#Audio Visual Artistry

[sgt-tombstone]

Old Guard/Immortal AU

I found this in my notes and I can’t remember if I ever posted it here

————

Whenever Johnny had spared a thought towards his own death, he always imagined a dusty desert somewhere in the Middle East, a knife to the throat by insurgents or a stray bullet to the chest in the dead of night.

He never imagined the Channel Tunnel, halfway between England and France, a bullet turning his brain to bloody mush 115 metres below sea level.

He also never imagined waking up again.

———

Simon, Price, Gaz, and Roach all woke up at exactly the same time. It was a rarity, all of them being in the same place at the same time, but Laswell had requested their help, something to do with a human trafficking ring, and Price had never been able to turn his oldest friend down. But human trafficking was the last thing on Simon’s mind as he shot up, the dredges of his nightmare still clinging like thick ink to his mind and skin. As soon as he caught sight of Roach’s eyes across the room, he knew.

Another one. A new one.

“His name is Johnny,” he gasped out, his voice on the edge of rasping panic. Something in his chest flipped at the name; he hadn’t known it until it had slipped out of his mouth, but it felt right on his tongue, even when everything else about the vision felt achingly, viscerally wrong. “Price,” he said, equally breathless, almost a plea. “His name is Johnny.”

“He was shot in the head,” Gaz said, rubbing both temples where the bullet had entered and exited. “Pistol, small gauge. I heard a Slavic accent. Russian, maybe?”

“Underground,” Price supplied. “A tunnel. I saw train tracks.”

“That could be anywhere,” Simon said, shaking his head, attempting to dislodge the inexplicable sense of wrongness. He had born witness to others in the group die their first deaths before. He had seen Roach’s sandy-blond hair catch fire like summer-dried grass, had seen Gaz’s hand slip from a rope as he plummeted from a helicopter to the busy highway below. Neither of them had affected him like this.

Slowly, Roach turned his sketchbook to the group. After his own death, he had become the group’s designated sketcher. He wasn’t the best, but he was leaps and bounds better than anyone else, whose hands were far more used to the heft of weaponry rather than the finesse of artistry. His knack for visualization helped, too. As usual, his sketch of the details he had caught from the nightmare revealed far more than Simon’s spotty detailing or Gaz’s audio clues.

Simon dragged himself from bed and scrambled to snatch the sketchbook from Roach’s hands. His friend didn’t seem to mind; it left his hands empty enough to sign, finally joining the conversation properly. But Simon wasn’t paying attention. He was drinking in the details.

A mohawk. Wide, bright eyes that he instinctively knew were light; green, maybe, or grey. No, blue; he knew they were blue. A strong, stubbled jawline below slightly pouty lips. A headset and tactical vest: military. A Union Jack patch: British, or British-adjacent. A blood type patch: O positive.

A gaping gunshot wound to the head, leaking colorless blood and viscera onto cold concrete.

He didn’t realize he was keening until Price’s hand landed on his shoulder, and he didn’t realize he had clutched the sketchbook to his chest until Roach gently pried it from his grip.

“We’ll find him, son,” Price said, and a glance up into his stubborn, flinty eyes settled something in Simon’s chest. Whoever Johnny was, he was going to be okay. They just had to get to him first.

[mirisss]

Symphony of Souls

The Boyz OT11 x afab! reader

Wordcount ≈ 8.1k

Warnings: None I think, a little angsty but barely, 

Thank you for the request! I hope you like it!

Third Person POV

In the dazzling realm of K-pop, where talent and charisma converge, there exists a phenomenon that transcends the boundaries of mere musical synergy. Among the stars that illuminate this celestial stage, The Boyz stands as a testament to the extraordinary connections that fate weaves. Comprising eleven exceptional members, this group has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with their unparalleled performances and undeniable chemistry.

What the world may not yet comprehend is that beyond the mesmerizing choreography and harmonious melodies, The Boyz share a bond that goes beyond the surface—a bond forged in the fires of destiny and illuminated by the radiant glow of love. They are not just a group; they are soulmates, intricately linked by threads of fate that tie their destinies together in an ethereal dance.

However, amidst the cosmic harmony that envelops these eleven souls, a poignant emptiness lingers. As fate would have it, there exists a twelfth soulmate yet to be revealed—a missing piece in the intricate puzzle of their lives. Together, they navigate the boundless cosmos of stardom, seeking the one who will complete their constellation, filling the void with a celestial love that transcends the ordinary.

In the effervescent landscape of K-pop, where talents bloom like vibrant blossoms, a new luminary emerged—(Y/n), a freshly debuted actress and soloist whose ethereal presence bewitched hearts from the very first note. With her debut album, she painted sonic landscapes that echoed in the souls of many, capturing the attention of an adoring audience eager to embark on a journey through her musical realm.

What set (Y/n) apart wasn't merely her vocal prowess, but also her ability to weave tales with emotion and authenticity. The music video accompanying her debut single was a cinematic masterpiece, a visual symphony that showcased not only her musical prowess but also her flair for the dramatic. It was in this enchanting audio-visual tapestry that (Y/n) unveiled a multifaceted artistry, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who witnessed her debut.

As if destiny itself were orchestrating her ascent, whispers of (Y/n)'s imminent foray into the world of acting began to circulate. The stage was set for a new chapter as it was announced that she would be gracing the small screen as the lead in a highly anticipated drama. Anticipation rippled through the industry, and fans eagerly awaited the convergence of her musical and dramatic talents in what promised to be a spellbinding performance.

With every step, (Y/n) was proving to be a rising star of exceptional luminosity, illuminating the K-pop world with her presence. The world eagerly awaited the unfolding chapters of her journey, both in the studio and on the screen, as (Y/n) embarked on a path destined for greatness in the realms of music and acting alike.

As the excitement swirled in the vibrant cosmos of The Boyz, a particular star within the constellation burned even brighter—Younghoon, the charismatic and talented third oldest member. The news of his successful audition for the male lead in the same drama that (Y/n) would be gracing was met with jubilation that echoed through the corridors of destiny.

Younghoon's joy radiated like a supernova, illuminating the faces of his fellow members—Sangyeon, Jacob, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, Changmin, Chanhee, Haknyeon, Sunwoo, and Eric. The air was charged with electric energy as they came together to celebrate this momentous occasion, recognizing that their constellation was expanding to encompass not only the musical realm but also the boundless horizon of acting.

Amidst the revelry, laughter, and shared excitement, Younghoon stood as a beacon of inspiration, a testament to the dreams that could manifest when talent, dedication, and opportunity converged. Each member, a vital thread in the intricate tapestry of The Boyz, contributed to the celebration, forging a bond that transcended the stage and studio.

As they raised a collective toast to Younghoon's triumph, the stars of The Boyz shone with pride and anticipation for the spectacular journey that lay ahead. 

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of soft pastels, (Y/n) awoke with a giddy excitement that bubbled within her like a fizzy elixir. Today held the promise of a meeting that stirred butterflies in the depths of her being—she was to meet Younghoon, the charismatic third oldest of The Boyz. The thought alone sent a delightful shiver down her spine, and she couldn't contain the joy that danced in her eyes.

A devoted deobi, (Y/n) had been a steadfast fan of The Boyz since the very inception of their journey with the effervescent anthem "Boy." Through the highs and lows, the stages, and the milestones, she had stood by them as a beacon of unwavering support. The music, the performances, and the camaraderie of the eleven stars had woven a tapestry of memories in her heart, and today marked a chapter where her path would intersect with one of those shining stars.

The excitement, palpable in the air, manifested in a radiant smile that adorned (Y/n)'s face as she prepared for the day. She felt a sense of kinship with Younghoon, a connection forged through the melodies that resonated in her soul. Today, that connection would take a tangible form, and the prospect thrilled her beyond measure.

With a heart brimming with anticipation and a deobi spirit ablaze, (Y/n) stepped into the day, ready to embark on an adventure that promised not only the joy of meeting Younghoon but also the continuation of a journey she had cherished since The Boyz's first notes had captivated her heart. 

The sunlit morning found Younghoon's eyes blinking open with an infectious excitement that mirrored the fluttering anticipation within his heart. Today held a special rendezvous with (Y/n), and the prospect of working together on the drama set ignited a joy that painted his smile with an extra layer of radiance.

As he shuffled through his morning routine, Kevin couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, his eyes narrowing playfully as he teased Younghoon.

"Younghoon-hyung, you lucky guy! Getting to work with (Y/n) and all. I'd kill to be in your shoes," Kevin exclaimed, a mock pout on his face.

Younghoon chuckled, understanding Kevin's playful envy. "Come on, Kev. It's just work. But I get it; (Y/n)'s music is amazing. I'll make sure to tell her you're a big fan."

Kevin's eyes widened, a mischievous grin replacing his faux pout. "You would do that for me? You're the best, hyung! Hey, why don't you bring me to the set? Just for a day, please?"

Younghoon laughed, shaking his head. "As much as I'd love to have you there, Kev, it's not up to me. The schedules are tight, and you know how it is. But I promise to share all the juicy details and maybe get an autograph for you."

Kevin feigned a dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine. Just make sure to ask for an autograph on my favorite album, okay? And tell her I said hi!"

Younghoon nodded, already envisioning the playful banter he'd share with (Y/n) about Kevin's admiration. As the day unfolded, he carried with him the shared excitement of The Boyz and the knowledge that, while Kevin might not physically be on set, his enthusiasm would undoubtedly be present in spirit.

In the bustling pre-dawn hours, Sangyeon, the venerable leader and eldest among The Boyz, sought out Younghoon with a warm smile. As he approached, he clapped a supportive hand on Younghoon's shoulder, his eyes gleaming with genuine encouragement.

"Younghoon, you've got this. Knock 'em dead on set today. We're all rooting for you," Sangyeon said, his words carrying the weight of camaraderie and shared aspirations.

Younghoon nodded, grateful for the leader's words of encouragement. "Thanks, hyung. I'll do my best."

However, before Sangyeon could linger in the exchange, the distant sounds of a lively dispute reached their ears. With a knowing look, Sangyeon excused himself, patting Younghoon's back once more.

"Break a leg, and remember, we're a family. We've got your back," Sangyeon assured before heading towards the source of the commotion.

As he approached, the scene unfolded before him—Sunwoo, the mischievous troublemaker, had evidently found another opportunity for mischief. Chanhee, caught in the crossfire, looked more exasperated than angry as he realized that his clothes had fallen victim to Sunwoo's impromptu prank.

Sangyeon sighed, adopting a tone that blended authority with understanding. "Alright, boys, let's not turn the house into a battlefield. Sunwoo, give Chanhee his clothes back, and let's focus on supporting Younghoon and working today."

Sunwoo grinned, mischief dancing in his eyes, but he complied, returning Chanhee's clothes with an exaggerated bow. Sangyeon, with a bemused shake of his head, continued to play the role of the wise elder, smoothing out the ripples in the group dynamics before wishing everyone well for the day ahead. The drama both on and off the set promised to be as entertaining as The Boyz's performances themselves.

The film studio hummed with the quiet anticipation of creativity as (Y/n) stepped through its entrance. The air crackled with the promise of a new venture, and her senses were heightened, attuned to every nuance of the surroundings. Amidst the bustling activity, one figure stood out—Younghoon, his tall and commanding presence catching her eye.

As (Y/n) approached, the symphony of butterflies in her stomach played a melodic tune that mirrored the gentle thrumming of her heart. She couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull toward Younghoon, a force that drew her closer with each step. The air seemed charged with an unspoken energy, and when Younghoon turned around, their eyes met in a collision of fate.

Time seemed to slow as recognition sparked in Younghoon's eyes. In that moment, the world around them faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in a shared, suspended reality. The soulmate bond that connected their destinies clicked into place, resonating with an invisible force that enveloped them in a cocoon of connection.

(Y/n) felt as though only they existed in that singular moment. The studio, the crew, and the world beyond blurred into insignificance as their gaze lingered deepening the unspoken understanding that transcended the ordinary. It was a moment where souls touched, and the universe acknowledged the serendipity of their meeting.

As their hands touched, a subtle electric charge surged between Younghoon and (Y/n), and in that moment, an unspoken realization passed between them. Younghoon, his eyes gleaming with happiness, couldn't contain the bubbling joy within him. He took a step forward, his heart dancing with newfound lightness.

"Hi, I'm Younghoon," he grinned, the happiness radiating from him like a warm aura. "And, well, I guess I can't help but feel incredibly lucky to be your soulmate."

(Y/n)'s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and delight coloring her features. "Really?" she chuckled, charmed by Younghoon's sincerity. "Well, I'm (Y/n), and I guess that makes us quite the pair, doesn't it?"

As they shared introductions, the atmosphere around them seemed to shift, as if the universe itself acknowledged the significance of their meeting. The air buzzed with an unspoken connection, and the studio, for a fleeting moment, felt like their own private world.

Younghoon chuckled, his gaze holding a playful sparkle. "The Boyz are known for their visuals, but I have to say, meeting you in person, you're even more beautiful than I imagined."

(Y/n) blushed, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Younghoon. But seriously, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've been a fan of The Boyz for a long time."

The exchange of words became a delightful dance, a symphony of laughter and connection that echoed within the studio walls. The shared recognition of their soulmate bond added a layer of magic to the encounter, setting the stage for a journey that promised to be as enchanting as the melodies sung by The Boyz themselves.

The enchanting moment shared between Younghoon and (Y/n) was abruptly punctuated by the discreet but pointed clearing of throats from their managers. The spell momentarily broken, they exchanged a sheepish glance before refocusing on the task at hand.

"Alright, let's get back to work," one of the managers announced with a businesslike tone, gently steering the atmosphere away from the lingering magic of the soulmate encounter.

Younghoon and (Y/n) nodded in unison, the shared understanding of the professional setting settling in. As the managers guided them back into the rhythm of the shoot, the studio once again hummed with the orchestrated movements of actors, crew, and the intricate dance of storytelling.

