NBA ALL STARS TEAM: September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Bedtime Chatter on Hearty Films from Civic-Life Part 3 of 4

Photo: Alvin Pang - civiclife.sg

Over the last few days, many people have been tuning into the Civic Life website by the British Council to check up on the Top 20 entries in the 'Home is where the Heart is' competition. SINdie could not resist 'playing God' a little with our review of the 20 films vying for the top prize. So here our 'critical analysis' of the films. We have also created a little rating system as well. So the films are rated in the following 5-point scales in this order:

Is it creative?
Does it engage you emotionally?
Impressive technicals?
The X-factor
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Here's part 3 of our review / dialogue.

When the day begins... from Prashant S on Vimeo.

Jeremy (J): So I am looking at the thumbnail of the karom board and pieces and thinking.... not another foreign worker story. (pause) I mean the the Karom was a giveaway... who plays Karom these days?

Alvin (A): Haha, that's sharp. I didn't figure it out till I read the synopsis.
J: But thankfully for that 90 secs of Little India, it's not too bad. It gives you a comfortable glimpse of the chaos in Little India. Strangely in the way it shot its subject and its choice of activity, Little India seemed more…pretty. How do you score this?
A: 3, 3.5, 3, 3.5
J: Pretty level. Any thoughts?
A: I particularly like the way it starts off at the day's end...because that's when they disappear from the construction sites and places you often see them, to a place where they feel a deeper sense of "home".
J: I agree. The night-day reversal had a good point.
A: Must say it does engage the emotions, perhaps because it brings out the little-seen daily routines of these almost-nocturnal group of people. (pause) How do you rate it?
J: For its eye on unexpected beauty, creativity gets a 3, for its lyrical portrayal of their daily routine, 3.5, technicality does not surface as a feature probably because it is fuss-free documentation, so that's a 2.5. Overall, it gets a 3.

A: I like how the filmmaker makes a conscious effort to make a tribute at the end - "For the migrant workers - who put their hearts into our homes" ...fleshes out the emotional and authenticity of the film.
J: To put it in a cliche, it is a whimsical look at migrant workers
A: I see it as more than that actually...the emotional elements reminds me a little of a film by the renowned Taiwanese director Tsai Ming Liang - 'I don't want to sleep alone'.

Mandarin Gardens 2010 from Eugene Soh on Vimeo.

J: Moving ahead, Mandarin Gardens is home-video made to look exquisite
A: Haha well put, got to agree with that assessment though. How do you rate it?
J: It's a 2, 2.5, 3.5, 2 for me.
A: Mine's is a 2, 2.5, 2, 2.5. (pause) That's a pretty high score for technicality.
J: High? I bet they have a mean camera ok. HD, telephoto lens, aperture/contrast control and all.
A: Personally I felt the unsteady cam served more of a distraction than its assumed intention to bring out the candour of the "home vid"
J: What do you think of the narrative or the content?
A: The dialogue felt scripted at times, though must add the candid shots were a nice touch to even that out...content felt a little shallow for me. How about you? How did it work on an emotional level for u?
J: There was something strange about the set up of the video. I think it's meant to be spontaneous, yet there was a palpable sense that the women were acting it up a bit. There is a strong middle-class corporate executive undertone to their delivery and sensibilities. (pause) For the warmth and wholesome goodness of home that I am supposed to feel, I felt it was a little bland.
A: (On the strong middle-class tones) Hmm well to be fair, Mandarin Gardens isn't what one would call Heartland-ish
J: Haha. Don't you think it's strange nobody wants to watch the middle class on screen. People like either people at the pits or the rich and vulgar. (pause) Eerrm.... actually I just answered my own question!
A: Haha!

Miniature Town : Potong Pasir from togusa chan on Vimeo.

J: Miniature Town Potong Pasir gets a 4, 2, 5, 3.5 from me.

A: This film's an interesting one.. it gets 4, 2, 4.5, 3 from me. Wow but we finally got our first 5!

