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Chapter 94. What Did You Understand?
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Yes, Jolyne Cujoh had already begun to understand everything.
Although she understood it right after "Phantom Blood" finished screening, she had no reason to kick out Shinbo Akiyuki and the others, who were pretending to be harmless while actually being cunning, without revealing the existence of the system.
However, now Jolyne had thought of a brilliant idea—
That was to separate Pucci, the only person she could trust, from the group of "tigers in the hills" like Shinbo Akiyuki!
Let Shinbo Akiyuki and his team film their own project.
And let Pucci direct his own project!
This way, not only could they successfully avoid Shinbo Akiyuki and his team from affecting Pucci's performance, but it would also increase the probability of failure.
If it's difficult for one project to lose money, then if two projects are released together, at least one of them is likely to lose money, or perhaps even both projects will fail, right?
After all, it's impossible for both projects not to lose money, right?!
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
And most importantly, the story of "JOJO's Bizarre Adventure" is continuous!
For example, Speedwagon, who appeared in "Phantom Blood", also serves as the ace commentator in "Battle Tendency".
In other words, if they start filming the third part before finishing the previous one, and an important character from the previous part dies, yet must reappear in the following part, wouldn't that throw the entire story into chaos?
Don't talk about how they have the script for the entire series to refer to, so no matter which part they film first, the plot won't have such errors—that's almost impossible.
Full-dive filming emphasizes unpredictability!
Because no one knows whether the actors' subconscious will follow the script, or if they'll change the script based on their inner thoughts.
So if such a situation really occurs, wouldn't they be guaranteed to lose money!?
But this is something Jolyne Cujoh could think of, and naturally, others could too.
So when Pucci responded to her with similar reasoning, Jolyne was slightly surprised. Did Pucci also think of this? She continued, "Of course, I know there are drawbacks to doing this, but isn't that the nature of a series?"
"If we let the audience get too accustomed to our work, then whether our future projects are as popular as they are now, the audience will still keep watching, just like with the "Kamen Rider" series!"
To prove her point, Jolyne Cujoh cited an example from a well-known Japanese series.
After all, despite the back-to-back challenges posed by "Kamen Rider Zi-O" and "Kamen Rider Zero-One", there were still many viewers who managed to stick with "Kamen Rider Saber", even through its relatively poor early to mid-story, until it finally turned around in the later episodes.
In a sense, that's truly perseverance.
If it were another series, it likely wouldn't have lasted long enough for a turnaround, or people would have abandoned it as early as "Kamen Rider Zi-O".
How could a series possibly inspire such enduring hope, like "Kamen Rider" does, making fans eager for more no matter how many times it disappoints them?
This is the true power of a series.
It doesn't just accumulate fans for one project.
Instead, through multiple works, it turns the fans of a few projects into fans of the entire series!
In a way, Jolyne Cujoh is also betting heavily by choosing this method.
She's betting that the follow-up story of "JOJO's Bizarre Adventure" can, like the Heisei "Kamen Rider" series, win five consecutive SSR awards, becoming a famous series that makes money effortlessly.
Or will it completely collapse, lacking the luck to achieve such success, and end the series before it even gets the chance?
It seems far more likely to be the former!
After all, the Heisei "Kamen Rider" series producing five consecutive masterpieces at the beginning was a miracle in the industry, an example that cannot be replicated.
Didn't "Kamen Rider Hibiki", despite using the original team from "Kamen Rider Kuuga", inevitably fall into decline?
How could "JOJO's Bizarre Adventure" replicate the miracle of five consecutive excellent works?
Understanding this, Jolyne Cujoh continued to spin her tale for Pucci: "And to be honest with you, Pucci. I'm doing this for you!"
"Uh, for me?"
"Yes, for you, Pucci!"
Jolyne Cujoh confirmed, "Others may not know, but I, who personally selected you and recruited you to my team, know very well."
"I'm fully aware of the vast potential within you, and I know that if this potential is unleashed, it will shock the world!"
"So, even if it means risking financial loss, or potentially jeopardizing the promising future of the "JOJO's Bizarre Adventure" series, I must prevent you from being led astray by Shinbo and his already well-established team, which could stifle your limitless potential!"
Yes, someone as untainted as Pucci, untouched by the corruption of knowledge, is a rarity in a country where compulsory education has been widely implemented.
Jolyne Cujoh had searched for so long before finally finding someone like Pucci.
If Pucci were to be led astray by someone like Shinbo Akiyuki, who has conducted extensive research both in the public eye and behind the scenes, and were to follow the "right path," wouldn't that be a huge loss for her?
So...
"Entrusting "JOJO's Bizarre Adventure" to you, allowing you to have full control over it, gives me great peace of mind!" Jolyne Cujoh said as she patted Pucci heavily on the shoulder. "Because, Pucci, you're just one trial away from success—a trial to overcome your past, immature self!"
"...President Cujoh, so you knew all along!?"
Pucci exclaimed in shock.
That's right, Pucci actually knew it too.
His mindset was indeed a bit problematic.
Knowing that Shinbo Akiyuki is a master, Pucci clung tightly to him during filming.
He only offered suggestions or objections on matters he was confident about, such as the plot or the chosen actors.
But is this really the job of a proper director?
Moreover, in combining his own strengths as a transmigrant, Pucci had developed a directing method suitable for him during the filming of "Phantom Blood".
But he still couldn't make up his mind.
Could he really be better than the renowned Shinbo Akiyuki?
Until today, when Jolyne Cujoh came to him...
Yes, the Heisei "Kamen Rider" series built a solid foundation with five consecutive masterpieces.
And "JOJO's Bizarre Adventure" is not just limited to five parts!
If there's no fear of failure, why not give it a try?
After all, looking at the solid foundation of "Kamen Rider", it's clear that a failure or two is nothing!
"I understand."
Believing that Jolyne Cujoh used this example to subtly encourage him, Pucci smiled earnestly and said, "I'll try to lead the filming on my own!"
Not fully grasping what Pucci had understood, but with her plan now in motion, Jolyne Cujoh also smiled and said, "Great, very spirited!"