#being an actor lol

[rifki16]

At 25:00, in Akasaka Pilot Episode

Photo credit: At 25:00, in Akasaka Twitter Promotional Account | https://twitter.com/25ji_akasakade/status/1781276637855883719?s=12

A very sweet vanilla cake with strawberries

Okay, so, the long anticipated live-action adaptation of the manga is finally here. And I’m absolutely here for it. I was very pissed off that when GagaOOLala said that the episode would air on April 18, they didn’t say that it would air on that date in Japan. Hence, now every Fridays, we will have a grand feast of TWO Japanese BL LA shows, instead of only one.

I have A LOT of thoughts about the Pilot Episode, so let’s get right to it !

Of course, SPOILERS!! SPOILERS!!

Make it for Vanilla Audience

As I have said in the last section of the manga review, I do not expect anything at all from the live-action show, in terms of how the hot scenes can be adapted. My beloved Tokyo in April is… is so far from being hot and sexy from which they originated, yet I still love them dearly. This pilot episode really set the tone, as to what I will expect from the series.

They did not have the scene where Asamiya and Shirasaki went out with the whole cast and had a Japanese-style afterwork hang after which one of the coworkers became black out drunk and needed to be escorted by one of the attendees. After which, Asamiya had a non-penetrative sex with Shirasaki at Shirasaki-san house, with no consent from Shirasaki. I think by not having this scene it’s very funny to me. Based on A Man Who Defies the World of BL, it’s a very common trope in BL that this black out drunk afterwork hang is used, hence kudos to the LA screenwriter and showrunners to have avoided that trope. This is also what’s bugging me. I think the LA show really wants to avoid a lot of unnecessary discussions about their work. In Living with Him, Kazuhito’s life altering, and according to the manga, disability-affecting injury was a cause of a sore subject and Kazuhito was not seen playing baseball at all afterwards. It seems like the production team doesn’t want to talk at all about disability in their main character. In this show, it was all dandy. Nothing of taboo happened. It was just Asami offering to be Shirasaki’s sex partner, and that’s it. I’m not advocating for a sexual assault scene, but what happened in Shirasaki’s apartment was quintessentially a way for us to know how “wild” Asami is and knowing his boundaries. Asami’s portrayal in the show was almost like an aloof cool guy. He seemed not to be involved at all with the cast or the production crew. The afterwork hang established that, how sociable Asami is. Asami seemed to play it cool with Shirasaki, despite the supposed burning ember that he has with Shirasaki. I’m not trying to tell people how to act with their love. My understanding of the plot logic from the manga is, Shirasaki found out that Asami liked him  Shirasaki needed a pointer on how to be a gay lover  Asami offered to be his lover, but Shirasaki refused because, one of the reasons is, he knew how Asami felt about him. I guess making it more vanilla gave them more options as to how to approach the Shirasaki asking Asami to be his sex partner.

When I watched Milk, after many attempts, and finally could watch the film fully. There was a scene where Harvey Milk was confronting the No campaigners for the Briggs’ initiative about the pamphlet that the campaigners were sending out to the voters. The pamphlet overly emphasized how the Briggs’ initiative intruded the privacy and human rights of the voters. Milk was, rightly imo, angry that the pamphlet did not mention at all whom the initiative was impacting most severely, the homosexuals. That’s what I felt the second most in the pilot episode. The reason why Shirasaki went to a gay bar, specifically, was because he did not know how gay men fall in love, have sex. The pilot episode really did not mention at all about gay love or gay sex. When Shirasaki eventually went to the gay bar, it was about how he doesn’t know how falling in love is in general. Asami never really teased Shirasaki about Shirasaki-san’s sex history with women, a scene which in my opinion really affirmed Shirasaki-san’s very apparent queerness and his internalized homophobia which made him unable to admit his joy in having sex with a man, with Asami. The omittance of the scene in the show really made me felt like the show was just about an actor really trying to method-act, whereas the manga is about an actor method-act while figuring himself out sexual-orientation wise.