Despite the interruption, the connection forged between Younghoon and (Y/n) lingered in the air, infusing the set with a subtle warmth. They approached their roles with newfound energy, a shared secret glinting in their eyes as they delved into the world of their characters.

The managers satisfied that the brief interlude hadn't derailed the proceedings, observed the unfolding scenes with a watchful eye. As the cameras rolled and the drama unfolded, it was evident that the encounter between Younghoon and (Y/n) had added an unspoken layer to the narrative—a behind-the-scenes tale that would forever remain etched in the shared history of The Boyz and their newfound soulmate in the world of acting.

Seated together during a break on the bustling set, Younghoon and (Y/n) enjoyed a moment of reprieve. The camaraderie between them felt effortless as if they had been friends for much longer than the brief encounter suggested. As they delved into their lunch, Younghoon couldn't help but smile at (Y/n), his eyes reflecting the genuine connection they shared.

"By the way," Younghoon began a playful glint in his eyes, "I have a favor to ask. Kevin, one of our members, is a huge fan of yours. Mind signing an autograph for him? I promised I'd get one."

(Y/n) laughed, the gesture light and infectious. "Of course! I'd be honored. Just let me know where I can sign, and I'll make sure to add a little note for Kevin."

Younghoon, grateful for (Y/n)'s willingness, pointed to a corner of his script. "Right here should be perfect. Thanks a bunch, (Y/n). Kevin's going to flip when he sees this."

As (Y/n) took the script to jot down the autograph, Younghoon couldn't help but steer the conversation toward the unique bond they shared. "You know, (Y/n), being soulmates with me means you're soulmates with all eleven members of The Boyz. It's like a package deal."

(Y/n) chuckled, charmed by the notion. "A package deal, huh? I'm starting to feel like the luckiest soulmate in the world."

Younghoon grinned, a warmth spreading through him. "Well, you've got ten more awesome guys waiting to meet you properly. Who knows, maybe we can all hang out sometime."

The prospect of a shared connection with The Boyz beyond Younghoon added an intriguing layer to their budding friendship. As they continued their meal, the studio buzzed around them, but at that moment, it felt like the universe had carved out a little corner where soulmates, both singular and collective, could share laughter and camaraderie amidst the magic of filmmaking.

The door to The Boyz's shared residence swung open, and Younghoon entered, his face radiant with an unmistakable joy that couldn't be contained. His fellow members, gathered in the living room, turned their attention towards him, their curiosity piqued.

Sangyeon, the ever-watchful leader, couldn't help but grin. "Well, how was the first day on set? Spill the details, Younghoon!"

Younghoon practically beamed, unable to contain his excitement. "Guys, you won't believe what happened today. (Y/n), our soulmate is amazing! She's not only talented but also incredibly nice and down-to-earth. It's like we've known each other forever."

The room fell into stunned silence as the realization of Younghoon's words settled in. The members exchanged wide-eyed glances, and then, almost in unison, erupted into a chorus of exclamations.

"(Y/n) is our soulmate too?" Changmin questioned, not believing his ears.  

"No way, you're kidding, right?" Eric exclaimed loudly as he jumped up and down. 

"Younghoon-hyung, you've got to be messing with us!" Kevin shouted, he was certain he was dreaming. 

Younghoon laughed, reveling in the infectious astonishment of his fellow members. "No joke, guys! We're all connected through our soulmate bond. It's like fate brought us together in the most unexpected way."

Hyunjae, always quick with a teasing remark, chimed in, "So, what's she like? Is she as pretty in person as she is in her music videos?"

Younghoon nodded enthusiastically. "Even more so. And she's genuinely kind. I got her autograph for you, Kevin," Kevin took the paper from Younghoon’s hands, jumping with joy. 

As the news settled in, the members couldn't help but exchange excited glances. The living room buzzed with animated conversation as they eagerly delved into the details of Younghoon's day and looked forward to the possibility of getting to know (Y/n) better. Fate had woven another unexpected chapter into the tapestry of The Boyz's journey, and they embraced it with open hearts and wide smiles.

Haknyeon's playful interruption cast a brief shadow over the jubilant atmosphere, his mock teasing tone injecting a touch of humor into the room. "Come on, Younghoon, it's not fair that you get all the quality time with our soulmate. What about the rest of us? When do we get to meet her?"

The room erupted into laughter, the members playfully nudging Younghoon as if he held the secret to unlocking the mysteries of their shared soulmate bond. Jacob, the second oldest, decided to respond with a good-natured smile.

"Well, Haknyeon, it's all part of the cosmic plan, isn't it?" Jacob mused, his tone light. "Younghoon's just the trailblazer, paving the way for the rest of us to follow. Patience is a virtue, my friend."

Haknyeon exaggeratedly sighed, his hand on his heart. "Patience? Jacob, you make it sound like we're on a quest for some mystical treasure. I just want to meet our soulmate!"

The banter continued, the members exchanging banter and teasing as they navigated the uncharted territory of having a shared soulmate. Despite Haknyeon's faux complaints, there was an underlying excitement that permeated the air—an anticipation for the day when all of them would finally get to meet (Y/n) and discover the unique connection that fate had woven among them.

In the meantime, Younghoon, the unwitting pioneer, grinned amidst the good-natured ribbing, knowing that the shared joy of their newfound connection would only deepen as the days unfolded. The living room echoed with laughter, forging another chapter in The Boyz's journey, where friendship, fate, and a shared soulmate awaited on the horizon.

Younghoon’s POV

As I stepped onto the set the next day, my anticipation mingled with a sense of surreal wonder. The bustling activity around me seemed to fade into the background as my eyes landed on her—(Y/n), radiant in a beautiful pink dress that accentuated every curve. The makeshift wind from the fan tousled her hair, framing her like an ethereal halo, and the lights seemed to converge upon her, casting a gentle glow that transformed her into something beyond human.

Time froze for a fleeting moment as I watched her, the breath caught in my throat. She looked like a goddess, a celestial being gracing our earthly set with an otherworldly presence. The delicate swish of her dress, the way her hair danced in the invisible breeze—it was as if the universe conspired to enhance her beauty, painting a picture that transcended the ordinary.

I found myself frozen in my step, my heart pounding in awe. The world around me blurred as my gaze lingered on (Y/n), capturing every detail—the sparkle in her eyes, the grace in her movements. In that moment, she wasn't just our soulmate; she was a vision, a muse that could inspire the most enchanting tales.

As I approached, a profound appreciation settled within me. How lucky was I to have this incredible woman as our soulmate? The soft rustle of her dress, the way the lights caressed her features—it was a scene etched into my memory, a living masterpiece that only added to the magic of our shared connection.

With each step closer, the set transformed into a canvas where destiny and art converged. And in the presence of (Y/n), I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty that fate had woven into the tapestry of our lives, forever etching her as a celestial muse in the story of The Boyz.

Third Person POV

As the weeks rolled on, the culmination of their shared venture approached—MAMA, the prestigious award show (such a lie lol) that promised a dazzling celebration of talent and achievement. The drama had wrapped, leaving behind a trail of memories and a connection that had grown stronger. Now, fate had orchestrated a meeting on a grand stage—the convergence of (Y/n) and The Boyz at MAMA.

(Y/n), adorned in an elegant gown that radiated confidence, was nominated for Best Female Artist. Her heart swelled with a mix of excitement and hope, believing that The Boyz, who was nominated for Best Male Performance, truly deserved the recognition.

The Boyz, equally thrilled and ecstatic, was bubbling with anticipation at the prospect of finally meeting their soulmate. However, they knew the importance of playing it cool to avoid sparking unnecessary rumors. The camaraderie they had shared on the set, the unspoken connection as soulmates, now held the promise of being unveiled on a stage where dreams took flight.

As they walked the red carpet, the air was charged with an electric energy, a mix of nerves and exhilaration. (Y/n) carried herself with grace, a nominee and a fan in equal measure, secretly hoping for The Boyz to take home the trophy they so rightfully deserved.

Backstage, the members exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They were about to meet their soulmate, the artist who had inspired them and shared a unique connection with them. The challenge lay in keeping their excitement in check, their smiles were genuine but tempered to avoid any premature speculations.

(Y/n)’s POV

As I settled into my seat at MAMA, the air humming with anticipation, my heart began to race with the excitement of what was about to unfold. Glancing at the reserved seats beside me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. This was it—the moment I had been waiting for. The moment when I would finally meet all eleven of my soulmates, The Boyz.

The auditorium buzzed with energy, but my focus was drawn to the approaching figures, each face etched in my memory from the countless times I had watched their performances. There they were, all eleven of them, their handsome faces unmistakable in the sea of people.

As they passed by, a wave of warmth enveloped me. Some of them waved, their smiles contagious, while others offered a quick hello. It felt surreal, as if a shared secret between us had now come to life in the most spectacular of settings. The casual greetings, the friendly waves—it was as if we were old friends finally meeting after a long-awaited reunion.

"Hey there, (Y/n)! We're so excited to finally meet you in person," Hyunjae exclaimed, the genuine enthusiasm evident in his voice.

I couldn't help but return the sentiment with a beaming smile. "Likewise! It's incredible to finally see you all face to face."

The brief exchange carried with it a sense of familiarity, a connection forged not just through the shared soulmate bond but through the journey of their music and performances. As they continued on to their seats, the excitement lingered in the air, a prelude to the unfolding night where destiny, music, and shared joy would intertwine in a celebration of their unique connection at MAMA.

As Juyeon and Changmin left their seats and ascended the stage, my eyes were immediately drawn to the two of them. The atmosphere shifted as they joined the other groups for a powerful dance performance, their presence commanding attention from every corner of the auditorium.

Changmin, with his ethereal grace, moved across the stage like a dancer in a dream. His every movement seemed to carry a poetic elegance, each step a testament to the artistry he brought to the performance. I couldn't tear my eyes away, captivated by the way he expressed emotion through his dance, the intensity in his eyes adding depth to the mesmerizing spectacle.

And then there was Juyeon, a force of nature on the stage. His powerful aura radiated confidence, and as he showcased his muscled body, every movement exuded strength and control. The energy he brought to the performance was palpable, and the audience was swept away by the sheer force of his presence.

Despite the other talented dancers surrounding them, in my eyes, Juyeon and Changmin were the only two up there. It wasn't just the technical brilliance of their movements; it was the way they infused each step with emotion, making the dance a powerful narrative that transcended the physicality of the performance.

As the music swelled and the dance reached its climax, I found myself caught in a spell woven by the artistry of Juyeon and Changmin. 

Sangyeon’s POV

As the leader, I stood there watching (Y/n) with a swelling sense of pride. Her unreleased song echoed through the venue, and I couldn't help but marvel at the depth of her artistry. Her vocals carried emotion, and the way she moved on stage was nothing short of captivating. It was a moment that transcended the stage—a promise fulfilled and a testament to her commitment to her craft. She was more than just a soulmate; she was an artist, a star in her own right, and seeing her shine on that stage filled me with a profound sense of joy.

Jacob’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was like a dream unfolding before my eyes. Her unreleased song had a haunting beauty that lingered in the air, and her dancing was a graceful expression of the emotions woven into the melody. I couldn't help but be moved by the authenticity of her artistry. It was clear that she poured her heart into every note, every movement. As an artist, I felt a deep connection with her on that stage, and the cheers from the audience were a chorus of acknowledgment for her talent. It was a moment where the boundaries between performer and audience blurred, and I was privileged to witness it.

Younghoon’s POV

Watching (Y/n) take the stage was an experience that transcended words. The air in the auditorium seemed to change as the opening notes of her unreleased song filled the space. Her vocals carried a haunting beauty that resonated with every corner of the venue, and her dancing was a graceful embodiment of the emotions woven into the melody. As our soulmate, I felt a unique connection, a shared journey through the artistry of her performance. Her presence on stage was nothing short of enchanting, and I couldn't help but be captivated by the genuine smile she wore throughout. It was more than just a promise fulfilled; it was a moment where destiny, music, and the bond we shared converged into a beautiful symphony. The cheers and applause from the audience were not just for her talent; they were a celebration of the connection we all felt in that magical moment. As a member of The Boyz and her soulmate, seeing (Y/n) shine on that stage was a memory etched in my heart, a testament to the enduring power of music and destiny.

Hyunjae’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was a revelation, and I found myself utterly captivated by her presence on stage. Her vocals resonated with a soulful quality that tugged at the heartstrings, and her dancing was a mesmerizing display of skill and emotion. The way she connected with the audience, with us, went beyond the mere performance—it was a shared experience, a moment of communion through music. As an artist, I couldn't help but be inspired by her, and the genuine smiles in the crowd were a testament to the impact she had on everyone present.

Juyeon’s POV

Watching (Y/n) on stage was like witnessing a celestial being sharing her magic with the world. Her unreleased song held a melody that seemed to echo through the very core of the venue, and her dancing was a powerful showcase of artistry. What struck me the most was the authenticity of her smile. It wasn't just about hitting the right notes or nailing the choreography; it was about the joy she found in the performance. It left an indelible mark on me, a reminder of the pure, unbridled passion that makes music so enchanting.

Kevin’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was nothing short of breathtaking. Her unreleased song carried a melody that lingered in the air long after the last note, and her dancing was a beautiful expression of the emotions woven into the music. What struck me the most was the way she connected with the audience and, by extension, with us. It was a shared moment of celebration, and the cheers and applause were a testament to the impact of her artistry. As a fellow artist, I felt a kinship with her on that stage, and the experience was a reminder of the transformative power of music.

Chanhee’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was a spectacle of talent and grace. The unreleased song she shared had a haunting beauty, and her dancing was like poetry in motion. I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her artistry. Her presence on stage was magnetic, drawing everyone into the narrative she created with her music and movements. It was a moment that transcended the boundaries of language, where the universal language of music spoke volumes. As a member of The Boyz, I was honored to witness her shine on that stage.

