30 years ago, I had a go at making a mini documentary about Gobo Matsuri - the annual Shinto festival of Gobo city in Wakayama prefecture where I lived in Japan. It was the two days of the year (always 4th and 5th Oct) when the whole town downs tools and celebrates.
It's roughly shot and naively edited, but was fun and fulfilling for a 23 year old me to make. I think it captures an element of Japanese culture through the differing and unexpected views of Shino san - a shinto priest (sadly no longer with us) who's shrine was at the centre of the proceedings, and Iwasaki san - a office worker at a school I taught at. Both were extremely generous in giving me their time and thoughts across multiple interviews, giving me a privileged view and a deeper understanding of the matsuri.
Thank you, all these years later, to those who helped me make it - Yasuyo, Peter, Keiji , Yuko, Yoshiaki , Toshiki, Kyoko and many more too. And to Kazumi Miyazaki (also no longer with us) - my great friend and brilliant English teacher who I used to work with, for wangling the use of the school edit suite for me.
NB, for anyone who cares, it was shot on NTSC Hi8, edited on SVHS, converted to PAL U-matic, subtitled on U-matic (thanks for the kit Keith Thomas and Fernando - this means I've known you for 29 years!!!), copied to VHS, digitised DV to AVI, trimmed in Lightworks and exported as mp4, cropped in Handbrake and uploaded to FB for your viewing pleasure. It's a wonder any picture remains at all.
9 сен 2024
