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morkitten · 2 months

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KAMEN RIDER MEGAPOST

I've been deep in the Kamen Rider hole after taking a blind chance on it about a year ago and it's been one of the most rewarding discoveries I've had, so I'm doing a megapost where I try to convey what's so interesting and unique about this series that you can literally just start anywhere. There's a Kamen Rider series for everyone, and I hope to convince you of it and point to where you can give it a try for yourself. Click on the read more to see more!

WHAT IS KAMEN RIDER?

Kamen Rider is a superhero that rides a motorcycle who's often bug-themed, but not always. The Kamen Rider franchise started in 1971 and, with the exception of a few periods of dry spells, keeps making new yearly series to this day. It's part of Japan's many, many decades old craft of special effects-focused TV shows and movies, called "Tokusatsu" (literally, "special filming"). It was conceived and spearheaded by Shotaro Ishinomori, an incredibly famous mangaka in Japan, responsible for not only Kamen Rider, but also Super Sentai, Cyborg 009, Zubat, Kikaider, and many other TV series and mangas. The amount of works he has produced in manga and TV is incredibly huge, and his works have been incredibly influential to Japanese culture as a whole. Kamen Rider can be argued that is his biggest, most important contribution.

A consistent theme in early Kamen Rider series is that he's a lonesome, grieving hero, in which his sadness fuels his righteous anger at the evils that he's fighting against. He's been transformed into a monster against his will, and now must fight against the very forces that created him. In every Kamen Rider series, the power that the protagonist wields is the same power that fuels the evil forces he fights against. In a way, you can see it as a metaphor for Kamen Rider's production itself: It must use the evil power of mass media to carry its anti-authoritarian messages that go against the very forces that even allow it to exist. It's the tale of every artist trying to create something earnest and culturally and artistically enriching in the cynical mass media space.

WHY WATCH KAMEN RIDER?

I was never really sold on Kamen Rider at first. I remember watching a bit of Kamen Rider Black when I was very young, so I was always nostalgically curious about it. But whenever I saw the newer Kamen Rider stuff pop up on Twitter or whatever, I had always dismissed it as "eh, whatever bug bit you I guess made you interested in that". Something about the super toyetic costume designs and super fake CG just never really inspired my attention, and it was easy to dismiss it as something for kids, something in that same place in my mind as "what shonenheads are into". I guess what I mean is that I saw newer Kamen Rider as "low art". It's easy to categorize it as such, people in silly suits selling toys, doing really silly comedy, with silly CG. I've seen Power Rangers before, it's just that. It has to be cynical!

I had never done such a big 180 before. Yes, Kamen Rider is "for the kids" (with some exceptions), yes it has a ton of silliness to it, but there's also a lot of good cinematography, fantastic stunts, and really great, serious drama. Kamen Rider is seen as a cultural institution in Japan for all those reasons. It's a way to keep a lot of theater traditions alive in a modern space, a way to have many young, extremely talented actors have a big break, a way to keep tokusatsu traditions and craft (analog special effects, stuntmen, martial arts actors) alive, employed, and continuously evolving, to create something that bridges the gap across all generations in Japan.

It's difficult to explain, but Kamen Rider has the important positive qualities of extremely good older television like Star Trek and Columbo. A TV show that doesn't want to aspire to be a hollywood movie like Netflix series cheaply try to do, but that sees the value of theater and theater skills in television.

Another thing to note is that because Kamen Rider is such a huge cultural institution, if you enjoy anime and japanese video games, there's so so much about what you love on your favorite anime and games that are directly inspired by Kamen Rider. Every japanese action game you've enjoyed? Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, Hagane, Bayonetta, they -all- have an incredibly huge amount of Kamen Rider in them. Nearly everything Gainax, Hideaki Anno and Studio Trigger made. Pokémon, Digimon, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh (especially on the superb monster designs), Taiyo Matsumoto, every japanese character that has ever stricken a dab. It's not just references, there are fundamental things about pretty much all of these games, mangas and animes I've listed that are directly attributed to Kamen Rider. So if you enjoy anything I've listed, you ought to give it a try.

OKAY, WHERE TO START?

One of the greatest things about Kamen Rider is that since every series is its own closed continuity (there are crossover movies but they largely don't matter), you can pretty much start anywhere you'd like. Of course, with this many ice cream flavors, one can't help but become paralyzed by the abundance of choice, even though, and I can't emphasize this enough, every Kamen Rider series I've watched so far have all been pretty good to fantastic. I'm sure there's a couple of stinkers I've avoided, but a hitrate like this feels miraculous, I don't understand how does Kamen Rider from so many different eras can keep such a consistent quality even when they can feel so different from one another and be spearheaded by such different creators. You can maybe look them all up and decide what theme you're most attracted by, or, I can maybe help you and tell you about the ones I've watched!

So, here's a list of the Kamen Riders I've watched, with short descriptions of each of them and what makes them appealing, and a mini-list of recommended episodes to sample, in case you're still not sure whether to jump in:

SHOWA ERA (1971 - 1994)

KAMEN RIDER (1971)

The original, and also the least I've watched so far, haven't even gotten to 10 episodes yet. It famously started with an incredibly small budget and it's magical to see what tricks the production employed in order to make it work and be exciting and fun while spending as little money as possible. The stunts are very dangerous but very cool to see. A long, very episode-by-episode affair, but if you get excited on cheap sets and cheap cinema tricks and special effects used very cleverly, this is going to light you up like a christmas tree. It also employs some thriller-inspired cinematography that is very exciting. The writing doesn't offer much substance, but it has this quality where it really believes in itself and in the ideals that Kamen Rider is supposed to represent that is very easy to feel wrapped up in. Might bore you if you're not already sold on the appeal of old tokusatsu.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 6: The Grim Reaper Chameleon! Episode 7: The Grim Reaper Chameleon Showdown: Old World's Fair

KAMEN RIDER AMAZON (1974)

It's basically just the 1971 Kamen Rider but the main character is Tarzan. It runs only half as long as other Kamen Rider series so if you wanna do a whole Showa-era KR series quickly, it's a very solid recommendation. It's very violent for a children's show, with Amazon often slicing and mauling his monster opponents in bloody messes, and it looks really sick. The suits and special effects are better than how the original Kamen Rider starts off, but it still has that appeal of being old and budgeted for a TV show, which in this case is a huge positive, imo. Also again, the writing isn't much to write about, so don't expect big narrative payoffs or anything like that, you really have to enjoy it on an episode-by-episode basis, which is fine, because the monsters and special effects are extremely cool, the characters are charismatic, and the little episodic plots are fun.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 4: Run! The Raging Jungler! Episode 11: The Golden Snail is the Grim Reaper's Envoy!? Episode 16: Garanda's Tokyo Sea of Flames Operation Episode 17: Mt.Fuji Big Explosion?! The Tokyo Fry Pan Operation

KAMEN RIDER BLACK (1987)

This was supposed to be a revival of Kamen Rider into public interest after being dormant for a while, so it also feels like a retelling of the first Kamen Rider in a sense, has a lot of common elements, but with slick 80s production and sensibilities all over. If you love how 80s action, sci-fi and thriller movies look like, you'll love the cinematography and production of Kamen Rider Black. It's edgier, sleeker, and even scarier, borrowing a lot of horror/thriller elements that were in vogue at the time, while still being a hopeful, heroic and uplifting presence for children. Has an overarching plot that develops over time but it's, again, really about enjoying it on an episode-by-episode basis, as the overarching plot develops veeeery slowly and in very small portions. I supremely love how this series looks, I love the special effects, I love the suits, and it has my favorite transformation sequence.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: Black!! Transformation Episode 2: Monster Party Episode 18: Sword Saint Bilgenia Episode 20: Rider's Grave Episode 23: Marumo's Magic Power Episode 24: College Girl's Nightmare

SHIN KAMEN RIDER PROLOGUE (1992) (MOVIE)

This doesn't have anything to do with the Anno movie, the Shin here is written differently. A movie that celebrates the series' 20th anniversary that tells its own story with its own Kamen Rider, so it feels like a "reboot" or "re-interpretation" of Kamen Rider. It's darker and scarier, with a Kamen Rider that looks much more like a monster than an armored hero, and leans more into the horror side of Kamen Rider, being more adult-focused. Very violent and very cool.

KAMEN RIDER ZO (1993) (MOVIE)

This was supposed to be a full-fledged Kamen Rider series but the 80s bubble popped and they decided to shift production into a short movie instead. Might be a good introduction point, since it's a short 1-hour watch, and has a ton of really great special effects. Everything that is great about Black's cinematography, propwork and special effects apply here, except since it's just one movie, they're really throwing everything they've got into it

HEISEI AND REIWA ERAS (2000-Present)

Kamen Rider went dormant in the 90s until it was revived back into its TV format by Kamen Rider Kuuga, which was a major success. Since then, there's been yearly new Kamen Rider series on Japanese television, non-stop.

The difference between the Kamen Rider of old (Showa era) and the Kamen Rider series past this revival (Heisei, Reiwa) is that newer Kamen Rider series, despite also being monster-of-the-week romps, tend to have a more complex overarching plot which they tend to lean more into, and less of dangerous stunts and practical effects. Episodes also tend to be two-parters, so maybe calling them monster-of-the-week is innacurate, it's more like monster-of-every-two-weeks. This shift is fine because their reliance on denser plots with a much larger supporting cast of characters, more than makes up for it. It feels less that they're stretching episodes into two-parters and more like they're filling these episodes with so much other stuff that making them 2-parters makes sense.

Also, to note, as modern Kamen Rider goes on, there's more reliance on CGI, but all the monsters (and Kamen Riders) are practical suits and there's still plenty of practical effects, so don't let the super artificial candy-colored videogamey CGI effects trick you into thinking that that's all there is to modern KR.

KAMEN RIDER KIVA (2008)

Kiva is the only "Heisei phase 1" series I've watched so far (early to late 2000s), and I absolutely love it, one of my favorite Kamen Riders. It's considered to be a bit of a black sheep of Heisei phase 1 Kamen Riders but I think fans severely overlook and misjudge Kiva. Kamen Rider Kiva is vampire-themed and is about this shut-in, extremely shy boy who, mysteriously, is also the heroic Kiva, that springs into action whenever Fangires (vampire monsters) are about to kill humans. However, it also takes place 20 years before, in the 1980s, where Fangires are also attacking, but there's no Kiva around to stop them. Instead, humans have created a secret vampire-hunting association and are developing their own technology to stop them. What's the connection between the characters from each time era? Mysteries...!! It has a large cast of characters and incredible soap opera drama and romance that'll keep you heavily invested in all of its twists and turns. It's a very narrative affair which makes it difficult to recommend episodes out of order since it can be confusing to catch things out of context. The fact that it takes place both in the 2000s and in the 80s means every episode has both an A-plot and a B-plot, which avoids the pitfall of some modern Kamen Riders of two-parters that don't have enough going on, because Kiva is absolutely overstuffed with great characters and narratives. The drama is great, the romance is great, the comedy is superb, and the fights are awesome too. I really can't recommend it enough.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: Fate: Wake Up! and Episode 2: Suite: Father and Son Violin (2-parter) Episode 17: Lesson: My Way and Episode 18: Quartet: Listen to Your Heart's Voice (2-parter) (I have trouble recommending more episodes out of order because this series is very narratively-involved!)

KAMEN RIDER W (2009)

W is a very well-received and loved series, and it's easy to see why. It's one of those things that if you watch it you immediately go "oh, if I watched this as a kid I would be so so into it". It has fun, charismatic characters that you want to see every week, simple to understand and easy to like. It's detective-themed and the Kamen Rider is actually comprised of a fusion of two people - Shotaro, who wants to be a tough, hard-boiled detective but is unintentionally kind of stupid and goofy and isn't seen very seriously by people around him, but has a heart of gold, and Phillip, who is an androgynous autistic introvert that basically has the entirety of Google inside his mind, and uses this to help find information to solve cases. Together they transform into Kamen Rider W (W as in "double", get it?), with each controlling a literal half of the suit (right and left), that they can switch properties of and create different combinations. They're great characters but who really steals the show is the comedy relief sidekick, Akiko. She's an immensely funny actress and character.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episodes 1 and 2: W Search Episodes 9 and 10: S Terror Episodes 23 and 24: L on the Lips Episodes 25 and 26: P's Game

KAMEN RIDER OOO (2010)

OOO is another extremely beloved Kamen Rider series, and the one I actually started with. Its themes are "desire" and "currency", and the evils and necessities of living in a world that depends on them. The main character is a lovable homeless hippie (Eiji) who's egged on by his extremely androgynous edgy greedy demon boyfriend (Ankh) to collect "medals", because said demons are greedy for them and require them for power. These medals also allow Eiji to transform into Kamen Rider OOO (pronounced "Os" or "Osu"), and different medals can be slot into his transformation belt to create different combinations. Other demons, that are not Eiji's demon babygirl, want to use humans' desires as piggy banks to generate more medals for their own greed, at the cost of these humans' lives. Eiji needs to stop them and collect all the medals before they do. Again, easy to enjoy, easy to see why it's beloved. Filled with a light-hearted fun energy that you can feel as soon as you watch the ska-inspired opening. There's a small stretch of it that feels a bit by-the-numbers, but the drama ramps up and pays off immensely well as it goes on. An extremely fujoshi Kamen Rider series.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: Medals, Underwear and a Mysterious Arm Episode 2: Desire, Popsicles and Presents (2-parter with Episode 1) Episode 13: A Siamese Cat, Stress and the Genius Surgeon Episode 14: Pride, Surgery, and a Secret (2-parter with Episode 13)

KAMEN RIDER FOURZE (2011)

Fourze is written by Kazuki Nakashima, the Studio Trigger writer responsible for stuff like Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill and Brand New Animal, so that may be something that's either going to extremely excite you, or make you very wary of it. I personally feel he's not a very good writer, but that's okay, because the rest of the production is fantastic, and I still enjoyed Fourze a good amount! The main character is an extremely likeable and charismatic school delinquent that wants to befriend the entire school and creates his own Kamen Rider school club after being bestowed with the Kamen Rider Fourze technology thanks to, uh, a portal that sends him to a space base on the moon? So it's a half-and-half school theme and space theme Kamen Rider. The school club has a large cast of characters but the show doesn't really know what to do with them unless the episodes focus on a specific club member. Fourze really, really drags in the middle (this is when the problem of two-parters feeling stretched out when the writing isn't very strong hits hardest), but as it crescendos to its finale it gets -very- good again. This might be the weakest Kamen Rider out of the ones I've watched, imo, but still, I think there's quite a lot to enjoy here.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episodes 1 and 2 (Youthful Transformation and Space Superiority) (2-parter) Episodes 5 and 6 (Friendship, Inside and Outside and Electric Shock, Steadily) (2-parter) Episodes 13 and 14 (School Refusal and Stinger Onslaught) (2-parter)

KAMEN RIDER AMAZONS (2016) (WEB SERIES)

Wait, didn't I review this one before?! No, no, this is AMAZONS, plural! It doesn't actually have that much in common with the original Amazon, being very much its own thing, and what it borrows from Amazon is mostly just to help frame this series as a more adult, violent affair, since Amazon, despite it being very much for kids, was back then known as "the violent Kamen Rider". It's also an Amazon Prime-exclusive series, so they did it for Branding, too. A very dramatic, violent, adult Kamen Rider show that's spearheaded by my favorite Kamen Rider director, Hidenori Ishida. He's a supremely good director that brings his A-game to this series. It follows an extermination team that hunts terrifying man-eating monsters called Amazons. There's two Kamen Riders, Alpha and Omega, that are also Amazons but they largely fight against other Amazons. Alpha is set on killing every Amazon, while Omega has just awakened into an Amazon and a Kamen Rider himself, and has to decide what he wants to do and who and what to fight for. At least this is the premise of Season 1, Season 2 I will not spoil but it is the production going "oh, Amazon season 1 did well enough for us to do whatever we want, and we'll do exactly that". It's the most well-equipped artists in tokusatsu breaking off their shackles and doing a dramatic magnum opus. It's dark, edgy, but also earnest and sentimental. It's my absolute favorite Kamen Rider show. Also, the fact that the monsters are called "Amazons" is used for extremely pointed stabs at Amazon (company), which is hilarious.

This series is completely narratively-driven, so I can't recommend episodes out of order! Watch the whole thing!

KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE (2019)

Robot-themed! Zero-One takes place in a future where robots and humans live together, like Megaman or Astro Boy. It's about the struggle of humans and robots to live in harmony with one another, and it develops those themes and its world extremely well. The main character (Aruto) is very goofy and wants to be a manzai comedian but his lame puns always bomb. He is, however, also the heir of a massive company that builds all the robot people! Aruto is suddenly, unexpectedly, thrown into the company as its President after his grandfather dies. This responsibility is too much for him, but he decides to take on the mantle as he wants to bring a smile to people's faces, and that he legitimately cares about robots, as he was raised and saved by one as a kid. With this in mind, he takes on his grandfather's KAMEN RIDER ZERO-ONE technology and uses it to attempt to stop a terrorist robot faction (METSUBOUJINRAI.NET) that's bent on killing all humans, and corrupting other robots for that goal. All while also trying to advocate for a harmonious relationship between humans and robots. This is honestly fantastic, and may seem super goofy at first but gets very complex as it goes on. Very great balance of lighthearted comedy and serious drama, and another one of my absolute favorite Kamen Rider series, right up there with Kiva and Amazons.

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 1: I'm the President and a Kamen Rider Episode 2: Is AI an Enemy? Ally? Episode 5: His Passionate Manga Path Episode 6: I Want to Hear Your Voice (2-parter with episode 5)

KAMEN RIDER GEATS (2022)

Battle-royale themed Kamen Rider, with a lot of inspiration on korean dramas and reality shows. It definitely feels inspired by, say, Squid Game. Gods select people to compete in a Kamen Rider battle royale, and the winner of the final round gets to remake the world in whatever way they see fit. The production is a bit cheap after the last two KRs before Geats underperformed, and they had to scale the production down. The fact that the series tries to convey the excitement of extremely high stakes so often only for those stakes to completely deflate thanks to how the premise works, creates a situation where you don't know what to care because anything can get undone and completely changed so often anyway. Near the end the series gets particularly bad with this. Still, it has some good characters, some nice drama and some fun comedy, so it's not bad, but definitely on my lower tier of KRs alonside Fourze. Again: No KR I've watched was bad! So, even the ones that might sound that I'm down on them I still very much enjoyed.

(Too narratively-driven to recommend episodes out of order! Try the first couple of episodes!)

