From Shonan! A collection of short films created by the film community set on the Enoshima Electric Railway
A world of art to visit, see and experience
File.15 Studio Malua "Enoshima Cinema"
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)
"Enoshima Cinema"
This is a collection of short films shot by a diverse range of filmmakers, with the theme of Enoshima Electric Railway, also known as Enoshima Railway Station.
What an intriguing title and setting!
When the film premiered at the Chigasaki Film Festival in late June, tickets sold out in just a few hours on the first day of sales.
It's not uncommon for towns along the Enoshima Electric Railway line to be the setting for dramas, but this is the first time a film has been made about the Enoshima Electric Railway itself. Indeed, railway companies prioritize safety. Filming inside stations and on platforms requires careful attention, making it a challenging task.
The understanding and cooperation of Enoshima Electric Railway was gained because the concept of "film production closely connected to the local community" put forward by Malua Studio, which was responsible for planning and management, was in line with Enoshima Electric Railway's philosophy.
Studio Maulua is run by filmmaker and screenwriter Chihiro Yasuda, who became fascinated with filmmaking during her university days and moved to Chigasaki about two years ago in search of an environment where she could continue to create films freely.
"I was vaguely aiming for Shonan, and stayed at a guesthouse in Kamakura. During that time, there was a day of heavy snowfall, so the next day I went to Inamuragasaki, thinking that I would be able to get a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. I found a lot of local people there. As you'd expect, they know a lot about the area (laughs). I felt a sense of richness in this environment, where I could live a normal life surrounded by nature, and I thought, 'I want to make this my base for filmmaking.'"
Yasuda settled in Chigasaki and started a local film community studio called Malua, aiming to create a community where people who make films and videos and people who watch films and videos can come together and create new works.
As a first step in their activities, in 2018 they held an event to learn about film and video at the coworking space ChigaLab.
The production of "Enoshima Cinema" can be said to be a project that takes a step further from that.
*Scenes from the filming location of "Enoshima Station"
The directors were seven filmmakers, both professional and amateur, who supported Studio Malua. Based on the two common themes of "Enoden" and "connections," each produced a highly artistic work.
For example, film director Iwao Takahashi, who also served as an overall advisor, was Yasuda's mentor during his university days. Miho Yamamoto is a screenwriter by trade, and this is her directorial debut. Yasuda himself has also directed one short film.
The stations featured are Kugenuma, Shonan Coast Park, Enoshima, Inamuragasaki, Gokurakuji, Yuigahama, and Kamakura. Shonan is a tourist destination, but it is also rich in nature and time passes slowly, so no matter where you take a photo, it will be dramatic and picturesque.
*From Inamuragasaki Station "Inamuragasaki Walking Tour"
Of course, in reality, it wasn't that simple. To avoid causing inconvenience to local residents who use the Enoshima Electric Railway, filming took place in the early morning for one to two hours. When there were shortages of manpower, the crew helped each other out, and they also used crowdfunding to secure funds.
It's all for the sake of the movie we want to make!
*Scenes from the filming location of "Enoshima Station"
"The premise was that each person would be free to create their own work, so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about whether the film would come together as a single unit in the end. But when I saw the finished product, which was all put together, I was moved. I'm proud that while each person was able to assert their own individuality, the quality of the film as a whole is worthy of being released in theaters."
As the story is set in an Enoshima Electric Railway station, which is an integral part of everyday life, I hope that local people will watch it first. I hope that by looking at the familiar town from a different perspective, people will be able to see a different charm and perhaps even love the town even more.
* "Kamakura Station" filming location
Studio Malua's vision goes beyond producing highly artistic films.
A guest house will be set up to provide an environment where members can stay overnight and concentrate on their work.
We would also like to have it function as an artist residence where overseas artists can stay.
In the future, we would like to create a base in the Shonan area that members can use as an atelier.
Yasuda's dream has only just begun to take shape.
"Enoshima Cinema"
Directors: Iwao Takahashi, Takushi Nishinaka, Miho Yamamoto, Takuma Suyama, Ami Inagawa, Naomi Takayama, Chihiro Yasuda
[Upcoming release dates (2019)] Screenings on the following dates have now ended.
■Enoichi
・July 20th (Sat) 10:00~/13:00~
・July 27th (Sat) 10:00~/13:00~
■ Chiga Lab
・July 21st (Sun) 10:00~/14:00~
・July 28th (Sun) 10:00~/14:00~
■M's Cantina
July 25th (Thursday) 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
・July 26th (Fri) 19:00-21:00
Kugenuma Station "will be born in 3 years"
Director: Iwao Takahashi
Shonan Kaigan Park Station "Lost Children at the Seaside"
Director: Takushi Nishinaka
Enoshima Station "New Moon Tombolo"
Director: Yamamoto Miho
Inamuragasaki Station "Inamuragasaki Walking Tour"
Director: Takuma Suyama
Gokurakuji Station "Treasure"
Director: Inagawa Ami
Yuigahama Station "Sinking Heart"
Director: Naomi Takayama
Kamakura Station "Sleeping in Tokyo"
Director: Yasuda Chihiro
