Archives For shunji iwai

U.S Copyright Group to Sue Users?

May 20, 2010 — Leave a comment

The Hollywood Reporter has a piece on how Voltage Pictures is uniting with the US Copyright Group to sue individuals that have downloaded movies via BitTorrent, one of those films? The Hurt Locker…

The war against movie piracy is getting downright explosive. The producers of the Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker” are preparing a massive lawsuit against thousands of individuals who pirated the film online. The case could be filed as soon as Wednesday.

Voltage Pictures, the banner behind the best picture winner, has signed up with the U.S. Copyright Group, the Washington D.C.-based venture that, as first reported in March, has begun a litigation campaign targeting tens of thousands of BitTorrent users.

We have heard this before when the music industry try to do it, right?

On this blog, we keep on bringing “distribution” up, because we keep on watching and listening to stuff we can’t get locally. How on earth would I be a Yu Aoi fan if I hadn’t download All About Lily Chou Chou illegally? Same goes for Shunji Iwai, and Salyu…

How could I have ended up owning all the studio albums by the Dixie Chicks, if I hadn’t downloaded Without You from Napster more than a decade ago?

And yes, I may not buy as much as I used to when I was a teenager, but that’s only because I buy pricier items and I’m more exigent with what I want. Dude, I just made a $50USD pre-order from Japan… for ONE ITEM. Without counting the 9 films I just bought from a second-hand store. Sucks to be you, but really…

How do you want me to feel happy spending my dollars in a product sponsored by someone I don’t like? As good as the product can be, I’m not letting my money get into your pockets that easily. And that producer from The Hurt Locker is just making it easier to feel less guilty over not paying for his film.

Hi Nicholas, please feel free to leave your house open every time you go out and please tell your family to do so, please invite people in the streets to come in and take things from you, not to make money out of it by reselling it but just to use it for themselves and help themselves. If you think it’s normal they take my work for free, I’m sure you will give away all your furniture and possessions and your family will do the same. I can also send you my bank account information since apparently you work for free and your family too so since you have so much money you should give it away… I actually like to pay my employees, my family, my bank for their work and like to get paid for my work. I’m glad you’re a moron who believes stealing is right. I hope your family and your kids end up in jail one day for stealing so maybe they can be taught the difference. Until then, keep being stupid, you’re doing that very well. And please do not download, rent, or pay for my movies, I actually like smart and more important HONEST people to watch my films.

via Cinematical.

Once again, I take the time to highlight the fact that you may not be losing your money to the people who download the most, because it is very likely they are the ones that buy the most DVDs, albums, or pay for a digital copy when it is finally available. However, you are losing money if the people are watching your film from the pirated copy that someone has sold them.

As much as you’d like to fit your car-lending to a stranger metaphor , it isn’t quite like that. Toyota can’t tell whether me or not I can lend my car to my cousin, or that I can’t borrow his Nissan for a spin. Sadly, Social media has established that you do not need to be close to call someone a “friend”. Hence, all people borrowing and lending from each other online wouldn’t really be just “people in the street”, but just friends doing what friends have done since they have been able to copy stuff from one source to the other.

As a person working with design and art, I do understand the concerns. I don’t mind if people save one of my photographs in their hard disks or print them, however, I would mind if someone took my photograph, uploaded it somewhere else and said that they’re selling photographs.

Anyway, I leave you with the reasons Why Peter Serafinowicz Steals Movies… Even One He’s In.

In English, Films, Music, Rants , , , , , ,
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Vampire in Vancouver

May 14, 2010 — 6 Comments

Okay… Vampire is more than a meh title… but you know, even if it’s a film in English, I’m all for keeping the name as “ヴァンパイア” [VANPAIA] — but hopefully this is just a working title — LOL Because you know I’m all for Shunji Iwai and Yu Aoi in anything they might do together… but that is so generic a title.