SHIN KAMEN RIDER (2023) (MOVIE)

Hideaki Anno's film! Hideaki Anno is a huge Kamen Rider fan and it really shows throughout the movie, with a lot of pulls from the Kamen Rider manga specifically, while also being nostalgic for a lot of the original Kamen Rider TV show from 71. Still, it ends up feeling less like "a Kamen Rider movie" and more like "an Anno movie" with a Kamen Rider-theming to it. It doesn't put its focus on the stunts and the fight choreography that you'd see in other Kamen Rider productions, but more on Anno's style of cinematography, his sense of timing, special effects and animation. It also retreads several of the themes and elements that he's drawn from before, a lot of Evangelion is in this. It's good, I like it!

KAMEN RIDER GOTCHARD (2023)

Currently ongoing! Very Y2K nostalgic, with a Kamen Rider suit that has that Y2K aqua color to it, and is themed around... Pokemon cards? There are these creatures called Chemys, that are contained inside alchemical cards that have been let loose and need to be captured again, or at least kept away from the villains. The main character is this super earnest, almost helplessly naively optimistic schoolboy called Ichinose that has been unexpectedly thrown into the secret world of alchemy and given the power to become Kamen Rider Gotchard, as a powerful benevolent alchemist dies in his arms. As a promise to him, he vows to find the Chemys. Ichinose also believes that they're extremely good-natured beings that are only corrupted by human malice, and really believes in the friendship of Chemys and humans, while other alchemists feel Ichinose's ideas of Chemys are too naive and soft-hearted. It's, uh, I don't know what to think of it, honestly! The first couple of episodes really did not sold me on it, but it gets better and better as it goes on, though, it's also, like, a lot of Big Important things keep happening in rapid-fire in a way that I can't tell whether the show has a higher plan for all of it or if it's just throwing things for easy hype. Nearly every episode there's a new Kamen Rider transformation, it's kind of insane. Still, this is preferrable than the stretches of not much happening that plague some other KR seasons. I've been enjoying it a good amount, honestly!

RECOMMENDED EPISODES TO SAMPLE: Episode 5: Burn! Fight! Wrestler G! Episode 7: Goodbye, Saboneedle

And those are all the Kamen Riders I've watched! Something else that can help you decide on which series to try out, is that the NHK made a public popularity poll of Kamen Rider series, with the results being found here! From here, you can tell which KRs are most beloved and well-remembered in Japan, and use that as a guidance for yourself, if you'd like. But again, I must emphasize, you can really start most anywhere, so feel free to do exactly that!

#kamen rider #kr #tokusatsu #gotchard #shin kamen rider

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airadam · 2 years

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Episode 157 : XIII

"I only ride with the MFers that I used to walk with."

- Suga Free

Another milestone passed - this is the thirteenth birthday episode! Thank you all for staying with me over the long road travelled since that first pilot show. For this month's episode, we once again visit the old and the new, starting with a brand new release from one of my favourite MCs and ending with some storied veterans coming back to burn like T La Rock!

Twitter : @airadam13

Twitch : @airadam13

Playlist/Notes

Matterflow ft. Raekwon : Gray Space

We open the episode with a brand new cross-Atlantic combination - the Parisian producer Matterflow alongside the Staten Island Wu-Tang legend Raekwon. It's a reflective single with a downbeat sound, as Rae talks about moving from the "gray space" he inhabited in his young days to a very different life now. As some of us were recently discussing on a Twitch stream, nowadays in the age of digital releases it's so easy for a single like this to come out and quietly slip by the people who'd want to hear it, so I'm glad I didn't miss this one.

King I Divine : Reflections

I first heard King I Divine's production a good few years back when someone sent me his work, but then he dropped off my radar completely - which would mostly have been my fault! It was a pleasant surprise to hear him popping up on the Chillhop label, whose releases are quickly becoming a go-to for soundtracking tough programming sessions. This is a beautiful little single, not long, but with a relaxed piano line running through, finding its way through all the drums, percussion, and bass.

Mobb Deep : Back At You

RIP Prodigy. There's a good chance that this track might have slipped past you - the very similarly named "Right Back At You" featured on "The Infamous", but this slower, more measured cut was on the "Sunset Park" soundtrack. It also apparently got a single release, which I might chase down just to get the excellent Havoc instrumental.

People Under The Stairs : Carried Away

RIP Double K, another artist gone too soon. I was surprised not to have played the title track to the PUTS "Carried Away" album, their seventh, before, but the vibe is perfect for this time of year. The beat is so crispy and airy that Thes and K give us a twenty-bar intro before the lyrics start to just enjoy it, and a similarly lengthy outro - which also makes it great for DJs!

Marco Polo ft. Oddisee, Kev Brown, Kenn Starr, Kaimbr, and Cy Young : Low Budget Allstars

The DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) is in full effect here! Marco Polo is on production, as this is taken from his first LP "Port Authority", but I think it's fair to say that he clearly shows a Kev Brown influence on this beat. I wouldn't be surprised if these two MPC masters collaborated to cook up this track, before Kev and crew got on the mic to top it with bars upon bars. If you like a good posse cut, then this is going to make you smile from ear-to-ear - while nodding your head!

Camp Lo ft. Trugoy The Dove : B-Side To Hollywood

The Lo and De La together on this deep album cut from Camp Lo's debut "Uptown Saturday Night" make for a flavourful combination. Interestingly, this is the only song on the LP not produced by Ski - Trugoy gets behind the boards himself, and you could easily imagine this track, with the hook and all, being on a De La album.

[Tonedeff] PackFM : Stomp (Instrumental)

The Bhangra vibes are heavy on this one! Tonedeff channels the kind of sounds I remember hearing in my neighbourhood as a kid into a banger for Brooklyn's PackFM. There are plenty of interesting things going on in this beat, from the periodic drum rolls/flourishes to the section where the programming suddenly changes and starts racing along in double time - it's a nice piece of work!

Visioneers : Rollin' For The Ride

I'd somehow almost forgotten about this track, until I gave the "Dirty Old Hip-Hop" LP a spin recently. A great mostly-instrumental groove, it could easily have been used as a bed between mixes but here it gets chance to breathe! Visioneers is a project headed up by Marc Mac (of 4Hero), Hopper, and Somatik, and they've put some serious releases out over the years. This breezy groove is perfect for the summer months, and should hopefully prod you into listening to the whole album.

Zapp : Brand New Player

This isn't the sound most people would associate with Zapp, but take away the talkboxes and heavy synths and they still get busy with traditional vocals and instrumentation! As well as the late great Roger Troutman and the rest of the crew, this track features production from the legendary bassist Bootsy Collins of Parliament/Funkadelic fame, and the combination is magic. This oft-overlooked gem is on the debut Zapp LP, which is one to absolutely grab on vinyl if you ever see it - it's an important one to have in your collection.

DJ Quik ft. 2nd II None and Peter Gunz : So Many Wayz

An aside; between this, "Deja Vu", and his guest appearance on "Rock Steady Pt. II", Peter Gunz has pretty much set his stall out as the king of dirty macking, perhaps only second to LL Cool J. Anyway, his appearance on DJ Quik's "Rhythm-al-ism" album wasn't necessarily an expected one but he holds it down for his town alongside Quik protoges 2nd II None and Mr. Blake himself. This tune has a cool intro but try as I might, I couldn't get it to blend how I wanted to, so go and peep the whole album to hear it for yourself - it's an excellent listen, and an LP which is widely regarded as one of Quik's best.

Z-Ro : We Ride

This one has been getting a lot of in-car play lately, so I was pleased to find a spot for it here. As is often the case with Houston's Z-Ro, there's a marked contrast between the cheerfulness of the production and the darkness of some of what he says, but you certainly can't deny his talent. He's a highly-skilled MC who can switch it up and sing, or do both at once as he does here, and at no time will it sound forced. This track is from the 2011 "Meth" album, but is really kind of ageless - it could have come out last week. Beanz & Kornbread handle the production and cook up a personal classic.

B. Bravo : Da Essence

This artist was played on the show just last month, but this track earned him a rapid return! A skilled practitioner of the electronic funk, he cooks up this track to open the new "Vizionz" LP, so take this free sample and then check out the main course...

The Gap Band : Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)

This lament of an abandoned man is a funk classic which I'm sure quite a few of you will know - and if you don't, you might well recognise that screeching tyre sample, which has been borrowed over and over again! This absolute monster was on the 1980 release "Gap Band III" from Tulsa's finest, and has been an influence on more musicians than you'd think. Dave Grohl said fairly recently that the drum pattern for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was pretty much a direct lift of the drum intro from this track!

Ilajide ft. Clear Soul Forces : Vol 69

Big Detroit flavour from the recently-released "Pocket Jams" album. Ilajide brings in the rest of the CSF members on this track, which timing-wise feels like it's ready to trip over itself at any moment - it's got a beautiful kind of instability to its funkiness, only enhanced by the firehose delivery of the verses. The vibes here are just undeniable.

Buscrates ft. Laura Benack : You Got Me (Extended)

Having recently got up on some of the work of Pittsburgh's funk maestro Buscrates, I've been digging back for tunes that I would have previously missed, and this is a stunner. You could imagine this one moving a sophisticated dancefloor, with the clear and precise keyboard bassline being the highlight of the beat, and the the production overall leaving plenty of space for Laura Benack's vocals to shine. You can find this on the "Luxury Soul 2019" compilation, but it's also available as a single - digital release, if nothing else.

Suga Free and Kokane : SugaKane

This combination definitely needs to be heard over the length of an entire album. For now, we have this Cutty Dre-produced single, on which two highly influential - if not necessarily widely-known - West Coast vocalists give you a sample of their styles. Suga Free basically turns motivational speaker on this one - if you're not used to him, you might have to rewind a few times to catch some of the jewels!

[Evil Dee] Black Moon : Fuck It Up (Rugged and Ruff Instrumental)

B-side action from the flip of the "Who Got The Props?" 12", with Evil Dee going in with a nice bit of jazz style.

Son Of Noise ft. DJ Stylewarz : Adrenaline

Have you ever seen one of those viral videos where some young and cocky idiot tries to bring it to an older man, only to find himself thoroughly outmatched? Well, Son Of Noise certainly aren't as old as all that, but this absolute flamethrower proves that there's no subsitute for experience - which new jacks are bringing it like this? Son Of Noise were born out of the breakup of the pioneering UK crew Hardnoise, who were responsible for tracks like the legendary "Untitled" and "Mice In The Presence Of The Lion" (which you'll hear cut up here). Despite suffering personal losses and record company drama over the years, they've stayed active and true, and you absolutely have to respect them. Taken from last year's "The Resurrection" EP, this is a great channeling of the classic sound sometimes referred to as "Britcore", which was arguably the most prominent vein of late 80s-early 90s UK Hip-Hop. Think of those records as like action films on wax, and this is a high-quality modern example - the beat by OG Bulldog is pure drama, the bars are packed with skills and aggression, and the cuts? 🔥🔥🔥🔥 This could only close the episode, as there's no way to follow it.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

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fysebastianstan · 4 years

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Sebastian Stan jumped at the chance to try his hand at improvising for the duration of Drake Doremus’ latest relationship drama, Endings, Beginnings. Starring opposite Shailene Woodley and Jamie Dornan, Stan plays an Angeleno named Frank, whose erratic behavior complicates a budding relationship between Daphne (Woodley) and his friend Jack (Dornan). Despite being intimidated by the exercise of improvisation, Stan knew it was important for him to see what he was capable of without the comfort and safety of a script.

“I’ve always felt protected by scripts, lines and scenes. I feel like I’m one of those people who’s opened up much more by scripts. I’m not as witty on my own,” Stan tells The Hollywood Reporter. “This was one of those different experiences, and I would certainly do it again. I’d be curious to see if I could ever use parts of [improvisation] in a bigger movie… So, maybe this was a really training experience for that.”

Until the coronavirus pandemic shut down the entirety of Hollywood, Stan was just a few weeks away from wrapping Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and the Winter Soldier — the MCU’s first foray into scripted television for Disney+. Since many fans have wondered whether the show would maintain the look and feel of its theatrical counterparts, Stan is now shedding some light on how cinematic the streaming show is.

“It felt like both. In a lot of ways, it felt like a movie,” Stan recalls. “What I loved about it was that, tonally, it was very much in the same world that Captain America: The Winter Soldier was, which was one of my favorite experiences that I’ve ever had, period. So, in a sense, it was grounded and very much in the world as we know it. But, it’s also really jam-packed with a lot of massive, massive action scenes mixed with deep focus on character. These characters are getting so much more mileage for all of us to explore them. We can put them in situations that we’ve never been able to put them in before because you now have six hours as opposed to two.”

Now a year removed from the release of Avengers: Endgame, the highest grossing film of all time, questions are still being asked about Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Bucky Barnes’ concluding moments. While many fans agree with Rogers’ choice to pass his iconic shield on to Sam Wilson, there’s also a contingent of fans who wanted to see Bucky take on the mantle of Captain America from his best friend. To Stan, Steve was giving Bucky the same gift he gave himself: a life.

“Steve is saying to Bucky, ‘You’re going to go and do that, too. I’m not going to put this thing on you. We’re both going to live our lives — the lives that were actually taken from us back in the ‘40s when we enlisted,’” Stan explains. “So, that’s where I felt they were at the end of the movie. I don’t think there’s a desire or any conflicted thoughts about taking on that mantle. Sam, to me, was always the clear man to take on that mantle for numerous reasons, which also comes with so much more baggage that’s going to be explored in the show. I guess you’ll have to tune into Disney+ to find out why. (Laughs.) At the end of Endgame, for either Steve or Bucky, it’s really not about the shield.”

In a recent conversation with THR, Stan elaborates on the process of improvising an entire movie, the latest with Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and his interpretation of Steve and Bucky’s last moments in Avengers: Endgame.

How’s everything with you in New York?

It’s alright considering what people are going through out there. I’m pretty lucky. I haven’t been home in a long time so it’s been good to be home. You always feel weird when somebody says you can’t do something; It’s difficult to grasp that quickly. But, in truth, if I wasn’t working and I had time at home, I would probably be doing what I’m doing now. I’m writing, watching a lot of movies and just taking advantage of this time to chill out and get back to being present, something that is more and more difficult in our lives. I’m finding that my motivation is all over the place. Once I get to about 3 o’clock, I’m done for the day because it’s hard for me to get my focus back. So, I try to do all the important bits in the morning. Once in a while, I’ll go out for a run in the very early morning because I know nobody is around here in New York, and I was able to grab a couple of really cool stills of Times Square empty. It’s just weird, but anything to make a day go by. (Laughs.) This is where we’re at.

So, as I said to Jamie, I felt like I was invading the characters’ privacy while watching Endings, Beginnings. Did you feel that level of intimacy as a performer?

Yeah, man, it was extremely intimate right from the beginning. I was familiar with Drake’s work so I kinda had an idea going into it, but I didn’t really know what the process was going to be like. It really just started with this one-on-one meeting that Drake and I had really early on; we ended up talking for three hours about everything, basically. I don’t think either of us are small-talk guys anymore, so that felt very natural. I loved how honest he was about life experience, relationships and the curiosity of it all. So, we really hit it off. When I met him, I think I was trying to sway him to think of me as Jack, Jamie’s character. Personally, I felt a little closer to that character, but when we made the movie, Drake made me believe I was wrong. (Laughs.) We had an outline of what the movie was trying for, but the specificity of the performances, the relationship dynamics and the chemistry really made it feel like we were discovering it in the present moment on the day. There wasn’t a lot of rehearsal. Shailene came in late in the movie, and we probably had about two weeks where we were kind of rehearsing and just getting to know each other a little bit. The rest was a day-to-day, on-set trial and error in order to see what would light people up.

Since you had just come off a string of massive Marvel movies, was it nice to get back to basics with a film like this, so to speak?

Well, yeah, it’s just different. Particularly in the last two years for me, I’ve been so much more aware of directors like never before. I’ve desperately wanted to work with very specific directors — Drake being one of them. Then, when you go on that set with a specific director you’ve wanted to work with, they have a very specific vision, and I just immediately know that I’m going into somebody’s very specific vision. On the bigger movies, for example, I had a relationship with the Russos over three movies, and I knew the way they were working. Every time, I sort of felt like we were picking it back up again, but just in terms of format, structure and overall scope, I knew they were making a very different movie each time. On these little movies, sometimes, the director can take these very specific points of views, and you’re just in the hands of that. That’s what makes the experience different because it’s that director’s vision, and it’s very oriented to that particular person. That’s how I felt with Drake, and that’s how I imagine other specific directors are. I recently worked with Antonio Campos [on The Devil All the Time], who’s another director whose movies I love, and I’ve always wanted to work with him. Again, he has a very specific approach, vision and how he wants the thing to look and feel. You kind of just surrender to that.

When your character, Frank, first meets Shailene’s character, Daphne, at the New Year’s Eve party, they jokingly put distance between one another. Since many of us are now watching entertainment through our present-day lens, have you realized how ahead of the curve you were in this case?

(Laughs.) I didn’t even think about that; you’re right. It’s interesting to think because we don’t know, really, what the ramifications of this social distancing will be. We may still feel the effects of it well into the next couple years. It’s going to be a while before we get life back to “normal,” but will it ever really go back to normal? That’s the stuff that remains to be seen. I can definitely see a world where people are much more conscious about personal space, perhaps. I don’t know. Shailene and I were talking in another interview the other day, and I was like, “Listen, I know you’re a hugger — and so am I — but do you think people are going to want to be hugged by us after this?” I don’t know.

At least we can now opt not to shake hands without offending anyone.

Well, apparently, no one liked that. I was not aware that that was not a fun thing to do. Yeah, that might be gone at this point.

I got a kick out of Frank’s The Pianist reference. Did you name a different movie for each improvised take?

(Laughs.) No, that was the only time I referenced a movie. Every time it was different. One of the things that I learned with Drake really early on was to never try and do something that worked, again. That reference worked; I didn’t know he was gonna use it. Doing it again — even remotely getting close to it — goes against his way of working. You’re just recreating a moment, and he wants everything to be very fresh and in the moment. I have a friend who always picks on me for watching heavy, intense, dramatic movies by myself at home on the weekends. He just makes fun of me all the time. So, the reference came from that. I love all movies, but I just love watching the heavier dramatic movies. (Laughs.) So, it came from remembering that in the moment and just saying it. It was odd enough, but it made it.

I asked Jamie this question, but I’d like to get your take as well. How do you ensure that you’re improvising as the character and not as Sebastian?

That’s the problem. I don’t know. Even though we’re improvising as honestly as possible, we’re still kind of doing it with a direction from the outline. I think that is what gives it an element that’s still affected rather than me just going up there and saying how I feel. And then, in the editing room, which is what makes Drake brilliant at this, he finds the moments; the way he cuts is just fascinating to me. I remember saying to him, “Drake, no take is the same. I don’t know how you’re going to cut this. It’s impossible.” And yet, he made it work. He found the conversation, and he found the moments. He’s got a very specific way of cutting that I love which is the reactions and so on. He really filtered those performances in the editing room as well. There was a lot of back-and-forth dialogue between me and Shailene that never made it, but again, it’s about him picking what he feels is right for who each character is.

