Tokyo: My Best Actor Gear List

Chapter 83 Special Audition Requirements

Chapter 83 Special Audition Requirements

"Gift?"

Looking at Itami Juzo's face, which had a slightly mischievous grin, Kitahara Shin guessed that this was definitely not a beautifully packaged souvenir.

"Yes, a gift."

Juzo Itami sat back down in his chair, his fisherman's hat slightly askew from the wind, but he didn't seem to care.

He pointed to the script in Kitahara Shin's hand, his tone suddenly turning cold and hard, completely losing the relaxed joking tone he had just displayed.

"I know how actors prepare for roles these days. They get the script, go home, lock themselves in their room, practice making faces in front of the mirror, or go and experience life for two or three days, think they understand it, and then start acting in front of the camera."

That kind of thing is called imitation, not performance.

"What I want to film is a portrait of humanity, a surgical scene that peels away the hypocrisy of society. If you just try to act as the concierge based on your imagination, all you'll ever portray is a handsome guy in uniform, not the cold, calculating gaze I'm looking for."

Kitahara Shin placed the script on his lap and listened quietly.

This kind of argument is not new in later generations, but in today's impetuous and superficial era, directors who can adhere to this creative philosophy are truly rare.

"Therefore, my request is very simple."

Juzo Itami extended two fingers and tapped them on the ash-covered tabletop.

"Go find me a truly top-tier hotel and have me work as an intern concierge for two months."

"I had to live completely under an assumed name, and no one could know that I was Kitahara Shin. I had to stand for ten hours every day, carrying luggage for customers, making restaurant reservations, shining shoes, walking dogs, and even unclogging toilets."

At this point, the director paused, observing Kitahara Shin's expression.

Seeing that the young man showed no impatience or shock, he continued with satisfaction: "And it's not just about wasting time."

"I need to see results in two months. Either your performance evaluation will rank in the top three among the interns, or the department manager will want to keep you on as a full-time employee."

"If you can't do it, or if you get complaints or get fired halfway through because you can't handle the hardship, then you can forget about this script. I'll just find a veteran actor from a drama troupe to play the role. Although he's not as handsome as you, at least he's really willing to go all out."

This is simply making things difficult.

How can you expect a top idol at the height of their popularity to bend down and carry shoes for others, and then become a top performer in the industry within two months?

If it were any other slightly famous celebrity, upon hearing such a request, they would probably have already thrown coffee in the director's face, feeling that it was an insult.

But Kitahara Shin simply put the script back into the brown paper bag.

"Is that all?" he asked.

Juzo Itami raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised: "What? You still think it's simple? That's the real service industry, where you encounter a hundred times more eccentric customers than you've seen on a film set. You're a pampered actress now, going to a place like that and being bossed around, can you handle that psychological adjustment?"

"fine."

Kitahara Shin smiled, a smile that showed no reluctance, only composure.

In my previous life, when I was a part-time extra in Hengdian, I would lie in a suit of armor weighing dozens of kilograms all day in the sweltering summer heat. I would buy cigarettes and smile at the casting director for a few lines. What kind of hardship didn't I endure?

In comparison, standing in an air-conditioned five-star hotel is pure bliss.

What he fears is not the hardship itself, but the lack of opportunity to endure the kind of hardship that can bring him a trophy.

This role is too important to him.

This is a golden opportunity for him to completely shed the idol label and transform from a "star" into an "actor".

That kind of silent performance, which relies entirely on micro-expressions and inner monologues, could, if successful, not only win over Japanese audiences but might even open the door to international film festivals.

For this self-importance, he would be willing to work as a doorman for two months or even sweep the streets.

"If we're going to play, let's play for real."

Kitahara Shin stood up, tucked the brown paper bag under his arm, and said, "Two months from now, I'll come see you with the outstanding employee award certificate."

"Okay, then I'll wait."

Juzo Itami also stood up, reached out to press down his hat, and looked at the young man's back with an expectant smile.

"By the way, don't go to those newly built nouveau riche hotels. Go to those old, established restaurants. That's where the food is authentic."

After leaving the TV station, Kitahara Shin sat in the back seat of the van, not in a hurry to have the driver start the car.

He was thinking about a very real problem.

Which hotel should we go to?

-

Ordinary business hotels are definitely not suitable; you won't get to experience the so-called "various aspects of high society" depicted in the script.

It must be a top-tier, long-established hotel like the Imperial Hotel or the Hotel Okura.

However, such places have extremely strict onboarding checks, requiring a clean background, and there are definitely many young people among the employees who have watched "Tokyo Love Story".

If he doesn't go through some special channels, he'll probably be recognized as soon as he goes for the interview. Forget about experiencing life there; he'll become the headline of the entertainment section the next day—"Shocking! Popular male star goes bankrupt and becomes a doorman."

We need to find a powerful backer to make his identity airtight, ideally someone who can directly put him into a core department without going through the regular interview process.

Kitahara Shin opened his contacts and his finger stopped on a name.

Sasaki.

He holds a significant number of high-quality real estate shares, including preferred shares in several established hotels.

In this era of bursting bubbles and major conglomerates selling off assets to recoup funds, a tycoon like Zosam, with a large amount of US dollar cash flow in hand, is definitely a guest of honor on the boards of directors of various hotels.

"Beep—beep—"

—

The phone was answered after ringing twice.

"Kitahara-kun?"

Zosam's voice sounded cheerful, with the crisp sound of golf clubs hitting the ground echoing in the background. "The market dropped another 300 points today, but your US Treasury bonds are doing quite well. What, thinking of investing more? Or did you misjudge another stock?"

"You can make the decisions about the investments."

Kitahara Shin spoke politely, "I'm calling today to ask you for a favor. I'd like to find a job."

Looking for a job?

There was a slight pause on the other end, followed by a hearty laugh. "What's wrong? Can't make it in the entertainment industry anymore? Or got blacklisted by some rich woman? Perfect, come work for me as an analyst, name your price."

"It's not that kind of job."

Kitahara Shin said with some helplessness, "I want to work as a trainee concierge at a top-tier hotel for two months, preferably a place frequented by old-money families, and—it must be completely confidential, no one can know who I am."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"For filming?" Sasaki was a well-informed person, and he understood after a little thought.

"yes.

""

"You really are a weirdo."

Sasaki sighed, seemingly seeing for the first time a celebrity would forgo a multi-million dollar film and instead go and carry someone else's luggage. "Alright, this is easy. I have shares in the Hotel Okura, and their concierge department is currently recruiting summer interns. I can have the HR director arrange an identity for you, saying you're a relative from the countryside, here to broaden your horizons in Tokyo, and we can skip the background check."

"However," Sasaki changed the subject, with a hint of sarcasm, "the head of the protocol department is a notoriously stubborn old man named Kuroda. He's been in that position for thirty years and can't tolerate any injustice. Even if I manage to get you in, if you don't perform well, he'll still kick you out, and I won't be able to protect you then."

That would be best.

Kitahara Shin looked out the window at the receding street scene, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "I'm looking for something discerning. If everyone treats me like royalty, then I don't need to go."

"Okay, that's tough. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, go directly to the back entrance of the Okura Hotel and find a human resources manager named Yamamoto."

Have you decided on a name? Since we're going to be living under an assumed name, we can't just keep calling ourselves Kitahara Shin.

"Let's call him Sato."

Kitahara Shin casually mentioned one of the most common surnames in Japan, the kind that you could easily blend into a crowd: "Sato Takeru."

"Okay, Sato-kun."

Zosam chuckled on the other end, "Have fun."

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Nobunaga breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, I will."

""