Watched: MATCH POINT, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, LOST season finale
MATCH POINT (via Netflix): Surprisingly satisfying. Damned if he still doesn't have it.
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (via library): Wanted to like it more than I did -- Dahl's tone is really hard to carry off on screen, and more FX doesn't necessarily help. Still, some great moments/images/songs.
LOST (season finale): At the very end of the episode, Jess and I turned to one another and screamed "What??!!" Reminded me strongly of another great ending from a TV episode: Special Agent Dale Cooper wakes up after seeing The Man From Another Place dancing in his dreams, picks up the phone, and calls Sheriff Truman to tell him that he knows who killed Laura Palmer. Oh, but the heartbreak that followed when that series lost its way and ended in suckitude. I hope LOST doesn't do the same...
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (via library): Wanted to like it more than I did -- Dahl's tone is really hard to carry off on screen, and more FX doesn't necessarily help. Still, some great moments/images/songs.
LOST (season finale): At the very end of the episode, Jess and I turned to one another and screamed "What??!!" Reminded me strongly of another great ending from a TV episode: Special Agent Dale Cooper wakes up after seeing The Man From Another Place dancing in his dreams, picks up the phone, and calls Sheriff Truman to tell him that he knows who killed Laura Palmer. Oh, but the heartbreak that followed when that series lost its way and ended in suckitude. I hope LOST doesn't do the same...
VideoSift.com voting coming to a close on May 31
Okay, "Profiles in Science" is currently neck-in-neck with another video for first place. If you have a moment, please consider throwing me a vote in this close race. Voting closes at the end of the month!
Read earlier blog entry about the site and how to vote.
Go straight to VideoSift site:
VideoSift SiftOff
Read earlier blog entry about the site and how to vote.
Go straight to VideoSift site:
VideoSift SiftOff
Encore broadcasts: "Seattle: Fremont" (aka "Monsruang") on KCTS
My SIFF Fly Film from 2004 is getting another couple of airings via the series "About Us" on KCTS Channel 9 -- Thursday, June 1st at 10:00pm and Monday, June 5 at 3:00am. Set your Tivos...
More at:
http://www.kcts.org/seriesdetail.asp?N1=ABUS
More at:
http://www.kcts.org/seriesdetail.asp?N1=ABUS
SIFF-apalooza!
Every year SIFF rolls around, I get a struck by a little movie madness. Oh, if only we had the wherewithal to watch as much as we wanted. Barring unlimited time/wealth, here's a selection of what I hope to catch this year:
May 26
Boy Culture - New feature from Filipino American filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka (EATING OUT). Based on the novel by Matthew Rettenmund and produced in Seattle. A "Gay"-la presentation with a big party afterwards.
May 27
Asian Pacific American Community Stories - Okay, just kidding -- this isn't a SIFF presentation, but I'll be there with kids in tow.
May 28
The Great Debate - Seattle's more or less annual navel-gazing discussion to try and figure out why we keep coming back year after year to ask why there still isn't a way to make a living as a filmmaker in this city. Although with the success this year of films like POLICE BEAT, WE GO WAY BACK, IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS, and THE HEART OF THE GAME, there may be a case to be made after all for the emergence of a Seattle filmmaking voice that's actually being heard by the rest of the world.
May 29
Fly Filmmaking Challenge - SIFF's annual filmmaking shoot-'em-up. Looking forward to seeing the films by Kris, Doug, Virginia, and Brad. Also hoping that the "Spawned in Seattle" reception will be happening afterwards as has been the case the last couple of years. Also hoping to be on the guest list for said party again. Hmm...maybe I better email James...
June 3 and June 4
The Producers School Series, Session 1
and
The Producers School Series, Session 2
I probably won't make it to these since Jess is going to be out-of-town, but you never know.
June 10
Screenwriters Salon
Yeah, probably won't make it to this either.
June 12
Sentenced Home - Do want to see this one. Producer Nicole Malarkey expected to attend the screening.
