Ueda Shinichiro directed the feature film Earthlings in Love, which utilizes a vertical filming format. The project originated as a series of 30 short episodes released on social media with a combined runtime of 76 minutes.
The new feature film version extends the runtime to 111 minutes. Ueda incorporated additional shooting for the film while reinserting specific shots and lines from the original social media version.
He removed cliffhanger scenes from the social media content to suit the theatrical release. The vertical aspect ratio was chosen because it aligns well with human proportions and mimics the visual limitations of dementia.
This specific format intentionally omits certain information that viewers only discover from different angles later. Ueda, who previously directed One Cut of the Dead and Special Actors, also visited his hometown to meet former schoolmates.
The director noted that vertical dramas often lead to overacting by the cast. The feature film requires at least 12 months to reach a theatrical audience.
