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Mark Toguchi

@themarktoguchi

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@allaboutyoutalent

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Official Trailer for I AM AMERICAN 🇺🇸🤍

In 1915, a young Japanese woman immigrates to America as a picture bride, believing she has finally found the place where she and her future family can build a life. Together, she and her husband work hard to establish a restaurant, raise American-born children, and pursue the promise of the American Dream. But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the family discovers that citizenship and belonging cannot protect them when Executive Order 9066 is signed, their American life is dismantled, forcing them to confront what it truly means to be American. 🇺🇸

This film was made to honor and preserve the legacy of those who suffered this dark piece of American history, including my own family 🤍

Please help us spread the word about our film to the community 🤍 Its rare that our stories ever get told so please share this film far and wide so that anyone who wants to see it is able to 🤗

Thank for those who have continued to support our film. We are fiscally sponsored by The Northwest Film Forum so donations are tax deductible! Link is found on our website www.ckfilmspro.com

Keep us in prayer as we begin our film festival submissions 🙏🏻

Shout out to our trailer editor @chriskoser_dp , who was also our director of photography and filmed all of these beautiful scenes 😭 by @themarktoguchi

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2 months ago

I AM AMERICAN is complete 😭🤍
When I look back on the journey of making this film I can't help but cry. Soo many people helped make this film possible. It has been a dream of mine to tell this story for over a decade. This is my family's story but also over 120,000 other Nikkei family's Stories. It's been an honor to tell their story in this film and ensure that it is never forgotten.
To every single person that helped out on I AM AMERICAN, thank you!! 😭😭😭 So many people jumped in to offer support during pre-production all the way through to now. EVERY SINGLE person that shared this film , supported us, helped connect us to the right people , advised me on my historical accuracy questions, opened your doors for us to film, the list goes on and on. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!! We couldn't have made this film without all of you jumping in and supporting us and helping us to preserve this very important piece of American history.
When I look through the archival photos that I used as an inspiration of moments that I wanted to capture in frame and compare those to the scenes we actually captured I am floored. These photos inspired dialogue, scenes, LIFE. And were beautifully gut wrenching to see them all come to life on screen.
There are hundreds of people to thank in this post. I am beyond grateful for each and every one of you. Making a film is a full team effort. This was a film that was always made for the community but as we went into production I felt the tremendous support and realized it's also been made BY our community. 😭🤍
We had over 60 people a part of our film who are direct descendants of family who were incarcerated during WWII. It's been so healing to be able to connect with their story and their real lived experience through making this movie. From honoring their name and number on our prop name tags, to carrying the luggage they carried to concentration camp.
I am so full of gratitude. Our deadline goal was 8/31, SUNDANCE. And we made it !! It's always been a dream of mine to go, so here's to asking you all to lift up prayers and ask for open doors and Gods hand of favor so we can premiere our film there in January. 🤍Kelsi by @themarktoguchi

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2 months ago

I AM AMERICAN

Grateful to announce some really exciting updates about my film,
I AM AMERICAN
1. We received a fiscal sponsorship through @nwfilmforum so now every donation is tax deductible (link to donate is found in my bio on our website www.ckfilmspro.com)
2. We have locked all of our locations ! Not only are these locations PERFECT but they are also closely tied to the Nikkei families’ experience during 1915-1942 🚂🚢🏘️@steamervirginiavfoundation @bothellhistoricalmuseum @trainmuseum @onibabasea @panamahotelseattle
3. I have cast some of our INCREDIBLY TALENTED OCP actors ! Super excited to work again with @atomicmari @themarktoguchi @adam_nakanishi Zoe Toguchi kaya Toguchi @stuyuji Curtis McGann Paxtin McGann @imangeladimarco
4. I have begun hiring my DREAM crew :
DOP @chriskoser_dp
1st AD: @ezaragoza2012
Co-Producer/lead costumer : @katrinahess & Curtis McGann
HMUA : @nancymakeup4 @kosztistefania_mua @beautybymichellemai
PROPS/SET Design: @brandonknapik @seattlesetsandprops
CAMERA DEPT:
@benlawalata @tylermayeno
Sound @danielchangphotography
5. I’m working alongside impactful organizations such as @seattlejacl @puyallup_valley_jacl @niseivets
6.Finally my business cards and Poster cards came in the mail today !! Yippee !!!

