Alternative Fictions Final Project: Part I

For my Alternative Fictions (ENG300W) class, the final project to to create a short film based on a short story called "Robby's Kill Box." First of all, the story is quite senseless and abstract, spontaneous and peculiar. All in all, very interesting, but inconsistently written, in my opinion.

With a group of five members, I've taken the liberty to generate a script, work the camera, direct, and edit the entire short film... which I estimated to last approximately ten minutes. Everyone else can do the acting.

I'll upload the finished product next week. Here's the script.


Robby’s Kill Box
An Adaption


Jeff Hwang – Direction, cinematography + random character

Sharon Pak – Narrator
George Gilbert – Robby
Kimberly Williams – Kierce
Stephen Armon – Da Vinci + random character


Scene I:
(Outdoors)
Narrator is idly sitting, writing in her notebook.

Narrator: (alone, sitting and writing, voiceover) “Early August, over the past year, there was Old Man Miller who had a heart attack and died while falling down the stairs. There was little Jodi who, along with his bike, was crushed under a car. And there was the overly drunk McCracken who toppled over his John boat and drowned in Cora Creek. And who else but Robby would falsely confess that the deaths were all his doings? But that’s the thing. I just take confessions as they come. Even if I know it wasn’t him.

(stands up, still writing)

“A Da Vinci-like psycho’s been chopping off fellows here and there… and then painting them up. Oddly enough, his works of ‘art’ are actually quite impressive. This guy’s a true genius.

(closes notebook)

“So where does Robby come in? Personally, I don’t even know. But every time Da Vinci claims another victim, I dream about Robby. Don’t ask me why, I take the confessions, not the dreams.”

Scene II:
(Chamber Hall, music area)
Narrator with friend, Kierce, idly standing in the hallway. Unnamed character arrive shortly from a rehearsal room.

Unnamed Character: (holding a guitar) “I can’t help it, I can’t stand it anymore.”
Narrator: “What?”
Unnamed Character: “I cheated on her…” (pause) “Jesus, I cheated on her with people she hated…”

(long pause, Kierce glances at narrator)

Narrator: (aggravated) “So tell her, and deal honestly with the results.”

(unnamed character shows some form of relief, exits scene)

Narrator: (voiceover) “Still August, but they keep on coming.”

Scene III:
(Living room, dining room area)
Narrator and Kierce eating.

Kierce: “There’s something I simply have to tell you.”
Narrator: (surprised, voiceover) “Here we go. I’ve never heard any confessions from her before, this should be interesting.”
Kierce: (pause) “I love what you did with the ginger.”
Narrator: (smiles, voiceover) “I can go crazy like this.”

Scene IV:
(Later, narrator taking nap, still in living room)

Robby: (swinging box, smiling, near trees)
Narrator: (wakes up, holds up newspaper, headlines read ‘Killer Strikes Again’)
Kierce: “You’re not gonna catch this one.

(Kierce reaches into a drawer and pulls out a small bag, reaches into the bag and pulls out a stone)

“Here, keep this. And don’t lose it."
Narrator: “What is it?”
Kierce: “A spirit stone. Keep it on you at all times.”
Narrator: (puzzled look, puts stone in pocket)

Scene V:
(Sleeping, narrator dreams)
At nature preserve, Robby with narrator, walking casually. Robby swings around his box for fun. Robby grabs narrator’s shoulder.

Narrator: (wakes up and shocked to find Robby at her bedside)
Robby: “I did it.”
Narrator: “W-what?”
Robby: “I killed Fisher’s dog. And the cat. And the rest of the missing pets. I cut them up. And I buried them everywhere.”
Narrator: (stares, no words, voiceover) “I know he didn’t do it. But still, the scary thing is that he wishes he did it. And not only that, I know he can do it.”
Robby: “Can you help me?”
Narrator: (rubs eye, tired) “What… how?”
Robby: “I have to show you.”
Narrator: (voiceover) “How stupid can I get?”

