tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58214162012-02-16T19:52:15.070-08:00<br>"Dommah" is a popular curse word in Vietnamese, and is also a writer-director-nerd in West Los Angeles. <br> <br>In progress: post-production on an independent feature film. Contributions welcomed.dmnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-42584252702932958522011-03-01T00:40:00.000-08:002011-03-01T00:47:13.904-08:00

A poem I wrote from a while back, I found it online recently and liked it. Somehow it came out of a conversation with my Korean then-roommate about the difference in English between "corny" and cheesy" while we were in the youth hostel watching a late-night rerun of "V: The Final Battle."V (Taiwan 1996)You had a moment laughing there where you made the elevator nervous. Maybe it expected you to

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-51736841709446471082011-01-27T10:29:00.000-08:002011-01-27T17:37:03.659-08:00

The next time I'm talking to a girl I don't know very well and she inorganically drops the word "boyfriend" just to let me know that she has a boyfriend, instead of casually blustering past it as I generally try to do, I'm going to stop the conversation utterly, tremble as if a great hole has opened in the earth, and let an excruciating pause develop before gaping out a horrified reply. (I mean

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-90668522099845654192011-01-18T21:21:00.000-08:002011-01-18T22:50:35.374-08:00

I'm never sure what to offer up when a "writing sample" is called for. I don't really have that one representative piece. Hopefully this will serve for all possible purposes. Once upon a time there was a waitress with a million-dollar credit card debt.She is disowned by her father, her estranged infant daughter, and her cat. Then one day she meets a radioactive boy whose aura gives her

dmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-53761792820874600422010-11-03T21:07:00.000-07:002010-11-05T21:56:53.378-07:00

With apologies to Alan Moore and Dr. Manhattan:It's 1985 and I'm a kid getting into baseball. The Giants are my Dad's team so I go with the Giants as opposed to the Athletics. And also, the DH is an unavenged crime against humanity and beauty. I cut clips out of the Chronicle and the Examiner recording their wins and paste them into an oversize sketching pad. The wins are only a few, we're in

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-75085879125937913022010-05-26T13:08:00.001-07:002010-05-26T13:13:49.428-07:00

I love making teasers, and trailers. Honestly I would like to make a movie that is all teaser.

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-76282869348237328052010-05-21T10:23:00.000-07:002010-05-21T10:37:31.172-07:00

I wrote a couple pieces, continuing the series on California Casinos, at You Offend Me: "How To Win" and "Brilliant Things Said At The Bicycle Casino." In them is all the wisdom accumulated in my years on this Earth. I MEAN IT.

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-64511390815855062012010-05-06T01:14:00.000-07:002010-05-06T01:14:05.490-07:00

We are in ye olde Indiewire this week in the middle of their "In the Works" column.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-61136482950130703962010-04-19T20:50:00.000-07:002010-04-19T21:12:12.014-07:00

Carl Macek died over the weekend. He was one of the great mashup artists. He introduced a lot of people in the Western world to anime. He took 3 separate series about transforming robots and love triangles and somehow yoked them together into one unified story about transforming robot love triangles. Since I spent most of last summer blogging here about Robotech, I wanted to acknowledge his

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-52468207140096828392010-04-05T08:56:00.000-07:002010-04-06T15:14:35.235-07:00

1. The first thing we shot was for a camera test at Shar's house, several months ago, on a rainy day, and the last thing we shot was at Shar's house, Easter Sunday, in the rain.2. The crew we assembled could not be nicer, and yet they were also ruthlessly efficient.3. The actors did amazing things. Despite losing 2 actors to schedule conflicts the day before day 1, the acting of the ensemble

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-61933764234352792542010-03-31T19:19:00.000-07:002010-03-31T19:20:35.943-07:00

One of my favorite BTS photos from the shoot thus far:

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-81459019121346377342010-03-25T21:30:00.000-07:002010-03-25T21:33:45.608-07:00

Block, light, shoot. Block, light, shoot. Block light shoot. Block light shoot? Block LIGHT shoot. Block light shoot shoot shoot. Blishoot. And still fundraising: http://whatifpeopledied.com/

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-30497358342608931352010-03-12T16:05:00.000-08:002010-03-15T09:48:21.091-07:00

I get real frustrated when I hear people talk about movies that "only cost $30 million," or kids who need $2 million to make their first dream feature, or movies where no one gets paid 'cause the budget is only 100 grand. We all know that movies are the most expensive and commercial art form we have, and this causes folks to talk foolishly about low- vs. high-budgets. LA is full of people who