Changmin’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was a testament to the power of her artistry. The unreleased song she presented carried a unique and soulful melody, and her dancing was a masterclass in expression. What struck me the most was the way she commanded the stage with an effortless elegance. It was more than a performance; it was a journey through emotions, and the connection she forged with the audience was palpable. As an artist, I felt a deep resonance with her work, and her performance left an indelible mark on the canvas of MAMA.

Haknyeon’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was like a symphony of emotions unfolding on stage. Her unreleased song resonated with a haunting beauty, and her dancing was a visual representation of the music's soul. What stood out to me was the genuine joy she exuded. It wasn't just about hitting the right notes; it was about sharing a piece of her heart with the audience. As a fellow performer, I couldn't help but be inspired by her passion, and the cheers from the crowd were a testament to the impact she had on everyone present.

Sunwoo’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was a moment of sheer magic. The unreleased song she unveiled carried an emotional depth that resonated with everyone in the venue, and her dancing was a captivating display of skill and grace. What struck me the most was the connection she forged with the audience. It wasn't just about entertaining; it was about creating a shared experience through music. As a member of The Boyz, I felt a sense of pride watching her on that stage, knowing that she was not just a soulmate but an extraordinary artist.

Eric’s POV

(Y/n)'s performance was a revelation of talent and emotion. The unreleased song she presented was a melody that lingered in the air, and her dancing was a poetic expression of the music's soul. What resonated with me was the authenticity of her presence on stage. It wasn't a performance for the sake of performance; it was a genuine sharing of art and emotion. As a member of The Boyz, I felt a sense of connection with her on that stage, a shared journey through the language of music that went beyond words.

Third Person POV

The viral moments from MAMA featuring (Y/n) and The Boyz sparked a social media frenzy, capturing the attention of fans and onlookers alike. However, instead of fueling dating rumors, the prevailing narrative among most people was grounded in the belief that (Y/n) and Younghoon were simply friends who had shared the screen in the same drama.

The footage showcased heartwarming interactions between (Y/n) and The Boyz, moments that transcended the boundaries of celebrity camaraderie. Whether it was the genuine smiles exchanged, friendly waves, or shared laughter, the clips depicted a connection that went beyond the usual dynamics of actors and fellow artists. The audience's collective interpretation leaned towards the idea that the bond between (Y/n) and The Boyz was rooted in genuine friendship.

As the clips circulated on social media platforms, the comments section became a testament to the prevailing sentiment. Fans and casual observers alike celebrated the idea that (Y/n) had found friends in The Boyz beyond the confines of their professional collaborations. The absence of dating rumors was a testament to the maturity and understanding of the audience, who recognized the richness of platonic connections in the entertainment industry.

(Y/n) and The Boyz continued to navigate their newfound friendship in the public eye, and the viral moments served as a delightful reminder that genuine connections can flourish amidst the glamour of the entertainment world without necessarily giving rise to romantic speculations. The supportive responses from fans further solidified the understanding that sometimes, the most beautiful stories are those of friendship, shared dreams, and the magic of soulmates extending beyond the realms of on-screen narratives.

The break following MAMA brought a long-awaited opportunity for (Y/n) and The Boyz to meet up and forge deeper connections away from the public eye. Determined to enjoy each other's company without the scrutiny of prying eyes, they orchestrated a secret gathering, a clandestine rendezvous where the bonds of friendship could be nurtured without the weight of public expectations.

Choosing a secluded and intimate venue, (Y/n) and The Boyz gathered, relishing the freedom to simply be themselves in the company of newfound friends and soulmates. Laughter echoed through the air as they shared stories, dreams, and anecdotes, solidifying the connection that had begun to flourish during their collaboration on the drama and at MAMA.

The setting allowed for genuine interactions, unburdened by the external pressures of fame. Away from the spotlight, they could revel in the joy of camaraderie, discovering shared interests and quirks that transcended their roles as artists. The shared laughter, the ease with which conversations flowed, hinted at a bond that went beyond the constraints of the public gaze.

As the day unfolded, the secret meeting became a sanctuary where friendships deepened, and the foundation for a lasting connection was laid. The Boyz, each a distinct personality within the group, welcomed (Y/n) into their circle with open arms, and (Y/n) found herself embraced not just as a soulmate but as a cherished friend.

The break provided the perfect backdrop for this clandestine gathering—a chapter in their shared story that unfolded away from the glare of cameras and public scrutiny. In the warmth of their shared laughter and the genuine exchanges that took place, (Y/n) and The Boyz discovered the beauty of friendship that could thrive in the quiet moments, away from the orchestrated chaos of the entertainment industry.

Underneath the soft glow of fairy lights, Sangyeon and (Y/n) found themselves strolling through a quaint garden. The air was filled with the delicate scent of blooming flowers, and as they meandered through the winding paths, Sangyeon gently took (Y/n)'s hand in his. Their fingers intertwined naturally, and without saying a word, they reveled in the tranquility of the moment, basking in the shared warmth of their connection.

On a quiet rooftop overlooking the city, Jacob and (Y/n) sat side by side, their laughter blending with the distant hum of the urban landscape. As the evening breeze played with (Y/n)'s hair, Jacob's gaze met hers, and in that unspoken exchange, the world around them seemed to fade. With a tender smile, he reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers as they shared stories and dreams against the backdrop of the city lights.

In the soft glow of candlelight, Younghoon and (Y/n) found themselves sharing a quiet dinner. The ambiance was serene, and as their eyes met, a subtle understanding passed between them. Younghoon reached across the table, his fingers delicately tracing circles on (Y/n)'s hand. In that intimate exchange, time seemed to slow, and the flickering candles bore witness to the unspoken connection that continued to deepen between them.

Beneath the canopy of twinkling stars, Hyunjae and (Y/n) sat by a crackling bonfire. The warmth mirrored the connection between them, and as they exchanged playful banter, Hyunjae couldn't resist reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair from (Y/n)'s face. Their eyes locked, and in that fleeting moment, the crackling flames seemed to echo the warmth blossoming between their hearts.

On a moonlit beach, Juyeon and (Y/n) found solace in the gentle lull of the waves. The sand beneath their feet felt cool, and as Juyeon extended his hand, a silent invitation passed between them. Their barefoot steps created imprints in the sand, and with the rhythmic sound of the ocean as their backdrop, they danced under the moonlight, a serene and intimate moment etched in the canvas of the night.

Amidst the soft melodies of a private acoustic performance, Kevin and (Y/n) shared a quiet corner of a cozy venue. As the music wrapped around them, Kevin's eyes held an unspoken promise. With a gentle touch, he cupped (Y/n)'s cheek, his thumb tracing a gentle path. The world faded away, leaving only the tender notes of the guitar and the shared heartbeat of a moment steeped in quiet intimacy.

In the heart of a bustling city, Chanhee and (Y/n) found refuge in a rooftop garden, a hidden oasis above the urban chaos. Surrounded by lush greenery, Chanhee's eyes held a soft warmth as he handed (Y/n) a single flower. With a bashful smile, he tucked it behind her ear, a subtle gesture that spoke volumes in the language of shared secrets and unspoken feelings.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Changmin and (Y/n) found themselves in a quiet bookstore, surrounded by the comforting scent of old books. The hushed atmosphere invited a sense of intimacy. Changmin, with a twinkle in his eyes, handed (Y/n) a book—a shared favorite from his collection. Their fingers brushed in the exchange, a gentle reminder that sometimes, love could be found in the simple act of sharing a story.

In a playful escape to an amusement park, Haknyeon and (Y/n) found themselves atop the Ferris wheel, the city lights stretching out beneath them. With a lighthearted grin, Haknyeon reached for (Y/n)'s hand, intertwining their fingers. The world below became a blur as they ascended into the night sky, their laughter dancing on the breeze—a carefree moment etched against the backdrop of twinkling lights.

In the serenity of a lakeside cabin, Sunwoo and (Y/n) found refuge from the demands of the world. The crackling fireplace cast a warm glow, and as Sunwoo strummed a gentle melody on his guitar, (Y/n) leaned against him. The quiet notes resonated in the cozy space, creating a haven where their souls connected through the shared language of music and unspoken emotions.

On a secluded balcony overlooking the city, Eric and (Y/n) found themselves wrapped in the soothing ambiance of a quiet night. The city lights below sparkled like a sea of stars, and with a gentle touch, Eric draped a soft blanket around (Y/n)'s shoulders. As they leaned against the railing, the world below seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them—partners in a moment of quiet intimacy that transcended the bounds of ordinary romance.

The tranquility that (Y/n) and The Boyz had cherished in the private moments they shared was abruptly shattered when unauthorized pictures of their time together surfaced. The images, captured within the sanctuary of The Boyz's apartment, ignited a storm of controversies that swept through social media and news outlets. The invasion of their privacy fueled public discontent, and the narrative surrounding their friendship and bond as soulmates took an unexpected and unwarranted turn.

The public, hungry for sensationalism, expressed their displeasure at what they perceived as an intrusion into the personal lives of both (Y/n) and The Boyz. The comments sections became a battleground of opinions, with some condemning the breach of privacy, while others indulged in speculative discussions and criticisms.

The Boyz, known for their close-knit bond with each other and (Y/n), found themselves grappling with the unwanted attention. The camaraderie that had been celebrated just months ago was now scrutinized and distorted by public perception. (Y/n), too, faced the brunt of the controversy, as her genuine connection with The Boyz was overshadowed by the invasive snapshots that had made their way into the public domain.

The joint statement from (Y/n)'s and The Boyz's respective companies aimed to set the record straight, revealing the profound connection that bound them together—soulmates. The revelation of their shared destiny shed light on the authenticity of their relationship, turning the narrative away from invasive speculations to the undeniable force of fate that had brought them together.

The statement emphasized the importance of respecting personal boundaries and understanding the impact of invasive media coverage on artists. It called for empathy and acknowledgment of the unique connection shared by (Y/n) and The Boyz, urging the public to view their relationship with the same admiration and respect that soulmates inherently deserve.

For a portion of the general public, the acknowledgment of their soulmate bond transformed the narrative, adding a layer of beauty and depth to the relationship between (Y/n) and The Boyz. The realization that fate had intricately woven their destinies together resonated with many, fostering a newfound appreciation for the genuine connection that existed beyond the lens of public scrutiny.

However, as is often the case in the world of celebrities, a segment of the public remained resistant to change. Some individuals continued to direct hate and criticism towards (Y/n) and The Boyz, seemingly unaffected by the revelation of their soulmate bond. The dichotomy in public opinion underscored the complexities of navigating fame, personal relationships, and the constant gaze of an audience.

In the face of both support and adversity, (Y/n) and The Boyz stood united, finding strength in the shared understanding of their soulmate connection. The journey they embarked on together, from the serenity of private moments to the turbulent seas of public controversy, became a testament to the resilience of genuine connections in the face of external pressures.

The revelation of (Y/n) and The Boyz as soulmates ignited a fervor among their dedicated fanbases, with Deobis and (Y/n)'s fans eager for interactions that showcased the genuine bond between them. However, the intensity of the requests, including demands for displays of physical affection such as kissing, raised ethical concerns.

Both (Y/n)'s and The Boyz's agencies, recognizing the importance of maintaining respect for personal boundaries, released statements urging fans to appreciate the soulmate connection without pressuring the artists into intimate displays for public consumption. The agencies emphasized the need for a healthy and respectful fandom culture, where the artists' personal lives could be cherished without crossing the line into invasive requests.

Despite the agencies' pleas, the demands persisted on social media platforms. Some fans, in their enthusiasm and desire to see the depth of the soulmate connection, inadvertently contributed to an environment that pushed the boundaries of privacy and respect.

In response, (Y/n), The Boyz, and their agencies maintained a delicate balance, continuing to share glimpses of their relationship and collaborations in a way that celebrated their connection without compromising their personal boundaries. They reinforced the idea that soulmate connections were rooted in a deep understanding and shared journey, transcending the need for explicit public displays.

Navigating the delicate balance between fan expectations and personal privacy, (Y/n) and The Boyz found themselves at the center of a unique situation, where the genuine appreciation of their soulmate bond was sometimes overshadowed by the demands of an enthusiastic yet boundary-pushing fandom. The journey to strike this balance became a testament to the complexities of navigating fame and personal connections within the ever-evolving landscape of the entertainment industry.

A candid snapshot captured Juyeon enveloping (Y/n) in a warm embrace backstage after a successful joint performance. The genuine smiles on their faces radiated a shared joy, and the image quickly became a symbol of the affectionate camaraderie between them.

During a casual stroll through a park, Hyunjae and (Y/n) were photographed walking hand-in-hand. The simple yet heartwarming gesture showcased a connection that extended beyond the stage, resonating with fans who appreciated the authenticity of their friendship.

A video snippet from a behind-the-scenes moment at a music show revealed The Boyz surrounding (Y/n) in a spontaneous group hug. Laughter echoed as they playfully squeezed in, creating a heartwarming tableau that fans couldn't help but gush over on social media.

Changmin was spotted offering (Y/n) his hand to help her navigate a slightly uneven surface during an outdoor event. The small but chivalrous act became a viral sensation, highlighting the caring dynamics within their friendship.

In a lighthearted moment during a variety show appearance, Sunwoo playfully stole (Y/n)'s hat and placed it atop his own head. The teasing banter and infectious laughter that ensued quickly became a favorite among fans, showcasing the playful dynamics within the group.

On (Y/n)'s birthday, Jacob took to social media to share a heartfelt message accompanied by a picture of them sharing a laugh. The sincerity of his words and the captured moment of joy became a viral sensation, with fans celebrating the warmth of their friendship.

During a live performance, Sangyeon was captured giving (Y/n) an encouraging smile from across the stage as they shared a meaningful duet. The genuine expression of support resonated with fans, symbolizing the deep connection they had forged through their shared artistic endeavors.

In a quiet moment backstage, Younghoon was seen offering (Y/n) a reassuring squeeze of her hand before a crucial live interview. The quiet support and connection shared in that simple touch touched the hearts of fans, who admired the camaraderie between them.

