Tonight Show no longer with Jay Leno

Just in. Jay Leno will be leaving the Tonight Show in the (capable IMO) hands of Conan O'Brien. NBC wants to keep Leno but Leno has already decided to jump ship. At least that's how the short run-down of it goes. The questions start coming up, why now? what will happen to NBC? will Tonight still dominate after this?

Although it is true that Leno has been keeping things in the late-night talkshows gearing in NBC's favor, who are we to immediately judge that O'Brien would not stand a chance? According to this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080721/ap_en_ot/tv_nbc_late_night

Despite its prime-time woes, NBC has managed to maintain its late-night ratings dominance, although O'Brien has been challenged lately by Craig Ferguson on CBS. Now NBC is attempting a tricky transition based on a promise made nearly four years ago that O'Brien would succeed Leno.

Personally? I like Conan O'Brien. I watch "Late Night" more than "Tonight" and find myself enjoying O'Brien's show more. I don't have any doubts that O'Brien would be able to pull this off. Leno would pose as a great threat to NBC especially if he sides with ABC... the whole Leno-O'Brien thing is controlled when they were both in NBC but if put face to face then that would shake things up a bit. For the better I'm sure.

I can only imagine all their shows, Leno's shows in particular, having a little spike against NBC. That would be cool.

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2008 Winners

I've mentioned in the previous post how I've watched a couple of short films for Cinemalaya. The winners came out last Sunday.

Here is a quick run-down of the winners:
(from: http://mykiru.blogspot.com/2008/07/cinemalaya-2008-winners.html)

Best Actor: Baron Geisler, Jay
Best Actress: Mylene Dizon, 100
Best Supporting Actor: Yul Servo, Brutus
Best Supporting Actress: Eugene Domingo, 100
Best Full-Length Feature Film: Jay
Best Short Film: Andong
Best Director (Full Length): Chris Martinez, 100
Best Director (Short): Mark V. Reyes, God Only Knows
Best Screenplay (Full Length): Chris Martinez, 100
Best Screenplay (Short): Milo Tolentino, Andong
Best Original Music / Musical Score: Joey Ayala, Brutus
Best Sound: Allan Hilado, Ranchero
Best Cinematography: Jay Abella, Brutus / Dan Villegas, Huling Pasada (tie)
Best Production Design: Cristina Honrado, Baby Angelo
Best Editing: Kats Serraon, Jay
Special Jury Prize (Full Length): Brutus
Special Jury Prize (Short): My Pet
Special Jury Citation: Angan-Angan
Audience Choice Award (Full Length): 100
Audience Choice Award (Short): God Only Knows

... Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised to find that Andong won Best Short Film and Best Screenplay for Short Film. I believed in Andong, I really did. Now that the results came out I am pushed more than ever to watch 100 and Jay.

Cinemalaya 2008: Andong Spotlight

I've managed to watch one set of short films in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2008. For the Shorts A set: they showed Ibang Pamilya, Diamante sa Langit, Angan-Angan, God Only Knows and Andong. The first four short films convey a solemn, if not serious mood. So when the time for airing Andong comes, people welcomed it with open arms and was deemed as an escape from the heavy air that the previous films had.

3-minutes into the film and people were already applauding.

Everyone can relate to the story because it gives a sharp tug to our innate desires and our stubborn nature. If we really, really, REALLY want something, as kids we used to bug our parents to buy it for us. As we grow older we seemed to forget about that already since we have the means to provide for ourselves. Andong reminds us of our persistence and our determination to acquire what it is that we really, really, REALLY want.

I enjoyed Andong and the message it gives to the audience. I really hope it wins... even if it doesn't, "'Nay pengeng bente pesos, bente pesos lang 'nay" will forever resonate in my head.

Alodia is Art!

Probably all hardcore anime fans in the Philippines have blogged about this epic cosplayer at one point in their lives. I first heard about Alodia through one of the anime conventions I go to. At that time she wasn't famous yet.

When I first saw her I was like "Daaaaaamn!!! A cosplayer who looks EXACTLY like the character!" It's one of those rare moments in local anime entertainment that I cherished. Then Alodia got famous (with a face and body like that it was only a matter of time anyway) that's when all the lovers and haters came in.

But I'm not going to revel at how beautiful Alodia is and how much of an EPIC WIN her cosplay ventures are. What I want to point out is her amazing talent (other than the ability to pose in front of the camera and be absolutely stunning) in drawing. Any anime fan would want to draw something like the ones they see on TV. Actually any anime fan would pretty much just want to contribute something to the industry. Whether through stories (fanfiction), wallpapers, subbed anime, dubbed anime, scanlations... we all want to contribute something.

Alodia apparently does not only look good, she's good at drawing too. Forgive me for using such a mundane word, let me rephrase: she's awesome!!! Alodia is one of the blessed few who's just good at the arts in general. I can't repost her artwork here so instead I'll just give you a link to her deviantart page so you can see for yourself: http://blackmage9.deviantart.com/

Enjoy!