Last Friday, I gave the keynote address at the University of California, San Francisco ceremony at which honorary degrees were bestowed on Nisei students whose education was interrupted because of the concentration camps. Because I mentioned your mother in my speech, I thought you might be interested in reading it.

I hope this email finds you as well as can be expected and that you are finding your work on documenting your mother’s kindness and courage exhilarating and deeply satisfying.

Pat Hayashi

What a wonderful, beautiful day!

I have the honor of speaking to the UC community on behalf of the Japanese American community.

I also have the honor of speaking to the Nisei who are being honored today on behalf of their children and grandchildren…

… At Gila River, 15-year-old Ruth Mix lied about her age, so she could help out in the camp hospital. There, she and other workers smuggled in medical supplies, sanitary napkins, clothing, shoes – anything to help.

You told us about their acts of kindness and courage. But you never talked about your own.

But, now your stories are being told…

Claire Mix’s documentary entitled “Gila River and Mama: The Ruth Mix Story”, which focuses on her mother and grandmother’s experience in a Japanese-American internment camp, will be completed by the end of December 2009. The premiere will be on or around February 19, which is the Day of Remembrance. Please check back to the blog for any further changes or updates.

Meanwhile…

Because of the positive reception of “The Barnsley Nightingale”, Claire is in the process of finishing another KidVid Digital entitled “Grampa’s Chair”. This video features the song Claire wrote about her father and how all of her students loved to play in his electric wheelchair. Featured soloist is Sean Warrick. Music arranged by his father, J.D. Warrick. You can hear more of J.D.’s musical arrangements at jdwarrick.com

Claire is in the preliminary stages of illustrating her children’s book entitled “Polly Sue Potts and her Magnificent Kite Flight”. This KidVid Digital is of a larger scale production and will be available to view in Spring 2010. It will be narrated by Delta Pick Mello, colorization by Chris Winner, and musical arrangements by J.D. Warrick and Jeremy Johnson. To see a preview of this up and coming project, head to the mixerkids.com and click on Coming Attractions.

Over 40 people were involved in the shoot, adults and children alike. It was another very emotional day for everyone since many of the actors had parents or grandparents who were previously interned.

Special thanks Ben Ferrer, Charles Klass, and Delta Mello. A special thanks to Kiyomi for being an excellent translator.

photo by jdwarrick

click to view more production photos

The video can be viewed online at
http://ruthmix.clairemix.com/

February 6th marked another successful day of shooting for the documentary.

Cast and crew worked together from 8AM to 8PM without one complaint. Kudos to Clara Mello and Talon Akira for freezing their toes off with a smile on that cold, wet morning shoot.

The elementary school children were remarkable and again brought Claire to tears when she saw them dressed in 1940 clothing. Claire was most impressed with the Franklin High School teenagers and how quickly they picked up the ability to swing dance. Again Sweet Girl, Jo-Jo, and Claire created fun mischief.

High schooler Josephine Phung was named director for one take, she did an impressive job.

And a big congratulations to Delta Mello for her exquisite costumes, and her artistic designing for the sets and props.

Special thanks to B.J. Santucci, J.D. Warrick, Akemi Wong, Peter Lao, Diane Steiner, and a big huge thank you to Joseph Sims Elementary School for allowing us to use their facility.

We appreicate KCRA Channel 3 news for their showing up for a feature news presentation.

Hats off to Ben Ferrer (Director of Photography), Lamar Cox, Colin, and Executive Producer Charles Class.

ARIGATO!!!

click to view more production photos

GILA RIVER AND MAMA
WHEN: Friday, February 6, 2009
WHERE: Joseph Sims Elementary School (website)
GENERAL CALL: 12:45pm
HIGH SCHOOL ACTORS CALL: 3:00pm

February 6 is a minimum day for this school.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SHOOT!

The first day of filming the reenactments went 11 hours, and was a smashing success!!!

There were a lot of emotions as each scene played out. Claire was brought to tears when she saw Clara Mello dressed as her teenage Mother, Ruth Mix, and Lisa Clement dressed as her Grandmother Frida Mix. BJ Santucci was brilliant as the Caucasian Doctor, opposite the very funny Dennis Wong. Josephine Phung’s father, Mihn, was set photographer, and we are so grateful for his time.

When Mari Jacobson’s Grandfather came on set, (who is a former internee at Jerome), the cast and crew gave him a thunderous respectful applause.

Delta Mello is to be applauded for her exquisite costume work, and props – pure perfection.

Together, Director of Photography, Ben Ferrer and Director Clare Mix, brought to life an authentic vision of 1942. Japanese Cultural Consultant, Akemi Wong, polished each scene to a high-shine.

Special thanks to KCRA 3 News, Josephine (Jo-Jo) and Jennifer (sweet-girl), Nathan, William, Akemi, Kabu, Alisha, Mari, AJ, Lamar, KIM, Heddy, Kelly Bitz AND Charles Class.

ARIGATO!!!

view larger version of photos

SACRAMENTO — Claire Mix, an elementary school music teacher and choral director in Elk Grove, is producing a documentary about her mother’s experience working in an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.

In the fall of 1942, Ruth Mix began volunteering on weekends as a nurse’s aide at Butte Camp Hospital at Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona. During the summer months, she volunteered full-time and lived onsite in a barrack with her mother.

Ruth’s mother, Frida Mix, was employed as a school teacher for the Japanese American children. Frida was incensed by the internment and gave up a teaching position in Washington to help make life more bearable at Gila River. “We must make right a terrible wrong,” Frida told Ruth as they rode a military bus into the prison camp for Ruth’s first day at the hospital.

Read/download a pdf of the entire article.
Read the article at the Hokubei.com web site.

Claire Mix met with Franklin High School’s Asian Invasion Club today. This wonderful group of teens will be starring in the reenactments for the documentary. Special thanks to Tiffany Phan (back row, 3rd from the left) for organizing this meeting.

Claire, and the entire Gila River and Mama staff, are very excited to have them as part of the team!!! Claire wonders just how much mischievousness she, Jo-Jo and Jennifer will create on the first day of filming…watch out!

WELCOME ABOARD!!!

A SUCCESSFUL SHOOT

The Gila River crew was in Los Angeles to film the first three interviews with former Gila Internees, Ben Tonooka, Hy Shishino, and Shige Murikama. It was an emotional experience for all. Claire cried the moment she met Shige Murikama, who was one of her Grandmother’s first grade students.

Ben, Hy and Claire were thrilled to finally meet each other, there was lot’s of hugging and smiling.

Executive Producer Charles Class, was the driving force that made the entire day a success. Because of his complete professionalism, and staying one step ahead of a problem, made everyones job easier – especially Claire’s.

Director of Photography, Ben Ferrer, was brilliant! Claire looks forward to shooting the reenactments with him. Special thanks to the Asst. DP, Lamar. Tamika, Donna, and Mitzi – and to Hy, for a great dinner!!!