“The Disappearance” Director Hiro Kano What is needed is an absolutely unwavering “feeling” [Director's Interview Vol.220]

An absolutely unwavering “feeling”

Q: Did you receive any advice from your teacher, Katsuhito Ishii?

Kano: He trusted me and left it to me, so he didn't say anything in particular about the content. I've been involved in Ishii's work as an assistant director, so I think I learned how to be a director from Ishii.

Mr. Ishii is a director who is truly loved by his colleagues. On the other hand, he also has an attitude of sticking to his own will with his colleagues. Still, what makes him loved is Mr. Ishii's humanity and the fact that he does not waver from his own directing theory and sense. Even if he is told "This movie is wrong" or "This image is not good", he is the kind of person who does not care at all. And yet he respects his colleagues properly. I have learned from Mr. Ishii, so when I work with my colleagues, I try to have a relationship where we can respect each other. This time, I placed importance on that and was able to make the movie while discussing with my colleagues. I think that is exactly what I learned from my master.

“The Disappearance” (c) “The Disappearance” Production Committee

Q: I think it must be difficult to balance sticking to what you want to express and communicating with a large staff to create a film. And yet film directors manage to do both and continue to make films.

Kano: Compared to a long time ago, the balance between these two has become very delicate. It's very difficult. The director gives a very strong vector, and various specialists in acting, photography, art, etc. give their ideas. It's up to the director to decide how to incorporate them. Most of the directors I've seen so far have talked with the staff at such times. However, in order to accept the advice of those around you and make it work, you need to have an absolutely unwavering sense. If you don't waver there, adding various ideas won't be a negative thing.

In that respect, I think that writing the script myself is a huge advantage. If you value what you have already solidified at the time of writing the script and keep brushing it up, I think you can both stick to what you want to express and communicate with a large staff to create the film.

David Fincher and Shunji Iwai