#i will be the happiest banana and i hope at that time i can witness it too

[banqanas]

As a fanta fan myself, i want to say I’m sad that i cant consider fanta joining this equation of expanding overseas, but for now i think it’s for the best that they are focusing on what their goals are. I think Hiro san’s words of wanting “fantastics to be a national group” left a very strong impact on them. As in, unless they are a nationally known group, it’s not enough. That’s why i think the members themselves arent looking outside yet. Maybe they have the desire, but they still have a lot of things to do in the country before they can even consider it.

Once again, this is my own interpretation, not based from anything fanta have said

Which is why most of fanta activities are for tv shows. Because its the medium that appeals to jp people the most. Which is why each of them have their own connection with different prefecture. E.g: Keito is a Tokyo kid, but his 10kei channel is supported by Yamaguchi broadcasting. Horinatsu is Aichi kid, but HoriKanmuri is hosted by Nagoya TV. Sawanatsu is Nagano kid but his Sawanatsu Batake is hosted by Fukushima broadcasting. Leiya is Kyushu kid and he has a regular segment in Niigata NTV saturday morning show.

So yeah, most of their activities are focused on getting close to people in specific regions in jp

And i also dont see their recent collab with korean group Epex as any first step to expanding overseas. Kpop is also gaining a lot of attention in japan, comparable to even the jpop industry. So i see it as their way to tap into that fanbase. When you compare it to psyfe and balliboyz activities, they havent done anything to interact with kr locals

Ofc this is just an observation of current fantastics. They have had their own setbacks before and are just starting to gain their footing again. Fantastics will continue to change and can become bigger. If they do want to expand overseas one day, i hope that it’s because the members themselves want to and they also make a lot of sincere effort like what they are doing rn in different regions in jp. Because anything less or half hearted would just be painful for fans.

P.S: as im writing this, Exile Hiro made a speech at the graduation ceremony of Kindai University and presented them with his junior group, Fantastics to make a performance

ever since i started learning japanese seriously, i usually tweet and try to make friends with jp people in the same fandom so i can practice my speaking/writing

I usually have like 2-3 mutuals in my old fandoms where we communicate in japanese, and sometimes some of them wants to learn english too, so we’d talk in both jp and eng

maybe bc my old fandoms are mainly 2d genre (anime and mobage) where even jp fans understand that jp animanga are becoming more popular globally and as a result, the fans are more accepting to interactions with overseas fans.

(I think there’s also a factor that in terms of 2d genre, western comics, cartoons and animations like marvel/disney/pixar are a benchmark of sorts. So jp animanga joining the ranks by becoming more global is something to be proud of)

but exile fandom scares me bc i barely see any open interaction with jp-overseas fans so i didnt make as much effort to reach out to jp fans even if i love their drawing/tweets and felt like we could get along bc of similarities :’) i feel like the fandom gap between jp exile fans and overseas exile fans are as wide as the seas that separates us

[hearteiji]

(Answering like this so I can switch tabs while I type. Tw for suicide and sexual assault mentions)

Hi! Thank you for sending me an ask! I want to preface this with the fact that your intentions probably weren’t malicious, and I am going to explain why this ideology is harmful.

I am nineteen at the time of writing this. I am a survivor of lifelong sexual abuse and trauma, emotional abuse, and have witnessed levels of violence that will continue to stick with me forever. I do not have financial or emotional support from my family, so I am currently unable to consistently attend therapy without making many sacrifices. I may never obtain a consistent path or set of prewritten groundwork/support towards healing.

The question you are asking comes from a place of privilege, in my opinion, because many people haven’t had to genuinely ask themselves the question, ‘is my life worth living?’ Before. Not during an extreme low or point of depression, but as a genuine question during day to day life. ‘Can I actually heal from this?’ Or ‘is any of this even worth it?’ aren’t heavy ‘what-ifs’ during my depressive episodes, but something I ask myself when I’m at my happiest.

Extreme trauma survivors are out there, and they are witnessing these ideologies from around every corner. Logically I know that my life is worth living—the human spirit cannot be broken, no matter what, and I truly believe that. But it is never, ever okay to look at a situation, real or fictional, and insist that death is ever a positive alternative. Because it isn’t, and because you can trust me when I say that plenty of people like me are asking themselves that question every single day. If I was dead I would not be at peace, or finally safe, I would simply be dead. Safety comes from stability, from leaving abuse behind, and from trying to be okay every single day no matter the ups and downs. Its important to remember that although the situations in banana fish seem extreme, they….. happen. They aren’t catalysts to the hurt comfort scenarios of the general public, they’re real life experiences, and they’re harrowing, but there isn’t a threshold for what makes life worth or not worth living. Would you ask me if I thought I was better off dead after everything I’ve been through? No, of course you wouldn’t. Yes, much like Ash, I will without a doubt carry this history with me forever. No, death is never a happy alternative. Especially in circumstances of suicide, or like Ash, giving up.

I hope you have a great day, and thank you for asking me an honest question!

[janetbrown711]

I request the scene we discussed 😂 Lena returning after eloping with William

Important note: I’m officially making the Angelina 1 Lives alternate timeline/au thing a story, and this is technically the beginning. I’ll string the other two into the plot line eventually, but yeah XD sorry for the confusion, I tend to write what I want before I write what makes sense :P

Princess Angelina II was engaged to Sir William the Good, though it was in secret. After all, he was just a knight and she was the princess. For a moment, Lena thought their luck might be on their side when her mother fell deathly ill, but by truly miraculous means, the queen survived, which meant they had to continue in secret.

However, secrets had a cost to them, in the sense that no one else knew. This meant that Lena still had to deal with suitors coming over and trying to romance her, while she had already sworn herself to William. Needless to say, time was wearing on William and Lena more than they had originally thought. Still, they remained hopeful and patient that their time would come.

“Angelina, you have to at least accept one of the suitors. It’s better to at least not hate your future husband before marriage,” Queen Angelina the First gave her daughter a quick glare as she looked over papers. 

“I don’t like any of them, what can I say?” Lena shrugged. 

“You know, I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this-”

“Something I highly doubt,” Lena interrupted her mother. 

“Watch your tone,” Angelina warned, and Lena stepped down. 

“As I was saying... I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but since your impertinence has given me no other option, I will be selecting the suitor for you,” She said, signing one of the papers. Lena paused. 

“I-I’m sorry, what?” She blinked. 

“You’ve only done this to yourself, Angelina, I’ve no other choice. You aren’t getting any younger here,” She eyed her daughter up and down. 

“I- uh- will you excuse me, mother? I need to go,” Lena asked. Her mother looked at her suspiciously before nodding. Not wanting to be in there for a moment longer, Lena bolted out of the room and ran across the palace, all the way down to the royal stables, where William was. 

“Lena? What’s the matter?” He asked as he got off his horse. 

“My mother... she said...” Lena panted. “She said... she’s gonna... arrange...”

