Today we’d like to introduce you to Go Egashira.
Hi Go, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Go Egashira. I’m running a production group, HIGH VOLTAGE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. in Santa Monica in the US, Tokyo in Japan, and Panama in Latin America. We assist our clients mainly from Japan who want to do filming, photo shoots, and events in the U.S. and vice versa in Japan and Latin America. I was born in Fukuoka, in the south of Japan, and lived and worked in the same small town as a concert promoter until my mid-20s. Enjoyed that job pretty much, but I wanted to make a sudden change in my life, decided to fly to LA and study film at a university in Los Angeles. After graduating from film school, I worked for 10 years on all kinds of shows related to the video industry in Japan and the U.S., such as variety shows, news, live sports events, music videos, and commercials as a technician, producer, bilingual coordinator, etc. After 10 years of experience, I started my own company High Voltage Entertainment in Los Angeles in 2010, the Tokyo office in 2016 and the Panama office in South America in 2020. Our goal is to be a bridge for people in Japan and USA.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I was in my early 20s, I thought, “I can do everything by myself.” Of course, only one person can do anything on his own. I guess that was a youthful indiscretion. After graduating from university, I hit the first wall.
Even though I dreamed of working in American Big Movie studios, my English was a second language, and conversation skill was no fun at all. and I was just an ordinary Japanese boy who did not really know about American entertainment cultures. All entertainment companies are very popular, and competition is fierce. I couldn’t even get a chance for an interview, so I went to see so many people and companies with my little hope. But even if I got a job as an assistant, no one would help me with a work visa. Of course not! Hiring a foreigner is very much complicated and time-consuming.
Since I really wanted to stay in the U.S., I decided to work for a Japanese company in LA. At first, I didn’t really want to be a part of a Japanese buddies, to put it simply, I was just sulking that I couldn’t work in an American-Film-Studios.
One day, I met a client, Shinsuke, who kept teaching me that one’s power is small, one cannot live alone, one is only one, and should be a person who can get help from others. No matter how many times I made mistakes, he taught me how to complete projects more strictly and fiercely than anyone else, sometimes even arguing with me. He was our client, so he could have fired me in the middle of the project, but he never fired me and continued to teach me. I know now that I am here today because of him. Of course, he is still a good friend and drinking buddy when I go back to Japan.
Challenges, even though the field of work is the same, each job is not a repetitive job, so every job is full of challenges. I think that is why I never get tired of this job. The location of each filming and the people who I work with are always different, and for events, if I don’t try something new each time, the people who come to see the event will get bored, so I challenge myself each time to do something attractive and keep everyone interested.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our service consists of three main operations: video production, event coordination, and overseas customer service.
Our main business is video production, filming TV shows, commercials, music videos, documentaries, and sports events, and delivering the footage to our Japanese clients. Each assignment is different depending on the needs of each client. Starting with research, finding locations, applying for filming permits, casting, crewing, building teams, advising on filming content, arranging logistics, filming the subjects, and finally delivering the products we made. It is a long process, and we coordinate many things along the way.
Events. Every event is different, and our clients come from different industries, our job is to organize a team, consult, and execute the event according to each client’s needs. We also assist with music projects such as concerts and recordings, arranging transportation, accommodations, and event arrangements for large travel events involving dozens of people.
Overseas customer service. Since Covid-19’s “no place to go” days, we have been doing more and more work remotely, such as researching, getting various video usage approvals, and even shooting video without our clients having to travel. After many meetings with overseas clients via smartphone video calls, we work on the set while filming the subject with our professional film camera equipment, we live record the entire set including the film crew with our smartphone so our clients can direct how they want to film even without traveling to the US.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Seeing my HVE buddies in the US, Tokyo and Panama is the happiest time of my life. The people I want to thank are the people who make High Voltage Ent what it is today. Shige, who I have worked with for many years. He is now president of the Tokyo office. We live far away from each other now, but I used to do so many scoutings, auditions, filmings, coordinations, drives, and running around in shows and shows. He is always more detailed than anyone else and sometimes scolds me. LOL., a wonderful partner.
Tsubasa, the strong production manager, who is constantly learning about the ever-evolving photographic equipment and is also a bilingual coordinator without a hitch.
Kyosan, who has graphic skills and an unusual background as a bus driver, looks tough but is a sweetheart.
Sai is a super good communicator, used to be an AD in the Japanese movie industry, and gets along well with our customers.
Kouhei is a rough-and-tumble guy who always manages to get the job done with a smile on his face and a lot of guts.
I regret that I cannot introduce all my HVE colleagues here, but I dream of the day when HVE buddies will be active in their projects around the world, bringing smiles and joy to our customers.
It would be great if I could visit all our offices around the world on my motorcycle! To make the motorcycle trip, we need more offices in the world!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.highvoltageusa.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/highvoltageusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highvoltageentertainmentinc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpV7lf3p0TSMlQUWyo4SZqA