J: Yes. Perfect execution of the dioramas here.
A: Impressive technicality and creativity, especially seeing the town in miniature models. But how do you think it came together overall?
J: It intrigues me! It works on so many layers. Visually, it compels your attention. It's certainly a labour of love. In fact, almost too good for the scale of this competition. I wish the film lives a long life.
A: I personally felt that besides the "technical showmanship" as it were, the film felt a little fragmented. For example, I didn't quite get/feel the accompanying Japanese soundtrack and thought it disengaged a little with the overall themes.
A: Why just 3.5 for X-Factor then? You sound like it impressed on a greater level.
J: I feel on visuals alone, it's marked out its turf clearly and it's a solid one. But I agree about its fragmented feel. And come to think of it, it does not really answer the brief. It is clear this one's all out to impress and I'm impressed! (pause) By the way, do you think there is any siginificance to it using a diorama?
A: I felt it was to tie in with its "a day in little Potong Pasir" theme... How did you see it?
J: In what way was it a tie in?
A: Perhaps in surfacing the fact (as stated in synopsis) that it's one of the smallest estates in Singapore?
J: Yeah, that's why I found it to be very creative. In fact, I wondered if there was any political reference intended in the way it made Potong Pasir into something anomalous
A: How so?
J: Well, given that Potong Pasir belongs to a different political party, the treatment of the film seemed to be to put it under a different set of lenses…zooming in on details and blurring out the rest of PAP-owned Singapore!

I am home - Jason Chan & Andrew Keegan from Jason Chan on Vimeo.

J: You know, I am really itching to you how you would score the next clip I am Home
I am usually a contrarian and I avoid siding popular opinion. But I give in this time
A: It's another add to my "favourites" shortlist.. 4, 4, 4.5, 5.

J: I have a 5 somewhere, can you guess?
A: I would say X-factor (?)
J: That’s just one. It's a 5, 4, 5, 5.

A: Talk about standing out from the crowd, 'I am home' is definitely one to remember from the 20 competition films…not just in execution and impressive technicals, but the humour element is such a refreshing touch... Curious, why the lower score for emotional aspects?
J: I feel there is always a trade off between poignancy and how scripted the film is. This is scripted to the frame. But executed with precision of course. Good thing they went with humour and not melancholy or nostalgia.
A: Thought so, I would say the script is well-written to flesh out the narrator's emotional journey... and I guess that added dimension - fact that it's not just a physical homecoming but an emotional one as well - really engages the viewer…Self-deprecating humour FTW!
J: You know the idea is almost seamless to me... I will challenge to pick out the flaws. What are they and how would you make it better if that's possible?
A: It would be nitpicking, but in a way you could say the script was over-sapping the homecoming journey...and you?
J: His presenter personality... he sounds too perfect. Using the same idea with an average Joe would resonate more with me

The Stone Table from yanqiu on Vimeo.

A: The Stone Table is one lesson in straining your ears... Mine is a 2, 2, 2.5, 2
A: The direction and treatment as well actually... but maybe not so much a strain as a cringe. Interesting choice of language used in the narration, in short felt it over-glorified the theme. What are your ratings?
J: It's a 2, 2, 2, 2. (pause) I personally felt it was over-intellectualising and the idea stood on wobbly ground. The most interesting thing in the film is a (probably) intended detail - the strewn plastic at the side.
A: Yeah I was wondering why that too
J: I surmise that it is probably deliberate because it remained there after the boys left the void deck, making a subtle statement
A; Yup, perhaps a slight touch to give the shot more authenticity
J: But was it there as an ode to ‘American Beauty’ or even worse, an oversight of the Art Department!
A: Haha, it wasn't swirling in the wind though...Perhaps more the latter then.

Read Part 1 and Part 2. Part 4 will be continued...

Catherine Heigl

http://takbugil.blogspot.com - Disini tempatnya koleksi terlengkap gambar, wallpaper, download video gadis-gadis cantik yang sexy. Walau tak bugil, tetap sexy.Link terkait:

Catherine Heigl

http://takbugil.blogspot.com - Disini tempatnya koleksi terlengkap gambar, wallpaper, download video gadis-gadis cantik yang sexy. Walau tak bugil, tetap sexy.Link terkait:

Catherine Heigl

http://takbugil.blogspot.com - Disini tempatnya koleksi terlengkap gambar, wallpaper, download video gadis-gadis cantik yang sexy. Walau tak bugil, tetap sexy.Link terkait:

New guy Jay Pharoah does Will Smith - and our Jay Pharoah blog

Check out our new Jay Pharoah news and videos blog:

http://jaypharoah.blogspot.com/

Will Smith's offspring can do anything.

