This is just me writing about a movie I saw recently. Which I happened to really enjoy.
Everything Everywhere All At Once.
I don't know if you've heard. However in 2020 a Coronavirus Pandemic was declared. Which, to me, always made about as much sense as declaring an Oxygen Pandemic.
This particular Coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In order to avoid anti-Asian, particularly anti-Chinese, racism the World Health Organisation (WHO) rejected the name the Coronavirus had chosen for itself; "Far Eastern Acute Respiratory Syndrome (FEARS)." Instead choosing the clumsy and meaningless; "COVID-19."
As with everything else the WHO did during the Pandemic. This effort to combat anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism really did not work. The US in particular saw a massive rise in anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism. Most worryingly anti-Asian and anti-Chinese violence.
The movie is a response to the anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism which arose during the Pandemic.
The plot centres around; "Evelyn Quan-Wang" played by Michelle Yeoh. A middle-aged Chinese immigrant to the US State of California. As she prepares to throw a party celebrating Chinese New Year. Making my random decision to watch it on the eve of Chinese New Year 2023 (Yin Water 癸 Rabbit 卯) all the more impressive.
Playing on Chinese-American immigrant stereotypes Evelyn owns and runs a laundromat. The business is failing. Alongside preparing for Chinese New Year Celebrations Evelyn is also having to prepare for an Inland Revenue Service (IRS) tax audit which could finally put the laundromat out of business and see her family lose everything.
While Evelyn is preparing to save the business and everything her family owns. Her husband; "Waymond Wang" played by Ke Hu Quan is preparing to divorce her. He has already filed the paperwork and tries to serve Evelyn with the summons just before they leave for the IRS offices.
If that was not enough Evelyn is also having to care for her elderly father; "Gong Gong" (Cantonese for grandfather) played by James Hong. Gong Gong's ill-health having forced an end to a long period of estrangement between father and daughter.
Evelyn's efforts to care for her father are further complicated by her daughter; "Joy" played by Stephanie Hsu. Joy is gay and desperately wants to tell her grandfather. Introducing Gong Gong to her girlfriend; "Becky Sregor" played by Tallie Medel.
Evelyn is understandably concerned how her very traditional Chinese, very homophobic father will react. Given that he once disowned his own daughter over the man she fell in love with.
So the movie is set amid this very oppressive atmosphere of stress, pressure and fear. Which I'm sure that we all remember from the Pandemic and the Lockdowns.
Evelyn quickly learns that the sense of impending doom in her world is not the result of a Pandemic. It is due to the emergence of this evil force intent on imposing its malevolent will on everyone and everything. It is the reason you no longer sleep as well at night, your coffee tastes slightly different and your hair doesn't hang as nicely as it did the day before.
This evil all consuming force is central to one of the legends of Jade Emperor from Chinese mythology. Really one of the more popular legends regarding Jade Emperor. Although that does really depend on which part of China the person you are talking to is from.
Chinese mythology holds that there is the Supreme God of High Heaven (Taiyi/太一). Taiyi looks down from the dimension of heaven onto this earthly dimension through the Heaven's Gate. The Sauwastika (卍), the perceived movement of the Chariot Constellation (Plough/Big Dipper) around the celestial North Pole.
Taiyi communicates with this dimension through the Five Deities (Wudi/五帝) or Five Gods (Wushen/五神). The five planets that make up the Wu Xing; Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Venus.
To further aid humans Taiyi and the Wushen sent three demigods and five sages to give them essential skills and knowledge. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (三皇五帝).
The Jade Emperor (Yu Di/玉皇) was sent to teach humans the skill of Felicity. The ability to properly express one's thoughts and emotions. Essential for happiness. Something Taiyi does through heavenly ornaments and lights; the Wushen, planets and stars.
In this version of the legend Jade Emperor became frustrated that as a mere sage he could not do enough to ease the suffering of humans. So Jade Emperor retreated to a cave to meditate to increase his mastery of the order of the universe (Tao/Dao) and ascend to the level of god/demigod. A process that is said to have lasted for 960 million years.
