Latest News
A Lifelong Journey Through Japanese Cinema
Mark Schilling is a reporter, critic, and author who specializes in Japanese films and popular culture. Since 1989, Mark has been a regular film critic for The Japan Times and has covered the Japanese film [...]
Finding Japanese Culture in New York City
In the fourth episode, we’re excited to welcome Susan Miyagi McCormac, the founder, and Editor-in-Chief of JapanCulture•NYC, a website that introduces New Yorkers to Japanese culture and promotes Japanese-related events. In addition to her work [...]
Conversation about Japanese Film & Television
In the third episode of Showtime at Japan Expert Insights, we'll chat with Tetsuki Ijichi about his extensive experience in the entertainment industry and the valuable advice he has for those just starting out. With [...]
The Intersection of Data, Media and Technology
In the second episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Douglas Montgomery, founder and CEO of Global Connects. Douglas will share his insights on the urgent need for Japan to leverage more data in the entertainment industry, [...]
The Future of Japanese Entertainment & Culture
In this premiere episode, guest Waka (Konohana) Ikeda will discuss the rise of Japonism in the 20th Century and the problems facing Japan that have been revealed through recent international co-productions. Then, she’ll make [...]
After Shogun: What’s Next From Japan?
From video games such as Persona 5 to novels written by Haruki Murakami, a rich reservoir of anime, manga, and video game content awaits proper adaptation. As we move into the latter half of the [...]
Convenience Story Q&A with March Schilling
Here is a post-film Q&A with Mark Schilling, moderated by Chicago-based writer Michael Foster. Special thanks to Sophia Wong Boccio. Mark Schilling (born 1949)[1] is an American film critic, journalist, translator, [...]
Convenience Story Q&A on March 19th
Coming up on March 19th, I'll be moderating a Q&A session with the renowned film critic Mark Schilling about the film based on his excellent short story. This is part of the Japanese Showcase [...]
Romancing Osaka 2: From the Japan Expert Insights Podcast
Doc Kane and I were invited to speak at “Japan Expert Insights” by the renowned Maya Matsuoka and Tim Sullivan about the romantic comedy I wrote set in Osaka back in December. You can listen [...]
Romancing Osaka: From the Japan Expert Insights Podcast
I was invited to speak at "Japan Expert Insights" by the renowned Maya Matsuoka and Tim Sullivan about a romantic comedy I wrote set in the city of Osaka, a film I'm currently working [...]
Japanese Showcase at 2022’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema
This weekend, there were four outstanding films presented for the Japanese Showcase at 2022's Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Season 15. It was a marvelous time, and there are many more films from South Korea, Taiwan, [...]
New Art Show at Sweetwaters Cafe
A large collection of my recent paintings will be featured for three months at Sweetwater's Cafe in Downtown Naperville starting on June 14th, 2022. If you happen to be [...]
Four Shorts About Dogs… and 1920s Chicago
A series of two-minute films about a good cop and his two dogs planning to take down Johnny the Matchstick Man in 1920s Chicago. Done as a fun little side project, these little clips [...]
The Future of Cinema: An Event for Blink Community Tokyo
Here's a Quick Overview The Rundown: 1) Digital technology makes it virtually impossible to compete by simply limiting access to content. That means the only way to [...]
For Sale: Michael’s Digital Illustration Postcards (Set of 12)
We have the first edition of Digital Illustration 4.72" x 4.72" postcards now for sale. 18-19pt paper thickness 4.72" x 4.72" in size matte finish They come in sets of 12 for $25 (plus [...]
From Chicago to Osaka [シカゴから大阪へ]: The Motion Picture
In the spirit of award-winning indie romantic comedy/dramas from the early 2000's, From Chicago to Osaka is a screenplay written for the modern era. With fast-paced ping pong comedic dialogue in both English and [...]
Art, Advertising & U.S.-Japan Relations: Event by BLINK Community
On January 22nd, I had the privilege to host an online event with The Blink Community in Tokyo. It was a fun talk and I was truly honored to be a [...]
I Am a Ghost Movie Poster Project
Here's something very exciting I finally feel like I can share! I was commissioned to illustrate a movie poster for an upcoming film called ‘I Am a Ghost,” developed by Tetsuki Ijichi for Rain [...]
news and articles
Convenience Story Q&A with March Schilling
Here is a post-film Q&A with Mark Schilling, moderated by Chicago-based writer Michael Foster. Special thanks to Sophia Wong Boccio. Mark Schilling (born 1949)[1] is an American film critic, journalist, translator, and author based in Tokyo, Japan. He has written for The Japan Times, Variety, and Screen International. [...]
Convenience Story Q&A on March 19th
Coming up on March 19th, I'll be moderating a Q&A session with the renowned film critic Mark Schilling about the film based on his excellent short story. This is part of the Japanese Showcase Weekend for Sophia Wong Boccio's always impressive Asian Pop-Up Cinema event, this time at the AMC in [...]
