LakshmiKenichi Ugana, the Japanese filmmaker known for blending punk rock with horror, has long been a magnet for genre lovers. From his explosive debut Ganguro Gal’s Riot (2016) to clinching top honors at the NY Shorts International Film Festival for Visitors, his unique style continues to captivate. In 2024, his punk-infused horror-comedy The Gesuidouz premiered at TIFF’s ‘Midnight Madness’ with an audience reaction that left everyone buzzing. Not to be outdone, his latest work, I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn, earned rave reviews after its premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival.
Mihara Ui is a multifaceted Japanese talent, balancing her career as a model, YouTuber, and actress. She first captured attention as a model for the children’s clothing brand JENNI in 2014, when she was just in sixth grade. In 2021, she expanded her reach into the digital world by launching her own YouTube channel. That same year, she made her acting debut in the short film Short Shorts Theater ‘Kokoro no Fufu’. On September 22, 2022, Mihara released her debut photo book, Uuiiiishii, a visual celebration of her evolving presence in the entertainment world. Since then, her acting career has flourished with roles in Hide from the Rain (2023), and Haru wa mijikashi koiseyo danshi (2023), Call Me by No Name (2025).
I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn takes a bold turn, shining a spotlight on both established and up-and-coming film industry figures who dare to break free from the mundane and pursue their wildest ambitions. Shina Mizuhara, a once-celebrated screen star, has grown cynical and lost her passion for filmmaking. After arriving in New York with her boyfriend, he breaks up with her on day one, leaving her stranded without a wallet, phone, or English skills. Just when things seem at their worst, she meets Jack, a passionate, low-budget indie filmmaker, who convinces her to star in his next film. The premise truly lives up to its title—and it’s a wonderful turn of events. Ui Mihara stars as Shina Mizuhara, a role that earned her the Cheval Noir for Outstanding Performance at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival. Estevan Munoz plays Jack.
One Lash Shot had the pleasure of sitting down once again with director Kenichi Ugana, alongside actress Ui Mihara to discuss their unique and heartfelt collaboration on the punk-rock-infused, yet deeply emotional I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn.
The film’s title is both cheeky and evocative—how did you come up with it?
Ugana: Japanese movies have a lot of weird titles. Some of them are long, and some are completely unrelated to the actual content of the movie. I didn’t like that, so I used to change the titles of my movies when I went abroad. But this time, I didn’t. I wanted to export the long title overseas, so I kept it as is in Japan. I wanted to go with something a little more mysterious.
Ugana-san, what sparked the idea to center a love story around a Z-grade director from Brooklyn? And why did you choose Brooklyn as the setting? Mihara, what was your experience like shooting in New York City?
Ugana: It was two years ago that I met a person named Rocko, who is both a producer and an actor. As a director, I went to Brooklyn to meet him, and I stayed at his place for a while. I actually took some inspiration from him, and I also drew inspiration from the Brooklyn scenery in general. I was inspired by his life as a filmmaker, living in the heart of Brooklyn.
Mihara: In my case, I had to face a pretty significant language barrier, but everyone turned out to be really friendly and made an effort to communicate with me as best as they could. That helped ease much of the uneasiness I felt, and I was able to really focus on the filming.
What was your experience like working with Estevan Muñoz?
Mihara: I would say that, much like in the movie itself, I initially had trouble understanding what was happening around me. But as filming progressed, my comprehension gradually improved, and I eventually began to understand what people were thinking.
You’ve collaborated once again with The Gesuidouz cast members, Rocko and Leo—Rocko played the punk rock band member and also served as producer and script advisor, while Leo handled the soundtrack. What led you to team up with them again for this project?
Ugana: First, about Rocko—since I was planning to shoot in Brooklyn, there was no question in my mind that I would rely on him. I didn’t even consider anyone else. As for Leo, I actually worked with him on my 2023 movie The Girls, and I’ve come to rely on him for all things soundtrack-related. In this case, since he always delivers something solid, I thought he was the perfect fit for a romantic comedy—especially one that needed a lighter tone.
What was the most challenging scene for you to shoot?
Ugana: Filming in the U.S. was a major challenge for me. The entire process was quite different from what I was used to, and there was also a significant language barrier. So overall, it was a tough experience in many ways.
Mihara: For me, just going to the U.S. was a first. I was on set for about two weeks—which was also the length of my stay—and I honestly had no idea how I would even manage something as basic as grocery shopping. Fortunately, I was surrounded by really wonderful people, so everything turned out okay in the end.
You mentioned the language barrier earlier. How did you manage it during filming? Mihara, since all your dialogues were in Japanese, how did that work on set?
Mihara: I spoke in Japanese, and we also had a translator on set. Ugana-san can speak English, which helped a lot. I often used a translation app, and we also had an interpreter to assist. But for the most part, by communicating directly with Ugana-san, I was able to manage.
Do you think it is actually possible for a top actress from any country to actually take such a path of acting in Z-grade movies and going on to the win the Razzies, all in the name of love?
Ugana: I would personally like to believe that it is possible.
Mihara: I also want to believe that. (Laughs)
The film walks a fine line between satire and sincerity. How do you balance parodying the low-budget film world while still giving emotional weight to your characters?
Ugana: I think the comedic elements you see in the scenes are quite common in romantic comedies in general. We usually tell the actors to play their roles seriously, to some extent. In my case, I relied mostly on my own intuition while writing the script. I also told the actors, once in front of the camera, to approach their performances as if everything was serious.
Which is your favourite scene in the movie?
Ugana: Woah, that’s a tough one.
Mihara: The scene where Jack and Shina go on a date really shows how much she’s changed—it contrasts strongly with the beginning of the film. And honestly, it was just a really fun scene to shoot.
Ugana: For me, I really like the scene with Jack and Shina in the green vomit. That’s the moment where they truly meet. It’s when we finally see the real Shina. Throughout the film, she keeps putting on an artificial image, but in that moment, her true self is revealed. Jack sees that, and he starts to think of her as his muse. It’s a moment where both of their true personalities come through, and that’s why it’s my favorite scene.
What’s next for you?
Ugana: I’ve actually finished filming three more feature-length films, and one of them is set to have its world premiere this September. I also plan to shoot more films, especially in Brazil and in other parts of the world.
Mihara: As for me, I’ll be appearing in films that, unfortunately, are only being screened in Japan for now. But I’m really looking forward to more opportunities to have my work shown internationally as well.
[Author’s Note: Ugana-san, I had an absolute blast watching your movie again. Thank you for crafting this charming love story set in Brooklyn of all places! And Ui, I’m excited to see what you’ll do next—can’t wait for your future projects!]
Lakshmi
