Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo
-
0:17 - 0:22What would you do if you had only
till 6 o'clock tomorrow morning to live? -
0:24 - 0:29This is the kind of question I would ask
my young Japanese actors -
0:29 - 0:31who are going to play Kamikaze pilots
-
0:32 - 0:35in a play I directed
called "The Winds of God". -
0:36 - 0:42They would look inside,
and think about what is dear to them, -
0:43 - 0:46and they would have to make some choices
and act on it. -
0:46 - 0:50This is the kind of work
that I would be asking actors to do. -
0:51 - 0:53Sometimes, actors have to go
-
0:53 - 0:57to places that are a little dark,
or that could hurt, -
0:57 - 1:03but in a way, the regular people, we,
cannot sometimes go there, -
1:04 - 1:09so we ask the actor to go there for us
and express things that we can't express, -
1:09 - 1:12express things we want to, but we can't.
-
1:12 - 1:16And that's probably why actors
can get a lot of money. -
1:17 - 1:21But this is the kind of work
that I've been involved with. -
1:21 - 1:24With "The Winds of God"
I traveled with them, -
1:26 - 1:30- Australia, New Zealand -
we toured a lot, we went to London, -
1:31 - 1:35Actors Studio, and we were also invited
to the United Nations. -
1:36 - 1:41There, there was one lady
who I met after the show, -
1:41 - 1:46and she said, "My father
taught me to hate the Japanese, -
1:46 - 1:51but when I saw this play
I thought they were like my own sons." -
1:52 - 1:54It was a beautiful comment,
-
1:54 - 1:59and it made it all the more meaningful
that I could work the way I do. -
1:59 - 2:01And so, today, I want to share
-
2:01 - 2:05the love for drama,
and this amazing work -
2:05 - 2:11on how we try with artists
to create maybe just one moment -
2:12 - 2:16where we can move people
and inspire people. -
2:21 - 2:24I also want to talk to you
about my international work -
2:24 - 2:26which has led me to casting.
-
2:26 - 2:31And again, that's an amazing,
wonderful thing I want to share with you, -
2:31 - 2:33because when you think about casting,
-
2:33 - 2:37you have a script,
you have words in the script, -
2:37 - 2:39and that's all you really have.
-
2:39 - 2:42You have the director's vision,
you have your idea as well, -
2:42 - 2:44but you have this,
-
2:44 - 2:50and then you have to find actual actors
who can fit this role. -
2:52 - 2:55But you have to use your imagination
-
2:55 - 2:58and to get insight on what they can do.
-
2:59 - 3:01And then you put them together,
-
3:01 - 3:04and sometimes an amazing thing happens,
-
3:04 - 3:06because it's like magic:
-
3:06 - 3:09the role becomes more charismatic,
-
3:10 - 3:13the actor becomes even more charismatic.
-
3:14 - 3:19Here are some of the films
I was involved with. -
3:22 - 3:25I did want to show you
the Kamikaze pilots, -
3:26 - 3:28that's the one that I worked on.
-
3:29 - 3:33And I worked on "The Last Samurai"
fully for two years. -
3:34 - 3:36It was really amazing.
-
3:38 - 3:42Ken Watanabe
was the actor that auditioned, -
3:42 - 3:47there were, you know, many more,
almost 400 Japanese actors. -
3:49 - 3:51"Memoirs of a Geisha".
-
3:51 - 3:56The little girl who played Sayuri,
I looked at her picture, -
3:56 - 3:58and I thought,
"Ah, this is the young one." -
3:58 - 4:01And I kind of chose her through a picture.
-
4:03 - 4:09And Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel",
she [was] among other Japanese actors, -
4:10 - 4:13but she stood out
because of her amazing intensity. -
4:16 - 4:19And there are several others I'm doing
-
4:20 - 4:24including "Unbroken"
which has not been released yet in Japan. -
4:24 - 4:28There was an amazing performer,
Miyavi, who was in there. -
4:28 - 4:30And this one, "The Emperor",
-
4:30 - 4:36is a film that I produced
along with Gary, and Eugene, my son. -
4:39 - 4:43I just really believe
that there was meaning in to produce this -
4:43 - 4:45and show it to as many people as possible.
-
4:48 - 4:50So apart from casting,
-
4:51 - 4:57just my work [is] in teaching,
directing, coaching and casting, -
4:59 - 5:02I've kind of brought down
the elements of drama -
5:02 - 5:06into three things,
three pillars, possibly. -
5:06 - 5:08But these are the things
I look for in actors, -
5:08 - 5:14these are the things I work with
in trying to get better acting. -
5:18 - 5:21The first pillar is the truth of oneself.
