"J005311" Director Hiroki Kono x Starring: Kazuei Nomura Focused only on creating [Director's Interview Vol.306]

When it comes to filmmaking, we often hear the phrase ``expose yourself more'', but how many movies actually make you feel that way when you watch them? In ``J005311,'' the word ``feel'' is too lukewarm to describe it, as the director and lead actors press in with such heavy weight. There are only two actors, including the director, and there are only four people on staff: the director, actors, and the cinematographer and the recording person. And the shooting was only for four days. The director has never even studied film, and this is his first film as a director. There are certainly some rough edges, but he still managed to create this work. No, that's probably why so many movies were created.

It was no surprise that it won the Pia Film Festival Grand Prix unanimously and received rave reviews from famous directors. Some directors seem to have felt jealous, but I suspect that most directors are actually jealous. ``J005311'' is a movie that professional directors couldn't make even if they wanted to.

Director Hiroki Kono and star Kazuaki Nomura are the creators of this film, but what were their thoughts on this film? I spoke to him.

"J005311" synopsis

Kanzaki (Ichiei Nomura) heads out into town with a thoughtful expression on his face. When the taxi failed to catch her, she was sitting on the roadside with her back hunched over, when she saw the snatching scene across the road. Kanzaki starts running with all his might, and calls out to Yamamoto (Hiroki Kono), who was doing the snatching, and asks him to send him to a certain place in exchange for 1 million yen. Although Yamamoto was in disbelief, he reluctantly agreed, and the two began their strange drive together. Two lonely people spend a distorted time together in an awkward and heavy atmosphere. Where will this journey lead?

Index

• It was my first directorial work, and I focused only on making it.
• I can definitely take pictures. unbending will
• It wasn't until I edited it that I realized it wasn't a short story.
• There is no real feeling of getting a theatrical release or winning a film festival.

It was my first directorial work, and I focused only on making it.

Q: This is director Kono's first film, and he said he had never even studied film before. Did he make it all by himself?

Kono: That's right. I made this with reference to my favorite movies. I didn't ask anyone in particular to teach me anything.

Q: As an actor, you have experience working in commercial films, was that helpful?

Kono: That's not helpful at all. All I knew was that there was a camera, there was recording, and there was lighting. I didn't know anything about cutting or recording techniques, so I thought I could get some shots as long as I had at least a camera and a recorder.

Q: Did you consult Mr. Nomura about anything?

Kono: When I was stuck with the script, I sometimes asked for Nomura's opinion. We talked a lot during rehearsals before filming. When I felt something was wrong with a movement or line, I sometimes accepted Nomura's opinion, and sometimes I rejected it, and I did it through trial and error.

“J005311” © 2022 “J005311” Production Committee (King Records, PFF)

Q: When did Nomura-san talk to you about wanting to make a movie like this?

Kono: We've been together since we were 19 years old, about nine years ago, and we've been talking about making a movie together since we were in our early 20s. At the time, we were writing a script together, but things didn't go well and we ended up not filming anything. This time, I decided to give it one more try before quitting acting, and it was around October 2021 that I said so. We had both decided to direct, and each of us would write a script and then we would work on whoever could write first. So I was able to write it first, so I decided to make it.

Q: Did you have any hesitation or anxiety as it was your first experience as a director?

Kono: Of course, there was a lot of anxiety. However, I didn't make this movie because someone asked me to make it. The responsibility lies entirely with us. So it doesn't matter what happens. For the two of us, it didn't matter whether it was released in theaters or anything like that, we just focused on making it happen, no matter what the content was.

I can definitely take pictures. unbending will