# Cedar Grove Productions

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cedar_Grove_Productions
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cedar_Grove_Productions.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Grove_Productions
> Source revision: 1340341786
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{more citations needed|date=March 2008}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Cedar Grove Productions
| logo = Cedar Grove Productions.png
| logo_size = 166px
| type = Entertainment
| genre = [Asian Pacific American](/source/Asian_Pacific_American) media and theatre arts
| foundation = 1996
| founder = [Tim Toyama](/source/Tim_Toyama), <small>Co-founder</small> <br> [Chris Tashima](/source/Chris_Tashima), <small>Co-founder</small> <br> [Chris Donahue](/source/Chris_Donahue), <small>Co-founder</small>
| location_city = Los Angeles, California
| location_country = [United States](/source/United_States)
| location = <!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" -->
| key_people = 
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = 
| products = 
| services = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income       = 
| num_employees    = 
| parent           = 
| divisions = Motion pictures, television, theatre
| subsid    = 
| owner     = 
| homepage  = [http://www.cedargroveproductions.com www.cedargroveproductions.com]
| dissolved = 
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Cedar Grove Productions''' is an independent production company based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in media and theatre arts representing the [Asian Pacific American](/source/Asian_Pacific_American) community. [Media](/source/film) projects are educational, with [Visual Communications (VC)](/source/Visual_Communications_(VC)) serving as a [non-profit](/source/non-profit) fiscal sponsor.<ref>[http://www.vconline.org/productions/index.html productions] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223025248/http://www.vconline.org/productions/index.html# |date=2007-12-23 }} at [http://www.vconline.org Visual Communications site]</ref>

==Motion picture background==
The company was founded in 1996 by playwright [Tim Toyama](/source/Tim_Toyama), actor/director [Chris Tashima](/source/Chris_Tashima), producer [Chris Donahue](/source/Chris_Donahue) and actor/director Tom Donaldson, to bring the story of [Holocaust](/source/Holocaust) rescuer [Chiune “Sempo” Sugihara](/source/Chiune_Sugihara) to the screen by adapting [Toyama](/source/Tim_Toyama)’s original one-act, ''Visas and Virtue'', as a narrative short film. ''[Visas and Virtue](/source/Visas_and_Virtue)'' (1997)  film won the [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Award) for [Live Action Short Film](/source/Academy_Award_for_Live_Action_Short_Film) at the [70th Academy Awards](/source/70th_Academy_Awards).<ref>[http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_980323_OscarWins.html 70th Oscars winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123035137/http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_980323_OscarWins.html |date=2008-11-23 }} on [IndieWire](/source/IndieWire)</ref> In tribute to that film's subject, the company takes its name from the literal translation of "Sugihara": ''[sugi](/source/sugi)'' ({{langx|ja|杉}}) meaning cedar, and ''hara'' ({{langx|ja|原}}) meaning field or grove.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/dt/V131/N04/04-vision.04d.html |title=The Vision of Virtue |access-date=2008-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525050010/http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/dt/V131/N04/04-vision.04d.html |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Company describes itself as, "... dedicated to developing and producing projects which boldly defy mainstream Hollywood by giving Asian Americans the close-up on screen, or the spotlight on stage."<ref>[http://www.cedargroveproductions.com/daycreative_main.html Company website] {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180222/http://www.cedargroveproductions.com/daycreative_main.html|date=2016-03-03}}</ref>

==Television==
Cedar Grove Productions produced ''[Day of Independence](/source/Day_of_Independence)'', a narrative short film broadcast as a half-hour [PBS](/source/PBS) [television special](/source/television_special) on [KHET/PBS Hawai'i](/source/KHET) in 2005. Produced by [Lisa Onodera](/source/Lisa_Onodera), the program received an [Emmy](/source/Emmy) nomination from the [NATAS](/source/NATAS) San Francisco/Northern California Chapter, in the category of Historical/Cultural – Program/Special.<ref>[http://www.emmysf.tv/pdf/emmy06nom.pdf list of 35th NorCal Emmy noms; p. 9] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422022914/http://www.emmysf.tv/pdf/emmy06nom.pdf |date=2007-04-22 }} (pdf)</ref> The fact-based story followed a young [''Nisei''](/source/Nisei_Japanese_American) (second-generation [Japanese American](/source/Japanese_American)) baseball player during the [Japanese American internment](/source/Japanese_American_internment) in World War II.

