Greetings from Rockhammer, Sweden. Population: 302 (your Tokyo Cowboys team being the 2). After using every mode of transportation (taxi, train, foot, bus, boat, car) and being on the road for 4 days in an attempt to keep traveling costs as low as possible, the equipment and the team arrived safely*. And, thank goodness, the computer and hard drives started up with no protest. Firstly, let me apologize that we can access email only sparingly as we have to dial up long-distance. So if you write to us (thanks to all of those who have already), it might take a few days to get back to you. Here's the news this month:
JUSFC Grant Status:
As mentioned in the last update, we have applied for the Japan US Friendship Commission Grant (www.jusfc.gov) with the help of our fiscal sponsor Projectile Arts (www.projectilearts.org). Thanks to all of you who helped us by writing recommendations and giving us advice on the proposal. The Commission has received our application and will make their decision on the 16th of September. We will hear from them shortly thereafter. If awarded, the grant it would afford us the opportunity to significantly supplement the postproduction and marketing budgets.
Sweden:
After the generous offer of accommodation from one of our long-standing Tokyo Cowboys patrons, we decided to come to Sweden in order to dedicate 100% of our attention and energy to editing Tokyo Cowboys. Thanks again KJ. The work so far has been fruitful. Patrick has cut 5 sequences from Ken's story and put together several fragments. As for me, I'm searching for the poetry in the language. Meticulously and obsessively reviewing the tapes, I'm piecing together the voice over track that will run throughout the film. Our plan is to get as far beyond a first cut as possible by the time we head back to London in late October.
Tokyo Cowboys Shares:
There are only 15 Tokyo Cowboys shares still available at £500 each. If you are interested in finding out more about the investment, please email me.
Again, thanks so much for your support. If you'd like to follow our progress more closely, I direct you to our blog at www.tokyocowboys.blogspot.com. You can also visit our website at www.tokyocowboys.com for more information about the project. And, you can always get in touch with me at daneeta@tokyocowboys.com. Send us good wishes, and if you are in Rockhammer, please drop by. We are the red house across from the little damn on the pond.
As always,
Hugs,
Daneeta and Patrick
*except for Daneeta's foot, which was injured in what will now be know as the "Tuna mayo incident of 2005"
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Snapps and Crayfish
17 August
Drank snapps and ate crayfish with Adam, Fredrik and Anna last night. It's a summer tradition here. This morning I slid into the ice-cold lake to have at least one swim before the end of the summer. Actually, the summer is over here. I'm wearing jumpers and sweats. But the Swedes are still swimming in the lakes and in the little pool up the street from here. Why would Rockhammer have a pool? We are only 302 people. But it seems that half of them were at the pool today as I limped my way up to the recycle bins. That has become my daily exercise. It's as much as I can do before the foot starts to ache and won't let up. I haven't been able to sleep these past few nights because of it. Damn you tuna mayo, damn you!
We've been pouring over the pages of last week's Guardian that Karin brought back from her trip to England. That's the only news we have. It feels a bit weird...not being in touch with the world. I sort of felt that way when I first got to Japan. I was in the countryside. It was before the Internet (yes, there was such a time); it was before CNN had reached foreign shores. And, although there was the English-language Japan Times, it would arrive a day late to our little neck of the woods. If you have any old newspapers, send them along. Send us letters, post cards from the real world, care packages (sunflower seeds salted in the shell please, and brown Rotring ink cartridges as they are what I use for my daily journal, and magazines and whatever else you can think of). You can write to us care of Karin
Daneeta Loretta Saft/Patrick Jackson
c/o Karin Jackson
Rickardsbergs Gatan #10
S-70369
Orebro, Sweden
But, I digress. Nothing is taking shape yet. Keep cutting, but nothing is taking shape. I just have to patient...assemble the pieces. After that, we can concentrate on the whole. God help us.
Drank snapps and ate crayfish with Adam, Fredrik and Anna last night. It's a summer tradition here. This morning I slid into the ice-cold lake to have at least one swim before the end of the summer. Actually, the summer is over here. I'm wearing jumpers and sweats. But the Swedes are still swimming in the lakes and in the little pool up the street from here. Why would Rockhammer have a pool? We are only 302 people. But it seems that half of them were at the pool today as I limped my way up to the recycle bins. That has become my daily exercise. It's as much as I can do before the foot starts to ache and won't let up. I haven't been able to sleep these past few nights because of it. Damn you tuna mayo, damn you!
We've been pouring over the pages of last week's Guardian that Karin brought back from her trip to England. That's the only news we have. It feels a bit weird...not being in touch with the world. I sort of felt that way when I first got to Japan. I was in the countryside. It was before the Internet (yes, there was such a time); it was before CNN had reached foreign shores. And, although there was the English-language Japan Times, it would arrive a day late to our little neck of the woods. If you have any old newspapers, send them along. Send us letters, post cards from the real world, care packages (sunflower seeds salted in the shell please, and brown Rotring ink cartridges as they are what I use for my daily journal, and magazines and whatever else you can think of). You can write to us care of Karin
Daneeta Loretta Saft/Patrick Jackson
c/o Karin Jackson
Rickardsbergs Gatan #10
S-70369
Orebro, Sweden
But, I digress. Nothing is taking shape yet. Keep cutting, but nothing is taking shape. I just have to patient...assemble the pieces. After that, we can concentrate on the whole. God help us.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Visual and Linguistic Poetry
Tape after tape after tape after tape. It's really a weird sensation. My head is confused. I'm watching hours and hours of footage from TC. Then I go outside and look at the forest (I can't walk in it yet because the foot is still effed up). I'm half in Sweden and half in Tokyo. My dreams don''t know where to go. I'm thinking about something Jason said yesterday, but it wasn't yesterday, it was 3 years ago. I just watched the tape yesterday. This is really trippy. It makes me think about time and memory and how they can get confused and how memory can allow you to time travel.
