If anybody has the gigantic guts to ask me this forbidden question by risking his/her own life, “Why are you still single?,” I would say “I’ve been waiting for the greatest love of my life,” instead of saying “none of your business, dude.”
Sounds corny?
Not after watching “The Greatest Love” online. If you have no clue about what “The Greatest Love” is, you might ask this innocent question – “Oh, you can watch great love online? Technology might have evolved to a fanciful level. You’re not talking about videos for adults, though. Right?” lol. Nope. In fact, it’s for everybody. It’s hilarious, at least to me. I burst into tears from my incessant laughs.
There are some corny moments, but I bet you are also gonna be addicted (like me) to this crazy romantic comedy drama from South Korea once you settle in. It even won the Silver World Medal of the New York Festivals – Film and Television Awards this year. What I like about this K-Drama is that it shows how all the technological developments like the proliferation of social media and digital cameras could affect celebrities’ life styles, their public relations, more importantly their love life, in a hilarious way. Nowhere to escape if you are a celebrity in Korea cuz Everybody becomes digital paparazzi.
Personally, I also used to bump into the main actor, Cha Seung-Won, (playing as Dok Go Jin, btw, can you believe he has a 22 year old son?) in real life back in the 1990s because he was living in my neighborhood in Pundang. I wish I had a digital camera with me back then, so that I could become a paparazzi (if I knew that I could become addicted to this Dok Go Jin character ^^).
Where can you watch this? It’s everywhere. Viki.com / Hulu.com/ DramaFever.com and so on. My favorite is Viki.com. Viki’s translations are not perfect (it’s all contributed by users. FYI, actual Korean dialogues are much funnier than the translations), but you can experience the community viewing experience. Other people’s comments are equally hilarious as the drama.
(fun fact: This drama was shot almost like a live show because of the tight schedule. The actors shot some scenes without much sleep up to the the hours right before its airing)
Earlier this year, New Yorkers saw people flying over the City.
What? Really? When? Where? Who?
Kidding.
It was actually an event to promote “Chronicle,” a movie about kids who happen to obtain superpower after contacting some supernatural.
My friend and industry colleague Jim Percelay was in charge of the operation, along with creating this Time Square geek for “Limitless,” a movie about a guy who happens to become super-smart after taking some pills (FYI, that geek’s device is not real, it was an expensive media buyout at Time Square). Jim is also responsible for that controvertial “Nude Gaming Party” video very uncomfortably shot in Soho APT (which I would not post here for my minor audience *^^*)
These videos were very powerful and effective in promoting the movies (products) in a very short period of time with a very limited budget. Jim said that this video, along with the Chronicle trailer was the only thing they had to promote the film and it was really successful in driving the Box Office.
So, the silly bottom line is that people like Jim Percelay can really fly in NYC if they can get viral pretty fast. If people actually fly, then that could get viral pretty fast.
That would be a chicken ‘N egg situation. Huh? What? Duh!
Check out these videos. Don’t you think it’s worth some multi-million instant hits on Youtube?
I adore this band. They look exactly like the boys skateboarding everyday in front of my building (oh, there are so many young skateboarding fanatics around downtown these days. Happy~*)
They grabbed my eyes not because they look like some dudes lurking around my neighborhood from 8 to 8, but because of this video and the music they make.
Do you think you can make this kind of music video yourself in your basement without much money to spend? Oh, Yeah, I bet!! Do you think you can become a star or a great band only by a big budget glitzy music video or by being picked up by a big agency, then you are mistakenly living in the past.
Let’s stop and think for a moment to see what’s gonna take to make this music video: You might need a space to enable your body to squirm around a bit, different shades of big fabrics (maybe from your grandma’s closet), your usual clothes and a bottle of hair mouse, of course a camera and a computer with Final Cut Pro or whatever you have, with a lot of sweat equity in editing & tons of musical/creative inspirations. Practice, play, fun to perfection. And finally great music! … No studio facility to record? Well, even then, if you live in a big city like New York, anybody who is your friend’s friend might have a studio space to let you record your song. Or your quiet room, why not? A piece of cake. Am I oversimplifying the systematic star making issue? Maybe. You don’t have any musical talent to make this kind of song? Then, that is a totally different issue.
Think about it. Dwell on it. What are you waiting for? And What am I waiting for? Damn. Repent!
Listen to this. It’s been the most effective motivational speech I’ve ever heard lately.
“LET’S MAKE THIS HAPPEN, GIRL~ LET’S GET STARTED, GIRL~ YOU ARE GONNA SHOW THE WORLD THAT SOMETHING GOOD CAN WORK FOR YOU~ YOU KNOW THAT IT WILL~”
Full lyrics here: http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/two-door-cinema-club-lyrics/something-good-can-work-lyrics.html
I cannot wait to see Merlin Season 5 that is coming up later this year.
Prince Arthur, destined to be the greatest king the world would have ever known.
And Merlin, Prince Arthur’s humble servant and dragon lord with the great power of magic, shadowing and secretly helping Arthur with his magical power.
Morgana, Arthur’s sister destined to be an evil witch who develops her animosity toward the Pendragon.
And Guinevere, the servant for Morgana, but Arthur’s love destiny and the future queen.
Magic, Love, the legendary sword Excalibur, Dragon, Power, Evil Spirits, Nobility and Loyalty…
Who wouldn’t love this kind of stuff? If you don’t, I seriously suggest that you get your heart to be checked by a doctor asap. You might find yourself in a very serious health related situation.
Merlin is getting better and better every season. And I love the lovely people playing in there, Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson… I love them all. Oh, I bet all the girls would swoon over Bradley James’ handsome grin and solemn chins, tactfully hiding his British humor of real life and of course Colin Morgan’s innocent and cute Irish smiles. hehe.
Bring me more of this sort. I want more fantasy stories.
It’s over 10:00pm at night here in NYC. Damn hungry now… Literally. It’s time to ditch my diet scheme. I’m getting more hungry. More good stuff, s’il vous plait! ^^
Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who is the fairest of them all?
Tomorrow is the Oscar day of 2012.
This year, coincidentally there are two movies that portray two iconic women in the modern history, Margaret Thatcher and Marilyn Monroe. The leading actresses for the movies were nominated for the Oscar with their stellar performances. These two familiar names are Maryl Streep for “The Iron Lady” and Michelle Williams for “My Week With Marilyn”.
Who do you think is gonna win the Oscar? Can you be the mirror on the wall to tell me who is the fairest of them all?
Frankly, I liked Maryl Streep’s performance more than Michelle Williams’. I could feel something more complex, deeper and sophisticated acting from Maryl Streep’s stance, compared to Michelle Williams’. I’m not saying that Michelle’s acting was not that good, quite the opposite. But I could feel from Maryl’s something that can only be accumulated and polished over the years of experience.
Both of them came to the screenings last year to talk about their movies. Michelle William’s looked more polished and star-like because she’s young and beautifully dressed, with impeccable porcelain skin and succinct responses to certain questions while Maryl Streep was comfortably dressed and talked like one of our middle-aged lady next door. Marily Streep sometimes couldn’t finish her sentences and sometimes forgot what she was talking about (very human to me). ^^
I don’t remember what Michelle Williams was saying, but I still do remember what Maryl Streep ended her conversations with, despite her occasional stuttering moments. She said that “The Iron Lady” is for a wrinkled and sagging-faced old lady sitting on the other side in a subway train who nobody notices and nobody recognizes because there is nothing special about her and she’s easily forgettable. But inside all the wrinkles and the old face, you never know what kind of extraordinary life and events she might have gone through. Respect old ladies. They might have had the whole world on her shoulder. Bravo to that. Amen. Oscar, are you nodding to her, too? ^^
Do you have “burning” desires to tell your stories to the world? And your gut is telling you that it is a good one?
But what if you don’t have any money or connections to make your stories come to life? What other options do you have? No more despairs and solitary sobbing moments. Thanks to crowd-funding sites like KickStarter and IndieGoGo, your creative minds can find a venue to attract the seed money you need for your creative endeavors.
Here are two talented friends of mine who set out to make their stories come true.
One is Jonathan Mayor who has produced this documentary film about this legendary musician Chris Whitley. The other is Amanda Cole who has produced this ultra-low-budget Sci-Fi web series about this apocalyptic future.
It’s amazing to see how Jonathan’s film got $28,000 in just 8 days from all over the world (today more than $56,000) and that the Sundance Film Festival started following the movie on Twitter during the same first week. And it’s mind-boggling how Amanda managed to pull together an amazing team of talents with such a low budget, including a VFX artist (Marc) who worked on Harry Potter and X-Men and a sound guy (Raphael) who worked on True Grit and a cute/amazing editor (Momo). ^^
Please, keep your hands up for these two talented and brave New Yorkers who acted out to tell their stories. How about you guys? Do you have the guts to get out there to tell your stories?
One tip: the difference between KickStarter and IndieGogo is that you don’t have to arrive at the threshold amount you set out on IndieGogo to receive the funded money, while you should reach that goal on KickStarter. But somehow, these independent film makers would prefer to be connected with the community on KickStarter.
The New York Giants won the Super Bowl!! The Big Parade ensued. All the New Yorkers jumped on the bandwagon, along with Mayor Bloomberg today. It was a warm sunny spring-like day of February.
On the night of the victory, I thought that my back alley turned into a 70′s big street gang fight scene like in the movie “The Warriors.” I got all excited and looked out the window, it disappointingly turned out to be 2012, only with honking and a bunch of drinkers yelling.