June 13
Eve and the Fire Horse - Coming-of-age tale from Canadian filmmaker Julia Kwan. Official selection at Toronto and prize-winner at Sundance and Vancouver. Lots of good buzz.
June 14 and June 17
Americanese - Oh yeah, definitely catching this one, although not sure whether I'll see it on the 14th or the 17th. Eric will be in town, but I have to find out which screening(s) he'll be at.
June 17
Seattle Summit - As much of a true film industry event as you'll get around here short of going to LA. These actually tend to be somewhat sobering assessments of the indie/foreign film business, but still good to hear it from the horses' mouths. Not that I'm calling the panelists horses -- they've generally been quite friendly and informative.
June 18
I Wake Up Screening - Laura Kim (no relation, unfortunately) of Warner Independent and journalist/critic John Anderson (Variety, Newsday, New York Times) come to Seattle to discuss their new book I WAKE UP SCREENING. Just read the book myself -- good stuff. Was a very pleasant surprise to see them on the schedule.
May also go to the closing night gala for The Science of Sleep if I'm lucky enough to score us some tickets.
For an Asian American film lover's guide to SIFF, check out the cheat sheet here.
May 26
Boy Culture - New feature from Filipino American filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka (EATING OUT). Based on the novel by Matthew Rettenmund and produced in Seattle. A "Gay"-la presentation with a big party afterwards.
May 27
Asian Pacific American Community Stories - Okay, just kidding -- this isn't a SIFF presentation, but I'll be there with kids in tow.
May 28
The Great Debate - Seattle's more or less annual navel-gazing discussion to try and figure out why we keep coming back year after year to ask why there still isn't a way to make a living as a filmmaker in this city. Although with the success this year of films like POLICE BEAT, WE GO WAY BACK, IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS, and THE HEART OF THE GAME, there may be a case to be made after all for the emergence of a Seattle filmmaking voice that's actually being heard by the rest of the world.
May 29
Fly Filmmaking Challenge - SIFF's annual filmmaking shoot-'em-up. Looking forward to seeing the films by Kris, Doug, Virginia, and Brad. Also hoping that the "Spawned in Seattle" reception will be happening afterwards as has been the case the last couple of years. Also hoping to be on the guest list for said party again. Hmm...maybe I better email James...
June 3 and June 4
The Producers School Series, Session 1
and
The Producers School Series, Session 2
I probably won't make it to these since Jess is going to be out-of-town, but you never know.
June 10
Screenwriters Salon
Yeah, probably won't make it to this either.
June 12
Sentenced Home - Do want to see this one. Producer Nicole Malarkey expected to attend the screening.
June 13
Eve and the Fire Horse - Coming-of-age tale from Canadian filmmaker Julia Kwan. Official selection at Toronto and prize-winner at Sundance and Vancouver. Lots of good buzz.
June 14 and June 17
Americanese - Oh yeah, definitely catching this one, although not sure whether I'll see it on the 14th or the 17th. Eric will be in town, but I have to find out which screening(s) he'll be at.
June 17
Seattle Summit - As much of a true film industry event as you'll get around here short of going to LA. These actually tend to be somewhat sobering assessments of the indie/foreign film business, but still good to hear it from the horses' mouths. Not that I'm calling the panelists horses -- they've generally been quite friendly and informative.
June 18
I Wake Up Screening - Laura Kim (no relation, unfortunately) of Warner Independent and journalist/critic John Anderson (Variety, Newsday, New York Times) come to Seattle to discuss their new book I WAKE UP SCREENING. Just read the book myself -- good stuff. Was a very pleasant surprise to see them on the schedule.
May also go to the closing night gala for The Science of Sleep if I'm lucky enough to score us some tickets.
For an Asian American film lover's guide to SIFF, check out the cheat sheet here.
The VideoSift is on!
Okay, the game is on. Votes are being tallied from now until the end of May for VideoSift.com's first-ever "SiftOff." And hey, I'm winning! But the counts are very close. Because very few people have voted so far. In fact, my lead is quite slim right now -- a mighty 5 votes vs. a couple of contenders with 4 votes each.
