In Between

September 21, 2008

 

So far, so good. I’m currently working on a novel that borders between the movie, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”, and the television show, “Heroes”. I’m going to correct you right there. No, my novel writing isn’t that superb, yet, but the fact is I’m aiming for the movie’s atmosphere and the tv show’s style. It’s not a “good conquers evil” type of story, at least that’s what I’m hoping for. It’s more on philosophy where evil is just a mindset and good is usually tainted by our own vices. That kind of thing.

It’s been weeks, according to the Document’s properties, since I’ve started it and I did edit it a week or so, adding more information as I went on, but I’m now finding it hard to finish it. I still am on the Prologue.

I’ve already written the chapters guidelines for it, like a blueprint, but that thing isn’t even finished yet. I’m aiming for 25 chapters, including both the Prologue and the Epilogue, but I’ve only inputted the first five chapters and the last four ones. I’m still on the Prologue but I’m already stuck.

Caffeine hasn’t helped as much as I expected it to and school’s only making it worse. Is my inability to finish something, my laziness’ fault or is it more because of my “extracurricular activities” like school and the RP? Maybe it’s because I’m still a kid and no matter how good people say I am, I’m still a novice in the world of writing. Either way, I’m not going to quit. Like a friend says, “If you quit writing, then I’m going to kill you.”

One last question before I poof: How do you kill a guy, who doesn’t want to die, dramatically and without people getting the idea that you did it?

 

 

Chiu and Evans

 

 

I was talking to a friend of mine, a girl who loved showbiz as much as I loved breathing air. She was telling me about the whole ABS-CBN love teams experiment or whatnot and expressed her fury on John Lloyd Cruz - Bea Alonzo - Sara Geronimo fiasco. No, it’s not really a big deal for the media mavens. Not even a big deal for most of the couch potatoes out there.

Basically, my friend thinks that Sara Geronimo was lambasted. She was given John Lloyd as a screen partner for a big movie, he was even a major part of her “A Very Special Love” music video, only to get him taken from her right after. It didn’t look like it was a show of respect and was blatantly instilling the thought that the people behind the whole thing viewed emotions, love especially, as something that could easily be influenced. That’s her opinion. I couldn’t really care less since I’m not a fan. Don’t get me wrong, John Lloyd’s a superb actor. That’s a fact. I’m just not that kind of a fan though.

Right after that little chat, I retreated to the living room to watch something that could perhaps inspire me to continue writing my proposed novel. Not really liking the Winx cartoon, I ended up watching Kimerald’s debut film, one which title escapes me. For those who don’t know, Kimerald is the love team nick of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. People usually get mixed emotions over Kim Chiu. Some thinks she’s charming, others perceive her as the poster child for malnutrition. In my opinion, she’s a talented cutie. I’m just a bit against her baggage (read as Gerald Anderson). But maybe that’s because I’m not a girl.

Chiu and Anderson look good together and they have that distinct charisma that would make me a fan. However, I can’t really shrug the feeling that they could offer more given the right incentives. That or I just find Gerald’s character in their debut movie a bit creepy. “Ang bango.”

Remembering the surprise team up of Chiu and Matt Evans on a recent Maalaala Mo Kaya episode, I couldn’t help thinking that the love team holds great promise. Kim Chiu and Matt Evans also look good together but unlike Gerald Anderson who’s a varsity guy with a foreign surname, Matt Evans is a more identifiable actor with a foreign surname. Truth be told, Gerald has been making great developments with each project that he’s had. The fact is, in my opinion, Matt’s smile is a great compliment to Kim’s. Besides, they’re both the same body type so it’s a win-win situation. I really miss that afro though.

 

Acting Out: The Cosplaying Coin

The Japanese abbreviation for costume play, cosplay is when fanboys and fangirls dress up like their favorite characters, show up at parties or conventions, and show off the awesomeness of how much they resemble their fantasy counterparts. Our friends at Wikipedia have even defined it as “a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, and… video games.” Subject to the stereotypes of uninitiated audiences, however, cosplay may seem like geeky show-and-tell or an extended trick or treating episode. Meanwhile, cosplay enthusiasts — called cosplayers — see it as a form of self-expression, an outlet for creativity, and an end unto itself.

~Gino De La Paz, Philippine Star Supreme

A week ago, a friend of mine harassed me in a popular instant messenger service. He threatened me, saying that he’ll rape me if I don’t go online right then. Fearing for my life, and dignity, I got on and shared a few seconds of mindless disputes with him only to be left bored when he signed out. Just like old times.