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-39628110086283744612010-03-11T02:27:00.000-08:002010-03-11T02:29:37.108-08:00

I did a guest blog at You Offend Me You Offend My Family, on a subject possibly too nerdy even to appear here. Imagine that.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-70590491407507042492010-03-08T14:02:00.000-08:002010-03-08T14:09:30.334-08:00

I'm reprinting this story about an incident that happened on my last feature film shoot, to address the questions: "What kind of contingencies does the money go towards in an indie film shoot?" and "What could possibly go wrong?"MARCH 13, 2004...So it's 6:30 AM today and my phone's ringing, I imagine it's someone from cast or crew with some last minute crisis that will require solving before 8 AM

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-79622345176303484812010-03-05T14:30:00.001-08:002010-04-19T20:58:22.499-07:00

And here's our conceptual trailer again, just in case you wanna see what we can do with an actual camera.(Also, for the Robotech enthusiasts, I should mention that Lynn Minmay will be making a cameo appearance in the film. How? Why? If you jump in and support the movie, you will be among the first to find out.)

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-52389743602097236712010-03-03T14:29:00.000-08:002010-03-04T08:39:19.309-08:00

We're at a tricky time for the human races. For one thing, we have a black president. On the other hand, people have become kind of racistly post-racist 'cause they are backlashing against how silly Political Correctness was, and the "minorities" themselves confused activism for being overly-sensitive. In fact in the age of Ipods and I-everything we've all become a little too sensitive; we've

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-22970897719025498832010-02-19T16:41:00.001-08:002010-02-19T16:53:14.309-08:00

....so I found out too late that one of these clips was reposted on a J-Pop video site....before I took it down to revise the audio. Doh. The lesson? Never underestimate the power of Jpop, or MC Frontalot. In any case, both these vids are now reactivated, because if the success of "The Blindside" has taught us anything, it's that you can never have too many trailers even if you have like a

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-41092771824632246902010-02-16T16:42:00.000-08:002010-02-16T17:14:41.537-08:00

The Beatles came up in conversation twice on Valentine's Day, in two separate bars in two different non-datey social situations... I think because for better or for worse, the Beatles have sort of branded "Love" via the Cirque show and their million unmatchably excellent songs on the topic...so talking about their music is a kind of tangential way of talking about the uncomfortable subject itself

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-67430622557041329582010-02-15T20:59:00.000-08:002010-02-16T14:27:56.326-08:00

I wrote a guest piece for the Asian American culture blog "You Offend Me You Offend My Family." It's a very nerdy rant casting the evil people who live in the casino as various super villains from the worlds of comic books, film and TV. Ah, good times.

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-35269873804883091212010-02-11T15:45:00.000-08:002010-02-16T14:27:56.327-08:00

OK, I'll cop to it. I like Japanese things. I liked Japanese things way before I even knew they had girls, or octopuses. As a very little kid I liked the cartoons and the food and the aesthetics. Possibly this is because one of my first summer school experiences was a Japanese-American school called Daruma no Gakko. I think my parents put me in there because at the time it was the only

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-40597261566548020442010-02-07T11:57:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:16:59.605-08:00

INT. BAR - NIGHTGodzilla and Bambi, talking in a bar. GODZILLA: How's it going?BAMBI: Why? What do you mean? Are you some kind of stalker? Don't you have anything to say? DON'T TRY TO HAVE SEX WITH ME! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!?GODZILLA: I'm lonely. And I'm an Asian monster.BAMBI: Both those things are unattractive, demographically speaking.Pause.BAMBI (unsolicited): I feel really

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-38353022378578606652010-02-01T11:07:00.000-08:002010-02-01T11:11:16.794-08:00

This is what I look like whenever I'm texting you. I just want you to know that.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-38109354317466685812010-01-18T10:05:00.000-08:002010-08-18T01:01:52.939-07:00

Apparently there's going to be a Spider Man musical. Directed by Julie Taymor, with music by U2. As a big geek in the areas of theater, comic books, and 80's rock, I don't even know how to feel about this. In theory, it should be awesome. Lucky me, I already have a copy of the script:SPIDER-MAN: RATTLE & THWIP***DO NOT DISTRIBUTE***SCENE 1Spider-Man hangs upside-down over a city skyline

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-71811822931718259272010-01-13T15:38:00.001-08:002010-02-16T16:17:49.685-08:00

