It looks like I am going to NY NY this Summer – to join to support my theatre family on producing and dramaturging several plays to bring it in Los Angeles.

I will post the detailed dates as soon as possible.  I cannot wait!!!  I miss you, B’way!

““`… mean while Please PLEASE PLEEEEEZE go see my friends’ production of PORGY AND BESS – the Greatest VERSION EVAH!

Here’s the LINK –

I wish I could go see it – but I will be teaching in LA all this winter then off to Japan for Spring!

Happy Chinese New Year!

This picture was taken from the window of the casa de Willie y Pat Lin condo!  In Mid-town.  I miss my friends …

THIS IS THE COMPRESSOR I WANT!!!

Order today! www.airbrushmakeup.com

Limited EDITION!

….

Mean while… Michael and I got crazed at 3 AM — and created this “BLADE RUNNER” look!

Photo by Michael Helms

Why we do that?  Because we can.  Writers write, actors act … and CREATIVE PEEPS continue to create for no reason.  I love my life… and my hubby… and Dinair… for letting me test new color.

My Fav color is ONYX Black and Peal / siler.  So gorgeous and you can wear casually or extremely dramatic.

Will test more color later!

“OPEN MIKE” is a show I directed, and came out of my last “solo performance workshop.”

Mike Cline is a very dedicated, talented and entertaining “WITTY” actor/singer/dancer.  Hope you will be able to see this show before it goes HUGE!

For more information – http://www.fireroseproductions.com/?page_id=4

Now through March 30, 2012

THANK YOU!

. . . We will make sure you will be able to USE and ENJOY Japanese RIGHT AWAY!

All instructors are native Japanese and are trained by Kaz Matamura (www.Matamura.com)

—
Intensive Japanese Coaching for Executives (Business, Formal Japanese)
Private – 90 min x 10 sessions
$550.00

OR
—
Casual Japanese Tutoring:
(any age — basic casual Japanese Language)
First Trial Session $15 hr
$275 / 10 Sessions or $30 a Session

Corporate rates available.

Various locations: San Fernando Valley, West Valley, Burbank, Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley, West LA, Beverly Hills, the Greater Los Angeles area.

For people who are interested in using Japanese right away, we created “7 Japanese Lessons.”
This is a perfect (and economical) lesson plan for people who are planning to travel to Japan, who want to talk to his/her Japanese friends, or just go to his/her favorite Sushi restaurant and surprise the sushi chef.

write us for more information. —> info (at) fireroseproductions.com

12/2/11 – for Photos from our trip – please check https://www.facebook.com/helmsphotography  They are doing fantastic job claring the area!

12/1/11 – (update)  We have raised $2494 in just TWO WEEKS.  When I was there, we donated $2000 in cash and I will be sending the rest on Dec. 26th, since I had more donation coming after we left for Japan.  So will will continue to fundraise till DEC. 24th. THANK YOU AGAIN for your help!!!

11/5/11 –  I cannot THANK YOU all enough.  I had so many msgs,  ”SHARE” and donations from strangers around the world.So far, we have raised $819 – and I hope to reach $1500 before this Wednesday!!!

and if any funds are received after this Wed., it will go to the scholarship fund —> http://www.town.minamisanriku.miyagi.jp/modules/benri01/index.php?content_id=82 　（I will translate it when i return! )

And when I said “no donation is too small” –  I meant it.  I had several people who paypaled me $5, and I do appreciate not only their donations, but the fact they took their time to send us the funds.

Thank you – my new n old friends -

11/1/2011

This is the motherland of Sushi, Anime, Geisha and many fuel efficient cars (and sorry to say, Karaoke, too…)

This is “our” country – it’s not over yet – Japan Earthquake recovery effort -

“project: Otoshidama”

Dear Friends -

You know I am shameless when it comes to asking for help.  I am collecting cash to bring it to kids in MINAMI SANRIKU in Sendai, also known as the Ground Zero of the Northern Japan earthquake on March 11.  I am sure you heard about this town.  This is the town that lost 50% of the population while 95% of the town was wiped out.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamisanriku,_Miyagi

Next week,  Michael and I will go meet the mayor of the town.   When the Tsunami hit, there were 130 people working at the town hall.  Out of that, only 30 reached the rooftop, and out of that, only 10 survived, including the mayor.  (You might have seen him in photos holding on to the flag pole while everything around him was flushing away.  But he was back to work the very next day, and founded the disaster control headquarters by March 13th.

When our travel schedule became concrete, I began to think about what I could possibly bring to that disaster area.   They are no longer accepting any product / item donations… they have cash donations and are working on the distribution now.  I thought about bringing chocolate, or candy, or Budweiser the King of Beers…

but then it occurred to me…

For many kids, this would be the first New Year without their parents there.

The New Year is a major yet solemn event for Japanese people.  It is a time to get together with all of your relatives, and  the children enjoy collecting cash gifts called “otoshidama” from their relatives.  As a child, I remember going Otoshidama Hunting on New Year (similar to trick or treat here in the States except in Japan you get money instead of candy),and often came home with $1000 worth of cash by the end of the day.

