Los Angeles Premiere of Toho's HIDDEN FORTRESS: THE LAST PRINCESS

For more information about the film and to view the trailer, click here.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Shinji Higuchi – Director

This world-class filmmaker was born on September 22, 1965 in Tokyo. In the film industry he began as a mold making assistant and then worked as a special effects person for Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest film Nine Lives. He was one of the series directors for a TV animation series Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. He won awards in 1992 and 1995 for his work on Taiyo ga Hikisa- kareta Hi: Tokyo Earthquake and Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe. For Gamera 2: The Assault of The Legion in 1996, he was both special effects director and designer. He did storyboarding, script and direction for the TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion and Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion. As special effects director for Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, he created an advanced visual world using high-end digital image technology. His direction for Tobu – Konna Yume wo Mita won a prize at SIGGRAPH 2000’s Animation Festival. He’s participated in notable films as a special effects director, title backgrounds creation, as the visual effects designer and storyboarding. His feature directorial debut Lorelei: the Witch of the Pacific Ocean (2005) and his Sinking of Japan (2006) were both smash hits.

Jun Matsumoto – Actor

Born August 30, 1983 in Tokyo, Japan, Jun made his debut in 1999 with the pop group Arashi. While still a member of the band, he starred in the TV drama Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo (2001) and his performance lead to subsequent appearances in other popular TV dramas including Gokusen, Bambino! and Hana Yori Dango. In movies, his roles in Pika*nchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy (2002 & 2004), Tokyo Tower (2005),  Kiiroi Namida (2007), Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru (2007) and Hana Yori Dango: Final (2008) exhibited an acting talent not usually seen in his television dramatic work. In theatre, Matsumoto played the critically acclaimed lead role in Byakuya no Warukyuure.

Anthony Daniels – Special Guest

Anthony Daniels was born in Salisbury, England on February 21, 1946. After hundreds of productions for the BBC Drama Repertory Company, he joined the National Theatre of Great Britain at The Young Vic where he got a call to meet George Lucas about a science fiction movie being filmed in England. Lucas was interested in Anthony’s acting and mime skills. Unattracted by the world of sci-fi, he refused the interview. Coerced by his agent, Anthony met the director. He found the script incomprehensible but liked the golden robot and so was thrilled to be given the role. He filmed The Empire Strikes Back, The Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace and handled puppetry for C-3PO in Attack of the Clones. Gold and shining in Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith, Anthony is the only actor to appear in all six Star Wars films and has been involved in many of the spin-offs. Currently Anthony is working on the animated series Clone Wars, works as a presenter/producer/creative designer for trade events and conferences, is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University and lives in London.

ABOUT PARKING

The USC School of Cinematic Arts is located at 850 W. 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Parking passes are available for Lots M & V (across the street from the George Lucas Building) for $8.00. You must pull into Gate 5, located at the intersection of McClintock Ave. and W. Jefferson Boulevard and purchase your parking pass with the booth attendant. Street parking is also available along W. Jefferson Blvd.