==Theatre==
{{Main|Cedar Grove OnStage}}
In 2006, Cedar Grove OnStage was formed, as a sister company focusing on live theatre. It joined a [multicultural](/source/multicultural) consortium called the "Cultural Roundtable" at THE ''NEW'' LATC.  Cedar Grove OnStage develops, produces and presents new [Asian American theatre](/source/Asian_American_theatre) works, with Cedar Grove Productions co-founder Tashima serving as [Artistic Director](/source/Artistic_Director). Productions will be presented at the LATC venues in [downtown Los Angeles](/source/downtown_Los_Angeles). Other performance groups belonging to the Cultural Roundtable include the [Latino Theater Company](/source/Latino_Theater_Company), [Playwrights' Arena](/source/Playwrights'_Arena), [Robey Theatre Company](/source/Robey_Theatre_Company), [Culture Clash](/source/Culture_Clash_(performance_troupe)), and [American Indian Dance Theatre/Project HOOP](/source/American_Indian_Dance_Theatre).<ref>[http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/cl-et-latc26feb26,0,5543757.story "THE NEW LATC cancels series" by Lynne Heffley - 2/26/08] on [Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times) online</ref>

Cedar Grove OnStage developed ''[Be Like Water](/source/Be_Like_Water)'', a play written by award-winning [performance artist](/source/performance_artist) [Dan Kwong](/source/Dan_Kwong), which was produced by [East West Players](/source/East_West_Players), in association with Cedar Grove OnStage, in September 2008.<ref>[http://www.eastwestplayers.org/on_the_stage/water.htm ''Be Like Water''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914003317/http://www.eastwestplayers.org/on_the_stage/water.htm |date=2008-09-14 }} on [EWP](/source/East_West_Players) site</ref>

==Educational Efforts==
In 2000, Cedar Grove Productions organized and presented "The AJA Circle: Artists of Japanese Ancestry", a day-long seminar where Japanese and [Japanese American](/source/Japanese_American) theatre artists came together to share cultural experiences of the Japanese American community's history in the U.S. and the artistic community of [Asian Americans](/source/Asian_Americans) working in Hollywood.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-06 |title=Why Video Marketing Needs Good Storytelling and How to Do It |url=https://www.cine.salon/why-video-marketing-needs-good-storytelling-and-how-to-do-it |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=www.cine.salon |language=en}}</ref> Moderated by playwright/producer [Soji Kashiwagi](/source/Soji_Kashiwagi) and Tashima, panelists included ''Nisei'' playwrights [Hiroshi Kashiwagi](/source/Hiroshi_Kashiwagi) and [Wakako Yamauchi](/source/Wakako_Yamauchi), as well as noted actors [George Takei](/source/George_Takei), [Tamlyn Tomita](/source/Tamlyn_Tomita), [Clyde Kusatsu](/source/Clyde_Kusatsu), [Amy Hill](/source/Amy_Hill), Marcus Toji and [Greg Watanabe](/source/Greg_Watanabe).

==Recognition==
Community organizations have recognized Cedar Grove Productions for cultural and artistic contributions. Honors include the Biennium Award from the [Japanese American Citizens League](/source/Japanese_American_Citizens_League),<ref>[http://www.watsonvillesantacruzjacl.org/includes/7-2006news.pdf Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL newsletter, 7/06; Nat'l Convention report; p. 3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120115051/http://www.watsonvillesantacruzjacl.org/includes/7-2006news.pdf |date=2008-11-20 }}</ref> a Community Award given by the Japanese American Service Committee, of Chicago, a Special Recognition Award from the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, a Visionary Award from [East West Players](/source/East_West_Players),<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4365140-1.html NewsWire Finding Common Ground | Entertainment & Arts > Music Industry from AllBusiness.com]</ref> and a Humanitarian Award received from The “1939” Club, a [Holocaust](/source/Holocaust) Survivors’ organization.<ref>[http://www.1939club.com/1939%20Visas%20and%20Virtue.htm The "1939" Club history]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cedargroveproductions.com Official Website]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Video production companies
Category:Asian-American issues
Category:Asian-American organizations
Category:Asian-American culture in Los Angeles
Category:Pacific Islands–American culture in California
Category:Film production companies based in California
Category:Entertainment companies established in 1996
Category:Privately held companies based in Los Angeles
Category:Television production companies based in California

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cedar Grove Productions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Grove_Productions) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Grove_Productions?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.