What's stopping you?

Here on our rocky island bastion at the Imperial Fortress of Celtx, we're gushing about the new film SAKI that was brought to our attention by L.A.-based filmmaker and VFX guru Sam K. Yano.

Produced by Samurai Hollywood, SAKI is:

"...about a Japanese woman exiled to America and finding her place as an art teacher to prison convicts. When her grandfather visits from Japan, all kinds of trouble follows in the form of the Japanese Mafia, the Yakuza, and Saki must find the strength to stem the tides through her one focus, her art."

And oh my, how we like it.

But it's tough to divorce entertainment from politics, even in a flick that would have Sam Peckinpah cover his eyes once the knives come out to play.

See, we're big fans of underdogs, guerillas and other DIY types who find a way to pull a Kobayashi Maru when they learn the game is rigged against them.  I'm not sure who the Patron Saint of Little Guys Who Are Tougher Than a Coffin Nail is, but I'll bet that guy didn't know how to stay down.

And I'll bet that guy was also a big fan of indie film, web series and the kind of 3rd pint barroom stories that start with arms raised and the phrase, "No shit, there I was..."  You ask that guy what he likes about indies and he would say that he likes when the bones of the story show through under a token dab of lip gloss.  That he can tell when a crew of talented creatives compensate for a lack of warehouses full of gear by vaulting over their obstacles with talent, moxie and homemade chili.

Sam Yano is our kind of filmmaker.  He's got the creative chops to know how to get the money on the screen and save it where it doesn't matter.  To Sam, the team at Samurai Hollywood and the rest of you indies out there -- we salute you.

Now get up.  You've got a story to tell.

 

Comments

[Sam Yano]

Thanks for the mention! CELTX is definitely my kind of software - more than a writer's tool but a film maker's Swiss army knife. For more info on the feature film SAKI check out our Facebook page and "Like" us to support us. SAKI will also screen at the Nuart Theater in Santa Monica, CA for 3 days in December. Drop by and check it out - I'll be there if you want to shake my hand (or punch me in the face).

Sam

SAKI Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SAKI/107980272581445

SAKI at the Nuart Theater in Santa Monica:

SCREENING 1 (Fri, 12/9):
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110954349017888
SCREENING 2 (Sat, 12/10):
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124278747681358
SCREENING 3 (Sun, 12/12):
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173785859377826&c

[Team Celtx]

For those who want to punch Sam in the face, you get that the whole "tougher than a coffin nail" thing is a metaphor, right?

Please refrain from punching Sam, mmkay?