You can review the instructions for registering/voting here:
http://www.weskim.com/blogs/2006/05/vote-for-me-part-ii.html
It's truly easier than falling off a log to register at this site, trust me. Stay tuned for updates in this gripping electoral drama.
You can review the instructions for registering/voting here:
http://www.weskim.com/blogs/2006/05/vote-for-me-part-ii.html
It's truly easier than falling off a log to register at this site, trust me. Stay tuned for updates in this gripping electoral drama.
Screening and talk at Shoreline Community College
For what it's worth, I was invited to screen some films and do some Q&A earlier this week as part of a lecture series to celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month at Shoreline Community College. Thought it went reasonably well for a 9:30am screening. There's more events to come -- check it out if you're interested.
MULTICULTURAL & DIVERSITY CENTER
ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
SPEAKER SERIES
All Staff, Faculty, and Students are welcome!!!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2006
WES KIM
Where: PUB Canteen
When: 9:30-10:20 am
What: Kim is an Asian American local writer/director. His presentation will include showing his award-winning short films Profiles in Science and Vision Test. He will also share how his cultural experiences have influenced and inspired his work.
More at:
Shoreline Community College
MULTICULTURAL & DIVERSITY CENTER
ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
SPEAKER SERIES
All Staff, Faculty, and Students are welcome!!!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2006
WES KIM
Where: PUB Canteen
When: 9:30-10:20 am
What: Kim is an Asian American local writer/director. His presentation will include showing his award-winning short films Profiles in Science and Vision Test. He will also share how his cultural experiences have influenced and inspired his work.
More at:
Shoreline Community College
Screening at Seattle Public Library on May 27th
Sure, SIFF will have opened, and it'll be Memorial Day weekend, but what you really want to do on Saturday at 3pm on May 27th is come to the downtown Seattle Public Library to watch short documentaries that celebrate Asian/Pacific American History Month. The shorts include my latest doc, "Aquarium Kids."
The Seattle Public Library, Seattle Channel, and Northwest Asian American Film Festival present "Asian Pacific American Community Stories," a series of short films showcasing Seattle´s diverse APA community.
Films include:
"Blue Scholars"
"Uncle Jimmy"
"From Yoomee to Deborah"
"Aquarium Kids"
More at:
The Seattle Public Library Calendar of Events & Classes
The Seattle Public Library, Seattle Channel, and Northwest Asian American Film Festival present "Asian Pacific American Community Stories," a series of short films showcasing Seattle´s diverse APA community.
Films include:
"Blue Scholars"
"Uncle Jimmy"
"From Yoomee to Deborah"
"Aquarium Kids"
More at:
The Seattle Public Library Calendar of Events & Classes
Public service announcement: Free Hao Wu
Chinese filmmaker Hao Wu has been detained by the Chinese government on unspecified charges. I met him at SDAFF last fall -- here's a link to a blog about his current status:
http://ethanzuckerman.com/haowu/?page_id=2
And here's a link to an online petition for Hao:
http://www.gopetition.com/region/237/8389.html
http://ethanzuckerman.com/haowu/?page_id=2
And here's a link to an online petition for Hao:
http://www.gopetition.com/region/237/8389.html
Public service announcement: Save a life...
[Please consider this worthy cause.]
==================================
Hello Everyone,
Many of you may have heard about or received my previous email about Christine Pechera, a Filipina filmmaker, who is battling cancer (for the second time around). She is currently in the hospital undergoing 24/7 chemo treatment and the doctors tell her she only has a few more weeks to find her perfect life-saving bone marrow match!! Please take a few minutes to read the email below to see how you or someone you know might be able to help save a life! And please spread the word.
Much Appreciation,
Debbie Fan
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Krueger <savechristine@gmail.com>
Subject: A quick new way to register as a donor!
