20140322, Minutes, Taichung

[Jasmine0316]

20140322, Minutes, by Nathan Gee

Dear Friends:
Can you imagine that when you were watching a movie, a bullet just flies through by your head? Our friend Jim tells us that he could not help to hide the bullet by shrinking his head, because he totally immersed into the scenario of "Saving Private Ryan". Thanks to Jim, Jane, Micro, Jasmine, Kevin, Troy and Vicky for coming and sharingtheir wonderful experiences of watching movie, we have a joyful weekend gathering.
Everyone likes different genres of movies. Some like science fictions, some like a lot of special effects, some like motivating and inspiring movies, and some like movies warm and touchy. Is it strange to like watching people die in the movie? Not at all, you can always survive after watching the movie. It is not silly to like stupid movie, ether.
We all agree that every good movie must have good story. Besides director, actor and actress, someone thinks that producer is also very important. A good producer makes sure enough capital to shoot a movie, and in the meantime controls the quality of the film. Another says that making movie needs teamwork, every piece of the movie is also as important as director, actors and producer. Except for the performances of the actors, scenery sets, costume, lines and scores also influence the quality of the movie.
Troy tells us a terrible experience of watching horror movie. Jasmine provides her precious memory of watching movie with her father in foreign contour and in one rural town. Jane describes her feeling about an Indian movie that narrates how a woman gets rid of her husband's despising. Micro felt curious when he first time saw a movie with intermission. Jim admits that after seeing the movie "Jeanned'Arc", he thinks people should not too insistent on what he believes.
A good movie doesn't only bring us joy and happiness, but also let us think about all kinds of things. It can be the relationship of our family, the future of human being, or the meaning of life. It can be anything. Except for enjoining the story that movies have told you, my friends, Why not think about this: What story do you want to tell us, if you have the chance to make a brand new movie?


Nathan Gee 2014.03.28

[Jasmine0316]

Dear Taichung Happiers,

Everyone loves movies, and we cannot love Director Ang Lee, the Glory of Taiwan, enough. With great respect, let us ponder together over this quote from him: “When I make a movie, I really don’t want to know what they are.” (Ang Lee and the Art of Transnational Cinema: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH9t5NQimcA ) Filmmakers push open the garden gate, so that we see faith, passion and creativity inside. We, the audience, have to answer the subtle questions in the movies. And that is how the relationship between audiences and films occurs.

In 1975, Roger Ebert (June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. And he believes “Every great film should seem new every time you see it." We, the audience, are learning-- with obstacles and puzzlement along the way-- to trust our relationship with the films. For in this relationship with films is the promise to change and grow. Ang Lee says it’s a great fortune you have friends like the backbone to keep pushing you and accepting you, whatever you will become. He can find friends like this, and he hopes he can find audience to share his growth and they share theirs with him.

Movies give everyone a new brain which creates some other movies within itself. Mary Schmich (an American journalist, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2012) noted: “The movies we love and admire are to some extent a function of who we are when we see them.”If we couldn’t have built the relationship with movies, how differently are we doing and feeling right now? Moreover, how often can we escape from Hollywood films? How will the roads less travelled strike us? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=610541185706049&set=pcb.610542565705911&type=1&theater

Films create a new brain for everyone. This brain is full of cravings and curiosity; this brain leads us to face the reality by escaping the reality; this brain empowers ourselves to trust our guts while the biological brain keeps producing reasonable noises. With deeper appreciation, our hearts are overwhelmed. Let our hearts be overwhelmed. Nothing else can be so lovely, so lovely.

What makes films richer and more satisfying? Time to go mingling with the other brain!




Best Wishes,
Jasmine