Aaron Woolfolk
Encyclopedia
Aaron Woolfolk is an American film director
, screenwriter
, and producer
. He shot his first feature film
The Harimaya Bridge
in Kōchi Prefecture
, Japan
and San Francisco. The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan in the summer of 2009, and had an independent release in the United States in 2010.
For his first film, the short Rage! Woolfolk won a Directors Guild of America
award. His short films Eki
and Kuroi Hitsuji won several awards, screened in international film festivals, and played on cable television.
Woolfolk was the recipient of an ABC Talent Development Grant, and was later a Walt Disney Studios
/ABC Entertainment
Writing Fellow.
With The Harimaya Bridge
, Woolfolk became the first African American to make a feature film in Japan, and one of the few non-Asians to direct a movie in the Japanese film industry.
Woolfolk is a veteran of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme
(JET). He taught junior high school English in Kōchi Prefecture.
Woolfolk collaborated with playwright Tim Toyama
in writing the play Bronzeville
for The Robey Theatre Company
, which developed the play and presented the world premiere in association with The Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles in the spring of 2009. Woolfolk and Toyama received a nomination for an Ovation Award
in the category Best Playwriting for an Original Play.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. He shot his first feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
The Harimaya Bridge
The Harimaya Bridge
The Harimaya Bridge is a 2009 film written and directed by American filmmaker Aaron Woolfolk. It was filmed in Kochi Prefecture, Japan and San Francisco, California, U.S.A. The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan in 2009 and an independent theatrical release in the United States in 2010...
in Kōchi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and San Francisco. The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan in the summer of 2009, and had an independent release in the United States in 2010.
For his first film, the short Rage! Woolfolk won a Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
award. His short films Eki
Eki
Eki are the names of the Sun in the Basque language. In Basque mythology, Eki or Eguzki is seen as daughter of Mother Earth to whom she returns daily....
and Kuroi Hitsuji won several awards, screened in international film festivals, and played on cable television.
Woolfolk was the recipient of an ABC Talent Development Grant, and was later a Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
The name Walt Disney Studios may refer to:* The Walt Disney Company, especially its Studio Entertainment unit, which includes Disney's motion picture studios, music labels, theatrical production company, and distribution companies...
/ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment is a network production company owned by ABC that was created in 1982.The company was previously known as ABC Television Network Productions, ABC Circle Films, and ABC Productions...
Writing Fellow.
With The Harimaya Bridge
The Harimaya Bridge
The Harimaya Bridge is a 2009 film written and directed by American filmmaker Aaron Woolfolk. It was filmed in Kochi Prefecture, Japan and San Francisco, California, U.S.A. The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan in 2009 and an independent theatrical release in the United States in 2010...
, Woolfolk became the first African American to make a feature film in Japan, and one of the few non-Asians to direct a movie in the Japanese film industry.
Woolfolk is a veteran of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme
JET Programme
or is a Japanese government initiative that brings college graduates—mostly native speakers of English—to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers and Sports Education Advisors in Japanese kindergartens, elementary, junior high and high schools, or as Coordinators for International Relations in...
(JET). He taught junior high school English in Kōchi Prefecture.
Woolfolk collaborated with playwright Tim Toyama
Tim Toyama
Tim Toyama is a playwright and producer. He is Sansei presently living in Los Angeles, CA. He is co-founder of the Asian American media company Cedar Grove Productions, and its sister Asian American theatre company, Cedar Grove OnStage. He attended C.S.U.N...
in writing the play Bronzeville
Bronzeville
Bronzeville may refer to:* Bronzeville, a community area of Douglas, Chicago* Bronzeville, a neighborhood in Milwaukee* King-Lincoln Bronzeville, a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio...
for The Robey Theatre Company
Robey Theatre Company
Robey Theatre Company is a Los Angeles-based non-profit theatre company.- History :Robey Theatre Company was founded in 1994 by Danny Glover and Ben Guillory. It takes its name from the pioneering Black actor and activist, Paul Robeson...
, which developed the play and presented the world premiere in association with The Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles in the spring of 2009. Woolfolk and Toyama received a nomination for an Ovation Award
Ovation Awards
The Ovation Awards are a Southern California award for excellence in theatre, established in 1989. They are given out by the Los Angeles Stage Alliance and are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles. They have been called the "...highest-profile contest for local theatre..." by the Los...
in the category Best Playwriting for an Original Play.
Filmography
- Rage! (short film, 1997) - Directors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
best student filmmaker award - Eki (short film, 1999)
- Kuroi Hitsuji (short film, 1999)
- The Harimaya BridgeThe Harimaya BridgeThe Harimaya Bridge is a 2009 film written and directed by American filmmaker Aaron Woolfolk. It was filmed in Kochi Prefecture, Japan and San Francisco, California, U.S.A. The film had a nationwide theatrical release in Japan in 2009 and an independent theatrical release in the United States in 2010...
(feature film, 2009)