Shogen modeled in Paris, Milan and London while backpacking in the world after graduating from college. He returned to Japan in 2004 and started his career as an actor. The debut film was “Bloody Snake under the Sun (2005)” which described the life in Okinawa in the postwar period. Shogen played the leading part as a sanshin player and the film itself was nominated for the Competition at the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival. The encounter with “method acting” in Us in 2008 impressed him very much. He flew back to New York for further lessons and was trained by Susan Baston (the private coach of Nicole Kidman) and Roberta Wallch. In 2010, CNN chose Shogen for “The Tokyo Hot List : 20 People to watch 2010” due to his outstanding roles in the cinema clip “Seven Samurai” as well as in the advertisement of Jt “Seven Stars”. He is now actively taking part in various...
- 6/10/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
I have to admit that romantic films are not exactly my cup of tea. Occasionally though, a film arises that manages to be easy to watch and entertaining enough to prove that the category can also have some merit. Let us see if “Stay” belongs to this category.
Ryuu works hard at a little fish shop in Tokyo, trying to get his life back on track after a career in business ended in shambles due to drug addiction. Getting over his past, however, does not prove so easy and Ryuu is eventually fired due to customer’s complaints and on the same day stumbles upon his ex-dealer and his ex-girlfriend, ending up with a free “sample” in his pocket. The same night, he decides to go to an underground night club he used to frequent, where he ends up having sex in the bathroom with Hope, a girl he had never met before.
Ryuu works hard at a little fish shop in Tokyo, trying to get his life back on track after a career in business ended in shambles due to drug addiction. Getting over his past, however, does not prove so easy and Ryuu is eventually fired due to customer’s complaints and on the same day stumbles upon his ex-dealer and his ex-girlfriend, ending up with a free “sample” in his pocket. The same night, he decides to go to an underground night club he used to frequent, where he ends up having sex in the bathroom with Hope, a girl he had never met before.
- 6/2/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
THR is reporting that producer Patrick S. Cunningham (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and director Darryl Wharton-Rigby will shoot a pilot for a potential television adaptation of Santa Inoue's manga Tokyo Tribe. Both are based in Japan."Everyone loves this manga and we just formally acquired the rights before the Cannes film festival. We are developing a pilot which we will shoot over the summer and we are looking at a cast of Japanese, U.S., Chinese and possibly Korean actors. The movie will initially be shot in Tokyo but there will also be some international locations," Cunningham told THR. "Inoue is involved in the development one-hundred percent".The manga, an ultra-violent story of 23 street gangs in dystopic Tokyo, was recently adapted to film as an ultra-violent hip...
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- 5/29/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Producer, Patrick S. Cunningham, and filmmaker, Darryl Wharton-Rigby, have acquired rights to the seminal manga series "Tokyo Tribe," which was created by Santa Inoue. Said to be a sensation in Japan when it was originally published in the late 1990s, the manga about hip-hop–influenced Japanese gangbangers, provides audiences with a look at the impact of African American culture on Japanese youth. Here's how Amazon describes it: "Ornate with hip-hop trappings and packed with gangland grit, 'Tokyo Tribes' paints a vivid, somewhat surreal vision of urban youth. Rival gangs from various Tokyo barrios press each other for turf, leaving many a foot soldier...
- 5/26/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
A film focussing on the scandal surrounding Ghana's 2014 World Cup campaign has been announced.
It will be based on the incident that occurred when the Ghana team refused to train before their final group match against Portugal in June due to a fallout regarding pay.
As a result, the Ghanaian government sent $3 million in cash by plane to appease the players.
Players such as Christian Atsu, Michael Essien and Albert Adoma received $100,000 each on the eve of the game.
Bugeater Films will produce the film, with Darryl Wharton-Rigby in line to write the screenplay.
Speaking to the BBC's World Service Sportshour, Wharton-Rigby said: "It's very much truth stranger than fiction.
"I saw footage of the police cars taking the money on the highway and you can just see that scene playing out in your mind with someone like Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as the guy having to save the day.
It will be based on the incident that occurred when the Ghana team refused to train before their final group match against Portugal in June due to a fallout regarding pay.
As a result, the Ghanaian government sent $3 million in cash by plane to appease the players.
Players such as Christian Atsu, Michael Essien and Albert Adoma received $100,000 each on the eve of the game.
