What do you think, Sensei?
Everyone's so great at acting.
I think we can put on a good play.
Well, Lala Lai's full of top-class performers, after all!
I bet... everyone is practicing a ton for this.
Sensei, for a play, rather than "practicing,"
it's best to say "rehearsing."
Oh, is that so? Sorry.
I'm clueless about all this.
They're amazing. I sure couldn't do it.
And that's all the more reason that, you know...
I simply have to say it.
About the script... Is it too late to ask you to revise it?
Well, certainly, but what part exactly?
Which part...? Well...
the whole thing?
Stage Play
"Tokyo Blade"
Day of the
preliminary
meeting
My impression of Lala Lai was that they're hardliners,
so I can't believe they took on a 2.5D play.
That said, they brought in half the cast
from outside their ranks.
There's no need to be nervous.
It's not like I'm nervous or anything.
Melt-kun...
Hi.
I hear Producer Kaburagi has a hand
in the casting of outside actors for the play.
I guess that makes us the Kaburagi group.
Glad to work with you again.
Yeah, same.
What was with that pause?
Well, I mean, I get it...
You've gotta be thinking,
"With this guy who can't act worth a damn,
it'll be the Sweet Today nightmare all over again."
Busted.
That was my first time acting,
and I won't tell you to cut me some slack, but...
It's been nine months since Sweet Today.
I did some, uh... studying up?
I should be better than last time at least,
so tell me straight up if I'm no good.
Studio B
I'm Melt Narushima with Sonic Stage,
and I will be playing Kizami.
I look forward to working with you.
I'm Kana Arima with Strawberry Productions,
and I will be playing Tsurugi.
I'm Aqua Hoshino, also with Strawberry Productions.
I will be playing Touki.
Oh, you guys are all early.
It's still not for another 10 minutes.
Well, it seems we're all here,
so let's start the introductions.
My name's Raida, and I'm in charge of the whole project!
And this here is the director, Kin-chan.
I'm Toshirou Kindaichi.
The scriptwriter, GOA-san.
Sakuya Kamoshida-kun,
who has a wealth of 2.5D-play experience.
Nice to meet ya!
He's in the Kaburagi group, too.
Oh?
And now, the Lala Lai performers...
Norio Mita.
Mei Adashino. Koyuki Yoshidomi.
Kiiro Hayashibara. Ryouma Funato.
Akane Kurokawa.
I look forward to working together.
Lastly, our protagonist is...
Wake up, you idiot!
Imperial Theater Award
Oh, sorry. I'm the play's lead, portraying...
Best Actor Award
Lead Actor in a 9 p.m. Monday TV Drama
Uh, what's my character called?
Well, whatever. Taiki Himekawa. Hi, guys.
Let's all work as one to turn
the Tokyo Blade stage play into a success!
Let's work together!
Today's for introductions, but it seems
we've got basically all the key figures here.
Let's go ahead and do a script reading.
We'll start at half past. Go ahead
and chat, get ready, do whatever.
Yes, sir!
Aqua, it's been a minute.
You say that, but we meet now and
again to keep up appearances.
Yeah, that's true, but I'm happy
to be on another job with you.
After all, on Love Now, I caused you nothing but trouble.
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Besides, theater's my main line of work.
This time, I'll be the one to help you out.
Seems you're confident, huh?
No, I didn't mean it like that!
I still have a lot to learn - it's not a confidence thing.
It's just that we've got lots of scenes together,
so I want you to always be able to count on me.
I see. I appreciate it.
I'll let you know if anything comes up.
'Kay.
Grr...
Those two are dating, right? I hear one thing
led to another on some reality show.
A-apparently, that's how it went down on the show.
But it seems to be purely business, okay?
Besides, fans wouldn't take it well
if they parted ways soon after kissing!
I admit they seem pretty close, though.
Hmm...
Anyway, their characters are engaged.
Wasn't it a deliberate casting choice?
