To the wintery blonde

I am mesmerised.

To the beautiful blonde in Ops Ophelia – like the Phantom in the wretched Opera; i beg you: “Sing for me…” -

Realizing the truth about Malaysian Cinema – Siapa yang salah?

The first time I’ve ever heard of Suhaimi Baba was when Ringgit Kassorga came out; the movie with a one-liner that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Meeting the very grounded and very real Suhaimi Baba is very refreshing; and I have darling Wicknes to thank. The Film Festival that was on at PWTC this weekend, gave me the chance to meet people who has had and still possess the power to change and challenge common mindset.

We need to step away from the generic perception of the asian paragon. Asian films are breaking through Cannes surely. The floodgate will never be overrun by more genius asian talents if the censorship board refuses to see a kiss as just a kiss. Kisses like these are the fundamental things we all go through in any stages in our life; and a kiss is all it takes for “Ada apa dengan Cinta?” to outgross ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of The Rings’ box office sales. So what’s an innocent gesture of affection played out by professionals compared to a little bit more money than you can ever imagine possible?

Nick Deocampo; a Prize-winning film director, author, scholar, curator and the leading light of the Philippine independent film movement (reads his biodata*L*) has the word ‘controversial’ floating all about him. The fact that he’s the only one up there wearing red could propel my imagination further. His frequent use of the word ‘paragon’ is still drumming in my mind. While Suhaimi Baba tells of capturing the Malaysian market; Nick Deocampo has succeeded in creating a niche market for his brand of indie films. A Pink Film Festival that leads to a GLBT following. ‘Leading light’ is a very believable description of a charismatic man. The very underlying tone of his entire delivery does flicker a hope in Malaysian indie cinema.

I had the privilege of watching Bukak Api few years back; and a nagging story that begs to be told should never be four-walled inside climate controlled spaces. It should be shown somewhere out there beneath the pale moon light; tell not one but all about our very own – Lrg. Haji Taib. It’s a cosmopolitan romance between socially harsh and bordering-to-despotic reality and daring to live the dream of becoming the person she wants to be. It also tells us that; Yes – there are boys who likes girls; who likes girls; who likes boys who likes boys who wants to be girls. It is not a complex situation, just a disconcerting one to some.

Siapa yang salah? There is so much to do; and it starts with the Ministry for Culture, Arts and Heritage. There seems to be a great big divide between the art world and the authorities here at home; and the financing. It takes all three to work together as a team for Malaysia to ever step out of her shell, cross the divide and conquer the imagination of the world. Really, Malaysian film makers don’t want to give you slapsticks and kasih-antara-dua-darjat movies; they have so much more talents repressed somewhere between their sound mind and heart.

Creativity is a suffocating talent to have here. Its like being inside a swimming pool sealed shut by a glass ceiling; and about one foot of airspace between the glass and the water. Water. Fluid, shapeshifting to moulds which holds the finished product; all nice, clean and simple. It’s such an unhealthy environment to be in; especially if you crave to create, challenge and carve out what’s been nagging you for years – into a story. Nice, clean and simple belongs to a mental health institution. Even children stories has the naughty boys, stubborn girls, witches, trolls and all things supernaturally possible to exist.

Here’s a little tip from a friend who watches local films voraciously to improve her bahasa. It’s not the same language you converse out on the street on any given Friday night. The genius in ‘Ada apa dengan Cinta?’ is researching over four hundred teenagers – studying their lifestyle affairs, action, attitude, argot and amour. Be sure to keep watching your local stations; because someone somewhere in there will always order a fresh oren; outlandishly served like a mocktail. Its not grande house blend, its Nescafe kau C kurang manis. What a beautiful, rojak kind of muhibbah language we have here; where maggi goreng kosong telur mata kerbau atas is dinner. Now I can relate to that, because that IS my lifestyle.

