Ryutaro Ninomiya (b. 1986, Japan) studied Film Production for a year, after which he decided to follow an acting course. He made his first feature film “The Charm of Others” in 2012. The film won the runner-up at the largest indie film festival in Japan, Pia Film Festival. It was shown at many film festivals around the world including Vancouver International Film Festival and IFFR. He then acted in two films before making his second feature film “Sweating the Small Stuff” (2017), in which he plays the main lead.
“Sweating the Small Stuff” screened at International Film Festival Rotterdam
As a writer, director, actor and screenwriter, is there one role that you prefer? Or one that you find more challenging? Why did you cast yourself as the protagonist?
I like all the roles in making a movie. For “Sweating the small stuff”, I thought it was the best choice for me to play the role.
How important is it to you to have that kind of control over your work?
It is very important.
Your characters are ordinary people. What attracts you to these characters or this type of real-life drama?
I really enjoy portraying ordinary people in my movies and I would like to continue doing so.
The characters in the film seem not to have any purpose and not to care about much, just spending their lives aimlessly. Is that your view on the current Japanese generation?
The characters appearing in the film represent a portion of the young people in Japan. They are not the majority but they are not few, either.
You used handheld camera to shoot the film. Can you tell us a bit about this choice?
I think that depicting a human being with a hand-held camera makes it best to draw his inner-self.
What advice would you give to anyone considering a career as a filmmaker?
To keep making making movies under any circumstances.
Which are your favorite filmmakers/movies?
“Kes” by Ken Loach
What are your plans for the future?
Just to keep making movies.