Did you have any history with improvisation before this experience?

No, not at all.

Were you intimidated by it?

I definitely was. Absolutely, I was. I didn’t have an audition for the movie, but I had that three-hour session with Drake where we talked about different things and topics. I think he was just curious to see how honest our conversation could go, and I just wasn’t afraid of that. It was very scary at the beginning. It’s that question you asked, where you go, “Well, this isn't really who I am. I don’t do these things that this character does.” I’ve always felt protected by scripts, lines and scenes. I feel like I’m one of those people who’s opened up much more by scripts. I’m not as witty on my own. This was one of those different experiences, and I would certainly do it again. I’d be curious to see if I could ever use parts of it in a bigger movie. Believe it or not, on those bigger projects, you do use improv. You do the scenes a couple times. You get it as it’s written on paper, and then you say, “Let’s just do this one more time and try it out this way. Let’s just see what happens and then we have it.” Sometimes, that ends up in the movie because it’s weirdly a sort of wildcard. So, maybe this was a really training experience for that.

Shifting gears to some obligatory Marvel questions… Did you shoot The Falcon and the Winter Soldier like a TV show or movie?

It felt like both. In a lot of ways, it felt like a movie. Again, we’re not finished; we still have some stuff to do. What I loved about it was that, tonally, it was very much in the same world that Captain America: The Winter Soldier was, which was one of my favorite experiences that I’ve ever had, period. So, in a sense, it was grounded and very much in the world as we know it. But, it’s also really jam-packed with a lot of massive, massive action scenes mixed with deep focus on character. That’s what’s really exciting about this. We’re getting to keep it in the world of the movies, so it’s recognizable that way, but at the same time, these characters are getting so much more mileage for all of us to explore them. We can put them in situations that we’ve never been able to put them in before because you now have six hours as opposed to two. It’s always a discovery.

Prior to the shutdown, is it true that you were only a week away from wrapping?

No, we were probably at least two or three, but don’t quote me on that.

At the end of Avengers: Endgame, between the dialogue and your performance, it seemed pretty cut and dried that Bucky knew about Steve’s plan to remain in the past with Peggy (Hayley Atwell). Were you surprised that some people didn’t entirely pick up on that?

I don’t know if I was surprised. The Internet completely misconstrued something else and made it entirely into something that it wasn’t, but later, I sort of became aware that people really felt like we needed to have more between the two of them or something. But, it hadn’t occurred to me because at the same time, that scene was saying so much with subtext. That being said, how do you put it all together in a three-hour movie? To merge all those different stories together, you could’ve had another movie of everybody saying goodbye to each other. So, I love how much people care about those two characters and that they wanted more from them, but I just took it as “This is as much screen time as we’ve got left before the movie ends.” It was already such a long movie. And then, it’s just the knowledge that these guys have always known each other’s moves, so to speak. They knew each other so well that they could say, “Okay, I know what he’s going to do, what decisions he’s going to make and I support that.” Yeah, it’s just what it was. That’s what was on the page, and that’s what we shot.

Bucky hugged Steve and said he was gonna miss him. To me, it’s crystal clear that you played it as knowing Steve’s intent.

Oh, a thousand percent, yeah. I played it as goodbye. What I was playing was, “Okay, I know he’s going, and he’s not going to come back. I can’t talk about it, because if I do, then they’re going to try and stop him from doing what he wants to do. So, I’ve gotta support that.” That’s what I was playing in the scene. Suddenly, when he shows back up again, I’m playing it like, “Oh! Well, he didn’t tell me he was gonna do that. I knew he was gonna leave, and even though I knew what he was going to do with the shield, I didn't know he was gonna pop up over there now and be older.” So, I was playing that. Look, I love a good scene with dialogue, but sometimes, I find it really interesting when there’s not a lot said. And funnily enough, it’s sort of been the trademark of Bucky. Then, you’re watching behavior, you’re watching the eyes and you’re wondering what they’re thinking. You’re more involved and tuned in. So, it’s always fun for me to try to do as much as I can without dialogue. It’s exciting as an actor because then I wonder what people are getting out of it. In that aspect, it’s fun.

Some people still lament the fact that Steve didn’t give Bucky the shield in order to take on the mantle of Captain America. Bucky may have been brainwashed, but Captain America is such a symbolic position that you can’t just write off fifty years of transgressions by The Winter Soldier. I also have a hard time imagining that Bucky would even want that role. Since you know Bucky best, what’s your impression of Steve’s choice?

The MCU — as I saw it from my humble perspective — is a bit different in that regard to the comics. Where we arrived with him at the end felt more like he was in a place with a desire for some sort of release: to start over, start life again in a way, find out who he is again on his own and leave all this behind. Yes, it all happened, but at some point, you gotta own your mistakes, what happened and try to start over. That’s where I felt like the character was at the end of Avengers: Endgame. It’s also what he wanted for Steve. Like anybody that ends up traumatized by a war experience, he was affected by it for the rest of his life. So, what felt like a desire there was for a restart — for him and for Steve in a way. It didn’t necessarily feel like the shield was gonna be that. Steve going back in time and saying, “I’m gonna take something for me now. I’ve been here for all these guys, and I’ve done the best I could. I’m just a man, and I’m going to go back and try to live my life.” I feel that is something that Bucky would want for his best friend, and at the same time, Steve is saying to Bucky, “You’re going to go and do that, too. I’m not going to put this thing on you. We’re both going to live our lives — the lives that were actually taken from us back in the ‘40s when we enlisted.” So, that’s where I felt they were at the end of the movie. I don’t think there’s a desire or any conflicted thoughts about taking on that mantle. Sam, to me, was always the clear man to take on that mantle for numerous reasons, which also comes with so much more baggage that’s going to be explored in the show. I guess you’ll have to tune into Disney+ to find out why. (Laughs.) At the end of Endgame, for either Steve or Bucky, it’s really not about the shield.

I really loved Destroyer, and I thought you were great in it. It continues to blow my mind that Karyn Kusama isn’t able to do whatever she wants. Granted, she just got Universal’s Dracula…

I already emailed her about that. I said, “You know I’m from Romania, right?” and she goes, “Yes, yes, it’s very early — and there’s a pandemic. Hopefully, we’ll see you in four years.” (Laughs.)

What comes to mind when you reflect on that experience and working with Karyn?

Thank you for mentioning that movie. I love that movie, I love her and I had such a great time on it. I would love to keep finding projects with her — projects that kind of push you in a different direction. Again, this goes back to your earlier questions about these smaller movies, and I was referencing the vision of a director, how important that is and sometimes surrendering to that. That’s what that movie was for me. Karyn saw this character and movie in a certain way, and it was my job to learn that world, the tone and fit into it. I loved her as a director because she was so specific with me from the get-go. She also really allowed me to discover it on my own. We talked about the tattoos, the look, his history… It was very collaborative before we started, and then, when we started, it was actually very specific. She was one of those directors that made me feel so safe and confident in my choices, simply by the way she communicated with me. I think that came from her absolute confidence in what she wanted and what she saw. I really wish more people had seen that movie. Maybe they have by now; I don’t know. And obviously — Nicole Kidman. It was one of those dreams to work opposite her. It was a good package.

***

Endings, Beginnings is now available on digital HD and VOD on May 1.

#sebastian stan #sebstannews #long post #interviews

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stranger-who-writes-fiction · 3 years

Text

Alright HERE WE GO...SOME PRESS!

By which I mean, Tom King was on ComicPop discussing Supergirl! So we have CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND INFO! WOO!

Gonna get into it below, but my recommendation, as always: the best way to have an informed opinion is to get the info firsthand, so don’t just take my word for it! Go forth! Watch the thing! (Language advisory, though. There is some swearing.)

Okay. With that out of the way, LET’S GO!

Gonna lead off with a summary of the Supergirl bits, as they discuss a variety of things, from Strange Adventures to Batman/Catwoman to the canned New Gods project:

How Tom King came to be the writer of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow:

King’s longtime editor, Jaime Rich, was moved from the Bat books to the Super books.

King, historically, likes to take on characters that ‘need help.’ He cites the example of Kirby who, upon coming to DC, asked what their lowest-selling title was, which is how he ended up on Jimmy Olsen.

So, when King asks which character needs help, Rich, to King: Supergirl. We have trouble selling that book.

King, describing Supergirl: ‘She’s singular in a way Mr. Miracle and Vision are not.’ Says that if you ask any four year old who Supergirl is, they know.

Editors asked him, ‘what’s your take? what are you gonna do with her?’

King then discusses the difference between his approach to Bat people vs. Super people.

Bat people: It’s a deconstruction approach. King brings up Kite Man from his Batman run. You tear the character down and build them back up, a la Dark Knight Returns

Super people: It’s not about deconstruction. Let them be themselves. They’re wonderful, let them be wonderful.

But he does mention sort of stripping down the character to their purest form; he describes it as chiseling off the barnacles that have built up on the character, over the years.

Additionally, he says ‘evil doesn’t work for the Super family of characters.’

He mentions Superman: Up in the Sky. He says that there’s deep stuff in Up in the Sky, but the theme of every page is simply: Superman is awesome.

King: “I don’t want to make Kara mean or sad. I want to test her.”

The host compares ‘angry Kara’ stories to ‘evil Superman’ stories in that there are many of them, such to the point that people think Kara is relatable because she’s miserable and angry all the time.

The host: I don’t get that.

(Same dude, same.)

King talked to Steve Orlando

They discussed the fact that Supergirl knew her planet; the people who died were her friends, family, classmates.

King summarizes Kara’s original Silver Age origin: she witnessed three huge, traumatic losses of life. First, when Krypton exploded. Then again when the Kryptonite started killing Argo residents, and then again when the meteorites destroyed the lead shielding that was keeping Argo safe.

King: “That’s some f-ing trauma! I don’t know if you’ve read my books, but I love the trauma in characters.”

King thus describes Kara as world-weary, she swears, ‘she has seen some sh*t’.

On the new character, Ruthye:

She’s a child on a vengeance quest.

She’s named after King’s niece, Ruthie.

The pronunciation for the comic character, though, is Ruth-Eye.

One of his sons told him to add the ‘e’ on the end to make it look cooler.

Further discussion of Kara herself:

King noted that there’s sometimes a tendency to be very precious with the character.

King: ‘Let’s not be precious with Supergirl.’

This is not the story of a sixteen-year-old girl discovering the world; King says that Supergirl has been that sixteen-year-old for a long time now.

He describes it more as a move from Supergirl to Superwoman.

Art and Influences:

Talking about the red sun planet that Kara visits for her twenty-first birthday, King says he was reading a lot of Conan, which influenced the look of that portion of the story.

The impetus for getting Evely on the book: King said his editor emailed him, ‘Hey, how about Bilquis?’ King: “And I did a happy dance!”

Evely sent King a mood board of the types of things she wanted to draw; Moebius, Kirby, Wally Wood, landscapes in particular.

Also, King says Evely is fast! She’s already halfway through the book, art-wise, and King is confident the book will release on time.

The host asked him, following up on King’s description of the book as a fantasy/western, ‘Is this True Grit?’

King: “It’s True Grit inspired. The novel AND the movie.”

If asked to give the Hollywood pitch: ‘It’s True Grit in space with Supergirl as Rooster Cogburn.’

Details about this book, as compared to Other Tom King titles:

He’s using captions on this comic--he’d thrown out captions as a storytelling device after Batman, but he found a ‘good voice’ for this comic.

King was prepared to do his usual twelve issues, but they said no one buys Supergirl comics, so it’s eight issues.

King says that Strange Adventures, Rorschach, and to a lesser extent, Batman/Catwoman, were written at a time when the world felt very apocalyptic.

He considers them to be angrier books; they are about what happens when evil is in our life, and how we deal with that.

Supergirl is the start of the ‘next generation’ of titles.

It was written during the pandemic, but King hoped that by the time it was released, the pandemic and this very dark time in our history would be past.

He says it’s a ‘roaring 20s’ book. Not about anger, or trauma, it’s about stepping into the future and kicking a**.

THUS CONCLUDES the Supergirl portion of the interview.

Okay, so! Now that we’ve been objective and presented the information in a straightforward, unbiased manner...SOME THOUGHTS AND OPINONS!

The thing I was most curious about was how King got the book, so I was EXTREMELY PLEASED to get the full story.

This wasn’t like. King desperately wanting to do a Supergirl book, nor was it DC coming to King like, ‘Take Supergirl!’

Sadly, it was, ‘which book needs the most help right now? In the Superman lineup?’

He even said that Supergirl was kind of just sitting around, no one was doing anything with her/there were no plans.

(So the idea that King stole this opportunity from a woman is not true. There were NO PLANS.)

(Also it’s not based on the FS stuff, I suspect they gave the FS team some ideas from his pitch to work with, as that entire event was sort of a stop-gap/fill-in as they hurried to relaunch their line.)

Anyways!

My initial thought that this is DC’s attempt to sell some dang Supergirl books? Not that far off! XD

Boy, I hope it works.

(Important to note: This is not news. Supergirl has historically always sold poorly. I’ve heard from actual Supergirl writers that the trades do not sell, which is a huge problem.

So King, who is KNOWN for having really good trade sales, is as solid a gamble as they could probably hope for.

He said Superman: Up in the Sky is his third best-selling trade. A WAL-MART BOOK! Is just behind Vision and Mr. Miracle!

Basically: If this doesn’t work, I don’t know that anything will.)

As for the specifics of King’s take in particular!

Again...I really want to see it, before I pass judgement on it.

I liked the Andreyko run! And that was pretty edgy!

Also, we have never seen a twenty-something Kara, post-Crisis. She’s always been a teenager. Thus I’m pretty willing to go along with this approach because it’s entirely new territory.

And it does seem like King is enjoying leaning into the idea of a Super who swears and kicks butt and is just a little ‘done’ with it all.

It might not mesh with my ideal Kara but again. I need to see it, before I come to any firm conclusions.

Honestly the thing that gives me the most pause? Is that King says this book really focuses on Supergirl, not Kara, which is a more recent identity for her.

(That is somewhat true! The ‘Kara Danvers’ identity is wholly new to the show; she’s always been Linda Lee, Linda Danvers, Kara Kent, or Linda Lang, when she has a secret identity. Sometimes she doesn’t.)

(Also of note: Tom pronounces it ‘Care-a’, like the cartoon.)

(PERSONALLY I like KAHr-a, like in the show, because it creates a phonetic consistency with ‘KAHl-el’ but that’s not really relevant to a comic book. You can mentally pronounce it however you choose! XD)

So, yeah, I like the Kara Danvers part of her identity, I like earth-bound Supergirl stories, but. This isn’t that. Which I’ll need to make peace with, I guess. XD

Otherwise? Tell me a story, Mr. King. Even if I hate it, Evely will draw it beautifully, Lopes will color it masterfully, and that’s half the battle, right there.

I’m sad King didn’t mention the Gates/Igle run! But I also understand he’s probably been looking at more recent stuff; those Gates/Igle comics are fifteen years old, oh man, oh geez, how are they that old already.

King did confirm that this is 100% in-continuity, and will affect the character going into the future.

But, IDK, given the sort of. Grim beginnings of how this book came to be, what with the reminder that the Supergirl title doesn’t sell well...who knows what the future will look like, for Kara!

I stand by my guess that Kara will graduate to ‘Superwoman’ and the Supergirl mantle will pass to someone else, maybe Ruthye? She might be a bit young, though.

Mmm. What else, what else?

Oh, this is pretty funny, IMO: when King first teased the new character, Ruthye, a bunch of SG fans rushed to google to see if there was any clue as to like. What it could mean.

And they freaked out over some obscure connection where that name appears but hey, turns out! It’s just a made up name! Based on King’s niece!

It’s funny because SG fans never learn, man. Just chill out, read the dang book, then get all upset and huff and puff and blow your twitter house down.

They briefly mentioned the Peter David run; King said the PAD stuff was great.

He’s already teased that ‘treat’ and, okay. Time for some rumination on that specifically.

I’ve read the whole PAD run. It wasn’t my cup of tea, I don’t really like the DnD, angels and demons stuff. Also, it wasn’t Kara; it’s an entirely different character who uses the name ‘Supergirl.’

Also, stuff from that run didn’t age well.

And on top of that, PAD turned out to be...kind of a jerk! As so many folks in the comic industry are.

There’s also...an extremely weird, mean-spirited vibe through the whole back half of the run; I thought maybe I was imagining it at the time, but I recently went back to “Many Happy Returns”, the final story arc of the title, and David’s introduction in the trade...it doesn’t read like a guy who was in it for the love of the character, you know?

All of which to say! I’m not excited about connections to the PAD stuff.

But I know a lot of fans who love that run, love that version of the character.

So like. Eh! Not for me, but to the folks who enjoy it, I hope it’s cool/fun, whatever it is.

(Still think it’ll be a variant or an easter egg or something, but we’ll see.)

(Oh, hmmm! Evely *did* post a WIP of like. Some creepy skull gate that they presumably encounter...hmmmmm.)

Okay, this is crazy long, and there’s no fun art or anything to go with it--OR IS THERE?!?!?!

BOOM. From Bilquis Evely’s twitter today. (GO. FOLLOW. HER. FOR THE GOOD ART.)

(LIKE!!! I look at this and I just! Can’t! Bring myself to not be hyped as all heck! LOOK AT THIS! AND iT’S JUST THE PENCILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

God, wish that Supergirl sold better, so we could get a full year of this. HNNNNGGGGGGG.

Oh! That was another thing King discussed in detail; that 8 is way different from his usual 12, in terms of pacing and story. The beats fall at different places (obviously) so it was a bit of a challenge for him.

Actually, now that I’m thinking about it...maybe 8 will be good. Issue 10 just dropped for Strange Adventures, and wow, it has felt LONG. (I mean, the last four? Three? issues are also bi-monthly so that doesn’t help but. Still.)

(Superman: Up in the Sky was twelve issues but half the length, because it was a Wal-Mart book, so it was more like six.)

OKAY! For real, I’ve gone on long enough. XD

SOON. Soon. June 15th, to be exact. Mark yer calendars!

#stranger speaks #supergirl: woman of tomorrow #long post #LONG!#dc comics

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dailytomlinson · 4 years

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It’s an incredibly busy time for Louis Tomlinson at the moment. He’s promoting a new song that’s gaining steam at radio, “We Made It;” his upcoming debut album, Walls; and his first solo tour. Is he holding on for dear life, or is he loving every moment of the madness?

“I’m lovin’ it,” Tomlinson tells the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast (listen to the full interview, below). “I’ve been waiting for ages. Honestly, I've been waiting for this moment for a while.”

Below are some highlights from our interview with Tomlinson. They include: why his previous singles gave him “the courage now to just be brave” with his new music, his thoughts on “We Made It” and how it’s a song for both him and his fans, how he’s “gone through every emotion” in getting his album made, and what we might expect from his tour.