Anyway, it's a good fit, right?
I don't like the linking of actors' real lives and
on-stage personas - I think it's distracting, okay?
I mean, basically, the production resonates more broadly
if the info the audience has is uniform across the board.
And yet, the promoters' fondness
for those small additions of
dubious significance hasn't changed for two centuries.
Oh, looks like somebody's touchy.
Arima, on Sweet Today, you were more...
Well, that's 'cause I was the leader of the cast.
I didn't wanna ruin the mood on set is all.
You're seeing the real me now.
You shouldn't've been so considerate.
If you'd torn into me from the start,
I would've realized how bad I was sooner.
Well, that's just an excuse. Forget it.
We've got lots of scenes together.
I'll prove myself with my acting.
Toriko
Cheers!
Thanks for making time in your busy schedule, Sensei.
My work is serialized monthly, so I'm usually free
as long as the deadline isn't close - it's no biggie.
Still, coming to meet little ol' me...
Oh, please. You might've been my assistant,
but you're a full-fledged author now, Samejima-san.
In fact, you've long since surpassed me!
A weekly-serialized manga artist with a super big-time hit
manga and anime personally invited me out drinking.
Of course I'd show up!
Anyway, you wanted to talk?
Sensei, you have experience with getting
both anime and TV drama adaptations, right?
This is a first for me, so I'm pretty clueless.
There's a lot I want to say,
but I'm not sure how far it's okay for me to go.
Ooh...
Now there's the Tokyo Blade stage play,
but it's a bit, you know...
Sensei, would you come with me to watch a rehearsal?
It's not like there's anything I can really do,
but sure, I'll go with you.
Glad to hear it. Thank you.
The check, please!
Sorry, you didn't need to treat me...
Well, the oldest one is supposed
to cover these kinds of things.
Let's head on to the next place!
Uh, is it okay if I brush my teeth first?
I feel kinda gross if I don't soon after eating.
Oh, I remember now.
I'll be right back.
Even in the collection of weirdos that's the manga
industry, Abiko-sensei is one of the odder characters.
You can draw a manga on your own if need be,
but adaptations to other mediums involve lots of
people, which necessitates communication skills.
Though it's true that leaving everything to the adaptation
team means they tend to do whatever they please,
I've heard of many cases where
the original creator unduly inserts themself
and the production is thrown into chaos.
So, a certain degree of give and take is needed.
And on that point, Abiko-sensei is...
Guess I'll use the restroom, too.
Huh? What're you doing?
Double brushing. You can brush at twice the speed
if you use two toothbrushes, right?
I can't be making you wait,
so I'm doing it at double speed.
Sure enough, she's a weirdo.
I hope there's no disputes over the Tokyo Blade play.
Please, fix the entire script.
I knew it!
A-all of it?! That's a tough ask! We already got
your approval for this script and started on rehearsals!
We open in just twenty days!
I've already said to revise it a number of times now.
But I was told, "Once you see the performances,
you'll understand this is a good script,"
so I said that if it truly is good, I guess you have my okay.
But, it's NOT good, which means it's not okay, right?
Sensei, first of all, allow me to apologize for
submitting a script that isn't in line with your wishes.
Of course, even at this stage,
I fully intend to fix it wherever I can.
But that said...
there was lots of back and forth beforehand,
and I did my very best to consider your intentions.
At this point, how do you propose I revise it?
So you're the one who wrote this script?
I believe I already pointed out the parts I wanted fixed...
but it seems you've failed to grasp it.
How should you revise it?
Are you actually even reading Tokyo Blade?
Of course I am reading it!
Moreover, creating a script that
draws out the manga's charm-
THIS is your script even after reading it?
The script you came out with is full of things
the characters would never say and never do.
Script: GOA
Director: Toshirou Kindaichi
Original Work: Abiko Samejima
It's okay if you need to change some plotlines. But...
don't you think it's rude to change the characters?!