It's easy to lose track of the days here...easy to lose track of the time. Sometimes I don't notice the sun going down. Then I look up and it's midnight. Time travel again. I'm trying to piece together the Voice Over track. I'm searching for the poetry in their words. It's there...it's there in the words of everyone. You just have to find it. And then the audience will come to know the characters through the poetry of their language...the inherent poetry of their language...their dialogue...their internal monologue. Then there are the visuals...that has a certain poetry as well. I'm not talking about grammar, I'm talking about poetry. This kind of poetry, I'm much less familiar with. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe I should listen to my intuition...my muse. I think Patrick is better at finding the visual poetry. And that's why I asked him to edit. He is a visual poet, I am a linguistic one.
We talked about mosaic today and how this film will be like a mosaic. I'm not exactly sure how that is going to look and sound when I am finished. We are laying all of the pieces out on the table and we are arranging them and re-arranging them. It's a painstaking process, and sometimes it is a bit maddening. But, it's the right thing to do. Layering as well...we are placing layer upon layer...the visuals, the voice over, the story, the overwhelming sound, the music...layering...endlessly.
The mosaic will create an experience, but what about the story? I have always struggled with the narrative...looking for the story behind the visual and linguistic poetry. I try to think in archetypes. Robert McKee says "the archetypal story unearths a universally human experience, then wraps itself inside a unique, cultural ñspecific expression.î And I know TC is filled with archetypal experience. I just have to figure it out.
It's easy to lose track of the days here...easy to lose track of the time. Sometimes I don't notice the sun going down. Then I look up and it's midnight. Time travel again. I'm trying to piece together the Voice Over track. I'm searching for the poetry in their words. It's there...it's there in the words of everyone. You just have to find it. And then the audience will come to know the characters through the poetry of their language...the inherent poetry of their language...their dialogue...their internal monologue. Then there are the visuals...that has a certain poetry as well. I'm not talking about grammar, I'm talking about poetry. This kind of poetry, I'm much less familiar with. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe I should listen to my intuition...my muse. I think Patrick is better at finding the visual poetry. And that's why I asked him to edit. He is a visual poet, I am a linguistic one.
We talked about mosaic today and how this film will be like a mosaic. I'm not exactly sure how that is going to look and sound when I am finished. We are laying all of the pieces out on the table and we are arranging them and re-arranging them. It's a painstaking process, and sometimes it is a bit maddening. But, it's the right thing to do. Layering as well...we are placing layer upon layer...the visuals, the voice over, the story, the overwhelming sound, the music...layering...endlessly.
The mosaic will create an experience, but what about the story? I have always struggled with the narrative...looking for the story behind the visual and linguistic poetry. I try to think in archetypes. Robert McKee says "the archetypal story unearths a universally human experience, then wraps itself inside a unique, cultural ñspecific expression.î And I know TC is filled with archetypal experience. I just have to figure it out.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
The drama, the drama.
14 August
I forgot to mention that yesterday was a bit emotional. I went through the whole "I haven't accomplished anything in these 40 years" drama. I cried. I looked at my face, searching for new wrinkles...searching for age...or else, searching for that 16-year old girl who was filled with hope knowing that she would just get out of this place if it was the last thing she ever did. I was just feeling sorry for myself and had to slap myself around a bit and remind myself of a few things.
It's the money I think. I'm 40 and I have no money. I guess I have no debt either, which sort of makes me a non person...no money, no debt, no record of me anywhere. It's a bit weird. My family think I'm a hippy. Not so sure about that. I don't like the term struggling artist...free agent maybe...freedom's just another word for...
I reckon if we can get the JUSFC grant, Robert's gig in Thailand, our deposit back from the flat and a bit of promised cash from one of our patrons, we might just be able to finish this film and make it through half of next year. Now that would be a string of miracles indeed.
I forgot to mention that yesterday was a bit emotional. I went through the whole "I haven't accomplished anything in these 40 years" drama. I cried. I looked at my face, searching for new wrinkles...searching for age...or else, searching for that 16-year old girl who was filled with hope knowing that she would just get out of this place if it was the last thing she ever did. I was just feeling sorry for myself and had to slap myself around a bit and remind myself of a few things.
It's the money I think. I'm 40 and I have no money. I guess I have no debt either, which sort of makes me a non person...no money, no debt, no record of me anywhere. It's a bit weird. My family think I'm a hippy. Not so sure about that. I don't like the term struggling artist...free agent maybe...freedom's just another word for...
I reckon if we can get the JUSFC grant, Robert's gig in Thailand, our deposit back from the flat and a bit of promised cash from one of our patrons, we might just be able to finish this film and make it through half of next year. Now that would be a string of miracles indeed.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
It's My Birthday
13 August
This is the 4th birthday I'm spending with Tokyo Cowboys. I am 40 today. I'm not really sure how to feel. I guess I feel like just only Daneeta. TC will be my first feature film, and I will finish it in my 40th year. You don't hear about filmmakers like me. You only hear about filmmakers who pick up a super 8 camera at aged 4, make their first feature at 6, then go to Hollywood to make it big and end up in rehab by 10. But surely, there must be filmmakers who started later...where are all of the late bloomers?
I feel filled with stories...fat with them...dare I saw pregnant with them. There are so many of them that I want to get out before I die. That's how I know that I will live well into my 90s. There are just too many stories.
It's good here. Rockhammer is good. No London distractions of trying to figure out how we're gonna pay this bill or the rent. No guilt over not being able to spend enough time on TC because we're working double shifts. The double shifts are spent on TC now. And that is good.
This is the 4th birthday I'm spending with Tokyo Cowboys. I am 40 today. I'm not really sure how to feel. I guess I feel like just only Daneeta. TC will be my first feature film, and I will finish it in my 40th year. You don't hear about filmmakers like me. You only hear about filmmakers who pick up a super 8 camera at aged 4, make their first feature at 6, then go to Hollywood to make it big and end up in rehab by 10. But surely, there must be filmmakers who started later...where are all of the late bloomers?
I feel filled with stories...fat with them...dare I saw pregnant with them. There are so many of them that I want to get out before I die. That's how I know that I will live well into my 90s. There are just too many stories.
