Dec 5th, 2009 marks the anniversary of the unfair and unjust ban on Park Shin Yang by CODA.

Since Park was banned on Dec 5th, 2008, thankfully, he didn’t quit his acting career, he didn’t stop advancing his performance experiences, he didn’t remember to give his hoo-baes chances to do better in this same field – he keeps trying to be a better person.

Sometimes I think Park might be viewed as fighting this for his own good.  But has anyone ever considered this as his fighting for an appropriate status an actor / actress deserves?   Think the poor Jang Ja Yeon.  Sad things happened because the powerful view actors / actresses as dispensible pleasures, not as respectable human beings.  Should actors / actresses just roll over and be stepped on?  Must they take “shxt” from the powerful?  Banning Park, as CODA claimed, was because he “obstructed the normal operation of the industry”.   “Normal operation” entails whatever favours the powerful.

Help lift this ban.  Join the Counter Ban for Park Shin Yang’s Dec 2009’s Email Campaign.  Thank you.

I watched these two movies recently – Gran Torino (2008) and Up (2009).

The Gran Torino  is a Ford-produced car in the late 60’s to early 70’s.  A 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof was featured in the Gran Torino (2008) movie directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.  Nowadays when people think of the most popular Ford-made sports car, perhaps most people will say Mastang.  But Gran Torino was once a popular and best-selling car model at its time.  This movie features the life of a recently-widowed Ford car assembly worker and Korean-war veteran, Walt, after his wife passed away.  His relationship with the two sons and their families contrasted with his new neighbour of the H’Mong (Vietnam) heritage.  He owned a Gran Torino which he assembled and prized.  His grand-daughter eyed it.  She asked if she could have it when he died on the day his wife had the funeral.  This car also sparked a never-expected relationship among Walt, Thao and Sue (the son and daughter of his new Hmong neighbour).

Up (2009) is an animation movie produced by Pixar.  This is a fairy tale in the modern days.  It’s about an old man, Carl, in a floating house, (stuck) with a boy scott, Russell,  to his dream target of a long time.  Carl’s wife, Ellie, talked about visiting this place, the Paradise Falls, when they were kids.  They got married and had started to save up for this trip.  But the trip fund was used for different reasons so the trip got put off.  After Carl’s lifetime partner wife died, he decided to fly to this dream place.  Russell needed to collect his final badge before he could be promoted as a senior Wilderness Explorer scott, hence he set his target to help this senior.  The two had an adventure together.

I want to draw a comparison between these two movies.

First, both movies, in my opinion, pay fine tributes to seniors.  When seniors may be viewed as grumpy, difficult-to-please old folks by the younger generations, (sadly sometimes even by their own off-springs,) these two films present them as a special group of people who are wise and experienced.  Tho sometimes they may be emotional, they also have a warm heart and caring soul – younger generations just need to spend time and respect them in order to get to the inner characters.  Once connected, they may both experience a mutual enlightenment in each other’s presence.

Second, regardless of age, there’s something every one prize in his/her heart.  In Gran Torino,  the old sport car was Walt’s treasure; in Up, the house was Carl’s precious.  They serve as almost the only single prized connection to their passed wife.  These objects have brought many sweet and lovely memories to these senior subjects.  For the juniors in the films, Thao, In Gran Torino, a teen H’Mong seeks peer acceptance, while Russell, in Up, a boy scott works hard to gain love from a distant Dad.  Both films reveal the before-and-after when the subjects give their prized objects up.

Young people, take the courage and lead to make the first contact.  Some seniors have a sad and bitter past.  Loosing their life-long partner is a big loss to them, sometimes so big that it gets their better half of themselves.  If you have a chance, be nice to the aged.  Consider yourself  lucky if you still have your grand-parents or even parents around.  Be nice to them.  Don’t just lust after the money and assets (oh Lord…) and only see the inheritance.  The Chinese has a saying, “A tree wants to be still but the wind doesn’t take a break; a son wants to serve their parents but they don’t stay awaiting” (樹欲靜而風不止，子欲養而親不待也 – 【出處】：漢·韓嬰《韓詩外傳》卷九).  Do the right thing at the right time.

