The intricate and surreal visuals of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski’s stop-animated story Madame Tutli-Putli are alluring from the very first frames. Stadium lights are the only evidence given that the first scene takes place at a train station. They turn on like a controlled explosion to illuminate a foggy world. The camera pans along the ground where random objects are lined up: a record player, empty picture frames, a rocking chair, stacked books and piles of suitcases. They have sentimental value. They …
Tag: film
At my daughter, Kantra’s school they have a “crazy hair day” where kids come to school wearing funny hair styles. Last school year, new to the game, we just bought Kantra a fluorescent orange wig. She looked ready for a rave. I couldn’t help noticing the dichotomy of the kids wearing afro wigs and calling it crazy while my daughter wore white girl hair under the same banner. “I think its just a joke,” my wife, Haruki, said. “I know,” …
It’s been a minute…. Just got back from the beach. I’ve been working on three short stories. One’s about a gathering. Another one’s about the 2011 earthquake. The third is about pennies for a thought or giving one’s two cents. They have been almost done, scrapped, rewritten, yelled at, sighed over, laughed about, and reborn. They’re fucking getting there. My latest article for Tokyo Weekender just got up, “Japanese hip-hop has sectioned itself off.” Most of the people in this piece …
Last month, Tokyo Weekender ran my interview with Born With It film director, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour. Since then the movie has been airing on PBS. The feature is also currently streaming online. Watch it below. Read my interview with director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, here. …
Here’s an article I wrote for Tokyo Weekender (April 2018). The piece is about the short feature film, Born With It. The movie follows Keisuke, an African-Japanese boy growing up in a small Japanese town. He’s the new kid and the only black one. I talked to director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour. He made the film in 2015, but its still getting recognized. Next month Born will air on PBS and later streamed online. Watch the trailer below. Sorry for the long absence. …
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