V1C4 Part5

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Chapter 4 part 5

That evening, I proceeded to head to the video research lab just after class. It was for the purpose of submitting a copy of the filming application documents and report the filming plan. 

“I think Professor Kanou’s class will be over soon, is it possible for you to sit and wait over there for a while?.”

The Assistant Onee-san welcomed me into the room.\nI took the offer to sit on the sofa. Due to my boredom I rudely wandered my eyes around the room unconsciously.

“There are various things here huh…”

I didn’t notice it when I entered here for the team formation report but looking at it again there are a lot of things condensed in this room.

There are numerous trophies, plaques, and certificates messily piled up, on top of several movie reels are placed here.

The number of video tapes were also incredible. The VHS was surprising to say the least. There are also a lot of tape drives* that I had never seen before piled up like a mountain.  

(TN Note the tape drive could be a faulty translation it could either be that or the actual magnetic  tape can't confirm but I'll try to re-edit all the chapters  after finishing sorry for now orz )

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On the reception table in front of me are what seems to be other student’s scripts formed a heap.

“…How is it , you been working properly?”

“Hyaaah!”

Having a voice heard near my ears, I jump up in surprise.

“S-sensei… did you come back just now?”

“I’ve been here since a while ago. Hashiba was looking at this room like a rare specimen, so I thought not to disturb you.”

Sensei has placed two cups of coffee on the table. And also sat directly opposite of me.

“So what will be discussing about today?”

My face turned toward the beautiful legs she also showed on the welcoming orientation day were crossed in front of me.

“Yes, well the permission for filming has been filed and that it was passed safely, is what I’ve come to report.“

The shooting schedule, the scene content, the time requirements and the like was reported.

Sensei also had some questions, but since I was told by Kawasegawa in advance, there were no difficulties in answering them.

“Although you applied properly, it’s more or less the same when all is said in done, It was still better of you to prepare. ”

“It’s not really anything, thank you very much though.”

I just did what I had to do, it’s not something to get praised over 

Rather than that I’m more worried about Tsurayuki. It’s been bugging me for a while now.

“Hashiba seems to have a depressed look did something happen?”

“Eh!?”

“With your role, it’s not uncommon to have one or two troubles. If you have something you want to consult about just ask me how about it?”

Maybe it was out of pure goodwill or it might have shown on my face.

ShinoAki was also worried too, I though I hid it a little bit better but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

At this point, I thought that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to consult with a person who is more familiar and experienced. 

When I talked about this with Kawasegawa, I felt that the lump in the back of my throat has loosened up.

“Um… I’m at a bit of a loss on what to do with my assigned task.”

“Assigned task? Oh?”

“The screenplay was very well done… but it was a bit too large in scale. Is it really alright to modify the production….”

Sensei listened intently to my crappy explanation.

“Even if you say that I am in the production position, I’m very scared of destroying everyone’s work with my very own hands.”

When I finished my explanation she did a big nod and began to speak.

“Didn’t I say that production isn’t about being the leftover?”

I remembered. I also doubted it.

“Yes”

“Let me tell you the reason why.”

Sensei stood up and and grabbed a bunch of printouts from her desk and put it on the reception table with a thud.

“Ah, don’t read the contents though, It’s private for the time being.”

“What are these things?”

“These are another team’s producer’s complaints”

“Complaints… you say?”

“ ”Everyone is not listening to what I say” or “How to make others listen to orders”   , Nothing but those things are said.”

Sensei sighs and shrugs her shoulders in dissapointment

“But you are different. Suddenly not saying things like wanting others listen, but wondering how not to break what was created as much as possible. Maybe you tried to persuade someone or something, it didn’t work, then now it lead to this consultation on it?  

She grinned.

“Production work is a very important job.”

I shook my head.

“...But I broke apart his incredible screenplay , there’s no doubt about that. ”

“Broke it? How could say you’ve broken it when you haven’t made it yet.”

Sensei picked up one of the scripts on the desk, then shoved it onto me.

“This is a script. It’s been bound and marked as the final draft, It can be said this is a script’s final form.”

Then it was put back onto the desk.

“…But this is not a finished video. It is just a part. It’s only one of the components.”

Sensei picked up the coffee, and vigorously poured it down her throat  like it was water or juice.

“Lukewarm”

She frowned as she placed the cup back.

“There are a lot of things to say once film production is complete. Saying it’s broken before you complete it, that just means that you can’t see the full picture yet.”

“B-but…”

“If you really think that it’s bad then do what you can for him, Completing work as a producer is probably the best thing you can do, don’t you think so?”

“Ah…”

Compromise. Give up.            \nWords like that cross my mind.\nSomehow, what I’m saying resembles a bit like Kawasegawa…I think.

“Hashiba, what do you think production work is.”

“What do you mean… It’s as Sensei said in class, chores and asswiping*.”

(TN-note: *This may be a point of confusion, in the early part of other translator release the word “asswiping” was turned into family friendly version of “cleaning up oneself” but this and a following sentence will not make sense if viewed as such.)

When I answered, Sensei laughed.

“It is, but at the same time it’s not. That’s only on the surface level. I’m happy with your honesty though.”

There was a little bit of amazement in her tone mixed in with her smile.

“Think carefully. The most important thing in production work is “Until the last second, never give up” ”

”Never…give up?”