-
5:23 - 5:24It's not so easy really,
-
5:24 - 5:28because we all think
that we want to look good, -
5:28 - 5:32we don't want to show our bad [sides],
-
5:34 - 5:36but the actor has
to really use all of himself -
5:36 - 5:39because the power
will not be there to present. -
5:40 - 5:44So he has to be able
to accept all the parts of himself -
5:44 - 5:49that might not be so good,
that he wants to hide, maybe. -
5:50 - 5:53It's like a pie, like an apple pie,
-
5:53 - 5:56and you can't try
to get rid of a part of the pie -
5:56 - 5:58because it is a part of you.
-
5:58 - 6:02And so you try to accept
all the parts of yourself, -
6:02 - 6:05and once you do,
it becomes a little bit easier, -
6:05 - 6:10because you're truthful,
you're working on truth. -
6:10 - 6:14This is what I believe is so important,
-
6:15 - 6:18especially in Japan right now
with young people. -
6:18 - 6:21I tell them, "There is only one DNA,
-
6:21 - 6:24there is only one fingerprint,
there is only one you. -
6:26 - 6:28So, in a way, you are perfect."
-
6:29 - 6:30And so, for the actor,
-
6:31 - 6:33instead of comparing oneself
to somebody else, -
6:33 - 6:36"That person is a better actor than I... "
or whatever, -
6:36 - 6:40they can use whatever they have
to try to fulfill their role. -
6:42 - 6:45I have a quote from Elia Kazan,
-
6:45 - 6:49who's a legendary film director
who worked with James Dean, -
6:49 - 6:53and he wrote an actor's creed, a code:
-
6:55 - 6:58"I will have my heart open,
I will be vulnerable... -
6:58 - 7:02The one thing I want most
is to be myself." -
7:03 - 7:05So that's really important.
-
7:05 - 7:07The second pillar
-
7:10 - 7:13is what I would call purposeful action.
-
7:13 - 7:15For example, when we see drama,
-
7:15 - 7:19we root for the person
that really fights all these obstacles -
7:19 - 7:21to try and get what they want.
-
7:21 - 7:24This is what drama is all about:
-
7:24 - 7:29that there is one amazing purpose,
the heart, yearning, wanting something, -
7:29 - 7:34and the actor goes through all
these difficulties to try to get there. -
7:37 - 7:39And that's what the actor
also has to find in himself, -
7:39 - 7:42his need, his purpose.
-
7:42 - 7:44And he has to really -
-
7:44 - 7:48Because he's going to fail
several times, but it's OK, -
7:48 - 7:51because he has that passion
and that purpose to get there. -
7:53 - 8:00For example, in my case,
I wanted to get a song from Stevie Wonder. -
8:01 - 8:04I write lyrics, and I kind of thought,
-
8:04 - 8:08for this musical I've been writing,
I want to have his music. -
8:08 - 8:11And, of course, it is difficult,
it took me 5 years, -
8:11 - 8:16and this con artist, really,
you know, lots of problems. -
8:16 - 8:21But I met Yoko Ono on the way,
so it was kind of nice. -
8:21 - 8:23But after 5 years,
-
8:23 - 8:26Stevie Wonder
came out of his hotel room -
8:26 - 8:30with his brother, who led him
to the piano, and set beside me, -
8:30 - 8:35and he started to play the song,
and I was so moved, -
8:38 - 8:42and I got tears in my eyes,
but obviously they were silent tears. -
8:42 - 8:45Yet, he heard them,
-
8:45 - 8:47because he stopped part-way
-
8:47 - 8:52to wipe my tears
with those big hands he has. -
8:54 - 9:00So, if you believe in it,
and you really want it, you can get it. -
9:01 - 9:04And that's what I want
to qualify, the purpose: -
9:04 - 9:07first, it has to be very positive.
-
9:07 - 9:10You can't act on something
that is negative, -
9:10 - 9:12you can't say,
"I want to get out of here." -
9:12 - 9:13It's a little difficult.
-
9:13 - 9:15But you can say, "I want to go there,"
-
9:15 - 9:17and that's where the action comes.
-
9:17 - 9:20So, it's got to be positive,
and at the same time, -
9:20 - 9:24the biggest thing is to have
belief in what you want to do, -
9:25 - 9:28as I'd believed in wanting
to get that song from Stevie, -
9:28 - 9:30or in wanting to make a movie,
or whatever. -
9:35 - 9:39There is a Tony award-winning dramatist,
-
9:42 - 9:47Simon Stephens, who said something
that I thought was really wonderful. -
9:48 - 9:50"It is the job of the dramatist
-
9:50 - 9:55to release universes of thought
and feeling through action." -
9:56 - 9:58For example, he mentioned
this one word, OK, -
9:58 - 10:02and that was the funniest word
in the whole play. -
10:02 - 10:04It means that it's not
just the word alone, -
10:04 - 10:06but it's the behavior and the action.