On how his latest song "We Made It" came together:

This song is like two-and-a-half years old. The reason we kind of sat on the song for so long is [because] I wanted to be further on in the writing process so I could release a lot of songs in a short space of time. There's like another single coming in like six weeks, and so on. The song… it started off as just the title. As a concept, really. 'We made it,' what does that mean to me. And again, my first thought was 'that first tour show.' I always like to write things that where the fans feel they're included, and that moment of me playing my first tour show and thinking to myself, 'alright, we've done alright!' That's collective. That's not just on my own. You know what I mean? Because these people have been patient with me, really patient. And you know, I've got a really loyal fan base, so that's going to be a moment of success -- mutually, you know what I mean?

On the meaning behind the "We Made It" lyric, 'singing something poppy on the same four chords / used to worry about it but I don't no more,' and how he got the "courage" to make the music he wanted to on the upcoming album:

It's funny, because I wrote that song maybe 12 months before I put this statement out on my Instagram and essentially I had just kind of come to this conclusion that I was making music for everyone else and I was worrying too much about other opinions. And kind of based on where I came from with One Direction, that those expectations, I suppose, to a certain degree, are natural. But I had to go through that experience, really, and understand what it was I was doing on my own now. And how important it was to just kind of follow my heart and do what I love. Because, you know… I work quite a few hours doing this job. It's busy, it's busy, so I gotta be loving it. I gotta be loving it. And it doesn't feel like a job when I'm doing what I love, you know what I mean? Whereas, I think, look, there's been singles in the past, where, in hindsight, I feel like, I don't necessarily identify with those sounds … but in terms of when I look back, I'm glad I had the experience, but it's kind of given me the courage now to just be brave and be like, 'alright, I'm gonna do what I wanna do' basically.

Is the whole album locked, done and finished? Or is he still making tweaks?

There's a couple more [songs] that are going to master, but I approved the final two songs, maybe like a day ago or two days ago. So, it's all fully done. I've not heard every master yet, but I'm sure it'll be f---ing good. [Laughs.]

Is that a relief?

Oh, definitely! I think [for] most new artists, this is a pretty normal amount of time to make an album. But again, what I was used to, being in a band like One Direction, was: tour every year, album every year. As I said, I've been writing for like three years, so in One Direction, I could have had three albums out by now [laughs], you know what I mean? So it feels like a relief to finally be here, yeah, definitely.

See When Louis Tomlinson's Debut Album Is Finally Arriving

Is there an overarching theme to the album?

Without getting too deep… I think just honesty. I mean the lyrics, naturally, my style, are quite autobiographical anyway. So, I think in terms of a theme, I go in writing every song, trying to be as honest and as real as possible, really. So, I think there's … different moments in my life, different emotions, but overall, I hope it's honest … I'm always trying to humanize myself as much as possible and make myself relatable to fans, and I think with honesty, you can do that, you know what I mean? Because there's a lot of Hollywood lyrics out there, there's a lot of lyrics that feel a little make believe to me. So, I think being honest, it can pull on the heartstrings then, you know what I mean?

Now that he's going into releasing his first album, which of these emotions is he feeling more right now? Excitement, joy, or nervousness?

I feel like because, as I said before, personally I feel like I've been writing this album for a while, I feel like I've kind of gone through every emotion. Honestly. I've had moments of frustration, because it's taken a second to release. I've had moments where I'm nervous and I hope people like it and whatever. But I feel like I just got to that stage now where I've been sitting on it for a while, I believe they're good songs. I'm confident in the album. So, I'm just excited for people to hear it as this stage. That's all it is. Eager. I'm eager and excited for people to hear it.

Was he putting pressure on himself, or was there any pressure externally, around getting an album done?

If I'm being honest, with the greatest… without like… I think they'll understand this, but to be honest, and for the right reasons, the pressure comes from the fan base. And that's because I owe them, I owe them. You know what I mean? To a certain degree. They're incredible people, super dedicated when I was in the band, and it's carried on throughout. There will be different awards that I get nominated for and, again, I've not had an album out, and they'll just vote super hard! They're just incredible people, so I feel like, I owe it to them to make the best album I can and to get it out at some point. And now we're there!

Has he started prepping for the tour?

I've started thinking roughly about set lists. It's a bit easier when you don't have as many songs in a first tour, you know? … In terms of creative [aspects of the show], to be honest, I haven't really given it too much thought. But instinctively, it won't be bells and whistles. It'll just be a good light show focusing on the music, you know what I mean?

So, not so much on pyro and lasers?

I mean, I like a bit of pyro. And I also like a bit of lasers! So maybe a few bells, few whistles. But not too many, yeah! [Laughs.]

#billboard #051119 #louis tomlinson #wmi #Pop Shop Podcast

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hlupdate · 4 years

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“I've kind of gone through every emotion,” Louis Tomlinson tells the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast about the making of his debut album, “Walls.”

Walls, which is due out on Jan. 31, 2020 via SYCO/Arista Records, marks Tomlinson’s first album of his own. Of course, as a member of the enormously popular group One Direction, he has five full-length studio albums under his belt -- stretching from 2011’s Up All Night and 2015’s Made In the A.M. As for Tomlinson's tour, it is slated to kick off on March 9, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain, before hitting the U.S. on June 9.

On how his latest song "We Made It" came together:

It's funny, because I wrote that song maybe 12 months before I put this statementout on my Instagram and essentially I had just kind of come to this conclusion that I was making music for everyone else and I was worrying too much about other opinions. And kind of based on where I came from with One Direction, that those expectations, I suppose, to a certain degree, are natural. But I had to go through that experience, really, and understand what it was I was doing on my own now. And how important it was to just kind of follow my heart and do what I love. Because, you know… I work quite a few hours doing this job. It's busy, it's busy, so I gotta be loving it. I gotta be loving it. And it doesn't feel like a job when I'm doing what I love, you know what I mean? Whereas, I think, look, there's been singles in the past, where, in hindsight, I feel like, I don't necessarily identify with those sounds … but in terms of when I look back, I'm glad I had the experience, but it's kind of given me the courage now to just be brave and be like, 'alright, I'm gonna do what I wanna do' basically.

Is the whole album locked, done and finished? Or is he still making tweaks?

Is that a relief?

Is there an overarching theme to the album?

Now that he's going into releasing his first album, which of these emotions is he feeling more right now? Excitement, joy, or nervousness?

Was he putting pressure on himself, or was there any pressure externally, around getting an album done?

Has he started prepping for the tour?

So, not so much on pyro and lasers?

I mean, I like a bit of pyro. And I also like a bit of lasers! So maybe a few bells, few whistles. But not too many, yeah! [Laughs.]

#louis tomlinson #wmi promo #articles #051119

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fabfoxly · 5 years

Text

Fharry Tale Birth, part 2: Something dodgy (or two, or three)

In Part 1, we looked at the timeline. Now, it’s time to deep-dive into the dodgy, inconsistent fooleywang surrounding this “blessed event” (or whatever one wishes to call it).

When was the baby even due?

By any calculation, the October announcement, and her own remarks, she was well over 40 weeks, despite caginess around the actual due date. And then this happened:

Either that, or the sight of Gayle King triggered it.

When did she go into labour? Why announce labour hours after the birth?

A now-deleted Operational Note originally said labour started around 1 AM. Sussex IG and the “corrected” note say “in the early morning hours.” The official announcement of labour was released that afternoon, followed by notice of birth 40 minutes later:

If the announcements were correct, that’s about a four-hour labour for a geriatric, overdue, first-time mum. Must be all the yoga, because apparently they had time to host friends and watch some telly before she was “whisked away,” according to The Express:

If she wasn’t yet in labour (Sunday evening), why would she go to “give birth?”

Where did the “birth” happen?

No one knows, because that info is missing from all of the announcements.

Chris Ship thinks it happened at Fraudswamp:

Rebecca English (Daily Mail) insists:

Portland, however, won’t confirm, so all we have are guesses and wild speculation. And Richard Palmer, like the rest of us, is upset that the Palace is still hiding the location:

If it was a hospital, how did she get there? More fooleywang!

Rebecca English again:

How did the entourage sneak by all those people?

Apparently, this happened in such secrecy that not even “senior royals” were aware. Also, these lovely folk who’d been camping on the Long Walk and in Windsor for days, on hair-trigger alert for any sign of life at Fraudswamp Cottage, on the road, or in Windsor, ALL missed a squad of vehicles traveling down the one or two roads they’d have taken:

(image: USAToday)

(image: @havendalegirl, Twitter)

These are the same people who went bonkers a couple of days earlier because they sighted a “slow-moving Bentley” with pink blankets in the rear window.

Yet NONE of them saw Harry and Megs leave, or return with Sproglet Monday afternoon -- even though they were supposedly back at FC before the labour announcement (Daily Mail).

Aren’t the Sussexes just so sneaky and clever to put one over on all these reporters like that?

Wait... Scotland Yard?

There’s also the minor issue that Scotland Yard would not escort Megs to hospital, just as they have not done for any of the Cambridge births, as Skippy here at Tumblr has shared:

https://skippyisheretostay.tumblr.com/search/Scotland%20Yard

Maybe they had one of these?

Good thing we cleared that up, because there’s much more to come.

Who attended the birth? Where’s Meg’s medical team (or at least midwife)?

Nobody knows, not even the Palace.

The tot became IG-official just a few hours after being “welcomed” (a Hollywood word used when celebrities acquire children). No location or doctors were mentioned. and then Prince Harry announced the news himself (I’ll do a separate post on that), but did not mention or thank hospital or medical team (he did, however, thank the horses). Twelve to fourteen hours post-arrival, Buckingham Palace placed this upon the easel:

That’s the entire thing. The date is pre-printed. There are no doctor signatures. And the RF is delighted at “the news.” Not “the birth.” It’s “her” child. Compare to the Cambridge children:

Princess Eugenie, who was also far down the line of succession, had doctor signatures on her Palace birth announcement as well. There was time to get doctor signatures, whether the arrival happened at FC or a London hospital. Why are the names missing? Here’s Richard Palmer:

In case you were wondering, this is not how royal births normally work. They’re usually run smoothly because everyone understands how things should happen. Here’s Richard Palmer again:

Why the bungled announcements, secrecy, and conflicting accounts? Meghan’s sugars will rant about privacy and how expectant parents should be able to dictate what goes on. That’s great for private citizens, which these two are not. UK taxpayers are funding this charade; sharing basic info hours after the event, like where the baby was born and who helped bring it into the world, does not violate family “privacy” any more than telling us how much the baby weighed. It didn’t hurt the privacy of any other RF members, and it won’t hurt these two. They can still relax together at Fraudswamp with a steamy cuppa, a screaming newborn, and a doting grandma.

Where’s Doria?

She’s supposed to be at Fraudswamp with Megs, but no one has seen her arrive, leave, buy kale and avocados, or even peek out a window. We have zero evidence that she is actually in the UK at all, much less in this luxurious abode:

(Image: Daily Mail, 7 May 2019)

What with boarded over and wide open windows, no curtains, boxes piled inside, etc., it doesn’t look like anyone’s living here at all. What happened to that £3 million worth of renovations?

So many questions, so little space. Stay tuned for Part 3!

#royalbabyscheme fakebirth MeAgain divaduchess fakeduchess maybesurrogate Megxit

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crowdvscritic · 4 years

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round up // FEBRUARY 20

On Wednesdays we wear pink, and in February, I stay inside and watch Turner Classic Movies because it’s too gosh-darn cold to do anything else. I watched almost as many movies as days in this month, largely thanks to TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar. A few things I learned:

As much as I enjoy a good TV binge, I enjoy the satisfaction of a movie's end more.

Thank goodness TCM shows good movies when the theatres seem barren of them.

If anyone says women’s complaints about their depiction in Hollywood are overblown, I’d challenge them to watch my month’s lineup. Most female characters were basically non-existent or defined as objects of desire no matter what decade the movies were from.

In February, I also watch the Academy Awards. Most of the movies here were nominated for Oscars, but I’m also recommending a few more pop culture picks (including TV, social media, a book, articles, and music) for the month.

February Crowd-Pleasers

The Imagineering Story (2019)

The Imagineering Story tells the story behind the creation of Disney theme parks, with the greatest highlight of showing you how attractions are designed. Is this shameless Disney marketing on the Disney+ streaming service? Yep, but it’s so well done that for a moment I forgot about their unsettling takeover of the entertainment industry and wanted to quit everything I was doing to go work for them.

This Knives Out Sequel Twitter Thread

The Internet can be a scary place, but this thread reminds us the fun things that can happen when tons of strangers come together. My recommendation was Knives Out: In 2 the Donut Hole, but that’s mostly because someone beat me to Knives Out 2: Adam Driver Is In It.

Classic Action Double Feature: The Magnificent Seven (1960) and The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Your girl loves star-studded team-ups, and it’s never better than when an action movie rounds up its squad of special skills. Also a Charles Bronson double feature! (Bonus: I recommend checking out the 2016 Magnificent Seven remake for a reevaluation of some of the elements that haven’t aged well in the original.)

Classic Comedy Double Feature: Moonstruck (1987) and Road to Morocco (1942)

Moonstruck is like My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets While You Were Sleeping, and Cher’s 1980s hair is a mood. (Arguably, so is Nicolas Cage’s chest hair.) Road to Morocco is like Airplane! meets Aladdin, and the silliness has hardly aged thanks to the talents of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee

The science of joy? This non-fiction book is as fun a read as it should be! It’s not providing answers to deep questions of philosophy, but it’s about a philosophy that can bring life changes. I was amazed by stories of how bright colors, circular spaces, and Northern Lights can inspire joy no matter what your circumstances are. The only problem with this book is that you constantly want to Google every beautiful things she is describing—maybe we need a big coffee table book with photos as a second edition?

'90s Action Double Feature:Tremors (1990) and The Fugitive (1993)

You know a movie's good when you tense up even though you know what's coming. I'd caught bits and pieces of The Fugitive on TV, but this Harrison Ford/Tommy Lee Jones standoff still sucked me in when I watched it start-to-finish. Tremors is not a good movie—this is a movie so bad it’s great. If on some Friday night you need a big, dumb action movie with terrible dialogue, a monster created with dated special effects, and forgettable characters getting picked off one by one and coasts entirely on the charisma of Kevin Bacon and Reba McEntire (???), have I got the movie for you!

February Critic Picks

These Pieces on the Grammys Controversy

The New York Times and Variety wrote about why the firing of President/CEO Deborah Dugan and her subsequent lawsuit won’t be disappearing even though the Recording Academy is trying hard as heck to do that. As one too invested in how the arts are recognized and celebrated, I’m paying attention to what appears to be a scandal just waiting to be uncovered.

“Can the Grammys Be Trusted?” by Jon Caramanica (The New York Times)

“The Grammys May Be Over, but the Recording Academy Scandal Isn’t” by Jem Aswad (Variety)

Dark Passage (1947)

An exception to the trend of weak female roles in the films I watched this month. Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart re-team for their third film (of four) together in this romantic film noir. Bogart plays a wrongfully accused escaped convict, and Bacall is the woman who helps him keep his cover. The unconventional first-person camera angles at the beginning will catch your attention, but their chemistry will keep you invested till the end.

youtube

The Oscars

The 2020 Oscars ceremony was one of the most bonkers ceremonies in recent memory. Bonkers is preferable to boring, and I love any night celebrating movies, so I have very few complaints about an evening spent with friends eating movie-themed snacks. (Anyone care for an Adam Screw-Driver?) My favorite moments came thanks to Bong Joon Ho, especially his wins for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director.

youtube

The French Dispatch Trailer (2020)

A star-studded team-up about Midwestern journalists from the aesthetically-pleasing mind of Wes Anderson? Take my money!

youtube

Classic War Comedy Double Feature: Life Is Beautiful (1997) and Dr. Strangelove (1964)

They were both nominated for Best Picture, and they both find humor in the darkest of war. In Life Is Beautiful (La Vita è Bella), a father transforms a Nazi concentration camp into a game to save his son’s innocence. In Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a bunch of incompetent leaders try to prevent nuclear war. Neither sounds funny, but they pull it off with delicate execution. (Bonus: Enjoy Robert Benigni winning an Oscar!)

The Slow Rush by Tame Impala

As my brother would say, this album slaps.

youtube

Leap Day Bonus

“What a Man Gotta Do” by the Jonas Brothers

My apologies to the Jo Bros for forgetting to include this in my January Round Up—this movie-inspired music video is a treat.

Also in February…

Yes, I love the Oscars, but considering how much viewership went down, it seems the Academy could do more to draw people in. One of my favorite film podcasts inspired me to brainstorm seven ways the Oscars could make the public care again in a piece for ZekeFilm.

The writers of ZekeFilm counted down our favorite films of 2019, most of which you can find on streaming now.

Kyla and I discussed a rock ‘n’ roll documentary and a camp classic on SO IT’S A SHOW? this month.

If you want to see the full list of movies I watched this month, you can find it on Letterboxd.

Photo credits: Grammys, Tame Impala. Joyful my own. All others IMDb.com.

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stainyourhands · 6 years

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Can I give you two? “please don’t do this, don’t act like you care.” JonJon and/or “i love you so much, i forgot what hating myself felt like.” TommyJon

I went with “please don’t do this, don’t act like you care” for JonJon - hope that’s alright, anon! This is the next installment in this series

Lovett leaves LA on a sunny , incongruous day in mid-July.

The NY Times headline reads “Assange Leaks Hollywood Blacklist. HUAC to Start Issuing Subpoenas.”

The Fox & Friends chyron reads “has George Clooney and wife Amal been running an underground prostitution ring in Ecuador?”

The trending hashtags on Twitter read #Nobel Prize and #Ecuador. The trending hashtags on Dark Twitter read #HUAC and #Justice for Pelosi.

Lovett twists his feet against the crumbling concrete of the LA bus terminal as he dumps his duffle bag onto the plastic chair next to him. It smells like urine and desperation. There’s a family with three young children sleeping against the wall and another hugging and crying close enough for him to hear the low, murmured, painful Spanish. Behind him, a woman nurses her child, while a second screams at her side. At his feet, Pundit tracks a cockroach down a crack in the floor.

She’s been quiet since Jon rescued her from the pound three weeks ago, only a few hours but he’ll never know how many traumas after they were picked up by the Nationalized Police Force. Lovett, himself, spent two more days in a holding cell, while they confirmed his fake identity and the eighteen-year-old genius computer programmer who Jon found on the Dark Web message boards proved his worth. When Lovett got out, Pundit met him with her paws on his thighs, and she hasn’t left his side since.

He doesn’t see Jon until his duffle bag thumps to the floor in a cloud of dirt and Jon falls into the chair next to him, Lovett’s bus ticket clenched in his hand. He’s careful to keep an inch of space between their knees as he pulls his sunglasses down his nose and looks around. “Two at your six.”

“Roger,” Lovett rolls his eyes, “Generic Bond Sexual Contest #7.”

