James Takata: Through the Lens of Filmmaking

James Takata: Through the Lens of Filmmaking

by | May 6, 2022 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At the Movies: Meet Filmmaker James Takata

Friday, May 13, 2022 – 6:30 pm on Zoom

Director and cinematographer James Takata will be J-Sei’s special guest to talk about his career in TV and film. Fans of the hit series THIS IS US are in for a real treat, since James has been involved with the show since almost the beginning, as the A Camera/Steadicam Operator, as Director of Photography, and as Director of the recent episode “The Day of the Wedding.” In addition to working on several other TV shows, James has also directed documentaries, short films, and music videos. Join us to get the inside scoop on working in Hollywood and find out what’s next for James now that THIS IS US has come to its end after six successful seasons. We’ll share film clips as well as his first short film, REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR (2002).

RSVP with “May Movie Night” in the subject line. You’ll receive Zoom information prior to the May 13 event.

 

About the Filmmaker

James Takata is an American film director, producer, and writer. He has directed episodic TV, a feature documentary (WE THE PARENTS), narrative short films (BROKEN WINGS; TRAPPED; REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR), and music videos. As a longtime member of the ICG Local 600, he brings a keen understanding of fine art and cinematography to his work as a director. He has contributed additional cinematography for the hit TV show THIS IS US on which he is also the A Camera/Steadicam Operator. He has lensed 3 full episodes, and recently he directed an episode, “The Day of the Wedding,” which premiered on April 19 on NBC.

His films have screened at film festivals and received recognition and honors, including the Gold Award (Independent Shorts Family/Children) at WorldFest Houston for BROKEN WINGS (2016) and the 2010 Bronze Telly Award and a 2010 Accolade Award of Merit for TRAPPED (2010). James won the ICG Emerging Cinematographers Award for his work on the short film ONLY CHILD (2012).

James was born and raised in Los Angeles, and in high school received a scholarship to the Ryman Program for Young Artists. He studied at the Art Institute of Florence and the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where he earned a B.A. in Studio Art.

[Photo credits: C. Thomas, R. Batzdorff, B. Lewin]

 

 

 

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

May 13 Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji. Here are Chef Yuji’s mouth-watering offerings for this month in conjunction with Movie Night. Order for pickup on Friday, May 13.

  • Ebi Chili Donburi: Japanese-style Szechuan chili sauced shrimp & seasonal vegetables over rice $18
  • Mabo Tofu Donburi: Llano Seco ground pork, Joodooboo tofu, Japanese-style mapo sauce & pickled greens over rice $18

Click on the button below to place your order.

You can pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, May 13th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

MY FRIEND YUJI

To order: When you click on the button above, it will take you directly to a pop-up order form on the My Friend Yuji webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click anywhere inside the box frame to open another pop-up and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add item” to close the pop-up. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order and click “Continue to payment” to sign in and pay for your order.

Support J-Sei At the Movies

Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies recently celebrated its third anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with educational and inspiring Japanese and Japanese American films. We are especially grateful for the up close and personal chats with filmmakers as we learn so much from the exchange.

We love having a growing and enthusiastic audience. You are the best! We welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for considering this.

Play Ball! with the filmmakers of Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams

Play Ball! with the filmmakers of Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams

by | Apr 7, 2022 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At the Movies: Meet Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari

Friday, April 15, 2022 – 6:30 pm on Zoom

Watch the documentary KOSHIEN: JAPAN’S FIELD OF DREAMS (2019), then join us on Zoom to meet director Ema Ryan Yamazaki and producer Eric Nyari.

In 2018, in anticipation of the 100th edition of Koshien — the high school baseball tournament held every summer and avidly followed in Japan — director Yamazaki selected two teams to film as they trained and competed for a spot in the highly coveted national championship. The result is a gripping documentary chronicling the hopes and dreams of coaches and players alike and the unending dedication and sacrifice that can lead to victory — or the agony of defeat. Not simply a story about baseball, KOSHIEN explores Japanese traditions and the Japanese spirit and how they fit, or not, in today’s society.

RSVP with “April Movie Night” in the subject line. You’ll receive information to watch the film on a secure site prior to the Zoom event with the filmmakers. [Note: This film is also available through the Kanopy streaming service (library membership required).]

About the Filmmakers

Ema Ryan Yamazaki (Director/Editor) graduated from New York University and became the assistant to documentary mogul Sam Pollard. She has edited work shown on HBO, PBS and CNN, among others, and has directed TV documentaries for NHK and Al Jazeera English. Her feature directorial debut, “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators” (2017), premiered at the LA Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Nantucket Film Festival. In 2019, she directed “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams,” a special co-production with NHK on the occasion of the 100th National High School Baseball Championship. It premiered at DOC NYC, aired on ESPN, and was released theatrically in Japan to great acclaim.

Ema edits all of her own work. In 2017, Ema married film producer Eric Nyari, and they frequently collaborate as producing/directing partners.

Eric Nyari (Producer) is president of Cineric Creative and international representative for renowned restoration house Cineric, Inc. He has managed 4K restorations of Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Ugetsu,” “Sansho the Bailiff,” and “A Story from Chikamatsu” with Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation, as well as Yasujiro Ozu’s “Late Spring” and the films of Yuzo Kawashima. Nyari has also produced numerous films in Japan, including Amir Naderi’s “Cut,” Stephen Nomura Schible’s “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda,” Takeshi Fukunaga’s “Ainu Mosir,” and Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams.”

 

 

 

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

April 15 Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji.

