Director statement : Memories of Megumi is an experimental mocumentary that explores an outsider’s experience of Japan through performance. This film was inspired by my time living and working in Tokyo from 2004-2006. As Japan is a mono-culture, there are many barriers to integrate into mainstream Japanese society as a non-Japanese person (Geijin), socially and professionally. And at times, there is curiosity as well as perceived stereotypes of “Westerners” from Japanese people. Memories of Megumi explores themes relating to cultural stereotypes, outsiderness and the desire for connection. The film follows a young Australian man through the streets of Roppongi, a famous nightclub district in Tokyo, popular with Geijin. The young man’s language and behaviour fit into an Australian cultural stereotype. Although it is clear this man does not fit into Japanese society, as we listen to his monologue, we come to understand his relationship to living in Japan, a country he clearly loves. Memories of Megumi is a juxtaposition of cultures through character and setting, challenging the viewer’s expectations over the course of the monologue.
Bio : Michael is a filmmaker, multi-disciplinary artist and academic. His short films have been officially selected into international film festivals around Asia, Europe and the USA. His most recent award winning film The Future is Virtual has been selected to be in the Lab Competition in the 48th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (2026), has won Best Animated Film at The Artist Forum Festival of the Moving Image, and is being exhibited in a group exhibition entitled: Yo Soy la Inteligencia Artificial, in the NextMuseum, Bilbao, Spain. His screenplays have been accepted into the MIFF 37%South Market Script Initiative, L.A Gateway Development Program, and the Academy Nicholl Fellowship (2019). He has exhibited paintings, drawings, and video art throughout Australia, China and Japan. Michael currently works at the Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University within the Academy of Film and Creative Technology as an Assistant Professor.
Pebbles Underground is focused on showcasing and promoting experimental, avant-garde, underground, and no-to-low budget projects by artist-humans from all over the world. Absurd, uncanny, witty, humorous, slow-video – all are welcomed, and loved.
Pebbles Underground is an independent project not funded by any government or corporation, and we intend to keep it that way. Main source of funding is personal donations from humans organizing the project, who are artists themselves, and the main drive of the project is formed by the energy and involvement of the organizers, and the public.
