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[26 Oct 2008|12:43am] |
CHECK OUT MY NEW PHOTO BLOG:
www.sodapopthesis.com
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| Google Maps Street View |
[01 Oct 2008|08:48am] |
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Crazy! They must've hired a lot of people to take all these 360 degrees photographs of all these streets - including my street! You can even see my car!
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| The Future of the Australian Film Industry |
[15 Sep 2008|05:24pm] |
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Today the new government super film agency Screen Australia (the result of the merging of the AFC, FFC and Film Australia) released it's Statement of Intent which outlines it's vision for the future of the organisation and how it will respond to the changing needs of the industr:
http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/about_us/corp_info/DSOI.asp
The new direction that SA is proposing to take seems to be a positive one as it is decidedly more focused on developing screen enterprises and nurturing production companies that are demonstrating strong creative and economic leadership.
I read an article the other day quoting Peter Garrett saying that our industry is a "cottage industry". i.e. too many small production companies and too few enterprises. In fact 86% of production companies in Australia employ less than 4 people! And I know a vast majority of production companies are really just led by one producer.
Every film graduate seems to want to set up a production company. Many of them have a 1 x producer + 1 x director structure and they go on to do corporate videos, music videos and perhaps some of the better performers go on to do TVCs. Very few actually dedicate themselves to drama production. Most of them probably give up and become content with earning a comfortable living doing ads.
Some other Producers go out solo and start a company and work on a project-by-project basis which again is all well and good but offers zero potential for growth.
As Peter Garrette was implying, these small production companies and producers need to consolidate and team up so that there's always a slate of projects being developed and produced through the one company, hence more money will go to the company, which can then grow and hopefully become financially independent.
Anyway it seems like the government is finally waking up to some of the needs of the Australian film industry and I'm also now much more motivated to pursue my own screen business and have a much clearer idea of the steps I would need to take to achieve my business goals. I'm looking forward to the challenged ahead!
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| Girl Power |
[03 Aug 2008|07:52pm] |
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This is AWESOME:
http://www.mwza.com/alicia-keysswven-vogue-tlc-bet-awards-2008-video/
Alicia Keys performing a medley of classic 90's R&B songs with SWV, En Vogue (including Dawn Robinson) and TLC! They finish it off with everyone coming on stage to perform "Waterfalls".
Oh how I love my RnB girl group from the 90's before all the Destiny's Skanks and the Pussycat Skanks infiltrated the market with their soul-less songs about their jelly-filled booties and their hungry wet pussies.
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[12 Jul 2008|09:24pm] |
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How can this Professor Jiao Chen and Empress Chen Jiao be ahead of ME (my IMDB page) on Google search?
This must be rectified.
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| The Golden Compass |
[30 Dec 2007|03:25pm] |
*****CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS******
After really enjoying reading the books, I was very anxious to see how the film adaptation of "The Golden Compass" would hold up. i knew that they had to dilute the overt anti-Christian sentiments of the book for the film to avoid ignorant Christians kicking up a fuss (but hey they kicked up a fuss anyway and the film's US box office suffered accordingly).
The pacing of the film definitely felt rushed and for people who haven't read the books, it probably would have been a bit overwhelming. There wasn't much time for character development and theological deliberations as characters, plot points and concepts were introduced rapidly for the sake of keeping the film under 120 minutes.
I was very pleased, however, that they were mostly very faithful to the book. Plotwise there were a few noticeable differences like the Bolvangard battle coming after the Svalbard battle and the reason for Iorek's exile but it seems these changes were made for practical reasons and doesn't take away from the integrity of the story.
One change that really annoyed me however was the change to the ending. I was very sure that in the trailer you saw snippets of the ending cliffhanger where Mrs. Coulter and Lyra's gang all catch up to Lord Asriel and there's a dramatic scene involving Lord Asriel opening the portal to another world. It turned out that indeed that scene was shot for this film but it was removed in the last minute. My guess is they thought just in case they don't get to make the other two films, it's better to end on a happy note rather than a cliffhanger.
Despite removing overt references to the Church, religion and God, the film thankfully still includes enough subtle references to stay true to the book's central ideology of the evils of an institutionalised Christianity. For example, the Magisterium officials' costumes were very similar to those of Catholic priests and Mrs. Coulter even at one point talks about the "mistake" our "ancestors" made a long time ago where they defied "The Authority" which lead to Dust entering our world.*
It's amazing that this movie caused such a stir within the Christian communities, particularly in America. The Vatican decried the film as the most anti-Christian film that could possibly be made. I don't even think "The Da Vinci Code" got such a harsh response from the old man. But I guess being a family film, parents don't want their pure Christian children asking them uncomfortable questions about the world. Kids having the right to think for themselves - how utterly terrible!
I find it quite disgusting that the bible lovers approve of preaching on TV, preaching on the streets and even knocking on your doors and preaching to your face, yet it's utterly unacceptable for people of opposing ideologies to voice their opinions even in a far less intrusive manner.
ANYWAY, "The Golden Compass" is a worthy but flawed adaptation of Pullman's great trilogy and after it's poor performance at the US box office, I hope the international earnings will be enough to warrant the production of the sequels.
*Adam and Eve defying God and letting Sin into the world.
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| Wild Tigers I Have Known |
[14 Mar 2007|02:49am] |
While browsing through the trailers on Apple.com, I came upon this very interesting looking film:
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| One Night in Shanghai |
[14 Jan 2007|03:05am] |
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1 <3 Shanghai. The glitz, the sophistication and so incredibly multicultural! I'm staying in a really nice 4 star hotel here. I don't want to go back :(
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| Beijing |
[12 Jan 2007|04:30pm] |
I'm still alive! I went to Beijing for 12 days during my break and had a fantastic time! Beijing is very multifaceted and it's exciting to feel the waves of economic, intellectual and artistic development that course through the city. I didn't have enough time to even scrape the surface of Beijing and I'm looking forward to returning there sometime in the near future - perhaps this year during their autumn in September (apparently the weather is best in autumn).
This weekend I'm visiting Shanghai for a bit. It's a work related trip but I'm sure I'll find some time to have fun :)
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| First Official Press Release |
[29 Nov 2006|04:33am] |
Yesterday we released the first bit of official press release to some Chinese media outlets.
Here's an article from Monkey Peaches (please excuse their horrible spelling) and two stills we released to Sina.
WWII Story THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI in Production (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
November 28, 2006
Two production stills taken on the location of The Children of Huang Shi have been distributed to the Chinese press by the film?s Chinese producer Cheerland Entertainment Organization. According to Variety, Set in war-ravaged China during the late 1930s, ?Huang Shi? is based on true events. It?s the story of a young Englishman, George Hogg, who led 60 orphaned boys on a journey across the Liu Pan Shan mountains (Liupan Mountains) to safety on the edge of the Mongolian desert. The real-life George Hogg died from tetanus in 1945, a year after he escorted the children to safety. Irish-born actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Mission: Impossible III, Match Point, Ride with the Devil) plays George Hogg and Australian actress Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, Melinda and Melinda, Finding Neverland) plays a nurse helping Hogg. Chow Yun-Fat plays a resistance fighter who returns to his homeland after the Japanese invasion and Michelle Yeoh plays village woman. Roger Spottiswoode (The 6th Day, Tomorrow Never Dies, Hiroshima) is directing the project with the script penned by Jane Hawksley. The project's producers include Arthur Cohn (Les Choristes, One Day in September, Central Station), Martin Hagemann (Old Love, The Flying Scotsman, Creep), Peter Loehr (Air, Sunflower, Shower), Wieland Schulz-Keil (Sister Smile, The Cat's Meow, Twister) and Jonathan Shteinman (Like Minds, The Night We Called It a Day, Rabbit-Proof Fence).
In June last year, Brendan Fraser announced he would play the lead character in the project, which would go into production in November 2005. Fraser later quit the project for some reason unknown and the filming did not begin until the 13th this month. The production is currently taking place at China's northwestern Gansu Province, where the story occurs. More filming will be done at Hengdian World Studios of eastern China, Shanghai and Melbourne Australia. This Chinese-Australian-German production is aiming at a worldwide release in 2008.
www.monkeypeaches.com
Both the stills above were taken over the past week in Liancheng. We've been filming on a snowy mountain. The snow on the ground is real but the falling snow is fake.
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[10 Nov 2006|02:53pm] |
I'm in Dunhuang, staying in a nice 4 star hotel. It's a pretty cool town - surprisingly modern.
Everyone's been working around the clock and getting very little sleep each night. We start shooting 2nd Unit tomorrow and Principal Photography starts on Monday.
I still have uni assessments to do but I sooooo cannot be bothered (OMG I HATE UNI SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!)
Anyway this really isn't a proper post and I promise I'll write a better one about my journey when I have the energy.
Don't miss me too much! ;)
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| Farewell for now |
[29 Oct 2006|11:31am] |
My flight departs in less than 12 hours and I still haven't packed!
Thank you to all those who made it to my party. You made it an amazing night.
To those of you graduating, stay in touch, good luck with everything and remember the good times :)
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| Will you leave with me? |
[24 Oct 2006|09:42am] |
My flight fo China departs at 12.20pm on Monday 30th October (the day of my birthday).
I will be flying back to Australia on Febuary 15th.
I have to do my major photography assignment in 4 days, which is a damn shame because now I will never get the D/HD that I deserve :'(
I'm getting an extension on my written essays so I can write them in China. Pray for me that I pass everything.
I still need to organise things for the Aria awards shoot this Sunday evening. Beyonce Knowles will be attending so it will be big!
This week has been and is going to be INSANE.
Several of my friends are leaving for International Studies next year and many are graduating.
That makes me sad.
Next year will be so different without them.
Plus I don't even know if I want to continue on with uni next year.
I feel like everything is going to change...
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| Computer says NO. |
[19 Oct 2006|02:59pm] |
My computer died.
I pressed the on button and it just fizzled out. I smelt burning. Then it wouldn't turn on at all. :'(
So it seems like my 21st party might also be a farewell party. It seems like I'm confirmed for *that* job and I would be leaving the country quite soon. Possibly immediately after my birthday.
I don't know if I should be excited or worried (for my uni assessments).
Rememeber Saturday 28th 8pm. I'm probably gonna be doing it at Forresters Hotel in Surry Hills. Hope to see you all there.
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[16 Oct 2006|08:55pm] |
Why can't Australian Idol be more like American Idol where the good people actually do well?
Oh well, Bobby was far too good for Idol anyway and at least they're letting him perform his originals tomorrow night.
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| Partay |
[15 Oct 2006|10:28pm] |
WHAT: My 21st Birthday Bash
WHEN: Saturday 28th 8pm onwards
WHERE: I DON'T KNOW! ANY SUGGESTIONS???
Note it down in your diaries. I should have a location finalised later this week and I'll let you know once I do :)
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| Australian Idol 2006 |
[14 Oct 2006|07:30am] |
My LJ just wouldn't be complete without a quick review of the remaining Australian Idol contestants :)
Ricky - The R'n'B thing is so 2 years ago and the bogan football loving image really isn't very endearing...
Chris - Stuck in the 80's.
Dean - Singing Iris entirely off key is *not* okay nor is being dull and inarticulate in interviews.
Lisa - <3 Refreshing sound and the cutest person on TV at the moment.
Jess - Predictable, bland and souless.
Damien - Stunning voice.
Bobby - Best thing to ever happen to Idol.
I want the top 3 to be Lisa, Bobby and Damien. I want Bobby to come second so he wouldn't have to go through the humuliation of releasing an album made in 6 days. Damien is better suited for the Idol mould so he should win. I'm sure Lisa will be hot property after the show regardless of what position she finishes up in.
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| Growing Pains |
[11 Oct 2006|03:29am] |
I just realised my 21st is coming up quite soon. I don't really know what I should do for it - if anything at all. I'm not really in the habit of celebrating my birthdays. If I do celebrate it I don't know if I should do something big or something small and intimate. I don't know if it'll be a good idea to do something big and have all my different groups of friends under the one roof because I doubt the different groups would inter-mingle. Meh, it's so much easier to just do nothing.
Later today I'll be at the Nicelodeon Kids Choice Awards orange carpet event. I'm producing some online video content - mainly celebrity interviews stuff. Pretty excited and nervous about it as we'll be in the TV media section and event coverage for broadcast is pretty new to me. Here's hoping that everything goes smoothly...
Last night I saw C.R.A.Z.Y. with Alex ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) rxgra, Annie pei_ayanami and her new boooyfriend Evan and Curtis mangelbojangle. I love coming of age stories and this one has a great energy. I love the episodic, snapshot structure; flowing from one period of the main character's life to another. It really captures the pains of growing up and the overall character arc is poignant and convincing. It made me miss my teenage years...*sniffs*. My only realy complaint is that it's a bit long at 2 hours.
I also saw Fast Food Nation at Popcorn Taxi last week. Unfortunately it's pretty shitty. The style of story telling that Richard Linklater adopts (i.e. characters come and go; no real dramatic structure) doesn't really lend itself to this kind of story which really requires the audience to emotionally engage with the characters to care. The final tragedy barely has any impact because we hardly get to know the supposed "main character". Also, I think the film fails at being a satire because it just isn't witty/funny enough most of the time.
Anyway time to run away!
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| Masque of the Red Death |
[03 Oct 2006|01:43am] |
Today I took stills on the set of Masque of the Red Death, the period short film that Matt Vanroe (sp?) is directing and Veg is producing. They were shooting in the State Theatre with about 40 extras. It was pretty awesome especially from a photographer's point of view. Here are some shots I took:
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