Day of Independence

Day of Independence

poster design: Dennis Mukai
Directed by Chris Tashima
Produced by Lisa Onodera
Written by Chris Tashima
Tim Toyama
Based on Independence Day
by Tim Toyama
Starring Derek Mio
Marcus Toji
Alan Muraoka
Keiko Kawashima
Gina Hiraizumi
Chris Tashima
Music by Scott Nagatani
Release date
  • September 26, 2003 (2003-09-26)
Running time
 27 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Day of Independence is a 2003 short film, broadcast in 2005 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 with Visual Communications as fiscal sponsor.

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. internment 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.[1] However, the parents told Zip that as an American, he should remain in the U.S.

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 Stockton, California and in Los Angeles.[2] 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,[3] 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.[4]

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.

Cast

(In order of appearance)

Awards

(partial list)

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ [AMA-e-News] Asian Media Access, E-Newsletter, 4/19
  2. ↑ "A Day of Independence" - World War II Forums
  3. ↑ enews for Hawaii International Film Festival
  4. ↑ list of 35th NorCal Emmy noms; p. 9 Archived April 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. (pdf)
  5. ↑ 2004 CINE winner list
  6. ↑ 2003 Awards of Excellence / Film
  7. ↑ Stony Brook Film Festival 2004 winners Archived October 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. on IndieWire
  8. ↑ 4th Tambay Film Fest Winners on Nolan's Pop Culture Review online
  9. ↑ California Independent Film Festival winner history
  10. ↑ 2004 Winners on Crested Butte Reel Fest online
  11. ↑ San Diego Asian Film Festival asks Tashima, "... quite an impressive crew & cast (Greg Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Sab Shimono ). How did you get everyone ...? on SDAFF website
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