A fun-filled video showed Chanhee engaging in playful banter with (Y/n) during a variety show appearance. Their easygoing dynamic and infectious laughter created a delightful atmosphere that resonated with fans, highlighting the carefree and enjoyable moments they shared.

A snippet from a special live performance captured Kevin and (Y/n) engaging in a heartfelt duet. The chemistry between their voices and the genuine smiles they exchanged became a viral sensation, with fans expressing admiration for the seamless collaboration between the soloist and The Boyz.

A candid moment backstage captured Haknyeon engaging in playful antics with (Y/n), showcasing their lighthearted friendship. The shared laughter and carefree gestures became a viral sensation, offering fans a glimpse into the joyous dynamics within The Boyz and (Y/n)'s interactions.

In a competitive game during a variety show, Eric was spotted cheering enthusiastically for (Y/n), embodying the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition. The genuine encouragement and shared excitement became a favorite among fans, emphasizing the supportive dynamics within the group.

These moments, ranging from sincere gestures of support to playful interactions, contributed to the endearing narrative of (Y/n) and The Boyz's friendship. As these instances went viral on social media, fans celebrated the authenticity and warmth that defined the bond shared between the soloist and each member of The Boyz.

[accio-victuuri]

sharing this article from today about HB. 🤍

Nominated for "Best Feature Film" at the Golden Rooster Award: "Hidden Blade": a hidden arrow that breaks the unspoken rules of box office for literary and artistic films

A classic is a kind of work,

It continues to give rise to clouds of criticism of it,

And keep getting rid of it,

It never completes what it has to say.

Hidden Blade, whose global box office is still rising, is the box office ceiling for domestic literary and artistic films. The background of this performance is that serious films have encountered an era of shallow reading, the industry and the public have been torn apart, and box office has become an undercurrent sweeping everything. However, because literary films do not conform to the shallow entertainment psychology, their niche nature is predicted by bloodthirsty and crude evaluations, and they are ahead of schedule. They are killed by film placement rate.

The true mission of film︱Making culture visible

The turbulent clouds and red color in the broad field of vision are somewhat incompatible with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year. Released on the first day of the Lunar New Year, it is a kind of performance art in itself... It is very cliché, and it is exactly the same as the self-deprecation of super commercial films. As a spy war literary film, "Hidden Blade" has achieved a breakthrough in innovative expression of Chinese films, and its heterogeneity is unique among domestic films.

The dramatic tension of too many movies relies entirely on scenes and special effects, which disappear once they leave the theater. "Hidden Blade" creates a huge psychological magnetic field, which is still exciting even if it is separated from the audio-visual environment. The tone threshold of "Hidden Blade" is not some kind of contempt for the audience, but the ultimate respect for the audience, history, and movies.

Literary films are a type of film relative to the concept of commercial films. They focus on artistic expression and cultural connotation, and try to pursue higher aesthetic values ​​and cultural significance. Their production is also different from commercial films: commercial films pursue commercial interests or mass entertainment, and take the movie box office as the main goal, while literary films focus on the artistry and cultural connotation of the film.

Transgressing norms and offending common sense, art films are pioneers of film. They often fail but expand the boundaries of film. There are two literary classics in the history of world cinema, "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Westward Journey". They failed miserably at the box office when they were first released. However, they accumulated a large number of die-hard fans through the later dissemination of images. After years of accumulation, they became indelible classics.

The core of the value counterattack between the two works is still that gold will always shine.The former's exploration of human nature and social systems has created a milestone in modern cinema, while the latter's postmodern deconstructive stream of consciousness has won resonance in an era of subversion of tradition.

As a cultural carrier, movies are the most intuitive and transparent value expression of the thoughts of the times. Although most of the classics handed down from ancient times are not the true understanding of the thinkers' era, they have been accepted by the public after years of precipitation. As a result, classics continue to increase in value over the course of history. This is the power of classics and the reason why we respect classics.

As early as in "The Death of Romance", Cheng Er used lines to express his feelings, "Movies are made for the audience of the next century." Look, for artists who break through the context of their times, the feedback they receive from the times is often lagging or misaligned, although this misalignment itself is precisely the connotation of the avant-garde. Yes, art films have always been a disadvantaged group in the industry that suffers at the box office.

In contrast to the tragic box office situation, the ambition and strength of literary films in film art awards. This is also the reason why "Hidden Blade" recently swept the 36th Golden Rooster Awards, with 8 major nominations and caused controversy among public opinion.

The existence of "Hidden Blade" is indeed an isolated example of a domestic literary film. With a box office of 931 million, it is not only the highest-grossing film in director Cheng Er's career, it is even several times the total box office of all his previous works! It's so stunning that "Hidden Blade" has always been criticized by the public, expelled from the art film camp by default in the name of "removing the highest score"!

"No one knows your name, but your achievements are immortal." The grand proposition of the unknown hero in "Hidden Blade" is more sentimental about family and country than any of Cheng Er's previous works. And does this main theme of "greatness, light, and justice" fit in with the art film's original understanding of "the world, society, and life" for individuals and the authorial expression of film language?

"Hidden Blade" is not the first of its kind to draw on commercial marketing for a literary film. At that time, "Fireworks in the Day" was announced as a romantic suspense film, and it received similar reviews and received double box office revenue. It can be seen that only true literature and art dare to joke about "super commercial films".

Cheng Er responded to this joke in an interview with "China News Weekly", "I was editing the film that day, and then they came in with their mobile phones to show me, and said that everyone still thought it was too literary, and I said let's just type a line. Come out - a super commercial film. This is a joke, and indeed no one put such a slogan in the trailer."

He said that he just found it interesting and that there was nothing to rebel about and it was not worth rebelling against. Confidence and relaxation are often qualities of an artist. These qualities make people stand out like fireflies in the dark, allowing the public to quickly pick them up from the crowd. And Cheng Er slowly titled a serious film "super commercial film" because of his humor.

Movies are not just an art of light and shadow | they are also an art that can cultivate people

Low box office is not the standard for art films. “When art is dressed in shabby clothes, it is easiest for people to recognize it as art.” However, this is not an essential representation of art, but the quality of the audience that needs to be improved. The complaints faced by "Hidden Blade" are the same as those faced by literary films as a whole, which is the contradiction between the film's authorial expression and public acceptance.

But does literature and art have to be a niche? Does it deserve to be obscure and slow-paced? Come to think of it, no one is more qualified to answer than "Hidden Blade", who has boiled the black water into a world of wealth and led the public's aesthetic appreciation with niche art!

The most representative narrative style of Cheng Er's films is "flashback narrative", which established his unique creative and imaging style. It invites the audience to participate, rely on brain supplements to build together, and gain the pleasure of decoding. It is a true "understanding", and it is easy to be confused if you don't understand. Such films pursue aesthetics and reflection, and are usually aimed at more mature and artistic audiences.

Movies are products of the cultural industry and are essentially consumed cultural products. In the context of the influx of capital and hot money into the film market and the industrialized mass production of film culture, commercial films are certainly high-return cultural snacks tailored for audiences. Even the creators of literary and artistic films are hard-pressed to avoid being judged by box office success . "The concept of influence or even kidnapping.

It is common for literary films to sell less than 5 million yuan. From Chen Zheyi softly asking the sky, "Why are elegant and gentle people scolded?" to Huang Xufeng angrily choking netizens, "I have no merit but hard work." There is no antidote in the world. The reason why literary and artistic films are criticized is often because in the fast-food era of shallow reading, literary and artistic films have to embrace the sinking market and attract non-target audiences in order to pursue box office.

But movies are just products? No, it is still a cultural expression and a carrier of social values. Comparing movies to products, then literary and artistic films are obviously not fast-moving consumer goods. When facing capital and the market, how can they be in line with the public while not losing their authorial nature? Cheng Er said, "Good-looking art films are also good commodities, and excellent commercial films are also a kind of art."

When it comes to art, most people may think that art is highbrow, aloof, and far away from daily life. And this is not the case. Yu Hua said in the roadshow of "The Mistake by the River", what does it mean to understand? In fact, it is whether it can overlap with our own life experience. If there is overlap, you can understand it. If there is no overlap, you can't understand it. That's normal.

In this explanation, understanding or not understanding is not profound. And Cheng Er has always said that the audience should not be underestimated. People who watch movies are influenced by their own likes and dislikes. Whatever they feel is what they have. Whether they understand or not is not that important.

The audience should not be too demanding to understand, and the artist should also be down-to-earth. Art for the sake of art is not true art. "Hidden Blade" is not only a literary film, but also a literary footnote to Chinese films, because it truly expresses the cruelty of history but is still full of artistic beauty. Cheng Er is very familiar with the history of the Republic of China and knows the intricate relationships between characters.

"Hidden Blade" is composed of real historical details as fine as twists and turns. When I say I can’t understand it, I’m not expressing disdain, but living in China, it’s difficult to understand the history of 5,000 years of civilization, but there is absolutely no threshold for mastering the history of the Anti-Japanese War! It is understandable that one cannot appreciate the narrative technique due to aesthetic differences, but the Internet atrocities of selling one’s soul for five cents and tainting the theme of the film are unforgivable.

There is no universal set of aesthetic rules in the world, but artists try to legislate aesthetics. Every era has its own branded dogma, until the next generation of artists establishes their own profession. Therefore, Gombrich exorcized art and said, "There is no art, only artists." He hoped that the world would stop enshrining art in shrines and use mystery and sacredness to Feeling separates oneself from the work.

There is also a similar "death of the author theory" in the literary field, which means that the author is as if dead when the work is born, and the interpretation and evaluation of the work are left to the readers. That is, there are a thousand Hamlets for a thousand readers, and there is no standard answer.

Just like we cannot require every movie to go straight to the international film festival awards, but also to hit the hearts of the audience and be a classic that will be passed down forever. We cannot require every movie viewer to have high film literacy from the beginning, and to be able to get the spiritual resonance of the creative intention. The growth of movies, filmmakers, and movie audiences requires more tolerant soil and space.

Of course, there is really little space left for literary and artistic films in theaters now! No matter at home or abroad, when the public unanimously agrees that "artistic films deserve low box office", please understand that the industry should leave some room for exploration for artistic films. Allow them to be ignorant of the customs, and only on the soil of tolerance can viable artistic flowers bloom.

Social aesthetic value orientation︱The purpose and driving force of movies

"A lame dog walks through the bombed street scene." One day, Cheng Er took a pen filled with ink and wrote this sentence on the paper. At that time, no one, including himself, knew it, but it was becoming the starting point for a movie called "Hidden Blade," and this moment of brutal aesthetics became the famous scene of the movie.

Personal aesthetics are free, but social aesthetics has a paradigm. Education and social culture will influence and standardize aesthetics and shape aesthetic orientation. Different eras and different environments have different aesthetic orientations, and different aesthetic orientations make people make different value choices. That is to say, no matter how free the aesthetics and how diverse the values ​​are, as long as the rice is sown, it will never grow into tares.

Art and commerce are the two legs of movies. Art movies are full of vitality, and commercial movies are lively. When the leg of literature and art is lame, it is not unfair that Chinese films have been reduced from regulars on the awards podium at international film festivals to regulars on the red carpet.

Yes, there is indeed a "silver-like pewter tip" in the name of art. When artistic conscience is marginalized by desire, the so-called art becomes only a barren and pale flower shelf that cannot withstand scrutiny and argumentation. But "Hidden Blade" allows us to see how an exquisite literary film is polished and shaped, and even simple film layouts contain shooting skills.

Generally, it is the director's habit to record the scene first, then the actors perform, and the cameraman follows the camera movement, but this is not the case on Cheng Er's set. Wang Yibo once mentioned that the crew respects the actors very much. The filming scene is very quiet. Once the mood enters the state, the photographer shoots directly. After the scene is finished, the filming will be finished. The filming will never interrupt the actors' brewing emotions.

In the later stage, Cheng Er slept directly in the studio and only did one thing every day, cut, cut, cut! Thanks to his almost fanatical work status, Cheng Er didn't even get exposed to the sun last year! It took seven years to sharpen a sword, just for a different Chinese movie. Incorporate the main melody into genre movies, and use the language and audio-visual rhythm of genre movies to achieve innovative expression of the main melody theme.

"A truly good movie must be more commercial than commercial and more artistic than art. For me, what I have always wanted to do is to be more commercial than commercial and more artistic than artistic." Cheng Er said this and did the same.

Cheng Er's images are full of subtle metaphors. Puppet Manchukuo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, the spiritual narrative about the city in "Hidden Blade" permeates the architectural language of Rongzhai, No. 76, No. 567 Xiafei Road, Central Market, and Man Mo Temple; it is hidden in Japanese, Shanghai dialect, The mixture of pidgin and Cantonese arouses emotional resonance and deep thinking in the audience.

The Puppet Manchukuo, which only exists in the dialogue between Watanabe and Mr. Ye, is like a ghost with the chill of a daydream; the isolated island in Shanghai, which occupies the main part of the film, exudes luxury and inconsistency in its exquisiteness; and Hong Kong, as the hub of the international anti-Japanese united front, is full of human fireworks, revealing a simple and soothing world.

Dark clouds are pressing down, devastation is everywhere, and at the end of the tunnel, the historical information in the image of the current situation is compressed into a minimalist narrative, waiting to be decompressed. Until the dark wormhole of the theater, the historical words in the spy war narrative rushed towards us...

The anti-Japanese drama consumes misery, the anti-war themes are reproduced in large numbers, and the massacres cause psychological discomfort... In the past, expressions of the history of national suffering often followed the rules of exposing cruelty, exposing blood, and even exchanging violence for violence. What is shocking about "Hidden Blade" is that it uses beauty to overcome ugliness. It is amazing: It turns out that suffering can be interpreted calmly, with warmth and depth! "You can't get involved in the frame," is the domineering determination of the man behind the scenes.

