[CH.56] Discussion About the Future
**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before. Sumire Matsuda: MC Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager. Azusa Oshima: Sumire's mentor. Mr. Onda: Senior Actor |
In the end, the vibration of the car induced drowsiness, and I ended up napping for a short while until we reached the office. Thanks to that, I was teased by Yoko-san with remarks like, "You had a cute sleeping face." Although I felt embarrassed inside, I managed to maintain my composure as I entered the office.
As I passed by familiar colleagues, I greeted them by nodding my head each time they called out to me. Reflecting on the first time I came to the office when most people gave me looks like, "Who is this kid?" makes me feel a sense of nostalgia. My visibility has certainly increased.
Following Yoko-san, I arrived at the floor where the desks of the office's core, the receptionist, and the manager were lined up. The receptionist handles client calls and visitor interactions for the manager, while the manager supports, takes care of administrative and financial tasks, and more.
Sometimes, I make phone calls to the office, and even after the matter is resolved, the receptionist tends to engage in casual chitchat, so I'm quite familiar with the personalities of these ladies. Even now, while she's on the phone with the receiver in hand, she waves at me, so I smiled and waved back.
Yoko-san, approaching her desk, carried a thick clear file under her arm and walked towards the individual consultation space partitioned by dividers. She placed the file on the desk with a thud and gestured for me to take a seat at the inner chair. Yoko-san also sat across from me and took out her notebook and ballpoint pen from her bag.
"Well then, once again, I'm sorry for making you come all the way here when you're tired, but we need to discuss various things about your future work," Yoko-san said.
"Could it be that the contents of this clear file...?"
"Yes, that's right. These are all job offers for Sumire. I've briefly checked the details, and I've filtered out any unusual or suspicious clients, but there's quite a variety."
As she said that, Yoko-san let out a big sigh and opened the file for me to see more clearly. I flipped through the pages briefly, and there were requests from various genres. There were offers for commercials, TV dramas, stage performances, and even requests for appearances on variety shows stood out. One of the more unusual offers was to participate in forming a girl band for a TV show's project, with a role as a keyboardist. It surprised me, as my piano skills were far from sufficient for such a task, and it didn't seem like a job for someone at my beginner level.
But I wondered if it was normal to receive this many offers when the movie had only been released for two days. Curious, I asked Yoko-san, and she explained with a wry smile.
According to Yoko-san, there was a preview screening for industry professionals a little while ago. People from the advertising agency who attended that event and others who got to know about Sumire through their connections seem to have quickly spread the word. It turns out that, due to the various pinch-hitting roles I've taken on in the past, I had gained a reputation in some circles as "Sumire-chan, the one to turn to in times of trouble." From my perspective, I've just been giving my best in my work, but compared to other child actors who might throw tantrums or struggle to understand directions, I've managed to avoid wasting much time. I've received high praise for my work, which has led to several subsequent jobs.
For this movie, people who were intrigued by my performance went inquiring with acquaintances, and those who had previously asked for my help in a pinch showered me with compliments. This eventually led to the offer coming my way.
While I'm pleased to receive job offers, Ms. Azusa's preferences also play a role. Last time, I was allowed to take on non-acting jobs for the movie's promotion, but this time, there's no such flexibility, so it seems difficult to accept. No, it's not that I have any particular interest in joining a girl band... It might seem fun, like a club activity, but still.
However, as Ms. Azusa puts it, as actors who serve as vessels to bring fictional characters to life in reality, I understand that it's best not to show too much of our personal selves to the audience. It's a tricky balance to strike.
Should I only accept jobs that fall under the category of acting, or should I challenge various offers to broaden my horizons? Even that romantic movie offer we discussed before has been put on hold, and I'm waiting for a response. It's overwhelming with so many issues to tackle.
"By the way, Ms. Azusa's previous instructions are no longer in effect for now. If Sumire has any jobs she's interested in, please don't hesitate to let me know," Yoko-san said.
"Why is that? I don't think Ms. Azusa was mistaken in what she said."
