The youngest writer for ‘Ring of Colour’ is 12 year-old Rio Harada, a natural-born cinephile who so far has watched well over 600 films. Of course, in the future his dream is be a film director. His articles have attracted attention not only for his honest criticism but also his unique way of expressing a film with a single drawing. This time, Ryo spoke with Hiroshi Fujiwara prior to him leaving for Canada to study abroad.

— Photo, Kazufumi Shimoyashiki | Text, Yusuke Osumi | Edit, Issey Enomoto

I fell for Hitchcock’s world of suspense. But, don’t really like Horror.

Fujiwara : Rio, what triggered your love of films?

Rio :‘Star Wars’(*1)

Fujiwara : When was that?

Rio : mmm, was I was 4.

Fujiwara : I don’t remember that much when I was 4. What kind of part did you like?

Rio : I liked the part where fighters were flying.

Fujiwara : Did you have any memory before watching ‘Star Wars’?

Rio : (thinks for a while … ) No.

Fujiwara : Okay, well it was trigger I suppose.

Rio : Yes.

Mum : You mean ‘yes’!

Rio :Yes!

Fujiwara : (laughs) ‘Star Wars’ is quite a popular film which should be watched by everyone, but it seems hard to imagine it triggering your love of cinema. After ‘Star Wars’ what came next?

Rio : (thinks for a while … ) Is something I’ve seen recently okay?

Fujiwara : Yep.

Rio : Then maybe​ ​‘Dial M for Murder’(*2)

Fujiwara : So Hitchcock grew from here. In terms of trigger, I lent you a copy of​ ​‘North by Northwest’,​ ​right? (*3)

Rio : Yes. I also bought a copy of‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’television series.

Fujiwara : Right, so Hitchcock is your favourite director at the moment?

Rio : And I like Spielberg too.

Fujiwara : Ah I see, I have a memory from when I was a child, going with my father to watch things like​ ​『007』and‘Tora-san’ films​ ​but the thing I came the love the most were horror films. You hate ‘horror’ right?

Rio : Yeah … too scary …

Fujiwara : It’s not horror, but don’t you think even ‘Star Wars’ was not a little grotesque in places ? That kind of thing is okay to watch?

Rio : Yeah. Thats why I love Hitchcock’ but can’t watch‘Psycho’. I tried to, but …

Fujiwara : What’s is the scariest film you’ve watch up until now?

Rio : Maybe,‘Speed’.​ ​The point where Dennis Hooper cuts the guard’s ear at the beginning.

Fujiwara : Your right, that scene is pretty shocking. I don’t really find ‘Speed’ that scary though. On the other hand, is​ ​’World War Z’okay? You weren’t that frightened by it?

Rio : I was a bit scared, but because I was with friends I was able to watch it.

Fujiwara : That’s good.

Rio : I don’t like scary movies at all, but I do love suspense or spy films.

Fujiwara : I love heart-pounding movies. We were also saying that『24』was good, right? (*3)

Rio : Yes, but I am yet to finish watching Season 2.

Fujiwara :​ ​‘The Big Short’​ ​was a little difficult of follow but interesting. There was quite a lot of technical jargon which made it a little hard to understand.

12Not the taste of a 12 year-old but a grown-up. One recent favourite is ‘Blade Runner’.

Fujiwara : Are there any fun films to look forward to?

Rio :​ ​I’m looking forward to ‘Blade Runner 2’and‘The Revenant’,but ‘The Revenant’ is R-rated so I won’t be able to watch that in the theatre …

Fujiwara : Right. I wonder if that’s because it has quiet a few violence scenes?​ ​Of course, I’d like to give you a copy of ‘Silence of the Lambs’​ ​​ ​to watch as well.

Rio : Which was the one with the head cut open?

Fujiwara : That’s​ ​‘Hannibal’. ‘Silence of the Lambs’ is its predecessor and was more of a suspense.

Rio : Grotesque?

Fujiwara : Not that much, no. ‘Silence of the Lambs’ is among my top 5 favourite films. It also one of the best films directed by Jonathan Demme who also made‘Stop Making Sense’(footage from Talking heads live concert). I will lend that to you now.

Rio : Yes.

Fujiwara : Are there any other films you’ve seen recently that you though were quite good?

Rio :‘Heaven and Hell’ by Akira Kurosawa.（※５）」

Fujiwara : Oh. Quite surreal in comparison. What part was interesting?

Rio : The scene with the money thrown from the express train was amazing.

Fujiwara : The interesting parts of that movie came at the beginning … to put it another way, I mean, I’m glad it wasn’t my children who were kidnapped, but in terms of story that part was interesting.