My babies aren't such idiots!
Well, the nature of stage plays is such that...
No... If you point out the parts to fix, I'll handle it.
Like I said, all of it!
No matter how many times I request it,
it doesn't get fixed!
I had thought I was simply being made light of,
but it seems the scriptwriter genuinely
doesn't grasp the material.
I mean, if this is what he came up
with after reading the original...
then this guy's sense as a creator is-
Abiko-sensei, come with me for a minute.
Sensei! Just come over here!
Lemme go!
Come on!
There's still lots I wanna say!
For a moment! Only for a moment!
So are we back to square one, then?
I guess that does it for today's rehearsal.
I'm outta here.
When it comes to media franchising,
it's quite common for there to be disputes
between the original creator and scriptwriter.
As for the workflow for producing a script,
the first draft is created based on a briefing
with the producer and the director.
Next, rewrites take place for drafts two and three,
and then when it's nearly in its finished form,
it'll be checked by the original creator.
I suspect that Abiko-sensei was dissatisfied
with the script that was passed on to her.
Undoubtedly, she was more or less fuming when
she wrote instructions for revisions and sent them off.
But, there are lots of intermediaries between
the original creator and scriptwriter,
Original
Creator
Original
Creator
Sub-Editor
Editor
Sub-Editor
Original
Creator
Rights
Editor
Sub-Editor
Original
Creator
so the rewrites basically become a game of telephone.
Production
Assistant
or Producer
Rights
Editor
Sub-Editor
Original
Creator
Scriptwriter's
Manager
Production
Assistant
or Producer
Rights
Editor
Sub-Editor
Original
Creator
Scriptwriter
Scriptwriter's
Manager
Production
Assistant
or Producer
Rights
Editor
Sub-Editor
Original
Creator
Abiko-sensei is the type who
relies on feel rather than logic,
so it's possible even her editor
couldn't grasp her intentions.
This part's a highlight of the story but
it's not moving at all! And it hasn't been fixed at all!
They've turned into a gross group of attention seekers
who glibly chatter about their feelings on the roadside!
You've gotta do something!
Abiko-sensei suddenly gets so talkative
when the topic turns to manga.
Editor
It's hard to organize everything and put it down in writing.
I can't pass on these angry-sounding
comments to the client as is...
Rights Manager
I've gotta tone this down somehow.
With this project, it seems the manga author's team
doesn't know the first thing about plays.
Producer
These revisions would necessitate a new set,
and that's impossible with our schedule!
Also, we can't be cutting the protagonist's time on stage!
Scriptwriter's Manager
Pass that on to GOA-chan for me!
Okay...
Manager
It seems that the original creator would like you
to express the emotions in a more evocative way.
Hmm... I guess I'll add something here, then.
I personally think it would be more
moving with fewer lines, though.
But if it's what the author wants, that's how it's
gotta be.
Now it's even more disgusting!
The scriptwriter must be a hack!
The actors will be starting rehearsals soon, so for now,
the production side would like to go with this script...
They say that once you actually see the performances,
you should come around.
So it'll really be better when I see actual play?
Well, I guess it's okay, then.
Sub-Room B
There aren't any creators who'd seek
to make a work they're in charge of worse.
Discord arises even as both parties are giving their
best... Mediators are unable to convey that dispute well...
For all sorts of reasons,
somewhere in the world there's an original creator
and scriptwriter fighting even as I speak.
Abiko-sensei's anger isn't something
that boiled up all of a sudden.
It likely also involves a sense of protest born of
not seeing her intentions reflected in the slightest.
Frankly, I think the scriptwriter simply
isn't a good fit for my work.
Like, look at this revision! Her wisdom has vanished
and she just looks like some idiot!
He's got no feel for it.
His revisions miss the mark.
I don't think he understands entertainment.
Please just let me write the entire script.
Wait, that would be...!
It's a no-go from an editorial standpoint too, right?