Bugeater Films will produce the film, with Darryl Wharton-Rigby in line to write the screenplay.
Speaking to the BBC's World Service Sportshour, Wharton-Rigby said: "It's very much truth stranger than fiction.
"I saw footage of the police cars taking the money on the highway and you can just see that scene playing out in your mind with someone like Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as the guy having to save the day.
- 10/8/2014
- Digital Spy
Darryl Wharton-Rigby, who's contributed to this site in the past, and who recently wrapped principal photography on a Tokyo-set indie motion picture titled "Stay," is now attached to direct a thriller centered on the intriguing story of Ghana's World Cup cash. In short, in case you missed the real-life story last week, as much as $3 million in cash, reportedly sent by Ghana’s president John Dramani Mahama, was sent, by plane, to Brazil, in a bid to appease members of the country’s World Cup team players, who were unhappy at being denied bonus payments, which was said to have seriously disrupted Ghana’s preparations for its decisive Group G game against...
- 6/30/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Two Filmmakers Are Scoring With Films About Soccer
As reported on by contributing blogger Benjamín Harguindey at St. Themo Films in Argentina, Álex de la Iglesia’s biopic of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi will receive an official screening on July 2 in Río de Janeiro, right in the middle of the FIFA World Cup’s “round of sixteen”. Argentina is playing against Switzerland the day before for a spot in the World Cup’s quarter-finals, so it remains to be seen whether the movie will act as a beaming celebration or a conciliatory send-off for Argentina’s national team, which Messi captains.
The “docufiction”, simply titled “Messi”, is directed by Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia, best known as the creator of cult films like “The Day of the Beast” (1995) and “Ferpect Crime” ( 2004), and more recently “Witching and Bitching” (2013). Spanish production studio Mediapro is behind the movie. Judging from the trailer, it looks like the director’s outrageous style has been dropped in favor of a more serious tone. De la Iglesia traveled earlier in January to Messi’s hometown Rosario, where he shot at Messi’s former home, his primary school and the Newell’s Old Boys Stadium where he used to play.
The movie, written by coach Jorge Valdano, is equal parts documentary – interviewing footballers like Javier Mascherano and Gerard Piqué, and national team coach Alejandro Sabella – and dramatization, specifically of Messi’s childhood and road to fame and glory. Spanish child actor Marc Balaguer will play young Messi. Besides the World Cup premiere no commercial release dates have been given for Spain or Argentina, but in the meantime here’s the trailer – but first read the original article here: http://ow.ly/yxaTL
Meanwhile, the second film, still to be made, will be produced by Dan Mirvisch of Bugeater Films (Mirvish is also co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival) who has optioned the project to be written and directed by Darryl Wharton-Rigby.
Their scoop on this hot topic shows how some nimble indie filmmakers can move quicker than anyone in Hollywood. While Hollywood shut down yesterday morning to celebrate USA's 0-1 loss as a win, it was a couple indie filmmakers who saw the real story in the World Cup and outmaneuvered Hollywood to the punch. One other thing they missed is what a truly global project this is, spanning four continents (so far): S. America, Africa obviously, but with producers in the U.S., and an African/American director/writer in Japan.
Darryl Wharton-Rigby writes for Indiewire blog Shadow & Act sometimes, and used to be a programmer for the Maryland Film Fest. Wharton-Rigby (“Homicide: Life on the Streets”), is also an award-winning writer who most recently wrote and directed the indie movie “Stay,” which was filmed in Japan.
Read the full story on The Wrap.
Suffice it here to state that the debacle of Ghana’s Black Stars boycotting practice unless their promised bonus was paid inspired the soccer-themed thriller.
Ghana's government sent more than $3m in cash by plane to Brazil to pay the appearance fees owed to the national team at the World Cup. Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yamin told Ghanaian radio station Citi FM the players "insisted" on cash payments.
He added: "The government had to mobilize the money and a chartered flight to Brazil."
Wharton-Rigby's script will follow a courier who flies into Brazil with $3 million cash. Things go awry when the courier is ambushed on the way to make the drop, leaving him less than 12 hours to recover the stolen money.
Ghana’s Black Stars have now gone home from Brazil, having lost 2-1 to U.S. and then tied 2-2 with Germany. But losing 2-1 against Portugal eliminated them from the games.
Another bonus row is ongoing involving Nigeria. The Super Eagles, who are due to play France Monday June refused to train on Thursday over fears they would not receive their bonus payments from the Nigerian Football Federation.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan assured players on Friday that the money would be paid.
