Jon Moritsugu
Encyclopedia
Jon Moritsugu is an American underground
Underground film
An underground film is a film that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre, or financing.-Definition and history:The first use of the term "underground film" occurs in a 1957 essay by American film critic Manny Farber, "Underground Films." Farber uses it to refer to the work of...

 filmmaker.
Jon Moritsugu started filmmaking in 1985 when he went to school at Brown University. His Thesis film "Der Elvis" was called by critic J. Hoberman
J. Hoberman
James Lewis Hoberman , also known as J. Hoberman, is an American film critic. He is currently the senior film critic for The Village Voice, a post he has held since 1988.-Education:...

 "one of the top 50 films of the eighties." Moritsugu's films are defined by their "lo-fi" aesthetic, and are often shot on very poor, 16mm film stock to give them a homemade, muddled quality. Moritsugu's films are absurdist
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...

 comedies, and often feature actress, co-writer, co-producer wife Amy Davis.
Moritsugu writes most of his films, and often serves as the editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...

, as well as distributor. Fellow underground filmmaker Todd Verow
Todd Verow
Todd Verow is an American film director who now resides in New York City, New York. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the AFI Conservatory. Together with his creative partner, James Derek Dwyer, he formed Bangor Films in 1995. He was also the cinematographer for Jon Moritsugu's...

 served as cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...

 on three of Moritsugu's features: Terminal USA
Terminal USA
Terminal USATerminal USA is a controversial film by Jon Moritsugu that explores themes of family, drugs, violence and Asian American stereotypes. Its run time is 54 minutes and it is estimated to have had a budget of $365,000....

(1993) Mod Fuck Explosion
Mod Fuck Explosion
Mod Fuck Explosion is a film by Jon Moritsugu about a young girl named London who is trying to find meaning in the world, or a leather jacket of her very own. Unaccepted by the Mods or the bikers, she tries to find her own path through life. Meanwhile the Mods and the bikers have a vendetta against...

(1994) and "Pig Death Machine" (2011).

His films have been featured at Sundance
Sundance
Sundance Resort is a ski resort located northeast of Provo, Utah, spanning over on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Range. Snow skiing began on the site in 1944...

, MOMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...

, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....

, and many other festivals. Fame Whore was considered for an Academy Award in 1999, but was rejected because it was screened in 16mm and all Academy Award films must be 35mm.

In spring of 2011, Jon Moritsugu directed with wife and creative partner, Amy Davis, a music video for the song No Future Shock by Brooklyn rock group TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

.[6] Rani Molla. "Santa Fe filmmakers Jon Moritsugu and Amy Davis veer (very slightly) from their underground experimental base with a music video released today for popular Brooklyn experimental (see!) band TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

. The video is one in a movie-length series of music videos for the band's new album Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light is the fourth studio album by American art rock band TV on the Radio, released on April 11, 2011. The band released "Will Do", a song from the album, on February 23. Another song, "Caffeinated Consciousness", was made available for free download on March 10, 2011...

" Santa Fe Reporter. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . All the videos were also released as part of a one-hour long movie on the same date.

Music

Moritsugu also fronted (1997-8) a punk band with Andy Matinog and Mike Masatsugu called No-No Boy after the novel
No-No Boy
No-No Boy is the only novel published by Japanese American writer, John Okada. It deals with the aftermath of the Japanese American internment during World War II. The novel begins as Ichiro Yamada is returning home from prison, and follows him as he struggles to come to terms with his decision of...

 by John Okada
John Okada
John Okada was a Japanese-American writer. Born in Seattle, Washington, he was a student at the University of Washington when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Okada and his family were interned at Minidoka in 1942...

 and is currently in a lo-fi indie garage rock band with Amy Davis called Low on High.
JonnyCunt. "PIG DEATH MACHINE – Jon Moritsugu & Amy Davis’ First Film In a Decade! ." THE END OF BEING . Web. 27 Jan. 2011. .

Filmography

  • Pig Death Machine- in post production as of 2011 and funded via Kickstarter
    Kickstarter
    Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...

  • Scumrock 2002 (Best Feature at the New York Underground Film Festival, Best Feature at the Chicago Underground Film Festival)
  • Crack (short) 1999
  • Fame Whore 1997
  • Mod Fuck Explosion 1994 (Best Feature Award- 1995 New York Underground Film Festival)
  • Terminal USA 1993
  • Hippy Porn 1991
  • My Degeneration 1990
  • Sleazy Rider (short) 1988
  • Braindead (short) 1987
  • Der Elvis (short) 1987
  • Lil' Debbie Snackwhore of New York City (short) 1987
  • Mommy Mommy Where's My Brain (short) 1986

Jon Moritsugu (born 1965 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is an American underground
Underground film
An underground film is a film that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre, or financing.-Definition and history:The first use of the term "underground film" occurs in a 1957 essay by American film critic Manny Farber, "Underground Films." Farber uses it to refer to the work of...

 filmmaker.
Jon Moritsugu started filmmaking in 1985 when he went to school at Brown University. His Thesis film "Der Elvis" was called by critic J. Hoberman
J. Hoberman
James Lewis Hoberman , also known as J. Hoberman, is an American film critic. He is currently the senior film critic for The Village Voice, a post he has held since 1988.-Education:...