Special thanks to @yagiteresa who got the ball rolling on this project !!! Gods timing is perfect. 🙌🏼

And thank you to everyone who is supporting us in making this film to ensure that this story stays alive for generations to come !
Every dollar helps us get closer to our goal🤍

Please continue to spread the word by sharing this with others ! by @themarktoguchi

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5 months ago

So proud of our entire cast and crew who helped bring this story to life !
Shout out to our lead actor @themarktoguchi who brought such a genuine performance to his role. His monologue at the end of the film makes me cry every single time I watch it. The way you performed that scene was so powerful and real, full of emotion yet grounded.
Can’t wait for people to see you in this break out role! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 by @themarktoguchi

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a day ago

My dog is cooler than yours. Grizzstopher for @banfieldpethospital

Talent: Grizzly
Casting: @weeblemountaincasting
Photographer: @mrcuriosity.tv
Producer: @ambergeigerproductions
Photo Assist: @remygomezphoto
Video: @filmsbyjameswestby
HMU/Wardobe: @nwright.nancy
Agent: @allaboutyoutalent taken in Portland, Oregon by @themarktoguchi

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2 months ago

I AM AMERICAN update!!!
We are on schedule and have entered into the final stages of post production.
You guys, we almost have a fully completed film!!! 😬🤍

NEXT PHASE in the process… Heading down to LA to have our movie colored by the insanely talented @erikventure @company_3 . Can Not wait to work with Erik and have @chriskoser_dp beautiful cinematography work colored by him! 🙌🏼🔥

Thank you for following along. We see each person who is supporting this film and we are blown away by how many people are rallying behind I AM AMERICAN with us 🥹 People have been reaching out from across the nation & my heart is in tears to have this story preserved for our community !
Thank you for every donation. Every prayer. Every share. Every word of encouragement. We see it all! (Even if we are unable to respond at this time due to being buried in post 🙈 )

If you donated to our film, make sure to keep an eye out for your name in our credits!!

We can not thank you enough for your support! Every little bit helps to get this film to the finish line and out into the world 🤍
And thank you to @nwfilmforum for making donations tax-deductible through your fiscal sponsorship www.ckfilmspro.com

So excited to share I AM AMERICAN with you all 🙏🏻🤗

Specific Prayers that we would get into @sundanceorg ! by @themarktoguchi

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2 months ago

Huge shoutout to my incredible CAST of I Am American🤍

Mari Takahashi , Mark Toguchi, Kaya Toguchi, Zoe Toguchi, Curtis McGann, Paxtin McGann , Adam Nakanishi, Angela DiMarco, Amy Erickson, Zoe Hasegawa, Alice Suzuki, Shun Horiuchi, Logan Tarn, John Legas, Jared Hansen, Billy Venturelli, Lee Zurligen, Jason Brooks, Gia Pellegrini, Leighton Gaydos, Stuart Tsuchuda, Jim Shutt, Don Early.

It has been such an honor and a privilege to Direct each and every one of you. I know many of you were given roles that truly stretched you as actors, and I couldn’t be more proud of how you embraced the challenge. You poured your hearts into your characters and delivered authentic, moving, and beautiful performances.

You were an absolute dream to work with, took direction so well, and gave everything you had to this story. I know you’ll be incredibly proud of the storytelling you helped bring to life through your performances.

Some of you had never acted before, and I can honestly say audiences are going to be blown away. You all performed with the confidence, presence, and talent of seasoned professionals. 🙌🏼

I am beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to hand-pick each and every one of you for I Am American. As I’ve been telling people from the very beginning, I truly believe that for many of you, this is going to be your breakout role.

