Godzilla -1.0 Extra Rhapsody

エキストラ狂想曲 2022
Extra Rhapsody 2022

円山剛士
Takashi Maruyama

山崎貴監督「超大作怪獣映画」ボランティアエキストラ大募集!インパクト抜群のその情報が告知されたのは、2022年2月のことだった。製作は東宝と明記され、ゴジラ公式アプリでも同様の告知。タイトルの明言はないが、これはもう確定と言うほかない。ゴジラの新作が始動したのだ。

Volunteer extras wanted for director Takashi Yamazaki’s “super monster movie”! This impactful information was announced in February 2022. It was clearly stated that the movie was produced by Toho, and the same announcement was made on the official Godzilla app. Although the title was not stated, this is already confirmed. A new Godzilla movie has begun.

本作は時代設定が終戦直後ということで、エキストラもそれ相応のいでたちであることが求められた。例えば男性の髪は短く、染髪やパーマはご法度といった具合だ。デザインに時代が出るため自前のメガネは使用不可ということで、メガネ派で通してきた筆者は人生初のコンタクトレンズ装着を体験することになった。ゴジラに出るためならば、個人的なこだわりなど些事でしかないのだ。

As the film is set just after the end of the war, the extras were required to dress accordingly. For example, men had to have short hair, and dyed or permed hair was forbidden. Extras were not allowed to wear their own glasses because the design would reflect the era, so the author, who has always worn glasses, ended up wearing contact lenses for the first time in his life. If it meant appearing in Godzilla, personal preferences were nothing more than a minor issue.

■ 5月初旬旧岡谷市役所(長野県岡谷市)

■ Early May: Former Okaya City Hall (Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture)

筆者にとって初参加となったこの現場では、元軍人たちに海神(わだつみ)作戦の概要が説明されるシーンが撮影された。当時はまだコロナ禍の最中。屋内かつ数日にわたる撮影ということで、参加者には抗原検査キットが事前配付され、集合時に結果を提示することが求められていた。当日朝、結果が出るのを待つ間の異様な緊張感(陽性なら参加を諦めるほかない)は、忘れられない思い出となっている。

This was my first time participating in this location, where a scene was shot in which former military personnel were given an explanation of the outline of Operation Wadatsumi. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full swing. As filming took place indoors and over several days, participants were given antigen test kits in advance and were required to show the results when they gathered. The strange tension I felt while waiting for the results on the morning of the day (if they were positive, I would have no choice but to give up participating) is an unforgettable memory.

過去が舞台の本作では、エキストラもほとんどが撮影用の衣装を割り当てられ、ヘアメイクを施されている。筆者も髪をカッチリと七三分けにセットされ、昭和の男に「変身」。幸運にも位置決めで最前列の座席を指定されたため、完成作品でもはっきり確認できた。

In this film, which is set in the past, most of the extras are assigned costumes for the filming and have their hair and makeup done. I also had my hair neatly parted in a 7:3 split, and was “transformed” into a Showa-era man. I was lucky enough to be assigned a seat in the front row during the positioning, so I was able to see it clearly in the finished film.

■ 5月中旬下館運動公園(茨城県筑西市)

■ Mid-May Shimodate Sports Park (Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture)

この日程で撮影されたのは、ゴジラの銀座襲撃シーン。筆者たちは「逃げる人々」役での出演である。募集の時点で銀座が舞台とは聞いていたが、現地にあったのは巨大なグリーンバックと、わずかな露店のみ。正直なところ「大丈夫か･･････?」と思ったのだが、それがあの完成画面になるのだから、白組のVFX恐るべしである。

The scene where Godzilla attacks Ginza was filmed on this date. We played the role of “people fleeing.” We had heard that Ginza was the setting when they were looking for actors, but all that was available on-site was a huge green screen and a few outdoor stalls. To be honest, I wondered if it would be okay…, but the fact that it ended up on that final screen shows the incredible VFX of Shirogumi.

