Film production
First directorial work
Short film "Until I Die"
Synopsis
This is the story of Michiru (30), an office worker who dreams of becoming a singer, and Sakai (65), her apartment neighbor and heavy smoker. Troubled by the smoke, Michiru submits a fake medical certificate (suspected cancer) to Sakai's mailbox. Sakai learns that he has little time left to live. The two develop a friendship through a series of events.
A scene from a movie
Press release, distributed July 2023
The short film "Until I Die," which was filmed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been released on YouTube.
In this era of parallel careers, I want you to fulfill your dreams in this one and only life, "until you die."
Screening to be held in May 2022
cast
Takashi Irie (as Sakai)
Born in Tokyo in 1959. Recipient of the Best Actor Award in the Japan section at "SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL & ASIA 2018," Asia's largest short film festival, and the Outstanding Supporting Actor Award at "Shibuya TANPEN Film Festival 2020." Film credits include "Public Telephone" and "Cassette Tape," while television dramas include "Yae no Sakura."
Satoru Fujimoto (as Michiru)
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1996. Films: "Teiichi no Kuni", "Fukumenkei Noise", "PRINCE OF LEGEND", "Kaguya-sama: Love is War 2 - The Geniuses' Love Brain Battle - Final" / Stage: "Furano Police Story" directed by Takanori Kubo and So Kuramoto / Music video: Nakigoto "Dolly" / Commercials: Shoe Plaza, etc.
Charlie
(Playing the role of a homeless person)
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1972. Works as an actor and model. His film "gift," for which he wrote the screenplay and starred, was screened at the San Francisco Indie Short Film Festival.
Selected for the official selection. Also works as a model for brands such as 'GAGAN Jewelry' and 'OIRA'.
staff
Yo Takayanagi (Video/Editing)
Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 2005 / Digital Creator / High School Freshman / Experienced in photographing celebrities / National Champion in Student Contest / VFX Advisor / Certified for Drone Flights Nationwide (Tokyo Civil Aviation Bureau Director)
Daiki Kawanami (Assistant Director)
Born in Japan in 1991, raised in the United States, and via Taiwan. After working as a production manager at a New York-based video production company until 2021, I am currently working as a freelance director.
"Chase!!", winner of the runner-up prize at the Tiktok TOHO Film Festival 2021 (Director, screenwriter, and lead actor)
MEI
(Scenario collaboration)
Manga artist, originally from Ehime Prefecture.
He works as a manga artist under a different name, and has published manga with "KADOKAWA" and "Kodansha".
Anri Shimada (recording )
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 2003. Currently studying in the Department of Broadcasting at Nihon University College of Art.
Irene Lu (Production, making-of filming, playing a resident)
Born in 1994 in Taiwan, she graduated from the University of Washington at Seattle and then came to Japan. She works as both a financial analyst and a journalist, while also assisting with film production.
Short film "Until I Die" completed in late March 2022.
director
Masataka Koizumi
Special thanks
The names of those who provided advice are listed here.
*In no particular order
enbu Seminar, Cinema Planners, Koizumi Sake Brewery, Atsugi Film Commission, Yukiko Sode, Masayuki Nakazawa, Nana Takagi, Masamichi Manabe, Shin Yoshimori, Shinya Ikeda, Kazumi Kawashima, Rumi Shida, Shino Tsukada, Yoko Dosaka, Kyoko Okada, Koji Ueno, Asami Nakachi, Yuko Suda, Hiroko Ikejiri, Tomomi Mizusawa, Kayo Yasuda, Shinnosuke Yokozuka, Sora Toyoshima, Akira Kashima, Yuko Goto, Yoshimasa Mori, Yutaka Hasegawa, Oregon, Hitoshi Izawa, Wataru Suzuki, Yukako Suzuki, Akira Koizumi, Junko Koizumi, Daisuke Koizumi, Yu Koizumi , Rich Schleifer, etc.
*If there are any issues with the content, we will remove it. Please contact us.
▼ February 27, 2022: Filming wrapped up.
▼'Until I Die' Main Feature 18 minutes
▼ Making-of video for "Until I Die"
▼『Till the end』English subtitle version
English Subtitles | RICH SCHLEIFER, YUKAKO SUZUKI