“As I said, when a video work is finally completed and finished at last, It is destined to touted front of an audience and judged .After is said and done, An “accident” doesn’t go as expected  and you wait, the complaints that are said don’t mean anything whatsoever.”

Sensei leaned her body forward.

“That’s why until the work is done. these hands and those hands, through it, even if small should make the work good until the limbs fall out. If there are no actors, get one. If a staff member escapes do it yourself. From negotiating with an old man or praying to to God and begging him for rain. Anything that can be done is everything that you will do, that is the Producers’ job. 

“Y-yes”

“If the producer gives up the work will end at that point, but if the producer says “It’s still not over” the work will not end. That’s what it means when “wiping the ass”.

A light smile spilled out.

“It’s having the tenacity to go on until the end, that is its meaning. It can be said that the producer is the most reliable creator more than anyone else. The production is a splendid creator. No, not just limited to his own job, it can be said he is involved in everyone else’s.

“Everyone?”

I remember the time I was making a game.

The artists and writers names are praised. In comparison to the director and backstage workers were also working hard.

Although there were a few names working on it, there were many difficulties

You can’t produce anything by yourself, joining them together making do with assigning roles, and with that grasping at it making opportunity and luck to come. 

Even in that position, I wonder if that’s the case.

Even with that question, Sensei gently answered.

“Everyone involved is a creator”

The inside of my eyes was starting to sweat, I was desperately trying my best to not let it out.

Those words were salvation. I have a small role , it doesn’t amount to much, I was stuck with thinking that behind the scenes work was a bad thing.

But that wasn’t the case. Whether you are in the position of creating something or not, there is no difference in their significance. If someone is missing then the work will be no good. There is no such thing as unnecessary

Sensei thought me that with those words.

Not only the me right now, but even myself 10 years later.

“Oh my why are you in a daze”

Sensei lightly tapped my forehead, I sat back down

“That is all”

Even though we should have been the same age, it was unthinkable to see me as an adult. Is it the gap in experience?

I couldn’t say a word I was staring at my hands.

Doing what I can do. Certainly right now I can’t do anything.

But its better than continuing to make excuses for myself.

“………Thank you very much”

“Yeah, good luck”

Did the conversation end? And as I think that Sensei turns back and gestures a goodbye with the back of her hand, I nod back.

“Pardon for the trouble…Ah”

When I tried to stand up the pile of videotapes on the end of the desk collapsed.

“Ah,  S-sorry.”

“It’s fine it’s fine. I’ve been meaning to watch this but I can’t find the time”

Sensei piled up the videotapes and threw them in a box labeled (“Watch now”)

“This, what is it?”

“The “Osaka Film Festival” is a gathering of independent films. Those are candidates. I have to see 20 works and choose one and send a review the end of the day.

I don’t know the runtime of one work, but it must be a considerable amount of time.

“That’s rough…”

“Besides school work, there’s also the selection of scenario awards, preparation of film festivals, writing novels, and the writing of game scenario. I have a lot to do and it gets confusing sometimes.

Sensei chuckled.

I can only imagine it, but that’s a terrible amount of work.

“Why is Sensei doing so much work? Can Sensei even consume all that work alone?”

It was an innocent question.

I don’t know the annual income of the university’s associate professor in detail, but it can’t be worth burdening all that trouble by oneself.

If you’re a film department teacher, I get that you can serve as a film director. But handling novels and games? There’s not many people that do that. The field is just too wide no matter how you think about it.

“Hashiba, I…”

“Because I like my work”, or “I’m brimming with curiosity”, I wondered if such a response would come back.

“I time slipped from 10 years into the future.”

….Eh? 

What does that mean?

I opened my eyes in surprise.

Naturally, no words can be issued in response.

If this is something like in those stories, when Sensei confesses everything here, I will float in time once again. What will happen to my existence?\nWill I be sent back to 10 years from this point.\nVarious illusions run in my head.\nI was too impatient, I forgot to breathe.

“Uh, uhm…”

Still I had to say something, It was when I squeezed the words from the back of my throat.

“Hey hey what’s with that face. Isn’t this the part where you say “No way that’s true.” ”

Shocked, I showed a smile on my face and laughed wryly to her.

“Ah….Haha, y-yeah you’re right.”

“What I wanted to say was, I wanted to act with that sort of determination .is what I think.”

Ah I see.

If I think carefully, I’ve seen a similar sort of self-development episode on SNS*

(TN note- cellphone novels where a thing)

“10 years later, I can’t even make work on location, I’m a shitty professor who can’t help but say what’s wrong with all the works out there. One day I noticed it and regretted hard, but it was at that time with a mysterious power I was able to get back to 10 years ago. And that’s how it is now.”

Sensei made another cup of coffee, a fragrance wafts the room.

“It’s a childish mental suggestion, it unexpectedly works. Well you can laugh at it if you want it is very simplistic.”

An embarrassed, shy facial expression showed on Sensei.

But I couldn’t laugh at it.

“….I understand”

“I see, I was wondering if you were too young to understand the sentiment”

Sensei laughed suddenly.

No. That’s wrong Sensei.

Because of goodluck I was able to “Remake” the life I once did. But It seems this “Remake” has ended up to become mediocre.

…But I won’t let it happen anymore.

“Please come back anytime.”

I thanked Sensei who told me so, I gripped both hands and stood up without opening it.

Then I swore to never let this opportunity go.