Light and heavy, cold and warm, it completes the unfinished soul judgment on a country's sin of aggression in reality. In the sense of cultural export, "Hidden Blade" integrates the isolated history of China's anti-Japanese resistance into the world narrative of the great history of World War II.

It is a message from the times to the times. In the theater, "Hidden Blade" makes us feel the power of literature and art. After walking out of the theater, you will naturally understand what the merits of the unknown are!

[weaselandfriends]

Web Original, Recently Witnessed

In a previous post, I mentioned some web fiction I'd recently read. This time, I'll highlight some web original content outside of the literary sphere. While I have some experience with literature, I'm completely untalented in other mediums, so my assessment of this content is no better than a layman's. However, I still thought it worth highlighting.

1. Journey to EPCOT Center: A Symphonic History by Kevin Perjurer (Defunctland)

Perjurer has been putting out excellent documentary-style content on theme parks and their rides for years now, but while his production quality is consistently high, his videos often live or die based on the core level of interest his subject engenders. For instance, his video on notoriously awful ride Superstar Limo (with a general focus on notoriously awful theme park California Adventure) is an incredible watch, while his video on a random assortment of small, local Santa Claus theme parks across America isn't quite so compelling. He's no Jon Bois (of 17776 fame), a documentarian capable of rendering extraordinary seemingly the most banal of subjects.

Journey to EPCOT Center, however, is unlike anything Perjurer has ever put out before. It completely eschews Perjurer's typical voiceover narration style of documentary, instead stitching together music, audio of news reports and press releases, and dramatizations of Disney boardroom meetings to create a seamless narrative. Beyond the unique style and presentation of the piece, however, is the incredible artistry on display in several of the segments. Some of the biggest highlights:

12:00 to 16:14: A neon light animation detailing the vision and plan of EPCOT, which gradually transforms into a 3D map that the camera travels through

16:52 to 21:03: An impressively animated series of newspaper articles detailing Disney's struggles finding signatories for its world showcase; the video comments indicate some shots of the moving newspapers were created practically, with Lego conveyer belts

38:46 to 44:27: A puppet show dramatizing Disney's efforts to seek international sponsors

There are numerous other impressive, inventive, and creative segments as well, with unique animation and visual styles. The video rarely repeats the same trick twice.

The funniest part is that all of this is in service to a topic I would personally consider quite boring. EPCOT is such a Disney-buffs-only type of subject, neither Disney's greatest success nor its greatest failure. The incredible skill on display is all aimed toward depicting a fairly corporate, backroom-style story about men in suits trying to secure handshakes. There's an almost propagandistic feel to it, an extolling of capitalist bigwigs that feels completely at odds with Perjurer's visionary style.

In a way, it's reminiscent of United Passions, a FIFA propaganda film meant to make its executives look good in the wake of real-life controversy. On the other hand, though, Perjurer's exceedingly loving depiction is appropriate for Walt Disney's final passion project, Disney himself being a man who, for better or for worse, was as much of a dreamer and visionary as he was a cutthroat businessman. EPCOT, as the video tells you, was designed as an optimistic reaffirmation of the American free enterprise project, and as a complement to that vision Perjurer's video could not be more accurate. Unlike United Passions, this video was also made independently, not financed by Disney to make itself look good in the eyes of the public. Metatextually, it poses a fascinating question: Is there value to corporate art? Can a corporation create something of true beauty? Perjurer's video suggests it can.

2. The Mind Electric Animation - Lonely-Man's Lazarus by Daisy

Perjurer is probably familiar to many of my readers, so this next entry is more obscure, something I stumbled on almost by chance.

A friend of mine is big into animatics, which as far as YouTube is concerned is about setting music (usually Broadway or Disney musical numbers) to sketchy, storyboard-style art. I'm not a major Broadway fan in general, so these have never appealed to me much, although I've been shown several.

This one, though, rather generically titled "The Mind Electric Animation" (after the song it features), caught me entirely off guard. The first notable element is that the animation is monstrously more fluid than a typical animatic, though it retains the sketchy/storyboard art style and traditional animatic sensibilities toward character design (very "Tumblr," if I had to put a word on it). Secondly, the music, rather than being from Hamilton or Heathers or some other popular musical, is from the itself rather arcane album Hawaii: Part II by Joe Hawley (under the name ミラクルミュージカル). Hawaii: Part II is, as far as I can tell, a concept album detailing the story of a man who goes insane after his girlfriend is murdered (possibly by himself), with a strange secondary subtext of possibly being metaphorical for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The lyrics are certainly open to interpretation.

The animatic combines these elements with heavy inspiration from a different concept album, potentially the most famous one ever made: Pink Floyd's The Wall, with specific nods to the film adaptation's animations for The Trial and Empty Spaces. There is no skimping on detail, with some sequences absolutely bursting with bizarre visuals. The ultimate result is absolutely trippy, abstract, and surreal, which are some of my favorite things for something to be.

Regardless, it's an impressive work of animation for a single person to make; the video description states it took 15 months, which is more time than I've spent on any one of even my longest works. The creator themselves is somewhat enigmatic from what I could tell, despite having a whole host of social media platforms. They seem to be working on a web comic, but trying to find any concrete information on what it is actually about was difficult. Nonetheless, whoever made this certainly has an abundance of creative vision and talent. Though I've seen skilled artists sit down to create something narrative before and flub it utterly (an example that comes to mind is Ava's Demon), so who knows if what is on display in this animation will make it into that web comic. Even if it doesn't, the animation by itself is incredible, so check it out.

3. The Skibidi Toilet podcast guys are for real by Mikhail Klimentov / Built By Gamers in general

Built By Gamers has been on my radar for some time (ever since seeing this video) as an absolute masterclass of performance art. The voice, the emphasis, the little oddities here and there, the way the two hosts so often ignore direct questions posed by one another, it creates something inimitably uncanny. This interview by Mikhail Klimentov, who I am familiar with primarily through his esports journalism, only adds new layers to what was already a convoluted question of irony and sincerity.

There are a few concrete insights, most shockingly to me that the creators of Built By Gamers (Todd Searle and Peter Armendariz) got their start in esports. But despite the title that seems to clearly suggest their videos are sincere, the actual interview is far less conclusive. For instance, this exchange:

It's evident to me that you guys take this very seriously. You feel as though there's a lot of craft behind these videos. Tell me about the stuff that a viewer won't see: the behind-the-scenes stuff that you're thinking about as you're working on these videos. Armendariz: A lot of people think it's ChatGPT. That's a big thing that people think that we do. But a lot of it is actually well crafted, through hours — like we'll spend hours on one script and really thinking about how we can get someone to react. It doesn't matter if it's them laughing, if it's them feeling sad, or them hating on one of us, our main goal in our videos is to get someone to feel something. The hard truth is that people don't realize how many hours we spend on one video to get that one line. I think that's what people don't really understand. We’ll spend like two hours on one line. Searle: Our tone, like how we talk — it’s on purpose. I have to get into character for it. Armendariz: Todd has a voice, bro! He didn't think he'd be good at telling stories, and I have him tell every single story because he has this campfire story voice. And sometimes he'll hit a line and I'm like, “No, no, you’ve got to hit it harder.” And we'll spend like 30 minutes trying to hit the line, or hitting the hook just the right way.

Followed immediately by:

People really don't know what to make of you guys. They don't have a sense of whether you're serious, whether you're in on the joke, whether there's a joke at all. I'm curious if you can clear that up. Searle: We want it to be everything you just said. We want people to think we're serious. We want camps of people who don't think we're serious. People who think that we're A.I. We kind of want to keep it, I guess, vague in that regard. Like we want you to believe… what we are — and that's OK. Armendariz: I think sometimes we'll play into different communities. So, like, some people will say, ‘You guys sound like you got brain surgery.’ So then we’ll make the most cringey video that's like super brain-rot, you know? We just kind of mess around and have fun.

So are they just messing around and having fun, or are they spending hours trying to nail specific lines just right? Are they sincerely trying to tell a story that gets an emotional reaction or are they just trolling, which also gets an emotional reaction? The biggest troll of the interview, targeted specifically at me, was this response:

Can you tell me what those writing principles are? Armendariz: I think a big writing principle that everyone should follow is, it's really important to show, don't tell.

People who have talked to me elsewhere know I am a massive enthusiast of the ubiquitous Mr. Beast, not necessarily because I like his content (though I do think he puts together some strong game show/Wipeout-style videos), but because of the story behind him: That he is an extreme, almost insufferable perfectionist, who analyzes video success and failure to a scientific degree, doing experiments with thumbnails, video lengths, et cetera, all to take detailed assessments of the results and perfectly calibrate his videos in mathematical fashion. It's a type of rigor that flies in the face of the casual, wastefully generous persona he cultivates in his videos proper.

I think many people have this innate idea that a work of art's quality is somehow tied to the effort expended to produce it. (Even I have it. Notice how for both of the first two entries in this post I mention the effort or time or craftsmanship of the work in question.) This is the kind of sensibility that causes a layman, who knows nothing about painting, to prefer a Caravaggio to a Rothko. But this sensibility is both conceptually and often practically wrong; Rothko, for instance, engineered his own paints, creating custom blends of materials (including non-paint material, like egg) to form paints of a perfectly specific color or gloss or sheen, a process often completely unseen by a casual glance at the finished work.

Subsequently, there's a reason they're called writer's workshops, that writing is so often described as a craft: It's an attempt to imbue writing with a sense of effort that makes it more palatable. The stereotype extends to the artist who sneers at quote-unquote "low" art, thinking "If I was willing to lower myself, I could create that slop and make millions too." In my experience, though, the people creating this "low" art are often expending absurd amounts of effort and exhibiting incredible skill to create something perfectly engineered for success. I, certainly, have found zero success in attempting to broaden my own audience, even when I make attempts at it; it's not something that's easier to do if you're just willing to try.

I also increasingly fail to believe in the stereotype of the miserable cynic artist who creates something they think is garbage because they know that'll be most popular. Those people don't last long; those who succeed in the popular sphere are people who are genuinely passionate about what they create, even if it looks like dreck to everyone else (including the millions who consume it).

I've been kicking around an idea for a story about Mr. Beast for some time now, exploring these concepts in even greater depth. That won't happen in the immediate future, but it's something to look out for.

[murdereddoubt]

Sleep Token: A Mesmerizing Discography of Harmony and Depth

In an era where musical cohesion and thematic storytelling within albums seem to have taken a backseat, Sleep Token emerges as a breath of fresh air. Their discography, consisting of "One," "Two," "Sundowning," "This Place Will Be Your Tomb," and "Take Me Back to Eden," stands as a testament to the band's unwavering commitment to crafting aural experiences that transcend the ordinary.

The journey through Sleep Token's discography is akin to embarking on a profound spiritual odyssey. From the hauntingly ethereal "One" to the enigmatic "Two," the groundwork for their sonic universe is laid. However, it's in the final trilogy – the awe-inspiring progression from "Sundowning" to "This Place Will Be Your Tomb" and culminating in "Take Me Back to Eden" – that the band's genius truly shines.

It's an experience like no other to listen to this trilogy in succession. The albums are woven with a meticulous thread, each song seamlessly transitioning into the next, creating a coherent narrative that's both immersive and captivating. It's a rarity in today's music landscape to find albums that not only possess individual standouts but also present a holistic journey where each track complements the others, all working together to amplify the overarching theme.

At the heart of Sleep Token's captivating allure lies the extraordinary songwriting prowess of their enigmatic lead singer, Vessel. With an uncanny ability to delve deep into the recesses of human emotion, Vessel crafts lyrics that resonate on a profoundly personal level. His songwriting transcends conventional boundaries, exploring themes of spirituality, vulnerability, and the human experience with a poetic eloquence that leaves an indelible mark. The lyrical tapestries he weaves evoke a sense of introspection, drawing listeners into a world of intricate narratives and haunting melodies. Vessel's gift for storytelling, coupled with his literal emotive delivery, results in songs that not only captivate the ear but also touch the soul, leaving a lasting imprint that lingers long after the music fades.

An integral facet that elevates Sleep Token's discography to unparalleled heights is the impeccable music production and audio engineering work contributed by the talents of Carl Brown from Treehouse Studios and George Lever of G1 Productions. Their collaborative efforts have played a pivotal role in bringing the band's vision to life, with every note and nuance meticulously crafted. The albums bear testament to their skilful touch, as each instrument resonates with clarity, and every whisper of Vessel's vocals is imbued with raw emotion. Brown and Lever's expertise acts as the invisible hand that guides the listener through the intricacies of Sleep Token's ethereal soundscapes, making the auditory journey as enchanting as it is immersive.

When it comes to translating their studio brilliance into live performances, Sleep Token is nothing short of exceptional. The band's stage presence is mesmerizing, drawing the audience into their spellbinding world. Perhaps even more astonishing is the fact that Vessel's vocals remain untouched by the heavy hand of autotune or vocal correction software. His voice, heard live, is a mirror image of what you've come to adore from their recordings, showcasing the band's authenticity and musicianship.

A noteworthy aspect of Sleep Token's artistry is their visual identity, thoughtfully brought to life recently by Alex Tillbrook Design. The graphics for their albums and merchandise resonate harmoniously with their musical essence. The attention to detail is evident, reflecting the band's commitment to a holistic experience that extends beyond just the auditory realm.

In a musical landscape dominated by singles and fleeting trends, Sleep Token's discography stands as a masterpiece of cohesion, depth, and unadulterated passion. Their commitment to crafting albums that weave a seamless tapestry of themes and emotions harks back to a time when the 90s music scene was known for its dedication to storytelling through albums.

I am deeply enamoured by the captivating allure of Sleep Token's enigmatic anonymity, a sentiment beautifully encapsulated in their profound statement, "Our identities are unimportant. Music is marketed on who is or isn't in a band; it's pushed, prodded, and molded into something it isn't. Vessel endeavours to keep the focus on His offerings." Within the realm of Sleep Token's music, the conventional fixation on individual personas is gracefully set aside, allowing the divine essence of their artistry to take center stage.

