Tohoru Masamune Interview

[Galactus]

This is pretty old now but I came across this podcast that had Tohoru Masamune as a guest that I don't think anyone has posted here. Apologies if it has.

http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/8/6/7/867b...b587cf18c6a23b

I have to say that of all interviews that I'd read or listened to by everyone involved in this movie this is the only one that I got the genuine sense that someone actually cared.

Some interesting points...

He actually did research into the role by watching episodes or the 80s animated series and the current one as well as reading the comics.

I'm guessing he read the Mirage book specifically as throughout the interview the interviewers seemed to be under the impression the movie was closer to the original comics but at one point he corrects them and says "actually in the Mirage comic it was different".

He mainly based his version on the Nickelodeon version as by being the current one he felt that's they wanted.

He doesn't know if the Shredder he was portraying is actually Oroku Saki or not but in his head he was playing Saki and believes and hopes that will be explored in the sequel particularly Saki's painful back story from the comics although he doesn't know for sure if that's the plan.

He doesn't know if Fichtner was originally cast as Shredder but believes so.

He also mentions that he doesn't have a multi-picture deal but y'know what little we saw I thought was good that if we are getting a sequel I wouldn't mind if he was Saki and he has a bigger role. Don't get me wrong I still thought this movie was terrible, still have little faith in a sequel, I'd still love to see someone like Ken Watanabe play Saki but of the cast and creators we have it's good there's at least one person who sounds like he knows what TMNT is about.

[Xiewin]

Originally Posted by Galactus

This is pretty old now but I came across this podcast that had Tohoru Masamune as a guest that I don't think anyone has posted here. Apologies if it has.

I have to say that of all interviews that I'd read or listened to by everyone involved in this movie this is the only one that I got the genuine sense that someone actually cared.

Some interesting points...

He actually did research into the role by watching episodes or the 80s animated series and the current one as well as reading the comics.

I'm guessing he read the Mirage book specifically as throughout the interview the interviewers seemed to be under the impression the movie was closer to the original comics but at one point he corrects them and says "actually in the Mirage comic it was different".

He mainly based his version on the Nickelodeon version as by being the current one he felt that's they wanted.

He doesn't know if the Shredder he was portraying is actually Oroku Saki or not but in his head he was playing Saki and believes and hopes that will be explored in the sequel particularly Saki's painful back story from the comics although he doesn't know for sure if that's the plan.

He doesn't know if Fichtner was originally cast as Shredder but believes so.

He also mentions that he doesn't have a multi-picture deal but y'know what little we saw I thought was good that if we are getting a sequel I wouldn't mind if he was Saki and he has a bigger role. Don't get me wrong I'd love to see someone like Ken Watanabe play Saki but of the cast and creators we have it's good there's at least one person who sounds like he knows what TMNT is about.

I thought the little we saw of him in the movie, was acted very well.
I wish they should have casted him as Shredder in the first place, I'm glad he cares so much about the character he's portraying. I would love to see him again in a sequel.

[Shark_Blade]

His scenes are gold in the movie, perfect cast they just need to perfected the script.

Hire new writer, heck just hire Ciro Nieli.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Hopefully he doesn't have to wear that ridiculous suit again. I'd like to see him fight in a clothing outfit like the first two movies. It felt like he was a different character when he was in that metal transformer.

[TurtleTitan97]

Honestly, nothing against him, but I wouldn't really care if they just got another actor for Shredder. Shredder was just so bland throughout the movie, and hardly got any screen time compared to Sachs.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

His scenes are gold in the movie, perfect cast they just need to perfected the script.

Hire new writer, heck just hire Ciro Nieli.

I'm not so sure Ciro is that good of a choice to be the screen writer. He works fine as the show runner for a kids' cartoon but if the cartoon in question is any indication, he has problems with formulating stories and tends to instead make his work homage driven in hopes of gaining favor from fans. A movie written by him might please fans the first time watching, but outsiders might cringe and the fans might not like it as much on a second viewing.

For a TV show he does fine but as far as I know he does not direct many episode and he has not actually written any of the episodes. From what I can see in interviews with him, he does seem a bit like purist and that he's not really that happy with how the show turned out, implying that he might not actually write something close to the show.

As for his original work, that robot monkey show, while it has been years since I watched that show I can remember feeling that it was uninspired and a bit cringe-worthy. Of course that was years ago and has certainly gotten better, but seeing how that was the one project that was his baby, it does sort of cement my feelings that he has problems telling compelling stories and instead relies on easter eggs and homages.

So no, I think he should stick to TV-shows. A better bet would be to consider experienced screen writers that might pull it off, rather than look for people who worked on the IP before, but (let's be honest here) might only please children and pre-existing fans.

[massakre]

personally, i hope they bring him back. he was one of the bright spots in the movie for me.