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In Memorium: A Michael Jackson Tribute
This is a promo that I put together quickly (given the nature of these things) for a Michael Jackson tribute concert organized by Rehage Entertainment, featuring performances by Usher, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, and more.
This is the Flash Version.
This was a collaboration with my designer friend, Madoka Katayama.
This is part of a Summer branding campaign for Warner Bros' property, Essence.com.
Directed, produced and animated by the two of us.
Awesome fake hip-hop music courtesy of Warner Music Library.
This is the Flash Version.
Photograph by: Jay Sansone
A short web-series shot, directed, and edited by me for Warner Bros. and Disney for ESSENCE MAGAZINE.
There were 3 families; I worked with the Tooley-Benjamins.
I got to experience alot of behind-the-scenes, secret Disney things, which was neat (and which you will NOT see in these family-friendly, commercial videos). Regardless, Thank You," to our Disney partners for being so gracious with their time and resources.
Jamie Carreiro and Jay Sansone worked with the other 2 families. Ash Hsie did the graphics.
Andie
Springer Dotcom |
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A Message From Kohta Asakura |
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This is a short film I did with a group of my director friends for the 48 Hour Film Project earlier this month.
By the way, check out their work on their respective sites:
Jamie Carreiro, Jay Sansone, Ash Hsie
This is the Flash Version.
Recently, I threw out the loveseat component of my couch. I've had this couch for 15 years.
Growing up with it, I have some fond memories of doing couch things on it.
To commemerate this emotional ritual, Jimmy and I documented our final farewell to my (well a piece of) couch.
This is the Flash Version.
A Message From Kohta Asakura |
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A Message From Kohta Asakura |
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A Message From Kohta Asakura
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SLEEPING WITH A SPICE GIRL IN L.A.
Selected excerpts from the original short story.
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Two thoughts run concurrently in my head: "What next?" and more pervasively, "OhMyGodHowDidIGetThisFar?DoesShe FindMeSexuallyAttractiveBecauseSheIsDrunkOrIsItBecauseI Didn'tSayAnythingAndWomenFindThatAppealingBecause WheneverIOpenMyMouthTheyFindMeRepulsiveAnd OhMyGodNoOneLovesMe?" |
I sit there, nursing my (first) drink, ruminating about shit and shit, when someone taps me on my crooked right shoulder. I Asian-Glow, but am not drunk. I recognize the tapper as Geri Halliwell, aka. Ginger Spice.
I nod. I am too confused to say otherwise. She orders herself a whiskey, straight. I assume I'm paying. Okay, great.
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It is damp in the bathroom, and it smells like a combination of balls and Irish Spring soap. There is condensation building up everywhere. Using my right forearm as a sanitary pillow, I lean my head onto the flush.
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I concede: the false irony of "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends," escaped me as I fled.
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These were selected excerpts from the original short story.
Click here to
read the rest.
A Message From Kohta Asakura |
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HOW I MADE HALLE BERRY CRY
aka. The Halle Berry Tribute Video, for her 2009 Black Women in Hollywood Power Award win.
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Benicio Del Toro, Spike Lee, Warren Beatty, and more.
Directed and edited by Kohta Asakura.
The awards show took place in Beverly Hills, LA on Februrary 20, 2009.
This is the Flash Version.
MORTIFYING TRAIN SITCH
I have fallen in and out of love with the most gorgeous women on the subway,
based solely on the impression left, post-collision.
A Message From Kohta Asakura |
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"GOD IS DEAD: A Colin Powell Story"
Illustrations by Kohta Asakura
Click to enlarge images (opens in new window) |
Excerpts from "GOD IS DEAD" written by Ron Currie, Jr.
With a curse, Powell turned off the telephone. "Tell me something," he said to the official. "Why do I always end up relaying messages through the lowliest goddamn sub-assistant-deputy in the White House? Why, in almost four years, have I spoken directly to that redneck son of a bitch only three times? And two of those times were at fucking Christmas parties?" "I don't know, sir," the official said. "I'll tell you why," Powell said. "Because I'm black." The official, uncertain, said, "Well, maybe, sir." "The same reason I got this job in the first place," Powell continued. "Because I'm black. Ain't that a bitch, huh? I get the job because I'm black, and my boss won't talk to me because I'm black." "If I may speak frankly, sir," the official said, "I'm not sure black is the word I'd use to describe you." Powell deployed a fierce, wide-eyed gaze, one he'd perfected through hundreds of hours of viewing and reviewing Samuel Jackson movies. "Oh no?" he said. The official, realizing he'd stepped directly into the metaphorical pile of dung, tried to backtrack. "Well, of course, I mean, ethnologically speaking, you're black. Sir. Of course. I was thinking more of your appearance, a sort of benign, nonthreatetning, ashy tone which ---" "I'm black as night, motherfucker!" (Said Powell). "Of course (you) are, sir," the official said. "Sorry, sir." "Apology accepted, Bitch-ass." "Back to the keywords for tonight's (speech), sir. If we may."
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"Fuck that," Powell said. "I'm a general, don't forget. And generals give orders. Like I'm giving you an order right now: Leave me alone."
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(Without knowing it, Colin Powell meets God in human form. Powell speaks to Him/Her.)
"How does a man become the first black assistant to the president for national security affairs? How does a man become the first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs? How does a man become the first black secretary of state? And then I answer myself: by behaving, in every possible manner, like a white man." God said nothing. Instead he did what he always did, all he was allowed to do: sympathize, sympathize. "The highest ranking, most powerful house (negro) in history," Powell said. "That's me."
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This brilliantly hilarious excerpted passage was taken from Mr. Currie's brilliantly hilarious "GOD IS DEAD." (Redudancy makes it true.) I remember I read this part and thought, "Geez, I'd love to see this visualized!" Thus , I decided to doodle a couple of crude illustrations in honor of Mr. Currie's novel which asks, "If God took human form and died, what would become of life as we know it?"