Hello All,
Sorry to keep barraging you with emails, but this is very exciting news. You and your friends can now join the marrow registry without even leaving your home. Just click the following link
http://christine.site.ph/selfreg.html
Fill out the form to request a free cheek swab test kit, which will be mailed to you within 2 business days. You can take the test at home, and simply mail it back to Christine's hospital, City of Hope. The test is painless, safe, quick and easy, and it's free to all minorities.
So please, if you have not registered, order the test today.
More importantly, help us spread the word. Contact Filipino organizations, churches, clubs etc, and ask them to forward the information to their membership. Or if you're a member of a Filipino organization, make an announcement and send people to Christine's website.
www.savechristine.com
Tell them to click the "NEWSFLASH! Signing up for the Registry Just Got Easier" link at the top of the page to order a self test kit.
We only have a few more weeks to find a donor for Christine-- and this just might be our last chance to save her life. So please, help out today.
More information about Christine and the marrow donation process is available on her website and forum: www.savechristine.com
UPDATE ON DONOR SEARCH IN THE PHILIPPINES
Thanks to all of you who have made donations, our search for a donor in the Philippines is already underway. But we are still thousands of dollars short of raising the money we need to test all of Christine's family members there. So if you haven't given, please consider making a financial contribution today. It's tax deductible, and it just may save Christine's life. You can make a contribution online by clicking the following link:
https://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?EventUUID=59B857F6
Please note that the mailing address for check donations has been changed. The new address is:
The Christine Pechera Foundation
PO Box 190415
Atlanta, GA 31119
Thank you again for everything you have done and are doing to help Christine.
Jake
==================================
Hello Everyone,
Many of you may have heard about or received my previous email about Christine Pechera, a Filipina filmmaker, who is battling cancer (for the second time around). She is currently in the hospital undergoing 24/7 chemo treatment and the doctors tell her she only has a few more weeks to find her perfect life-saving bone marrow match!! Please take a few minutes to read the email below to see how you or someone you know might be able to help save a life! And please spread the word.
Much Appreciation,
Debbie Fan
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Krueger <savechristine@gmail.com>
Subject: A quick new way to register as a donor!
Hello All,
Sorry to keep barraging you with emails, but this is very exciting news. You and your friends can now join the marrow registry without even leaving your home. Just click the following link
http://christine.site.ph/selfreg.html
Fill out the form to request a free cheek swab test kit, which will be mailed to you within 2 business days. You can take the test at home, and simply mail it back to Christine's hospital, City of Hope. The test is painless, safe, quick and easy, and it's free to all minorities.
So please, if you have not registered, order the test today.
More importantly, help us spread the word. Contact Filipino organizations, churches, clubs etc, and ask them to forward the information to their membership. Or if you're a member of a Filipino organization, make an announcement and send people to Christine's website.
www.savechristine.com
Tell them to click the "NEWSFLASH! Signing up for the Registry Just Got Easier" link at the top of the page to order a self test kit.
We only have a few more weeks to find a donor for Christine-- and this just might be our last chance to save her life. So please, help out today.
More information about Christine and the marrow donation process is available on her website and forum: www.savechristine.com
UPDATE ON DONOR SEARCH IN THE PHILIPPINES
Thanks to all of you who have made donations, our search for a donor in the Philippines is already underway. But we are still thousands of dollars short of raising the money we need to test all of Christine's family members there. So if you haven't given, please consider making a financial contribution today. It's tax deductible, and it just may save Christine's life. You can make a contribution online by clicking the following link:
https://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?EventUUID=59B857F6
Please note that the mailing address for check donations has been changed. The new address is:
The Christine Pechera Foundation
PO Box 190415
Atlanta, GA 31119
Thank you again for everything you have done and are doing to help Christine.
Jake
Public service announcement: Save the Internet...
To all newcomers: Welcome to my blog! Right -- I'll be off now...
To friends and fans stopping by for the first time, thanks for coming. Perhaps a recap of my crazy-busy life is in order so that you can be caught up on the current state of affairs.
In the last few months, I have...
- ...directed a film festival...
- ...curated (and ultimately killed) a monthly film series...
- ...lost a job...
- ...gotten a new job...
- ...made a trailer for a film festival...
