Director and special effects maestro Yoshihiro Nishimura is a frequent blogger in Japan. He doesn't write much, but is always uploading photos of what he's doing. But like most people who don't ordinarily say much, when he does say something, it's usually pretty weighty and well-thought out.That's why we thought it was worthwhile to bring you an English translation of a recent entry by the filmmaker, where he shares some year-end thoughts on the birth of Sushi Typhoon, and its first year of life.
The original entry (with photo).
And our English translation (thanks to Don Brown!):
With the preview screening of YAKUZA WEAPON yesterday [Nov. 26], this year's lineup of films from the Sushi Typhoon label is complete. ALIEN VS NINJA, MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD, COLD FISH, HELLDRIVER, KARATE ROBO ZABORGAR and YAKUZA WEAPON.
Objectively speaking, I truly feel that they represent an amazing variety. There tends to be a presumption that "They're just a bunch of movies with blood spurting everywhere!", but actually that's totally wrong. COLD FISH is a shocking 'family' film with a heavy physical and emotional impact; ZABORGAR is a good old-fashioned tokusatsu [special-effects] film for kids; and YAKUZA WEAPON is a full-on action film that takes a different approach to most manga adaptations.
I think the fact that such a richly diverse collection of films has come together this year is largely attributable to the ability of producer Yoshinori Chiba. I can't say this to his face, but in an industry where so many producers start out saying to you "Please make this film!" and yet don't fulfill their responsibility to stick with it until the very end, this guy makes absolutely sure that your film will be entertaining. Chiba has a unique talent for sniffing out interesting projects, and while that may be thanks to his own sensibilities, he has skillfully deployed each director to make what he considers to be entertaining films in several different genres. That's why, after yesterday's preview screening, I genuinely felt from the bottom of my heart that I want everyone to see all of them!
Objectively speaking, I truly feel that they represent an amazing variety. There tends to be a presumption that "They're just a bunch of movies with blood spurting everywhere!", but actually that's totally wrong. COLD FISH is a shocking 'family' film with a heavy physical and emotional impact; ZABORGAR is a good old-fashioned tokusatsu [special-effects] film for kids; and YAKUZA WEAPON is a full-on action film that takes a different approach to most manga adaptations.
I think the fact that such a richly diverse collection of films has come together this year is largely attributable to the ability of producer Yoshinori Chiba. I can't say this to his face, but in an industry where so many producers start out saying to you "Please make this film!" and yet don't fulfill their responsibility to stick with it until the very end, this guy makes absolutely sure that your film will be entertaining. Chiba has a unique talent for sniffing out interesting projects, and while that may be thanks to his own sensibilities, he has skillfully deployed each director to make what he considers to be entertaining films in several different genres. That's why, after yesterday's preview screening, I genuinely felt from the bottom of my heart that I want everyone to see all of them!
