Dear Friends,
This is Chris Noland.
I thought I would bring you up to what is currently going on with our SURVIVING JAPAN film project.
It has been one year since my life changed forever in Tokyo on 11 March 2011.
I am one of many that were in the Japanese earthquake but one of the few to make a film about it.
In short I feel that this event is a great opportunity to wake up many people in the world who are asleep and to inspire peace and change in our world.
My Journey in Japan led me to feel a great deal of empathy and kindness that I had never experienced before, moreover it made me wish to inspire others to do the same, and to promote change. Having lived in Japan for a year I was not used to people speaking out, so when I came across this, I immediately took action and started making a documentary about it during my volunteer trips to Tohoku.
The film was made by me but with so many people who came to my aid when needed. I had absolutely nothing to make this film with the entire time, except for hope and the kindness of others. For every obstacle, there was always someone to help my through it. For that I am very thankful.The messages in the film are very important, not just for Japan but for the world. The people in the film wanted answers and wanted to be heard, I wanted to make this happen for them.
I returned to the United States to finish the post-production. During the process I was contacted by a physicians group, WPSR.Org, who wanted to show my film in Vancouver with their Fukushima Forum for the 1-year anniversary. Just a few weeks after, I received media inquiry into my project, which I had not even finished yet. CBC radio was interested in Mr. Oyama’s opposition to what was happening in Japan and to the children, my promise was that I would take it to the western world, so they aired his segment from my film (they did the over-dubbing) on their show.
(Link to CBC radio: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2012/03/07/the-winter-that-wasnt-bird-migration/)
The response has been overwhelming. The few that saw the film all had a strong emotional reaction, saying the personal story aspect made them feel like they were there along the 6-month journey. I have since entered the film in some of the worlds Top film festivals in order to get this story out to the world.
After several Interviews I was contacted by CBC Canada just the other day. They were doing a show on the 1-year anniversary. Their request was to speak to someone in Fukushima, a mother who went through the experience. I could think of no one other than my now friend Yumie Keller, who escaped with her 2 children from Minamisoma abandoning everything to save her family from nuclear peril. I remember when I met her I said this was the time to get the message out. Today, CBC aired her story to the world, which to me, was the best gift from this experience so far.
(Link to CBC story: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/1221254309/ID=2208497621)
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me thus far, I truly could not have done this without all your love and support, and on behalf of the people in Japan.
Thank you very much for all you have done.
I have another Kickstarter campaign to finish the final parts of post-production of the film.
If you can help contribute, please do so by clicking here:
BACK THIS FILM ➜ $1 Minimum Pledge
Once again thankyou for all your love and support.
Best wishes
Chris Noland
3/11/2012, Seattle WA.