“Lena, you aren’t making sense. Have you been running?” William raised an eyebrow. Lena rolled her eyes and paused to catch her breath. 

“My mother said that because I didn’t pick a suitor, she’s choosing for me,” Lena explained. 

“Oh... oh that’s not good. What are we gonna do?” He asked her. Lena thought. 

“We... we need to get married. Now,” She said. 

“What- now now?” William asked. 

“Well yes, I don’t know how long I’ll have. We need to do this, and we need to do this now,” Lena said, grabbing his hand. 

“Where are you going?” William questioned.

“The underground servant's tunnels. They go all over the kingdom. If we go far enough we can find a town with a  priest and be married there. Hopefully, they won’t mind the short notice,” She explained. 

“Or the fact you’re the princess,” William pointed out. 

“...Yeah, that too,” Lena said, realizing she hadn’t thought that through. Still, she didn’t stop walking and soon enough they made it to one of the entrances. 

“So... where to?” She asked him. William read all of the signs before snapping his fingers. 

“I know a place where I know they won’t refuse us,” He winked, taking his fiancées hand. 

“Oh? And where is such a place?” She chuckled, enjoying the moment of rebelliousness. 

“Acme Falls, my home town. They love me there, I’m sure they’d love you too,” He smiled at her, and together they ran down the dark tunnels for hours, only stopping once or twice to catch their breath. Eventually, they surfaced and wandered right into the middle of the plaza. 

“So... now what?” She asked. 

“William? Is... is that you?” A very attractive blonde woman asked. 

“Heloise!” William smiled at the sight of his childhood friend. 

“William! What on earth are you doing here?” She ran and hugged him. “And with the crown princess-?! Oh my- I’m so sorry, your highness,” She immediately dipped into a curtsey. 

“Oh please, any friend of William is a friend of mine,” Angelina smiled. “If I may, you are quite gorgeous,” She added. 

“Thank you,” Heloise chuckled, embarrassed. 

“We’re here to be married,” William explained. 

“You’re engaged to the princess???” Heloise asked. “Aren’t you two supposed to have a giant wedding ceremony with the whole kingdom invited? Isn’t that how royal weddings are supposed to go? My- I didn’t even think a knight could marry a princess,” She thought out loud.

“Actually, he- can’t. Not with my mother knowing anyway,” Lena explained. “That’s why we came here- to be married in secret.”

“Oh eloping is very romantic,” She nodded understandingly. “William knows where the church is. I can get the priest and a few townsfolk if you want,” she offered. 

“That’d be great, thank you,” William smiled. Heloise nodded, and ran off. 

“I guess you weren’t kidding about this place, huh?” Lena chuckled. 

“Acme Falls is practically perfect, what can I say?” He snorted. “Shall we?” he offered his arm. Lena took it with a smile. 

“We shall.”

And so Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca II and Sir William the Good were married in Acme Falls, with the town as their witnesses, and Lena was the happiest she had ever been in her whole life. Happily, they walked back to the castle, but they both stopped right before reaching the exit. 

“Are you ready?” William asked. 

“I don’t know. Why do we have to return?” Lena questioned. 

“Because it’s almost nightfall and you’re the princess and your mother would likely send a search party and it’d be a whole catastrophe,” Willaim joked, but Lena wasn’t in the mood for laughing anymore. 

“I’m frightened William,” She said. 

“It’ll be okay, Lena. I’ll always be here for you, remember?” He said, giving her hand a squeeze. 

“Right,” Lena nodded, about to step forward before stopping herself. 

“Stay with me tonight?” She requested. William nodded. 

“Of course, my love,” He said, and they shared a kiss. 

“Let’s go then,” Lena took in a deep breath, and together they stepped out onto the castle grounds. 

And so Lena and William slowly crept their way into her bedroom, far enough apart as to not raise suspicion, and spent the closet thing they’d have to a honeymoon together. In the morning, William kissed her goodbye, and climbed out the window, and went to his training, and she missed him terribly (despite being only a few buildings away).

Therefore, their secret engagement now turned into a secret marriage; a marriage that Lena realized she was going to have to tell her mother about sooner or later before it was too late and she was already in the middle of another wedding ceremony. However- she wasn’t quite ready and preferred to hold onto her nights of paradise with William however long as possible before her mother tried to ruin it somehow. 

Except she couldn’t, Lena reminded herself. Divorce was simply unheard of, especially for royalty, so her mother would simply have to deal with it. That was the main reason they eloped in the first place.  

The good/bad news was that William had been promoted to be a guard inside the castle, so Lena would see him much more often than she used to, but it was awkward because she couldn’t talk to him, much less flirt. Plus, he often watched over her mother in the throne room, and he said that it was “the most stressful situation he’d ever been in”. 

“Excuse me, Princess, your mother said she’d like to see you,” A servant girl stood outside of Lena’s room. 

“Whatever for?” Lena asked, setting down her book. The girl shrugged. With a sigh, Lena set down her book.

“Does she seem upset?” She asked, getting up and heading out of the room. 

“No... in fact, she seems almost happy, your highness,” The girl said. 

“My mother? Happy?” Lena blinked. “This can’t be good...” she said, picking up her pace. With haste, she reached the throne room. 

“Lena, there you are,” Her mother smiled at her, “You’ve met King Benedict,” she gestured to the king standing by her throne. 

Uh oh. 

“Why, yes I have,” Lena nodded at him, sharing a quick glance with William in the corner. 

“He’s the one you’ll be marrying,” She announced. 

Shit. 

“Mother, may I have a word with you- alone?” Lena asked with a nervous smile. Angelina frowned. 

“It’s already been decided for you, Angelina. You didn’t decide and because of that-” 

“I know, but I do need to talk with you,” Lena interrupted her mother before she could think to stop herself. The queen’s eye twitched. 

“Fine.” She huffed. “King Benedict, you may wait in the grand hall,” she said. He nodded at her, then Lena, and left. Then, her mother’s focus went back to her. 

“This better be good Angelina, or so help me,” The queen threatened, and Lena felt a shiver crawl up her spine. She looked at William for support, and he gave her a weak smile. She took a deep breath. 

“Mother, I can’t marry him,” She said. 

“You don’t have a choice,” Her mother rolled her eyes. 

“I’m serious. I can’t,” Lena said again. 

“And why is that?” Angelina rubbed her forehead. 

“Because I’m already married,” Lena announced. Her mother froze. 

“To whom?” She demanded. 

“Sir William,” Lena admitted. Angelina’s eyes went to William, and he remained still as a statue. 

“Really now?” Angelina chuckled darkly. 

“It’s true. We eloped in Acme Falls three nights ago,” Lena said. 

“You expect me to believe that?” Angelina continued to laugh it off.

“Well- yes. We have certificates and everything- it was legally binding,” Lena didn’t know how else to explain such a simple fact to her mother. 

The queen leaned on her throne and thought for a minute. 