New teaser/fundraising clip! For the awesomeful crowd-pitching or whatever they're calling it now! A few picture and timing issues with this one, but I think it turned out pretty good. Music from me & Gaby Alter & the sonorous Jessica Neighbor (singing an ERP oldie) and Mr. MC Frontalot. More coming. "What If People Died" teaser trailer B from dominic mah on Vimeo.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-82134164138907361752010-01-06T22:52:00.001-08:002010-02-16T16:18:16.005-08:00

...so I might as well start 2010 by posting it up here.A few things to know about "What If People Died" (WIPD):- It's an indie/microbudget/DIY/DIWO feature-length HD movie we're shooting in March. - It has a great, talented cast, heavy on the people of color. - It's going to be frakking funny and also kind of musical and sad. - We are trying to make it for about the cost of two new

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-89298148088130001222009-12-24T13:18:00.000-08:002010-02-16T14:26:44.448-08:00

Not songs or films, but personal and public events of note:2000. I left the coolest job in the world to move to LA and get into filmmaking. The ex-job was translation/adaptation editor for a startup comic company doing online English versions of Japanese comics. The whole day was thinking about the best transliteration of "sound of heart thumping" or "sound of head smashing into pavement."

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-74839884620447167502009-12-19T23:47:00.000-08:002010-01-06T22:48:48.589-08:00

As a closing note on this whole Robotech treatise, I'd opine that any true fan of the series owes it to themselves to watch Macross Frontier. It does a genius job of mashing up the original Macross epic with Battlestar Galactica-type grit and social relevance, as well as referencing Mospeada, Southern Cross, and a host of other things that you are really gonna like. It is so hip that the city

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-29693080947983687452009-12-15T08:43:00.000-08:002010-02-16T14:27:56.330-08:00

We're probably gonna use this song in the movie.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-78605297265673840302009-12-14T13:02:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:17:49.686-08:00

There is a very very small niche nerd population in the world that will appreciate this, and none of them are in Sony Entertainment Corporation.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-66487418047115168802009-12-11T12:26:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:17:49.687-08:00

Look For Water.A story about love, invisibility, and kidnapping.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-1353348467315031172009-12-08T09:23:00.001-08:002010-02-16T16:18:16.006-08:00

This one looks better. I'll probably be putting up different versions within the coming months as we, yknow, accrue more footage. Comments welcomed. Contributions to our indiegogo site even more welcomed. What If People Died teaser trailer A from dominic mah on Vimeo.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-70694502067751265642009-12-07T08:39:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:18:16.007-08:00

This is the first of what're sure to be an ARMY of teaser trailers for the film. Because who doesn't love teaser trailers? They're short, exciting, and cryptic. Comments welcomed.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-26440786228218553192009-12-02T10:20:00.001-08:002009-12-02T13:08:05.279-08:00

So this is what happens:The Invid launch hella shock troopers against the returning RDF fleet.Corg owns Scott in a dogfight and then takes out a bunch of other Alpha fighters just to drive the point home that he owns people.The RDF fleet gets ready to fire off Neutron-S missiles to decimate the Earth's surface, because that seems like a really good idea.The gang hangs out with the Regis and

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-78597392231227802302009-11-25T11:12:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:18:16.008-08:00

Am going to finish Robotech next week. ONCE AND FOR ALL. (If any Robotech fans want to watch a defacto continuation of the story, I highly recommend skipping "Sentinels" and "Shadow Chronicles" and watching the hell out of "Macross Frontier." It is an excellent, fan-oriented Macross epic, with a Lancer-esque lead character and some Cyclone-ic armored suits. In other words, a

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-18265936763753217262009-11-16T13:50:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:08:09.917-08:00

I never saw this one completely 'cause my own VHS copy back in the day was skagged.Scott and the real Robotech Army prep to attack Reflex Point. In an interesting coaching decision, Scott leaves Rand, Rook and Annie behind 'cause they're not in the regular military. For some reason, Lancer and Lunk are, although Lunk's major tactical function appears to be the driving of trucks. Anyway, this

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-12624701606254644192009-11-13T13:50:00.001-08:002009-11-29T15:03:10.973-08:00

This is the only place I found online that makes any mention of the curious textual connection between Watchmen and an episode of NYPD Blue. Specifically, that Rorschach and Sipowicz tell a very similar gruesome story that describes their change in attitude on life, towards total nihilism. Regarding "And The Abyss Gazes Also..."It is a very odd relationship between two of the bleakest hero

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-91101895817803189482009-11-10T12:56:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:11:26.746-08:00