Lastly, one theme is very important – holding on to past grudges will only block you from present and future happiness.  Throw away prejudices.  Age gap.  Racial discrimination.  Time won’t pause for you.  It’s up to yourself to live a happy life or a bitter life for the days to come.  Let go of the past, free up your hands to hold better, happier treasures to come.  Oui, I don’t mean let go of your aged spouse and get a younger girl / boy friend!!

Both films have very serious life lessons to be learnt AND the presentation is NOT-AT-ALL boring.  I believe you will enjoy them.

Not today.   We had our first snow on this winter last Thursday, Nov 5th, 2009.  It was a brief snowfall in the early evening.  The snow lumps were pretty (and pretty densed as well) and fortunately it didn’t last – otherwise it might have a bad impact on the road condition and I might be late for choir practise that night.

This winter’s first snow led me into thinking of a Korean-Japanese collabourated film, 첫눈 Virgin Snow 初雪の恋 (2007) by Lee Jun Ki and Aoi Miyazaki (whom in my opinion looks a lot like Angelica Lee Sum-Kit (Mandarin: Li Sin Jie), esp with Aoi’s photo in the Virgin Snow), a movie about puppy love.   I am wondering why the name was translated as Virgin Snow…  was it just to differentiate it from another Korean movie, 초설 First Snow (1958)?

Happy Birthday, Park Shin Yang!

Nov 1, 2009 – Park will be celebrating his birthday with fans from Japan and Korea, and on this day,  a great news came – Lee Kim Productions, a CODA member, which refused to pay Park after the k-drama, War of Money, had lost its appeal to the Seoul Central District Court’s ruling on May 8, 09 that Park was legally entitled to be paid in full for the contracted wages.  The Seoul High Court (11th Division) has ruled on Nov 1st that Lee Kim Productions has to pay Park in full the remaining balance AGAIN.

A contract is a contract.  Lee Kim Productions, no matter how many times you appeal, you are wrong for not paying Park. 

CODA – why do you insist your ban on Park Shin Yang?  Can’t you see that Lee Kim is wrong again?  Why do you still take the wrong side?  Please reverse this unfair and unjust ban immediately!  Please, don’t ever release any more statement that Lee Kim Productions is the victim  (XYZ!!!).  Park is the double victim here – no pay and no work!!

Someone, please, make sure Lee Kim Productions doesn’t just “fold” like that – please make sure it pays Park in full and please don’t let it pull some other tricks and let it go away with it – please!

I invite you to join the Counter Ban for Park Shin Yang – on Nov 5th, send your email to CODA and its members and ask them nicely to reverse the ban on Park; thanks!

News in English: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/11/113_54747.html

News in Korean:

 http://m.media.daum.net/view.html?cateid=100000&newsid=20091101090145369&p=fnnewsi

http://www.cbs.co.kr/nocut/show.asp?idx=1303017

Fighting, Park Shin Yang!  Hope to see you in a new k-drama soon.

(Updates: photos from “Autumn, 111″  @ Grand Hyatt Hotel / Seoul (text in Korean) – http://news.msn.co.kr/article/read.html?cate_code=5000&article_id=200911012226125007  )

Who would imagine that moms would drag kids, wait for 5 hours, and still feel satisfied when their kids finally get the H1N1 vaccine shot?

I witnessed that today – through the radio.  A mom was interviewed.  A health clinic at York Region (Ontario, Canada) started to offer H1N1 Vaccine shot to prioritized citizens.   It opened at noon today.  This Mom went there at 8:30 am; got her (and her kid) shot after an approx. 6 hours wait.  She was not overly upset about this long wait and she said she felt the wait was worth.

For those who didn’t know…  a 13-year-old Toronto (Etibocoke)  boy was lost to H1N1 earlier this week.  The H1N1 virus claimed this healthy hockey sport in just one day.  He felt ill (symptons included fever / vomiting) during a hockey tournament over this weekend.  He was taken to a walk-in clinic and was sent home on Sunday.  He collapsed Monday before noon, was taken to a hospital and passed away later the day.

