Paper Flower is a short narrative film by Toy Gun Films[1] that was premiered in Tokyo in February 2011.[2] It was first shown in the U.S. at the Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 8, 2011.[3] Paper Flower was directed by Brent Ryan Green,[4][5] written by Jeff Goldberg,[6] and produced by Toy Gun Films Toy Gun Films[7] The cinematographer was Thomas Marvel[8] and the music was composed by Aska Matsumiya Your Enemies Friends.

Paper Flower
Directed byBrent Ryan Green
Written byJeff Goldberg
Produced byBrent Ryan Green
Jeff Goldberg
StarringAnna Ishibashi
Ayami Kakiuchi
CinematographyThomas Marvel
Edited byAki Mizutani
Music byAska Matsumiya
Distributed byToy Gun Films
Release date
  • February 2011 (2011-02)
Running time
21 minutes
CountriesJapan
United States
LanguageJapanese

The film was inspired by a collection of true stories surrounding the issue of Enjo-kōsai (援助交際) or compensated dating and materialism that families face throughout Tokyo. Paper Flower focuses on the friendship of two childhood friends growing up in Tokyo where a casual form of prostitution known as compensated dating has become a disturbing trend. When they each experience heartbreaking losses, they are forced to decide how much of themselves they are willing to give in order to find true love.

Plot edit

Asuka (Anna Ishibashi) and her best childhood friend, Michi (Ayami Kakiuchi), are young girls who live in the fast, savvy city of Tokyo, where being fashionable is not a social cliché, but a social requirement. Although the girls are leading two different kinds of lives, they find they must decide how much of themselves they must give up in order to find true love. The film follows the story of Asuka as she compromises herself in order to get what she thinks she wants, but instead, she finds something entirely different that she never knew she wanted or needed.

Cast edit

  • Anna Ishibashi - Asuka
  • Ayami Kakiuchi - Michi
  • Yasunari Takeshima - Toru (Asuka’s father)
  • Asuka Kurosawa - Reiko (Asuka’s mother)
  • Kenichi Takitoh - Kiyoshi (Michi’s father)
  • Mariko Tsutsui - Masami (Michi’s mother)
  • Yoshiyuki Morishita - Ukita (Businessman)
  • Jurie Takeda - Young Asuka
  • Shunya Tajima - Adult Man

Festivals edit

Paper Flower has been officially selected for:

  • Beverly Hills Film Festival 2010[9]
  • DeadCENTER Film Festival[10]
  • New Filmmakers Film Festival
  • Showbiz Expo
  • Mosaic Film Festival of Los Angeles - won 1st Place of Best Short Film and Audience Choice Awards[11]
  • The Film Festival of Colorado
  • Breckenridge Film Festival[12] - won Best Spiritual
  • The Indie Fest - won Merit Award for Short Film and Direction[13]
  • San Antonio Film Festival[14]
  • Transforming Stories International Christian Film Festival
  • Indie Gathering International Film Festival - won 4th Place[15]
  • Accolade Competition - won Award of Merit for Short Film
  • Texas International Film Festival
  • Ruby Mountain Film Festival
  • 3rd Inigo International Film Festival
  • HollyShorts Film Festival
  • Williamsburg International Film Festival
  • Route 66 International Film Festival
  • SoCal Film Festival - Honorable Mention
  • Heartland Truly Moving Pictures Film Festival
  • Miami Short Film Festival
  • Tallgrass International Film Festival

References edit

  1. ^ "Toy Gun Films". Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  2. ^ Roberts, Kelly (March 26, 2011). "Shot Seen Around the World". Red Dirt Chronicles. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  3. ^ "2011 Official Schedule". Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  4. ^ "Brent Green (II)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  5. ^ "Brent Green Films". Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Jeff Goldberg(V)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  7. ^ Staff Reports (January 28, 2011). "Short Film to make Premiere Saturday". NewsOK. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  8. ^ "Thomas Marvel". Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  9. ^ "Beverly Hills Film Festival Official Selections". Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  10. ^ "deadCENTER Film Festival Official Selection". Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Mosaic Film Festival Top Films". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  12. ^ "Breckenridge Film Festival". Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  13. ^ "Awards of Merit". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  14. ^ "San Antonio 2011 Official Selections". Archived from the original on May 17, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  15. ^ "Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2011 Winners". Retrieved June 27, 2011.,

External links edit