Scene VI:
(Continuation, nighttime, back at preserves)
Narrator follows Robby to woods. They stop, Robby takes a brick out of his box and hits the side of narrator’s head. Narrator collapses.

(Later)
Narrator: (wakes up to crying noise, blood everywhere. Narrator’s eyes wander, confused, sees Robby)
Robby: (poking own head) “Why didn’t it stop? It was supposed to stop…” (pause) “What’s wrong with me that it won’t work?” (opens and closes box, touching it all over)
Narrator: (reads label ‘Robby’s Tool Box’, whispering) “Robby’s… Kill Box… that’s what everyone calls it.”
Robby: (takes a screwdriver and hammer out of box, holds tools to his chest) “Nothing is true. None of it and all of it.”

(Robby proceeds to attack narrator, but two unidentified people come out and stop, drag Robby away, narrator blacks out)

Scene VII:
(Narrator with Kierce in previous room)
Narrator reading newspaper with updated headlines, reading ‘Da Vinci Killer Claims Number Eight.’

Narrator: (stands up and gives notebook to Kierce) “Hold on to these.”
Kierce: (drinking coffee, takes notebook) “Hey, you’ll be fine.”
Narrator: (pauses at exit, leaves room)

Scene VIII:
(Outdoors, nighttime, empty area)

Narrator: (sitting alone on bench, voiceover) “Late September, summer’s fading fast. The chill is getting to me. Moments like these I wish I brought along a jacket.”
Da Vinci: (suddenly show up behind narrator, surprises her) “Is this seat taken?”
Narrator: (regains mentality and shrugs. Da Vinci sits before she can answer) “Seat’s free. But I’m taken.”
Da Vinci: (calm, gentle voice, smiles) “That remains to be seen.”

(long pause, both characters sitting without much motion)

Narrator: (voiceover) “Keep cool.”
Da Vinci: (after another pause) “So you want me to confess.”
Narrator: “Excuse me?”
Da Vinci: “Don’t bother, I know a beacon when I see one.”
Narrator: (hesitantly) “A… beacon…?”
Da Vinci: “I know what you are.”
Narrator: (anxiously looking around for other people)
Da Vinci: (tilts head in confusion at narrator’s motions, waves hand) “Helloooo.” (smiles again) “They’re not coming.”
Narrator: “What’d you do? Kill them all?”
Da Vinci: (laughing) “Didn’t have to.”
Narrator: (showing nervousness) “What… they just up and kill themselves?”
Da Vinci: “Sort of.” (not smiling, serious now) “Dead of boredom, I’m afraid.” (inches forward closer to narrator) “See, this lot tonight, they don’t believe in me. Or in you. (takes out a paintbrush and taps nose repeatedly)

(Narrator makes a motion to grab the paintbrush, but holds back)

“Robby says hello.”
Narrator: (eyes bulge at the name)
Da Vinci: “If I confess to you, I won’t have to stop. Not ‘til I want to.”
Narrator: “…why not?”
Da Vinci: “I’m not from your neck of reality. I don’t need to play by your universal rules.”
Narrator: “So, you’re just made of dark thoughts and set loose?”
Da Vinci: (pouting, sitting back) “Putting it that way sounds limiting…”
Narrator: (takes spirit stone out, but keeps it under table) “So what now?”
Da Vinci: (smiles) “That won’t work. I already paid a visit to her.”
Narrator: (shows worry again) “Who?”
Da Vinci: “The person that gave it to you.” (leans in again) “Sweeeet.”
Narrator: “Fuck.”
Da Vinci: “Don’t worry, I didn’t touch her. Can’t. Against the rules.”
Narrator: “What…?”
Da Vinci: “Hey, where do the confessions go? I thought maybe I was like you. You can do things. You get to do the things you’ve listened to all your life.”
Narrator: “And do what?”
Da Vinci: (smirks mysteriously) “I told you I wasn’t here to confess.”
Narrator: “Well, what then?”
Da Vinci: (suddenly pulls out ‘Robby’s Kill Box’ and plants it on the table) “I’m here to finish what was started a long time ago.”
Narrator: (looks back and shows sign of panic, but just stares at the box)
Da Vinci: “Maybe you’re doing a disservice. Maybe you’re letting them forget too easily.” (taking tools out of box)
Narrator: (looks up, suddenly realizing something) “This… is all about unfinished business.” (choked voice) “All the people you killed, you were taking care of old business…