An unimaginable shock to the family for sure.  My deepest condolence to this family.

Now you can understand why the rush, why the wait and why the satisfication.  Nothing’s more precious than life.

Hubby and I were talking about this last week.  We thought we could do away without.  We never did.  We are changing our minds now.

The York region website was down today.  I guess too many people wanted to check out the clinic locations (York region) and it went belly up.

Stay healthy for yourself, your loved ones and those around you.   Health!

Park Shin Yang’s doing great at NYIT.  There are two postings at his Japan official fan site on Oct 5, 2009. 

The first article was about logistics arragement due to a large crowd of attendence and it included comments taken from one of the five Korean students who received a scholarship to attend this course.  The student said Park Shin Yang’s passion of life and acting made him feel his own passion once again.  Professors of other acting classes also brought their students to join Professor Baek and Park’s class.  Many people were packed in a classroom.  The attenders were asked to open their hearts and minds for a frank discussion.

The second article covered the agenda (lecture notes) of that class – a list of very down-to-earth, practical questions (see for yourself!).  At the end of this class, everyone applauded.  Touching, isn’t it?  Apparently there is no “language” problem – when it comes to acting, the body language is universal, isn’t it?

Speaking of the Japan official fan site, there is a call for photos of 1 MB or less to be sent to the “Autumn 111″ birthday party event organizer – theme is of course the birthday celebration for Park Shin Yang.  Selected photo will be shown at the party.  Deadline to send is Oct 27.  For details, please click here (in Japanese).

CODA, you may ban Park from future k-dramas, but you can’t ban his spirit and passion in dramas.  The sooner you reverse the ban decision, the better.  People are not stupid.  They can tell what is legit and what’s not.

Reader, if you haven’t participated in the counter ban campaign before, consider joining at least once – the next one is launched Nov 5th, 2009 – please check “Counter Ban for Park Shin Yang” out!

Today I practiced cello to my heart’s content.   After the last class, I got some new songs:  1) Take My Life and Let It be  2) For Unto Us a Child is Born  (from Handel’s Messiah)  3) Pathetique Sonata Op. 13 2nd Movement Solos  (one would have heard of it; here’s a piano version) 4) Hatikvah

The first two songs are hymns which I am very familar with.  The third one is a Beethoven’s song; the last one – I had no clue what it sounded like.  So I searched on the internet for Hatikvah (or Ha Tikvah, which means The Hope in Hebrew).  Then I realized it’s the national anthem of Israel.  I listened to it once (a man performed this with his mouth making a trumpet sound).  Then I tried to play the hymns and Hatikvah.

I used to think if I play better if I know the melody line well.  Today I discovered that’s not always the case…. to my surprise.

Tone-wise, Hatikvah came out best.  It came out fine even the first attempt.

My conclusion of the day:  For my cello, either I get it, or I don’t.  I am not a true musician.

I was quite pleased with myself, until I saw this… 

Fingers hurt…. argh!!!

p.s. my lovely hubby applied some WD40 to the cello’s fine tuners – they’re not so tight anymore – sweeeeet. 

The Seoul International Drama Awards SDA2009 awards ceremony was held at Seoul’s Olympic Hall in the Olympic Park on Sept 11, 2009.

Many Korean newspaper covered the news.  Feel free to search for “SDA 서울드라마어워즈” and you will see a ton of articles about the results.

I am only going to highlight winners related to K-industry (and Canada!!) - note these are my best guesses (if I made any mistake, please inform me!)

First, no surprise to anyone -

These were announced on the evening:

Grand Prize: Memoirs in China (China, Zhejiang Huace)

Best & Excellence Drama 

SS501 (where Kim Hyun Joong is a member but did not perform due to high fever and serious flu symptons), Park Hyo Shin (박효신),  Tae Yong (태연) (SNSD/Girl’s Generation) and Tmax were some of the performers of the evening.  Songs presented included Lee Jun Ki’s Il-Ji-Mae – HwaShin, Kim Myung Min’s Beethoven Virus – Can You Hear Me.  Park and Tae Yong performed MISA’s Snow Flower as a duet.  Tae Yong’s voice is really nice – it’s a pity that this key wasn’t Tae Yong’s range… (see the clip with the link behind Tae Yong).

