"The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga" Official Trailer

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés at Ginza Crossing in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now available on YouTube (and here, below) is the official trailer for The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga, a documentary film on Godzilla by Jonathan Bellés.


 

For more, go here.

"The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga" Trailer Is Coming

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés with the Toho Studios Godzilla statue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Documentary producer Jonathan Bellés has a new trailer on his documentary, The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga, that will be available July 1. He has been working on this documentary since 2014.

Discover the new documentary film about Godzilla, The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga created by Spanish film director Jonathan Bellés who will introduce us to the origin of this legend who will introduce us to the origin of this legend. It’s connections with the Atomic Bomb and the Nuclear Threat are well known, but how has this affected for more than 60 years of Godzilla movies? This documentary film discovers this story through interviews with more than 20 Japanese artists that have worked on the Godzilla movies from 1954 until now. Some of these faces are Akira Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, Akira Kubo, Yukiko Kobayashi, Shusuke Kaneko, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Koichi Kawakita, Ishii Yoshikatzu, Shinji Higuchi among others. Follow us on @Dawnofkaiju and www.451prods.com. 

This trailer is available with English, Spanish and French subtitles.

Above, special effects director Eiichi Asada is interviewed for the documentary at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the website for The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga, go here. 

New "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Trailer Released

by Armand Vaquer





Spanish producer and director Jonathan Bellés has unveiled a new trailer for his doctoral project documentary, Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga.

The trailer, with an original music score, features Godzilla suit-actors Haruo Nakajima and Kenpachiro Satsuma, actor Akira Takarada and directors Shusuke Kaneko and Masaaki Tezuka.

The trailer also features shots of the Lucky Dragon No. 5, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, the torii gate at Miyajima as well as the Godzilla statue and the Seven Samurai mural at the main entrance of Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo.

Above, Jonathan Bellés at the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I joined Bellés in Japan last February when he began his interviews, starting with special effects Eiichi Asada (Godzilla x Mechagodzilla, Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. and Godzilla Final Wars) and first assistant special effects director Yoshikazu Ishii (Godzilla Final Wars). 

Bellés Interviews: Behind The Scenes At Toho Studios

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés setting up his equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 
During my recent trip to Japan, I joined producer/director Jonathan Bellés at Toho Studios for his first interviews in Japan for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga.

Above, Jessica Claros reviewing her notes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Toho, we were joined by interpreters Jessica Claros and David Munoz as well as Yoshikazu Ishii. For the interviews, we were permitted to use a meeting room that overlooks the main entrance to Toho Studios.

From the meeting room's window, we could see the Godzilla statue and Seven Samurai mural.

Above, interviewees Yoshikazu Ishii (center) and Eiichi Asada (right) arrive at Toho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a bright and cheery room with couches, tables, a big-screen television set and carpeting.

Above, Eiichi Asada being interviewed. David Munoz stands in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We arrived at the studio an hour early so Jonathan Bellés could set up his equipment, which included lights, reflectors and several stands.

Above, Eiichi Asada during his interview. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first to be interviewed was special effects director Eiichi Asada. While Jonathan Bellés manned the camera, Jessica Claros questioned the interviewees from notes provided by Bellés. Munoz assisted whenever someone got stuck on a phrase or needed more clarification. Both Japan-based interpreters specialize in Japanese-Spanish language interpreting.

Above, Yoshikazu Ishii as he was interviewed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following Asada's interview, Bellés then interviewed Yoshikazu Ishii on his role as assistant (under Asada) special effects director of Godzilla Final Wars. When each interview was completed, group photos were taken. The first one (below), was with Eiichi Asada.

Above, from left are David Munoz, Jonathan Bellés, Asada, Jessica Claros and Yoshikazu Ishii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the interview with Yoshikazu Ishii, another group shot was taken, this time with yours truly in it.

I did manage to break away and grab a quick bite to eat (curry and rice) at the studio cafeteria and buy a few souvenirs (a t-shirt for my daughter Amber and a hat and jacket for me).

Above, Jessica Claros and Jonathan Bellés. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was interesting to observe how Jonathan Bellés works and get past the language barrier. The two interpreters did a fine job during the interviews. The final shot (below), courtesy of Jonathan Bellés and David Munoz, was taken during camera set-up for Yoshikazu Ishii's interview.

Above, from left, Armand Vaquer, Yoshikazu Ishii, Jessica Claros and Jonathan Bellés. Photo by David Munoz.

