As a descendent of Japanese American and “Milwaukeean” parents Vanessa had questions about her country, heritage and why her mother who grew up in San Francisco was born in Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Answers eventually came along with “An American Contradiction” where Vanessa documents her trip to the city in which Japanese Americans were incarcerated during WWII. The film is an Official Selection of the Cleveland International Film Festival, DocUtah Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Film Festival.