When Kohay Fukuo was 12 years old, he watched the famous movie Titanic. The film moved him deeply, making such a lasting impression on him that he wanted to move to Ireland and become a filmmaker.
Eventually, he studied in the United Kingdom, where he first earned a bachelors, then a masters degree in Media Art. At university, he experimented with making short films with a basic camera. He made several films, but was not satisfied with the quality and the rudimentary editing facilities available.
Today, in addition to being a successful regional sales executive with Nidek (Singapore) – a company that provides ophthalmic equipment designed for the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases, glaucoma, and other vision-impairing afflictions – he continues to make films. Mr. Fukuo says that his passion for filmmaking has contributed positively to his work in ophthalmology.
“I feel very fortunate that my company, Nidek, is very supportive of my filmmaking,” he said. “They have given me many opportunities to explore my passion for the art.”
Mr. Fukuo was born in Japan, but it was always his dream to expand his horizons by moving to Singapore. His work with Nidek provided that opportunity when he was transferred from the company’s Japan office to Singapore. He was also very happy
to be given the chance to screen his two short films – Priceless Ceremony (2013) and Absolute Silence (2014) – in the Cannes Film Festival.
“My current plan is to make a local Singaporean movie with Japanese influences,” added Mr. Fukuo. He presently uses a top-of-the-line Canon COS100 Mark II, which is specially designed for movie making.
He would also like to bring new art and media culture into Asia. “I always tell my friends that my objective is to do something good for Asia before I die.”
PRICELESS CEREMONY
Synopsis
One day, a boy came home to find that his mother had suddenly died. However, he refused the services of the undertaker since he did not have enough money to pay for it. Instead, he calls on his best friend and the son of a monk to help him to give a small, low budget funeral ceremony for his dead mother. Can a person who has passed away really go on to the next world without a ceremony that costs a lot of money? Or is it enough to pay with the sincere feeling of the heart?
ABSOLUTE SILENCE
Synopsis
The parents of a boy and girl died in a traffic accident. The following week, a Yakuza (Japanese gang member) came to collect money owed by their parents. The house was included in the deal as collateral. Right after being told to leave if they could not pay off their parent’s debts, the large Earthquake and Tsunami suddenly occurred. Instinctively, the Yakuza feared that the price of the land had dropped, while the (older) sister runs out of the house in a panic. The (younger) brother kills the Yakuza. Then, the dead body of the Yakuza is washed away by the Tsunami. The murder vanished in the waves. This movie studies the situation where human reasoning is warped from the darkness of crisis and conflict due to abrupt catastrophic events, and the raw feelings that ensue. This is the story of a person who takes a step forward from that point.
