About two years ago I set up this blog as a way to just give my thoughts on various topics. Sometimes it was serious things that bothered me and other times it would just be a funny video or some cool music I wanted to share. I don't advertise the blog, aside from my facebook/twitter accounts, relying instead of word of mouth and google searches.
One of the main questions I get about the blog, is what's up with the name? Searching for Chet Baker? There's very little Chet Baker on the site.
That's true, but there WAS a method to my madness. lol. When I was going to set this up, I wanted some name that would be catchy I suppose. Something that might stand out. A bunch of blogs that I liked had weird or strange names, and so I wanted something that would be fairly short and memorable.
TITLE: Journey CREATED BY: ThatGameCompany SOUNDTRACK: Austin Wintory PLATFORM: Playstation Network PRICE: $14.99 GAME LENGTH: 2 Hours (Approx.) RELEASE DATE: March 13th 2012
Soon after I first bought a Playstation 3 some years back, I was looking for games to buy. I was fairly new to video game systems as it relates to this current generation. So when I first set up my account (PSN ID: GrooThePerverted) and began looking through the PSN for the games, and demos and whatnot, it was like I was in heaven.
There were all these games I had never heard about, and I immediately picked up several games that appealed to me. At the time I wasn't into first person shooters at all, so my first purchases was Burnout Paradise, Tekken: Dark Resurrection and a PSN game called Flower.
I had seen a trailer for Flower and wasn't entirely sold on it. I wasn't able to get a real good grasp on just what the hell was going on, or what you do. Most games you have a set path to go (or more recently there's a huge influx of open world games) and there's a very clear set of things you have to do. Find the enemies and take them out. Drive from this place to that place the fastest, or whatever.
With Flower I kept hearing great things, but I wasn't sure what the hell it was, and I didn't know if I wanted to take the risk on it. I ended up taking the plunge, and when I played it, I was stunned.
The game was, quite possibly, the best gaming experience I think I've ever had. It was so different than anything I had ever played before, it was absolutely a very creative and unique experience that you really can't compare to anything else.
In fact it's almost impossible to explain it without playing it, which made me realize once I did why I couldn't figure out exactly how it would go by viewing a trailer. It's something you have to play.
Something that seemed fairly ordinary or "boring" or whatever, turned out to be a magnificent and utterly beautiful emotional roller coaster. There were moments that fill you with an almost euphoric high, and then there's a specific stage that pushed me to such a low level I was so depressed. That is what the game was. It was an incredible journey that tapped into the emotions within to create an unimaginable experience like no other.
And it was that moment that I knew I would ride with ThatGameCompany forever. No matter what game they put out I would buy it the minute it was available. And so that's what I did this past week when their new game, "Journey" was released for the Playstation Network a week early for Playstation Plus members.
The game, like Flower, is not an overly long game. It's telling a story through visuals and emotional pull that is triggered by the incredible music of Austin Wintory (who also did the soundtrack for ThatGameCompany's previous release of "Flow", while Vincent Diamente did the soundtrack to the soothing "Flower" and "Cloud"), and the amazing graphics. The story is told with no words. The only sounds you hear, aside from the beautiful soundtrack, is the sounds of the wind, the occasional sound effect of specific things that you interact with, and the sounds of your steps as you traverse the landscapes of your journey, whether it's in the desert with the sun beating down on you, or through the water, or the snow covered mountain tops.
The entire way there's really no instructions for you. This is an amazing experience where you essentially find your way. All you know is you are heading towards the light in the mountains. You begin your journey in the desert, and your journey ends high up in the mountains which seems a lifetime away from you.
To try to explain this game, the little tidbits you discover along the way, would be not only an act of futility -- as I said about Flower, it's not something that can be explained to you, you have to experience it for yourself to truly understand), but it would also be unfair. One of the wonderful things about this is the EXPERIENCE of playing it. Finding things out for yourself. Coming across something and discovering something magical that you had no expectation of. These are incredible emotional things and is something you should really experience unspoiled.
I've heard a few people talk about how they were upset at the price. And I can understand that with gameplay of two hours or so, a $15 price tag does seem a bit steep. However as someone who went through that exact thought process with Flower, and then feeling as I did once I played it, I have to impress upon you the importance of not judging this like you would a normal game. Because this is not a normal game.
While the playthrough may be shorter than many other games, I guarantee you that the emotional punch that this carries is infinitely moreso than your average Playstation Network title, and once you finish it you will not feel like you wasted your money. However as I said this is something you just have to take a chance on. If you do, I honestly think that you will enjoy it.
Just go into it knowing that it is not like anything you've played. Don't go in expecting it to be anything comparable to something you've played before.
And if you can do that, if you can go in with an open mind and completely innocent of any spoilers you will have bestowed upon you a truly unique video game experience that will stay with you long after you put the controller down.
This game gets my highest recommendation. Below are some links to ThatGameCompany & the game's composer Austin Wintory. Also there's a game trailer so you can at least get some idea of what the game will look like.