While Jade Emperor was attempting to master Tao/Dao. An evil force emerged on Earth with the intention to impose its will on all of dimensions of the Universe, forcing its image upon them.
By the
time Jade Emperor emerged from his cave this evil force's attempts to
conquer heaven were already underway. Seeing the evil glow emerging from
the Heaven's Gate Jade Emperor returned to the Heavens where he was
able to battle and defeat the evil force.
As reward the gods, immortals and humans declared Jade Emperor to be The Supreme Sovereign (至高無上的主權). Forcing him to remain in Heaven, taking over the duties of Taiyi.
In the legend this all consuming evil force has no name or gender. However in writing about the legend in relation to the 2022 Winter Olympics/Para-Olympics held in Beijing, China. I named the malevolence; "The Girl Jiaozhi."
So the Chinese character; "Na (那)" signifying a young female human or; "girl." Along with the Chinese characters; "Jiaozhi (脚 趾)" meaning; "Toe." As in; "NATO."
However I should point out that was entirely my own joke. I'm not even sure it was China's joke. It certainly wasn't this movie's joke.
The movie attempts to introduce viewers to the concept at the centre of all Animist belief systems. Particularly Asian Animist belief systems.
That Everything that has happened. Along with Everything that will happen. Is happening now. All at Once. It is only its state which is different.
A concept which modern, conventional Physics has slowly started to catch up with. Albert Einstein's observation in his Special Theory of Relativity that Energy (E) can become Mass (M) and vice versa. When calculated relative to a universal constant - the Speed of Light (C) squared. E=MC².
The Ancient Greeks are widely considered to be the first people to write down their attempts to explain the Universe. Certainly ever since then attempts have been made to explain this Animist concept that Everything, Everywhere, Everywhen is happening All At Once using; "The Multiverse." That there are multiple dimensions within this Universe or multiple universes.
Throughout its many incarnations across recorded history The Multiverse has always been seen more as an allegory rather than a proper scientific theory.
For example Einstein's Theory of Relativity holds that Time is happening all at once, in different frames relative to each other. Something which is essential to the function of modern satellite communications. However that is still a long way away from different versions of yourself existing in different dimensions.
At around 17:10 on 27/3/23 (UK date) this is going to take so long to explain to you.
Edited at around 16:40 on 29/3/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
The Multiverse allegory has been particularly embraced by the world of Science-Fiction (Sci-Fi). The Marvel Universe, the D.C Universe. All the movies, TV shows and comic-books those have spawned.
Everything Everywhere All At Once uses Science-Fiction to look at how westerners, particularly Americans, might have been introduced to Asian culture. Even if they did not realise that they were being introduced to Asian culture.
In the script the malevolent, all consuming force is named as; "Jobu Tupaki" which is pronounced a lot like; "Chewbacca." The Wookie character from the Star Wars franchise. Although I do not think that name is ever properly pronounced that way. Or, indeed, the same way twice.
Highlighting how spoken Chinese is a complex tonal language. To the point that prior to the Commission on the Unification of Pronounciation (Dúyīn Tǒngyī Huì/讀音統一會) adopting Mandarin as the standard pronunciation in 1932 (Yin Metal 辛 Goat 未) most Chinese people couldn't understand each other. Needless to say Chinese is often just completely mangled by foreigners when they attempt to speak it.
The Star Wars director George Lucas makes no secret of the fact that he is a big fan of the work of the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa particularly worked in a genre known as; "Jidaigeki (時代劇)." Literally translating as; "Period Dramas" many of these are set around the time Japan's; "Warring States Period (Sengoku/戦国時代) gave way to its; "Edo Period (Edo Jidai/江戸時代)."
The Star Wars universe, particularly the first movie; "Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope (1977)," isn't so much influenced by as directly stolen from one Kurosawa movie in particular. 1958's "The Three Villains of the Hidden Fortress (Kakushi Toride no San Akunin/隠し砦の三悪人)."
