Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2009 Updates

I just went to Yubari the other day to help film a promotional video of Cheep Hiroishi and Junco's new song that will debut at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in February 2009. While I was there I got a chance to take a lot of photos of the town which I wanted to share with my blog readers.
I was suprised to see all the movie advertisments from the old days still displaying on billboards almost anywhere you look. I couldn't walk 20 feet without seeing some sort of movie display. Back in those days the ads were huge. There was not ink-jet printer so they were hand painted and put up everywhere from small coffee shops and hotels to government offices and schools.

I guess back in the day it was the movie festival to be at. The movie craze took a brief break due tolack of funding and the town's own finacial and political issues, but it seems to have bounce back. And just in time too.

My film along with about sixty others will be showing over a period of one week between February 26th to March 3rd. I am assuming it is going to be pretty big. I will definitely give more updates on the festival as I know about them and a good review of the festival after it is over.

The town is still filled really great people who are almost all movie fanatics. It really like walking into a completely new world. I
forgot that I was in Japan.

An experience some say you will remember for a life time. I'll just have to see for myself.

Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival: Same Old Story

The Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2009 is one of the most famous film festivals in the world. The Festival draws over 50,000 people in its one week movie and film extravaganza.
The festival starts on February 26th and run through March 2nd with closing ceremonies on March 3rd.

Some of the films that will be showing is (cough) mine; Same Old Story: A Trip Back 20 years, Crows Zero 2 (opening), and Madagascar 2 (closing). Of course there are too many more to
mention, but the festival brings a lot of international talented filmmakers together and allows them a huge venue to promote their films.

Though Yubari itself is very small (and bankrupt) it didn't stop the film festival from continuing its name's legacy. If you are in Japan during the time of the festival I really recommend you attend. It is an experience you will never forget and a culture you will always remember.

Same Old Story・Winner: Best International Music Documentary

It is officially official. Same Old Story is the Winner for Best International Music Documentary from the New York Independent International Film and Video Festival. NYIFVF is not highest in film festival rankings, but is was our first feature film and something showing the film's accomplishments no matter how big or small it may be.

Same Old Story has really started to take off in 2009. Being less than a year old it already is featured on Wikipedia and IMDb. This has opened doors to future festivals one of which we are going to in February, Yubari Fantastic Film Festival.

Same Old Story on IMDb

Same Old Story finally after months and months of submissions has found its spot on IMDb.
This was no easy task, but after submitting to Withoutabox and then winning an award for "Best International Music Documentary" it started to open up a whole new can of media spinach.

Now that the film's title page is up and running on IMDb it is becoming even more of a task to submit updates. Don't get me wrong the guys and gals over at IMDb are doing a great job, but would be nice if things were a lot easier to submit.

I am still only 80% satisfied, but I am sure they will eventually get around to upgrading that satisfaction to 100%.

So this is for all of you film makers out there who are trying to get your film "out there" and be seen by the rest of the world in the easiest way possible. You have got nothing to lose by submitting to IMDb except them rejecting you. Even my submission got rejected the first time. Persistance is the key here along with a long line of PR linked throughout the world wide web.

GOING TO KOREA

I am going to Korea tomorrow to promote Discovery's sample CD collection and meet some musicians about recording a new sample CD with Ethnic Korean sounds and music. I have been getting a bunch of requests lately for traditional Korean sounds and have not had the chance to give a specific date, but I can tell you it is in the near future.

Part 2 of the trip will be talking about promoting recording artists from Korea over here in Japan. The relations between Japan and Korea have been getting better and better when you think that less than eight years ago Japanese culture wasn't allowed in Korea. What better time than now to increase relations even more.

Lastly, I am also going to promote the Japanese music Documentary "Same Old Story" (Korean Version) with hopes that it will show at the PIFAN in 2009 along with the EBS documentary film festival.

Of course all work and no play is not fun, so I will be taking lots of pictures and post updates when I get back to Japan. Talk to you all then.

"Same Old Story" Wins Best International Music Documentary

It's final. The Japanese Documentary "Same Old Story" has won Best International Music Documentary at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival September 2008.

This was a very unexpected surprise as this was a first time film and of course independently produced and directed. Since the news of our film winning an award from such a large film festival, it has opened the doors to future festivals.

2009 is going to be a very big year for our movie as it is going to be shown at 6 more festivals throughout the world.
I really hope this film will touch peoples hearts and give them insight on their own life and history.

I know this poster is in Japanese and I am working the English translation hoping to get it online by the end of the week. I just couldn't wait to share it will all of my readers.

If you are in the area and have a chance to see the film please do. You can check our movie page here for festival updates.

Japan to New York and Back

The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival is over and and I am back in Japan getting ready for our next festival which will be the Rockport Film Festival in Texas and then back home in Japan at the Yubari Fantastic Film Festival.

The NYIIFVF was a great first experience for a first time film maker. I would of liked to known more about the festival before attending, but nevertheless still an experience to remember. "Same Old Story" got a really good attendance and even better reaction. Half the audience had tears in their eyes during the film. I am glad it was able to touch peoples hearts for just being an international documentary. I hope to get that kinda of reaction back home in Japan as well. (After all, it's a Japanese film)

I really want to keep those interested up-to-date on the film's festival dates just in case it might be playing in your area, but I am a bad blogger. I am getting better though. OK, enough said. Keep checking back for updates and if I haven't updated in a while WiFi kick me in the leg or something.

Same Old Story Movie Poster

Our movie poster for Same Old Story is finally complete. This film will be showing at Village East Cinema in New York at the film festival.

Showtime is September 21st, 2008 at 12pm. If you come to view the film you are automatically invited to the after party at STILL in New York City. The party goes from 10pm till 2am. There is a dress code (for those interested) and it is casual to formal. No T-shirts, baseball caps, sneakers, etc.

My offer for opening night tickets (September 18th, 6pm til Midnight) still stand, but I only have 4o left. Be sure to email me to reserve yours. I didn't think they would go so fast. The opening party is at Mansion. Check out location from the link.

Anyway, if you are in New York or a New Yorker and want to see some great Indie Films, stop on by, but don't forget to say hi.

Same Old Story at New York Film Festival

"Same Old Story", a documentary film produced by Discovery Firm, Inc. has been accepted into the New York Film Festival September 18th through the 25th. If you are in the New York area September 21st at 12:00pm stop by and see the film. You can purchase tickets early online before they sell out.

Will be playing at the Village East Cinema located at 181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street.

In addition to tickets, I have 100 opening night VIP passes that I am giving away to anyone who mails me and lets me know they want some. Opening night is a big event where film makers and producers get together to to see what films will be played at the festival. Last year many big stars showed up to the opening night and mingled with the other VIP guests.