KODAMA: Samurai SWAT Action Brings Japanese Folklore To Life In Brian Tang’s New Short Filming Next Week

Noted cinematographer and multi-faced filmmaking tradesman Brian Tang has about a handful of his own shortfilm endeavors dating back to 2011, and he’s about to dive right back in with the production of his newest and ambitious labor, Kodama.

Collaborating with Joe Sill (Stray) at his Impossible Objects VFX lab, Tang launched the project on Kickstarter back in January for a month-long funding period through February, ultimately surpassing his $40,000 goal. The story is also set in the U.S. which further imbues Tang’s effort to produce an inspired, cutting-edge and modernized Asian American U.S.-set tale emboldened with Japanese folklore.

“By mashing elegant traditional Japanese Samurai armor with present day American tactical SWAT aesthetics, we personify the cultural amalgamation associated with the modern Asian American experience.” says Tang according to the Kickstarter page.

“Supah Ninjas”, G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra and “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” actor Brandon Soo Hoo, who can also be seen in Team Red Pro’s Twisting Tiger short, is headling Kodama in the role of Arthur, the new captain of an elite SWAT Samurai team who leads a rescue mission to recover his father from the spirit world where an evil Kodama, and a dangerous shapeshifting Fox Spirit hold him hostage.

Also starring is actor Chris Tashima (Go For Broke, The Perfect Weapon) in the role of Hiro. Penny Lin is producing alongside Brendon Bennett and Norrie Palmer, with costume design by Poland-based Craft Collabo, an original score by Ahmed Arifin (The King’s Daughter), and action sequences by industry stunt performer Jay Kwon (Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Marvel TV’s “Iron Fist” and “The Punisher”).

Production is set to commence this weekend for the new shortfilm and thus, fans are invited to spy an eye on what’s new over at the official Instagram page going forward. In the meantime, you can also find a YouTube version of Tang’s Kickstarter pitch in the player below.

Lee B. Golden III

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Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!