It's good here. Rockhammer is good. No London distractions of trying to figure out how we're gonna pay this bill or the rent. No guilt over not being able to spend enough time on TC because we're working double shifts. The double shifts are spent on TC now. And that is good.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
The Trip so Far
Start packing on Tuesday. Load up the van then go for a sandwich. So stressed about the move, etc. that I grab the wrong sandwich--tuna mayo. I hate mayo. Kick the wall, severely bruise my foot and can't walk. Patrick is livid. Call Robert and cry on the phone. He arrives in 30 minutes with frappichinos. Finish packing, but can't use the foot so crawl around on the floor to pack things up. Knees get bruised up. Go to the hospital for X-Rays. Foot isn't broken, but have to walk on crutches for about two weeks.
Clean the flat, do all of the last minute things, and stuff everything else into 9 bags. Spend the last night in the flat. Taxi to Kings Cross station, 3 hour train to Newcastle, 30 minute bus ride to the port of New Castle. Four big, heavy bags in toe including desktop computer, three heavy hard drives, 500 mini-DV tapes and what we need to live for the next three months.
24 hours on the boat to Gothenberg where we meet Patrick's mom to hand off most of the luggage. 5 hour train ride to Copenhagen to meet Patrick's sister (Ingrid) and her boyfriend, Rune. We take a Taxi, they take the bikes. Taxi driver drops us off at the wrong address. No credit on the phone to call Ingrid, so walk/limp 10 minutes to a pay phone. Don't have Ingrid's number, so try to call Patrick's mom in Sweden. Can't make international collect calls on the pay phone.
Walk/limp another 20 minutes to a hotel where I beg the concierge to let us call Sweden on his house phone. He lets us. Patrick's mom doesn't pick up. Try to call information to get Ingrid's number. Nothing. The concierge is astounded that we have neither Ingrid's number nor her address. "And, she's your sister?" he asks incredulously. We decide to go back to the station. Walk another 10 minutes to the station. 10 minutes later Rune finds us. We finally make it back to the flat where Patrick's sister has been hysterical over what could have happened to us.
I just want to start editing. But, we've got another few days before we can get set up. My foot hurts, it's purple and swollen. I want to make sure the computer is OK, that the hard drives are OK. I want to dig in.
Clean the flat, do all of the last minute things, and stuff everything else into 9 bags. Spend the last night in the flat. Taxi to Kings Cross station, 3 hour train to Newcastle, 30 minute bus ride to the port of New Castle. Four big, heavy bags in toe including desktop computer, three heavy hard drives, 500 mini-DV tapes and what we need to live for the next three months.
24 hours on the boat to Gothenberg where we meet Patrick's mom to hand off most of the luggage. 5 hour train ride to Copenhagen to meet Patrick's sister (Ingrid) and her boyfriend, Rune. We take a Taxi, they take the bikes. Taxi driver drops us off at the wrong address. No credit on the phone to call Ingrid, so walk/limp 10 minutes to a pay phone. Don't have Ingrid's number, so try to call Patrick's mom in Sweden. Can't make international collect calls on the pay phone.
Walk/limp another 20 minutes to a hotel where I beg the concierge to let us call Sweden on his house phone. He lets us. Patrick's mom doesn't pick up. Try to call information to get Ingrid's number. Nothing. The concierge is astounded that we have neither Ingrid's number nor her address. "And, she's your sister?" he asks incredulously. We decide to go back to the station. Walk another 10 minutes to the station. 10 minutes later Rune finds us. We finally make it back to the flat where Patrick's sister has been hysterical over what could have happened to us.
I just want to start editing. But, we've got another few days before we can get set up. My foot hurts, it's purple and swollen. I want to make sure the computer is OK, that the hard drives are OK. I want to dig in.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Japan US Friendship
Just sent the hard copy of the JUSFC Grant Application for Tokyo Cowboys. In one way, it's a weight off of my shoulders. I'm glad I did it. It allowed me to think hard about the film and why I'm doing it. Got some great letters of recommendations from Robert, Muromatsu-san, and Ben Gibson. More to come. I'm hoping that will help the committee to see that we are serious.
Booked the train tickets to Newcastle from where we will be getting the boat to Sweden. I wish I could fast forward the next week. Haven't felt that way since I was a child. Just thinking about packing up the house and moving everything to the lockup is making me a bit ill. Then there is the traveling with the harddrives, the CPU and the 500 tapes. I think Patrick and I will have room for one change of clothes each.
I'm so thankful to all of the people who helped with the Grant. And the London Film School people have been great. They've allowed me to work full time for the past 3 months, sorted me out with two hard drives and given me loads of moral support for this upcoming adventure.
I can't wait to sink my teeth into the edit. I've been moaning about logging and digitizing for the past 6 months, but I must remember that this is the first part of the editing process.
I think about James Joyce. "After graduation in 1902 the twenty-year-old Joyce went to Paris, where he worked as a journalist, teacher and in other occupations under difficult financial conditions" says his biographer. I like "and in other occupations under difficult financial conditions." His life inspires me.
They say he lived an uneventful life by today's standards. That's how I feel about my life. But, I'm always rewriting it in my head.
Booked the train tickets to Newcastle from where we will be getting the boat to Sweden. I wish I could fast forward the next week. Haven't felt that way since I was a child. Just thinking about packing up the house and moving everything to the lockup is making me a bit ill. Then there is the traveling with the harddrives, the CPU and the 500 tapes. I think Patrick and I will have room for one change of clothes each.
I'm so thankful to all of the people who helped with the Grant. And the London Film School people have been great. They've allowed me to work full time for the past 3 months, sorted me out with two hard drives and given me loads of moral support for this upcoming adventure.
I can't wait to sink my teeth into the edit. I've been moaning about logging and digitizing for the past 6 months, but I must remember that this is the first part of the editing process.
I think about James Joyce. "After graduation in 1902 the twenty-year-old Joyce went to Paris, where he worked as a journalist, teacher and in other occupations under difficult financial conditions" says his biographer. I like "and in other occupations under difficult financial conditions." His life inspires me.
