Alright, let's take a break here!

Nice work, everyone!

Now then...

While everyone eats, I should go over what we just took.

Mind if I join you?

Whoa, Kamishiro!

I don't mind, but you're going to miss lunch again.

That's fine by me.

Learning what I can from you takes priority.

It is like you to say that.

Still, I'm surprised you haven't gotten bored of watching what I do day in and day out.

Anyway, since you're so eager, I have a little task for you today.

Huh...?

There's a way to make the scene we just shot a lot better. What do you think it is?

Does it involve use of light and shadow, like in that earlier scene?

In this scene, Katsuyuki and Hajime are still getting to know each other after, having only just met...

Because he still knows next to nothing about her, we could set up a light behind Hajime so that she appears as a mysterious figure from his perspective, while also hinting that she represents a glimmer of hope...

That's not a bad idea, but lighting will only get you so far.

There's something else you can use even more effectively. Not props or lights... Think about our surroundings.

Our surroundings?

Are you talking about the weather?

Now that you mention it, we often used to make use of the weather since we performed on an outdoor stage... But in the case of film...

Anyway, it's a pain to explain, so just watch and learn. The idea is to make use of lines. By doing that...

I'm happy for Rui, getting to learn about directing from Mr. Ohara.

I couldn't believe it when he said that he's going to be an assistant, but he seems really at home.

How great would it be if he and Mr. Ohara working together ends up making this film even better?!

(It's only been a few days since I started working as his assistant...but I feel like I've learned a lot already.)

(It goes to show that nothing beats real-life experience.)

(But we have to wrap everything up in a few weeks, so I need to keep doing my best until then.)

The day's finally arrived...

We're shooting the climax today...!

<Wow, really...?!

That explains the tension in the air! Everyone looks so serious☆>

We'll likely be shooting into the evening, so this may end up being our longest day yet.

Getting to stay at a hotel for the night is also a first. We have to start early at the beach tomorrow morning, so we're probably in for a tough couple of days.

That being said, the focus of today will be on the first thing we shoot this afternoon.

<You're talking about the scene where the protagonist and his sister say goodbye to each other at the airport, right?! I've really been looking forward to seeing that☆>

I really love it too!

The Katsuyuki in that scene is so different from how he was in the very beginning...

And he's come to care so much about Hajime... Just thinking about that gets me right in the heartstrings!

(Yes, this climax scene is without a doubt the most significant scene in the film.)

(In the beginning of the film, Katsuyuki has no hopes or dreams and simply works each day. He's lost the will to do anything else.)

(But meeting this woman who claims to be his long-lost sister, Hajime, changes all that. He starts living with this cheerful and free-spirited woman.)

(Katsuyuki begins to learn to enjoy life after seeing the way his sister lives hers.)

(But suddenly, she disappears without saying a word. Katsuyuki goes after her and confronts her in this scene.)

The truth is that a doctor told Hajime that she's sick and only has about six months left to live, right?

Yes. She wanted to use whatever time she had left to settle unfinished business by meeting her long-lost little brother...

But they end up becoming closer than she was expecting. That makes saying goodbye all the more difficult...

Which is why she disappears without saying anything to Katsuyuki. She didn't want him to feel sad or lonely after she was gone.

But Katsuyuki still doesn't know the truth.

He asks her why she left without saying anything, and they get into a big argument.

Yes. The relationship they've been building up suddenly falls apart, which sends Katsuyuki's emotions spiraling out of control...

What's more, for the first time in his life, he's overcome with the feeling that he doesn't want someone to leave him.

Playing him isn't gonna be easy.

I mean, all the complex emotions Katsuyuki feels during this scene...

(Yes, I'm very much looking forward to seeing how Bakuno plays him.)

(Mr. Ohara even said how he asked Bakuno to play him specifically because his skills were suited to this scene.)

The cameras are all set!

Ready to roll whenever!

Oh, it looks like they're about to start.

Then, I'll head back over to where Mr. Ohara is.

Okay!

Good luck, Rui!

Okay, here we go! Scene 143!

Bakuno looks super serious.

He does...

Based on his expression, I suspect he's already in character.

I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs during this scene, but... I'm getting nervous just watching.

And...

Action!

(First, a shot of Hajime heading towards her boarding gate. She drops her handkerchief as she walks.)

(We then cut to her kneeling down to pick it up only, to see...)

“Katsuyuki...?”

“...”

“You came, even though I didn't tell you anything... I guess I should've expected as much from you.”

“But it isn't like you to do what you're doing now.”

“Why'd you leave without saying a word?

You still haven't told me anything...”

“I still don't even know why you came to see me in the first place...!”

“...!”

“No, I...

I just felt like seeing you is all.”

“So, please. Forget we ever met.”

“What...?”

“H-How can you say that...?

You show up out of nowhere, mess with my feelings and...”

“The truth is, I don't care about what's really going on with you... I just...!”

(He really is an amazing actor.

The way he's reciting these lines...)

(If that were me, I'd be playing Katsuyuki as furious over how she just left without saying anything.)

(But Bakuno's weaving in more than just anger and rage. His Katsuyuki is feeling a wild mix of emotions right now...)

(Bakuno really was the perfect choice for this scene. Only he can do Katsuyuki justice...)

(However...)

“I'm sorry.”

“Hajime, wait!”

“...

I'm guessing that's not even your real name.”

“I still don't know anything about you.”

“Absolutely nothing...”

...

(Mr. Ohara can feel it too.)

(This scene...

There's something off about it...)

Cut!

I'm going to be honest...

That felt all wrong.

In this scene, Katsuyuki isn't sure how to deal with Hajime leaving or with his attachment to her...

He should be feeling this torrent of emotions, but that wasn't clear just now.

A torrent of emotions...?

Are you holding back for some reason, Bakuno?

Your performance just now wasn't what I saw when you were on stage. You lacked the power that made me want you to be the main character of this film.

...!

I was just...

(He's right. Bakuno's performance just now lacked the punch we saw when we were with Shunmeiza.)

(Which may be because—)

Yes, you're correct that I was holding back compared to when I'm performing on stage.

In the theatre, you have to exaggerate everything you say and do so that it reaches everyone in the back.

So, I was worried that I'd stick out like a sore thumb if I did the same thing for a film.

Please let me try that again.

I'll make some adjustments based on what you just said.

I promise to nail it during the next take.

Bakuno...

Understood.

Then, take two.

Action!

...

How was that...?

No, still wrong.

As you mentioned earlier, Bakuno, what you just did would work well on stage, but it doesn't translate well to film.

...

I'm sorry.

I'll try to make more adjustments and...

No need...

Let's move on from this scene for now.

What...?

That last take told me everything.

It's not a matter of you making minor fixes. There's something fundamentally wrong here that I'm not seeing.

Which means there's no point in reshooting this scene. Not until I figure out what I'm missing.

O-Okay, I understand...

What do we do?

At this rate, this scene's gonna...

...

We'll try again tomorrow.

Until then, I need to figure out what's wrong.

Tomorrow...

(That may be the best option.)

(This is the film's climax. No one here is going to be happy if we don't get it right...)

(They have until tomorrow to figure out what's wrong, which may just be enough time to figure out what the director's missing.)

How are we looking for tomorrow? Can we squeeze in this scene?

Yes, if everything else we have on the agenda today goes smoothly.

Then it's settled. We're done with this scene for now. Let's move on to the next one.

Okay...

(It must be hard for Bakuno to leave things unfinished like this.)

(But the director's right.

We can shoot retakes all we want, but that alone won't change anything.)

(They only have until tomorrow.)

...

(I'll also try to figure out what the problem is.)