ゴジラが合成されるカットの撮影では、CGのガイドとして用いられる60センチほどのゴジラ像が現場に登場。特に紹介されるわけでもなく淡々と作業が進むのだが、筆者を含む前のめりな一部エキストラは「あれが新しいゴジラなのか･･････?」と熱視線を向けていた。

When filming the scene where Godzilla was composited in, a 60cm tall Godzilla statue was used as a CG guide on set. The work proceeded without any special introduction, but some of the eager extras, including this author, were staring intently at it, wondering, “Is that the new Godzilla…?”

■ 6月中旬東宝スタジオ(東京都世田谷区)

■ Mid-June Toho Studios (Setagaya, Tokyo)

この日は海神作戦遂行中の「雪風」甲板の撮影。筆者にはゴジラに突撃する乗艦から脱出し、雪風に救助された「夕風」船員の役が与えられた。私事だが、前作『シン・ゴジラ』では科学技術館屋上のロケに参加したので、2作品連続で最終作戦に従事したことになる。

On this day, filming took place on the deck of the Yukikaze during Operation Kaishin. I was assigned the role of a crew member of the Yukaze who escaped from the ship that was charging at Godzilla and was rescued by the Yukikaze. On a personal note, I participated in the location shoot on the rooftop of the Science Museum in the previous film, Shin Godzilla, so I was involved in the final operation in two consecutive films.

撮影の前半では、巨大な扇風機が登場。その猛烈な風を熱線の爆風に見立て、甲板上のリアクションが撮影された。後半は、引き上げられたゴジラを目前にした船員たちのリアクションを撮影。状況説明のために見せられたプリヴィズには、ゴジラの口に飛び込む震電がばっちり映っていた。

In the first half of the shoot, a giant electric fan was used. The strong wind was likened to a heat ray blast, and the reactions of the people on deck were filmed. In the second half, the crew’s reactions to Godzilla being pulled up were filmed. A previsual was shown to explain the situation, and it clearly showed the Shinden flying into Godzilla’s mouth.

そしてこの日、エキストラ込みで最後に撮影されたのは、沈みゆくゴジラに敬礼するシーン。このようなシーンで画面内の一員になれたことは「光栄」の一言に尽きる。『ゴジラ-1.0』は、筆者にとって生涯「特別な作品」であり続けることだろう。

The last scene to be shot that day, including the extras, was the scene where Godzilla salutes the sinking monster. To be able to be a part of such a scene on screen is an honor. Godzilla-1.0 will remain a special work for me for the rest of my life.

Captions

銀座襲撃シーンで筆者(右)に割り当てられた衣装は青いスーツ。隣の友人は警官役を射止めた。

The author (right) was assigned a blue suit for the Ginza attack scene. His friend next to him landed the role of a police officer.

復員船のシーンの撮影では、エキストラの顔や首にも入念な汚しメイクが施された。劇中では真冬の設定だが、撮影当日は5月下旬にもかかわらず、まさかの真夏日であった。

When filming the scene on the repatriation ship, elaborate dirt makeup was applied to the faces and necks of the extras. The setting in the film is midwinter, but on the day of filming, it was a surprisingly hot midsummer day in late May.

襲撃翌日の銀座の撮影に参加した筆者(左から2番目)と友人一同。右から2番目の友人は調査団員役である。

The author (second from the left) and his friends took part in the filming in Ginza the day after the attack. The friend second from the right plays a member of the investigation team.

Box

円山剛士(まるやま・たけし)

Takeshi Maruyama

中学3年生でエキストラ初体験となった「ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ大怪獣総攻撃」(2001年)以降、エキストラとして国産実写ゴジラ映画に6作連続出演中。ウルトラマン、仮面ライダー、スーパー戦隊への出演も果たし、ガメラ出演が残された野望。

Since his first experience as an extra in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) when he was in the third year of junior high school, he has appeared as an extra in six consecutive Japanese live-action Godzilla films. He has also appeared in Ultraman, Kamen Rider and Super Sentai, and his last ambition is to appear in Gamera.

Source: MONO magazine, 5.16 No 937, p49