Over the past week or so, social media has blown up with this #Kony2012 movement by the group "Invisible Children". Their plans is to "make Joseph Kony famous" by highlighting all the atrocities that he's done, and hopefully that would lead to him being brought to justice.
Now while everyone has been going crazy with the facebook posts and retweets, I've held back on that because there are several issues that I have with this whole thing. I don't debate whether or not Kony is a bad guy. From all accounts this guy isn't your neighborhood barber. He's a bad guy who's done a lot of horrible things.
That said, why is this suddenly a big deal? Kony has been doing his thing for decades now. He's not even IN the area that they are talking about in those videos going around, as Kony has been out of that area for five or six years, something that Invisible Children admit. The area is dealing with peace now, and the people there are actually afraid this whole #Kony2012 thing will end up bringing him BACK. There is no threat to that area by Kony at the moment, and yet Invisible Children are hyping up this specific aspect while ignoring it seems the areas that he's actually in.
The people there in that area have even expressed concern over the group Invisible Children saying they are simply using them for their own goals.
However my biggest issues tend to fall along the lines of why should we bother with this? The guy's a bad guy. Fine. Why is that our issue? Why do we have to be the world's Big Brother, going around rescuing this country and bringing democracy to THAT country?
All these people on twitter and facebook that are oh so concerned right now with those poor Ugandan children, where were they two weeks ago? Where were those celebrities that are so outraged at what is going on and who are championing the poor Ugandan Children? Suddenly it's like they're super dedicated.
Tell me again how you've always cared for them? Tell me again how in six months you'll still be fighting for them.
I'd like to see some of that outrage that you are showing for the "invisible children" here in our own United States that are going hungry tonight, who are sleeping outside tonight in the cold. Where are your retweets for them?
Where are your retweets for those who have been wrongly convicted of crimes they didn't commit, and spent decades behind bars before being released? Where are your retweets for those who have been wrongly executed due to false testimony or corrupt and/or racist politicians and others in power?
Does your outrage only extend beyond our borders? Is it easier to champion something so far away because you don't actually have to get involved beyond lip service? Is it easier when you don't see it up close?
Think about that the next time you pass by a homeless person living on the streets as you make your way to the internet cafe to get your coffee and then get online to champion those poor children in other nations that are being victimized.
Because it's always easier to make yourself feel better for all those that you ignore in your own town, to do some retweets and facebook posts and maybe text a few bucks to a charity secure that you are truly making a difference in the world.
So the MPAA has said they won't give the documentary "Bully" a PG-13 rating instead of an "R" rating due to the profanity, and that they have to "be consistent" in how they rate films. Oh really? Well I have a few thoughts on that.
"Bully" is being released by The Weinstein Company, and is a documentary that, from all accounts, is very powerful and very necessary. It shows the harsh realities that face many of our youth in schools every day. Kids who are being bullied and tormented and tortured so much that many of them see no other way out than suicide.
This documentary is something that should be seen in schools nationwide, however that won't be happening as long as it is R-Rated. See, there's rules about what movies you can show in school. You can only show movies that are PG-13 or lower. I'm sure there are some schools across the country that have made exceptions on educational/historical grounds (such as Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan) however the general rule is that it doesn't happen.
So that's why there's such a fight to get this documentary rated PG-13. There is profanity in this, because that's how kids talk. That's how PEOPLE talk, whether you want to admit it or not. And I understand wanting to rating films for parents to know whether or not they want their children seeing something. I get it. However if ever there was a film that screamed for lenience and an exemption it's this one.
But the MPAA are sticking to their guns, even though they admit this is a wonderful film and is important, they are hiding behind their need for "consistency".
Well allow me to use a word that you would consider profane: Bullshit.
"Even though we think this is a wonderful film and a very worthwhile film for people to see, our main purpose is to give parents information on the level of content. She wants us to ignore the level of content because this is a good film, and we can't do that. We have to be consistent."
Okay, Mrs Graves, allow me to address your "consistency", as you put it. Because your "consistency" is something that is very important to you, so important that you cannot violate your "consistency" to change this rating to a PG-13 so the people who would benefit the most from seeing it can in fact see it.
How about when you slapped the gay themed comedy/drama "But I'm A Cheerleader" with an NC-17 rating, because it showed Natasha Lyonne standing against a door attempting to masturbate through her underwear (fully clothed), and yet you gave American Beauty and American Pie "R" ratings which showed men masturbating much more graphically. In American Beauty you saw Kevin Spacey in the shower, with his back turned masturbating through the shower glass door. And of course in American Pie there was the iconic apple pie scene.
Where was the consistency there? You felt the scene of a fully clothed young girl attempting to get off -- unsuccessfully mind you, was more graphic than a scene of a young teenage boy, on top of a counter, thrusting his penis into a pie? Is that what you mean by consistent?
Or how about when you forced the director of Boys Don't Cry to edit her film in a scene that showed Hillary Swank performing oral sex on Chloe Sevigny, or face the wrath of an NC-17 rating? Yet you had no problem allowing any number of films featuring men receiving oral sex from women to get R ratings?
