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‘Tetsuo’ Director Tsukamoto Shinya on Staying Independent and Why He Can’t Pull Away From War Films
Filmmaker Tsukamoto Shinya said at the Tokyo International Film Festival that he has stayed independent to preserve the freedom to develop his own material. He also discussed his long-running determination to make war films, including his 2014 adaptation of “Fires on the Plain”.
Tsukamoto recalled making “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” on 16mm over about a year, using discarded street materials and rough stop motion rather than computer effects. Its festival success led to a larger-budget follow-up, but he said studio offers did not suit his creative approach. “Fires on the Plain” was filmed in the Philippines, Okinawa and Saitama, and expanded from an initial 40 cinemas to 80 after Tsukamoto pursued self-distribution.
In short
- Tsukamoto says independence helps him protect his creative impulses.
- “Tetsuo” was made on 16mm with improvised practical effects.
- His long-planned “Fires on the Plain” reached 80 cinemas.
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