Yujiro Kaizawa / en

Yujiro Kaizawa / Interactive Creative Department Brand Solution Creative Division　HAKUHODO Inc.

Q1: Please give us details of this project.
In later June this year (2005), Mr Oota from Macromedia contacted me regarding to the web promotion on the next version product of Macromedia, and this is how this project have started. Soon after this, an idea occurred to me. Which is, since this new product will be the "dream product" that enable the user to do far more amazing things than before, have a specially formed "dream team" to introduce the product to the world can make this promotion much more interesting
Associating with the product's new version number "8", it did not take long for me to decide the number of the dream team member to be eight also. Having the hottest eight web creators to introduce a new macromedia product is already enough to produce a nice little contents. As a planner, however, I wanted to add one more idea to make this promotion even better. That is, to have those eight web creators to produce a fictional girl becoming a web creator. I named this character "Eight" and having her become a symbol of this promotion made this stronger as a project.
There are three meanings to the word "8",
*EIGHT=version number of the new product
*EIGHT=number of the dream team member
*EIGHT=name of the fictional web creator

Q2: Why was it that you chose this eight as a member?
In pursuit of making a great contents, this project also expected to take an important aspect on creating a news that lead people to come visit the website. I wanted to make the new arrival of the Flash Basic 8 to turn the head of not only those professionals from web industry but also hobby-use amateur users. In order to make this work, the help of the cutting-edge creators who is also producing their own contents are needed.
From 4scandals, the group with each members in involvement on unique projects, Mr. Nishida, Mr.Tarout, Mr Takagi and Mr Umezu. From CBC NET and 9zaku, the two major influence to Japanese creators with the source of exciting informations, Mr. Kurita, Mr. Jun and Mr Matsumura. A web creator with specialty in movie direction, Mr Tanaka from Pickles. Along with the conversation with representatives from Macromedia, we have asked those eight creators to join the project.
Although I was not sure if those young men will agree, fortunately they all said yes.
Each of eight creators also accepted the another factor in proposal, that is to hide the name of the Macromedia for a month before the product to be on sale, and to develop a website as "EIGHT the project" . With the great support of those creators,　　 the difficult tusk of promoting the product with commercial aspect as an uncommercial appearance was accomplished successfully and I am pleased to see the result.

Q3：This project must be unusual in its process but which part of directing did you find most difficulty in?
First on the list is the management along with the time-axis. The project won't be over with the simple production of a good-contents. Creating a flow of development with those contents, such as "Magazine 8" is necessary. "Eight8.jp" has launched, but we will continue updating the site to transmit more useful information to readers.
Second difficulty was to consider various factors at the same moments. It was challenging to set a goal, starting from the vague ideas of both Macromedia and creators. Each one of them have their own images and thoughts for "eight8.jp" and "MAGAZINE 8" that it is not easy as tying it all in one direction.

Q4： What excited you the most about this project?
This project started out as a "business" but gained enthusiasm that cannot be simply called so and that is what excited me the most about this project. Each creators was able to do their best work freely under this open assignment. Though having freedom is back to back with serious difficulty. Perhaps I will never be able to experience the job of this kind again in my life. I am thankful to Macromedia for giving me this exciting project, and creators who made this project move forward.

Q5：What is the detail behind the casting of Miss. Hiroshige?
Miss. Hiroshige was in the list of the models recommended by Producer Seto from AOI Promotion. On the profile sheet, another girl was our first choice. But on the audition, Miss. Hiroshige was over the top that along with the opinion of creators and Mr. Seto, we all have made our mind on her.
Miss Hiroshige did not let us be disappointed. She has done a wonderful job over our expectation and her existence shined over in the studio. With the project that you are enthusiastic about, many happy accident occurs. To me, it was the unique style of the "Magazine 8" and the atmosphere of "eight8.jp". In between all, Miss Hiroshige's appearance was the most unexpected accident in the best way.

Q6. Where is 8project goes?
"EIGHT the project" is the team that formed specially for this project, but I am a person who just asked the member of "EIGHT the project" for a help. I cannot imagine what will happen to "EIGHT the project" in the future. As a fan, I will be more than happy to continue seeing them once in a while updating with exciting news.

translation by Rika Goto

BACK TO MAGAZINE8 TOP : 2005年10月12日 05:38