Bellés interviewed several others at different locations following my departure from Japan. They include Akira Takarada, Masaaki Tezuka, Koichi Kawakita, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Teruyoshi Nakano and others.

Jonathan Bellés Making Progress On "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Documentary

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés with Eiichi Asada at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jonathan Bellés, who is currently hard at work in Japan conducting interviews for his upcoming documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga, has already interviewed the following (whose names kaiju fans should be familiar with): Akira Takarada, Koichi Kawakita, Eiichi Asada, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Yoshikazu Ishii, Shusuke Kaneko and Teruyoshi Nakano.

Last week, I joined Bellés at Toho Studios when he conducted the first two interviews (Eiichi Asada and Yoshikazu Ishii) and was his guide around the Hibiya and Ginza sections of Tokyo. We found that the Lucky Dragon No. 5 exhibit was closed for the day when we arrived. Bellés said he would go back on another day.

Along with the interviews with the aforementioned (and more to come), Bellés plans to take a trip to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

Jonathan Bellés Discusses Godzilla & Hiroshima Documentary on Spanish Television

Producer/director Jonathan Bellés discusses his documentary on Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga on Spanish television.

  Entrevista a Jonathan Bellés en TV CS from Producciones 451 on Vimeo.

Jonathan Bellés Discusses Godzilla Documentary At 2nd Cultural Cycle Japan In Spain

by Armand Vaquer

On November 24, producer/director Jonathan Bellés gave a presentation on "Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga" in Valencia, Spain. Posted below, is the video of his presentation.

Here is the description of the video in Spanish:

Dentro de las actividades del 2º Ciclo Cultural de Japón en Valencia, en el Centro Cultural La Petxina, Jonathan Bellés ofrece una conferencia sobre su documental "Godzilla & Hiroshima: Los Albores del Kaiju Eiga", además de responder a las preguntas del público asistente.

And, a rough translation:

Among the activities of the 2nd Cultural Cycle Japan in Valencia, at La Petxina Cultural Center, Jonathan Bellés gives a lecture on his documentary "Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga" plus answer questions from the audience. 

Note: Jonathan Bellés discusses a "certain travel guide" 42 minutes into the video.

Here's a still from the presentation:

Above, Jonathan Bellés discusses his upcoming documentary.  Photo courtesy of Jonathan Bellés.

A Word With "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Producer/Director Jonathan Bellés

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Jonathan Bellés.

My grandfather (on my dad's side) came from the island of Mallorca (Majorca), Spain. Spain is also where Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga producer and director Jonathan Bellés comes from.

Specifically, he was born in Castellón, which is on the Spanish mainland near the island of Mallorca.

Now Bellés is based in Valencia, Spain where his production company, Producciones 451 is headquartered.

I asked him if there are many kaiju fans in Spain and he says there are. "In Spain, there many kaiju fans. In fact, I am the co-founder of the website www.godzillaencastellano.com.  It was founded in February 2003," he says.

Many people remembered the 50th anniversary of Godzilla events in Hollywood back in 2004. Fans in Spain also commemorated the anniversary in 2004.

"In 2004, Angel Sala, the Catalonian director of The International Fantasy Film Festival (in Sitges, Barcelona), screened several Godzilla movies because of 50th anniversary of Godzilla," said Bellés.

On the Godzilla documentary, Bellés said that it will also include Gamera, Ultraman and other monsters in the genre.  Financing for the documentary is limited as it is a doctoral project for him.

He plans to travel to Japan, United States and elsewhere to interview actors, producers, critics and others for the documentary.

In Japan, besides interviewing, he plans to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Lucky Dragon No. 5 exhibit in Tokyo. "I want to travel to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Museum mainly. I will visit the Lucky Dragon No. 5 also," said Bellés.

He hopes to have Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga completed and released by summer 2014.

"Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga" In Production

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the a-bomb mushroom cloud over Hiroshima.

A new Godzilla documentary is currently in production in Spain.

The documentary, Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga is being produced and directed by Jonathan Bellés. The production years are 2013-2014 with a release in Summer 2014. The planned running time is 90 minutes.

Film historians, critics and others from Spain, France, Belgium, United States, Canada and Japan will be interviewed for the documentary, which will take a look at the influence and connection between the daikaiju eiga genre and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nakasaki.

The website for the documentary is here.

 Here's the teaser trailer for the documentary: