Thursday 22 December 2011
Monday 12 December 2011
Sunday 11 December 2011
the ART of trailer trash
This was from Oct 2011
Today the FAFF promos and trailer's that were shot down at the Docklands are being released, well they were uploaded last night. First out of the blocks is Takako preparing for takeoff!, Lady Dragonfly.
This was stop motion shot by James H using slow shutter speeds.
This was the third outing for James and I on our stop-mo Journey and I know we have covered some great ground. This piece was a series of shutter speed and head movement variations and involves Takako and Vi. It is an adaption on the last one. Some of the moves work beautifully and some are a bit suspect but overall it's a good effect.
Today the FAFF promos and trailer's that were shot down at the Docklands are being released, well they were uploaded last night. First out of the blocks is Takako preparing for takeoff!, Lady Dragonfly.
This was stop motion shot by James H using slow shutter speeds.
This was the third outing for James and I on our stop-mo Journey and I know we have covered some great ground. This piece was a series of shutter speed and head movement variations and involves Takako and Vi. It is an adaption on the last one. Some of the moves work beautifully and some are a bit suspect but overall it's a good effect.
Videos that are a GAS #6
Everyday in every way I shall become more flexible, bending like a reed in the wind
Monday 14 November 2011
Videos That are a GAS!!!! #5 ....or in this case no gas
The Bicycle Video Of The Year: Burn Cycle from Amsterdamize on Vimeo.
Do you want to go to the Burning Man??????
and ride a bike???
Friday 4 November 2011
Videos that are a GAS #4
I Believe I can Fly ( flight of the frenchies). Trailer from sebastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.
Well we've all had those dreams of flying?
Thursday 27 October 2011
People Who Make Me Smile #2
Now I know it's not cool no more! But again this entry is a photography thing, this time it's linked with a fad that came and went with the ferocity of a storm (casualties included). I'm talking planking, the buffoon sport that suited Australia's knock about, larikin sensibilities to a tee. Read into that, what you like.
But specifically it's about a duet from Taiwan who have taken the game of lying down to the next level, playing it with consummate passion but what separates them out and makes me smile is the attention to the photography. Shots are very beautiful, well composed, exposed, focused etc etc even without the planking element.
But specifically it's about a duet from Taiwan who have taken the game of lying down to the next level, playing it with consummate passion but what separates them out and makes me smile is the attention to the photography. Shots are very beautiful, well composed, exposed, focused etc etc even without the planking element.
The Pujie Girls
"Pujie Girls literally translates to “falling on the street” in Mandarin, the name is also a pun on the Cantonese curse “Puk Gai” which means “may you drop dead”.
Check out some more photos on their blog
Hats off I say, Hoorah for the PKGirls
Friday 14 October 2011
FAFFed around on the Docklands
FAFF trailer/promo shoot
Fantastic Asia Film Festival
Role Call:
Jenifer, Takako, Stephanie, Natasha, Susan, Cici, Hee, Vi and Chris
Crew Call:
James B, James H, Matt P, Matt R, Josh, Chrisi, Paulini, Brooke
Arrival at 0900 for most down at the Docks setting up shop. 3 x make up stations and wardrobe
Vi and Takako were first up on Camera A for some stop mo blur shots. Head and shoulder shots taken with a 1/2 to 1/4 sec shutter speed with deliberate movement to create a blurred frame. 750 + frames.
So for those inside the frame there is a lot of repetitious movement of the head from side to side and so on but the results were fantastic and quite spooky. When the body and shoulders were static the effect worked the strongest. Between James and the guys they produced the footage exactly how it was imagined. Success!
Meanwhile On Camera B Jenifer was doing a walk to camera in a cosplay costume dubbed the leather suit The idea here being that when she reaches camera she stops, then closes her eyes. She has a 2nd pair of eyes painted on her eyelids. Spooky!! We didn't really nail this concept for a number of reasons but essentially the eyes were not effective. Must give more notice!
After that it was Hee, Vi and Cici to film their personal reviews of some films they had seen. This was an idea from Neil to have people ranting on about their favourite scenes from an Asian Genre Film. They just keep going on and on. In the promo the camera will slowly move in on them until the audio is just faded out and the Logo comes up.
Have I shown you the Logo? Well here it is
Fantastic Asia Film Festival
Role Call:
Jenifer, Takako, Stephanie, Natasha, Susan, Cici, Hee, Vi and Chris
Crew Call:
James B, James H, Matt P, Matt R, Josh, Chrisi, Paulini, Brooke
Arrival at 0900 for most down at the Docks setting up shop. 3 x make up stations and wardrobe
Vi and Takako were first up on Camera A for some stop mo blur shots. Head and shoulder shots taken with a 1/2 to 1/4 sec shutter speed with deliberate movement to create a blurred frame. 750 + frames.
So for those inside the frame there is a lot of repetitious movement of the head from side to side and so on but the results were fantastic and quite spooky. When the body and shoulders were static the effect worked the strongest. Between James and the guys they produced the footage exactly how it was imagined. Success!
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| Takako about to become a human dragon fly |
After that it was Hee, Vi and Cici to film their personal reviews of some films they had seen. This was an idea from Neil to have people ranting on about their favourite scenes from an Asian Genre Film. They just keep going on and on. In the promo the camera will slowly move in on them until the audio is just faded out and the Logo comes up.