They say he lived an uneventful life by today's standards. That's how I feel about my life. But, I'm always rewriting it in my head.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Pulling Miracles out of my Butt
On the bright side, just sent off the JUSFC Grant application. I don't know what kind of chance we have, but getting that grant could mean everything. On the dark side, we are still £2000 short to start the edit. Patrick seems to have faith that I can raise the money, but I'm really tired of that...fund raising. I just want to concentrate on the film. That's all I've ever wanted to do. And this producing shite takes up so much of my time.
I've had this idea for the Voice Over. I'm going to record the voice over in a variety of voices and accents. The poetic voice over will be sprinkled over the film.
Still digitizing. Will it ever end. Did Yoko at the Tsukiji Fish Market last night...and Cloudy at his beach house.
Still so much left to do before leaving for Sweden. I'm beginning to panic. I hate people who have enough money to throw at problems. I wish I had money to throw at problems. It makes things so much easier. Then again, if you don't have the money, then you have to be creative. Let's see if I can creatively pull £2000 out of my butt.
I've had this idea for the Voice Over. I'm going to record the voice over in a variety of voices and accents. The poetic voice over will be sprinkled over the film.
Still digitizing. Will it ever end. Did Yoko at the Tsukiji Fish Market last night...and Cloudy at his beach house.
Still so much left to do before leaving for Sweden. I'm beginning to panic. I hate people who have enough money to throw at problems. I wish I had money to throw at problems. It makes things so much easier. Then again, if you don't have the money, then you have to be creative. Let's see if I can creatively pull £2000 out of my butt.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Ode to Fuji-san
Here is one of my favorite screen captures. And there is a story behind it. Can you see Fuji-san (Mt. Fuji) in the background? She had eluded us all day long. We had gone to the top of the Shinjuku Municipal buildings to find her. From the 42nd floor, you can see a panarama of the Tokyo landscape. On a clear day, you can see Fuji-san. But the day was not clear. It was hazy. And, although we could see Fuji-san with the naked eye, the camera could not capture it. There was too much haze...too much reflective light. Patrick and I got really frustrated and started to snap at each other. It was time to go. The only record of Fuji-san on the tape would be the voices of the Japanese visitors saying "Mieru?" "Hai, Miemasu! Fuji-san...sugoi!" Frustrated, Patrick and I decided to head back to Nick's house. We'd been up since 5 a.m. and we had to shoot in the evening. We needed some rest.
Nick lives near to a small station on the Odakyu line--Higashi Kitazawa. It was here that she revealed herself to us. I could hardly believe it. I asked one of the school kids in my gaijin Japanese: "Is that Fuji-san." "Yes," she said in English. "Lovely." There she was, glowing in the sunset, her beauty not obstructed but enhanced by the forground of wired and electric Tokyo. It was one of those moments that I will treasure...one of those moments that, when I think of it, I want to fly off to Tokyo right now...my heart fills with nostalgia for shooting, for Tokyo, for the Cowboys, for the 33 million Japanese living in that city. Please, please...for the love of God, someone help me finish this film. Someone take me back.
Nick lives near to a small station on the Odakyu line--Higashi Kitazawa. It was here that she revealed herself to us. I could hardly believe it. I asked one of the school kids in my gaijin Japanese: "Is that Fuji-san." "Yes," she said in English. "Lovely." There she was, glowing in the sunset, her beauty not obstructed but enhanced by the forground of wired and electric Tokyo. It was one of those moments that I will treasure...one of those moments that, when I think of it, I want to fly off to Tokyo right now...my heart fills with nostalgia for shooting, for Tokyo, for the Cowboys, for the 33 million Japanese living in that city. Please, please...for the love of God, someone help me finish this film. Someone take me back.
Bits from JUSFC Grant
Been working on the Japan US Friendship commission grant. This is the first grant I've ever written, so I've been putting quite a bit of pressure on myself about making it perfect. This has resulted in paralysis. Well, that's not true...partial paralysis. I've been writing on the grant for three months, but I still think it's sh%*e! As the deadline is looming, I've decided to send it over to the folks at Projectile Arts (my fiscal sponsor). I'm sure they will give me an honest opinion.
Sometimes I think I'm writing something that makes perfect sense. Like this:
Project Objective:
The objective of the project Tokyo Cowboys is to produce a high quality, feature-length documentary about the life and times of a group of American men who have immigrated permanently to Japan. The film explores their reasons for staying and their experiences with their Japanese counterparts with the aim of fostering a greater understanding of cross-cultural similarities. Built upon the foundation of the Post-Modern Condition, the film explores the themes of freedom and responsibility; otherness and belonging; and the deconstruction of objectivity. The documentary is intended for cinema release in the U.S., Europe and Japan followed by international DVD and VHS distribution. The film will be suitable for a wide audience including both Western and Japanese.
And then...sometimes I feel like I'm talking total poo:
Postmodern Approach
Trained as a postmodernist at one of the US’ leading post-graduate universities, Saft uses a Postmodern approach to the storytelling process. Exploding the meta-narrative of western men in Tokyo, she achieves veracity by telling personal stories—mini-narratives, which are always situational and make no grand claim to universality. She explores the idea of Tokyo as the post-modern urban frontier. Cowboys go for the gold rush. They arrive and completely reinvent themselves by taking advantage of the opportunity indigenous to Tokyo. But, they are changed. They have mated with the “other” to become something new--born out of their own culture and the borrowed one. Tokyo wrings them out; she folds them in until they are a part of her and she is a part of them. Yet, they have the freedom to construct their own reality, their own future, even their own past as no one knows them from before, and they control the information that goes back home.
Sometimes I think I'm writing something that makes perfect sense. Like this:
Project Objective:
The objective of the project Tokyo Cowboys is to produce a high quality, feature-length documentary about the life and times of a group of American men who have immigrated permanently to Japan. The film explores their reasons for staying and their experiences with their Japanese counterparts with the aim of fostering a greater understanding of cross-cultural similarities. Built upon the foundation of the Post-Modern Condition, the film explores the themes of freedom and responsibility; otherness and belonging; and the deconstruction of objectivity. The documentary is intended for cinema release in the U.S., Europe and Japan followed by international DVD and VHS distribution. The film will be suitable for a wide audience including both Western and Japanese.
