Your humble blogmeister meets director Yoshimitsu Banno for more than just the first time.
Article by Brett Homenick
Source: Yoshimitsu Banno
Genji Monogatari (a.k.a. The Tale of Genji) is a celebrated masterpiece of Japanese literature, and it is perhaps the first novel ever written. The story has been told and retold many times in Japan, most recently as a film distributed by Toho just last month.
However, director Yoshimitsu Banno wants to update it for the 21st century.
Mr. Banno's production company Advanced Audiovisual Productions, Inc., is proposing 3-D musical version that will take place in 11th-century Japan and present-day America.
This version will be called Genji: The Shining One.
The film will depict the conflict between a father and son who have very different ideas about the direction of the son's future. The theme of forgiveness plays out during the movie's compelling drama.
Mr. Banno takes notes during our conversation.
The screenplay has already been written by Australian scribe Bob Ellis. Mr. Banno is seeking investors for this project, which he hopes will bring The Tale of Genji, one of the most important literary works in human history, to a worldwide audience for the first time ever. Here is information for potential investors, courtesy of producer Yoshimitsu Banno:
As the second project of 3D movie, we are developing “GENJI – The Shining One 3D” and look for the first investor of 15,000,000 (yen).As always, I am happy to pass on any serious inquiries to Mr. Banno. You can help expose a significant part of Japanese history to the world at large!
The Privilege of the first investment is as follows,
As a bonus of the risk of the first investment, AAP remits 15,000,000 to the account of investor on the next day of the start of filming.
(2) The investor could have the position of planning producer and gets 2,000,000 payment on the next day of the start of filming.
(3) Investor possesses the share of 10% of net income of AAP as a privilege of the first investor.
Greetings! I've just landed on this page and delighted to see you with Yoshimitsu Banno! I met him in 1988. He may recall I was in Japan researching The Tales of Genji. I'd written the first few drafts of Genji - The Shining One before the late Bob Ellis took it on. It's good to know there's life still there in this idea. If you are still in touch with Mr Banno please do send him my regards. I still recall our conversation about Russian literature on my first evening in Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Garton
Hi, Andrew. Thanks for getting in touch. This blog post is a few years old already, and unfortunately Mr. Banno passed away in May 2017. I regret that nothing ever came of the Genji project. Thank you very much for sharing your memories -- much appreciated!
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