“Director Katayama: ”He’s out of his mind.”
—What was it like working with Director Katayama on set? This is the first time for both of you to be part of the Katayama crew, isn’t it?
Aoi:I was really out of my mind (lol). And even though I was acting crazy, nobody ended up disliking Katayama-san—which just goes to show how crazy I really am (lol). This is UTA-kun’s first time, after all.
UTA:Yeah, I just thought that was normal (lol).
Aoi:So I think things will be easy from now on (lol).
UTA:When I told people around me about it, they said, “No, that’s on a whole different level” (laughs).
—Specifically, what exactly do you mean by “that’s crazy”?
Aoi: We shoot about 10 takes of a crying scene. And we do it right away—no pause, just “Action!” right off the bat. Isn’t the general rule for crying scenes to create an atmosphere that helps you stay focused? So I thought, “Huh, maybe they’re not really looking for me to cry that much here—maybe I’m on the wrong track.” I’m the type of actor who adjusts my performance based on the vibe on set, but just as I started acting, Mr. Katayama came over and said, “Please approach this with a fresh mindset.” And I was like, “Oh, really?!” (laughs).
I did think to myself, “Then don’t make us do 10 takes!” (laughs). But anyway, just having Mr. Katayama at the center of it all makes everyone seem to be having a good time. The fact that everyone—including the staff—works together as a team is a testament to Mr. Katayama’s leadership. Also, even if Mr. Katayama himself was feeling physically drained, he’s the kind of person who’s constantly racking his brain, thinking about what to do to get a funny shot. With a shooting period of eight months, you’d think he’d have taken a break at some point, but the fact that he never did is truly amazing. It was tough for us, too (laughs). On set, everyone was exhausted and working at the very limit of their stamina, but even that’s part of what makes it a great memory, and I think everyone shared that sense of accomplishment—that feeling of, “We did it!”
UTA: Personally, since it was my first time acting, I felt that doing multiple takes was just part of the process—and in fact, precisely because I was a newcomer, I actually wanted to do it over and over. I’d even get anxious if there weren’t enough takes. Doing so many takes really helped me grow as an actor, and I felt that making my debut in a film directed by Director Katayama would be a valuable asset as I continue my career. I’d heard from others that “Director Katayama is incredibly particular,” but it turned out to be fine. That’s because, as Ms. Aoi mentioned, there was an atmosphere where the whole team was working together to create something amazing—and I think that’s why I was able to push forward without feeling any stress until the very end. I’m truly grateful for that.
