June 29, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode seven of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Filmed on location in Amherst, Ohio, episode seven tells the story of Ethel Moyers -- a collector of more than 2,000 paper napkins.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans Episode #7 -- Napkin Tales

 

May 19, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode six of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts.
Filmed on location in Oberlin, Ohio, and Brooklyn, New York, episode six tells the story of Aaron Labaree -- a reclusive writer -- and his head, which will appear in the film AMERIKA.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans Episode #6 -- Head

 

May 3, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode five of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Filmed on location in Oberlin and Cleveland, Ohio, episode five tells the story of Danilo Vujacic -- a six year old boy obsessed with airplanes, flight, and outer space. Vujacic is the youngest actor in AMERIKA.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans Episode #5 -- Space Man

 

March 30, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode four of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Filmed on location in Oberlin and Elyria, Ohio, episode four tells the story of Lenny Rumph -- a former US Marine who served in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans Episode #4 -- Semper Fi

 

March 9, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode three of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Filmed on location in Oberlin, Ohio, episode three tells the story of Kaori Mitsushima -- a feline-obsessed visual artist and the lead actress in AMERIKA.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans Episode #3 -- I Am a Cat

 

February 21, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode two of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Filmed on location in Lorain, Ohio, episode two tells the story of Felix Caban -- hair stylist, father, drag queen performer, and actor in AMERIKA.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans Episode #2 -- Double Feature

 

February 3, 2011
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces the release of episode one of The Amerikans, a new web series featuring three- to five-minute intimate portraits of the diverse community surrounding the Ohio-based production of the in-development feature film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Filmed on location in Oberlin and Rochester, Ohio, Cowboy Action tells the story of Tom Tomes -- diesel mechanic, farmer, hunter, animal skinner and actor in AMERIKA.

Click here to read the press release.

The Amerikans

 

May 18, 2010
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS officially launches its ground-breaking multi-platform blog that features two preview trailers for AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts, a feature film currently in development. Available in English, and with Arabic, Chinese and Japanese subtitles, the test trailers are the centerpiece of a multi-platform initiative that includes essays on some of the film's main themes, a Twitter feed and opportunities for the public to get involved through petitions, donations to particular non-profit organizations and other efforts that are part of a larger global awareness movement.

Click here to read the press release.

 

May 7, 2010
On May 6th, Oberlin College visiting artist Yoko Ono graciously accepted a gift presented by Student Senate Liaison Kalan Sherrard. The gift was a diminutive, 1" scroll wrapped in string from students of Oberlin College who are collaborating with Arcanum Productions. The scroll contained a link to an online letter asking the famed humanitarian for her support of AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Sherrard is in the Comparative Literature Department at Oberlin.

 

April 1, 2010
On March 31st, director Mika Johnson completed two test trailers for his upcoming feature, AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. The production was made possible by a collaboration with Oberlin College, which included the participation of both students and staff members. More students will join the production this spring, as Arcanum staff members begin the creation of a multi-platform website for the trailers release this May.

Click here to read the press release.

 

October 9, 2009
ARCANUM PRODUCTIONS announces a co-production with Oberlin College, in Ohio. Arcanum Production's current film project AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts, will utilize student interns, providing hands-on filmmaking experience in exchange for course credit. Oberlin College will also make significant contributions of student internships, costumes, props, facilities, space rentals, and equipment to AMERIKA.

Click here to read the press release.

 

September 9, 2009
On September 9, 2009, Arcanum Productions launches the AMERIKA WANTS YOKO video-blog and online petition. This project rallies support for its film AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts, which is searching for resources to assuage its production costs. Kat, the fictional character of AMERIKA, makes a public plea to artist Yoko Ono asking for her support and endorsement to promote the film.

Visit the AMERIKA WANTS YOKO video-blog and please sign the petition to show your enthusiastic support for independent filmmaking.

Click here to read the press release.

