Chapter Twenty-Four: A Fateful Encounter

  In China, the production of most TV dramas has little to do with TV stations. After a TV drama production company completes its work, it sells the entire series to various TV stations. In contrast, Japanese TV stations play a much more significant role in the production process. Although there are still TV drama production companies, they usually have close ties with TV stations, which decide what gets made and provide most of the funding. Moreover, TV stations are heavily involved throughout the production process. One obvious example is that almost all indoor scenes for TV dramas are shot in the studios of the TV station itself. As a result, TV dramas produced and recorded at a particular station can only be broadcast on that station, unlike in China where one TV drama can be sold to multiple stations simultaneously.

  Bayshore Studio is a seven-story building, unlike the main headquarters of Fuji TV where most administrative and clerical work takes place. In fact, this is where most of Japan's famous dramas and variety shows are produced. Fuji TV's famous Monday 9pm drama, as well as Fire 9 and Water 10 dramas, comedy duo Downtown's variety show "Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!", Arashi's "VS Arashi" and many other TV programs were recorded here.

  Zhou Xiao felt an atmosphere similar to that of a TV station as soon as she entered the studio with Uncle Jingsheng, and there were more people here, noisier. Uncle Jingsheng said that this huge studio is over 300 ping, and there are eight studios like this in Japan, which is already very good. Oh, by the way, the unit of measurement "ping" used here refers to a Japanese area unit, with one ping being approximately equal to 3.3 square meters.

  "Why don't we continue working at the TV station?" Zhou Xiao asked.

  "The TV station shoots a small number of programs every day, most are done here, you need to get used to this."

  Inoue's uncle pulled his connections again, and after a phone call from Okada, whom he knew from the TV station, the two were quickly arranged for work.

  "The TV series M2 needs two assistants for filming, you go first and report to me after finishing, then I will arrange new work for you."

  The M1M2D1D2 studios in Wan Chao are all large studios, and the ones that can rent such large studios for filming are basically TV dramas or important variety shows during prime time.

  Zhou Xiao followed Uncle Inoue to the M2 studio, where a sign at the entrance read "Lovers of Weather Forecast".

  "It's this play after all..." said Uncle Inoue, looking at the sign.

  "Do you know?"

  "Of course you know, you don't know!?" Uncle Inoue asked.

  "I don't know..."

  "Don't you watch TV every night?"

  "After I turned on that broken TV of mine, I couldn't even see people clearly, let alone watch shows." said Zhou Xiao.

  "Hey... once you're done with work, don't forget to buy a TV. It's not right for someone in this line of work to not watch TV. The weather forecaster's lover is the one from this season's taiga drama." said Inoue.

  "Amazing! It's already September!"

  The definition of Getsu 9, people who have a slight understanding of the Japanese entertainment industry will be relatively clear. Every Monday is called Getsuyōbi, and at 9 pm on Getsuyōbi, it's Getsu 9. In Japan, this is the golden time slot, and TV dramas broadcast during this time are usually referred to as Getsu 9. However, although there are five major private television stations in Japan, when it comes to Getsu 9, they basically refer to Fuji Television's Getsu 9. As for other TV stations, even if they broadcast something at the same time, it will only become a sacrifice for Fuji TV.

  "Look, it's Fukaura Hidari! So beautiful!" Before entering the studio, Inoue-san was just a middle-aged man who didn't smile or talk much, but as soon as he entered here, he immediately pointed at the stars rehearsing in the studio, talking excitedly like he had been injected with chicken blood.

  Fukatsu Eri is a popular actress right now, and at 27 years old, she's also at the age where women are in full bloom, no wonder Uncle Inoue got excited just looking at her.

  "Inosaka Izumi is here! Inosaka Izumi has arrived!" Uncle Inoue pointed at another woman.