“Give me some credit, I’d at least be top three,” Jon argues, without looking away from the Nationalized Police Officers patrolling the station.

Lovett scoffs and says, “you’ve gotta add a few because of the gay thing,” before realizing that it’s a statement that belongs BT, when it felt commonplace instead of trivial to complain about the lack of a gay superhero. Now, the entire slate of gay rights is on the ceremonial ballot-cum-chopping block and, while a gay superhero still might be the lynchpin to changing the minds of Americans, it’s not Americans who write the laws - cultural or legal - anymore.

“Might need to add a few more than seven,” Jon deadpans, following Lovett’s train of thought. He sinks down in his chair a little, making himself seem smaller, and still does not look away from the officers. “Good thing Tommy didn’t come.”

“Yeah,” Lovett agrees, sullenly. Tommy had said goodbye at the house - his body spread over Lovett’s on their mattress, comforting and strong and familiar in waking the way it still isn’t in sleeping. Tommy had kissed him and whispered platitudes. I wish I could come with you and I want things to be different and I’ve loved you, I’ve loved your body, I’ve loved your mind, for longer than you’ll ever believe me.

Lovett doesn’t wish that Tommy was here, not with the treasonous black mark on his record that makes him vulnerable to even the simplest police search.

Knowing that doesn’t make Lovett hate it any less.

The loudspeaker crackles. “The 12:45 bus to San Francisco leaves from Platform 2. Please line up against the right side and have your passports and travel papers ready for inspection.”

“That’s you,” Jon says, standing and handing over Lovett’s bus ticket in one motion.

Lovett takes it in the same hand as Pundit’s leash, and shoulders his duffle with the other. “Thanks.”

Jon walks with him towards Platform 2, slowing his steps to perfectly mirror Lovett’s.

“Well,” Lovett says, quietly, looking at the line of lonely, desperate people, paperwork clenched in their shaking fists. “This is me. I guess I’ll see you-”

Jon’s face twists and he reaches over, pulling the earplug out of Lovett’s right ear so he can’t possibly pretend not to here. “What if I asked you to stay?”

Lovett opens his mouth, but they’ve argued about this over and over again in the weeks since Jon rescued him from prison. Lovett knows devastatingly well where Jon stands on this issue - Jon had wanted Mexico; Lovett had wanted LA; they had compromised (Tommy’s word, not his) on San Francisco - and he might be asking Lovett to stay now, but he doesn’t mean it. “Then I would know you’re lying.”

Over the past three weeks, Jon has thrown every argument in the book at him.

The somewhat logical LA is the worst possible place to be while you’re on the Hollywood Blacklist. What are chances someone will recognize you and know you’re not Peter fucking Parker?

The ominous I can’t rescue you the way I rescued Tommy. I don’t have a second trump card.

And the devastating, final, I don’t know what Tommy would do if we lost you. Lovett had thought about the enlistment papers that Tommy doesn’t know that Lovett knows he burned. Lovett had thought about the search history on Tommy’s laptop, the number of handgun permit searches he’d made in the weeks following his time in detention. Lovett had thought about the haunted look Tommy had worn for months and is just getting over, every time he caught sight of Lovett’s bare neck.

Jon’s face twists. “It’s not that I don’t want you to stay-”

The loudspeaker crackles again, drowning Jon out. “This is the second call for the 12:45 to San Francisco. Line up on Platform 2 with your ticket and your papers ready to show the officers.”

Lovett looks at Jon, really looks at him, at the deep trenches wrinkling across his forehead and the pale rings around his eyes. Lovett’s been in love with Jon’s face for over a decade, and he’s been in love with Jon for even longer. He fell in love with Jon on paper, through his writing and Barack Obama’s voice, long before he knew what Jon’s face looks like, flushed in anger or wide with fear or sweaty with pleasure.

Lovett looks at Jon, standing in the middle of the LA central bus station - the epicenter of the second civil war they’ve been wittingly thrown into - and he knows that he’s the one who has to make the final decision to save all three of them. Lovett has been shattering for months. The pieces that started to crack when he first saw his name on the blacklist and splintered during his three days in prison shatter, now, against this cracked and dirty cement floor. He cuts and bleeds when he reaches for the pieces of himself that are left. He can’t let Jon bleed, too.

“Please don’t do this,” Lovett whispers, snatching his earplug out of Jon’s palm and reaching for rage he’s kept locked away since he was fifteen years old on a playground on Long Island. “Don’t act like you care, it just makes this harder.”

Jon flinches, reeling back like Lovett struck him. And, in a way, Lovett figures, he did. But, whatever hurt Jon feels now, it’s nothing compared to how he’ll hurt if Lovett stays.

Lovett shoves the earplug into his ear, clutches Pundit’s leash in his hand, and walks away without turning back.

It’s the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

#the resistance #jonjon #but also #ot3 #my fic #podsa

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dweemeister · 5 years

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Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

The Walt Disney Company is on a financial rampage. Its pending acquisition of 20th Century Fox will be just the latest of a long line of safe purchases by its chairman and CEO Bob Iger – perhaps the first step in erasing the glorious history of a rival, formative major Hollywood studio. In the midst of rapid change in how television and cinema is consumed and distributed, the Walt Disney Animation Studios remains the spiritual home of the corporate behemoth that has been banking hard on monetizing nostalgia to decrease its risks. Apart from (recent) Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and whatever else Disney has acquired, the Walt Disney Animation Studios can be proud of its history of artistic innovation and narrative timelessness. So it is dispiriting that Rich Moore and Phil Johnston’s Ralph Breaks the Internet will be the first of two of the Animation Studios’ sequels over the next two years (the other is 2019′s Frozen 2 – good riddance to John Lasseter). This sequel to Wreck-It Ralph (2012; which I enjoyed) drowns in its thematic incoherence about the Internet, muddles a well-intentioned center about the nature of friendship, and overdoses of my least favorite things about recent Disney movies – making hollow metatextual jokes about the Disney Company and previous Disney movies; the latter reveals a modern-day Disney ashamed of its past in all the wrong places.

For all that and more, Ralph Breaks the Internet – which, again, I enjoyed while watching it in a theater – is the worst Disney movie for at least a decade. It goes beyond Big Hero 6′s (2014) bombastic Marvel-sized corporatism and Zootopia’s (2016) ultra-contemporary character behavior. As a professed Disney fan cut by a different cloth, the passes that recent canonical Disney movies have received from other, noticeably hesitant-to-criticize fan-reviewers (apologies for all those hyphens) reveal a brand loyalty that yours truly does not possess. Animation history cannot be written without mentioning the works of Walt Disney Animation Studios. And thus they must be held to highest standards.

The film begins six years after the original, with Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) the best of friends at Litwak’s Family Fun Center and Arcade. Vanellope is tiring of her game, Sugar Rush, and a contrived moment which will make you question whether the arcade characters have free will and which results in the destruction of the game’s steering wheel controller sees Sugar Rush being unplugged – leaving its characters homeless (if this makes no sense to you, you probably did not see the first movie). Soon after, Mr. Litwak has plugged in a new Wi-Fi router, connecting the arcade to the Internet. Ralph and Vanellope decide to travel to the Internet and purchase a replacement wheel as soon as they can. They head to eBay, and in their enthusiasm, overbid for the wheel. As a result, they must raise $27,001 – which looks like a decent final score in a game of Jeopardy! – as they navigate pop-up advertisers, the dark web, a Disney fansite that needs more Eeyore and Grumpy, a YouTube knockoff led by an algorithm named Yesss (Taraji P. Henson; no the character is not named “Yasss”), and a Grand Theft Auto-like online game called Slaughter Race.

In Slaughter Race, in conversation with charismatic racer Shank (Gal Gadot), Vanellope finds what she believes to be her virtual calling. Ralph, who has been monetizing videos on that YouTube knockoff by making an absolute fool of himself, overhears his best and only friend thinking about leaving Sugar Rush. He is despondent, and willing to do too much to keep Vanellope in Sugar Rush. All this inspires plotline (Vanellope, who is essentially a child, wants to live in what probably is an M-rated game? Do these concerns make me a game-phobic adult?) and universe logic questions that are too numerous to bring up in this review. For that alone, Phil Johnston (Zootopia) and Pamela Ribon’s (2016′s Moana, 2017′s Smurfs: The Lost Village) screenplay can be described, charitably, as calamitous.

Take a deep breath; that synopsis was a lot, I know. Now, do you like Fortnite references? What about Internet memes that allow this reviewer to approximate when this screenplay was finished within a three- to six-month window? Do you care for lazy product placement for Twitter, Google, YouTube, Facebook, eBay, Amazon, Instagram, Snapchat, and especially ©Disney and its ever-growing list of intellectual properties? If you said yes to each of these questions, then Ralph Breaks the Internet is probably going to be your favorite film in the Disney animated canon.

I am just grateful the film did not find the space for 4chan or InfoWars.

In a year where all these corporations and some of their most prolific, famous users have been under much-delayed scrutiny for their ethical misbehavior, Ralph Breaks the Internet seems to want to say something, at times, about their worst aspects. The comments section in the YouTube knockoff that Ralph attempts to monetize videos with has a comments section room, teeming with negativity and cruelty. Because this is a Disney film, you have to imagine casual racism and sexism must be buried in there, but Ralph – whose self-worth has become defined by his friendship with Vanellope – shrugs off his momentary disillusionment with how some on the Internet think of his videos. Most everyone who has engaged in social media and has received nasty comments from anonymous or known users online never pick themselves up that quickly. The film looks like it wants to make a statement here – whether subtle or as obvious as a clothed person at a nudist colony. But the plot must progress to the next frantic sequence or extremely contemporary joke that will date badly in a years’ time let alone fifty years’ time, as Ralph’s Power of Friendship with Vanellope is so unbreakable that the film cannot take a few minutes for the audience to reflect on why people (perhaps themselves) act like this online. Mind you, this paragraph is only on social media negativity, in the light of revelations that video-sharing site algorithms reward the vapid and the controversial.

Johnston and Ribon deserve credit for the film’s crux, however: that friendship, any worthwhile relationship of any kind, is not what a person provides you, but what you can do to foster that person’s growth into the best individual they can be. Ralph, understandably, given how ostracized he was for decades among those at Litwak’s Arcade, is terrified of losing his best friend. But that is no excuse for keeping a friend away from what they want most, especially if what they want the most will take them elsewhere – best intentions be damned because best intentions do not always yield behavior that is healing. Unfortunately, the film’s message contradicts those from Wreck-it Ralph if only because of the inconsistent universe rules established in the first installment. Vanellope’s final decision seems not to consider how much she is valued from the place where she has come from (Ralph has more to learn, yes, but so does Vanellope, and her bit of introspection is exclusively understanding what she, and she alone, wants). Ralph’s flaws are also portrayed far too literally – no spoilers here, but the animation in this over-literalization of Ralph’s clinginess is outstanding – and manifests itself in a fatiguing action/chase/rescue setpiece. And to further bury this integral part of Ralph Breaks the Internet, there is barely a reprieve – once Ralph and Vanellope have departed Litwak’s arcade for the Internet – from a comedic scene where Ralph suffers as a result.

Some of the film’s funniest, but simultaneously disheartening, sequences occur when Vanellope finds herself at the Disney fansite – a detour that the overstuffed screenplay does not need. The most discussed moment is when she meets the Disney Princesses (all voiced by their original voice actor if that voice actor is still alive – with the exception of Mary Costa for Aurora), from Snow White to Cinderella to Belle (1991′s Beauty and the Beast) to Moana. Yes, this is a light-hearted aside from the main plot. But what is bothersome is that every joke in these few minutes are based on online-generated criticisms or perceptions on each of the characters. To dig the hole deeper, the film appears to insist that these versions of the Disney Princesses are the actual Disney Princesses. Snow White is useless and has that high-pitched voice. Aurora (1959′s Sleeping Beauty) is a tad drowsy. Don’t get me started on Merida (2012’s Brave). The Walt Disney Studios that has operated after Walt’s death – aside from nephew Roy E. Disney’s tenure through the 1990s – bears little to no resemblance to Walt’s artistic vision. Likewise, the depictions in Ralph Breaks the Internet are not reflections of what made each of those princesses’ appeal to audiences worldwide – aesthetically (many of the features of the pre-2000s princesses have been poorly rendered) or characteristically.

Before getting to the point, though, I will note that “A Place Called Slaughter Race” – with music by Alan Menken (numerous Disney Renaissance films; if you do not know Menken’s name, you should) and lyrics by Phil Johnston and Tom MacDougall – is delightful, and elicited the most laughs out of me during the entire film. Anyways, back to the Disney Princess scene.

That scene, in addition to the interminable parade of live-action Disney remakes of their animated classics, is part of a worrying trend for the studio’s 2010s movies. In films like Tangled (2010), Frozen (2013), Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, this film, and probably the foreseeable future given the history of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer Jennifer Lee, Disney’s animated films cannot stop making self-referential jokes about Disney tropes and previous Disney movies. The live-action remakes and the animated films are both responding to contemporary criticisms of Disney classics (foxes aren’t always devious creatures, Zootopia trumpets deafeningly; if you wear a dress and have an animal sidekick, you are a princess, says Maui from Moana; etc.). For Ralph Breaks the Internet, the central criticism of these Disney princess movies is that none of these princesses – especially the earlier ones – were feminist “enough”. I acknowledge (and almost entirely agree) the points from anyone who says that some of the older Disney princess movies have serious problems in how they portray gender stereotypes. But Ralph Breaks the Internet is judging the princesses on a standard that has not withstood the unforgiving passage of time, unwittingly close to saying it is not worth anyone’s time to see Snow White. Intersectional feminism, from my understanding among its many facets (full disclosure: I’m a dude), seeks to understand the environment in which a work of art was produced. It critiques that art for the gendered inequalities within, but reserves praise for those works in what good they did for depictions of women in their time.

Ralph Breaks the Internet represents a concerning turn in the artistic direction of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Its impulses to become a studio of the likes of Illumination (of Despicable Me fame) are rooted in the early 2000s, when Disney’s then-Chairman/CEO Michael Eisner proceeded to destroy the hand-drawn animation department after the box office failure of Treasure Planet (2002) and the success of Shrek (2001) – I am not saying that a hand-drawn animated movie is necessarily better than a CGI movie, but have you noticed how poorly the referential, cynical humor in Shrek has dated? That transformation, noting the résumés of the people in charge at the key positions at Disney, is nearing completion. Will Disney’s past be prologue? This axiom proved itself true once before, but the appetite nor the groundwork seems to be apparent for a second sampling.

If nothing more, Ralph Breaks the Internet is the sort of movie I – if I was a parent or a babysitter – would put on the television (or tablet or phone... there are many reasons why you should never watch movies on a tablet or a phone if you cannot help it, but that rant is for another setting) to distract children with. The film is almost devoid of thoughtful discourse about how the Internet has changed human behavior for better and worse, preferring to occupy too steadfastly what is now, leaving others to write the future.

My rating: 5/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.

#Ralph Breaks the Internet #Rich Moore #Phil Johnston #Disney #Pamela Ribon #John C. Reilly #Sarah Silverman #Gal Gadot #Taraji P. Henson #Alan Menken #My Movie Odyssey

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wannawrite · 6 years

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Crystals In The Night

who?: Wanna One’s Lai Guanlin genre: 🌸 type: bullet point, part of Christmas collab wink wonk blog navigator. • last instalment of mine for the collaboration with @onlyjihoons and @hwinkinghwi • you and Guanlin plan to meet at Orchard,,,but as usual, things never really go to plan oh shit, this collaboration has drawn to an end sooner than I expected, oh dear I’ll miss it terribly. It was an amazing experience working with such talent, skilled and competent authors, they are definitely seniors in this field. Thank you to my bebs for putting up with me and never hesitating to help me when I got stuck. Sorry for how messy all my works have been, and how inconsistent my schedule is :( Looking forward to collaborating with you guys again!!!💓 If anyone would like to work with us, please reach our dms! - Admin L