With such victorious mood, we often forget how all those winners got there where they are. How hard they worked to get there, to make dreams come true. They might have had talent. They might have had the right kind of training programs at school and their big family’s support. But who knows what kind of sweat and tears have been unseen behind the victorious veil?
Have you ever felt that you don’t have the money to make your dream come true? Have you ever felt that you don’t have the right kind of family and the environment to make your life the way you want it to be? Have you ever felt that things in your life are holding you back and never let you go free?
Today, I saw a real behind story in a documentary film entitled “UNDEFEATED.”
A bunch of inner city high school kids with all the odds against them in their lives. Dysfunctional families, no fair environments for football training, no legacy to be proud of, no financial support to make it big. And there is one coach dedicated to lifting these kids high up to the light as much as he can, so that the whole world can see them in the right light. Go through their journeys, their struggles and their victories.
GO TIGERS!! GO DREAMERS!!
Keep doing the right thing. Keep doing the right thing. One day, you’ll see that things are happening.
See this. Real stories. Real sweat and tears. You won’t be disappointed.
Somebody said that New York is one Big DisneyLand for adults. Maybe, that’s why its nick name is Big Apple (just my theory).
If you secretly wished to experience some of the aspect of the saying, here I can guide you through.
Have you ever felt that you are subject to age discrimination when you tried to ride that small slide in the playground of your neighborhood where there is a sign saying no living soul over 13 or something similar?
Now today, forget about your big multiple sighs and big sagging disappointments around that playground.
Just visit the New Museum in my neighborhood, Lower East Side.
http://www.newmuseum.org/
There, you can experience the Carsten Holler exhibition until January 15th, 2012.
You can ride a Big Sci-Fi slide that’s piercing through three stories of the building. Of course, no worries about age discrimination. You can ride a shiny merry-go-round with pride (no shame, thinking of your age). Sci-Fi alien Santas will greet you with space ships and you can walk around with a big sci-fi helmet that will distort your vision upside down.
Don’t dispair around the playground in your neighborhood any more. Be happy at the New Museum. The Artsy Sci-Fi Playground will await you in the shiny silver armor.
Have Fun!! And Greet 2012 with futuristic ideas~~ ^^
Halloween is near. But New Yorkers’ costume party has already started from this weekend, along with the New York Comic Con festival.
Tons of younsters and superpower hero/heroine enthusiasts flocked together in groups to see who is attending to show off their super power this year. Some of them may not be living in the city. But the heck, Who cares? As long as you are here to make your presence, you’re part of the community.
Spotting some of these half-naked super heroes and Roman soldiers walking by on the street of LES (half way down in Manhattan) at chilly night was a big secretive amusement for a person who was a part of the super-hero group during the day.
Why don’t you join the festival next year? You’d better hurry. It might take a whole year to develop such a cool persona.
Have you ever secretly wished to have a cool taciturn guardian angel with special abilities nearby, protecting and saving you from evil forces?
If you haven’t seen any in real life, then see Ryan Gosling in Drive.
A loner with a sensitive soul. Immensely suppressed anger with pure childlike innocence. His melancholy teary eyes contrast his skillfully firm grip on the steering wheel when he drives to protect his amorous connection. You’ll feel that you can lean on his firm back without much worry.
As you can guess from the 60-page-long final script reduced from its original script which took 6 years in development, there is very little dialogue, other than the characters’ succinct or non-verbal communications.
I feel like today I rediscovered Ryan Gosling and Director Nicolas Winding Refn. Ryan was handsome, charismatic, and sexy in Drive, unlike the first time I saw Ryan in person at the Blue Valentine screening from last year (don’t get me wrong, Ryan. I really like the movie, your performance and your witty conversations after the screening. I think you are handsome, charismatic and sexy in real life as well). At the last year’s screening, Ryan was to me like a guy living next door. When I saw him in person, he didn’t show off the movie star vibe. He was friendly, nice and seems like a compassionate easy-going next-door neighbor. I think He shines more on a big screen, then on he’s like a true star. In that sense, he is a good actor to me. It was also interesting to hear how they all got involved in the first place. Ryan Gosling got involved first with the movie script and called Nicolas to persuade him to join when the director was in LA, unhappy and high on fever reducing drug (?) he got from Harrison Ford. And then, much later Carey Mulligan called Nicolas to work with him after seeing the director’s next movie clips. Nice job, guys. A cool movie and a cool director.
All of sudden I wanted to check out Ryan Gosling’s other films, so I decided to go and see “Crazy, Stupid, Love” this weekend. And I’m gonna watch “The Notebook” again because I just realized that he was the main character in that movie, which I loved when I first watched and thought was the best romantic film. Are you that romantic and sensitive in real life, Ryan? ^^
Go and meet your Guardian Angel. Drive is not Fast and Furious. But, way cooler.