  Fukada Kyoko has been rarely seen on screen since 2010, so people who have just become interested in the Japanese entertainment industry over the past two years may not be familiar with her. Inoue Manami, on the other hand, is still active on screen even after a decade, although most of the TV dramas she appears in have changed from leading roles to more important supporting roles. For example, in 2011, she played the fourth female lead in that year's Getsu9 "I Cannot Love" alongside Oshima Yuko.

  "Wow, Yabe's here! Hahaha..." Inoue suddenly pointed at a man and said.

  If you say that Zhou Xiao is not very familiar with the first two girls, then this man is quite familiar.

  Yoshio Yamada, a famous comedian from the duo 99, came up with ideas such as AKB48's Yuka Nakamura and Rie Kitahara's "Sweet Treat" project, the final exam project, and the sports day project on his show. The AKB48 exam is not an unusual project, in fact, the idol group Morning Musume's exams have been held the most times among all idol groups.

  "What are you two smiling about? Are you here to help? Come quickly!" The interruption came from a director on the scene, and it wasn't until then that Uncle Inoue snapped out of his introduction to Zhou Xiao, pulling him along as they walked towards the other person.

  Experienced Uncle Inoue can still do some technical work at the TV station, but Zhou Xiao has no experience and is a temporary worker, so he can only do some ordinary tasks. From more than 7:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon, Zhou Xiao was busy with various trivial matters, helping to carry scenery, handing out scripts to actors, confirming camera positions with cameramen, even buying water for Narumi Izumi and polishing shoes for Yabe Hiroyuki...

  By noon, with the director's word of rest, Zhou Xiao finally relaxed a bit, sitting limply on the ground, resting together with many others who were just like him.

  "How's it going? It must be tough, right?" Mr. Inoue handed over two bento boxes and gave one to Zhou Xiao. They were eating the most ordinary bento, but Japanese cuisine was famous for its delicacy, even the most ordinary bento was made very well, plus they hadn't eaten breakfast and had been tired all morning, Zhou Xiao ate it very deliciously.

  "This afternoon we won't be in this shed anymore," said Uncle Inoue.

  "Change again in the afternoon?"

  "It's okay, don't worry, I've got everything recorded here. We'll definitely get the money by tonight. This afternoon we're going to D4 studio, there's an ad shoot over there."

  "Alright." Zhou Xiao replied.

  Bayshore Studio's smallest studio, D4, has an area of over 200 ping, but now it has been divided into four small studios to shoot various short films.

  The most common one is a commercial, and the shooting time of a commercial is also short. It can be easily completed in one day or half a day.

  "Where are we going?" asked Zhou Xiao.

  "Ah... Number 3! Over here!" Uncle Inoue entered shed D4 and found D4-3, leading Zhou Xiao inside.

  Although this is his third location change today, the content of the work has not changed at all. In short, it's just carrying various backdrops and running around everywhere. Today's No. 3 hall is going to be shot, looking like a children's supplies, in front of the camera are various cute and low-age backdrops.

  "The actor has arrived!!!" At this time, the staff on site pushed open the door and shouted.

  Zhou Xiao turned her head and found a very short figure walking in.

  "It seems she is just a minor role in this commercial." Zhou Xiao thought.

  "Huh!?" Zhou Xiao's whole body shook, his eyes suddenly widened, as if he had seen something extremely strange. He stared tightly at the little girl's face, as if he had seen something incredibly surprising.

  She was a little girl with a round smile, looking like she's eleven or twelve years old. When she smiled, two very cute dimples would appear on the corners of her mouth. Moreover, although she wasn't very old, it was clear that she had been in many film studios for years and was an old hand at this. As soon as she came in, she greeted various staff members with a familiar bow.

  Although Zhou Xiao is now working on the scene, he is only eighteen years old, but one is a child star and the other is a temporary worker on the scene. The difference in identity makes them seem to be different generations, but in fact, the age gap between the two people is only six years.

  "Crossing fourteen years of time, I arrived here, but didn't expect to intersect with you so soon...... Oshima Yoko, I'll wait for you to grow up..."