Where We Begin

Where we begin? Right at the start? Maybe?
Well yes if this were a question from say someone who speaks English as a second language.
Or maybe it's meant to be locating where we actually begin?

All this is not relevant in this case because Where We Begin is actually a title for a short film that is being made, a film made by Mitsuyo Miyazaki. Actually it's a collaboration between her and the band called Mono, most popular in Japan. And wait for it......it's a dance film.

Mono live

Photos by Viola Kam 

http://shadowviola.wordpress.com/

 Well shit! what does that mean? and that's a good question but before I go there I wanna tell you about the first film that I saw directed by Mitsuyo.

TSUYAKO (2011) 

(V'z Twinkle Photography)

This was her USC School of Cinematic Arts, MFA Thesis project.  It's one of the most beautiful short films that have passed my eyes, beautifully shot, exquisite and seamless production design, great casting and direction, etherial score and such a touching personal story. 
It really is magnificent!
Check out the trailer here.
Based on this film alone I will claim Mitsuyo is a great filmmaker and I will back her next project to see what comes next, what delight is just around the corner? Just check out the website and see all the awards this film has won to realise I'm not just spouting hot air on this one. I think all who have seen it will agree with my words and some may say I'm understating.

So now we have a dance film on the cards, could be tragic....maybe but I doubt it. 

It's funny how things come in groups but I have had some really good experiences around dance and film, filmmakers with a dance background, films about dancers, dance as the main communicator.
Most recently and also from the States is a short film by Abe Heisler. He is a very accomplished filmmaker also and has just recently completed a short called Dancing with Nureyev that explores the passion of ballet, the journey and the crossroads of an aspiring performer. 
Simply put it is a beautiful lyrical piece, all Abe's films come from the heart.
 

Viktor Kabaniaev & Sasha De Sola from the film Dancing with Nureyev

So not long after seeing this I also became aware of Where We Begin. 
I think I'm into the idea of it, if this film lands halfway between Abe's film and Tsuyako it would be a stunningly beautiful masterpiece. Check out the kickstarter campaign quickly, cause it's expiring very soon, and there and on the facebook page there are many videos giving insight into the creative process and the thinking behind this film. Plenty of material for you to make up your own mind.

These are the sort of projects that attract my attention and these are the sort of projects that I finacially back. I want to see them birthed into this world. I am interested.

NOIRHOUSE - the return.

Series II Episodes 4 - 9

So series two of Noirhouse launched nationally on ABC iView in November but was only available in Australia (why would yo geoblock a web series?? indeed we live in strange times!).
But as of December it is available to the rest of the world on the Noirhouse web site and it is in glorious HD.  Forgive me if you tried to access the show outside of Australia the last time I posted about this  but now you can all see it.

Series II has double the episodes of series I but continues on the hellbent tangent of murder, mystery and mayhem that is only possible in a Noir Share-house and only possible emanating from the deep south's capital of Hobart. 

NOIRHOUSE, so who really drank the milk?

I have a vested interest in pushing this little baby.

Hobart is my second home, I am unofficial Hobartarian and thus I will champion the creative endeavors that regularly pop from this part of the world.

Mick, Nathan & Mel 

I have shared both good times and bad times having worked on many a short film with lots of the Noirhouse cast and crew.  They are very good at what they do and they be good people too! 

Of course I want to see their work succeed.

The Rusian, The Feme Fatale & The Detective

I have worked on a lot of shit productions in my time. Most of what I have worked on would fall into this category but when on the rare occasion I do get to work on something that is good I like to gloat about it and shout its virtues to the ends of the world. I've had the privilege of scheduling and managing both series of Noirhouse and not only did I do a blistering job!!!! but these shows are actually really well written, beautifully cast, well acted, shot just delightfully, stunning production design, sublimely scored and greatly directed. In short this stuff aint shit, they are good shows.

the romance of candlelight

Series II is part of a batch of web series that the ABC has invested in so that it can bring unique and specific programing to ABC iView, making it more than just a 'catch up' portal. Noirhouse, along with Wasteland Panda and a couple of others are now exclusive to ABC iView. Its exciting and pioneering stuff, will this out let enable sustainable production for web series or is there a larger agenda going on? Maybe the online hub is like a crowd sourcing exercise or a broadcast audience test bed platform.
Is it a matter of 'the series with the most hits' gets converted into a comedy show for ABC 1 or 2???
Or is the ABC truly wanting unique programing for it's web presence because it sees this as the future of broadcast and exhibition?

Doesn't really matter what is going on cause that is just a side story to the main event of some really good, entertaining content that is now available for your immediate consumption. Get on it and have a watch but also get it out amongst the others so they can have a watch too.
Share the Shit out of it cause it's Good Shit!

Red Carpet for Opening Night, BIFF 2014.

Wowy Cowy, me as the paparazzi? nahhh, never. But popping off shots of celebrities was exactly what I did on opening night this BIFF. It takes quite a while to fill an outdoor cinema via a red carpet.
So the decision between passively watching this parade of actors and directors or taking it head on as undercover photographer was made with very little deliberation and here are the results.
No Shame!

Ryohei Otani & Dir. Kim Han-min  (Roaring Currents)

Lee Jung-hyun (Roaring Currents)

Watanabe Ken & Moon So-ri host's of the evening.

Kim Won hae doing it like a Gangster

Tang Wei & Dir. Ann Hui (The Golden Era)

Kim Soo-hyun (Level 7 Civil Servant, The Avengers)

Chen Jian Bin, Chen Yi Han, Juan Ethan, Wan Qian, Dir. Niu Doze Chen-Zer & Dir. Lee Yong-kwan

Paradise in Service Dir. Niu Doze Chen-Zer & BIFF 2014 Dir. Lee Yong-kwan

Dir. Shim Sung Bo + Han Ye-ri (Haemoo)

Cast from One on One and Dir. Kim Ki Duk

Han Ye-ri + Moon Seong-geun (Haemoo)

Lee Ha-Nui Honey Lee (Behind the Camera) & Kim Nam-gil (The Pirates)

Im Ji-yeon (Obsessed)

Kim Hee-ra and wife

Love Never Fails - Jang Hyun-sung, Oh Yu-jin & Choi Jungwon

Paradise in Service - Opening Night Film

Kim Gyu-ri, Dir. Im Kwon-Taek & Kim Ho-Jung (Revivre)

Kim Hee-ae (Elegant Lie)

Kim Hee-ae (Elegant Lie)

Kang Ye-won (The Huntress, Haeundae)

Jo Yeo-jung (The Target, Obsessed) + one

Jung Woo-sung + Esom (Behind the Camera)

Jung Yumi (Our Sunhi, In Another Country, Oki's Movie)

Kaho Minami, dir Ryuichi Hiroki & Lee Eun-Ho (Kabuki Lovehotel)

Well it was a bit of fun and it certainly passed the time before the official formalities.
It was amazing that I was where I was and was able to witness the passing parade.
Opening Night tickets sold out online within 3 minutes! It's a pretty in demand event.
What's not captured in the pictures is the clapping and cheering and screaming that is going on, depending heavily on who was on the carpet. There were some who got complete silence.
The rest of the night was sort of epic in scale and a bit weird too, ending in a screening of Paradise in Service. Which was great but that's not for here nor now.