Tokyo Director Expands Viral Shorts to Film

Shinichiro Ueda has retooled a series of vertical social media videos into a theatrical feature titled Earthlings in Love. The project is currently showing in the Nippon Cinema Now section of the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.

The story follows a director named Shinpei who is diagnosed with young-onset dementia. To preserve his memories, he attempts to finish a film he started with friends during his teenage years. The narrative explores the discrepancy between what individuals recall and what was actually recorded.

The project began as 30 short episodes released on social media platforms. Each episode lasted only a few minutes. Ueda stated that positive online feedback prompted the team to expand the material for cinemas. He noted that while the initial concept was not a feature, his professional instincts favor that format.

The vertical aspect ratio presents specific production challenges. Ueda explained that the format works well for single subjects but restricts group shots. He used the limited field of view to hide information, revealing details later from different angles. He also connected this visual limitation to the symptoms of dementia, which can impair a person’s vision.

The editing process differed sharply between the two versions. The original 30 episodes totaled 76 minutes. The feature version runs 111 minutes. Ueda observed that slow pacing causes online viewers to swipe away, whereas theater audiences will remain seated for approximately two hours. This difference allowed the feature to restore deleted scenes and add new footage. The film also removed cliffhanger endings designed to encourage daily returns.

Ueda compared his current method to his previous features, One Cut of the Dead and Special Actors. He said his approach remains largely the same aside from the vertical frame. His cast members already possessed feature film experience, which helped maintain performance levels. The main shift in workflow involved the speed of audience feedback. Online comments appear immediately, allowing a concept to be shot and released within a single day. A traditional feature takes at least 12 months to reach theaters.

Ueda expects both vertical shorts and cinemas to persist. He believes the market for vertical content will continue to grow. He views Japanese cinemas as a unique space where people turn off their phones and sit together for two hours. He described theaters as a sacred place where a shared ritual occurs.