“Well, I suppose it’s a simple fix really, I could just have him execute-”

“A-and I’m pregnant!” Lena shouted over her mother, and the room fell utterly silent. 

“Y-you are..?” William blinked. 

“Yep,” She lied, laughing nervously. 

Definitely no going back on that one...

“Guards, leave,” The queen ordered, her face utterly unreadable. William and Lena shared a look of anxiety before he was forced to walk out. Once they left there was a long stretch of silence, before Angelina slowly took off her gloves, stood up, approached her daughter, and struck her across the face. 

“You stupid, pathetic, wretched child! Do you know how much you’ve just cost me?!” She shouted. “I’ve spent years upon years upon years finding eligible bachelors for you, and yet you never gave them a second thought, and for what? Some bastard from Acme Falls?!”  

“Don’t you dare talk about William like that,” Lena protested, and Angelina struck her again, this time causing her to fall onto the floor. 

“I will say whatever the hell I want because I am your mother and I am your queen,” She said, towering over her. 

“If you kill him I’ll kill myself and you’ll be left with nothing,” Lena looked up at her. 

“Of all the impertinent, aggravating, abominable things you’ve done, you’ve decided to top it all off by marrying a filthy peasant,” The queen was barely keep in her anger. “I just- I can’t believe my own flesh and blood would betray me like this.”

“Oh please, like you’ve ever treated me like ‘flesh and blood’,” Lena muttered. 

“I have done nothing but care for you. I’ve clothed you, given you a home and an education, and provided you with numerous options for your future and future suitors. It’s not my fault you’re so impertinent that you refused to consider them for even a moment,” She clenched her fists.

“You’ve never loved me,” Lena said, tears beginning to stream down her face. “If you did, you’d be happy for me.”

“You never think anything through, Angelina. Did you not stop to think about how this would impact the kingdom? How this would impact me?” She asked. 

“I hate you,” Lena glared, and Angelina hit her again. 

“You are going to pay for your actions, Angelina. The hard way,” She declared. 

“It’s too late mother. There is nothing you can do to undo what’s been done,” Lena smirked. 

However, she quickly regretted her pride when her mother angrily yanked her hair and pulled her up, and then proceeded to drag her all the way up to the tallest tower of the castle. Her mother then tossed her in there and locked the door with a key she kept in her pocket. 

“You will not be leaving this room until you have understood a fraction of the pain and agony you have caused me,” She said, before storming away.

And so Lena stayed in the cold, dark room and found herself sobbing and sobbing and sobbing and sobbing until she was sick to the stomach. 

Things were supposed to get better. She was supposed to be untouchable. She and William were married now- it was supposed to be okay. 

Instead, now she was locked away for who knows how long in a dark, cold room with a bare-bones bed, a broken mirror, a blanket as thin as paper, and a window.  

Lena picked up a shard of the broken glass, and without thinking, she chopped her hair off. 

That was one less thing her mother could manipulate...

And William... what was going to happen to him?

Would she kill him? Could she? He’s a trained knight, one of the best across all the lands, surely she couldn’t kill him “the old fashioned way”. Surely that would mean he would be okay... right?

And what if she was pregnant? Sure, she lied out there but she could be right. Oh, what terrible circumstances to be born into...

And so Lena remained sobbing, eventually setting the glass shard down, and laying on the horrible bed and holding herself, trying to get some sense of comfort. 

However, soon she felt another pair of arms wrap around her, and to her complete surprise, it was William. 

“William- w-what-? H-how-?” 

“Shh, it’s okay Lena, I’m here, it’s okay,” he hushed her. Lena didn’t argue.

“B-but how?” She asked. 

“I climbed,” He said. 

“Th-that’s like- 50 feet. You could’ve died,” Lena broke the hug. 

“Lena, it’s okay. I made it, and I’m here, that’s all that matters,” he placed a hand on her face, wiping away a few tears. Lena didn’t have it in her to argue further, so she hugged him again and continued to sob.   

“Th-things were supposed to get better,” She cried. 

“I know... I’m so sorry, my love,” Wiliam was crying too, and he stroked her head of freshly cut hair. 

“Did she do that?” He whispered. Lena shook her head. 

“She just gr-grabbed my hair a-and just dragged m-me s-so I cut it off,” she explained, trying her best not to hiccup. William hugged her tighter. 

“I’m so sorry, Lena...” He said. 

“I’m sorry too,” she said. “You’ll probably b-be killed or fired or de-knighted o-or something.”

“I don’t care, as long as we’re together,” He kissed the top of her head. 

“As long as we’re together,” she repeated those words to herself. Despite everything, they were a little comforting. 

“It’ll be okay, Lena. I-i don’t know how or when, b-but it will be okay. Someday...” he swore to her, and for a moment, Lena believed him. 

Someday it will be just she and him... maybe a few kids running around in a sunny field collecting wild flowers... and they’d be happy. Safe. Her mother would be dead and gone and they’d all be happy and safe and together. 

But it wasn’t “someday”. Lena’s reality was a cold tower far away from the ground and her friends and familiar faces, and her studies and books, for who knows how long, and she was miserable,

but at least she had William, and that made things at least a little bit better.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

[yzjsgrapefruit]

《christmas 有你》comments

the first image is his description of christmas 有你!! there was a thing where zhangjing replied to selected fans’ comments aaa here are screenshots of his replies :^)

(c: comment from a fan, r: reply from zhangjing)

(translation)

christmas has been one of my fav festivals since i was a kid. it’s full of fairytale-like scenes, and it seems as if all things impossible will come true that night. my christmas wish has been different every year, this year’s wish is very simple, i hope that this christmas will be spent with you (a reference to the name of his single christmas 有你), i’m very greedy so i want all of you (all of his fans). regardless of whether it’s family or friends, having the opportunity to spend the cold christmas night full of warmth together is the happiest feeling, but if you can’t meet your family and friends because of your job or busy school life, it’s ok, i’m here for you!

thank you to all my friends and teachers who helped me to finish this song, i dare not accept the role of a (music) producer, i’ve just been learning along the way, thank you banana ent. when i make music, the most interesting thing is that i’m able to express all the images i see in my mind and (feel with my) heart through music! i hope you will see the christmas i long for through listening to this song, this christmas will be spent with you (a reference to his song name, and also to his chinese name 尤长靖 which has the same pronunciation as 有 “with”).

(translation)

c: i love you a lot, you will stay happy right

r: i will! what about you?

(translation)

c: i look up at the chimney / thinking / what will santa give me this year / i prepared a sock to put beside my bed / i heard a voice / “apa khabar, my name is you zhangjing” / actually, my christmas present arrived long ago / christmas spent with you (another reference to zhangjing’s chinese name 尤) / (christmas) this year is filled with more warmth than usual

r: i’ve been through a lot this year, especially witnessed by you, i believe that i won’t forget any day from this year for the rest of my life!

