SilverKottage

Rumbling Hearts, or as my girlfriend likes to call it, Rumbling D*cks, for the ridiculous storyline.

While I was researching about an anime that my girlfriend described to me as stupid and stretchy indecisive portrayal of high school girls, I stumbled upon an interesting filmmaker’s blog: The Great Swifty.

Yes, watching other people win awards do gets me SAAAAADDDD But, also pushes me to work harder.

The blog is written by multi shortfilm award winning writer and Director, Edmund Yeo. The blog is his journey since 2004 to present day. From humble beginnings in studying film in Perth to traveling across Asia’s many festivals to screen his films.

How come the maids I encounter aren’t as cute? >.< (PS, she’s a real life Akihabara maid!)

His latest offering is a Japanese short, Kingyo, is edited entirely in split screen. It is about an Akihabara maid (the girls in cute french maid outfits and keeps making love hearts with their hands… their cuteness instantly makes my IQ go down a notch) crossing paths with a University Professor, whom were both lovers to each other.

Some secrets are best kept in a jar, swimming with the fishes.

Once was a time when a friend of mine suggested that we make a film that follows two people split screen the whole time. Actually, Susanto’s SCA film had a 8-10min split screen continuous shot in it.

Anyways, reading Edmund’s blog really kicks me in the bum for not making any films since I’ve gotten back from New York. And he’s one year younger than me too!

Thumbs up to Edmund and his team. Don’t give up the dream! I haven’t… really! I’m just… well, occupied.

Never fear though. Optus/MTV’s ONE80Project could kick start me again. Though, we’ve heard all that before, right? The last time was what? In November for Flickerfest?!

Basically, it’s a competition for filmmakers to make a maximum 3 minute trailer for a one hour drama. The winning entry will get $250000 of production cost to bring the one hour to life.

So, if there’s anyone that’s interested in collaborating… we’ve got 20 days to get it all together!

You never know, my actor might end up like 2008’s winning film lead actor, Xavier Samuel and get casted in Twilight (don’t worry, even if Myers doesn’t keep writing, they’ll milk the franchise to it’s core) .

For the ladies, and the ladies inside of you, Sexy Xavier. The next Heath? Hhmmm…

Oh, and to end my post, here’s some night photos taken with my 7D. I actually realised I’ve never tried night shots with my camera yet. Enjoy!

Hot Pink Water at Lumiere. A studio costs AUD$550/w!

Old vs New. St Andrews Church vs Lumiere.

Alrighty, Wong Kar Wai was a special guest director to talk at the New York Apple store in Soho. Organised by Indiewire. The event opened up with a teaser of Blueberry Nights, starring Jude Law, Norah Jones, Natalie Portman, Directed and Written by Wong Kar Wai. Then the interviewer asked a series of questions which has been documented below. I could not be bothered to document the questions by the audience.

Crazy ass crowds standing in the background.

No photos were allowed during the event, but I sneaked a few right before WKW left… Sorry for the blurriness…. I guess he was in a hurry. Probably he’ll talk on a talk show tonight or the next few nights to promote Blueberry Nights, which premieres in NY this coming Friday.

How happy is the Interviewer?

Packing up to LEAVE.

Both so happy. Happy Together?

Slow mo… WKW style

People still want some more WKW…

Note: My Blueberry Nights was based on a short film that Wong Kar Wai did. And also, he filmed a restaurant scene where Maggie Chueng serves Tony some pie in In the Mood for Love that didn’t make it into the cut.

Below is the live blogging of Wong Kar Wai at Apple Soho New York. I only decided to write it up and post each paragraph around 5 minutes into the QandA. The below post has not been edited.

—————————————————————-

WKW:

This film is different from previous practice. With whole brand new team. In a short period of time like seven weeks. It attracted me to work from the very beginning.

I need someone to work with me on the script. Since it’s only sven weeks. Especially final draft was not in english. Cast surprised and happy, since thought there wasn’t going to be a script. 

Not authentic enough, cause I don’t know this country so well. So instance collaboration with crew and Larry.

Use other locations because NY would be expensive for entire film.

America is the best showcase for American culture. Which we all are a bit influenced. No matter where we live. Each city has it’s own artisitic references. We took 3 tripps, the more place, the harder to choose. Had to go with the essential to me. Half of the south, cause of the music. We thought we’d make a film, with chapters.

On the way to west coast, we got lost in Nevada. Drove for 12 hours, and ended in small town. Korean lady run small grocery stall and gas station. Explain histroy town, cooked me noodles. Busy in the 20s, all ppl that go to LV from LA stops there.

Instead of taking story to Vegas, have most story in this town then end in Vegas.

- Clip of Norah and Jude is played.

- Clip of Norah in a bar is played.

———-

Q: “Did u have to direct established stars diff?”

WKW: Didn’t see a diff between Tony and Jude. Or Rachel with Gong Li. Great actors need the guidance and the space. This method, or the way we work, brings to them something fresh. They enjoyed it… as far as i know.

Q: “Now you work with a new DP, what is it like? Since you worked with CD so much before”

WKW: Instead of meetings, we take a car, travel and take pictures Over 1000. Compare work and pov. Later we publish a book. Very diff than work with CD. Since we’ve worked for over 15 years. He knows what i want with camera and lighting. This was a diff experience. Never worked on feature, but with commercial. Darris has a huge respect for Chris, he asked me how would Chris do it, I said no point, you should do what you want. Both of them are very sensitive, they are both really involved in the film process besides DP.

Q: “How you came about your music choices? And how they matched this film?”

WKW: When we were travelling, we realised the music changes on the radio. I took this music as a reference to time. Since the film is 4 chapters. Showing where she is. In NY or Memphis. It represents space. We listen to Cat Powers a lot. so we decide to use the music of Chan for NY, and Ottis for Memphis. Then link the chapters together . Interested in Cat Powers, she doesn’t like taking photos. I sent my DP to see her… he returned and said the camera will love her face. I asked her to visit the set, I told her that Jude had ex gfs, I asked her if she want to do it. She asked if there’s kiss, I said maybe… she said DEAL.

- Clip of Nat Portman playing poker.

(WKW is frowning… in his black suit and sunglasses…) 

- Clip of Jude Law and Norah talking about PIE… BLUEBERRY PIE!

Q: “You’re not a fan of BB PIE”

WKW: “I don’t like desserts”

WKW: “The owner of the real shop told me the BB Pie is the least fav.”

Q:”What is romantic with Diners?”

WKW: “Well, not just diner, but i’ve chosen cafe and delicassens. I know the best in HK for writers, cause i’m always there. I consider those places to be very intimate place. I spent a lot of hours in those places, I notice the feeling of the characters. Then I thought, we can make a film of these ppl. Because people goes to bars, because they want to meet strangers. We went to bar at night, Diner for breakfast, to understand the community.”

Q: “Any similarity for filming overseas, like Happy Together?”
WKW: “Well, HT was a bit diff, since they were chinese and they don’t speak the language in Argentina. I can imagine this story from a Chinese POV. BBN is differemt, since it is about Americans that live in America. It can’t tell this story authentically. I have to deal it like a traveller. That’s why I need my collaboraters to work with me. I always felt rested and self conscious. Not knowing if this is the right choice. At the end of the day, I feel I’m not writing a script, but a telegraph. Writing the most important things. And let the cast to bring out the flesh and blood.” 

Q:”Anything surprise you working here?”

WKW:”Firstly, there are a lot of paper work, because of union. We never had problems in HongKong, since we didn’t have lunch break problems. When working in a country, we need to respect the rules.”

Q:”New version of Ashes of Time”

WKW:”I’m trying to save it, to collect it, since original edit is deteriorating. We wanted to restore.. but I felt we do something more than restoration. This is something I’m going to deal with when I go back to HK”