Jeannie Marie – Page 9

A Talk About Sequel Seasons: VGHS Season 2 Review

April 8, 2014September 26, 2016 Jeannie Marie Leave a comment

So lately I’ve been on a very goal oriented mission to finish all the TV shows that I’ve started this year. Unfortunately, this number is a LOT higher than it should be due to the fact that, well, school. So even though I might have such good intentions, I inevitably end up falling short and dropping off in the middle of a season or even an episode.

This list of shows is including but not limited to: Sherlock season 3, Doctor Who Series 7 (Clara), New Girl season 3 (and finishing Season 1 because I technically never watched all the episodes???), Legend of Korra season 2, and Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.

Although this list shows how diverse and interesting my TV habits are, there’s something that most of them all have in common – they are all sequels.

And by sequels I don’t mean like a sequel movie, I mean a sequel series. Even though I’ve been waiting months (or even years in the case of Sherlock) to watch these shows, somehow….I just…haven’t.

Previously on the List of Things To Finish was the show Video Game High School Season 2. Last year, while taking flu medicine that wasn’t actually doing anything since my doctor misdiagnosed my infection, I ended up waking up early every day one week and yet not going to class, because, you know, infection. I didn’t miss much since I was in community college at the time, so instead of trying to do work I surfed Netflix for my new obsession.

And, as fate would have it, I stumbled upon Video Game High School, or VGHS. I thought, why not, I’ll give it a try, and ended up marathoning the entire show since Netflix had put each episode into one big movie. Instantly, I loved it. I’m not a gamer, and I’ll never be a gamer, but this show had great characters, interesting plot points, a fantastic, clever, and completely hilarious script, and a huge heart. Yes, VGHS was my new obsession. As you might guess, it’s about a high school that plays video games as its curriculum. The creators, YouTubers who are fairly famous around the internet (heard of Freddie Wong?), made this show both specific in its plot about gaming and yet accessible to anyone such as me who doesn’t even know the first thing about an FPS game.

So when I found out that there was a Kickstarter to fund a season 2, I was absolutely pumped. And, since I’m on this new finishing things streak, I decided to finish season 2 which had come out in early September.

While the characters are still the same, and still dynamic in their progression, and the script was both funny and witty, I was…dissatisfied with the end product. Majorly disappointed would actually be more accurate. I can’t say I didn’t like it, because I did enjoy watching the episodes, but it lost something this season.

Instead of sticking with the previous format of a show with a continuous plot that culminated to an exciting (and epic) finale, the creators opted to be more fluid with the layout of season 2. Each episode does build on the next, but in very small ways. There was no overarching theme or plot, and for the most part each problem presented was resolved within the episode, leaving the next one to pick up a new one. To me, it was Video Game Sitcom, not Video Game High School. The writing and characters are much more interesting, diverse, and funny than a sitcom, but the layout and plot were just so blah. I kept expecting something to pick up, especially since two great plot points were introduced at the very beginning in the first episode. However not one but both of these opportunities were wasted, and the season finale was so unsatisfying that I couldn’t believe that it was actually over. The creators even used a cliffhanger to draw in audiences (and give them an incentive to crowdsource their season 3 efforts), and honestly, I’m just disappointed.

Honestly, I mostly wanted to use this post this week to vent about my frustrations. There were so many good things about season 2 that I’m just really surprised that I’m so unsatisfied. But the sad thing is, there’s really nothing I can do. I’m not sure if I want a season 3 so that Freddie Wong and co. can redeem themselves, or if I just want to rewatch the golden entertainment that is VGHS. Either way, I’m coming to find out that sequel seasons can be amazing (Sherlock) – or they can be massive letdowns.

Khalil Fong and the Lost Art of the Music Video

April 1, 2014September 27, 2016 Jeannie Marie 14 Comments

Throughout my time as a blogger for Arts at Michigan, I’ve talked about music in various ways – through concerts, through single releases, and through innovative lyrics that I find fascinating.