(translation)

c: they say that hainan’s sea is especially beautiful, that’s because they haven’t seen your eyes (a pickup line??)

r: my facial expression when i eat hainanese chicken rice is a bit scary hahaha hahaha (our fav foodie here to redefine pickup lines,,,)

(translation)

c: when will you come to shenzhen, i want to hear you live

r: my wish is to keep improving, and go to all the cities (in china) to sing for you, so that you won’t tire yourself by travelling non-stop to see me! it’s gettibg late, you can start getting ready for bed after listening (to his single) for a few more times

[quiescentgale]

「       ※          Winds && Stars carrying on

                                                  ⋨ ⌣  x ⌢ ⋩    @dethiux                 ※        」

   Garlic. An essential part of an Italian family home where cooking is the utmost best way to show love. An interesting ingredient that could be used for various amounts of sauces for their ever loving pasta dishes. Not to mention, it could have been used in so many other dishes or medical remedies! However, when it came to the elements of ice scream, Vanitas could have sworn off the stuff for the rest of his life. The male before him might have meant well, and he wasn’t the type to turn down a wholesome gift. Though, a man’s limit was his (limit )!  ❛ What the hel– who decided to make a garlic flavor?  ❜ Accent thick as the day he was born, the male wondered was the other trying to make a joke out of something or rather he really wasn’t meaning no harm by giving him all of these treats. Either way, Vanitas took the offered items within his glove covered hand and proceeded to open at least one of them.  ❛ I guess I should thank you.  ❜

  Did he usually accept gifts from strangers, especially food? Well, no, but the fact that the other looked so much like his younger brother ( Ventus ) made the raven want to trust him. A sigh slowly moved past his lips, as he opened the first flavor. Strawberry was his favorite, and not because the fruit was implied by so many people to be something of sexual manner. No, no and no. He loved it because it reminded him of his childhood, back when his father took him to the vineyards where he grew up. Back to when his mother wasn’t sick like she was now, and back to when his life was so much easier to handle. How odd such a small gesture of a treat could bring back so many fond ( memories ) of a time where he was the most happiest. Lately, he’s done nothing but live in the past, worship the people that no longer exist in his perimeter, and get caught up on the so many ‘ what if’s ‘. It was nice to leave all of that behind for but a simple moment.

  ❛ I can’t remember when I stopped to have ice cream like this.  ❜ Silly, of him to allow himself to drift along like this. What if the other could have been a spy? What if he was just using  ( prosthetic’s ) to make himself look like an older version of his kid brother!? It could have been done, it has been done before! People within the assassin bureau has come up with many different ways to out do each other! Vanitas paused while eating, lowering his golden orbs towards Ven before taking another bite.  ❛ Come to think of it, who might you be?  ❜  No, he wasn’t going to attack him, not when there were so many people around. Too many witnesses to make a fatal attack now, and it wasn’t wise to tarnish his work ethics now of all places.  ❛ It’s not ‘a every day people give others ‘a treat ya see. .  ❜

  The other would understand, no? He was after all, the head of his father’s clan. A natural born heir to the whole Vaniti era. He had to be cautious, especially until he had born an heir for himself. And most importantly, what the heck was up with that darn garlic flavor? ‘ Who the hell in their right minds would give me this?’ He thought, over and over while finishing the other treat. Now working on the banana flavored one, a complete  ( glutton ) even if he would have denied it until the day he died. ‘ Maybe I am being to conscience about this, he’s just a dude who gave me something nice. .’ Ugh, since when did he become such a fking sap?  ❛ Ya know, don’t even answer that question. Most of all, you didn’t see me. ❜ He slowly got up from the bench he was sitting at, ready to head for his car still waiting at the parking meter. A nerve twitched as he paused, looking back towards the other – serious, but not really.

❛ Tell anyone about this and I’ll kill you.  ❜  

▹ ☆ Vanitas ☆ ◃

                    ✣ 「 ヴェン」 ❦❧ ─ Something about this ‘Vanitas’ that sounded so entirely wrong in Ventus’ ears, yet the blond brushed it off, as he was too much eagerly seeing the man, his darker half here, and  A L I V E  not like when Ventus have shattered them both, and crushed his hope; no matter what beautiful lies Xehanort had promised. The desperate hopelessness within his eyes were enough to break his fragment of a heart a thousand times over. Poorly in misjudging his other half, if only the Wayward Wind Master had understood him more... looked passed the threats, the insults, the bitterness, and anger... there was just someone who wished to be whole, someone who wanted  with great desperation for the pain to stop... and Ventus being black and white, had not seen the hurting... had been nothing but cold stone   C R U E L  rejection, upon rejection... and ended him. And that... had no way been 「  S a l v a t i o n 」, no way Vanitas had deserve any of that and... It was just plainly out of necessity...

                     “W-Wait! Wait a minute!” Snapping his head up, realizing that he was leaving and Ventus... Ventus have so many questions. So many times to say. A thousand words begging to be spoken... yet, his throat constricted and clamp up. Sputtering and stuttering, nothing came out nothing but unintelligent and dumb questions. “You’re... You’re Vanitas, aren’t you?” Of course he is, you dummy! Reprimanding himself in his own head. Nervously eclipse the friendliness mannerism prior. “Please don’t go,” Not again. Not before he could ushered out those words from his Hearts. Ventus needed to say those words before he can rest at ease. “I was... really surprised that you’re... a-alive,” but how could he? ‘I struck him down didn’t I?’ Someone please explain to him how can there be more Vanitas around if not THAT him? His looks were the say. His speech pattern, the death threat,  his awkwardness in mannerism, ( Even if his accent was a little strange )  lack of friendliness and usual crude usage of words, how can this  N o t  be Vanitas?

                     “But, you’re here! And I’m glad,” Boldly, something Ventus had never done before,  taken ‘Vanitas’ arm in his, halting anymore steps to move away, staring hopefully up at his taller darker half, continuously convincing himself, this is him. Blindly seeking out that single forgiveness. Not out of selfish self satisfaction, but he needed his other half to know the truth, needed him to  U n d e r s t a n d ,  had Ventus had another option, never forced into that no way out corner... then things would have been different. “I know it is a little strange. Especially coming from me, but please, I need you to hear me out.” Ignoring at the by standers or passing by crowds, watching as if they were watching a novelty movie being played in front of them; Men and women seemed to find the scene more a little romantic misunderstanding, but Ventus ignored them all. His world, zoned onto this single person here.

                                                “Can’t you... just please give me a chance?”

                    To make up for the pain he’d caused, the suffering silently inflicted upon, and the tears he’d seen Vanitas shed. The gut wrenching feeling doubled and it wasn’t just an echo anymore. Just was deafening. A hollow aching that won’t leave, but the  V o i d  becoming larger. Wider.  C o n s u m i n g . Eroding away at what’s left of his fragment of a heart. even now, Ventus can feel it crumbling away underneath his feet. It was repentance for the Light that ended his Darkness. No Yang can live without their Yin, Ventus had finally understand the full gravity of it now. “Please?”

