Team Pray for Japan,

Hi everyone!

Wow, I can't believe it's already almost the end of April.  And I can't believe it's been over a month since I've updated all of you!  (I've been feeling very guilty about it too).

March was such a whirlwind!  We premiered in Tokyo on March 6, then did an incredibly moving free screening in Ishinomaki on March 7, then premiered outside of Japan on March 11 (the 1-year anniversary of the tragedy) in New York at the Japan Society, then of course March 14 was our 16-city special charity show with AMC (and Hollywood Theaters in Hawaii) across North America, as well as our European premiere at the Japan Society in London.  Then we did a regular engagement in New York (1 week) and in LA (2 weeks).  Later in March we played 2 shows at the Okinawa Film Festival and a series of shows in Tokyo at Cinemart Roppongi.

And thanks to EVERYONE for coming out and representing!  I was at the AMC Orange pre-show and AMC Del Amo post-show on March 14, as well as Japan Society in NYC on 3/11 (and Tokyo and Ishinomaki shows).  The audiences were packed and everyone was truly together, moved by the real-life heroes I was fortunate enough to have met in Tohoku, and remembering the tragedy itself and how it affected us all.

In April I came back to Los Angeles (after hopping all over the place in March) and began working on our next phase.  Michelle (Super Volunteer) Klein-Hass and I put together the materials for our "Host-a-Screening Program" which we just launched.  Please check out site here for more info - basically, anyone in the world can host a local screening, working with us via Tugg (for theaters in the US) or directly (for non-theaters within the US or any screening outside the US).  Already, Petopia International is screening the film in Singapore this week!  And a few others are signing up.  Please check out the site for future screenings, as well as for information if you'd like to host one yourself.  We'll be rolling out the Japan program soon as well.

The other big preparation has been for the upcoming digital release.  We're teaming up with a distributor named Odin's Eye to bring the film to audiences worldwide including partners in the US such as Warner Digital.  This is still inside info - a former press release will be forthcoming.  That means VOD, POD, as well as DVD and any other acronym the distribution guys can dream up will be ways in which people can watch "Pray for Japan".  The timing and details of this program is currently being discussed, but most likely will launch in fall.

Finally, but most importantly, your rewards are in the works!!  Now that the March theatrical launch has ended, I can finally focus on fulfilling your rewards.  The DVD case design is ready (here's a preview!).  And the digital downloads, T-shirts and photo books are being prepped.  I can still use a few more weeks to manufacture, then ship, so your patience is much appreciated, but know that it is all in process and you will soon have your own copy of "Pray for Japan".

Well, that's the update - perhaps next time I'll add in more photos but please feel free to check our Facebook and website for various fun stuff like photos and updates.

As always, thank you SO much for your support!

One Heart!

心を一つに！

KOKORO WO HITOTSU NI!

--Stu

Team P4J:

As you know, it has been one-year (and a few days) since the earthquake and tsunami tragedy in Tohoku on March 11, 2011.  And, as of today, it was exactly one year ago since I began volunteering there.  

With this one-year memorial anniversary, the media is covering Tohoku once again, albeit on a very limited scale.  But, with your help, our documentary film "Pray for Japan" is facilitating more media coverage - and will serve a critical role in keeping the public aware of Tohoku, its continuing recovery challenges and of course its heroes.

Our message is one of compassion, self-sacrifice, and hope.

Fortunately, we have had amazing partners in the process of getting this film made and out to the public.  It is almost unheard of for a documentary to play in one theater, let along multiple theaters across multiple continents.  We feel very honored to be accomplishing this achievement.

Coming of the heels of sold out premieres in Tokyo and the ground-zero town of Ishinomaki (Tohoku), we had a wonderful crowd at the Japan Society in both New York and London.  Thanks to Cinemart, Warner-Mycal, Japan Society New York and Japan Society London (and BAFTA) for making that happen!

Now, tonight, we're playing a very special engagement - 16 cities across North America with AMC Theatres (and Hollywood Theaters in Hawaii).  Our Los Angeles show in Del Amo, Torrance is SOLD OUT and they've opened another screen to accomodate the overflow!

Most importantly, we have continuing theatrical runs in BURBANK (AMC Burbank Town Center 8), NEW YORK (AMC Empire) and TOKYO (Cinemart Roppongi).  Please join us this weekend - and through next week - to support "Pray for Japan" and our Tohoku heroes!  

And please help spread the word!  I'm attaching the BURBANK, NEW YORK, and TOKYO posters so you can spread the word to your friends.

