People Landscape in KANAGAWA｜"Zushi Beach Film Festival"
Interview & Text: Akiko Inoue Photo: Masamasa Nishino Release date: April 1, 2014
A giant screen will appear on Zushi Beach during Golden Week!
The outdoor theater, where visitors can watch side by side with others and feel the infinite space of the sky and sea, provides each and every visitor with an experience that goes beyond the mere act of watching a movie.
The Zushi Beach Film Festival, which gives such unpredictable excitement, is celebrating its fifth year this year. To find out the answer to the question of who makes this film festival, which is held every year during Golden Week from late April to early May, possible possible, I visited the CINEMA CARAVAN office near Zushi Beach. CINEMA CARAVAN, a mobile movie theater created by photographer Shizuno Rai and musician Nagashima Gen, is the project that led to the Zushi Beach Film Festival. Below the office is CINEMA AMIGO , a movie theater and cafe that fosters various connections between people involved in the film festival and people living in the area.
MAGCUL.NET spoke with both Shizuno and Nagashima about the Zushi Beach Film Festival and CINEMA AMIGO.
Photo: Past Zushi Beach Film Festival
■ The beginning of the Zushi Beach Film Festival
- First of all, what prompted you to start the Zushi Beach Film Festival?
Shizuno Rai (hereinafter Shizuno) : First, we started CINEMA AMIGO with Gen, myself, and one other person. Gen established CINEMA AMIGO in the local area, and since I'm a traveling photographer, I was also running the mobile cinema CINEMA CARAVAN (a mobile cinema with the concept of "playing with the earth" that allows you to experience it with all five senses. It shows films in various places around the world). That's when we decided to try it out on a local beach. At the time, there was a lot of activity, including the 3.11 disaster, so we started with a lot of momentum. We decided to hold the first event about two months in advance, without thinking about the consequences.
- You prepared the first event in just two months?! It seems like it would be hard just to put together the in-game equipment and create the screen...
Shizuno : It was really tough. I had no experience and I didn't know if I would be okay...
Nagashima Gen-san (hereinafter Nagashima) : At the time, I had planned to take on all the role of projectionist as well, but when we started, I realized I didn't have enough, so I asked a friend who happened to be free for that period to help out, and I was also helped by people like that who joined us midway through, so it feels like it was a miracle that we were able to do it.
- I see. Who are the people running the Zushi Beach Film Festival, including Shizuno-san and Nagashima-san?
Shizuno : The members are all unique characters that I'm surrounded by, such as painters, chefs, artists, musicians, carpenters, and people specializing in sports.
- Are you all from Zushi?
Nagashima : Most of the customers are from Zushi, Hayama, and Kamakura.
Shizuno : This is true for the women as well, but many of us are very original and have our antennas up. Even though we have children, we all do what we can in our free time, mobilizing all our knowledge.
- It seems like it has expanded more and more through horizontal connections.
Shizuno : That's really all there is to it (laughs).
■ Future challenges: Connecting generations
- I think the Zushi Beach Film Festival is the only place where you can experience watching a movie on the beach.
Shizuno : It's quite common overseas, so I think it's not impossible, but perhaps there aren't many teams that can actually bring in an audience and go all the way to this extent.
- I see. I imagine you've had to go through a lot of hardships in running the film festival up until now, but what motivates you to continue?
Shizuno : We all live in the same area 365 days a year, and the Zushi Beach Film Festival is like one of the goals for everyone involved, including myself, for the year. For example, I'm a photographer, so I travel and think about how I can express what I've seen there in May. Having a place to output that kind of thing, and the fact that it's a common goal for everyone, is what motivates me.
- It's really tough, but what's the secret to you being able to continue this far?
Shizuno : When I'm putting together a film festival, I feel like it's similar to playing music, and as I get closer to it, I feel a sense of groove, including improvisation, adaptability, and human qualities. Also, as I said before, the balance of being able to come home once a year makes it feel fresh again.
Nagashima : I complete it every year, so I thought I would complete it this year too, and get to the point where I thought "Once it's over, it's fine," but in the end I'll end up thinking "Let's do it again" (laughs).
- What are your plans for the future of the film festival?
Nagashima : We are getting older and older, so one of our challenges going forward is to ensure that the younger generation is able to play an active role.
Shizuno : Honestly, I hope the next generation will take the lead. Rather than thinking about how many times it will be held each year, even if it's just once every three years, I don't mind if the next generation flips the screen and says, "Those old guys did it like this before, so let's do it like this."
Nagashima : Also, it would be nice if people were inspired by our film festival and did something that was not related to film festivals at all. I think it would be interesting if the kids who are watching now revived it in the future, thinking, "That happened, didn't it?" We are conscious of connecting generations in that way. One of the reasons we started the Zushi Beach Film Festival was that one of our members remembered an outdoor film screening he experienced at Zushi Beach when he was a child.
