Susanne Tabata is a producer and director. Influences come from childhood years in Tokyo, a completely insane academic family, reflections on WWII Japanese Canadian internment, growing up on the ocean, UBC campus radio, late nights in the early Vancouver punk scene, too many road trips, one dog and two kids.
Susanne was part of the early CITR radio days and got started in television working on NITE DREEMS, a live late night TV music show produced by Don Fraser and hosted by radio legends John Tanner and JB Shayne. This program was Vancouver’s flagship to promote the local punk and alternative music scene as well as international acts that were without radio airplay. This led to a roster of unique tapings with artists like The Police, U2, Motorhead, UB40, The Ramones, Young Canadians, Braineater, Boomtown Rats, Specials, Johnny Thunders, Frank Zappa, Deep Purple, Supertramp, Toots and the Maytals, D.O.A....
Learning production techniques began after university with lots of music videos and commercials. Susanne started longform programming in 1991 developing educational docs for TV, high schools and universities across North America which take a stab at the status quo and embrace the advancement of social justice covering topics of poverty, racism , homophobia, gender, immigration, equity for First Nations, learning disabilities, environmental awareness, violence prevention and media literacy. Memorable moment - an interview with Noam Chomsky in Shaking the Tree: Social Responsibility in Education.
Tabata is known as a producer of Nettfilms'Barenaked in America, Jason Priestley director - a 35mm feature doc of the first large arena US Tour of the Barenaked Ladies. Susanne broke out as a director with the surfing doc, 49Degrees, which airs on Canadian and US television. 49Degrees is regularly featured in action sports film festivals around the world. SkateGirl is the untold story of women's professional skateboarding, chronicling parallel journeys of women from the 70s to now. SkateGirl is currently airing on Fox FUELtv and their affiliates.
SkateGirl is dedicated to the memory of Lee Matasi 1981-2005, the much loved brother of Canadian skating sensation Alison Matasi. As an artist and skateboarder Lee took a stand against violence. His senseless murder by a handgun wielding stranger provoked outrage throughout Canada. Support Leeside.More on life and lessons in a new project by the Nikkei Heritage Centre called Ohanashi: the story of our elders. The oral histories of the nisei in the Japanese Canadian experience. Also get ready for the punkmovie.com.
Keith Morris sums it upDuff on the Vancouver Scene ..Mike V. Proskater and Revolution Mother on DIY punk ethic. LISTEN.
SkateGirl Clip
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