Scratches of Syria: movie night

The Syria Club presents - Scratches of Syria short-movie night: Saturday Dec. 21, 7pm in the AUK Auditorium

This Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving to all those fans of Shaun of the Dead!

Cryptic Chronicler of the New China

Lost in time: No Snow on the Broken Bridge by Yang Fudong, 2006

Cryptic Chronicler of the New China

By BLAKE GOPNIK
Yang Fudong’s elliptical films seem to parallel the disjointed state of his country, China.

7pm TONIGHT: THE WORLD'S BIGGEST POP UP FILM FESTIVAL

FUTURE SHORTS FESTIVAL : AUTUMN SEASON THE WORLD'S BIGGEST POP UP FILM FESTIVAL This season, Future Shorts Festival will travel to over 172 countries and 547 cities with more than 75,000 people experiencing a showcase of the best short films from around the world.  The Autumn Season will run from 1st of October to 31st of December 2012. The programme highlights include "A Brief History of John Baldessari" from the directors of CATFISH and narrated by Tom Waits, alongside "Rite" nominated for Best Short Film at BAFTA Scotland, Winner of Sundance's Short Filmmaking Award, "The Black Balloon", Winner of Special Jury Mention at Tribeca Film Festival "Cafe Regular", and winner of over 50 International awards "Auf Der Strecke" (On the Line). Location CAP Kuwait -- Shuwaikh Block 2, St. 28, Life Center (2nd Floor) across the Immigration Dept. Kuwait City Contact Info Phone +965 2492 5636 Email info@capkuwait.com Website http://capkuwait.com

finished watching the 1st page of top 250 movies!

Finally finished watching the 1st page of IMDb top 250 movies this weekend (as voted by their users)! This is only one of about a dozen lists of top movies that I have been trying to go through the past several years.  See the link below for my own list of favorite movies:

 The Best Movies Of All Time

   

behind the scenes of our post-nuclear apocalypse film set in Korea...

We started shooting our post-nuclear apocalypse film, YEOK, on Monday night, August 6 (the same day that in 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan - we did not plan this, just a weird coincidence). As a thunderstorm rolled in, we began shooting. Here are a few of my photos of behind the scenes footage (for more photos and a video click HERE). Enjoy!

Update on remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee (R.I.P. Chris Marker)

La jetée (dir. Chris Marker, 1962)

After getting our studio ready and finishing the kickstarter campaign, Jonah and I were pretty exhausted. We took a couple of days to enjoy market performances, get to know some of the Gwangju artists, and spend time with the director of Mite-Ugro, Seungki Cho. It's August first and we have a lot to work to do in order to get work ready in time for the Gwangju Biennale. Here is what we are planning to accomplish in the next month: 1. My solo show will be exhibited during the same time as the Gwangju Biennale. My works with include handmade scrolls exploring the loss of traditional Korean culture. 2. Jonah and I will film a teaser trailer for Yeok so we can screen it during the time of the Gwangju Biennale. 3. Jonah and I will create a live production performance during the Gwangju Biennale of a scene from Yeok to mark the death of Chris Marker and to celebrate his life and work.

“I write to you from a far-off country” ~R.I.P. Chris Marker

29 July 1921 – 30 July 2012

Chris Marker, Enigmatic Multimedia Artist, Dies at 91 - NYTimes.com 

Mr. Marker, who pioneered the flexible hybrid form known as the essay film, resisted categorization throughout his career...

Less than 1/2 hour to go!!!

Less than 1/2 hour to go!!! Last chance to donate! Anybody who donates $25 in the final hour will receive a DVD ! Let's see if we can reach $8,000:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1697300103/yeok-the-station

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

Artists Night Market Gwangju, South Korea!

The best thing so far about our artist residency program has been to meet the other artists working in Gwangju, South Korea.  MITE UGRO is set within a short of dying old traditional market. The local artists, with some support from the government, has set up a number of artists spaces - galleries, studios, workshop areas, etc., as well as once a month they have this rather exciting night market with art,  handmade crafts, lots of food and drink, Korean traditional drummers, a DJ, emerging bands, etc. (watch the video above).  I was surprised how much it was a real blend of the locals that work in the market everyday and lots of young people, artists, etc.  Since the market is rather slow and kind of depressing usually, it was really encouraging to see how much it could change with some new added energy!

Anyways, less than 2 hours to go on the kickstarter to support our film project.  Donate if you can!  (click here to donate)

Korean cold noodles and 5 hours left to support our film!

Still hot and humid in Korea but we found this popular noodle dish that you mix with ice!

If you missed them, below are links to my past blog posts on the artist residency program in Korea, our film, an our trip to Japan:

• Artist Residency Program in Korea
• Korea: some of the best food in the world?
• video welcome at artist residency, Gwangju, South ...
• New video update from the Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, J...
• getting our studio ready in Korea...
• Yang Dong Market
• Korean film updates

Korean film updates

Not sure if you have seen all of these updates on the film we are shooting in Korea so below are links to each of them.  Most updates are by Jonah Whipp but I wrote a few, contributed video and photos, and am in a number of the videos.  ENJOY!