Have I shown you the Logo? Well here it is
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| Inaugural Festival Logo |
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Fantastic Asia Film Festival
The trailer shoot last Thursday....done and very very successful. We got a wealth of material sitting in the edit suite just waiting to be polished and finished and then posted. Apparently the 1st trailer (graphic based homage to Gasper Noe's Enter the Void) is triggering epileptic fits, from its rapid cuts, at the Nova. Yet to see it on the big screen myself but it is working a treat.
Just thought I'd give you a BTS of the trailer shoot and post some stills.
A big thanks to all involved on the day, it was ambitious and smooth.
This was just one of many ideas. Move a bit, pose, SNAP! Move a bit, pose, SNAP! etc etc
Very methodical and laborious but the results are very colourful and a lot of fun.
This one was a walk to camera with a whole lot of attitude. It's on a long lens so begins out of focus out then Jenifer walked into crisp focus when the frame was a close up.
Jenifer was in 3 looks for the day, here she is in Traditional Chinese Dress for a potential FAFF poster (unofficial at this stage)
more later.
Just thought I'd give you a BTS of the trailer shoot and post some stills.
A big thanks to all involved on the day, it was ambitious and smooth.
 | |
| Stephanie, Takako, Susan and James. Setting up for Trad Dress Stop Mo. |
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| A more formal pose. James, Takako, Susan, Stephanie |
Very methodical and laborious but the results are very colourful and a lot of fun.
This one was a walk to camera with a whole lot of attitude. It's on a long lens so begins out of focus out then Jenifer walked into crisp focus when the frame was a close up.
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| Jenifer, after she 'owned' the walk to camera |
Tuesday 11 October 2011
Monday 10 October 2011
Hot Bikers damn damn damn I mean Hot Bikes!
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| from the Burning Man, that's all I know? |
Thursday 29 September 2011
FAFFing around
Currently helping out on an upcoming Melbourne film festival called the Fantastic Asian Film Festival but you can call me FAFF. It is being put together by the people at Monster Pictures and will be twenty or so genre films sourced from Asia to be screened at Cinema Nova (Carlton) in mid- November. Top of the list for me is Sion Sono's Guilty of Romance (see past blog post) but that is just the start. The Yellow Sea from Korea is an absolute cracker, it's about a cab driver but it is so much more than taxis. There are some whacky ones like Helldriver (trailer) and Yakuza Weapon (trailer) and some pink ones like Erotibot and Sex & Zen 3-D (trailer). The films are coming from China, Japan, Korea and even a couple from the Philippines, the majority of the films are yet to be released in Australia. Check the FAFF website for programing details (although at the time of posting the website was still work in progress.)
So my involvement to date has been on the cinema trailer front. This is a multi pronged affair, we pumped out a quick one that was completely graphic based in vein of Gasper Noe's Enter the Void opening title sequence. Maybe a rip off, surely a homage and definitely appropriation.
Check it here FAFF Trailer 1
The second front of attack is to cut a live action trailer or trailers. This is a little more challenging because of the wealth of material that is to be condensed into 15 and 30sec slots. Shit!
They are currently being cut as we speak.
The third prong is to shoot some vignettes/promo's/trailers, again they will be 15 & 30sec but with real live people shot by ourselves. This is probably the most exciting. theshoot is planned for next thursday and a small team of production people is being amassed along with a number of actors/models. We are going to shoot down at the Docklands (my Spiritual home :P ) and we are going to employ some in-camera special effects techniques. It should be a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to the results.
Will keep you posted.
So my involvement to date has been on the cinema trailer front. This is a multi pronged affair, we pumped out a quick one that was completely graphic based in vein of Gasper Noe's Enter the Void opening title sequence. Maybe a rip off, surely a homage and definitely appropriation.
Check it here FAFF Trailer 1
The second front of attack is to cut a live action trailer or trailers. This is a little more challenging because of the wealth of material that is to be condensed into 15 and 30sec slots. Shit!
They are currently being cut as we speak.
The third prong is to shoot some vignettes/promo's/trailers, again they will be 15 & 30sec but with real live people shot by ourselves. This is probably the most exciting. theshoot is planned for next thursday and a small team of production people is being amassed along with a number of actors/models. We are going to shoot down at the Docklands (my Spiritual home :P ) and we are going to employ some in-camera special effects techniques. It should be a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to the results.
Will keep you posted.
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| This won't be shown, but Guilty of Romance will be |
Tuesday 27 September 2011
People Who Make Me Smile #1
YowaYowa camera girl (japanese for weak/feeble) hahahaha
Natsumi Hayashi, Tokyo Photographer, or as I refer to her: The Girl Who Floats.
I used to work with a man who floats. Hal McElroy, he is a legendary heavyweight in the Australian Film & TV Industry. I was working on Blue Heelers at the time and he was the Executive Producer.
He was the man who floats because when he walked into the room it was like he glided, like he was floating. He was magic! Everything that Hal touched turned to GOLD.
But although I admire him, he is not a person who makes me smile. However, for the record, he worked on 'The Cars That Ate Paris' (Peter Weir's 1st Feature) and that does make me smile, in fact I have credit envy with that one.