So here we see new guy Jay Pharoah literally becoming Will Smith. He also did Chris Tucker. The dude has skills. If he can do characters this well, then he's going to take over the show.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Media Partners

Seen On Stardoll is media partners with one of Stardoll's best blogs, Stardoll's Most Wanted

From now on we will also start posting new find on both blogs!

Check out Stardoll's Most Wanted by clicking the banner on the right!

Thanks for reading,

The SeenOnStardoll team

Louis Vuitton bag @ World Cup 2010

Sport Chic!

Halloween Couture

Chanel Haute Couture dress

Christian Dior Haute Couture dresses

Valentino dress

Jean Paul Gaultier outfits

Elie Saab gown

New SNL Promo - Bill Hader & Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston hosts SNL October 2 with musical guest Kanye West!

I didn't find these funny; did you?

Are you interested in Bryan hosting this week?

Enjoy!

Bedtime Chatter on Hearty Films from Civic-Life Part 2 of 4

Photo: Alvin Pang - civiclife.sg

Is it creative?
Does it engage you emotionally?
Impressive technicals?
The X-factor
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Here's part 2 of our review / dialogue.

Dancing on Waterloo Street from David Stewart on Vimeo.

Alvin (A): Dancing on Waterloo St gets a 2, 2, 3, 2.5
Jeremy (J): When do we see a 5?
A: Haha! (pause) Title feels like a bit of a misnomer as first half of the film was on anything but Waterloo Street.
J: I kinda like this one for its visuals really (pause) Why 3 for technicality?
A: Decent music accompaniment and nice shots and cinematography. Though have to say it barely adds much to the film.
J: Mine is a 4 for technicality. The telephoto, dolly and tracking shots are executed with such grace. So it’s 2, 3, 4, 3.5. (pause) For me, it’s a 3 for emotional quality because it marries a stirring score with epic-like visuals quite well.
A: Yup, though I felt there was little continuity from one place/scene to another. Generally felt a little too detached for my liking.
J: I agree that the content of the shots don't add up to a cohesive narrative.
A: That said, I liked how the ending was put together. Beautiful shots of normally-stoic faces come alive in dance. With the music accompaniment, it does stir the emotions like you said.
J: It seems like a hobbyist approach to making the film - David goes around with his expensive machine capturing random moments of beauty without a plot and strings them into visual sequence. (pause) Sometimes, it's hard to strike a balance between a organic approach like David's and single-mindedness of a scripted approach so you may miss out on accidental beauty, like the faces that came alive in dance. (long pause) What do you think of the shot when Quan Yifeng's face on the bus whizzed pas the trishaw rider? …….It happens to be my favourite shot.
A: Hmm, I didn't notice it much honestly. What do you think it added to the film?
J: It was a moment of transcendence. It was like Quan Yifeng, a feisty public figure known for her keen eye on social matters and inter-personal relationships was looking at the trishaw rider. (pause) But that's just my things with Quan Yifeng.

Civic Life - Paintings from David Gan on Vimeo.

J: Paintings happens to be my favourite clip title becaise of the pun and the metaphor, though the film then slipped into becoming very literal. (pause) My scores are 3.5, 2.5, 3, 3.
A: That's interesting. what do you think the pun/metaphor was? (pause) My scores are 3, 2, 2.5 and 3 by the way.
J: I think it is very clever and the use of the word suggests the idea of a veneer which really applies on a social, psychological and even political level. And I always saw HDB flats as a PAP political icon in their blocked, rigid shapes, so the concept of painting over a HDB flat bore an intellectual kick for me. (pause) What do you see in Paintings honestly?
A: I actually did a double-take in "creativity" because initially I didn't understand what the filmmaker was getting at. I noticed then perhaps there was a metaphorical element in the "renewal" of the block's facade, especially in shots contrasted against the "showy" commercial buildings in the distance. (pause) It's also worth noticing how the filmmaker makes meaning out of an otherwise seen as mundane activity. Perhaps it makes you see a block upgrading programme in new light.
J: But does it engage you or is it just a 'oh that's smart!' fleeting thought?
A: It didn't work much on a emotions level with me. Perhaps like you said, it drifting into the literal made it lose some of its lustre. (pause) What do you think? Did it engage you?
J: Only when the film opened and the titled was flashed.

