Daiken Okudaira - Mother (2020)

Q: Did you know that Masami Nagasawa is the mother when you won the audition?

A: I didn't know. After audition, when I heard the names of other performers, I felt pressure thinking that "I am going to work with such amazing people”.  I met Nagasawa-san for the first time during costume trial, but I was so nervous that I couldn't even make an eye contact. At school, I had only one girlfriend, and I wasn't used to talking to women, suddenly Nagasawa-san was the co-star (lol).

Q: However, the sense of parent and child is completely created.

A: At first, I was scared to approach Nagasawa-san
. I was scared of her role, and also I was afraid to touch her. However, she told me "It's okay" so I was able to switch my mind "If then, I will do it.”. I told myself "Just be careful not to be rude, and try to be as normal as possible.". I think I was able to be close to her while talking during our rest time.

Q: It seems that you had a workshop with Dir. Tatsushi Omori before shooting because it was your first time acting.

A: We did about 4 workshops. In the first two times, the director used a normal conversation between Aramaki-san (Shuhei's boss) and me as a script. It is natural when we talk but when the same is used as the script "What would happen if I did this or that?". Then, if it didn't feel natural, I tried to make it as natural as possible. The remaining two times I practiced mainly on the script of "MOTHER".

Q: What did you feel when you actually started shooting?

A: The director said "You should do what you think. What you do is the correct answer" so I think that the shooting became more interesting, I keep thinking "What will happen next?" and started to get a positive feeling. 

Q: How did you create the role of Shuhei within yourself?

A: After reading the script, I thought "May be, this scene is like this," but I didn't know if it was correct because I had no experience. So, I had no choice but to hit the feelings on the spot when I entered the shoot.

Q: It would be most difficult to perform the scene where Shuhei was cornered to commit a crime. How did you feel when you played?

A: I was scared for that scene even when I was reading the script. Imagine replacing it with myself. However, at the stage of script-read, I didn't know the true feeling, so I thought I'd leave it to the feelings at the actual shoot. At shooting, Nagasawa-san put a lot of pressure on me in the previous scene, so in that scene I always thought "I have no choice but to do it.".

Q: The work is hard, but how was the atmosphere at the site?

A: It was extremely bright. It's a movie like this, so I thought it would be quiet ... but Nagasawa-san and Abe-san (Sadao Abe) joked a lot. It was completely different from my imagination.

Q: As soon as the production starts, everyone will become very serious, right?

A: Nagasawa-san's switch was amazing. She talked normally while waiting, but as soon as she was told "Start", she became a different person. Being pulled by her, I was able to become Shuhei.

Q: What did you learn from Nagasawa at the site?

A: I learnt how to relax before acting. She stretches before acting. When I asked her, she said "If you do, you can relax." I started stretching and my body moved better and I can express myself more. I try to continue after that.