Sohmen Party

When shooting goes on for a long period of time, a sort of fatigue which cannot be expressed with words accumulates for both the staffs and cast. That’s why we need to take little breaks from time to time. It becomes an important event in preserving the unity of the team.


In the past, we’ve served handmade “pork soup” for night time shootings during the winter, and at times, there was curry.
When we were shooting “Touch a Dream”, Tomokazu Miura-san acted as leader, and he hosted a barbecue party at the lakeside camp site by Lake Hamana.
During “A Delinquent’s Dream”, we had a curry party on the river bank of Yoichi Town, and our actress Kyoko Maya-san participated in the preparations for the event with the staffs and local supporters from early morning.
AND, since this is summer, a “sohmen party” is just the thing!
Delicious vegetables were provided as compliments of the people from the Chita Rinri Houjinkai , and with the help of the members of Yume Net Handa we had the first feast in a long time at the camp site of Tokoname.

Later on, our cameraman Ryu-san murmured in a feeling tone, “If we didn’t have that sohmen party at that time, the staffs and cast may have exploded from stress …”
Hey, don’t scare me like that! (laughs)

But it’s true that with the shootings in the hot weather day in, day out from morning to night, mental fatigue tends to accumulate even more than physical tiredness. And it’s quite natural that we start to miss homemade food after eating packed meals everyday.



The staffs were all energized, and they enjoyed playing catch and other outdoor games in the field nearby.

We are supported by so many people in so many ways. And this summer will become a wonderful memory for us along with the film. This is probably one of the great things about making a film.

Two nights later, we enjoyed ourselves again with another barbecue and fireworks by the waterway in back of our hotel. Luckily, we were able to avoid a riot with these events. We owe all this to the supporters of the Yume Net Handa.

(Originally posted in Japanese on Aug. 12, 2006)

Aug. 8, last day of acting!

We were supposed to be worried about the typhoon today…but ended up being greeted with miracles to the very end. Funny, all the staffs and I take it for granted that things will fall in place somehow.
By the time we arrived in Nakagawa City, even the roads were completely dry.



In the pachinko store (Yontorii Tamagoshi), so many supporters had gathered for us that we were not able to film everybody. Although we had scheduled to take attendance at 7 a.m., many came way before that.

From the Chita Peninsula, everyone from Yume-Net Handa, the members from Yume-Net Toyokawa, and even the scene voice guides were there. Also, many of my friends from Nisshin City whom I only met this year came, too. All of these people brought their friends along, and as a result, as many as 115 people gathered for us that day. Thank you so much everyone, for coming such a long way.

The person who offered to coordinate the extras was Shu ☆Yo (珠☆陽) – he should be tired from helping us through the hard schedule, but is full of energy nonetheless. The red megaphone he held in his hand suited him well.
And beside him was Chief Inokoshi, giving directions in a loud voice! He was very concerned about the arrangements for today, and was kind enough to come straight to Nagoya from Narita airport, after coming back from Thai. In his heart, he wanted to end the last day of shooting with us. That means more to me than anything.

So, with the strong support of these great people, the shooting went smoothly from the very beginning.
After shooting one scene inside the store, we then took precautions with the weather and worked on the road next to a bank nearby, and then went back to the store again.



Both Lee Tae Sung, his manager and staffs were surprised by the enormous and gorgeous pachinko place that cannot be seen in Tokyo. Actually, they had thought that they would be able to enjoy pachinko, but we had lent the place out for shooting. Sorry, no prizes today!

From Pusan, Lee Soo Hyun’s parents also came to watch us.
The supporters all seemed to enjoy themselves, too.



In the afternoon, we were going to shoot some acting at a nursery next door. This would be the last scene for Lee Tae Sung．　At the same time, actresses Hideko Hara and Naoko Otani will finish, too.

In order to present flowers to him, we left Lee Tae Sung’s scene for last, and finally….“CUT!!” All the cast and staffs burst into applause. Lee Tae Sung, this is the end of your long, long stay in Japan, and the shooting of the film – you’ve done a great job!

