Yukina Takase started her acting career at 10 years old as a child star in the musical ANNIE. Her mom loves musicals and she let Yukina take some classes on dance, singing, and acting since she was 3. So it was very normal for Yukina to perform in front of audiences even when she was little. Then, she realized it’s what she’d want to do in life. “After performing in theaters as a child star, I starred in Japanese TV Series when I was 16 and I have done numerous films, TV Series, and TV Commercials ever since“, says Yukina Takase.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Yukina Takase (YT): Meisner technique has helped my acting. I learned it in LAPAC(Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory), I was in the school for a year. LAPAC basically teaches you several acting methods in classes and I felt really comfortable with doing the Meisner method and was convinced the most by it.
How did you get connected to the project? Did you have to audition? If you did, would you still have got the part?
Yukina Takase (YT): I still vividly remember when I checked this audition information. It was like ‘Kimoko: Japanese girl who speaks English with Japanese accent…etc.’ I thought no one could play this Kimiko but I submitted it! And our producer Elisabeth picked me up through the audition.
Let’s take this project you did; how did you prepare for such a role: the cast, the physicality, the terrain, the climate, weather, and the demands of the project?
YT: I read this script literally countless times because this movie is actually the first feature I did in the US and I was stoked and very nervous at the same time. Also, they set up rehearsals many times until I got comfortable with every single scene. Through these processes, I could naturally become Kimiko.
How do you create the character from a script into a person?
YT: I always find some mutual points between the character and me. And create her background as detailed as I can. Most importantly, read the script over and over because you discover new elements of the character or the role in the story all the time. And say my lines in my room all day every day until the shoot started until the lines become my actual words.
What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
YT: I think Kimiko doesn’t have the feeling of hatred but this story forces you to sense something odd. She doesn’t want to realize the fact but feels it little by little sadly. I thought I had to portray the delicate and detailed emotions of Kimiko very carefully. It challenged me more than I imagined.
Explain one creative choice you took on the set of this production?
YT: In the last scene of Kimiko, I needed to be as miserable as I could. The crew asked me to take some rest while they changed camera positions or some other time but I chose to just be there shivering and feeling more miserable for the scene.
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
YT: I enjoy feeling closer to every staff and cast on set of indie films. The smaller project I’m in the more I feel like family. I can comfortably ask anyone anything with my Japanese English. So we can exchange our opinions casually and I think it’s a good thing.
How did you collaborate with your cast members from scene to scene?
YT: We talked a lot. Elisabeth always explained to me every scene’s details precisely. Miho is also Japanese and she’s been working in the US longer than me so I could ask her anything in my first language. Both have really helped me a lot.
As the main cast in the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Were you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes were difficult to shoot?
YT: I was too nervous to feel anything honestly. As I said it’s my first feature in the US and I haven’t gotten used to being surrounded by people speaking English yet. All I could do was to remember and understand every single word in the script not only my lines but also directions, listening to the director and the producer’s directions carefully, and just focus on existing as Kimiko.
What do you like most about the director and his/her collaboration with his/her team?
YT: David is really open-minded and he was always there warmly. I didn’t have to feel pressured or scared and I could be acting freely because of his gentle atmosphere.
What is next for you?
YT: The US Sci-fi series PARAGON I was in as a guest star just got released on Amazon Prime! And two Japanese films I starred in are going to be on-screen sometime soon.
What advice do you give actors regarding what you learned on the project?
YT: Make you feel comfortable on set as soon as possible for each project. Establish good relationships with people you are within the scenes. These make you relaxed and you can just concentrate on your character.
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