Episode 59

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Published on:

28th Sep 2025

Third Act - Director Tad (Tadashi) Nakamura

THIRD ACT is an insightful and heartfelt film that showcases a personal story about the director’s relationship with his legendary filmmaker father, Robert “Bob” Nakamura, a pioneer in Asian American cinema - known as “The Godfather of Asian  American Cinema”. THIRD ACT is the moving and beautiful story of Bob’s journey together with his filmmaker son Tad Nakamura as they embark to make their first film together. Along the way, Bob is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and this journey together with his son becomes even more meaningful, as they reflect on their life together as son/father and as artists. At its core, THIRD ACT is distinctly an American story and ultimately a Los Angeles story. Bob’s life bridges local and national history. From growing up in Los Angeles to attending University of California, Los Angeles to the painful chapter of local Japanese American incarceration and the eventual establishment of an artist, a leader and path builder for generations of filmmakers. Director Tadashi Nakamura to talk about his beautiful homage to family, generations, art, leadership and love intertwined with the history of Los Angeles.

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About the Podcast

Cinemafile
Cinemafile showcases the very best in independent, documentary and foreign films through our conversations with the more than 2,000 filmmakers who made them. Through Cinemafile we will do our best to bring the most interesting and accomplished filmmakers from around the world to your attention.

About your host

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Michael Kaspar

Mike Kaspar is a life-long film fan who has worked as a projectionist at an art house theatre, college radio station general manager as well as a radio show host and producer for over 18 years.