are groups in the United States seeking to revive this form and to continue exploring the possibilities of altering the form in the spirit of experimentation from which the practice emerged. Likewise, new attempts to subvert traditional notions of storytelling and film watching are underway. Some performers interject commentary into films, drawing from a century of social critique, often presenting popular films along with new dialog and narrative intended to juxtapose their ideas with those of the audience. While some have adopted the term "Neo-Benshi", other performers have chosen to adopt the title "movieteller" as an alternative. They believe it emphasizes the multicultural past and future(s) of the form, while inviting further experimentation with the medium, such as a live narration of one's own films, the implementation of instruments as narrative devices, or any instance where a human contingent mediates between an audience and an image. Modern benshi Midori Sawato Yuko Saitō Ichirō Kataoka Raiko Sakamoto Mami Sakurai Tomoko Komura Vanilla Yamazaki References Bibliography External links " The Benshi Tradition: Cinema = Performance" by Tosh Berman (1995) Introduction to Japanese silent cinema with an interview from a modern-day benshi List of Performing benshi from Matsuda Film Productions History of film of Japan Silent film people Entertainment occupations