The principle of resource waste and humankind's eventual doom is pretty well illustrated, I think, in paperclips. There's no reason, especially in the modern online society, that anybody should ever need to buy a box of paperclips. Think about it, a box has at least a million paperclips in it. Your whole life, maybe you need two boxes of paperclips. EXCEPT there's few things that are easier

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-31528420164669421162009-11-06T12:11:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:08:09.917-08:00

It's on now.Man, so this is gonna be over in 3 episodes. It's the last month before graduation. For my next trick am considering "V: The TV series" from 1985. Any ideas, as if anyone is listening?Or I could just start blogging seriously about the movie I'm working on.Anyway. LUNK: "I can't believe you're making a movie of this!" The group chastises Sue Graham for standing by and running a

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-48731496790210683572009-11-04T11:24:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:08:09.918-08:00

This is absolutely one of the best episodes. Why? Because it's about people fighting for their right to PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL IN A MUSICAL DANCE NUMBER. Anyone who is a fan of "Escape From New York" or Marvel Comics can appreciate the fantasy of a post-apocalyptic Manhattan; with close-quarters street battles fought tooth and nail between renegade heroes, alien shock troopers, a

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-51907118072900489762009-11-03T22:49:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:08:09.919-08:00

This one's sort of a lame tangent. Dusty Ayres? Captain Harlock is calling, and wants his gruff back.***Actually this episode has one good part in which Rook and Rand are surrounded by Invid and they have the brilliant idea to "use our combined cluster rockets!" Why, yes, let's! After all, we're so used to firing off all of the Alpha's 226 little rockets to destroy 2 or 3 targets, why not for

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-10239399891477459862009-11-02T15:33:00.000-08:002009-11-29T15:03:10.974-08:00

i worked on this movie, from behind the scenes, in the shadowsssss....

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-44068452046802817982009-10-31T13:53:00.000-07:002010-02-16T16:18:16.011-08:00

This is the "soft opening" of a fundraising effort for my next film project. My dear 12 readers, please offer feedback or graciously donate your extra dollars here.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-91371832792432353992009-10-29T18:43:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:03:10.975-08:00

Well I somehow managed to have enough of a life to avoid watching Robotech all this week. But here's another mashup I cut that I don't think any of my 12 readers can live without. If you are one of my 12 readers you probably have seen it already. It's still content, though, and content is king in this sad bastard world.

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-90845134171887538632009-10-26T13:07:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.920-08:00

Well it's been about, what, eight episodes since we had a gratuitous shower scene, hasn't it? So we're totally due. Marlene and Rook and Annie all share a sauna after Annie's birthday party. Rand peeps at them. It's very "Porky's."I had this memory that Lancer also joined them in the shower, in all his naked hairless hermaphroditic glory, but thankfully that weirdness didn't actually happen.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-61641835924345218112009-10-26T12:10:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.921-08:00

This is it. The last VHS tape in my inherited collection. Apparently we skipped across a few episodes to arrive at ep 79: I did search the previous tape carefully, but found only a Bikini Model Competition from some midwestern state (which was clearly being taped over, just to be clear.)This is The One Where They Discover Denver and Eat Vienna Sausages. Scott goes shoe-shopping with Marlene,

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-22045517214734593992009-10-23T10:42:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:03:10.976-08:00

All-Credits Watchmen in 9:59 from dominic mah on Vimeo.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-49524333054459622009-10-22T12:24:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.921-08:00

The great thing about anime is there is no Jumping the Shark. Anime has no sense of normal or acceptable boundaries. The Shark can be Jumped in every single episode, or several times in one episode. In anime, major characters can die, people turn into pigs, they switch universes using a magic chunk of tofu, it's All Good.So in this one the gang meets some kind of jungle tribe that ties them up

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-89344245641884497352009-10-22T12:20:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.922-08:00

priceless bit of dialog from that episode, as the team argues:ROOK: Oh c'mon you two. I know what, Lancer, sing us something!LANCER: You think you can just turn me on and off like a music box?

