Category: Moving Media

  • The Evolution of Mobile Phone Dramas

    I haven’t used a cellphone since someone stole mine nearly 3 years ago, but I’ve seen it moving towards it. I mean, I still think it’s gonna be tricky watching the show on my phone while making sure no one is following me to mug me.

    Stories on forums that became premises for films, blogs that became books, etc. After all, everyone’s got something to say. Then came the days when Marketing caught up with technology, and we began with viral videos. We love viral videos, you’ve probably received thousands of emails from different people all sending you the same goddamn video.

    Then there’s Mobile Phone Dramas. Sort of a hybrid between a series and commercials.. or other PR material, maybe a mix between short films and commercials that end up becoming a movie… like the Kit Kat short films by Shunji Iwai starring Yu Aoi and Anne Suzuki that became the film Hana & Alice. And so came Shunji Iwai again, this time with LISMO Channel and their nine 5-minute episodes titled Koibana ~ SUIKA to Bansoukou ~ (恋ばな ～スイカと絆創膏～) directed by Kodomo no Kodomo director Koji Hagiuda.

    Iwai, who is producing, has mentioned the high quality of this drama, and seems to be interested in turning this idea into a feature film. In reality, anyone can say whatever they want to say, but if anyone can make a Phone Drama and turn it into a film is Iwai. I mean, after turning Kit Kat into Hana & Alice, I believe anything can be possible.

    But how far have we gone… 45 minutes of Koibana may turn into a feature film, short stories become nearly-three-hour films… Facebook becomes a movie, episode recaps as if they were on Facebook. What’s next? Twitter movies? After all, there are Twitter accounts for television characters already. Yes, definitely… a Twitter movie in the future. Anyone wants to discuss a story idea?

    There’s already people on LiveJournal doing roleplay (though with real people), we can make one work, right? Anyone want to pitch in? It’s casting time! LOL Just gathering people who have the time to pretend they’re a character, and see where we go. xD

    While Asia is taking product placement and marketing to a whole new level, here… they try to shove ads and other silly commercials on printed media. And more commercial time. And more clicking banners.

    Also, I might need to add a new category besides Television. xD

  • October in Films – 21 Days

    Catching up with these movie postings…

    Almost a movie a day! =D

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  • Playing the role of Yu’s Parents…

    You know when you’re young, and you’re with your friends hanging out when your parents arrive. They try to be cool, and talk to your friends about the time when you were a kid… about the most embarrassing or bizarre things~ Or they feel it’s appropriate to tell your friends about when you were a baby, and feel the need to tell the story graphically, so they decide to take the family photo album out and show them photos of yourself probably naked and being all baby cute? xD

    Well, we’re playing that role today, since we seem (at least I) to know nothing about Yu’s parents and overall family — though I’m pretty sure she has an older brother.

    Anyway, Acerk found a video of Yu playing games.

    I’m not sure what it is, if it’s a game show or what… but I’ve been suspecting is a clip of her work as an OHA Girl for Tokyo TV’s OHA SUTA… but that’s just a theory of mine. It just reminded me of those clips I saw of the show in search for one of Yu.

  • Is Sci-Fi Also Doomed?

    I watched District 9 yesterday, and I enjoyed it a lot. Actually, I watched Moon this past weekend as well, which was also pretty great. However, I had noticed that I had previously marked both films as “not interested“. Why? Actually, because I marked most films that way, unless I’m already interested. But this also made me think about the films I’ve watched this past year, and which ones I’ve enjoyed the most.

    I’ve never followed Star Trek, but I admit I enjoyed watching the film this year.

    And on a similar topic, I finally finished watching Battlestar Gallactica Season 1. LOL

    But why do I seem so reluctant to watch Sci-Fi? Yes, it’s the nerd tag… I guess. I think my mother puts it best — She’s not interested in aliens, in other worlds, or UFOs — I think I’ve had the notions that Sci-Fi was just escapism, and it is in some of the films, but some of my friends (some sci-fi and comic book lovers) have taught me and made me understand that Sci-Fi can be so much more. And I do love a good drama.

    But in the end, people don’t really listen.

    My cousin, yes… that same one that told me Love Happens was money well spent, HATED District 9. Her brief Facebook status read something like “District 9, sucks! Badly…” and it got a bunch of comments including mine asking whether to believe her or not, considering she liked Transformers 2 (So good, she said), to which she replied “aliens!? c’mon>>>> no more comments“. LOL – The fact that she thought the idea of aliens is ridiculous should have hinted that she shouldn’t have picked District 9. Actually, she told me she didn’t wanna watch Inglourious Basterds either, to which I fainted. xD

    What is good sci-fi? My friend made me sit in front of my computer screen (we haven’t seen each other since we graduated) and told me I was wrong. He told me Good Sci-Fi is Good Drama, you get social commentary in the form of metaphor and you can place those stories in the real world. Good Sci-Fi is about the characters… much more than the universe created. He is the same friend who made me watch Firefly. Yes, that same sci-fi show that my sci-fi-hating mom loved to watch.

    So if you’re not sure you like sci-fi, you can give Firefly a try.

    Good Sci-Fi is also not about how high-end and kick-ass your special effects are. It’s not about how many explosions you can get on screen at the same time. It’s not about how cool your props look like.

    As we see on Moon, it’s almost as if this sci-fi world becomes a character piece in which the main character talks to himself and re-discovers himself in the process. About his daughter, about his wife, about his work. The miniature models are far from the high-end spectrum of regular CGI effects, yet hold this charisma or perhaps it’s nostalgia.

