Phoenix Films Japan in 2023

CEO and Chief Media Director Zach Kuhn

The pandemic brought forth many changes to our world. Indeed, my business was not spared from the economic fallout of the lockdowns, restrictions in travel, and general downturn in the economy.

Thankfully, my large network of similar-minded colleagues, creatives, and business collaborators have come up with many solutions during the last 3 years.

Enter Aoyama Pro. What began as a continuation of the 2018-style Ginza Studio, has merged into a full-fledged joint venture between a Kabushiki-gaisha and a number of filmmakers, actors, engineers, and marketing professionals.

Here is some of the works that Aoyama Pro has created, with Phoenix Films valued input:

The Ston-S nicotine-free vape pen
Renown Japanese professor Tetsuo Sawada explaining his book on population crises
Editing various podcast series by Dr. Greg Story of Dale Carnegie Tokyo

I networked with the English-language fan club of FC Tokyo recently. As a result, I was given tickets to attend their soccer match at the Tokyo National Stadium, and the resulting video on YouTube went viral:

Most recently, as part of Aoyama Pro, I have become the site editor and media creation specialist for PRONEWS Global. PRONEWS Global is a industry news website, focusing on the media production industry, especially around cameras and camera gear. Here is one of the videos we produced for PRONEWS Global recently:

PRONEWS Global Site

2023 is shaping up to be an incredibly busy year for Phoenix Films! However, I still would love to work together with you this year and beyond. Please contact me for more information on our services and our prices!
Have a wonderful year, everyone!


-Zach Kuhn,
CEO, Phoenix Film Productions GK

Cosplay Modeling Mayhem with Phoenix Films!

Hi guys, Zach here!

Summer is over, and as Halloween creeps closer and closer, I had a chance to reflect on the busy summer I had, both with my company, and with the studio opening up, and with photography.
I was hired by my friend Grisky to take cosplay photos at Tokyo Game Show this year, and this year Grisky stole the cosplay show with his amazing rendition of Dante from Devil May Cry 5.

The photos I posted on Twitter were even recognized by the developers of the Devil May Cry series. It was quite an honor meeting the devs at the event, too.

Grisky is quite the talent, but so is DJ Maia, a renowned Tokyo DJ and Model, who asked me to take photos of her during a recent trip to Enoshima.

DJ Maia is a regular at Ele Tokyo, spinning to the best crowds in Tokyo.

Spending time doing photography this summer were quite the learning experience, and really got my creativity pumping. I’ve set out to learn more and improve my photography skills, and have listed the company on Model Mayhem, the world’s most renown model and photography database site. Have a look at my company’s page here at this link.

If you’re interested in hiring me out for some photography, please send me an email at phoenixfilmsjapan@gmail.com, with the type of photography you’d like me to do.

Enjoy the photos, and have a great day!
-Zach

Phoenix Films Opens a Studio in Ginza!

This studio is the perfect spot for the creative mind to express itself.

For 2 years, I’ve been ‘based’ out of a Regus rented office in Kannai, the size of a walk-in closet, as a matter of convenience and legality, for my film production business to operate. Phoenix Films, however, always existed as an entity that thrived on being out of the office and interacting with our clients in different parts of Japan (and in some cases, parts of America!)

Now, I (Zach), and Phoenix Films as a legal entity, have come across an opportunity I simply could not pass up.

Partnering with Ginza Hub coworking space in the heart of Tokyo, I have recently opened up Ginza Studio, a full-service, fully-modular, community-driven studio, where we offer bookings for photography and videography, and memberships for those who are seriously creative about their productivity. Some of the plans also include packages from Phoenix Films, so please check out the previous hyperlink for more information on those packages.

This Space is being built as a community effort. We want people to bring their ideas and their art for seminar ideas, as well as holding Tokyo Creative Community events here as well.

I encourage all of you to check out the studio website (separate from the Phoenix Films site) at GinzaStudio.com, and please feel free to use the email zach@ginzastudio.com for more information.

Portfolio: Kojo Apple Emergency Light


This is a video commissioned by Kojo Industries, a very good client of mine. Featuring a model from Aomori and the music of another Aomori native, this video features an intriguing product displayed recently by Kojo at a number of events around Japan-an Aomori Apple-shaped emergency light.

I used color correction techniques to give this video a natural, relaxed feel, the same feeling one would get when visiting Aomori. Shot in one day in Akihabara with Kojo staff present, this was quite a learning experience for me, yet I still feel I taught a lot of people a number of things about videography that day.

Enjoy the video. If you’d like your own product showcased in cinematic form, contact me at phoenixfilmsjapan@gmail.com

Sample Video: PARTY AND EVENT FILMING

A few weeks ago, I was invited to film a party in Tokyo’s trendy Daikanyama district with local party group Tokyo Maniacs and arranged and put together by promoters Church of Trance. The Church of Trance head, in particular, wanted me to film an after video using the music of one of the headlining DJs, John Askew. This is a service that Phoenix Films offers, everything from a simple afterfilm like this, to a longer highlight reel with different shots of the different happenings in the bar. Please enjoy, and if you’re interested in this service, please contact me at this email, phoenixfilmstokyo@gmail.com

LINK TO POST on Phoenyx787 YouTube Channel
Overview of Event Participation Privacy Agreement here.
Other Services We Offer

What Can Video Editors Do For You?

