Dan Smith Productions

28/10/2024

LOOK WHO I RAN INTO ON T.I.F.F. RED CARPET!
Just finished chatting with amazing actor Asano Tadanobu. We chatted about an Army Blackhawk helicopter ride we took together to the USS George Washington aircraft carrier for a promotion for the film “Battleship.” I also told him that I am looking forward to directing him in one of our film projects!

21/10/2024

WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE WILD, WILD WEST!
I've got Tupac's hit "California Love" ringing in my ears now that the Dodgers are going to the 2024 World Series. Our Aurora Borealis Entertainment team is heading to the Golden State too for a prime-time athletic event... our "Juju Racing Against Destiny" November 2nd, 7:30 p.m. premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. For sure the "City of Angels" will be poppin' for us as we arrive in town October 31st and stay until November 6, which means the World Series could still be going on. My question is this? Just how many people are traveling from Japan to LA, just to hang out for all the excitement? Shake, Shake it, baby!

15/10/2024

TOKYO VICE - I'M A BIT OF A COLLECTOR!
I don't have many vices. I am not much of a party guy! I don't gamble, smoke or drink much. But one thing I am addicted to is collecting stuff. Mostly brass figurines, old cameras and Japanese vases. My house office space is filled wall-to-wall with these items - not to mention TV and movie memorabilia stuff I also collect. It is nowhere near as vast as that of my Executive Producer partner Gudni Gudnason, but it keeps me occupied. A lot of these have been given to me but I have some that dates back more than 45 years when I relish going to thrift shops with my mother!

02/10/2024

STARTING TO GET BACK INTO SHAPE!
After finally being cleared to start full physical activity again I am slowly starting to get back into shape! I am riding my bike, starting to do more exercising and have increased my walking - especially up steps. It really does get harder when you get older!

24/06/2024

WHAT IF I HAD SAID YES TO THE KING OF POP?
I don’t do much second guessing. That’s because of my long-held practice of instinctively going over the pros and cons of any major decision I make and then living with the decision I make! While it is rare for me to think about “do overs,”the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death is one of those times. In March of 2007, I got maybe the biggest break of my career when I was selected to film what would turn out to be the King of Pop’s final visit to Japan. I personally filmed footage for him and my team (plus a corporate news partner) filmed footage that went out to TV stations around the world. I also used the footage in two TV specials I produced on Michael, which I distributed on Fox. Michael, his Mom, and his three kids were in Japan for 11 days. I filmed him for most of that time. It was exhilarating. I had to contend with thousands of his fans, his management, media requests and the fact that I was determined to do it in a way to make everybody proud - especially Michael! There aren’t many quiet moments when you are filming the King of Pop. But during one of those moments he shook my hand and said, “You are doing a tremendous job!” He threw in a couple of more nice comments and then surprised me by saying, “I know you have strong ties to Japan but you should come work for me? I really need some good people like you on my team!” I was floored. I figured he was just being nice, so I took it as a huge compliment! When he brought it up again a day or so later, I realized that he might be serious! I gave him some lame answer about wanting to build my business in Japan and it didn’t come up again. But honestly, in witnessing the hectic day-to-day, 24-7 operation that surrounded him, I realized fairly quickly that I might not be a good fit! I would always have the Japan experience filled with great memories. When he died just shy of making what would have been his historic “This Is It”comeback, I thought back to the day he asked me to come work for him.

23/06/2024

Just some simple thoughts for today.

22/06/2024

THE SECOND TIME AROUND IS TWICE AS GOOD!
Even though I had seen Bad Boys Ride Or Die Friday night, I could not pass up a "date night" offer from Mika Aikawa to take in the movie again - this time at the Toho Roppongi Cinema's MX4D theater! ? It is was pretty "immersive" experience for a two-hour movie that is just packed with all kinds of action. I can't wait to see Will back in Japan again so I can tell him just how good a job they did in this film! . If you haven't seen the Backstage Pass segment I did on the film and some of my past Will Smith interviews check it out at the link below. ...And definitely check out BAD BOYS RIDE OR DIE! https://youtu.be/H0xpD2IO32I?si=1JMLVgsxuoNcZrz3

21/06/2024

NOT GOING TO LET A LITTLE RAIN STOP ME!
I was one of the first to show up this morning for opening day of Bad Boys Ride or Die in Japan today! I couldn’t wait to see the movie after our Buzzfeed Backstage Pass feature on the film debuted this week! Check out our link here: https://youtu.be/H0xpD2IO32I?si=_sa9bZdEXSpveJcs

19/06/2024

TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND
It seems I am in big demand for meetings for the past two weeks! I am not complaining but just asking for patience if I don't get back with you as quickly a you would like! My daughter's health concern is taking top priority.