However, I have shied away from the topic of the music video, mostly because, to me, the issue is complex. I really enjoy music videos – I think they can add an interesting component to a song, and I often think of music video scenarios when I listen to songs that don’t have music videos.

But unfortunately, due to an overwhelming number of bad music videos throughout the years, I rarely ever seek out a music video to watch. If something comes up on my radar, through Facebook or some other social media, then sure, if it’s an artist I like, I’ll check it out. But honestly, I don’t like many music videos that I see anymore. I think they can provide a great opportunity to make something great and artistic, and yet most artists (or rather their companies) squander that gift.

But even though I don’t watch many American music videos, I enjoy watching kpop (read: Korean pop) music videos. In that genre, music videos are considered one of the most important aspects of that artists work, and thus many companies spend much time and effort into creating something that is visually appealing and entertaining, and while they aren’t all gems, a lot of them do come out being pretty good, in a way that I haven’t seen in American music videos in a long time. Because of this, though, I’ve watched more music videos this year than I have in the past.

Which brings me to the main point of this whole spiel, which is Khalil Fong.

A friend of mine showed me Khalil Fong a little while back early in the fall semester. She told me that he has an amazing voice and I should listen to him. She also told me that he sings in Mandarin. So alright, I already listen to Korean music, why not Mandarin? So I listened.

Instantly I was blown away by this man’s voice. With a perfect blend of pop, R&B, and jazz, Khalil creates a genre that is almost his own. No matter what he sings out of the three, whether it be a slow ballad with a full violin section, or an upbeat dance tune with a vintage-40s feel, his voice matches it perfectly.

Now, as a college student, I must say I’m very busy, and very bad about keeping up with artists. So when my Spotify told me that Khalil had a new song out, I didn’t listen right away even though I dearly love his music. But this weekend I took the time to listen to his new single 危險世界, which translates to “Dangerous World.” At first, my plan was to listen to a lot of different music that I’ve missed throughout the semester that has been collecting dust on my Spotify playlist. But I couldn’t listen to anything else after I heard – and saw – “Dangerous World.”

First off, this song. While it strays a bit from his pop/ballad roots (most of his songs are slow, easy going love songs), this single is pure gold. It has a distinct, 80s era Michael Jackson feel, but instead of making the song feel retro, vintage, or a copy, he adds in a futuristic, contemporary element that makes it feel like this song is the dangerous world. I honestly have been listening to nothing but this song for the past four days. It has an addictive bass and downbeat that always makes me want to dance, and every time he sings no no no no no, almost going into falsetto, interrupting the pre-chorus and launching straight into the next verse, I feel a small chill run down my spine. The song ends with an elaborately constructed breakdown, which feels like a reinvented dubstep beat until you hear the beautiful violins playing over the random noises and resounding bass. Overall, this song is amazing and I don’t care if you don’t understand him, you need to listen to it.

But the song isn’t it. Khalil also directed the music video, an elaborate 8 minute masterpiece involving gas masks, flying trains, revolutions, an elaborate kung fu sequence worthy of Jackie Chan, and an incredible blend of traditional Chinese dress and steampunk fashion. After finishing the video, I was left wondering what in the world I just watched, and wanted more. I’ve now watched the video multiple times, even though I already know the “surprise” at the end (which I won’t spoil for you). And thus, I’ve come to question what makes me love it so much.

Is it the cinematography? The compelling story that I don’t quite understand? Is it the myriad of scenes that create convincing and interesting settings for me to watch? I don’t know the answer, but I do know that I want to share this video with anyone who is willing to watch it, and hopefully they’ll like it just as much as I do.

Khalil’s full album Dangerous World will be out April 11. You can pre-order it on iTunes here, which automatically comes with three songs, Dangerous World, Xiao Fang, and Lights Up, his single sung entirely in English.

