Love scenes, 200 million yen sets, and jealousy have all been happening at shoots for Toma Ikuta (26) and Noriyuki Higashiyama’s (44) upcoming movie, reports Movie Walker, Daily Sports, and Mainichi Shinbum Digital.
“源氏物語 (Genjimonogatari)” is set for a December 2011 release with filming scheduled to finish within the year, but at a press conference on November 23 it had been revealed that one of the sets had cost more than 200 million yen to create.
Playing the movie’s lead character Genji, Ikuta had said he had been feeling the pressure every day but was determined to see it through.
“Many actors have played Genji over the years so I do feel the pressure, but I’m doing my best to listen to what the director wants, and I’m having fun.
“There are a lot of love scenes, and sometimes there were days I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep the night before.
“I know the art department have been working around the clock to make the sets and I feel very thankful to them.
“Today’s the first time I see Higashijima-san on set, but he looks very different with a moustache,” he said.
In response to this, Higashijima, who has played Genji himself in 1991, said he was slightly disappointed he did not get the leading role.
“When I heard they wanted me to make ‘Genjimonogatari’, I was worried that I might be too old to play Genji, but then I found out it was Toma…and my character was something else…
“But I won’t keep losing to him,” he said.
source: MOMOEDGWOOD
