A Storied Career in Filmmaking: John Esaki
Saturday, May 10, 2 pm
Filmmaker John Esaki will share selected clips of his work and stories from his long career in film, which was shaped and guided by a community spirit of pioneering Asian American filmmakers.
John Esaki retired from the Japanese American National Museum in 2024 after more than 25 years. At JANM he was videographer, director and editor for several documentaries, including: Words Weavings & Songs, a profile of three Nisei women artists, and Harsh Canvas—The Art & Life of Henry Sugimoto. He later served as Director–Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center, V.P. of Programs, and Senior Philanthropy Officer.
He pursued an MFA in film at UCLA in the late 70’s. Under Prof. Robert A. Nakamura, who had recently founded Visual Communications Asian Pacific Media Arts Center, John volunteered as a production assistant for Hito Hata: Raise the Banner (1980) and eventually became involved with the scripting. The lure of making films about one’s own history and community enticed John to remain in SoCal for the next 5 decades.
For 20 years on staff at Visual Communications, John worked in development and production, directing Yuki Shimoda–Asian American Actor, Maceo: Demon Drummer from East L.A. the taiko odyssey of a Chicano teen, and Stand Up for Justice, a short film about Ralph Lazo, a Mexican/Irish American high school student who voluntarily accompanied his classmates to the Manzanar concentration camp during WW2. John also worked as a freelance videographer and sound recordist and he remains grateful to have been hired and mentored by several prominent Bay Area filmmakers: Loni Ding, Michael Chin, Steven Okazaki, Emiko Omori, Spencer Nakasako, Curtis Choy and Wayne Wang.
The event is presented by Friends of Topaz Museum and J-Sei, with funding support by Topaz Museum.
Photo credits: Jeff Liu, Visual Communications