Tomoya Nakamura stars in the drama series "DREAM STAGE" (TBS, Fridays at 10 PM). He plays music producer Jun Azuma. We asked Nakamura about filming with the boy band "NAZE" and what he felt on set.
◇Respect for NAZE "My love for him grows stronger with each passing day"
"DREAM STAGE" is the story of Jun Azuma (played by Nakamura), a former genius music producer who was expelled from the industry for causing trouble, and seven dropout trainees from a small Korean entertainment agency who form a boy group called "NAZE" and work together to pursue their dreams.
--As a producer, what were your impressions when you saw the performances of "NAZE" and "TORINNER"?
NAZE has a sense of teamwork, having been practicing together for a long time, and I think that the level of perfection in their performances is high when you look at what goes on behind the scenes. Each member's character and personality naturally comes out when they perform. Actors also show what they have on stage (theatrical slang for "stage"), and I think that the fact that these aspects are revealed in a good way is what makes NAZE great today.
On the other hand, TORINNER, including Iwase (Hiroshi) (who plays Ryo), is a group of members who have each come from their own fields and have to show off as a powerful rival to NAZE. That's why their efforts are so visible. I heard that Iwase-san was singing and dancing for the first time, so I think that's quite impressive.
-How do you feel NAZE has grown since the beginning of filming?
I feel that she has visibly grown, not just in singing and dancing, but also in her Japanese. I think she has definitely grown, including her sense of standing in front of people and in front of a camera, and how she approaches how she presents herself and how she appears.
-What feelings do you have after interacting with them so far?
It's always been a matter of great respect. It's no easy task to transcend borders, languages, and cultures and then work on something that expresses something.
The longer we spend together, the more I feel that our affection grows stronger with each passing day. I think it's not just me, but also Eliza (Ikeda, who plays Endo Suisei), who has changed since we first met, but the atmosphere on set has gradually become more like a relationship between "father, mother and children" (laughs). There are a lot of kids younger than me, so my position on set is in a position I've never held before. It really feels like one big family.
-Were there any scenes where you felt that Azuma was gradually changing?
It's hard to know what Azuma is thinking. But one thing is consistent: leading NAZE to success. That's the one thing he never wavers from.
Other than that, things are very fluid. For example, in episode 3, when Ryo comes to NAZE's lesson room and proposes "Do you want to do a live show with TORINNER?", Azuma goes along with the idea. There is a possibility that it will be beneficial for NAZE, but of course there are risks as well. Still, he finds it interesting and accepts.
In episode 7, a new member joins TEAM NAZE, and they have fun incorporating things that people would normally not accept, ultimately turning them into a positive for NAZE.
In terms of emotional changes, there are moments when you think, "Huh, is Azuma really like this?" In episode 6, he goes to see Yoongi's father, Shin-yang (Choi Jin-ho), and interferes in Park Ji-soo's (Kim Jae-kyung) affairs. I feel like the "passionate" side of him that Nam (Ha Yeon-soo) mentioned in episode 1 is coming out more. There are times like that. He's a hard-to-understand guy (laughs).
-What do you think is Azuma's driving force behind making NAZE a success?
It doesn't seem like Azuma is working for his own career. He's working for his family, NAZE, and for the love he has for being a team. It's hard to put into words, but I think that's the core of it.
-What parts of this film have a human element to them?
That's exactly what it feels like to overcome something together with friends. Including Azuma, relationships with parents, siblings, rivals, and one's own past. There are many elements of human drama. It doesn't end as a personal problem, but ultimately it all comes down to "as friends." Perhaps that's what makes it feel so strongly like a human drama.
◇What is different from a regular shooting location?
- Are there any differences you feel between a set with performers from various countries and a regular set?
Korea really respects its seniors. Lee Yi-kyung (who plays Choi Ki-young) and Yong-soo call me "senpai!". Maybe it's not that much with the NAZE members because there's a big age gap between us... But when they call me "senpai!" even though we're close in age, I wonder if they're teasing me (laughs). It's similar to how we would call someone "sensei" in Japan. But they do it so naturally and sincerely, I think it's a cultural difference.
Also, Yong-soo and Kim Jae-kyung (who plays Park Ji-soo) said that in Korea, they sometimes take behind-the-scenes shots as part of their role. I thought that was another cultural difference.
--I get the impression that many Japanese fans want to see you at your best.
That's right. So when the staff first set up the camera for the off-shot, Yongsoo was worried about the line-up. I had thought that Yongsoo and Eliza should be next to each other, but they said, "Since you're playing ex-lovers, wouldn't it be better if you were next to them?"
When I said, "It would be better if you two stuck together," they were very surprised. It's not a question of which is better or worse, it's simply interesting. I think the Koreans will discover new things by working in Japan, and we will also learn a lot by working together. That's what makes it so fun.
-Finally, please tell us what we can look forward to in the future and your message.
There will be more cliched developments than ever before (laughs). But it should progress at a good pace. There will also be scenes that test the unity of the members of the small agency "Nam Entertainment" such as Mercury, NAZE, and Nam, so I hope you will watch with excitement and suspense.
What will be the outcome for NAZE and TORINNER, and Azuma's past will also be revealed. Various elements will come together in the final scene, including his relationship with Choi Ki-young, who has been cornering Azuma and his friends up until now.
Many members of "The Cause is Within Me," who play the role of "SEVEN SEAS," will also appear, and the events up to now will be connected. I hope you will enjoy the film with a relaxed attitude. Some of the filming will be done in snowy locations, and you will see me shoveling snow, which is something you don't often see (laughs), so please look forward to that as well.
