The Last Atomic Bomb
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LastAtomicBombTrlr.flv
Website
Topics
Environment: Nuclear Issues
Health: Disease/treatment
Human Development: Children, Education, Social Exclusion, Youth
Human Rights: Social Exclusion
Information & Media: Communication, Freedom of Expression, Media
Peace and Conflict: Arms & Military, Conflict, Nuclear Arms, Peace
Politics: Activism, Ethics & Value Systems
Project Geography
International: Asia
Identity Niches
Asian, Children, Senior/Aging, Student, Women, Youth/Teen
Budget
Raised to date: $ 18,000.00
Estimate to complete: $ 40,000.00
Total Estimated Budget: $ 58,000.00
The budget numbers above are accurate as of 04/30/2009
Status
Distribution
Media Type
Video
Project End Use
Other: Distribution to educational institutions
Key Personnel
Robert Richter
Producer/Director and Distribution Coordinator
Robert Richter was honored with a 2008 National Emmy for "exceptional merit in nonfiction filmmaking" as Executive Producer of the HBO version of "The Last Atomic Bomb." He has three Oscar nominations for best documentary shorts, three duPont Columbia Broadcast Journalism awards (TV's Pulitzer Prize), a Distinguished Science Reporting award from AAAS, the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His work has appeared in prime time on ABC, BBC, CBS, Discovery, NBC, PBS, TBS. He has produced several other award winning films on nuclear issues. As a member of New Day Film Distribution Cooperative, he has been involved in distributing his work to educational institutions for over 20 years. Further information about him and his work is at www.RichterVideos.com
Kathleen Sullivan
Producer
Kathleen has a Ph.D. in disarmament studies, one of only two people in the U.S. with this degree. She is an activist and expert on nuclear issues, bringing her skills and expertise to conferences throughout the world and to the United Nations where she serves as a consultant in the UN office on Disarmament, and where she is an active NGO leader on disarmament issues.
Outreach/Engagement Plan(s)
Since the documentary's initial screening in Nagasaki we have done outreach at the UN, international conferences, many festivals, some faith based groups and some colleges.
We believe that the most important outreach today is in educational institutions. Informing college students today about this critical issue — through a survivor's life and college students of today who join with her — will alert young people to the realities and potential consequences of nuclear proliferation, and the need for constructive actions to control and cut back on nuclear weaponry internationally.
So we are seeking funds to purchase mailing lists of college professors who teach subjects related to the subject and themes of this films: Asian Studies, International Law, Human Rights, Peace Studies, Womens Studies, Military Policy, Nuclear Proliferation, History of World War II.
Printing and mailing postcards highlighting the film to these professors, in January and September of 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Purchase of e-mail lists for similar outreach and similar schedules.
Funders
| Name | Amount | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan Family Foundation | $ 1,000.00 | 01/01/2008 | |
| Widdifield Charitable Trust | $ 1,000.00 | 01/01/2007 | |
| Catholic Diocese of Cleveland | $ 3,000.00 | 01/01/2006 | |
| Bydale Foundation | $ 5,000.00 | 01/01/2005 | |
| Rubin Foundation | $ 5,000.00 | 01/01/2005 | |
| Kunstadter Family Foundation | $ 2,000.00 | 01/01/2005 | |
| Arsenault Foundation | $ 1,000.00 | 01/01/2005 |
Location(s)
330 West 42 Street
New York, 10036
See Google Maps
Short Synopsis
Sakue Shimohira, age ten and hiding in a shelter when the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, survived and dedicates her life to making sure what happened to her will never happen again to anyone else.
Description/Treatment
This is a long form video that got fantastic reviews when first screened in a New York theater. We are seeking funds for: a)outreach funding to cover costs of academic lists, postage, mail house services and e-mail promotion, and b) to shorten and update in time for 2010 telecast, at the time of the 65th commemoration of the bombing.
The New York Times reviews: "Deeply affecting...an emotional sledgehammer but not a diatribe; its images speak for themselves."
There are other documentaries about the atomic bomb, but none include what is in this one, for the first time:
- It challenges the widely held assumption that dropping the bomb on Nagasaki was essential to end World War II. The provocative arguments presented about that decision have never been part of a U.S. documentary and never in the context of the actual human consequences of that decision.
- It presents information about an almost unknown part of post World War II history: the Press Code imposed by the U.S. occupation government on Japan’s media for seven years after the war ended. The Code prohibited media reports on the bomb or its health effects. The Code had a significant effect on how survivors were mistreated in their own country and how their health problems were misunderstood.
- It presents information about the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, a U.S. agency that gathered data from thousands of survivors, sent that data to the U.S.—not Japan—and did not attempt to ameliorate the health problems of the survivors. Some of the survivors are clearly troubled and angered by displaying their damaged bodies to the U.S. cameras of that time.
- The Last Atomic Bomb also is innovative in crossing generations, by showing a 70-year old bomb survivor accompanied by college students of today who have taken up her cause.
Other reviews:
- "Bracing, potent exploration of hot button issues." All Movie Guide
- "Shedding light on the dark corners of history...compelling...the simple earnest truth." The Villager
- "A lesson in political economy as relevant today as it was 60 years ago." Prof. William Hartung, New School University
- "Compelling...inspirational." Asian Reporter
- "Persuasive" New York Sun
- "Powerful" TV Guide
- "Impossible not to be moved" Time Out New York
- "Quite touching" New York Magazine
- "Must see...important" CCNY The Campus
A tiny, tireless woman who devotes herself to disseminating her harrowing story to ordinary people and world leaders alike, Ms. Shimohira's mission is similar to Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel’s activities with regard to the Nazi Holocaust that he survived.
With concern about nuclear developments in Iran and other nations, this timeless film could not be more timely.
We follow Mrs. Shimohira and two college students carrying on her legacy as they talk with U.S., British and Japanese students, the top United Nations disarmament official, and as they invite President Bush, the French President and British Prime Minister to visit Nagasaki.
Ms. Shimohira shares her devastating yet inspirational life with a Nazi Holocaust survivor. One of the film's most powerful moments is when Ms. Shimohira describes her sister's suicide ten years after the bomb, as "the courage to die." The survivor, Ms. Shimohira, found "the courage to live" and to dedicate her life to abolishing nuclear weapons.
The completed production had its first screening in Nagasaki as part of that city's events focusing on the 60th year after the bomb was dropped there. It has subsequently been screened in theaters, many festivals and conferences on six continents, and a few copies have been acquired by some colleges in the US. We want to do more outreach to colleges, high schools and groups concerned with nuclear issues.
Grants can be made out and mailed to Public Media, Inc., a 501(c)(3) that serves as fiscal administrator for our and other independent media projects. Public Media, Inc: 330 West 42nd Street/Suite 2410, New York NY 10036.