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-8716043723736141112009-10-21T12:39:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.923-08:00

WHAT is THIS shit? Rand's on a DRAGON. I've never been a fan of the dream sequence episodes. I mean do we really need to know that Rand has hero delusions and subconscious lusty fantasies for the nigh-obnoxiously lithe females in his freedom fighter crew? Isn't the whole anime series already an extension of those fantasies for the creators? I just don't think we get much more information

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-48160935810721677062009-10-19T13:46:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.924-08:00

Rand and Annie attack an Invid hive on skis. Scott: "If only they weren't so undependable! I'd know if they were in serious trouble or just goofing around!"Annie, of her cobalt limpet mine: "Hey, I carried it, I think I should be the one to plant it!'Annie falls down and needs to be saved by Rand like four times, but she does plant the shit out of that mine. It explodes the brain-sensor

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-43130488037917071632009-10-16T13:41:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:03:10.978-08:00

A TEST of several things. a) my non-registrable HTML skillsb) how fast I will get a C&Dc) if I have a future in parody mashupsd) whether b) and c) are relatedThe first four minutes are basically the same as the credits in the Watchmen movie. Additional credits follow. Hi-Res version here.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-51265863378443542009-10-09T00:06:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.925-08:00

OK, this ep is fascinating.Lancer meets an old flame, and stares deeply into her eyes...while dressed as Yellow Dancer.We learn the origin of Lancer's cross-dressing, which had something to do with eluding Invid who were coming for wounded male freedom fighters. His old flame came up with the idea of throwing him in the makeup and the dress. How often does THAT happen? Yellow puts on a really

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-9567991495297802142009-10-08T23:29:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.926-08:00

you darn tootin, she enters.also on this VHS tape: original TV ads for the action figure series "Rambo: Force of Freedom." (How did kids play with the Rambo toys? What were his missions? How did he act as a "Force of Freedom?" Did he always start off captured, or on the run from the U.S. Govt? My point here is that Rambo's opponent was everybody, including mostly all military leaders and

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-5325273046253114012009-10-07T12:41:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.927-08:00

I just think it's cute that Scott and Rand bring Annie along on this important reconnaissance mission when she honestly can do nothing but scream and hang on to the back of the cycle. I mean what's she gonna do if they fall into a Genesis Pit or something? Start ovulating?...shouldn't have typed that. Should not have typed that. Never let the monster free....Speaking of beasts that live in

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-42756943500140112262009-10-07T11:33:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:08:09.928-08:00

Colonel Wolff in this one sounds kind of like he's being voiced by Charlton Heston. I know that's not the case, but wouldn't it be great if it was?

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-81282408865161226162009-10-06T15:30:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.443-08:00

RAND: "I hope you know what you're doing, Lunk."LUNK: "Hey, when did I ever know what I was doing?"I love the tough-guy talk coming out of the animated non-racially-specific googly-eyed people.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-41961883951542877542009-10-06T15:21:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.444-08:00

Another thing about this ep. Rook cons Rand into kissing her, to save face, or for some convoluted reason. Much like the scenes in Macross where Lisa and Rick snogged for "strategical" situations. What is it with all the fake non-committal kissing? Is it because the original anime didn't want to show "real" kissing? (The actual couples in Robotech, notably, spend much more time staring

dmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-77011737738034558842009-10-05T11:02:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.445-08:00

Oh there is some funny ass shit in this one where Annie's pestering Rook to eat some chicken (in her rapid-fire voice-actor-fitting-long-line-to-short-lip-movements-style): "Hey-Rook-it's-time-to-eat-better-hurry-up-or-there-won't-be-any-left-c'mon-doesn't-this-piece-of-meat-smell-good?" Then Rook swats it out of her hand, and the drumstick falls to the ground, and Annie whines, "Now it's all

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-59563942265699891272009-09-28T07:55:00.000-07:002009-11-30T21:51:33.104-08:00

So the day after I mused about getting stuck with the Harlequin-romance-novel era of movie adaptations, it comes out that they just gave all 150,000 books in the Sweet Valley High series to Diablo Cody. Ha. I remember the Sweet Valley High books. I wouldn't feel one twinge of anything if they were made into movies. I know a few girls who might.ALL the American Anime Adaptions are going to fail

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-15233329014022434212009-09-19T10:36:00.000-07:002009-11-30T21:51:12.780-08:00

Re-liveblog on hold because I'm in NYC doing meetings for my screenplay "Look For Water." I really wish, though, that I'd brought the Robotech: Battlecry PS2 game I got for $5 with me, 'cause I'm staying in an apt with a PS2. (I got exactly the wrong PS3, btw: the one that doesn't play PS2 games, but also is not slimmer and more expensive. FML.)A confessment: My timeline for becoming

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-45024399426042111112009-09-15T23:37:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.448-08:00

This ep is particularly awesome. I started this liveblog with some idea about reflecting on the big issues via Robotech (e.g. pop culture, Japanese fetishism, war n peace, lost youth, blondes vs. blue-hairs, etc) but now I just sound like a fanboy. I'm cool with it. Yellow Lancer does a big rock concert to distract the human collaborators while Scott & team sneak into their base and steal some

dmnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-82197963214157250052009-09-15T23:15:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.449-08:00

