Day of Independence
| Day of Independence | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) poster design: Dennis Mukai | |
| Directed by | Chris Tashima |
| Written by | Chris Tashima Tim Toyama |
| Based on | Independence Day by Tim Toyama |
| Produced by | Lisa Onodera |
| Starring | Derek Mio Marcus Toji Alan Muraoka Keiko Kawashima Gina Hiraizumi Chris Tashima |
| Music by | Scott Nagatani |
Release date |
|
Running time | 27 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Day of Independence is a 2003
Visual Communications
as fiscal sponsor.
Plot
A young baseball player faces the tragic circumstances of the internment of 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Set in a relocation camp in 1943, Day of Independence chronicles a family torn apart by a forced, unjust incarceration, a father's decision that challenges his son, and ultimately his son's triumph through courage, sacrifice and the All-American game of baseball.
Cast
- Derek Mio as Zip
- Marcus Toji as Hog
- Alan Muraoka as Father
- Keiko Kawashima as Mother
- Chris Tashima as The Umpire
(In order of appearance)
- Dean Komure as Spectator
- Lisa Joe as Frances ("National Anthem" singer)
- Diana Toshiko as Betty
- Sarah Chang as Sadie
- Julie Tofukuji as Mimi
- Ulysses Lee as Tad
- Jonathan Okui as Satch
- Gina Hiraizumi as Rose
History
The story of the film is based on playwright and executive producer
Issei (Japanese immigrant) father fell ill and elected to return to Japan, along with Zip's mother, on a prisoner exchange ship, called the MS Gripsholm.[1]
However, the parents told Zip that as an American, he should remain in the U.S.
Background
Toyama wrote a play based on his family history, Independence Day. He and director
NATAS San Francisco/Northern California Chapter (which includes Hawaii), in the category of Historical/Cultural – Program/Special.[4]
Awards
(partial list)
- Emmy Nomination - 35th Northern California Emmy Awards
- CINE Golden Eagle[5]
- Platinum Best of Show - Aurora Awards
- Accolade Award of Excellence, Short Film[6]
- Best Short - Stony Brook Film Festival[7]
- Best Narrative Short - Tambay Film & Video Festival[8]
- "Slate" Award, Best Short - California Independent Film Festival[9]
- Best Short Film - Houston Multicultural Independent Film Festival
- Gold / 1st Prize - Crested Butte Reel Fest[10]
- Audience Award, Best Drama - Marco Island Film Festival
Trivia
- Performance artist Dan Kwong, who is also a baseball player, coached lead actor Derek Mio in old-style pitching form.
- Lisa Joe's character, "Frances" (who sings the National Anthem at the ballgame and later conducts a choir rehearsal), was named in honor of Joe's mother, Frances Sue Okabe, a well known internment camp as a teenager, where she was known for her singing. Joe provided the singing voice on the soundtrack as well, which was recorded on Mother's Dayjust after her mother died from cancer.
- During one of the montage sequencesof "camp life," there is a painter standing by an easel, who is portrayed by playwright Tim Toyama, who stepped in at the last moment when the person cast to play the part didn't show up for filming.
- The scene depicting the choir rehearsal has un-credited cameo appearances by noted actors Tamlyn Tomita, Emily Kuroda, Sab Shimono and Greg Watanabe who are friends of the director.[11]
See also
References
- ^ [AMA-e-News] Asian Media Access, E-Newsletter, 4/19 Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ""A Day of Independence" - World War II Forums". Archived from the original on 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
- ^ enews Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine for Hawaii International Film Festival
- ^ list of 35th NorCal Emmy noms; p. 9 Archived April 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine (pdf)
- ^ "2004 CINE winner list" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-04-23. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ 2003 Awards of Excellence / Film Archived 2008-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Stony Brook Film Festival 2004 winners Archived October 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine on IndieWire
- ^ 4th Tambay Film Fest Winners on Nolan's Pop Culture Review online
- ^ California Independent Film Festival winner history
- ^ 2004 Winners on Crested Butte Reel Fest online[permanent dead link]
- ^ San Diego Asian Film Festival asks Tashima, "... quite an impressive crew & cast (Greg Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Sab Shimono ). How did you get everyone ...? Archived 2007-12-27 at the Wayback Machine on SDAFF website
External links
- Day of Independence now available on Vimeo
- Day of Independence at IMDb
- Coverage of PBS broadcast Archived 2008-06-09 at the Wayback Machine in Honolulu Star-Bulletin