(Da Vinci smiles and nods)

“But how do you know? Who to hit and what to paint on them?”
Da Vinci: “They told me. It starts with need. A need that grows up and out until it has to be accounted for. Like you, I carry out what the cosmos asks of me.”
Narrator: “You killed Robby.”
Da Vinci: “Slightly. Told you it’s unfinished business, I didn’t tell you whose.” (puts tools back in box)
Narrator: “What, so now you’re finished with me? Or finished killing people?”
Da Vinci: (calm and collected) “Both.”
Narrator: “That easy?”
Da Vinci: “Why not? Listen, you’re a hunter, like me. People fall to you. Don’t let them off too easy, or it’ll eat you up.” (gets up after talking)
Narrator: “That’s it? You’re done knocking people off?”
Da Vinci: (turning to leave, waves hat) “Yep.”
Narrator: (stands up as well) “Wait, do you always tell people that their unfinished business have been taken care of?”
Da Vinci: (pauses, glances back to narrator) “No, just you.” (leaves scene)
Narrator: (waits and whispers) “Then you’ve confessed after all…”

Some Like It Hot

We have made history and broke a record!

Nearly two decades ago, the highest temperature for April 25th was 81 degrees Fahrenheit. But, the times have changed and the record has been reset to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. And this is Binghamton, NY, we're talking about; a land of snow, ice, and ceaseless cloudy skies.

However, on April 25, 2009...

It...

Was...

HOT.

Super Happy Fun Clay Time

BEFORE


















Uninteresting wad of clay...

THEN























Oh, boy!

AFTER























Too bad I don't have paint. Here's Mewtwo... in all his glory?

Counting Down

It's actually pretty surprising as to how quickly sophomore year has come and gone. Last time I checked, I was still in Taiwan acting like a total foreigner, hitting Luxy and Room 18 with no regrets, staying out until the sun rose, and woke up with mild to severe hangovers on consecutive days. But now that I checked again, summer of 2009 is just around the corner, which means the inevitable arrival of junior year... then senior year... then real life.

I'll be heading home back to Long Island in approximately two and a half weeks, on May 11, just a couple of hours after my last final. There isn't really anything left for me to do on campus between now and departure, aside from a student event here and there.

With a recent moderate injury to my right shoulder from fooling around with football, this took fencing out of my weekly plans for the rest of the semester. However, I'm still debating whether or not I should attend national's at Houston, Texas this summer. If I choose to go, this shoulder better be at 100% before I leave Binghamton. Who knows how much training I'm missing out on...

So many plans for next semester and this semester isn't even over yet.

Fall 2009 Schedule!

Got all the classes I wanted so far. If I overload, I may add one or two more.

- RHET 240: Introduction to Journalism
- ENG 227: British Literature I (lecture/discussion)
- ENG 245: Shakespeare (lecture/discussion)
- ANTH 114: Language, Culture, and Communications in the U.S. (lecture/discussion)

May add:

- ENG 310: Introduction to Theory and Criticism (lecture/discussion)
- RHET 380: Reading the News

Classical Music: Going Back in Time

To continue my last post regarding the anime, Nodame Cantabile, I surprised myself by finishing the second season, which consisted of eleven episodes in two days. Considering my attitude towards the first season, the second season was not bad either. Even though the plot was pretty straightforward from episodes one to eleven (as compared to the 23-episode first season), everything else was similar to the way season one was organized.

The animation for season two did improve, however, as entire orchestras were animated. Season one primarily had still-images with music playing in the background, along with occasional voice-overs. Season two did get a tad sappier in terms of the romance elements of the series, plus its comedic level dropped below the drama level in comparison to the first season. I'll give season one a 9.0 out of 10 and season two an 8.5 out of 10... or somewhere along those lines, you get the idea.

