Day of Independence

Day of Independence
Day of Independence
	poster design: Dennis Mukai
Directed by	Chris Tashima
Written by	Chris Tashima; Tim Toyama
Based on	Independence Day; by Tim Toyama
Produced by	Lisa Onodera
Starring	Derek Mio; Marcus Toji; Alan Muraoka; Keiko Kawashima; Gina Hiraizumi; Chris Tashima
Music by	Scott Nagatani
Release date	September 26, 2003;
Running time	27 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Day of Independence is a 2003 short film, broadcast in 2005 as a half-hour PBS television special. It is a drama, set during the Japanese American internment of World War II, produced by Cedar Grove Productions with Visual Communications as fiscal sponsor.

Plot

Set in a relocation camp in 1943, "Day of Independence" tells the story of a young baseball player facing the tragic circumstances of the internment of 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The narrative follows a family torn apart by forced and unjust incarceration, highlighting a father's decision that challenges his son. Ultimately, the story unfolds with the son's triumph through courage, sacrifice, and the backdrop of the All-American game of baseball.

Cast

Derek Mio as Zip
Marcus Toji as Hog
Alan Muraoka as Father
Keiko Kawashima as Mother
Chris Tashima as The Umpire

(In order of appearance)

Dean Komure as Spectator
Lisa Joe as Frances ("National Anthem" singer)
Diana Toshiko as Betty
Sarah Chang as Sadie
Julie Tofukuji as Mimi
Ulysses Lee as Tad
Jonathan Okui as Satch
Gina Hiraizumi as Rose

History

The story of the film is based on playwright and executive producer Tim Toyama's own father's World War II experience. During the war, Toyama's father, whose nickname was Zip, was sent along with his entire family to a U.S. internment camp for Japanese Americans. Zip's Issei (Japanese immigrant) father fell ill and elected to return to Japan, along with Zip's mother, on a prisoner exchange ship, called the MS Gripsholm.^[1] However, the parents told Zip that as an American, he should remain in the U.S.

Background

Toyama wrote a play based on his family history, Independence Day. He and director Chris Tashima then adapted the play into a short film, which was produced by Lisa Onodera. The film was shot in 6 days, in Stockton, California and in Los Angeles.^[2] It was completed in 2003 and played in over 70 film and video festivals and competitions, winning 25 awards. Following its broadcast premiere on KHET/PBS Hawai'i on May 12, 2005,^[3] the film received a Regional Emmy nomination, from the NATAS San Francisco/Northern California Chapter (which includes Hawaii), in the category of Historical/Cultural – Program/Special.^[4]

Awards

(partial list)

Emmy Nomination - 35th Northern California Emmy Awards
CINE Golden Eagle^[5]
Platinum Best of Show - Aurora Awards
Accolade Award of Excellence, Short Film^[6]
Best Short - Stony Brook Film Festival^[7]
Best Narrative Short - Tambay Film & Video Festival^[8]
"Slate" Award, Best Short - California Independent Film Festival^[9]
Best Short Film - Houston Multicultural Independent Film Festival
Gold / 1st Prize - Crested Butte Reel Fest^[10]
Audience Award, Best Drama - Marco Island Film Festival

Trivia

Performance artist Dan Kwong, who is also a baseball player, coached lead actor Derek Mio in old-style pitching form.
Lisa Joe's character, "Frances" (who sings the National Anthem at the ballgame and later conducts a choir rehearsal), was named in honor of Joe's mother, Frances Sue Okabe, a well known Nisei singer and music teacher. Okabe was interned at the Minidoka internment camp as a teenager, where she was known for her singing. Joe provided the singing voice on the soundtrack as well, which was recorded on Mother's Day just after her mother died from cancer.
During one of the montage sequences of "camp life," there is a painter standing by an easel, who is portrayed by playwright Tim Toyama, who stepped in at the last moment when the person cast to play the part didn't show up for filming.
The scene depicting the choir rehearsal has un-credited cameo appearances by noted actors Tamlyn Tomita, Emily Kuroda, Sab Shimono and Greg Watanabe who are friends of the director.^[11]