Marissa Kitazawa | Returning to the Land of Slugs!

Returning to the Land of Slugs!

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 04:41:14 +0000

I’m excited to announce, Lil Miss Hot Mess, is an official selection of the Santa Cruz Film Festival! I’ll be heading back to the Land of Banana Slugs on Sunday Nov 16. Little Miss Hot Mess will be playing at 4:45PM.

Come check out the film and the festival!

2014 Elections: AAPI Congressional Candidates

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 03:40:36 +0000

REMEMBER TO VOTE!

Recently I had the honor of designing an infographic for the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies. One day, I would love to see an AAPI Presidential candidate, but for now I’ll settle for seeing AAPI’s represent at multiple levels in our government. It’s exciting to also note that this year is a record high for the number of AAPIs running for elected office. Regardless of what your political views are, check out the candidates and remember to vote on Nov 4th!

visit the APAICS website

South Bay Stories: A Nikkei LGBTQ Forum For Everybody

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:02:32 +0000

I have always enjoyed listening to people’s stories. This is probably why I’ve fallen in love with documentaries, the ability to share a heart felt real life story is always better than anything I could ever make up in the a fictional world. I was asked by the wonderful folks at the Japanese American Citizens League – Pacific Southwest District and the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute to design a flyer for one of their upcoming events. This event will highlight the stories of incredible individuals in the South Bay area and open a dialogue about the LGBTQ community.

When designing this flyer, I wanted to create a design that reflected the multifaceted stories of being apart of the LGBTQ community, while visually celebrating this event’s vibrant strength in sharing these stories.

If you’re free, please support and check out this historic event on October 4th, 1:30-3:30PM at the Gardena JCI.

Learn more about the Nikkei LGBTQ Initiative

VOTE for ‘Lil Miss Hot Mess’ Now Competiting in the Audience Awards’ LGBTQ Contest

admin — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 17:13:30 +0000

http://theaudienceawards.com/film/lil-miss-hot-mess11337

Audience Awards interviews Marissa Kitazawa and Jana Bolotin

admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:15:52 +0000

My collaborative short film, Lil Miss Hot Mess, is currently competing in the Audience Award’s LGBTQ Competition. Please consider supporting my film, and in the mean while, check out the featured interview Audience Awards conducted on myself and wonderfully talented producer and close friend, Jana Bolotin.

You can check out the interview here.

7 Short Gay Films You’ve Never Seen For Your Pride Weekend Festivities

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:13:59 +0000

I am very excited and honored to have my short film, Little Miss Hot Mess featured in Audience Award’s “7 Short Gay Films You’ve Never Seen For Your Pride Weekend Festivities.”

UCSC Outstanding Teaching Assistant 2014

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 03:52:37 +0000

One of the high lights of going to graduate school is the opportunity to teach the undergraduates in the Film and Digital Media department. Teaching has been truly a rewarding experience and I’ve learned so much from it. I take pride in my job as a TA and am feeling really honored that I’ve received this years Outstanding TA award! Go Banana Slugs!

View Article

Social Documentation Grad Exhibition 2014

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 03:42:39 +0000

Social Documentation Grad Exhibition 2014 – Wed. June 11, 6PM

An evening of documentary films from students of the Social Documentation program. Free and open to the public.

http://news.ucsc.edu/2014/05/soc-doc-screenings.html

Bread or Blood by Jack Chapman
Crenshaw by Lena Jackson
Legacy of Resilience by Marissa Kitazawa
Flatlands by Alex Melhuish
After the Crossfire: Memories of Violence and Displacement on the Northern Pacific Coast of Colombia by Ricardo A. Velasco

UCSC’s SocDoc program is a one-of-a-kind program designed for future documentarians committed to social change and to documenting communities, cultures, issues, and individuals. With training from professionals outstanding in their fields, students gain the skills and confidence to enter the increasingly sophisticated world of documentary production.

The event is co-sponsored by City of Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency and Nickelodeon Theaters, Inc.