They made the bar a popular gay bar, compared it to the quiet and almost very intimate one in the manga. I’ve never been to a gay bar, not even the one in Singapore, but I really thought that an intimate and quite gay bar would be a better venue for you to find an NSA sex partner, no? Knowing that the popular gay bar is filled with mostly popular cliques and usual customers. Wouldn’t a quiet gay bar be a more suited place for two celebrities to be undercover and method-act? Again, I’ve never been to a gay bar, but I just don’t think making Shota’s bar a popular gay bar is the right choice. It seems like the show just wanted some stereotypical image of a gay bar and plastered it in the show. Side note: Shota is not that androgynous in the show, not that I’m saying that I’m entitled to Shota’s androgyny, I just had hoped to see a gender nonconforming character in a Japanese BL show, besides the one in The End of the World with You. Also, Shota is nice in the show, compared to the one in the manga.

Shirasaki’s dignity.

I really love that the show actually has a class-struggle perspective. Shirasaki needed to be a server, because he had never got a gig in acting. This made it easier for the TV show to make Shirasaki to go to the gay bar because Shirasaki really doesn’t want to mess up his first ever TV gig, a big budget one, nonetheless. However, the problem with this characterization is that Shirasaki made really vulnerable to Asami. It seemed like Asami is high up in the clouds and Shirasaki is just some dirt particles that the clouds never bother to notice. I understand that the show wanted to make it vanilla, hence, why Asami actually asked first before their first sexual encounter. Hence, why Asami and Shirasaki were seen in the teaser for the second episode to go ON DATES? GO ON DATES? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This show is about a TV show production, probably very crunched on time and budget. WHERE ON GODS GREEN EARTH DID THEY FIND THE TIME TO GO ON DATES? You know what, sure, they become lovey-dovey lovers, go on dates and fall in love first even before they share a bed together, but it really shifts the dignity of Shirasaki.

It was such fun seeing Shirasaki demanding sex from Asami to make sure that Shirasaki-san’s acting prowess is bettered, the reason why the scene made sense in the manga is because Shirasaki had played in plays, smaller roles in TV shows, he knew what appreciation from the director meant. He had a standing in asking for sex because he’s not some amateur actor, he had done the job before, and having sex with Asami was the only way he knew that he can better his acting. Now that Shirasaki’s motivation became only not to be poor, his actions in asking sex from Asami from this point on becomes nothing more but desperation, however it’s just my opinion.

I really like it when Shirasaki acts not out of desperation but to actually horn his craft. The way the show portrayed Shirasaki really made me angry. He’s a proud man, with high dignity, hence why having sex with Asami really felt and seen really out of place for him. Maybe, I’m just down bad for Shirasaki so much.

Despite it all, I really enjoyed the pilot episode. The show was really easy to follow with their vanilla shift. It didn’t really have plot holes, despite making it vanilla. I’m glad that the managers of both Shirasaki and Asami were really present, unlike in the manga where they only emerge after the joint show of the two has become popular. If the show really wants to slow walk the pace, despite making the third volume a part of the show, they better make it right. I swear to Ra, I will metaphorically burn something if they don’t make the show a proper 12-episode-run show.

[anna-scribbles]

emma dupain cheng on the brain😽🎀

more:

[theabigailthorn]

"Good" Acting

i have a theory that a lot of people say acting is "good" when they're emotionally moved by it, and a lot of cishet white people have a lifelong habit of not listening or empathising when minoritised people speak, so minority actors get called "bad" even when they display some pretty fucking amazing technical skill

[tampire]

"Give me Coffee or give me Death"

[pulsingvoid]

an ever-growing collection

[certifiedlibraryposts]

Protip to Libby users, if there are titles you're interested but none of your cards have it, make use of the Notify tag! Libby will tell your libraries there's interest in that title, and you'll get a notification if its added!

Your mileage may vary here, but I put a Notify tag on an audiobook yesterday and it became available today. I can't say for sure if it was all because of me or if there was other interest in the title and I just hopped on at the right time but I'm honestly amazed at the responsiveness there.