Japanese children go see their relatives – behave well and show off how much they grew – and they get an “envelope” with cash in it.  My mother used to make me promise that I would NOT open the envelope till I got home.   (like American kids can’t eat all the candy on Halloween)

I want these kids in MinamiSanrik (whether they lost their parents or not) to have Otoshidama on New Years Eve. http://youtu.be/6JVpy0L5z7s

I would like to give them cash in US dollar bills for several reasons. 1) because by exchanging it, it would lose so much value, US dollars are suffering in the exchange rate right now. 2) It will send them the massage that there are some people across the pacific ocean who care about them.  3) I want them to understand that America is not so far away, and they can come visit us anytime.

I have been in contact with the mayor to determine how many kids under 18 live in the town.  I tried to check it on their website, but they are NOT saying what their population is, because so many are still considered “Missing.”  (see below.  Their census stops on Feb. 2011)

So, here’s steps I am taking….

1) collect cash, checks donation via paypal (I will pay the 3% PayPal fee).

2) cash all donations by Monday, Nov. 7th, total it, and divide it by the number of kids (under 20).

3) I will put it in little envelopes with a note “from friends in America” in each of them

4) When I see the mayor, I will give him the envelopes and ask them to distribute them on New Years Eve.

5)I will KEEP track of the donations, and will publish it on my blog and facebook with your permission.

Any amount is appreciated.

For checks, credit card and cash donation, please contact me via matamura@facebook.com

For Paypal – please use kazmatamura@gmail.com “OTO SHI DAMA”

+++ALSO, please please feel free to include ANY NOTES to show your support.  I will bring it to them+++

Unlike other production donations, this will NOT be a tax deductions since I am not collecting it to as our operation cost, etc.  But you know all $ will go to the kids directly.

Happy Halloween – and thank you for being my friends -

Please contact me anytime if you have ANY great idea to spread the words

Hugs,

many pictures of MINAMIsanriku can be found here-

Japanese entertainers, please watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8NozIMtWkU&feature=related

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

(photo by Michael Helms – Old Hollywood Series)

(i know… I know….  but I didn’t want to tell people till it was ON for sure!)

Fri. November 11 – TOKYO AM: Shooting (Sold Out) / PM: BOOKED　武道館！！！

Sat. November 12 – TOKYO 12 to 7: Workshop  / 7 PM “The Talk!” with Jim Beaver and Kaz Matamura

Sun. November 13 – TOKYO 12 to 7 PM: Workshop / Michael - 撮影会

Mon. Nov. 14 – OSAKA: 12 to 5 -撮影会 / 7 PM – Workshop

Tue. Nov. 15 – OSAKA: 8 AM to 2 PM – LECTURE  / to OKAYAMA

Wed. Nov. 16 – OKAYAMA- FUKUSHIMA

Thu.　Nov. 17 – FUKUSHIMA TO AKITA: Lecture at Akita International University – 秋田国際大学講演 at 7 PM  AKITA SHOOTING 1 PM to 5 PM – shooting 撮影会 Akita

FRI. Nov 18 – SENDAI – ALL DAY MINAMI SANRIKU

Sat. Nov 19 – SENDAI – TOKYO (TBA)- shooting 撮影会

Sun.  Nov. 20 – TOKYO – Workshop? 9 AM to 5 PM – shooting 撮影会 & WORKSHOP

Monday, Nov. 21 – Off

Tue. Nov. 22 – or Wed. Nov. 23rd Tokyo – LAX

Sunday, October 30th

10:30 AM to 4 PM, 2011

$125.00 (50% off of the usual workshop!!!)

a studio near Burbank.

I will be discussing about the style, balance of blocking, polarity, etc.  This will be a GREAT opportunity to work with many of our talented theatre company members.
Will update u with more details via Facebook & Fire Rose website.  Feel free to email me at matamura (at) Facebook. com.

THANK YOU!

(Sep 22, 2011)

with the cast of Bed Room secrets. with our artistic Director Charlie Schlatter. The casting can make you or break you! I was so fortunate to have this Fantastic Cast.

I have been always flexible with my work.  I can coach anyone from actors, politician to a computer geek who wants to date but does not know how to present himself.   I take pride on being flexible to cater to the needs of my clients.

Yet, when it comes to principle and good business decision, we must take the path we believe it works.   Otherwise, when a disaster happens, we say “I knew it was a wrong decision!” and we become bitter.  And when it works, we know we could make it better.

And if we took the path we believed and it failed, we would say “that sucked, but I learnt my lesson.”   We make mistakes, admit and fix them, and MOVE ON.

But one thing we entrepreneur must remember is: It is  your business – you must create and proceed  your path.

No one lived your life before.

(Sep 5, 2011)

Happy Autumn - photo by Michael Helms in Sendai 2010