Monday, March 10, 2008
Invitation Only: Japanese Adult Star Maria Ozawa Grows Up
(photo: Yoshikawa Tadayuki)
Anybody with the slightest interest in Japanese pornography has surely seen the beautiful visage and stunning body of Maria Ozawa (小澤マリア). "Exotic" is an overused word and maybe even has a whiff of colonial hangover when used to describe a woman, but it does encompass adjectives like "striking or fascinating; strangely beautiful, enticing," all of which are apt descriptors of French-Canadian/Japanese Ozawa, whose real name is a well-kept secret (interesting that she'd use the antiquated, pre-WWII sawa「澤」, as in Akira Kurosawa, instead of the more contempo 「沢」).
In a tribute to Ozawa's popularity with adult content devourers outside of Japan, her English Wikipedia page is actually more extensive than the Japanese entry, providing commentary on her background and attitudes toward AV, mainly gleaned/translated from this Japanese language TV segment. Though word has it she's no fan of Wikipedia's take on her. There are of course many fan sites as well, such as this blog (not safe for work) devoted to salivating over her latest nude shots.
For some non-explicit video, this clip has bilingual Ozawa speaking English (one of her AV releases even has her play an English teacher), and here's an innocent, early TV commercial of hers advertising Dars chocolate. The exact same hand holding shot was used in a scene in the British movie Control -- maybe Corbijn is an Ozawa fan, too? Soon we all will be.
The busy starlet also has her own official blog composed on her cell phone, which makes it hard for her to type entries in English, but she's trying.
So, that's your background. The first impression most people have, or at least I did, when they see Ozawa is "wait a minute, you're saying this woman does hardcore pornography?" Usually entering the AV industry here is a question of economics and designer bags, but surely a creature this gorgeous could snare a millionaire -- I'm sure she's had her share of offers to be "rescued." Only turning 22 this January, Ozawa still comes across as naively "in control" of it all (remember Annabel Chong?). But she's growing up fast and now on her way to a legit acting career, which brings us to the film...
Invitation Only, produced Three Dots Entertainment in Taipei, Taiwan. Established in 2003, Three Dots strives to produce independent-minded genre movies with commercial appeal in a small and often struggling industry there. Their titles include gay-themed Formula 17, horror outing Heirloom and My DNA Says I Love You. They're also a distributor -- Three Dots producer and co-founder Michelle Yeh picked up Taiwanese rights for Miike Takashi's Crows: Episode Zero when I was in Pusan last fall. But I digress.
Invitation Only is billed as "Taiwan's First-Ever Slasher Horror" (there's not much on the official site at the moment). Maria Ozawa won the role of a supermodel character by beating out pro catwalkers and was by all accounts a professional, hard worker who won over everyone involved including those who were uncomfortable with the idea of a porn star being in the film. Indeed, her role was expanded to include more scenes, delivering dialogue in both English and Japanese.
Without further ado, here's the first image of Maria Ozawa (right) in blood-soaked costume on the set of Invitation Only. On the left is co-star Julianne Chu, who appeared in a low-budget Japanese sex and drugs chronicle Addict No Yûrekkan (『アディクトの優劣感』).
Taiwan, where Ozawa is perhaps a bigger star than she is in Japan, is not quite as strict as Mainland China when it comes to adult material. Unlike Mainland China, Taiwan does have some homegrown adult stars and feature films such as Lust, Caution screen uncut, but you won't find adult DVD sections in video rental shops in either territory (in Japan, any shop without heaps of AV DVDs needs their head examined).
Everyone gets their fix almost exclusively online, which perhaps augments the allure of AV actresses, but bringing them over to Taiwan for work, even if it's not sexually oriented, can be problematic. Ozawa's participation also had to be kept under wraps so buzz about the film wouldn't die out before its release. One resourceful tabloid did manage to snap some shots of Ozawa having a cigarette break.
While Ozawa finished her scenes earlier this year, Invitation Only finally wrapped production last week. There will hopefully be some clips to see at Hong Kong's Filmart, with sales beginning in earnest in Cannes and later AFM, where the full film will be shown after its August release in Taiwan.
Ganbatte, Maria...
