Legendary Kaiju cinema stalwart Keizo Murase, 88, is taking matters into his own hands with feature directing debut, Brush Of The God. Murase, who began his career in the 1950s working as a monster suit designer for Toho, has since taken to Kickstarter to help raise funds for the project, for which he will, for the most part, employ the kind of practical Japanese special effects wizardry that is signature of yesteryear Kaiju films.
Murase will direct from a script by Takeshi Nakazawa (Hatsukoi-Geinin), which pits the film’s very title as crucial to the plot. The story centers on Akari, the granddaughter of a recently-deceased SFX model maker who was on track to make Brush Of The God his first feature film. Aided by her classmate at her grandfather’s farewell party, hardcore Tokusatsu fan Takuya, the two suddenly find themselves sucked into a wormhole that pulls them into the world embodied in Kenzo’s film, where they must unlock the very secrets of Brush Of The God in order to return to their world, while staring down the fearsome eight-headed Kaiju, Yamata no Orochi.
Daisuke Sato (Howl From Beyond The Fog, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack) will serve as producer, cinematographer and SFX director with Shigenori Shogase (Ultraman Tiga, Kaiju no Akebono) co-producing. Akira Takahashi (Kamen Rider series 1971-1979, Legend of the Eight Samurai) is concept designer next to Orochi designer Shinji Nishikawa (Godzilla series 1989-2004, “SSSS. GRIDMAN”, “SSSS.Dynazenon”).
Production is set for January in 2022 with a target wrap date in September, and a potential screening and distribution of perks to Kickstarter backers in 2023. The good news is that it’s original goal has been reached, and with a window of just 21 days to help boost the campaign to its stretch goals.
The teaser above is one of a few which are on display now at the campaign, so check it out and learn for more on how to help!
