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April 2008

April 28, 2008

"Speed Racer" sequels potential??

There are also lots of Hiro articles on Japanese press related to Speed Racer (and THANK YOU THESE PRESS PEOPLE to write Hiro's interview!!), and many of them mention "the possibility of sequels or spin-off", according to producer Joel Silver (the big guy in pink jacket with shades posing with hiro).

It certainly depends on how the first movie goes in the box office, but Silver states "it would be interesting to reveal the truth of mysterious Mr. Musha in the sequels, and if that happens, more opportunity will be available for Japanese actors."

Hiro himself expresses his interest in such sequels - "Yes, the story is easy to expand.  Mr. Musha ends up with just a mystery this time, but if there is a next one, I would be happy if his true identity gets revealed."

Some other Japanese articles talk about Hiro's opinion...

  • Hiro wore a black jacket with a scull design on the back.  (No photo shows it, tho..)
  • I love the original "Speed Racer" anime.  So when the screenplay was sent to me, I decided immediately to participate.  I asked the directors to let me get on the bandwagon, even if the role is a bad guy or a small role.
  • I am here as a representative of a fan of the original story, not so much as a rep from Japan.
  • (Regarding the new digital filming - they didn't use the film but the image goes directly to the hard disk) They didn't have to worry about wasting film, so the camera stayed rolling even while the directors give instructions.  So any of these images can be used in editing.  It was very interesting and educating to me.
  • The final film is live action plus the cutting edge of 21st century computer graphics.  The point is how the original anime generation look at such computer based graphics.  The younger generation probably will absorb it with no problem, and I hope the older generation realize that we are in this type of era, while feeling the spirit of the original story.
  • I don't care too much about the size of my role.  My interest is to work with great staff and cast members, if it is interesting screenplay or project, in any country.  My current balance between the low-budget indies and the big-budget commercial works is the best.  I want the situation to be like a routine, that just aother Japanese actor is here working, rather than the sheer fact that I take part in foreign film gets hyped up.

Variety Japan
SANSPO
Gyao
Barks (1)
Barks (2)

Reiko also just informed me that producer Joel Silver talks about the sequel potential in his interview as well.  (This is in English)

Joes Silver Interview

Several sponsoers/partners started to open their process of Japan Premiere ticket sweepstakes.  So far, event magazine Pia, movie theater chain, Toysrus, NTV network have posted their sweepstakes.  To me, it is impossible to do anything to get tickets.... (sigh...)

Like... you are supposed to buy this in Toysrus in Japan and get a sticker on the products, then stick it on a sheet and send it over...

Speed Racer Hotwheel

All these links and information come from RinRin and her friends in Japan.  Thank you, guys!

Misty

"Speed Racer" L.A. Premiere coverage - English articles

The premiere event for "Speed Racer" was held in Los Angeles last Saturday, and there are lots of coverage of Hiro.

Yahoo! (US) photo
Yahoo! (US) news
WireImage
WireImage (Puma sponsor event)
Getty Images (1)
Getty Images (2)
Sharlotte.com (1)
Sharlotte.com (2)
SHIN post from annie
IESB.net
JAMD.com

Misty

April 21, 2008

Hiro in Speed racer - good news and bad news

Reiko has been posting about Speed Racer in SHIN forum quite a bit.

SHIN "Speed Racer" thread

This time, let's begin with the bad news.  She writes here that his role is VERY MUCH diminished down to CAMEO, at best.  His screen time is very short, although he looks FABULOUS in those short appearances.  She found it out at the special screening last week in LA for the industry people.  Please see the above thread for more details.  She is also following it up with the post about how difficult situation he is under, given the Asian actors status in Hollywood in general.  So please stay tuned.

RinRin also is telling me that the HUGE Tokyo premiere will be VERY MUCH focused on Rain, the Korean actor, instead of Sanada-san, and there may not be even a chance for hiro fans to get it.

Sigh...  Poor guy...

OK, then move onto the good news.

Reiko also writes that Hiro will appear on another special screening event at ImaginAsian theater in L.A. along with Rain!!

***********************************************************************************
Advanced screening of "Speed Racer" in Los Angeles
Speed Racer Special Advance Screening
This Month's Spotlight Speed Racer Special Advance Screening
April 25, 7pm

ImaginAsian Center, 251 South Main Street, LA
Don't be in the grandstands when Speed Racer arrives! ImaginAsian Entertainment and Warner Brothers want you to join Rain and Hiroyuki Sanada at the special advance screening of the Wachowski brothers' newest film at the ImaginAsian Center in LA. For your chance for an invite to this exclusive, red carpet event, go to www.iatv.tv/speedracer !

http://movingonwithrain.blogspot.com/2008/04/advanced-screening-of-speed-racer-in.html

http://www.theimaginasian.com/la/events.php

***********************************************************************************
If anybody live close to LA, please GO and support Hiro!!

It also is confirmed that Sanada-san is schedule to appear in Tokyo premiere. 

Yes, I know.  His role will be small, but he is that kind of person.  Remember, at "The Promise", when the movie got so much criticizm and was ostracized in US, and all the other cast members stopped supporting Director Chen Kaige, Hiro still stood by him till the end.  He was on the stage with Kaige in the devastating US premiere.  (I could know about this, thanks again to Reiko's real place report.  No media has written about it, because no press was there anyway.)  He does what he promised to do no matter what, and he keeps his support once he is commited. Because he is "The Ultimate Samurai".  That is why we love him.

