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Weblog | Events | Features | Gallery | Links | Consultants directory | Zine | About | Contact Weblog> December 2003 031230: Tue Going to Melbourne for a break. Will take some digital photos. Back next week. Happy New Year everyone!! 031224: Wed The Hobbit Habit An article in the SMH talks about tours you can go to of the remnants of the Hobbiton set in the North Island town of Matamata, New Zealand. Apparently New Line Cinemas drew up a contract that insisted that the set had to be demolished at the completion of filming. The farm brothers then begged to keep the remaining bits not yet demolished. There are now more than 1000 people who visit the town per month to see Hobbiton. It would've been great if New Line had allowed the set to stay so that people can see the intricate details of the set design and all the work that went into creating the Hobbiton environment. The tours website is: http://www.hobbitontours.com if you happen to be headed over to that part of NZ. Lost in Translation Saw 'Lost in Translation' last night at the Dendy, Newtown. It was a great film! I loved the scenes of Tokyo, the characters, the story. It's beautifully written and filmed. It's about discovering yourself, love, joy, living life etc. Stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. 031221: Sun Saturday Had friends over to look into installing digital video editing software on an old computer that's served me well over the years. Haven't quite got it working yet. My friend will see if the software and card will work on another computer. We had lunch at the Chocolate Dog cafe in Newtown. Then went over to the folks for dinner then came back to find some interesting stuff on TV. Caught a bit of 'Showdown in Little Tokyo'. It had Brandon Lee in it. It was pretty violent! Then watched 'The Lord of the Rings: The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision' and it was really interesting to learn that Peter Jackson almost didn't get the film made. The initial film studio wanted him to condense the 3 books into 1 film or they'd find another director. He then looked around for another studio and gave himself 3 weeks or he'd just give all the material, rights to that company. Every studio knocked it back till he got to to the last chance - New Line Cinema and luckily they took it on and wanted to make 3 films out of the 3 books. Imagine that - such an absolutely cool/awesome vision, interpretation, execution of the 'Lord of the Rings' story and it almost didn't get made! There was also 'Coldplay Live 2003' which was filmed at Sydney's Horden Pavilion in July 2003 on another station. So lots of switching between channels. Dixon St, Chinatown markets Friday night Wanted to get some late dinner. We drove to Newtown, then to Chinatown, through the CBD (saw a girl spew from a taxi in the next lane) and to the Rocks and then back to Chinatown. Was trying to look for some convenient and cheap parking. But it was really, really busy. I guess the people are all out in force with lots of Christmas parties happening around town. Finally decided to just head back to Chinatown for a quick snack. Got a free park a couple of blocks away and walked on Dixon St to discover night markets! Yay! Suddenly my eyes lit up! I love markets. It's just the community feel of markets, the bustle, the unique, fun, trinkety things you can find, and the atmosphere. I had heard there were markets on in Chinatown on Friday nights but I guess I never got around to checking them out. Anyway, it was 10pm and Dixon St was absolutely rocking along! Stalls lined either side of Dixon St in front of all the Chinese restaurants. I really wish I had my digital camera with me! I really should carry it with me everywhere. Saw lots of things from samurai swords (yes like those in Kill Bill, except these were just displayed on a table in the open air market!), lots of soft toys, lots of jewellery, watches, lots of little flashing trinkety toys you can attach to your mobile phones, Chinese massage stalls, food stalls, beef jerky and heaps more! By the time, I'd checked out all the stalls, it was 11pm and we had to get a ticket and queue up to get into Superbowl! We shared a BBQ pork stir fry noodles and a wonton noodle soup. Yum! And all for $17. Buchan Xmas Party 2003 Thursday Photos of the event are up at: http://www.chaosgeneration.com/gallery/kirsten/buchan_xmas03. P.S. If any of the Buchaneers are reading this, and you want a higher res. version of the photos, email me and I'll email them over to you (as I've optimised the images for the web). My old work (a bunch of architects, designers etc) had their Xmas Party last Thursday. It was a Cuban Fusion theme. Was looking on the net for costume/accessories ideas. I think lots of colour was the key element. Lots of red worn that day instead of the usual black outfits which was cool. The guys brought cigars and some wore hats and dark shades. I had a red outfit already but needed some accessories. Luckily, I found this cool Chinese trinkety shop on Darling St, Rozelle, close to Victoria Rd. Got a red and an orange boa, some bracelets and a necklace, and cloth flowers for my hair and my top. So that was fun! All up it cost $20 and I managed to get heaps of cool stuff! The lunch was at the Wharf restaurant, Walsh Bay - beautiful breeze with harbour