Night cap with Family Plot

Interview with Shuichi Okita, director of Family Plot

How did you go about creating Family Plot? Can you talk us through the filming processes a little?
It was born out of a concept to make short films to promote a beverage product called Parada Calpis (Japanese beverage). The story that I wanted to make was selected to be turned into a short.

What did you want to explore in the relationship between Dobashi and the Sada family?
I was at a friend’s house once, and he didn’t have Wi-Fi, and I thought it would be convenient to use the landlord next door’s account. Based on that, I came up with this little burglary movie. The story was there first, and from there I came up with the characters of Dobashi and the Sada family. For Dobashi and the Sada family, it grew into a sarcastic story about filling the holes of what’s lacking in each other’s lives.

What do you hope the audience will get out of it?
If they can laugh and have a good time, that’s good enough for me, but if somewhere they can feel the excitement of a mystery movie, that would be great, too.

Would you say that the short film format has given you any particular freedom?
Yes, I think so.

What do you consider your cinematographic references?
The closing of my neighborhood video rental store. Hitchcock movies, and The Ladykillers.

Family Plot is part of International Competition I14.