Natsumi makes me smile, well her photographs do. She specialises in self portrait levitation photographs (no special effects). She describes her techniques on the website. Pretty much every one that I look at makes me smile. One other thing she photographs are her cats and they make me smile too. I posted a video response to her photographs at the start of this financial year. She has inspired me along with Baes Pascal to venture down the path of Human Stop Motion Animation. James & I thought it would be nice to say thank you.
Hats off to Natsumi, a fine photographer, a woman that floats and a person who makes me smile
Natsumi Hayashi, Tokyo Photographer, or as I refer to her: The Girl Who Floats.
 |
| Natsumi Hayashi (right) floating through life, here with an accomplice |
He was the man who floats because when he walked into the room it was like he glided, like he was floating. He was magic! Everything that Hal touched turned to GOLD.
But although I admire him, he is not a person who makes me smile. However, for the record, he worked on 'The Cars That Ate Paris' (Peter Weir's 1st Feature) and that does make me smile, in fact I have credit envy with that one.
Natsumi makes me smile, well her photographs do. She specialises in self portrait levitation photographs (no special effects). She describes her techniques on the website. Pretty much every one that I look at makes me smile. One other thing she photographs are her cats and they make me smile too. I posted a video response to her photographs at the start of this financial year. She has inspired me along with Baes Pascal to venture down the path of Human Stop Motion Animation. James & I thought it would be nice to say thank you.
Hats off to Natsumi, a fine photographer, a woman that floats and a person who makes me smile
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| amazing levitation photography |
Monday 26 September 2011
Are you going to Ride To Work????
National Ride to Work Day is on the 12th of October 2011
and when in Melbourne you can get breakfast too! Look I'm sure it is happening around the country but I'm going to focus in on Melbourne.
Breakfast destinations
St Kilda Town Hall is where I think I shall park my bike.....temporarily maybe but maybe my boss will just have to wait until all the food and prizes have been thoroughly digested.
Celebrate your ride with a community breakfast hosted by the City of Port Phillip. Register yourself or your business. There will be prize giveaways, travelsmart maps and bike valet!
Too good to be true!
Use this day to get out and about on the deadly treadly. Try it, ride it to work, you'll be surprised.
It always seems insurmountable when you are not doing it, even when you are thinking about it. But when you are actually doing it, it's a sinch.
You'll be asking yourself "why have I not being doing this for a long while?"
And Me?
I won't be riding to work but I will be working the ride.
That's right, I'll be filming the morning for my forth coming documentary, most probably around bayside and the St Kilda Town Hall. So I hope I see you out there, I hope the day is a success in that there are huge numbers turning out for my documentary. But my real hope and dream is that this will translate much beyond one day of promotion and that everyone that participates will continue thier ride to work throughout the year.
and when in Melbourne you can get breakfast too! Look I'm sure it is happening around the country but I'm going to focus in on Melbourne.
Breakfast destinations
St Kilda Town Hall is where I think I shall park my bike.....temporarily maybe but maybe my boss will just have to wait until all the food and prizes have been thoroughly digested.
Celebrate your ride with a community breakfast hosted by the City of Port Phillip. Register yourself or your business. There will be prize giveaways, travelsmart maps and bike valet!
Too good to be true!
Use this day to get out and about on the deadly treadly. Try it, ride it to work, you'll be surprised.
It always seems insurmountable when you are not doing it, even when you are thinking about it. But when you are actually doing it, it's a sinch.
You'll be asking yourself "why have I not being doing this for a long while?"
And Me?
I won't be riding to work but I will be working the ride.
That's right, I'll be filming the morning for my forth coming documentary, most probably around bayside and the St Kilda Town Hall. So I hope I see you out there, I hope the day is a success in that there are huge numbers turning out for my documentary. But my real hope and dream is that this will translate much beyond one day of promotion and that everyone that participates will continue thier ride to work throughout the year.
Monday 12 September 2011
THRIVE - be part of the solution
To be part of the solution there needs to be a problem
That is what you are going to have to give up. It is this that prevents you from dwelling on what is really going on. For most the horror is too great and too hopeless but maybe you can look there if there is HOPE, maybe you can dwell on this if there were a solution, even a possibility of one. Because once there is possibility or once in possibility we can create anything.
Thrive - What on Earth will it Take?
Here comes a documentary that is going to answer the question. It chases the paper trail of money right up to the top. It looks into the sacred geometry. It discusses UFO and extraterrestrials. But most importantly is does not turn a blind eye to what is happening in our world, right now. Who says that such a significant proportion of human beings must suffer, who ordained misery on our modern society? What is needed for us to THRIVE, more than just survive and more than just you and me, everyone??
I don't know a great deal about this doco but I do know when something sets of a ripple of excitement.
I do know when my unquantifiable ahha radar goes blip.
An Oil economy is never going to champion alternative energy (that's not rocket science)
I saw Nicola Tesla in the trailer (that could be rocket science?)
Anything that acknowledges our vast untapped potential within this context is going to create a stir.
A documentary that provides answers? maybe I'm being a bit too idealistic but one that is the catalyst of change...maybe, just maybe?
Thrive, don't just survive, be alive
"What Problem?" you may ask.
Well you'll have to move beyond your social Prozac to even start to get a glimpse. Is it shopping, is it sport, is it pot, is it booze? You know what I mean, what makes the world alright for you NOW?That is what you are going to have to give up. It is this that prevents you from dwelling on what is really going on. For most the horror is too great and too hopeless but maybe you can look there if there is HOPE, maybe you can dwell on this if there were a solution, even a possibility of one. Because once there is possibility or once in possibility we can create anything.
