“About the Pink Sky,” which was in the World Dramatic Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is the debut film from director Keiichi Kobayashi.
The film follows high school student Izumi Kawashima (Al Ikeda), whose daily routine is rating newspaper articles, and one day finds a wallet containing a large sum of cash. However, instead of returning the wallet to its owner, Izumi decides to lend a substantial portion of the money to a middle-aged male acquaintance. The wallet is eventually returned to the owner who is a wealthy high school boy, Koki. Koki notices that the money is missing and asks Izumi to create a newspaper that will provide happiness for the reader.
Kobayashi is best known in Japan for directing music videos, web based dramas, and TV programs.
Film Slate Magazine’s Jasmina Nevada was in Park City this year, attending both Sundance and Slamdance. On sitting down with Kobayashi, she says: “I had a quick chat with the director and one of the actors--Ai Ikeda (via a translator)--whilst we sat on a beanbag at the very comfortable Sundance Channel HQ, which provided a relaxing environment for filmmakers and everyone in attendance at this year's Sundance Film Festival.”
Film Slate Magazine: What inspired you to make this film?
Keiichi Kobayashi: I thought it would be interesting to make a film about a teenager critiquing society.
FSM: How long did it take from the initial to the final product?
KK: The shoot itself was two and a half months but the whole process took about a year.
FSM: What attracted you to this particular script?
Ai Ikeda: When I auditioned for the role, it was not a typical audition; it was more like an informal chat with the director. I enjoyed chatting with him. I was also was intrigued by him and was curious. I wanted the chance to work with him
FSM: Had you known of his previous work? Or were you attracted by the subject material of the script?
AI: I did not know much about his work at the time but lately I found out about all these TV programs, of which I had been a huge fan of and was excited at the opportunity to be able to work with him, on an upcoming project.
FSM: Is this something different from what you usually do?
KK: This is my first feature film and usually I am a musical video director. Up till now I had been working on TV and music videos; I had always been inspired by other people when making a video or something for TV. I decided that I wanted to create my own vision and maybe inspire others.
FSM: What would you like the audience to get from your movie?
KK: 'To use your own eyes' to look at the world and trust your own judgment …and individual perceptions...
FSM: What is your next project?
KK: I am working on a new screenplay for my next movie about a nerdy Japanese couple obsessively into animations and comic book culture.
Imdb page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796318/