- It's something that leaves a strong impression on your memory.
Shizuno : Rather than conveying the content of the film, I think the emphasis is on one scene, like a scene from the town where the candy store was located.
Nagashima : Also, last year we set up a merry-go-round on the beach, and some older customers came and said that it reminded them of the time when there was an amusement park called Coney Land on Zushi Beach.
- I also always notice how different the movie can be when I watch it in different locations. The sound of the wind and waves, the feel of the sand, etc.
Shizuno : That's what it includes.
■ This year's Zushi Beach Film Festival - Local to Global -
Note: This is information from the 2014 Zushi Beach Film Festival.
- Please tell us the concept and lineup of this year's Zushi Beach Film Festival.
Shizuno : This year is the fifth time, so we're going with the concept of "from local to global," and we're trying to emphasize the global feel so that people can experience foreign cultures in Zushi. Usually we have separate days for food, skateboarding, and music, but this year we're focusing on a certain area of the country, and we hope that visitors who come all day can take a short trip to experience the music, smells, and movies of various countries, although not around the world.
Nagashima : For example, on India Day we will play " Everything Will Be Fine ," on Japan Day we will play " Like Father , Like Son," on Argentina Day we will play " The Motorcycle Diaries ," on Children's Day we will play " ET ," and on Basque Day we will play " Blancanieves ." Also, this year we have invited Peter Barakan to be the music selector, and we are planning to enjoy the sunset while listening to Caribbean music.
- Now that I think about it, Naoto Takenaka appears every year. What is the connection?
Shizuno : It was a coincidence, but the day after we were talking about how we would like someone like Takenaka to appear in our film, he came to CINEMA AMIGO, so it was quite a fateful encounter.
- I see! Mr. Takenaka will be appearing again this year, and there is always a wide selection of music and food, not just movies, so I'm looking forward to that too.
Nagashima : This year, I think the food will be based on the theme of the country of the day.
Past Events of Zushi Beach Film Festival
■ About CINEMA AMIGO - A place where various communities are born
- How will CINEMA AMIGO be involved in the film festival on the day?
Nagashima : Usually we have film screenings and a cafe here, but during the film festival there will be no screenings here. Instead, it will be used more as a cafe space for people tired from the beach.
- So, what is the concept behind Cinema Amigo's normal operations?
Nagashima : The concept here is to feature local people, food, and things, and to connect various people here and disseminate information from here. So even with the daily lunch, rather than the lunch, the person who prepares the lunch changes every day, and we do it with the idea that that time will be a place for that person to express themselves.
- How many people work on a daily basis?
Nagashima : The members change from time to time, but I think there are five of us now. We sometimes have guest chefs join in. In addition to food, we also sell herbal teas grown nearby by our friends, original blended coffee, and accessories made by local people.
- In addition to screening movies and hosting a cafe, CINEMA AMIGO also occasionally holds music events.
Nagashima : With the film aspect, you can mix a lot of different things. The audience is completely different depending on the film you're screening, and by having a variety of people come to the same space, you get the sense that you can mix things up. Also, there may be certain limitations to the information you can send from a cafe, but with a film, you can send a more direct message.
- In these times when many stand-alone movie theaters with character are closing down one after another, I think CINEMA AMIGO is an important presence for many people, including local people.
Nagashima : I'm really grateful when people say, "This is a place that shouldn't be lost."
■ The charm of the Zushi Beach Film Festival and the town
- Going back to the topic of the film festival, if you had to sum up the appeal of the Zushi Beach Film Festival in one word for the audience who will be there on the day, what would it be?
Shizuno : It's not just about the movie, but about saying, "Look at the way we live." I want people to realize that these guys can do it if they put their hands up a little, and that it can really take shape, and that what they feel there will spread to other regions. I'd be happiest if it resonates with people in that way, and the best thing would be if it remains in their memory as a scene from their lives.
- Thank you. Finally, please tell us about your favorite spots or scenery in Zushi.
Shizuno : I highly recommend the newly opened skateboard shop UNOWN. It's run by Takayama Jin, a pro skater from Zushi City, and it's not just a shop; it's like a village has developed around him. He also built the ramp ( skateboard slope) on the beach at the film festival, which has helped local junior high school students come to play, which they couldn't do before, and in that sense the film festival has really spread.
Nagashima : I've always loved Zushi Beach on a clear May day. I like Zushi Beach before it gets crowded with beachgoers, and I like swimming without any lifeguards.
- Thank you for today!
(Editor's note)
This year again, a giant screen will appear on Zushi Beach for 11 days during Golden Week. During the day, there will be a variety of activities, including a merry-go-round, skate ramps, and bouldering. Once the sun sets, music and movies will begin. It's a dreamlike 11 days that suddenly appears and disappears, but it goes without saying that there will be an infinite drama unfolding from there. Why not head to Zushi Beach to find a special view?
