[KineJapan] Benshi performance advice

[Kyoko Omori]

Dear Eija,

Another way of adding subtitles is to soft subtitle films by using powerpoint slides created from English dialogue lists in word documents. 

When I led a group called Orochi Ensemble (with Kataoka Ichiro as benshi) and performed at the Billy Wilder Theater in 2017, I used an English translation of Kataoka-san's version of setsumei for Orochi. Someone broke the script into powerpoint slides for me. Then, during the show, I operated a laptop in the projection booth to project the PPT slideshow and add the subtitles. It appeared to the audience that the subtitle was part of the film, but I was adding the subtitles live and hitting the return button to go to the next slide. There was no additional cost for doing the screening that way, and I was able to play the role without much practice. Kataoka-san might have English translations for other movies as well.

Kyoko
....................
Kyoko Omori

Associate Professor of Japanese
East Asian Languages and Literatures Department
*************
Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, USA


> On Feb 4, 2019, at 8:17 AM, Jasper Sharp via KineJapan <kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu> wrote:
> 
> I was very lucky to witness a benshi performance by list member Mark Nornes a few years ago in London. It was very good, and I have heard his rates are quite low.
> 
> 
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> 
> From: KineJapan <kinejapan-bounces at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:kinejapan-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> on behalf of Gerow Aaron via KineJapan <kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu>>
> Sent: 04 February 2019 15:31
> To: Japanese Cinema Discussion Forum
> Cc: Gerow Aaron; Eija Niskanen
> Subject: Re: [KineJapan] Benshi performance advice
>  
> Dear Eija,
> 
> Others can speak of their experiences, but we have had benshi performances at Yale a couple of times. The next one in fact is at the Kinema Club conference at the end of this month!
> 
> When we have had Kataoka Ichiro, for instance, we show an English subtitled print or Kataoka-san uses a subtitled DVD he has of the film. It is not an exact translation of his speech, but given that he can and will change his talk from screening to screening, a translation is somewhat impossible. Simultaneous translation, as we all know, is rarely simultaneous. I think audiences still get a lot out of the voice acting and the kowairo.
> 
> Kataoka-san performs all around the world, especially in Europe, so he will not break your budget, especially if you supply musical performance on your end (he does have an ensemble he tries to travel with). We’re having Makia Matsumura play the piano because she’s in NYC much of the time and has worked with Kataoka-san many times.
> 
> Aaron
> 
> > 2019/02/04 午前1:54、Eija Niskanen via KineJapan <kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:kinejapan at mailman.yale.edu>>のメール:
> > 
> > I would like to get some advice re arranging a benshi performance outside of Japan. 
> > How to do with the fact that benshi performs in Japanese, which the audience does not understand? Simultaneous video translation or how?
> > Costs? Support for event i.e. Japan Foundation?
> > 
> > Best,
> > Eija
> > 
> > -- 
> > Eija Niskanen
> > 
> > 
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