtime on the first "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" movie, "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf: Year of the Rabbit," which was scheduled to be released during the 1999 Spring Festival. Due to lack of experience, Yan Kai was working overtime to finish the film early for post-production. He was working day and night when he received Shen Zhenghui's call, not complaining about being disturbed in his sleep but about being disturbed in his work.

When he heard Shen Zhenghui ask about the staff, Yan Kai was taken aback, thinking Shen Zhenghui might be laying off people due to financial issues, as there were rumors that he had sold shares in the entertainment and toy companies due to financial problems. So when Shen Zhenghui asked about available staff, Yan Kai's first reaction was that he was about to lay off people.

"President Shen, President Shen!" Yan Kai almost jumped up. "We're only halfway through, and the team is just getting used to each other. How can there be any available staff?" He started thinking of ways to deal with the situation, knowing he couldn't find Li Hong or Ah Heng, but he could find Liu Xin, taking a roundabout route.

Shen Zhenghui didn't mind the long-distance call. "Hmm? No available staff? That's impossible!" He frowned. "How many people do you have now?" He then added, "How many in the animation department and the film department?"

Yan Kai saw that he couldn't hide it. "Well... well... our two departments are intertwined. We followed your instructions and hired many more people, so in total, we have..."

"How many? Speak up!" The person on the other end of the phone was getting impatient.

Yan Kai gritted his teeth, thinking, "If I die, I die." "We have over a hundred people now."

"Over a hundred? Be specific." Shen Zhenghui was surprised. In just a few months, the team had grown from about twenty to this size. GONZO had only about a hundred people at its peak.

"A total of 150 people, and we hired many young people," Yan Kai said, but quickly added, "The magazine department also borrows people from us. We really don't have many available staff."

"Young people?" Shen Zhenghui was taken aback and a bit worried. "How many experienced people did you hire as I instructed?"

Yan Kai was very worried. "Not many, just about ten."

Shen Zhenghui tapped his head and asked, "How are the young people? Are they quick to learn?"

"We're training them," Yan Kai was sweating. "They're enough for TV animation, but the film department is mainly handled by experienced people."

Shen Zhenghui rubbed his nose. "Here's what I want you to do," he said. "Pick about ten outstanding young people and find two experienced people to lead them. Prepare to come to Japan. We're going to cooperate with GONZO. Let them see the quality of our people first."

Yan Kai, who was almost about to pee his pants, suddenly felt a ray of sunshine. "President Shen, you, you... what did you say? Going to Japan?"

This shout was so loud and excited that the others who were working overtime looked over.

"A Japanese company wants to cooperate with us. We'll start with some basic support work. Don't tell anyone yet. Just prepare a list, and I'll talk to Liu Xin. Anyway, get ready."

"Yes, yes!" Yan Kai felt a surge of excitement.

"Also, don't delay your current work, but it's not urgent. Aim for a release before the New Year. And don't stop hiring. Cultivate more talent and sign them to long-term contracts. But don't rush. First, let the Japanese company see the quality of our first batch of people. We might need to send more people to Japan, and I'll talk to Liu Xin about that."

"Yes, yes, okay!" Yan Kai almost became a yes-man. "President Shen, can I also go to Japan for further training?"

"Finish your current work first. You're the head of the domestic animation department and need to take responsibility. I'm counting on you." Shen Zhenghui didn't forget to encourage his subordinate.

Yan Kai felt an itch he couldn't scratch. "Can you send someone to manage the business side? I'm handling both technical and business aspects and I'm swamped."

"I'll talk to Liu Xin. You also need to cultivate successors."

"Yes, yes, thank you, President Shen." Yan Kai hung up the phone, feeling elated. He thought, "I'm only 22 and already cultivating successors?" He turned to see a group of people who had stopped working and were staring at him intently.

"What are you doing? Get back to work!" Yan Kai called out, but couldn't hide the joy in his voice.

"Director Yan," someone called out, "I want to go to Japan too!"

"Go to hell! Get back to work!"