[rokurookajima]

once again filling my evening answering questions nobody asked

cherry turnover:  who do you live with? 

i’ve lived by myself for three months now!! it’s cool and there are some things that are really nice about living totally alone like truly never bothering anyone with the shit you’re doing. but im tryna move in with evie soon and we’re hoping to have a place by mid june!!!! we just looked at some today and im jazzed  bananas foster:  do you believe in soul mates?

yes absolutely but like in a specific sense. i don’t believe everyone has like one singular soul mate, and i don’t believe soul mates are exclusively romantic. but i completely believe there are people you’re cosmically supposed to meet, and that sometimes the odds are all against you meeting but you still do, and when you finally meet there is some kind of feeling like you’ve either known each other way longer, or you instantly know they’re going to be so important to you. i think i’ve met more than one soul mate by that definition in my life. one was the guide of a travel group i went on a trip with when i was 16, and i only knew him for a week but we both connected so strong and instantly, and both were clearly affected by it i think we both walked away differently. i’ve never seen him since then and i cried a lot the last day of that trip. but like it definitely wasn’t romantic?? it was just some kind of deep soul connection. i also think you can have friendships that are gonna last forever and those are pretty close to soul mates too. basically i have a lot of very romanticized ideas about people you meet in your life  glazed donut:  would you rather visit a zoo or an aquarium?

prob an aquarium  pumpkin pie:  what were your interests as a child?

i really fuckin loved dinosaurs when i was rlly young, like preschool and kindergarten age. i liked cool rocks a lot too, i had a ton of geodes and crystals and those little stones you could buy at like museum giftshops that i kept in boxes and would just look at all the time. i was rlly obsessed with harry potter when i was like 8 i think that was when i first read the books and there were only five at the time. late childhood (like 4/5th grade) i loved cats on probably a weird level bc wow yeah i was a warrior cats kid, also loved pirates a lot  lemon tart:  how many languages can you speak?

just one unfortunately. i wish i knew a second language but alas  chocolate mousse:  how is your relationship with your parents?

it could probably be better, but i guess it is a lot better than a lot of people my age have. i love my parents but they’re rlly problematic people, and even tho they didn’t mean to, they are the biggest reason i have a lot of the issues i have, and they still do shit that perpetuates it. it’s better in some ways that i don’t live with them now, bc i think some parts of my mental health like my self image are better bc i’m around way more supportive people than them. but also i feel bad bc i don’t make as much of an effort to talk to them as i should since i don’t see them every day. me and my mom have always been pretty close, and i don’t want to lose that. they try sometimes  creme brûlée:  describe your style

american apparel lmao which i can only keep saying for like the next YEAR before that won’t define anything for people. but 4 real a good portion of my wardrobe is from american apparel, and when i shop else ware, it’s still pretty consistent with that style. like very basic cuts and colors of things, only pattern i ever wear is stripes, highwaisted everything, cropped everything. i only wear black white gray and green i am a stereotype  cheesecake:  have you ever visited a sex shop?

lmao yeah more than once. there’s a couple around where i live that i’ve been to a few times, and one in columbus. i’ve never bought anything at one, or gone there with like the intent to purchase stuff. they’re just honestly so funny to walk through and be horrified by the enormous dildos  raspberry sorbet:  favorite clothing stores?

wow i can’t say american apparel anymore im so sad. so uh. i honestly don’t know where im gonna get most of my clothes now. forever 21 and h&m are always good places to find some cheap stuff. i wanna thrift more, but i never seem to have very good luck at finding stuff  green tea ice cream:  who was your first crush?

lmao it was milo thatch from atlantis. but i assume we are talking about a real person that i actually y’know like. could speak to. which was my tumblr boyfriend that i met when i was 17. i met him in a fandom chatroom i ended up in through some other tumblr friends, then kinda started getting some feels when he posted a selfie after we’d already talked in the chat and i was like oh no he’s hot. so wowie a tragic tale of star-crossed lovers  chocolate chip cookie:  how has your life changed over the past year?

i can’t even start to say how much my life has changed over the last year. truly, i don’t think there’s ever been a year in my life that i’ve looked at and been so in awe of how many things happened. but yeah last spring-this spring i went through so many life experiences and firsts and personality changes and struggles and some of the happiest days of my life and by far the fucking worst days of my life. since april last year, i fell in love for the first time, had a real relationship for the first time, became a lot more social, got really close to some of the people i’m now closest to, got high for the first time, lost my virginity, went to big parties, got a lot more social, met a lot of people, saw a lot of new sides of life, questioned a lot of my own beliefs and came to new ones, left the country without my parents, traveled out of state completely by myself, got my heart completely destroyed for the first time, attempted suicide, thought my life would literally not make it to this point, moved out of my house, lived on my own, got stronger, figured some shit out, hooked up with someone at a party, had casual sex for the first time, now i’m hoping to move again in the next few months. i know some of that is like. not actually that exciting, and a lot of it was shit that most people do for the first time in high school, but it was a lot for me. i ended up in a world and lifestyle that i used to write fiction about and romanticize the hell out of, and never thought i’d actually live it first hand. so rlly this last year was fuckin wild for me and in a lot of ways i feel like i’ve aged 60 years, and i’m tired from that much all in one year, but i’m also still kinda naive and clueless so what can u do  berry trifle:  first & last concert you went to?

so wow i don’t go to real concerts. the first was probably some christian band with my family. the last. does the american murder song wake tour count? that was kind of a concert  tapioca pudding:  favorite animated characters?

WOW let me fuckin TELL u my favorite animated characters. number one will always always always be revy from black lagoon. i have never loved a character that much in my life, everything about her is so good. she’s such a goddamn disaster and so well written and complex and so much more than just a typical bad ass female archetype. i love that it’s not just headcanon to read deep into her personality, it’s a huge point of the series. i love that on the surface she is just like. a bad ass with no feeling. then u actually get to the end of the series and she is actually a CHILD inside who is so fuckin insecure and she LOVES ROCK SO MUCH i wanna die. also lust from fullmetal alchemist esp the 2003 anime fuck me ALL THE WAY UP. ed elric, and truly everyone in fullmetal alchemist what a series what a cast of characters.  fudge brownie:  do you like your name?

sometimes. i used to really hate it when i was younger, now it’s changed some. i like still don’t like it when i say it out loud probably bc people 100% of the time think i said cindy and i have to correct them every dang time. but like that i can shorten it to syd which i also used to hate bc toy story (i was a kid ok) but now i like it. there are also those times where people you like say your name and it makes u feel some type of way??? i like it then. so i guess i like it most when other people are saying it u feel me strawberry shortcake:  are you good at keeping secrets?