Thrive - What on Earth will it Take?
Here comes a documentary that is going to answer the question. It chases the paper trail of money right up to the top. It looks into the sacred geometry. It discusses UFO and extraterrestrials. But most importantly is does not turn a blind eye to what is happening in our world, right now. Who says that such a significant proportion of human beings must suffer, who ordained misery on our modern society? What is needed for us to THRIVE, more than just survive and more than just you and me, everyone??
I don't know a great deal about this doco but I do know when something sets of a ripple of excitement.
I do know when my unquantifiable ahha radar goes blip.
An Oil economy is never going to champion alternative energy (that's not rocket science)
I saw Nicola Tesla in the trailer (that could be rocket science?)
Anything that acknowledges our vast untapped potential within this context is going to create a stir.
A documentary that provides answers? maybe I'm being a bit too idealistic but one that is the catalyst of change...maybe, just maybe?
Thrive, don't just survive, be alive
Saturday 10 September 2011
Videos that Are A Gas #3
shot on a Nokia mobile phone from a crane high above the beach far below.
What else would you be doing in between calls?
There's a great Behind The Scenes video for this also
What else would you be doing in between calls?
There's a great Behind The Scenes video for this also
Friday 9 September 2011
Highlights at BIFF but missing at MIFF or Pinoy Pride
BIFF - Window on Asian Cinema.
16th Busan International Film Festival October 2011
This is where I want to be come October. Unlike at MIFF these guys have programed some pretty good Pinoy films. We had not one film from the Philippines at MIFF 2011 and I know its not because there is nothing from that country to screen. A quick look at the program says that the Koreans know this also.
Highlights included.
AMOK by Lawrence Fajardo
My eyes and ears on the ground put this as the one to see at this years Cinemalaya. Set at a busy intersection in Manila on a very hot day, how does one man's rage effect those around? I haven't seen it but the look in the trailer and the word of mouth indicate something a little bit special going on here.
The trailer features Johhny Cash covering the NIN song 'Hurt'
Fable of the Fish by Adolfo Alix Jr
Adolfo is one of the promising upcoming directors of the Philippines, some may say already there? He has 18 titles under his belt since his debut feature Donsol (2006) and they have all been well represented on the international arena. Ranging from Oscar nominated 'Best Foreign Film' to TIFF, to Roterdam to Busan/Pusan and always Cinemalaya, he has what we'd say 'the runs on the board' but he doesn't play cricket that I'm aware of. ISDA (Fable of a Fish) is about a couple who give birth to a fish, Mum accepts it but Dad has a hard time. It is an exploration of family, what are the needs, what are the compromises.
check the trailer
Mask (Maskara) by Laurice Guillen
This was the opening film of Cinemalaya 2011. A tale about a grieving widow who discovers that her famous actor husband had a secret daughter and her coming to terms with this news.
Trailer Laurice is a well established (30+ yrs), award winning Filipino director and actor.
Nono by Rommel Tolentino
The story of a little boy with a hairlip and how he overcomes adversity. Sorry sounds a bit dweeb, check out the official website
It's an international premiere in Korea but the world premier was Cinemalaya 2011, exactly the same for Mask.
Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) by Marlon Rivera
3 filmmakers, from well to do backgrounds, set out to rece their 'award winning' next film which is all about poverty. This is a self referential piece that has the film within the film but in a number of different genres.
Babae sa Septic Tank is a comedy about misguided ambitions, the art of making art and the romanticization of poverty. Another from the 2011 Cinemalaya. Trailer/Teaser
There are also some films that aren't in the program but I would love to see like Jerrold Tarog's Senior Year, Bahay Bata (Baby Factory) by Eduardo Roy Jr & Jerome Zamora, the hard hitting Cuchera by Joseph Isreal Laban and anything with Mercedes Cabral (whoops!) but remember she did win 'The Most Beautiful Actress' at the 61st Cannes Film Festival and she has been cast by Korea's Park Chan-wook plus stared in Brillante Mendoza's Serbis along with a host of other movie credits. This years Cinemalaya saw her in three films.
So back to BIFF, 5 films from the Philippines in the official selection and just to give you a flavour of what they're in amongst.
Try Sion Sono's Guilty of Romance and his latest Himizu (yet to see that), Eternity from Thailand plus films from Iran, India, China, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Kazakhstan.
I still scratch my head when I think back to MIFF and ask 'where were they???'
This is just the Window of Asian Cinema. You also have World Cinema, Korean Cinema Today, International & National Guests and a massive market. I reckon it would be a pretty good place to be come October.
6th to the 14th of October 2011 Busan, South Korea
16th Busan International Film Festival October 2011
This is where I want to be come October. Unlike at MIFF these guys have programed some pretty good Pinoy films. We had not one film from the Philippines at MIFF 2011 and I know its not because there is nothing from that country to screen. A quick look at the program says that the Koreans know this also.
Highlights included.