There was a similar issue with Cameroon, whose players refused to board their plane to South America because of a row over appearance fees. They arrived for the World Cup a day later than scheduled.
The issue is not a new one - Togo went on strike over bonus money at the 2006 tournament in Germany and FIFA was forced to intervene.
Jérôme Valcke, Secretary General of the international football federation (FIFA) says that something needs to be done.
"Future World Cups will ask the national associations to provide us with their agreements with their players to make sure that this kind of episode does not happen again," he said.
Valcke himself was found guilty in 2004 by a New York court when he was Marketing Director of FIFA for negotiating sponsor agreements with the rival Visa, despite the existing agreement of FIFA conducted with the long-time partner Mastercard and thus violated the right of first negotiation of MasterCard. Because of this, the FIFA was fined Us $60 million.
But all this is another story, yet to be made into a movie.
As reported on by contributing blogger Benjamín Harguindey at St. Themo Films in Argentina, Álex de la Iglesia’s biopic of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi will receive an official screening on July 2 in Río de Janeiro, right in the middle of the FIFA World Cup’s “round of sixteen”. Argentina is playing against Switzerland the day before for a spot in the World Cup’s quarter-finals, so it remains to be seen whether the movie will act as a beaming celebration or a conciliatory send-off for Argentina’s national team, which Messi captains.
The “docufiction”, simply titled “Messi”, is directed by Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia, best known as the creator of cult films like “The Day of the Beast” (1995) and “Ferpect Crime” ( 2004), and more recently “Witching and Bitching” (2013). Spanish production studio Mediapro is behind the movie. Judging from the trailer, it looks like the director’s outrageous style has been dropped in favor of a more serious tone. De la Iglesia traveled earlier in January to Messi’s hometown Rosario, where he shot at Messi’s former home, his primary school and the Newell’s Old Boys Stadium where he used to play.
The movie, written by coach Jorge Valdano, is equal parts documentary – interviewing footballers like Javier Mascherano and Gerard Piqué, and national team coach Alejandro Sabella – and dramatization, specifically of Messi’s childhood and road to fame and glory. Spanish child actor Marc Balaguer will play young Messi. Besides the World Cup premiere no commercial release dates have been given for Spain or Argentina, but in the meantime here’s the trailer – but first read the original article here: http://ow.ly/yxaTL
Meanwhile, the second film, still to be made, will be produced by Dan Mirvisch of Bugeater Films (Mirvish is also co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival) who has optioned the project to be written and directed by Darryl Wharton-Rigby.
Their scoop on this hot topic shows how some nimble indie filmmakers can move quicker than anyone in Hollywood. While Hollywood shut down yesterday morning to celebrate USA's 0-1 loss as a win, it was a couple indie filmmakers who saw the real story in the World Cup and outmaneuvered Hollywood to the punch. One other thing they missed is what a truly global project this is, spanning four continents (so far): S. America, Africa obviously, but with producers in the U.S., and an African/American director/writer in Japan.
Darryl Wharton-Rigby writes for Indiewire blog Shadow & Act sometimes, and used to be a programmer for the Maryland Film Fest. Wharton-Rigby (“Homicide: Life on the Streets”), is also an award-winning writer who most recently wrote and directed the indie movie “Stay,” which was filmed in Japan.
Read the full story on The Wrap.
Suffice it here to state that the debacle of Ghana’s Black Stars boycotting practice unless their promised bonus was paid inspired the soccer-themed thriller.
Ghana's government sent more than $3m in cash by plane to Brazil to pay the appearance fees owed to the national team at the World Cup. Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yamin told Ghanaian radio station Citi FM the players "insisted" on cash payments.
He added: "The government had to mobilize the money and a chartered flight to Brazil."
Wharton-Rigby's script will follow a courier who flies into Brazil with $3 million cash. Things go awry when the courier is ambushed on the way to make the drop, leaving him less than 12 hours to recover the stolen money.
Ghana’s Black Stars have now gone home from Brazil, having lost 2-1 to U.S. and then tied 2-2 with Germany. But losing 2-1 against Portugal eliminated them from the games.
Another bonus row is ongoing involving Nigeria. The Super Eagles, who are due to play France Monday June refused to train on Thursday over fears they would not receive their bonus payments from the Nigerian Football Federation.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan assured players on Friday that the money would be paid.
