Chris Tashima

I’m an actor
and director
I starred in, directed and co-wrote the Academy Award® winning short film VISAS AND VIRTUE (1997), a dramatic portrait of Holocaust rescuer Chiune “Sempo” Sugihara (adapted from a play by Tim Toyama) [ view trailer ]. To produce VISAS AND VIRTUE, I co-founded Cedar Grove Productions (with playwright/executive producer Toyama and producer Chris Donahue), which remains active developing and producing projects which boldly defy mainstream Hollywood by giving Asian Americans the spotlight on stage or the close-up on screen. More recently, I directed, co-wrote and acted in DAY OF INDEPENDENCE (2003), a tribute to Japanese Americans who endured America’s World War II concentration camps. This half-hour PBS drama received an E MMY® nomination in the category of Historical/Cultural — Program/Special.

In my biggest acting role, I star as Raymond Ding, the romantic lead opposite Joan Chen and Allison Sie , in Eric Byler ’s festival favorite, AMERICANESE (2008), acquired by IFC First Take for release in theaters in 2008. Based on Shawn Wong’s provocative novel, “ American Knees ,” this Asian American love story from producer Lisa Onodera won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature plus a Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Cast following its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW). At the Seattle International Film Festival , my performance garnered a Best Actor nod (2nd Runner-Up) at the fest’s Golden Space Needle Audience Awards.

Other starring roles include two features from director Sherwood Hu: LANI LOA — THE PASSAGE (1998), where I play the evil gangster Bong (PICTURED AT LEFT) opposite Angus Macfadyen (from executive producers Francis Ford Coppola and Wayne Wang), and the ensemble drama, ON THE ROOF (2002), as the tortured artist Yu opposite Eliane Chappuis [ view trailer ]. Additional appearances range from Elizabeth Sung ’s autobiographical short, REQUIEM (1995), opposite Tamlyn Tomita (PICTURED AT RIGHT) , to Rea Tajiri’s STRAWBERRY FIELDS (1997), starring Suzy Nakamura.

On stage, my favorite roles include Ming in the world premiere of Chay Yew ’s A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN , at the Celebration Theatre in West Hollywood ( LA Weekly Theater Award for Ensemble Performance), Windrider in Laurence Yep’s DRAGONWINGS , which I originated at Berkeley Rep (reprised at the Seattle Children’s Theatre, the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, and Syracuse Stage), and Sugihara in Toyama’s VISAS AND VIRTUE, at The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood. I have worked extensively with East West Players in Los Angeles, where my acting career got started. Early EWP credits include RASHOMON, MISHIMA and THE MEMENTO.

I have returned to my theatre roots, guiding Cedar Grove OnStage , which will be producing original Asian American plays, as part of the “Cultural Roundtable” with the Latino Theater Company at THE NEW LATC in Downtown LA. Our first production will be the World Premiere of BE LIKE WATER by award-winning performance artist Dan Kwong , produced in association with East West Players , September 11 – October 12, 2008. I have directed several stage productions, including four shows for the Grateful Crane Ensemble , most recently the world premiere of Soji Kashiwagi’s NIHONMACHI: THE PLACE TO BE — A Musical Journey [ download flyer ]. I have also done scenic design (Ovation Award for SWEENEY TODD; Drama-Logue Award for INTO THE WOODS), producing and other backstage duties at various theaters around Southern California.

I am a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), in the Short Flims & Feature Animation Branch. I belong to the Directors Guild of America, where I was recently elected as Co-Chair Alternate for the DGA Asian American Committee (PICTURED AT RIGHT) . I am also an active member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists , serving on AFTRA’s APAM (Asian Pacific American Media) Task Force, in addition to belonging to the Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

As a member of Film Independent (FIND), it was my honor to have served as a mentor in FIND’s signature diversity program, Project:Involve , to 2007 Fellow, actor/writer Edward Gunawan . I serve annually on the AMPAS nominating committees for the Animated and Live Action Short Film Oscars®, and the Animated Feature Academy Award®. I’ve had the privilege of serving as juror at several festivals, including the Chilean International Short Film Festival, SXSW (shorts jury) and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival . I have also judged for the CINE Golden Eagle competition and the Aurora Awards, in addition to judging student works for the Student Academy Awards® , the DGA Student Film Awards and the Shorttakes Festival of Student Films at UCLA.

Community organizations from around the country have recognized my work, with honors that include the Japanese American of the Biennium Award, bestowed by the Japanese American Citizens League (PICTURED AT LEFT) , a Community Award given by the Japanese American Service Committee , of Chicago, the “Bridge Builder” Asian American Leadership Award presented in New York City by A. Magazine, and in Los Angeles, a Special Recognition Award from the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center , a Visionary Award from East West Players , and a Humanitarian Award received from The “1939” Club , a Holocaust Survivors’ organization.

I studied film production at UC Santa Cruz and with Visual Communications (VC), an Asian Pacific American media arts organization in Los Angeles.