Mele Murals Streaming on Al Jazeera!

Mele Murals (Al Jazeera recut)  is now streaming for free on Al Jazeera!

WATCH HERE

Please back Mele Murals on Kickstarter

I've never launched a Kickstarter campaign until now. We really need your help to get our film Mele Murals across the finish line and more importantly to share the film with the world! Please donate if you can and share: http://kck.st/1NBAlK2  Thanks in advance!



As many of you know, it is extremely difficult and to find funding for community-based documentaries, especially for projects coming from WITHIN the Native Hawaiian community. This is the first time I've ever asked my friends to donate money but it's only because I feel so strongly about sharing the strength and beauty of this story.

#ProtectMaunaKea

Last year I had the great opportunity of filming in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawai'i. There I got to witness the true meaning of Aloha ʻĀina in action as the people and land continuosly protect and provide for each other. Many of the friends I made during that trip are now engaged in a battle to protect their Mauna Kea. All week people have been protesting the start of construction for the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the peak of Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea is one of the most sacred places for the Hawaiian people and this telescope will further its desecration.

This footage is from an upcoming documentary on artists Estria Miyashiro and John "Prime" Hina and their Mele Murals project. Uncle Kalani Flores and Auntie Pua Case explain the sacredness and importance of Mauna Kea to a group of students from Kanu o ka 'Āina Learning ʻOhana (KALO) and the Mele Murals staff.

Editor: Tadashi Nakamura
Camera: Justyn Ah Chong & ʻĀina Paikai
Music: Misty Mountain by Humble Soul

Remembering the Atomic and Troy Cafe

Nancy Sekizawa holding up a photo of the Atomic Cafe, a restaurant run by her parents until she took it over.

I'm currently working with the Little Tokyo Service Center and filmmaker Akira Boch on a short documentary on two small cafes in Little Tokyo that had a legendary impact on LA's music scene, the Atomic Cafe and the Troy Cafe.  The famous brick building that housed both businesses will be demolished this year and a metro station will be built in it's place.

Both KPCC and LA Weekly have recently ran short pieces that layout the main elements of the Atomic and Troy Cafe story. 

The interviews for the project have been fun so far.  Listening to stories about LA's punk scene in the 80's and the Chicano arts scene of the 90's have expanded my appreciation for Little Tokyo as a cultural hub for the arts.

Nancy Sekizawa as Atomic Nancy back in the day.

Went all the way to NYC to interview Sean Carrillo, who ran the Troy Cafe with his wife Bibbe Hansen.

Musician Maceo Hernandez talking about growing up in Little Tokyo and his memories at the Atomic and Troy Cafe.  As a kid I always thought Maceo Hernandez was the coolest guy in the community. 

Musician Quetzal Flores talking about the Troy Cafe where his band Quetzal performed for the first time.

PBS National Broadcast Premiere of Life on Four Strings on May 10, 2013!

Video from Smithsonian Screening

Here's a video recap of Jake's PBS office show and the Life On Four Strings screening at the Smithsonian in DC!

SFIAAFF Screening at The Castro - 03/14/12

The screening of the Jake Shimabukuro film at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival was a huge success. 1,300 people packed the Castro Theater on a rainy night. The film played well but the highlight of the night was when Jake was joined on stage with his mother Carol and his brother Bruce. Below are some of the highlights of the night (including me lookin hella uncomfortable in front of the camera) shot and edited by Alex Ferrari:






My Dad enjoyed the red carpet treatment.


The Boss Don Young, producer of the film.


My mom, Jake's brother Bruce and Jake's mom Carol


Had a great time all week causing trouble with my 808 folks. Lehu from Paliku/Oiwi TV with Amber, Leanne and Micky from Pacific Islanders in Communications who all helped make the film happen.




Auntie Carol AKA The Karaoke Queen doing her thing backed up by he sons. Best moment of the night!

Photos from CAAM's Facebook

Jake performing Bohemian Rhapsody in Hiroshima

I was in Japan for the first half of this month shooting Jake Shimabukuro on tour for the doc I'm doing on him. More details and photos from the trip to come. Here's some footage we shot of Jake in Hiroshima covering Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody which is featured on his upcoming album.



Jake is always on tour and will be performing in LA's Little Tokyo at the Asian American Music Festival on Oct. 16th.

For Chris by Marley

even though chris iijima loved to visit the westcoast and eventually relocated to hawaii, there is no denying that he was new york city to the core.  having been born and bred in manhattan it was only necessary to go out there to shoot for the film.

while shooting some b-roll in union square, a street artist named marley stepped to me to see if i was from the local news.  after i explained to him i was doing a documentary on the singer chris iijima he offered to spit a couple of verses for the film...

the next time your in union square you should check marley out on the corner of 14th street & 4th ave in front of the virgin megastore.