views, sitting on the balcony - pretty cool! There was salmon sashimi for entree, a choice of salmon or lamb for main, and a strawberry and shortcake thing for dessert, plus lots to drink + coffee after. There was a kris kringle thing where we all had to go up to the front and get a gift off Santa (Stanley). There were cameras to capture lots of fun moments! Then we got taxis to go to The Loft in King St Wharf. We got orange bracelets attached to our wrists which meant free drinks for us all! The Loft is on the second level and it also has views of Darling Harbour. We laid out on the comfy couches on the balcony area and chatted and drank the afternoon away! I left around 6 to catch 'Infernal Affairs' at the Chauvel cinemas in Paddington, as I had won 2 free tix from SAPFF. It was a really good HK action movie! I recommend it. If you don't like spoilers, don't read the next bit: I wished that Yan (Tony Leung) could actually live to fight crime from the other side. Anyway, at least it's not a cliched ending I guess though I really wouldn't have minded because at least then it would've been a v.happy ending! But I guess if he did live, Ming (Lau) would never have had the chance to turn over a new leaf and be a good cop as the justice system would be sure to have punished him for his past actions. OK the spoiler part is over, you can read again! So anyway, it was a great fun-filled, sun-filled day! 031211: Thu Lucky Magazine No. 14 Picked up a free copy of Lucky Magazine at So Music on King St last night. They still have a number of copies available. I like the design of the magazine. The cover is illustrated by Yok Yok. The site has a post dated 14/11/03 which says: " 'Two Buck Shop' Opened last night at Our Spot Gallery. Shop 5, 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst. Sydney 2010. 13th of November to the 26th. Featuring Yok and Victim. The opening was a success with lots of people rocking up early to get hold of some art for 2 Bucks." Sounds like it would've been a great event to get to. Yok Yok have a link where you can buy their t-shirt. Threadless T-shirts and Viktor Hachmang Polar Bear t-shirt While at the t-shirt site Threadless T-shirts, also came across another cool t-shirt titled: 'Permafrost Pollution' by Viktor Hachmang which features a semi submerged polar bear. SAPFF Upcoming Premiere screenings - FREE The SAPFF (Sydney Asian Film Festival) are offering free double tickets to advance screenings of two films: Lost in Translation and Infernal Affairs. They organise these events several times a year. It's great! So if you're interested in seeing Asian films and finding out when Asian directors come to Sydney to talk about their films and other interesting news, then get onto their mailing list at the SAPFF site. PREMIERE SCREENING OF "LOST IN TRANSLATION" DENDY NEWTOWN CINEMAS, 261 King Street Newtown TUESDAY DECEMBER 16 at 7.00pm "Shot entirely in Japan, LOST IN TRANSLATION is Sofia Coppola's follow up her acclaimed debut, The Virgin Suicides. It tells the story of Bob Harris (Bill Murray), a cynical movie star in Tokyo to shoot a whiskey commercial, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a recent university graduate tagging along with her oblivious workaholic husband. Like the film's dreamy quality, they each seem to be floating through life, caught somewhere between their pasts and futures until they encounter one another late at night in the hotel bar and begin what develops into a surprisingly deep friendship. LOST IN TRANSLATION is tempered with moments of hilarity, courtesy of Murray's effortless comic ability, and is at once a funny, moving and subtly challenging film about dislocation, loneliness and discovering a new belief in life's possibilities." SPECIAL FREE ADVANCE SCREENING OF "INFERNAL AFFAIRS" - December 18 CHAUVEL CINEMA, Paddington Town Hall (Cnr Oxford and Oatley Sts) Thursday Night 18 December, 6.15pm for 6.30pm start "Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, Infernal Affairs is a hard-boiled, cool and intense thriller featuring Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love). The film follows the parallel lives of Ming (Lau), a cop who secretly reports to ruthless Triad crime boss Sam (Eric Tsang); and Yan (Leung), an undercover police officer who poses as a Triad member in Sam's gang. For Yan, the years of living in the criminal underworld have taken their toll, and he longs to return to regular police duty. However, the only person who knows Yan's true identity is his mentor Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong), also the unsuspecting superior of Ming. When Wong's officers come face to face with Sam's gang, both leaders realise there are moles in their midst. Soon Yan and Ming must track each other down, leading to an inevitable confrontation… INFERNAL AFFAIRS was a huge hit in Hong Kong earlier this year and took out Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (for Tony Leung) awards at the 2003 Hong Kong Film Awards. With American remake rights already sold and rumours of Brad Pitt to star, INFERNAL AFFAIRS is essential viewing for any lover of gritty police thrillers or Hong Kong cinema in general." Another interview with Laurie Anderson found Wanted to find out when she was actually in Sydney and came across another interview with Laurie Anderson. This one was featured on Andrew Ford's 'The