Available in EN/JP Subtitles

Thai film director, Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, who continues to update the history of cinema with numerous masterpieces, collaborated with Japanese composer, SAKAMOTO Ryuichi, and a team of creators led by TANIGUCHI Katsuya, one of Japan’s most skilled VR production engineers, to create his first interactive VR performance.
In this world premiere performance, the potential of VR has boldly expanded WEERASETHAKUL ’s cinematic world, creating an atmosphere that almost seems to anticipate the post-pandemic world. Audience members would have been able to commune with presences and experience time suspended in a circle, creating physical sensations with the aim of a performance that enacts a ceremony experienced as a group.
The world premiere performance of this work took place during the international art festival, Aichi Triennale 2022, in October 2022.

“A Conversation with the Sun (VR)” was produced for Japan Foundation’s International Creations in Performing Arts 2022.
https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/project/culture/perform/creation/2022/index.html

＜Performance Information＞
“A Conversation with the Sun (VR)”
Concept & Direction: Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL
Creative Assistant: Sompot CHIDGASORNPONGSE

Cast: Jenjira Pongpas WIDNER, Sakda Kaewbuadee VAYSSE, Chai BHATANA, Sam MITCHELL, Sita KIATNERAMIT

Music: SAKAMOTO Ryuichi
Sound Designers: Akritchalerm KALAYANAMITR, SHIMIZU Koichi

Director of Photography: Chatchai SUBAN
Camera Assistant and Production: Thanayos ROOPKHAJORN
Set Director: Natchanon PRIBWAI
Film Production Crew: Jirayu RATTANAKHANAHUTANON, Pongsakorn NANTA, Suttipong NANTA
Film Production Manager: Phatsamon KAMNERTSIRI
Film Production Assistant: Somporn RUENSAI

Film Production by Kick the Machine Films

VR Creator: TANIGUCHI Katsuya
VR Production: YAMAGUCHI Taisei, KIDO Hideyuki, THIANTANUKIJ Nuttanit, KONDO Kana, YOSHIZAWA Satomi, SATO Hisashi, IKEDA Yoshinori, TAKATORI Hikaru
VR Adviser: NOMURA Tsuyoshi

Thai Translation: FUKUTOMI Sho

Technical Manager: OZAKI So
Stage Manager: OIKAWA Sato
Lighting Designer: YOSHIDA Kazuya
Sound Engineer: DOI Shinjiro　

Video Documentation & Photography: SATO Shun

Producer/Curator: SOMA Chiaki (Aichi Triennale 2022)
Production Manager: SHIMIZU Tsubasa (Aichi Triennale 2022)
Production Coordinator: SHIBATA Haruka (Aichi Triennale 2022)
Operation Staff: HASHIBA Miran, HANZAWA Nanami

Organized by: Arts Commons Tokyo, Aichi Triennale Organizing Committee
Co-Organizer: The Japan Foundation, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater
Co-Production: Arts Commons Tokyo, Aichi Triennale Organizing Committee, The Japan Foundation, Theater der Welt 2023
Special Support: Shane AKEROYD
Support: RHINO STUDIOS INC., Goethe-Institut Tokyo, SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Museo Larco
Equipment Support: Psychic VR Lab Co., Ltd.

Filmed at Aichi Triennale 2022-Large Rehearsal Room, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater on October 6, 2022.
Producers of the film: The Japan Foundation, Arts Commons Tokyo
Video Documentation: SATO Shun, TAKATORI Hikaru

End date of distribution: February 16, 2024.

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