Nippon Cinema [Bloody Disgusting, and Just Jared, without mentioning Yu…] are reporting new casting decisions for the film. Alongside Yu Aoi, Kevin Zegers and Amanda Plummer, whom I have already reported on, there will also be roles for Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That), Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, and is from Vancouver), Trevor Morgan (Mean Creek, Jurassic Park III), Adelaide Clemens (whom I don’t know), and Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle Hughes (Whale Rider, The Nativity Story).

I had totally forgotten this will be shooting in May, so this explains why Yu Aoi was missing from the FLOWERS premiere that other day everyone got blasted for those dresses. And I seem to be the only one who noticed.

I have always had a soft spot for Leigh Cook, even though I haven’t followed her career. I do know she was involved in a project [with Dove?] about self-esteem and body image across schools in the US. And I totally love Whale Rider, so I’m thrilled to see Hughes hasn’t stopped acting after she got pregnant.

Kristin Kreuk… I have the notion, because everyone keeps telling, that Kreuk is hot. I know. I get it, but man… her acting? I mean, how much of a suck was Chun Li?

And finally… Trevor Morgan, who has always played the bully. In my mind… I can only think of Empire Falls and Mean Creek, and he’s a bully in both, isn’t he? He’s an okay actor though.

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing , , , , ,
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Shunji Iwai and Yu Aoi Back Together on Vampire Flick?

March 22, 2010 — 19 Comments

I just got a sudden adrenaline rush.

Not only Shunji Iwai and Yu Aoi together…

ON A VAMPIRE FLICK… in an English-language project.

SHOT IN VANCOUVER?

I’ll let Kevin from Nippon Cinema explain as I SPAZZ some more.

After spending the past few years screenwriting and producing, filmmaker Shunji Iwai (All About Lily Chou-Chou, Hana and Alice) is returning to the director’s chair for a yet-untitled English-language vampire drama to begin shooting in Vancouver this May. Currently, the only plot info available is that the story will involve a seemingly average young man who secretly craves blood and seeks out suicidal women on the internet. However, the women need to fall in love with him before he’s able to get the full pleasure of sucking the life out of them (yep, sounds like internet dating all right). Actresses Amanda Plummer and Yu Aoi are signed on as cast members.

FYI, Amanda Plummer played opposite Sarah Polley on Isabel Coixet’s My Life Without Me.

I am conflicted, Vancouver is Lainey’s territory… should we pimp Yu to Lainey and let her fall in love with her, so she posts about Yu papz while in town? LOL, though Yu in Vancouver is like… another Japanese girl. I probably would have had a heart attack if I had still been living in Vancouver.

Okay, this means I really REALLY need to finish my If Only.

Please, sweet baby geezus let this film be my dream project. LOL

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing , , ,
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Just started this.

My Fake Criterion Collection

Posted on March 14, 2010 In DVD/BR, English, Films, Fun, Graphics, Japanese, Sharing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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If Only… Picnic

February 20, 2010 — 6 Comments

Well, now that I’m much better I can continue going through Acerk’s and my own picks for Yu Aoi wishful thinking films. We are almost done, and I really wish more people would participate, not only commenting but also suggesting your own.

Anyway… here we go~

2. Picnic

Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Posters/Artwork, Sharing , , ,
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USC Japanese Cinema Screening and Panel Discussion

February 19, 2010 — Leave a comment

I would have liked to find out about this a bit sooner to report, but oh well.

The resurgence of Japanese cinema in the 1990s dramatically reconfigured the aspirations, practices and reception of one of the largest and most continuous film cultures outside of the United States. This three-day event features films by three contemporary Japanese filmmakers whose work has crossed national borders and been viewed outside of Japan, elsewhere, in the world: Shinji Aoyama, Shunji Iwai and Ryuhei Kitamura.

