The Triumph of Ken'ichi
Logline
Inspired by a true story and infused with magical realism.
When a supernaturally gifted 60 year old performer (Ken'ichi) is fired and humiliated by his acting manager he quits his hollywood career to work at an old school Japanese restaurant. Through wisdom and tough love from his elderly boss (Nene), Ken'ichi rediscovers his internal magic, leading to the surrealist performance of a life time on an unexpected stage: the hibachi grill.
Synopsis
60 year old Hollywood veteran, Ken’ichi (AKA Kenny), is more than just an actor. He’s the ultimate performer. Thespian, rapper, comedian and supernatural magician all rolled into one. But he's in a slump. Attempts to rejuvenate his career on social media backfire leading his manager Leo to fire him in humiliating fashion. Down and out, Ken’ichi leaves the hollywood dream behind.
His wife Yumi is battling illness and money is needed for experimental medical treatment so Ken pleads for a job as a staffer at an old school Japanese Hibachi restaurant owned and run by Yumi’s hard-nosed elderly aunt Nene.
Though he initially sees the restaurant as a dead end, it soon becomes the perfect spot for Kenny to rediscover his internal magic and love of performing without the pressures of the spotlight. It feels good to be a success again. Still he remains literally haunted by visions and voices from his past hollywood glory pushing him back to the stage.
The restaurant soon grows in popularity thanks to Nene's amazing food and Kenny's unique showmanship with the customers.
Finally Kenny's renewed passion and self confidence are tested when he is forced to perform once again in front of an old nemesis on a new stage: The Hibachi Grill. This final confrontation will test all of his new and old skills in a reality bending fight for redemption.
Comedy, drama, romance, inspiration, magic tricks and surrealism. This story has something for everyone.
Funding
This film will be produced and budgeted with the same approach as a prestigious Independent feature.. We're casting SAG union actors. We'll have full permits, insurance, safety coordinators and any key positions required to shoot at this highest level. An estimated 80-90% of people involved in this project will be paid a proper wage for their time. A few very generous volunteers might gift their time but we will not be approaching principal cast or crew members looking for a freebie.
The initial funds raised will go to securing the cast and key crew members. In particular the cinematographer and their full team will need to be hired and paid for including rental costs for cinema standard film equipment. Other funds will go to hiring hair & make up, wardrobe, production design, wardrobe, An assistant director, producers, safety coordinator, audio, script supervisor, and of course the heroic production assistants that are the life blood of any set.
The next tier of spending will go into locations and permits. The good news is most of the film takes place within four interior locations. The less great news is that these locations will not be cheap. However they will be more than worth the investment.
Additionally, the post production team will be comprised of A-level hollywood craftsmen. We already have commitment from Eric Hughes, a top TV & Film editor who has cut Emmy nominated shows, award winning films and ads, and A-list music videos. He's working at a heavily discounted rate that will save 5 figures worth of expenses. However, the film will need to be color corrected, sound mixed and mastered for theatrical release which are all very expensive processes. We will also utilize visual effects to really sell over the magic within the story.
Most of the remaining money in our stretch goal not used on post production will go into marketing and screening the film at festivals and high end screening venues. The vision is to bring this story Sundance, Cannes and other top tier festivals and garner the attention of major hollywood players in order to generate larger opportunities for all involved.
And your contributions will go into all of that.
Additional Information
Our goal is to make a 5 star project showcasing diverse performers and craftspeople whose talents may be unrecognized by some in the mainstream. In addition to bringing this unique story to life the vision is to leverage the success of this story into an entire anthology series of visual stories from creators of various cultures and identities passionately showcasing the themes of food culture and magical realism in their own special ways.
The Nitty-Gritty
We all know film making is difficult. The good news is we already have the technology, skills and passion at our fingertips. However, despite some real progress, a story about a 60 year old Japanese actor is not the easiest thing to get produced by traditional studios. They won't believe it until they see it done and we can't wait around for someone else to prove it to them. But in order to do it right we're going to need the magic of the most talented and diverse cast and crew we can find.
Thank You
Thank you thank you thank you so much for checking out this project. This story demands to be told. The goal is to make something to goes beyond laughs and stunts and speaks about the magic of life itself. And we tell it from the perspective of someone you rarely see on the big screen.
Even if you can't contribute financially, your attention alone is so valuable. Please consider sharing this campaign with friends and family directly or on your broader social platforms. A supportive community will empower this story through it's long and ambitious creative journey.
Ko started out in film working on a documentary in 2009 and moved to LA to pursue filmmaking full-time later that year.
He pursued a certificate in screenwriting and directing at UCLA Extension while simultaneously honing his cutting and story skills as a freelance TV editor, working with Vice, A&E, 72&Sunny, Panay Films and other fantastic ad agencies.
When not editing, he independently wrote and directed films and music videos and completed several film and TV scripts. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, he created a web series called Flu Boos which premiered online and screened at several festivals.
In December of 2021, he wrote and directed the short film White Elephant with a cast and crew of 25 people. This dark comedy satire won the audience award at the Burbank International Film Fest beating out over 100 other shorts.
His latest project will be the most ambitious and sincere piece to date drawing on real life events with the hopes of inspiring people from all walks of life.
I am Junichi Yanagita, born in Kyushu, Miyazaki prefecture Japan in November 30 1959.
I lived in Tokyo for 14 years.
I studied history and performed "Tojin Okichi" at Tokyo Kezai University.
Later I worked for trading company for 7 years.
I came to Los Angeles in 1990, working different jobs until 1998 while always holding my dream high to be an actor.
Around that time my US career took off. I acted in over a dozen films, even more television shows, and countless ads.
8 years ago I put my acting life on hold to support my family. Now that things are more stable I am coming back with a vengaence. Look out!
Eric Alexander-Hughes is a Los Angeles based filmmaker & editor. He began making his own films from home at the age of ten, largely encouraged by his filmmaking father and musician mother; creative exploration and artistry were never in short supply. After studying political science in college, he earned an internship at Pereira O’Dell, where he further honed his skills as in-house editor and director. Eric cut his teeth on small editing projects before going on to make a name for himself in music videos by cutting projects that include J. Cole’s ATM, Boyfriend by Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber’s ETA (Nature Visual), and Hear Me Calling by Juice WRLD. A rhythmic visual voice and engaging narrative style emerged through his music video work, which Eric has translated to branded content for Beats by Dre, McDonald’s, Walmart, Doritos, Spotify, Reebok, and Saks OFF 5TH. Eric has shaped films for A-List celebrity talent, including BTS, Issa Rae, Pharrell Williams, Cardi B, Puff Daddy & The Family, Travi$ Scott, Chance The Rapper, Briana King, and Sha’Carri Richardson.
Lala Garrett | Founder/Creative Producer
Creativity is not just a job for her it is a way of life! Lala has spent the last 8+ years of her life honing her skills in a variety of creative skills from Photography, Video, Producing, and Creative Directing. Her work exudes originality by bringing in a fresh, new voice and dedication to making sure she is authentic, committed, and constantly evolving with the world around her. Her goal is to inspire the next generation of creatives and make it easier for them to pursue authentic success.
Collaborating with brands and organizations such as Fila, Warner Record, PETA, PEOPLE Magazine, BRON Studios, OK Magazine, BuzzFeed, and others!