Chef Yuji is offering three different mouth-watering options. Order for pickup on Friday, April 15.
– Gyuniku nikomi – Simmered beef and Hikari Farms daikon with rice and karashi (mustard) pickles $18
– Tori hiyashi chuka – Chicken dashi cold ramen, with cucumbers, egg, scallion, fishcake and tomato $18
– Garlic albacore ponzu – Shiro maguro (white tuna) sashimi with garlic, ponzu and radish $15

 

Click on the button below to place your order.

You can pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, April 15th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

MY FRIEND YUJI

To order: When you click on the button above, it will take you directly to a pop-up order form on the My Friend Yuji webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click anywhere inside the box frame to open another pop-up and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add item” to close the pop-up. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order and click “Continue to payment” to sign in and pay for your order.

Support J-Sei At the Movies

Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies recently celebrated its third anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with educational and inspiring Japanese and Japanese American films. We are especially grateful for the up close and personal chats with filmmakers as we learn so much from the exchange.

We love having a growing and enthusiastic audience. You are the best! We welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for considering this.

J-Sei At the Movies: Japanese Movie Watch Party + Bento

J-Sei At the Movies: Japanese Movie Watch Party + Bento

by | Mar 2, 2022 | Classes & Events

Let’s watch a classic Japanese movie together!

Friday, March 11 at 6:30 pm via Zoom

Please join J-Sei At the Movies to watch a Japanese film together via livestream (film tbd). While watching, participants are welcome to comment in real time in Chat. Afterwards, we’ll have a group discussion about the film we just watched. It’s a great way to connect and talk about movies!

RSVP with “March Movie Night” in the subject line.
You’ll receive Zoom information prior to the event.

 

See you at the movies!

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

 

 

 

March 11 Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji. Here are this month’s special movie night offerings:

  • Fish, Chicken & Yasai Bento: salmon and buri (yellowtail) yaki, roasted chicken, agebitashi (dashi marinated fried vegetables) and rice $18
  • Moriawase Onigiri 9-piece set: negihama & lemon / takuan and spinach / furikake nappa cabbage / ume shiso cucumber / torikawa (chicken and chicken skin) / unatama (unagi and tamago egg) / spicy tuna mentai (cod roe) / hijiki ikura (brown seaweed) / sakekawa (salmon skin) $25

Click on the button below to place your order.

You can pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, March 11th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

MY FRIEND YUJI

To order: When you click on the button above, it will take you directly to a pop-up order form on the My Friend Yuji webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click the desired item and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add” to close that box; repeat with second item as desired. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order and click “Continue to payment” to sign in and pay for your order.

Support J-Sei At the Movies

Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies is celebrating its fourth anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with inspiring Japanese and Japanese American films. We are especially grateful for the up close and personal chats with filmmakers as we learn so much from the exchange.

We welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for your good energy and support!

J-Sei At the Movies: Japanese Film Discussion

J-Sei At the Movies: Japanese Film Discussion

by | Feb 2, 2022 | Classes & Events

Hamaguchi discussion continues: Happy Hour
Friday, February 25 at 4:00pm
Watch Happy Hour on Kanopy, PlutoTV, Prime Video, or Criterion, then join us for a mini movie night to talk more about the films of Oscar nominee Hamaguchi Ryusuke
RSVP for Zoom link with “2/25 movie night” in the header

J-Sei At the Movies – the films of Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Friday, February 11, 6:30 pm via Zoom

The annual Academy Awards are approaching, and one director who is currently getting a lot of buzz is Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who in 2021 premiered not one, but two films (Drive My Car and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy) to worldwide acclaim. Who is Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and what makes his films so special? We’ll spend the evening discussing his films and their international appeal.

Here is what we’d like to do: Before getting together on the 11th, each of us will watch Hamaguchi’s film ASAKO I & II (2018) on our own. You can access ASAKO I & II in a number of ways: via the streaming service Kanopy if you’re a library member (many public libraries also have the movie on DVD or Blu-ray); on the Criterion channel if you’re a subscriber; and for rent through Prime Video. Then, on February 11 we’ll all meet on Zoom to talk about that film and everyone’s thoughts about it.

ASAKO I & II (Japanese title: Netemo sametemo) is a “pop romance” depicting the perplexing love life of a young woman named Asako as she falls in love first with a charming drifter named Baku and then with young businessman Ryohei, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Baku but has a completely different personality. What will Asako do?

You are welcome to watch other Hamaguchi films if you can. DRIVE MY CAR is currently playing in theaters. WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY is not presently available, but may be shortly. HAPPY HOUR (2015) can be found on Kanopy, Criterion channel, Pluto TV, and Prime Video—this is an excellent film, but be warned: the entire movie runs for a total of 5 hours.

RSVP with “Feb Movie Night” in the subject line.
You’ll receive Zoom information prior to the event.

Please join us for this Valentine’s Day treat.

 

See you at the movies!

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

 

 

 

February 11 Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji. Here are this month’s special offerings;

  • Asari sakamushi pasta (braised Manila clams in sake dashi and pasta) – $18
  • Pulled pork sandwich kit (homemade Hawaiian King style buns, lightly pickled cabbage and onions, slow-braised pork) – $18

 

MY FRIEND YUJI

To order: When you click on the button above, it will take you directly to a pop-up order form on the My Friend Yuji webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click anywhere inside the box frame to open another pop-up and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add item” to close the pop-up. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order and click “Continue to payment” to sign in and pay for your order.

Support J-Sei At the Movies

Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies is celebrating its fourth anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with inspiring Japanese and Japanese American films. We are especially grateful for the up close and personal chats with filmmakers as we learn so much from the exchange.

We welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for your good energy and support!