Corridors from Isazaly Mohamed Isa in Vimeo

A: How did you find Corridors then?
J: Ingenious, inspiring and in a league of its own. (pause) Let my numbers talk : 4.5, 3.5, 4, 4.
A: Wow. (pause) Mine would be 4, 2.5, 3.5, 3.5. (pause) How did you find the narrative as a whole?
J: It was toying with the concept of using sound to redefine a banal everyday space. Not much narrative except for a certain sequence of different genres to the sounds that are stringed together. I thnk what I enjoyed about watching it was the fact that it was a very simple idea executed to precision and that simplicity triggers a mental off-shoot or escapade.
A: Must agree its impressive and original creative flair sets it apart from the competition. However it did leave a tingling feeling that it dragged on for more than it should have. And somehow drifted into what felt like a contrived attempt to end it. Nevertheless it's certainly the most well-executed film so far in the collection.
J: Well, it's a slow burn... forces you to observe and take in the details. (pause) If you preferred it not to drag on for that long, how would you have done it differently?
A: In a way the conceptualization of the corridor as simply a place of memories didn't come off that well for me, as it looked very much still a place with life. Thus maybe it might have left a better impression/memory with a more conceivable ending in light of the fact that it's still got life left in it...rather than the seemingly hopeless end it seemed to portray.
J: I didn't see the film as trying to pitch the corridor as a place of memories. It was quite a mixed bag of sounds, some even sounding like someone was watching Saving Private Ryan. So I saw it more as playing with sound and perceptions.

Swing Me Back from mihir desai on Vimeo.

J: You know, after watching Corridors, I felt I was not going to be impressed with 'Swing Me Back' form its thumbnail shot. It looked pretty standard. But I was wrong. It delivered good old nostalgia but with a little visual twist - the writing animation over the photos, giving it a very personal and sincere touch.
A: Besides good use of the said swing as a plot device, it felt a little bare. What’s your score?
J: 3, 4, 3, 3.5.
A: Mine’s 3, 2.5, 2.5, 3. No doubt that the visual touches made it feel like a walk through memory lane, but I must say I wasn't too emotionally-engaged by it. (paused) what were the emotional triggers for you?
J: It was simple portraits of family, which I found easy to identify with. And the photos really captured the family members were 'freezed' in honest and sometimes vulnerable moments. What do you not identify with?
A: Perhaps because of the film's centering on the inanimate swing and old photographs, it didn't quite engage in a way the raw candidness of the photos did for you.
J: But didn't you find anything special about the pictures?
A: Well, I thought the metaphorical use of the swing was well executed as it formed almost-the centerpiece of all the old photographs, in that forms the emotional attachment for me.
J: For me, it was special because it featured an Indian family captured in sepia tinged yesteryear images - something done to death with Chinese families in local films. So it present a different track of history and nostalgia peculiar to Indian families and seen through the eyes of an Indian.

家 from Esna Ong on Vimeo.

A: There is a close tie between Home and Corridors for my favourite film so far. One of few films which I felt had more to offer than pensive reflections of a bygone era. (pause) So, I am giving it a 3, 4, 3.5, 3.5.
J: I like it but it is a little low on creativity. Mine’s a 2.5, 4, 3.5, 3.5. (pause) I felt it answered the competition brief like how the model pupil in class would write a grade a composition….stuck by the rules... kept within parameters... safe... relevant….and conventional.
A: I must say some parts did feel a bit premeditated, especially the dialogue which didn't quite convince the point that the narrator had lived there so many years. And when I compare the narrator's delivery with that of 'Remember', I do see the contrast of emotional engagement between both.
J: Really? I felt the narration was quite sincere, even though the structure was very scripted. I still felt I was listening to a friend speak about her growing up experience. In fact, I felt the narration in 'Remember' though honest, but was a tad clumsy.
A: Is it due to the fact it's spoken in heartland mandarin?
J: No. I think the narrator is quite at ease with herself. Perhaps the tone of voice and choice of language made it more accessible than it might have been. (pause) I appreciate the personal touches like showing where she waited for the school bus though it could be a little less literal. I also found that she had a trained pair of hands in the cinematography, being able to emotionally heighten some moments like skirting around a pillar in the coffeeshop.
A: Good spots. Agree that it generally gave a sense of heartland authenticity, in part due to language used, in part due to the cinematography.
J: You said this is 'more than pensive', how so?
A: It felt more forward-looking, as if the past was just a conduit to where the narrator is now...ending off with a view to the future in the said place.

