Miniature models of Episode III: Here's an article that dealt with all the miniature sets that were built for Revenge of the Sith. For those of you who thought the prequels overdid it on the CGI (that's computer-generated imagery for the layperson), here's an excerpt from that article:

"To the layman, it's become increasingly easy to credit the amazing visuals of modern effects movies to the ever-present computer. If the talents of digital artists are often casually dismissed with a simple, "it's all CG," then the physical art of miniature construction is often completely ignored. In reality, the Star Wars prequels have featured more miniature work than the Original Trilogy -- Episode I alone had more models than the original films combined. It's the way in which miniatures are used that has changed dramatically."

To the naysayer who doesn't know jack about movie visual effects or even filmmaking in particular, and uses the clichéd "It's all computer-generated" when commenting about certain fantasy/epic films, TAKE THAT!

A year ago today, I got rained out on the third and supposedly final day of shoot for my senior film project Envious. Technically, this was a blessing in disguise... Otherwise, without being disgruntled or distraught or whatever I wouldn't have been able to warrant the sympathy (That sounds too negative. Make that 'pity') of my cast and crewmembers, who were willing to help me out on the pick-up shoot that took place on January 31st and February 1st of this year. And technically, with the number of shots I had planned for my film, there would have been no way in hell I could've gotten everything done in just three days last December! So having it rain during my production helped persuade my classmates and actors to deal with my masterful directing just two days more, haha! Just kidding. For more info, go to the links I provided in the Sunday, December 12, 2004 entry below. ... Oh, and sorry Christina. Didn't mean to have that last entry on you sink to second place so quickly.

I saw Ocean's Twelve last night... It was entertaining, but also a bit confusing in how the main heist was explained at the end. Also, Soderbergh was a little too happy using those handheld Steadicam shots. Either he chose that visual style for this film or he was running behind schedule and didn't have time for more dolly camera movements! Also, there was a small subplot featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones' character that was thrown in at the last minute that I could care less about. Ocean's Eleven was obviously a lot better. On the plus side, the new trailer to Batman Begins was shown before the screening...as well as the Meet the Fockers trailer and a preview to Be Cool, which stars John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Uma Thurman, The Rock and...Christina Milian.

A year ago today, I began shooting my senior thesis film Envious at CSU Long Beach. Just felt like mentioning that since I miss school!! No I don’t. If you want a full account on my production shoot (not bloody likely), go to my journal entry for February 17, 2004. And go here for some nice voyeuristic pics of my cast and crewmembers. Just kidding...about the pics being nice. Later.

I saw Blade Trinity today... It was pretty entertaining. Then again, I also thought National Treasure was enjoyable when I watched it about 2 weeks ago, so what does that tell you about my standards? I have The Matrix sequels, Starship Troopers and some Star Wars parody called Thumb Wars on DVD, for cryin' out loud!! But seriously, the new Blade film was okay. The "reaper dogs" were cool. Vampire Pomeranians, hahaha. In the words of Bart Simpson: "You can't make that stuff up."


My favorite Blade film is still Blade 2.

Batman Begins domestic and international teaser posters:



Click here for more details on the film...which I haven't talked about in my Blog for quite a while. Last I heard, composer Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, The Last Samurai, Hannibal, Pearl Harbor, Crimson Tide, Broken Arrow and...The Lion King) was helping on the music score. That should be interesting...considering all of Zimmer's scores have been unique in one way or the other. In other music news, Kanye West, Usher and Alicia Keys lead the list in Grammy nominations. See how quick I change the subject?

This picture would be a lot funnier if Dubya didn't get a second term. It's been said that Democrats resorted to emotion and childish name-calling just to make a point. Not me. I resort to childish picture-posting. That, and I found this image online and thought it would be funny to display it here. Well... It's funny if you're a liberal.



EDIT: Since we're still on the topic of awesome pics you can find online (like on Google), I have three more for ya:

I went to a housewarming party with two of my friends (Shaun and Sheena) last night, and it was pretty fun. Lots of cool people that I met over there. I think the highlight of the gathering was the drunk dude who was vomiting into a plastic bag inside the garage the whole time...and the two Ferraris that were parked at the house where the party was held (this being a gathering attended mostly by Asians, I think this pretty much reinforced the stereotype of Asian Americans being spoiled with nice rides by their rich parents. Good for us!! Though I drive a measly Toyota, haha). Another highlight was the four import models in attendance at the party!! Rowena Galam, Kyanna V., Aiko Tanaka and Kaila Yu were there. I managed to start up a conversation with Rowena...and she said next year might be her last year in modeling. That sucks. Well, not really—I already took a picture with her at the Asian Model Expo in Long Beach 2 years ago, hahaha. Sheena Chou

So overall, the party was enjoyable. Shaun and Sheena actually left before I did...but that was because they weren’t buzzed like I was, so I had to wait till I was sobered up before I headed home. Lousy cheapskates (Just kidding)... They brought nothing while I bought a 6-pack of Coronas for the party. Oh well, haha. Stop laughing, Parno.

Two of my friends and I went to the City of Whittier today to attend an autograph signing by Magic Johnson. It was pretty cool... I got two autographs by the NBA legend--one on an 8 X 10 photograph and the other on a basketball manufactured by Magic's own company and sold at the store (Shoe City) where the signing was held (which, obviously, is why Magic did this signing anyway...to promote his new brand of basketball). Although I didn't take a picture with the 5-time NBA champion, at least I got to take pictures with beautiful import model Mia Guzman, who along with fellow model Flo Jalin attended the signing (I'll leave the significance factor of taking a picture with a cute Asian model as opposed to posing with a famous celebrity up to you guys). I didn't take a picture with Ms. Jalin though...since I took a picture with her at a model expo in Long Beach 2 years ago and she wasn't looking at the camera. Oh, and I took a picture of her at an import show in Los Angeles in 2001...and again, she wasn't looking at the camera. So that's obviously why I only asked Ms. Guzman for a picture. At least she waited for the flash to go off before looking away. Geez...I'm all over the place with this journal entry. So basically, the point of this blog is to point out that Magic Johnson is pretty cool in person. Later.

So anyways, I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth extracted yesterday and the right side of my face is swollen like that of a chipmunk. And I'm officially addicted to painkillers...just kidding. Though it is a bit um, interesting to see all that blood ooze out of my mouth the minute I removed the gauze when I got home last night. Or am I being too graphic?