Marrying Up

 Ok, I never said I was a genius.  Whenever the discussion with the wife drifts to intelligence, It is always assumed that I married up.  It takes me a longer time to figure things out where the wife seems to get things instantaneously.  She claims that the intelligence of the children are determined by the mother.  You can see where this is going.  I am unable to label any of the sons as mediocre in smarts.

I got into film making as something to keep me occupied during chemo therapy.  A friend was gracious to invite me to join him in the class.  He would drive me to chemo sessions and every week to our film class downtown.  I should add he has produced some great films.

I never thought of me being a storyteller.  I don't tell jokes, Im not a conversationalist, nor outgoing.  I hate sitting in theaters for long periods of time in the midst of strangers.  I don't see movies (yes, that means I am culturally ignorant) and have a disdain for actors who believe they are a gift of the gods for the ability to essentially lie for a living.

But then last night after my last post, it occurred to me, this blog was my way of telling stories in the short form.  This led to film making.  Their structure is the same, and are not preplanned.  They just occur.  When I create a film, they are short (thank goodness), and I admit the result of hours of research and film (interviews).  Yet when I sit down to the computer, I pretty much know how it all is going to fit.  I can remember sections of the interview from the numerous clips that I stitch together.

Now I'm not saying that I am a genius at film making (I'm not Kurasawa or Miyazaki).  Far from it.  I am an amateur student film maker with no plans to make a living out of this.  My films follow a familiar structure with an unintended message.  Yeah, I don't go in with a pre planned message in mind, but hopefully let the subject tell their story.  The film just happens.

Going back to intelligence in the marriage, her response is always "I married you".  Interpret that any way you want.  

Venice Gakkuen

 I always thought that Japanese Language school was a waste of my time.  My precious Sat. time, Sat. morning cartoons, sleeping in late, and any other normal Sat. stuff like mowing the lawn. 

You would think 5 years of 9am to 3pm I would be somewhat literate in Japanese.  The reality is that of the 5 years, I learned the basic alphabet (hiragana) and some of katakana.  And that was in the first grade because Kikuno sensei would not let me out to recess until I learned it.  To this day, I still can read hiragana.  

The rest of the 5 years (you do see a pattern here....) being bored.  Mainly because most of the instruction (95%) was in Japanese.  All the teachers were from Japan.  To say I didn't understand what was going on in class is a understatement.  Boredom usually means finding ways to get in trouble.  Whistling, drawing, and watching the clock as recess was every hour.  Lunch was usually an hour and the afternoons more tolerant.

I have been in front of the class holding a chair, scolded, and been called Wada Kun (not an endearing term when being shouted across the room of at all school assemblies.  My saving grace was that the principal Yamanaka Sensei knew my family.  Not to mention an older sister that did well and graduated.  

What I didn't realize was the cultural value of my education.  There was Radio Taisho (morning exercise before school), lining up in class, cleaning up at the end of the day (sweeping, mopping, general cleaning), Ohanashikai (speech contest on a stage in front of family and friends), Ondokai (athletic competition between white and red teams), etiquette, Omiyage (gift giving) we used to get a box of Hershey chocolate bars for Christmas, Community events being part of the Venice Community Center, and things I never recognized.  The faculty office was a small room where the principle was at the head desk,  the teachers desks were lined up in front, similar to Japanese business setups in TV shows.   

I can instinctively bow when required with my hands at my side and mutter a response.  I understand the hierarchy of Japanese authority, and on the other hand I don't know a lot.  As I watch NHK TV, I see things that are oddly familiar.  I still don't understand the language, but I can somehow tell if the subtitles are not accurate. 

These are things that I learned before my two stints teaching English in Japan and my 1 yr. of Japanese in college.  What all this means, I don't know.  Other than I now don't despise the 5 years of Saturdays.

Driven to Drink

Previous forgotten to post.

Im under the gun to finish (start) my annual video for the Digital Histories class sponsored by Visual Communications.  It has become expected of me to turn in a late film.  This usually means sporadic periods of research, inspiration, memory loss, and a lot of drinking.

  

My inspirations come from the late nights of calm, quietness, and the timing my bathroom breaks. 

2021 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival

 This years photos from the festival

   2021 Digital Histories fellow film makers

                                                 This years subject of my film Tu Le

 My neighbor Dave from across the street died early this morning.  Dave was one of those guys who everybody in the neighborhood knew. He was friendly and generally a good guy. He had been having back issues for a few years to the point where he had trouble walking. 

One of his passions was ocean fishing, he would always bring by some of his catch of the day.  He was one of those guys where any day was a good day as long as he was on the boat.

Dave was also our designated watchdog.  After his next door neighbor Tommy moved to Washington, he became the guy who always knew what was occurring in the neighborhood.  I wish I had a picture to post.

Rest In Peace Dave.