 "one of the top 50 films of the eighties." "Biography." JON MORITSUGU. Web. 04 Feb. 2011. . Moritsugu's films are defined by their "lo-fi" aesthetic, and are often shot on very poor, 16mm film stock to give them a homemade, muddled quality. Moritsugu's films are absurdist
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...

 comedies, and often feature actress, co-writer, co-producer wife Amy Davis.
Moritsugu writes most of his films, and often serves as the editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...

, as well as distributor. Fellow underground filmmaker Todd Verow
Todd Verow
Todd Verow is an American film director who now resides in New York City, New York. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the AFI Conservatory. Together with his creative partner, James Derek Dwyer, he formed Bangor Films in 1995. He was also the cinematographer for Jon Moritsugu's...

 served as cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...

 on three of Moritsugu's features: Terminal USA
Terminal USA
Terminal USATerminal USA is a controversial film by Jon Moritsugu that explores themes of family, drugs, violence and Asian American stereotypes. Its run time is 54 minutes and it is estimated to have had a budget of $365,000....

(1993) Mod Fuck Explosion
Mod Fuck Explosion
Mod Fuck Explosion is a film by Jon Moritsugu about a young girl named London who is trying to find meaning in the world, or a leather jacket of her very own. Unaccepted by the Mods or the bikers, she tries to find her own path through life. Meanwhile the Mods and the bikers have a vendetta against...

(1994) and "Pig Death Machine" (2011).Lindsey. "Interview : Jon Moritsugu." CrownDozen.com. 20 June 2005. Web. 04 Feb. 2011.

His films have been featured at Sundance
Sundance
Sundance Resort is a ski resort located northeast of Provo, Utah, spanning over on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Range. Snow skiing began on the site in 1944...

, MOMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...

, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....

, and many other festivals. Fame Whore was considered for an Academy Award in 1999, but was rejected because it was screened in 16mm and all Academy Award films must be 35mm.

In spring of 2011, Jon Moritsugu directed with wife and creative partner, Amy Davis, a music video for the song No Future Shock by Brooklyn rock group TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

.[6] Rani Molla. "Santa Fe filmmakers Jon Moritsugu and Amy Davis veer (very slightly) from their underground experimental base with a music video released today for popular Brooklyn experimental (see!) band TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

. The video is one in a movie-length series of music videos for the band's new album Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light is the fourth studio album by American art rock band TV on the Radio, released on April 11, 2011. The band released "Will Do", a song from the album, on February 23. Another song, "Caffeinated Consciousness", was made available for free download on March 10, 2011...

" Santa Fe Reporter. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . All the videos were also released as part of a one-hour long movie on the same date.

Music

Moritsugu also fronted (1997-8) a punk band with Andy Matinog and Mike Masatsugu called No-No Boy after the novel
No-No Boy
No-No Boy is the only novel published by Japanese American writer, John Okada. It deals with the aftermath of the Japanese American internment during World War II. The novel begins as Ichiro Yamada is returning home from prison, and follows him as he struggles to come to terms with his decision of...

 by John Okada
John Okada
John Okada was a Japanese-American writer. Born in Seattle, Washington, he was a student at the University of Washington when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Okada and his family were interned at Minidoka in 1942...

 and is currently in a lo-fi indie garage rock band with Amy Davis called Low on High.
JonnyCunt. "PIG DEATH MACHINE – Jon Moritsugu & Amy Davis’ First Film In a Decade! ." THE END OF BEING . Web. 27 Jan. 2011. .

Filmography

  • Pig Death Machine- in post production as of 2011 and funded via Kickstarter
    Kickstarter
    Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/53300062/pig-death-machine-a-new-jon-moritsugu-amy-davis-fe/commentsTowhidy, Mandana. "(FREAK) FILM FRIDAY: PIG DEATH MACHINE!" NANCY ♡ GIRL. 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2011. .
  • Scumrock 2002 (Best Feature at the New York Underground Film Festival, Best Feature at the Chicago Underground Film Festival)
  • Crack (short) 1999
  • Fame Whore 1997
  • Mod Fuck Explosion 1994 (Best Feature Award- 1995 New York Underground Film Festival)
  • Terminal USA 1993
  • Hippy Porn 1991
  • My Degeneration 1990
  • Sleazy Rider (short) 1988
  • Braindead (short) 1987
  • Der Elvis (short) 1987
  • Lil' Debbie Snackwhore of New York City (short) 1987
  • Mommy Mommy Where's My Brain (short) 1986

Jon Moritsugu (born 1965 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is an American underground
Underground film
An underground film is a film that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre, or financing.-Definition and history:The first use of the term "underground film" occurs in a 1957 essay by American film critic Manny Farber, "Underground Films." Farber uses it to refer to the work of...

 filmmaker.
Jon Moritsugu started filmmaking in 1985 when he went to school at Brown University. His Thesis film "Der Elvis" was called by critic J. Hoberman
J. Hoberman
James Lewis Hoberman , also known as J. Hoberman, is an American film critic. He is currently the senior film critic for The Village Voice, a post he has held since 1988.-Education:...