According to a forward by the USC Biological Sciences Blog, The School of Cinematic Arts and Visions and Voices will be holding a 3-day event showcasing 6 samples of Contemporary Japanese Cinema. The films are:

  • Baton
  • Hana & Alice
  • Air Doll
  • Azumi
  • Eureka
  • Sad Vacation

The event starts today Friday 19th, until Sunday 21st [more info on that website]. According to the information provided, there will be panels discussion. Today’s panel for Baton and H&A apparently includes Shunji Iwai. We would love to have a report on anyone attending the event. It would be awesome.

In English, Films, Japanese, Sharing ,
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quick me updates~ NY, I Love Ya (not) and other dvds

January 25, 2010 — 1 Comment

Let’s see… just saw New York, I Love You.
as far as my expectations, I was disappointed… I did like two of the shorts. I was entertained by Brett Ratner’s segment (Olivia Thirlby and Anton Yelchin), but my favorite has to be Joshua Marston’s segment with Cloris Leachman.

Natalie Portman’s segment was okay… but her acting segment was kind of weak — plus, the bald cap she used (coz that was a bald cap, right?) bothered me a little because we know how her shaved head looks like.

Because I wanted to see something new by Shunji Iwai, I had high expectations and was let down. Nothing really wrong with it. Christina Ricci is okay, and I guess Orlando Bloom is okay… but did it have to be him?

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I also got my screener for Precious, which I have seen already… but it’s nice to get to watch it on my DVD player. I’m getting ready to vote for Independet Spirit Awards ^^ Second time around!

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Amazon hasn’t published my DVD Review of Linda Linda… why is that? It was a perfectly fine constructive critic that would have made Linda Linda a better release. If they don’t publish it this week, I will publish it here.

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I’m almost done re-watching Pushing Daisies…
These are my last DVD buys:

  • Pushing Daisies Season 1
  • Pushing Daisies Season 2
  • The Animatrix
  • Linda Linda Linda
  • Kamikaze Girls
In DVD/BR, English, Films, Japanese, Rants, Reviews, Sharing , , , , , , , , ,
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10 J-Films Writing a Decade

January 18, 2010 — 2 Comments

TheAuteurs has a nice post talking about some films that changed films in Japan in some way or the other…

Two major consequences of this have been: the diminishing status of the director in the creative process, who comes in as a hired gun, and: the banality and triteness of encountering performers on a daily basis, from movie to TV drama to variety show to advertising. The last decade launched the careers of countless “talentos”, young and cute boy-girl products, yet revealed but a handful of actors & actresses one might be eager to follow over the next ten years.

Wow, that statement sounds pretty negative xD almost making “auteur” films non-existent in Japan, and focusing on idol-pushing films that are more commercial than anything.

Like Acerk pointed out, a shout out to Shunji Iwai’s Lily Chou Chou film;

The film featured two outstanding young actresses, Ayumi Ito, discovered by Iwai for his 1996 Swallowtail Butterfly, and another Iwai revelation, Yu Aoi, who has since become one of Japan’s more original and refreshing performers. It should be noted that Iwai was among the first directors to hire TV drama stars as main actors in his films, to secure additional financing; he proved that when a director worked hard enough, he could get inspired work from talentos. This method has since been used by virtually every auteur in Japan.

Hello, and thank-you.

And more shout outs to Memories of Matsuko, and Tekkonkinkreet.

In English, Films, Japanese , , , , , ,
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If Only… April Story

January 7, 2010 — 4 Comments

by Acerk.

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In my opinion, Yu’s had a pretty decent 10-year career. She’s been a supporting character more than I would prefer, but who cares, she’s still young and has a long way to go. Here are 5 movies that I wish she could have been in. I believe each film selected would have helped her career in one way or another.

5. April Story

Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Posters/Artwork, Sharing, Short Films , , ,
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at Cinencuentro again!

This time around pointing out some experiences while watching those films, which doesn’t necessarily reflect what I consider the best… keyword, necessary.

Sorry, only in Spanish.

check it out here.

Posted on December 28, 2009 In Films, Sharing, Spanish , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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