Filmmaker of the Week – Kate Tsubata

Episode 55 of Filmmaker of the Week featuring Kate Tsubata!

Give us a brief introduction of yourself, where you’re from originally and where you are now if different

I was born in New York City, grew up in rural Long Island, became a journalist, ending up in Maryland near Washington D.C. After 9/11, I became an advocate for HIV awareness through performing arts, and finally moved into film as the most powerful way to bring social change.

What is it that first got you into the world of filmmaking?

Film seemed the logical “next step.” Communication and performing arts have always been powerful channels for me, but film lets you do the production part once, and share the result forever. 

Share a little bit about your specialty in the film world

I guess I specialize in “impossible dream” projects. I love writing the script, but even as I’m writing it, I’m planning how to produce it.  I’m imagining the location, I’m figuring out how to get the effect.  Then, the process of bringing together a team of talented folks, and finding the hidden jewels of locations, and creating workarounds for the challenges.  It’s hard work but so enjoyable.

What has been your most challenging project to date?

Definitely, Dancing Joy. We had to travel 56,000 miles, literally around the world. We had to find ways to communicate, to get permits, to feed the crew and performers, and to pay people, and it all had to be done in a new way with each new location.  Plus, we used drone, Gopro, and Red cameras, shooting 4K so the editing added another layer of challenges.  Even the color grading was an enormous job. 

Tell us a bit about your latest project.

I’ve got one project I’ve pre-produced in a zoom table read. I’d love to get into full production. It’s an everyday hero story, Halls of Mercy. A black pastor has been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to work in the worst school in the city, in hopes he’ll be killed there. His response turns the tables on those seeking to destroy him, in surprising ways.

What is one moment you’ve had in any part of the filmmaking process where you learned a really valuable lesson?

I think from my first film; I learned that budget is a myth. We made a 65 minute feature film in little over a week, spending about two hundred dollars (mostly food.) Our second film, a 90 minute feature, cost us $2,000.  And our third feature, which should have cost about $50,000 was done with about $7,000. The real value—and the real power of independent film—is that there are lots of ways to make things happen: in-kind, barter, or giving people the opportunity to fulfill their dreams while helping you fulfill yours. 

What are some of the 5-year goals for you as a filmmaker/creative?

So be kind to myself as a filmmaker and let go of all expectations and pressure. If I can sustainably find ways to keep telling stories here in North Carolina, that always means the world to me. I love connecting with my community here and finding new stories to tell. Keeping that up where it makes sense would be super dope.

If you could work with one idol of yours, who would it be?

I would love to work with Denzel Washington. He works with purpose.  Also, Keanu Reeves, because he works with heart. 

Name three films that have inspired you most in your journey.

“It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon”, “Babies.” Each showed me the power of story to change hearts.

Where can folks find out more about you online?

www.dancingjoymovie.com

Any last thoughts or pieces of advice to filmmakers out there?

Don’t believe the gatekeepers. Without the filmmaker, there’s nothing to watch, sell, pay for or work on. There’s always, always, a way. 

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