Read Part 1 here. Part 3 and 4 will be continued...

Andy Samberg & Justin Timberlake in Actor to Actor (SNL)

Hahahaha. I'm glad Andy got to do SOMETHING with Justin when Justin appeared in this episode.

Andy interviews Justin Timberlake on his method of acting.

Boom. Andy tells it like it is!

The voice is done by Maya Rudolph (who also guested to do Bronx Beat with Amy).

This is so funny that I watched it several times. Definitely worthy of being the featured Andy video for this week.

Did you like it?

Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Andy Samberg is Boogerman (SNL Digital Short)

Originally posted 9/26/10.

Update: Rai made a good point in the comments that this was a personal joke.

Here's Rai's take on it:

The theme from "Boogerman" is performed at the Emmys. Shy Ronnie was nominated for an Emmy. The theme from "Boogerman" is outlandish, and Bill Hader assumes that it's a pile of dog [doodoo]. Many Emmy voters probably made similar assumptions about Shy Ronnie. Randy Newman beats the theme from "Boogerman." Randy Newman beat the Lonely Island at the Emmys.

I don't think the Digital Short was supposed to be laugh out loud funny. I think it was supposed to be a critique of Emmy voters who voted for a "safe" and "typical" Randy Newman song, while ignoring Shy Ronnie because it looked stupid.

That's not bad, but I think you might have that wrong a little. I don't think Bill called it dog feces because the Emmy voters assumed it was dog feces when it was truly amazing. I think Andy and the dudes were calling it bad because they have no idea how it got nominated for an Emmy in the first place. So I think this was more their way of laughing at themselves than complaining against the Emmy voters.

What do you think? Was this an inside joke or was it a whiny way to complain?

=========================================

A musical tribute to one of the year's most talked about films.

SNL Digital Short: Boogerman

Katy Perry
Fred Armisen ... villain
Paul Brittain ... guy
Bill Hader ... presenter
Taran Killam ... guy
Bobby Moynihan ... scientist
Jay Pharoah ... Jamaican
Amy Poehler ... girlfriend
Andy Samberg ... dancer
Jason Sudeikis ... general
Kenan Thompson ... guy
Kristen Wiig ... girl

Booo! What a waste of Katy Perry and Amy Poehler! This is the kind of idea that sounds amusing until you do it. =^)

Andy's promos were funnier than this. Just this title alone could have inspired a funnier skit.

What do you think?

Enjoy!

Bedtime Chatter on Hearty Films from Civic-Life Part 1 of 4

Small Paradise from Kimberly Ong on Vimeo.

Alvin (A): ‘Small Paradise’ gets a 2.5, 3, 2.5 and 3.
Jeremy (J): For me, it is a 2, 4, 3 and 2.5. (pause) By the way, all pretty dismal scores.
A: Perhaps because its intentionally simplistic nature (to capture elements of childhood) falls short of engaging too much emotion?
J: I on the other hand felt something warm and comforting in that simplicity - the shots of seaweed, water, sunshine.... all very unassuming, yet charming.. hence the title ‘Small Paradise’.
A: Well noted. I like how the title fits in with the film's concept as well.. i.e. small memories in small "paradise".
J: Exactly... but having said that. it is forgettable amongst the entire stable of 20 films cos it is about little everyday moments (which can be captivating) but the images were pretty cliché in this film.
A: Agreed. Perhaps its theme/angle is its Achilles heel then - a tad too whimsical to be etched in the mind.
J: Whimsy is ok... but bad for online competition... the Youtube audience loves to be entertained.

One by Christian Lee from Christian Lee on Vimeo.

