Akira Kurosawa School of Film to open… in Anaheim

This has nothing to do with the school, which sort of sounds interesting by the way. Although, I think film schools in general aren’t all that great.

In hearsay news:

I was talking to someone that works the deals with international film crossovers, largely Korean films hitting American shores, but has done a few Japanese movies. Anyways, this person claims the “Akira Kurosawa” name is up for grabs to anyone with a bit of money. And currently quite a few unspecified industries(movie, cartoon, and toys co., along with a few odd ones) are looking into just how marketable the AK name currently is, along on it’s near future worth(2010).

I was told a low 6 figured sum for the name, but the amount changes quickly on many variables, and some companies will work only a percentage deal(I assume the toys would do this) while there is some regulations on the name’s usage, for the most part the name goes to the one’s with the money without question.

No point really, just I would expect to here AK’s name being used quiet a bit in the future. Which isnt all too surprising giving the apperance of how this AK100 thing is rolling about.

From what I gather, I could open up “The Official Akira Kurosawa and the Seven Samurai Pizzeria And As You Eat-Laundromat and Car Wash ” for example, and all I would need is few hundred grand. 🙄

From what I understand Carol Burnett is going to be present at the Anaheim University Cherry Blossom Gala on March 23rd, 2009 which would have been Kurosawa’s 99th birthday. It is being held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the Crystal Ball Room Blck tie and all. Wonder if Martin, George, Francis or Steven will be attending as they were all students of Kurosawa. Apparently we can expect some of Japan’s top stars to be there as well. With a full Orchestra led by Maestro Nishimoto one of Japan’s leading conductors playing the soundtrack of Kurosawa’s movie “Ran” it could be an exciting event but the price tag of $200 is pricey!

here is the link to the Anaheim University Cherry Blossom Gala. AK100 has joined this event as a supporter and co-host. check it out at http://www.anaheim.edu/gala

Thanks a lot of the information Tony. I was briefly considering going, but it appears not much of anything is taking place. A AK tribute, and some kimonos, doesn’t really seem worth cost, as everything else appears more to do with the film school then anything else-which makes sense.
I’m fairly sure the likelihood of any of the directors showing up is near zero.

(Why does everything Japanese related done in America, have to be called “Cherry Blossom” something? )

Yeah, it seems like a steep price to pay for what is ultimately a promotional event.

Like Jeremy, I was smiling at the name of the event. Well, at least they didn’t call it “Zen”, or as it’s Kurosawa, “The Last Emperor” or “The Eighth Samurai”! 😉

I guess martin will show

What makes you say that?

He lives in New York, I wonder if there is much appeal to travel across country for a few hours event, largely focused on a online school.

If he was certain to show, it would be worth attending the event. He is a walking movie encyclopedia, and very approachable.

My girlfriend read it in a Japanese newspaper. It was saying that Steven and Martin were helping with the preperations and suggested that there may be some kind of appearance either live or via satellite I believe it wasn’t clear. It also said it is a black tie event and I don’t have a tux that fits right anymore. So …. I am thinking I may just get my girlfriends family to send us a video tape from Japan because it is being televised by wow wow in japan the article said. Wow wow is like HBO in Japan and they broadcast lots of movies in English. I think is probably too late to get a ticket for the real thing but I am gonna get my dvd and popcorn ready! 😉

Neat, thanks for the information.
I’m familiar with WOWOW as it the only way to see The Simpsons and SouthPark in Japan, plus they syndicate the HBO UFC events. There’s a few websites were you can get WOWOW torrents, perhaps someone will do a torrent for this event.

no problem, I don’t know if it would be broadcast live as it said a wow wow documentary. But I am sure someone will put it up so that everyone can check it out.

That’s interesting information, Tony! (And yes, I’m a bit late on this one. :roll:)

There’s a program guide available on the WOWOW website, but all I get is a PDF filled with little dots when I try opening it? What do you guys see?

Hey, Vili, the WOWOW program .pdf in English loads well.

Maybe just update your Adobe?

Credit to Tony for some legit intel on the video presentation.

Yep, the PDF opens without issue. I dont however see anything mentioning the event for March, but it could be easily missed by me.

