Ueda Expands Vertical Shorts to Feature

Director Ueda Shinichiro has converted a vertical microdrama into a theatrical feature titled 'Earthlings in Love.' The film is set to screen in the Nippon Cinema Now section of the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. It adapts a story originally released as 30 short episodes on social media platforms.

The project began as a series of brief, vertically oriented clips. Each episode lasted only a few minutes. The total runtime for the initial online release was 76 minutes. Ueda noted that positive online responses encouraged the team to expand the material. He stated that the work was not initially conceived as a feature, but his instincts favored that format.

The narrative follows Shinpei, a director diagnosed with young-onset dementia. He attempts to finish a film he started with friends in his teens to preserve his memories. The plot draws from Ueda's own observations regarding how people remember events differently. He sought to explore the gap between personal memory and recorded history.

The vertical format presents specific technical constraints. Ueda explained that the frame suits single characters well but limits group shots. He used these restrictions to hide information, revealing details later from different angles. This approach also mirrors the visual limitations often associated with dementia symptoms.

Editing differences distinguish the two versions. The feature film runs 111 minutes, adding 35 minutes to the online version. Ueda said theater audiences tolerate slower pacing better than mobile viewers. This allowed him to restore omitted shots and lines, add new material, and remove cliffhanger endings designed for daily engagement. The cast already had feature film experience, which helped maintain a consistent performance level despite the shift in medium.

Production timelines vary significantly between formats. Ueda described the microdrama process as rapid, allowing ideas to be shot and released within a single day. In contrast, a feature film requires at least 12 months to reach theaters. He expects both markets to continue growing. Ueda cited a friend's comparison of cinemas to sacred spaces, noting that theaters remain the only place in Japan where people consistently disconnect from their phones to sit together for two hours.