That evening, we had a party celebrating the end of our shooting in the big hall at a Japanese pub near the hotel. Actually, the real last day for our shooting was to be Marky’s scene at Zepp Nagoya tomorrow, but because Lee Tae Sung will be going back to Seoul, this was the last day they could be together.


And most of the staffs were going to leave us tonight, too.
Some are moving on to their next project tomorrow, and some have actually already begun their next work already.



Because they are all busy people, even if we were to hold a premier month from now, it would almost be impossible for us to get together again. We were reluctant to leave each other, and that night, we laughed and got really excited. Needless to say, we went from the first party to the second one, then the third one….

(originally posted in Japanese on August 8, 2006)

Toba’s “Pearl Road”

This morning we got on the ferry from Chita Peninsula and crossed the sea to Ise Shima.
Lee Tae Sung　and a few others said it was their first time to ride a large ferry. Going to the head of the ship, they spread their arms and played “Titanic”.
So, we all get the same ideas!
Even if we cannot communicate with each other in words, we can have the same laughs when it comes to films











The clouds that flowed in the sky had an unique expression. This was near the bay called “Pearl Bridge” and is about a 25 minute drive from Toba.

The lattice-shaped rafts that float in the bay are used for cultivating pearls. It gave a delicate nuance to the picture of the bay.









The task for today was to get airborne imagery from the helicopter, and also to capture the dusk.
At 7 in the morning the main troupe moved from Chita Peninsula to Ise across the shore.
We heard that the typhoon was approaching, but so far, a pure blue sky greeted us.

Our aim was to get the unique landscape of Iseshima … the two of them on their bicycles run through this beautiful scenery consisting of scattered islands and complex formation of the bay.
We made a test flight. I have ridden the helicopter many times both in Japan and abroad, but I never tire from watching the scenery below. I wish I could go on riding it for awhile.

Afterwards, we drove for quite a long time on the Pearl Road, and arrived at the perfect location for getting an evening view. They weather forecast had predicted rain from the evening for Mie Prefecture, and the typhoon was supposed to be approaching nearby, but we could not see any sign of it. Again, the heavens were with us.

But we had no time to lose. We were aiming for one moment only – the time the sun almost hides beneath the clouds.Hurriedly, we prepared the rails for the rover, and set the cameras. In the meantime, I explained the movement to Marky and Lee Tae Sung and repeated rehearsals and tests.

“It’s now or never!”
Dai-chan, the lighting chief who was watching the movement of the sun and clouds all this time came over to me and declared in a quiet tone.

“Okay, we’re going to take it! ….ready, action!” The two actors emerged almost as a silhouette against the beautiful sunset.

“CUT!”“Oh, it’s beautiful!”
Everyone was struck by its beauty.

“It’s like a movie, isn’t!”
“Hey, it IS a movie.”
Lee Tae Sung’s jokes in Japanese are getting better all the time.


In the sunset that was dimming, the staffs were getting all excited and took photos of each other. ”Oh, there’s a dragon!”
Marky pointed at the sky.

In the blue sky where the cloud had just hidden itself, there was just one cloud with a peculiar shape shining there.
Junya, who is in charge of the making film, was quick to take me a video of me as I was looking up at the sky.


“Director, is it as you imaged it?”

“Of course it is, it's perfect!”

But needless to say, the beautiful view is a gift from the god of cinema No matter how long one waits, there are people who are do not encounter that crucial moment.

It was late into the night when we finally got back to our hotel

(originally posted in Japanese on August 7, 2006)

At Arimatsu … From the Shibori Festival.

I wonder what it says?
Any way, Lee Tae Sung seemed very happy.


I had been considering the idea of including an image of the Japanese festival in this film from the very beginning. The reason behind this is the same as our decision to include a dance related to the old Korean festival of the new year’s scene “nogaku”.

If one was to show a unique dimension of a country’s culture, I think that would be “matsuri (festival)”. And in the faces of the people who gather there, there is an expression they share in common which needs no explanation.

In that space and place there is nothing that divides people. There is only pure joy.
In the photos Lee Soo Hyun left behind, there were records of him enjoying the festivals of Japan. We know that Sekine-san, the photographer who died in the same accident, also heartfelt photos of the people and children at festivals, that conveyed a warm feeling.

