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Sights and Sounds: Jon Funabiki

Film producer and journalist Jon Funabiki
Photo Provided by Jon Funabiki
Film producer and journalist Jon Funabiki

“Sights and Sounds” is our weekly guide to the Bay Area arts scene through the eyes and ears of local artists. On this episode, host Jenee Darden speaks with film producer and journalist Jon Funabiki. He produced the documentary “Ten Times Better.” The film is about the incredible life of 89-year-old George Lee. Mr. Lee is a prodigy and an Asian ballet dancer who performed in Broadway shows and ballet, including George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” 70 years ago.

“Luna Mexicana”
Paramount Theatre
November 2
In this production, the Oakland Ballet collaborates with other Latino artistic groups to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos. That’s Spanish for “Day of the Dead.” It’s a holiday for people to spiritually reconnect with their dead loved ones. There’s going to be mariachi music, Azteca dancing, and folk ballet. Shout out to the Oakland Ballet’s artistic director Graham Lustig who has been a “Sights and Sounds” guest.

“The Nutcracker”
Paramount Theatre
December 21 and 22
The story is about a little girl named Marie and her nutcracker toy that comes to life. They fight the evil Rat King and travel to a magical land filled with toys. The Oakland Symphony and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir are also part of this holiday presentation.

Kintsukuroi
AMC Dine-In Sunnyvale 12
October 20
The term “kintsukuroi” refers to the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery using gold adhesive and finding beauty in the repaired piece. During World War II, the U.S. forced 120,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps. The movie is about two families who are sent to the camps and fought in the war. This screening includes a Q&A with the film’s director.

Watch the documentary “Ten Times Better” at the Delancey Street Theater in San Francisco on October 19.

Jeneé Darden is an award-winning journalist, author, public speaker and proud Oakland native. She is the executive producer and host of the weekly arts segment Sights & Sounds as well as the series Sights + Sounds Magazine. Jeneé also covers East Oakland for KALW. Jeneé has reported for NPR, Marketplace, KQED, KPCC, The Los Angeles Times, Ebony magazine, Refinery29 and other outlets. In 2005, she reported on the London transit bombings for Time magazine. Prior to coming to KALW, she hosted the podcast Mental Health and Wellness Radio.
Porfirio Rangel is a Producer for Sights & Sounds