dognovel Chapter 275 The Suits-Clad Thugs on the Rooftop, and Jackie Chan's Ultimate Showdown!
Chapter 275 The Suits-Clad Thugs on the Rooftop, and Jackie Chan's Ultimate Showdown!
Chapter 275 The Suits-Clad Thugs on the Rooftop, and Jackie Chan's Ultimate Showdown!
As the clapperboard sounded, filming officially began for Takeru Satoh's first action scene on the big screen.
On camera, sixteen-year-old Takeru Satoh displayed astonishing explosive power. He perfectly integrated the kendo footwork and combat skills he had honed since childhood into the chaotic street fight. Facing Jackie Chan's signature acrobatic fighting style that utilized the surrounding environment to dodge and weave, Satoh not only showed no fear, but instead, like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, every thrust and slash was accompanied by an extremely sharp whooshing sound, even forcing Jackie Chan to use his real kung fu to defend himself on several occasions.
This fight scene, which was originally just a formality, was transformed into an extremely gripping tension thanks to Takeru Satoh's "mad dog"-like fighting style.
"Cut! Okay, that's a good take!" the director shouted excitedly.
Jackie Chan, panting heavily, stopped what he was doing, dusted himself off, and walked over to Kitahara Shin. Looking at Sato Takeru, who was still panting and beaming with excitement, he couldn't help but give him a thumbs up: "Shin, you're something else! You've really taught this student well! That stability in his lower body and the ruthlessness of his moves—that's something you can't achieve without years of hellish training. Your Kitahara agency is truly full of hidden talents, all monsters!"
Hearing Jackie Chan's praise, Kitahara Shin simply smiled and handed him a bottle of water, without explaining that Sato Takeru's kung fu skills were entirely self-taught and that he had never taught him. Since the kid had seized this stage that could make him shine, Kitahara Shin was naturally happy to see it happen and was willing to go along with it and give him a helping hand.
After filming the fight scene with Jackie Chan, the next scene was a direct confrontation between Takeru Satoh and Shin Kitahara.
This scene depicts a low-level assassin, played by Takeru Satoh, returning to report to his mastermind (Shin Kitahara) after a failed mission. The core purpose is to showcase Kitahara's ultimate villainous yakuza style and absolute oppressive presence.
The set fell silent. Kitahara Shin, dressed in a dark, bespoke suit, sat quietly in the boss's chair.
The moment the camera focused on the two, Kitahara Shin unleashed the full power of his "Yakuza" title, a title he had accumulated in the Yakuza series. It was a terrifying pressure that combined bloodshed, ruthlessness, and the absolute power of a leader.
It was just a cold, condescending gaze, devoid of any dialogue.
Standing opposite him, Takeru Satoh felt a sudden buzzing in his brain, as if the air around him had been instantly sucked away. A deep-seated dread surged up his spine, and his legs began to tremble uncontrollably. This wasn't acting; it was the instinctive fear of a living being facing an apex predator!
But beneath this immense fear, a barely suppressed excitement surged deep within Takeru Satoh's eyes.
Looking at the charismatic man before him, a memory from his elementary school days flashed through his mind. Back then, he would eagerly sit in front of the TV every night, hoping to watch "Kamen Rider," but his parents would always snatch the remote away without hesitation, fixating on the screen to watch "Tokyo Love Story," starring a man named Kitahara Shin. He absolutely hated Kitahara Shin back then.
But as time went on, watching Kitahara Shin climb to the top step by step, not only did his parents become die-hard fans, but he himself also hopelessly regarded this man as a god. And now, this newbie who hadn't even taken a driving test was actually standing in front of this god, acting opposite him on the same big screen!
"Is this... truly top-notch acting?"
Sato Takeru gritted his teeth, suppressing his trembling body, and forcefully withstood the terrifying aura of Kitahara Shin, portraying a killer who was terrified after a failed mission but was also extremely loyal, with remarkable realism.
"Cut! That's awesome!"
Upon hearing the director's voice, Takeru Satoh collapsed to the ground, completely exhausted, gasping for breath. For a complete novice with no film experience to act alongside the charismatic Shin Kitahara to this extent without forgetting his lines or breaking down was already a miracle in itself.
As filming progressed steadily, the crew soon reached the climax of the entire film – the ultimate showdown between Kitahara Shin and Jackie Chan.
To maximize the visual impact, the scene was moved to the rooftop of a skyscraper under construction in Shinjuku.
There are no pots, pans, or furniture props like those found in Jackie Chan's movies here, only cold steel and concrete, howling winds, and the weightless feeling of a bottomless abyss.
"Action!"
With the script supervisor's instructions, the two men, representing the highest level of Asian action films, completely abandoned choreographed moves and fancy techniques, and engaged in an extremely fierce hand-to-hand combat.
Kitahara Shin tore off his tie, unbuttoned his suit, and unleashed a flurry of punches, each strike carrying terrifying explosive power; Jackie Chan also unleashed the peak physical abilities of his middle age, showcasing his highly practical grappling techniques and close-quarters combat to the fullest.