i mean if it’s my own, absolutely not what the fuck is a secret i am a tragic over sharer about my own shit. but other people’s, yes i’d say so. i feel like a lot of people feel comfortable enough to tell me things they might not tell other people, and i don’t ever feel like it’s a burden to keep a secret y’know?? so it doesn’t like eat at me and make me wanna tell people  tiramisu:  are you daring when it comes to makeup & clothing or do you like to play it safe?

uh i guess somewhere in the middle. like the way i dress isn’t rlly how everyone dresses and i guess in some crowds would be considered pretty different, but i don’t know if its daring bc its not like....that adventurous or out there. esp bc i only wear neutral colors lmao. same with makeup, for the most part, it’s pretty simple but every now and then i like to do something fancier. i feel like the most daring things about me appearance wise are like having a lot of piercings and tattoos??? so y’know make ur daring shit permanent i guess im not that edgy lmao oreo milkshake:  do you sleep a lot?

i feel like i sleep a pretty average amount. i wish i could sleep more bc i’m tired all the time, but way more i wish i could sleep less. i love the idea of being able to just naturally get up early and have so much time in the morning to do shit and enjoy the morning. and i like staying up late. but i’m always tired and even tho i have to get up early most mornings, it’s still a constant struggle and i wish it wasn’t. i’ll sleep pretty late when i get the chance tho

apple crisp:  how do you relax?

guess it depends on what i’m feeling. i like to take baths a lot, or just chill and watch movies and stuff. i love having relaxing hangouts with friends, like just chilling watching movies with people and not needing to do anything else. i wanna do more quote-unquote relaxing stuff, like read and write more, go to yoga classes, shit like that carrot cake:  who is your celeb look alike?

i’ve been told more than once i look like krysten ritter so i will go with her. it’s the bangs macaron:  what is your ethnicity?

white af cinnamon bun:  favorite salty snack?

wow salty snacks are my VICE i love salty shit way more than sweet things. fuck man i love chips of all kinds, i’ve been eating way too many hot cheetos lately, french fries, mcdonalds hash browns, i’m gonna have blood pressure issues from how much i love salt 

[entmtbiz]

Singapore Media Festival 2017: Taking Asian Storytelling to the Global Forefront

HONG KONG and SINGAPORE, March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Asia's leading international media event, the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), announced today that its fourth edition will be held from 23 November to 3 December 2017. Hosted by the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), the festival is a marquee platform to showcase notable regional creative talent, and provide opportunities to discover and connect with a vibrant global media community.

Building upon the festival's theme of 'Celebrating Asian Storytelling', this edition will see the introduction of the Country-of-Focus programme -- a concerted spotlight on one Asian country, recognising its rich stories, talents and achievements. 2017's Country-of-Focus will be Indonesia.

Mr Robert Gilby, Chairman of the Singapore Media Festival Advisory Board and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company (SEA), said," Introducing a Country-of-Focus programme is all about creating a bold platform to showcase the quality and variety of creativity originating from that country, and affirming its strong community of creators who continue to push boundaries and explore more collaborations between the country, Singapore and the rest of the world."

He added, "Southeast Asia is a region rich in potential for great storytellers, and we see the importance of amplifying these voices on the global stage. Singapore and Indonesia commemorate 50 years of bilateral and diplomatic relations in 2017, and in recent years Indonesia has proven to be a vibrant source of great content, talent and stories. It is timely that SMF marks its first Country-of-Focus with Indonesia."

This spotlight on Indonesia will thread across all SMF constituent events – the Asian Television Awards (ATA), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), ScreenSingapore (SS), Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), and SMF Ignite. Award-winning Indonesian singer and actor, Afgan (Afgansyah Reza), will be headlining ATA's Awards Ceremony, and ATF is also expecting stronger participation from Indonesian talent and media businesses this year including Surya Citra Televisi (SCTV), Metro TV, and Media Nusantara Citra (MNC), Indonesia's largest media group and a long-time supporter of the event.

As SMF grows amid a constantly-evolving media landscape, the SMF Advisory Board, consisting of industry heavyweights from Singapore and the region, continue to lend their expertise towards charting the Festival's strategic direction. Mr Chang Long Jong, a media industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in the broadcast and digital domains across Asia, joins the Board this year. He also assumes the role of mm2 Asia's Chief Executive Officer from 3 April.

Chang shared, "Having witnessed the evolution of content development in Singapore and the region over the last three decades, it is very exciting to see how new and varied content, platforms and formats are being presented today, showcasing our Asian stories anew. I am honoured to be part of the passionate team working to elevate Asia's storytellers to a global audience through the Singapore Media Festival."

SINGAPORE SPOTLIGHT AT HONG KONG FILMART 2017 Exemplary of the diverse formats and presentation of Asian stories, the IMDA, will be leading a delegation of 23 Singapore companies to the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), where it will present over 200 hours of film and television content across more than 60 titles.

2017 and Beyond (Film picks) | Upcoming film projects supported by the Singapore Film Commission

Blessed Reunion is an action film around a young female contract killer who returns to her hometown for her family's Chinese New Year Reunion with an ulterior motive – only to find out that she, the hunter, is also the hunted. The film, produced by Weiyu Films, is currently in the pre-production and development phase.

Wonder Boy is the biopic of acclaimed Singaporean singer-songwriter Dick Lee, loosely based on Lee's childhood years that led to the release of his first album. Set in early 1970s Singapore, the film centres on a musically-inclined social outcast who starts his coming-of-age journey after he forms a band – The Wonder Boys. Produced by Bert Pictures & mm2 Entertainment, the film is slated for release in August 2017.

One Headlight sets out to be a musical on an aspiring musician who goes on a road trip with his five-year-old niece, hoping to reunite her with her father. As they travel along the Taiwan coast to find clues about her father's whereabouts, they bond over classic old songs. The film is currently being developed by mm2 Entertainment.

2017 and Beyond (Television picks)

Let's Do It Together is an infotainment travel series featuring local communities from all over the world, including France, Finland, Guatemala, Nepal and Spain. Produced by August Pictures, the Mandarin programme spotlights the unique stories of ten different communities, and captures their community spirit as they come together to achieve various tasks.

Take A Break, produced by Mediacorp, is a brand new travel programme that picks the best short holiday destinations, sharing itineraries on unique and lesser-known places that are worth venturing over the weekend. There will be something for every traveller – whether a solo sojourn, a romantic trip for two, a getaway with friends or a family vacation.

Capturing the Asian voice | Fresh Asian-themed content

Jimami Tofu, a web telemovie by Singapore-based BananaMana Films, is a romance drama revolving around a Singaporean chef who finds himself in Okinawa, begging an old chef to teach him traditional Okinawan cooking, and a top Japanese food critic who travels to Singapore to discover Southeast Asian cuisine. The film is available in the trade market for the first time, and has received strong interest from international distributors around the world.

Happiness (R)evolution is a brand new documentary on Bhutan, looking into how, for a country famously known for its Gross National Happiness index, it is actually also one of the world's most isolated nations. As the Buddhism kingdom modernises and opens up to the world, will 'the happiest country in the world' remain contented and happy as they are? The show is produced by XTREME Media, and is currently in production.