The Three Villiains of the Hidden Fortress tells the story of two peasants: "Tahei" and; "Matashichi" who are cast off into the desert during the Warring States Period. They are befriended by a Shogun; "Makabe Rokurota" and a Princess; "Yuki Akizuki" who are in disguise.
In Star Wars the Shogun and the Princess are; "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and; "Princess Leia." While the pairing of Tahei and Matashichi are both the lowly worker Droids; "R2D2" and; "C3PO" and the money driven smugglers; "Han Solo" and; "Chewbacca."
The "Jedi" in Star Wars are a play on; "Jidaigeki." Their robes are just Samurai robes. While their battle between the Light and the Dark side of the Force is the quest for balance between Ying and Yang central to all Asian Animist belief systems. Particularly Taoism/Daoism.
A
movie which attempts to show how everything which has happened.
Along with everything that will happen. Is actually happening now. All
at once. That really doesn't lend itself to a linear explanation. So
bear with me.
However there is a scene in a side-office with the Evelyn, Alpha-Waymond and Alpha-Gong Gong characters. In which Evelyn says; "These are not the people you are looking for!"
A play on that line from Star Wars; "Are these the Droids you are looking for?" A quote so famous even people like me who haven't seen any of the Star Wars movies instantly recognise it.
Everything Everywhere All At Once's version of the Multiverse holds that every time a person makes a decision then a new universe is created. Containing the alternate decision. So if someone chooses to turn left. Then a universe is created in which they turn right.
People in one of the universes which they call the; "Alpha Universe" discovered that they can jump between all these different universes. When they do their mind inhabits the version of themselves which exists in that universe. So you can have the Waymond from the Alpha universe leaping into the body of the Waymond in the Beta universe and so on. Across an infinite number of universes.
It's during the scene in the side-office with Alpha-Gong Gong Evelyn tries to explain this. Likening it to the 2007 Disney movie; "Ratatouille." In which a chef's body is controlled by a Rat hiding underneath his hat.
However Evelyn has clearly mistaken the Rat in the movie for a Racoon. So ends up calling the movie; "Racacoony." Another joke about the difficultly immigrants face in learning the language of their adopted homeland. A particularly acute problem if their first language is a complex tonal one. Such as Chinese.
Of course if a Chinese immigrant to the US has emigrated from somewhere like Hong Kong or Taiwan. Then they'll be trying to learn English as a third language. Behind Cantonese and Mandarin.
Evelyn's mistake also serves as a reference to the; "Racoon City" which is central to "Resident Evil" series of computer games. Along with computer games more generally.
These are almost exclusively made in Japan by Japanese people. The Opening Ceremony of the delayed 2020 Summer Para-Olympics finally showed the World the Japanese face of the famous computer game voice actor; "Max Power."
The Resident Evil computer games were made into a series of movies. Featuring, amongst others, Michelle Rodriguez.
Michelle Rodriguez also played the riot police fighting; "Lou" in the 2007 movie; "Battle in Seattle." Which dramatized the (not necessarily anti) WTO protests which began in Seattle, Washington State, US on November 30th (N30) 1999.
Between the first Resident Evil movie (2002) and Battle in Seattle Michelle Rodriguez appeared in the 2003 movie version of the US TV show; "S.W.A.T." In which she played the; "Christina 'Chris' Alonso" character.
If this were Oscars coverage. Then those would probably be rather important details to remember.
Of course the Jidaigeki movies which Star Wars stole from. Along with all of the computer games like Resident Evil. They are examples of Japanese culture. Which, despite also being Asian, is definitely not to be confused with Chinese culture.
As Japan emerged from its Warring States Period into the Edo Period it adopted the Tokugawa Class System. Which shaped the very rigid, very polite, very deferential culture which still exists in Japan to this day. While Chinese culture seems to be largely built around yelling.
Apparently being told that you're getting fat or that you need to let your hair grow. Those are just the Chinese way of saying; "I love you."
The story of how the malevolent all consuming force Jobu Tupaki came into being. That is identical to the origin story of the; "River Tam" character. Played by Summer Glau in the 2002 US TV show; "Firefly" along with the 2005 movie spin-off; "Serenity."