This intentional detachment from personal identities enables a pure connection with their music, permitting listeners like yourself and myself to be swept away by the ethereal melodies without the distractions of the mundane world. As I immerse myself in the mystique of Sleep Token, I find solace in the idea that their music is an offering, a sacred creation meant to transcend the limitations of the known, inviting us to experience a profound and unifying journey guided solely by the resonating notes and unspoken emotions.

As a dedicated listener, I can't help but yearn for the day when I can witness Sleep Token's magic on stage in person. The anticipation of their live performance is enough to send shivers down the spine. And as the music world eagerly awaits their future creations, there's a sense of excitement and curiosity about where their artistic journey will lead. Here's to hoping for a chance to witness Sleep Token's live magic and to eagerly awaiting the next chapter in their evolving musical saga 🥂.

(All images taken from their facebook page and, my guess, by their touring photographer Adam Rossi)

If you made it this far, thank you for reading. Hope I can produce an album of this magnitude some day. - worship - Murdered Doubt

[rustedhearts]

in no way am i dubbing this show the absolute end-all-be-all of television, nor can i say that it should be winning any awards in terms of performance or anything else

but

i always roll my eyes when i see articles (from nyt of all publications, like be fr) dissing emily in paris for being “bad” television.

it brings us back to the idea that everything on our tv has to be some sort of life-altering event. that we need to be learning something or taking something away from it that’s larger than just entertainment. but why? why does everything we take in have to teach us something? is it not enough to watch or read something just to feel peace, a moment of relaxation?

i think that television shows/films made simply for the sake of entertainment (“feel good” media) is just as valid as media made with artistry in mind.

and it’s clear from the people who continue to diss it that “feel good” media is slowly dying out. movies are made with an oscar in mind, with an obscurity in visuals and audio just to be spoken about. tv shows are made to win emmys, with over-the-top “shock factor” performances and plot lines. and sure, we can enjoy that too

but

we can also enjoy things like emily in paris that literally just let us forget about our own problems for the 30 minutes it’s on screen.

bring back feel good tv!!

(this is less about emily in paris and more about my disdain for the current trends in media)

[popmusicu]

I'm Malice Mizer tunnel-visioned HELP

To conclude my posts, I would like to revisit the topic I started with in my first post about visual kei, this time focusing on one of the most influential bands in the genre, Malice Mizer. This band has achieved several milestones in the movement, with their influence extending beyond music to setting trends in aesthetics and stage presence. Therefore, to wrap up this course, I want to delve deeper into their work, specifically highlighting the importance of the album merveilles for visual kei and Japanese music in general.

Malice Mizer's members with their attire for the Le Ciel video (so iconic omg)

Malice Mizer, a seminal band in the visual kei scene, left an indelible mark with their 1998 album merveilles. Among the standout tracks on this album are Illuminati, Bel Air ~Kūhaku no Toki no Naka de~, Gekka no Yasoukyoku and Le Ciel, each encapsulating the band's distinctive blend of gothic, baroque, and rock elements. The impact of both the album and these songs on the visual kei movement is profound and multifaceted.

Cover for Malice Mizer's third album merveilles (1998).

merveilles arrived at a time when visual kei was gaining significant traction in Japan. The genre, known for its elaborate aesthetics, theatrical performances, and genre-blending music, found a perfect embodiment in Malice Mizer. The band's meticulous attention to visual and musical detail set them apart, and merveilles is a testament to this dedication. The album features a rich tapestry of sounds, including art rock, synthpop, and classical influences, which are particularly evident in tracks like Bel Air ~Kūhaku no Toki no Naka de~ and Illuminati.In 2004, it was named one of the top albums from 1989–1998 by the music magazine Band Yarouze and in 2021, Jamie Cansdale of Kerrang! included merveilles on a list of 13 essential Japanese rock and metal albums, noting that Malice Mizer embraced "antiquated piano and violin fanfare, resulting in symphonic ballads and avant-garde pomp heavier than anything on the airwaves at the time."

Illuminati in particular, stands out for its dark and enigmatic themes. The song's intricate composition, combining gothic rock with classical and electronic elements, exemplifies the band's innovative approach. The accompanying music video further enhances the song's mystique, featuring elaborate costumes, gothic imagery, and a narrative that invites various interpretations. This fusion of audio and visual artistry became a blueprint for many visual kei artists who followed. Music magazine Quelle called merveilles a "gothic masterpiece," a perfect storm of theatricality and musical innovation. Illuminati was particularly noted for its "dark, romantic atmosphere" by JaMe World, contrasting starkly with the playful pop-rock dominating the mainstream at the time.

Furthermore, the visual style of the Illuminati music video had a significant influence on the visual kei scene. In the early 2000s, visual kei bands began adopting stylistic elements from the fetish branch of gothic fashion, such as corsets, vinyl fabric, and spiked collars. This more sexualized appearance can be traced back to the Illuminati video, which featured the band members in BDSM-inspired attire and behavior.

One of the BDSM-inspired attire for the Illuminati video and live presentation (these outfits live rent free in my mind)

Phantasmagoria: an example of the 'fetish' attire influence from Malice Mizer.

The influence of merveilles extends beyond its immediate impact. This album marked the pinnacle of Malice Mizer's success, being their best-selling album, charting high on the Oricon charts, and earning them several national TV appearances.  Also, the Japanese pop culture website Real Sound credited Malice Mizer as the first visual kei band to incorporate European aesthetics into heavy metal with the twin guitars in Bel Air ~Kūhaku no Toki no Naka de~.

Gackt in the Bel Air video for the single launched in 1997 and included in the merveilles album.

The album also includes Gekka no Yasoukyoku a hauntingly beautiful track that showcases the band's ability to blend classical music with modern rock. The music video for this song features a gothic fairytale aesthetic, reinforcing the band's commitment to creating a complete visual and auditory experience.

Mana Sama and Közi in Malice Mizer: Gekka no Yasoukyoku (1998)

Le Ciel is another significant track from merveilles, known for its emotional depth and poignant lyrics. The live performance of Le Ciel at the 1998 concert "merveilles l'espace" is particularly memorable. In this concert at the Nippon Budokan, the band utilized a large building as a stage prop, incorporating elaborate theatrics that captivated the audience. Each band member performed skits, with Gackt's performance of Le Ciel being a standout moment. During this skit, Gackt fell to the stage to sing the song and returned to "Heaven" by the song's and concert's end, creating a powerful visual and emotional impact. This concert was a significant success and was released on home video as merveilles (Shūen to Kisū) l'espace. Additionally, the band held their last live performance with Gackt at the Yokohama Arena in July 1998, prior to the announcement of his departure in January 1999.

Gackt s ascent to ''Heaven'' on the cover for the Malice Mizer: merveilles ~Tendency and End~l'espace DVD.

Malice Mizer's success helped to elevate the visual kei genre, pushing it into the mainstream and inspiring a new generation of bands. Groups such as Versailles, Moi dix Mois (founded by Malice Mizer's guitarist Mana sama), and many others have cited Malice Mizer as a pivotal influence. The theatricality and musical experimentation that Malice Mizer championed continue to be hallmarks of the genre.

The vkei and power metal band Versailles (very iconic, highly recommended too)

On a personal note, Malice Mizer holds a special place in my heart (as if you didn't notice haha). Despite the changes the band went through in its relatively short existence, each 'era' highlighted by the presence of different vocalists has something unique and special to offer. None is better than the other in my view; they all contribute to the cohesive whole that is Malice Mizer. Their ability to evolve while maintaining a distinct identity is what truly sets them apart and solidifies their legacy in the world of visual kei and beyond. This is especially evident in the legacy left by merveilles. The album's blend of gothic, baroque, art rock, and synthpop aesthetics with rock music not only defined their unique sound and image but also set a new standard for the genre. As visual kei continues to evolve, the echoes not only of merveilles, but their whole music can still be heard, proving the enduring influence of Malice Mizer's visionary artistry.

Malice Mizer through time, from above to below: ''Tetsu era'', ''Gackt era'' and ''Klaha era''.

No special recommendation for this post, just click on the linked words and enjoy!!

-Francisca Rivera.

[writingmochi]

an honest review of orange blood from musical and conceptual observation (not proofread)

opening remarks: wow... they really let go of manifesto saga all together, huh? ngl i think they're doing this to cater towards the dark moon audience (as per what sunghoon said in the vlog they did in lotte world towards solon, "are you more famous than me? you are me."

also, i'm gonna be truthful here: i haven't kept up with their lore stuff after border era finished (actually it's more of because i've been straying from kpop a lot now). i used to read webtoons but idk man i still think that hybe is really pushing their artists into making intellectual properties so they can license it to everyone (the successful ones are tiny tan and bts universe) but when you're here for the artistry in the music and audio visual aspect of the music, you kinda feel being left behind. so, relating to another hybe artist, i kind of like txt separating from their star seekers character but dark moon is technically enhypen's (and &team's) dna now.

concept-wise visually, i think it's good. we love a sanskrit representation with ksana and kalpa, but i think it'll be more interesting if they dig deeper into what it means cosmological, mythological, etc and relate it towards dark moon, sooha/selen, the werewolves of sunshine city and more.

also, it's an interesting choice on hybe's behalf to make a comeback between &team and enhypen around the same time, especially since they are brothers-with-rivalries group (yes, i just coin that teehee)

i can go on on a tangent about how belift doesn't know where enhypen's is going long-term wise but... eh, that's for another time...

let's start!

1.mortal: intro track as always! i love the more lo-fi instrumental of it (it can be a good bgm to reflect on mortality akfbauewiue4g) i also love that every member participates here, either by monologuing or singing. it's like a poem in a short film (it could actually be in the concept trailer, cmiiw) and i think it's gonna be a good visual spectacle on concerts (which given the state of kpop now. they will do tours even for EPs, too criminal actually)

also WHY THE FUCK IS THIS LONGER THAN THE TITLE TRACK FFS (unless this is not a monologue, but dialogues between differing perspective, i agree that it should be that long) oh gosh...

2.sweet venom: AINT THIS JAKE'S ERA?! my boy!!! also WE GET A FREAKING BRIDGE ISTG YOU DON'T KNOW HOW UNEXPECTED THAT IS AS SOMEONE WHO MISSES ENHYPEN'S BRIDGES (given-taken my love). from the post i made before this, i mentioned hybe is doing something interesting and the answer is... we're returning to 2020 hybe again with their retro-sounding title tracks like chasing the feeling, god of music, and this. also, i watched the mv first before hearing the audio and i love the stop-motion mv like for real (definitely matches the music)

i definitely can see and hear the michael jackson influence for this comeback and the choreo, funk is his genre after all. but the funk is making it easy-listening that it doesn't overwhelm those who aren't funk and disco listeners. the orchestral bytes in the bridges make it nostalgic towards songs in the 90s. it definitely is trying to cater towards gen z's affection towards nostalgia (which hits me too with the mj influence, riki probably likes this comeback so much :D)

highlights? oh the three oldest hyungs get it. jake has never been the center of a comeback (it's always heeseung or jungwon) and i love that he can hold himself up, for my fellow jaeyun lover be prepared to see him in thumbnails now~ heeseung and jay's vocals? chef's kiss! get those falsettos, kings! and their runs in the verses is just so good ughh

also, another tangent of me of the vocal mixing incoming. i think it's better but niki's voice sounds unrecognizable in the audio. maybe it's because his voice hasn't stop evolving or what not but yeah, if i didn't watch the mv first, i wouldn't recognize niki's voice. also the last chorus can be given two more bars cause it just unsatisfyingly ends? and i can understand why sunghoon doesn't have that much lines here because (and don't cancel me on this) it doesn't suit his timbre much because his voice is more on the baritone range than the others who are tenor and this song is in a high key. if maybe they can lower the key like a full step than it can match his voice more...

3.still monster: emo-ballad enha? is that you? the start does sound a bit more bossa-nova ish before the drums kick in. i love how muted the instrumental is so that we can hear the vocals more. it definitely has the analog phone filter to it, kinda of reminds me of haru haru by big bang but mellower. i think i know that synth keyboard sound font is because it sounds so vintage and i like how it harmonizes with the guitar. i can definitely play bass to the song *cue me trying to make the bass tab in my free time after this*. i can hear sunghoon again yay! also we love the ad-libs at the last chorus. get it, heeseung! and this song is very heeseung actually lol

4.blind: wow... synth? at the start i think this is gonna be like cyberpunk by ateez but then it goes into a more rnb route. i almost thought also jersey club percussion, okay drum fills in the pre-chorus. and BAM... synthwave! this is more like take me home by ateez. i think this could even be an ateez song, but it's not as abrasive as the ones ateez makes. that post-chorus part though when the bass kicks in, the fuck was that? and why can't we got more of that D:?

but i actually like how slow it's taking, like they're trying to take the vibes in first, ya know? i think it is because this is their first venture to synthwave from a more rnb/hip-hop-based set of songs. they tried it with tamed-dashed but this is a mature, slower version of it. also, heeseung with the ad-libs istg!!! heeseung stop it, don't tug my heart string like that. that bounce between sunghoon and niki, we like that!