Coco, you were right. I tried opening the file again, and Adobe Reader told me to update a font package, which it then proceeded to do. After the update the file opened with no problems, although as Jeremy says also with no information about the gala.

But let’s keep our eyes open.

I received an e-mail about a WOWOW documentary of the Nissan GT-R(fan of the GT-R be I ), and upon researched I discovered:

Details are not clear on what it’s about, and the description isnt of much value(even less though poor translation), but WOWOW will be showing a documentary on Kurosawa- 3/22 @ 13:30, that may or may not be called “The Youth of Akira Kurosawa”

http://www.wowow.co.jp/pg/detail/066277001/index.php

And as I stumble around the site, I see some upcoming Kurosawa movies mention, but not telling on the time or if to be shown. While there is still no mention about the gala, it does seem to be a obvious heading towards it’s coverage. I would suspect April will bring something forth.

Depending on the Vili’s legal stance on me posting, I might be able to get of hold of the video(s). However, it depends on a few factors outside my control in being able to obtain them, and the time-frame in which I can offer them for download. I’m depended on the very guy that emailed about the car documentary, and he isn’t much into movies, and recording, encoding, and uploading, isnt much fun to do.

That’s interesting, Jeremy! It seems that WOWOW is jumping onto the centenary celebration bandwagon, which of course is great to hear! The more, the merrier.

I wouldn’t like to see direct links to technically illegal content here, not so much because of some personal problem with such activity (especially with otherwise unavailable TV programs), but rather because of my hosting contract. However, what you discuss and link to in your personal e-mail correspondence is none of my business, if you know what I mean… 🙄

I believe it will air May 10th on WOWOW. Turned out to be an awesome party check it out http://www.anaheim.edu/gala

Thanks for the info, Tony!

Akira Kurosawa`s 100th annivesary of his birth will be celebrated at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles on March 23rd 2010. The event is being produced by renowned Japanese designer Junko Koshino and will feature Concert Conductor Tomomi Nishimoto who previously led the Moscow Symphony and at Akira Kurosawa`s 99th birthday conducted a live film concert. They showed the movie
Ran with no sound and the orchestra played the score live AWESOME! Last year it was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel which is small but this year the room seats 2,350 people and it is nearly impossible to get tickets unless you are somehow related to the host the Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film. They say they will release some tickets a month or two before the event. However, the daytime film festival will feature international films mostly from Asia and a short green film contest focusing on the environment will also be open to the public at no charge. I hear that the foyer of the hotel will have exhibits open to the public during the day. Most of Kurosawa`s students including Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese, Coppola etc will most likely support the event and hopefully they will be in attendence but one never knows who will actually show. 🙄

Thanks for the information, AK! That’s interesting to know.

Anaheim University will hold another Gala to celebrate Kurosawa’a birthday this year. This year will be the 100th anniversary of Akira Kurosawa’s birth and the party is scheduled to be held at the Bonaventure Hotel in the California Room the largest ballroom in the state of California. 2,350 for a sit down dinner and Asian Show entitled The Emperor’s Dreams. Tickets are on sale through the Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film which will commence it’s MFA in Digital Filmmaking at the event. Pricey though! $200-$300 per ticket for early birds depending on seats. The site is supposed to be up in a week or so. There is also a free exhibition held on the day of the event with exhibits from all over Asia of movie and art related displays. The event will be preceeded by a week long film festival called the International Green Globe Festival. This years regional theme is The Asian Film Boom with next year being Bollywood.
Tony ❗

Sorry the name of the Film festival is the International Green Globe Film Festival which will take place around Los Angeles the week prior to the Gala. The International Green Globe Film Awards will be awarded at the Gala and I believe they are going to show some films at the Bonaventure the day of the Gala. Hope this is correct now.

