Living in Silence: Toraichi Kono

Living in Silence: Toraichi Kono

PRODUCERSPhilip W. Chung, Clyde Kusatsu, Tim Lounibos

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERSSara Edel, Nancy Yuen

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT: 323.993.7245 or [email protected]

ContentsContents

Cover and Contents pageCover and Contents page Slides 1-2 Slides 1-2 IntroductionIntroduction Slides 3-4 Slides 3-4 Who was Kono?Who was Kono? Slides 5-8 Slides 5-8 Story TreatmentStory Treatment Slides 9-13 Slides 9-13 Strategies for SuccessStrategies for Success Slides 14-17 Slides 14-17 Producers’ BiosProducers’ Bios Slides 18-22 Slides 18-22

IntroductionIntroduction

Documentary on Toraichi Kono who Documentary on Toraichi Kono who came to America with nothing, gained came to America with nothing, gained success and status by becoming success and status by becoming personal secretary to international personal secretary to international celebrity Charlie Chaplin, then lost it all celebrity Charlie Chaplin, then lost it all in an environment of fear, accusations in an environment of fear, accusations and paranoiaand paranoia

IntroductionIntroductionPurpose:Purpose:

Tell an untold tale of one man’s struggle to Tell an untold tale of one man’s struggle to attain the “American Dream” – one that is attain the “American Dream” – one that is compelling, enlightening and fascinating compelling, enlightening and fascinating

Reach a large audience and help keep Reach a large audience and help keep history from repeating itself in the unfair history from repeating itself in the unfair treatment of individuals due to skin-color, treatment of individuals due to skin-color, media images and current eventsmedia images and current events

Reclaim a portion of Hollywood and U.S. Reclaim a portion of Hollywood and U.S. history by emphasizing Kono’s story as one history by emphasizing Kono’s story as one that is truly Americanthat is truly American

Who was Kono?Who was Kono?

Japanese immigrant Japanese immigrant who came to America who came to America in 1900 with nothing in 1900 with nothing but dreams for a but dreams for a better life better life


Charlie Chaplin’s chauffeur, Charlie Chaplin’s chauffeur, personal secretary, and closest personal secretary, and closest confidant from 1916 to 1934 confidant from 1916 to 1934

““Kono is my man Friday. He is Kono is my man Friday. He is everything – muse, valet, everything – muse, valet, private secretary, and private secretary, and bodyguard” bodyguard”

-Charlie Chaplin-Charlie Chaplin


Alleged Japanese spy Alleged Japanese spy arrested in 1941 arrested in 1941 and and incarcerated before incarcerated before and after the mass and after the mass internment internment of of 120,000 Japanese 120,000 Japanese Americans following Americans following the attack on Pearl the attack on Pearl Harbor Harbor


Loving Husband, Loving Husband, Father, Friend, Father, Friend, Community LeaderCommunity Leader

Story Treatment: Story Treatment: Part I – The Early YearsPart I – The Early Years

Will explore Kono’s early Will explore Kono’s early life: his colorful youth in life: his colorful youth in Japan, the reasons for his Japan, the reasons for his immigration to the States as immigration to the States as a teen, his initial struggles a teen, his initial struggles in Seattle, marriage, and in Seattle, marriage, and the fateful move to Los the fateful move to Los Angeles that would lead him Angeles that would lead him to the most famous man in to the most famous man in the world—Charlie Chaplin. the world—Charlie Chaplin.

Story Treatment:Story Treatment: Part II – The Chaplin Years Part II – The Chaplin Years

Will examine the eighteen Will examine the eighteen years Kono spent working as years Kono spent working as Chaplin’s valet and closest Chaplin’s valet and closest confidant. At a time when confidant. At a time when Asians were barely second-Asians were barely second-class citizens, Kono held class citizens, Kono held power and had access to a power and had access to a world of wealth and privilege world of wealth and privilege that few Americans could that few Americans could even imagine. How did Kono even imagine. How did Kono maintain this position and maintain this position and what ultimately caused it all what ultimately caused it all to go away?to go away?