5.orange flower (you complete me): *cue onf's complete* you complete... ME~~~~ when i see the tracklist, that's the kind of song i predict with this title. and, a signature of enhypen in this album, we have a more mellow version of the style they're going with this song. they're also catering this towards gen z as this is like the type of songs that's gonna be placed in a "indie rock end credits" type of music. it's pretty predictable with a name like orange flower for it to be a feel-good song. i actually like this more than tfw cause the instrumental is more optimistic.

i also like the verses more than the chorus (kinda a bit anti-climatic for me) but it still gives of a music that you play while riding bicycles with your friends around sunset (wish i could do that again but growing up is pain ehheheheeh)

6.sweet venom (english ver): since this is just sweet venom but in a different language, i'm gonna focus more on vocal performance and lyrics.

i like how gritty they sound, like the textures in their voice i can hear it better. the way the pronounce the words is clear enough to be deciphered. i love the pre-chorus in korean version better but i know that they're trying to make the lyrics make sense in the language. idk why but heeseung sounds better here like my man wtf is on with you istg

7.sweet venom (ft. bella poarch): first: i don't have beef with bella poarch cause i don't really care about her. she's just another influencer trying to survive the internet and life honestly. i think it's also another situation how engenes are jealous because enhypen's with a girl because they're delulu that enha can only be with them through sooha lmao (read: enhypen now performing bite me with female partners) because they dig into controversies that don't really involve them (international engenes, especially westerners). i just think that what western engenes are doing with the situation is reacting the same way that korean engene react to them during bite me era. it's part of stan culture and to break it, it's gonna be hard.

second: since this is technically sweet venom eng ver with bella poarch, i'll be focusing on vocal performance and lyrics (if they decide to change it)

even from the mixing, you can hear the difference from the vocals. bella's voice is much more airy with more reverb than enha's. i also think that it makes the song more richer, especially with the harmonics, some are a bit unnecessary. but from me, this changes sweet venom's color from a full orange color towards a peachy one with bella's feminine influence.

closing remarks: i definitely didn't expect to like this album as much.

coming from unliking three enha title tracks in a row, even i can't believe that i like the sound of this album. the sound is more cohesive; a mellow rnb touch in every track as they combine with other genres (sweet venom with funk, still monster with emo-ballad, blind with synthwave, and orange flower with indie rock) yet they still try to push the boundaries of genres they wanna try.

the highlight of the overall album is definitely heeseung. he kills it with his vocal performance and i love how versatile he is as he pushes some fancy things in one song and dim it in another, creating a more diverse set of texture for each song. jay is close second because this album just shows how much of a powerhouse he is (i think his music diversification with listening to rock songs helps him with that).

when it comes to the whole comeback, imo, it doesn't really match that well from both audio and visual. it's like they have two different visions cause the theme doesn't matches with between the art and music direction. it's like if belift just said "the main theme of this album is orange." okay so what do you mean orange? like visually, the concept photo is very orange-like and the music does sound orange to me, but what is the connection here? it also definitely shows with how enha can't explained what orange blood means in one interview they did. because i don't understand what they're trying to say with the phrase orange blood. is it orange because it's like fire? is it orange because it is derived from red blood? if it's like fire, then why did we get a funk song?

also, what saddens me is the track listing like only 5 new songs + one is more like monologue. even i can see it as a scam if you actually are trying to use your money to buy an album + they have 3 versions of this album with randomized photocard. please treat your money carefully!

final ranking:

7.sweet venom (english ver.)

6.mortal

5.sweet venom (ft. bella poarch)

4.still monster

3.orange flower (you complete me)

2.sweet venom

1.blind

small conclusion: DON'T INTERACT WITH VENOM AND POISON, FOLKS. ITS DANGEROUS FOR A REASON: YOU CAN DIE!!11!!! THERE AREN'T ANY SWEET VENOM UNLESS IT IS SUGAR (N EVEN THAT CAN CAUSE YOU DIABETES)

also, here's my predictions for the next entry of the blood series:

following the colors of the rainbow, it's gonna be yellow/golden blood. it's gonna make the blood series have seven albums from the colors of the rainbow (red = jungwon, orange = jake, yellow = ???)

following the next phrase related to blood (and because of selen from the lore), it's gonna be blue blood: a term used to refer to noble birth, royalty, etc here's me hoping they do a more dpr ian miito sound for a regal comeback

[breserker]

so for the books (and my own benefit) i need to watch a lot of golden age of mexican cinema films, of that which i'm the most familiar with Pedro Infante's stuff. it's been slow going because none of this shit is very accessible and at this point in my life I understand Japanese wayyyy the hell better than whatever Spanish I left behind but it'll have to do when there are films that have no subtitles, english, spanish, or otherwise (weeps)

anyway one film i grew up with was La Tercera Palabra (1955) which is not dissimilar to My Fair Lady in some regards. unfortunately while this film was uploaded to youtube about 2 years ago and has nearly a million views, the most recent printing of the film is a 2003 DVD and the criterion collection has like. 1, soon 2 films from this era of Mexican history (for a total of 12 Mexican films at least one if not two of which are del toro's which, don't get me wrong dude. favorite living director. BUT, you feel me. when their French and Japanese and Italian lists sprawl for 90, 100, 200 entries and then there's this wholeeee classical era of a neighboring country's films not--ok rant for a different time)

point being, i THOUGHT the dvd i grew up with, that 2003 printing, had subtitles, if not in english then in spanish. probably not in english. i put in a request at my library like "hey can you find this film with english subs for me please bc it's not just me but my roommate wants to watch it after i hyped it up and the criterion collection--okay RANT FOR ANOTHER TIME". this occurred at 2am. 2 hours later i realize in despair no that 2003 dvd doesn't have eng subs, no release of the film has eng subs anywhere and i'm suddenly struck with the horror that i've only ever seen the film in pure spanish when i thought i had a guideline. so i send another despairing letter to the library like "please disregard that. i'm not drunk but i'm in despair."

well they got it for me anyway, same DVD from my childhood. i tottered home with it yesterday and popped it in and watched it and reader there were no spanish subs either. PURE 1955 audio quality spanish. how did i watch this as a kid.

it was extremely painful to watch as an adult. film is a visual medium so i did understand a lot of story beats, like, you know, i know they're falling in love in this scene. i have no idea why though. some jokes i got. but they were also easy to get. i understood the gist of the plot because i had seen it before (and no thanks to wikipedia, look at this awful stub of an english page. it lists only Sara Garcia as starring, but she's not EITHER of the two main roles, one of which is Marga Lopez (the protagonist) the other of which is Pedro Fucking Infante. yes i have plans to dress up that page at some point because christ this is bad)

either way it's still a fantastic film imo. you can watch it here if you like. the benefit to my viewing is that it's almost 1:1 how Vel watches the film on his tia's massive VHS collection of pedro infante movies, complete with "i get the film and some of the spanish but i can't quote anything nor truly understand the artistry of the dialogue".

[legionofpotatoes]

curious if you have seen (and if so what are your thoughts on) across the spider-verse what with it being such a love letter to illo/animation?

I have... a complicated relationship with that movie

Here are my thoughts on it straight out the cinema. It was all very heat-of-the-moment and I softened up a fair bit up since then, but I still have the same fundamental gripes with its story sense and tenacious excess in visual fidelity.

I know how dumb it sounds but it feels how it feels to me. Like watching it felt like playing a triple-A videogame. It was less intentional artistry and more kitchen sink clutter that had crunch written all over it. Definitely partially a me-problem but also the reports that followed kinda confirmed those suspicions and that sucked?

I know feature animation in hollywood pretty much universally sucks for every ground-level artist involved rn, but I definitely became privy to too much concrete bs to keep viewing this specific project as something championing the medium. The incessant fiddling from lord and miller, the firings and uncredited workers, the fact that much of their visual identity stems from alberto mielgo's work whom I just cannot stand. A lot of this is personal, and I can't ignore that.

But beyond all of my baggage, objectively speaking, I did love everything in the film that had to do with Gwen. Art direction included. That was a real flex both in audio-visual cues and a strong, dramatic character arc. But everything else felt like a mess. I said it before but walking out of this movie confused and bummed out was the first telltale sign for me, whereas ITSV left me elated and humming with joy. And it felt intentional. Question is, why?

And it's all tied up in taste and tone of course and I'm not here to police anyone's preferences in dramatic clarity or storytelling styles. But this type of half-a-movie that is all setups and cliffhangers pointing excitedly at a nebulous sequel is not my cup of tea at all. And I guess knowing how messy it was behind the scenes simply exacerbated that feeling.

ITSV had so much catharsis. So much progression of drama and payoff and big, sweeping moments that were visual, musical, and meaningful on a story level all at once. It was pure storytelling. ATSV had good stuff for Gwen, but otherwise was mostly just. Plot, it felt like. One thing after another and after another, leading to this weird, confusing, emotional rugpull of an ending that certainly had. Spice to it, but I wouldn't call it fulfilling.

Multiverse stuff is weird, right? but ITSV used that as just another tool in its storytelling bag. The other spiders came in with satellite arcs and enriched Miles' story in a very organic way. A story about fear and great expectations, executed to a T, ending with a triumph. Yet here we see ATSV using the multiverse as an entire framing device that its story optics are now beholden to. It feels wrong, somehow, and makes it harder to parse what all of this is about.

Bringing the concept of canon into the text, creating a story about storytelling itself, is always very very very tricky and difficult to pull off, and often even meaningless writ large. It makes the story they're telling here infinitely less interesting to me. and hey, I am curious to see what they do with Beyond, I'm not pretending to know more than I do here. I welcome being wrong! But it is what it is for now.

Thankfully Nimona came out soon after and was beautiful and elegant and meaningful and wholesome in all the ways I love, to the point that I decided everything was going to be okay after all :D Anyway I hope this answers your question and sorry I get so wordy!!!

[burlveneer-music]

Nico Muhly - David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller and further away)

Bedroom Community Unveils Nico Muhly's Mesmerizing Music Score for David Hockney's Light Room Exhibition This extraordinary collaboration between two artistic giants promises to transport audiences on an unparalleled sensory journey of art and music. As a composer and pianist renowned for his groundbreaking work, Nico Muhly returns to the label where he took his initial steps alongside Valgeir Sigurdsson and Ben Frost. His specially composed score for the Light Room Exhibition elevates Hockney's visual artistry to new heights, infusing each masterpiece with depth and emotion through music. Drawing on his unique ability to blend diverse musical influences, Muhly's compositions create a seamless marriage of sound and vision, guiding visitors through the six themed chapters of Hockney's iconic works. The music weaves effortlessly with Hockney's commentary, offering an immersive experience that allows audiences to intimately connect with the creative process behind each brushstroke. Bedroom Community takes great pride in presenting this exceptional musical score, tracing Hockney's artistic evolution from the vibrant streets of LA to the serene landscapes of Yorkshire and the captivating beauty of Normandy. Muhly's evocative melodies accompany visitors on an audio-visual Wagner Drive, a virtual expedition into the San Gabriel Mountains, brought to life through animated re-creations of Hockney's spellbinding stage designs. Bedroom Community invites art enthusiasts and music lovers to embark on this extraordinary journey of artistic synergy, experiencing the magical fusion of Nico Muhly's music score and David Hockney's iconic works at Lightroom London throughout 2023.  David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller and further away) Music composed by Nico Muhly Recorded at RAK Studios, London and Remotely Will Purton (Engineer) Fritz Myers (Mixer) Valgeir Sigurðsson (mastering) Zara Benyounes and Mandhira de Saram (violins), Clifton Harrison (viola), Zoe Matthews (viola), Ben Michaels (cello), Alex Sopp (flute/piccolo), Nico Muhly (pianos/celestas) Commissioned by Lightroom UK Mark Grimmer (director) Richard Slaney (producer) Musicians contracted by Rob Ames Score preparation by Nathan Thatcher Album art, used by permission A Bigger Grand Canyon by David Hockney (1998) in Lightroom, King's Cross Photo Credit: Justin Sutcliffe

[definitive650]

In the realm of audio refinement, Wilson Audio stands as a maestro, crafting an auditory experience that transcends the ordinary. With a legacy deeply rooted in precision engineering and an unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of sonic excellence, Wilson Audio remains a beacon of innovation, sculpting sonic elegance with unmatched precision.

Precision Artistry Unleashed

Wilson Audio's speakers are not merely devices; they are meticulously crafted masterpieces that redefine precision in audio engineering. Each speaker undergoes a meticulous process, a testament to the brand's dedication to elevating the construction of audio equipment to an art form. Wilson Audio's commitment to precision artistry ensures that every component harmonizes to create an unparalleled auditory symphony.

Sonic Elegance Redefined

At the core of Wilson Audio's philosophy lies the pursuit of sonic elegance that captivates and transcends expectations. These speakers go beyond conventional audio reproduction; they are conduits for an immersive auditory journey. Wilson Audio's unwavering commitment to sonic elegance ensures that each note, from the gentlest melody to the most resounding crescendo, is an exquisite expression of sonic finesse.

Aesthetic Fusion

Beyond their sonic brilliance, Wilson Audio speakers seamlessly integrate into the aesthetic fabric of any space. The brand's design philosophy harmoniously fuses form and function, resulting in speakers that are not only auditory marvels but also visual masterpieces. Wilson Audio speakers become integral components of a room's aesthetics, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall ambiance.

Sonic Precision in Every Note

Wilson Audio's speakers possess an extraordinary ability to unveil the precision embedded in every musical note. Every nuance, from the subtlest tones to the profound depths, is meticulously reproduced. The brand's commitment to sonic precision ensures that listeners embark on an auditory journey where each note is a testament to the brand's dedication to revealing the true essence of music.

Pioneering Sonic Frontiers

Wilson Audio stands as a pioneer, continually pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the world of high-fidelity sound. The brand's legacy is not a static reflection but an ongoing exploration of new sonic frontiers. With each innovation, Wilson Audio reaffirms its commitment to shaping the future of premium audio, pioneering advancements that set new benchmarks in the industry.

In the symphony of premium audio, Wilson Audio is not just a brand; it is a sculptor of sonic elegance, harmonizing cutting-edge innovation with the finesse of precision craftsmanship. From the intricacies of construction to the avant-garde innovations shaping their design, Wilson Audio invites enthusiasts on an extraordinary auditory journey where every note is a testament to the brand's unwavering pursuit of crafting sonic excellence.

[ensumo-mart]

Revolutionizing Video Editing: Illusto Unleashes Your Creative Genius

In today's digital age, video content rules supreme. Whether it's for marketing, education, entertainment, or personal expression, videos have become the go-to medium for communication. But for those who aren't seasoned video editors, creating captivating videos can be a daunting task. That's where Illusto steps in, redefining the landscape of online video editing and empowering creators of all levels to unleash their creative genius.