And then...sometimes I feel like I'm talking total poo:
Postmodern Approach
Trained as a postmodernist at one of the US’ leading post-graduate universities, Saft uses a Postmodern approach to the storytelling process. Exploding the meta-narrative of western men in Tokyo, she achieves veracity by telling personal stories—mini-narratives, which are always situational and make no grand claim to universality. She explores the idea of Tokyo as the post-modern urban frontier. Cowboys go for the gold rush. They arrive and completely reinvent themselves by taking advantage of the opportunity indigenous to Tokyo. But, they are changed. They have mated with the “other” to become something new--born out of their own culture and the borrowed one. Tokyo wrings them out; she folds them in until they are a part of her and she is a part of them. Yet, they have the freedom to construct their own reality, their own future, even their own past as no one knows them from before, and they control the information that goes back home.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Monthly Update
Greetings from the Tokyo Cowboys team. It’s time for the monthly update.
Well…we’ve survived the terrorists. Thanks to all of you who wrote and called in your support. It was pretty frightening as we are based in Central London, but we were surrounded by the awesomely stoic Londoners.
On to happier things,
Here's the news:
IN THIS MAIL
1) Welcome New Investors
2) Swedish Seclusion
3) Japan-US Friendship Commission
4) Day and Night
1) NEW INVESTORS
Tokyo Cowboys welcomes two new investors joining us last month. In addition, a previous investor bought another share to add to her Tokyo Cowboys portfolio. Thanks again, you three, for your support. With that money we were able to buy a new Hard Drive (the other three have become full!). Just as important, however, we were able to FINISH LOGGING!!!!
If we can manage the sale of 4 more shares at £500 each, we will be set to FINALLY BEGIN EDITING. Now more than ever, we need your support. Four shares will allow us to buy another Hard Drive (the last one, which will hold nearly 100 hours of interviews). It will also allow us to dedicate nearly 3 months to full time editing. Please help us out if you can in funding this unique and exciting project.
2) SWEDISH SECLUSION
As I mentioned last month, thanks to the generous support of one of our Patrons, Patrick and I will be secluded in Sweden for nearly 3 months working full time on the project. We will be giving up our flat here and putting everything into storage taking only the computer and a few personal items. We have also put all other work on hold until our return to London in mid-October. You can still get in touch through email, the Blog and the website. The next time you hear from us, we will be up North. If you want updates in the interim, please visit the Tokyo Cowboys Blog at (www.tokyocowboys.blogspot.com)
3) JAPAN-US FRIENDSHIP
We are finalizing our application for the Japan-US Friendship Commission Grant. The application has to be submitted in three weeks, and we are working furiously on putting together a great proposal. On our team is a former JUSFC Grant winner, our fiscal sponsor and an experienced arts grant writer. Getting awarded this grant would be a great honor and would considerably help with the sale and distribution of the project.
4) DAY AND NIGHT
Patrick has been logging and digitizing day and night. He is nearly finished the 500+ tapes. This has been a Herculean task, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
That’s it for now. Keep yourselves safe and I’ll e you next month!
Hugs,
Daneeta
Well…we’ve survived the terrorists. Thanks to all of you who wrote and called in your support. It was pretty frightening as we are based in Central London, but we were surrounded by the awesomely stoic Londoners.
On to happier things,
Here's the news:
IN THIS MAIL
1) Welcome New Investors
2) Swedish Seclusion
3) Japan-US Friendship Commission
4) Day and Night
1) NEW INVESTORS
Tokyo Cowboys welcomes two new investors joining us last month. In addition, a previous investor bought another share to add to her Tokyo Cowboys portfolio. Thanks again, you three, for your support. With that money we were able to buy a new Hard Drive (the other three have become full!). Just as important, however, we were able to FINISH LOGGING!!!!
If we can manage the sale of 4 more shares at £500 each, we will be set to FINALLY BEGIN EDITING. Now more than ever, we need your support. Four shares will allow us to buy another Hard Drive (the last one, which will hold nearly 100 hours of interviews). It will also allow us to dedicate nearly 3 months to full time editing. Please help us out if you can in funding this unique and exciting project.
2) SWEDISH SECLUSION
As I mentioned last month, thanks to the generous support of one of our Patrons, Patrick and I will be secluded in Sweden for nearly 3 months working full time on the project. We will be giving up our flat here and putting everything into storage taking only the computer and a few personal items. We have also put all other work on hold until our return to London in mid-October. You can still get in touch through email, the Blog and the website. The next time you hear from us, we will be up North. If you want updates in the interim, please visit the Tokyo Cowboys Blog at (www.tokyocowboys.blogspot.com)
3) JAPAN-US FRIENDSHIP
We are finalizing our application for the Japan-US Friendship Commission Grant. The application has to be submitted in three weeks, and we are working furiously on putting together a great proposal. On our team is a former JUSFC Grant winner, our fiscal sponsor and an experienced arts grant writer. Getting awarded this grant would be a great honor and would considerably help with the sale and distribution of the project.
4) DAY AND NIGHT
Patrick has been logging and digitizing day and night. He is nearly finished the 500+ tapes. This has been a Herculean task, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
That’s it for now. Keep yourselves safe and I’ll e you next month!
Hugs,
Daneeta
Friday, July 08, 2005
London Calling
Dear Akiko,
Thanks so much for your concern! Patrick and I are both fine as are all of our friends. As you know, we live and work just a 10 minute walk from the bus explosion. I was already at the London Film School when the explosions happened. One of our staff members was passing the bus when the bomb went off. He made it into the school safely, but he was terribly shaken. We locked down the school and kept all of the students calm.
We've got a big screen plasma TV here at the school, and we all gathered in front of it watching for news. Akiko, it was really heart warming admist all of the tragedy. As you know, the students are a very international group. We had Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindu and Agnostics supporting each other and showing a great sense of solidarity. I was really impressed with how brave they all were for being so young.
I was also impressed by the way the police, paramedics and medical professionals handled the situation. We felt like things were under control soon after the explosions.