• Orchard Road - the busiest road at this time of the year • I’m doing a lot of explaining in this collaboration but basically, Orchard Road is equivalent to Hollywood Boulevard or downtown • something like that • history: the whole stretch used to be a fruit plantation but that was gone ages ago so now in replacement, a concrete shopping stretch • the most popular outlet for avid shoppers and tourists alike • in summary, Orchard Road is where you go if you want to shop • now • a couple of days ago, your internet best friend - whom you had met in real life a few times - called you to say that he would be in Singapore for work around Christmas time • his name is Lai Guanlin by the way • you had screamed in excitement and immediately, the two of you planned to meet up along the Orchard Road stretch to admire the blinking Christmas decorations • on Christmas Eve • tbh Guanlin was a shady person • he never once mentioned the kind of work he did • you had put your trust in him but still... • he never seemed to be on social media anymore IG, Twitter, private Snap • Guanlin had talked about ‘photoshoots’ and ‘studio time’ so you just assumed he was a model • you wouldn’t bat an eye if he was • how did you get so lucky? your internet friend had turned out to be a the handsomest man you had ever talked to • and probably the sweetest too • the first time you guys had seen each other face to face was in Taipei, Taiwan when you were on a family holiday • disclaimer: I’m not exactly sure which part of Taiwan Guanlin is from but let’s just say he was in Taipei for work ;) • you were stumbling around like a lost sheep on the streets of Ximending - another shopping hotspot - frantically calling Guanlin’s phone • and he was not answering • the bright city lights, the flashing signboards and the bustling busyness of the crowd threw you into worry • a dozen thoughts raced in your mind • ‘was he a real person?’ • ‘what if it was all a scam?’ • ‘do I even know who he truly is?’ • your parents would have thrown a fit but thankfully, your uncle had occupied their time by ushering them into a nearby eatery • and your cousin had accompanied you to search for the Houdini of an internet friend you had • ‘come on y/n, you can’t give up like this! you’ve known him for...2 years? it’ll be worth it!’ she encouraged, elbowing you in the ribs • you shoved through the crowd, still calling his mobile • ‘the number you have dialled is currently unavailable. Please-‘ • an upset groan slipped past your lips yet you refused to give up • suddenly, you heard a familiar voice yelling in the distance • a voice you had heard a thousand times • on Snapchat • wishing you goodnight • telling you about his day when you face timed • Lai Guanlin • your feet thudded in the direction of his voice, ears craning to hear more • you had to find him • and he found you • Guanlin had a slender, fine-boned figure, one any catwalk model would be jealous of. His skin was honey tan, kissed by the warm golden rays of sun. • dark glossy locks framed his sculpted face, his full brows furrowed and his pink lips pursed • he seemed to be speaking furiously to an older teenage girl, a scowl marring his handsome features • but it was Guanlin for sure • and if your guess was right, that teenager would be his older sister • still hidden as a mere face in the crowd, your shaking hands had dialled his number again • his phone was buzzing in the pocket of his jeans • sighing, he turned to his sister. ‘I’m sorry but they’re calling, it’s been four times, I have to answer.’ • ‘hi y/n! ugh sorry I didn’t pick up. where are you right now?’ Guanlin’s hopeful eyes began scanning the crowd but not in your direction. • when all he received back was your heavy breaths, he panicked, fearing you had lost your way • lol I’m just behind you turn around • ‘l-look...behind you’ • puzzlement crosses his face but he obeys nonetheless and that confusion is replaced by pure shock and happiness • y’all do have that warm, massive hug like any internet best friend would have • how cute • just reminiscing about it makes you all soft and warm • to the outside world, you must look like a complete lunatic staring into space, slender fingers curled around the straw of your frothy Starbucks drink and stirring it slowly • strange • ‘oi that person a bit suspicious hor, kuai da dian hua gei mata.’ [quick, call the police] • but you pay those inquisitive eyes no mind and continue breathing your own air • just thinking about your friend makes your heart start to flutter madly again • 💓💓💓 • ooooh ;) • the only thing that stabbed your heart was that you were sitting in Starbucks for a long time now • and it was a Starbucks further away from Orchard Road because you didn’t want to have a first look at the lights without him • so sweet :”) • my friends would be like ‘lol we’re looking at them already you were late’ • hi i’m always late • Guanlin said he could get off at about 7.30pm so you said ‘let’s meet at 8pm’ • the illuminated screen of your phone revealed that it was 8.15pm • *sips tea* • you swiped to check your texts • you: hi lin, i’m here • you: where are you? • you: call me when you reach okay! • the LED screen shut off before there ever was a reply from him • but like the understanding best friend you are, you brushed it off, constantly reminding yourself that he was probably busy at work and would be fired if he checked his handphone for even a second • you stirred the drink on your table again • hmm, it still wasn’t melting • 8.20pm • your lips curved around the top of the straw, taking a sip, eyes darting to locate Guanlin • how interesting would it be to meet a stranger’s eyes as they glared out of Starbucks’ glass window, sitting ramrod straight in the plush booth, shoulders stiff and shoes tapping the ground anxiously • it appeared as if lasers from your eyes could cut holes through the glass • 8.35pm • don’t get mad don’t be mad don’t worry stay calm breathe stay collected • no new messages • hah Guanlin what the hell • you focused on your pleasant surroundings instead of the thing making you lose your temper • it was an appropriately busy time at Starbucks • meaning, the baristas and staff were able to put up with the workload and there wasn’t some kind of ridiculous snaking queue of 30 people • hi i’ve been in one. it was when Starbucks here was offering one for one and the queue went outside the shop and it was all students • me too sis me too • you watched the baristas as they effortlessly mixed delicious drinks • delightful aromas wafted through the air • the smell of ground coffee beans, the fluffiness of fresh whipped cream, all the different types of candied spice made your mouth water • even as the night progressed, the cashiers still took customers order with joy, beaming and wishing them ‘merry Christmas’ • muffins and other sweet and savoury treats were being swiped off the shelf before your eyes • speaking of eyes, your own were tired, a little droopy and glossed over • but you knew that as soon as you saw Guanlin, they would light up like a candle in the night, bright with alertness and burning with energy • he really had that effect on you, goodness • was it love? • CHRISTMAS LOVERS • but you couldn’t give it much thought as the calming ‘tick-tocks’ of the wall clock went by and the delectable smells of the kitchen lulled you into a deep sleep • head buried in your arms on the table, hoodie keeping your lap warm • your dream comprised of you, Lai Guanlin and a mistletoe hanging over both your heads • it made you smile • no new messages 9.45pm • one unread message 10pm • hi I found out that Starbucks at The Cathay is open 24/7 while researching for this fic • finally, your eyelids began to flutter open, brain trying to process all that had happened in a span of two hours • after all, you did have a pretty wonderful dream so all was good • oh • Guanlin • his disappearance and not answering your calls • your face fell immediately, heart sinking to the bottom of the ocean - the worst part was that it had floated to the top of ‘lake happiness’ with your dream • it was only a while after that you realised a man sitting in front of you • well you hoped so • right up to his nose was covered by a cotton black mask that hugged his jaw and he had pulled a red bucket hat over to hide his coloured hair • but it wasn’t Guanlin - his eyes were a different shade of hazel • but this guy was equally cute • ‘oh! hi,’ you greeted awkwardly, face beginning to heat up as you probably looked like a mess • it seemed like he smiled, then realised you couldn’t see through the mask, eyes widened before he pulled it off and grinned again • snaggletooth • ‘hi! I’m Woojin, Guanlin’s friend. He told me to sit with you until he came back.’ • you nod, smiling • wait • golden bronze skin, snaggletooth, large brown eyes..... • coloured hair, trying to hide his identity • you lowered your voice by a notch, creeping closer • ‘a-aren’t you...Park Woojin?’ • pause • explanation: you know bits and pieces of the k-pop world but because you’re kind of slow and oblivious you can’t catch up fast enough, thus, you know nothing about Wanna One other than what your friend’s tell you at school • honestly, I only know two people in my school who stan Wanna One so • you only know Woojin because your best friend has a huge sticker of him on her file • Woojin raises his eyebrows, pleasantly surprised and nods • ‘wow Guanlin never told me you were a fan, hanging out with him must be a dream come true.’ • wait wha- • ‘he most likely won’t ever tell you so I will. Please don’t get mad at him for being late, he had a huge argument with our manager today because even after our shoot was over, he wasn’t letting us go for the free time that was scheduled. So they fought and now he’s probably in deep shit but whatever, at least he has you.’ • manager? shoot? • your throat tightened, chest constricted • oh my god • GUANLIN IS AN IDOL • A REALLY POPULAR ONE AT THAT • ‘he’s outside talking to our manager now. I should go get him.’ • so now you’re kind-of-friends with another idol what is happening • all I wanted was my baby boy Linlin • but hey, you aren’t complaining • hehehe time to text my other best friend >:) • the soft rattle of the bells by the door is picked up by your sensitive ears, it feels as if time stops and all you can zoom in on is Guanlin • before he knows it, you launch out of your seat and right into his arms • thank God he’s tall and strong • he’s a paper fairy irl I’m sure of it • your hands grip his thin shirt tightly, eyes squeezed shut in happiness as your chin rests on his shoulder • ‘you’re here, it’s really you,’ you whisper so it’s only audible to the two of you • and maybe third-wheel Woojin • Guanlin went all out to protect his identity. mask, glasses and a baseball cap • he smiles through his mask, you can practically feel the happiness radiating from him • ‘you didn’t get in too much trouble, did you? I’m sorry.’ you ask, voice low. feet trailing behind as you exit Starbucks • Guanlin’s eyes frost over with sadness. ‘No, no, don’t be. I’ll work it out, don’t worry. I’ve already told hyung...wait, how did you know?’ • he whips round to face Woojin, who casually says, ‘You know I had to.’ • Guanlin can only sigh and agree • however, as you walk down the busy street, cool breeze brushing past, he cheers up • ‘come on, let’s go see those Christmas lights!’ • without thinking, he slips his hand into yours and happily skips towards Orchard Road • MY HEART SOMEONE HOLD ME • Woojin quickly sneaks off to meet Jihoon • you don’t say a word, enjoying the feeling of your hands entwined together • ‘woah.’ the gasp leaves your lips before you can stop it, but it’s safe to say everyone is blown away by the Christmas decorations • government invests in this okay • I think so • a lot of people invest in these things here • there’s a massive arch greeting you at the entrance, calming blue and purple wire Christmas trees illuminate the structure, giving it a ‘wonderland feel’ • HYPE • Guanlin clutches you close, partly afraid of losing you in the crowd, partly because he feels reassured when he’s around you • both of you venture further, admiring all the sights of the busy road • you step through a futuristic portal Narnia entering The Walk Of Wonder, the reflective silver fabric blankets a myriad of blue fairy lights. it feels like magical creatures dancing among you, welcoming you into their universe • Guanlin’s phone camera does all the work • he has an adorable gummy smile on his face as he shows you pictures he took • ‘oh god! delete that! I wasn’t ready!’ • but he doesn’t listen and sets it as his wallpaper • Guanlin looks so amazed by what he’s seeing, like a small child, amusement evident in his cheery gaze • love love love love • you’re busy looking around for mistletoe • The Tree of Time indicates there’s only a couple of hours left before Christmas • maybe a few more hours til your first Christmas kiss • ooh ;) • ‘hey,’ Guanlin calls. ‘What’s that?’ He gestures to what seems like a mini village, warm lights emitting from the set up • shrugging, you venture forward to find Endless Wonder Christmas Village • btw you can find more about all these/if you need a visual representation of all this, click here • exchanging smug grins, you and Lin dash in the direction of delicious food • me too • you guys settle at a white picnic table, feasting under the stars • ‘oh god,’ Guanlin says. ‘I can’t believe I’m eating at this hour. I’m going to get fired.’ • you roll your eyes. ‘Shush, you’re 63kg [profile weight during pd101] at the most you need to gain weight. Don’t worry, I’ll fire your manager then.’ you drop another cookie into his mouth • mouth full, he grins widely, eyes forming slender crescents • ‘i’m happy seeing you eat. Idol life is stressful, take care of yourself.’ • ‘you sound like one of my hyungs,’ he teases playfully • ‘I mean it and I’m sure they do too. You should relax and enjoy yourself.’ • Guanlin daps a napkin on the sides of his mouth, hanging his head to avoid being spotted by fans • then, he meets eyes with you and smirks, reaching for your hand • ‘let’s go have fun!’ • fun? Pop-up amusement rides sound fun • ‘Guanlin I swear if you get me on this thing I’ll-‘ • *screams* • as the Teacup ride starts spinning • he laughs mercilessly. ‘This is a ride for kids, y/n!’ • he tells you ridiculous stories of his hyungs after. ‘Minhyun can’t ride the Viking ship ride, ever. He has nightmares of it.’ • Guanlin visibly loosens up once you know his idol status, but he does worry that someone might recognise him • despite his worries, he throws caution to the wind just to spend more fun times with you • lol fck rumours, fck paparazzi, I deserve to hang out with my best friend and enjoy too • eventually, you two pack up and continue exploring the lights as the night grows darker • ‘mhm, I’ll tell you my whole idol story when we get ice cream at midnight,’ he promises • you seal it with your pinky • a dozen more pictures fill up both camera rolls as you two pose beside candy canes • snowmen • gingerbread men • which Guanlin buys the edible kind for you at the Christmas market • ‘hehehe hyungs must be so jealous of all the good food we’re eating >:)’ • guys, whenever I see this ‘>:)’ it just reminds me of Red Velvet during Peek-A-Boo • I can’t dksjskdksjsbd • ‘omg y/n you’re so evil you bit off his head.’ • GUANLIN’S REFERRING TO THE GINGERBREAD OF COURSE • ‘hehehe >:)’ • also you: ‘stfu Guanlin don’t lie and say you wouldn’t too.’ • walk walk walk • ‘truth or dare lin?’ • ‘dare.’ • ‘I dare you to take an ornament from that tree.’ • PLEASE DON’T ACTUALLY TAKE ANYTHING THIS CHRISTMAS • you ended up with a new purple star ornament in your arms • Guanlin signs it with a heart using a borrowed Tokyo Hands marker • ‘can’t ignore my adoring fans :”)’ • you sigh his baseball cap, which he’s surprisingly thrilled about • after all the excitement has died and the two of are worn out, you settle at an ice cream parlour that’s still open • maybe since its the holidays • you talk while spooning ice cream into each others’ mouths • how romantic • where is mY MISTLETOE GOD DO YOUR THING LET’S GET IT • ‘I enjoyed my time today, it was so good to have a break and spend it with you,’ Guanlin says, honesty in his voice. ‘I’ll miss you so much. You truly light up my life.’ • aha this collaboration cannot end without my puns • you chuckle, placing your hand in his again. ‘Ahh, I’ll miss you too. Please don’t make your manager mad and you can tell me more about your group the next facetime. I’ll be sure to buy your album on iTunes.’ • cue gummy smile before a devilish grin overtakes his cuteness • ‘you better, if not,’ he pauses to launch tickles at your sides. ‘I’ll tickle you to death.’ • laughing, you fight him off, gently pushing his hands away • comfortable silence fills the gaps as you stare out at the streets, still lively, still bright like stars against the midnight sky • ‘go,’ you say softly. ‘go make me proud. go be my star and shine on stage.’ • he nods, heart bursting with love for you. ‘I will. Don’t worry. Ooh, you should come to our performance sometime.’ the sides of his mouth blossom into a smile at the thought of you cheering in the crowd for him • ‘ehhh, does that mean my Christmas gift this year is a Wanna One lightstick?’ • Guanlin puts his hands up in mock surrender. ‘you caught me, what can I say?’ • you both collapse into laughter but truthfully, he knows there’s a prettily wrapped Wanna One lightstick sitting in your P.O box • and maybe, you get his more of his love than usual💖 • MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!💚❤️❤️💚💚❤️❤️💚💚❤️❤️💚💚❤️💚

#wanna one #wanna one scenarios #produce 101 #produce 101 scenarios #yoon jisung #ha sungwoon #hwang minhyun #ong seongwoo #kim jaehwan #kang daniel #park jihoon #park woojin #bae jinyoung #lee daehwi #lai guanlin

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recentanimenews · 3 years

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Anime Awards 2021: Meet the Judges & Categories Revealed!

As the insanity that has been 2020 comes to a close, we begin to look towards the future, and to the awards show that captures the best of the year in the world of anime: the Anime Awards! Today, we’ll be formally introducing you to our incredible class of judges from around the world who helped curate and craft the nominees we’ll soon be revealing. But first — we would like to introduce you to the categories for this year’s event!

Anime of the Year  Best Animation  Best Opening Sequence (OP)  Best Ending Sequence (ED)  Best Boy  Best Girl Best Score  Best Performance by a Voice Actor (Japanese)  Best Performance by a Voice Actor (English)  Best Director  Best Character Design  Best Protagonist  Best Antagonist  Best Fight Scene  Best Couple  Best Drama  Best Fantasy  Best Comedy

If these categories look familiar, that’s for good reason; they’re the same ones we used last year. After carefully considering voting behavior, audience feedback, social media engagement, and insights from industry leaders, we were happy to find a collection of categories that satisfied the most needs for the most people, and allowed the greatest number of anime to be celebrated with the world. The nominees themselves are one of the most exciting parts of the Anime Awards, and in just one short month, the six nominees per category will be shared with the world on the Anime Awards Website. Please keep an eye out for more details, and fun ways to share your votes and predictions with your fellow fans.

Last year, we added more judges than ever before — that is, until now! As both the audience of Crunchyroll and the Anime Awards becomes increasingly international, so too has the panel of judges. With more than fifty judges representing dozens of unique countries and cultures around the world from all walks of life, I can safely say that this year’s class of judges is the best the Anime Awards has ever had.

The judges for the Anime Awards play a critical role, determining the nominees for every category in an independent capacity, based entirely on their own critical perspectives and opinions of the anime released in the last year. Judges were hand-selected by Crunchyroll’s community team based on their reputation, regard, and credibility, and represent large swaths of the huge diversity that can be found in the anime fandom at large.

Just as with last year, the judge nomination process will also go towards the final winners of each Anime Award, weighed 70:30 with fan votes. Based on the last four years of Anime Awards, we found that this ratio achieved the most meaningful results: the fan vote was impactful and flipped several categories, but the awards were not simply a popularity contest and many underrated titles were still able to take home awards. We saw more positivity than ever before with last year’s changes, and so we're happy to keep this same ratio for this year's event.

As a note the bios you’ll see below were written by the judges in their language of choice and have been adopted for your pleasure in whichever language you’re reading right now. Beyond translation, they have only been altered by the Crunchyroll team for clarity. Without further delay, please meet our judges for the 2021 Anime Awards!

Meet the Judges!

Ajay Stewart Ajay, better known online as “AnimeAjay”, is a British anime fan, specialising in all things related to animation. His YouTube and Twitter presence are focused on the behind-the-scenes at Toei Animation, and has become the go-to source for fans looking to know the ins and outs of animation, and who was responsible for their favourite scenes.

Alfonso "Fonzy" Ortiz Alfonso "Fonzy" Ortiz is the Senior Manager for qdopp Inc. and Editor-in-Chief for Honey's Anime. Originally from Texas, he was a cook for 13 years, lived in LA and Tokyo where he found his dream job working in the anime and gaming industry, and has just under a decade of experience as well. Honey’s Anime is his passion and loves helping to bring as much great content to readers about the anime, manga, and gaming industry. It’s the best place for anime enthusiasts as we are all fans!

Andrew McDanell After consuming anime for over 25 years, Andrew started up the Otaku Spirit Animecast podcast with his brother, Chris. Connecting with fans from many countries across the world, their goal has always been to break from the mold and serve a community with a positive and entertaining view of the fandom they love so much. With over 1300 anime titles under his belt and passing 900 anime reviews recorded, Andrew has enjoyed giving every show a chance and never falls onto the 3 episode rule.

Antonio Escudero Antionio Escudero has been a fan of anime, manga, and video games for over 30 years and considers it his lifestyle. He's currently part of the editorial team of Misión Tokyo, where he writes to promote both his passion for and the legal consumption of Japanese culture.

Bruno De La Cruz Journalist for AnimeLand magazine and the French anime/manga press since 2014.

Burak Dogan Burak Dogan is an editor and press contact at the German anime news website Anime2You. Besides covering News and reviewing countless anime and manga releases on the German market, he can also be met at various conventions. Since 2011, he has watched over 1,000 individual shows.

bxakid (Julien) Julien, or bxakid is a french content creator and journalist for Webedia. Anime enthusiast forever, one waifu at a time. Caitlin Enger Caitlin Moore has been an anime fan since it cost $30 for a two-episode VHS tape. She has been writing about anime every chance she’s gotten since high school, and now is a staff writer for Anime Feminist and contributes regularly to Anime News Network as well as running panels at conventions and podcasting every chance she gets. She analyzes anime through a progressive, intersectional lens and has a deep love of shojo and josei manga and anime.

Caroline Segarra Working as an animator, journalist, streamer, and voice-over artist, Caroline's specialties include Japan, anime, manga, and Japanese music. Caroline is also founder of the audiovisual production company Fantastic Raccoon, is currently on LeStream, and has worked at Nolife, Japan FM, Japan LifeStyle.

Clarissa Graffeo Clarissa Graffeo is one-third of the Anime World Order podcast and occasional contributing writer for Otaku USA magazine. As a fan of anime and manga for over 20 years that makes her practically ancient by anime fan and Hollywood standards, and she should probably have more to show for it. Clarissa has run numerous panels at East coast conventions both alone and with her fellow AWO hosts, on a variety of topics such as BL, Black Jack, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, anime openings, and building plastic model kits. In both the podcast and convention panels, she attempts to balance detailed discussions of individual works and the industry with accessibility to new viewers, and is hopefully successful at least some of the time.