A: Moving on, ‘One’ gets a 3, 4, 3, and 3.5.
J: For me, it is a 2, 2, 2, 2.
A: Wow, sounds like you don't fancy it much.
J: You read me... explain your scores.
A: I like how it starts out with the shot/description of the nondescript building and moves on to its deeper significance to the protagonist's life.
J: I agree ... nice progression. (pause) However, if you look at it critically, the idea is in their hobby, which technically is not part of the process of making the film.
A: Well, I still like it better than the first perhaps because it leaves a stronger sense of attachment, through the transition from the inanimate (building/lion head, dance) to a deeper emotional level that brings out the desire of the couple in them wanting to fulfill each other's dreams and desires. That sense of "sweetness" hooks me in.
J: You are so wanting to get married .... lol
A: In absolutely no rush at all. On your point about the hobby, I am not sure if it's their "hobby" or something they (or the husband/narrator in particular) had to go out of his way to do in order to fulfill his wife's unconventional wish. (pause) Perhaps also the fact that it's such an unconventional/peculiar request that makes the memory of this film stick out. I mean who would think of "marrying" (pardon the pun) lion dance and a wedding ceremony?
J: Well... whatever works to make you remember... but just does not hit the right emotional notes in me.
A; I thought it could have been better if the narrator (assumed protagonist) accent was expanded on. Sounds like he isn't local and would have brought an interesting dimension to the culturally-Chinese thing he's doing. Would it have made a difference for u?
J: I think the accent made the video very foreign to me. So yes, totally makes a difference for me.

Boxes and Lines by Reb Ling from Reb Ling on Vimeo.

A: My scores for Boxes and Lines are 3, 2, 2, and 3.
J: 4,1,2,2.5 for me. I gave creativity a 4 for its bold direction. (pause) It stands out from the rest for its strong grip on a visual metaphor. But it falters on all the other aspects. Most of all, they need a better narrator.
A: Agreed. I like how she parallels her sport passion with something probably more familiar to females - relationships. Just reading the synopsis, I was convinced it was something about relationships!
J: Yes... straights lines and circles and trajectories…says so much about relationships!
A: The choice of shots seemed a little myopic to me too. Football is as much a spectator sport (read: couch potato) as a physical sport but there wasn't any emphasis on that.
J: I like how you used the word myopic. (beat) In fact, the cinematic breadth is very limited and it constricts our view of her world. On another note, I also feel I don't have to explain the low score on technicals. The camera was shaking 80% of the time.
A: Bringing up your point on the narrator earlier, why do you think it could do with better?
J: She is expressing using a lot of heavy angsty words but her delivery sounds very level-headed and bland. So she needs to make those words come alive. (pause) I think the upbeat, synthetic-sounding music works against her content as well.
A: I'm just thinking whether it could be attributed to the fact it's a male-dominated sport and thus the composed, non-emotive bassy tones.
J: Yes..... I am picturing her with extremely short hair with an affinity for pants.

Remember from Tang Kang Sheng on Vimeo.

J: ’Remember’ gets a 2, 3.5, 3, 3. (pause) The thumbnail grabbed my attention because it featured something deeply personal. But I felt he could have done a lot more with the old photographic gems.
A: I assume that contributes to the 2 in creativity then.
J: I mean he could have done more with those old gems.
A: I give it a 2.5, 4, 3 and 3.5.
J: It affects you emotionally I see.
A: Yup. I think that's the key takeaway for me in ‘Remember’. (pause) I like how the narrative starts and ends, it divulges a little on the narrator and sounds like he's a bad state. Quote: "As you grow older, you tend to do things you......really regret". Though on the surface it seems so little what present choices/mistakes have to do with his past or with his grandparents, it somehow affects him enough to link it. I love how the narration ends as it started, a pensive look at his life and desire to set it right because of his past.
J: I like how the narration is very sincere. No, raw is a better word. (beat) It's a totally untrained voice that is speaking from the heart. The only pity is the speech rhythm and inflexions seems out of sync sometimes.
A: Yeah I agree on the fact his voice/tone was so raw and untrained. As if it were unscripted…and it was a plus to the authenticity for me.
J: But it's a double-edged sword. The rawness also makes the clip less punctuated…I remember fragments but I don't register a story.
A: That has a strange appeal to me in some way. The narrator brings out enough to imply there are undercurrents but makes one wonder what they are and how they tie in to his past. (pause) It's almost like the viewer is given fragments to piece the puzzle together, though obviously there are many missing pieces.
J: Well, strange is the word. It feels incomplete, raw, a little unsteady, clumsy but you know… perhaps its gaps reinforce the idea of a void.

The Tree from Mary Magdeline Pereira on Vimeo.

