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Category Archives: Interview
THE BEAUTY AND THE BRAWN IN BAGAN THE BEGINNING
In Part One, the interview with the impresario of BAGAN THE BEGINNING, we connected with the breath of the series. Now we have a chance to discern the beauty and identify the brawn of the characters in the story because we sometimes forget that who carries out these fantasy aspirations are real live human beings who bring themselves into their depictions. Sometimes it is only a little or even just peripherally, while at other times it is substantial. In the case of these three young men, they brought more than most of us realized. For them, it became a labor of love. And a commitment to showcase a culture still steep in tradition and custom yet harnessing the winds of change as it gently breezes through its society, softly, imperceptivity bringing change. Each of them imparted a uniqueness to BAGAN THE BEGINNING that became more than their stunning good looks, which of course they are undeniably blessed with.
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THE BREATH BEHIND THE BEAUTY OF BAGAN THE BEGINNING
Occasionally a series comes along that is so captivating that you begin to wonder about its own origins and is it as interesting as the story itself. Well, I got to find out and I found out that indeed its origins are just as fascinating as the make-believe story itself. By sheer luck, I was able to nail down an interview with the Director/Writer, Ko Kelvin, of this fascinating and engaging BL from a country obviously not particularly known for its BLs. In fact, its whole ethos on the engagement of gayness is rather repressing and yet perhaps that is what makes this story even more engaging and certainly reflective. It also gives, I think greater depth to its characters that you do not sense or feel in other BLs as of late as this one comes straight from the spirit. The story of BAGAN THE BEGINNING is not going to be revealed here; that is for you to experience and ponder. The only comment I shall make is that it is not just an enticing/thought-provoking story; it also spins an elegance around the wonderment of Myanmar that created in me a wanderlust to visit its natural and cultural grandeur.
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“PURE VANILLA”: JUST THE EXACT INGREDIENT IN THE RECIPE FOR LOVE
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview the director and performers of a short BL series that has simply taken off with little fanfare. Mostly by word-of-mouth. It was produced by a small independent production company called 250 Films founded by Ng Yu Wen. The name of this short gem was PURE VANILLA, starring Braven Yeo as Gabriel and Deng Xun as Charlie. It was written and directed by a remarkable young individual named Mickey Hiah. The first episode, if you will, is just over 9 minutes long and came out about 10 months ago on YouTube and has over 150,000 views, which is remarkable. Then just over a month or so ago, they released Episode 2 called PURE VANILLA: RECIPE FOR ROMANCE. Already it has nearly 170,000 views with an astonishing number of positive comments about its content. This episode introduced a new character named Alex (Leon Koh) who added a new element to an existing recipe of love.
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STAY Captures the Heart of the San Pedro International Film Festival: Meet Its Creators
Recently, the San Pedro Film Festival was held in one of the most beautiful and majestic art deco old movie theaters in the whole of the Los Angeles area. Built in the 1930’s, the Warner Grand Theater, funded by the Hollywood mogul Jack Warner way back in the day, is located in the port city of San Pedro. San Pedro feels like an isolated area of Los Angeles as it sits far from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and Los Angeles itself. But it continues to remain a thriving and very diverse community. Once a year, it features a film festival for short films of diverse backgrounds. This year one of the more interesting BLs for 2023 was chosen to be honored. That was “STAY”, which stars Sebastian Castro as Andre and Ellis Gage as Joshua in a contemporary and perhaps distinctive love story, yet all too common for a city like Los Angeles. I reviewed this series and enjoyed it considerably when it came out. But there is something still so magical about seeing films on a big screen with the booming sound, and forgive me, eating popcorn.
Spinning the Red Thread with Lazysheep!
When it comes to the wonderful world of BL dramas Until We Meet Again is one of the staples of the genre. Based on the novel The Red Thread by Lazysheep, it’s an epic romance that transcends time, intergenerational prejudice, and even death itself to prove that true love really does conquer all.
“Stay Still The Series” Producer Jimmy TSOI: Achieving The Impossible
While scripting and directing a show itself is a painstaking process, without proper resources and funding, the desired effect won’t be achieved. This is where producers come into the picture. They try to help the directors enliven the world build by the scriptwriters. This is normally the case where heterosexual romances are concerned. But the reverse is true for BL content; especially in Asian countries, where LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media is still an impossible dream. Despite these unfavorable circumstances, there are a few daring producers who are determined to extrapolate queer experiences. One of them is Mr. Jimmy TSOI from Hong Kong’s Jupiter Entertainment. Their recent production, “Stay Still The Series”, won applause because of its rustic production and sublime storytelling. In this exclusive, we talk to Mr. TSOI about the problems faced during the inception of this show and his vision about their upcoming projects!
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Outspoken and Frank: “Stay Still” Stars Chun Hin TO & Bosco TSE
Producing a BL show with a decent storyline isn’t an easy job; it is even more difficult when you are based in a conservative society like Hong Kong. From procuring funds to the running the show, Actor/Producer Bosco TSE’s stuck gold after almost three years of hardship. We are talking about the recently on-air miniseries “Stay Still”. The dulcet usage of low lights coupled with humble settings compliments the overall storytelling and it’s a great way to deliver a sombre romance. Joining him on this arduous yet fulfilling journey is co-star Chun Hin TO. We sat down for a casual conversation with this handsome couple about this ambitious project and future endeavors.
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“Stay Still” Jeremy Ho & Louis LAM: Scripting New Success in the Hong Kong BL Scenery
Since mainstream Hong Kong cinema is still quite conservative, there are very few films depicting issues relevant to the LGBTQ+ community. At its heart, although there are productions like Happy Together, Twilight’s Kiss/Suk Suk, A Woman is a Woman, Butterfly and the most recent BL adaptation “Ossan’s Love”, queer storylines are still begging for attention and a proactive audience. In the midst of these struggles, we have a small, lesser known production from Hong Kong who is trying to bridge the distance between dreams and reality. And joining them on this crusade are a talented crew of actors who are delivering their daring acts with conviction. Join us as we talk to actors Jeremy HO and Louis LAM from “Stay Still” about the change they want to project with their on-air romance!
A Soulful Exchange with “Sparks Camper” Justin Macapallag
Dating shows are mostly messy or chaotic, with a flair for theatrics that borders on high end drama or notoriety. Whilst queer dating shows like “I Kissed a Boy”, “Dating Around” and the upcoming “The Ultimatum: Queer Love”, “I Kissed a Girl” have always been the usual norm; Asian BL industry had zealously kept away from this trend in the past. Gone are those days and now the Boy’s Love universe has joined the reality show bandwagon. Following into the footsteps of Korean dating shows like “His Man” & “Merry Queer”, Philippines has added flavor to this genre with their very own spicy sojourn. Titled “Sparks Camp”, the dating show is an impactful journey where the contestants go through a series of challenges, so they can find the “Mutual Spark”.
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The BL Xpress 