[rakiah]

SO 🙏 MUCH 🙏 FEELS 🙏 AND 🙏 YELLING 🙏

[mochela]

alll-mer and sulfur if they were girls

[hauntedorpheum]

I mean, we all, we all play a part. But you, It's like... It's like you like it

[thrilling-oneway]

when people infantilise emu it's literally a self report because if you had read like. any of her events + wms + her fes you'd know she's more of a businesswoman than a performer. you don't actually engage with the game's story do you

[k3nz1ekorn]

Jayvik actor au- first meeting

There’s a new show airing based on the popular video game League of Legends! Filming has just started and while it’s the first day on set, it’s also the first meeting of costars Joel and Vlad, set to play Jayce and Viktor. 

DIsclaimer: obviously I do not own the game League of Legends or any of the characters. Because this is an au some of them are going to be very out of character but this entire au is self indulgent for me so idrc. Hope you enjoy tho! also I have no idea how acting or set lots work and I have no intention of looking those specifics up for this, if that bothers you feel free to correct any inaccuracies in a comment!

Vlad was nervous to say the least. It wasn’t as if he was an inexperienced actor, just that this was a pretty big role for him. Big budget, some big names, a huge video game company, and he got to play one of the main male roles? Yeah no he definitely didn’t want to fuck this one up. He took a breath before opening the car door and stepping out onto the pavement, the frigid air surrounding him was a strong contrast to the heated car he’d just been in. He should definitely find his trailer fast, his knee did not like the cold. He slung his bag over his shoulder with ease and grabbed his cane out of the car with his opposite hand before shutting the door and starting down the path to the lot, 24B it was? Everything was busy, he noted, costumes and mechanical equipment moving around him this way and that. His head was almost on a constant swivel to make sure nobody was about to knock him off his feet, ducking and weaving here or there to make sure the stray props and cart wheels didn’t take him out. He was actually quit good at it all things considered.

“Coming through, heavy equipment!” He heard from his right, and it seemed as if he spoke a bit too soon. His efforts seemed to be in vain because as the cart had almost passed him, the wheel went over a rock and the boom mic jostled. Just enough in fact to blindside him with a bop right on the forehead. He stumbled backward for a second before a pair of very large hands were steadying him. He groaned lightly for a second before blinking a few times. A broad chest was in front of him when his eyes regained focus, squinting in confusion he looked to the hand on his arm, before following it up to find- Oh. Oh wow. 

“You alright there?” He was broken out of his very minor trance by the new voice, deep and gravely. He blinked a few more times before letting out a cough, taking a small step away, and responding.

“YES! Yes I’m fine, thank you for the concern though.” He gave a chuckle and a small smile as he finished readjusting his bag. He took a moment to look over this new person, and yes his initial observation was oh so correct. He was so very good looking. Vlad preferred his men a bit more rugged truth be told, usually a beard or longer hair, but all things considered this stranger was striking. He started to move to introduce himself when the man spoke again.

“Good, I’ll be on my way then. ‘Scuse me.” He gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder and slipped past him. Vlad turned to watch him walk away for a moment before giving a small huff. Not even a name to put to a face, huh. With a shake of his head he carefully continued on.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

After arriving at his destination and getting settled into his trailer it was time to get down to business. Hair and makeup flew by in a breeze with the help of a quick coffee, and costumes had been fitted to perfection previously. He admitted he looked quite good in this one, the lace up sides of the vest did wonders for his already nice figure. With one more look in the mirror he gave himself a nod and picked up his script and cane before descending the custom ramp out of his trailer. Immediately he was met with his assistant, Skylar. She handed him his second coffee of the day and he adjusted so he was holding it in the same hand as his smaller copy of the script. They settled into a comfortable pace as they made their way towards the set. She went over a few key notes on the way there.

