June 17, 2007

Wynn Win is the new Muse

Filed under: Nightlife — Planetkarl @ 1:16 pm

Wynn Win is now MuseSeems that Muse has done very well in it’s first year. Now it seems that Muse, earning back all it’s investment within the first year of operation has bought up the old Wynn Win place and is planning to open a new location there. They will probably keep the old location. Though Muse is not one of my favorite places, in fact I rarely go there, it is nice to see a place that actually opens up and makes it happen. With the slew of cars and clubs opening then closing within three months, Shanghai is a very harsh landscape. The decor of both places, both have that whole “overly white” motif going, so I can see how the Muse guys would like Wynn Win. Perhaps they are not brave enough to use more than one color? Either way, I am sure Muse will have plenty of challenge filling the cavernous whitespace that is the old Wynn Win.

Good luck guys, and see you at the opening!

February 20, 2007

Jeremy Miller Mania (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’η‹‚ηƒ­)

Filed under: Film, Acting, Celebrities — Planetkarl @ 7:21 pm

Perhaps you have noticed Jeremy Miller’s γ€Šζ°ι‡Œη±³ 米勒》 fame in China such as here, here or here. Jeremy played “Ben”γ€Šζœ¬γ€‹ on the Growing Pains γ€Šζˆι•Ώηš„ηƒ¦ζΌγ€‹ sitcom. In the late 1980’s Growing Pains and Garrison’s Gorillas were the only two foreign TV shows allowed into China. As such, you can expect they left a big impression on the TV watching audience. Garrison’s Gorillas was from 1967 featuring a group of convicts recruited into the U.S. Army that function as commandos. If that doesn’t make you watch it, well… I guess I’m not going to watch it.

Jeremy Miller is circulating around the Chinese publications these days, as we finished filming Milk and Fashion γ€Šη‰›ε₯Άζ—Άε°šγ€‹. The film is unique that it is produced by a US production company, based in Shanghai, with a majority foreign cast, all speaking Chinese, with the film intended for Chinese audiences. Jeremy Miller’s Chinese is, of course, an exception, though he does have a few short lines in Chinese.

The other Hollywood starlet that was brought in for this film was Vanessa Branch (Chinese link here). Her Chinese as well as French speaking skills are outstanding, not to mention her acting skills. Unlike Jeremy she is virtually unknown in the Chinese market, but in Hollywood her most recent notable appearances are in Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2.

Kyle Rothstein has some exposure in China, as an actor as well as a fluent Chinese speaker. Impressive, considering he is only 16 years old.

As for me, my best Chinese is spoken after downing a few beers. Though, everyone in the film performed wonderfully and I look forward to seeing the finished result.
The film is now in post production, but expected release date is around July 2007, so look for all of us in theaters then. Until then, enjoy the pictures below:

All photographs by Jeremy Stockton Johnson.
是Jeremy Stockton Johnsonηš„ζ‘„ε½±

Shots on the set:

Jeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) and Karl IgnaczakJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) strangling Karl IgnaczakSlating in Jeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’)Jeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) Action!-ingWalking and talking with Jeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) in a scene at the WestinJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’), Li-Tong and NamuVanessa BranchMichelle, Vanessa and FaithLucia (Faith) taunting Yaoyao (Michelle Du)Vanessa BranchThe Director, Roy Chin (ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š) setting the scene for Vanessa Branch and Li-Tong HsuThe Director, Roy Chin (ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š) and Director of Photography, Jeffrey ChuIt all goes in hereJeffrey Chu setting up the shotRoy Chin (ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š) hard at work revising the scriptVanessa Branch in her sceneThe Director, Roy Chin (ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š) setting the sceneJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’), being the bossFaith and Karl Ignaczak  sharing a secretFaith being sexyFaith and Li-TongKarl Ignaczak and Faith in sceneKarl IgnaczakKarl drinking milk with the girlsThe Fashion Show sceneThe ballet dancer modelsMichelle as YaoyaoJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) presiding over the showDirector Roy Chin (ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š) checking out the shotChristophe and KarlJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’), Michelle Du, and others in the prize sceneLi-Tong Hsu and her amazing voiceJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) and the girlsKarl, Got Milk?It's been a long dayMakeup timeMakeup is not so much fun!Shooting in XintiandiShooting at the WestinJeremy Miller (ζ°ι‡Œη±³ η±³ε‹’) practicing his scriptKarl Ignaczak talking with reporterThe unhappy couple

Alas, since it was a show about fashion, there were plenty of models about. Here are a few shots for you to peruse.
Models:

another model in the model agency sceneModel in the Agency Scenemodel on setanother model on setModels in the studioyet another model on setLauren Jane on setMore model shooting at the Westin

January 30, 2007

Hanging by a thread (千钧一发)

Filed under: General, Film, Acting — Planetkarl @ 1:37 pm

One aspect that is always interesting about making movies is the stunt work… Here are some interesting shots of some wire work we did on set at Milk and Fashion γ€Šη‰›ε₯Άζ—Άε°šγ€‹. This was one scene in which one of the main characters had to do some amazing basketball dunks and jumps.
The camera crane The wire cranedoing a flipWire backflipHanging around

On another note, if you are a stuntman in Shanghai, there is a group of stuntmen working with the Megafit in Hong Kong New World Plaza to set up the official first training facility for stuntmen in Shanghai, and perhaps in China. For more info you should contact Drago Lazetich.

January 22, 2007

The hurry-up-and-wait days

Filed under: Film, Acting, Celebrities — Planetkarl @ 9:55 am

I have always enjoyed acting. From a small stage play to a big movie, it is always fun to take on a role, a new identity. The thing is, though, that is acting is fun, but most of the time spent is usually not doing that. In my experience, and (I seem to say this often) especially in China, that schedules are often floating and you spend many hours waiting for the next shot.

sleepingIn the last movie I was filming, we had days as long as 16 hours, with only 2-3 hours of actual shooting. Unfortunately that isΒ typical for the industry in China. Though, there is always something fun you can occupy yourself with. Some people have games, some books, or even sleep. Once you have memorized your script many times over, there is still a lot of time youΒ have to practice your basket weaving.

Though the danger of immersing yourself in a book or some other activity is that when you are called up for your scene, you have to quickly get back into character and remember the lines and the scene. Next time, how about some more accurate schedules guys?

Anyhow, we did have an outstanding team of actors (Jeremy Miller, Vanessa Branch, Faith, and Li-Tong), as well as aΒ great Director (Roy Chin ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š) and Director of Photography (Jeffrey Chu).

Faith, Me, Li-tong and Jeremy Millersuperior womanPunching Jeremy MillerJeremy Miller strikes backThe Director, Roy Chin (ι‡‘ε›½ι’Š)Jeffrey Chu, Director of Photographytall modelsModels you meet on set while waiting for your next shotDas CameraJeremy Johnson, movie photographer

January 1, 2007

1 Year old, if you were counting

Filed under: Site updates — Planetkarl @ 3:22 pm

1 year(s) oldFor those of you who actually read this, I just want to tell you that this blog has officially been opened for 1 year. The first post was on December 30, 2005, but let’s just round it off to January 1, 2006 for good measure.

This blog has taken off in a direction I never intended when I first started it, but perhaps it is more interesting this way. At times I have not had time to update regularly, but I hope what I do post you find compelling.

Well, I hope to see more of you this year as I plan to have some even more crazy entertainment industry adventures!