SciFi JAPAN TV (my giant monster documentary series!)

[Jim Ballard]

Hey guys!

I know I haven't posted here in forever...

I'm still living in Japan, and currently working for a small media company producing web videos and mobile apps.

We've just started producing a twice-monthly web show about Japan's famous giant monster / special effects movies called SciFi JAPAN TV. We just released our second episode on Friday...

(Please watch in HD if possible!)

Episode 1 "Ultraman Director Interview":


Episode 2 "Special FX Museum Tour":


The next episode will feature an in-depth interview with Haruo Nakajima, the original guy inside the Godzilla suit!

This is aimed at a fairly niche fanbase, but I'm just looking for some feedback from a general audience, with perhaps just a passing interest in the movies. Do you think we're on the right path with this show?

Best,
Jim

[Breed]

Oh man, I'm so watching these the moment I can.

[Tuna Hematoma]

BALLARD

[Gorosaurus]

Very cool!! Episode 2 was very interesting, and episode 3 looks to be even better!

Are these aimed specifically for release/popularity in English speaking areas? I'd say they'll go over pretty well

I was blown away by some of the detail in those miniatures, and really impressed by how well the MG suit has held up. What surprised me was that people were actually able to touch it! That would definitely be a no-no in America, haha.

Great work, Jim, just as I've learned to expect of you. Keep us posted on more!

[Breed]

I loved these.

I grew up on Gamera and Godzilla and the like and I even have some toys still, and a Godzilla encyclopedia and yeah the art of this has always fascinated me.

It's like this thing was made FOR ME! Nice work man. LOVE it.

It makes me want to fly to that museum RIGHT NOW

[Jimmah]

I will check these out.

The name Ballard sounds familiar, I just don't remember what for exactly. I hate memory.

[Jim Ballard]

Thanks, guys!

I shot/edited a vlog to promote episode 3, since it was a big trip out from Tokyo. Not a thing I really want to do regularly though - much happier behind the camera than in front of it!

Originally Posted by Gorosaurus

Are these aimed specifically for release/popularity in English speaking areas? I'd say they'll go over pretty well

Primarily it's aimed at English-speaking audiences. We're producing it for http://www.scifijapan.com which is one of the biggest English-language sites for Japanese sci-fi/monster news.

With that said, there's obviously an even bigger audience in Japan itself, which is why we're making sure that every episode is bilingual English/Japanese.

Originally Posted by Gorosaurus

I was blown away by some of the detail in those miniatures, and really impressed by how well the MG suit has held up. What surprised me was that people were actually able to touch it! That would definitely be a no-no in America, haha.

He wasn't supposed to! But we were told afterwards that it's one of the actual FX guys from TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA - might have even been the FX director, Teruyoshi Nakano. So I guess he can touch the suit

We were shooting on opening day, so many of the visitors that day were the filmmakers.

Originally Posted by Gorosaurus

Great work, Jim, just as I've learned to expect of you. Keep us posted on more!

Thanks! There will be 2 new episodes every month, and they'll always be released on Fridays (ep 3 is this Friday, Sep 14th). I would like a more regular schedule - like bi-weekly - but this is the best we can manage for now.

All eps will go here: http://www.scifijapan.com/tv/

Or this is our YouTube channel, with all our other shows as well: http://www.youtube.com/user/GaijinCh

Originally Posted by Tom Breed

It's like this thing was made FOR ME! Nice work man. LOVE it.

It makes me want to fly to that museum RIGHT NOW

Really glad you liked it! Unfortunately, the museum is only temporary. It closes sometime in October

Originally Posted by Jimmah

The name Ballard sounds familiar, I just don't remember what for exactly. I hate memory.

I think we met, didn't we? The UK 3dmm meeting at Thorpe Park. Or am I thinking of someone else? It must have been 10 years ago.

[Gorosaurus]

Cool new episode. You both have very good personalities for the camera; I'd actually really enjoy an adventure-blog sort of production with you two on a sort of road-trip of Monster Movie attractions.

Some of the technical specs were above my head, but that's why they are called technical specs.

Either way, still a pretty interesting episode (even with no real goji juice!)

