Ben Hollis with Michael Foster at Water Street Studios

2019-07-18T16:30:29+00:00

Published on Oct 30, 2012 Creative force Michael Foster (Huffington Post) is hanging in the Fox River Valley these days. Ben Hollis (WTTW's WILD CHICAGO) tracks him down at Water Street Studios in Batavia, Illinois.

Ben Hollis with Michael Foster at Water Street Studios2019-07-18T16:30:29+00:00

From Toronto to Tokyo: The Path to Vertical Filmmaking

2025-12-17T02:02:53+00:00

This week's guest is Ron Reid Jr., a Toronto native who originally traveled to Japan with just $400 in his pocket and has since established himself as a prominent filmmaker and actor in Tokyo. His award-winning documentary work includes 614, which chronicles a pastor's vision to aid communities by living amongst them, as well as [...]

From Toronto to Tokyo: The Path to Vertical Filmmaking2025-12-17T02:02:53+00:00

How to Bring Japanese Cinema to Life

2025-12-05T21:03:38+00:00

Our next guest is Aki Takabatake, the founder and CEO of Momo Films Inc., a Toronto-based boutique film distribution company specializing in Japanese cinema. A University of British Columbia graduate, she began her career as a film buyer in Tokyo and has since held diverse roles in Toronto, including with the Toronto International Film Festival [...]

How to Bring Japanese Cinema to Life2025-12-05T21:03:38+00:00

Film-making: Bridging Japan and the World

2025-11-20T17:03:33+00:00

In our next episode, we meet Megumi Nishikura, a US-based documentary film-maker whose work explores identity, belonging, and the cultural intersections between Japan and the world. Her feature documentary film "Hafu - the mixed race experience" screened theatrically throughout Japan and aired on PBS and NipponTV. She produced "Fall Seven Times, Get Up Eight: The [...]

Film-making: Bridging Japan and the World2025-11-20T17:03:33+00:00

Getting A Head Start In Japanese Film Production

2025-11-10T20:05:52+00:00

Tokyo-based Japanese film producer Kanako Fujita is the founder of Felis Pictures Ltd. and a graduate of King’s College London, where she earned her degree in Film Studies. A participant of Rotterdam Lab 2025 and the Busan Producer Hub 2024, she specializes in Asian–European co-productions that bridge cultures and explore the moral and emotional complexities [...]

Getting A Head Start In Japanese Film Production2025-11-10T20:05:52+00:00

Tales of an Independent Filmmaker from Sendai

2025-10-27T02:10:37+00:00

This week’s guest is Takashi Horie, a New York-based independent filmmaker. Born in Sendai, Miyagi, he graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1996. Since then, Horie has built a versatile career as a director, cinematographer, and editor, creating numerous award-winning music and promotional videos in the U.S. His short film, Ordinary [...]

Tales of an Independent Filmmaker from Sendai2025-10-27T02:10:37+00:00

Deep Dives: Getting Into The World Of J-Dramas

2025-10-27T02:08:51+00:00

Born in Chicago, Kanako spent most of her life in Tokyo before returning to the U.S. decades later to make it her home once more. Her passion for launching creative projects with a social purpose led her to develop the card game "SHAKE HANDS" as part of an enablement project with Enable Partners LLC. In [...]

Deep Dives: Getting Into The World Of J-Dramas2025-10-27T02:08:51+00:00

The Rules Of Living And Making Movies In Japan

2025-09-21T20:42:37+00:00

This week's guest is Greg Dale, a Princeton graduate with a decade of experience in New York theater, has been directing and acting in Broadway-level productions and films in Japan. He has written half a dozen screenplays and recently wrote and directed his debut feature, the romantic comedy "Rules of Living". The film won [...]

The Rules Of Living And Making Movies In Japan2025-09-21T20:42:37+00:00

A Rising Star In Japanese Movies and Television

2025-09-29T01:51:27+00:00

This week's guest is Stefanie Arianne, an accomplished actress with roots in both the Philippines and Japan. After moving to Japan to pursue acting, she quickly rose to prominence, earning a Best Supporting Actress Award at the Malaysia International Film Festival for her role in the critically acclaimed film “Plan 75". The film was also [...]

A Rising Star In Japanese Movies and Television2025-09-29T01:51:27+00:00

Creating a Card Game for Japanese Business

2025-09-12T19:01:06+00:00

This week we have Kanako Horii. Born in Chicago, she spent most of her life in Tokyo before returning to the U.S. decades later to make it her home again. Her passion for bringing creative projects into society led her to create the card game "SHAKE HANDS" as part of a social enablement project with [...]

Creating a Card Game for Japanese Business2025-09-12T19:01:06+00:00

Need to Know: Crafting Japanese Entertainment

2025-07-25T16:52:30+00:00

This week, we feature Jeffrey Rowe, a Canadian actor, voice actor, and producer. He splits his time between Okinawa, Tokyo, and Vancouver. Rowe has appeared in nearly 50 films and TV projects, including the NHK Taiga dramas Ryomaden and Seiten wo Tsuke, Prime Video's The Silent Service, and numerous Japanese documentaries where he served [...]

Need to Know: Crafting Japanese Entertainment2025-07-25T16:52:30+00:00
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