Story Treatment:Story Treatment: Part III – The Post-Chaplin Part III – The Post-Chaplin

YearsYears After his acrimonious split from After his acrimonious split from

Chaplin, Kono made an attempt Chaplin, Kono made an attempt to rebuild his life but found that to rebuild his life but found that all the doors that had been all the doors that had been opened to him before were opened to him before were now permanently closed. now permanently closed. Learning that life for an Asian Learning that life for an Asian man in America was much man in America was much more difficult than he had more difficult than he had previously known and reeling previously known and reeling from the premature death of from the premature death of his wife, Kono struggled in vain his wife, Kono struggled in vain to regain his standing unaware to regain his standing unaware of greater tragedies to come.of greater tragedies to come.

Story Treatment:Story Treatment: Part IV – World War II Part IV – World War II

Even before the bombing of Even before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Kono found Pearl Harbor, Kono found himself caught up in himself caught up in accusations of espionage accusations of espionage along with a Japanese naval along with a Japanese naval officer named Tachibana. officer named Tachibana. Although charges were Although charges were dropped, Kono was again dropped, Kono was again arrested on December 7, arrested on December 7, 1941 and spent more than 1941 and spent more than six years incarcerated at six years incarcerated at various camps as a various camps as a potential “alien enemy” potential “alien enemy” while his family worked while his family worked tirelessly to secure his tirelessly to secure his freedom. freedom.

Story Treatment:Story Treatment: Part V–The Post-World War II Part V–The Post-World War II

YearsYears Finally released, Kono Finally released, Kono

worked with “Tex” worked with “Tex” Nakamura and attorney Nakamura and attorney Wayne Collins to help other Wayne Collins to help other Japanese Americans facing Japanese Americans facing similar problems with the similar problems with the U.S. government. U.S. government. Eventually, he returned to Eventually, he returned to his hometown in Japan his hometown in Japan where he would live out the where he would live out the rest of his days never to rest of his days never to regain the glory of his early regain the glory of his early years—a time he fondly years—a time he fondly considered “the best of his considered “the best of his life.”life.”

Strategies for Success: Strategies for Success: Distribution Distribution

Submit to various prestigious film festivals, both Asian Submit to various prestigious film festivals, both Asian American and mainstream, drawing upon pre-existing American and mainstream, drawing upon pre-existing contacts with a number of these festival organizerscontacts with a number of these festival organizers

Secure global theatrical, cable, and video distribution Secure global theatrical, cable, and video distribution deals via film festivalsdeals via film festivals

Target venues (proven receptive to similar projects) Target venues (proven receptive to similar projects) such as PBS, the History Channel, the Discovery such as PBS, the History Channel, the Discovery Channel and the Sundance Channel, which has Channel and the Sundance Channel, which has recently partnered with Docurama to launch the recently partnered with Docurama to launch the Sundance Channel Home Entertainment Documentary Sundance Channel Home Entertainment Documentary CollectionCollection

Utilize membership base of community organizations Utilize membership base of community organizations

like the JACL and Japanese American National Museum like the JACL and Japanese American National Museum

Strategies for Success:Strategies for Success:MarketingMarketing

Draw on connections with the Asian American Draw on connections with the Asian American Journalists Association, which has members at most Journalists Association, which has members at most major television stations and print media throughout major television stations and print media throughout the United Statesthe United States

Utilize print media, drawing on pre-existing Utilize print media, drawing on pre-existing relationships with publications including the relationships with publications including the Rafu Rafu ShimpoShimpo, , Korea TimesKorea Times, , Asian WeekAsian Week, , KoreAm JournalKoreAm Journal, the , the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times and and L.A. WeeklyL.A. Weekly