This one's pretty funny because it has leeches in it.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-81601957937871592642009-09-15T22:35:00.001-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.450-08:00

What else do ya need to say? Best song in the whole series.Annie: "Whaddya think they do for fun around here?"Rand: "Probably sit around and watch their floorboards warp."Yellow Dancer is a kind of flower, I never knew that. I had thought it was just of those Japlish-isms, like "Jello Fighter." Remember the days before search engines when you couldn't instantly look up anything? Enough

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-39829097033150086912009-09-15T22:19:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.450-08:00

Scott and Rand meet Annie, and I really want to know what age she's supposed to be...but maybe I don't want to know. She's allegedly 15, but she's about 2 feet tall and functionally pointless on the team (as we know from later, they make plus-size Cyclone armor, but not junior) and is obsessed with boys. Which I guess is fine as long as she stays Completely Non-Sexual. Which, in the series,

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-89209429113298471882009-09-14T14:57:00.001-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.451-08:00

OK, so part III: The New Generation is really my favorite part of the whole saga and I'm glad to start it. Why is it the best? There is one simple reason.There has never been anything cooler than a motorcycle that transforms into a suit of battle armor while you're riding it, with customizable weapons. Nothing is cooler. Not Gandhi. Not lightsabers. Not solar-powered cars. Cyclone/Mospeda

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-5349359118253429502009-09-14T14:20:00.001-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.452-08:00

My strong memory of this episode, the final one in the Masters arc, is that I was at a friends' house playing D&D in their basement and I forgot to set the VCR to tape it, so I desperately called my Mom and asked her to tape it for me.So my beautiful Mom actually sat down on the old brown barcalounger and taped Robotech for me. And later I called to check and see what happened, asking with all

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-14446273123200527572009-09-14T12:20:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.453-08:00

Miriya in Macross. Musicaa in The Masters. Sera in New Generation. What do they all have in common? That's right: GREEN HAIR.I just noticed this incredible thematic continuity in Robotech right now, and on my scale it's like discovering the Unified Field Theory. Note to Alien Armadas Who Want To Conquer Earth: If you have a girl with green hair on your team, DO NOT BRING HER WITH THE

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-21942288021445150592009-09-14T12:10:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.454-08:00

Also, for the record? Musica? Would not hit that. Why? Because the sound effect on her voice makes her sound like a frakkin preying mantis. Also, she seems to demand a lot of attention.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-89009962489271168392009-09-14T12:00:00.001-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.455-08:00

Going to NYC this week to pitch screenplay. In other news, watching Robotech. This is one of those spacy acid-trip episodes that makes the Masters the best series for watching stoned and the worst for actually watching.I will say, though, that whoever designed the interior of the Robotech Masters' giant starship also did a really good job on the Boulevard shopping corridor at Paris Las Vegas.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-42438865433606783562009-09-09T17:14:00.001-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.456-08:00

Actually the fight between Dana's squad and the Invid Fighters is pretty cool in this one. Good use of motion lines.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-79998897808075088402009-09-09T15:48:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.456-08:00

Louie invents some gaze technology, and the Robotech Masters invent the Invid Fighter, which is...a bioroid, with a different head. The head looks kind of like an inverted Cobra STUN vehicle. Woohoo. That's threatening. Could we get to the Invid already?

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-47069433634785041972009-09-09T15:32:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.457-08:00

If Nova Satori were a prehistoric animal, she would be a Babe-rtooth tiger. Also, if she were another similarly-drawn anime character, she would be Lum. I was going to put up two images comparing the two, but then realized that it would be completely wrong and creepy. Like the guy at the beginning of "The Brothers Bloom" who tries to pick up Bangbang with the line "I'm really into anime."

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-70612819368936151152009-09-07T15:54:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.458-08:00

REASON WHY THE SOUTHERN CROSS PART IS THE LEAST GOOD PART OF ROBOTECH #49.2The chanteuse/siren/inspiring pop idol character, called Minmay in part I and Yellow Dancer in part III, in part II is called..."Musica." That's just not as interesting-ica.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-69293178509632426632009-09-07T12:16:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.459-08:00

Well check that out. Apparently the person originally taping this didn't like the Masters arc either, 'cause I'm missing like 7 episodes here. Hooray! It's like customized content specifically for ME! 10 years before its time! These VHS tapes are really degrading, too. They used to stand for permanence and ownership. Now they are melty plastic bricks. In this one, Nova interrogates Zor

