NewYork-Cafe.com (Oct. 28, 2009)
SUCCESS INTERVIEW
www.newyork-cafe.com
What does it take to succeed in New York?
We follow the process and achievement of top contenders and front runners.
Ms. Mari Kawade
Time in NY: Two years.
City of birth: Osaka
We interviewed filmmaker Ms Mari Kawade who lives and works in New York.
Her film "PARK," which focuses on the cultural differences between Japan and America, will be screened at the Big Apple Film Festival and the Queens International Film Festival.
"PARK' is a gentle comedy based on writer /director Mari Kawade's own experiences that got laughs from the audience at GIAA Festival of Short Films and Videos. Don't miss this warm comedy starring Tsukasa Kondo and Aaron Oetting.
Big Apple Film Festival
At 5;15 PM on Sat, Nov 7th.
Tribeca Cinemas
Queens International Film Festival
TBA
Website:
Http://www.marikawade.com
Interview with the filmmaker, Mari Kawade:
Q: What brought you to New York for the first time?
A: I had been fascinated by New York since I was a kid. I was interested in many things but I didn't know what exactly I would like to do. So I just came. It was a trip to find out who I would be.
Q: What did you do in New York?
A: I came to New York in 1996 for the first time and I tried out everything that I was interested in including art schools to figure out what I would like to do in the future. Finally, I attended a film school where I met with filmmaking. I produced, wrote, directed and edited a short film "UNDER THE BRIDGE", and I experienced an audience's applause for the first time. I was fascinated by filmmaking but I didn't think I could make a living as a film director. Meanwhile my visa expired and I'd spent all my money, so I had to return to Japan.
Q: And then you came to New York again. Why?
A: In Japan, I tried to get a job in the film industry but I couldn't and got a position as a concert/event promoter. It was a tough time. My cell phone was on for 24 hours every single day. It was stressful, but it was also a very exciting job; the time flew very fast. Even so, I noticed that I still had a passion for filmmaking. So in 2007, I made up my mind to return New York to make films. I've been making films here ever since.
Q: What's special about New York?
A: It's all about equal opportunity. And also, people help each other. People come to New York to try to achieve their dreams so they are competitive, but also they understand each other and help each other naturally.
Q: Do you have any hard experiences in New York?
A: My apartment was broken into and my computer was stolen, but that would have been hard if it had happened to me in Japan. It was hard to communicate with others when my English was worse than now. It took me so much time to say what I wanted to say. Sometimes I was misunderstood or people didn't listen to me. This is an experience shared by everyone who comes here from a foreign country. But it gets better because our English gets better and we find our own way to communicate.
Q: What are you thinking when you make a film?
A: It depends on what I'm doing: writing a script, shooting or editing. But overall, my primary goal is always to tell the story precisely.
Q: What is the message of "PARK"?
A: Be yourself.
Q: Finally, do you have advice or a message to others who want to come to New York?
A: If you have a desire, whatever it is, come to New York. You'll have an opportunity to try and people will help you. On the other hand, if you're not sure what you'd like to try, it might be too early for you to come. You might feel left behind by those around you. I had ten years in a career as a promoter in Japan, but I came here to New York because I was so distracted by thoughts of directing movies. I told myself "Why not give myself a try?" I didn't want to be a grandma with regrets that I'd never tried to fulfill my goals of filmmaking.