18/06/2024

OUR BAD BOYS 4 BSP FEATURE IS HERE!
Hot out of the editing room! We got Will Smith and Martin Lawrence rocking YouTube on our Buzzfeed Backstage Pass feature! Caught them at the LA premiere as well as included some of our favorites times we have covered Will in Japan! Check out the link below and let me know if you liked it! The movie opens in Japan June 21st!

ハリウッドで開催された『バッドボーイズ RIDE OR DIE』LAプレミアに、ウィル・スミスは家族で登場。ラッピングバスに乗ったウィル・スミスがファンを盛り上げ、会場全体が大興奮！さらに「Backstage Pass」にしか見せないウ.....

16/06/2024

LOOKING FORWARD TO A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE
I have had a pretty difficult month with my eldest daughter Tia recently surgery; the first anniversary of the murder of my youngest daughter Alice’s son, and my grandson Phadon; deaths of some friends and myself trying to rebound from some health issues. Rather than delve on that, I am focusing on some new film, studio and TV projects… many which will come your way fruition late this year or early 2025. Next year is significant for me because it will mark 25 years of working in the entertainment/media/PR community in Japan. In my spare time I’ve been making “post cards” of many of the international and Japanese celebrities I’ve worked with or covered during that time. I thought maybe I could compile 50 or so. I really underestimated that number - by a large margin. I also decided to write a book on my life in Japan to commemorate that journey as well.

08/06/2024

UPDATE ON MY DAUGHTER TIA
My daughter Tia suffered a setback today. The doctors said there were some compression in her head and it was causing her to lose consciousness again. The doctors said there was additional bleeding in her head as a result. So they have to perform another surgery to relieve some of the pressure in her head and drain the blood. It should only take about an hour or two, then they will bring her back and put her on a breathing machine. She was doing her normal routines of responding to commands and the doctor had come to visit to check on her. It literally happened right as the doctor was leaving, so they took her to the OR immediately. She told me yesterday, before this happen, that if I put up a picture of her in head bandages that I should put up pictures of her that are not as terrible. So here are also two pictures of both my girls that I really love. It is 03:18 in Japan right now so I will try to get some sleep, do I can be ready when she wakes up. Please keep her in your prayers…

07/06/2024

FRIDAY FLASHBACK: BAD BOYZ 4 LIFE!
I am looking forward to watch Will Smith’s latest movie - Bad Boyz Ride Or Die, in theaters now. I’ve known and covered Will Smith for nearly 20 years in Japan. He has always been kind and thoughtful, even treating me to a one on-one breakfast at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Roppongi. But the biggest thing I am grateful for was him keeping his word to visit U.S. troops and their families in Japan. We took a Blackhawk helicopter to Yokota where Will talked and entertained nearly 6,000 who gathered to see him! Can’t wait for him to come visit Japan again! WillSmith

06/06/2024

I NEVER STOP WORRYING ABOUT MY DAUGHTERS
A colleague once asked me what was the hardest job I ever had? I told him it was being a father to my two daughters. Even though I’ve been fortunate in that I have always had a great relationships with my daughters. As soon as they were old enough to understand it, I stresssed to them how important it was for them to know they can talk to me about anything. Anything! Nothing was off limits. It was something my Mom instilled in me and made me pledge I would do the same for my kids. That has worked well with only a few hiccups here and there and also with me separated from them by continents now for nearly 25 years! Still the distance or time doesn’t lesson the fear I always have that I can’t protect them from the horrible and unfortunate things that happens in life. They are now grown with their own kids but in my eyes I still see the “girls” I taught to tide a bike; watched their softball or basketball games and cheerleading events. Still the guy who cried inside when they each left home to start their own life journey. For me a can never stop worrying about them even though it is very little I can do. But they still know u am here for them no matter what. That’s what good fathers do!

05/06/2024

DOING DOUBLE TIME ON THE CINEMA FRONT!
With Aurora Borealis Entertainment partner Gudni Gudnason and myself decision to move our company firmly in the direction of film production, we been making the rounds to some significant cinema-related events in Tokyo. Yesterday I got to attend the opening ceremony of the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. The day before I got to attend a special screening for a very touching film, “Songs Of Kamui,” at the Canadian Embassy.

02/06/2024

THE HEALING PROCESS HAS BEGUN!
I got to have my first conversation with my daughter Tia since her surgery four days ago. She can’t open her right eye and can barely open her left eye, I could sense her determination to start the healing process! She still has several weeks of recovery but it is moving in the right direction. Little Sis, her Mom (who has been sleeping in the hotel room every night even before the surgery) and all the siblings are giving her positive energy. Tia also told me to thank all her well-wishers out there from all over, especially in Japan where she grew up! Big thanks from me too! It has been a stressful six days!