Walking home through Covent Garden was surreal. It was 5 p.m. and all of the shops were closed. I've never seen that before. The only places open were the pubs, and they were packed (in true English fashion!).
I'm still trying to process it all today. I feel like the world has lost some of its innocence since I was a child. But then I realize that we've been bombing each other to hell for generations. What an utter lack on imagination on the part of the human race. I'm so disappointed and sad that we can't think of better things to do than kill each other.
Keep yourself safe, and good health to your father.
Hugs,
Daneeta
Thanks so much for your concern! Patrick and I are both fine as are all of our friends. As you know, we live and work just a 10 minute walk from the bus explosion. I was already at the London Film School when the explosions happened. One of our staff members was passing the bus when the bomb went off. He made it into the school safely, but he was terribly shaken. We locked down the school and kept all of the students calm.
We've got a big screen plasma TV here at the school, and we all gathered in front of it watching for news. Akiko, it was really heart warming admist all of the tragedy. As you know, the students are a very international group. We had Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindu and Agnostics supporting each other and showing a great sense of solidarity. I was really impressed with how brave they all were for being so young.
I was also impressed by the way the police, paramedics and medical professionals handled the situation. We felt like things were under control soon after the explosions.
Walking home through Covent Garden was surreal. It was 5 p.m. and all of the shops were closed. I've never seen that before. The only places open were the pubs, and they were packed (in true English fashion!).
I'm still trying to process it all today. I feel like the world has lost some of its innocence since I was a child. But then I realize that we've been bombing each other to hell for generations. What an utter lack on imagination on the part of the human race. I'm so disappointed and sad that we can't think of better things to do than kill each other.
Keep yourself safe, and good health to your father.
Hugs,
Daneeta
Friday, July 01, 2005
Tokyo Cowboys Patron Creates New Life
The Tokyo Cowboys team would like to congratulate Jennifer and Ariel Goldfarb on the new addition to their family: Meris Xavier. Jennifer and Ariel have been long-time supporters of Tokyo Cowboys. After having lived in Tokyo for several years in the late nineties, they made their way back to the States and got busy with careers and family.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Back from Leeds
Visited Natalie up in Leeds over the weekend. We didn't move from her sofa the whole weekend...eating crisps and watching Glastonbury on TV. It was FAB.
Now I'm back to it. Been reading a lot about Postmodernism...the critique of grand narratives, merging of subject and object, situational, provisional, contingent and temporary...making no claim to universality, truth, reason or stability.
Let me just say right now: if there is ever a conflict between story truths and what people like to call objectivity, I will always err on the side of the story truth...that is, I think story can give us more truth than recalling something objectively. Does that make this NOT documentary? I never claimed to be a documentarian, though. I'm a story-teller...always have been, always will be.
Tokyo...early 21st Century. This is the new frontier. I'm looking for men with substance...larger than life, rife with archetype and tragic flaws. I'm looking for cowboys.
I'm so bleeding tired. I think I could sleep for a week. Working full time and then doing TC stuff in the evening...only a few more weeks. Then we're off to Sweden.
Booked the boat, gave notice at the job and our flat, so we're really going into seclusion. It's so cliche, but seems the right thing to do.
Now I'm back to it. Been reading a lot about Postmodernism...the critique of grand narratives, merging of subject and object, situational, provisional, contingent and temporary...making no claim to universality, truth, reason or stability.
Let me just say right now: if there is ever a conflict between story truths and what people like to call objectivity, I will always err on the side of the story truth...that is, I think story can give us more truth than recalling something objectively. Does that make this NOT documentary? I never claimed to be a documentarian, though. I'm a story-teller...always have been, always will be.
Tokyo...early 21st Century. This is the new frontier. I'm looking for men with substance...larger than life, rife with archetype and tragic flaws. I'm looking for cowboys.
I'm so bleeding tired. I think I could sleep for a week. Working full time and then doing TC stuff in the evening...only a few more weeks. Then we're off to Sweden.
Booked the boat, gave notice at the job and our flat, so we're really going into seclusion. It's so cliche, but seems the right thing to do.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Boujaku Bujin
Any J-people out there? Please tell me the meaning of this kotowaza. I've heard it means "to act as if no one is beside you...boldly and without restraint."
Thursday, June 16, 2005
The True Stories...
...of the Tokyo Cowboys. Thinking about expanding the title to that. Thinking about blurring the borders between fiction and documentary.
Transcribed BN's interview this morning. I heard he crashed and burned out of Tokyo. Not as many as you would expect crash and burn. But, when they do, they do it big. Like DH who tried to saw his foot off before he passed out from blood loss. Now, what was he thinking? What would make him believe that sawing his own foot off is a good idea.
Stories...stories, story truths. historiographic metafiction.
"there are truths that lie beyond the reach of the selective, linear, sequential grasp of narrative. The Fragment, the Quotation, or the image might b e closer to the ambiguous reality of things." dunnigan
fragmentation...
tokyo is a place not quite story, not quite true.
collage...
send me a post card from the real world
where the normal laws of physics apply
we can take more risks
we can be more free
and because we control the flow of information back to the real world
we can never fail.
we can never f*&k up.
The only f*&k up is to get kicked out of disneyland.
And that doesn't happen very often
Transcribed BN's interview this morning. I heard he crashed and burned out of Tokyo. Not as many as you would expect crash and burn. But, when they do, they do it big. Like DH who tried to saw his foot off before he passed out from blood loss. Now, what was he thinking? What would make him believe that sawing his own foot off is a good idea.
Stories...stories, story truths. historiographic metafiction.
"there are truths that lie beyond the reach of the selective, linear, sequential grasp of narrative. The Fragment, the Quotation, or the image might b e closer to the ambiguous reality of things." dunnigan
fragmentation...
tokyo is a place not quite story, not quite true.
collage...
send me a post card from the real world
where the normal laws of physics apply
we can take more risks
we can be more free
and because we control the flow of information back to the real world
we can never fail.
we can never f*&k up.
The only f*&k up is to get kicked out of disneyland.
