In this hybrid narrative-documentary film, the idiosyncratic Japanese, New York-based performance artist and recent mother Aki Sasamoto, day-dreams at a bar of drinking whiskey and creating an artwork of self-spinning whiskey glasses. As the artwork takes form, it becomes clear that it’s not just about drinking – the work becomes a metaphor for life, motherhood, and even the process of art-making.
"New York Close Up" SERIES PRODUCER: Nick Ravich
DIRECTORS Rafael Salazar and Ava Wiland
PRODUCER Ava Wiland
EDITOR Rafael Salazar
CINEMATOGRAPHY Jon Nelson and Rafael Salazar
DIGITAL COMPOSITOR Luis M. Pla
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Julia Main
LOCATION SOUND Nikola Chapelle
GAFFER Jacob Mallin.
PRODUCTION SERVICES RAVA Films
COLOR CORRECTION Jerome Thelia
SOUND DESIGN & MIX Adam Boese
DESIGN & GRAPHICS Chips
MUSIC Matt Bauder
ARTWORK COURTESY OF Aki Sasamoto
FEATURING:
Aki Sasamoto
Ray Ekwurtzel-Sasamoto
Pau Atela
Romina Gonzales
Anna Peterson
THANKS Jason Bauer, Bortolami Gallery, James Corporan, Cut + Measure, Sam Ekwurtzel, Eugene & Company, Gilberto Gil, Romina Gonzales, Ben Hagari, Anna Peterson, UrbanGlass, and Russell Yaffe