Rising Stars: Meet Satoshi of Torrance

Today we’d like to introduce you to Satoshi.

Hi Satoshi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was working as an actor in Japan when I passed an audition for an independent film in 1998, which brought me to the United States. I was given a scholarship to attend an acting school in Hollywood. However, the film production never got off the ground, so I decided to take a script I had written and pitched it to the TV station that had hosted the audition. That led to me directing my first independent film with a $30,000 budget — and that’s how my Hollywood journey began.

While attending acting school, I went to many auditions. But because of the type of visa I had, I wasn’t allowed to receive payment for film work, which made it difficult to land roles. So instead, I began creating independent films with fellow actors and submitting them to film festivals.

About ten years later, I started a family, obtained permanent residency, and stepped away from the entertainment industry to work a regular job and support my life.

At that time, it was painful to leave the world of film behind. I felt envious of my friends’ success and gradually began to distance myself from Hollywood.

Now that my children have grown up and gone off to college, I’ve returned to filmmaking — and that’s how Mirage Blue was born.

The story is inspired by what I experienced and felt during my time in Hollywood. Mirage Blue was recently selected and screened at both the LA International Film Festival and the Pasadena International Film Festival.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Looking back, it’s all a good memory now. But at the time, it was very tough — even when I passed auditions, I couldn’t take the roles because I didn’t have the proper visa. I couldn’t return to Japan for 11 years until I finally received my permanent residency. I wasn’t even allowed to work part-time, so I spent many days hungry, just trying to get by.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently work for a regular company, but on weekends I create promotional videos for Japanese restaurants and commercials for Japanese cable TV. In the past, I directed five independent films.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love about living here, compared to Japan, is the constant blue skies, the great weather, and the abundance of nature — from the ocean to the desert to the mountains.
What I don’t like is that I can’t communicate in Japanese, which has been a struggle. I wish I had studied English more.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/ch_r11_

Image Credits
Satoshi Nakagawa