It's a job of making flat words three-dimensional, and you can never do that unless your heart is in it.
Last year, you directed a short film, and you are now trying your hand at film. I think that the connection between the three elements of actors, photography, and video will create a mutual work.
Ando:That's right. Photography can be done by a single person, and acting can be done with the body, but film can only be done with various staff members, relationships, and social interaction. Until then, I thought I had no friends, so I thought I couldn't make films.
But when I was given such an opportunity last year, I wondered what I should do. Then I found that Mr. Kazunari Tajima was the director of photography, Tetsuro Nagase was the stylist, ShinYa did the hair, Mr. Hisashi Sasaki was the art director for "Kill Bill," and KM and Brodinski & Modulaw created the music. The variety of people involved made me feel like I had friends (laughs). All of them are professionals who have seen a lot in the world, and I wanted to keep them in my own worldview. I am now considering a feature-length project, rather than just a short film.
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I can see that you are boldly challenging yourself to find what you want to do each time.
Ando:I have been to film festivals abroad as an actor, but now I want to do the same thing as a filmmaker. That is why the place where I should stand has not changed. I want to keep on doing it, and I want to do it more deeply.
You are definitely expanding your range of expression.
Ando:In the past, there were only movies and TV dramas, but now we have Netflix and various other media, which has broadened the range of activities for actors. In addition to that, I have more creative options such as photography and film. That is definitely a good thing. I have always thought that there was more I could do as an actor.
In that sense, your private photography has been a great source of support for you and a great opportunity for you to expand yourself.
Ando:It's big.
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You made your debut as an actor in "Kids Return" and your career started when you won all the awards, didn't it? After that, you appeared in various films and dramas, and then suddenly you left that career to become a photographer's assistant. In a sense, it was like looking up from down below, and I wonder if your experience there has led to the breadth of your career.
Ando:That perspective was very important, and I really think I used to be clueless. I lacked respect even for my own manager. However, I now understand that there is a proper office and that work comes to them based on trust, and it was a great experience for me to learn from my many failures and painful experiences. So I am very grateful to all the people I met.
I am also very thankful to the producers who offer me the chance to work with them. It is the same with TV dramas. In this era of strict compliance, sponsors are working hard to make things happen, and there are many things that cannot be done, but they are doing it with all their wisdom. It is precisely because everyone is serious about what they are doing that they are able to do it without cutting corners. There was a time when I used to think, "I can't do a TV drama," but now I want to be grateful when I receive an offer, and I want to give a good performance in return. I am also very happy when I receive another offer from the same crew a year later.
I think it's important what kind of work it is, but is the "person" factor also a major factor in getting an offer?
Ando:I think it is very important to do your best for people when they directly ask you for a favor or tell you that they like a film in which you have appeared. It is the person who receives the request, and it is also the person who tries to return the favor.
I thought it was similar to what you just said when you said that you wanted to create a one-on-one environment with the photographer during this shoot. I thought it was similar to what you just said.
Ando:Maybe it is because I am an actor, but when I work, I have to think about the person I am working with and respect them. It is a job of taking two-dimensional words written in a script and making them three-dimensional, so it is absolutely impossible unless my heart is moved.
Lastly, what are your goals for the near and distant future as an artist?
Ando:As an actor, I think I have built up a career and credibility. But as I said before, as a photographer, I want people to look at me without that career. The same goes for film directors. I want to build up my credibility as a photographer for photography and film for cinema, just like an actor. I know I can definitely do that, so I want to seek that out greedily.
What about your goals for the distant future?
Ando:My goal is to keep doing that, taking pictures and making feature films. I have no interest in anything else, and I want to keep doing that.
Is it because it's fun?
Ando:It's fun. I don't want to do anything else. Actors get really nervous being actors, but I get to feel a sense of freedom and comfort when I crank it up. And it's also a chance to meet photographers and directors who have great talent. So it's really very, very fun.