Romancing Osaka 2: From the Japan Expert Insights Podcast
Doc Kane and I were invited to speak at “Japan Expert Insights” by the renowned Maya Matsuoka and Tim Sullivan about the romantic comedy I wrote set in Osaka back in December. You can listen to the broadcast in its entirety here!And as always, thanks for the support.ドク・ケインと私は、著名な松岡茉優さんとティム・サリバンさんの「ジャパン・エキスパート・インサイト」に招かれ、12月に私が書いた大阪を舞台にしたラブコメについて話しました。この放送はここで全部聞くことができますよ。そして、いつもながら、応援ありがとうございます。 [...]
Romancing Osaka: From the Japan Expert Insights Podcast
I was invited to speak at "Japan Expert Insights" by the renowned Maya Matsuoka and Tim Sullivan about a romantic comedy I wrote set in the city of Osaka, a film I'm currently working on with the fabulous Doc Kane. Honestly, I don't know if I'm an expert or not, but [...]
Japanese Showcase at 2022’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema
This weekend, there were four outstanding films presented for the Japanese Showcase at 2022's Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Season 15. It was a marvelous time, and there are many more films from South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and many other locations showing in the coming weeks. Highly recommended. Special shout out to [...]
New Art Show at Sweetwaters Cafe
A large collection of my recent paintings will be featured for three months at Sweetwater's Cafe in Downtown Naperville starting on June 14th, 2022. If you happen to be in the area, please stop in! Special thanks go out to the Naperville Art League for making [...]
Four Shorts About Dogs… and 1920s Chicago
A series of two-minute films about a good cop and his two dogs planning to take down Johnny the Matchstick Man in 1920s Chicago. Done as a fun little side project, these little clips have become a bit of a novelty. Enjoy! Part One In this episode, a [...]
The Future of Cinema: An Event for Blink Community Tokyo
Here's a Quick Overview The Rundown: 1) Digital technology makes it virtually impossible to compete by simply limiting access to content. That means the only way to be competitive in today’s marketplace is to have the most high-quality content available that people are willing [...]
For Sale: Michael’s Digital Illustration Postcards (Set of 12)
We have the first edition of Digital Illustration 4.72" x 4.72" postcards now for sale. 18-19pt paper thickness 4.72" x 4.72" in size matte finish They come in sets of 12 for $25 (plus $5 for shipping). There are only 25 more sets still available for this first round. Be sure [...]
From Chicago to Osaka [シカゴから大阪へ]: The Motion Picture
In the spirit of award-winning indie romantic comedy/dramas from the early 2000's, From Chicago to Osaka is a screenplay written for the modern era. With fast-paced ping pong comedic dialogue in both English and Japanese, From Chicago to Osaka is the quintessential date movie for adults looking for something smart, sophisticated, [...]
Art, Advertising & U.S.-Japan Relations: Event by BLINK Community
On January 22nd, I had the privilege to host an online event with The Blink Community in Tokyo. It was a fun talk and I was truly honored to be a part of it. Feel free to view the video above. If you're short on time, you can [...]
I Am a Ghost Movie Poster Project
Here's something very exciting I finally feel like I can share! I was commissioned to illustrate a movie poster for an upcoming film called ‘I Am a Ghost,” developed by Tetsuki Ijichi for Rain Trail Pictures. A special thanks goes out to Tetsuki Ijichi for bringing me on board. Learn more [...]
videos
Chicago Comic Con : Reinventing Pop Culture as a Visual Language
Some say the American Empire is folding, others say it is just beginning. Regardless of your position, one cannot deny the cultural impact America currently has upon the world. With the advent of mass media in the 20th century, the stage has been set for a new cultural revolution led by the United States. Presented here is the first 20 minutes of the lecture.
PechaKucha 20×20: Reinventing Perceived Value, Space, and Time Through Modern Art
From prehistoric cave paintings to Jackson Pollack, art emotionally defines a society. Sadly, we tend to devalue art because it does not directly fulfill basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Artist and designer Michael Foster discusses how viewing modern art will confront someone with socially acquired patterns of feelings, thoughts, and actions—in a fairly safe environment. And he will demonstrate the secrets and motivations behind his own work.
The Reinvention Project: Articles and Essays on Technology
For several years, Michael Foster and Russell C. Smith wrote for The Huffington Post and Psychology Today about the rapid pace of technology and society. Living in the Age of Reinvention is a project aimed at the minds and hearts of everyone who is determined as never before to change their lives and become a participant in the new world of reinvention, The Reinvention Project incorporates stories, speculations and theories on current world events, twentieth and twenty-first century mass media, current social media and business trends, ancient cultures and myths, the Singularity, art and culture, discoveries in particle physics, and studies in human psychology and how we interact with new technology and the web. You can view the entire body of work on this website.
