We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Susumu Kimura a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Susumu, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
My last short film “Submittan” was completed in 2021, but it took 6 years to get there…
From the 1st draft in early 2016, it went through so many changes and ups & downs.
When it finally got off the ground with crowdfunding, we were already 3 years in.
I wasn’t sure if I was wasting time, or doing something important…
but I just didn’t believe in quitting… so I pressed on.
After a really difficult pre-production – we finally shot the film in February 2020.
In 2 weeks, COVID raged through the world, and me and the footage were locked together in my house.
I felt a weird sense of destiny – now that I had a film shot in-time –
but I wrestled with the pressure placed on myself, depressive thoughts,
and financial challenge from the layoff because of COVID.
However, then again – I didn’t believe in quitting, so I pressed on.
Almost 2 years later – I finally finished the film but my confidence was at an all-time low.
Then I showed it to my cast and crew – had a great screening and they encouraged me to explore options.
In 2022, I was going around the world with this film – LA, LV, Utah, New York, London, Japan, Italy, Sweden.
And Got the distribution deal with DUST along the way.
There were so many moments in 6 years I can now remember thinking about quitting…
But I didn’t – and learned the most important thing – to have faith in your feeling that it is meaningful.
If it’s meaningful to you, then it is worth bearing into the world.
I wouldn’t have learned that if I quit making Submittan.
That’s why this project is the most meaningful one for me.
Susumu, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Susumu Kimura, and I am a Japanese filmmaker, living and working in Los Angeles.
I write, direct and edit films and other visual media.
I also edit films, tv shows, documentaries, digital contents for clients and other people.
I have been in this business for more than 20 years as an editor,
but I’m putting more effort into creating my own materials in the past 8 years.
Currently writing two feature screenplays which we are producing.
My interest and theme seem to drift towards the lives of immigrants and foreigners in their outside world,
which reflects my background of emigrating from my own country and living in a different country.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The lesson I had to unlearn, specific to the industry I work in, is the tendency to look for the “right answer.”
Being from Japan – famous for kids studying for entrance exams starting from middle-school –
I have been brought up thinking that there’s always a right way to do anything.
However, the industry, and the outputs we make doing this kind of work, taught me otherwise.
We work on honing, kinking out the details. No work has been done without developing, changing, improving it.
Sometimes answers change daily, or even hourly. One right answer for one person is not right for the next person.
Starting from clients, producers, directors – they could all want different things.
And if you stick to only one ‘right’ solution, you don’t get there usually.
It sounds a bit like you’re making a compromise, but it is not. It’s more like launching a rocket.
You know you can’t do it alone so you work with and listen to other people to get there.
Your speed and theory could change, but you have to be OK with it.
So having a very soft attitude and inquiring mind has been crucial for me working in this industry.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
There will be a time in my day where I doze off on my thoughts, and not really living the real living world.
I need those moments to come up with what I have to come up with.
Having said that… I think artists also need to respect the world that is around you
and have the courtesy to, at least, try to work it around.
For example, communicate what is happening. Telling clearly what is going on.
Also try to respect the needs of the people around you.
You can’t turn off the brain and good things come of it,
but you can’t live with other people and expect to live on the island of yourself.
So that’s the lesson I learned – by doing the work I do and trying to have a family. And usually, they are also your greatest inspirations.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.susumukimura.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susumula/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susumu.kimura/
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/susumukimura/
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susumula/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusumuKimuraLA
- Other: My short film “Submittan” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmG7b9SzX1I
Image Credits
Leslie Lausch Caroline Mobley