Season three is green-lighted for the fall of 2009, probably sometime in between September and October. Even though I have no idea how the creators are going to add onto the series, due to the fact that I feel everything pretty much ended already after episode eleven of the second season. However, since the original manga series is still ongoing as of today, the creators of the anime will probably just draw storylines from the original manga.

But now I'll get to the one aspect of the Nodame Cantabile series that really got me good: the reinstilled urge to play good ol' classical music.

That's right. I played classical music between the approximate ages of five to fifteen, followed by five years of messing around with contempory music. After listening to the samples that were included in the anime, this overwhelming feeling of nostalgia washed over me, especially when I heard various songs that I have played before in the past.

Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, Schubert, Chopin... I've heard their compositions, I've played many, but I have definitely forgotten most of them. I can read the sheet music and identify the melodies, but my techniques could definitely use some brushing up.

Out of the dozens and dozens of pieces that were used in the anime, two of them that I could identify with right away were Beethoven's Sonate Op. 13 and Schubert's Sonata in A Minor, D. 845 Op. 42.

Beethoven's piece, more famously known as Sonate Pathétique, was one of my favorites back when I was still a piano student. It consists of three movements, spanning a grand total of eighteen pages. The funny thing is, I've played the first movement before while my brother played the third movement. What happened to the second movement?

Sonate No. 8 in C Minor (Pathétique), Op. 13, by Ludwig van Beethoven
Second movement - Adagio Cantabile

The second movement of the piece was played several times throughout the anime series. I have not played this movement in the past, but I have heard it before. Nodame Cantabile, with the title character playing the second movement in the adagio cantabile style... I wonder if there's a connection there?

Moving on to the second song I was talking about, Schubert's Sonata in A Minor, Op. 42, this song was played many times through the anime. I have not played this song before, as I have, oddly, rarely played Schubert's pieces. However, this one caught my ear and I had to find the sheet music for it once I finished watching the series.

Sonata in A Minor, D. 845 Op. 42, by Franz Schubert
First movement - Moderato

Great song. Very catchy for a classical piece, but not exactly the easiest of songs to play. Technique-wise, it is straightforward, but as any pianist would say, you have to play with emotion. Combining the two elements, I've got myself a handful. Thank God I'm only working on the first movement, however, even though it consists of seven pages with repeats. The entire composition spans a whopping 24 pages... Mr. Schubert, you are a monster.

Beethoven - Sonate Pathétique - Second Movement


Schubert - Sonata in A Minor - First Movement

Uneventful Spring Break

Since there is only a handful of people I know who's with me on spring break back home, everything has been quiet and... mellow. I should add that I don't even talk to the people that are back here. Put two and two together:

I'm bored.

So, recently I started making a media collection, predominantly movies, music - and requested by my brother - anime. Honestly speaking, I watched less than 10% of what I've gathered up so far, a combined 400 or so GB's worth of entertainment.

A couple of days ago, I decided that I can easily pass time by watching random anime series that I've downloaded. Out of the recent ones I've completed, I would say the one that appealed the most to me was Nodame Cantabile. For those who have background knowledge for classical music, the term "cantabile" means played in a singsong-like fashion. Nodame's the name for the female protagonist of the series, if anyone's curious.

Nodame Cantabile

The entire series is themed around classical music. Knowing me and my classical piano history, stuff like this intrigues me right off the bat. When I went through episode one not knowing any background information about the series, my attention was grabbed, though my interest was not in full bloom. As I went through the first three or so episodes, I was gradually drawn into the basic, but nonetheless interesting storyline.