Also if you watch the video and are extremely confused and would like to discuss theories please comment and I will share my ridiculous and by no means correct theory on what the music video’s plot is.

The Indispensability of My Art

March 25, 2014September 27, 2016 Jeannie Marie 1 Comment

Your art assignment, should you choose to accept, is one that I guarantee will be filled with adventure, intrigue, and quite a lot of laughter.

Since The Art Assignment premiered on YouTube in February, it has become a massive success. Hosted by curator Sarah Green (and wife of novelist John Green of The Fault in Our Stars fame, aka that guy I won’t shut up about), this show is a visual embodiment of what Arts at Michigan strives to be. The Art Assignment, Arts at Michigan. Seems like a perfect match.

But what IS The Art Assignment? Well, there is no concrete definition provided, but in general it’s a show where different artists are interviewed and share their stories, which ends up in a place where the artist engages and challenges the viewer to an assignment – possibly relating to art, possibly challenging them to redefine their meaning of art, but always pushing the viewer to really examine art and what it means to them.

While there are currently three Art Assignments on YouTube, the third one released only a couple of weeks ago struck a unique chord in me. The artist featured in this episode is Toyin Odutola, a woman living in New York that creates beautiful, textured portraits, often self-portraits that constantly define and redefine not only her visual image but the image she has within her.

And while I have yet to do an Art Assignment, Toyin’s challenge to create a gif of something indispensable to you sounds like a great place to start.

I like Toyin’s assignment the most because of its reflective nature. It asks the viewer to look at themselves and really figure out what is indispensable to them – something that I can honestly say no YouTube video has ever done to me. And even more amazing is the portrayal. For Toyin, it was her hands, and in a beautiful selection of frames she drew her hand clenching and unclenching, and even in that small motion I was fascinated at what her hands had birthed – a representation of herself that was true and vulnerable and yet gave her power in strength in its creation.

It makes me envious in the best way possible. I hope, even though I’m not that kind of artist, that someday I can think complexly about myself and those around me in order to create something groundbreaking, such as her art.

Honestly, I have to admit, this is not my usual coherent blog post and more a jumbled mess of words about how complex and fascinating art – in its grandest venn diagram – is, but if you get anything out of it, it’s that you should take some time out of your day and do The Art Assignment, even if it’s just thinking about what you would do if you were brave enough to bare your soul in a 24-frame gif. Think about what you define art as, and how you can continuously redefine it every day of your life – because that changing nature of art is what makes it art. And yet, art will always be an extension of you, and that paradox is what makes The Art Assignment so impactful.

What is blackness? It’s whatever I make it. What is being a woman? It’s whatever I make it. And that’s the beauty of being an image maker, you can do whatever you want, you can create whatever you want, and it’s all in the realm of how, you know how vivid and how like broad your imagination is – Toyin Odutola

An Open Letter to Disney/Pixar

March 18, 2014September 27, 2016 Jeannie Marie 1 Comment

I know there was something I was going to write about for today’s blog – I’m for sure. But alas, as the week has worn on, I have forgotten. Lucky for me, a nice, juicy piece of news has fallen into my lap.

Today Disney announced that both the Incredibles and Cars have been slated for sequels.

Wait for it…yep. Disney is FINALLY making the Incredibles 2. Loud cheers can be heard from all across the internet.

In recent years, some of the older fans of Disney have been clamoring for an Incredibles 2, saying that the movie lends itself well to a sequel and yes the movie was that good and it deserves it.

However instead of the Incredibles we got Monsters University (which I still haven’t seen) and Cars 2 (which I hope never to see). And no one is going to mention the studio mess that was Planes. No one.

While I do have to admit I am one of those fans that is beyond thrilled, I do have to ask why. Why now, and why do a sequel?

It’s no secret that Pixar has a corner on the animation market. While other companies do put out fantastic and well received movies (think How To Train Your Dragon and Rise of the Guardians), it’s Pixar, and by extension Disney that everyone knows and recognizes. So why make sequels instead of the amazing, creative, original stories I’ve come to love?