The glass ceiling is brittle but not fragile. There is no lack of overwhelming talents in this country, so the resources are there. We’ve got the talents, the tech and the expertise with just a little more honest support, local cinema could actually evolve and perhaps even, fly. It is not impossible. We can take that glimmer of hope and kindle it into the next box office hit; or snuff it out. What will it be then?

picture sources:-
– Pontianak: Harum Sundal Malam
– Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?
– Bukak Api

Connie & Carla

The last time I saw Toni Colette surrounded by familiar tunes would be the dodgy but fabulous movie: Muriel’s Wedding circa 1994/5. Surely anyone has one Abba tune tucked in somewhere between their heart and yesteryear top-of-the-pops. Of course between that and millions of movies; Toni Colette has proven to be a very versatile actress; even if she’s always playing those suicidal wretched addict/loser. She’s back in Laugh Hollywood for a lark, surrounded by familiar broadway tunes – belting out numbers from Oklahoma with Nia Vardalos; in full drag and a gaudy ol’ tiara.

Welcome to West Hollywood.

After unlimited dosages of ‘The L Word’, I thought I’d watch something from my DVD man’s new movies list. I thought Connie & Carla would be a good break; and whaddaya know? It brings me straight back to West Hollywood! What a drag! Pun Intended!

The look they had at the audition; must have come out of Victor/Victoria. Drags in movies is always bankable. It usually involves a road trip/ fashion that will trip the lights fantastic and like most movies – a moral value somewhere. In drag, Toni Colette looked like (LOTR’s Fairy King) Hugo Weaving in his Mitzi getups. The only movie that Drags with no amount of comedy could help is the Crying Game. Connie & Carla is predictable but hey this is what summer movies are meant to be.

All I can say is, my privileged high school education has injected so much of musical tunes in me, I knew most songs in there; but for Jesus Christ Superstar. Its exciting for me to hear songs I used practice for music lessons some 10 years ago –

I’m just a girl who can’t say no, I’m in a terrible fix!
I can’t resist a romeo, just when I oughta say nix.

So Connie & Carla, fixes your summer days blues. With David Duchovny in it, what could possibly go wrong?

Fate, Faith…

Im in fits of insanity. I havent been writing. I know. I’m sorry. How’s everyone? Last few nights was marvelous for me. It’s the fits that made me misplace my house keys. Somehow fate decided that I should really just stay indoors for two days. And for two days I turned the house upside down finding and frantically recalling what happened the last time I had it in my hands. Malizah dropped by for a spell, mystified by my behaviour. I’m under house arrest set by the ministry of fate. To make the matter grand, I had no more credit in my phone.

There you go. So I apologize for not being able to reply all those who replied exactly a week after the last SMS I sent you – my phone’s barren. At least for a while. Maybe I needed a break from it as well. Its so old, even the vibrate sounds sad. At least its not one of those annoying polyphonic ring tones okay?

Okay?
I have nightmares about those.

Yeah, I have question:-
Why is it that moments after I asked my brother if he had seen my keys, I find them?
Hmm – got me thinking about those children stories about how we only see what we want to see; what we don’t want to see our eyes will easily dismiss. I went through that bag at least three times, did I miss it on purpose? I did turn it inside out. Everything spilled out – ink pens, crayons, tampax, AA batteries, old San Francisco Café stamp-card, receipts, notebook, sketch book, old Henessy Jazz Festival Polaroid snapshot, MAC compact, coins, flashdrive, padlock and chewing gum. No keys – and yet I found it there, inside – with more tampax. God I hate these tiny little pockets.

Here’s something from my retro collection:
Maybe, you mean every word you say. Can’t help but think of yesterday, and another who tied me down to the lovergirl’s rules. Before this river, becomes an ocean, before you throw my heart back on the floor; oh baby, I reconsider

My foolish notion

But I need someone to hold me, while I wait for something more.

now thats rainbow connection!