- ...taught a kids' filmmaking class where we made another trailer...
- ...and directed a short documentary for television.
In the next few months, I'm going to be...
- ...directing a short film for the local cinematheque...
- ...directing another short film that's been in the works for a few years now...
- ...finishing a feature script to submit to a screenwriting lab (specifically geared towards Korean/Korean American projects)...
- ...presenting some of my short films as part of a community college lecture series...
- ...helping to present another collection of short films at the public library...
- ...and otherwise trying to get my life in order.
Given all the hoopla I'm dealing with, I'd like to apologize in advance for a) not being a very good email correspondent and b) not doing a lot to keep this blog updated, but I've really gotta buckle down and do some serious writing. That said, I will try my best not to be a total black hole of unanswered communication. With any luck, I'll be somewhat less frazzled in the months ahead while still getting stuff done.
If nothing else, my family is doing quite nicely, and I hope that you and yours are as well. Keep in touch and I'll try to do likewise.
(Oh, and to top it all off, it's my birthday today. You'll find a link to my wish list at the bottom of the sidebar to the right. Don't worry if anything you send arrives late -- I don't mind, honest.)
Vote for me, part II
There's this cool new site called VideoSift.com that lets people tag and submit videos hosted at either YouTube or Google Video. It's a very clean, simple way for people to recommend videos to one another. And right now, they're holding the first-ever "SiftOff" in which submitted videos will duke it out against one another for a crack at being prominently featured by the site with all the associated plugging of one's films, website, etc.
How can you help? By first registering at VideoSift (very simple registration process, I swear) and then going to the page where I've submitted "Profiles in Science" for your consideration. At the moment, I think you can only enter comments with the real voting to come later. But I'll let you know once it happens.
And while you're there, check out this amazing ukulele video featuring Hawaii's Jake Shimabukuro. I swear, I might actually try to check out his show when he comes to Seattle in July.
How can you help? By first registering at VideoSift (very simple registration process, I swear) and then going to the page where I've submitted "Profiles in Science" for your consideration. At the moment, I think you can only enter comments with the real voting to come later. But I'll let you know once it happens.
And while you're there, check out this amazing ukulele video featuring Hawaii's Jake Shimabukuro. I swear, I might actually try to check out his show when he comes to Seattle in July.
Vote for me, part I
Okay, I know filmmakers are always asking their friends for votes at some site or another promising fame and fortune, but in this case, I want to appeal to your sense of justice against some unscrupulous types.
IFC is hosting short films at their site with the possibility of highly-rated films getting a shot at being aired on the channel. It's the usual drill -- upload a film, wait for votes, and let the cream rise to the top. Will there be ballot-stuffing? Quite possibly, but that's how these things go.
However, after uploading two of my films (and giving myself a 10 out of 10 just to get the ball rolling), my score had plummeted down to the 2-3 point range within minutes. The only conclusion I could reach is that some lowlifes were systematically entering scores of zero for any new films that popped up on the site. Now that just isn't cricket!
This is where you come in -- help me fight back against these fraudulent votes. First, register at the IFC Medialab site (drag, I know). Then go to these two pages:
Watch the films, of course, and then vote your hearts out. Will it work? Who knows? But at least you can do your part to increase fairness in the world.
IFC is hosting short films at their site with the possibility of highly-rated films getting a shot at being aired on the channel. It's the usual drill -- upload a film, wait for votes, and let the cream rise to the top. Will there be ballot-stuffing? Quite possibly, but that's how these things go.
However, after uploading two of my films (and giving myself a 10 out of 10 just to get the ball rolling), my score had plummeted down to the 2-3 point range within minutes. The only conclusion I could reach is that some lowlifes were systematically entering scores of zero for any new films that popped up on the site. Now that just isn't cricket!
This is where you come in -- help me fight back against these fraudulent votes. First, register at the IFC Medialab site (drag, I know). Then go to these two pages:
Watch the films, of course, and then vote your hearts out. Will it work? Who knows? But at least you can do your part to increase fairness in the world.