Daryl Surat Having just turned 40, Daryl Surat is a revenant otaku bound in human flesh and er, NOT inked in blood. Having spent the majority of over 25 years as an anime fan existing in near isolation, trapped in the MMO that is social media, the 2020 quarantine hasn’t really been noticeable! As a contributor to Otaku USA Magazine (https://ift.tt/187UJdS) as well as the Anime World Order podcast (www.animeworldorder.com), Daryl is A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE all of the deserving nominations were proposed by him.

Михаил Судаков Creator of the KG-Portal.ru website, anime lover with 20 years of experience, admirer of Makoto Shinkai, Hayao Miyazaki and P.A. Works. Big fan and collector of retro games, retro computers and retro consoles. Dawn H Dawn (aka "Usamimi") is the producer/host of The Anime Nostalgia Podcast, a mix of waxing nostalgic with fellow older fans while introducing younger fans to older titles! The podcast also serves as an oral history from before things like streaming & social media were commonplace, and how anime & manga fandom has always been diverse. She's used her knowledge to write for outlets like Anime News Network and Crunchyroll, & has helped on multiple anime releases from AnimEigo & Discotek Media.

Dennis Vsesvyatskyi CEO of 2x2 tv-channel, home of adult animation in Russia. 2x2 is broadcasting international animation and anime-hits since 2007 and has it's own animation studio. Brand 2x2 has a significant cultural status among russian viewers and fans of animation and is expanding it's influence every year with new shows, art-statements and collaborations. Our motto is: "Don't grow up, it's a trap!".

Diego Lima IGN Brazil reporter, writing about the entertainment industry since 2014. Started career as a host for Gazeta Games, on Radio Gazeta, and then as the host of a gaming radio show at Band FM, discussing classic titles. Joined IGN Brazil in 2017, as a gaming and anime specialist. When Diego is not writing about horror games and fighting games, he's writing about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Naruto, BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, Attack on Titan, Yashahime and many other series.

Eunice Ibama Eunice Ibama started @blackgirlsanime as a simple meme page in 2017 as an escape during one of the hardest times of her life—without many hopes attached to it. As an outlet for her own struggles, she began to grow a community. Then, as BGA grew, the hope to create a safe space for black women that love anime and its culture blossomed. Cue the adding on the fearsome foursome of Shanequa, Bri, Kim, and Chels and it was like the stars aligned for the brand. Emboldened by their unshakeable bond with each other and the passion that brought them together in the first place, the team buckled down and got to work making Black Girls Anime, LLC the best brand that it could be. Now equipped with an editorial website, ongoing partnerships with brands like Netflix and VIZ Media, and much more in the works the page has rapidly grown into a network that influences and advocates for not only black women, but people of color of all ages and backgrounds that feel underrepresented in the anime and nerd-centric communities.

Evgeniya "Jenya" Davidyuk Jenya Davidyuk was born and raised in Novosibirsk, Russia, where she also graduated State University. Since 2005 she has been living and working in Tokyo, Japan as a seiyuu (voice actor), hosting radio and TV programs, and consulting on Russian language in anime and film production. As a part of her seiyuu career, she sings with Anime & Game Symphony project under Japanese conductor Kenichi Shimura, performing live concerts in Japan and Russia. Jenya has an N1 level certificate on the Japanese language proficiency test.

Geoff Thew "Geoff Thew is a veteran video essayist who's spent the last 5 years talking about anime on his youtube channel, Mother's Basement. When he's not obsessively analyzing the little details in anime, from easter eggs in openings to fight scene choreography, he likes to help those who can't watch anime full time find better shows to fill the time they do have. Geoff and his partner Yazy live in beautiful BC, Canada, under the tyrannical rule of their three cats, Kuro, Junkrat, and Spaghetti.

Gerald Rathkolb With a history of anime going back over 30 years, Gerald has has a connection to anime longer than most have been alive. Having started as part of the Robotech generation Gerald quickly outgrew that and is currently part of the Anime World Order podcast, the longest running anime-only podcast out there. A frequent writer for Otaku USA and contributor for Anime News Network, Gerald will continue to butt in where he's not welcome for the foreseeable future.

Hannah Collins Based in the UK, Hannah is the Anime/Manga Feature Lead for CBR. As well as CBR, she has written about anime and manga for sites including The Mary Sue, Anime Feminist, Ranker, and WatchMojo, after getting her start in the blogging world with angry feminist rants and silly listicles about The Twilight Saga. A child of the ‘90s, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cardcaptor Sakura are her all-time anime and manga faves; more recently, she’s become obsessed with Spy x Family, Chainsaw Man, and Dr. Stone.

Jacob Parker Dalton Jacob Parker-Dalton is an otaku journalist and writer for OTAQUEST. He has been watching anime and reading manga for the better part of 10 years, stemming from a childhood infatuation with Studio Ghibli. All he wants is for someone to adapt the rest of Medaka Box, the greatest manga of all time. His style icons are both Naoki Urasawa and Bob Dylan in equal measure. James Perkins James Perkins is the Lead Anime Writer for the UK-based publication STARBURST MAGAZINE. A fan of this breathtaking art form for almost 25 years, he lives and breathes all things Anime. This is his first time as a judge for The Anime Awards and can't wait to celebrate this year's contenders.

Jazmine Moore Jazmine Moore—known on TikTok as kiri.jaz—describes herself as a young Black woman who enjoys watching anime and creating anime/cosplay related content. She's also an artist who hopes to inspire others to believe that no matter who you are, you can love anime and enjoy the world that we created as a family.

Julio Velez Julio Velez is a journalist and critic who has specialized in anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture for more than 15 years. He is also a promoter and enthusiast of Japanese culture and dubbing in Latin America and works as Editor-in-Chief at Otaku-Shi in Mexico's Cine PREMIERE magazine.

Kaho Shibuya Kaho Shibuya is a Japanese talent, author, cosplayer and anison DJ in Tokyo. She has been passionate about manga and anime for her entire life as a 90s girl, who also started streaming as a Twitch partner in May 2020. Kambole Campbell Kambole Campbell is a freelance critic based in London in the UK, writing and speaking on animation as well as other film and TV for the likes of Empire, Thrillist, Polygon, All The Anime, Sight & Sound, Little White Lies, the BBC, and others.

Kate Sanchez Kate Sánchez is the co-founder and EIC of But Why Tho? A Geek Community, a website dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices in pop culture. She is also a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and member of the Austin Film Critics Association. In addition to writing, Kate is also a host on But Why Tho? the podcast, where she and her co-hosts discuss pop culture, and a host on Did You Have To?, a podcast dedicated uplifting brown and Black women in anime.

Miki Koch Miki is the host and editor at Sumikai's Rolling Sushi podcast. She love calm and wholesome anime and like to consume anime-centric YouTube videos.

Krystal Shanelle Krystal is a 25-year-old content creator pushing the One Piece agenda. An anime fan since elementary school—with both the first and favorite series being Naruto—Krystal is most proud of cosplaying as Sakura from Naruto and Raven from Teen Titans. Krystal is currently studying animation and visual effects in Los Angeles with the dream of working on live-action anime, and is excited to be a judge for the Crunchyroll Awards!

Kwok-Wai Hanson Kwok-Wai Hanson is a Writer/Host/Consultant within the anime industry. Since 2013, he has been creating content focused on data aggregation and community polls amongst seasonal anime series. Through his content creation, he has worked closely with various publishers from Japan and abroad within the industry. Currently, Kwok is the head of social at Mangamo, a manga subscription platform. He is also a host seen at Anime Expo and Crunchyroll Expo, including this year's Virtual Crunchyroll Expo.

Lauren Orsini Lauren is a blogger and writer for outlets like Anime News Network and Forbes. She lives, works, and builds Gunpla in the Washington, DC suburbs.

Łukasz Kaczmarek You don't know him, but you know his work. Łukasz Kaczmarek, also known as lukeatlook, is the person responsible for the Internet's most viral anime recommendation charts of the last decade, put together based on years of experience introducing his friends, students, and family to the world of anime. Sysadmin by trade, he's a vocal member of the anime community both on the Internet and the local Polish fandom, where he manages the English program at the biggest fan convention in Europe, Pyrkon, attended annually by over 40 000 unique guests from Poland and all of Europe.

Lynzee Loveridge As executive editor of Anime News Network, Lynzee has the unique position of knowing what's tracking with the critics and with viewers in the anime fandom. She not only writes her own reviews every season but also reads everything from ANN's editorial staff! Outside of work, She's just a magical girl living in a Junji Ito world.

Maria Luiza Barros Maria Luiza, also known as Moo, is an actress, cosplayer and creates online content about anime and manga in Brazil since 2016. She's half of the duo behind Bunka Pop, a widely known anime and Japanese culture video series that were one of the most popular shows on the cable channel PlayTV. Now, Moo also works as a host on Bentô, an anime talk show created by Omelete, the biggest pop culture portal of the entire Brazilian internet.

Matheus Chami A filmmaker who is passionate and bold when it comes to pop culture. Have a problem to solve? Call Chami!

Matt Schley Matt Schley writes about anime for The Japan Times, Otaku USA Magazine, and elsewhere. He lives in Tokyo.

Megan Peters Megan Peters is the editorial lead for anime coverage at ComicBook.com. As an entertainment journalist, she enjoys series such as Fullmetal Alchemist and Princess Jellyfish. Rumor has it she also likes K-pop and and comics as well!

Michael Sudakov (Михаил Судаков) Creator of the KG-Portal.ru website, anime lover with 20 years of experience, admirer of Makoto Shinkai, Hayao Miyazaki and P.A. Works. Big fan and collector of retro games, retro computers and retro consoles.

Mohammed Naami Mohammed Naami is the founder of Ai Show group, the biggest community for anime and manga in the Arabic speaking world, and was the Middle East representative in Anime Japan 2019, Saudi Arabia - Riyadh entertainment season Ambassador of 2019, and a host in Saudi Arabia Anime Expo 2019, the biggest Anime festival in the region.

Nino Kerl Nino Kerl is the founder and producer of NinotakuTV and NinotakuDE. Since his early childhood, this Munich-based journalist has been an avid fan of both anime and Japan as a whole. Thus, his YouTube channel and news website are also heavily centered around Japanese pop culture.

Orophin Ancalimon / Денис Боровский Orophin Ancalimon has been an active member of the Russian anime community for over ten years. A person who has watched more than 1,500 anime of different genres, a blogger and creator of the Betrayed Expectations YouTube channel, where he analyzes various trends in anime, and also shares his impressions of interesting TV shows and films. Recently write a column for Crunchyroll Russia. His special interest is meha and maho-shojo anime, but at the same time he tries not to miss a single high-profile novelty.

Priscila Souza Ganiko A Brazilian entertainment journalist with a burning passion for anime, K-pop, and game related content, some of Priscila's favorite things are stories with good character development, bowls of ramen, emotional and inspiring OSTs, meaningful action sequences, and a great redemption arc, especially since "evil" characters end up being so irresistible.

Rafael Brito Nicknamed 'Jiback', for over 7 years Rafael Brito has been editor-in-chief at JBox, one of the oldest Brazilian websites devoted to anime, manga, tokusatsu and all the japanese pop culture information.

Ricardo Santiago Ricardo Santiago, better known as Rik, works as a content creator since 2008, producing a number of different, irreverent and creative segments on his YouTube channel and his livestreams. One of his most popular segments, Vamos Falar De... (Let's Talk About...), went on to become a succesful standalone channel.

Ryo Koarai Ryo Koarai is an anime watcher and columnist at Kawadon-entertainment in Japanese talent agency, Miki-production. She watches over 100 anime titles aired and distributed in Japan every week since 2012, thus watches anime more than anyone else in Japan today. She writes anime-related columns on Yahoo! News Japan and is often invited to national TV news programs as a guest commentator. Additionally, she studies anime from an academic perspective as a Ph.D. candidate at Hokkaido University.

Semyon Kostin Semyon is a staff journalist for online media DTF and regularly writes about anime, games, and movies. He has been watching anime since the mid-90s and still continues.

Sloan Lester Known as Sloan The Female Otaku on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, Sloan is back to help judge the awards for a third time. Otaku isn't just for show, as she's seen over 300 anime and continues to educate others on anime across all platforms.

Sydney Sures Anime content creator on Tiktok with the handle @morallygreyismyfavcolor. Long time anime fan, wildly over active imagination, and too much time on her hands. Wants to be a ninja, but knows she bruises way too easily; settles for reading fanfiction instead. Overshares her anime-centered daydreams on social media for others who share her same brand of crazy.

Theo Ellis Theo J Ellis is the Founder of Anime Motivation, the largest anime site in the UK. And the biggest site dedicated to anime quotes and life lessons.

Tristan Gallant Tristan "Arkada" Gallant is a Canadian YouTuber known for reviewing Japanese animation with his series Glass Reflection since early 2009, gaining a following of over 500K subscribers. With a variety of red outfits and overly enthusiastic expressions, he has displayed his passion for anime since his start, covering everything from shows like Mob Psycho 100 and Shirobako to related topics such as anime legality and industry support.

Valentin Paquot Between the 80s and 90s France had what they call the "Generation Club Dorothée," a generation blessed with hours of anime on National TV. Nursed with high quality classic like Touch, Kimagure Orange Road, Saint Seiya, Dragon Ball, and many more, Valentin got hooked. Now, thanks to simulcast services, the availability of anime has never been so great. Valentin genuinely likes all kinds of anime, but has a particular sweet tooth for slice of life stories and worships Akemi Takada.

Quoc Viet Nguyen Viet Nguyen is a video games journalist and host at Rocket Beans TV (YouTube & Twitch). He discusses anime and manga in his monthly podcast "Nani?! - Der Anime-Talk" and streams various games on his own Twitch channel. On Twitter, Instagram and Twitch, you can find him @Pixelviet.

Nezu aka "Madara's Daughter" Madara's Daughter is a content creator who dwells in the Anime Kingdom 24/7, cosplays, and would at least like to think she's funny!

By: Miles Thomas

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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nnamegenerators · 3 years

Text

How To Pick A Great DJ Name

Amusingly, the vast majority of us pick our DJ name on a lark before thinking anything will actually happen to it, and then after are left with to a great extent accidental outcomes. Regardless of whether you are picking your DJ personality for the first time, or re-branding a more established moniker, this article aims to assist you with settling on a significant choice simpler. In regular DJ Name Generator, we get into the study of DJ names, branding, and give realities; not simply soft recommendations.

REAL NAME VS. NOM DE PLUME

For what reason would it be advisable for you to pick a fake DJ stage name or moniker in any case, why not a real name? It's an interesting balance – a "fake" DJ name permits you to make a character around the real word itself. Skrillex, for instance, has an edgy sense about his name – and it nearly puts on a show of being sound to word imitation of the sound of his music.

In the business world, concocting an company name regularly has a similar situation: do you name your company something descriptive "Mike's Racing Tires" or something more conceptual and suggestive like "Racerz"? In a 2008 piece on Mashable about naming startups, Nina Beckhardt, leader of The Naming Group, an organization whose employees have crafted names for Walmart, Target and Puma, notes:

As DJs, remember that you have similar options. Three, to be exact:

Descriptive: Suggests or depicts the type of DJ you are

Factual: Your real name

Abstract: Non-English words and hybrids are normal

Abstract offers the most potential from a branding and adaptability standpoint, which we will cover all the more later.

In the DJ Mag 2011 list of the best 100 most popular DJs, we see a lot of the both types of DJ names. 42 of the DJs on the list utilize their real birth names (or an abbreviated form), while 58 of them utilize a one of a unique name. In the best 10, only three DJs utilize their real names: David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, and Markus Schulz.

There is no hard science that we've discovered that discloses to us which style is additionally appealing to expected fans, so you may need to go with your gut here.

DJ SEO

The main thing (as far as promotion and securing your personality) to consider when picking a name is the means by which it will appear on a search engine. Is it unique? Will you really own it? Will individuals hear it and then effectively have the option to Google it? As discussed in our recent article on the present status of online DJ promotion, you would in a perfect world have control of the entirety of the significant DJ sources with your DJ name as your username. Has any other person taken them? Here is a decent checklist to follow while considering a name:

Is the .com domain accessible?

Is the Facebook custom URL accessible?

Is the Twitter handle accessible?

What are the top organic search results for that name?

Are there some other DJs listed under that name?

That last point is significant. If another person is utilizing a similar DJ name and you become successful with it, quite possibly's they could return and try to sue you for confusing the general population. Their argument would resemble this:

The most surefire approach to stay away from this issue is by leading a basic Google search, and afterward if you are truly serious, a brand name search.

Trademarking your DJ name is going the additional mile from a legitimate viewpoint. This isn't generally simple, and the process that you'll have to continue in the US with the United States Patent and Trademark Office can be dubious. While each circumstance is unique, and we're not legal advisors nor would we be able to offer legitimate guidance, we discovered this supportive comment from Pamela Koslyn, a Hollywood Business Attorney, in an Avvo conversation on artist trademarks:

You may have seen that finding a memorable simple, single word DJ name that is not taken may be a challenge. That leads most DJs to begin utilizing longer names and different words – but will this hurt you?

Taking a look at the DJ Mag list to check whether the famous players have any trends in name length, the information tips a smidgen all the more intensely towards names with at least two words in them, with 68 of the names on the list being more than single word.

A couple of the names on the list have less than three syllables – Deadmau5, Skrillex, Felguk, Arty and Axwell are snappy names to state, yet it doesn't appear to offer a specific advantage over the other longer to articulate names that make up a large portion of the whole list.

THE SOUND OF A NAME

Is there a connection between what names sound like and how well they perform? Is there a social predisposition against specific names? In his notorious book "Freakanomics", economist Steven Levitt recommended that individuals subconsciously get on prompts in the sound of a name and form inclination for that individual. Could similar be true for DJ names?

We looked into this a couple of years back and discovered a few patterns in the best 10 DJs list of 2010.

All the more as of late, Steven Levitte brought up a fascinating study on his Freakanomics blog that recommends individuals with simple to pronounce names will in general ascend higher in associations.

"Studies 1–3 exhibit that individuals form more positive impressions of simple to-pronounce names than of hard to-articulate names."

Indeed, even with all the marketing trends throughout the most recent 100 years, one strategy for communication is by all accounts reliably in a way that is better than some other type of advertisement: verbal. At the point when a fan loves your music and educates another person regarding it, the chances of your sound turning into a viral is solid. Help things along by making it truly simple for fans to remember your name and tell others concerning you.

Would it be a good idea for you to call yourself DJ So And So? Numerous individuals do – and this surely is a strong method of distinguishing what you do. Unfortunately, that could in all likelihood be a bad thing.

