USC MatsuJun Q&A/Observation
USC Interview portion Which is mainly a record for MYSELF of what was discussed during the actual interview. Actually I'm going to be handwriting this in my real journal later, so a typed one makes it easier to rewrite.

Note to F-list: This is more of an observational report that mostly concentrates on the interview and after, not technically my fan report (which would have more spazzing XD). These are merely the questions that were directed at Matsumoto Jun during the Question and Answer portion of the event, and I have tried to write down most of the interview. And observation of his clothing? Lol. Some spoilers.


Introduction:
Due to immense spazzing, I was unable to write down what he said in English, but I can tell you his English was really great and I believe he memorized what he was saying as well. Everyone was so impressed! I was freaking out. But he mentioned something along the lines of enjoy the movie, glad to be here, etc. So cute.

*Watched the movie. Lots of fans expressed their enthusiasm. Haha!* Then it was the Q&A

What he looked like:
Jun’s hairstyle was literally perfect, and his skin was really white in the spot light actually. He had on sort of a baby bluish tinged collared shirt with a green silk tie. Over that he had a navy blue blazer jacket with I believed closed with a gold button on the lower right and two pins on the left side of his jacket. The best part of his outfit was his pants, which seemed to look kind of silky or something (they certainly were not cotton) and they were pretty tight fitting. It was funny because you could really see his ass (ok dude, I know we’re all hentai, so bear with me), and he actually...uh...flexed his butt when he got up there before sitting in his chair, I SWEAR. His shoes were black and ugly typical JE shoes.

The order they sat on stage was: interviewer, Anthony Daniels, Jun, Shinji Higuchi.

Note: Questions that were asked took a while since they needed to be translated, responded to, and retranslated (which I thought wasn’t exceptionally useful since it seemed about 99%of the fans spoke English well enough anyways). The questions and answers are more summarized since I couldn’t get every word down with a pen while still staring at Jun up there. I probably missed a few of his reactions, but he would kind of look down or touch his nose when he was nervous! Oh yes, all the girls screamed and laughed at everything Jun said…but it was unavoidable ;] These are ONLY the questions for Jun (and some of the director).

1. What was it like to be an action hero? -Interviewer

Jun said something along the lines of how he was playing the transition of a commoner that went from trying to get money and girl, to getting the girl, losing the girl, and getting her again. This story was from the commoner’s point of view. It was about changing from one person to another, and Jun felt that this transformation was what made the character heroic for him.

2. How did you (this question was directed at Shinji Higuchi as well but I only copied down Jun’s reply) balance the intimate moments and the larger, demanding scenes? How did you handle this? -Interviewer

Jun replied that he is only a performer, and that it is up to the director to decide how to balance the film. He “just wanted to perform. That’s pretty much it. [He] studied the script carefully but was surprised [that it was a] well balanced, beautifully shot film.”

**Around this time after a series of translations, Jun stopped and asked “Is there anyone that does not understand English” I believe, since it seemed that everyone wanted to move on.

3. This question concerned the narrative, if this itself is a small event, or from a larger story. The interviewer wanted to know whether this would become a sequel or saga, as a larger part of something. -Interviewer

I think the director said “I hope so.” I can't remember, too many girls going 8D. There was also something about how he enjoyed zooming up on Jun, but I can’t remember this part too much.

The interviewer also went on to say that Jun’s character was sort of a rogue, and was more or less a kind of western hero that walked off into the sunset (that’s what he did in the end of the movie at a beach in his oh so amazing peasant clothing), to which Jun replied “Thank you.” XDD~!The interviewer went on talking about how Takezo was a romantic hero/man that walks alone. He wanted to know:

How/if Jun role-plays in this persona generally? I think it means if he himself is like this character.

Jun replied, “I can’t say these smart lines. They’re made up. I’m shy!”

He LOOKED shy. Of course all the girls were like AWWWW!!! SO CUTE ♥ etc. XD

At this point, the questions were opened up to the audience, which was sort of a problem, because I couldn’t understand some of the questions- please correct me if you asked a question and I am wrong in recording it down.

4. I just summarized what I believe I thought I heard, which was how much did Jun put into the role (I assumed this as ad-lib?). There was also something being said about the script and maybe how much of it was followed. Note: The interviewer on stage changed the question, which was not really what the girl originally asked. -Fan

Jun replied this was the first period piece he had ever done. But it became easier for him to do after he started putting on makeup, his wig, his beard, and getting in his character. He said “This made it easier for me. I don’t wear these kinds of raggedy clothes. I don’t dress like that at all” and then mentioned something about not dressing for the cold.

Note: Believe me Jun, we are glad you do not dress like a peasant. Instead you get shiny Johnny’s clothing!

Then they kind of didn’t want to ask fans anymore I think because the questions were centered in the back now where all the people who were film students sat since fans took up like the first 8 rows ahah!

5. How much did you look at Star Wars, since there are so many remakes? How did you get into character? Did you read the script or did you create your own character? –Film Student

Jun did not watch Star Wars before filming to get into character. Takezo is completely new. He said "The director told me that the character was partly Luke Skywalker, part Spiderman, and part Jack Sparrow. It was a combination of the heroes," so he did that.

Note: What? Spiderman?! But it was really funny when he listed those characters.

6. What do you think of the character leaving the princess at the end of the movie? –Film Student (I believe)

Jun said, “I was more very curious to see how you react, so I was sitting at the back of the theater watching your reaction. Because he’s a commoner, he’s goes from job to job and is a free spirit.” Jun said his character, Takezo, didn’t live in a castle, so he did not understand what it’s like to be a lord’s heiress. The character started to understand the mind of someone who has to rule a country. At the end when Takezo sees all the people waiting for the princess, it was then when he “emotionally understands that the romance goes nowhere.” His romance goes free, because she has her own duties to attend to.

7. The last question that EVERYONE WANTED TO BE (lol) was something about how anime and manga makes its way into American mainstream, and something about crossover of American and Japanese pop culture. -Film Student?!

To which I don’t even think Jun could respond to. There was a lot of confusion. If he did respond, I missed it, but IMO that was really an out there question and got confused so I didn’t write it down. If you ask me, that has nothing to do with Jun or his character...but I know I was thinking about Arashi & the internet lol.

At the end when he made his way down the side aisle, it was literally panic attack of girls running down the seat aisles to hand him flowers. Which was fine because he leaned over a friend and I for about 6-7 seconds to receive them from other people. My friends split and sat in two rows near the edge, because I thought that'd way we'd all be closer to Jun when he walked by rather that in one long row. 8D I had to practice self restraint to NOT touch him, and the girl on the other side of his arm I could tell wanted to touch him too. It was incredibly hard since he was SO DAMN HOT.

If anyone was there and sees mistakes in my notes, please let me know and I'll fix it. I was trying to watch, listen, and write at the same time.

Oh yea, News Zero was there but Sho wasn't ]: I don't think the audience would have been able to handle it if Sho came!!

*I usually screen*