Film Documentary in the Works!

The Japan-Okinawa Brat Story Told in Film:
The Youth Who Bridged Opposite Worlds

Imagine a film that vividly shows and tells the Japan-Okinawa Brat story, memorializing it for ages and generations to come. An incredibly inspiring story about how waves of thousands of U.S. military-affiliated dependents began arriving in 1946 across the land of former bitter enemy Japan; waves that continue to this day. Their orders? To build friendly relations with the mysterious former enemy while mending their own deep divides over race, religion, politics, place, and national origin. 

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Why this film matters:  This remarkable inadvertent 'social science' experiment -at scale and with purpose never attempted before in global history- has turned out to be an amazing success. Friendships and cross-cultural exchange with the Japanese people have been forged across generations. DoD dependents in Japan and elsewhere across the world have learned how to tolerate differences and live life with shared purpose on behalf of others; traits that civilian America society desperately needs today. This film will tell not only an inspiring story, but how lessons taken from that story can be applied to our disconnected and polarized nation during these troubled and uncertain times. 

How You Can Help: I invite your help! This will be an estimated 2-to-3-year journey, at minimum. I am especially interested in the following:

* Home films, videos, photographs. I already have many photos included in my 3-volume book series, but would welcome many more, plus films and videos. I can't guarantee they would be used, but if so, they will be credited and acknowledged. 

* Skills! If you and/or someone you know is skilled in documentary film production (including animation), please let me know.

* Interviews! I had the privilege and pleasure of interviewing some 110 remarkable individuals for my books and am hoping to re-interview many of those amazing individuals on film with their permission and availability. I am open to others as well! All ages and eras, including especially folks who lived during the first years of the Occupation of Japan (1945-52). 

* Places to stay. Once I receive the funding and expertise I need to begin interviewing on camera, I would love to have places to stay in order to minimize travel costs for myself and probably a small accompanying crew of 2-3 individuals. If you're interested and available to host, please let me know. I'd really appreciate it.

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If interested in helping, please fill out the form below. I look forward to your response!

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Sincerely, Michael

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