"Winter's Summer" Director Shinichiro Kanagawa Scenario Grand Prize Film Adaptation Project Challenged by CM Director [Director's Interview Vol.313]

The short film “Fuyuko no Natsu” won the scenario award at the Isan Studio Film Festival. The script is written by up-and-coming scenario writer Natsumi Enyama, and the director is Shinichiro Kanagawa, an ace commercial director in the advertising world. This film was selected for the international short film festival "Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2023". It is scheduled to be screened in theaters and distributed online at the same film festival in June.

Enyama and Kanagawa were actually classmates in high school. Although the two had not known each other that much since they were students, Enyama suddenly contacted Kanagawa and asked him to direct ``Fuyuko no Natsu'', which won the Scenario Award. Kanagawa usually works on the front lines as a commercial director, but he has no experience directing a movie. What did Kanagawa find out about this film that led him to direct it? I spoke to him.

"Fuyuko's Summer" synopsis

The last summer of high school. The main character, Fuyuko (Hana Toyoshima), spends her time lazing around, unable to decide on her career path. And his best friend, Noel (Tsuki Nagasawa), is the only person who understands him. Should I go to higher education or not? Should I leave this town or not? The two of them deliberately spend their days leisurely, contrary to the noisy surroundings, but Fuyuko grows irritated and impatient with Noel's behavior as he begins to decide on his future. When they arrive at a sunflower field in full bloom, the two reach a major crossroads.

Index

• A sudden request for supervision from a classmate
• Don't explain your intentions
• Why master Norimichi Kasamatsu takes pictures
• Hana Toyoshima and Itsuki Nagasawa, their balance
• If this continues, growth will stop.

A sudden request for supervision from a classmate

Q: I heard that you were asked to direct this film by Natsumi Enyama, who won the scenario grand prize at the Isama Studio Film Festival. I heard that you were a high school classmate.

Kanagawa: Although we were classmates, I hardly knew Mr. Enyama. Then, all of a sudden, I received a call from LINE, which I had never exchanged with someone before, asking, ``I won the grand prize for the screenplay award at a film festival, so could you please make it into a film?'' Actually, I just wanted to create content, and I was working on a plan internally. Since the story came at such a timing, I thought, ``Maybe I should get into this story.''

"Fuyuko's Summer" ©2022 "Fuyuko's Summer" Production Committee

Q: Mr. Enyama usually works on TV programs and dramas, but why did Mr. Kanagawa, the commercial director, approach you?

Kanagawa: Since the budget was quite low, he was unable to hire a professional for the job. I have no choice but to ask someone I know about this. So he followed the path and found me. Apparently he heard a rumor that he seems to be working in the advertising industry.

Don't explain your intentions