Sign This Petition! -- Open Letter to Yoko Ono

 

April 1, 2009 8:00 AM
Arcanum Productions Co-Founder, Actress, and Art Director Kaori Mitsushima showcases her artwork in the forthcoming group exhibition entitled "Classic" running from April 21 - April 26, 2009 at the NOW IdeA by Utrecht art space in Tokyo, Japan. The four artists participating in "Classic" re-envision famous western classical paintings. Mitsushima will lend her visual talents to AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts, by contributing the "notebook pages" prominently featured throughout the film.

To view more of Kaori Mitsushima's artwork, visit her blogs: My Shadow is a Cat, and Cats I Know.

 

March 8, 2009 8:00 AM
Arcanum Productions is pleased to announce its collaboration with French musician Cécile Schott a.k.a. Colleen, whose music will be featured on the score for AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts. Her compositions merge ethereal ambience with acoustic and electronic renderings to produce her signature sound. This prolific musician has already released three albums through The Leaf Label, including her recent LP Les Ondes Silencieuses (2007). Her recorded works harness the rich tones of the viola de gamba, an instrument that evokes cello and guitar. Listen to a sampling of her music on our AMERIKA page.

For more information about Colleen, visit her official website or Myspace page.

Colleen
Photo: Audie Sirvain

 

February 3, 2009 8:00 AM
AMERIKA co-authors Mika Johnson and Honey S. Lapcharoen were recently featured on the website Paper Tiger, edited by Pittsburgh-based visual artist Lauren Braun. Braun is currently interviewing a variety of artists and creative individuals as part of an ongoing web project. Click to read the interviews with Mika and Honey.

For more information on Lauren Braun and her artwork, please visit her website.

Honey S. Lapcharoen and Mika Johnson

 

December 10, 2008 8:00 AM
Arcanum Productions announces the launch of ARCANUM TV, an interactive website which allows visitors to view Mika Johnson and Peter Hlinka's short film "YONDER." The site invites audiences to watch the chapters of the film in its originally edited order, or to determine a narrative sequence of their own. Viewers may also submit comments or interpretations of the film. In the near future ARCANUM TV will broadcast interviews and filmmaker commentary for the ongoing film project "Amerika: a notebook in three parts."

Click here to read the press release.

"YONDER" Arcanum TV

 

October 9, 2008 8:00 AM
"Casting for AMERIKA: a notebook in three parts continues: Renowned Japanese actress and writer Kimie Shingyoji has joined AMERIKA, taking the role of Ritsuko, the mother of the main character, Kat, and owner of the hostess club featured in the Tokyo portion of the film."

Click here to read the press release.

Kimie Shingyoji

 

October 1, 2008 8:00 AM
In May 2008, Mika Johnson and Honey S. Lapcharoen submitted a proposal for "Amerika: a notebook in three parts" to the Sundance Institute's Screenwriters Lab Competition. Over 1,500 applications were received and fifteen percent of the applicants, including "Amerika," were chosen to advance to the next level of competition. The complete "Amerika" screenplay was submitted to Sundance in August and winners will be determined this December.

Sundance Institute

 

July 4, 2008 8:00 AM
On July 4, 2008, artist Kaori Mitsushima commences her new visual series entitled "Postcards to Y.O." — an ongoing campaign to correspond with the prolific artist/activist Yoko Ono. This appeal involves mailing Ono one postcard, everyday, with the hopes of meeting and introducing her to the story and merit of the "Amerika: a notebook in three parts" endeavor.

Click here to read the press release.

postcards to Y.O

 

April 3, 2008 7:30 PM
The Mountain of Signs and Yonder will be screened at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, in Auburn, NY, as part of Making Movies, a contemporary film and video series curated by Terry Cuddy, followed by a presentation by Mika Johnson.

*Screenings are free and open to the public and will be held at the Cayuga Community College Campus on Franklin St. in Auburn, NY in the Technical Building, Room #T229.

Yonder / the Mountain of Signs
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