At the root of the action they took that day, it seems that they shared a common simple liking for festivals – and underlying that this was a sense of “affection” that was very precious. I hope that we were able to convey that in the film.



The festival in Arimatsu is called “Shibori Matsuri”. This is a town which has carried on the old tradition of the shibori (tie dyeing), and we had asked the whole town to reproduce a part of their craftsmanship for this film. I would like to thank the people of Arimatsu for their cooperation. In the finished work, people may think that the scene lasts only for a moment, but I personally would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for providing a precious image for us.

(originally posted in Japanese on August 6, 2006)

Osaka Day 3 and then to Nagoya

The last day in Osaka turned out to be a HOT summer day!
We had to shoot in the burning sun:
Two scenes where the two of them ride their bikes, and also a scene in a small park with children playing soccer.

The cicadas were so noisy. It was really unbearable.

This is something that comes with the territory in summer shootings, and is a cause for headaches for the recording team. It’s an annual event that we somehow manage to forget about until we face it the next year.

All the staffs that could spare a hand took long sticks and jabbed at the cicadas.
We at least wanted to get them away as much as possible from the places we were recording the actors’ lines.

But the cicadas became louder than ever, as if they were making fun of us.

When I saw a pack of fire crackers lying in the corner, I had leisurely thought, “oh, I guess we’re going to have fun tonight!”, but actually, they were prepared to shock the cicadas. The recording staff moaned, “Hey, those aren’t going to do any good!”
“Even a canon would last only about a minute.”

Hm, I wonder what kind of project used canons to fend of the cicadas.

Just when we were about to give up, they all stopped ringing completely at one particular moment.
WHY???
Never mind, we can’t let this moment go, we have to make the most out it and shoot right now! But…once we tried to roll the film, it started again.

“….I guess we have no choice but to record it later.”
This means we will record the voices in the studio at a later date.
So, our high noon strategy resulted in a failure.

We wrapped things up early evening that evening.
The next day was reserved for moving to Nagoya, so tonight was the first night in a while that we would be able tot take it easy. Everyone went off drinking with their close buddies.

I too, got in touch with Producer Choi, and had a good talk with Yasu-san on such things like memories of our shooting session in Korea.

So, our job in Osaka finished according to schedule.

(originally posted in Japanese on August 4, 2006)

Osaka Day 2

Another Sunny Day



It was just a bit cloudy in Osaka, which made it tolerable when we were in the shade. Fortunately, most of our shooting was to take place inside a building. Which was also a lucky thing!

The first menu for today was the scene where Soo Hyun and his friend goes to visit a friend of his late grandfather. This setting is based on the truth, as Lee Soo Hyun’s father was actually born in Osaka, and the whole family had lived in Japan until he was five.

Ever since we came to Osaka, over two days, Teru (Yamazaki) and the art team were adding last touches to the set. He happened to meet a local monk at the site where we were about to shoot, and after he explained about our film, they hit it off really well
and the monk helped him out with many things.

When we came to Osaka for scenario hunting (the process of doing preliminary location hunting for the purpose of writing a scenario), we were drawn to an apartment built in the early Showa era. That was where our shooting was going to take place. Every one of the staffs lauded the place – it truly gave the perfect touch to the film.

In the apartment, there is an old lady’s room – and our art team had arranged it in the bon festival setting. What a great idea! Who would have imagined it.
Another great job by the art staff we should be proud of.

The actress who gives a passionate performance opposite Lee Tae Sung and Marky is Yano-san. She is a first generation Korean in Japan who has been giving solo performances on stage for many years. We had gone through a long search looking for someone who was suitable to play this role in this particular scene, and we finally found her.

She plays a white-haired old lady who speaks in a way peculiar to first generation Koreans, mixing Japanese and Korean, and in an earnest tone as if she is praying. In this scene, I have embedded another theme of this film which is important to me. I wonder what the audience will feel when they see this scene.

The summer sun that shone on the court created deep shadows in the rooms and the hallway. It was almost like a picture. This old wooden apartment will be torn down in September. The aged plate that was attached to the entrance had instructions written on it in both Hangul and Japanese. This of course is not something the art team prepared – we had left it as we found it. Perhaps, this building itself is a witness of an era. Maybe it was not a coincidence that it was going to be shot in film, leaving its last form.