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-53911325455948347762009-09-07T11:34:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.460-08:00

It's Labor Day. If I still worked at the casino we'd be fighting over who has to stay with the shoeshiners and who gets to go to a BBQ. But screw all that noise, now I'm on the dole and I watch Robotech for a living.MARIE: Oh! I've never seen anything this big before!DANA: Uh, 'scuse me, what was that, Lieutenant?MARIE: Ah! Paying complete attention to practically nothing today, aren't we,

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-61584409061930842362009-09-02T09:32:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.461-08:00

If Nova Satori were a Biblical reference she would be the Tower of Babe-l. If she were a set of children's stories she'd be Aesop's Babe-les.Nice catty exchange between Nova and Dana before Dana gets promoted to first lieutenant. Nova is so BITTER! She needs Love! (I'm not sure if this fascination is gross yet.)

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-29945071236688419322009-08-27T20:52:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.461-08:00

"Dying under the command of a ditzy teenager isn't exactly how I hoped I would go out."

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-15619123056309454692009-08-27T20:38:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.462-08:00

I'm rooting for the Masters arc, because it's the one I remember the least. So far it's AWESOME. This ep has the tank squad brawling with the air squad...an unexplained Mutant Dog...Dana pulls a sweet jump on a hover bike that takes out this Gort-looking MP robot...AND Nova Satori. If she assured my right to a speedy trial, she would be a writ of Babe-us Corpus.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-42634438290359698292009-08-27T20:27:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.463-08:00

Lesson Learned From Robotech #37.2:Right after a knife fight that you both survive, if your opponent is a woman, it's a good time to propose marriage to her.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-85952708170258617532009-08-27T19:00:00.000-07:002009-11-29T15:07:28.464-08:00

"Robotech Masters" aka "Southern Cross" was like the 3rd Voltron series that never came out, but people vaguely remembered that there should be one because of some toy packaging images. Southern Cross is like Magical Mystery Tour. It's no one's favorite and kind of hard to get into because there's a lot of hippie stuff with flowers and clones, the Robotech Masters are basically three old dudes

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-88005173605014726992009-08-27T13:47:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.316-08:00

The fourth-most heartwrenching ep of the Macross series, after "Farewell Big Brother," "The Big Escape," and "Force of Arms." 'Cause it's the end, and a whole lotta people die, and by that time, you knew that was just how this series rolled. You understood that you have to get people to sign your yearbook, in case something happens. This was a weird one because as a kid I didn't know what was

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-6194967695148307172009-08-27T10:30:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.317-08:00

Minmay makes a Christmas booty call on Rick. Or it seems like a booty call, and then it's just blah blah blah, my fame, my career, everybody wants me, "my life is a song," my cousin wants to marry me, me me me. Jesus, Minmay! Get a blog why don't you?I also just wanna point out that the news agency on the TV Rick watches is called "N.W.A." Nippon Hoso Kyokai With Attitude?

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-70611117370507311192009-08-27T09:36:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.318-08:00

Piano instrumental of Yellow Dancer's closing song for the series, playing BG at Rick and Minmay's date. Never knew that.

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-6916082094762112602009-08-26T18:30:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.319-08:00

Rick asks Vanessa the nerdy bridge officer girl out, spontaneously, to prove to Lisa that his personal life is personal. Vanessa spills the beans, telling Rick that Lisa's crushed out on her, and Rick doesn't believe it. I forgot about that scene. It's great.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-8210267308765412252009-08-26T18:21:00.001-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.320-08:00

Also, Khyron and Azonia get drunk and make out while eerie music plays. Something creepy about that too. Also, there's a weird scene where a battloid lights a Zentraedi's cigarette with his rifle. Just too much going on in this one.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-10816282435345725562009-08-26T17:35:00.001-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.321-08:00

This one gave/gives me that icked-out feeling. Something about the way Khyron plays with Minmay and Kyle when they're his captives. It's just sick. Like he's gonna dip them in honey mustard sauce, while she's still singing. Maybe it's because Khyron kinda reminds me of a foppish, predatory Brad Pitt. Oh wait, Brad Pitt wasn't invented until the 90's. That's not possible.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-14169351225531439152009-08-26T17:34:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.321-08:00

This episode is too political for me. A lot of debating over the Protoculture chamber. I liked it better when Protoculture was this ethereal concept, like the Force, or the Birds & the Bees. The fight where Khyron steals the chamber is pretty sick, though. His mono-boob battle armors take those Destroids to town. Damn! Sucks to be you brown Veritech! I'm Khyron, Micronian Bitches!

dmnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-86457020510231457912009-08-26T16:55:00.001-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.322-08:00

MIRIYA: Max, do you think there's any chance Rick won't consent to touch lips with Lisa?MAX: Don't worry, Miriya. Rick's a professional. I can't stand it....I just can't stand it...This is also the ep where Miriya takes her BABY in her JETPLANE and uses it as a shock-and-awe weapon against the enemy, as part of a three-pronged attack involving kiss, disco song, and cute Hapa baby! Aiiiighhh!

