Films chronicle WWII
campaigns of Asian-Americans
"When We Were Warriors" and "Forgotten Valor"
Double-bill screens at 3:30 p.m. today at Waikiki 2 and 6:45 p.m. today at Waikiki 1.
By Gary C.W. Chun What drives Lane Nishikawa? For the hard-working actor, playwright/screenwriter and director, it's a sense of pride and duty to tell the stories that his uncles, veterans of the last world war, were privy to. These were stories that were shared among those who served this country, men with a bond of both race and nationality.Nishikawa has returned to the Hawaii International Film Festival with two of his latest film projects that revolve around the Asian-American men who fought in World War II overseas. "When We Were Warriors" and "Forgotten Valor" are the first two of a planned trilogy of films. They have screened not only at previous festivals, but are part of the history curriculum for 11th-graders in California.
"As part of the students learning about World War II," Nishikawa said, "they also have to learn about the internment camps and those Japanese-Americans who served during the war."
Nishikawa had three uncles who served in the 442nd. "They were all very close to me, men that I've all lost over the years. These films are my way to show the contributions they've made and to let future generations know what they went through," he said.
"And I won't stop after the third film is done. Because of the stage shows that I regularly do, I've been able to meet and interview these war veterans. With each successive play and film, I've been able to do my own take on these characters."
"When We Were Warriors," Nishikawa's film debut as a director, was based on his stage play "Gate of Heaven," telling the story of a 442nd nisei soldier who liberates a Jewish survivor from the Dachau prison camp, and the friendship that developed between them over a 50-year period."Forgotten Valor" is about the search for a traumatized veteran by a Korean-American officer who fought alongside the 442nd. The officer is portrayed by veteran actor Soon Tek-Oh.
Nishikawa's last contribution to the festival was a television adaptation of his one-man stage show "I'm on A Mission From Buddha."
"I received a grant from the Maui Arts and Cultural Center to produce some original plays," he said. "'When I Was One' is loosely based on my own family, and is the first of what I hope will be a three-generational piece."
Nishikawa brings a wealth of experience to these projects. As artistic director of the Asian-American Theatre Company in San Francisco, he continues to write plays, including his one-man productions ("Mifune and Me" is his latest effort).
"As the theater's artistic director," he said, "I was always worried about the overall development of any given play. With film, it's a different focus for me; I have to help raise a lot of money, employ people for a short amount of time, but I also have the luxury of saying 'cut! and let's do another take.' And since I've been both in front of and behind the camera on these two films, I've had to 'switch hats' quickly."
He's now trying to raise funds for next summer's shoot, which promises to be feature-length, with a bigger story and cast than his past productions. "I'll turn my focus on a number of men this time, maybe from different platoons."
Nishikawa hopes to get the same level of commitment from his actors and crew that he got from Soon Tek-Oh. "We met at some East-West Players production, and he was always my first choice to play Col. Jun Ho Kim. He said he would be honored to do the film after reading my script, providing I also help him write his own one-man show, one that would maybe based on the Kim character.
"On the last day of shooting, I give him his check for his work on the film, and he hands it back to me. He tells me he wants to donate it to the cost of the third film.
"The amount was not for a lot, strictly Screen Actors Guild minimum, but, still, it was a wonderful gesture on his part."
Nishikawa's films have already received approval from one crucial audience.
"The test was showing 'Valor' to 500 vets in Los Angeles, men from the 100th battalion, the 442nd, the 522nd and so on. It was on the occasion of the second anniversary of the unveiling of the 'Go for Broke' monument in the heart of Little Tokyo. The vets raised money for it, and the monument itself is in the film's final scene.
"It's important to get this entire project done now. People like myself want to create a sense of legacy for these men. I've learned that we wouldn't be who we are today without these men who put their lives on the line during the war. That's what drives me."
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