A: ‘The Tree’ gets a 2, 2, 2, 2.
J: Wow, that says a lot!
A: Haha, unfortunately the film doesn't.
J: I am going with 1, 2, 1, 2. (pause) It is strange it got into the top 20. The only thing of note (i.e. the narrative) was in short, the clip is overly poetic, scripted, and way overdone for my liking.
J: Poeticism-overkill.
A: Also there was little, if any congruence between the narrative and the shot. "Red berries...squirrel scambering.." But all one sees is a nondescript looming tree barely of note. (pause) At times it seemed the disoriented camera was confused of what to capture and I don't think you can expect the viewer to be any more enlightened.
J: Yes, it's a strange case of the words serving the visuals rather than the visuals serving the words. And the shots were very literal too, giving the impression of poet making a clumsy cross-disciplinary crossover.

To be continued with Part 2, 3 and 4...

(What do you think? Share your views with us below.)

Andy Samberg is Stanley Tucci on The Lean Years (SNL skit)

Amy Poehler has a secret in Showtime's 'The Lean Years.'

Commercial The Lean Years

Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler ... Amber
Paul Brittain ... nurse
Abby Elliott ... Laura Linney
Bill Hader ... announcer (voice)
Nasim Pedrad ... Edie Falco
Andy Samberg ... Stanley Tucci
Kristen Wiig ... Mary-Louise Parker

Didn't really find it funny. Did you?

Enjoy!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, D&G, Tibi, Elizabeth & James, Brian Atwood, Balenciaga, and Stella McCartney @ Front Row Milan

Moschino Jacket and Bag

Dolce & Gabbana dress

D & G dress

Tibi dress

Elizabeth & James dress

Brian Atwood shoes

Balenciaga boots

Stella McCartney boots

Andy Samberg on Maternity Matters

The show that normally addresses all the questions about being an expectant mother.

Show Maternity Matters

Amy Poehler ... Terri Facials
Fred Armisen ... Roger Brush
Abby Elliott ... Sheila Whitehead
Bill Hader ... Leonard
Andy Samberg ... John Joseph Darapont
Kristen Wiig ... Kanya Donahue
Kristen Wiig ... announcer (voice)

Does anybody else find this Fred show unfunny? 3 of them, really?

Enjoy!

70% Pengguna Internet Indonesia Pakai Firefox

Faktor sukses Firefox adalah mengembangkan browser lokal dan mudah dikustomisasi.

VIVAnews - Menurut Mitchell Baker, pendiri sekaligus Chairperson of the Mozilla Corporation, lebih dari 70 persen pengguna internet di Indonesia menggunakan browser Firefox.

Jika dibandingkan dengan data Asosiasi Penyelenggara Jasa Internet Indonesia (APJII) pada 2010 yang menyebutkan pengguna Internet di Indonesia mencapai 30 juta user, berarti ada sekitar 21 juta pengguna memakai browser keluaran Mozilla. Angka ini menggenapi sekitar 400 juta pengguna Firefox secara global setiap harinya.

“Kami fokus mengembangkan layanan servis berbau lokal dan mendekatkan Firefox ke kehidupan sehari-hari,” kata Mitchell Baker kepada VIVAnews di Jakarta, Senin 27 September 2010. “Jadi, kami di sini bukan untuk mencari revenue, tetapi menyediakan apa yang dibutuhkan masyarakat di tiap negara.”

Baker menyebutkan, Mozilla juga merangkul pengembang lokal. “Banyak sumber daya yang bisa diberdayakan untuk membangun Firefox dengan cita rasa lokal,” tutur Baker. “Kalau sudah berbau lokal, Firefox akan bertahan dan itu yang membuat Firefox survive selama ini.”

“Sejauh ini, Firefox sudah menyediakan 72 bahasa lokal, termasuk Bahasa Indonesia dan akan terus ditambah. Namun, pengguna di Indonesia cukup unik,” tutur Baker. “Sekitar 80 sampai 85 persen pengguna malah memakai versi Bahasa Inggris, sisanya Bahasa Indonesia.”

Baker menyebutkan, dua faktor yang menjadi kunci sukses Firefox adalah mengembangkan browser yang lokal dan membuat produknya sangat mudah dikustomisasi. “Selain itu, cita-cita kami adalah membangun komunitas lokal yang tahu apa kebutuhan masyarakat lokal atas browser internet,” katanya.

Mitchell Baker tiba di Tanah Air pagi ini dari Singapura dan dijadwalkan akan bertemu dengan komunitas pengguna Firefox Indonesia di Blitzmegaplex, Pacific Place, Jakarta, pukul 19.00 hingga 22.00 WIB hari ini. (art)

• VIVAnews