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Spoilers follow forShogunfinale A Dream of a Dream.
These calculations are not dissimilar to Sanadas role behind the scenes ofShogun.
Toranaga knows its dangerous to stay.
His strategist face needed to show, and that scene is about Toranaga and Yabushiges power game.
That was a hard scene.
It had so many extras, and such controlled timing.
I talked with the director and made the plan of what the extras would say and when.
[Extends his fist, recreating the chanting gesture from the scene.]
We rehearsed and rehearsed during lighting, and we finished on time, before sunset.
I was there all day, even if I had no shooting as an actor.
In the early morning, check the set decoration, extras, costumes.
Sometimes, Id go between main unit and second unit, checking the monitor in the car.
Im so proud of her.
OrMoeka Hoshi, who played Fuji her emotional scenes, her reactions.
It was my first experience as a producer, coming to creation from zero.
Youve said that as a producer, all that preparation allowed you to be more free as an actor.
No dialogue, just looking at each other and knowing what the other is thinking.
That was challenging, and so dramatic.
In the scene, there are spies everywhere.
We have to disguise this perfectly.
It was so hard to remember,Dont cry.
But as an actor, its hard without the tears.
So I tried to show,Im not crying, Im angry.
More anger was the only way to never cry.
That balance was very Toranagi.
I always take a stab at be simple in front of a camera.
No technique, no calculation.
I knowTokuma-san, who played Hiromatsu, so it was easy to communicate.
We never talked much; in the morning, Here comes the day.
Yeah, lets do it.
We were just eye to eye.
I have a plan.
It must be only Hiromatsu thats more sad, more meaningful.
Let me out now!
Were there any other scenes that changed like that?We changed a lot from episode six to eight.
Thats the most important part of this season, featuring the women characters.
The other actors Ive talked to mentioned they filmed scenes that didnt make the final cut.
Were there any scenes you were sad to let go of?I have nothing.
I know the meaning of edit the scissor is the final weapon for direction and very important.
Sometimes what they didnt use makes the drama better.
It leaves space for the audience to color.
The translation scenes between you, Cosmo, and Anna are really well-choreographed.
Everything had to be controlled.
The girls had to learn the lady-in-waiting movement, how to serve the food, how to serve tea.
They did a great job, the extras.
They never gave up.
If they make a mistake, we never just say, okay.
The teachers and coaches are on set and Im watching the monitor.
Thats interesting you have more freedom if you know someone is there to correct you.Yes.
That never happened for me on set in these 20 years.
Thats why now, its easy to focus on my performance.
If I make a mistake, they can check.
And also, as a producer, I have a scissor as well.
What were your responsibilities in post-production?We spent a year and a half in post-production.
I went to the studio and watched the first cut.
They re-edited, and then check, check, check.
This dialogue, third person, take seven.
Luckily, we finished all the ADR just before the start of the strike.
After that, we started a VFX check.
How far was Osaka Castle from the harbor?
Or, this area doesnt have that kind of tall temple, thats not history.
Or, the roof color looks a little modern.
Finally, checking publicity, all the characters photoshoots.
Sometimes there was too much Photoshop makeup for the geisha girls.
Its the culture of things, so even in design, yo do not flip.
And then all the video clips, the subtitles for promotion, check, check, check.
Everything has to be correct.
We invitedreal Noh theater performersto Vancouver.
It was a luxury.
How long did it take for them to write the show within the show?Less than a month.
We spent two days shooting that scene.
Youve described yourself as a bridge between the East and the West.
They were learning one sentence a day.
Im so happy about that.
I believe the door is going to be wide open, more so than 20 years ago.
What has surprised you most about how people have reacted to the show?Rotten Tomatoes, 100 percent.
Now 99 percent, because of somebody.
Id never heard about that.
That was the first big surprise.
And the Japanese reaction was so good.
Real fans of jidaigeki said, We were waiting.
Thank you, Hollywood.
Was there any discussion of a second season?We discussed that during shooting.
We finished the novel in season one, so no more novel.
But we have history, real history, and we know what happened.
Tokugawa Ieyasu created the peaceful era for 260 years.
Who knows whats going to happen after we release the finale.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