"I heard from Mr. Onda when we had drinks, and it seems she had a change of heart. She believes that it might be beneficial for Sumire, who is still a child and has a lot of growth ahead, to experience various things. She didn't tell me the specifics of her conversation with Mr. Onda, but I'm all for this change in direction because I want Sumire to work on various sets."
I responded with a wry smile to Yoko-san's delighted words, but I couldn't help feeling a bit worried about Ms. Azusa. Perhaps it was a firmly held policy within her that led her to give that directive with such a top-down approach, so I assume she had strong reasons for it. If something in her conversation with Onda's grandpa was significant enough to make her retract the directive, it's not unreasonable for me to be concerned.
I would be happy if the conclusion is based on considering my growth, but I don't want to deny Ms. Azusa's policy or principles as an actor. If there's an opportunity for such a conversation in the future, I'd like to express my thoughts. I do resonate with Ms. Azusa's perspective, but I can't deny that I have a lot to learn and experience, especially in areas where I have limited experience, including past lives. So, I want to actively work on filling those gaps.
As we read through the contents of the file more attentively this time, Yoko-san and I started sorting through the job offers. The desk assistant brought us drinks a couple of times, and it was only when she spoke up the second time that we realized the day had already turned into night as we were deeply engrossed in our discussions.
As a result, we decided to continue accepting roles in commercials and TV dramas as long as the characters are not morally objectionable. However, with the increasing volume of offers, they will implement measures like double-checking to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
For stage performances, which tend to have longer commitments, we decided to prioritize them when there's flexibility in the schedule. It's an opportunity to learn unique acting techniques and etiquette specific to the stage, so I'd like to participate whenever possible. However, considering future tuition and living expenses, I have no choice but to prioritize jobs based on the salary. When I have financial flexibility, I definitely want to take part in stage productions.
Regarding variety shows, it's open for discussion depending on the genre, but any work that significantly damages the image of the actor "Sumire Matsuda," which the agency should protect, is a no-go. The quiz show I recently appeared on apparently received good feedback, so it seems like that genre might be the focus.
Travel shows are off-limits because they often have longer time commitments and can lead to frequent school absences. Similarly, challenges like joining a girl band would also be difficult due to the extended time required for practice. However, there might be exceptions if a tempting offer comes in that can positively impact my career. When I asked Yoko-san, "What do you mean by 'tempting'?" she just smiled and didn't provide more details, so I'm not entirely sure if it's some sort of behind-the-scenes trade or barter. I don't fully understand it.
For some of the jobs, I gave an immediate affirmative response via fax, while for others, Yoko-san will negotiate the terms, and then I'll decide whether to accept or decline. I've decided to fully entrust this process to her, as I can't be expected to understand everything in a completely different field, even if I've had past lives as a working professional. Let the experts handle it.
Yoko-san gave me a ride back to the dorm, and when I got out of the car, I apologized for the additional busyness ahead and expressed my gratitude for her continued support. I felt a bit guilty about burdening Yoko-san, who is already quite busy. However, as I was thinking this, Yoko-san, who had gotten out of the driver's seat, patted my head affectionately.
"It means that the more I get busy, the more work is coming in for the Sumire I'm representing, and opportunities are flowing in. So, I'd actually love for you to get busier and busier. My dream is for lots of people to recognize Sumire's talent as an actress and proudly say to those people, 'My Sumire is amazing!' So, Sumire, you don't need to look apologetic like that," Yoko-san said, with a mischievous smile.
I couldn't help but smile in response, drawn in by her playful tone. I knew she was saying it in a way that wouldn't make me feel burdened, but I also believed that part of it was her sincere sentiment. If that's the case, I need to become an actress who can make Yoko-san proud in the future. It became my new goal, and it was the only way I could think of to repay Yoko-san for her hard work.
I'm not sure if I can achieve it or if I have much confidence, but I'll do my best, one step at a time, to become an actress that Yoko-san can be proud of. It was a night when I made that determination once again.
Support Tangerine Translation on Ko-fi! 🍊 ko-fi.com/tangerinetranslation 🍊
Comments
Post a Comment