t
suy
ako
Enter site
In postwar Japan, Tsuyako, a factory worker and mother must decide between duty and love, her family and her freedom.
TSUYAKO is a USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Thesis film, written and directed by MITSUYO MIYAZAKI
Support TSUYAKO
a film by MITSUYO MIYAZAKI
© Kris Fitz Creative
We discover life in death. I recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of my grandmothers passing. During that celebration, I found a box of old photograph's that none of my family members had ever seen before, and a side of my grandmother I had never witnessed. She was a young woman, vibrant, content, and peaceful. A particular photograph caught my eye, one in which my grandmother sat next to another young woman. Her gaze and gesture spoke of something that transcended friendship. She couldn't touch who she wanted to touch, she couldn't kiss who she really wanted to kiss. Instead, she had an arranged marriage, and lived the life she was expected to live. But had she not made that sacrifice, I would not be here. Her presence in my life was of great significance, as she was someone who I could confide in, and who no matter what, encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Im making this film to give her the life that she was never allowed to live.Tsuyako is above all a film about sacrifice and liberation. Its message is universal and its significance is indispensable in my own discoveries as an artist and filmmaker.* You can find both English and Japanese version of the script. However TSUYAKO will be shot entirely in Japanese.
We discover life in death. I recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of my grandmothers passing. During that celebration, I found a box of old photograph's that none of my family members had ever seen before, and a side of my grandmother I had never witnessed. She was a young woman, vibrant, content, and peaceful. A particular photograph caught my eye, one in which my grandmother sat next to another young woman. Her gaze and gesture spoke of something that transcended friendship. She couldn't touch who she wanted to touch, she couldn't kiss who she really wanted to kiss. Instead, she had an arranged marriage, and lived the life she was expected to live. But had she not made that sacrifice, I would not be here.
Her presence in my life was of great significance, as she was someone who I could confide in, and who no matter what, encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Im making this film to give her the life that she was never allowed to live.
Tsuyako is above all a film about sacrifice and liberation. Its message is universal and its significance is indispensable in my own discoveries as an artist and filmmaker.
* You can find both English and Japanese version of the script. However TSUYAKO will be shot entirely in Japanese.
During Post-War Japan, Tsuyako lives a demanding life as a mill factory worker, obedient wife, and loving mother. When an old female lover, Yoshie, pays a surprise visit, she reignites a passion in Tsuyako - one that Tsuyako has repressed herself from feeling again, and has kept hidden since their separation. After Yoshie witnesses how Tsuyakos new family mistreats her, she begs Tsuyako to leave with her to Tokyo, to live the life that they had always dreamt of together. Tsuyako must choose between her duties as a woman and the promise of freedom, while struggling to maintain the Japanese traditions of culture and respect of her family.
TSUYAKO takes place in a mill factory in the Mie prefecture during post-war occupied Japan, a time when people were hard at work trying to revitalize both the economy and national spirit. The factory that the Koda family owns is a great reflection of this concept. The darkness, sweat, and smells of industrial machines will be expressed through cool tones. This is a place of sheer survival - the images of workers, machinery and the heavy mechanical sound all bring us back to a particular time and place. The factory has small windows, through which limited natural light pours in. All of this reinforces the idea that they are locked up in this tiring world. "A pair of pale hands insert a piece of metal into a large machine and press down. All around we hear the sounds of metal, insert press, repeat, insert press, repeat. Several young women sit in a row connected to a series of metal presses. Only a little bit of light pours in from outside."
TSUYAKO takes place in a mill factory in the Mie prefecture during post-war occupied Japan, a time when people were hard at work trying to revitalize both the economy and national spirit. The factory that the Koda family owns is a great reflection of this concept. The darkness, sweat, and smells of industrial machines will be expressed through cool tones. This is a place of sheer survival - the images of workers, machinery and the heavy mechanical sound all bring us back to a particular time and place. The factory has small windows, through which limited natural light pours in. All of this reinforces the idea that they are locked up in this tiring world.