Just a single individual in the top 100 has "DJ" in their official name (DJ Feel). Sure, we are for the most part doing whatever it takes not to land top 100 spaces yet that is a strong indicator that it is certainly not needed. Branding yourself as exclusively a DJ could likewise be a really childish move.

THE BRAND IDENTITY

I know you simply care about the music, but we should confront facts: if you succeed, your DJ name will turn into a brand, and it will have a ton of value. Brands can be substantially more valuable if they are flexible and very well crafted, so here are a couple of things to consider:

1. Name Flexibility: Don't categorize yourself!

2. Brand Fit: Does your name fit the style and vibe?

3. Visual Appeal: People will see your name, in all likelihood in written form (ideally in lights) – so in what capacity will it look as a logo? What will that convey?

The main thing to remember here is brand flexibility. If you start off as "DJ AfroRhythm" and afterward three years in choose to move into turning into a techno maker, your choices will be exceptionally limited. I was as of late perusing Richard Branson's biography and he put it best:

Brand fit is somewhat more subjective, and here and there repudiates flexibility yet it's as yet significant. Certain names will fit in a Genre and scene, giving a superior opportunity for success. Skratchcr8zy, for instance is most likely not the best name for negligible techno craftsman – or any artist so far as that is concerned. The flier trick is a decent one once again.

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Coming up with something from scratch is tough – so start with something you like or definitely know, and take a stab at modifying it.

Alter your own name: This is a typical road for some DJs that feel incredible about their name, but tweak it a little for a more original look.

Alter a famous name or brand: We've seen a great deal of this as of late in the electronic music scene, utilizing a familiar name and exchanging it around. Two effective examples of this are Mord Fustang and Com Truise, yet there are a lot of other astute approaches to get back to a name that individuals as of now have relationship with.

FOCUS GROUPS: FRIEND-SOURCING A NAME

Generally, our self image isn't generally predictable with the way the rest of the world sees us. In a perfect world your name would be predictable and authentic to the way your fans (and possible fans) see you and your music. Authenticity is extraordinarily significant in a world crowded by counterfeit organizations selling over-hyped products that contain no real worth. If your self image is a rockstar batboy yet your real character is a geeky thoughtful person then "BillySlash!" likely won't keep going long.

Ask your friends what they'd call you, and remember nicknames (only the great ones) that those nearby presented on you in earlier days. After the alternatives are trimmed down to the most ideal decisions, run them past your dearest friends and ask them things like:

How can this name cause you to feel?

Does this name fit me?

What kind of music do you consider when you hear this name?

How might you spell my DJ name?

If any alternative scores high on all marks, chances are that it's a strong candidate. Return a couple of days after the fact and check whether they remember the name you let them know. If it sticks, you may have a winner.

DIG DEEP

The absolute best names come from significant references or personal points in absolutely unrelated spots. For example,"The Doors" comes from "The Doors Of Perception", a well known book by Aldous Huxley that inspired Jim Morrison (and myself!)

Don't be afraid to get abstract. Forget what you anticipate that a DJ should be called and go towards things that inspire you and added to who you are today. By the day's end, there still is nobody single equation for an extraordinary melody, and we're confident that similar remains true for an incredible DJ name. with DJ Name Generator.

#DJNameGenerator #DJNames #Username #FantasyDJNameGenerator #RandomDJNameGenerator #RandomNameGenerator #FantasyNameGenerator

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techcrunchappcom · 4 years

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New Post has been published on https://techcrunchapp.com/jada-pinkett-smith-admits-she-did-have-an-affair-with-singer-august-alsina-daily-mail/

Jada Pinkett Smith admits she DID have an affair with singer August Alsina - Daily Mail

Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted she did have an affair with singer August Alsina while married to Will Smith.

The 48-year-old sat down with her husband for an intimate conversation on her Facebook show, Red Table Talk and revealed she developed a friendship with August around four years ago.

She said around the same time, the married couple were going through a ‘difficult time’ and they had ‘basically broken up’.

The bombshell tell-all comes after both actors denied August’s claims that Will gave him his blessing to have a relationship with Jada.

Tell-all: Jada Pinkett Smith admitted to having an affair during her marriage during a confessional with her husband Will Smith on Red Table Talk on Friday

In Friday’s episode of Jada’s web series, the Hollywood couple sat opposite each other as they set the record straight and reaffirmed their commitment to each other.

Jada began explaining that the couple met August through their son Jaden and recalled that the Louisiana-born singer, who would have been 23 at the time, was ‘really sick’.

‘And it all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to help his health, his mental state.

‘The outpouring for him from our family was initially about his health,’ she said. ‘We found all those different resources to help pull him through and from there you and I were going through a very difficult time.’

Will admitted, ‘I was done with you,’ while Jada added that they decided to separate for a ‘period of time’.

‘And then what did you do, Jada?’ Will asked, urging his wife to keep talking.

‘As time went on, I got into a different type of entanglement with August,’ Jada explained.

The mother-of-two went on to respond to August’s claim that Will gave her ‘permission’ to have an affair.

‘The only person that can give permission in that circumstance is myself,’ she insisted.

‘But what August was probably trying to communicate because I could see how he could see it as permission because we were separated amicably, and I think he wanted to make it clear he’s not a homewrecker because he’s not.’

When Will pushed Jada to clarify what she meant by ‘entanglement’ she responded, ‘It was a relationship, absolutely.’

Jada continued: ‘I was in a lot of pain, and I was very broken. In the process of that relationship I definitely realized that you can’t find happiness outside yourself.’

She explained the couple were going through a process of healing.

‘I just wanted to feel good, It had been so long since I felt good… and it was really a joy to just help heal somebody.’

Jada said she and Will met singer August Alsina, who was ‘really sick’, through their son Jaden. She said she and Will were on the rocks at the time and decided to separate for a period of time. Will admitted: ‘I was done with you.’

‘I devoted myself to it, I gave my full self to it, so much so to the point that I can die right now and be okay with knowing that I truly gave myself to somebody.’ August said of his relationship with Jada. They are pictured together at the 2017 BET Awards

The Set It Off star pondered whether her actions were down to her codependency issues and needing to ‘fix people’ due to her past traumas.

As Will made light of the fact that he’s being the dutiful husband and standing by his wife after her ‘transgressions’ amid intense media scrutiny, Jada admitted that she doesn’t see her relationship with August ‘as a transgression at all’.

‘Through that particular journey, I learned so much about myself and was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturity, emotional insecurity and I was really able to do some really deep healing,’ Jada said.

INSIDE WILL SMITH AND JADA PINKETT SMITH’S 22-YEAR MARRIAGE

Jada and Will have been married since 1997 after they met while she was auditioning to be his girlfriend on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

The couple have previously denied they are swingers or in an open relationship

‘I’m like, “Yo, I wish. I wish!”‘ Jada told Andy Cohen in 2017 of the persistent swinging rumors

Yet they have remained open about their sex lives, often sharing intimate details

At the premier of his movie Focus, Will let slip that Jada loves to watch his sex scenes

‘She’s a little freaky like that,’ he joked

In 2010, Jada told Oprah Winfrey that spontaneity is key to her and Will’s relationship

‘During the day I might send a sexy picture of some sort …If he’s on set with me, we might take a break,’ she said

Just a year earlier, she’d offered advice in a Redbook interview that it was important to move things outside of the bedroom

‘Does he have access to his office? Have a fantasy date. Be his secretary! Pull over on the side of the road…Just switch it up,’ she said

In 2010, the couple took their own advice in their limo on the way to the Oscars

‘We started kissing passionately, and the next thing I knew, well, let’s just say we missed the red carpet and I ended up with almost no makeup on,’ Jada revealed

The actress also claimed it was Will who first told her about the ‘Grapefruit Method’ made famous in her movie Girls Trip

‘And as I came through and started to realize certain things about you and I, he decided to break all communication with me which was totally understandable. And I let that be and hadn’t talked to him since so it is a little weird that all this stuff is coming out now since this was several [years ago].’

Will chimed in, ‘For me, this was years ago,’ as Jada reflected on how far they’ve come in their relationship, ‘We have really gotten to that new place of unconditional love.’

At one point in the conversation they echoed each other, saying: ‘We ride together. We die together. Bad marriage for life,’ a reference to a catchphrase in Will’s Bad Boys franchise.

August told The Breakfast Club’s Angela Yee on June 30 that he was in love with Jada and said: ‘I sat down with Will [Smith] and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership… he gave me his blessing.’

August said the two became very close, and holidayed together with the family in Hawaii a year later and they even attended the 2017 BET Awards together.

He said: ‘I totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life, and I truly and really, really deeply love and have a ton of love for her.

‘I devoted myself to it, I gave my full self to it, so much so to the point that I can die right now and be okay with knowing that I truly gave myself to somebody.

‘And I really loved a person, I experienced that and I know what that feels like, and some people never get that in this lifetime.

‘I know that I am completely blessed and this conversation is difficult because it is so much, that it would be hard for people to understand but, once it starts to affect me and my livelihood, I have to speak up about my truth.’

Shortly after Will’s representative branded the reports as ‘wrong’, while a spokesperson for Jada denied the claims to Page Six, calling them ‘absolutely not true’.

But a day later on July 2, Jada tweeted: ‘There’s some healing that needs to happen… so I’m bringing myself to The Red Table.’

Jada has been married to Will since 1997, they are parents to Jaden and daughter Willow, 19. Will has a son Trey, 27, from his marriage to Sheree Zampino, 53.

In 2019 August had denied an affair with Jada had taken place after his track ‘Nunya’ was released.

Rumors were sparked by the lyrics: ‘You got me feeling like it was an act, you’re just an actress / Putting on a show ’cause you don’t want the world to know.’

The singer now says he is not speaking out to cause trouble.

He said: ‘Contrary to what people may believe, I am not a troublemaker. I don’t like drama. Drama actually makes me nauseous.

‘And I also don’t think that it is ever important for people to know what I do, who I sleep with, who I date … but in this instance it is very different because as I said, there are so many people that are side-eyeing me, looking at me questionable.

Breaking silence: August told Angela Yee during their interview that he usually wouldn’t discuss the affair, but he’s ‘lost money, friendships, relationships’ over the rumors

‘It was a relationship, absolutely,’: Will asked Jada to clarify what she meant by ‘entanglement’

‘I have lost money, friendships, relationships behind it and I think it is because people don’t necessarily know the truth. But I have never done anything wrong.

‘I love those people [the Smiths] literally like my family. I don’t have a bad thing to say about them. They are beautiful people.’

Jada has previously denied rumors that she and Will are in an open relationship and said they will never divorce.

Will has previously said that the couple no longer use the ‘married’ title but refer to each other as ‘life partners’.

‘We don’t even say we’re married anymore,’ he told BET in 2018.

‘We refer to ourselves as life partners, where you get into that space where you realize you are literally with somebody for the rest of your life.

Denial: The couple, pictured here in 2015, initially denied the claims coming from August

Jada Pinkett Smith sets the internet ablaze after revelation she DID date August Alsina

Twitter was alight on Friday after Jada Pinkett Smith admitted to having a relationship with August Alsina on this week’s episode of Red Table Talk.

Fans and followers had mixed reactions when Jada admitted to the romance after initially denying there was anything between her and the R&B talent.

While opening up about the ‘private’ matter during a sit down opposite her husband of 23-years Will Smith, Jada said she and August dated while she was ‘separated’ from the Fresh Prince actor.

Though some fans were keen on calling Pinkett Smith out, others seemed to be there for the drama more than anything.

Open book: Jada Pinkett Smith revealed she did date August Alsina while sitting down with husband Will Smith on this week’s episode of Red Table Talk. They couple are seen in 2019 above

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submergencethemoviefanpage-blog · 7 years

Text

James McAvoy - Codigo Uno interview*

We would like to thank @gofckapineapple on twitter for providing the translation of James’ interview to Spanish magazine Codigo Uno.

Be sure to thank her if you're on twitter and share it!

Original article - Codigo Uno

Translation : @gofckapineapple

JAMES MCAVOY: "ACTORS ARE EITHER VIRTUOSOS OR FUCKING IDIOTS"

- He is the new fetish actor of Wim Wenders. Without mincing words, James McAvoy speaks with equal frankness of terrorism or classism that reigns in British cinema. Oh, and in his last film he lives an intense romance with Alicia Vikander. - James McAvoy is an actor dedicated to his characters and his nomadic lifestyle. It is also pure authenticity and is not afraid to speak openly. Not long ago he said that the dominance of posh actors in the UK "is damaging society" This 38-year-old Scotsman is peppered with that debate because he is the complete opposite: he had to pay for his career at the drama school working in a bakery. - In his latest film, Submergence, McAvoy travels to the depths of his emotions. The film represents the romantic idea of surrendering to the maximum and, in doing so, alter everything that surrounds us, with jihadism as a fundamental theme. It is the last and most beautiful story of Wim Wenders, and in it McAvoy and Alicia Vikander, co-star of the film, confirm themselves as two of the most erotic Hollywood actors. - Separated from Anne-Marie Duff, who was his wife for a decade, McAvoy now lives between Los Angeles and the UK with his new girlfriend. "Codigo Uno" had the opportunity to speak with the interpreter in Toronto.

Submergence had to be a terrible physical experience ... - Horrible, I had a terrible time because I had to lose a lot of weight between the middle of the movie and the end, and I'm not a man who was overweight. During the filming in Normandy I tried to win some weight to make a difference and to make it more obvious that I had lost weight. In the past I've shot movies where I also had to lose weight, like Trance , with Dany Boyle, and it hit me because I discovered that it's not something that I enjoy. In this film, as I already knew it would irritate me, I tried to enjoy my time in Normandy with Alicia and then we went together to Spain.

You mean you were angry during filming? - Yes. Not being able to eat properly irritates me, it surpasses me because I'm tired all the time, without energy. I think that when I watch the movie, I can identify the moments when I feel uncomfortable. Not only on screen, also when we stopped shooting was uncomfortable. When the filming ended, I dedicated to eat without stopping. The whole experience was awful. I don't feel ready to gain and lose weight.

You were able to relax and enjoy at some point? - Yes, of course. By nature, I'm not a nerve-wracking person. And, to be honest, the shooting in Spain was sensational.

How was the filming with Wim Wenders? - Sensational. I had to let myself be guided by his vision, which seemed articulate and very intelligent. This is a philosophical film, intentionally romantic, sensual. It is the story of a couple of scientists who fall in love. Their conversations, for moments, are academic, they do not fall in love with a smile, but of their intelligence. We were all in Normandy exploring the characters, rehearsing before shooting. Wim is a wonderful guy.

You are very close friends with Michael Fassbender, and you knew Alicia because she is his fiancee. Is not it rare to share intimate scenes with the fiancee of one your best friends? - No, I don't think so. I was married for nine years and filmed many romantic scenes at that time. In this profession we have to make many sequences of love with other people, it's part of the work. Anyway, it wasn't weird for me, maybe for her, but I hope not. I tried not to make her feel strange while filming with me.

You said that this character looks like you. What did you meant in particular? - Let's say I did not feel like playing a role, that character could have been me if my lifestyle had been different and if i would have chosen that kind of job. Of course, he is not like me, he has lived experiences that I will never be able to live. However, inside, he is much more like me than any of the other characters I have ever played in my career.

Do you consider yourself an adventurer, a being able to get to the depths of your being by someone else? - Until a certain point. I once said that I wanted to be a missionary and that interview was chasing me for years. I don't want to repeat the experience [laughs]. When my son was born I was talking to many nurses who had been in Africa and I found that their work, saving lives, was wonderful. That is what I meant. As for being adventurous, the actor profession fits the profile because we spend our time traveling. That amuses me, to live here and there, to work from one side to another of the planet, to know cultures. When I started at 17 I had no idea that I could end up where I am now. I got into drama school in Glasgow and I did not leave there for 3 years, but, in doing so, I became an adventurer because in that place I could build dreams and travel with my imagination. I realized that my life as an actor was going to allow me to experience adventures regardless of a location.

Do you enjoy the emotional load of an actor's life? - Of course. We are always on the brink of failure, always judged severely; or you're a virtuoso or a fucking idiot, with no space between those two concepts. For me, all that is exciting.

When you film in exotic places, do you have time to explore? - No. When I go to work, I work, I don't go on vacation. I will take some holidays now, since I have two months free. I have to force myself to move from my state of permanent curiosity to one of relaxation that allows me to enjoy my vacations. It costs me more to be doing nothing than working.

Submergence was not a pleasant shoot. Why did you choose to do it? - For the romance, for the love story of the protagonists, for the deep connection that exists between them. It's always fun to explore feelings when you connect with someone, it really is interesting to represent those emotions. I find it more human, being beaten in a movie than to hit, and that also caught my attention in this narration, the physical test of the character.

What is your opinion on the terrorism that strikes Europe? - I don't understand it, that's the only opinion I have. After shooting this movie, even less. If there is one thing that surprises me, it's the possibility that there may be someone who can think of the terms of my character, James. He wants to change the world, but because he can't do it alone, he integrates into an organization. First in the army, and then in this spy organization that helps him carry out his plans. All the protagonists in the film try to change the world in their own way. That is the beauty of history, how important it is that we all do our part. War films have shown us that there are many perspectives on the same story. However, we all want the same, that wars no longer exist. In this case we are living a strange war because we don't understand the enemy.

For a while, after the Atonement premiere, you became a star for the teen audience. However, your latest films seem to want to break with that image. - I am aware that there is this group of fans because I get a huge number of letters from South Korea, more than anywhere. I'm not very aware of who follows me or who watches my movies. I do not consider myself a strategic actor, I have never been an engineer of my legacy. I did not do it at first and I will not start doing it now. All I do is read the script, if I like it and if I think it's going to be a challenge, then I will do the movie. I feel like I am responding to stories that will awaken the audience.

You have criticized that there are no opportunities for working-class actors in the UK. - When we speak of this we must be clear. There are posh actors who have been in boarding schools that now feel cornered. Nobody has anything against a posh actor who is doing well. We live in a scary world, as soon as a small group dominates the creation of the arts and becomes a representation of a society that is not for everyone but for a few, the damage is irreparable. In five or ten years we will see how it affects us.

You emerge as a new sex symbol for your generation. - I don't think so. To be honest, I don't know if someone considers me an erotic symbol because it does not cross my mind. I don't get up in the morning thinking, "How sexy I am today." And, by the way, I still have not met anyone who treats me like I'm a sex symbol, so I can not feel one. I'm not convinced by the title.

Are you still taking care of yourself physically, for the pleasure of staying in shape? - I haven't been back to the gym since I finished the movie. I've been to the sauna a couple of times in eleven months. I'm quite lazy and I don't like exercising.

Who were the heroes of your adolescence? - I was a sophisticated twelve-year-old boy fascinated with James Bond and the spies. I suppose I let myself be influenced by Sean Connery, an illustrious Scotsman.

*Originally published on Facebook, posted here with some minor edits.

#james mcavoy #interview #codigo uno #magazine articles #submergence

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