IT IS FIVE TWENTY TWO A.M.
And I am busy working. Family business requires me to stay up all night til noon to receive the voice files from doctors in North America. The business has been steadily growing, but damn it has really struck my social life down hard.

In an attempt to stay creatively awake this morning, i decided to peruse apple.com again for movies I find interesting and would recommend people look out for. Here's my list for today.

DISTURBIA

With a tagline "Every killer lives next door to someone," you have the makings of a great horror flick waiting to be seen. Add to the pot Shia Lebeouf, Sarah Roemer, a great choice for the antagonist (i'll let you find out by checking out the trailer and the film's website), and you got something that might have the horror power of the movie THE SHINING when it first came out. And yes, the movie website is really fun to check out!
http://www.apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/disturbia/

PEACEFUL WARRIOR
Incredible. Inspiring. Deep. Worth seeing.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/peacefulwarrior/

PAPRIKA
There are few animations which really remind you of how behind most are compared to the Japanese in using the medium. This is one of them.
Sort of like a mutated love child of The Cell, the dreamsequences of Akira, Animatrix and Spirited Away, this is one animated film I definitely want to see. From the makers of Tokyo Godfathers and Perfect Blue.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/paprika/trailer/

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
An upcoming movie musical about friends, war, choices, meaning and music. And you can't go wrong with Beatles songs in a modern musical.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/acrosstheuniverse/index.html

On the other hand, LIONSGATE seems to be "reshuffling ideas" with THE CONDEMNED (which is Battle Royale minus the cool twist of it being students).

STALKERS DREAM COME TRUE
There is an online database of all Filipinos who can vote, posted online by the Comelec, which I DO feel does violate my privacy. Do they realize they are giving out personal and private information to practically anyone who wants to use it for their own purposes?
Find the list here: http://www.comelecncr.com/ALPHA_INDEX.htm#L

POSTSECRET CELEB:

Makes you wonder which one it could be, eh?
(l-r): Vince Vaughn, Adrian Grenier, Patrick Dempsey, Nick Lachey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marc Anthony, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze Jr., Christian Slater, Justin Timberlake, Jim Carrey, Ryan Seacrest, Orlando Bloom, Kevin Federline, Simon Cowell, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, George Clooney.

EVENT: EKSENA

LINAO FILMS in cooperation with
EKSENA present

MOMENTARIES
The Films of JP V. CARPIO


1. BUNKER 0: SUMIRIB PLUS
- 2006
- 10 minutes
- Color
- Documentary
- MiniDV

The film shows a series of moments involving the people of Sitio Sumirib, Barangay La Paz in the municipality of Nueva Valencia, province of Guimaras, one of the areas most affected by the massive oil spill from the sunken tanker Solar 1 chartered by the Petron oil corporation. The film focuses more on their thoughts and feelings regarding this man-made ecological disaster, and the actions they are taking to somehow cope with very difficult times ahead.

Bunker 0: Sumirib Plus is the first in a series of films concerning the Guimaras Oil Spill disaster. It is presented here in Ilonggo and Tagalog languages with English subtitles. (Screened as part of the Independent Filmmaker Cooperative's "Guimaras: Short films from the Oil Spill" Festival, November 2006)


2. VTR
- 2007
- 10 minutes
- Color
- Experimental Narrative
- MiniDV

Edited from footage shot in 2004, the film is an attempt to ask the question "How much of our life are we in on and how much are we out of?"
(PREMIERE Status)

STARRING: Tessa De Guzman and JP V. Carpio


3. TAKO (cue)
- 2007
- 42 minutes
- Color
- Narrative
- MiniDV

Also edited from footage shot in 2004, the film follows the get-together of a group of friends at a house somewhere in Metro Manila. In the midst of the fun and the partying, underlying tensions rise and break out between Jimmy and Aissa during a friendly game of billiards. The film is an episode in a future full length film "Jimmy, Aissa: Henry, Tricia". (PREMIERE Status)

STARRING: Jourdan Sebastian, Vanny Liwanag, Reinier Laiño, Elaine Jose Bobadilla

ALSO FEATURING: Aren Adao, Ida Calumpang, Magali Cleret, +Kat Diamante, Mikko Javier, Francis Mantis, Oz Mendoza, Miguel Pancho, Sophie Rodriguez, Joacqui Tupas, Adelle Victoria


PLUS!!!!

**** CHOP-CHOP MODELLING AGENCY
- actor: Wally Contento
- 3mins 30seconds

" A film created thru editing, real VTR footage of ladies auditioning for a modelling agency intertwined with scripted shots of an actor as the interviewer. Creating a funny scene for a short film."

Written, Shot & Directed by ANGONO
Artist REMBRANDT VOCALAN


LIVE PERFORMANCES!!!!

* TALES OF DOOM

* KONTRALUZ

* ILLIASTER

* 'D INCIDENTALS


MARCH 13, 2007
KOLUMN BAR & CAFE
#46 Sct. Torillo corner
Timog Avenue, QC
(Ponciana's/Off the Grill side)

9pm onwards


!!!! FREE ENTRANCE !!!!




an EKSENA productions presentation
love films. love pinoy music.

