Tokyo Vice’s Ansel Elgort & Ken Watanabe on Making a Series in Both Japanese and English

Рет қаралды 20,369

2 жыл бұрын

I know you keep hearing about new series that you need to watch. I constantly hear about new shows from friends and colleagues almost every day. And while I know you are being bombarded all the time…you need to add Tokyo Vice to your list asap. Written by Tony Award-winning playwright J.T. Rogers and inspired by the 2009 memoir Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein, the series stars Ansel Elgort as a young American journalist (based by Adelstein) who moves to Japan to work for a major newspaper in Tokyo in the late 90s. While trying to figure out how everything works before losing his job, he becomes friendly with a detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (Ken Watanabe), who refuses to be bought in a city where many are corrupted by money. Filmed entirely on location in Tokyo, the crime drama series will keep you guessing. Tokyo Vice also stars Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Ella Rumpf, Hideaki Ito, Sho Kasamatsu, and music star Tomohisa Yamashita. In addition, Michael Mann directed the pilot episode, and it’s his work is fantastic.
Shortly after watching some episodes, I got to speak with Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe. During the interview, they talked about why the material works better as a series than a movie, what sequence was tough to pull off, what people would be surprised to learn about the making of Tokyo Vice, how the COVID shutdown helped make the series even better, why having the characters speak in both English and Japanese is more realistic, and how filming during COVID was like turning back the clock. In addition, Elgort talks about how Watanabe is very low key in real life and how he worked to speak fluent Japanese on the show.
Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe
When was the last time Watanabe had to pay for a drink in Japan?
Elgort explains how Watanabe is very low key in real life.
What would people be surprised to learn about the making of Tokyo Vice?
Watanabe talks about his initial apprehension about the series but the more he learned about the story the more he became invested in doing it.
Why Tokyo Vice was better as a TV series.
Why COVID was like turning back the clock to when the series takes place because tourism was much lower.
Which shot or sequence ended up being a real challenge to pull off?
Watanabe on why he thinks Japanese is the most difficult language in the world to learn.
Watanabe on why he enjoyed having the conversation go back and forth between English and Japanese.
How did the COVID shutdown help make the series better?
#TokyoVice #AnselElgort #KenWatanabe
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Пікірлер: 43

@cable7152 2 жыл бұрын

This show is so fucking well done, the cinematography, the writing, the acting, it is all near perfection, it's a slow burn, but in the best way, there is so much depth.

@crystalenergy7904 8 ай бұрын

Ansel elgort hit on teen girls

@cable7152 8 ай бұрын

@@crystalenergy7904 yikes

@rohailasghar5844 2 жыл бұрын

Man this show is not getting enough recognition

@crystalenergy7904 8 ай бұрын

Almost like the lead actor wasn’t caught hitting on teenage girls or something

@Mr.Witness 2 жыл бұрын

This show is incredible!

@fiazrahman4552 2 жыл бұрын

Just like you :) ❤️

@cable7152 2 жыл бұрын

It really is, I tell everyone I know to watch it.

@vconnoly2806 2 жыл бұрын

I am enjoying the show so far! Love these two! 🧡 Ansel

@jimminychristmas8100 2 жыл бұрын

This show is special...based on a great book! I hope these guys pump out 6 seasons of this show! It's the real deal, cast is all brilliant!

@ceced1417 2 жыл бұрын

yes more seasons let's hope!!

@KalvinPatel 2 жыл бұрын

how long does the story in the book go for? Compared to 7 eps so far, does it cover all of the book?

@gyounce1 10 ай бұрын

Awesome pair. They have the same chemistry as in the show. Mr. Interviewer is very polite, too, and doesn't speak over the guests like I've seen often. He's also got a nice collection in the back.

@wisdomveritas6281 2 жыл бұрын

This show is fucking amazing. Great directors, and whoever was in charge of casting did a phenomenal job. I remember the lady at the newspaper played the deaf Japanese girl in Babel, and the guy who plays Adelson is a bright new young actor who has acted a few big movies and is incredible. And it's good to see new actors and not the same ol people. And of course the main detective is amazing. Even the boss reporter I think was in Mr. Baseball back in the 90s. Finally a new show with a whole new feel.

@shoWbitz 2 жыл бұрын

Yes. Love Rinko Kikuchi in Babel and Pacific Rim.

@Nunov103 Жыл бұрын

One of the most beautifully shot shows I have ever seen, and the performances are just brilliant, as well as the soundtrack, must see show :)

@alli2116 2 жыл бұрын

I really need another season of this show. It's so good! Not sure they can wrap it all up in one more ep...

@KalvinPatel 2 жыл бұрын

facts, surprised it's only 8 episodes. Need more of this story

@elidasilva5558 2 жыл бұрын

I watched everything in one sitting, so good

@kenwong6536 2 жыл бұрын

Very enjoyable film and great cast!!

@217BLASTA 2 жыл бұрын

Great show, congrats to all involved

@MrYoumitube 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent show...this needs more attention! There is so many crap shows on tv I would rate this one A, or 95 out 100.

@shoWbitz 2 жыл бұрын

This show is so good! I cannot wait for the finale.

@ceced1417 2 жыл бұрын

Great interview! This is really a good show and luv the the relationship between Ansel and all the Japanese characters. Would be great if there was a 2nd season.

@NinjaPandallnight 2 жыл бұрын

Love this show!

@shaartvader4830 5 ай бұрын

This is my favorite Ken Watanabe role yet

@TheWefikus 8 ай бұрын

Give me Season 2 and inject it in my veins ASAP

@temperedskinflint 2 жыл бұрын

Great answers from the cast, but, wow, the interviewer had zero reaction to any of them and just cut them off to end the interview. Looked pretty unprofessional.

@alexlazzerly3677 2 жыл бұрын

That was an incredibly rude way to conclude the interview.

@MacMuskelAttack 4 ай бұрын

Great interview. Except for "Covid is the worst thing that happened to this planet". Hmm how about two world wars, the inquisition, the destruction of native peoples and nature, the plague, and Cyberpunk at release.?