 "one of the top 50 films of the eighties." "Biography." JON MORITSUGU. Web. 04 Feb. 2011. . Moritsugu's films are defined by their "lo-fi" aesthetic, and are often shot on very poor, 16mm film stock to give them a homemade, muddled quality. Moritsugu's films are absurdist
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...

 comedies, and often feature actress, co-writer, co-producer wife Amy Davis.
Moritsugu writes most of his films, and often serves as the editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...

, as well as distributor. Fellow underground filmmaker Todd Verow
Todd Verow
Todd Verow is an American film director who now resides in New York City, New York. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the AFI Conservatory. Together with his creative partner, James Derek Dwyer, he formed Bangor Films in 1995. He was also the cinematographer for Jon Moritsugu's...

 served as cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...

 on three of Moritsugu's features: Terminal USA
Terminal USA
Terminal USATerminal USA is a controversial film by Jon Moritsugu that explores themes of family, drugs, violence and Asian American stereotypes. Its run time is 54 minutes and it is estimated to have had a budget of $365,000....

(1993) Mod Fuck Explosion
Mod Fuck Explosion
Mod Fuck Explosion is a film by Jon Moritsugu about a young girl named London who is trying to find meaning in the world, or a leather jacket of her very own. Unaccepted by the Mods or the bikers, she tries to find her own path through life. Meanwhile the Mods and the bikers have a vendetta against...

(1994) and "Pig Death Machine" (2011).Lindsey. "Interview : Jon Moritsugu." CrownDozen.com. 20 June 2005. Web. 04 Feb. 2011.

His films have been featured at Sundance
Sundance
Sundance Resort is a ski resort located northeast of Provo, Utah, spanning over on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Range. Snow skiing began on the site in 1944...

, MOMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...

, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....

, and many other festivals. Fame Whore was considered for an Academy Award in 1999, but was rejected because it was screened in 16mm and all Academy Award films must be 35mm.

In spring of 2011, Jon Moritsugu directed with wife and creative partner, Amy Davis, a music video for the song No Future Shock by Brooklyn rock group TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

.[6] Rani Molla. "Santa Fe filmmakers Jon Moritsugu and Amy Davis veer (very slightly) from their underground experimental base with a music video released today for popular Brooklyn experimental (see!) band TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

. The video is one in a movie-length series of music videos for the band's new album Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light
Nine Types of Light is the fourth studio album by American art rock band TV on the Radio, released on April 11, 2011. The band released "Will Do", a song from the album, on February 23. Another song, "Caffeinated Consciousness", was made available for free download on March 10, 2011...

" Santa Fe Reporter. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . All the videos were also released as part of a one-hour long movie on the same date.

Music

Moritsugu also fronted (1997-8) a punk band with Andy Matinog and Mike Masatsugu called No-No Boy after the novel
No-No Boy
No-No Boy is the only novel published by Japanese American writer, John Okada. It deals with the aftermath of the Japanese American internment during World War II. The novel begins as Ichiro Yamada is returning home from prison, and follows him as he struggles to come to terms with his decision of...

 by John Okada
John Okada
John Okada was a Japanese-American writer. Born in Seattle, Washington, he was a student at the University of Washington when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Okada and his family were interned at Minidoka in 1942...

 and is currently in a lo-fi indie garage rock band with Amy Davis called Low on High.
JonnyCunt. "PIG DEATH MACHINE – Jon Moritsugu & Amy Davis’ First Film In a Decade! ." THE END OF BEING . Web. 27 Jan. 2011. .

Filmography

  • Pig Death Machine- in post production as of 2011 and funded via Kickstarter
    Kickstarter
    Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/53300062/pig-death-machine-a-new-jon-moritsugu-amy-davis-fe/commentsTowhidy, Mandana. "(FREAK) FILM FRIDAY: PIG DEATH MACHINE!" NANCY ♡ GIRL. 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2011. .
  • Scumrock 2002 (Best Feature at the New York Underground Film Festival, Best Feature at the Chicago Underground Film Festival)
  • Crack (short) 1999
  • Fame Whore 1997
  • Mod Fuck Explosion 1994 (Best Feature Award- 1995 New York Underground Film Festival)
  • Terminal USA 1993
  • Hippy Porn 1991
  • My Degeneration 1990
  • Sleazy Rider (short) 1988
  • Braindead (short) 1987
  • Der Elvis (short) 1987
  • Lil' Debbie Snackwhore of New York City (short) 1987
  • Mommy Mommy Where's My Brain (short) 1986

"Jon Moritsugu - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 27 Jan. 2011.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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