"A pair of pale hands insert a piece of metal into a large machine and press down. All around we hear the sounds of metal, insert press, repeat, insert press, repeat. Several young women sit in a row connected to a series of metal presses. Only a little bit of light pours in from outside."
Tsuyako's duty as a wife continues even after she returns home. Though wooden objects surround the family room and kitchen, the lighting will be cooler tone, similar feeling to the factory. However, the bedroom is somewhere she finds a moment of peace. Her bedroom, in which she finds true happiness and comfort while she is with Yoshie, will be lit and dressed with warm color scheme. "Yoshie pulls Tsuyako back to look her in the eyes. Yoshie caresses her face to calm her. Tsuyako takes Yoshie's hands presses against her face and gently starts to kiss them."
Tsuyako's duty as a wife continues even after she returns home. Though wooden objects surround the family room and kitchen, the lighting will be cooler tone, similar feeling to the factory.
However, the bedroom is somewhere she finds a moment of peace. Her bedroom, in which she finds true happiness and comfort while she is with Yoshie, will be lit and dressed with warm color scheme.
"Yoshie pulls Tsuyako back to look her in the eyes. Yoshie caresses her face to calm her. Tsuyako takes Yoshie's hands presses against her face and gently starts to kiss them."
The train station is where Tsuyako makes her final decision about which path her life will take. It is also the place where Yoshie departs for her new future. Is Tsuyako going to choose her freedom, or will her love of her children keep her here? As cherry blossoms fall onto the platform and the two young women, its wistful and reflective, with a huge sense of longing. Regardless what their future may be, it is a new start for both. This scene will be shot with warm, natural lighting, yet, the color of cherry blossom falling will add both coolness and warmth to express their conflicting emotions."Tsuyako stands frozen at the end of the platform. She stares at the empty track. Tears trickle down her face."
The train station is where Tsuyako makes her final decision about which path her life will take. It is also the place where Yoshie departs for her new future. Is Tsuyako going to choose her freedom, or will her love of her children keep her here? As cherry blossoms fall onto the platform and the two young women, its wistful and reflective, with a huge sense of longing.
Regardless what their future may be, it is a new start for both. This scene will be shot with warm, natural lighting, yet, the color of cherry blossom falling will add both coolness and warmth to express their conflicting emotions.
"Tsuyako stands frozen at the end of the platform. She stares at the empty track. Tears trickle down her face."
Factory
House
Train Station
TSUYAKO, 24:
She is humble, patient, and obedient. After the arranged marriage was settled, she decided to devote her life only to her new family. She has been sacrificing her freedom, love, and living the life that is expected. But Yoshie's appearance makes her realize what true love is, and now wants to escape from the family.
SACHIKO KATSUMATA
Sachiko learned acting performance at theatre group while in high school. In 1999, She debuted in a film “The Report”. Her credit include “Tony Takitani, “The Midnight Pilgrims”, “Prefabricated Bath Syndrome” “Dance! Dance master, Moulin Rouge promenade”, “To Walk Beside You”.
YOSHIE, 25:
She is adventurous, independent, and charismatic. She is a recent collage graduate and her goal is to help with the effort to rebuild Japan. She loves Tsuyako. She has been waiting for the moment to see her, to make sure that she is living the life she deserves. But after witnessing the family, she must convince Tsuyako to move with her.
MIHO FUJIMA
In 2002, Miho debuted in a film Lift. She stared in BS-i Drama Love on Sunday, and in a film Bridge. She has stared in Vicarious Recommend, Flower, Story of going Tokyo, and Super first light, which are going to be released in 2010.
KINYA 30:
Tsuyako's husband: He is in loveless marriage to Tsuyako. He focuses solely on whats best for the family, and devotes his time supporting them. He is a hard worker who is indifferent to his wife, and in love with another woman.
SHINJI OZEKI
Shinji was selected and debuted in drama Women in an Big City (directed by Masanobu Deme). He has also appeared in International films such as French movie Inju (Directed by Barbet Schroeder). In 2009, he has stared in hot movies such as Isaku and The Oshima Gang.