Thank you for trusting me, for believing in this story, and for giving it everything you had. I can’t wait for the world to see what we’ve created together. 🎥🥹

🤍your Director
Kelsi Umeko
Www.Ckfilmspro.com

Photo credit 📸 @skurryaway by @themarktoguchi

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3 months ago

Frame grab from @iamamericanfilm, by the incredible @kelsiumeko. More photos coming soon! This quiet moment between sisters in this light, color palette, and textures captures so much of what I saw when I read the script. This project has been a dream and I can't wait for you all to see everyone's unbelievable talent.

Director @kelsiumeko
Cinematographer @chriskoser_dp
BTS @kosztistefania_mua
Featuring Zoe and Kaya Toguchi @themarktoguchi by @themarktoguchi

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Insanely grateful for my cast and crew 😭😭🤍🤍
Each and every person on this set brings so much value to I AM AMERICAN.

I am honored to be making this film with ALL OF YOU! This story has never been told for our community in this way, and I am so excited that we get to be a part of preserving this piece of history together. And to all the immigrant families out there, I hope you also feel seen by this Film. At the heart of this story is an immigrant’s journey chasing after the American dream. Risking everything, leaving behind their family, native language, and their home country in hopes of providing a better future for themselves and their family.
There are no small roles or positions on this set. Every single person is adding so much depth and authenticity to this film and it wouldn’t be the same without each and every one of you. The footage is INSANE (shout out to my incredibly talented DP @chriskoser_dp ) 🔥🔥👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I am beyond grateful for all the support far and wide. I know that there are thousands of people waiting for this Film and are eagerly anticipating its release and I cannot wait to share this film with the world in 2027!
We have a couple more days left of filming and then I’m off to LA to work with editor MasaMi Kagayama( Shogun) and Composer, Miu sato ( Burn Order).
If you are able to , please consider being a part of helping us make this film by donating to our films production. We are fiscally sponsored through Northwest Film for him so donations are all tax deductible.
Link in bio and on our website 🤗
Www.ckfilmspro.com
We are still looking for a Colorist , Sound design, sound mastering.
God is good ! His hand of favor and blessing is all over this film. He is so faithful. Glory 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Song in reel is by our Composer, Miu sato 🤍 by @themarktoguchi

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4 months ago

I AM AMERICAN
Day 02 : BTS
*note these were all taken from my phone (not our professional ones)

Completely full of GRATITUDE 🤍🥹
Thank you so much for everyone who joined us in being a part of preserving this piece of history. We had over 70 extras show up yesterday to help us tell this story and bring it to life on the screen. We were blown away by the authenticity you brought to your characters. Truly impressed. And to all of our kiddos ! Wow ! You all CRUSHED it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I think for many of us, with our families having been incarcerated it was very easy to step into their shoes for a day and feel the weight of what our ancestors went through and my goodness, the camera captured all of that 😭
I know personally for me, I couldn’t help but think about my family who lived this experience with no end and their path forward unknown 🥺
Thank you to all of my amazing cast and crew and catering for an awesome day 02 on set. It felt like we were all working in unison to bring this massive vision to life and elevate each frame. The footage is beyond what I could have imagined. It’s looking fantastic and I am so honored to make this film with all of you .

And THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to helping us fund this film. We wouldn’t be able to make this film without your generosity.
We are still raising money for this production so if you are able to help us with the costs of telling this story, we would greatly appreciate it 🤍 I have a PayPal link in my bio that is through our fiscal sponsor which makes every donation tax-deductible! Www.ckfilmspro.com by @themarktoguchi

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4 months ago

Kaya’s commercial for @monopolygameofficial

Casting: @jodirothfield
Production: @weareroyale
Director: @lorenjudah and @brienholman
Line Producer: @soupisgoodforyou
AD: @jmexican
Agent: @allaboutyoutalent
Wardrobe: @therese_lefebvre_ taken in Harbor Island by @themarktoguchi

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7 months ago

Client: @banfieldpethospital
Talent: Grizzly
Casting: @weeblemountaincasting
Photographer: @mrcuriosity.tv
Producer: @ambergeigerproductions
Photo Assist: @remygomezphoto
Video: @filmsbyjameswestby
HMU/Wardobe: @nwright.nancy
Agent: @allaboutyoutalent taken in Portland, Oregon by @themarktoguchi

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7 months ago