    On District 9, what could have been an alien invasion film with explosions where people save the day turns into a film where aliens live in slums among us, as big corporate heads try to find the way to use their bio-technology weapons and think they can get away with it when one of their workers begins changing. The character sort of begins a transformation worthy of Kafka, in which he starts becoming more a “monster,” but in reality human beings are the monsters. It’s sad.

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  • That Was It for This Is It

    I’m an MJ fan, I really am. I bought my copy of HIStory when I was around 10 — the first ever album I received as a birthday gift from my parents — and I’ve been fascinated as a kid since I saw him vanished as golden sand on the Remember the Time music video.

    I was a bit hesitant to watch this because I knew tickets had been on pre-sale for a month, and I’m not the type to compete for tickets. After all, they did advertise “for two weeks only.” I checked schedule online only to find the 11pm shows listed ONLY, so I was pissed. I thought that they were not showing this for two weeks only, but also showing it on midnight shows ONLY, so I went to the theater to watch District 9 instead… to find out there were other times for This Is It — so I watched both.

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  • Alluringly Bewitching* – The Third Year

    Geez, I know. I know. Not much activity over there, but I’ve cut down on the fanlistings. But still! Happy 3rd anniversary to the Alluringly Bewitching site. In memory of that site, I decided to read a bit about Kahlen Rondot to get up to date~

    When the site first opened, Cycle 4 had just finished showing in some parts of Asia, so it was flooded by visits from the zone. Now it’s diminished… so what’s up with Kahlen?

    Since I don’t log in MySpace often, I can’t really tell you if she’s updated anything. Apparently, she is still working as a bartender in NYC, and couldn’t get a contract despite being one of the most loved ANTM runner-ups in ANTM history… but then again, I haven’t really seen ANTM, but my cousin keeps me posted. LOL – he probably wants me to look for ANTM photoshoots on hi-res and post. xD

    One of the reasons for the struggle to get a contract was that she looks too much like Carmen Kass, which doesn’t really bother me. Carmen Kass has a kick-ass face.

    My advice to Kahlen? Go to Asia. Loads of ANTM people having a fun time there. And you’re loved there.

    Since there aren’t any new Kahlen photos, here’s a batch of kick-ass Carmen Kass~~~

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  • Down the Idol-hole~~~

    On the topic of Julz’ last YAM feature about fans and fandoms and the whole idol deal, I saw Julie & Julia this afternoon. It’s been ages since I’ve been to the cinema. First, let me say~~~ Meryl Streep is LURV as Julia Child. I totally cracked up each time she was on screen. I didn’t really care much for Amy Adam’s character, but Adams was lovable.

    In the movie, Julie is sort of a very big fan of Julia Child, which reminded me of Julz’ article. She sets out to make all of Child’s recipes in the period of a year, and by the end of the film you see her confronting the idea of her idolized Julia Child version to the real life Julia Child, when she finally says “I don’t ever wanna meet her.” LOL

    Wonder how many fans have reached that idea.

  • NO H8 Campaign – Christopher Gorham & Co.

    Meaning his wife, Anel Lopez Gorham (Popita Fresh!) and their kids.

    noh8-chris-gorham

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  • Glee Withdrawal Symptom!

    EEK!!!!

    It was right after this week’s episode that I began feeling the need to watch a new episode of Glee, only to find out there won’t be a new episode until November 11!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

    What to do in the meantime?

    Fox Latinamerica is beginning Glee this November 5th,
    but that still leaves me with one week of no Glee. *sighs*

    Did I fuzzed about the Glee ads all over town? Yes, I did.

    There are some issues with Glee with Spanish subtitles… and those problems will arise with translating the jokes, and people actually getting them. Just like “hairless pussy” [insert WB’s Popular plug] got translated literally, it lost all funny. Plus, it gets all passed the censors on ABC’s Family Channel — even funnier. xD but no such thing here.

  • To Watch Until They’re 30 – Paul Dano

    I thought I would post both #1 spots on one day to not make them one more important than the other. So on the #1 position of the Actors list is none other than Paul Dano!

    Paul Dano

    If we talk about astounding CVs, then we should note that Dano has a pretty impressive one.  He did L.I.E in 2001, and has shared the screen with fellow The 20 to Watch Emile Hirsch on The Emperor’s Club (with Kevin Kline), and The Girl Next Door… but unlike his colleague, Dano hasn’t shown off the asshole inside — so he’s safe.

    Dano also appeared on The Ballad of Jack and Rose with fellows who didn’t make it Jena Malone and Camilla Belle, as well as Daniel Day-Lewis who would later kick the crap out of Dano on There Will Be Blood.  He’s shared the screen with William Hurt and Gael Garcia Bernal on The King, and also co-starred on the successful Little Miss Sunshine alongside Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Steve Carrel and Greg Kinnear.

    Add all of that to the fact that he’s also been part of films like Explicit Ills, Gigantic (with Zooey Deschanel), directed by Ang Lee (with Hirsch once again, and Imelda Staunton) with Taking Woodstock, and can be heard on the latest Spike Jonze film Where the Wild Things Are. For the coming years? He’s got The Good Heart with Brian Cox, The Extra Man with John C. Reilly, Katie Holmes and Kevin Klein directed by Shari Springer Berman of American Splendor fame~~~ Then there’s Meek’s Cutoff with Michelle Williams and directed by Kelly Reichardt of Wendy and Lucy fame, and finally Knight & Day with Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, and Viola Davis directed by James Mangold (Girl Interrupted, Identity, Walk the Line and 3:10 to Yuma). So clearly, we’ve got exciting things to watch and keep watching~

    Interesting projects, seems kind, not pompous, works hard~~~
    he really deserves to be the number 1 actor, right?