With "Hoop Dreams" having just been inducted into The National Film Registry (of the Library of Congress), Steve James is clearly one of America's most respected documentarians. And with good reason: The 43-year-old, Virginia-born filmmaker brings a sensitivity and sustained focus to his films that few can match.

Inspired to become a filmmaker by Barbara Koppel's classic doc, "Harlan County," James continues to work in film and for TV. His latest, a 7-hour mini-series called "The New Americans," followed a group of immigrants from diverse backgrounds over a period of four years.

Here in Japan, though, we're just catching up with 2003's "Stevie.''