My plan was to go have a much needed hiatus from the online scene, even for just that night.  I’ve been distracted by the pretty colors lately and that wasn’t good for someone who’s going to be around lots of black.

So after a few hours, I decided to log out and get off Multiply. Unfortunately, the worst was still to come. Another friend of mine, one who’s going bald, insta-messaged me. When I told him I was logging off to go sleep, he implied that I was a [insert slang word for female genitalia here] for going to bed at 10pm. Once again, it was just like old times.

Artinsite Magazine, the Philippines’ first art appreciation magazine by artists for artists, is going to have its inaugural issue this January. At the same time, it’s going to launch its website. More information can be found here: AIS Guidelines

As a literary writer who wishes/seeks/wants to be published as a novelist, I jumped in the band wagon and made my own cover for it. About my cover: Cover Update

My inclusion in the magazine became our topic for that night, my friend being a skeptic when it comes to my successes. Come to think of it, everyone around me is like that. Maybe it’s the laidback look? Or the anti-social aura that’s an anti thesis to my personality? Whatever the reason is, I have such great friends.

My bald friend is sharing an apartment with another friend of mine, the fat one who plays the antagonist in this post’s main argument. Forget about the other two guys, they don’t play big roles in this situation. Let’s just focus on the fat guy.

From the magazine’s circulation and credibility to what exactly art is, we pretty much danced around the hell fire. This guy is my antagonist. Aside from having different views on an assortment of topics, we also face our lives differently. While I bask in aesthetics and pragmatism, this guy is a close minded realist who loved criticizing everything. Aside from that, we’re pretty good friends.

“whoa…cosplayers… i have to concede, there is probably an art in dressing up as obscure japanese characters. it’s like painting, only instead of asking “how dark should this shadow be?” one asks “do i look stupid enough?” bato bato sa langit ang tamaan ay huwag magalit. now. tell me again what is “aesthetic” with a teenager who dresses up like…um…detective conan? and what exactly is being expressed there? oh yeah…imagination and fantasy as a substitute for a tangible self-identity…i’ve heard of that before, and i don’t intend on rehashing a debate i’ve had with several cosplaying classmates of mine.”

That was his take on cosplaying as an art.

First of all, I’m not a cosplayer and I will never be a cosplayer. The fact that I’m not patient enough to stand still for a few minutes doesn’t even help. Regardless, I have cosplaying friends who are all I need to get a bird’s eye view on the extreme form of art. Dating someone who was passionate for it was a plus.

I’ve been to a few conventions too and I’ve had mixed emotions about everything. I see cosplayers as fanatics who take it upon themselves to express their love for Anime and Manga. They work hard for their outfits, costumes, and display their brevity and pride. As one of my cosplaying friends said, “It’s not just about the costume. You have to feel the character and become it.”

On another note, the fact that people actually spend their well earned money on such temporary things bothers me. I mean, it’s quite like spending a lot for a chew toy. Your dog plays with it for a bit and then its history. It might’ve swallowed it or pooped on it but that’s beside the point. They also spend much time for it, time that would’ve been more well spent on studying or finding one’s purpose in life.

PROS
-Really fun.
-Lots of cute girls.
-The closest one can get to spending time with an idolized character
-Immersive subculture
-Art appreciation is developed

CONS
-Geeky in some eyes
-Expensive outfits
-Unhealthy Obsession
-Precursor to identity crisis issues
-Psychological Side Effects

Again, the issue is cosplaying as an art, not cosplaying as a hobby. Let’s face it, cosplaying as a hobby is more understandable than its artistic purpose. Examples of hobbies: stamp collecting, hair dolls, porcelain dolls, pets, writing, photography and the list goes on. Examples of art: writing, photography, sculpting, painting, drawing and etcetera. See the difference? Not everything can be classified as art.

Art is expression. That’s a known fact. Cosplaying is an extreme art, it’s not just plain dress up. Like any artist, a cosplayer has passion. That’s saying a lot.
 
But then again, isn’t art defined by the audience?

In the end, to each our own really. We’re old enough to make our own decisions. We shouldn’t be fazed with any opposition. If you can’t stick with it, then you fail. That or it wasn’t meant for you.

—

The original conversation had already been published in a Multiply blog which you can find right here: LINK
What was said had already been said by all the other antagonists to cosplaying.
This was nothing new, really, but I wanted to share my opinions on the general topic.
You can also brush through the sentiments of some real life cosplayers and the fanatics with that link.

If you want, you can also comment right here.
No censorship.
Everyone’s entitled to his or her own opinion.