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Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Trying Japanese War Criminals -- and Then Hanging a Bunch

2:10 PM

Most of you will remember the movie I made last summer about the trial of the Japanese war criminals after World War II. If you do not, you may want to read this post. It appears that it will soon be in a movie theater near you--if you live in China, that is.

In production it was titled, in English, The International Military Tribunal for the Far East. It is now titled, thank goodness, Tokyo Trial. The movie has a Website, in Chinese. There is also a Trailer online.

I played one of the 11 judges. Because the director and producer wanted historical accuracy, as much as possible roles were cast according to how close the makeup people could duplicate the actual characters on film, which is why I played the Canadian judge instead of the American judge. It is why an actor from Turkey played the judge from India, etc.

Below are some snapshots of the judges taken during shooting in Beijing and Tianjin. Since I cannot at this moment name everyone correctly, I will identify no one other than one or two whom it is important to name and that I can.

This is a posed photo of all of us with our translator, Phoebe, in Tianjin. The tall man on the far right, up front, is the very fine American actor, Dan Ziskie, who played the head judge, Sir William Webb, an Australian. I am to the immediate left of Phoebe, and next to Anatoly, a real Russian playing the Russian judge, and a truly fine actor.

This is a group shot of us in the hottest place on Earth--the sound stage in the Beijing suburbs where the crew built an exact replica of the Tokyo courtroom.

This is a promotional still between takes in a beautiful, period building on a campus in Tianjin. The Japanese defense attorney has just challenged Sir Williams' credentials to serve as judge, and we have stormed out of "court." I am directly across from Dan, between a fine actor and Chinese movie star--whom I only know by his English name, Damian--and Anatoly, the Russian judge.

This photo is between takes of the judges deliberating verdicts and sentencing. We are doing a line rehearsal; I am on the left making one silly point or another--and pointing it out. Directly across from me is my dear mate, Les Collings, an Englishman who has lived in Asia since god was a pup. He's really taking to this acting business. We are shooting in a beautifully preserved home of a famous Chinese writer who lived in Tianjin during the early Republican years of the 20th Century. Now, if only I knew his name.

This photo was taken while we are awaiting a change in lighting. I am flapping my arms to get some air stirring; I've temporarily misplaced my fan.

This photo was taken on the last night of shooting in Tianjin--we have been at it almost 24 straight hours. I am trying to get some fresh air while they are setting up the next shot. The statue I am goofing on is of that famous Chinese writer whom I cannot name. May the literary gods forgive me.

2:10 PM / Editor / permalink 3 comments

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3 Comments:

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By mandyfisher1376696861, at 5:32 AM

i'll look out for it in gz, interesting topic, beautiful piano track on the trailer, good work if you can get it, keep it up

By petecc, at 6:56 PM

Here are some video clips of the said movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMtYXGtzBPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gpbJu69mQY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbJLQJtA2qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4B1CN-BjXQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG8BD_Px9qw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFiOrMAJ5Vg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFiOrMAJ5Vg

All clips courtesy of kenforever.com

For news on the movie in English please visit:

KCIFC Ken Chu International Fans Club Philippines at:
http://s8.invisionfree.com/kcifc_ph/index.php?act=idx

By honeybums, at 1:26 AM