Today, I helped Lea do auditions for her thesis film for her USC masters. We dropped by Pasadena Film Commission at the Pasadena City Hall to look at houses that allow film shoots for USC (how fancy that USC can get so much govt support for student films!). Then we hauled to USC to hold auditions for Pinoy/Fil-Am actors for DELIKADESA.
DELIKADESA is about an 18yo boy who gets his girlfriend pregnant. Her father is a general and from a rich family. He thinks offering marriage to her is the honorable thing. In the course of the film, however, realizing he is not ready to marry, he will desperately try to get out of it before the Pamamanhikan (Engagement Dinner). See more HERE.
Lea and producer gave me a brief rundown of their films, and their plans for after graduation. It is exhilarating, especially since film was my undergrad course, and was previously something I really loved back in the days. Had I pursued another hands-on Mass Comm course that didn’t have jaded teachers, shows that bombed, or gone into writing & producing for Probe, I might have gone through the same route Lea took.
I’m very proud of what my friend has accomplished so far and wonder if its too late for me to get back into the film industry, even if I have to start all over here, in America.
Or am I really content doing something else media-related, other multi-media jobs?
As I pondered on these life-changing realizations, I watched Nickelodeon’s Pete and Pete shows (one of the indie-look shows that inspired me to get into film in the 90s) after dinner with my husband. It was a good day and made me love film all over again.
1. Gaga combines the great qualities of the most popular female singers in the pop-rock genre of the past 10 years (Beyonce, Fergie, GwenStefani, Kelly Clarkson)
2. Clever direction and editing techniques, almost like a video game/quirky japanese animé.
3. Risque shots in this explicit version of the video (near-nekked costumes, Eve-like nipple stickers, F-F making out on the grounds).
4. Risque plots … poisoning the whole restaurant (by accident) Love the KillBill-Thelma&Louise references in this video!
5. Product placement! Need I say more?
6. GAGA-COSTUMES! I think I’m ready for a Gaga costume next Halloween!
This is the 9th season. Naturally, I think the judges, who sometimes give our random comments as if they cant really give constructive criticism, are finally locking down on what makes a star. And it isnt just one thing:
- possessing the x factor
- musicality : the ability to recreate/interpret a song song on their own by: rearranging song, changing tempo/genre,
- believability/sincerity
and lately
- the ability to have a “moment”* during every performance
- an immediate certain look/ genre (so people know what type of artist the singer is)
-(not a prerequisite by the judges but,) more-than-amateur skills at an instrument
* That “moment” Simon always talks about, is the ability to sing and give your audience goosebumps at a certain point in the song. A real singer has tapped into that sort of energy and should know how to do it again.
Sadly, many talented folks have left AI without even having to grace the top 12, while the popular cute kids get all the glory (Remember Sanjaya from season 6?). And with my favorite Lilly Scott (hated on by country lovin American grannies & the clueless prepubescent AI fans) and Lacey Brown (the girl with the Sixpence voice) voted out, I feel like wanting to boycott losing interest in the show. The remaining kids are talented alright, but so lackluster in spirit and originality! Some of them do improve weekly, but sadly, I don’t America recognizes which ones are actually doing it right.
Lilly Scott was one of the most talented kids in this AI batch. She just got the boot, along with Katelyn Epperly, Todrick Hall, & Alex Lambert, who was on the verge of crying, i felt so sorry for him.
I actually like these guys and would have preferred a different set of 4 to have left instead. America is voting retarded, as usual.
We will miss your vocal stylings on the show, Lilly!
Top 10 Guys Night
Still a lot of shivery, shakey vocals from the guys, so only a few really impressed me.
Standouts MICHAEL LYNCH , JAMES CASEY (woooah hot guitar work right there! – but i still like Elliott Yamins take on I Dont Wanna Be),
Meh: Aaron Kelly, Lee Deewyze
Backwards Step: Andrew Garcia, Jermaine, Todrick,
I really like: Jason Mraz soundalike : Alex Lambert
Goodbye John Parks, Tim Urban!
***What’s sad is John keeps getting bad reviews week after week, despite okay performances. He just keeps getting ripped because they cannot connect to him. Maybe his facial expression, being typically Asian, is too controlled for these American judges. I know the AI audience voted him off, not the judges; however, they are always influenced by the panel’s critiques. Did they not think about the fact that he’s Asian/Korean and that his “feeling the song” style of singing may not be the same as how Americans sing??
—-
Top 10 girls Night
Standouts: Crystal Bowersox (who recovered from her hospital scare), Lilly Scott , Siobhan Magnus
Meh: Haeley Vaughn, Katie Stevens,
I really like: Lacey Brown, Didi Banami, Katelyn Epperly (despite making Coldplay even more boring)
***I thought Lily went slightly slightly flat althroughout her performance but i still very much love her, possibly more than Crystal. But Simon gave a similar critique and said Lilly was probably not as good as Crystal tonight. Maybe Lilly will bounce back next week.