Rio : Yes.

Fujiwara : The second half is a pursuit, but the ending’s a bit unclear, no? Maybe it’s more of an mature reaction. By the way, did you agree with the results from this years Oscars?Did you like​ ​​ ​‘Mad Max: Fury Road’?

Rio : Yep. Unsurprisingly I think ‘Mad Max’ took 6 awards (Best Film Editing, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing and Production Design).

Fujiwara :​ ​‘Spectre’was not that successful? (*6)

Rio : No, ‘Mad Max’ is much better. This Bond film is more comical … and not really that cool. And recently I’ve been watching​ ​‘Blade Runner’​ ​and it was really interesting. (*7)

Fujiwara : Ah, quite sophisticated. What year was that set in again?

Rio : Quite soon, because 2019.

Fujiwara : That’s true. The future becomes the past when you live for long enough …

Rio : Actually‘Back to the Future’​ ​has already passed, in 2015. I heard they’re making the hover-board.

Fujiwara : It may not have been realised. At least by the time ‘Blade Runner’ happens, I want something like the artificial owl to be possible.

Rio : By then I want something like Blade Runner’s artificial snake. If Star Wars, then I want to make a lightsaber. Also, the ring from ‘Spectre’ … Speaking of which, the swimsuit worn by Daniel Craig went to auction.

Fujiwara : (laughs) You’re quite committed for keeping track of that kind of film prop.

In the future, what direction do you want your films to go in?

Fujiwara : People are reading your ‘Ring of Colour’ articles yet as I expected have come to really care about your drawings, but from when are they drawn?

Rio : I was drawing before I realised it. ‘Ring of Colour’ was the opportunity to draw properly. Until that point I had also made notes and was always writing down my thoughts.

Along with his film review, these uploaded images were drawn by Rio himself.

Fujiwara : You’re drawings are amazing. You seem to raise the bar with each one. I also liked the brutal honesty and blunt comments made at the very beginning.

Everyone : (laughs)

Fujiwara : (opens laptop) Looking back … even though Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ is your favourite,​ ​"dizzy"I’m not sure it worked that well. (*8)

Rio : Yes.

Fujiwara : You’re making note of what films you’ve watched with writing and drawing, but you eventually want to go make a movie by yourself right?

Rio : Yes.

Fujiwara : What would you make if you make yourself?

Rio : A ‘Science Fiction’ future of things.

Fujiwara : Why that kind?

Rio : Mmm … because I think artificial intelligence will be used in the future.

Fujiwara : That’s true. Even with ‘Blade Runner’. It’s said artificial intelligence has purpose. But I want to see it used with more of a twist.

Rio : Yes … I want to shoot SF but don’t want to use CG too much. Because the CG used in Star Wars 1, 2 and 3 was not good enough and overused, and because I like small tricks, like ‘How to Catch a Thief’.

Fujiwara : Well, I though if we could make a film lets make one. It’s quite tough to direct an actor to act without CG?

Rio : Woohoo!

Fujiwara : Eh? It’s just a thought (laugh). In any case, let’s aim within 3 years to make a piece, even of it is a short film?

Rio : Yes! Once I’m in high school I will probably make one, so will do my best!

Fujiwara : The school you’re heading to will likely have a film club? (From April, Rio is due to attend Junior High School in Canada)

Rio : Not, but it would be nice to make one myself. It also has a huge theatre.

Fujiwara : Okay, if you make your own movie, I will make the background music.

Rio : Woohoo!

Fujiwara : If I go to Canada, let’s exchange emails okay?

Rio : Yes.

Fujiwara : Since we’ve been in contact through Instagram until now , tell me your proper email address and little by little you can send me some amazing films.

Rio : Ehhh …

Fujiwara : (laughs) First I will give you ‘Silence of the Lambs’ to watch … oh and I though this was good … after let’s watch‘Seven’by David Fincher.

Rio : I really like David Fincher.The Social Network was also good.​ ​The Social Network was also good.​ ​

Fujiwara : A bizarre murder and suspense thriller! 7 people are murdered, one after another.

Rio : Ehhh, scary … I will try my best though …

Fujiwara : Go for it! (laugh)

(Articles written by Rio about films mentioned during the interview)

*1. Star Wars,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/2431

*2. Dial M for Murder,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/9764

*3. North by Northwest,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/8623

※４『24』http://ringofcolour.com/archives/7386

*5. High and Low,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/6970

*6. Spectre,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/1712

*7. Blade Runner,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/13157

*8. Vertigo,http://ringofcolour.com/archives/10992