Utilize pre-existing relationships with numerous Utilize pre-existing relationships with numerous organizations in the Asian American community organizations in the Asian American community throughout the United Statesthroughout the United States

Capitalize on mass media’s heightened awareness and Capitalize on mass media’s heightened awareness and interest of all things Asian and Asian American during interest of all things Asian and Asian American during the month of May—Asian Pacific Heritage Monththe month of May—Asian Pacific Heritage Month

Strategies for Success: Strategies for Success: School OutreachSchool Outreach

Explore the possibility of raising the funds necessary to Explore the possibility of raising the funds necessary to distribute copies of this film to schools throughout the distribute copies of this film to schools throughout the country – similar to efforts that were made to distribute country – similar to efforts that were made to distribute 10,000 video copies of the film 10,000 video copies of the film Farewell to Manzanar Farewell to Manzanar throughout the California public school systemthroughout the California public school system

Under the sponsorship of then-Lieutenant Governor Cruz Under the sponsorship of then-Lieutenant Governor Cruz M. Bustamante, producer Clyde Kusatsu participated in M. Bustamante, producer Clyde Kusatsu participated in the distribution of the film to California school libraries the distribution of the film to California school libraries and is able to draw upon that experience as well as and is able to draw upon that experience as well as connections made throughout the processconnections made throughout the process

Strategies for Success:Strategies for Success:WebsiteWebsite

Simple but effective marketing tool to reach and nurture Simple but effective marketing tool to reach and nurture a mass audience a mass audience

Take advantage of various marketing techniques and Take advantage of various marketing techniques and access the large network of Asian American websites access the large network of Asian American websites and email lists before, during, and after production and email lists before, during, and after production

Provide interested users with information about the Provide interested users with information about the documentary, production updates and progress reports, documentary, production updates and progress reports, viewing information, and links to other related websitesviewing information, and links to other related websites

Producers’ BiosProducers’ BiosPHILIP W. CHUNGPHILIP W. CHUNG (CO-PRODUCER) (CO-PRODUCER) Asian American history and literature Asian American history and literature

teacherteacher Journalist for numerous Asian American and Journalist for numerous Asian American and

mainstream publicationsmainstream publications Written, produced or directed over 60 plays, Written, produced or directed over 60 plays,

workshops and readingsworkshops and readings Writing credits include Writing credits include Lois and Clark: The Lois and Clark: The

New Adventures of SupermanNew Adventures of Superman and a number and a number of Warner Bros. Television pilots, as well as of Warner Bros. Television pilots, as well as writing and directing two short filmswriting and directing two short films

Currently developing several film scripts and Currently developing several film scripts and projectsprojects

Co-founded and co-artistic directs the highly Co-founded and co-artistic directs the highly acclaimed Lodestone Theatre Ensembleacclaimed Lodestone Theatre Ensemble

Producers’ BiosProducers’ Bios

CLYDE KUSATSUCLYDE KUSATSU (CO-PRODUCER) (CO-PRODUCER) Graduate of Northwestern University's Graduate of Northwestern University's

famed theatre programfamed theatre program Professional acting career spanning 32 Professional acting career spanning 32

years in film, TV and theatre years in film, TV and theatre Acted in films including Acted in films including The InterpreterThe Interpreter

and and Paradise RoadParadise Road, on TV series from , on TV series from Magnum P.I. Magnum P.I. to to Ally McBealAlly McBeal, and played , and played Judge Lance Ito in the TV movie Judge Lance Ito in the TV movie American TragedyAmerican Tragedy

Starred in Starred in Farewell To ManzanarFarewell To Manzanar – the – the first movie to deal with the internment first movie to deal with the internment camp experience on network televisioncamp experience on network television

Affiliated with groups like Affiliated with groups like Visual Visual CommunicationsCommunications, , Japanese American Japanese American National MuseumNational Museum and and East West PlayersEast West Players as an actor, producer and teacheras an actor, producer and teacher

