Manga are Movie Storyboards! – Close coverage from the moment the manga comes to life –

The next Silent Manga in Action short film is going to be directed by Kazushi Watanabe, an energetic director at the forefront of the Japanese film industry. It’s set to be based on one of the works from the Comic Zenon Manga Audition, the domestic competition which served as the model for SILENT MANGA AUDITION®. We’re going to be watching closely, and reporting to you the step- by-step process of breathing life into this manga!

This is our 6th update!!

In #4, we introduced Shingo Koyasu, the martial artist who’ll be playing the villain KING. Today, we’ll be announcing the leading roles! Afterwards, we’ll do some location hunting with the director.   So without delay, let’s meet our hero & heroine!! First up, the role of the male lead will be played by… Shogen!! 尚玄 SHOGEN After graduating from university, he backpacked around world while working as a model in Paris, Milan and London. In New York, he discovered “Method Acting” and was deeply impressed. Deciding to devote himself to drama, he moved to America. There, he studied under Susan Batson and Roberta Flack, two of the same instructors who taught Nicole Kidman her trade! In 2010, he played the role of a young yakuza in a Seven Samurai remake, and featured on CNN’s “The Tokyo Hot List: 20 People to watch 2010” for his role in a Seven Stars Cigarettes advertising campaign. In 2014, he played the role of a young Gouken (Ken & Ryu’s master) in the web-series Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, which was based on the popular video game. All 12 episodes were released on youtube and received over 3 million views in the first two weeks! At the beginning of 2015, he starred in a new romantic drama called Okinawa Koi Monogatari (Okinawa Love Story), which was filmed in both Okinawa and Malaysia. Recently, he’s attracting attention for his role in the new Death Note TV series, which is currently being broadcast in Japan. Shogen, a seasoned actor with a world-wide fan base! As the protagonist of Propane Nightmares, he’ll have to show us both a cool facade and a hot temper! We’re looking forward to seeing both the action scenes and how he’ll act out the hero’s burning rage!!   The heroine will be played by… Ayano Yamaki!! 山木彩乃 Ayano Yamaki A member of the idol group LinQ. Active in a wide range of media, she has appeared on magazine covers, and performed live on television! LinQ is a 27 member strong idol group based in Kyushu, but Ayano has attracted country wide attention! Ayano Yamaki, a popular idol with modeling experience! As the heroine of Propane Nightmares, she’ll be on the run with our hero, so we can expect some action! Don’t take your eyes off her for a second!   Now that the cast is decided, let’s get back to location hunting! Since this will be a film with no dialogue, the most important criteria for the location is that it’s a visual match with the original manga. So the director needs to travel to each potential location to get a feel for it. When you’re deciding which manga to use for the SMAC! MOVIE CONTEST, you should consider if there are any areas around you that have the same vibe as one of the stories! After thoroughly researching potential locations beforehand, the director sets out to personally check them out! Today is beautiful and sunny… perfect weather for location hunting! We’re visiting an old dilapidated factory in Tochigi Prefecture. Mr. Watanabe is very pleased with what we find! The atmosphere of this place is really close to his mental image! This just officially become the no. 1 candidate for the filming location of Propane Nightmares! The director walks around the old factory, carefully checking off a mental checklist of what scenes he could shoot where, and from what angles… Then they whip out their iPhones, and walk around taking some sample footage. Comparing the surrounding area with the original manga, they search for places that they can use! Checking the footage (above) Seeing actual footage taken with an iPhone camera on location might give them a new perspective! Exchanging opinions with his staff, the director begins to decide the order that they’ll shoot the scenes in, the camerawork and loads of other technical details! I’m starting to get really psyched to see the actual filming!   Location? Check! Cast? Check! Next up: Filming!! Don’t miss it! “What’s important, is how your directing skills bring the manga to life!” The deadline for the SMAC! MOVIE CONTEST has been extended to 9/18!!

≪SMAC! MOVIE CONTEST　NEW PAGE OPEN!!≫

■Follow the link below!!■ SMAC! MOVIE CONTEST SMAC! MOVIE ARCHIVE ■Back number■ The Moment MANGA Comes to Life!! #1 The Moment MANGA Comes to Life!! #2 The Moment MANGA Comes to Life!! #3 The Moment MANGA Comes to Life!! #4 The Moment MANGA Comes to Life!! #5