For nearly 35 years, I have worked as an independent filmmaker/videographer in New York, Hawaii, and most recently, the San Francisco Bay area. In 2019, my first feature documentary, JOURNEY TO HOKUSAI, was screened world-wide. Since 2020, I have been working closely with FIRE SAFE MARIN to produce educational videos on wildfire safety. My new feature documentary, KINOBU - Food, Tradition, and Identity, has just been completed and submitted to film festivals around the world. Keeping my fingers crossed!
KINOBU - Food, Tradition, and Identity
As you enter from the busy street of downtown Kyoto, you experience the serenity of Kinobu. You pass through a long narrow corridor to be greeted by staff, where you take off your shoes, and are led to a private room with a garden view.
Watching the film is an immersive experience. You experience a world of culinary art, craftsmanship, and community. You see how different traditional art forms are intertwined with each other. The film reveals how food embodies Japanese aesthetic sensibilities through its presentation, color, and connection to each season.
JOURNEY TO HOKUSAI
Tom Killion has long held a dream – to go to Japan and learn a traditional method of printing by hand. Deeply touched by the artist Hokusai’s prints when he was a child, Tom has for almost 50 years successfully created iconic California landscape prints. This film follows Tom’s journey to Japan to finally learn the traditional technique from Kenji Takenaka -- a 5th generation printer in Kyoto. This film also examines the source of aesthetics found in Japanese art, crafts, and lifestyle.
ADAPT TO WILDFIRE
FIRE SAFE MARIN has recently launched its “Adapt to Wildfire” campaign that focuses on empowering residents to take part in reducing community risk from wildfire.. This short film has been shown at local theaters and on social media as part of the campaign.
BEING SEEN
I’ve been working with LIFEHOUSE for over a decade — capturing and creating stories about people with developmental disabilities. This short documentary candidly reveals their self-awareness, hopes, and dreams. I served as co-producer, co-cinematographer, and co-editor.
THE TEST & THE ART OF THINKING
"It's a film that doggedly questions an exam that affects the futures of millions and feeds the fortunes of several big industries." - New York Times
I served as co-cinematographer.