“So your first scene today is set in the aftermath of when the character Jayce’s apartment blew up, you’re almost grilling him on why, how, yada yada, asking questions, being snarky, etc. okay? Should be fairly easy for you. Your counterpart for this scene is Joel Torres, he’s already on set. He filmed a few other scenes already today so he’s already all warmed up and ready to jump into it.” She seemed almost anxious? Exasperated? It was hard to tell with her sometimes. “Other staff have said he’s a bit…cold? Just don’t take it personally if he doesn’t take to you immediately, is what I’m getting at, mmkay?” Vlad scoffed a bit at that. He never took it personally when people didn’t like him, if they were coworkers he did like to be cordial at least. It was just better for the production and flow of things that way. 

“That will not be a problem, I am a professional in the art of not speaking,” that definitely earned him a skeptical look, “and I’m caffeinated now, highly I might add, so whatever this Joel does or does not say is eh…water off the head? Is that the saying? It’s some kind of body part, yes?”

“Well yeah, but it’s-”

“Fantastic, onto the important issue, did you discuss what their potential relationship is building to with anyone on the production team? I know of my own interpretation, but this script it…leaves you guessing some, no?” He held up the papers before taking a sip of his overly sweet coffee and raising his eyebrow in question. She pulled her mouth into an almost grimace and sucked in through her teeth.

“So I did ask, and they said it was meant to end up brotherly almost? Like by the end of the season?” she shot him a sideways glance as she mirrored his movement to drink from her own cup. “If you’re able you can always talk to Mr. Torres and discuss how you both would want to portray the relationship.” Vlad gave a hum in response as they continued on their way. A bright head of pink hair came into view as they got closer. It was a shorter girl, probably one of the female leads? She was leaning on a table with a donut in one hand. In front of her stood a taller woman with deep blue hair, immediately he was able to recognize her as Cathrin Kristy. The shorter one caught his gaze and gave a small wave and a smile, with her mouth full of course. Cathrin turned with a raised eyebrow before giving a polite smile and a nod in acknowledgement. Vlad copied the move to both of them before turning his attention back to Skylar to finish their briefing. The set came into view and he stopped at the edge of it to give everything a brief once over. He turned side to side a bit to fully take it in and get used to his new surroundings before stopping dead in his tracks and giving a slight smirk to himself.

Well hello again handsome. Sitting just a few feet away was the same man he bumped into not even two hours ago, clad in the same ‘Academy uniform’ as the costume department had called it. This must be Joel then, the cold demeanor he’d encountered earlier certainly fit the description Skylar had been telling him about. “One moment Sky, I’ll be back.” He heard her make some kind of annoyed confused sound as he walked away, right up to his new coworker. He appeared to be reading over the script, they were about to film a new scene after all so it made sense. He takes a moment to fully look at him as he approaches. Even under the uniform he can make out thick muscles, beautiful tanned skin on his clean shaven face and oh those hands. His hair was slicked back, not perfect though, an artistically styled messy to give the illusion of disarray while keeping the clean cut illusion the character had. As he’s just a few feet away the other man glances up at him, he squints his eyes a bit as if in confusion before recognition settles in and he lifts his head to acknowledge him. Vlad opens his mouth to speak before he stops, he’s not too far in front of the other but at a comfortable distance for a couple of strangers. He doesn’t plan to be strangers for much longer though. “Well hello again, quite a surprise to see you here. It seems our paths have crossed once again. I admit I didn’t mind the first, but this one is definitely preferred. I’m Vladamir, you may call me Vlad though if you’d like.” He reaches out a hand in front of him. His counterpart takes a glance down at his hand with a raised brow before setting down his script. He looks back up at Vlad’s eyes before taking his hand to give it one firm shake. Dear gods he’s strong…and those eyes- his train of thought is cut short as the other finally speaks. 

“Joel. Just Joel.” He retracts his hand and places it in his lap to intertwine his fingers with the other one. There’s silence as they just stare for a moment, and he thinks he may imagine Joel taking the time to give Vlad a once over, he really hopes he isn’t blushing too hard. Vlad brings his hand back to his side and tilts his head with a light smirk, as he opens his mouth to speak again a bell rings. They both turn their heads as they hear the director call them to places. Vlad gives a light hum before he turns back to Joel once more.