FUNE, 50:
Tsuyako's mothe-in-law: She is unkind, blunt and extremely judgmental. She only cares for her immediate family members and social climbing. Fune tortures Tsuyako in misplaced anger over the fact that Tsuya hasnt yet been able to bless the family with a male grandchild, which Fune feels is her fault for choosing Tsuyako as Kinya's wife.
SONOE MIZOGUCHI
Sonoe actives mainly in theaters after graduating theatre major in Tama Art University. Her works are Wolf Girl, Gull, Dolls House, Friends, Crime again Crime, Lady Julie, Hamlet, Ghost Sonata, and Christmas in 1945.
KATSUMATA as Tsuyako
FUJIMA as Yoshie
OZEKI as Kinya
MIZOGUCHI as Fune
MITSUYO MIYAZAKI
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
Originally from Osaka Japan, Mitsuyo began her career as a stage performer/singer/actress at early age. After receiving Bachelor in Theater Arts, Dance performance and Fine Arts degree from Southern Utah University, she moved to Los Angeles, where has appeared in many national commercials, TV shows, feature films, magazines, and other media. She also worked as a photographer for and artists such as Nas, The Offspring, Hoobastank, Nelly, and her works were published, and showcased around the country. In 2006, she was a part of a production team of the Emmy Award winning feature documentary Nanking - produced by Ted Leonsis, Vice chairman of AOL, and directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturan. Since entering the USC, she has written, directed, produced and worked as a cinematographer on a number of films. She was the winner of the Filmaka Short Film Competition, and a finalist for the 2009 Coca Cola Refreshing Filmmakers Award and Cisco System Digital Crib Short Documentary Competition. She is a recipient of the Frank Sinatra Directing Scholarship, and the Thomas B. Bush Memorial Scholarship in Cinematography, honored by the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Please visit http://www.MitsuyoMiyazaki.com for more information about her work.
MICHELLE PEERALI
PRODUCER
First-generation Armenian-American and Los Angeles native, Michelle Peerali received her B.A. in Film Theory, Political Science, and English Literature from UC Berkeley. Her first short film "A Dream on the Metro" was shot in Rome, London, Paris, San Francisco, and was highly received in the Pacific Film Archive's 2001 Experimental Film Exhibit. She worked as an assistant to the Executive Producer/Director Kevin Bright for his hit sitcom "Friends" and its spinoff, "Joey. She was an office assistant at DNA Productions, a Junior Agent at MAGNET LA, and an Executive/Legal Assistant at a Los Angeles entertainment law firm. She has shot EPKs and music videos, and was a Featured Video Artist in "Brooklyn Is Burning. Michelle focuses on writing and producing at USC. She is a writer for SOMA Magazine and a Co-Founder/Co-Writer of http://www.TheConfessionals.tv.
JACOB HALAJIAN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jacob Halajian graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Film Production in 2009. He has worked for Oscilloscope Laboratories in New York City, under Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys. He was a finalist for the Love/Avon Army of Women competition, and produced a public service announcement to promote their breast cancer research. He studied at the Film and Television School in Prague, and his short film Benny was screened at the Anthology Film Archives in NYC.
CHRISTINA HAMMONDS-REED
CO-WRITER
Christina Hammonds Reed is in her sixth semester of the MFA Film Production program at the University of Southern California. She's worked in varying capacities on a number of short films, though her primary focus is writing and directing. She hails from Hacienda Heights, California and received her bachelors degrees in Political Science and Creative Writing from USC where she was a University Trustee's Scholar. She is a past recipient of the USC School of Cinematic Arts Scholarship as well as the Jeffrey Jones Scholarship. Her first short story Red Heart, Blue Sky was published in the Spring 2007 issue of the Santa Monica Review. She was a 2008 finalist for the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.
USC School of Cinematic Arts is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Schools founding faculty include Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith, William C. DeMille, Ernst Lubitsch, Irving Thalberg, and Darryl Zanuck. The Schools current faculty include Tomlinson Holman, inventor of THX; David Bondelevitch, President of the Motion Picture Sound Editors; and Mark Jonathan Harris, Academy Award winning documentary filmmaker.
