A few days later
Nonogi Park
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Assistant Director
Alright, let's take a break here!
Ohara
Now then...
While everyone eats, I should go over what we just took.
While everyone eats, I should go over what we just took.
Ohara
Whoa, Kamishiro!
I don't mind, but you're going to miss lunch again.
I don't mind, but you're going to miss lunch again.
Ohara
It is like you to say that.
Still, I'm surprised you haven't gotten bored of watching what I do day in and day out.
Still, I'm surprised you haven't gotten bored of watching what I do day in and day out.
Ohara
Anyway, since you're so eager, I have a little task for you today.
Ohara
There's a way to make the scene we just shot a lot better. What do you think it is?
Rui
In this scene, Katsuyuki and Hajime are still getting to know each other after, having only just met...
Rui
Because he still knows next to nothing about her, we could set up a light behind Hajime so that she appears as a mysterious figure from his perspective, while also hinting that she represents a glimmer of hope...
Ohara
That's not a bad idea, but lighting will only get you so far.
Ohara
There's something else you can use even more effectively. Not props or lights... Think about our surroundings.
Rui
Now that you mention it, we often used to make use of the weather since we performed on an outdoor stage... But in the case of film...
Ohara
Anyway, it's a pain to explain, so just watch and learn. The idea is to make use of lines. By doing that...
Nene
I couldn't believe it when he said that he's going to be an assistant, but he seems really at home.
Emu
How great would it be if he and Mr. Ohara working together ends up making this film even better?!
Rui
(It's only been a few days since I started working as his assistant...but I feel like I've learned a lot already.)
Rui
(But we have to wrap everything up in a few weeks, so I need to keep doing my best until then.)
A few weeks later
Airport
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Sound Effect: Play
BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play
Rui
We'll likely be shooting into the evening, so this may end up being our longest day yet.
Nene
Getting to stay at a hotel for the night is also a first. We have to start early at the beach tomorrow morning, so we're probably in for a tough couple of days.
Tsukasa
That being said, the focus of today will be on the first thing we shoot this afternoon.
Rin
<You're talking about the scene where the protagonist and his sister say goodbye to each other at the airport, right?! I've really been looking forward to seeing that☆>
Emu
I really love it too!
The Katsuyuki in that scene is so different from how he was in the very beginning...
The Katsuyuki in that scene is so different from how he was in the very beginning...
Emu
And he's come to care so much about Hajime... Just thinking about that gets me right in the heartstrings!
Rui
(In the beginning of the film, Katsuyuki has no hopes or dreams and simply works each day. He's lost the will to do anything else.)
Rui
(But meeting this woman who claims to be his long-lost sister, Hajime, changes all that. He starts living with this cheerful and free-spirited woman.)
Rui
(But suddenly, she disappears without saying a word. Katsuyuki goes after her and confronts her in this scene.)
Nene
The truth is that a doctor told Hajime that she's sick and only has about six months left to live, right?
Tsukasa
Yes. She wanted to use whatever time she had left to settle unfinished business by meeting her long-lost little brother...
Tsukasa
But they end up becoming closer than she was expecting. That makes saying goodbye all the more difficult...
Emu
Which is why she disappears without saying anything to Katsuyuki. She didn't want him to feel sad or lonely after she was gone.
Rui
Yes. The relationship they've been building up suddenly falls apart, which sends Katsuyuki's emotions spiraling out of control...
Rui
What's more, for the first time in his life, he's overcome with the feeling that he doesn't want someone to leave him.
Nene
Playing him isn't gonna be easy.
I mean, all the complex emotions Katsuyuki feels during this scene...
I mean, all the complex emotions Katsuyuki feels during this scene...
Rui
(Mr. Ohara even said how he asked Bakuno to play him specifically because his skills were suited to this scene.)
Crew Member
The cameras are all set!
Ready to roll whenever!
Ready to roll whenever!
Sound Effect: Play
Crew Member
Okay, here we go! Scene 143!
Tsukasa
I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs during this scene, but... I'm getting nervous just watching.
Crew Member
And...
Crew Member
Action!
Sound Effect: Play
Rui
(First, a shot of Hajime heading towards her boarding gate. She drops her handkerchief as she walks.)
Hajime
“Katsuyuki...?”
Hajime
“You came, even though I didn't tell you anything... I guess I should've expected as much from you.”
Hajime
“...!”
Hajime
“No, I...
I just felt like seeing you is all.”
I just felt like seeing you is all.”
Hajime
“So, please. Forget we ever met.”
Katsuyuki
“H-How can you say that...?
You show up out of nowhere, mess with my feelings and...”
You show up out of nowhere, mess with my feelings and...”
Katsuyuki
“The truth is, I don't care about what's really going on with you... I just...!”
Tsukasa
(If that were me, I'd be playing Katsuyuki as furious over how she just left without saying anything.)
Tsukasa
(But Bakuno's weaving in more than just anger and rage. His Katsuyuki is feeling a wild mix of emotions right now...)
Rui
(Bakuno really was the perfect choice for this scene. Only he can do Katsuyuki justice...)
Hajime
“I'm sorry.”
Sound Effect: Play
Ohara
...
Crew Member
Cut!
Sound Effect: Play
Ohara
I'm going to be honest...
That felt all wrong.
That felt all wrong.
Ohara
In this scene, Katsuyuki isn't sure how to deal with Hajime leaving or with his attachment to her...
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Ohara
He should be feeling this torrent of emotions, but that wasn't clear just now.
Ohara
Are you holding back for some reason, Bakuno?
Ohara
Your performance just now wasn't what I saw when you were on stage. You lacked the power that made me want you to be the main character of this film.
Rui
(He's right. Bakuno's performance just now lacked the punch we saw when we were with Shunmeiza.)
Reki
Yes, you're correct that I was holding back compared to when I'm performing on stage.
Reki
In the theatre, you have to exaggerate everything you say and do so that it reaches everyone in the back.
Reki
So, I was worried that I'd stick out like a sore thumb if I did the same thing for a film.
Reki
Please let me try that again.
I'll make some adjustments based on what you just said.
I'll make some adjustments based on what you just said.
Ohara
Understood.
Then, take two.
Then, take two.
Ohara
Action!
Sound Effect: Play
Ohara
No, still wrong.
As you mentioned earlier, Bakuno, what you just did would work well on stage, but it doesn't translate well to film.
As you mentioned earlier, Bakuno, what you just did would work well on stage, but it doesn't translate well to film.
Ohara
No need...
Let's move on from this scene for now.
Let's move on from this scene for now.
Ohara
That last take told me everything.
It's not a matter of you making minor fixes. There's something fundamentally wrong here that I'm not seeing.
It's not a matter of you making minor fixes. There's something fundamentally wrong here that I'm not seeing.
BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play
Ohara
Which means there's no point in reshooting this scene. Not until I figure out what I'm missing.
Ohara
We'll try again tomorrow.
Until then, I need to figure out what's wrong.
Until then, I need to figure out what's wrong.
Rui
(This is the film's climax. No one here is going to be happy if we don't get it right...)
Rui
(They have until tomorrow to figure out what's wrong, which may just be enough time to figure out what the director's missing.)
Ohara
How are we looking for tomorrow? Can we squeeze in this scene?
Crew Member
Yes, if everything else we have on the agenda today goes smoothly.
Ohara
Then it's settled. We're done with this scene for now. Let's move on to the next one.
Rui
(But the director's right.
We can shoot retakes all we want, but that alone won't change anything.)
We can shoot retakes all we want, but that alone won't change anything.)
Ohara
...
Next Chapter: No End In Sight