I’ve noticed this trend and it’s become a bit frightening. Out of the 14 movies Pixar has made, 4 have been sequels, and this is another two slated for release on top of the forthcoming sequel? spinoff? related movie? Finding Dory. That will make seven movies that Pixar has made sequels. Coming from a studio that was built on creative and original storylines, that’s a lot more than I would expect.

While my inner fangirl screams at the idea of another Incredibles (one of the most underrated Pixar movies in my opinion), my brain wonders what is going to happen with this. And in another corner of my heart, I miss the old Pixar. I want another Merida. I want Marlin and Nemo’s adventure to stay what it was. I want another unlikely hero, a thrilling tale, clever comedy and a plot I can sink my teeth into. I want more boundary pushing. I want a full length film animated with 3D and 2D combined (it’s gorgeous and if you don’t believe me watch Paperman).

I want more than a sequel, and I want more than Disney pandering for my money out of brand loyalty or out of a love for something I cherished in the past. I know you’re capable of it Pixar, I’ve watched you do it for almost 20 years now. Demand that Disney let you tell your stories, and demand that the public appreciate them for their depth, sincerity, and pure genius that they are.

In All Honesty

March 11, 2014September 27, 2016 Jeannie Marie Leave a comment

You know sometimes I think it’s funny. I’m supposed to be this right-brained, creative thinker, stick it to the man type of person. People employed in creative fields are often portrayed as rule breakers, giving the public “groundbreaking” or “daring” things. They do “art for arts sake,” and if no one likes their art who cares because it’s mine. No one can take that away.

And really, I do wish that were me. I wish I could sit back and let people decide what they think, and if what they think is negative, then by gone they’re just wrong and my art is amazing and who cares. But that just isn’t me. That’s never me.

I don’t mind bending the rules a little bit. I don’t mind having new, innovative ideas that some people might consider weird or out there. But getting completely rejected is something I’m not comfortable with. I can’t do my work and say “here it is, whether you like it or not.” I have to have that qualifier, something that tells me that yes people will approve.

But really, it’s my own mind game. I’m my own worst critic, and truthfully, it’s hard for me to say that I’ve ever thought that my art (whether it be performance or my writing) is actually good. I mean I still get uncomfortable when people ask “what have you written?” and I say that I’ve been working off and on a “book” for a little over 3 years. It makes me feel uncomfortable just typing it. I don’t think I deserve to even call my writing a book.

There’s plenty of my writing that I’ve liked. There’s writing that I’ve shared. And there;s writing that I’ve gotten approval on from multiple people.

But unfortunately, I’ve never truly believed them. I smile, nod, say thank you and that it means a lot, because it does. Each type I receive a compliment, I get a little brick in my self-esteem house. It comes along slowly.

But there’s more things working against me than there are working for me. I had to give a presentation today, and I did so much more badly than I could have imagined (and I already knew I’d struggle). And even though that has nothing to do with writing, it’s just a school assignment and I do well in that class normally, I can’t help but to think that if I can’t do one presentation, who am I to think that I can be a writer, that I can be successful and independent when I mess up a simple thing that the rest of my class does fine with.

It’s awful to face, but it’s the bitter truth. My inadequacy can be crippling, and in turn it destroys my self-esteem.

I apologize for the downer, but sometimes being creative comes with harsh realities. The tortured artist might by a silly cliché but the struggles people face are still real.

A Long Journey

February 26, 2014September 27, 2016 Jeannie Marie 1 Comment

My personal journey to University of Michigan has certainly been an interesting one. It creates great table talk, explaining how I’m a transfer student from Houston, Texas, and wow, isn’t it cold? But to me, it’s more than that. This journey here now defines me, and this entire life I have been living has been almost like a dream.

Since I was very little I’ve always been quite a definite person. Yes, I like cheese enchiladas. No, I don’t like the refried beans. My personality has always been quite honest, and even my friends now know when something’s up, even just by the way I text.