-
10:10 - 10:12Now I want to come to the third pillar
-
10:12 - 10:17which is so easy to say,
and yet so difficult to achieve. -
10:17 - 10:22It is to talk, really to talk,
and really to listen. -
10:23 - 10:27I think that it is an art
to be able to really listen. -
10:28 - 10:32We so often talk and think
that we are transmitting something, -
10:32 - 10:34but we have something else on our mind,
-
10:34 - 10:37the other person
has something else on his mind. -
10:37 - 10:39It's not a real moment
-
10:39 - 10:44where it is really true,
and full, and alive, and real. -
10:45 - 10:50This is the kind of a moment
I've been privileged to see many times, -
10:50 - 10:54and that I strive for
in the work I want to do. -
10:55 - 10:59Here are some moments
with my students, -
11:02 - 11:06and I believe
that little moments like that -
11:06 - 11:09of a real talk and listening -
-
11:09 - 11:12Very quickly.
Patric? Are you here? -
11:12 - 11:14Can I have your help
for one second? Oops! -
11:14 - 11:16(Man voice)
-
11:16 - 11:19Oh, really? What? OK.
-
11:20 - 11:21Patrick: Sure.
-
11:21 - 11:23Yoko Narahashi: Is that too late?
-
11:23 - 11:26Patrick: No, that's all right.
YN: It's all right? OK. -
11:26 - 11:28I'm just going to ask him to -
-
11:28 - 11:31Patrick: What role am I casting for here?
-
11:31 - 11:35YN: The next movie. The big one.
Patrick: OK, the big one. -
11:35 - 11:36Let's go! I'm ready.
-
11:36 - 11:40YN: Say whatever word
you'd like to say. Whatever word. -
11:41 - 11:44Patrick: Flow.
YN: Flow. OK, just say it to me. -
11:44 - 11:46Patrick: Flow.
-
11:46 - 11:49YN: OK, there was something there, right?
-
11:49 - 11:51OK, here we're just passing the word.
-
11:51 - 11:55OK, this time, can you look at me,
-
11:55 - 11:58and you can see
what kind of a situation I am in, right, -
11:58 - 12:00feel where I am,
-
12:00 - 12:03and then can you
say it to me with, you know, -
12:03 - 12:07try to say something
with that word to me. -
12:07 - 12:09Is there something you want
to relate to me through that word? -
12:11 - 12:12Patrick: Flow.
-
12:12 - 12:17YN: Oh, (Laughter) flow.
That's nice. Thank you. (Applause) -
12:17 - 12:20That was beautiful, thank you.
-
12:20 - 12:23Patrick: And the word was "love".
YN: Oh, my goodness! -
12:23 - 12:25What he was trying to say underneath
was love. -
12:25 - 12:28I really felt that.
Thank you very much. -
12:28 - 12:30But that's what it's all about.
-
12:31 - 12:33So, I would like to -
-
12:33 - 12:37Oh! Here is just one more,
another one of those moments. -
12:38 - 12:40A giraffe and an ostrich.
-
12:41 - 12:45I would like to end
with another final quote, -
12:45 - 12:48because I can't say it any better
than this amazing person, -
12:48 - 12:52a Spanish cheloist
who was always for peace. -
12:53 - 12:56And whatever work I'm doing with drama,
-
12:56 - 12:58I think this is closest to my heart, so,
-
13:00 - 13:02"Yes, you're a marvel.
-
13:02 - 13:06And when you grow,
can you then harm another -
13:06 - 13:09who is, like you, a marvel?
-
13:10 - 13:13You must work, we must all work,
-
13:13 - 13:16to make the world worthy of its children."
-
13:17 - 13:18By Pablo Casals.
-
13:18 - 13:20Thank you very much.
-
13:20 - 13:21(Applause)
- Title:
- Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo
- Description:
-
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences.
The moment you discover your "role", is the moment you begin to shine. Yoko Narahashi has been involved as a Japanese casting director in an array of impressive Hollywood movies such as "The Last Samurai", "Sayuri", "Babel", and "47 Ronin". In this touching and passionate talk she shares her foundings, three pillars for good actors, which can be also applied for everyday life.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDxTalks
- Duration:
- 13:33
Ivana Korom approved English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Ivana Korom edited English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Ivana Korom edited English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Ivana Korom edited English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Denise RQ accepted English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Denise RQ edited English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Denise RQ edited English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo | ||
Denise RQ edited English subtitles for Art of life through drama | Yoko Narahashi | TEDxTokyo |