``AWAKE'' If we were to make movies only for movie lovers, Japanese movies would end. Tatsuya Wakaba's thoughts on entertainment during the coronavirus pandemic [Actor's Interview Vol.10]

The need for entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic

Q: What did you think when you saw the finished work?

Wakaba: I thought it was very easy to watch. I don't dislike the clumsy way of making things that only those who understand it will understand, but I think that would be the end of Japanese movies.

From "AWAKE," I could feel the desire to make it enjoyable even for people who don't usually watch movies, and that's something I think about all the time. I'm happy to have been able to participate in Director Yamada's feature debut, who is able to make such a film at such a young age.

Q: Is there anything about Director Yamada that makes you feel is different from other directors?

Wakaba: Servile (laughs). If anything, I think he was on Eiichi's side, which is why he had such strong feelings for the film. I'm looking forward to seeing how the general public will view the entertainment filmed by such a servile and slightly twisted director (laughs).

©2019 “AWAKE” Film Partners

Q: I think this also relates to the topic of entertainment, but I'd like to hear more about what you said earlier about "Japanese movies coming to an end."

Wakaba: The biggest thing is that the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we view and experience movies.

Up until now, we have had the luxury of time in our lives, and we have thought, "Since we have the luxury, let's enjoy entertainment," but now that the whole world is in this state, we have to create entertainment that gives people peace of mind. I want people to feel a little bit of relief by going to the cinema to watch a movie, and I have come to think that we need to create entertainment that does just that.

I think Japanese movies will end if we make movies only for movie lovers. I don't mean to simply pander to the masses, but I feel that I have to go back to the roots of "entertainment". I want movie lovers, and even people who don't usually watch that many movies, to go to the cinema and have an emotionally moving experience, and I want to make them do so. With that feeling in mind, I want to make movies sincerely.

When I was a teenager, I was mentally overwhelmed, and when I saw "Identity," I was deeply moved, and on my way home, the scenery was different than usual. That's why I want people to know that movie theaters are places where you can have this kind of experience.

Nowadays, there is a lot of entertainment available, so watching TV, subscription services, or dramas is fine, but I would like people to first experience going to the cinema.

If more people say they have been "saved" by this, it will undoubtedly help to raise the level of Japanese cinema and I feel it will bring about a change in the nature of entertainment in the country.

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Tatsuya Wakaba

Born June 10, 1989, in Tokyo. With a wide range of acting skills that show different expressions depending on the work, he has appeared in many works, and in 2016, he won the 8th TAMA Movie Award for Best New Actor for "Katsuragi Incident". His main appearances include "Katsuragi Incident" (16), "Beautiful Star", "Pumpkin and Mayonnaise" (17), "Punk Samurai Slash Down", "Goodbye Silence", "Dynamite Graffiti" (18), "Typhoon Family", "Love is Hard" (19), "Wonder Wall: The Movie", "Morning Comes", "I Lived", "Voice of Sin" (20), and many more. Upcoming works include the movie "Those Days" (released Friday, February 19), his first starring role in "On the Street" (released Friday, April 9), and "Kurenazume" (released during Golden Week).

Interview and text: SYO

Born in 1987. After The Graduate from Tokyo Gakugei University, he worked at a film magazine editorial production site and a film information site before becoming a film writer/editor. Works on a wide range of topics including interviews, reviews, columns, event appearances, and recommendation comments. Contributed to ``CINEMORE'', ``Cinema Cafe'', ``Soen'', ``FRIDAY Digital'', ``CREA'', ``BRUTUS'', etc. Twitter「 syocinema 」

『AWAKE』

Nationwide roadshow including Shinjuku Musashinokan from Friday, December 25, 2020

Distribution: Kino Films

©2019 “AWAKE” Film Partners

Cast: Ryo Yoshizawa, Tatsuya Wakaba/Kanichiro Ochiai Motoki