ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 10 months ago - aaron trinder

Hey Dan. I certainly didn't take it as a jab! I'm happy anyone takes an interest in this film and think your comments are great food for thought. Very happy to be thought of as ready for my first feature. I'm trying to convince a variety of organiaations of the same thing! The 'wakes up' trope was purposefully used as a sign of the monotony and repetition of his life... It's always risky being 'knowing' with story structure but I think it was appropriate in this occasion!

Thanks once again chaps.
Aaron

10 years, 10 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Hey Aaron,

You did a really nice job.

I can see why Japan would be interested in this (I'm pretty obsessed with the Japanese culture). There's an odd condition called hikikomori, where Japanese males (mostly) gradually withdraw from society, and eventually won't leave their rooms. 20 years ago it was teenage boys around 15 years old. Over the years men in their 30s have become afflicted. There was even a manga about it a few years ago (sorry, don't remember the name). Japanese society puts so much pressure on men, I'm not surprised they have an epidemic of agoraphobics.

My question is this: why would you want to remake it as a Japanese film? Going to Japan to re-shoot a short seems fun, but doesn't make much sense. It's certainly not for the money. Shorts don't make money. At least not a single product. Let me explain that: Japan has had a long history of "webisodes", long before the internet existed. These are short tv shows that won't run longer than 15 minutes. The most famous is the "morning drama" that housewives watch while getting their kids ready for school, and are broadcast at the perfect time for that every morning.

Then you'll have "filler" shows--what they are probably using yours for. Regular television shows don't necessarily have a set running time of, say, an hour. It might be 50 minutes, and they need to fill the last 10 with something to finish on the hour mark. These can be anything from a "one off" to a series that runs the last 10 minutes of the same show every week. I find that fascinating and strange. So if you really want a shot at working in Japan, make 2 more. What happens to the guy after he enters the cloud? Like your current one, keep dialogue at a minimum and add Japanese subtitles.

Are you wanting to turn it into a feature? If so, have you written a feature length script yet? Then you'll need to get that translated into Japanese (properly, please. Don't just grab any Japanese person you can find to translate. It doesn't work).

Good luck!

10 years, 10 months ago - aaron trinder

Hi chaps, thanks for your kind responses. Dan - your thoughts on web-isodes etc are very interesting. Its right that many people have questioned why I'd want to remake the film as a short, and in fact i've pondered whether the idea would work better as a 'long' short or even a feature. The Hikkikamori phenomena was something I discovered when in the later stages of editing so was a spark in my thinking of Japan being an obvious home for the film. I've got lots of other feature script ideas and in fact have just completed my first draft of a feature, which I've got a producer and we're working up plans for development now.
Aleve - I've signed exclusive rights in Japan, but other territories are still open so i'd be most happy to here your thoughts on any other distribution ideas. Please feel free to get in touch.

Thanks guys.
aaron

10 years, 10 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Then what happens after he dies, Aleve? ;)

10 years, 10 months ago - Alève Mine

What happens after he enters the cloud? He dies. Aaron if you're interested in IPTV distribution in Japan and elsewhere on top of whatever you have, please let me know, I may manage to make that happen, no promises. Will also ask someone in Japan if they know any relevant producer.