As a video editor, a question I regularly get asked is ‘whats the advantage of hiring an editor when I could do it myself?’
A common misconception is that doing it yourself will save money, time, and still produce a high quality piece. I’ve covered the basics in a previous post, but I’d like to go into more detail.
Video editors, such as myself, have access to more accurate editing software. There are so many more bells and whistles that come standard with Final Cut Pro X, Apple’s professional software for editing (which costs a lot of money), than with iMovie, the software that comes pre-installed with every Apple computer. More precise cuts, better color correction, more options for text editing, more effects pre-installed, and so much more awaits the FCPX user. iMovie is easy for simple videos (or the starting-out YouTuber), but I would highly recommend against making professional presentations, conference demonstration videos, recruitment videos, commercials, investor pitches, and internal videos on iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. The goal for these professional videos is to look professional.

The appearance of professionalism is very difficult to do for the start-up company with 1 or 2 or even 10 people. Unless you hire an actual editor for your company, or contract a video editing firm like Phoenix Films, using every day employees or even having managers or company presidents do the video editing is time-consuming, detracts from their real jobs, and often results in hastily-made, unappealing videos that will turn off any viewers, investors, prospective employees and prospective investors. Our job as video editors is to take that time off your hands and put it into our trained hands.

The costs of hiring one of us does seem daunting. Phoenix Films has a flat rate for hiring us (inquire within for details), and at first it’s intimidating, or may seem expensive. However, it’s important to compare that rate of hiring us to the amount of money that you’ll generate from a professionally-produced advertisement, investment pitch, or product pitch. Even better, established companies, brands, start ups, or even your every day mom-and-pop shop can continue churning out business, with the people hired to do their jobs able to do their jobs, while the video editors you hire do their own jobs. When you remove someone off a task and put them in a position they’re not familiar with, you’re taking them away from their productive, money-making job, and as mentioned earlier, the results might not generate the revenue you’re expecting.

Finally, think of the artist as a supplier rather than an artist. Often times, artists such as video editors, graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, and musicians are underpaid, asked to work “for experience” (which typically means for free), or are turned away from a prospective project once the project director sees the fees chart. Artists are just as important to your company’s existence as your supply chain. What good is a product without a method of expressing what that product is? As a video editing firm, Phoenix Films supplies companies with video products that amplify the value of your company’s product, service, or financial standing with investors. The videos we supply to your company allow a whole new view on what your company offers to the world. You might have a supply chain set for whatever your product is, but without a delivery method to the eyes of the world, nobody will have any knowledge of your product or service, nobody will even think of it-or your company’s- existence.

So in conclusion, we at Phoenix Films see ourselves as a potential valuable part of your company’s supply chain. We remove the necessity to have an employee do two jobs that might detract from their-and your company’s-productivity. The costs of hiring us are nowhere near the amount of value that comes from having a professionally produced video make the sales pitch for you.

If you’re convinced, send Phoenix Films an email for rate quotes at phoenixfilmsjapan@gmail.com

The Importance of the Banner on Facebook Pages


The advent of the Pages on Facebook has drastically changed the way companies and individuals do business. The ability to reach customers and promote their product or service on online media has never been easier, and the way we can showcase this is always changing.

Recently, Facebook has allowed us to add videos to the top of our Pages, which autoplay the moment someone clicks on the Page. We have the ability to add sound as well. This is a great idea for small businesses to instantaneously showcase what their company has to offer.

Recently, Ginza Hub, a Tokyo-based coworking space that focuses on small businesses, of which I belong to a directory of experts, contacted me to edit their own Facebook banner. I have uploaded the final product to the Phoenix Films YouTube Channel:

This is an engaging video which excites the audience and gives a preview to what your company is trying to show.

I strongly suggest making these videos around a minute long, 90 seconds max. Too much information as well will overwhelm your perspective audiences, but too little or too generic will be boring and unmemorable. Remember, your goal is to captivate your audience and make them purchase your services.

Even though it’s only a minute to 90 seconds long, making one of these videos properly takes a while. I strongly suggest hiring a professional to make this video.

If you would like Phoenix Film Productions to produce and edit your Facebook banner, please send me an email at phoenixfilmstokyo@gmail.com and we can discuss what is needed for your company’s Facebook banner video.

-Zach

Bashamichi is Beautiful

I have made another demo reel showcasing the beautiful and historic district of Bashamichi near the Phoenix Films office in Yokohama.

Bashamichi is one of the oldest parts of downtown Yokohama and a center of nightlife, outdoor cafes, and upscale shopping. Lots of small restaurants and shops line the main road, which features wrought iron arches that span the street. Many of these buildings are among the oldest in modern Japan. Enjoy the footage.

I didn’t add any music to this video as this is showcasing the editing capabilities of Phoenix Films.

This footage was shot on an iPhone 7 Plus and edited using Final Cut Pro X.

Phoenix Film Productions Demonstration – Folly Beach

Nothing beats one of the best beaches in America, right?
I had the opportunity to spend part of May in Folly Beach with my family, and I made this demonstration reel from the footage I filmed. We had a wide variety of weather – from sunny, hot, humid days, to a crazy thunderstorm flooding the island, to some incredible wind. Overall, it was a very dynamic, enjoyable week.

Enjoy the footage:

What I used to film and edit this footage:

  • Nikon D3200 DSLR
  • Apple iPhone 7+
  • Final Cut Pro X on a 13-inch Apple iMac 2015 version.

Need filmwork done? Please contact me at phoenixfilmsjapan@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you soon!