Got the info Green Globe Film Awards March 23rd Bonaventure Hotel. Tribute to Akira Kurosawa on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Martin Scorcese, Oliver Stone and Richard Gere have all supported the school by creating content for the Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film and their are 100 seats reserved for A listers and celebs at this years Award party. Tickets are being sold through Anaheim University and the events sponsors as well as to industry people but not to the public yet. I heard the website will be launched tomorrow at http://www.anaheim.edu

sorry there are

1200 seats are available to the public it and there will be a number of Asia top celebs joining hollywood celebs so lots of foreign media i bet.This is very large for a sit down dinner event with live performances. Tony

Hey guys here we go! Akira Kurosawa 100 anniversary tribute at the Green Globe Film Awards. The website is up at anaheim.edu you can find a large banner at the top that takes you right to the Green Globe Film Awards. The Akira Kurosawa Tribute info is available along with ticket pricing film categories etc.
Tony

It would be interesting to see what this event involves, $300 a ticket seems rather reasonable for curiosity sake. The whole cocktail party, formal dress stuff, however, makes me think, the tribute will be the typical, long awaiting, but brief slide show, and guest speaker tributes of film reward dinners. Not exactly my cup of tea.

Thanks for all the info, Tony!

Too early to tell but being his 100th you would think that many people who respected him would attend. The Green Globe Film awards may bring a number of Hollywood and Asian stars as this years special theme category in addition to Hollywood films, environmental and humanitarian films is “The Asian Film Boom” and a large number of Hollywood and Asians films will be nominated. This should make for an interesting mix of Asian Directors and Hollywood Directors.
Early registration is $200 per person including a sit down dinner and Gala with Asian entertainment. If you have ten people to go in on a table it becomes $150 each. Not bad for a night out at the Bonaventure with Kurosawa’s Son and friends from Japan in attendence should be fun. Heard many top young Japanese Directors are attending. Tony 😮

The Green Globe Film Awards Site has the information about the Akira Kurosawa 100th Anniv. of his birth tribute on March 23rd, 2010 information up at http://www.greenfilmawards.com The ballot for submitting nominations for films is also up so you can actually nominate your favorite films both Hollywood and Asian for 2009 and the entire decade at the same site. http://www.greenfilmawards.com check it out I think you will find it interesting. you can only vote once so do it when you have some time as there are 37 categories to make nominations for.
Tony 😉

The Green Globe Film Awards nominations have commenced and I voted for my favorite Japanese Directors. You can vote by going to the site and clicking on nominate a film. The voting site is http://www.greenglobefilmawards.com The Kurosawa Tribute is to take place during the Green Globe Film Awards. 100 awards being given, how does one give out 100 plus awards during a single dinner gala? Seems a bit rushed to me. The Akira Kurosawa 100th anniversary tribute will most likely take place as a 15 to 20 minute tribute with some of his former understudies speaking as well as his son Hisao the guest of honor along with Carol Burnett who has for years been involved with Anaheim University the co-host of the event.
Tony

Hey guys sorry but it looks as though I jumped the gun in sending out the info on the official website for the Green Globe Film Awards and the tribute to Akira Kurosawa on what would have been his 100th birhday. The event info I posted was correct. It will be held on March 23rd, 2010 at the Bonaventure Hotel………..as long as things don’t change…..However, the main website for the event has changed to http://www.movie-voters.com I guess the greenglobefilmawards.com address was too long for anyone to remember and get to in order to vote!

Tony

Hey all the Akira Kurosawa 100 year tribute will be held on March 23rd at the bonaventure hotel. Tickets are for sale at 714-772-3330 or 949-861-2222.

There is going to be a free screening of the Seven Samurai immediately following a 12:00 p.m. press conference with Japanese Directors Shinya Tsukamoto director of Tetsuo the Iron Man and Tetsuo the Bullet Man , Director Ken Ochiai and Hitoshi Iwamoto director of M.W. The Film short start around 1 p.m. and it is totally free but first come first serve. The screening and open to the public press conference will take place at the Bonaventure Hotel the venue of the evening 100 year Tribute. Hope to see you there. Tony

It was Awesome!!!! The Kurosawa Tribute was superb. Did any of you make it. I personally had a blast at the bonaventure on the 23rd of March Kurosawa’s 100th. We partied with the Directors that showed up for the nigikai after party.
Tony

Did any of you make it to the Seven Samurai Free showing that was held during the afternoon at the Bonaventure before the tribute. It was really kind of a private showing but anyone could have attended I guess.
Tony

I missed the showing myself but saw the whole gala.