Without the intervention of a martial arts instructor, the two relied entirely on their top-notch reflexes and combat experience to engage in a brutal, hard-hitting battle. The muffled thuds of muscles colliding were exceptionally clear on the empty rooftop, making the surrounding staff tremble with fear.
Sato Takeru stood behind the machine, looking at the president on the rooftop who still maintained the elegance of a thug in a suit even in the midst of a fierce fight. His first reaction was: Jackie Chan is really amazing, he can actually fight the president to a standstill!
(If Jackie Chan knew what this kid was thinking, he'd probably be so angry he'd vomit blood on the spot.)
The fight on the field grew increasingly intense. Jackie Chan, provoked by Kitahara Shin's extremely fierce attacks, entered a state of complete self-forgetfulness and desperate fighting. The two rolled and exchanged blows on the scaffolding, and every pause at the edge made everyone hold their breath.
According to the script, as the ultimate villain, Kitahara Shin could not afford to lose his dignity, even if he lost.
In the final moments of the fight, Kitahara Shin, in order to cover something, voluntarily gave up resisting and was handcuffed to the iron railing on the rooftop by Jackie Chan.
Even with defeat already decided, Kitahara Shin showed no sign of distress or fear. He calmly straightened the slightly disheveled hem of his suit with his handcuffed hands, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and looked at the panting Jackie Chan with an almost pitying and mocking gaze. The image of that aloof yakuza godfather was forever frozen in that moment.
Time flies, and with the extremely tight and efficient shooting schedule, it's already May.
The location shooting for "Shinjuku Incident" was completed more than half a month ahead of schedule, and the entire crew successfully wrapped up filming.
During the past two months of filming in Japan, Jackie Chan has truly experienced what it means to "have a powerful backer."
In the past, when he filmed big productions abroad, he encountered all sorts of troubles, such as local gangs extorting protection money, police obstructing the approval of street closures, and even residents protesting because of the noise from explosions. These troubles could wear down the entire crew.
But this time in Tokyo, all the unexpected troubles and problems could be resolved with just one phone call from Kitahara Shin, and the Metropolitan Police Department's top officials would personally intervene. The local yakuza organizations didn't dare utter a sound and obediently avoided the film set.
Having spent most of his life in the film industry, this was the first time Jackie Chan had experienced such a smooth and unobstructed filming environment overseas. It was absolutely exhilarating, without a doubt!
After filming the last scene, Jackie Chan, panting heavily, didn't even bother to change his clothes before striding over to Shin Kitahara.
He grasped Kitahara Shin's hand firmly, his tone incredibly sincere and excited: "Brother! This time, I'm truly impressed! From the investment and the location to you personally risking your life alongside me, without you, this film would never have reached this level. I can't thank you enough; I, Jackie Chan, will remember this kindness!"
Kitahara Shin chuckled and patted Jackie Chan's hand gently, saying, "Brother, it's too formal for you to say these things to me. We're partners. If the movie is good, we can all make a lot of money. It's a win-win situation."
Jackie Chan knew perfectly well that Kitahara Shin spoke lightly, but the weight of this favor was considerable. To receive such protection on someone else's turf wasn't something that could be earned with just a few nice words.
With filming wrapped, the demanding post-production editing and music composition work immediately began. Kitahara Shin directly utilized the country's top-tier marketing resources, starting to connect with several major theater chains, preparing to release "Shinjuku Incident" during the summer's prime time slot in August, aiming to drop a box office bombshell during Japan's hottest movie season.
After finishing his work, Jackie Chan did not rush back to Hong Kong, but instead took a few days off to explore Tokyo.
In the past few days, Jackie Chan, accompanied by Shin Kitahara, visited Kitahara's vast business empire.
From the efficient management company building to the dedicated factory that produces Ultraman Tiga and related merchandise day and night, and the directly operated physical stores scattered throughout Tokyo's bustling areas.
Looking at these massive industries involving film, merchandise, retail, and even real estate investment, with each link operating in an orderly manner and generating astonishing profits, Jackie Chan was even more shocked than when he was filming a scene of jumping off a building.
One evening at a celebratory banquet.
After a few rounds of drinks, Jackie Chan's face was flushed. He put his arm around Kitahara Shin's shoulder and finally couldn't hold back, unleashing a soul-searching question in authentic Cantonese: "Shin, you damn jerk, tell me honestly—are you some kind of alien?! You're prettier than all the celebrities, you fight fiercer than my stunt team, and you've managed to build such a huge business empire! Do you have forty-eight hours a day?!"
Hearing Jackie Chan's heavily intoxicated and utterly unbelievable rant, Kitahara Shin simply picked up his sake cup, took a small sip, smiled, and remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. In a sense, transmigrators and systems with cheat codes are indeed not much different from aliens.
Jackie Chan let out a burp, his joking expression vanished, and he opened up to Kitahara Shin, saying, "Brother, to be honest, working with you this time has been the most enjoyable and fun-filled filming experience of my life! You're a man of vision, ability, and loyalty."