And that doesn't happen very often
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Sports Injury
Patrick has put aside 33 interview tapes for me to transcribe. Got up early this morning to get two interviews in before going off to the day job. Still shooting corporate stuff. The pay is crap, but at least I'm doing something remotely related to my chosen profession.
Thinking about Sweden: I haven't spent that much time in the countryside since childhood. And those were some prolific storytelling times. Maybe the muse will visit me again. At least that's my hope.
My hand has really been hurting. I went to the DR. today, and he said that I have something akinned to a sports injury. Some people might call it repetitive stress disorder. It's from writing. I can't believe it. If I could just have a one hour massage three times a week and talk therapy as much, I might just pull this life off.
I think we're effed on the rent. The landlord is ripping us off and has been for a while now. I'm so angry about it, but what can you do? He knows that I won't sue because it's too much of a hassle.
Still obsessed with this idea of constructs. Constructing History, the past, memory. These guys constructed the future. Need to do a little research on post modern literature. Found this site: free encyclopedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia
Thinking about Sweden: I haven't spent that much time in the countryside since childhood. And those were some prolific storytelling times. Maybe the muse will visit me again. At least that's my hope.
My hand has really been hurting. I went to the DR. today, and he said that I have something akinned to a sports injury. Some people might call it repetitive stress disorder. It's from writing. I can't believe it. If I could just have a one hour massage three times a week and talk therapy as much, I might just pull this life off.
I think we're effed on the rent. The landlord is ripping us off and has been for a while now. I'm so angry about it, but what can you do? He knows that I won't sue because it's too much of a hassle.
Still obsessed with this idea of constructs. Constructing History, the past, memory. These guys constructed the future. Need to do a little research on post modern literature. Found this site: free encyclopedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Thoughts
You can't control life...you can only react to it. I guess the art is in the reaction.
Working at a 9-5 for the next two months. It's excruciating. Had an argument with Kurt about this when I was in NOLA. "Get a job," he said. "I don't need a job." Only now I do so that we can get to Sweden in August.
We're still under funded, and the only way we're going to be able to edit full time is to try to fund it ourselves. There are a few things that have to come through for us to do this. Promises of investment, patronage, work...if one slips through the cracks, we're screwed.
There is no option, really. If we stay here, we'll get sucked back into the viscious cycle of chasing money to pay the rent. When you chase money, there is no energy left for anything else. I'm exhausted when I get finished with the 9-5. I'd rather starve. But, I don't have that option. I'm starving with the 9-5 because all of the money is going to Tokyo Cowboys.
I'm sure it must be worth it, but I wanted to do this so that I would never have to do the 9-5 again, and here I am doing it. It's like some twisted Catch-22.
No, think of James Joyce...Van Gogh...I need better mentors. These guys died in pain. I thought I might hang in there for a while as I'm a late bloomer.
But, anyway...going to the doctor on Friday. It seems I have repetitive stress disorder in my hand because of writing. Its causing pain in my elbow, shoulder and neck on the right side. Can you believe it? I've been a writer my whole life, and now it's starting to attack my body. I write in a journal by hand every morning. I guess that will do it.
Hungry now. Patrick and I abstained from eating all day today so that we could make tacos tonight. It's our favorite dish. Don't think they will have the stuff in Sweden. Oh God, help us.
Transcribed Kanya's interview last night. I think I like her definition of freedom the best, although it's a bit dark. "What is freedom?" I ask her. "I don't know...freedom for me is...freedom from negativity, freedom from hating myself, freedom from bad thoughts, from sickness, from depression...yeah...freedom from...that's freedom."
Working at a 9-5 for the next two months. It's excruciating. Had an argument with Kurt about this when I was in NOLA. "Get a job," he said. "I don't need a job." Only now I do so that we can get to Sweden in August.
We're still under funded, and the only way we're going to be able to edit full time is to try to fund it ourselves. There are a few things that have to come through for us to do this. Promises of investment, patronage, work...if one slips through the cracks, we're screwed.
There is no option, really. If we stay here, we'll get sucked back into the viscious cycle of chasing money to pay the rent. When you chase money, there is no energy left for anything else. I'm exhausted when I get finished with the 9-5. I'd rather starve. But, I don't have that option. I'm starving with the 9-5 because all of the money is going to Tokyo Cowboys.
I'm sure it must be worth it, but I wanted to do this so that I would never have to do the 9-5 again, and here I am doing it. It's like some twisted Catch-22.
No, think of James Joyce...Van Gogh...I need better mentors. These guys died in pain. I thought I might hang in there for a while as I'm a late bloomer.
But, anyway...going to the doctor on Friday. It seems I have repetitive stress disorder in my hand because of writing. Its causing pain in my elbow, shoulder and neck on the right side. Can you believe it? I've been a writer my whole life, and now it's starting to attack my body. I write in a journal by hand every morning. I guess that will do it.
Hungry now. Patrick and I abstained from eating all day today so that we could make tacos tonight. It's our favorite dish. Don't think they will have the stuff in Sweden. Oh God, help us.
Transcribed Kanya's interview last night. I think I like her definition of freedom the best, although it's a bit dark. "What is freedom?" I ask her. "I don't know...freedom for me is...freedom from negativity, freedom from hating myself, freedom from bad thoughts, from sickness, from depression...yeah...freedom from...that's freedom."
Friday, June 03, 2005
Nothing more to report
Been working all week, and worked a double shift yesterday, so a bit tired. Patrick has been digitizing all week while I've been at work. I have loads of interviews to transcribe. It's one of those weeks where I feel like I'm in a daze. Haven't really been able to write a thing. But, I feel like things are about to take a turn for the better. Something's gotta give, and why not for the better? So, so tired. Just want to sleep for days. Nothing more to report.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Tokyo Cowboys Update
Dear Tokyo Cowboys Supporters,
It's June, and the summer is arriving in fits and starts here in the UK. Again, I'd like to thank all of you for your interest in and support for our little film with a big heart. It's been a long, long road, and we are grateful you are still along for the ride.
