Ms. Yuri Yoshimura who is a producer of ZUNO Film, visited to Shiho Kanzaki's studio on July 28. She brought me some DVDs. The DVD released on July 28. The title is "The Fire Artist. A documentary Film about Shiho Kanzaki. A Claude Gagnon Film.".
I saw many times, and I am so impressed to see it. Of course, I am so pleased to show the DVD in this world. Director Claude Gagnon started to shoot from Dcember 2002. And he finished to shoot on May 2006. The shooting time is over 200 hours. I would like you to see the DVD.
Befor everything, I have to say "Thank you Gagnon san, Yuri san, Takako san and Samueru san".
Movie Director Claude Gagnon wrote his message on Shiho Kanzaki's private BBS. I would like to show you his message.
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The Fire Artist…
The Fire Artist is, at long last, completed. It was quite a journey. I often wondered if I would ever see the end of it, if it even made any sense to keep going… But I’m very happy with the result and I hope that you will enjoy the documentary about this “strange man”, Shiho Kanzaki, who became one of my best friends after those many years of shoot.
There were a lot of happy moments, a few hectic ones and some very sad ones as we lost some dear friends during the course of the shooting… Fortunately, the movie magic will keep them with us for many years to come. Let’s not forget them… I am very grateful to our lost ones.
I also have to thank so many people who made all this possible for me. Of course, I begin with Shiho Kanzaki who was there for me anytime I needed him, never refusing anything, open to any suggestion or request. His generosity goes way beyond what can be written here. Kanzaki Sensei and his wonderful wife Keiko were just amazing, in every respect and I hope to keep them as my friends to the end of my days…
I have to thank all of you, who gracefully accepted to appear in the movie. I will not mention everyone by names, but you know that these words are addressed to you. Each of you, in your own personal way, made all this possible by speaking on camera, by receiving us in your homes, often feeding us, supporting us emotionally and even financially in some cases. Really, this movie could have never been made without all of you who appear in the end credits. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
But I couldn’t go without a special mention for Saini San who was extremely helpful in making all this possible for us. He spoke on camera, let us use his personnal collection of work from Shiho Kanzaki and went much further than anyone could imagine in order for us to make this happen. And on top of all this, he makes the best rice crakers in the world!
This project definitely made me meet a lot of extraordinary people…
I also want to thank Yano san (who does not appear in the film…) for his very inspiring Shakuhachi albums and his generous collaboration for our film. And please, allow me to give a special thanks to my producers/wife/son, Yuri and Samuel. At times when the finances were extremely low, to say the least, they still allowed me to make my trips everywhere to pursue my dream of making this documentary. They trusted me a hundred percent, even though the revenue possibilities were extremely slim. They struggled really hard in order for me to make this film come true.
And I finish with Takako (“You think my slave”… as Uncle Takuma would say in KAMATAKI…) who was with me in this adventure from beginning to the end. She not only shot a good part of the material with me, made several of the interviews, but she was stuck with 200 hours of material. Editing this type of documentary is not like editing a feature film or a TV documentary. She hung in there, not only doing all the physical work, but pushing all my ideas to their limits, improving every suggestion I would make. Trust me, there is a lot of Miyahira Kun in this documentary…
I will conclude by saying that when I first met Shiho Kanzaki, I wasn’t too sure of the kind of man I had in front of me. When I decided to make the documentary, I chose not to have a personal opinion. I chose to go out there and watch, and discover. All of you made me discover my subject. At the start, I had absolutely no idea where this would lead me and what kind of man would emerge in the end. Fortunately for all of us, you all made us discover a wonderfully stimulating man, someone worth knowing.
Love everyone!
Claude
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You can purchase the DVD on Shiho Kanzaki's Direct Gallery.
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DVD, The Fire Artist released.