"Denjin Zaborger: The Movie" shoot at Nikkatsu Studios

Back on April 26 I mentioned a Canal+ documentary on Tokyo I was helping out on in regards to the movie-related content.

I didn't join the shoot at Nishimura Yoshihiro's creature/gore atelier (Nishimura Eizô, 西村映造) last week as it's so small it had to be filmed from the sidewalk looking in. But yesterday I headed out to Nikkatsu studios to check out the second last day of shooting on director Iguchi Noboru's Denjin Zaborger: The Movie (Denjin Zabôgâ: Gekijô-ban,『電人ザボーガー劇場版』), a sexy reimagining of the old tokusatsu TV show of the same name.

Below are a few tweets from the day (don't forget to follow Sushi Typhoon's English twitterfeed here) and some iPhone snaps, with accompanying commentary:

日活撮影所に向かっています。 Heading to Nikkatsu Studios.

Had a blast at Nikkatsu studios. Some great footage shot for the documentary. Duo of Cay Izumi and Asami was off the hook! Pics to come.

本日『電人ザボーガー』の現場にお邪魔させていただきました。井口監督 @igunobo 千葉さん @sushityphoonjpn 西村さん @ni4yo4 泉さん @cay_izumi 亜紗美さん　@a_s_a_m_i_ ヨシキさん @slasher666、有り難うございました！
(*thanking all the key people I met for my day on set)


The bikes, natch.


We interviewed Iguchi at his bank of on-set computers. He let the animatics of the scene being shot play as he spoke enthusiastically about his love for tokusatsu and moviemaking.


Ekonte (storyboards).


Documentary producer-director Peter Stuart asked Iguchi to put on one of the masks, but he couldn't because his head was too big. It was a good laugh.


Lead actor Itao Itsuji takes a break (wig still on) with his steed. He's taller than I thought and very quiet off camera.


Nishimura showed up and the two inseparable creators broke into a manzai routine.


Another actor in costume with bikes.


Itao does some wire work in an action scene that will play out on the cleavage of a giant, bikini-clad woman. Only in Japan, folks.


Actress Asami pulls an extreme face for the cameras. She's a friendly, sexy, chain-smoking firecracker of a woman. During her interview with co-star Cay Izumi she spoke excitedly about the men in other countries (particularly Korea, for some reason) who ask to get beaten by her. French viewers of the finished documentary will have the fear of God put into them with her final words to her fans there.


Co-star Cay Izumi, leader of the Tokyo Dolores troupe and one of the greatest pole dancers in Japan (and the world?), sits on Asami's knee. You can have your mega-budget Hollywood sets, I'll take this!