Thanks to all of you - and don't forget to check out your name on the big screen!

心を一つに！

One Heart!

--Stu

PS  come visit our site here for the Host-A-Screening program we'll be launching in April.

Hi Team Pray for Japan:

Things have truly been crazy the past couple of weeks -- prepping everything for PRAY FOR JAPAN 's theatrical release has been a truly intense experience.  Usually filmmakers enter into an agreement with a distributor and the distributor handles all the prep for the release.  Well, typical me, I had to do it the hard way and go direct with the theaters :-)  The reason why I chose that method is multi-fold:

(1) Documentary films are very challenging to find a motivated distributor.

(2) Our clock was ticking since I believed (and still do) that the 1-year anniversary of March 2012 was the key window for us to release.

(3) My goal was to do a 100% charity release - where I could donate ALL the profits to Tohoku.  This would have been harder to do with a distributor, but going direct allows us to make that decision.  So, that's what we're doing (and the charity we're working with is JEN www.jen-npo.org who I volunteered with in Tohoku - their work is truly awe-inspiring and they don't waste their money on overhead).

(4) I found a partner who believed in our message:  AMC Theatres (and Hollywood Theaters in Maui, Hawaii who AMC introduced to me).

So, in North America we will be in 16 cities (the list of cities is available on our website and I'll attach a flyer here) all for a simultaneous special show:

MARCH 14, 7:00 PM

If any of you are available to come out, it would be great.  I will be at the Orange County show (AMC Orange at the Block) in the beginning to introduce it, then fight traffic to join the LA show (AMC Del Amo in Torrance) to do a brief Q&A after the show.  Then a number of the team will take over some local Japanese restaurant to be determined and eat/drink and breathe a sigh of relief.  If you are local in LA, please join us (since we have no budget we're going Dutch of course, but I'll personally buy everyone a drink :-) ).

In Japan, we have our WORLD PREMIERE coming up in just a couple of weeks.  This will be on:

MARCH 6, 7:00 PM

at Cinem@rt Shinjuku, info also on our website and Facebook.  I will be at that show as well.

And on March 7 we will be doing a special free screening for all the victims and volunteers in the film, as well as for locals.

Note that for the North America shows you can purchase the tickets at Fandango.com (for the Montreal and Toronto shows, tickets are at MovieTickets.com) and for the Tokyo premiere they are at Cinema Pia.

And, finally, our website is live!!!  It was tons of work, so please check it out.  It's not perfect but it's done (well, the Japanese version is still in progress).

www.prayforjapan-film.org

Thanks, as always, for your support!!

心を一つに！(one heart!)

--Stu

Team Pray for Japan:

Happy New Year!  It's hard to believe we're already at the end of January.  The Year of the Dragon is swishing and swooshing by at lightning speed.

Over the past few weeks since my most recent update, exciting things have been coming into place for "Pray for Japan".  Hopefully, the momentum will allow the proper attention to be focused on the Tohoku Tragedy, how the people (such as those in our movie) responded, and the continuous effort needed to rebuild.  A natural disaster of this magnitude is not easily overcome, and even with such resilient and selfless people such as the victims and volunteers in Tohoku, the significant damage remains a real hurdle.

So, in March 2012, one-year after the tragedy, our film's message is not only relevant but remains critical.  The media will undoubtedly be covering the 1-year anniversary, and it is our chance to shine a light onto our dual goals: paying tribute to these heroes, and assuring continual efforts in the recovery.

Next week will be the official announcement of "Pray for Japan" - and we'll be able to really spread the word once that happens.  Currently, I'm working with some stellar volunteers to put together the trailer, poster, flyers, website and other marketing tools.

Here is the critical SAVE THE DATE info:

Tokyo 3/6

Ishinomaki 3/7

North America 3/14

More info to come soon - but these are the dates you'll be able to see "Pray for Japan" in the theater!

Of course, many of you have purchased a DVD, which I'll be preparing to ship in a couple of months, once the theatrical release successfully launches.  T-shirts and the other rewards will be on their way as well.

One more exciting piece of news:  for those of you familiar with Japanese actors, you'll be delighted to know that the very talented and beautiful actress Kyoka Suzuki contributed her voice skills to "Pray for Japan".  She reads the poetry of popular Fukushima poet Ryoichi Wago.  Kyoka is from Sendai as well, so it was very much an honor to direct her in the studio, and talk about her charming hometown.

Finally - here's a sneak peek at our gorgeous poster, designed by artist Tatsuya Miyoshi.  

心を一つに！(one heart)

--Stu