There was a similar issue with Cameroon, whose players refused to board their plane to South America because of a row over appearance fees. They arrived for the World Cup a day later than scheduled.
The issue is not a new one - Togo went on strike over bonus money at the 2006 tournament in Germany and FIFA was forced to intervene.
Jérôme Valcke, Secretary General of the international football federation (FIFA) says that something needs to be done.
"Future World Cups will ask the national associations to provide us with their agreements with their players to make sure that this kind of episode does not happen again," he said.
Valcke himself was found guilty in 2004 by a New York court when he was Marketing Director of FIFA for negotiating sponsor agreements with the rival Visa, despite the existing agreement of FIFA conducted with the long-time partner Mastercard and thus violated the right of first negotiation of MasterCard. Because of this, the FIFA was fined Us $60 million.
But all this is another story, yet to be made into a movie.
- 6/28/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Bugeater Films has optioned writer-director Darryl Wharton-Rigby's “Wall Pass,” a feature treatment for a soccer-themed thriller inspired by current events surrounding the World Cup, TheWrap has learned. Wharton-Rigby's (pictured left in hat) script will follow a courier who's tasked with bringing $3 million to an African soccer team, which refuses to play until its paid — in cash. Things go awry when the courier is ambushed on the way to make the drop, leaving him less than 12 hours to recover the stolen money. Also read: TheWrap's World Cup Power Rankings: Top 20 Soccer Players ($$$) The story is inspired by current events surrounding.
- 6/27/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
News from Darryl Wharton-Rigby, who contributes to this site from time to time, and who happens to be in Tokyo, finishing up his latest effort... Tokyo – Principal photography for indie motion picture Stay written and directed by Provocation Entertainment client, Darryl Wharton-Rigby, and produced by Rob Schwartz and Gudni Gudnason, in Tokyo is complete. The film stars up and coming Japanese star, Shogen, and introduces British model/actress, Ana Tanaka. “Both Shogen and Ana were perfect for the leads and they chemistry is gonna be electric on the screen,” says Wharton-Rigby. Baltimore native Wharton-Rigby has lived in Japan since 2005. He...
- 5/21/2014
- by Shadow And Act
- ShadowAndAct
As crowdfunding becomes more and more the standard for independent film projects, filmmakers continue to look to Indiewire for resources on the best practices and tips for crowdfunding. Indiewire's developed quite a corpus on the topic, and we've got a list of our essential reading below. Feel free to bookmark this page; we'll keep it updated when we publish new articles that are essential reads for those prepping for their campaigns. Some General Guides: Are You Really Ready to Crowdfund? Here Are 8 Tips from Filmmakers Who've Been There Indiewire asked a group of crowdfunders and experts to share their experience with crowdfunding anonymously, and we got some very frank responses. How to Fund a Successful IndieGogo/Kickstarter Campaign in 5 Easy Steps Filmmaker Stephen Dunn's shares his tips on The Lost Boys blog following his own successful campaign. Crowd Funding Tips for African-American Artists Darryl Wharton-Rigby's tips on Shadow...
- 8/19/2013
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
The Baltimore Screenwriters Competition is held annually by the Baltimore Film Office. It is designed to create/raise awareness of screenplays as a literary art form, and to encourage new screenwriters. Congrats to writer/director Darryl Wharton-Rigby, who has contributed articles to S&A in the past - read his "Crowd Funding Tips For African American Artists" piece Here! His screenplay, Prodigal, won the top prize! His obvious next step is to turn the script into a film. Darryl is currently in Japan directing his first documentary, Don Doko Don: The Yamakiya Taiko Club Story. The list of winners (and judges) follow below: 2013 Winners: Darryl...
- 6/18/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Just in time for Sundance, Provocation Entertainment has signed four new clients: filmmakers Frank Hudec and Darryl Wharton-Rigby, screenwriter Jim Tierney and actor Eddie Daniels. The company, which handles management, production and public-relations, made the announcement Tuesday. Provocation will celebrate the new signings with an exclusive party at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24. "As part of our commitment to fostering a clientele of groundbreaking transmedia artists, we've got a playwright transitioning to film [Tierney], a filmmaker branching into graphic novels [Hudec], a TV writer moving into documentaries [Wharton-Rigby], and an...
- 1/17/2012
- by Kurt Orzeck
- The Wrap
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