So when I started appearing on stage, I knew I was home. Being on stage, playing parts in thick costumes underneath heavy lights that blind me from the world, I let go. I dropped everything at the stage door and pretended to be someone else for a while. I invested in theatre. I breathed theatre, and while I had very little opportunities, I took every crumb I could get. I told myself I was passionate, and that would carry me through.

And then, one day, my mom drove me downtown. We went inside the building, and my legs were shaking. I was wearing leggings, shorts, and a T-Shirt, along with my favorite (and new) jazz shoes. I met so many different people, teens of all ages, shapes, and sizes. I clung to the forms as tight as I could, and I chanted you can do this. You can do this. You can do this.

I introduced myself more times than I could count. Everyone greeted me with a smile that hid the razors I could see in their eyes. This wasn’t a time to make friends; this was battle.

And battle I did. From the very first time I talked to the other kids, I knew I was hopelessly outmatched and outwitted.

I’ve been taking ballet for the past 10 years.

Oh. I mean, I took ballet when I was 6, but I never continued.

I’m in state choir. Really? You made state? I just sing for whoever shows up at our concerts – usually just parents.

But Jeannie isn’t the kind of person to give away her dream that easily.

The dance portion was the best. I could tell I was having fun, even with the sweat starting to form. I did my dance with a smile, and felt the music running through me. But try as hard as I do, and even with the natural disposition I have to music, fun cannot beat training. It took me longer to learn the steps, and even when I performed them from memory, I stumbled. But, like I said, I lacked training, and so I knew after I was finished performing that it was not star quality.

But I had more faith in my singing. While, again, I am untrained, I had more faith that I have a good singing voice, and the song I chose suited me, since it was upbeat, in a soprano range, and had sections dedicated to belting, which my choir told me I could do well with high notes.

So I was going to be okay. I could do it.

That afternoon, I walked into a room with three judges, and I left with four.

My accompaniment was perfect. The setting was right, I had the song and the notes completely memorized, and my nerves were assuaged after the brutal dance portion. But when I walked in, the judges didn’t look up at me. They didn’t acknowledge me, didn’t even know that I was there. And so, in one of the biggest regrets of my life, I started the song, dropped the middle, and ended, leaving the room with a self-esteem that sunk deep into my heart.

And that was the last straw. After that audition, I knew I couldn’t do it. I didn’t even compare to those who had been training their whole lives for their dream. I didn’t sacrifice anything, I didn’t deserve it.

Looking back, I realize it was a stupid mistake, and I shouldn’t blame myself for not having the courage to pursue acting as a profession. I thought that I knew who I was. Like when I was younger, I thought it was yes or no. Yes, I was going to be an actress and be fulfilled in my life, because it was the only thing that could fulfill me. Or no, I wasn’t, and I would lead an unhappy life trapped in a cubicle. My future looked gray.

But instead of coming to University of Michigan to pursue acting, I decided to pursue writing instead. And it seems like everything has fallen into place since then. I found this job, and I found so many friends and faculty whom I love and find happiness in. I’ve found clubs, and friends who share my passion, who look at writing not as a hobby on the side of something else, some other dream, but as their only dream, their only happiness. Through these people I’ve found my courage. I’ve been encouraged in my writing, and I absolutely love the time I get to spend writing these blogs. So no, I’m not pursuing acting. But yes, I am fulfilled. And maybe someday, I’ll get to see my name on the screen. But instead of being an actress, I’ll be credited with the beautiful script I wrote.

And that’s why University of Michigan isn’t just a far off dream school for a girl far from her Texas home. It isn’t just a college, where I study books and get grades and eat food. To me, this school has been where I’ve seen life happen, where I’ve seen bonds formed, and where I’ve seen a new dream that started from a tiny, unwanted seed grow into a beautiful flower that breathed new life into me.