The River Tam character is itself an exploration of mental illness. Particularly Schizophrenia. Ancient Greek for; "Splitting of the Mind." Something Everything Everywhere All At Once also explores. Through the cracked lens and the clay pot.
Firefly was a shortlived project by Joss Whedon. It overlapped with his 1997-2003 breakthrough show; "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." Which we've now since learnt was secretly produced by Dolly Parton.
Whilst Season 4 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer was in production. A Delusional Schizophrenic with a pair of Samurai swords attacked my childhood neighbourhood Church. Whilst my mother and father were attending a Sunday service.
This guy genuinely believed that beneath the Church a portal to a sort Hell dimension had opened. Through this Hellmouth all sorts of demons and monsters were flooding into this dimension. So he had to protect everyone by battling the demons and monsters with his swords. In order to reach and close the portal to this Hell dimension.
In short, he genuinely believed that he was living in the universe of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Or something very close to it.
The even stranger bit though is that this was a planned attack by the UK Security/Intelligence Services on the TV show. In its first three seasons it had already proved itself rather interested in me.
I thought the TV show responded rather well. Telling the story in the Season 4 Episodes 15/16 "This Year's Girl/Who Are You?" Rather like the "Riley Finn" character I would have been in the Church at the time of the attack, if I hadn't overslept.
Although driven exclusively by his Delusional Schizophrenia this Scottish guy was Brown skinned and of nominally Muslim heritage. So as well as being an attack on the TV show. The incident was also supposed to serve as a general warning about the growing threat of terrorism from that Mujahedeen stew left in Afghanistan
That warning was repeated at the start of 2001. With bravery awards being given at the City of London's New Year's Day Parade. Gazetted on the Mayor of the City of London's Roll of Honour.
As we all learned around September 2001. The most prominent terror group to emerge from Afghanistan's Mujahedeen stew was Al Qaeda.
In August 1998 Al Qaeda attacked US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The US responded with "Operation: Infinite Reach." A series of missile strikes against Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and Sudan.
That was something Buffy The Vampire Slayer explored in the final two episodes of Season 4. "Primeval (21)" and "Restless (22)." The Black skin and white bodypaint of the Primeval character invoking the so-called; "White Army" of the Nuer Tribe based in that; "Cradle of Humanity." Located in the Horn of Africa, around modern day Sudan.
With their name translating as; "The Base" Al Qaeda wasn't actually formed to be a terror group. So much as a support structure for other terror groups. One of the original terror groups Al Qaeda supported is the Turkestan Islamist Party (TiP).
The TiP want to create the Islamist nation of Turkestan in China's New Frontier (Xinjiang/西域新疆) Province. Firefly is Joss Whedon's exploration of China's New Frontier Province and the Islamist terror threat posed by the TiP.
Firefly is set in a distant future where the US government and the Chinese government have united into a single Earth government. That Totalitarian government has then set about colonising distant planets and galaxies. All across the Universe.
Just beyond the new frontier of the Totalitarian government lay these almost mythical, unseen monsters known as; "Reavers." Which is pronounced almost exactly the same as; "Uighurs" as the ethnically Turkic Muslims of China's Xinjiang are known.
Exploring the history of a Chinese Province Firefly looks at many aspects of Asian and particularly Chinese culture. For example all of the characters are bilingual. Speaking both English and Cantonese. Which I think made it the first show on a major US network to feature Cantonese dialogue.
However in the show the bilingualism is used primarily to get around the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) ban on swearing. So if the characters want to swear they simply swear in Cantonese, in the hope the FCC wouldn't understand.
Meaning that not only was Firefly the first show on a major US network to feature Cantonese dialogue. I think it remains the most foul mouthed Cantonese TV show ever made, anywhere in the World.
Firefly's almost unprecedented onscreen exploration of Asian culture is particularly true of the final episode; "Objects In Space," Season 1, Episode 14. Which centres around the River Tam character.
As I've said the Ancient Greeks were really the first ones to write down their attempts to explain the Universe. Alongside the Multiverse allegory these attempts to explain the Animist concept that everything is happening all at once include the philosophy of; "Stoicism."
