- BLOCKHEAD FILMS
Film Production Unit
Based in Sapporo
ICC Residency beginning April of 2008
Kenta Takahashi and Kenji Hashimoto started the company in 2002.
*Kenta Takahashi – Born in Sunagawa City, Hokkaido
Graduated from Tohoku University in Education. After attending Kyoto Film Juku (cram school), he became an Assistant Director on many sets.br />
*Takeshi Hashimoto – Born Tokyo
Graduated from Kyoto University with a philosophy degree. After Kyoto Film Juku, he studied at Beijing Film Academy, then became a reporter for a national magazine.
Produced 4 films to date.
Currently in development for a feature length film.
Production for BLOCKHEAD does not end with narrative film, but also music videos and DVD authoring.
When producing a film together, they split up into director and assistant director.
“We like to include a story not only in our films, but in everything we do. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but that’s our style.” It seems BLOCKHEAD FILMS is all about the drama.
- How the unit began
These two characters from different hometowns met at Kyoto Film Juku 15 years ago. They established themselves in Sapporo and won a competition with a 20-minute short film. This film caught the attention of an ICC advisor who later helped them become residences at ICC. Takahashi speaks about Hashimoto, “We are the complete opposite to each other. Our lifestyles are totally different. After 20 years of knowing him, I’ve never visited his house. Still, we seem to sync when we are on set. In that sense we have a lot of respect for each other.” Film production is what brought the two of them together.
Takahashi (left) and Hashimoto (right)
On set with BLOCKHEAD FILMS
The duo has shot many films with yakuza characters. They say their stories would take shape in that direction because they knew a lot of actors with intimidating looks. “The beginning of a project can be one person with a small amount of interest. The important thing is whether or not others can join in and share that interest.”br />
Their newest film is a 15 minute short film called “God of Rock n’ Roll”, one that is respected by many musicians. Up until now, they have produced all their projects independently, but for this last project they asked a fellow member of ICC, photographer Yamamoto from Harebare Shashin, to be their director of photography. It will be interesting to see the collaboration between artists that create space, and an artist who extracts space in the form of a photo.
A scene from a yakuza film
A scene featuring beautiful Hokkaido scenery
BLOCKHEAD FILMS’ new film, “God of Rock n’ Roll”
- Dream
Their dream is to shoot a feature film within the next three years.
“We want to see if BLOCKHEAD FILMS can create a drama that is universally appealing to a wide audience. We want to create drama that the world loves for the rest of our lives,” says Takahashi.
Takahashi who talks about dream
Written by Kohei Kuramoto
Translated by David Neptune