Lauren Lee Smith. I watch Mutant X because of her. Same babe, the sous-chef in The L Word – who became Dana Fairbank’s [Erin Daniels] girlfriend; albeit for a short while. She’ll return in Season 2. Mark my word!

sources:
1. http://www.afterellen.com/People/erindaniels-interview.html
2. http://www.laurenleesmith.com
3. http://www.thelwordonline.com
4. http://www.erin-daniels.com/
i’m sick of downloading. ugh.

lol.

Victor/Victoria

“…oh give me a home, where the buffaloes roam, where the deer and the antelopes are gay…”

the new mid-life crisis

“…thirty is the new middle age…”

i kid you not -

dream on, dream away…

Can you imagine what its like to be working in MTV’s new gay TV? A veejay in a gay channel being watched at, lusted at by millions of lesbians and sexually confused girls in the world. Hmmm – I cant wait to see how LOGO will turn out. I cant wait to see the Kressleys, the Stuart Allen Jones and the Emmett Honeycutts that drapes the screen of my not-a-flatscreen television. I’d love to see RuPauls hosting some programmes and maybe a Queerlebrity Squares.

A gay TV that reports gay fashion, gay help lines, gay Christians, gay history, gay adoption, gay public servants, gay politicians, gay ministers, gay funeral homes, gay (godforbid) talkshow, gay cartoons/anime (yay!), gay graphic novels (yummy!), gay tech-tv, gay sports and the gay Olympics (I can imagine the horror on my catholic high school teacher’s face) – I bet the local cable company would make a LOT of money even if they sell the channel for a hundred ringgit a month. Maybe insert the Bold and the Beautiful once a year to create a window into the hetero lifestyle… LOL!

Where is the KL equivalent of Liberty Ave/ Canal St.? I have pranced around on Commercial Rd when they had their Diversity day; I applaud MTV’s response to tight-assed bigotry. I rejoice in the Spanish Catholic community having vocally accepted the rules of cohabitation – much to the Vatican’s uproar. Its so sad to see John Howard and his anti-gay-adoption bullshit; seeking to nullify any positive decision that the highest court of Australia might make in the same matter. He’s so drunk with the power of legislation, that he made sure there is no loophole; even the courts has no discretion – as long as he gets his bottom line. Where is the love?

US Queer As Folks is running into its Fourth Season (yay! More Melanie Clunie!); its sibling The L Word just completed its first season in the states – which means I’ve got to wait a while before the DVD would come out. I feel FANTASTIC! Tripping on nothing but pure exhilaration. As Malizah said it, “Its so great to be a woman!” – *snaps*snaps* I agree. Maybe I’ll move to New York or wherever in gay hell LOBO is aired. All the fishes in the sea… all the ladies of the harem of the courts of king caractacus, was just passing by…

So, let me trip a little!

Diversity/Sexpo pictures reminiscent of Melbourne.

As we say it in Sabah -

Aramaiti!!! cheers to those who’s been so far away from home; missing all those frivolous self-gratifying merry making that happens annually in the month of May. picture credit: Mona Isley.

Baise Moi!

Most Magnificently Marvelous Monica Belucci.
If I could lust for her in The Passion, in Irreversible she is Desire. Subtle, warm, delectable untouchable raving beauty. A French goddess, on the pedestal next to Emmanuelle Beart. Ludivine Sagnier’s star is rising rapidly as Audrey Tautou did when Amelie came out. Hmmm – Virginie Ledoyen, Fanny Ardant… can someone tell me who’s that girl who played the Belgium exchange-student in L’auberge Espagnole.

ah women women women…

found it! She is belgian actress – Cecile De France.
.
Bit of Queer News – MTV will be launching their Gay TV (i wanna work there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) dubbed LOGO, Fridae reports.
.

picture sources:
1. Monica Belucci -
http://www.absolutemonica.com/
2. Cecile De France -
cecile.defrance.online.fr

listening to: the biggest and gayest radio station in the world: Gaydar radio’s playing Studio 54’s If you could read my mind…

head bopping…