My Tokyo Celebrity Girlfriend Is Love-Struck, What Should I Do? - Chapter 16

Isn’t It Just Editing?

For students attempting their graduation projects for the first time, scripts often have many flaws. Issues like plot logic, pacing, and others usually require several, if not dozens of revisions before becoming barely acceptable.

Of course, there are also students with exceptional talent who hardly need any revisions.

However, submitting a thick script suitable for a commercial film on the first attempt…

This was indeed the first time Koike Yui had seen something like this.

No, to be precise, it might be the first time in the entire Kiyomi Art University.

“Well… Is this script acceptable?” Kimura asked hesitantly.

He was more concerned about whether this script could pass.

“It’s too much.” Koike Yui sighed softly, lightly tapping her slender fingers on the office desk.

“Two hours is too long. After all, this is a school, not a theater. This script is more suitable for commercial filming.”

Finding the duration too long, Kimura contemplated for a moment and said, “What if we compress the duration to within forty minutes? Would that work?”

“Can it be done? Well, compressing so much content…” Koike Yui furrowed her brows, “It’s not an easy task.”

“No problem,” Kimura said with a smile on his face.

Turning two hours into forty minutes, this operation…

Isn’t it just editing?

“Hmm?” Koike Yui was puzzled.

“Koike-sensei, can I borrow the computer for a moment?”

“Ah, sure.”

Perplexed, Koike Yui stood up as she watched Kimura take off his backpack and retrieve a USB drive from it.

Plugging in the USB drive, Kimura opened the backup document of “Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight.”

Numerous lines of script text appeared on the computer screen.

Kimura pulled out the keyboard, and the mouse continuously shifted across the screen, with the delete key pressed rapidly.

Seeing one scene and shot after another disappear from the document, Koike Yui wanted to say something.

However, observing Kimura’s focused expression, she chose to remain silent.

Always better to see what he was doing before making a judgment…

After an unknown amount of time passed, the document had been scrolled to the bottom.

Kimura stopped his fingers from pressing the delete key.

At this point, more than half of the original text document had been deleted.

Kimura quickly skimmed through the document from the beginning.

“This should be sufficient,” Kimura looked up at Koike Yui, “Now, the script can be kept within forty minutes.”

Koike Yui nodded somewhat awkwardly.

They switched positions.

Kimura stood quietly to the side while Koike Yui looked through the script document on the computer screen.

In just a short while, the two-hour script had been cut down to forty minutes?

Koike Yui wondered if Kimura’s actions would affect the plot and coherence of the film.

But…

As she scrolled through the document with the mouse wheel.

Koike Yui widened her eyes.

After a long time, her gaze returned from the last punctuation mark in the document.

Brilliant.

That was the only word left in her mind.

She initially thought that such extensive deletions and changes would undoubtedly disrupt the original storyline of the script, potentially significantly reducing its watchability.

However, Kimura boldly deleted all the family storylines of the main characters in the original script.

Only the storylines of the male lead, Kamiya Toru, the female lead, Hino Maori, and the female lead’s best friend, Wataya Izumi, were retained.

If the original script was like a gradually unfolding ice block, each character’s backstory interwoven delicately, like a piece of art evolving.

The edited script, however, was like a fleeting moment, depicting the beautiful love story between Kamiya Toru and Hino Maori, culminating in the moment of Kamiya Toru’s death.

Without the intricate details of the original script, it gained a surge of emotional ups and downs.

Moreover, upon careful consideration, the main storyline the script aimed to convey was not only clear and concise but, most importantly, the time could be controlled within forty minutes.

Perhaps even less…

Koike Yui looked at Kimura with completely different eyes.

Could it be that this guy is an extraordinary genius?!

“If it’s the current script, indeed, it can be kept within the time limit,” Koike Yui said.

“Well then, Koike-sensei, can we start filming with this script?” Kimura asked.

“However, I feel there are some areas where Hayata-kun could make better modifications,” Koike Yui paused for a moment, then moved the mouse to begin offering feedback on parts of the script that she found lacking during her earlier reading.

“For example, at the beginning, maybe you can use the initial flashback scene and insert a shot of Izumi flipping through Maori’s diary…”

“Hayata-kun cut too much from the scene of Toru and Maori’s first date. If the shots of the two of them together before the date could be retained… it might be better that way…”

Kimura listened attentively.

It had to be admitted that compared to his own film-editing-style cuts, Koike Yui’s suggestions seemed to add a touch of soul to this edited script, keeping the pacing more reasonable.

Indeed, when it came to true professionals in the field.

He still had a long way to go.

“These are probably the issues I can think of, but overall, the current script is already quite good,” Koike Yui nodded.

“By the way, if Hayata-kun really wants to shoot a two-hour movie, the funds wouldn’t be nearly enough, right?” Koike Yui asked the question that had been on her mind since yesterday.

Originally, she thought Kimura chose this pure love theme just for its low cost.

But now, it seemed that when Kimura mentioned low cost, he was comparing it to the investment required for other types of commercial movies.

Even if the initial script were to be turned into a film, it would still require a massive amount of funding for Kimura.

Frowning, Kimura then awkwardly said, “If I say I’ll go attract investments, will Koike-sensei believe me?”

“I believe you,” Koike Yui said without much hesitation.

“Huh?” Kimura looked puzzled.

“A script with commercial value, plus the involvement of Asuka, it’s very likely to attract investments,” Koike Yui said, revealing a mysterious smile.

Kimura’s body stiffened.

“You already knew…” he trailed off.

“It seems my little brother will be under Hayata-kun’s care for a few days,” Koike Yui said in a flat tone, devoid of much emotion.

“Yes,” Kimura quickly bent his body in acknowledgment.

“If there’s nothing else, you can leave.”

“Huh?” Kimura looked surprised.

Just this?

As if guessing what was on Kimura’s mind, Koike Yui added, “The final result and score will be based on how it’s deserved, and nothing will change because of others.”

“…”

Watching Kimura leave, Koike Yui couldn’t help but rest her hand on her forehead.

Thinking about her unreliable little brother, who came home last night all excited with that worthless look on his face, made her angry.

If it were before yesterday, she might have firmly refused this matter.

Letting you borrow photographic equipment, and you end up recruiting my little brother. What’s the meaning of this? Don’t you understand how to avoid suspicion?

But now…

Perhaps having Kimura around him might not be a bad thing after all.