The Facts
- Based on a manga (comic)
- 23 main episodes (plus a couple of "bonus" episodes)
- Originally ran from Jan. 2007 to June 2007
- Directed by Kenichi Kasai
- Animation studio: J.C. Staff
- Also an award winning live-action Japanese TV drama of the same name
- Features compositions by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Debussy, Schumann, Brahms, Strauss, Listz, Gershwin, and more
- Features performances by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

The Story
The protagonist, Chiaki Shinichi, is a senior majoring in piano in a music college in Japan. He's a prodigy, perfectionist, and far more musically talented than the rest of the students (and even staff) in the school. As a result, he's arrogant, highly criticizing, and sometimes downright overly aggressive. Although he excels in playing the piano (also the violin), his true dream lies in conducting.

Along the way, he bumps into the title character, Megumi Noda, who goes by a portmanteau of her surname plus given name, "Nodame." She's wacky, odd, unladylike, sloppy, clumsy, but free-spirited. On top of that, her piano playing is unique and her technique is unparalleled.

The series goes on with Nodame falling in love with the talented, good-looking Chiaki, while Chiaki finds himself trying to rid himself of his peculiar admirer. Episode by episode, character developments become huge, and plots move on with the introductions of various eccentric characters (who all play significant roles, as well as forming friendships between the two protagonists) and events.

Eventually, due to Nodame, Chiaki was able to gain opportunities to conduct small school orchestras, a stepping stone to his future. Likewise, because of Chiaki, Nodame enters a piano competition, once a fear of hers. Many opportunities come around, forcing the characters to grow and take risks in order to pursue their dreams.

And at the end...

Well, it's a nice ending. Plus, I'm downloading the sequel, so technically I'm not quite done either.

The Review
There are several reasons why I became quite fond of this anime. The obvious one is that my musical background made me pay closer attention to details throughout the series. It could have been a positive or negative effect, but luckily, it worked out well.

Then there's the fact that the creators of the series decided to put actual classical compositions throughout each episode (plus, they are pretty informing regarding the composer, piece title, and miscellaneous details). Songs that I've played before in the past struck me particularly hard. As for songs I could or could not identify, listening to them instilled this urge within me to find the sheet music and give the pieces a shot.

Additionally, the animation was consistent throughout the series. At certain points, the animators would even use CGI elements to create this realistic effect on the music performers' hands. It's apparent that the bases for the scenes were taken from live performers, which was why each note from the soundtrack matched the movements of the fingers. It's a very effective attention-grabbing technique.

Finally, the anime's genre lines up as: Drama, romantic comedy, and slice-of-life (random, daily happenings of characters). The serious, dramatic parts and silly, comedic parts are very well balanced. The romance elements were not at all chick-flicky, sappy, or even tear-inducing, but they were fit into the episodes neatly. All in all, a great effort by the creators.

...phew.

Season two is only eleven episodes long, basically half of season one. I did a little research and apparently the creators plan on finalizing the series as a trilogy, with the third season due for late 2009. Hmm. It's worth looking forward to if I like season two as much as season one.

I rarely watch anime, dramas, or anything television related to begin with. Usually it takes me quite a while before I heave a sigh and say, "All right, all right, I'll watch it." Sometimes I regret downloading and watching certain series. But this time, I'm pretty satisfied with my decision.

Birthday Shoutout!

Happy 20th birthday, Rebecca Becca Becky Lee! And congrats again on your recent crossing! :D

Binghamton Massacre

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123877508503886971.html#mod=djemalertNEWS

I.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Fourteen people were killed Friday after a gunman opened fire in a center for immigrants and refugees, authorities said.

As many as 37 others were injured, including four who were hospitalized in critical condition. The victims were employees of the center, the American Civic Association, and students studying to become citizens, officials said. One survivor, a receptionist who had been shot in the stomach, crawled under a desk and called police to the scene.

Officials wouldn't confirm the identity of the gunman, but a SWAT team found the body of one man inside the building with a satchel of ammunition tied around him, along with two pistols, said Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski at a news conference. He said it would take the police some time to identify the bodies.

Associated Press - Authorities escort people from the American Civic Association building in Binghamton, N.Y., after a gunman opened fire Friday morning.

"They're relatively sure that one of the deceased was the gunman in today's shooting. However they can't confirm that 100%," said Andrew Block, director of community relations for the office of Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan.