AMOK by Lawrence Fajardo
My eyes and ears on the ground put this as the one to see at this years Cinemalaya. Set at a busy intersection in Manila on a very hot day, how does one man's rage effect those around? I haven't seen it but the look in the trailer and the word of mouth indicate something a little bit special going on here.
 |
| AMOK shot on the street and keeping it real |
The trailer features Johhny Cash covering the NIN song 'Hurt'
Fable of the Fish by Adolfo Alix Jr
Adolfo is one of the promising upcoming directors of the Philippines, some may say already there? He has 18 titles under his belt since his debut feature Donsol (2006) and they have all been well represented on the international arena. Ranging from Oscar nominated 'Best Foreign Film' to TIFF, to Roterdam to Busan/Pusan and always Cinemalaya, he has what we'd say 'the runs on the board' but he doesn't play cricket that I'm aware of. ISDA (Fable of a Fish) is about a couple who give birth to a fish, Mum accepts it but Dad has a hard time. It is an exploration of family, what are the needs, what are the compromises.
 |
| ISDA (Fable of the Fish) Movie Poster |
Mask (Maskara) by Laurice Guillen
This was the opening film of Cinemalaya 2011. A tale about a grieving widow who discovers that her famous actor husband had a secret daughter and her coming to terms with this news.
 |
| Mask |
Nono by Rommel Tolentino
The story of a little boy with a hairlip and how he overcomes adversity. Sorry sounds a bit dweeb, check out the official website
 |
| Ian Galliguez (Aling Glenda) and Axle Aeiou Samson (Toto) in Nono |
Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) by Marlon Rivera
 |
| Movie Poster for Cinemalaya |
Babae sa Septic Tank is a comedy about misguided ambitions, the art of making art and the romanticization of poverty. Another from the 2011 Cinemalaya. Trailer/Teaser
There are also some films that aren't in the program but I would love to see like Jerrold Tarog's Senior Year, Bahay Bata (Baby Factory) by Eduardo Roy Jr & Jerome Zamora, the hard hitting Cuchera by Joseph Isreal Laban and anything with Mercedes Cabral (whoops!) but remember she did win 'The Most Beautiful Actress' at the 61st Cannes Film Festival and she has been cast by Korea's Park Chan-wook plus stared in Brillante Mendoza's Serbis along with a host of other movie credits. This years Cinemalaya saw her in three films.
 |
| Mercedes Cabral |
So back to BIFF, 5 films from the Philippines in the official selection and just to give you a flavour of what they're in amongst.
Try Sion Sono's Guilty of Romance and his latest Himizu (yet to see that), Eternity from Thailand plus films from Iran, India, China, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan and Kazakhstan.
I still scratch my head when I think back to MIFF and ask 'where were they???'
This is just the Window of Asian Cinema. You also have World Cinema, Korean Cinema Today, International & National Guests and a massive market. I reckon it would be a pretty good place to be come October.
6th to the 14th of October 2011 Busan, South Korea
Thursday 8 September 2011
The Air that we Breath
Always had a thing for the gas mask? Past life in the trenches? Maybe in the trenches now?
Such an outward sign that there is no more fresh air. A celebration of the micro-climate!
Or is it just a case of beautiful weirdness.
I made this foul stench and I can survive.....at least for a while.
Both of these stills are from the 2011 Athens riots, sub-genre - finance gone awry
Maybe it's that I just can't hear you speak? I don't know and I don't care but I think it's got to do with that haunting stare. Argh the gas mask.
Such an outward sign that there is no more fresh air. A celebration of the micro-climate!
Or is it just a case of beautiful weirdness.
I made this foul stench and I can survive.....at least for a while.
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| authority still functions |
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| Resistance Persistance |
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| Holly Mother Fuck'n Christ |
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| Military Fear |
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| Say No More! |
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| shit? |
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| The modern symbol of the laboured breath |
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| The other side of the clean air debate |
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| effective? |
Wednesday 7 September 2011
More Spoilt for Choice #2
In my post MIFF come down, where I'm hazy and lazy, propped under my coolabah tree, I squint into the spring sunshine and slowly make out through the glints and the flares another film festival.
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH its the Korean Film Festival
and it's the first time it's been to Melbourne (God Bless Their Seoul)
and it's on at ACMI
No Hong Sang-soo, which is a shame but I think I'll open my account with an old classic.
I'm looking forward to seeing Park Chan-wook's first successful feature JSA (Joint Security Area) A tale of military murder on the border of North and South Korea, an area that is still strained with the posturing and tension of a divided country. Some say his best film? Certainly a better box office return than his first two. (http://newkoreancinema.com/)
Check the Trailer. I say I haven't seen any others but as he is a poster boy for South Korean cinema I might a well start here? He is currently working on his first English speaking film which is starring Nicole Kidman. I just don't know how to react to such news, usually she is a great reason NOT to see a film, so I hope she doesn't burst his bubble....stand by.
JSA screens on early Sunday evening (11th) and preceding it is a talk on Korean Cinema Downunder, headed up by Dr Adrian Martin. Do we need more than two good reasons to go to this? then maybe Christian Were (Madman) and Al Cossar (MIFF) may be the extra that you need. It's free and should put this cinema into context real good.
There are two films a night for four nights except for Saturday which has three films. It's short sharp and sweet and a treat....I hope. It is put on by the Korean Cultural Office which is based in Sydney and runs a healthy cultural program throughout the year. KOFFIA is one of their annual major events and we are very lucky in Melbourne that they are spreading their wings further afield this year. I imagine if it is well attended and a success it may too become an annual event down here?