Exciting Genres & Formats | Offering refreshing perspectives & innovative storytelling

Dream Defenders Virtual Reality invites audiences to go beyond the TV series and step into the universe of the Dream Defenders using Virtual Reality, getting them to run, fly, shoot and interact within the universe with friends and fans of the series from around the world. This interactive multiplayer VR game is currently being produced and developed by Tiny Island Productions.

Food Of Life, an infotainment series by WaWa Pictures explores the significant role of food in the same festive celebrations, but in different countries – the difference in the dishes served and their ways of celebration. Starting from Singapore, interesting comparisons will be made with that of different regions around the world, giving audiences a better understanding of traditional festivals and significant days across cultures.

New stories are also being developed and brought to fruition at the Hong Kong -- Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), taking place on the side lines of Hong Kong FILMART. This year, three upcoming film projects by Singapore filmmakers have been shortlisted for co-production ventures with the region's top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. They include:

I AM A BANANA!, directed by Honey B. Singh (Honeylove Films) and produced by Gabrielle Kelly, centres around an Asian girl living in Canada who has never embraced her Asian roots, and how she receives an unexpected ticket to Singapore where her late absentee father has left her an entire shophouse.

La Luna by M. Raihan Halim (Papahan Films), a film about a young woman who sets up a lingerie shop in a strict Muslim village and finds herself challenging age-old traditions, turning the lives of the villagers upside down.

The Rocks of Hua Lamphong (Taipan Films) is an action road trip film noir about an ex-soldier who is ordered to search for a girl to clear his debts but ends up escaping with her instead, inciting a manhunt from Bangkok to Singapore. It is directed by JD Chua and produced by Juan Foo.

Singapore content and talent continue to make waves around the world – Boo Junfeng's highly-acclaimed feature, Apprentice, has been nominated under two award categories at the 11th Asian Film Awards, taking place in Hong Kong on 21 March. The film's lead actor Fir Rahman has been nominated for the Best Newcomer Award, while editors Natalie Soh (Singapore) and Lee Chatametikool (Thailand) have been nominated under the Best Editing Award category.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AT HONG KONG FILMART 2017 International trade partners can network with the Singapore delegation or find out more about the Singapore Media Festival 2017 during Singapore Hour, taking place on Monday 13 March, 4pm -- 5.30pm at the Singapore Pavilion (Booth 1B-A14).

Annex: New SMF Advisory Board member profile -- Mr Chang Long Jong

http://ift.tt/2dYy8Lw | #SGMediaFest

About the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) will develop a vibrant, world-class infocomm media sector that drives the economy, connects people, bonds communities and powers Singapore's Smart Nation vision. IMDA does this by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICT and media infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment. IMDA also enhances Singapore's data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission. For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.

About the Singapore Media Festival The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Info-communications Media Development Authority, is set to become one of Asia's leading international media events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for Film, TV and digital media. Taking place from 23 November to 3 December 2017, the Singapore Media Festival brings together established media events such as the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore (SS) and Asian Television Awards (ATA), as well as a new digital event SMF Ignite. For more information about the Singapore Media Festival, please visit http://ift.tt/1vQLHR8.

Profile of the new SMF Advisory Board member

  Chang Long Jong

Chief Executive Officer, mm2 Asia (effective 3 April 2017)

  Chang Long Jong graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Structural) from Nanyang Technological Institute in 1985, and started with an administrative job with Mediacorp (then named Singapore Broadcasting Corporation). Although it was an "accidental" career entry, it heralded Chang's stay in the media industry for 30 years.

  Chang played key roles in many milestones of the industry, including the launch of Mediacorp's Star Search programme in 1988, as well as the development and expansion of local drama productions that consistently received the highest ratings in Singapore. Under his leadership, exports of Singapore-made dramas and programmes were made through licensing, distribution and co-productions across Southeast Asia and in countries such as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

  Chang had held the dual role of Mediacorp's deputy CEO and Chief Customer Officer, while also leading the company's events business arm, Vizpro, and its training business, Singapore Media Academy.

  Chang has recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer for mm2 Asia, where he will be responsible for overseeing and managing the business operations, especially the production division, as well as sourcing new business opportunities for the group.

  Read this news on PR Newswire Asia website: Singapore Media Festival 2017: Taking Asian Storytelling to the Global Forefront

[entmtbiz]

Singapore Media Festival 2017: Taking Asian Storytelling to the Global Forefront

HONG KONG and SINGAPORE, Mar. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Asia's leading international media event, the Singapore Media Festival (SMF), announced today that its fourth edition will be held from 23 November to 3 December 2017. Hosted by the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), the festival is a marquee platform to showcase notable regional creative talent, and provide opportunities to discover and connect with a vibrant global media community.

Building upon the festival's theme of 'Celebrating Asian Storytelling', this edition will see the introduction of the Country-of-Focus programme -- a concerted spotlight on one Asian country, recognising its rich stories, talents and achievements. 2017's Country-of-Focus will be Indonesia.

Mr Robert Gilby, Chairman of the Singapore Media Festival Advisory Board and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company (SEA), said," Introducing a Country-of-Focus programme is all about creating a bold platform to showcase the quality and variety of creativity originating from that country, and affirming its strong community of creators who continue to push boundaries and explore more collaborations between the country, Singapore and the rest of the world."

He added, "Southeast Asia is a region rich in potential for great storytellers, and we see the importance of amplifying these voices on the global stage. Singapore and Indonesia commemorate 50 years of bilateral and diplomatic relations in 2017, and in recent years Indonesia has proven to be a vibrant source of great content, talent and stories. It is timely that SMF marks its first Country-of-Focus with Indonesia."

This spotlight on Indonesia will thread across all SMF constituent events - the Asian Television Awards (ATA), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), ScreenSingapore (SS), Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), and SMF Ignite. Award-winning Indonesian singer and actor, Afgan (Afgansyah Reza), will be headlining ATA's Awards Ceremony, and ATF is also expecting stronger participation from Indonesian talent and media businesses this year including Surya Citra Televisi (SCTV), Metro TV, and Media Nusantara Citra (MNC), Indonesia's largest media group and a long-time supporter of the event.

As SMF grows amid a constantly-evolving media landscape, the SMF Advisory Board, consisting of industry heavyweights from Singapore and the region, continue to lend their expertise towards charting the Festival's strategic direction. Mr Chang Long Jong, a media industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in the broadcast and digital domains across Asia, joins the Board this year. He also assumes the role of mm2 Asia's Chief Executive Officer from 3 April.

Chang shared, "Having witnessed the evolution of content development in Singapore and the region over the last three decades, it is very exciting to see how new and varied content, platforms and formats are being presented today, showcasing our Asian stories anew. I am honoured to be part of the passionate team working to elevate Asia's storytellers to a global audience through the Singapore Media Festival."