 

Yang Dong Market ( the station)

Ryu will play the role of Mr. Song

Mr. Lee will play the role of "Man who goes insane"

Buai Mingon Oh will play the role of a scientist in Yeok

Introducing "The Man" Seungki Cho

Thank YOU!!!!!

The studio is ready! (almost)

Special thanks update!

Back in Korea with a new visa. Time to get to work.

Kyoto, Japan

Nara, Japan

Osaka!!!!!!!

Overnight in Seoul, headed to Osaka

Seungki welcomes artist William Andersen to Mite-Ugro

Traveling to Gwangju, South Korea

WHAT IS MITE UGRO ZAZA? 

역 Yeok ( The Station)

 

 

 

Yang Dong Market

Yesterday Jonah and I toured the Yang Dong market which will be one of the location shots for our film YEOK (the station). Check out Jonah's photos below for a glimpse of what we saw. Only 11 hours left to help support our film. Please spread the word and donate if you can:  (DONATE by clicking here)

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All photos by Jonah Whipp

New video update from the Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Kinkaku (The Golden Temple), Kyoto, Japan

Yesterday was an unbelievably hot and humid day in Kyoto. In the morning we dropped off our bags at a zen temple in the northwestern part of the city. We quickly hopped on bikes and rode over to a local sushi restaurant and ate fabulous sushi for only a 100 yen per dish. After lunch we checked out the Kinkaku ( The Golden Pavilion ) and the Ryoanji temple. Watch the new video of me at the Ryoanji Temple, got a little confused in all the heat and humidity and thought we found Yoda's hut! Watch video here: 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1697300103/yeok-the-station/posts/267874

video welcome at artist residency, Gwangju, South Korea

Finally made it to Gwangju (kind of magically on 7-7-at 7pm) and moved into the Mite-Ugro artist residency later that night. Check out this video of the art directors Seungki Cho and Mingon Oh welcome me to the gallery: (watch video)

Mr. "O"

Korea: some of the best food in the world?

First meal in Korea - Haejangguk or "hangover soup," a coke, and kimchi.

Second night - Udon noodles, tea, Korean "sushi" rolls, and kimchi.

Third night - Samgyupsal or Korean pork BBQ, a beer, and of course more kimchi.

The food has been the best part of Korea so far.  Since I have recently been called a bon vivant, I think I can have something to say about good cuisine around the world.  If you asked me a few years ago what are the best destinations that I have been to for good food and drink, my list would be something like:

1. Taiwan
2. Italy
3. Spain
4. Singapore
5. China (would be higher on this list but NOT with all of the food contamination stories)

...but now I would put Korea right up there at number 3 or 4.  I still will be in Korea for almost two more months so let's see what happens...

I am in South Korea doing an artist residency at  Mite Ugro ZaZa. Besides producing an exhibit of new artwork, I will be assisting a friend and former student, Jonah Whipp, create a film. Please pledge to help produce this unique film that could potentially launch our creative careers! Any amount small or big will help and there are rewards for donating too including a Zine, DVD of the final film, and one-of-a-kind artwork by ME! Click on the links for more info:

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

Artist Residency Program in Korea

street vendors in Daegu, South Korea

Just arrived in South Korea last night, July 2, around 5pm, then took a 4 hour bus ride down to Daegu after about an hour of clearing customs and picking up my luggage at Incheon International Airport. Arrived in Daegu around 10:30pm and met up with my friend and former student Jonah Whipp. He is still teaching English for a few more days so I am sleeping on his floor in his tiny studio apartment until we can both move into the artist residency space at Mite Ugro ZaZa in Gwangu. He is staying longer but my residency runs through September 9th.  We are collaborating on a film, an art exhibition, as well as I am also working on some of my own artwork. 

Click on the link below for more info on our film project:

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

help support our film shot in South Korea!

 

This is one of the project that I will be working on during my artist residency at MITE UGRO ZAZA in Gwangju, South Korea. Besides producing an exhibit of new artwork, I will be assisting a friend and former student, Jonah Whipp, create a film.

Jonah Whipp is a smart, sensitive, and promising young film maker. Pledge to help produce this unique film that could potentially launch his creative career! Any amount small or big will help and there are rewards for donating too including a Zine, DVD of the final film, and one-of-a-kind artwork by ME! Click on the links for more:

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

TONIGHT - CAP: Film Screening “Lessons of Darkness”

Film Screening tonight 7:30 pm at CAP
"Lessons of Darkness" by Werner Herzog

Lessons of Darkness (Film Screening)
Today at 7:30pm at Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait

The British Council & CAP: Screening “Lessons of Darkness”

www.artkuwait.org

The British Council and CAP invite you to a screening of Werner Herzog’s 1992 film, Lessons of Darkness, on Monday, 21st May, 7.30pm In the lead up to the Out of Britain exhibition (19th September – 25th October...

The Best Movies Of All Time

The Best Movies Of All Time
a working list of my favorite movies... this is not in strict order and is not a definite list...