The program is one of USC's most competitive specialty schools for both undergraduate and graduate programs. USC notable alumni includes but is not limited to: George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, Ron Howard, Judd Apatow, Greg Araki, Brian Grazer, Walter Murch, Brian Singer, John Singleton, Matthew Weiner, John Wells, Shonda Rhimes.
For over 30 years at least one alumnus of SCA has been nominated for an Academy Award annually, totaling 256 nominations and 78 wins. USC Thesis productions have garnered a number of prestigious awards, including several Academy Awards for Best Narrative Short, Student Academy Awards, Palme dOr for short film at the Cannes Film Festival, Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards.
Here is the latest version of the script.
Pelase feel free to download
tsuyako english
Director/Producer- Mitsuyo Miyazaki
Producer- Michelle Peerali & Jacob Halajian
USA 1+ (818) 917 0180 / JAPAN 81 + (06) 6702 6792
Email: Tsuyakothefilm_gmail.com
Publicist: Natalie Shirinian - nestalent_gmail.com
Music Provided by: Pakk Hui www.PakkHui.com
Web Design by: www.KrisFitzCreative.com
Stay up to date on all the latest news
by following our blog:
Tsuyako.blogspot.com
TSUYAKO
WILL NOT BE MADE
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT!!!
ABOUT USC THESIS FILM
We must raise our own funds to finance the entire production.
Our team must rely on the generosity of friends, family, and the business community for the funds necessary to complete this project. In the coming months, we must raise $51,500 to fulfill our budget needed to complete both production and post-production on Tsuyako. Listed below are a few of our necessary expenditures:
Camera Rental $600/day x 10 days = $6,000
Catering $10/person (2meals) x 35 people x 10 days = $3,500
Location Fee $ 2,000 total
Post Production Fee $ 3,800
Your commitment to our passion and growth as filmmakers is invaluable, and one in which we will be forever grateful. Any contribution to this project is extremely important to us and will be acknowledged in our film credits as well as in our hearts.
Creating a film at the highest level of professionalism, as is required for any USC thesis films, is an undertaking of considerable scale in terms of time, energy, and financial resources.
Thesis films are supported by USC through the following means:
1.A mentor from the faculty in the Cinema School.
2.Access to the goodwill of companies and unions towards film students and student films.
3.Additional ease in establishing our own Screen Actor's Guild agreement that allows us to employ talented SAG actors for more affordable rates than standard industry requirements.
No donation is too small!
You can donate by mail, or credit card via PayPal.
To contribute directly, please make checks payable to:
ELEGANTE
and send checks to :
1038 East Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91501
Contributions made to the film will receive screen credits as follows:
Sponsor...$10,000 ~
Suporter.....$5,000 ~
Special Thanks...$2,000 ~
Thank You..$100 ~
Friends...$20 ~
TSUYAKO is a sponsored project of USC Cinema Outreach Foundation (USCCOF), a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of TSUYAKO maybe made payable to USCCOF and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
If you are seeking tax deduction for your contribution (100% Tax deduction), please make checks out to USC Cinema outreach Foundation, and send it to the address blow:
USC Cinema Outreach Foundation (USCCOF)
733 North Kings Road Pent House 304
Los Angeles, CA 90069
You can also support our project through in-kind donations of goods and services or professional asistance in your field or specialty. Above is also list of items or services we can use your help with.
In-kind donations are always tax-deductible:
Film Stock and Processing
Film Transfer and Color Correction
Sound Transfer
Sound Mix
Foley
ADR
~~~~~
We would like to thank you in advance for your generosity, encouragements and tremendous support for making our film
TSUYAKO a reality.
Sincerely,
Mitsuyo Miyazaki, Michelle Peerali, Jacob Halajian & Tomoya Suzuki
Support TSUYAKO securly using paypal.
No donation is too small.
To contribute, please make checks payable to:
733 North Kings Road
Pent House 304
