Kazuhiro Soda

Kazuhiro Soda (Japan)

Kazuhiro Soda is a Peabody Award winning filmmaker. He's also a recipient of the Marek Nowicki lifetime achievement prize awarded by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. He practices an observational method of documentary filmmaking based on his own "Ten Commandments" which prohibits him from doing pre-shoot research or writing a synopsis before filming. He imposes these rules on himself in order to minimize preconceptions and to be able to make unexpected discoveries while filming and editing. He is also the author of seven books published in Japanese.

Ten Commandments of Observational Filmmaking
1 No research.
2 No meetings with subjects.
3 No scripts.
4 Roll the camera yourself.
5 Shoot for as long as possible.
6 Cover small areas deeply.
7 Do not set up a theme or goal before editing.
8 No narration, super-imposed titles, or music.
9 Use long takes.
10 Pay for the production yourself.

Watch Q&A with Kazuhiro Soda as a part of our DAFilms Conversations series.

Filmography

  • THE BIG HOUSE
    2018
  • INLAND SEA
    2018
  • OYSTER FACTORY
    2015
  • CAMPAIGN 2
    2013
  • THEATER 1 & THEATER 2
    2012
  • PEACE
    2010
  • MENTAL
    2008
  • CAMPAIGN
    2007
  • MY SON WAS KILLED
    2005
  • 111 FIRST IN WINTER
    2005
  • THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
    2004
  • SOLOMON GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
    2004
  • FESTIVAL OF THE SUN (NHK)
    2002
  • INTERNET ADOPTION
    2001
  • NEW YORKERS
    1997-2003
  • THE FLICKER
    1997
  • FREEZING SUNLIGHT
    1996
  • A NIGHT IN NEW YORK
    1995
  • A FLOWER AND A WOMAN
    1995

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