I was under the impression that the last member of the original Godzilla cast died with Akira Ifukube, but I am pleased that that is not exactly true! It was kinda funny how your cohort said "not my first picture with him.." which is pretty endearing

[Jim Ballard]

Here's GODZILLA!

[Bobby Swisha]

Jim Ballard!! These look awesome, I'll check them out when I get a chance to. 3dmmer Alan Lasher also lives in Japan, btw.

[Jim Ballard]

Originally Posted by BR

Alan Lasher also lives in Japan, btw.

Cool! Do you know if he's in Tokyo?

[Bobby Swisha]

Originally Posted by Jim Ballard

Cool! Do you know if he's in Tokyo?

Just saw this. He doesn't live in Tokyo. I forgot where. If you want to PM me I'll send you his facebook url.

[Invisbl Shado]

Dude you are pretty much living my dream! I finished film school and graduated in editing and have been staying in Aus doing music vids and web content. Recently I have been thinking about moving there cause I have always loved Japanese culture since I was a teen and when I went for a holiday there I was blown away. How did you find work over there?

Really love the videos and as has been said before, both of your presence on camera is really great. Interesting stuff. I Will subscribe!

[Breed]

I loved that one! Very well done. The guy seems pretty nice, kinda weird seeing him actually talk and be himself, I've only ever seen pictures

wow man. You're making my 5 year old self so jealous (and happy) right now. Way cool.

[Breed]

some unrelated culture questions:

I noticed that the crowd didn't react to his story..is this a respect thing in Japanese culture, or something else?

And I also noticed the interviewer constantly acknowledged him every time he took a breath, is that a Japanese thing as well or just the way the guy was?

[Jim Ballard]

Thanks dudes! Really means a lot!

Originally Posted by Tom Breed

some unrelated culture questions:

I noticed that the crowd didn't react to his story..is this a respect thing in Japanese culture, or something else?

And I also noticed the interviewer constantly acknowledged him every time he took a breath, is that a Japanese thing as well or just the way the guy was?

Yeah, both of these are cultural things.

In regard to the first one, there's a famous story about George Lucas coming to Japan and watching the STAR WARS premiere, and he was panicking the whole time because the audience weren't reacting. But that's just how it is here. Audiences just sit quietly and listen. (This actually makes going to the cinema a hell of a lot nicer here!)

As for the interviewer acknowledging him all the time, yeah... That's really all it is. It would be like us saying "uh-huh" or "right" during a conversation to acknowledge that we're still listening. Japan just takes it to the extreme. I used it find it annoying, but I do it myself now. Irritates my family whenever I go home. "Hai... Hai... Un... Un... EEEEEEEHHHHH!"

[Jim Ballard]

Not gonna spam this thread with every ep, but this is one you should totally check out -- interview with Teruyoshi Nakano, special FX director on all the 1970s Godzilla movies (and GODZILLA 1985):



This is the most fun I've had so far! The guy is pushing 80 but has so much energy and so many stories! We shot so much that we're making 2 episodes out of it. And I still don't think we even touched the surface of what he has to say!

[Gorosaurus]

I, for one, would like you to bump every time you have a video you think is impressive! Great stuff!!

[Breed]

PLEASE spam this thread with every episode.

[Jim Ballard]

Originally Posted by Tom Breed

PLEASE spam this thread with every episode.

Well, here are two I missed:

Interview with Toshio Miike, who's served as art director on all the major franchises here (Godzilla, Gamera, Ultraman, Kamen Rider etc). He's pretty much one of the most revered guys in the industry today:


Interview with young indie filmmaker Kiyotaka Taguchi. He started work as an AD on the recent Godzilla series right out of college, and used the knowledge he was acquiring on the job to start directing his own monster movies:

[Jim Ballard]

OK, this one's pretty badass:



Also, the episode before this features my friend and comic book artist Matt Frank on his first trip to Japan, meeting a load of his heroes along the way. And a surprise ending!

[Jim Ballard]

[Gorosaurus]

Whoa! Great stuff!!

[Jim Ballard]

[Jim Ballard]