Shôzô Makino(1878-1929)
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Called the "father of Japanese film," Shozo Makino was a director
during the pioneer days of Japanese film, and was also a producer and
business executive. Makino was born in Kyoto on September 22, 1878. His
mother ran a theater, and his association with movies began when the
motion picture fan, Naganosuke Yokota, asked for his help when filming
a drama. Shozo had an eye for talent and discovered Matsunosuke Onoe
working in an itinerant kabuki troupe. He enlisted Onoe and made him
into Japan's first film star, directing 60 to 80 Matsunosuke films a
year. In addition to creating the unique genre of the Japanese period
film, he applied trick camera techniques and a myriad of other
cinematic methods of expression. In 1919, he started the Mikado Company
and began to produce educational films. He founded an independent
production company, Makino Film Productions, in 1923, where he
continued his work as a director and also displayed his talents as a
producer. Makino Film Productions turned out numerous outstanding
movies made by excellent directors and actors. In 1928, he directed the
epic, Jitsuroku Chushingura (True Record of the Forty-seven Ronin),
released on the occasion of his 50th birthday. In 1929, Makino died of
heart failure. Makino also directed Raiden in 1928, which was released
posthumously.