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In motion


Student filmmaker Zachary Yoshioka is ASU's answer to Steven Soderberg. Yoshioka, a communication junior, says he first became fascinated with film when he played around with his father's old video camera in middle school.

He experimented with stop-motion animation and brought characters such as G.I. Joe and other action figures to life. From there, he moved on to short films where he would recruit friends and professional actors to volunteer for his films.

The State Press Magazine caught up with this up-and-coming filmmaker to find out the tricks of the trade.

SPM: What's the best movie you've seen this summer?

Yoshioka: Road to Perdition. Conrad Hall is just an amazing cinematographer. I loved his work in Marathon Man and American Beauty.

SPM: Who are some of your role models in the filmmaking world and why?

ZY: Steven Soderberg, because he is one of the few directors out there who does it all. He shoots his films. He's an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. He is a brilliant editor (Sex, Lies and Videotape) and he's a great director, as well. Robert Rodriguez, because he also shoots and edits his own films.

SPM: What are some of the films that you've put out?

ZY: Well, my most popular film is Premonition [a murder mystery with a hint of the paranormal], which I released Aug. 23 at Tempe Cinemas. The first showing had 400 people and the second had over a hundred. I like the movie and I think it's a beautifully shot and edited picture, but it wasn't a personal film.

SPM: What films are you most proud of?

ZY: I'm most proud of Urban Pressure, which was a picture about a guy dealing with cancer. It incorporated a lot of personal issues and I just felt that the movie was a lot more emotionally moving toward audiences.

SPM: How does one go about making a film?

ZY: Just write a script, grab a camera, a few actors and just do it. Don't worry about what others say or what other filmmakers are doing, using or trying to accomplish. There is no set way of making a film. It's all in what you make of it. Doing it is the only way to learn. You can't give up. It's all in how bad you want to make a movie. Kind of like being in a band. You just practice until your fingers bleed. And eventually it all pays off. You can do amazing things with limited amounts of equipment; you've just got to milk it for all its worth.

SPM: Do you have any advice to offer aspiring filmmakers?

ZY: If you are a filmmaker, you'll just do it. Don't wait around trying to find a camera operator, or an editor or this actor or that actor. If you want to get it done, you'll find a way. Do it all yourself. The more you know about every area, the more powerful you are. Because the less you rely on others, the more the film belongs to you. It can be done, but not everyone can do it. Trying is the only way to find out.

Reach the reporter at kelly.ann.wilson@asu.edu.


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