If Stoicism can be summed up in a single paragraph. It is that with everything, everywhere and everywhen happening all at once life has no meaning. Other than the good that you can draw from life.
In 19th Century Europe the philosophy of Stoicism gave rise to the philosophy of; "Existentialism." If that can be summed up in a single paragraph it is that with everything, everywhere and everywhen happening all at once life has no meaning. Other than the meaning you assign to it.
In 20th Century Europe the philosophy of Existentialism gave rise to the philosophy of; "Nihilism." If that can be summed up in a single sentence it is that with everything, everywhere and everywhen happening all at once life has no meaning.
The
Objects In Space episode of Firefly begins with River Tam sitting
amongst a forest (木木木) or grove (木木) of Cherry Blossoms. Serenely holding a piece of wood in
her hands. However when the same scene is viewed by the other
characters River Tam is sitting in the ship's hold. Dangerously waving a
handgun around.
Across many Asian Animist belief systems, particularly Buddhism, the Lotus Flower is seen as a metaphor for the journey towards enlightenment. It emerges from seed beneath the dark waters before growing towards the light and coming into full bloom.
However the bloom of the Lotus Flower is shortlived. A symbol of; "Mono No Aware (The Pathos of Things)" or; "Memento Mori (Remember That You Must Die)." That everything in life is temporary and fleeting.
Particularly in Japan the Cherry Blossom is used in a similar way to the Lotus Flower.
So that scene in Firefly looks concepts of Asian Animist belief system as explained in the allegory of the Lotus Flower/Cherry Blossom. Comparing it to the explanation offered through the European philosophy of Existentialism. With a hefty dose of Delusional Schizophrenia thrown in.
At around 17:20 on 29/3/23 (UK date) I think it's up to you to find the dimension where I've already finished this.
Edited at around 17:35 on 30/3/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
I didn't watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer until 2020. I didn't even hear about Firefly until around 2010. While it technically can't take the Sky away. The National Heritage Act of 1983 can certainly remove the satellite receiver dish.
So it must have been around 2009 that I found myself at some sort of gathering with my extended family. With the conversation starting to falter someone asked; "Has anyone watched anything good on TV?" Which for people who don't work in the entertainment industry is an entirely innocuous question.
With no other conversational volunteers to be found. I started talking about; "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." Thinking that the Terminator franchise is so vast that someone, anyone must have something to say about it. Even just another Arnold Schwarzenegger movie they'd seen.
Still getting absolutely nothing. I was left trying to fill the silence talking about how much the physicality of Summer Glau's performance had impressed me. She played one of the Terminator cyborgs. Giving her the challenge of appearing human, but also not quite human onscreen.
Having
not even heard of Firefly at that point, let alone Summer Glau's role
in it. I actually did a quick risk assessment first.
Thinking that I'd seen her in a small role in; "The Unit." Along with in this small Sci-Fi TV show. So the worst that could happen is that it would start a rumour that I was impressed by this new young actress. Perhaps prompting some casting directors to call her in for auditions to see for themselves. Possibly leading to her getting more work.
I am still astounded by the extent to which I got that just completely wrong.
That may well have been the moment Megan Fox first became aware of me. When her then husband Brian Austin Green's paychecks suddenly stopped arriving.
Joss Whedon went on to do the TV show; "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." A spin-off from the 2012 "Avengers" movie it is very much part of the Marvel Universe.
The 2018 Winter Olympics/Para-Olympics were held in PyeongChang in the Republic of Korea (RoK/South). Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D was much talked about at those games. With the Korean-American Snowboarder Chloe Kim serving as something of an avatar for the Chinese-American Chloe Bennet, one of the core cast members of Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.
Amid the #OscarsSoWhite campaign Chloe Bennet found herself singled out. For the 'crime' of whitewashing her Chinese heritage. Dropping her birth name, Chloe Wang, in favour of the stage-name, Chloe Bennet. I think we were all just stunned by the stupidity of it all.
In Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D Chloe Bennet's character (of so many names) is a "0-8-4," an object of unknown origin. She grew up in the foster care system. You couldn't even go so far as to describe her as an orphan. It's not even known whether her parents are alive, let alone who they are.
So the character's storyline arc is very much that Existential quest for identity and meaning. At various points she wonders whether one or both of her parents were White. Whether one or both of them were Hispanic. Whether one or both of her parents were Asian.
All of which would obviously be ruined. If the very first thing you saw in the opening credits of the very first episode was the name; "Chloe Wang."
Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D continues Joss Whedon's genuine and respectful interest in Asian and particularly Chinese culture. Which began with that Samurai sword attack and Firefly.
Eventually we are enlightened that like the actress Chloe Bennet's character is mixed-race. She has a White American father and a Chinese mother. "Jiaying (贾盈)," played by the Nepalese-born, Australian-Nepalese actress Dichen Lachman.
Chloe Bennet's character, then; "Skye," finally meets her mother in; "Afterlife (Lai Shi/來世). A hidden refuge in the Nepalese mountains.
China's New Frontier Province Autonomous Region (Xinjiang/新疆维吾尔自治区) is bordered to the South by China's Tibet Autonomous Region (Xīzàng Zìzhìqū/西藏自治区). Separated by the Kunlun Mountains(昆仑山). Tibet borders Nepal to the South-West. Separated by the Himalaya Mountains.
The hidden mountain refuge of Afterlife or Next Life is intended to educate viewers about Shambala and the Beyul from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Within Tibetan Buddhism Shambala is a spiritual dimension. It is said to be where the next incarnation of Vishnu, the Pervader, protector of the Universe from chaos, will emerge.
Followers of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism believe that Padmasambhava ([the one] Born of the Lotus) created Shambala as a real place on Earth, the Beyul. Hidden mountain refuges which are partly in this dimension. Partly in the spiritual dimension.
Shambala and the Beyul
was the inspiration for; "Shangri-La" portrayed in the 1933 James Hilton
novel; "Lost Horizon." Which he located in the Kunlun Mountains.
If that wasn't enough Asian influence for one US TV show. Alongside Joss Whedon one of the show's co-creators is Maurissa Tancharoen, a Thai-American.
Another of the core cast of Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D is the Macau-born, Chinese-American actress Ming-na Wen. The only attempt she has made to westernise her Chinese identity is allowing her given name to appear before her family name. In the Chinese tradition she is known as Wen Ming-na (溫明娜). It's up to you to learn how to pronounce it.
There is a sort of long running joke in Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. About a will-they, won't-they love affair between Ming-na Wen's character and Clark Gregg's "Agent Caulson" character.
A joke about the 'Director's' (Joss Whedon) apparent love affair with all things Chinese. Maurissa Tancharoen is Joss Whedon's sister-in-law. Married to the show's other co-creator, Jed Whedon.
So that was really the wrong actress and the wrong TV show to be attacking. For hiding Asian identity and culture.
At around 18:05 on 30/3/23 (UK date) Friday means chores.
Edited at around 15:55 on 1/4/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
As I was discovering Buffy The Vampire Slayer for the very first time. Rumours began to circulate accusing Joss Whedon of on-set bullying.
These allegations extended into his work the Marvel Universe. Including against Israeli actress and military veteran Gal Gadot. Which really can't have been a shouting match he ever thought he was going to win.
Obviously I've had to study both Firefly and Serenity. As if I was prepping for trial.
Included as an extra on the UK DVD release of Firefly is a cast reunion dinner. Showing how everyone is still one big, happy family. Even before hearing the rumours that did seem like overcompensating.
Early in Serenity the River Tam character is established through a big martial arts fight scene. Included on the UK DVD is a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of that scene. The stunt coordinator talks a lot about Summer Glau's background as a dancer, until a toe injury forced her to retire. How that experience was useful with the fight scene being choreographed, rehearsed and acted out like a dance routine.