Here's the news:
IN THIS MAIL
1) Welcome New Investors
2) An Army of Interns
3) Digi-Bits
4) Patrons offer Money and Shelter
5) Calling all Hands
6) "Making of" planned for DVD
1) NEW INVESTORS
Tokyo Cowboys welcomes two new investors to the fold. Thanks for your support at this crucial time. For those of you who've been thinking about investing, there are only 22 shares left (and they are flying off the shelves as I write this). As always, shares are only £500 each. Have a look at our generous investment pack for more information (email invest@tokyocowboys.com).
Your investment could fund part or all of the following:
Logging & Digitizing
Purchase of another HD (see below)
Editing
Grading
Sound Design
Music Rights
Web Design & Marketing
Festival Submission
2) AN ARMY OF INTERNS
Tokyo Cowboys is now supported by an army of talented and hard-working interns. Assisting with the post-production and researching and planning the sale and distribution of the film are their remits. They are helping us to rev up for the grass roots, kick-ass marketing we have in store for the film. We'll have more information about our marketing ideas on the website soon, but, if you just can't wait, email me.
3) DIGI-BITS
Our goal is to log and digitize 30 hours of footage a week. We've been able to keep to this schedule since acquisition of the new 1000GB hard drive. This process takes about twice as much time as there is footage, so Patrick and I are working back to back to complete this crucial first step of editing by the third week of July.
One snag is that we will soon need another Hard Drive. As we are still under funded we are totally dependent on new investors to purchase a new Hard Drive and therefore move ahead. One new investor could get us the drive. We'll need it within 9 days. I'll keep you posted in the blog.
4) PATRONS OFFER MONEY & SHELTER
Long-Time Tokyo Cowboys Patron "N" has once again offered her patronage with a check to our land lord. This money allowed us to reduce our paid work last month and dedicate more time to the edit. Thanks again, N, for your generous support.
New Tokyo Cowboys Patron, "KJ," has offered us shelter at her summer house in Sweden for three months. This will allow us to concentrate on the edit full time without having to take on any paid work. We'll be in Sweden from August and return to the UK in late October. Thanks KJ for the kind support!
If you'd like to become a Tokyo Cowboys patron, please e me for more
details.
5) ALL HANDS ON DECK
Are you interested in seeing some of your camera work or hearing some of your sound work in Tokyo Cowboys? We are looking for specific aural and visual recordings. If you have them or can acquire them, you could see your name in lights. Email me for a list of requirements.
6) "Tokyo Cowboys--The Edit"
We will be video journaling during the edit. This footage will be available on the final Tokyo Cowboys DVD, and clips will be available on-line. Check the web site often for more and more clips of the Cowboys and the Filmmakers.
That's it for now. Thanks again for your support, and don't hesitate to contact us. Please feel free to pass this email to your friends and family. Signing the guest book on the web site at http://www.tokyocowboys.com/guestbook.html will ensure that they get their own copy of Tokyo Cowboys updates.
Hugs,
Daneeta
It's June, and the summer is arriving in fits and starts here in the UK. Again, I'd like to thank all of you for your interest in and support for our little film with a big heart. It's been a long, long road, and we are grateful you are still along for the ride.
Here's the news:
IN THIS MAIL
1) Welcome New Investors
2) An Army of Interns
3) Digi-Bits
4) Patrons offer Money and Shelter
5) Calling all Hands
6) "Making of" planned for DVD
1) NEW INVESTORS
Tokyo Cowboys welcomes two new investors to the fold. Thanks for your support at this crucial time. For those of you who've been thinking about investing, there are only 22 shares left (and they are flying off the shelves as I write this). As always, shares are only £500 each. Have a look at our generous investment pack for more information (email invest@tokyocowboys.com).
Your investment could fund part or all of the following:
Logging & Digitizing
Purchase of another HD (see below)
Editing
Grading
Sound Design
Music Rights
Web Design & Marketing
Festival Submission
2) AN ARMY OF INTERNS
Tokyo Cowboys is now supported by an army of talented and hard-working interns. Assisting with the post-production and researching and planning the sale and distribution of the film are their remits. They are helping us to rev up for the grass roots, kick-ass marketing we have in store for the film. We'll have more information about our marketing ideas on the website soon, but, if you just can't wait, email me.
3) DIGI-BITS
Our goal is to log and digitize 30 hours of footage a week. We've been able to keep to this schedule since acquisition of the new 1000GB hard drive. This process takes about twice as much time as there is footage, so Patrick and I are working back to back to complete this crucial first step of editing by the third week of July.
One snag is that we will soon need another Hard Drive. As we are still under funded we are totally dependent on new investors to purchase a new Hard Drive and therefore move ahead. One new investor could get us the drive. We'll need it within 9 days. I'll keep you posted in the blog.
4) PATRONS OFFER MONEY & SHELTER
Long-Time Tokyo Cowboys Patron "N" has once again offered her patronage with a check to our land lord. This money allowed us to reduce our paid work last month and dedicate more time to the edit. Thanks again, N, for your generous support.
New Tokyo Cowboys Patron, "KJ," has offered us shelter at her summer house in Sweden for three months. This will allow us to concentrate on the edit full time without having to take on any paid work. We'll be in Sweden from August and return to the UK in late October. Thanks KJ for the kind support!
If you'd like to become a Tokyo Cowboys patron, please e me for more
details.
5) ALL HANDS ON DECK
Are you interested in seeing some of your camera work or hearing some of your sound work in Tokyo Cowboys? We are looking for specific aural and visual recordings. If you have them or can acquire them, you could see your name in lights. Email me for a list of requirements.
6) "Tokyo Cowboys--The Edit"
We will be video journaling during the edit. This footage will be available on the final Tokyo Cowboys DVD, and clips will be available on-line. Check the web site often for more and more clips of the Cowboys and the Filmmakers.
That's it for now. Thanks again for your support, and don't hesitate to contact us. Please feel free to pass this email to your friends and family. Signing the guest book on the web site at http://www.tokyocowboys.com/guestbook.html will ensure that they get their own copy of Tokyo Cowboys updates.
Hugs,
Daneeta
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