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“Love in Tokyo”95 Min Romantic Comedy@ Mclips 2015

short-synopsis

Long Synopsis

long-synopsis Tom, an American 30 something that has recently moved to Tokyo for what he thinks is just a temporary gig, struggles with feelings of isolation in a land where he doesn’t speak the language and all of his relationships play out online. He’s self-absorbed and pretends to be a cooler version of himself on the ‘net. Then he meets Saki, a free-spirited Japanese woman who teaches him about Tokyo and relating to others in a more personal way. She tries to help him live in the present and communicate with words, not text on a screen. Can he learn to relate to her, or is a make believe life on the web too tempting?

Director’s Statement

by Michael Solton

Technology has been developing at a rapid pace and the way we connect with people has also changed. I thought that making a film in Tokyo, which represents the epitome of technology, would be the perfect backdrop for the film. I also run an online dining guide for sushi, called Eatsushi.com, so I was able to tie in my passion for sushi with my desire to film in Tokyo.

We are all connected with phones, laptops, and tablets. Staying connected can be very addicting and also very lonely.  Many of us have thousands of online friends but don’t know our neighbors.

“Love in Tokyo” is about how we are connecting more and more “online” and less and less in person. Humans have a basic need to connect with other humans but there is an emptiness and loneliness that can occur when there is not enough face-to- face connection. Many of our “online friends” are people we’ve never even met in person. Sometimes we can get comfortable behind our screens and not venture out into real life.

The lyrics that I wrote in the theme song “Connection” sums up these feelings.

“I’m always trying to get a connection

Online World I feel so protected

I feel so lonely even though I’m connected

In the outside world I feel so rejected”

The lead character in the film, Tom, is a social media obsessed American who has thousands of online friends but still is very lonely. He meets a Japanese singer (who is a singer in real life) named Saki who is the opposite of Tom.  She has many friends and doesn’t care about connecting online. They are opposites and the film is about how they change each other for the better.

Production Still

CAST

Jonathan Sherr as Tom

Jonathan Sherr is an American actor living in Tokyo who co-starred in “My Darling is a Foreigner”  with Inoue Mao. He also does narration, translation, voice overs and speaks fluent Japanese.

Itsuka as Saki

Itsuka is a Japanese singer-song-writer & an actress born and living in Tokyo. She has written hundreds of original songs. She started her acting career in 2012, being featured on “FINAL”(2013) by Timothy A. Chey and ” I Really Hate My Ex!”(2014) by Troy Byer.

Jason London as Joey

Jason is an actor and producer, known for “Dazed and Confused,“ “Jason and the Argonauts,” and “The Rage:Carrie 2.” In addition to feature films, Jason has also appeared regularly on television  in made-for tv movies such as “Blood Ties,”   Mini-series like “A Matter Of Justice ,” and  in guest-starring roles in series like “Tales From The Crypt,” and “Scandal and Major Crimes.”

CREW

Michael Solton Executive Producer, Director and Screenwriter

Michael co wrote and produced the film “Dialing for Dingbats,” distributed by Troma Inc, and aired on the USA network. His love for travel and good eats motivated his passion to create and launch two very popular dining websites, Chowbaby.com and Eatsushi.com. In 2011, A mockumentary film project found Michael writing, producing and staring in a South American travel film called “Lost in Buenos Aires,”.  Distribution for his latest film “Love in Tokyo” has just been acquired.  “Love in Tokyo” is currently on VOD and will be released on DVD early next year.

Peter Harmon Screenwriter

Originally from Washington D.C., Peter Harmon is a Los Angeles based screenwriter and producer.  He’s created sketches that have been featured on the front page of “Funny Or Die,” written independent features, and produced for docu-series television shows.  He currently lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, son, and their pug Summer.

Scott Larson Line Producer

Scott Larson is an English/Japanese speaking Tokyo based camera operator, editor, and director for international projects experienced with television, features, live events, corporate videos, music videos, news events. Larson has eleven years experience shooting in and around Tokyo, Japan, and other parts of Asia.

Rob Mayes Sound Recordist

Rob Mayes, a New Zealand sound recordist lives between Christchurch and Tokyo, recently worked on the Ridley Scott-produced “Don’t Think,”  a Chemical Brothers feature film shot at the Fuji Rock Festival. Mayes’ work has taken him all over the world, including producing an album in Malta, working with Solomon Island tribal group Narasirato as location and live sound producer on their Japanese tour and resulting documentary.  

Name Title
Starring
Jonathan Sherr Tom
Itsuka Saki
Jason London Joey
Michael Solton Mike
Also starring (in order of appearance)
Tadashi Yamagata Sushi Chef 1
Ayumi Tsushima Sushi Extra
Masako Sakaguchi Sushi Extra
Mitsuki Koga Sushi Extra
Michiko Tsunooka Concierge
Shi Jun Sushi Extra
Toshiko Yamano Sushi Extra
Ayano Suzuki Shinjuku Extra
Akira Yamamoto Shinjuku Extra
Jun Iwata Shinjuku Extra
Tsutomo Inoue Shinjuku Extra
Yamada Keiko Shinjuku Extra
Hiroko Yashiki Park Jogger
Kojima Keiji Sushi Chef 2
Kazuya Tanabe Mover 1
Hiroshige Okada Mover 2
Keisuke Miyaguchi Koji
Sadoko Saida Date 1
Tomoko Hayakawa Date 2
Mariko Nashila Date 3
Maria Luisa Canales Date 3
Adele Wong Date 4
Mitsuyo Okumura Dance Extra
Mitsuru Yamaguchi Dance Extra
Stephanie Hannah Dance Extra
Chiaki Kudo Dance Extra
Kayoko Okumura Dance Extra
Mark Sullivan Dance Extra
Saki Kubokawa Dance Extra
Lee Sullivan Bouncer, Dance Extra
Yoshihisa Ashida Bauhaus Extra
Hiroko Kudo Bauhaus Extra
Miwako Kimoto Bauhaus Extra
Yoshie Nishioka Nozomi 1
Ruri Ono Cute Girl
Akiko Iwase Cute Girl 1
Eri Yamazaki Waitress
Kanemaru Natsuko Karaoke Manager
Paul Baca Bouncer 1
Jett Edwards Jett
Qyoko Kudo Nozomi 2
Michiko Tsunooka Sushi Extra
Yutaka (Unnatural) Saki’s Band
Daichi Kusunose (UN-JAMI) Saki’s Band
Rock Sakurai (EXXXXIT) Saki’s Band
Mitsu (Unnatural) Saki’s Band
Name Title
Michael Solton Producer, Director, Screenwriter
Peter Harmon Screenwriter
Marc Swadel Director of Photography
Scott Larson Line Producer
John Downie Editor
Rob Mayes Location Recording and Audio Post
Richard Marrett Score Composed and Performed by
Rob Mayes Music Supervisor
Mikie Sakaguchi Assistant Director
Kato Tetsuhiro Camera Assistant
Rumiko Yato Hair and Makeup
Yuka Shimizu Hair and Makeup
Timothy Buerger Photography Assistant
Dean Newcombe Casting Director Tokyo
Ricki Masler Casting Director Los Angeles
Alfie Goodrich Graphic Designer
NR Soft Solutions Website Design