A Director's Thoughts (Episode 5 - Samurai & Americanos)

Back in the groove. Writing up a storm lately for my comic book series. This has led to an elevated fascination with Japanese culture. My comic series Onna, tells the tale of a young woman in the year 2088. She's a Chinatown bartender that comes across an outer realm Samurai sword that forever changes her life. Onna must decide if her destiny is a curse or a calling. With all that jazz in full swing during the writing process, my love for Japanese culture and cinema has grown even more. Ask my friends, I make them do "Japanuary" every year, where we try to watch as many Japanese films as we can in well... January. (We never get to the amount of films where we need to be).

Some iconic Japanese directors have always inspired me, more than I realize. Names like Kurosawa, Ozu, Mizoguchi, even Studio Ghibli's Miyazaki has a special place in my heart. The Japanese have a word, Bushido. The old ways of the samurai that preached and methodized the art of chivalry. The ultimate respect from human to human. A noble life, is a righteous life. It's a very biblical way of living, something I admire and think about quite often. A philosophy and idealogy that is front & center of my comic series, as well as my daily living. Something the world needs more of if I may be honest.

The Sword of Doom, a film by Kihachi Okamoto, tells the story of a gifted swordsman that has no moral code, it's utter madness and chaos. The film itself ended incomplete, the director originally thought he would have opportunities for sequels to continue the story (which ends abruptly). Even the original source material, "Daibosatu toge", a famous piece of literature in 1913, that was a newspaper serial series, wasn't even completed in full. It's a sad story. What could have been? The possibilities were endless.

Why do I mention this film?

Only to say that anything incomplete in life, is a heartbreaking tale. I never want any of my projects to feel empty or lacking fulfillment. However, the movie is so beautiful and devastating all at once that it still inspires me. The Japanese still value this film as one of their finest works. What's the message? What's the lesson? We can find the beauty, or the message even in an unfinished work of art. As devastating as it is. I hold all of these feelings when I'm writing Onna and all my other screenplays.

Let's pivot and discuss something important to me: coffee. My recent lifestyle change has done wonders for my health. For 7 weeks I had to refrain from coffee to protect my stomach and gut health but now I've incorporated the beloved art form of a drink in my diet again. So far, so good. Still avoiding dairy when I can, so I've made the switch from flat whites and cortados to the beloved americano. Yes, I'm finally a grown up. I have ambitions of one day having my own comic / coffee shop. Sharing ownership duties with my brother QDP aka Sito aka Alex Hoheb. Coffee is a lifestyle. Especially for creatives. However, I've noticed the coffee scene has become incredibly pretentious in NYC, especially with their hospitality model. You pay $8 for an iced coffee, but have to find the lids, straws, trays & sweetener yourself. Why am I tipping if I'm doing some of the work? We are past the Covid excuse. Sorry, not sorry. Hey NY, how about we bring back the word hospitality again, with a capital H.

Until then, I'll be continuing to enjoy my americanos when I can (will invest in my own machine soon) & will be working hard throughout these next few weeks to flesh out some of my comic book scripts and my feature film screenplay as well. Looking to shoot another short film in the Fall too! (QDP and I have a brilliant script). Big things ahead. Staying grateful, humble & chivalrous.

The Samurai would be proud.

Holga 120 - Kodak 400 - 2022