Source:

http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?newsid=200909112046521117&ext=na (complete winner list at the end of the article; with photos!)

http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200909112036111001 (with photos!)

http://www.allkpop.com/index.php/full_story/seoul_international_drama_awards_2009_wrap-up/ (more photos and video clips!)

It’s been a while since I wrote about my cello lessons.  I have been “progressing” SSSSSLOWLY.  Sometimes I felt like I was getting somewhere, yet in the class I played really badly.  Last week – my single takeaway exercise was to “make the strings resonate”.  What a blow… but I really need to do that.

Last class, my practice piece was Scherzo by C. Webster (melody style ABA).  It has a busy (étude-like) first part, a meno mosso expressive second part, and it closes with the busy notes again.  The middle part was my main course (hungry…) – it has a bit of shifting and it covers 2nd/4th positions.  As usual, my fingering is all over the place (I keep playing notes that marked with the number “2″ with my index finger… sigh!!).  But that’s not the main problem.  I’ve transcribed the melody to solfège names and my teacher reacted greatly to that.  He said I was cheating.  I was supposed to play by the letter, not by the solfège syllable.  I told him that’s how I sing, and he absolutely hates it.  Honestly, sometimes in the class, he’d ask me to play a note (by the letter, like a F#) and I would totally look like an idiot and my response would be so retarded and he might have thought that I was evening-dreaming or I simply turned deaf.  When I play, I play the melody.  I rarely map the note to the Music Letter in my head (tho I roughly map the note to the note on music, but not the letter of the note).  I don’t work the Letter system when I play.  I won’t say don’t work with it “at all” but I’m far better with the solfège system.  This is going to be a BIG adjustment – perhaps a barrier for me to cross if I want to move further.  Argh!!!

Anyways, my solfège system’s busted now.   DXXX!

Hwang Jung Min (황정민) – a name Korean movie goers will not forget.

If you pick your movies or dramas just by the look of the leads, you could have easily skipped his work.  But – you really have *NO IDEA* how much you’ve missed out.  Seriously.

I have not exhausted his work yet.  Actually I bumped into his work purely by accident.  After I watched k-drama “Lovers in Prague” (프라하의 연인, 2005, SBS), I was interested in seeing more work of both leads, Jun Do Yeon and Kim Joo Hyuk (whom I have briefly discussed before).  Then I came across this movie, “You Are My Sunshine” (너는 내 운명, 2005, Korean Movie) with Jun Do Yeon as the Female Lead and Hwang was the Male Lead.  I had no idea who Hwang Jung Min was then.  After watching “You Are My Sunshine”, I became more curious of Hwang.  His role in that movie was a “below average Joe”, late middle-aged farmer Seok Joong who received coffee delivery from Eun Ha, a staff of a rural coffee shop.  She delivered products of the coffee shop in a small town, and sometimes she offered “special services” to the male customers as well.  This is a melodrama.  Then I watched Hwang’s another movie, “A Man Who Was Superman” (슈퍼맨이었던 사나이, 2008, Korean Movie).  Hwang played a superman whose single mission is to save the earth and has been doing that for the longest time, until a producer/reporter met him and looked at the ”superman”’s x-ray report.  This is a very meaningful story that makes you think and reflect a lot.  I was swept head over heel - Hwang Jung Min’s performance was shockingly and amazingly solid.  Since then, I’m convinced – show me his name, and I am sold (almost).

Yesterday I heard of Hwang’s movie, Shadow Murder (검은집, also called Black House) (2007) (original story from a Japanese horror novel by Yusuke Kishi which has also been made into a Japanese movie ”The Black House“(1999)), where he played a new insurance agent investigaing a death of a boy which leads him to a series of murder cases.   This is a thriller.  I am looking forward to this when I get a hold of it.  Actually, I am going to watch his first k-drama “That Fool” (그바보, 2009, KBS2) – I think it will be worth just by enjoying his performance.

Hwang Jung Min – a sweet charm in the heart.  A rare gem in the K-entertainment industry.   Highly recommended.