Director Hikari discusses her new film, Rental Family, with fellow Director Nicole Holofcener in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with Actor Brendan Frasier to capture a character out of their element, working with her Cinematographer to capture the beauty of Japan, and how she wanted to use this film to address the real life loneliness epidemic.

The film tells the story of Phillip, an actor struggling to find work and purpose in Tokyo. After discovering a company that hires actors to play a role in real people’s lives, he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds and rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/rentalfamily_qna_1125

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Directors Guild of America

Rental Family with Hikari and Nicole Holofcener (Ep. 590)

DEC 15, 202528 MIN
The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Rental Family with Hikari and Nicole Holofcener (Ep. 590)

DEC 15, 202528 MIN

Description

Director Hikari discusses her new film, Rental Family, with fellow Director Nicole Holofcener in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, she discusses working with Actor Brendan Frasier to capture a character out of their element, working with her Cinematographer to capture the beauty of Japan, and how she wanted to use this film to address the real life loneliness epidemic. The film tells the story of Phillip, an actor struggling to find work and purpose in Tokyo. After discovering a company that hires actors to play a role in real people’s lives, he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds and rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/january2026/rentalfamily_qna_1125