Alive (2002 film)

Director Ryuhei Kitamura proposed an adaptation of the manga to producer Hidemi Satani.[1] However, Satani felt unsure and proposed making a sequel to Versus instead but Kitamura declined, stating: "I didn't want to do something I'd already done".[2]

Kitamura was given a bigger budget than what he was given on Versus and chose to spend the budget on set designs.[3] Kitamura instructed production designer Yuji Hayashida to incorporate post-modern elements.[4] Hayashida turned the cell into a solid metal box due to his fascination with metal structures.[5] Hayashida used an open set for the control room to give a sense of freedom, using only pillars, a steel frame, and wires.[6] Due to the outlandish nature of the control room, the filmmakers hired people experienced in building concert stages.[7]

Kitamura didn't want Tenshu to wear prison garb throughout the whole film, feeling it looked "tacky and improbable".[8] Black lab-coats were chosen for the scientists to balance the surreal tone of the isolation cell.[9] Kitamura also wanted the black lab-coats to be more "lustrous".[10] Since the worldview was outlandish, Kitamura wished to only keep the characters grounded in reality.[11] Kitamura had the film's gun effects artist Masazumi Takei train the Special Forces actors in order to look "believable".[12] Kitamura would visit the Special Forces actors during breaks to watch them train.[13]

Kitamura intentionally did not specify the time frame or setting of the film, wishing for the film to be universal.[14] The film originally began with Tenshu being executed by hanging but Kitamura found the idea "too tacky" and decided on an electric chair instead,[15] feeling that an electric chair was "cooler".[16]

The prison hallway scene was filmed on April 27, 2001 on the roof of Yokohama arena.[17][18] The tunnel at the film's climax was filmed at the Kasukabe Drainage Canal, which was under construction during principal photography.[19] The arrival of the Special Forces was filmed in the parking lot of International Stadium Yokohama.[20] Kitamura also chose to work with kinetic camerawork.[21] Wanting to tae a different approach than what he had done on Versus, Kitamura wanted to shoot each scene with one shot.[22]

• Takatsu, Ryuichi (2004). The Making of Alive (DVD). Tokyo Shock.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Shin, Keishiro (2004). Alive Audio Commentary (DVD). Tokyo Shock.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Ebisu, Pioneer LDC (2004). Interviews with Cast (DVD). Tokyo Shock.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)