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He patted his chest heavily and said, "You can leave the legitimate CD distribution company you used to run in Hong Kong, and the distribution channels you used to sell to the mainland, to me! I still have some influence in Hong Kong and the mainland, and I'll keep an eye on things for you in both the legal and illegal worlds."
I don't want a single share; consider it a gesture of brotherhood! In the future, when there are big productions like this, let's continue to join forces and push Asian films directly onto Hollywood's table!
As Kitahara Shin listened to Jackie Chan's heartfelt promise, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. Jackie Chan was a smart man; he knew that by using some free resources to completely bind Kitahara Shin, this unfathomable capital tycoon, the future benefits would be immeasurable.
Kitahara Shin smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it heavily with Jackie Chan's: "It's a deal. There will be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future."
Having finished wrapping up "Shinjuku Incident" and solidifying his distribution channels in Hong Kong, Kitahara Shin turned his attention to his next work plan.
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Currently, on the big screen, he has the art-house film "Shall We Dance?" which has garnered international acclaim, and the action film "Shinjuku Incident" which is about to sweep the Asian box office. However, in the television industry, his core business, he hasn't produced a super-hit drama series that can generate nationwide frenzy for some time since "Bayside Shakedown".
With the rapid expansion of his businesses, Kitahara Shin now has mountains of business decisions to deal with every day, and he no longer has the leisure time to write scripts himself as a "plagiarist".
He leaned back in his boss's chair, casually flipping through the tall stack of proposals on his desk, submitted by various television stations and independent production companies.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on one of the project proposals.
The cover prominently displays several visually striking words: "Great Teacher Onizuka GTO".
Kitahara Shin's eyes lit up slightly. He knew all too well the value of this work.
The story of this drama is incredibly captivating: it tells the tale of Eikichi Ichigo, a former leader of a biker gang, who unexpectedly becomes a teacher at a seemingly prestigious but internally problematic private high school. Faced with a group of rebellious students utterly disillusioned with adults, and the school's hypocritical and irresponsible staff, this "bad teacher" doesn't opt for traditional lecturing. He uses the most straightforward and brutal street smarts, even resorting to violence, to resolve issues like bullying, domestic abuse, and a crisis of trust between teachers and students, forcefully shattering the students' closed-off defenses.
But in Kitahara Shin's eyes, the greatest value of this drama is not just its exciting plot that is destined to ignite ratings.
What he valued was the show's unparalleled ability to create stars.
As a school drama, "GTO" features a large number of student characters with significant screen time and distinct personalities.
This is a natural "new talent incubator".
Kitahara's agency has now signed a large number of highly promising newcomers (such as Takeru Satoh, who has just made his mark in action films, and other promising young talents who are training hard in training classes). If Shin Kitahara himself were to play the male lead, Eikichi Oni, given his current terrifying viewership appeal, the minimum standard for this drama would be raised infinitely high.
He could easily use this project to cram all the young artists under his agency into this "Class 3-4". He could then use his current massive popularity to "forcefully promote" these newcomers, making them instantly recognizable to audiences across Japan.
From the perspective of return on investment and the long-term development of the talent pool, no project currently offers higher returns than filming this campus drama. It's not just about making a film; it's also an extremely efficient training exercise for the company's internal resources.
Having made up his mind, Kitahara Shin didn't have his secretary do it for him. Instead, he picked up the phone on the table and dialed the producer's contact information left on the proposal.
The phone was answered after two rings, and a slightly tired middle-aged man's voice came from the other end: "Hello, this is the Kansai Television Film and Television Production Department —"
"Hello, I'm Shin Kitahara from Kitahara Office." Shin Kitahara's tone was calm and friendly, and he got straight to the point. "I just read your proposal for 'Great Teacher Onizuka' and I'm very interested in this project."
There was an instant, deathly silence on the other end of the phone.
After a full four or five seconds, the previously weary voice suddenly rose eight octaves, even becoming noticeably stuttering and trembling with extreme excitement: "President Kita-Kihara?! You—you are Mr. Kitahara Shin himself?!"
The other party could hardly believe their ears. In the Japanese film and television industry, everyone knows that Kitahara Shin's schedule is a hundred times more valuable than gold! The heads of major television stations have to wait in line to invite him for a cup of tea. The proposal he submitted was originally just a "cast a wide net" approach, like buying a lottery ticket, and he never expected such a big shot to personally review it.
As a result, this entertainment industry godfather, worth hundreds of billions, actually called him personally!
"It's me." Kitahara Shin chuckled softly as he heard the sound of the other person knocking over a water glass in their excitement. "I think this project has a lot of potential. If it's convenient, I'd like to discuss the specific details of the collaboration and casting authority with you in person."
"Convenient! Absolutely convenient! I'm so honored!" The producer was so excited he was almost incoherent, his voice filled with the overwhelming flattery of being hit by a huge windfall. "President Kitahara, when are you available? I'll book the earliest Shinkansen ticket to Tokyo right away! No, I'll fly there directly! I can visit your office this afternoon with the complete script outline!"
"Okay, then I'll wait for you at the company."
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