This is something I noticed about Jaimie Alexander who plays "Lady Sif" in the Marvel Universe. Often when you see, particularly, actresses in action roles. Such as Summer Glau or Cote de Pablo, who played "Ziva David" in the US TV show; "NCIS" they move like dancers. Jaimie Alexander however moves like a fighter.
Of course I come from a large medical family. One of my mothers was a Physiotherapist. While my sister was not only a Health Care Assistant (HCA). She was the HCA who helped rehabilitate the actual Darth Vader (David Prowse) following hip replacement surgery. Noticing how people move and carry themselves is, obviously, very important to that. As it is to Cavalletti training horses.
So it's something I'm quite attuned to. I'M NOT WEIRD!
At the 2021 Oscars there was a lot of discussion about nude and sex scenes. In the wake of the #MeToo/#TimesUp campaigns these were over how to better protect the people who have to appear in those scenes. The use of; "Intimacy Coordinators" etc.
I view the role of an Intimacy Coordinator as being similar to a Stunt Coordinator. With nude/sex scenes being planned in advance, risk assessed, discussed and rehearsed. As if they were fight scenes or dance routines.
Obviously I do not work in the entertainment industry. I am not an actor. So I'm not sure how valid my opinion is.
However if I were able to work with someone who, famously, got her big break in a long-running TV show. Along with someone who has a couple of movies and now an Oscar nomination under her belt. I like to think I would be able to help refine the idea.
In Everything Everywhere All At Once much of the battle against Jobu Tupaki takes place in the IRS building. Its open-plan offices, side-offices, boardroom and breakrooms. Along with Alpha-Gong Gong's bionic exoskeleton this is all a reference to the movie; "Office Uprising" (2018).
Office Uprising is another of the small roles that Jane Levy has had to suffer through. Due to the misfortune of her, somehow, entering this dimension as the manifestation of both of my bisexual ex-girlfriends.
By which I don't mean two
bisexual women I was once in a so-called; "Throuple" with. I mean two
successive bisexual women I was in two successive throuples with. I
assure all those involved that both of those throuples existed in
entirely separate frames of time. It would be scientifically impossible for them to have overlapped.
More recently Jane Levy has been able to find more steady work. In the US TV show; "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist."
Season 1 of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist was first broadcast in the UK from early March 2020 through to late May 2020. So that period where we started hearing rumours about this place called Wuhan in China. Then went into Lockdown. Then emerged from Lockdown.
I'm tempted to preserve it all on my DVR. Simply for the wild ride that is the commercial breaks.
In the show Jane Levy plays "Zoey Clarke." That rarest of things, a female computer programmer. Even more extraordinary her department head at the Silicon Valley, Facebook-like Big Tech company is also a female computer programmer. Played by Lauren Graham.
Amongst Zoey's childish and misogynistic coworkers there is the Indian-American "Tobin." Played by the Indian-born, Indian-American actor Kapil Talwalkar. Zoey's two sister-in-laws are Asian-American. Played by Alice Lee and Jee Young Han. Making for a nice bit of Asian visibility onscreen.
Somewhat
like Jade Emperor Zoey Clarke has a supernatural power. She can gift
strangers the skill of Felicity. The ability to properly express their
thoughts and emotions. Which they do through so-called; "Heart Songs."
The pop-song that is stuck in their heads.
Meaning that three or four times an episode everything breaks out into a big song and dance number. Often featuring Mandy Moore's rather handsy choreography.
In the second season there is actually a very tame, FCC regulated, sex scene. Which is played out as a choreographed dance routine. Which I thought was a useful contribution to the debate over how to better protect the people who appear in such scenes.
It must be said though. That for me, watching Jane Levy in any form of nude or sex scene is a uniquely uncomfortable experience. It's not as though I can pretend that I don't find her attractive. I often find myself sitting there quietly muttering;
"She looks the same, but it's a different person."
"She looks the same, but it's a different person."
"She looks the same, but it's a different person."
At around 17:00 on 1/4/23 (UK date) I see if I can finish this part of Monday.
Edited at around 16:35 on 4/4/23 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and add;
It's never going to fit.
To be continued in Part 2.
17:30 on 4/4/23 (UK date).
