Updates on "The Spirit Of Japan"
Note from the director: Joseph Overbey
Hello everyone! We’ve been working behind the scenes to bring you some very exciting Summer screenings of “The Spirit Of Japan”. The announcements are coming soon, so I wanted to take this opportunity to say thanks to all our supporters and friends who have stuck with us over the years.
When I set out way back in 2016 to make what would be my first documentary, I truly wasn’t expecting all the twists and turns that life, the world and the process would present me. Traveling to Ichikikushikino to film Tekkan and Stephen was certainly the fun adventurous part of the journey! Most of the ensuing years have been spent focusing on the post production process and how best to tell this story.
I like to say to folks that making “The Spirit Of Japan” has been my film school, as it has been a life changing education. In that time, I became part of the Brooklyn indie filmmaking community and met so many inspiring storytellers through Filmshop (and also the Brooklyn Doc Club).
I’ve made enduring friendships along the way and at some point people starting calling me a cinematographer (and hiring me) so in that regard I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to make a vibrant career for myself as I enter second half of my life.
Editing with Tom Bayles via Zoom during the pandemic, probably saved my sanity (that and our weekly self-authored film trivia Jeopardy games, organized by Tin Lee).
It hans’t always been a linear journey forward. There were long pauses where I was truly stuck or I just needed to work on other things to keep the lights on. But the end goal was always to see it through.
None of this would have been possible, without the support of my maverick EP Stephen Lyman and for Tekkan Wakamatsu and the rest of the lovely Wakamatsu family, who so generously welcomed me into their distillery and home.
This is also going to be the official re-launch of the “The Spirit Of Japan” social media. So in addition to screening announcements, expect some photography related to the film, shochu making and some Japan travel BTS.