Another film I may go and see is Shim's Family. Just the first line of the blurb got me in, oh that and the publicity still.
It's a black comedy about a dysfunctional family. Its skeletons in the cupboard. Why not I say?
Jeong Yoon-cheol, the director, was an editing student at AFTRS, on a scholarship apparently. I like a director that has come from the edit suite. This is the closing film for the festival, Tuesday evening (13th) 8pm.
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH its the Korean Film Festival
and it's the first time it's been to Melbourne (God Bless Their Seoul)
and it's on at ACMI
KOFFIA 2011, Sept 10-13
I'm looking forward to seeing Park Chan-wook's first successful feature JSA (Joint Security Area) A tale of military murder on the border of North and South Korea, an area that is still strained with the posturing and tension of a divided country. Some say his best film? Certainly a better box office return than his first two. (http://newkoreancinema.com/)
Check the Trailer. I say I haven't seen any others but as he is a poster boy for South Korean cinema I might a well start here? He is currently working on his first English speaking film which is starring Nicole Kidman. I just don't know how to react to such news, usually she is a great reason NOT to see a film, so I hope she doesn't burst his bubble....stand by.
There are two films a night for four nights except for Saturday which has three films. It's short sharp and sweet and a treat....I hope. It is put on by the Korean Cultural Office which is based in Sydney and runs a healthy cultural program throughout the year. KOFFIA is one of their annual major events and we are very lucky in Melbourne that they are spreading their wings further afield this year. I imagine if it is well attended and a success it may too become an annual event down here?
Another film I may go and see is Shim's Family. Just the first line of the blurb got me in, oh that and the publicity still.
The Shims are weirdos. Misunderstood and misunderstanding is their middle name.
Jeong Yoon-cheol, the director, was an editing student at AFTRS, on a scholarship apparently. I like a director that has come from the edit suite. This is the closing film for the festival, Tuesday evening (13th) 8pm.
Friday 2 September 2011
50 Documenatries to See before you DIE
 |
| Spellbound |
This is the list that has come from the show of the same name hosted by Morgan Spurlock. He had nothing to do with the list (see #5) it was decided by a panel. Check this page. In the absence of anything before 1988 I'm treating this list as a prompt for some of the better modern documentaries released in the western world in the last 1/4 of a century or so.
I've seen the ones in bold.
Those in italics are on the 'track em down and watch in the next year please' list.
The rest will be in my brain somewhere ready to ambushed and viewed when the opportunity arises
50. Spellbound (2002)
49. Truth or Dare (1991)
48. The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)
47. One Day in September (1999)
46. Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1998)
 |
| Werner Herzog 2/50?? |
44. Burma VJ (2008)
43. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)
42. Catfish (2010)
41. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
40. When We Were Kings (1996)
39. Biggie & Tupac (2002)
38. March of the Penguins (2005)
37. Inside Job (2010)
36. Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)
 |
| Taxi to the Dark Side |
35. Paragraph 175 (2000)
34. Brother’s Keeper (1992)
33. Tongues Untied (1989)
32. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)
31. Jesus Camp (2006)
30. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
29. Man on Wire (2008)
28. Gasland (2010)
27. Tarnation (2003)
26. Murderball (2005)
25. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
24. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
23. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000)
22. Shut Up & Sing (2006)
21. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
20. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
19. Touching the Void (2003)
 |
| Touching the Void |
18. Food, Inc. (2008)
17. Street Fight (2005)
16. Bus 174 (2002)
15. Crumb (1994)
14. Dark Days (2000)
13. The Fog of War (2003)
12. Bowling for Columbine (2002)
11. Paris Is Burning (1991)
10. Grizzly Man (2005)
9. Trouble the Water (2008)
8. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
7. The Celluloid Closet (1995)
6. The War Room (1993)
5. Supersize Me (2004)
4. Waltz With Bashir (2008)
3. Roger & Me (1989)
 |
| The Man - Micheal Moore - 3/50 |
2. The Thin Blue Line (1988)
1. Hoop Dreams (1994)
Where is the Corporation??? I thought that was pretty OK?
The White Diamond?
Cane Toads? Actually there are quite a lot missing....AntarticArt -everysomewherever???
Festivals....and going off??? hehehehe
What's missing for you?
Wednesday 31 August 2011
Clean Green Mean & Lean Cycling Machines
Check it out,
much better than clean green coal?? whatever that means??
A much smaller half life than a nuclear rocket....ps that's a good thing
More efficient than the internal combustion engine (do you know how inefficient they are?)
They last a long time and you get fit too, well at least your blood gets pumping
Eco Friendly Bicycles
5 of the greener green transportation machines.
Now to Bike On in style xo
仆街少女
Pu Kai Girls - Taiwan
much better than clean green coal?? whatever that means??
A much smaller half life than a nuclear rocket....ps that's a good thing
More efficient than the internal combustion engine (do you know how inefficient they are?)
They last a long time and you get fit too, well at least your blood gets pumping
Eco Friendly Bicycles
5 of the greener green transportation machines.
Now to Bike On in style xo
Pu Kai Girls - Taiwan
Sunday 28 August 2011
沒有頭盔
I take off my hat!!!!
The Biggest, Baddest Bike-Share in the World: Hangzhou China from Streetfilms on Vimeo.