日本の皆様

ロスのレイコさんが、先週「スピードレーサー」の業界向け特別試写会に行かれたそうで、その様子がSHINフォーラムにアップされています。

SHIN "Speed Racer" thread

つまり、真田さんの出演時間は極めて短くなってしまい、「カメオ出演」がせいぜい、といった感じになってしまったそうで、レイコさんはめっちゃくちゃショックを受けています。これに続き、「ハリウッドにおけるアジア人俳優がいかに難しい立場にあるか、真田さんがいかに難しい戦いを戦っているのか」という点について、もう少し詳しく書き込んでいく予定だそうですので、英語の読める方は、引き続きそちらにご注目ください。

東京プレミアも、どうやらRainさんに完全に焦点が当たっているようで、なんだか寂しい限りです・・・

さて、悪いニュースはこのぐらいにして、よいニュース。日本在住の方にはあまりよくはないのですが・・・ロスの「ImaginAsian」というアジア映画専門映画館にて、今週特別試写会があり、真田さんもRainさんとともにご出席予定だそうです!(上記リンクをご覧ください)

それから、真田さんが東京のプレミアに出席されることも確定だそうです。

http://www.japantoday.com/ 

いかに出演時間が短くても、「行く」といったら必ず行かれるのが真田さんです。「プロミス」のときも、映画がさんざんな批評を浴び、アメリカでも配給権をめぐるゴタゴタや、環境問題だのパロディ問題だののゴシップでチェン・カイコー監督が叩かれ、他の出演者が監督を見捨ててどのイベントにも来なくなってしまっても、真田さんは最後の最後まで、監督のそばに立っていました。ボロボロになった末、ようやくこぎつけたアメリカでのプレミアで、観客もまばらな中、カイコー監督が尾羽打ち枯らした風情で憔悴しきって挨拶したあと、たった一人、真田さんは監督をサポートしてスピーチしました。(この話も、プレミアに行くことができたレイコさんの現場レポートのおかげで私は知ることができました。どこのマスコミも書いていません。だって、誰もいなかったんだから。)

たとえ劣勢になろうとも、一度コミットしたら貫くのが、サムライ・真田広之。だから好きなんですよねっ!皆様!

Misty




Hiro in artist gallery in L.A.

Annie sent the image of Sanada-san, when he attended Sue Ling Hyde's gallery event.  I also found a Japanese article about it, which includes more photos of him with the artist.

WireImage  (thanks, annie!)
AFP news

So he is sure to be back in LA by now!

真田さんが、先週ロスで開かれたアーティストの個展に出席されたそうです。上記リンクに写真と記事(日本語です)があります。もう、ロスにお戻りなんですね。

Misty

April 16, 2008

IWC interview video is online

Interview clips of Sanada-san and other celebs from IWC event in Geneva last month is on their Website.

IWC event clips

Unfortunately for non-Japanese speakers, he is talking in Japanese.

He is saying, "After this party, I will go back to L.A. and participate in 'Speed Racer' premiere there.  I am playing a role called Mr. Musha, so please stay tuned."

So that means he will be SURE to show up on April. 26 premiere in Hollywood.  YAY!!

Misty

April 14, 2008

Bunch of "Speed Racer" trailers!!

ADA informed me that at comingsoon.net site, there is a complete list of various versions of Speed Racer trailer and other videos.

http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=17308

Wow, so many!!  Enjoy!!

Misty

"Speed Racer" Tokyo premiere will be a GUINESS scale!

According to our friends over in Japan, Tokyo premiere of "Speed Racer" will be gigantic scale (this expression usually does not go with "Japan" or "Tokyo", but this time it DOES), holding 35,000 invites in Tokyo Dome, one of the largest baseball park in Japan!

SANSPO article

According to the article, they will set up a 17.45m(57.25ft) x 37m(121.4ft) screen.  The organizer is now checking if this is the largest movie screen ever, and if so, they are planning to declare the record in Guiness Book. 

In the U.S. premiere, which will be held at Nokia Theater in L.A. on April 26, 4,000 people is scheduled to be invited.  So Tokyo premiere will be approx. 9 times as big as the one in L.A.  I don't know how they plan SUCH a huge scale premiere, but it certainly shows the studio has a high hope in the country which the story was originated a long time ago.

They have not announced who will be there, but considering such a size, I am sure LOTS of celebs in the movie will be there at the event.

I am asking RinRin and other Japanese fans to keep us updated as to HOW we can apply to go to the premiere.  There may be some fans from other Asian countries, such as Taiwai or Hong Kong, may want to come to Tokyo for this event, and if that happens, Japanese fans would LOVE to arrange an international Hiro-fan gathering over there!!

So come check this site from time to time!

Misty

Kenji with "Lightsaber"

Take a look at this! Robby just sent me this COOL piece that he has made for his university tech graphic project.  He took the Eiffel Tower scene from "Rush Hour 3", and change Kenji's sword into glowing lightsaber.  It looks really cool.

ENJOY!

Misty

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=YTks8V7ZjhE


 


April 11, 2008

A few Hiro videos

Hirorin over at RinRin's blog found a new version of "Speed Racer" trailer which includes a glimpse of Mr. Musha.

Speed Racer Trailer

Here is another "glimpse" of Sanada-san - his appearance at IWC event in Geneve.

IWC event video

Thank you, always, Hirorin and RinRin!!

Misty

April 10, 2008

Don't be surprised - YES, IT IS HIRO BLOG!!

No worries, dude. This is the same Hiro blog - I just was a bit bored with the previous black design of this blog, so I changed to Hollywood design - where Sanada-san lives!!

皆様、

いえ、間違っていませんよ!こちらはHiroyuki Sanada Newsブログでございます。真っ黒のデザインに飽きたので、ちょっと背景を変更いたしました。ただそれだけです・・・

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