The Power of Personal Stories: From Home Film to Educational Tool

Without an agenda besides having something to pass down for his family, “First To Go: Story of the Kataoka Family” tells the story of the director's own family's incarceration in the Japanese Incarceration Camps during a dark time in American history. What came from this was a film that was honest and raw.
After a private screening of his film, Myles Matsuno will discuss the significance of home footage, the courage to be vulnerable, and the importance of the generations who paved the way before us, while recognizing and confronting the injustices of our past to ensure a better future.

Speaker: Myles Matsuno is an award-winning filmmaker from Los Angeles, known for his ability to infuse warmth and emotion into his visual images. With a background in the arts, he attributes his creativity to personal experiences and memories. His latest films include the award-winning feature film "Christmas in July" and the documentary "First to Go: Story of the Kataoka Family," which focuses on his own family's experience in Japanese Internment Camps. He currently serves as Head of Acquisitions for New Day Films as well producing projects through his company Matsuno Media. He maintains a motto that his great-grandfather held, which is honesty and kindness are best in business.

Chair/moderator: Professor Po-Shek Fu is a professor of History and Asian American Studies at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include Chinese Studies, Hong Kong Studies, Cultural history, Film history, War and culture. He recently launched his new book Hong Kong Media and Asia's Cold War, published by Oxford University Press.