Digital Histories: Our Stories, Now Told

Digital Histories: Our Stories, Now Told

Aratani Theatre
Sunday | May 6, 2018 1:00 pm

Description

Filmmakers in attendance.

Visual Communications’ Digital Histories program engages the passion of our elders to tell their stories in movie form. This year the seniors transformed an illness into a triumphant narrative, unearthed a forgotten jazz club in Little Tokyo, and explored how the first Japanese American Buddhist Taiko group came to be. – Gary Gabisan

In This Program

ABANDONED FABRIC

Kevin Shore / USA / 2018 / Documentary, Family, Women / 6 mins
Sumi rescues a bag of old kimonos intended for the trash and discovers a passion that would transform her life.
THE ARTS DISTRICT WITHOUT ARTISTS

Steve Nagano / United States / 2018 / Documentary, History, Human Rights, Social Issues / 7 mins
Community artists, builders of the Arts District, are evicted from their studio homes reminding us how money is valued over people’s lives.
A CENTENARIAN PLUS SIX

Michi Tanioka / USA / 2018 / Coming of Age, Documentary, Family, History, Social Issues, Women / 7 mins
A 106-year-old Chinese American woman reminisces about growing up in Los Angeles, attending USC, meeting a student from China and leading an adventurous life together.
DANCING THROUGH LITTLE TOKYO

David Osako / USA / 2018 / Documentary, Family, History / 7 mins
Better late than never, an older man reconnects to his roots by learning Japanese dance, from both a legendary teacher, and from some Elvis impersonators.
THE FINALE CLUB

Robert Shoji / USA / 2018 / Documentary, History, Music, Social Issues / 12 mins
In segregated wartime Los Angeles, African American musicians found moments of solace in Little Tokyo. This is the story of The Finale Club.
HOLIDAY BOWL

Mitchell Matsumura / USA / 2018 / Documentary, Family, History / 6 mins
The Holiday Bowl: a gathering place for a community and a generation, where all peoples came together in urban Los Angeles.
JEFF IMADA: BREAKING BARRIERS BY DESIGN

Cory Shiozaki / USA / 2018 / Documentary / 10 mins
The inspiring story of Jeff Imada, a local sansei who overcame discrimination to become the first Japanese American Stunt Coordinator in mainstream Hollywood movies.
KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS, GIVING IS AN ADDICTION

Tracy Quan-Nichols / USA / 2018 / Documentary, Family / 6 mins
After volunteering to make costumes for her son’s school theatre production, a returning Digital Histories filmmaker learns that it is never too late to give.
NOTE TO SELF

Carol Shubin / USA / 2018 / Coming of Age, Documentary, Family / 5 mins
Reflecting on her childhood memories, Casey reminds herself to never lose sight of life's joys or her inner child.
“ON MY HONOR…” BILL SHISHIMA VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Fran Ito / United States / 2018 / Documentary, Family, History, Human Rights, Social Issues / 6 mins
Bill Shishima, incarcerated at Heart Mountain, became a boy scout there. His upbringing and camp experiences led him to become a leader in the community.
RAY ROCKS WITH HAIR, TAP, AND HIP-HOP

Gerry Chow / USA / 2018 / Coming of Age, Dance, Documentary, Family / 5 mins
A local hairstylist details the challenges of managing his business and tending to clients, while pursuing his passion for the art of tap and hip-hop.
SAY YES TO YOUR HEART

George Takaki / USA / 2018 / Drama, Family / 10 mins
Grandpa's newfound love for rock climbing is blindsided by a severe case of shingles, which brings him to a critical crossroads in his life.
TAIKO REFLECTIONS

Barbara Shore / USA / 2018 / Documentary, History, Music, Spiritual / 9 mins
Johnny Mori and George Abe share stories of how the first Japanese American Buddhist Taiko group began.
THE TRAVELING RICE POT

George Wada / USA / 2018 / Documentary, Experimental, Family / 5 mins
The adventures of a first-generation Japanese American family through the view of a family rice pot.
WITHIN THE OPEN DOORS OF A SHINTO CHURCH IN BOYLE HEIGHTS

Irene Paul / USA / 2018 / Documentary, Family, History, Spiritual / 6 mins
A glimpse into a Shinto church located in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood.