One of the recent projects I have been participating in is helping to write and act in a short film for an upcoming film contest called Seoul, Our Movie.
Seoul, Our Movie was created by the Park Brothers, Park Chan Wook and Park Chan Kyong. Both are well known directors in Korea, with Park Chan Wook being the director of famous films such as Oldboy and Joint Security Area. It was created to showcase a series of short films showing everyday life from different parts of Seoul.
Our short film is titled 'A Memory" and is a short film about a young man reminiscing about finding his first love in a coffee shop. We filmed the entire short film in Itaewon.
Please take the time to check out this and the other short films on the website. If you enjoyed it, please vote for it.
Sometimes, its good to participate in different creative outlets in Korea and gives me the opportunity to work some some really creative and awesome people.
Link to "A Memory"
Link to Seoul, Our Movie
Link to the youtube page
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
(14) 90 in 90: A Love that Will Never Die
It's no secret to people that know me how much I love film. I love watching film, I love talking about it. I love finding out the secret history of my favorite films, the steps it takes to craft a vision that begins in the mind and comes alive on the scree, to be shared with millions of people from all walks of life.
This is why I get incredibly giddy when I watch a film that I genuinely love. Like many things in life, getting swept off your feet doesn't happen too often. And also like life, we comes across dozens of moments that we experience one moment, and easily forget about the next. Life is filled with many moments, but there are only a precious few that we actually remember.
For me films are the same way. It may have come from devouring a massive amount of of celluloid in my life. While I can confidently say that I have watched hundreds of movies and films over the years, there are only a select handful that remain in my mind.
These are more than just passing memories or cool moments that I can remember (although there are still plenty of those). These are stories, scenes and characters that have effected my entire life and being. They have sent images and messages that have been permanently implanted into my brain, moments in which I close my eyes, I can can still recall with such vivid clarity, they feel like recently experienced memories, even if the film or specific moments were first viewed years or months ago.
People often think its strange how much I love cinema. To them, it comes off as excessively possessed by something that has no true purpose in our lives. Something that is a in its most basic way, entertainment meant to distract us for a few hours.
To me it is an easy answer to give. Cinema offer something more than entertainment. Dig deep enough you see something so pure and simple in its message, so incredibly human like in nature.
This is because movies offer a heightened sense of emotion that we don't get from the real world. We, I, crave that stimulation because life is filled with tedium and toil for which most of will never escape from until the day we die. Most people walk blissfully through life and don't care about movies, seeing them as simple entertainment, a distraction. We want to feel something beyond what life offers.
This is why I get incredibly giddy when I watch a film that I genuinely love. Like many things in life, getting swept off your feet doesn't happen too often. And also like life, we comes across dozens of moments that we experience one moment, and easily forget about the next. Life is filled with many moments, but there are only a precious few that we actually remember.
For me films are the same way. It may have come from devouring a massive amount of of celluloid in my life. While I can confidently say that I have watched hundreds of movies and films over the years, there are only a select handful that remain in my mind.
These are more than just passing memories or cool moments that I can remember (although there are still plenty of those). These are stories, scenes and characters that have effected my entire life and being. They have sent images and messages that have been permanently implanted into my brain, moments in which I close my eyes, I can can still recall with such vivid clarity, they feel like recently experienced memories, even if the film or specific moments were first viewed years or months ago.
People often think its strange how much I love cinema. To them, it comes off as excessively possessed by something that has no true purpose in our lives. Something that is a in its most basic way, entertainment meant to distract us for a few hours.
To me it is an easy answer to give. Cinema offer something more than entertainment. Dig deep enough you see something so pure and simple in its message, so incredibly human like in nature.
This is because movies offer a heightened sense of emotion that we don't get from the real world. We, I, crave that stimulation because life is filled with tedium and toil for which most of will never escape from until the day we die. Most people walk blissfully through life and don't care about movies, seeing them as simple entertainment, a distraction. We want to feel something beyond what life offers.
But despite all of the thunder that movies provide, the best of them always have the smell of truth. What I remember from Star Wars isn't the Death Star explosion but that one moment where Luke looks to the horizon. That's one of the purest moments in cinema history as it crosses cultural barriers because it reaches the very core of the human condition; longing and hope for a better world.
No matter how many pyrotechnics there are, if the story doesn't resonate on a purely human level then all is lost because it then becomes an imitation of life. Hollow and shallow, like many forgotten memories and moments in our lives.
Moments that like bad movies, just seem to fade away from our minds.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Parties are a reminder to have fun
I rarely stay out all night with
people. I usually become bored or tired by the time the 1 AM mark
comes around, wanting more than anything to go home to my quiet
apartment rather than spend another minute in some smokey bar where
obnoxious, loud music would be my only lullaby for the night. I'm
picky like that with my socialization, it has to be the right people
and the right place in order for me to feel comfortable and able to
forget the hours passing rather than count them down until the first
train back home. Maybe it's because I'm getting older. Maybe it's
because I'm selfish and a bad friend. Maybe I just hate partying. The
answers and their solutions could be endless, more than I have the
time to investigate or care about.
Last Saturday was a special day, the
birthday celebration of one of my friends, one of the first English
teachers I met last year, and fellow film enthusiast. From the very
beginning it was clear that her party was not intended to be an
ordinary gathering of friends, booze and headaches in the morning.
There would be plenty of that, but she wanted the party to be
something special. Something that not only celebrated her day of
entrance into our world, but also her favorite past time as well: the
celebration of film and the moving picture.
Together with a few other friends, we
planned her party and the details behind it. She wanted it to be a
costume party, a party where guests came to dinner in costume,
character or both and enjoyed each other's personalities come alive.
After having her friends vote on each person and their respective
character, we had time to assemble our costumes and characters before
the party. Out of all the people, I was picked to be Christopher
Walken. Personally, I would have loved to have been Harold Raimas
from Ghostbusters, but if people wanted me to be The Walken, than
damn it, I was Walken for a night.
Once the day came, we gathered at a
restaurant large enough to fit a sizable group of people and not too
long after the final guest showed up, the rediculousness began. I sat
next to Aaron Johnson from Kick Ass, a shy introverted young man who
dreamed of becoming a super hero. Across from me sat The Dude from
the Big Lebowski, calm and laid back as in the movie, not quite
understanding why Erin Brockovich was getting so upset next to him.
Velma from Scooby Doo was there and not
too far from her was Michael Cera from Superbad looking as
awkward and personality-less as ever. His girlfriend, Rosemary
from Rosemary's Baby looked to be in good spirits despite having a
(fake) demon baby growing inside of her. At the head of the table,
sat the birthday girl herself: Penelope Cruz from the film Vicky,
Christina Barcelona. Full of spite about her failed relationships and
her apparent lack of not existing, her bitter and spiteful
personality was on full display, taking any opportunity to insult and
belittle guests who dared to speak to her. As for myself, I acted as
cool as I could because, Walken, as we all know, is always cool.
After the weird rogue's gallery of
assorted movie characters finished their meal, we made our way from the restaurant to go
from club to club until we found a suitable spot. Luckily, the
weather was not too cold, making the trek from place to place
pleasant and all the more jovial since we were in good company.
The
city of Daegu was one of my favorite metropolitan cities in Korea for
its clean streets and the close proximity of small shops and
restaurants. It was often difficult to navigate around the city due
to the building's close proximity and lack of decipherable landmarks,
however this just added to its charm. It was a small maze of bright
lights and little coffee shops filled with people walking everywhere.
In Seoul, you could often feel trapped by the massive concrete
pillars looming over you. Here, It felt like a leisurely downtown stroll.
We finally settled on a small night
club called Jeep. It was tiny, dark and smelled like a ash tray that
should have been thrown out years ago. The music they played
ranged from bad pop to enjoyable beats. The song choices and
atmosphere mattered little as we started to dance not long after
settling in. Good and bad songs. Hip hop and hits from yesterday. We
danced and danced until the early dawn and the first train prepared
to leave the city. It was exhausting. It filled out lungs with smoke
and our bodies with alcohol, but we didn't mind. Everyone was
laughing and dancing. They didn't care about any of this. We were
with each other, the ones we spent the most time with, the ones we
came to when we were in trouble and the ones we relied on whether we
wanted to admit it or not.
As I rode the long train home, I talked
to one of my friends sitting next to me about a topic that I had no
real knowledge in, nor anything useful to contribute. I simply wanted
to keep talking, to enjoy the positive energy and make the party last
a little longer.
I was reminded about a lot that night.
I remembered how the right people can always make an event fun, and
sometimes even more fun than it initially seems. I reminded myself to
enjoy these moments and remember them, for like all things in life
they pass along too quickly. I also reconfirmed that I was a horrible
dancer. I don't know how to dance at clubs. I will probably never
learn and don't really want to. My friends danced like they didn't
care who was watching and despite some curious onlookers who
eventually joined us, they weren't there to show off or look good in
front of a crowd, they wanted to dance.
So they danced.
No one uploaded pictures from the party yet, so here is a birthday cake. Yep. Delicious birthday cake.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Watching a movie in Korea.
If you are like me, then going to the movies is a regular part of your life. Even if you're not as big of a cinema fan as I am, chance are you're going to see a movie in Korea sooner or later. While the process itself is relatively straight forward there are some things you should know before heading to the big screen.
- Most big American blockbusters make it to Korea around the same time as their American releases. If its a big movie and primed to make money, chances are its coming out worldwide at the same time. In fact, some releases come out even earlier. Take The Avengers for instance, its release date was a full week earlier than in the US along with The Amazing Spider Man, once again a full week earlier than in the US.
- If you're a fan of smaller flicks or indie flicks, you might have to wait before seeing them on the big screen. Korean cinemas are constantly trying to push out more blockbusters leaving little to no time for smaller films. Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris was released last fall in the US, but is just now receiving a theater release date in Korea. Other films such as Melancholia and Cabin in the Woods are also only recently getting a theatrical release date, despite coming out last year and earlier in the year.
- However, there are a few cinemas that specialize in showing more artistic films to Korean cinema goers. Their locations in Gangbyeon, Sangam and Gwanghwamun are known for showing more indie flicks in a smaller location.
- If you're looking at a movie outing as a date option, theaters in Korea will accommodate you too. Most famous theaters in Korea (CGV, Lotte) have special couple's seating that will allow you and your date to sit closely together and enjoy the movie in close proximity. Not quite my cup of tea, but it is an option for couples into that sort of thing.
- If you and your date want another private and close movie viewing option, DVD-bangs are also a cheap alternative. Featuring a wide selection of movies, comfortable seating and rooms with complete privacy. Just be warned if you are just beginning to date someone, suggesting a DVD-bang may not be the best idea since quite a few couples use it for reason not really related to movies (sex).
- If you're worried about getting tickets, do not. There are many options to get tickets. Some websites for foreigners such as Ticketlink and Maxmovie allow you to reserve tickets online. Be warned: both of the sites are in Korean and also require foreigners to present their ARG cards to sign up.
- Cine in Korea is a website made especially for foreigners to reserve movie tickets. While it doesn't include all theaters and really doesn't represent smaller towns, most theaters in major cities are represented.
- If you reserve your ticket at the theater, you can either use one of the automated machines or simply go to the counter to order your ticket. Both options will have English option and for the most part are very easy to find.
- Unlike the states, when you reserve your ticket, you also reserve your seat as well. That goes without saying if a popular movie is showing getting there to get good seating (especially if you're with a group) is a must.
- For those wanting the bigger picture and sound experience, IMAX is the way to go. There are many IMAX screens in all major cities in Korea (you can view the list here). I have been to two IMAX's, one in Incheon and one in Daegu. Both were equally fantastic. Large screen, excellent sound and high quality picture. It was easily one of the best IMAX related experiences I have had so far.
- However, for film fans savvy on their technical information, these IMAX's were not the "true" IMAX's that feature the proper sized screen. These are digital projection IMAX's and while they still look incredible next to their normal screen counterparts, they are not a true IMAX experience. This may come across as incredibly disappointing especially since some recent movies such as last year's Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol and this year's Dark Knight Rises had sequences specifically shot for the true IMAX format. Most people will not be able to tell the difference, but for those that can (like me) it will definitely be a step down in quality and lacking the complete grandeur that the scenes were intended for.
- There is one true IMAX in Korea, located in Seoul's 63 Center. However it is limited to showing only three movies a year a most of them are documentaries. Still, if you want to see the difference in quality and immersion, it is more than worth your time.
- The other format still making its rounds through movie is 3D. While most movies that are released are post converted 3D, meaning that most movies are originally filmed in 2D, and then have the 3D effects added later on, a few released this year were filmed specifically in 3D, most noticeably Prometheus and the result is fantastic.
- If you do end up seeing a post-converted 3D movie, rest assured that even if the effort is subpar, it will not be through lack of proper equipment. A majority of theaters in Korea are very up to standard with crystal clear digital projection and 7.1 Dolby Surround. I live in a smaller town (Gimcheon) and the teeny tiny theater there still has an amazing screen and sound set up. It is a definite step up from a majority of standard theaters back in the states.
- Finally, if you want to go for something different, trying a 4D theater or D- Box is worth trying for the experience, at least once. You sit in a seat that moves with the movie, so each explosion, bump and jolt you feel in your seat as it shakes and rocks back and forth. Along with this movement, sprays of water and blasts of air are thrown in your face. I saw my first 4D movie at the Incheon IMAX CGV (John Carter) and while the experience was fun, it won't be something that I will be doing again anytime soon. Not only was the screen only a standard sized theater screen (not IMAX), the projector was shockingly dim and the motions while fun, in the end did more to take me out of the movie rather than immerse me even more.
That's all I have for now. This is a crap ton of information but watching movies and films is one of my favorite hobbies and being able to continue this hobby all the way in Korea is a very nice thing indeed.
A link to more information about watching movies in Korea.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261865
- Most big American blockbusters make it to Korea around the same time as their American releases. If its a big movie and primed to make money, chances are its coming out worldwide at the same time. In fact, some releases come out even earlier. Take The Avengers for instance, its release date was a full week earlier than in the US along with The Amazing Spider Man, once again a full week earlier than in the US.
- If you're a fan of smaller flicks or indie flicks, you might have to wait before seeing them on the big screen. Korean cinemas are constantly trying to push out more blockbusters leaving little to no time for smaller films. Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris was released last fall in the US, but is just now receiving a theater release date in Korea. Other films such as Melancholia and Cabin in the Woods are also only recently getting a theatrical release date, despite coming out last year and earlier in the year.
- However, there are a few cinemas that specialize in showing more artistic films to Korean cinema goers. Their locations in Gangbyeon, Sangam and Gwanghwamun are known for showing more indie flicks in a smaller location.
- If you're looking at a movie outing as a date option, theaters in Korea will accommodate you too. Most famous theaters in Korea (CGV, Lotte) have special couple's seating that will allow you and your date to sit closely together and enjoy the movie in close proximity. Not quite my cup of tea, but it is an option for couples into that sort of thing.
- If you and your date want another private and close movie viewing option, DVD-bangs are also a cheap alternative. Featuring a wide selection of movies, comfortable seating and rooms with complete privacy. Just be warned if you are just beginning to date someone, suggesting a DVD-bang may not be the best idea since quite a few couples use it for reason not really related to movies (sex).
- If you're worried about getting tickets, do not. There are many options to get tickets. Some websites for foreigners such as Ticketlink and Maxmovie allow you to reserve tickets online. Be warned: both of the sites are in Korean and also require foreigners to present their ARG cards to sign up.
- Cine in Korea is a website made especially for foreigners to reserve movie tickets. While it doesn't include all theaters and really doesn't represent smaller towns, most theaters in major cities are represented.
- If you reserve your ticket at the theater, you can either use one of the automated machines or simply go to the counter to order your ticket. Both options will have English option and for the most part are very easy to find.
- Unlike the states, when you reserve your ticket, you also reserve your seat as well. That goes without saying if a popular movie is showing getting there to get good seating (especially if you're with a group) is a must.
- For those wanting the bigger picture and sound experience, IMAX is the way to go. There are many IMAX screens in all major cities in Korea (you can view the list here). I have been to two IMAX's, one in Incheon and one in Daegu. Both were equally fantastic. Large screen, excellent sound and high quality picture. It was easily one of the best IMAX related experiences I have had so far.
- However, for film fans savvy on their technical information, these IMAX's were not the "true" IMAX's that feature the proper sized screen. These are digital projection IMAX's and while they still look incredible next to their normal screen counterparts, they are not a true IMAX experience. This may come across as incredibly disappointing especially since some recent movies such as last year's Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol and this year's Dark Knight Rises had sequences specifically shot for the true IMAX format. Most people will not be able to tell the difference, but for those that can (like me) it will definitely be a step down in quality and lacking the complete grandeur that the scenes were intended for.
- There is one true IMAX in Korea, located in Seoul's 63 Center. However it is limited to showing only three movies a year a most of them are documentaries. Still, if you want to see the difference in quality and immersion, it is more than worth your time.
- The other format still making its rounds through movie is 3D. While most movies that are released are post converted 3D, meaning that most movies are originally filmed in 2D, and then have the 3D effects added later on, a few released this year were filmed specifically in 3D, most noticeably Prometheus and the result is fantastic.
- If you do end up seeing a post-converted 3D movie, rest assured that even if the effort is subpar, it will not be through lack of proper equipment. A majority of theaters in Korea are very up to standard with crystal clear digital projection and 7.1 Dolby Surround. I live in a smaller town (Gimcheon) and the teeny tiny theater there still has an amazing screen and sound set up. It is a definite step up from a majority of standard theaters back in the states.
- Finally, if you want to go for something different, trying a 4D theater or D- Box is worth trying for the experience, at least once. You sit in a seat that moves with the movie, so each explosion, bump and jolt you feel in your seat as it shakes and rocks back and forth. Along with this movement, sprays of water and blasts of air are thrown in your face. I saw my first 4D movie at the Incheon IMAX CGV (John Carter) and while the experience was fun, it won't be something that I will be doing again anytime soon. Not only was the screen only a standard sized theater screen (not IMAX), the projector was shockingly dim and the motions while fun, in the end did more to take me out of the movie rather than immerse me even more.
That's all I have for now. This is a crap ton of information but watching movies and films is one of my favorite hobbies and being able to continue this hobby all the way in Korea is a very nice thing indeed.
A link to more information about watching movies in Korea.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261865
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