21 comments:
ohhhhh.... i steer well clear of AV stuff beyond wondering what's happening with regards it's odd ideas and it's use of pixelation.
i know there's been tantilising mentions of unpixelated material being released by companies in japan for non-japanese consumption, but i can't see where the rumour starts and the quality begins. you see, take away the pixelation, and how weird would it all be? not very, i think.
only two names really stick in my mind, ozawa is one, sora aoi is the other. it's just so damn tempting, but i'm going nowhere further into this stuff that the kind of tantilising mention of it, the odd site that shows the range of weirdness and blandness that kind of goes hand in hand with JAV.
who would have thunk it, anyway? "yeah, baby, you do this movie for me... and you'll be a star before you know it... big hollywood movies are all looking for sexy women" and other such sinister dialogues
about how it's strange to actually see porno turn legitimate in some kind of manner which blurs the boundaries - the ultimate gateway drug, perhaps!
:)
I do have "the slightest interest in Japanese pornography". I've seen some of Ozawa's acting before. She does seem to have a reasonable fan base online outside of Japan. I'm sure 90% of the stuff that North Americans see is downloaded or bootlegged though. Is she making any money off of English-speaking markets?
She must have been active in AV before doing that Morinaga commercial. It has more than a hint of the typical 3P scenario...
I always wondered if those DMM AV actress blogs are real though. I always think they look like they're written by (or at least edited by) the companies.
How often do AV actors (male or female) break out into commercial film? I know of some who have gone back and forth between AV and pink, and others who have gone from pink to mainstream, but AV to mainstream?
I do have "the slightest interest in Japanese pornography". I've seen some of Ozawa's acting before. She does seem to have a reasonable fan base online outside of Japan. I'm sure 90% of the stuff that North Americans see is downloaded or bootlegged though. Is she making any money off of English-speaking markets?
Some AV producers here license their stuff to services with overseas portals like carribbeancom.com (which aren't subject to mosaic) but I doubt any of the money comes back to the performer.
She must have been active in AV before doing that Morinaga commercial. It has more than a hint of the typical 3P scenario...
Not sure, but I heard it was before. It'd take a Kinki Kids expert to carbon date the ad.
I always wondered if those DMM AV actress blogs are real though. I always think they look like they're written by (or at least edited by) the companies.
Not just AV performers but any idol...the blogs always have that same overly cute writing style. But in this case I can't imagine a DMM office lackey coming up with colloquial English like that.
How often do AV actors (male or female) break out into commercial film? I know of some who have gone back and forth between AV and pink, and others who have gone from pink to mainstream, but AV to mainstream?
Stars like Iijima Ai obviously took the long, hard road, but directly from AV to features...don't know. I always thought Natsume Nana, who recently retired, should've gone legit. She asked Kitano to direct a film starring her, while grabbing his crotch at an awards ceremony.
Hey Jason,
Don't give up hope on Natsume Nana yet - she has gone 'legit' (just like the also retired Oikawa Nao). She's currently appearing in a shitty-looking late night TV show called コスプレ幽霊 紅蓮女, and she also had a role in the the sequel to the "Ryu ga Gotoku" video game if I remember correctly. There's also Takagi Maria who was in "Tokyo Zombie" and "Memories of Tomorrow", and is still getting a few TV drama roles.
But NN "was" legit,since she was a reporter of Kobe's local station,SUN TV.
The name Miho Jun came up to my mind in relate to the argument.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BE%8E%E4%BF%9D%E7%B4%94
aceface
Hi Don,
I didn't know about her recent TV work (as usual, I'm out of the terebi loop). Check out this hilarious video by rap artist Hannya that Nana appears in. His rapping and lyrics are really good.
But NN "was" legit,since she was a reporter of Kobe's local station,SUN TV.
Okay, I guess I meant legit as in feature films. I could definitely see her as a ninki-ana though.
Maria makes for any mans fantasy come true, she so beautiful, sexy, at once
Total package
btw, I hate to come across as a total perv on my blog hehe mo.us
Glad to see that the old Tracy Lords trick has duped a new generation of actresses. Someone just needs to tell Maria Ozawa to find herself a David Cronenberg.
The real question is: why did Iijima Ai retire all of the sudden? She claims it's health related issues; is that code for an STD?
Marilyn Chambers in Rabid. Growing up in Toronto, I was such a Cronenberg...otaku (though that movie was shot in Montreal).
Making twisted, distinctly Canadian sexo-horror with government funds...how can you not love it?
Hey Nicholas,
There was a lot of speculation about STDs around the time of her intai announcement, but the official version is gastric ulcers brought on by a Helicobacter pylori infection. She said so on her blog back in February.