Contact socdoc@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-3445 for more information

When:

Wednesday, June 11, 2014 – 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Location:

Del Mar Theater – Downtown Santa Cruz

8th annual screening of Soc Doc graduate films at Del Mar Theatre

admin — Thu, 29 May 2014 03:43:37 +0000

8th annual screening of Soc Doc graduate films at Del Mar Theatre

By Scott Rappaport

UC Santa Cruz presents the eighth annual exhibition of thesis films from the Film and Digital Media Department’s masters program inSocial Documentation on Wednesday, June 11, at the Del Mar Theater in downtown Santa Cruz.

Five engaging documentary films will be presented, beginning at 6 p.m. The student filmmakers will each be in attendance and available after the screenings to discuss their films.Amission is free, and the public is invited.This year’s Soc Doc cohort has created documentaries dealing with neglected and forgotten histories, such as Jack Chapman’s photographic and video work unearthing a journey of a radical American worker’s “army” in Bread or Blood, and Ricardo Velasco’s film, After the Crossfire, about memory, massacre and displacement in the remote village of Juradó, Colombia.Marissa Kitazawa’s Legacy of Resiliencetraces the legacy of Japanese-American social engagement across generations, while Lena Jackson’s Crenshawquestions the cost of public school “reconstitution” to local community members in South Los Angeles.Flatlands, Alex Melhuish’s bold documentary, follows the story of gun violence and survival in the Flatlands of East Oakland. “The work you will see is the culmination of an intense two years of immersion on the part of our students in documentary traditions and craft, scholarly research and analysis, aesthetic style, and fearless storytelling,” noted John Jota Leaños, Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor of Social Documentation.Since its inception in 2005, UCSC’sSocial Documentation Program has paired film students with faculty in a wide variety of departments, enabling deep research into film subjects and the roots of complex issues and cultures.Students in the program have earned grants and awards, distribution of their films, and festival exposure.”These social documentaries demonstrate the work of engaged scholarship and represent a new generation of media makers,” said Leaños.For more information, e-mailsocdoc@ucsc.edu or call (831) 459-3445.

Flatlands by Alex Melhuish

Legacy of Resilience by Marissa Kitazawa

Crenshaw by Lena Jackson

After the Crossfire by Ricardo A. Velasco

Activist of the Month: Marissa Kitazawa

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:23:13 +0000

I’m so honored to be named this month’s Activist of the Month by API Equality! Check out my interview with them!

Featured in:

A majority of API Equality-LA’s work is done through each of our all-volunteer committees. API Equality-LA wouldn’t be the leading API LGBT organization that it is today without the contributions of all of our volunteer activists. Most of that work happens without any reward. To recognize stellar volunteer activists, the media & website committee selects a monthly Activist of the Month. We feature them on our website by asking them to answer a few questions, some serious and some fun. Get to know some of the incredible people that devote their time and effort to advancing API Equality-LA’s mission.We’re proud to present Marissa Kitazawa as our April 2012 Activist of the Month!

What committee are you involved with in API Equality?

I’m involved with the Pioneers Project.

How and when did you get involved?

I first got involved after hearing about the Pioneers Project over the summer. As a filmmaker and activist, I’ve always been fascinated and allured to the power of human story. This project is a wonderful opportunity to document the oral history of the AAPI LGBT pioneering activist and use these stories as a tool for social change.

Why is it important to continue this fight for marriage equality?

We have come a long way in terms of civil rights and other social movements towards equality. However there is still is a ways to go. Marriage equality is an issue affecting all students in America, not just those that identify as LGBT. There should be no restrictions on love and that kind of close-minded thoughts only motivates me more to work towards equaility. It reminds me of that quote by Martin Luther King, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

What is one sound that characterizes you?

Munch munch! I am a total foodie! I love trying and experimenting with my food. I sometimes plan my whole schedule around the food places I would like to try. It probably doesn’t help that I work in Little Tokyo too.

Where are you right now?

I’m currently hanging out in my work cubicle waiting for the LA traffic to die down so I can get home.

What is one thing about you that surprises people?

I don’t like chocolate. Sorry! But that means more chocolate for everyone else!

Hometown?

I grew up in Torrance, CA and then moved to Claremont, CA for college. A socal girl my whole life.

Occupation?

I am currently the Associate Regional Director/Program Director at the Japanese American Citizens League, an AAPI civil rights and advocacy organization.

Heritage?

I am a Yonsei – 4th Generation Japanese American.

Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook! I don’t really understanding twitter and tweeting.