Kei Chisaka

Project: Profile, short-form documentary
Role: DP/Camera
Producer/Director: James Copson
Format: Lower Block - Online magazine
Camera: Sony FX 6 A CAM / FX 3 B CAM +
G Master & Cooke SP3s lenses

Set against the vibrant, ever-evolving backdrop of Tokyo, this short profile film explores the city’s alternative football culture—a unique blend of sport, fashion, music, and grassroots community. Directed by James Copson, the film follows footballer and community leader Kei Chisaka as he redefines his relationship with the beautiful game through his involvement in an Otaku (obsessive) subculture.

Behind the Scenes

We spent a day on the streets of Tokyo with Kei, moving quickly and shooting with intention. Knowing we needed to remain light and responsive, I built a compact camera package centred around the Sony FX6, paired with Cooke SP3 lenses. These lenses became my go-to for portraiture—they beautifully render faces and offer a timeless softness that matched the emotional core of the story. For a film rooted in personal connection and cultural identity, the SP3s’ Panchro Classic DNA helped an audience engage more deeply with Kei’s journey.

To further enhance the look, I change between 1/16 and 1/8 black pro mist diffusion filters, softening highlights and adding a vintage, tactile quality to the image. While Tokyo is often depicted with high-tech, hyper-stylised visuals, we leaned into an analogue aesthetic, drawing inspiration from skateboard photography and artists like Ed Templeton. The result was a raw, street-level visual language that reflected Tokyo’s underground football scene—intimate, expressive and a world away from the polished, corporate football culture more familiar in the UK.

The film was later featured in Lower Block Magazine, celebrating stories at the intersection of football, culture, and creativity.