Producers’ BiosProducers’ BiosTIM LOUNIBOSTIM LOUNIBOS (CO-PRODUCER) (CO-PRODUCER) Produced Produced My AmericaMy America – the Sept. 11th – the Sept. 11th

memorial event in New York City – memorial event in New York City – The Ammy The Ammy AwardsAwards, and , and The Ovation AwardsThe Ovation Awards

Executive produced the short film Executive produced the short film HarlequinHarlequin Currently producing the indie films Currently producing the indie films The The

Sensei Sensei and and way leads onto wayway leads onto way starring starring Sandra Oh Sandra Oh

Was Development Manager for aOnline Was Development Manager for aOnline (named “Best Asian American Community (named “Best Asian American Community site of 2001” by site of 2001” by Yahoo Internet Life Yahoo Internet Life MagazineMagazine))

Professional actor who has starred, guest Professional actor who has starred, guest starred or appeared in 100+ films, tv shows, starred or appeared in 100+ films, tv shows, videos, commercials and plays over a videos, commercials and plays over a fourteen-year career fourteen-year career

Co-founded, co-artistic directed and board Co-founded, co-artistic directed and board member of Lodestone Theatre Ensemblemember of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble

Participant on numerous panels discussing Participant on numerous panels discussing the image of Asian Americans in the media the image of Asian Americans in the media


SARA J. EDEL SARA J. EDEL (ASSOCIATE PRODUCER)(ASSOCIATE PRODUCER) Currently a grant writer for the Haight Currently a grant writer for the Haight

Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc., San Francisco, CA Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc., San Francisco, CA UC DIGSSS Fellow. UC Diversity Initiative for UC DIGSSS Fellow. UC Diversity Initiative for

Graduate Study in the Social Sciences. Los Graduate Study in the Social Sciences. Los Angeles, CA 2005.Angeles, CA 2005.

Phi Beta Kappa. Alpha of Maine 2002.Phi Beta Kappa. Alpha of Maine 2002. Experience in conducting extensive, in-Experience in conducting extensive, in-

person interviews with community-based person interviews with community-based and governmental workforce development and governmental workforce development service providers.service providers.

Published “First Source Hiring Agreements: Published “First Source Hiring Agreements: An Overview,” Fresno Works for Better An Overview,” Fresno Works for Better Health, part of the California Works for Health, part of the California Works for Better Health Initiative, in 2005. Funded by Better Health Initiative, in 2005. Funded by the California Endowment and the the California Endowment and the Rockefeller Foundation.Rockefeller Foundation.


NANCY WANG YUEN NANCY WANG YUEN (ASSOCIATE (ASSOCIATE PRODUCER), PRODUCER),

PhD. candidate in Sociology at UCLA PhD. candidate in Sociology at UCLA Spearheaded a study of Asian Pacific Spearheaded a study of Asian Pacific

Islander Americans in Primetime Television Islander Americans in Primetime Television in Fall 2004 (downloadable at in Fall 2004 (downloadable at www.napalc.orgwww.napalc.org), and will follow up with a ), and will follow up with a study for the Fall 2005 season study for the Fall 2005 season

Recipient of the prestigious National Science Recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Published "Performing Race, Negotiating Published "Performing Race, Negotiating Identity: Asian American Professional Actors Identity: Asian American Professional Actors in Hollywood,” as a chapter in in Hollywood,” as a chapter in Asian Asian American Youth Culture, Identity, and American Youth Culture, Identity, and EthnicityEthnicity, edited by Min Zhou (UCLA) and , edited by Min Zhou (UCLA) and Jennifer Lee (UCI), in 2004 (Routledge) Jennifer Lee (UCI), in 2004 (Routledge)

Currently working on a dissertation study of Currently working on a dissertation study of Hollywood actors and whether their Hollywood actors and whether their experiences vary by race and genderexperiences vary by race and gender

Documents

Living in Silence: Toraichi Kono