Saturday 27 August 2011
Sion Sono, he da man, He is a POET
Another MIFF highlight for me was seeing the two latest films from the master, Sion Sono; Cold Fish and Guilty of Romance. Both on the big screen, which is such a treat for his films.
Cold Fish is a rollicking ride of blood, sex, gore and religion, though his underlying ever present themes of love and family cut through the sensational and anchor the film into classic Sono territory. His sense of humour is at its perverse best with declarations of love coming from blood soaked characters sitting in amongst chopped up corpses, I mean what else could you think of in moments like that? I’ve seen it twice and I’ll admit that the second time around was much better, I was able to get under the surface of the gore and around a very ‘shouty’ character (Denden's Mr Murata) as well as have the double appreciation for Megumi Kagurazaka who plays Taeko, the not so but sort of wicked and veryily bored step mother. Well worth a view and a must see for Sion Sono fans. (Sushi Typhoon)
Just when you thought he’d topped himself with Cold Fish along comes Guilty of Romance. How prolific is this man?….thank god, what a treat. Down and dirty onto the street and the cheapest of cheap. This is a tale of conservative shackles being thrown to the wind, of high inteligensia going full circle to plumb the depths of depravity and perversion.
“Words are meaningless without actions” says the professor of literature and then she demonstrates her stand. WOW!
This is another film based on reality or true events? Ha, what does that mean?
“Words are meaningless without actions” says the professor of literature and then she demonstrates her stand. WOW!
This is another film based on reality or true events? Ha, what does that mean?
I think the most grounding aspect of both of the films is their are hyper-reality, they are exaggerated to a point where they are very watchable and then the message of the director can be seen. I watched an Australian film called X which was also about two street prostitutes but it based itself in social realism (unsuccessfully I thought) and as a result was very hard to watch through its violence, sex and drug scenes. It fell into the exploitation genre and seemed to be a bit gratuitous with not a lot of meaning behind the actions. These are criticisms often leveled at Sion Sono but I always feel that his scenes, no matter how down and dirty they get always have purpose behind them and although they do indeed make one squirm it is not the same as when it is played with the straight bat of realism. This is not a criticism of X, I actually really enjoyed it but when you compare the two you start to get a real appreciation of what Sion Sono is up to.
Megumi Kagurazaka plays Izumi (housewife turned model) and does a stirling job along with Makoto Togashi playing Mitsuko (a literature professor by day and prostitute by night) and Miki Mizuno who plays Kazuko (a police officer). All three sum to a triumph in this twisted, intertwined tale of woe.
Yes Guilty of Romance was my favourite of the two films but both will satisfy any Sion Sono fan and probably sicken most others. The man is prolific and on a roll, he is a POET!
Catch these two before his next comes out on the blocks.
Himizu (ヒミズ) is due out in 2012 and yes Megumi Kagurazaka will be in it....yi ha
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Spruce Cycles
Lock onto Bruce from the Spruce for your custom built dream delights.
Actually it's James and he turns out a pretty mean machine for pretty lean coinage.
Check the page for contact details and other shi.....
Spruce Cycles on the F book.
Actually it's James and he turns out a pretty mean machine for pretty lean coinage.
Check the page for contact details and other shi.....
Spruce Cycles on the F book.
Thursday 18 August 2011
The MIFF schedule is off the wall
So I took the MIFF schedule down today and I thought I would publish what I saw with a little rating.
The films I saw in order of appearance are:
33 Postcards Pauline Chan very good
Oki's Movie Hong Sang-soo very good
Cold Fish Sion Sono excellent
Toomelah Ivan Sen excellent
Guilty of Romance Sion Sono excellent
MIFF Shorts Awards shit
PressPausePlay David Dworsky good
Our Idiot Brohter Jesse Peretz most funny
X Jon Hewitt excellent
The Day He Arrives Hong Sang-soo beautiful excellent
Bi Don't Be Afraid Phan Đăng Di very good
Eternity Sivaroj Kongsakul nice
Hanezu Naomi Kawase not very
I Am Eleven Genevieve Bailey very good
It was a relaxed festival for me, only one day with 3 films and it was easy. A half dozen films I wanted to see but were sold out which was frustrating. 2 x Sion Sono is pretty special, missed the Herzog but it will get a release? 2 x films from my new favourite Korean Director (Hong Sang-soo) which was excellent and a great follow up from Dreamland for Ivan Sen. Oh yeah and I'd been waiting for X for a long time and I wasn't disappointed. So long MIFF 2011.
The films I saw in order of appearance are:
33 Postcards Pauline Chan very good
Oki's Movie Hong Sang-soo very good
Cold Fish Sion Sono excellent
Toomelah Ivan Sen excellent
Guilty of Romance Sion Sono excellent
MIFF Shorts Awards shit
PressPausePlay David Dworsky good
Our Idiot Brohter Jesse Peretz most funny
X Jon Hewitt excellent
The Day He Arrives Hong Sang-soo beautiful excellent
Bi Don't Be Afraid Phan Đăng Di very good
Eternity Sivaroj Kongsakul nice
Hanezu Naomi Kawase not very
I Am Eleven Genevieve Bailey very good
It was a relaxed festival for me, only one day with 3 films and it was easy. A half dozen films I wanted to see but were sold out which was frustrating. 2 x Sion Sono is pretty special, missed the Herzog but it will get a release? 2 x films from my new favourite Korean Director (Hong Sang-soo) which was excellent and a great follow up from Dreamland for Ivan Sen. Oh yeah and I'd been waiting for X for a long time and I wasn't disappointed. So long MIFF 2011.
