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DIGITAL HISTORIES 2018

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15 films in package
SAY YES TO YOUR HEART
A 79-year-old man wants to join a rock climbing gym but his granddaughter tries to dissuade him. They agree to a 1-month trial. Disaster strikes when Grandpa is stricken with shingles. After a 6 month layoff and still feeling weak, Grandpa returns to the gym to either quit or persevere.
ABANDONED FABRIC
A bag of kimonos meant for the trash changed the course of Sumi Foley’s life. Born in Osaka, Japan, Sumi was inspired by her grandmother who taught her how to sew and would delight her with captivating bedtime stories. This film is a colorful journey of creativity, imagination, and family.
A CENTENARIAN PLUS SIX
Lillian Wong was born in 1912. Applying to college, her heart was set on attending USC and her father decided to pay the higher tuition to educate a “girl.” At USC, the Chinese Women’s Club invited Chinese men from Cal Tech and that is when Lillian’s life became more interesting
KINDNESS IS CONTAGEOUS GIVING IS AN ADDICTION
After volunteering to make costumes for her son’s school theatre production, the filmmaker learns that it is never too late to give.
JEFF IMADA BREAKING BARRIERS BY DESIGN
Jeff Imada was a pre-med student at UCLA before an opportunity to work on a movie as an extra created a totally different career choice. A road not often taken by Japanese Americans, the lure of working in the entertainment industry on screen set the stage for an entirely different occupation… stuntman.
RAY ROCKS HAIR, TAP, & HIP-HOP
When Ray Remo is not managing his hair salon and caring for his clients, he’s pursuing his passion for tap and hip-hop.
TAIKO REFLECTIONS
Johnny Mori and George Abe tell stories of how the first Japanese American Buddhist Taiko group came to be, fifty years ago. Share in a lifetime of lessons, and be fed by the sounds of the shakuhachi and the Taiko drum.
THE TRAVELING RICE POT
This is the story of a rice pot that became part of a family – observing their journey from East LA to the internment camps, being deported to Japan and coming back to the US, and then being replaced by modern technology.
WITHIN THE OPEN DOORS OF A SHINTO CHURCH IN BOYLE HEIGHTS
A sense of place is experienced by walking through the open doors of a Shinto church located in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood and by meeting the head minister and church members.
THE FINALE CLUB
In 1946, a confluence of music, race, and politics led to a historic performance at The Finale Club. Two jazz greats – Charlie Parker and Miles Davis – played at the club when Little Tokyo was Bronzeville and the Japanese American community was vanquished due to unfounded war hysteria.
DANCING THROUGH LITTLE TOKYO
Late in life, a man is inspired by the annual Nisei Week Festival to reconnect with his roots by learning various forms of Japanese dance. He finds a legendary choreographer to teach him the classical Japanese style. And he discovers Elvis impersonators who teach him alternate forms of Japanese American dance.
THE ARTS DISTRICT WITHOUT ARTISTS
Forced Removal! Evictions! Evictions! Reminiscent of the past, artists are being forced to move, “relocate,” after years of living and working in one of the first designated Artists-in-Residence buildings in Los Angeles. The new owners, a subsidiary of an international bank, of the Joannes Building, began the evictions immediately.
HOLIDAY BOWL
The Holiday Bowl: a gathering place for a community and a generation, where all peoples came together in urban Los Angeles. It was a refuge for the stresses of life. The community celebrated its opening in 1958 until it closed in disbelief in 2000.
NOTE TO SELF
With a demanding schedule and mounting stresses, Casey struggles to balance responsibilities while finding joy. Reflecting on her childhood memories, she discovers that happiness is a choice and it’s the simple things that keep her grounded. This film is a reminder to never lose your inner child.
"ON MY HONOR..." BILL SHISHIMA VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
With roots in El Pueblo, Los Angeles’ beginnings, Bill Shishima was incarcerated in Heart Mountain, WY before becoming a boy scout and raising the daily flag. His upbringing and camp experiences led him to become a leader in the Japanese American community as a president, teacher, docent, tour guide, and quintessential volunteer.
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Digital Histories is a mechanism for AAPNHPI older adults to use their unique voices and perspectives in sharing stories with the generations to come. Since its creation in 2003, Digital Histories has provided a professional and artistic work environment for underserved, ethnic-minority seniors in the Los Angeles-based Asian Pacific American community. Past documentary projects have focused on issues such as discovering and preserving family histories, coming to terms with a gay child, and senior love and dating. 

With roots in El Pueblo, Los Angeles’ beginnings, Bill Shishima was incarcerated in Heart Mountain, WY before becoming a boy scout and raising the daily flag. His upbringing and camp experiences led him to become a leader in the Japanese American community as a president, teacher, docent, tour guide, and quintessential volunteer.

  • Year
    2018
  • Runtime
    6 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Frances Ito
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