MELBOURNE SHORT FILM: “Bullies”

I’ve been waiting for ages now and finally have seized the day and collaborated with You Cake Productions and emerging film director Somchay P. on the recent short film production “Bullies” set in the backdrops of Brunswick, Melbourne.

This was a quick turn around project that emerged within a week of idea brainstorming, script development and production, that tells of a child crush story of “James” (played by Jack Ngu) and “Linda” (played by Maria Tran) that is interrupted by a mob of school yard bullies lead by gang leader “Dennis” (played by Somchay Phakonkham).

The experience on set was in true fashion of grassroots and guerrilla filmmaking, there was lots of innovative moments where we the key creators got the chance to collaborate and tag team problem solved tricky shots as well as the fight against the diminishing sunlight.

Overall, “Bullies” aspires to be non sensivcally random madness weaved into the midst of school yard love. Belly full of laughs filled with lots of “What the?” moment.
Coming soon in 3 weeks....to You Tube!

Credits

Somchay Phakonkham , Francis Pham, Kevin Le Tran, Lan Mai. Daniel Wu, Minh Bo, Johnny Le, Luan Pham, Rob Hammad & Jack Ngu. Special thanks to script advisers Elizabeth Vu & Chris Pang. Extended thanks to the You Cake Productions crew.

James (Jack Ngu) gives Big Boss (Luan Pham) a pow!

Linda (Maria Tran) knocked onto the ground

Gangster boys playing cards

For more behind the scenes photos, click here.
Anyhow, the the meantime, check out You Cake Production's latest works by clicking here.

Picnic! Its No Picnic!

Yes. I succumbed to this campaign in my best buddy's Japanesey sailor moon like school uniform in an attempt to do a Picnic ad. After scoffling down a rock solid choc a block coated nasty looking bar of high compact calories I managed to say my lines "Picnic. It's No Picnic".This campaign is almost over now and I only wished I did this earlier. Click below on my submission and vote 1+ (Pllleaase....).

Here's a couple of my mate's submission. This is Keego, 21 years old, Melbourne-based model and multimedia producer and her submission has recently been aired! Go girl!

This is Vinh Nguyen, he's a multimedia and avid filmmaker and his submission has also been aired in Sydney recently!
Jack Ngu and I are the latest contenders to try to go for the last 5 ads to be aired! Hope all gos well!

Rumble High Get Together

Friday night and the “Rumble High” team decided to get together for a night of acting monologues (by Laurent & Jack), Samurai Champloo, Ichi, Rumble High discussions and Japanese historical explorations (Shaun Cheng).

So we had Marie Setiawan, Joseph Hieu Dinh, Steve Ada, Elizabeth Vu & Shaun Cheng, a lot of popcorn, smoked salmon and vegetable sticks and rice cakes (Ekk!).

But once again, I think we all had a great time just chilling out if anything.

Watching intriguingly at Steve Ada's monologue

Steve's performance invades Joseph Hieu Dinh's personal space. Poor Joseph, getting told off for no apparent reasonWatching intriguingly at Steve Ada's monologue

[L to R]: Steve Ada (Laurent), Marie Setiawan, Shaun Cheng, Joseph Hieu Dinh & Jack Ngu.

Jack shows us snippets of "Transformers"

We watched Japanese film "Ichi" - This film so brings out the romantic fool in me

Discussions of "Street Fighter" occurred

Original Title: Ichi
Year: 2008
Release Date: 15 May 2008 (Cannes), 15 October 2008 (Japan)
Genre: Action
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Official site: http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/ichi/

Plot

"Beware... I can't see anything"

Ichi is a sole goze (blind woman singer) carrying only a shamisen (Japanese stringed instrument) and a walking stick, traveling on her own to find the man who has brought her up and cared for her as a child. People try to take advantage of the fact that she is blind, butIchi fights back with her unusual skill with swords, using the sword hidden inside her walking stick.

An incident brings her to meet Toma, who tries to save Ichi from the Banki-to gang, but ends up showing his awful skills in swordplay and is saved by Ichi in return. Ichi unwillingly starts traveling together with Toma, and comes upon the village, where the Banki-to gang, led by the inhuman heartless Banki, is taking charge. They also run into Toraji, who is the successor of the Shirakawa yakuza family trying to keep order of the village apart from Banki. Toma offers to help, butIchi is uninterested, until she finds that Banki might know the man she was looking for.

Now the deadly battle is about to begin!

Cast

actors on the left side, roles on the right one

Director:

(Hint: hover on image for cast info, images are also clickable)
Actors and actresses:

IcMy 2 cents: I really really like this movie, we watched in it Japanese and had a friend's translations throughout. Intense film, and I love the strong character development. The developing love subtle attachment between the main characters and how it links back to their troubling past. Ah! The film definitely stole the hearts of Marie and I as we watched and felt for the scenes.