HOPE YOU GUYS CAN MAKE TIME TO CHECK IT OUT!
PANDA BEAR AND I WILL BE THERE!

RORSHACH
With Zack Snyder doing a really good job of adapting Frank Miller's 300, few know of the test image of the infamous Rorshach that was hidden in the trailer.




Having really been impressed by his adaptation of 300, I actually now have faith in his next project: Watchmen. Can't wait! Can't wait!!!
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31814

I WOULD KNEEL BEFORE YOU BUT...
Oh yes! 300 rocks! Panda Bear Isha and I were able to catch the movie (minus the hassles of lines, reservations and the like! All one has to do it is see it at Waltermart instead!) and I have to say, for those who read and loved the comic, the movie is fantastic! For those who never read the comic, I can see how they will be disappointed. Whereas the previous effort to adapt Miller's work (Sin City) was commendable but in some ways a mess, this one is outright incredible in capturing the energy of his art and yet making the tale of how 300 fought against thousands and prevailed at least for a few nights.

The visuals were incredible. The casting fit so perfectly, my only gripe was that I recognized Faramir (David Wenham). I couldn't help but wonder however, when did he get so buff?!?!? Leonidas (played by Gerard Bulter, whom some may recognize from Tomb Raider) fit the role so perfectly, I will never look at a Spartan the same way again. Brad Pitt was horrible at it in Troy. Rodrigo Santoro plays a disturbing Xerxes (and I hate the person behind me who commented, "Pare, si Dhalsim!" because he obviously has no culture. I would have rather he said, "Pare, siya yung sa Lost!") Astinos (played by Tom Wisdom, whom many recognized from Mile High) looked pretty. And I have to say seeing a whole row of ladies in the audience rise up and leave after his... uh... head-y scene was hilarious!

Oh and Kelly Craig was amazing!

(Sino siya? Here's a clue: she also appeared in Coyote Ugly)

300 was definitely worth my time. Isha and I were actually brought to tears, overjoyed to see the comic literally come to life. Here's hoping the next Miller movie-adaptation, Ronin, is just as grand!

Maybe someday, they'll even have the courage to do Dark Knight Returns?

BE WARNED. SPOILERIFIC.
WATCH IT HERE
But damn, Spider-man 3 shows lots of promise!

MARCH NA! HAPPY NEW MONTH!
Whoa, talk about horribly delayed posts. My apologies to all those who love to visit my blog for having a horribly inactive blog the last few months. Been working my ass off keeping our family business in tip-top shape (we've been growing pretty fast for a small business) while juggling time to fit family, my panda bear Isha, and friends into my weekly schedule. Writing and drawing (ay, sorry mga fans ng DILIMAN!) too has taken a backseat but I promise you I have been taking the steps necessary to get them back on track.

Some quickie updates on what my life has been as of February. Got more projects thanks to James Lo, who has provided me with great money-making creative releases. Also working on projects with Unilever and some other small businesses. Got confirmation from John Anthony Wong that my short film proposal will see production green lights this April. Still waiting for my copy of the thesis student film I helped two Lasallian gals accomplish (with me as the evil kontrabida!) Finally got a new phone, attended a high school reunion, went shopping at Divisoria, got more people into roleplaying games, learned the guy who took my nude pics for his gallery had recently died of a heart attack (God rest your soul, Mr. Despues), finished Virutal Villagers I, was disappointed by Heroes, discovered an interest in Panic! At the Disco, played matchmaker, played mangkukulam, played couples counselor, played lawyer, played teacher, and a host of other things i already posted below.

Panda Bear Isha and I hit our first year together with memorable moments to mark that day. Got a henna tattoo which sadly, has already faded. Ended my gym membership, considering taking swimming every other day, got hit on by a guy, got hit on by a girl, nearly got hit by a car, dreamt of being an x-file, dreamt of being a superhero, dreamt of surviving an earthquake and other weirdness and definitely unforgettable things that I probably have opted to keep to myself.

But yes, to simply put it into one phrase:
it has definitely been an interesting month last February.


(top to bottom)Portrait of a Killer Look, Nerd Lost in Divisoria, Me and my Panda Bear with a Microphone and a Beer.)

Had a lot of funnies happen this month too, with a highlight being given to the "Sasalele" moment at Robinson's Place. Isha and I were wandering around and looking for a place to eat when we came upon a window that made us both pause for a split second and wonder.



Of course, when realization and understanding dawned upon us barely a second later, we broke into so much laughter and tears that other people were staring at us and probably wondering why these two foreigners (we have, after all been mistaken as Korean before) were going nuts in front of Cinderella.

Lastly, joined this new friendsterish/multiplesque site called Flipnation.ph which caters to Filipinos worldwide. I highly recommend you join in and help test the site out! It would definitely add to the positive faces of Pinoys in the web.



Me and my cousin Gabby, who in so many ways is like me: experiments on animals and plans, has dreams of world domination, is fascinated with anything others consider gross.