Day of Independence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Day of Independence | |
|---|---|
 poster design: Dennis Mukai |
|
| Genre | drama |
| Running time | 27 min. |
| Creator(s) | Cedar Grove Productions |
| Director(s) | Chris Tashima |
| Producer(s) | Lisa Onodera |
| Writer(s) | Chris Tashima & Tim Toyama based on the play, Independence Day, by Tim Toyama |
| Starring | Derek Mio Marcus Toji Alan Muraoka Keiko Kawashima Gina Hiraizumi Chris Tashima |
| Music by | Scott Nagatani |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Original channel | KHET / PBS Hawai'i |
| Original run | May 12, 2005– |
| IMDb profile | |
Day of Independence is a short film, broadcast as a half-hour PBS television special. It is a drama, set during the Japanese American internment of World War II, produced by Cedar Grove Productions.
Contents |
[edit] Tagline
A desert. A baseball diamond. A friendship. American, 1943
[edit] History
The story of the film is based on playwright and executive producer Tim Toyama's own father's World War II experience. During the war, Toyama's father, whose nickname was Zip, was sent along with his entire family to a U.S. concentration camp for Japanese Americans. Zip's Issei (Japanese immigrant) father fell ill and elected to return to Japan, along with Zip's mother, on a prisoner exchange ship, called the Gripsholm. However, the parents told Zip that as an American, he should remain in the U.S.
[edit] Background
Toyama wrote a play based on his family history, entitled "Independence Day." He and director Chris Tashima then adapted the play into a short film, which was produced by Lisa Onodera. The film was shot in 6 days, in Sockton, California and in Los Angeles. It was completed in 2003 and played in over 70 film and video festivals and competitions, winning 25 awards. Following its broadcast premiere on KHET/PBS Hawai'i on May 12, 2005, the film received a Regional Emmy nomination, from the NATAS San Francisco/Northern California Chapter (which includes Hawaii), in the category of Historical/Cultural – Program/Special.
[edit] Synopsis
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.
[edit] Awards
(partial list)
- Emmy Nomination - 35th Northern California Emmy Awards
- CINE Golden Eagle
- Platinum Best of Show - Aurora Awards
- Best Short - Stony Brook Film Festival
- Best Narrative Short - Tambay Film & Video Festival
- "Slate" Award, Best Short - California Independent Film Festival
- Best Short Film - Houston Multicultural Independent Film Festival
- Gold / 1st Prize - Crested Butte Reel Fest
- Audience Award, Best Drama - Marco Island Film Festival
[edit] Trivia
- A scene depicting a 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.
- During one of the montage sequences of "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.
