The hot icky days of summer are back and burning up the Tokyo streets – and I totally can't stand it!

On the 22nd, Japan was treated to a solar eclipse. The day was totally overcast, so everyone was saying it'd be impossible to see. However, at around 11:10am, I decided to take a peak outside anyway. Wouldn't you know it, blazing through the haze was the sun with the moon laying over it causing it to look something like a flying Pacman. Not a full eclipse, but at 70%, it was a decent one nonetheless.

Work has been going well. I finished a job writing the English version of a Japanese script currently in pre-production. I had less than ten-days to complete the entire thing, which meant translation, writing, and formatting into standard "Hollywood" script style. Unfortunately, the subject matter wasn't anything I'm so into, it being female erotica based on a novel by a well-known Japanese writer. But it was fun and with each script under my belt I feel I'm a better writer for it.

Had a fun night last Friday. Was invited to a Fox-TV Backstage Pass party in Roppongi by Ako, who is one of the Backstage Pass' "Samurai Divas" and also an actress in my new film. The party turned out to not only be a lot of fun, with lots of free Corona (the president of Corona was there), but I got to meet a lot of cool people. I like meeting cool people.

Probably the most fun was hanging out with Honoka, who stars in the upcoming film "Looking for Anne." Honoka is the daughter of Takaaki Ishibashi, one of the most popular comedians in Japan. Despite being just 19, Honoka is remarkably well-spoken and easy going. I hope to work with her one day.

Did a screening of my film FEED ME at the Shibuya club / bar / art space Pink Cow the other night. It went a lot better than I expected. My lowest budget film, I don't have a lot of confidence in it. But the screening was a big surprise. People laughed through the opening, got caught off balance when the tone shifts, were tense during the final scene and jumped at the film's "shock ending." Yeah... I was happy. All those endless hours of work paid off, at least for this screening!

I also participated in a promotional talk show at the Asagaya Loft A for the film "Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl." I joined directors Nishimura and Tomomatsu, also actor Jiji Bu and Yubari Film Festival's Tokitoshi Shiota. I had mixed feelings about the talk show as everyone was rather drunk on stage. What could I do? I started pounding away the tequila! Rock and roll, baby!

Oh yeah... and my documentary "Bringing Godzilla Down to Size" screened at Fantasia on 26 Sunday. I really wanted to go, but the show didn't have the budget to fly me over this time. I'm still waiting to hear how it went!