A mockumentary centered around a Caucasian expat who believes himself to be a member of the Japanese ultranationalist right.
This project will only be funded if at least $12,000 is pledged by .
gaijin (noun) /ɡʌɪˈdʒɪn/
A contraction of gaikokujin ("outside-country person"), which reduces the meaning to "outside person." A derogatory and ethnocentric term used to describe a foreigner in Japan.
“Go! Go! Second Time Gaijin” is a mockumentary that focuses on a Caucasian expat living in Japan who, after receiving a blow to the head, wakes up believing that he is a member of an ultranationalist right wing group (the "uyoku dantai"). An idealistic amateur "director" (in the scheme of the mockumentary) is making a documentary film about this odd character because he believes that it will propel his own filmmaking career towards prominence. As the director and his subject's views begin to diverge though, things begin to fall apart. “Go! Go! Second Time Gaijin” is a story about identity, delusion, myopic nationalism, ascendent conservative trends in Japan's current government, other big words, and how those beliefs do not accurately reflect the political and social reality of Japanese society. Only the best ingredients for a controversial comedy!
Debito Arudou (Actor) is a writer, blogger, and human rights activist. He was born in the United States and became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2000. He is the author of Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants, and Immigrants to Japan, Japanese Only: The Otaru Hot Springs Case and Racial Discrimination in Japan and has recently published Embedded Racism: Japan's Visible Minorities and Racial Discrimination (Lexington Books).
Shintaro Naka (Actor) is an educator and actor in Southwest Japan. He has performed in several short-films, including A Portrait of No One in 2009, as well as performing as Toshio in Kazuhiko Konoike's Sensitive (2012) and the follow-up film Suddenly (2013).
Robert Nishimura (Writer/Director) is among the last generation of "Zonians," born and bred in the Republic of Panamá. In the last two decades, under the Primolandia Productions label, he has produced short films, TV documentaries, video installations, provided art direction for Japanese fashion magazines, and designed promotional material for films in Japan and the US. Based in Japan for the past 11 years -- and now a permanent resident -- he currently is the co-owner and curator of an art gallery in southwest Japan.
Stirling Perry (Writer/Producer) is an educator living in Hiroshima, Japan. He previously co-wrote and directed Gokurōsama (2008) with Robert Nishimura, a short film shot exclusively for the Akira Kurosawa Short Film Competition. Stirling is currently writing several feature films, with the first slated to go into production in 2016.
Paul Leeming (Cinematographer) began his film career in Sydney in 2005 and graduated from the Sydney Film School in 2006, majoring in Directing, Cinematography and Sound. In 2007 he moved to Japan and started Visceral Psyche, writing and directing several award-winning films and shooting many more as a cinematographer. Paul is now living in Berlin with his sights set firmly on Hollywood.
Kazuhiko Konoike (Producer/Assistant Director) began his production career at Tsuburaya Productions (creators of Ultraman) and GAGA Distribution before starting his own production label, cinepos, in 2008. Since then, Kazuhiko has made several short films and promotional videos, with many more to come.
Though this movie is being partially funded by ourselves, as independent filmmakers we are unable to completely cover the costs of a full-length film production. We are trying to make this film as frugally as possible. We have already started pre-production and preliminary filming, however, there are a number of unavoidable expenses that are outside our means. We are covering half of the cost to each of our actors and to the key crew involved, but we also need money for post-production, design materials, meals, locations, and some practical effects work.
If the project doesn't reach it's goal we will not receive any of the funding. Your support is essential -- every dollar counts! But if you're not in a place to make a financial contribution, you can also help by spreading the word on social media. Awareness will help us reach our goal!
Physical Risks
This is a very delicate subject matter in Japan. Even the mere mention of the uyoku dantai will cause many people to become embarrassed, dismissive, or violent. Assembling the cast and crew for this film has not been easy. It has taken over a year to find people willing to attach their name to a project that satirises ultra-right wing nationalism. Most interviewees immediately declined in fear of violent reprisal from the uyoku. Journalists who have been outspoken about the uyoku or other sensitive topics have been harassed, fired from their jobs, discredited, and even physically assaulted.
For this reason, some of our Japanese crew have chosen to remain anonymous, redacting their name from the credits. If you choose to support this project, please let us know if you would prefer the same redaction. You can still have the satisfaction of supporting an independent feature film, knowing that your identity will be protected.
Financial Risks
The goal that we are seeking for this campaign is the bare minimum amount, enough to get it completed and released to a wider audience. There may be other financial obstacles in the future such as submitting the film to as many festivals as possible and, hopefully, to travel to some of those festivals to promote the film and drum up as much interest as possible. For that reason, anything above the $12,000 goal will be increasingly helpful in getting this film finished, distributed, and promoted properly to get it to the widest audience possible. Thanks for your support!
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