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Spoilt for Choice or When it Rains it Pours!!!
Here we are in the middle of August just having come down from MIFF and look what we are faced with. 2 Festivals kicking off on the 19th and then a selection of films being screened independently.
First of the blocks is MUFF #12, The Melbourne Underground Film Festival, Melbourne's very viable alternative to the International Festival was set up as a reaction in order to catch the disaffected who didn't or couldn't get their film into MIFF. Such a great name, tell me who doesn't love MUFF? There's a good collection of pretty bent films and a Paul Morrisey retrospective all happening down at the Dogs Bar and Memo in St Kilda.
On the Monday a film called Citizen Jia Li by Sky Crompton, a colleague from Holmesglen, will be screening. It's a feature film and I am credited as 'Editing Consultant'. It's a very interesting idea, exploring the Asian diaspora in Melbourne. There's a Triad character, a Harajuku character and plenty of Mandarin dialogue.
Sad thing is that I have failed in my role as Editing Consultant because after an initial successful session where there was some good restructuring and cutting back of extraneous scenes, I lost the ear of the director and as a result I think the film is way too long. It is very loose in parts which kills any of the good work in the film. Don't get me wrong because there are some really nice bits to this film and some really nice performances but there is no consistency. It would make a really good 60minute film but this project was to be feature length and there was no way that 30minutes was coming out of it.
I know I am not the only person in the credits who thinks the same. Hey Ho.
Sometimes I feel like I should get my name out of the credits.
Running neck and neck with MUFF is the 6th Indonesian Film Festival running from the 19th to the 25th at ACMI cinemas in the city. There was only one Indonesian film at MIFF and I missed it, so here are a half dozen presented with talks and night outs etc. Sounds like fun but not quite sure what to see? It is the great unknown of the Asian Cinema.
Also at ACMI is Werner Herzog's latest drama My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done. David Lynch is the executive producer and by all reports is a pretty whacky film well worth a look. Especially since I missed his doco at MIFF, the 3-D spectacular Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Its on Fri to Monday and I am definantly going because I won a double pass to see it. Yi Ha. I would see it anyway because I LOVE WERNER. whoops! but it is true, I would go and see anything made by him because I just find what he does is so interesting. Doesn't always work but hey well worth a look.
Finally I also have a free pass to see Audry Tautou's latest film, Beautiful Lies. The pass will get me over the line here because I've heard a review or two that describe this as pretty bad and really questioning why she is in such a film?? I'm no real expert of this actress but I'll pop along and see. The last French film I saw like this was Micmacs and that was really fun. So we'll see what happens.
All in all this weekend/week Melbourne is totally spoilt for choice and I've not been comprehensive here, there is more!
First of the blocks is MUFF #12, The Melbourne Underground Film Festival, Melbourne's very viable alternative to the International Festival was set up as a reaction in order to catch the disaffected who didn't or couldn't get their film into MIFF. Such a great name, tell me who doesn't love MUFF? There's a good collection of pretty bent films and a Paul Morrisey retrospective all happening down at the Dogs Bar and Memo in St Kilda.
On the Monday a film called Citizen Jia Li by Sky Crompton, a colleague from Holmesglen, will be screening. It's a feature film and I am credited as 'Editing Consultant'. It's a very interesting idea, exploring the Asian diaspora in Melbourne. There's a Triad character, a Harajuku character and plenty of Mandarin dialogue.
Sad thing is that I have failed in my role as Editing Consultant because after an initial successful session where there was some good restructuring and cutting back of extraneous scenes, I lost the ear of the director and as a result I think the film is way too long. It is very loose in parts which kills any of the good work in the film. Don't get me wrong because there are some really nice bits to this film and some really nice performances but there is no consistency. It would make a really good 60minute film but this project was to be feature length and there was no way that 30minutes was coming out of it.
I know I am not the only person in the credits who thinks the same. Hey Ho.
Sometimes I feel like I should get my name out of the credits.
Running neck and neck with MUFF is the 6th Indonesian Film Festival running from the 19th to the 25th at ACMI cinemas in the city. There was only one Indonesian film at MIFF and I missed it, so here are a half dozen presented with talks and night outs etc. Sounds like fun but not quite sure what to see? It is the great unknown of the Asian Cinema.
Also at ACMI is Werner Herzog's latest drama My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done. David Lynch is the executive producer and by all reports is a pretty whacky film well worth a look. Especially since I missed his doco at MIFF, the 3-D spectacular Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Its on Fri to Monday and I am definantly going because I won a double pass to see it. Yi Ha. I would see it anyway because I LOVE WERNER. whoops! but it is true, I would go and see anything made by him because I just find what he does is so interesting. Doesn't always work but hey well worth a look.
Finally I also have a free pass to see Audry Tautou's latest film, Beautiful Lies. The pass will get me over the line here because I've heard a review or two that describe this as pretty bad and really questioning why she is in such a film?? I'm no real expert of this actress but I'll pop along and see. The last French film I saw like this was Micmacs and that was really fun. So we'll see what happens.
All in all this weekend/week Melbourne is totally spoilt for choice and I've not been comprehensive here, there is more!
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