Author Archives: admin@ianthomasash
“Suturing Cultures” to Premier Feb 6!
Details about “Suturing Cultures”, Ian’s latest documentary, have just been published on the Documenting Blog. The film follows a group of young Japanese medical students as they prepare for a future of becoming doctors when they must navigate issues of culture, religion and sexual orientation… in English.
Fukushima “voluntary evacuees” press conference MC’d by Ian
Today Ian MC’d the press conference “Fukushima Voluntary Evacuees on Verge of Losing Homes” at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ). He shared his impressions and several episodes from the press conference on the DocumentingIan Blog, including when one mother shared an emotional account of Fukushima children being bullied at their new school: when parents complained to administrators, they were told “you made the choice to evacuate- if your children are being bullied, that’s your fault”.
Ian’s last column for “5” published
As a guest columnist, Ian has written for the magazine “5” for the past two years. In December, Learning to Say Goodbye, his last column for the magazine, was published. Today Ian shared the original English along with a Japanese translation on the Documenting Blog.
2016 Year in Review
As it has been his tradition for the past few years, today Ian published his 2016 Year in Review on the DocumentingIan Blog. Check out some of the highlights, which include his film work, published writings and even a helicopter shoot!
“The making of a Twitter documentary: The last wish of Mr. Hata” published
The Number One Shimbun, a publication of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, has just published Ian’s article “The making of a Twitter documentary: The last wish of Mr. Hata” as the cover story of its year-end issue. The article, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at Ian’s documenting live on Twitter the reunion earlier this year between a dying and the son he had not seen in 30 years, can be found here.
Documentary-style PR video directed by Ian published
Continuing his expansion into directing work for commercial clients, the Part One in a series of videos directed by Ian for the luxury hotel Imperial Hotel Tokyo was released this week. Part Two is schedule for release in February 2017.
Ian announces new commission from NHK World
Following his taboo-challenging documentary Dying at Home earlier this year, Ian recently announced on his DocumentingIan blog that he has been commissioned to direct a new episode for the NHK World documentary series Inside Lens. Currently in production, the documentary is scheduled to air across the globe on NHK World in February 2017.
Ian Teaches Master Class in Taiwan
This past weekend, Ian was invited to give a master class in Taipei during the Doc + Documentary Workshop which was sponsored by the Taiwan Film Institute. Serving beside filmmakers Feng Yan, from China, and Cathie Dambel, from France, the weekend was filled with screenings, film clinics and master classes. Ian’s report on Director Feng Yan’s master class can be found on the DocumentingIan blog here, more on the screening of Ian’s first film, “the ballad of vicki and jake”, can be found here, and more on editor Cathie Dambel’s class can be found here.
‘A2-B-C’ on World Tour
A tour of screenings of ‘A2-B-C’ in film festivals all over the world has begun! A full list of screenings can be found on the A2.documentary website HERE and the festivals which Ian will be attending are listed HERE.
Japan Premier of ‘A2-B-C’ held
The Japan premier of Ian’s documentary ‘A2-B-C’ was held today in Tokyo. Story HERE.