Keizo Murase | Kaijuvision Radio

Kaiju non-fiction author John LeMay joins me for a detailed analysis on the good Japanese version of Varan, and a brief review of the pain-inducing American version “Varan, the Unbelievable” starring Myron Healey from “The Unearthly” and released in theaters by the same company that gave us “The Skydivers” and “Beast of Yucca Flats”. John tells us all about the complicated story behind the making of Varan, because it was originally meant for television. We talk about Varan and his design and complicated origin. I notice the many similarities between Yuriko from this movie and Yuri from GMK (2001). The related topic for this episode is the hisabetsu-buraku (discriminated communities), who may be represented as the natives in the movie.

You can find all of John LeMay’s books on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/John-LeMay/e/B003KTW83K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1539779359&sr=8-2.

This episode is dedicated to master prop and monster suit builder Keizo Murase.

I’d like to send a shout-out to our patron Sean Stiff for donating at the Kaiju Visionary level. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it.

MP3:

Introduction: 0:00 – 2:02

Part 1 – Film Description: 2:02 – 8:01

Part 2 – Opinion and Analysis: 8:01 – 54:51

Part 3 – Related Topic: 54:51 – 1:05:48

Closing: 1:05:48 – End

Host/Editor/Director/Scenic Videos: Brian Scherschel

Guest Co-Host: John LeMay

Video Location: Fox Island County Park (Bowman Lake), Allen County, Indiana

Music: Audiophiliac (www.fiverr.com/audiophiliac)

“Torii Gate” Banners: Kevin Geary (kevincgearydesign.com)

Logos: Nanoparticles (www.fiverr.com/nanoparticles)

by Nathan Marchand

We’re just one week away from G-Fest XXV! The show will be held July 13-15 (with some preliminary events July 12) at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.

Brian and I will be part of several panels throughout the weekend, including a live episode we’ll be recording in the Kennedy Room Friday at 3pm (CST) titled, “Godzilla and the Japanese National Spirit.” Besides that, here’s the rest of our panel schedule:

Brian: “Zilla’s 20^th Birthday” – Friday 12pm (CST) Ballroom 1
Nate: “Godzilla Stories” – Saturday 10am (CST) Kennedy Room
“The Art of Kaiju Writing” – Saturday 1pm (CST) Kennedy Room
“Pacific Rim 2” – Saturday 2pm (CST) Ballroom 1

We’ll have exclusive content for our Patreon supporters throughout the weekend, including pictures, videos, and other updates. We’ll also give supporters exclusive early access to the recording of our panel either Friday night or Saturday morning. If you’d like to be a part of that, become one of our patrons on Patreon!

If by some chance you don’t know what this is, here’s a brief description from the event’s website:

G-FEST is the largest regular gathering of Godzilla and Japanese monster fans in the world. Held each summer, it typically attracts more than 1000 attendees, but has seen a gradual increase in attendance over the past few years. G-FEST 2014 was the most successful convention to date, bringing in about 3000 Japanese science fiction and fantasy film fans!

G-FEST is a family-oriented convention which caters to a wide variety of interests within the kaiju genre. G-FEST features presentations and Q & A sessions by actors and crew from the Japanese Godzilla films, fan presentations on topics of interest, contests and gaming, new and classic kaiju movies, the western world’s largest kaiju-oriented dealers room, and lots of fun and camaraderie.

The guests for this year include Megumi Odaka, who famously played psychic Miki Saegusa in the Heisei Godzilla films; suit actor Kenpachiro Satsuma, who’s best-known for playing Godzilla himself in all seven Heisei films; actor/wrestler/mixed martial artist Don Frye, who played Capt. Gordon in Godzilla: Final Wars; and suit and model maker Keizo Murase.

Sadly, due to surgery, the great Akira Takarada, the “godfather of G-Fest,” will not be able to attend. We here at Kaijuvision Radio wish him a speedy recovery and hope he will return to the convention soon.

The nearby Pickwick Theatre will be screening kaiju films starting Thursday with The Valley of Gwangi and Dinosaurus! in the afternoon and then Mighty Peking Man and Pacific Rim: Uprising that evening. There will be a screening of Rampage, starring Dwayne Johnson, Friday night and a special screening of Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth Saturday night with an introduction by Megumi Odaka (and, I assume, Satsuma-san).

We can’t wait to spend an exciting weekend with our fellow G-fans and kaiju lovers!