It was supposed to be a horror movie! ? The fantastical world depicted by “Synecdoche, New York”

At first I was supposed to make a horror movie! ?

The film was originally intended to be directed by Spike Jonze. The offer that Jones made to Kaufman was that he wanted to write a script for a horror movie.

Of course, their definition of "horror" cannot fit into a general standard, and when they started talking about "a disturbing dream they had one night," this project became a "dream experience." It would be great if we could just express that in a movie.'' (*1) He began to steer in a mysterious direction.

The structure, incomprehensibility, and absurdity that "dreams" bring. Kaufman started writing with these in mind, and expanded his imagination by thinking of things that were truly scary to him. The result is something that is 100 to 1,000 times scarier than a dramatic horror story, such as being chased by a murderer or possessed by an evil spirit, and is rooted in extremely real life.

“Synecdoche, New York” (C)2008 KIMMEL DISTRIBUTION, LLC All Rights Reserved

In other words, old age, illness, depletion of talent, family discord, anxiety, death of someone close to you, fear that you will die without accomplishing anything important... All of them are full of serious horror elements that start to make your heart swell when you're in your 40s or 50s.

(*1) Quoted from press materials at the time of theatrical release

Why did you decide to become a director yourself?

It depicts the real horrors of life, with a vague line between reality and fiction, as if you have wandered into a dream. However, this story was not one that had a carefully calculated ending planned from the beginning. Kaufman himself did not know how things would turn out, but the days continued as he walked along with the main character, searching for the fate that awaited him.

It took me two years to use my brush like that. A human picture scroll studded with various Kaufman-like elements has been completed as a script.

However, an unexpected problem arises here. Spike Jonze, who was supposed to direct this film, was working on `` Where the Beasts Are '' (2009) at the time, and was unable to move immediately.

“Synecdoche, New York” (C)2008 KIMMEL DISTRIBUTION, LLC All Rights Reserved

If we wait until his schedule opens up, it could easily take five years. Then it's too late. If possible, I would like to complete the work before I turn 50, in order to overcome my own real-life anxieties and fears that are depicted in this work. The only way to do that is to start moving on your own, here and now. Kaufman received Jones' forgiveness and decided to make this his directorial debut.

A story that keeps multiplying inward