The story and theme.

"One Night in Tokyo" is a deep dive into the complex differences of people and their ability to connect when presented with similar obstacles.

It follows Sam, someone with everything all figured out who is surprised when his girlfriend doesn't arrive at the Tokyo airport to pick him up. He wanders the city until he finds his way to her apartment - only to be broken up with. He grapples with cutting his trip short or staying to convince his girlfriend to take him back. A friend puts him in touch with his girlfriend, a Japanese woman who is headed out with some friends and can show him the town. Although they don't speak the same language, the two connect as their night takes them to new places and brings them together.

What would make me want to make a film in Japan?

The assistant director and I collectively lived in Japan for 20 years. I first went there at 19 years old (picture below with Mt Fuji!), where I attended a university exchange program before returning for work years later. I received my undergraduate degree in Japanese language and culture.

Tokyo has always been a second home to us. There's a different sense of discovery that always seems to happen in Tokyo. At one moment you might be surrounded by skyscrapers, and in the next come across a temple that has been there for hundreds of years.

And that brings us to now...

It's always been a dream of mine to create a feature film, but I've avoided making one "just for the sake of making one."

During my time in Japan, I was enamoured early on with how I could connect with people through shared experiences before having a firm grasp of the language. I watched as I got to know them more through ways that weren't necessarily verbal. As I learned how to communicate more, it opened my eyes up to the stories that we learn from other people that aren't from the same background, but also how similar we were in so many ways. Many of the friends I made during this time are still close to me today.

I had the idea of making a film where two people speaking different languages connect despite their language barrier. I started writing the screenplay in both Japanese and English, playing with that theme.

While writing "One Night in Tokyo" with the intention of making it into a short film, I grappled with telling the story in under an hour. With every rewrite, I grew closer to the characters and the script kept getting longer. I realized to tell it properly, I needed to expand it into a feature.

And while looking at my shoot schedule, I realized I could do that with just a few extra days of filming. After that, writing it became easy and it turned into a film I felt I was meant to make - using my skills as a filmmaker to tell a personal story that gives a unique perspective on life and growing up.

Why this film?

The film is inspired by French New Wave cinema and breaking the norms of conventional filmmaking. As you watch it, you get a sense that the camera is in the scene with the characters, and listen to their conversations as if you were sitting right there with them. It's a study on how we communicate with others and how people from different backgrounds can find common ground to understand each other.

And, it's a film I know how to make on a small budget where your contribution is an even larger factor in it's success. It's small and intimate. It feels sweet, but also real. It's also a story where you feel like you're there, where the city of Tokyo is also a character you get to know.

Aside from the story I want to tell within the film, I want to show others that they can use their smarts and skills in order to create the art they see in their heads. What you see on the screen is art, but your approach to creating it can be it's own art form.

On my personal website, I offer some of my own techniques to other filmmakers to create short films quickly and on limited budgets. With this film, I want to show them they can tell any kind of story they want as long as they put the right amount of preparation and passion into it.

Why you?

Now, you might be asking, "why would I want to be involved?" And that answer is simple: I want anyone who has ever wanted to be a part of making a film to have a chance to say they have.

It has always been my dream, and I'm sure a lot of us watch films on Netflix and think, "it'd be cool to see my name in the credits." It's fun to be a part of creating art, and I feel that you feel closer to it when you were a part of the process. I love it when friends have asked to be a part of productions. It's not just exciting to share the production process with them, but it's this unique thing you now share with that person. It's not everyday you get to create actual art with someone. I think it's a completely unique skill and appreciation that we have as human beings, and we should always be looking to connect on that level.

And when you watch it...you're not just watching some random film. You're watching a film that you had a hand in making. You'll always have that.

Your support isn't just limited to contributions. Please share our post on your page, and if you message one of our team members, we'll include you in the ADDITIONAL THANKS on the official webpage!

You can write, "I'm helping make a movie and we could use your support! #onenightintokyo" while sharing this link!

How will the money be used?

Money from this campaign will be used directly for the film - to pay for actors, food, additional crew for some scenes, and accommodations for cast/crew that live outside of the city in case of a late night of filming.

We have our plane tickets and equipment ready. But there are some hard costs which allow us to make the film even better - and those who collaborate with us will be the reason we're able to make the film we are so passionate about making. Much of it will still be self-funded, so anything received additionally from the requested amount will be used to offset our out-of-pocket costs, or directly for the film: to cover unforeseen costs, an added shoot day, additional crew, or locations that make travel time more efficient.

What have we done so far?

Matt, Brandon, Griffin, and I have our tickets booked for production for March 2023. Our production dates are locked and we have Japan-based crew members selected and ready to start. We have an exciting cast we’ll be announcing shortly with experience in Japanese television, commercials, and feature films. Test shoots are underway for locations by our local camera assistant, and we’ve started work on the original score.

Production during COVID era

COVID presented a huge hurdle for content production. Many of my commercial projects went remote or stopped altogether. One thing we're incredibly focused on is safety. Using my experience on commercial sets during this COVID era, we're taking precautions to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Crews will be small and follow all recommended guidelines. I've written the film to allow us to be in larger spaces or mostly outdoors. Prior to shooting, we'll all be subject to COVID testing and crew will stay in separate hotels (no shared Airbnbs).

The big question: when can we see it?

Filming wraps in March 2023 (yes, in just a few months!) and post-production will begin. Our tentative schedule is to have the film fully completed in its final form by August 2023. Once we have the film complete, we'll schedule and send out invitations to the private screening which will tentatively be held in the last quarter of 2023 in metro Detroit, Michigan. Depending on demand, we may also schedule a west coast private screening.

A private screening link will be sent out to contributors after the in-person private screening.

That seems fast!

Yep, it is! I shoot, direct, and edit all of my films. I create storyboards and shotlists prior to filming so I don't waste time and overshoot - that wastes not only production time, but also post-production time. When I start cutting, I already have an idea of what the movie looks like. That saves time and means I can send the cut to sound and color to put the finishing touches on it quickly.