Yeah, it's absolutely...
I WILL do it.
Otherwise, I'll rescind my permission for the play.
Sensei, if you do that, there'll be all kinds of...!
It'll be tens of millions of yen for breach of
contract, right? That's fine. I'll pay it.
You can't just go and do that!
Ultimately, it'll be the company that has to pay!
Then, pay up.
It seems this is what Abiko-sensei wants,
so would it be possible to go forward with it?
But, as for the scriptwriter...
I don't need any payment. You can leave
the scriptwriter's credit and pay him as usual.
But, I don't want him involved with the project anymore.
She's quite childish.
Well, there are many manga artists who're
very picky and likewise lack social skills.
Of course, Abiko-sensei is an extreme case...
Are you okay with this? She's having her way of things.
You'll be dropped from the project.
What can I do? The position of a scriptwriter
is far lower than you guys think.
We can easily be replaced if one of the higher-ups
calls for it. This kind of thing happens all the time.
You can try your best to create something good, but
if it differs even slightly from the original creator's taste,
you'll be detested and fall out of favor.
If it's boring, the fans will publicly
shame you like a war criminal.
And if it's entertaining,
the original work gets all the credit.
The producer's own preferences get injected,
and large agencies pressure you
to increase their actors' appearances.
Even so, you still need to create a work
that's able to stand on its own.
Rewriting is a hellish creative endeavor.
So, that's how things stand.
I don't mind being let go. It's just...
could you please remove me from the credits?
The idea of presenting a script sensei
rewrote as though it's my own...
I have too have a sense of pride, after all.
Ah, well, we've already announced the staff...
Plus, there's the cost of reprinting
the posters and pamphlets.
I don't think the direction you took
with the script is wrong, GOA-kun.
I can proudly proclaim this is another good one.
Could you find it in yourself to consider
this a mishap and accept the situation?
Okay.
My credit can stand.
Treat me to a dinner sometime, though.
My deepest apologies!
Please eat all you want of whatever you want!
I've been reading the original manga
in this magazine since the first chapter.
Abiko Samejima
Volume 14
Tokyo Blade
Conclusion
I adjusted the schedules of
my other jobs to take this one on.
I poured my soul into writing the script
so that it'd be a good play.
No matter how late at night revision requests came in,
I worked on them right away.
I handled absurd demands, racking
my brain to the point of becoming feverish.
I hardly allowed myself sleep,
persevering right up to my deadline.
I tried to do my best, and yet...
This guy's sense as a creator is-
Damn it all.
And so, we're back at square one for the script.
After negotiations with the author's team,
they'll contact us when the new script is finished.
Until then, rehearsals are on hold.
This has turned into a big mess.
Well, we can't just go ahead without the author's consent.
The suspension of rehearsals is hard to take.
This is a Stage Around play.
I would've liked a nice, long time to rehearse.
Speaking of that, what is "Stage Around" anyway?
You've been rehearsing without knowing that?!
Can you even envision the play?!
Theater stages are all pretty much the same, right?
What is it?
You don't like theater very much, do you, Aqua-kun?
You noticed, huh?
You made it obvious enough.
It's not so much that I don't like it - it's more
that I don't go out of my way to watch it.
Why's that?
The pacing's poor because they switch sets whenever
the scene changes, and the movable sets look cheap.
I also can't really get into the exaggerated
acting that's characteristic of theater.
If I'm gonna spend the same amount of time,
watching video content with effective directing-
I more or less figured you'd say that.
Well, you did ask.
True enough, that's one of the
long-discussed challenges for theater.
The customers are drifting away,
and some have said theater culture is in decline.
But that way of thinking is a bit outdated.
And as an actor, that perception won't do.
So you've never seen a Stage Around play? Hmm?
What's your point?
We finally have some free time, so how about a date?
Theater is more immersive than video...
Stage Play
I'll show you.
Episode 13
Game of Telephone