2023 Short Film Showcase
One Fine Day
Saturday, March 11th, 2023
Denver Sie FilmCenter
Synopsis of Film:
a Group Project Filmmaking Collective music video
One Fine Day shows a visual narrative in contrast with the status quo of opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY. Using the famous aria, “Un bel di” (One Fine Day), we reframe the meaning of the piece to show the strength and value of Asian and Asian American women beyond that of the established stereotypes. We hope to share this film widely to raise awareness of pervasive violence against Asian women, as well as the dangers wrapped up in the portrayal of Asian women in a stereotypical and fetishizing way.
One Fine Day was produced by an all female cast and crew. It was primarily shot in Denver at The Bug Theatre, who also premiered the film in January 2023 at their Emerging Filmmakers Project series.
a Group Project Filmmaking Collective music video
One Fine Day shows a visual narrative in contrast with the status quo of opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY. Using the famous aria, “Un bel di” (One Fine Day), we reframe the meaning of the piece to show the strength and value of Asian and Asian American women beyond that of the established stereotypes. We hope to share this film widely to raise awareness of pervasive violence against Asian women, as well as the dangers wrapped up in the portrayal of Asian women in a stereotypical and fetishizing way.
One Fine Day was produced by an all female cast and crew. It was primarily shot in Denver at The Bug Theatre, who also premiered the film in January 2023 at their Emerging Filmmakers Project series.
Statement from Margaret Ozaki Graves, soprano:
As a classical opera singer of mixed Japanese American identity, I have had to perform the opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY many times. Over the years, it has become more and more uncomfortable to portray a caricature of my own ethnic heritage. I also began to consider the damage and danger of the “Geisha” complex and other sexualized and fetishizing portrayals of Asian women from the Western male perspective that exist in opera and beyond. In light of the events of March 2021–when the very real dangers of the fetishization of Asian women led to the killing of eight people, including Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Hun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, and Yong Ae Yue—I realized how urgently we need to change the narrative of such historic and persistent stereotypes.
As a classical opera singer of mixed Japanese American identity, I have had to perform the opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY many times. Over the years, it has become more and more uncomfortable to portray a caricature of my own ethnic heritage. I also began to consider the damage and danger of the “Geisha” complex and other sexualized and fetishizing portrayals of Asian women from the Western male perspective that exist in opera and beyond. In light of the events of March 2021–when the very real dangers of the fetishization of Asian women led to the killing of eight people, including Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Hun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, and Yong Ae Yue—I realized how urgently we need to change the narrative of such historic and persistent stereotypes.