Tsukamoto Shinya used a masterclass at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival to revisit his independent career and his continuing focus on war. Variety reports that the discussion ranged from Tetsuo: The Iron Man to his latest English-language feature, Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?
Choosing the material and the method
Tsukamoto recalled making 1989's Tetsuo on 16mm film with discarded materials and rough stop-motion techniques. Production took about a year, including stretches when he worked alone. Festival attention subsequently brought a larger-budget opportunity with Hiruko the Goblin.
He nevertheless preferred developing his own material to becoming a director for hire. That personal choice, he said, helped preserve the creative impulse behind his projects. With Fires on the Plain, he also ventured into distribution; the release eventually expanded to 80 cinemas after starting with 40.
Why war remains central
His new film follows Allen Nelson, a New Yorker haunted by his experience in Vietnam. Tsukamoto said pandemic disruption and the Hollywood actors' strike delayed the project, with the process lasting roughly seven years and Shadow of Fire arriving first.
He told younger filmmakers that digital production can free money once spent on processing film. Looking ahead, however, he did not announce another project. He explained that world events have made it difficult to leave the subject of war behind.
Tsukamoto connects filmmaking with his earlier art education: composition and blocking draw on the same thinking he used in painting. His next creative direction remains open, while his comments explain why hands-on work and the subject of war continue to occupy him.