1. First, thank you again for this interview. With your infamous trailer, are starting filming this month?
Yeah, we start filming at the end of this month. We're starting off with the action scenes since those are the hardest scenes to film and take up the most time.
2. For fans who just haven't seen to gotten the word yet, tell us about this upcoming feature Gun Caliber?
It's about the everyday life of Gun Caliber, a stubborn, negligent, irresponsible, perverted, alcoholic superhero and takes place in a world where being a superhero is an everyday thing. Kinda like Mystery Men, No Heroics and Tiger & Bunny. There's all kinds of heroes. Famous ones, unknowns, and has-beens. Gun Caliber is a mix of all three. Just when he thinks his life can't get any shittier, he's then given a pretty big job by this lady professor where he has to retrieve a radioactive filter called the "Gen-Drive" from a bunch of baddies who want to make Tokyo E-X-P-L-O-D-E!
3. How does it feel holding on to the multiple roles of director, writer, creator & star of Gun Caliber? Do you find it easier to joggle with you wearing all those hats yourself or harder?
It's definitely harder. Especially when I'm the sole person funding the whole thing. I have a personal life on top of this and basically have to balance all those roles with your my personal schedule...AND THEN the schedule of all the other people who you need to help me. Sometimes doing all these things by yourself can be really stressful, but can be rewarding if it all pays off in the end.
4. Now, what about Gun Caliber himself as a character. He obviously is not your typical "boy scout" like many of the Tokusatsu heroes that we know. What insight can you give us about him?
Although he's a "superhero" he's very reluctant about it, but he enjoys the perks. Him being a superhero means he actually has more authority than the police and tends to use his status in all the wrong ways. This usually leads to womanizing, drug abuse, alcoholism and all sorts of scandals.
For Gun Caliber, being a superhero is just a normal everyday job. He wakes up, watches TV, makes bad guys blow up, gets a beer, orders some Delivery-Health (a girl prostitute), and calls it a day.
Even though he's not the most ecstatic about the job as a whole, he enjoys the fighting and tends to be a show-off when in battle. He's got the skill to be a hero, but uses it only when he feels like it.
5. Who would you say are Gun Caliber's main villain(s)? And why are they against our dashing hero?
The character and story isn't really established yet so it's hard to say. If it goes on for a couple more years and we have more characters by that time, maybe then I can answer that question.
6. Do you think all of Gun Caliber's notable vices (drinking, smoking, women) actual help or hurt him and why?
They totally ruin his life. He's basically become this really washed up superhero because he just likes to have a little bit too much fun.
But it also helps divide him from the typical Japanese superhero. You see, the Japanese mentality of Tokusatsu is that it's always shot with the intent of selling the toys to the kids. With this movie, there's no toys to be sold, so I can just go crazy with the idea and make it entertaining in my own style.
7. This is a Tokusatsu project and there are lots of homages that can be seen (like one of the Pink Ranger women dressed as Time Pink) but what got you into Tokusatsu? What are some of your favorites?
Like all the other kids, I watched Power Rangers first. It was a little tacky for my tastes, so I tuned out for awhile, but when I went to visit the Philippines, I saw Kamen Rider Black for the first time. I didn't know why it was better, but I definitely felt it being better. I think it was because there were less characters to focus on that it felt like a more gripping story. I also loved how he'd transform, kick a monster in the face and make them blow up.
I also watched a Keita Amemiya movie called "Mirai Ninja" which was released in the west under two different titles. "Warlord" and then later on by Streamline Pictures as "Cyber Ninja". At first, I thought this movie was cheesy, but then gave it a second and third chance and started to like it more and more. The whole concept of the character Shiranui is totally badass.
As for favorites....frellin' hell...too many to name, but here goes....
Kamen Rider, Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop, Kamen Rider Black, Gen Sei Shin Justiriser, Kamen Rider Kuuga, Powered Sister, Kamen Rider Agito, Garo, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Evolver, Kamen Rider Faiz, Dekaranger, Kamen Rider Hibiki, Choujinki Metalder, Mikazuki, Gekiranger, Shinkenger, Kamen Rider W, Kamen Rider Fourze, Magnizer-1, and Houjin Yatsurugi.
Kamen Rider, Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop, Kamen Rider Black, Gen Sei Shin Justiriser, Kamen Rider Kuuga, Powered Sister, Kamen Rider Agito, Garo, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Evolver, Kamen Rider Faiz, Dekaranger, Kamen Rider Hibiki, Choujinki Metalder, Mikazuki, Gekiranger, Shinkenger, Kamen Rider W, Kamen Rider Fourze, Magnizer-1, and Houjin Yatsurugi.
...just to name a few.
8. Starring as Gun Caliber, are you doing your own stunts? If so, how much training have you had in martial arts, stunt work, etc?
Excluding some instances where both Gun Caliber and Soma (Gun Caliber secret identity) are on the screen at the same time, I'm pretty much doing my all own suit work and stunts throughout the whole movie. Not because it's a macho thing to do, but because there's no money nor time for stuntmen to double for me.
I honestly haven't had much stunt work in my lifetime and that'll probably never change, but I've been on 3 productions here in Japan. My first one was a stage show for Lion Maru G where I played as one of the "Shadow" insect Ninjas. Then I played the role of Kamen Rider Kick Hopper in a stage show for Kamen Rider Kabuto at a run down amusement park. I also helped out on a night drama called Elite Yankee Saburo where I get slapped in the face by the title character. I've only got be in front of the camera for action once, but it was a pretty fun shoot.
I have a martial arts background in Jeet Kune Do/San Shou and Taolu (weapon and empty hand forms) in Chinese Wushu. I'm WAY out of practice though and could really use a coach again in my life...
One thing I wanna clear up is the misconception that everybody seems to have about martial arts and action movies.
Knowing martial arts, does not mean that you can automatically do action. They are two totally different things and a lot of people who watch action movies and martial arts movies don't seem to realize that.
9. What is your ultimate goal with Gun Caliber?
I really just wanna make a fun superhero-action-comedy the way that I want to make it. If people actually follow it, buy the DVD and make it successful, then that's way more than I expected. I just love movies and Tokusatsu, so if it grows into something more than what it was meant to be, that's just a bonus really.
But hopefully there's enough of a following out there that'll support me enough to make my next Garage Hero...
10. Can you estimate when it will be released? and How will it be released? Indy theaters? Your website? Youtube?
I plan on releasing it either sometime at the beginning or middle of 2013. Its really hard to say if it'll be finished by that time but for now that's what we're aiming for. The reason for this is because we want to get it around to all the film festivals, sci-fi/anime/comic conventions, colleges, and other venues before we eventually sell it on DVD.
11. If you had a chance to do a dream team up of any Tokusatsu hero & Gun Caliber, who would it be & why?
I think it would have to be Tentai Senshi Sunred. From what I've seen, he'd probably get along just fine with Gun Caliber.
12. Finally, you are about to pitch Gun Caliber as a series to a major cable network (being everyone who is reading this). Give us that pitch to sell us on it.
"Gun Caliber" shows a side of Japanese superheroes that is not aimed towards a young audience, but instead the children of yesterday who have grown up watching Tokusatsu. Amidst all the sex, violence, explicit language, drug abuse, and alcohol, lies a character who hides his true desire to redeem himself and the choices he makes to walk down that path.
With interesting characters, stylish action, and funny scenarios, this will not only entertain those who have a love of special effects and superheroes, but for those who just want to watch a fun superhero action comedy.
Thank you again Bueno.
You're more than welcome.
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