Private Project

Grapefruit

'Mike Rogers' film, Grapefruit, captures the spirit and elegance of Yoko’s early poetry and performance art in a surreal, dream-like piece that harks back to the expressionist cinema of the 1920s. Stylish and wonderfully evocative.’ - Darryl W. Bullock, author of David Bowie Made Me Gay and The Velvet Mafia.

“Not since Bunuel’s ‘Un Chien Andalou’ has a surrealist film taken center stage. Grapefruit is a mind-bending assault on the senses.” - Stephen David Brooks

A parable for our lives today in ancient Buddhist sayings as well as the words of, arguably, the most famous Japanese in the world (and the most famous Japanese woman in history?)

Many Westerners don't know about her background but she comes from an extremely elite and aristocratic Japanese family. She was in line for possibly becoming the empress of Japan, that's how high her social class was. Her father was the first Japanese to open a Japanese bank in the USA (in New York) during the Japanese Economic miracle.

Yoko is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist as well as an activist for Women's Rights. Her work also encompasses performance art.

This film is loosely based on Zen Buddhist influenced writings from Yoko's short time living in Japan.

This is an Avant Guard representation of her extremely Avant Guard life.

  • MICHAEL WAYNE ROGERS
    Director
    Ghostroads - a Japanese Rock & Roll Ghoststory, Matsuchiyo - Life of a Geisha
  • Mike Rogers
    Writer
    Ghostroads - A Japanese Rock & Roll Ghost Story, Matsuchiyo - LIfe of a Geisha, Meet the Pumps, Rosie
  • Mike Rogers
    Producer
  • Natsuki
    Key Cast
    "Yoko"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 27 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 22, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    English, Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - MICHAEL WAYNE ROGERS

Mike Rogers (sometimes referred to as Mike "in Tokyo" Rogers) is a director, producer, and radio host. In 2006, he became the first foreigner in Japanese history to hold a senior position at a major Japanese broadcasting station, when he was appointed as a program director, then general manager at TV Tokyo's InterFM channel. Currently, he hosts the "Mike Rogers Show" internationally (on in 19 nations and 55 radio stations around the world.) He is also an official Youtuber.

Rogers has been a radio/TV host/producer in Japan since 1983. He is also the writer, producer, and co-director of the 2017 feature film, Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock N Roll Ghost Story which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival 2017. He is a founding member of the Mt. Fuji Film & VR Festival. He was the lead singer of the Los Angeles punk band The Rotters between 1977 and 1979 under the pseudonym "Nigel Nitro".

Rogers was a Jury member for the 2018, 2019, 2020 Raindance Film Festival in London, England. He is the first person from Japan to be given a seat on the Jury in the history of the Raindance Film Festival. Rogers also won an award for his film "Matsuchiyo – Life of a Geisha" at the Raindance Film Festival in London, 2018.

Rogers is also the co-writer for the film Meet the Pumps directed by Stephen David Brooks with musical score by Linda Perry. He has also co-written “Rosie” which features Momoi Kaori one of Japan’s most famous actresses.

Rogers is also a DJ at WFMU "Sheena's Jungle Room" in New Jersey.

Rogers is the founder and program director at the JIFF Japan Indies Film Awards and the Japan Ninja Indies Music Awards show, which is the first international indies music awards show from Tokyo.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This is an Avant Guard film based on Yoko's life pre-Beatles. It represents my idea about who Yoko is and what her pre-Beatles life was all about. She is arguably, the most famous Japanese of the 20th and 21st Century.