Breaking Down Illusto's Power:

Video Templates: Your Creative Launchpad Illusto opens the door to a realm of creativity with its extensive collection of video templates. These templates, meticulously designed to cater to various niches and industries, serve as your creative launchpad. Say goodbye to the hours spent grappling with video structure. Illusto's templates provide a head start, saving you time and effort in crafting visually appealing content.

Voiceover Capabilities: Elevating Your Narrative A silent video often lacks the emotional depth to engage audiences fully. With Illusto's voiceover capabilities, you can add that missing narrative layer effortlessly. Whether you're explaining complex concepts, narrating a story, or simply providing context, the platform's user-friendly voiceover feature ensures a seamless integration of voice into your videos.

122M+ Stock Assets: Fueling Your Imagination Illusto's library is nothing short of staggering, offering access to over 122 million stock assets, including images, videos, music, and sound effects. This treasure trove is the cornerstone of your creative arsenal. You'll never again struggle to find the perfect visual or audio component to enhance your videos and make them stand out.

AI Image Generator: Artistry with a Click Illusto's pièce de résistance is its AI image generator. This remarkable tool leverages the power of artificial intelligence to create stunning visuals that align precisely with your video's theme and style. With just a few clicks, you can conjure eye-catching images, each one as unique as your creativity.

Bridging the Gap: Benefits of Illusto

User-Friendly Interface: From Novice to Pro Illusto stands out for its intuitive design, carefully crafted to cater to users of all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned video editor or stepping into this world for the first time, Illusto's user-friendly interface ensures a smooth and efficient editing experience.

Time and Cost Efficiency: Your Creative Vision, Unleashed Think about all the time and money you'd spend on hiring professional video editors or purchasing high-end software. Illusto brings your creative vision to life without emptying your pockets. It consolidates all the necessary tools and resources in one place, granting you the freedom to craft captivating videos without breaking the bank.

Endless Customization: Your Creative Playground Illusto is more than just templates and stock assets. It's your creative playground. With the extensive library of templates, stock assets, and the AI image generator at your disposal, you have endless opportunities for customization. Adjust colors, add text, and rearrange elements to align your videos perfectly with your brand's style and message.

Illusto: A Class Apart

AI-Powered Innovations: Beyond Basic Editing While other video editors offer basic editing functionalities, Illusto takes it a step further by integrating artificial intelligence. Its AI image generator and other AI-powered tools give you the upper hand in creating captivating videos with speed and ease.

Vast Stock Asset Library: Professional Quality, Every Time Illusto's expansive collection of over 122 million stock assets ensures your videos exude a professional touch. From visuals to sound, you'll never again compromise on quality.

User-Centric Design: Creativity for All Illusto's user-centric design ensures accessibility for all. Whether you're just starting or already skilled in video editing, Illusto is your partner in creating stunning videos effortlessly.

Take Your First Step with Illusto

Illusto is not merely a video editor; it's a gateway to unbridled creativity. With video templates, voiceover capabilities, an extensive stock asset library, and AI-generated images, Illusto paves the way for amateurs and professionals alike to craft captivating video content. Join the Illusto community today and witness your creative genius flourish like never before. It's time to revolutionize your video editing.

To view the full review in detail: Click here!

To learn The Power of other software, themes, or plugins: Click here!

To hire any of us as a Video Editor, Audio Engineer, Shopify Expert, YouTube Manager, or Content Writer: Click here!

[desiretalentlegacy]

🎬 **RAP FILM: Filmed in Jackson, MS by Adrian Armstrong | Sound Engineered by Pyrex Booth** 🎬

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📽️ Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of rap with our latest music film shot right here in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi. Get ready for an unforgettable cinematic experience that captures the raw essence of the hip-hop culture!

🎥 Directed and Filmed by the talented Adrian Armstrong, this production takes you on a visual journey like no other. With his keen eye for detail and passion for storytelling, Armstrong brings the music to life, elevating the entire viewing experience.

🎧 **Sound Engineered by Pyrex Booth**, this film boasts a top-notch audio experience that complements the visuals flawlessly. Pyrex Booth's exceptional skills ensure every beat, lyric, and rhythm resonates with pure excellence.

🔥 Experience the energy, the beats, and the captivating performances of talented artists, all within the vibrant streets of Jackson. This film is a celebration of music, artistry, and the undeniable spirit of the rap scene.

📞 For a limited time, we are offering this incredible opportunity at an unbeatable price! **Get your own personalized music film for just $100**! That's right, a high-quality production tailored to your music at an affordable cost.

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[universalinfo]

Why there are separate Oscars for sound mixing and sound editing?

While the glitz and glamour of the Oscars may be associated with the A-list actors and breathtaking visuals, the unsung heroes of the film industry work their magic behind the scenes. Enter the wizards of film sound design, the maestros who manipulate sonic elements to create immersive experiences that transport us into captivating worlds. 

At the Academy Awards, two distinct categories honor these audial architects: Sound mixing and sound editing. In this blog post, we’re going to explore why these two categories differ, uncovering the artistry behind each and the vital roles they play in bringing movies to life.

Unraveling the distinction between sound mixing and sound editing

You might think that sound mixing and sound editing are interchangeable terms. But hold on: there’s a lot of difference between them, and we’re going to break it down for you.

Let’s start with sound editing. This is the nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty work of capturing and creating every single sound effect that you hear in a movie. Whether it’s the sound of a car engine revving, a sword being unsheathed, or a monster roaring, sound editors are the ones who make it happen. 

Sound editors are like audio detectives, always on the hunt for the perfect sound to match the action on screen. And let’s not forget the fun part of their job: creating brand-new sounds from scratch.  Sound editors are like audio wizards, conjuring up bizarre and otherworldly sounds that have never been heard before.

Now, let’s move on to sound mixing. Sound mixers take all the individual sound elements that the sound editors have created and blend them into one harmonious soundscape. Think of them as audio chefs, carefully selecting the right ingredients and spices to create the perfect dish. They adjust the levels, the panning, the EQ, and all sorts of other fancy-sounding stuff to make sure that everything sounds just right. 

So, in a nutshell, sound editing is all about creating individual sounds, while sound mixing is about blending them to create one beautiful sonic masterpiece. Both are crucial to film sound design, and both require a unique set of skills and expertise. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Sure, they’re both fruit, but they’re different in taste, texture, and appearance.

The intricacies of sound editing

Sound editing is like a treasure hunt for the perfect sound effect. Imagine a scene where a character is walking through a forest. The sound editor would have to capture the crunching of leaves underfoot, the rustling of branches, the chirping of birds, and the whisper of the wind. But wait, what if there’s a bear in the distance? The sound editor would have to create the sound of a bear growling, even if they’ve never heard one in real life. It’s like a game of audio charades where the sound editor has to use their imagination and creativity to create the perfect sound.

But it’s not just about capturing or creating the sound effect. The sound editor also has to manipulate and process the sound to fit the scene. They might add some reverb to make it sound like the action is taking place in a large space, or they might EQ the sound to emphasize a specific frequency. It’s like baking a cake:  you can have all the right ingredients, but you need to mix them in the right way and bake them at the right temperature to get the perfect result.

And let’s not forget about the fun part of the job: creating new sounds from scratch. Sound editors are like mad scientists, always experimenting with new techniques and tools to create sounds that have never been heard before. They might record their voice and manipulate it to create a monster’s roar or use a watermelon to create the sound of a head being smashed. It’s a job that requires imagination, creativity, and a willingness to think outside the box.

But it’s not all fun and games. Sound editing is a time-consuming and detail-oriented process. A single sound effect can take hours, if not days, to capture, create, and process. And when you’re working on a big-budget blockbuster, the pressure is on to create a sonic landscape that’s both immersive and believable.

The craft of sound mixing

So, what exactly is sound mixing? Well, sound mixers are the maestros of the auditory realm, taking all the different sound elements (dialogue, music, sound effects) and blending them. They’re like the master chefs of audio, creating a delicious auditory feast for our ears.

But it’s not just about throwing all the ingredients into a blender and hitting the mix button. Sound mixers have to delicately balance each sound element, making sure that the dialogue is clear and intelligible, the music swells at just the right moments, and the sound effects pack a punch without overpowering everything else.

Just imagine a scene where our hero is having a heartfelt conversation in the middle of a bustling city street. The sound mixer would have to make sure that the dialogue is front and center, so we can hear every word our hero utters. But they also need to weave in the sounds of car horns, footsteps, and distant conversations to create a realistic urban ambiance. It’s like a juggling act, keeping all the elements in perfect harmony.

And let’s not forget about the spatial aspect of sound mixing. Sound mixers use their audio wizardry to create a sense of space and depth. They can make sounds move from left to right, from front to back, and even make them swirl around your head in a mesmerizing audio dance.

But here’s the real magic of sound mixing: it’s all about the emotions. Sound mixers are master manipulators of feelings. They use their craft to enhance the mood of a scene, whether it’s through the haunting melody of a horror movie, the triumphant swell of a superhero theme, or the tender notes of a romantic ballad. They take us on an emotional rollercoaster ride, tugging at our heartstrings and making us laugh, cry, or jump out of our seats in fear.

Celebrating the differences between sound mixing and sound editing

Now that we’ve explored the intricacies of sound mixing and sound editing, it’s time to appreciate the unique contributions of each discipline. While both categories are vital to film sound design, the Academy Awards recognize their distinctions by honoring them separately. 

This division allows for a more nuanced recognition of the specialized skills and creative processes involved in each field. By celebrating both sound mixing and sound editing, the Oscars shine a spotlight on the individuals who dedicate their talents to shaping the sonic landscapes of our favorite films.

Conclusion

Film sound design is a captivating blend of technical expertise and artistic creativity. Sound mixing and sound editing, although different in their objectives, work in perfect harmony to create immersive auditory experiences that transport audiences into the heart of the story. 

While sound editing focuses on capturing and crafting individual sound elements, sound mixing blends them to achieve a balanced and cohesive soundscape. For that reason, both disciplines deserve recognition for their unique contributions to the cinematic experience.

So, the next time you sit back in a movie theater or cozy up on your couch for a film night, take a moment to appreciate the artistry of film sound design. Listen closely to the whispers and roars, the subtle nuances and thunderous crescendos. 

Behind every sound, there are dedicated sound mixers and sound editors who bring their passion and expertise to create a symphony that enriches our cinematic journeys. The Oscars may have separate categories for sound mixing and sound editing, but together they form an extraordinary partnership that elevates the magic of the movies.

Content source: https://rianhunter.com/sb/why-separate-oscars-for-sound-mixing-sound-editing/

[thegodthief]

The hardest thing to do is to update the website theme for Noxporium, really. I am not a designer and it shows, and I am very concerned that design choices that makes sense to me will anger search engine algorithms or worse, make the site unusable for folks using visual aids.

A long time ago there was a musician who made his music available for free but only if downloaded directly from his website. His website was beautiful. Javascript and Shockwave Flash had just been unleashed upon the naïve masses and there wasn't a single static anything to be had once the site loaded.

But first, it had to load.

And then, it had to run.

And after that, you had to navigate through the digital forests and digital caves to the digital clearing where a disembodied voice told you to click on the flickering digital fire to download ONE of the twelve-track album. After that download finished, you would be sent along another path to reach the next track.

So beautiful.

It triggered the heat alarms on my struggling netbook every time and I couldn't finish the first track download before the system shut down.

I emailed him after watching my netbook shut down for the fifth time after five attempts, explained that the beautiful artistry of the website was causing a thermal issue, and asked if it was possible to step through a less intense version, text only version, or if it was possible to even purchase the entire album in one shot without having to go through the website experience.

I thought the music was worth paying for with cash as I had access to a few of the tracks already and liked them and so was glad to pay.

No, the artist responded. The website experience was integral to the enjoyment of the audio and by the way where did I get the unauthorized tracks from because if I don't tell he's gonna sue me for infringement and if I do tell, he won't sue me but he's gonna sue the person I got the music from.

Naïve as I was, I responded. I told him that I would not divulge my contacts, but, here's the point, I WANTED TO GIVE HIM MONEY FOR HIS MUSIC. But first, the music had to be accessible. Wouldn't he at least consider an accessible version of his website for those that can't see the pretty pictures?

I have forgotten his name. I have forgotten his music. I have forgotten almost everything about this encounter except his response: "People that can't perceive all of my art don't deserve to have any of my art. If you can't afford a better computer that can run my website, then you don't deserve my music because you don't have the culture to appreciate it. If you can't see my website, then you can't see how my music is supposed to be approached. I don't make music for cripples."

Needless to say, not only have I never given him money for his music, but I deleted the tracks and notified the person I got the tracks from. I don't know if he rose to relevance in his corner of the world, because he has been all but scrubbed from mine.

When I made Noxporium, his words came to mind. I wanted the site to be a rebuttal to him. Pleasing to look at, but not to the point where the decorations overwhelmed the text. Easy to navigate with color shifts to highlight, but that color would NOT be required to navigate. Content that would be flagged properly as content so screen readers would not suddenly announce HTML code in the middle of a paragraph. And crucially, the site had to be parsable in a plain-text window.

I found that with the current theme, but I had to tweak it a bit to get the right fonts but that tweak is now broken. The current theme was the Hot Shit™ nine years ago. Because reasons, I need to replace that theme soon.

But for all the whizbangs and doodads and blinken-sparkle-thingies that even the cheapest of current smartphones can successfully load, I still want the site to be accessible. And I want the site to be pleasant. And while I can do the former to a passing degree, I have no idea how to do the latter.

But I tell you what I certainly do: I read cards for everyone. If there is a feature on Noxporium (or on my main blog for that matter) that is not working for you, that you can't access, that is causing problems with your aids please let me know and I will fix it.

I want to make you as comfortable as possible before my cards rip your ego to shreds.