Nothing like a bit of porn to get the comments rolling in eh? Thanks for plugging my review too Jason.
Iijima Ai update:
Looks like she only have fistful of yen now.
http://netallica.yahoo.co.jp/news/27531
Aceface
We are inviting one of Ms. Ozawa's films to Udine -- "Irokoishi" (Love Master). She plays a sexually frigid club hostess the "love master" hero can't unthaw, despite spirited erotic gymnastics. Wouldn't it be great to have her as a guest. Wowza!
Hey,
The manga was adapated? Didn't know about that one. It has both Ozawa and Aoi Sora in it. Is it hardcore?
If it's Udine, you have just the guy who could make Ozawa's appearance happen! (Name withheld)
Yes, it's a manga adaptation. Also, there are two pics -- "Irokoshi" and the follow-up "Irokoishi -- Hokkaido-hen." The latter features Ms. Sora, who also plays a club hostess -- and is a little bundle of dynamite. Too bad we can't show both!
hey, hey...! i'd spotted that sora aoi 'irokoshi' recently... kind of stands out for a couple of reasons,
if you know what i mean, fnar fnar.
"Also, there are two pics"
I see, that cast page lists the cast for both films. Web design from hell (aka 1998).
In 2006, I attended a charity event for adult satellite channel ParadiseTV. Through wacky events featuring various AV actresses the channel was raising money for an AIDS organization. Anyway, one of the ladies there was [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEQw6t7uuuU]Honoka[/url]. But she wasn't participating, only standing around in a yukata. The guys at ParadiseTV told me that the reason was that she was trying to improve her image and make a move towards television, film, etc. Since in 2007 she was given the "Best Actress" award, which went to the top performer within all of the adult channels in the SkyPerfect network, I am not sure how serious she is with making the jump.
Maria Ozawa is so hot!
There's a rumor that she died of AIDS. Is this true?
Well, to be honest with you, Maria Ozawa is really my crush. I do not get myself though. I can not believe that I'm into her who is a very popular japanese porn star. And if destiny is willing, if we'll get to know each other, I might fell in love for her. God! Haha.. No, seriously. I did see a lot of her hardcore acts and she's hot but for me, I do not look on her flaws or her explicit actions. I know that there is something good in her heart and if ever we'll be friends, I'll be true and nice to her.
Well, enough about that. Haha.. I guess it's about time for her to be seen in movies one of which is this taiwanese horror movie called, "Invitation Only." I know that she'll be good in portraying a lot of roles and I think it's about time for her to be different on screen. I know that she did perfect in her role in her horror movie and I am excited to see her film which makes me think that Maria could do better roles than doing pornography. And I'm suggesting the Asian and even other Film Industries to make a movie for Maria and give her a descent cnaracter.For example,like in the "Girl Next Door" by Elisha Cuthbert. I think it would be a big hit if someone will make a very touching love story and Maria would be the leading lady. Of course, a lot would watch that movie and will be interested about how would she do her character because it is widely known that she is a porn star. I also suggest that if she'll be in a love story the director should remind the audience about the fact that Maria is a porn star but as the story goes on someone will fall in love to her unconditionally and will sacrifice everything just to be with her. It sounds a bit crazy, isn't it? A porn star in a touching love story. But, I guess it's about time to see Maria do better and appreciate her in some way and in a good way. Why do I say these things? If you watched "The Girl Next Door" we could see that Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) does not want to continue in her industry. Instead, she wants change and to live a normal life. To have someone who'll love her without seeing her flaws and misdeeds. I know that Maria too wants this. I'm not pretending that I know her too much. I do not even know if she really wants to be a porn star or not. It's just that it's about time for her to be seen in a new image, an image that we will learn to love and to appreciate someone though she did bad or anything in the past. Whatever you think of her: a porn star? a dirty slut? a bitch? desperate? Appreciate her or not, it's up to you guys. But for me, I think that it's about time to know the porn star's heart.
Message for Maria: I know that you could understand English. I'm a loyal fan of yours. I just want you to know that you did a great job in everything. Though you are a porn star, I know that you did those things because you just wanted to be appreciated. You are a great artist. And I appreciate you. I hope that someday, we could see each other. Just remain firm. Never give up and someday, your dreams will be fulfilled. Take care always. Sayonara. :)
there's a movie trailer here
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/maria-ozawa-stars-in-taiwan-slasher-film-invitation-only/
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