gathering thoughts....

okay, my computer is going to blow up from all the youtube clips, and i DO need to try and bring this post towards a resolution to get to part 3 of HIRO IN HOLLYWOOD.  

still,  i'm about to take yet another 'fork' in the road!   but before i do, i wanted to gather my thoughts on what i've learned since writing about this subject matter.

my blog on this issue, has been influenced by, and FILTERED on 3 key levels. 

1.  my own personal film/tv memories, being born and raised in america...(no...not silent film era)  heh heh.  but FLOWER DRUM SONG,  KING AND I,  KUNG FU, etc. 
2.  my own awareness about "HOLLYWOOD", living in l.a. PLUS, having friends and family WITHIN the industry.
(sort of funny, since the word/IMAGE of 'HOLLYWOOD' is so iconic...but actually hollywood is an essentially irrelevant CITY within the film business).   
3.  the realization that i TRULY was somewhat unaware of "BEING JAPANESE" for most of my life!   :)

so what began almost as a 'lark'....(hiro in hollywood), actually has become an AMAZING JOURNEY on a personal level, as ALL journeys that come from my interest in sanada san tend to be.    :)

GROWING UP with almost NO SENSE of my asian identity, (which i intend to blog about AFTER if finish the hiro in hollywood subject matter) MOVIES, were simply, for me,  ENTERTAINMENT.    i grew up in the time of movie musicals, so THAT gives you an idea of the 'fantasy factor'.   :) 

now, that said, i want to mention a few other things.

1.  i rented from NETFLIX the movie SLANTED SCREEN and received it last week.   i watched it last friday.   WOW!!! i had NO IDEA how similar what i have been exploring was, to jeff adachi's documentary! 

(i started this blog with my own early memories,  knowing about james shigeta, pat morita, etc, aided by google  and further aided by youtube!)   one door led to another, etc.   

i had previously only seen the CLIP of jeff's documentary (that i had posted)...plus read some reviews.    but when i saw the ENTIRE DOCUMENTARY....it was SO fascinating to hear from some of these asian american actors discussing THEIR OWN experiences!   

anyway, i HIGHLY recommend renting that movie, for a MUCH more thorough and knowledgeable presentation than anything i could ever illustrate.   just FANTASTIC and opens the eyes!  (slanted or not).   :)

The Slanted Screen

2.  i'm going to attempt to get in touch with arthur dong, who recently finished HOLLYWOOD CHINESE, because i REALLY want to watch that one too.   (and i'll share info if i find out anything).   but i found it ironic that adachi and dong were BOTH working on this subject likely around the same time.   

* just got an email back...they expect it to go on sale 'sometime' next year, and i'm on the mailing list for it.  www.deepfocusproductions.com if interested. 

3.  i am realizing more and more how very different the subject of ASIAN movies might be, from a NATIVE of the country (be it hong kong, japan, or others) than the ASIAN AMERICAN point of view.   sandra's viewpoint about hong kong films, and adachi's documentary about THE SLANTED SCREEN offer such interesting insights into this very complex issue.  

as life continues to amaze me, with it's synchronism, last night, i turned on the t.v. and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA was on.   i THOUGHT i'd seen it....but realized i must not have paid much attention, so for ME, watching  it was sort of a NEW experience, and also, it was 'colored' by the current research i'm doing on the subject.   it TRULY gave me a 'new perspective', in the viewing of it.

many other 'coincidences' followed, and pulled me towards this new direction, so i'm just going to follow it....and see what unfolds.   i had a very remarkable discovery the last couple of days, which may or may not have relevance but i'm excited to share it.    it WILL all lead to my PART 3 of HIRO IN HOLLYWOOD...PROMISE.   :)

ah well....