Interview: On location with Ryo Nishikido for his first drama lead
オリ☆スタ(Ori-suta) 28/03/2011, No12-1582 translation by momoedgewood@wordpress.com
Shooting for Ryo Nishikido’s upcoming drama has started! “I’m bribing (the dog) with treats”!?
Q: Filming has started! How do you feel?
N(ishikido): Well, to start with the weather’s really nice so thank god for that (laughs). My scenes with the dog have gone quite smoothly and the director’s here giving me instructions so I feel really comfortable. That’s why I want to work as hard as I can from now on and hopefully make this a truly amazing drama.
Q: Did you do anything in particular last night to prepare yourself for today’s first shoot?
N: Not really, but I didn’t go out for drinks last night. I knew I had to be in early today so I made sure I wouldn’t be late (laughs).
Q: What do you think of Kokoro-chan? (Nishikido’s on-screen daughter Mako, played by Kokoro Kuge)
N: She’s cute.
Q: How does it feel playing a father character?
N: It’s…well, I hope to experience more of it from now on.
Q: What did you think when you first heard you’d be playing a father?
N: I wasn’t really…what’s the word, it’s a character unlike any other I’ve played so I saw it as another job.
Q: Did you ever talk it over with the director about what kind of man Yuji is?
N: No, we haven’t talked about anything like that. But while we were getting the costume clothes together I got told, “Yuji’s been through this and that”, so I interpreted that myself, I read books, and I delivered my lines. When we finished rehearsals today the director told me, “it’s just getting the eyes right now”, so I want to work harder at that. But I hope that by the end I’ll find that not a lot has changed.
Q: What do you think of the drama’s theme “family rebuilding”?
N: Well… I’m not sure how we’re going to fall apart (as a family) yet. I don’t even know what’s going to happen. But I hope people can get a feel for things in the first episode. I’m looking forward to seeing how the characters get back on their feet.
Q: The drama’s setting is around the currently-under-development Sky Tree. Have you ever seen it?
N: No, not from right below. Sometimes while I’m driving on the expressway I’ll look at it like when I see Mt Fuji and go, “oh, there it is”.
Q: So your shoot here today is the first time you’ve seen it from below?
N: Yes.
Q: You get along well with the dog Sky Tree (played by ダイヤ (Daiya, Diamond)).
N: We’ve worked together twice already for photoshoots and stuff. It’s not our first time together so we’ve gotten quite used to one another.
Q: How did you become such good friends?
N: I’ve been giving bribe treats as much as possible (laughs). I know the more time we spend together the better, but right now in the (drama) family I’m the favourite! That and I’m just the one who’s been giving the most treats. (laughs)
Q: You’ve been giving that many treats? (laughs)
N: Well, here and there, and there and there…
Producer: You’ve been giving treats behind our backs haven’t you.
N: Yes. (laughs)
Q: Hiding them in your pockets then?
N: That’s right. Now my suit pockets are full with bread crumbs.
Q: (laughs) Have you ever had a dog?
N: Yes, I’ve had a pet dog.
Q: How is life different when someone has a pet dog?
N: Well…there have been times when I’ve come home from work and found poo everywhere (laughs). But then I feel guilty because I guess the dog’s been under stress. They’re cute when they sleep too. I dunno…they make you feel more alive than when you’re by yourself. They do get on your nerves sometimes though (laughs). But then again, that’s my fault for not training my dog properly. But what is it, I don’t mind it at all when my dog licks me when we’re sleeping together. They make your feelings go up and down.
Q: So having a dog makes you nicer?
N: No, I wouldn’t say I’ve become that open. (laughs)
Q: Then does it make you want to do something nice for people?
N: (laughs) Ummm, well, I guess I think so. It does make me think I have to do better. When you’re by yourself, the only person to bear the consequences of your mistakes is yourself, but when you’ve got a dog, you feel like you need to get your act together.
source/translation by: MOMOEDGEWOOD @ WORDPRESS.COM