Hitoribochi - "Alone"

[warau]

Well, my week can't get any worse so I am throwing my hat in the ring. I have been planning to jump in last minute with a film or two but my editor has a new job and may not be available and my cameraman is probably not going to be helping either. Cool, I'm in!

Chances of a film finished by the deadline - %90. Chances of a WATCHABLE film - %50, up it to %70 if the editor is on, %90 if the cameraman shows.(Hey, I am nothing if not an optimist!)

Plot: A "hikikomoro" (see definition below) loses his last friend and makes the first step toward the outside world. Christian theme.

Hikikomori - a term for a person who seldom to never leaves his house, relying on parents for support. Many were victims of bullying or abuse in jr-sr high. This is a pretty large problem in Japan at the moment. One concern is what happens to them when their parents die. Some of them have literally not left their house in 15-20 years.

Equipment: shooting with a DVX100b and letus 35, Rode NTG1 straight to camera

I have never used either so if the cameraman doesn't show...this becomes an "experimental" film.

[warau]

Production Notes

February 8
First day of production. Everyone met for a short rehearsal and to rewrite on scene, then off to shoot the first scene. Major issues with lighting in a small hallway.

February 3
Almost finished with shooting schedule, should finish 99% on Sun, 8th and Wed, 11th. Fumiyoshi Iseri will play the part of Michihiro but is only available to me on the above mentioned 2 days. Cody Permenter will be editing starting the 14th so that is the cutoff for all filming for Hitoribochi. No pressure, just hope this week goes perfectly!

January 25
I have had a difficult time finding someone to play the part of Michihiro. Kumamoto is not an actor's paradise so it ends up not being a filmmaker's paradise either. I do have a few leads and hope to have auditions for the last part by the end of January. Camera and lighting testing has gone well, I think I have decided on the "look" that I will be going for while filming.

January 17
Meet with the first two actors, Kenichi and Yuko. Had a good meeting, they both have a background in theater and commercials so at least they should act somewhat "professional". They are excited about doing their first film. I am hoping to meet with them again to go over the script with the intention of making it "theirs", changing wording, etc to something more natural for them.
Loosing planning to shoot the second week of February, depends on the availability of the 3rd actor.

January 15
Script 4th draft finished. (Third draft in Japanese.)
Based on a quick run through and some wild guesses, it will take 2-3 days to film, never more than 2 actors on set at the same time.
There are 3 lighting setups, one is outdoors. Actors will have 2 wardrobe changes each with one person having 3 changes.



田中small.jpg
Kenichi Tanaka will play the part Teruaki, the hikikomori.

yuuko.jpg
Yuko Nagahiro will play the part of Teruaki's sister.

iseri_small.jpg
Fumiyoshi Iseri will play the part of Michihiro.

[warau]

First day's shoot
Podcast #3

Equipment
Podcast #2

Introduction to the story
Podcast #1

[Amr Rahmy]

if you want an editor, and u don't mind uploading your footage or mailing it, i could be interested.

[warau]

Thanks for the offer! I'll keep it in mind, particularly if I can finish shooting soon enough.

[Mark Harris]

Cool, welcome!

[Rodney V. Smith]

can't get any more hectic.. unless it's 2 days before the deadline, so you're in great shape! Welcome!

[Chris Messineo]

Originally Posted by warau

Hikikomori - a term for a person who seldom to never leaves his house, relying on parents for support. Many were victims of bullying or abuse in jr-sr high. This is a pretty large problem in Japan at the moment. One concern is what happens to them when their parents die. Some of them have literally not left their house in 15-20 years.

I had never heard of this before and it sounds fascinating. Best of luck with the film.

[stinkpot]

Good luck and welcome to the fest!

[warau]

Thanks for the welcome! I figure someone has to offer up the bad films to use as examples of what NOT to do. Might as well be me!

Puck, I have enjoyed your podcast! I may do one to show how not to film a short.

I am excited about the potential but am thinking I may have bit off more than I can chew this time around. But hey, what's the worst that can happen? I put up a crappy film and get made fun of, my feelings are hurt, my life seems to have taken a turn for the worse, I move back to the states, can't get a job, move in with my parents and play video games for the next 10 years. ...or not.