“I believe they need us on set then, shall we?” he doesn’t wait for an answer as he turns and walks to his place. He definitely doesn’t imagine it when he hears a deep exhale and the shuffling of papers behind him before any footsteps follow. 

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

“What happened here?” Vlad gets into character easily, this is a fun one for him after all. He turned and gave a wave of his hand, his cane clicking on the ground with ease, it helped that it was fitted to actually be the right height for him.

“Science I guess?” ‘Jayce’ says. This character is very different from him, he could tell as much from the script alone. The actress for Grayson says their line easily, moving out of the way for ‘Viktor’ to approach. He furrows his brows as he turns back to ‘Jayce’ and continues with his line.

“Nor was this approved by the Academy. Who authorized your research?” He says pointedly, he takes care to not kick any of the prop debris as he makes his way over to the other, acting as if he hasn’t had the last twenty minutes to look over the set before they started shooting.

“It was an independent study. Who are you anyway?” he shoots back accusingly as he looks up at him.  Vlad has to force down the immediate urge to look back into his eyes, scrutinizing the blackboard for a moment more.

“I’m assistant to the dean of the Academy, who it may serve you to remember is also the head of the council.” With that he finally looks at ‘Jayce’ again, they lock eyes for a brief second and it almost feels like he stopped breathing. Almost. He is a great actor after all. He breaks eye contact to look back at the board and it feels easy to breathe again, “He sent me here to ensure that anything dangerous is removed safely.” More glancing at the room, anything really to avoid looking into those eyes again. “Which, according to my list, includes you.”

“What!?” More eye contact, it’s brief this time thank the gods. “How am I dangerous?”

“Uh, that is for the council to decide.” He holds the focus of those beautiful golden eyes for barely another second before looking at ‘Grayson’ as she drops the handcuffs into view. ‘Jayce’ hangs his head in defeat and then the shrill bell signals the end of the scene and he glances back at Joel, who had quickly gotten up to listen to feedback from the director. They make eye contact again and Joel raises a thick brow at him. Vlad quickly turns away to hide his blush and busies himself with going over his lines for the scene again with Skylar, making little notes for himself for the next take. This is going to be a long show for sure.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

A Bonus for this one:

When Joel gets back to his trailer for lunch he sits at the booth and lets a long sigh overtake him before he throws his head against the back of his seat. His hand covers his eyes before he pinches the bridge of his nose. All he can picture are those beautiful eyes looking back at him in nearly every scene he shot today. Letting his head drop forward again he removes his hand and glances down at the script. Nearly every scene with him huh? He lets out a defeated chuckle, yep. He’s fucked.

Author’s notes: Wow so I whipped this out in about 5 hours with leftover Christmas mimosa supplies. Literally can’t wait to add Mel in. Don’t know when but I will because I love her so much.

[kandadze]

FoF rewatch ep 5: ending sequence (ZYC vs Ran Yi and a Wild Li Lun appears) gifs

[fukutomichi]

Shimmer Lake (2017) directed by Oren Uziel Benjamin Walker as Zeke Sikes

[mc-tummy-blur]

This is what being down bad does to a man I do another Hans Gruber drawing but meticulously paint the scene redraw

Click for better quality

Check my pinned post to see how you can help the people of Palestine

[addicted-to-the-knife]

I finally had the chance to watch the Boston panel.

and I'm starting to think that a lot of you either haven't watched it yourselves, or were so set on specific opinions you personally have, while also having clear expectations of what their answers will be, that with their answers (or what are talked about as their answers) made you so unhappy that now you're just bashing them; especially Hugh.

why, though? none of the things I've seen people complain about were actually said like that or fully implied. so... what? doesn't make sense to me why some of you are so upset about this panel. it was so much fun and just lighthearted entertainment. panels like that are the reason these things exist and are usually so much fun in the first place.

[wiihtigo]

non canon to casey official lore but what if she did get that son of a bitch