Music Show' on Radio National dated 15/2/03, and is also on the ABC website. She performed in Melbourne and in Sydney in mid February of this year. 031210: Wed Burgers The SMH has an article titled 'Nice Buns' on what makes up the perfect burger, chips, and milkshake. There's also a related article which is a recipe for the 'New York burger' from Global Burgers. So if you didn't want to bother making it at home, you could always go to Global Burgers at Shop 4, 106-110 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst, Sydney. I haven't tried that place but will keep it in mind next time I feel like a burger out. Laurie Anderson on ‘Happiness’ Was surfing the ABC website's Art section and came across the following article on Laurie Anderson. "Performance artist Laurie Anderson has had an incredibly diverse career - she's been a musician, filmmaker, sculptor, author and ventriloquist. She was in Australia recently to perform her latest show called ‘Happiness’ and caught up with Triple J's Fenella Kernebone." The edited transcript of the Laurie Anderson interview can be read on the ABC website. It's under the 'Space' ABC Arts' Online section. It's a really cool interview to read! Shows that you should just get out there and give it a go and create your own opportunities. She talks about sitting in the offices of a publisher all day until an editor finally just got her into her office and writing to 500 music venues saying she was touring Europe and would they like to be included in her tour schedule and then when she got 5 responses back, she packed her bags and off she went. Gutsy woman! Nescafe Big Break winners You can now view the profiles of the people who won $10,000 and $2000 grants from the Nescafe Big Break competition. It's a competition aimed at helping give young people a break to help them along in their venture. The two age categories are: 16-19 yrs and 20-24 yrs. 031203: Wed Chinese Film Festival 2-5 December 2003 at the Dendy, Opera Quays Six Feature Films from the New Generation of Chinese Directors. "Opening the Festival is ZHOU YU's TRAIN, starring superstar actress Gong Li. Among other films being showcased is the international festival favourite LIFE SHOW, and the inspiring and moving literary adaptation THE STORY OF LOTUS. FIGHTING THE TORRENT is a heart-rending drama of a community threatened by natural disaster. Jiang Wen, well known for his many feature films including Zhang Yimou's RED SORGHUM, stars in two of the Festival films, THE MISSING GUN and GREEN TEA, a love story also starring the very popular Vicki Zhao Wei." Tickets on sale now ­ 02 9247 3800, or at Dendy Opera Quays Box Office Details for both Festivals can be found at www.sapff.com.au/2003/cff/index.html and www.dendy.com.au. Sony Tropfest Legal Briefing (NSW) When: Thursday 11 December, 6pm Where: The Gaelic Club, 64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney "Sony Tropfest together with the Arts Law Centre of Australia will be holding a legal briefing to provide legal and practical information to assist this year’s Sony Tropfest filmmakers with the making of their films. Areas covered will include copyright, music, locations, safety, cast and crew." For more info go to: http://www.if.com.au/events.html. Inside the Matrix In the Sydney Uni Continuing Education Summer guide Jan-Feb 2004, there's a course listed under Film Appreciation titled 'Inside the Matrix'. Blurb says: "Inside the Matrix focuses on the philosophical, religious and scientific concerns raised in the three Matrix films. These films draw heavily on philosophy, cognitive science, religion (Zen, Christianity, Judaism), science fiction, postmodernism and popular culture. We focus on the major themes and concerns (freedom, personal identity, prophecy, faith, love, death, resurrection, redemption and emancipation), with emphasis on the debt to thinkers such as Plato, Descartes, Nietzsche and the postmodernists. We also focus on the Wachowski Brothers' interest in the exciting world of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and cyberspace." The course costs $115 and is on Saturday 28th February 2004 from 10.30am-5pm. Includes lunch. It sounds pretty interesting and fun but seems a bit expensive. Hear Justin Herald of 'Attitude' speak FREE - Saturday 6th December I read Justin Herald's book titled 'Attitude' a while back. The mega short version is that he turned $50 into a multi-million dollar business. The book talked about passion and attitude and more. Anyway, you can now hear him speak for free if you haven't gone to a Wealth Creator Club seminar before. He's the guest speaker for this one. It's on at 9am-12pm at the Menzies Hotel. If you're interested in attending, go to the Wealth Creator page of Justin Herald's website. Dance Central Have been trying to find some local dance classes. Was initially thinking of checking out the Whoosh ones near Broadway but they don't seem to have them there anymore. The building's for lease. In the Wentworth Courier Central (local freebie paper), came across Dance Central in Surry Hils. They have like 50 different styles of danc from Funk/Hip Hop to Capoeira to Yoga to Polynesian dance. I think I may try a beginner Funk/Hip Hop type class to start off with. Weblog Index November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001

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