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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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."

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

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

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."

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.

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

Marketing

Woman Selling Advertising space on her belly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46690&item=3869933040&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Ring Tones and Viral Video ads on Mobile Phones

Articles:

http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/ml/readings/details.pdf

Exit Plan

Patrick suggested that we edit in Sweden. His mom has offered us the summer house to work in. It's in the middle of no where. There's lakes and forests and fresh potatos growing in the ground. The salmon is good, and the air is fresh. We're gonna head out in August. Until then, there's a lot to do. We need to wrap up all of the unfinished business and plan for summering in Sweden.

The other thing we have to think about is the exit plan. I have to be back here in October as I can't be out of the country for too long because of my visa status.

Gavin is buying a house in East London. He's offered us a room in it. We are seriously considering it. Then we wouldn't have to worry about coming back to London. It will all be sorted. Yes, things are conspiring for us.

I'm really tired. I've been working long hours and long weeks again. I was supposed to take today off, but here I am up at the London Film School shooting stills and sending out emails.

After many months

of competing with various projects for Patrick's time, I've finally got him back on Tokyo Cowboys (at least part time). He's logging 5 tapes a day. This puts a bit ahead of schedule. We'll be finished logging and digitizing by the time we leave for Sweden in early August.

I'm working 6 days a week with temping and one-off gigs to get the money together for when we go full time with the editing. Today, I've got a stills photography gig for a corporate client and tomorrow a video gig for the same client. It's small money, but it's work.

Meeting Gavin tonight. We've not seen him in months, and he's keen to get an update on TC.

An investor at the midnight hour...a new investor called me from Japan at 2 a.m. wanting to know the bank account number. I have arranged with citibank to unblock the account for one day for this deposit to take place. It seems that there is some probelm with my change of address request. They are not sure if they want to accept my English address, and they keep telling me that the change of address form is incorrect. They've sent the form back to me twice. Oh well...soon everything will be sorted.

Trying to arrange for our housing post October when we'll be coming back from Sweden. Trying to get on the list early. Convinced the landlord to give us our deposit back and a little discount on the flat because of the damp.

The Big Musical Dream

Hi Alex,

I'd like you to research the following bands:

Flaming Lips
The Cure
God Speed you Black Emporor!
Mogwai
Radio Head

I am keen to use some of their music in the film. Find out if they do this kind of thing...if they've ever done it for free. Based on your research, tell me how we can approach them. What is it about what we're doing that might get them excited to collaborate with us.

Do you know any kick ass Japanese groups?

This is an ongoing project. But the sooner we approach these guys, the better.

Good luck!

Hugs,

Daneeta

Distribution

Hey Adriano,

Yes, I would like to meet up. I'm shooting until the 17th, so it will have to be after that.

In the meantime, could you do some research on distribution? I'm particularily interested in creative means of distribution that don't compromise the film experience. And, of course, I'm interested in how to best protect ourselves and our investors when considering distribution options.

Hugs,

Daneeta

JUSFC Grant

Dear Leon,

I'd like you to research a grant called the "Japan US Friendship
Commission Grant." You can find information about it on www.jusfc.gov. I
know that Tokyo Cowboys is qualified for this grant, but there is a bit
of red tape we have to cut through. I'd like you to help us do that.

Our financial status is a bit shakey when it comes to applying for
government grants. We have private investors in the film that will
receive a percentage of any profit we make. I want to make sure that a
financial situation such as this one is legal. I know you can get this
information by email for free from the JUSFC if you are polite and
tenacious.

Are there other barriers that we should be aware of? Why are those that
win the JUSFC grant successful? Can we model their actions in some way?
Maybe you could interview some of these people via email.

After researching, I'd like you to put together a plan of action to win
this grant. The deadline for the grant is 1 August 2005.

Please let me know if you are interested in this. If not, tell me the
specific kinds of things you're interested in that might lead to
collaboration.

Hugs,

Daneeta

Website

Hey Sen,

I'm wondering about your online design experience. Do you have time to stroll through the website? Let me know what you like...don't like.

I'm going for a Grass Roots, hand made feel. But, I don't want it to be too "folksy." I want it to be smart-assed, cyber-punk and edgy too. And Tokyo seems to be missing from the feel. Or, maybe that's just me. Since Tokyo is multi-color neon, I'm thinking of color coding the site. Cheesy?

About to go down the rabbit hole. We start shooting on Monday...

Cheers,

Daneeta

Homeless

I think the landlord is blowing us out completely. He showed me the flat w/ office, and it was a shambles--the basement office won't be ready for months, and the room was smaller than what we are in now. It just won't do. He also wants to charge for it...more than we are paying now, which I think is really cheeky.

Patrick suggests we become homeless...sell everything, buy and ibook to edit on and move around from friend to family member to friend. It's how Charlie is living at the moment, and he's glamorizing it so much. I don't think I could become homeless...not sure if I could handle it. But it might be our only option.

As for logging...loads of Ken and Aki these past few days. They inspire me.

Met up with Brad (contact from Gavin). He's an IT American who lived in Tokyo. He's trying to help us out with funding.

Been working loads of hours at the night job, so my time schedule is all messed up. Don't know what day it is.