Richmond District Resident Debuts New Film at Festival

By Jonathan Farrell

"I see it as art," said Steve Yamane, describing his work as a filmmaker. Residing in the Richmond District since his college days, Yamane's most recent accomplishment will be featured at the 20th annual SF International Asian-American Film Festival in March.

Stopping by the Toy Boat Cafe on Clement Street at Fifth Avenue, Yamane spoke of his work and life.

"Night in Tunisia," Yamane's new film, is "moving impressionism." The film has a life of its own. Like anything up on the big screen, it's exciting seeing the familiar from different angles, he says.

While watching the film a local viewer might say, "Hey! I know that place! Yes, it's my neighborhood!" Seen through the lens of Yamane.

That's the point of the short film, said the filmmaker. "Seeing it on the largest screen possible; the bigger the grain of film the better," he says. For Yamane art is about feelings.

What does the film say? According to Yamane, "It's a record of that time." The time Yamane speaks of is the dot com boom. "I wanted to have something to look back on. For me this is home."

"It is also about change - sad in a way," he said. "With change there is a feeling of nostalgia of how things were before brand names like Starbucks and Gap." Small independent things are disappearing, Yamane said. "It's like the world is becoming a brand name."

With a title taken from a jazz tune by Dizzy Gillespie, "Night in Tunisia" took about four years to make.

"I take it step by step and piece by piece." Yamane said. "I let it take shape. How to tie it all together is what takes so much time."

"Filmmaking (for me) is formed in the editing," Yamane said.

All of his three films have been made this way. Gathering experience since the 1980s, Yamane's film "Jumping at Shadows" made a debut in all the 1997 Asian-American film festivals as it went on tour to major cities in the U.S., Canada and Japan.

The film won praise from "Hard Boiled" director John Woo, Yamane noted. Yamane had the privilege of working with the famous director in 1996 during the making of "Broken Arrow."

"It was quite an experience," Yamane remarked. "I went from working at the Kabuki Theater, munching on popcorn, to being surrounded by the A-list in Hollywood, eating purple potatoes and rack of lamb in the desert."

"It all happened in one week," he explained. "They needed a non-union projectionist and I was in the right place at the right time."

Since childhood, Yamane has always been interested in film, favoring science fiction and, later on, classic Asian and European cinema.

Once he and his brother made a home movie about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

"We built a little set near a creek at my grandparents house in Gilroy," Yamane said.

Yamane majored in filmmaking at San Francisco State University, graduating in 1984. While attending courses at New York University he "got into 16mm films."

"My first film was "Skeletons." I was trying to make an MTV-style film," he said.

Yamane was enthusiastic at that time because "the '80s is when the independent filmmaker emerged."

"I was naive about filmmaking and found it a little devastating. So much work and time is involved."

Putting filmmaking aside, he returned to San Francisco where he eventually played guitar in a rock band. During that time he worked as a supermarket checker and projectionist at the Kabuki.

While at the Kabuki his aspirations were rekindled.

"I got tired, watching lots of crap the major studios were putting up on the screen. I wanted to see something different," Yamane commented. "I saw a film called "I am Cuba" at one of the film festivals. It was a huge inspiration."

"I bought a Super 8 camera and began rolling," Yamane said.

Does Yamane want to make a full-length feature some day? "Yeah sure. Who doesn't?" he asked.

It is ironic that after recently leaving his job at the Kabuki, "Night in Tunisia" will make its debut there. Yamane, an optimist, looks forward to making more movies "about stories from my life."

"Night in Tunisia" will be shown at the SF International Asian-American Film Festival on March 9, in the ninth program set called "415/510: Local Calls" at 4:15 p.m. and on March 12 in the program set called "Take This Tablet" at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the AMC Kabuki Theater, 1881 Post St. For more information about the film festival, call (415) 931-9800.