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OBERLIN - In "AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts," filmmaker and Oberlin College graduate Mika Johnson seeks to initiate a social and cultural awakening within America while at the same time, present America in its true light - a view that may be contrary to some foreign perspectives. This complex and thought-provoking film, co-authored with Honey Lapcharoen, is both a journey though the history of America and a powerful critique of American culture. Johnson, in his travels throughout Japan and Europe, found that people had a lot to say about America - and that often he was forced to defend his country. "After college, I spent five years living in Japan, Germany and the Czech Republic. I left two days before 9/11, and this gave me an outsider's perspective on America and everything that happened afterward," he said. However, Johnson encountered more than just a political perspective - there were also cultural misunderstandings. "The exported version of America doesn't show its diversity," he said, despite "probably being the most diverse country in the world." The election of Barack Obama exemplifies his point, he said. "I think it proves to the world and to Americans that this is a country that is still evolving, alongside its own ideals, and that the American Revolution is a work in progress," he said. At the same time, Johnson recognizes that there needs to be a strong critique of present-day American values. "People need to see that what's happening now and what we've become are outgrowths of a number of value systems that we inherited," Johnson said. "The challenge is to create awareness, which has to be like a series of small explosions in the collective unconscious." It was these perspectives that inspired his first feature film. "In the end (the writing of AMERIKA) was my attempt to both understand America and remythologize it from a foreigner's perspective," Johnson said. It is "a feature film that glorifies, criticizes and poeticizes the diverse legacies and perceptions about the United States, through the eyes of a Japanese traveler." In the film, Kat, a Japanese woman who has "abandoned her coquettish lifestyle in Tokyo," searches for the "quintessential iconic American excursion." Kat's story encompasses an "exploration of American values. The actualization of dreams" and the "passage to self-awareness." In her travels across the country, she is initially seduced by American culture but soon becomes "disillusioned by the inauthenticity of her experiences" and discovers the dark side of American history -one that unveils "a disintegrating society, a tragic culture of extremes, beleaguered with manifestations of nostalgia." Although the film will be shot throughout the country, a majority of it will be filmed this summer right here in Lorain County - in motel rooms, cafes and bars. Johnson, and his international cast and crew, will be using Oberlin College students as production assistants. In addition, there will be opportunities for others to get involved. "Foremost, we need people who want to invest, people who might want to donate something, people who want to make tax-deductible donations and people who want to be extras. Anyone can contact me directly through our site," Johnson said. He hopes to distribute his film by getting it involved with as many film festivals as possible throughout the world and on the Internet. Johnson said that the Internet has become the perfect way to distribute films and that he hopes to have it translated into as many languages as possible. Johnson previously directed the documentary "Lake Street USA" and two short films, "The Mountain of Signs" in 2003 and "Yonder" in 2006. "Yonder" was shown in several film festivals, including the Victory Media Network Film Festival in Dallas and the European Media Art Film Festival in Osnabruck, Germany. In the artistic direction of "Yonder," Johnson notes that he learned a lot as a filmmaker, but that "it's not my statement in terms of writing." In AMERIKA, "more than anything, I want to make a film now that communicates, loud and clearly, what it is that I want to say." |
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Amherst High School and Oberlin College graduate Mika Johnson thinks quality, artistic feature films can be made inexpensively -- for less than $1 million -- and he hopes to prove that this summer in Oberlin. Johnson, who changed his name from Michael since graduating from Oberlin College to distinguish himself from other Michael Johnsons, plans to film "Amerika: A Notebook in Three Parts" this summer. The film tells the story of a young Japanese woman who travels across the United States in search of the ideal American experience. He said the story explores the idea of the "American Dream" through the eyes of a foreigner. Johnson began writing the script in 2004 while living in Germany and observing international perspectives of the United States relating to world events. The beginning of the film is based on the experiences of Johnson's wife, Japanese actress Kaori Mitsushima, as a former club hostess in Tokyo. Mitsushima's character, Kat, escapes that life to embark on her father's dream to drive across America, from New York to California. "The first 20 minutes take place in Japan, and the rest of the movie is this incredible road trip," Johnson said. "We're going to shoot a lot of the interior shots here in Lorain County." Johnson's production company, Arcanum Productions, enlisted the assistance of the cinema studies department at Oberlin College, which is expected to provide student interns to work on the set in exchange for course credit. Jeffrey Pence, director of cinema studies, said the film could result in other films being shot in the area. "Lorain County offers great potential for locations for this shoot, both existing and in spaces ready for conversion to exteriors and interiors," Pence said. "We hope that other productions will look to our area for cost-effective opportunities." The budget for the film is projected to be $775,000, thanks largely to the collaboration with the college and an all-volunteer staff. Arcanum is currently seeking sponsors and donations to fund the project |