SINGAPORE SPOTLIGHT AT HONG KONG FILMART 2017 Exemplary of the diverse formats and presentation of Asian stories, the IMDA, will be leading a delegation of 23 Singapore companies to the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), where it will present over 200 hours of film and television content across more than 60 titles.

2017 and Beyond (Film picks) | Upcoming film projects supported by the Singapore Film Commission

Blessed Reunion is an action film around a young female contract killer who returns to her hometown for her family's Chinese New Year Reunion with an ulterior motive - only to find out that she, the hunter, is also the hunted. The film, produced by Weiyu Films, is currently in the pre-production and development phase.

Wonder Boy is the biopic of acclaimed Singaporean singer-songwriter Dick Lee, loosely based on Lee's childhood years that led to the release of his first album. Set in early 1970s Singapore, the film centres on a musically-inclined social outcast who starts his coming-of-age journey after he forms a band - The Wonder Boys. Produced by Bert Pictures & mm2 Entertainment, the film is slated for release in August 2017.

One Headlight sets out to be a musical on an aspiring musician who goes on a road trip with his five-year-old niece, hoping to reunite her with her father. As they travel along the Taiwan coast to find clues about her father's whereabouts, they bond over classic old songs. The film is currently being developed by mm2 Entertainment.

2017 and Beyond (Television picks)

Let's Do It Together is an infotainment travel series featuring local communities from all over the world, including France, Finland, Guatemala, Nepal and Spain. Produced by August Pictures, the Mandarin programme spotlights the unique stories of ten different communities, and captures their community spirit as they come together to achieve various tasks.

Take A Break, produced by Mediacorp, is a brand new travel programme that picks the best short holiday destinations, sharing itineraries on unique and lesser-known places that are worth venturing over the weekend. There will be something for every traveller - whether a solo sojourn, a romantic trip for two, a getaway with friends or a family vacation.

Capturing the Asian voice | Fresh Asian-themed content

Jimami Tofu, a web telemovie by Singapore-based BananaMana Films, is a romance drama revolving around a Singaporean chef who finds himself in Okinawa, begging an old chef to teach him traditional Okinawan cooking, and a top Japanese food critic who travels to Singapore to discover Southeast Asian cuisine. The film is available in the trade market for the first time, and has received strong interest from international distributors around the world.

Happiness (R)evolution is a brand new documentary on Bhutan, looking into how, for a country famously known for its Gross National Happiness index, it is actually also one of the world's most isolated nations. As the Buddhism kingdom modernises and opens up to the world, will 'the happiest country in the world' remain contented and happy as they are? The show is produced by XTREME Media, and is currently in production.

Exciting Genres & Formats | Offering refreshing perspectives & innovative storytelling

Dream Defenders Virtual Reality invites audiences to go beyond the TV series and step into the universe of the Dream Defenders using Virtual Reality, getting them to run, fly, shoot and interact within the universe with friends and fans of the series from around the world. This interactive multiplayer VR game is currently being produced and developed by Tiny Island Productions.

Food Of Life, an infotainment series by WaWa Pictures explores the significant role of food in the same festive celebrations, but in different countries - the difference in the dishes served and their ways of celebration. Starting from Singapore, interesting comparisons will be made with that of different regions around the world, giving audiences a better understanding of traditional festivals and significant days across cultures.

New stories are also being developed and brought to fruition at the Hong Kong -- Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), taking place on the side lines of Hong Kong FILMART. This year, three upcoming film projects by Singapore filmmakers have been shortlisted for co-production ventures with the region's top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. They include:

I AM A BANANA!, directed by Honey B. Singh (Honeylove Films) and produced by Gabrielle Kelly, centres around an Asian girl living in Canada who has never embraced her Asian roots, and how she receives an unexpected ticket to Singapore where her late absentee father has left her an entire shophouse.

La Luna by M. Raihan Halim (Papahan Films), a film about a young woman who sets up a lingerie shop in a strict Muslim village and finds herself challenging age-old traditions, turning the lives of the villagers upside down.

The Rocks of Hua Lamphong (Taipan Films) is an action road trip film noir about an ex-soldier who is ordered to search for a girl to clear his debts but ends up escaping with her instead, inciting a manhunt from Bangkok to Singapore. It is directed by JD Chua and produced by Juan Foo.

Singapore content and talent continue to make waves around the world - Boo Junfeng's highly-acclaimed feature, Apprentice, has been nominated under two award categories at the 11th Asian Film Awards, taking place in Hong Kong on 21 March. The film's lead actor Fir Rahman has been nominated for the Best Newcomer Award, while editors Natalie Soh (Singapore) and Lee Chatametikool (Thailand) have been nominated under the Best Editing Award category.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AT HONG KONG FILMART 2017 International trade partners can network with the Singapore delegation or find out more about the Singapore Media Festival 2017 during Singapore Hour, taking place on Monday 13 March, 4pm -- 5.30pm at the Singapore Pavilion (Booth 1B-A14).

Annex: New SMF Advisory Board member profile -- Mr Chang Long Jong

http://ift.tt/2dYy8Lw | #SGMediaFest

About the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) will develop a vibrant, world-class infocomm media sector that drives the economy, connects people, bonds communities and powers Singapore's Smart Nation vision. IMDA does this by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICT and media infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment. IMDA also enhances Singapore's data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission. For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.

About the Singapore Media Festival The Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Info-communications Media Development Authority, is set to become one of Asia's leading international media events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for Film, TV and digital media. Taking place from 23 November to 3 December 2017, the Singapore Media Festival brings together established media events such as the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) and ScreenSingapore (SS) and Asian Television Awards (ATA), as well as a new digital event SMF Ignite. For more information about the Singapore Media Festival, please visit http://ift.tt/1vQLHR8.

Profile of the new SMF Advisory Board member

Chang Long Jong

Chief Executive Officer, mm2 Asia (effective 3 April 2017)

Chang Long Jong graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Structural) from Nanyang Technological Institute in 1985, and started with an administrative job with Mediacorp (then named Singapore Broadcasting Corporation). Although it was an "accidental" career entry, it heralded Chang's stay in the media industry for 30 years.

Chang played key roles in many milestones of the industry, including the launch of Mediacorp's Star Search programme in 1988, as well as the development and expansion of local drama productions that consistently received the highest ratings in Singapore. Under his leadership, exports of Singapore-made dramas and programmes were made through licensing, distribution and co-productions across Southeast Asia and in countries such as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Chang had held the dual role of Mediacorp's deputy CEO and Chief Customer Officer, while also leading the company's events business arm, Vizpro, and its training business, Singapore Media Academy.

Chang has recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer for mm2 Asia, where he will be responsible for overseeing and managing the business operations, especially the production division, as well as sourcing new business opportunities for the group.

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Read this news on PR Newswire Asia website: Singapore Media Festival 2017: Taking Asian Storytelling to the Global Forefront