Part 1
Shunmeiza - Production Office
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Shunmeiza Production Associate
...and that about covers it. The production team is involved in just about every essential part of any given play.
Rui
Between scheduling, budgeting, meeting with the other teams, creating flyers, running the ticket office on the day of the performances, lunch catering...
Shunmeiza Production Associate
It is. Things do get a little hectic sometimes... But they're all things that need to be taken care of in order for a show to succeed.
Shunmeiza Production Associate
We feel a great sense of responsibility knowing that what we do determines whether or not we're going to be one hundred percent ready to deliver on the day.
Shunmeiza Production Associate
So, whenever the audience goes home smiling...
Shunmeiza Production Associate
Not only the actors and the director, but we also get to feel proud of what we accomplished!
Shunmeiza Production Associate
I do! Seeing the audience smile and have fun fills me with the same satisfaction that the actors and directors feel!
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Rui
Yes, it was nice to see how passionate they all were about what they do. I'm very much looking forward to our next stop now.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Wait!
Please watch your step. There's an unfinished prop by your feet.
Please watch your step. There's an unfinished prop by your feet.
Rui
Pardon me, but is this a novel that will be in the protagonist's home during the next show?
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Hm? Yes, that's right...
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Oh, aren't you two here visiting us?
We heard that you were interested in how the production process works and stuff.
We heard that you were interested in how the production process works and stuff.
Rui
Yes, we're from the troupe Wonderlands×Showtime.
My name is Rui Kamishiro. It's a pleasure to meet you.
My name is Rui Kamishiro. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Yes, nice to meet you both.
Rui
I'm the director for our troupe and also make quite a lot of our props. As such, I'm very interested in seeing how you make yours.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
I don't mind.
I was actually just about to go on break.
I was actually just about to go on break.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Still, I'm amazed that you could tell this prop was for the next show.
Rui
A starving novelist desperately working to finish his manuscript next to a disordered pile of books...
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
You mean that? I really appreciate it.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Our job as designers is to make the audience believe that everything on stage is the real thing.
Emu
Yeah, I thought that too!
I thought about him panicking and trying to clean it up in a really big hurry!
I thought about him panicking and trying to clean it up in a really big hurry!
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Hehe. It means a lot to hear how much of an image it conjured up.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
As you both described, creases and stains like these can flesh out the setting of a play...
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
And that's why, even if the audience doesn't see every little prop, we don't want to cut any corners.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
Exactly.
Yes, it can be hard sometimes...
Yes, it can be hard sometimes...
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
But the things we make elevate the actors' performance, and seeing the audience at the edge of their seats makes all that fatigue go away.
Shunmeiza Prop Designer
In other words, we do everything we can for our actors and the audience.
Rui
(They care about the details. They passionately want to bring the characters to life and entertain their audience. That much is clear.)