Mr. Zikuski said the gunman had thought through the attack. He had parked a borrowed car at the association's rear entrance, barring people from exiting and the police from entering the building.

"It was premeditated," Mr. Zikuski said. "He put his car against the back door so nobody could escape."

The violence in this upstate New York city followed a spate of mass shootings around the country, one of which occurred Sunday when Robert Stewart, 45, shot and killed eight people at Pinelake Health and Rehab in Carthage, N.C., before a police officer shot him.

President Barack Obama, traveling in Europe, called the events in Binghamton an "act of senseless violence," and said he and his wife, Michelle, are praying for the victims, their families and the people of Binghamton.

As police worked to identify victims, family members waited anxiously for word of their loved ones.

*****

II.

A gunman opened fire at a Binghamton, N.Y., immigration center, killing at least 13 people and injuring others. Kelsey Hubbard talks with Wilson Medical Center in Johnston City, where some victims of the shooting were being treated.

Not long before 8 p.m., Omri Yigal, 53 years old, emerged from the Catholic Charities of Broome County where he had been waiting for word about his wife, who had been taking English classes at the civic association. "I just want to locate Doris," he said. "And we'll just go from there."

The attack began before 10:30 a.m. Friday when the gunman drove to the back of the Civic Association, a nonprofit organization that helps immigrants and refugees learn English and prepare for the exam to become U.S. citizens. Several of the association's clients, which include Vietnamese, Chinese and Eastern Europeans, were likely in class as they had been preparing to take a citizenship test later this month, said Angela Leach, the association's president, who was reached at home in the early afternoon before the extent of the tragedy was known. "I have no idea what could have gone on," she said.

The gunman immediately turned his weapons on two receptionists. One, who was shot in the head, died, said U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat whose 22nd district includes Binghamton. The gunman then strode into a nearby classroom and shot about 13 people, Mr. Zikuski said.

About 26 students, hearing gunshots, ran for cover in the basement, hiding in the boiler room, the chief said; 911 dispatchers advised them how to barricade doors. "We had to repeatedly assure them, do not come out," he said. Some of the students did not know English, but the chief said that did not hinder the rescue.

Once SWAT team members entered the building, they walked from room to room, finding survivors and leading them out the door. The police said they wanted to be cautious before they identified the gunman. They do, however, know who borrowed the vehicle that was blocking the building's rear.

Associated Press - Authorities enter a Johnson City, N.Y. home belonging to Jiverly Voong, the suspected gunman in the shooting at a Binghamton, N.Y. community center.

A spokeswoman at the nearby Wilson Medical Center said the hospital had three patients taken there from the shooting site, one male and two females, ranging in age from 20 to 60. All had gunshot wounds and two were in surgery. Their conditions ranged from stable to critical, she said.

The downtown area of this city of about 47,000 was transformed into an emergency staging area. Police vehicles blocked roadways, ambulances lined up in the parking lot of the nearby First Congregational Church and SWAT-team members stood atop adjacent buildings and crouched behind trees.

Officers climbed onto the roof of an old firehouse that is the home of Pennie Kerber, 72. Ms. Kerber said she was holed up in the building for the better part of the day, afraid that gunfire could erupt. Her husband was stuck at the bowling alley, unable to return home because police cars were blockading the street. Ms. Kerber said she saw one man on a stretcher being carried out of the Civic Association. "It's nerve-wracking," she said.

Catholic Charities in Binghamton opened its doors to about 50 people whose family members had been inside the association headquarters. "Our staff is trained with counseling and can respond right away in a crisis," a spokeswoman for Catholic Charities from the Diocese of Syracuse said.

In the early evening, spectators gathered about half a block from the association building. Sammie Silas, 48, said: "If this happens over here, it could happen anywhere else."

—Matt Phillips contributed to this article.

For Fun

Instead of studying for my midterm...

That's right. Pika-bored.

Photoshop, tablet, and a dose of boredom. 20 minutes killed off in an instant.

Study attempt #2 commencing...