19. května 2022

Bits Lounge Interview

 



There are many films that have their world premier at the Toronto International Film Festival, but one among them that is particularly drawing attention is BUNRAKU, a new work by up and coming director Guy Moshe who tackled an issue with his '07 film "Holly".  In this film with a cast of Hollywood greats, from Japan, after receiving a passionate phone call from the director, GACKT participated.  For the premier, GACKT had cleared a space in his busy schedule to appear on the red carpet, and we we able to meet the man himself and enquire about the design of the production.

On the day of the interview, GACKT appeared accompanied by a sweet and elegant fragrance like sandalwood, wearing a pure white casual suit.  His appearance drawing attention even in a place crowded by film stars, praised as "beautiful" by director Luc Besson, what kind of a performer could this GACKT be?

"This is my first time participating in a film festival.  When we made our own movie (MOON CHILD, 2003), the timing didn't match any film festivals"

He stated that this was his third day in Toronto, and because he was taking part in photo shoots in addition to the film festival, he had had little private time.

"But, it's stimulating just coming overseas like this.  It's fun"

He smiled as he said this, and told us about the new movie BUNRAKU.

"The presentation is extremely interesting.  It's an action movie that uses a different method of presentation to anything before, and also a road movie.  The balance between the parts that were done obsessively without special effects, and the ones that weren't (the parts that use the latest technology freely) is interesting.  My first impression was that it was a very peculiar movie"

He continued in a slightly husky voice, furrowing his brows a little.

"It was very difficult to take in what was written on the page.  I felt like "What on earth is he trying to say?" at first.  But I got that he was trying to do something interesting.  He (the director) had asked (me) because he wanted to make an interesting movie, and they were doing Japanese culture, but (at the same time), there were things I couldn't convey either…  I thought, as a musician, as an actor, that there was a lot of meaning in being able to transmit Japanese culture overseas.  I thought it was great timing for presenting something that had to be done by me, as one Japanese person, as one Asian person, so I thought "Yeah, then, shall I do it?""

But it wasn't that he said "yes" as soon as he read the script.

"The first script came late, so I didn't give a definite answer until I met the director.  When I told my producer, "I want to talk to the director first, then I'll answer", he (Guy Moshe) flew straight to Japan, and then… how long was it.  We talked for about 10 hours.  After talking for such a long time, his (Guy Moshe's) enthusiasm was transmitted to me, and I replied that I'd accept"

Filming was in Romania from Spring '08.

"All the performers' schedules were tight, I couldn't take more than two months either.  During that time we were filming, in one day I'd get up at 4am and sleep at 3am.  Man, I didn't understand that schedule (laughs).  It was horrible.  Really.  The first month was like that.  Then, for the last month the flow of the shooting came together.  Because we could see how much we had left to film, little by little my schedule loosened up.  I used that time to do training and stuff… that's how it was"

Then the conversation turned to his co-stars…

"Anyway, in a nutshell, everyone was enjoying life, a lot.  With a schedule that difficult, that harsh, a Japanese person would take a break.  For example, if you work an overcrowded schedule from Monday to Saturday, you take Sunday off, right?  But they worked from Monday morning to late Saturday night, then on that Saturday night everyone would have a party.  Every time (laughs)!  Everyone would get together Saturday night and go wild.  At first, I declined (to participate).  But after Demi (Moore) invited me I started to go.  I changed my mind about it after seeing everyone enjoy themselves there.  Instinctively, they, how should I say it… they had fun to rest their spirits.  I was very moved when I saw it.  So after that, from when filming finished, until 6 or 7am we'd all drink and have fun together, then sleep 2-3 hours… The amount of sleep we got didn't change, but rather than the sense that Sunday was a day to rest, I got the feeling that it was doing something to rest your spirit, and I thought that was genius.

From then on, my feelings changed to thinking that, rather than furrow your brows, if it's awful you should laugh and enjoy that too.  After (filming) BUNRAKU, I had a nationwide (Japan) tour with over 60 dates.  I always do training before a concert, but with three hours of that a day, when you reckon in rehearsal and calculations for the real show, it's a 12 hour day and that continues for several months.  But even during that, I endeavoured to go and have fun and enjoy myself.  You can revive a tired body through rest, but not a tired heart.  I understood that through filming (BUNRAKU)"

Representing the fans from Toronto, we asked "When do you next plan to come to North America?", and he answered, "Next year, I'm planning to come to America on tour.  Not an arena tour but club houses.  I'm planning to perform in 2000-3000 person venues".  The day when he can be seen close up enough to reach out and touch, and his voice can be heard is anxiously awaited.

GACKT spoke of how, although his main activity is music, more than just appearing on television and stage, he wants to actively step forward into the movie business, including Hollywood.

"There are so many things (outside movie appearances) that I want to do… What I'm thinking of most strongly is, making dreams come true.  Making dreams into reality.  The children of this world are beginning to stop dreaming.  I want to convey a dream to those children, and prove that you can make it a reality"

Confidence supported by the hard work that sets him apart from the crowd, and faith to continue into an unknown world believing in himself.  I'm overlapping him with his role from the Taiga drama, but I can't take my eyes of GACKT, who gives me the sense of a Samurai spirit.

Zdroj:https://amaia.livejournal.com/194117.html

Žádné komentáře:

Okomentovat