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-26271082485172618942009-08-26T15:34:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.323-08:00

NARRATOR: "What a change this is! From ruthless warlord to somewhat uncomfortable host? This mission is getting stranger all the time!"...as is your narration, dude. I think they were stoned while dubbing this one.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-61908919728047119032009-08-26T15:07:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.324-08:00

GUY IN CAFE (leering at Lisa): Ooh, check this out Fred! Oooh. Boy, the women were dealt all the aces. They can have anybody they wanna have.LISA (V.O.): That's all you know about it, my fat friend. Here's one woman who would trade every ace in the deck for one Rick Hunter.Oh, Lisa. Lisa Lisa.You are going to be played by Laura Linney in the movie and there's nothing you can do about it,

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-86964141956060519882009-08-26T14:25:00.001-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.325-08:00

Lisa: "Why does his bedroom always look like someone's been sleeping in it?"I dunno, Mr. Macek. Why does my bathroom always look like someone's been bathing in it? That was either a brilliant line or a not-thought-out one...or, like most of my pickup lines, BOTH in ONE!

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-62868586694637781722009-08-26T14:18:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.326-08:00

Lesson Learned From Robotech #27.1:Planetwide devastation sets a romantic mood.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-15055249552229517322009-08-26T13:52:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.327-08:00

"You can do it Minmay, remember today you're singing for everyone!""Yes I know but I just want you to understand I'm really singing for you!"Although this dialogue sounds like something Gwen Stefani probably says backstage all the time, if there is a just God, Minmay will be played in the movie by Kelly Clarkson.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-33272108673896968922009-08-26T13:38:00.000-07:002009-08-26T14:05:32.392-07:00

It's on. This episode has the unbelievable awesome that makes you want to shed tears of geekiness.It's so awesome it has an Orguss in it.It's so awesome, it has a Minmay song that is not "Stagefright." It's so awesome, I forget my problems and prance around the house going, "We WILL win. We ARE all stars and we see that! I am a fucking HERO. I am footloose AND in the danger zone. Yeah!"It's

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-29701041448573864552009-08-26T13:14:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.328-08:00

All of Minmay's songs sound like a slow jam by Surface. This ep is pretty hilarious.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-8706099366818910922009-08-26T12:25:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.328-08:00

Breetai: "This woman has a voice that can make a man feel sorrow." DELIVERY SO FUNNY GOING TO DIE LAFFING. Auugh.Max is majorly my hero.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-79649073035969733492009-08-26T12:08:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.329-08:00

The narrator SNICKERS in the opening: "But now Max faces a different problem. After all...heh heh...what do you say to a girl you met just a few hours ago." Are narrators supposed to be dirty old men? Or have a sense of humor? Miriya girls up pretty quick, with the pink dress, losing most of her appeal.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-83518012445491222672009-08-26T11:43:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.330-08:00

Armored Veritech! Sooooo cool.Max challenges Miriya in the arcade, because THAT'S how you get the cool chicks. The voice actor for Miriya really knows how to bring the sexy.Kyle lets the press know he want to propose to Minmay. GOD that guy is a douche. Claudia prods Rick in the direction of Lisa. I'm just summarizing now. This liveblog is a big career move, honest.

dmnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-17213406441759864752009-08-26T11:21:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.331-08:00

Rick and Lisa have this cute scene of taking care of Minmay's folks' Chinese restaurant amidst wreckage. I wonder if the Battlestar Galactica people watch Robotech? The formula of space battles with the emotional beats of soap operas seems distinctly similar.The dialogue is really sharp in this one. The scene of granting the three spies political asylum. Rick, to the attacking battlepods: "

dmnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821416.post-32944911854625282162009-08-26T11:14:00.000-07:002009-11-29T14:56:45.333-08:00

These VHS tapes are missing a few episodes (as my own hand-taped collection did...aww!) such as the one where Ben Dixon gets killed by the overloading defense shield. The shot where Rick crosses himself in his cockpit...almost gave me religion.

dmnoreply@blogger.com0