We finished shooting by early evening, and moved to Nakazaki-cho near Umeda.
We were going to shoot at “Amanto”, a place owned by my friend of many years. This part of town is an interesting place. There is a row of two-storied wooden houses lined up against modern buildings in the back, and we could even see some remains of the old roads of the Edo period. In one corner, there also remains a small shrine of the my favorite dragon god (Hakuryu Okami). On the other hand, there are quite a few fashionable shops for young people in the residential area. Small live houses reformed from wooden houses, many art galleries, shops of Asian taste, organic food restaurants… such places are scattered in this area.

If one was bored with the monotony of daily life, it would be the ideal place to take a casual walk. There may be an unexpected encounter. Not just with people, but you may hear the Indian sitar, the Mongolian matouquin, or the sound of a flute from the Andes. Jazz goes well with this area, too. The place has a sense of spirituality, and it is a place I love.

For the last cut, we were to shoot the front of the shop. Because it is a residential area, we tried to go about the preparations as quite as possible. And finally, when we were ready to shoot, something unexpected awaited us.
I hope you sill read the rest of the story at “Ren’s Midnight Connection” (laughs)

It was a day our beer tasted just great.

(originally posted in Japanese on July 31, 2006)

Osaka Day 1

We were going to start late today… but I couldn’t get out of the habit of waking early.
I had looked forward to sleeping, but found myself awake around six.

I had woken up because of the bright morning sun, so I must say luck was with us.
The forecast had predicted showers from evening till noon – they were completely wrong!The film crew took off for Tsuruhashi Station.
We met up with Lee Tae Sung　whom we had left in Pusan 2 days ago. Marky, who had given a live performance in Namba, Osaka last night showed up in good shape.
The setting of the scene - the two of them were visiting Osaka at the last stage of the road movie.
We were going to shoot in the biggest Korea town in Japan that lies between Tsuruhashi and Momotani.

It was the first time for Lee Tae Sung to visit Miyuki-dori (Korea town) and he was frankly surprised by the size of the town.
There were quite a few shops that probably did not exist 6 years ago, and had opened due to the Hanryu wave.
Many photos of Korean stars were being exhibited.
Lee Tae Sung　will probably join them in the future.

The streets were crowded because it was Sunday, but the people of the shopping area were very cooperative, and the shooting went smoothly.
Many supporter teams of the Kansai area came to see our shooting along with their friends.
My friends from the “Yume-net” and ex-Shinra were there, too.
This film is supported by so many people - how lucky we are!

Some of the locals of Osaka were not familiar with this area.
There are shops with kimchi and other Korean dishes that look delicious.
They must taste great, because they are authentic.
In the back streets of the shopping area, the houses made of wood stand right next to each other, and give us a good feeling.
Since it’s summer vacation, we could hear the energetic voices of children playing.
Also, the sight of elderly people working energetically could be seen everywhere.
The whole place gave me a nostalgic feeling. That was the impression of the town.

We decided to shoot the night seen the following day, and finished early.
Using the extra time, the make – up staff added some green color to my hair.
The hair dye they used was a new brand, and it was pretty god.
It’s been a while since I felt so energized.

In the evening, I watched the video which has roughly gone through 80 percent of editing.
Captivating scenes are shown one after another. And the acting is exciting.
The photography is good, and so is the lighting. I couldn’t help being glued to the screen, watching the scenes that came out effectively after a lot of time-consuming work.
The rush, which lasted less than 2 hours ended in no time.

I would be repeating myself, but our decision on the casting proved to be correct. Every single one of them was shining, vividly and with energy.
There were some scenes that brought back good memories, too… Yes, the part we filmed in Korea from the beginning of winter to New Year’s. The scenes of those times came flashing in front of me.

Hey! There’s no time to be sentimental yet! After seeing it through, we came up with many issues on how we would be finishing up the film.The battle goes on. We must aim to make it an even better film.
And tomorrow, there awaits a scene in Osaka, which will involve some serious acting.

(originally posted in Japanese on July 30, 2006)