Hello reddit, Genki here, joining you from Japan.
I directed and co-wrote EXIT 8, a Japanese horror film based on the video game, starring Kazunari Ninomiya. It premiered at Cannes last year and was released across the world, including earlier this year by NEON in the United States. It's available on digital as of last month.
I'm here to answer some questions π
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlRQ1oatOt8
Synopsis:
Strange events plague a young man as he searches for the exit in an endless subway tunnel.
AMA! I'll be back at 6 PM ET this evening to answer questions. Answers will be translated from Japanese.
by GenkiAMA
40 Comments
Hi Genki, loved your film, what other games would you love to adapt for film? Also, I recently read ‘In the Miso Soup’ which was massively disturbing and wondered what other Japanese novels or films would you recommend?
Hi! What were some of the challenges and considerations you had to make while adopting a game into a movie? And were there any ideas in particular you were excited to film but ended up scrapping?
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Kawamura-san, just wanna say you created an amazing piece of work with this. Phenomenal, sir
Sounds intriguing! I will check it out.Β
If you were a yogurt would you be fruit on the bottom or stirred
If you could adapt another video game into a movie, which one would it be and why?
The world needs more weird little movies like this. It was so fun, and technically beautifuly made
Hi, loved the movie, I’m curious if any of the films set was digital, and if so how hard was it to plan those long takes with that in mind?
Great experience Exit 8 was! Feels like playing the game and watching a movie at the same time.
The original game focus solely on its concept with no story and no characters. How did you decide on the themes of guilt, sin, and purgatory? And why did those feel right for this world?
I also learned that across current and past projects, you have worked as a producer, screenwriter, novelist, and now director. Which role feels most natural to you? And which is the hardest?
Hello!
Two questions:
Did you have the idea for the movie immediately after you played the game?
And how long did it take after initially playing the game and starting to shoot day one, so after all the pre-production?
Have a great day!
Oh wow! Hello! So cool to get the chance to ask you a question.
My question is – do you prefer tea or coffee?
Kawamura dono, first of all congrats on the movie it was awesome. what are some horror movies (japanese or western) that inspired you on this one.
Loved the movie. Please keep making more movies.
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Given the nature of the story, how large was the set for the loop portion of the film? How long did it take to shoot?
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Have you found that you’ve had more (or different) opportunities after the film’s release? If so, what can you tell us about them?
Love the game, love the movie, but I was waiting for the wall-man to appear to scare the shit out of me. What was the decision now to implement that on some way?
I was really impressed by the filmβs production design. It was very accurate to the game, and absolutely nailed the claustrophobic, unsettling feeling of the looping hallway. Iβd like to ask, were there any small details of it that you wanted to ensure the set designers made as perfect as they could? I also wanted to commend you for the frequent use of long takes in the film to really sell the space, rather than cheaply cutting away to save time.
No questions, but your movie was the first one that I saw in Tokyo cinema fully in Japanese, and understood everything. After over a year living here (moved from Europe) and studying the complex language, this was a great milestone for me and Exit 8 will always be a special memory. Also, as a gamer and a woman really loved it and keep recommending to my friends. Thank you and hope to see more excellent we ork like this from you in the future!
How do you feel about Hollywood taking your idea and creating a whole bunch of similar movies like the backroom. It is plagiarism or just inspiration?
Are there any other games you could see yourself making a film version for? Even if its a game that has already been done.
Hello! I am fascinated that you chose to adapt a very simple horror game (that’s not a bad thing) into a film, why did you chose to do so, or what motivated you into adapting the game?
Also, do you have any advice you would like to give for young film buffs who want to work in film?
What were some “happy accidents” that occured while filming? Things that were not scripted in advanced but happened on set that were better than you originally planned.
Hello
If you could works on a Sci-Fi Horror project what would it be ?
Is there any chance we’d also see a Platform 8 movie? π
Was the asthma/inhaler meant to play a bigger role in the movie?
Hi! Did you know the game Exit 8 before directing the movie? How’s your experience with videogames in general and what influence did it have on directing the movie, if any?
Ps.: I absolutely loved your adaptation! Thanks for being here
Hi Kawamura-san, really enjoyed the movie. I wanted to ask whatβs your favorite anime? Anything that youβve been watching lately ?
Have you gotten the chance to see the movie Backrooms? Reminded me a lot your film Exit 8 which I loved so much
Hi Genki!
How does liminalism make you feel?
What inspired the plot of the movie and the argument in the train as a backdrop for the psychological exploration of the featured characters?
Hi Genki, big fan of the movie!
I noticed in the movie that you utilized a lot of long take sequences. Can you talk about the process of shooting and how you guys were planning them ahead?
I’ve never heard of this game or movie, it sounds interesting, I might go see it
My question to you is less about the movie, but you as a filmmaker, why did you get into filmmaking?
Hello Genki-san,
Hope you are doing well. My questions are more related to craft, since I am a professional screenwriter based in Mumbai.
1. What is your writing discipline like? Do you write everyday – and what advice would you give to people struggling with the discipline of writing regularly? (Context: I donβt miss deadlines but I know I could be more prolific and less stressed)
2. A) Networking is incredibly difficult for outsiders? Whatβs the 2-3 things that worked for you?
2. B) How to network with you? π
Thank you for your time.
Hi! I saw your film last year and absolutely loved it. Saw it a second time this year and loved it just as much! The atmosphere throughout the whole thing is just fascinating.
As someone hoping to work in the film industry too, is there any advice that you might be able to give me?
Thank you in advance!
Hello Genki! what was your favorite part of the game and what was the hardest part of making this movie?
the game is basically one corridor, one set of rules, and no story. most adaptations struggle with compressing too much source material. did starting with almost nothing make the film easier to find or harder?
Hi Genki! If a video game designer could turn any movie into a video game, what movie would you pick and why?
Also, do you have a favourite restaurant in Tokyo? I will be travelling there this year and hope I donβt get stuck in the subway station π
Just wanted to say I really enjoyed Exit 8! Thanks for making the film! Were there any challenges in creating the hallway set while filming or maintaining its continuity across each scene?
What inspired you to make an Exit 8 movie? Did you play the game or did someone recommend it to you? And do you like horror games?