And should we get into the area of African American films with sex scenes being rated harsher, such as the film Love & Basketball that had a tender love scene with Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan cut down to get a PG-13, yet much more graphic scenes involving white actors/actresses have not been subject to that same rigorous editing?
Or the fact that it's perfectly okay for you to rate torture porn like "Saw" or "Hostel" or any number of these movies an "R" rating, however a second long glimpse at Maria Bello's pubic hair in the film "The Cooler" gets it an NC-17 unless it is edited out?
But you don't want to change Bully because of your need to be "consistent" right?
Face it, MPAA you have no credibility. You just don't. And it's absolutely your fault. You have a vicious double standard when it comes to "LGBT" films and "straight" films. Between "White films" and "Black" films. And you absolutely have a double standard when it comes to women's pleasure vs. men's pleasure.
So, Mrs. Graves, spare us your sanctimonius bullshit about the necessity of staying "consistent". You have your reasons for rating "Bully" and R rating, whatever that might be. But it's definitely not out of some desire to stay consistent.
Over the years I've met a lot of interesting people online. Some are good decent people I would want to actually be friends with, others are horrible people I'd want nothing to do with in real life, and then there are others that kind of fall in between there somewhere. It's the way of the internet, where often you find people who are not what they really are, because of the blessing and curse of anonymity online.
People can turn into completely different people online and tear down others verbally, and psychologically because no one knows who they are. It's something that we've all come to put up with and tolerate because there's really nothing that can be done.
And yet there are those who are exactly how they are in real life. Even if you don't know those people, there's just something about them and how they interact with people that gives you the idea that there's nothing fake or phony about them. They are genuine people for good or bad.
I used to be on a hip hop mixtape message board back around 2005 til several years ago called Rapmullet, and one of the people I met on there was Chris Lilly aka DJ Crazy Chris. Chris was one of the genuine people. Like him or hate him, there was nothing about him that screamed fake, to me. There were times he'd make me laugh so hard, and other times he'd make me so mad, but he was real.
People who know him mostly know him from his mashup mixtapes that he would put together. I have to say the man was a genius when it came to mixtapes. I say was, because he doesn't do them anymore, having moved on to another passion (more on that in a bit).
One of his better tapes, in my opinion, was his Bionic Blends Volume 2: The Bionic Woman Edition. In it he used various songs of different genres by female artists, and put them together in a truly creative way. And for good measure he added bits and pieces of tv dialogue or other soundbytes and it was really damn good.
You can get that by clicking the cover art (both covers link to the same file, you only need one), which was also done by Chris.
People who know me know that I like a lot of different types of music. I can get with a little bit of just about any type of music. That said what I REALLY like is when music is done creatively and incorporates more than one genre. Whether it's Gangstagrass, who incorporates hip hop with country & bluegrass and won an Emmy nomination for the theme song to the FX series Justified (Long Hard Times To Come), or Apocalyptica, which uses classical music instruments to perform heavy metal music, I just like creativity.
And Chris' tapes were highly creative. Partaking in virtually every genre of music he would fashion out an incredible hour or so of music that needs to be heard to be believed. I -- and others -- often tried to convince him to sell his tapes, because they were THAT good, but he had no interest in that. He was doing it because he loved to do it, not because he wanted to get rich. Much like a writer who just has to put words on a paper to get the story out, rather than publish it, I think Chris was kinda the same way. He did it for the love, not the money, which I think is the most noblest of all things.
Then a few years back the forum we were on went away and Chris disappeared. I always wondered where he was, but just really had no way to contact him that I could think of. I had an old email but figured he didn't check it much as he was never a big internet nerd as I was or anyone else I knew.
But with Chris, when you find out that he left behind the mixtapes and started doing puppet shows in his hometown of Saint Albans West Virginia, well... there's no real surprise there. Because anyone that knows Chris knows this is clearly something that he would do. He enjoys entertaining people and making them laugh. Chris could make people laugh better than most anyone I have met online. And he doesn't do it to hurt (although if you got on his bad side...) but more to the point he seems to like to entertain and bring smiles to people's faces.
And that is what he is doing now with his own Puppet Theater called "Sassafrass Junction".
Sassafrass Junction based in Saint Albans, West Virginia is run by Chris and childhood friend Tara K. Barton along with Ben Levesque, a puppeteer and graduate of West Virginia University. Also helping out a lot in this venture are the backup puppeteers Courtney and Julie. After they found a nice piece of real estate in the downtown area and built the theater up with their bare hands, now it's a great attraction for children to go to.
They do various shows such as Cinderlolly and Dr. Tottlebottom's Exotic Bird Show, and perform at schools, hospitals and birthday parties among others events.
I remember growing up and the school class, or day care I was at would go on field trips to various locations around town, and the one I remember most succinctly was going to Center in the Square in Roanoke Virginia. Center in the Square was sort of an all encompassing field trip that featured an aquarium, a museum, a theater, a little gift shop where you could get quartz rocks and things like that. As a kid it was like the best place in the world to go to to just get away from everything that was driving you crazy in your life. And of course as a kid everything seems to be magnified, perception-wise, as far as things driving you crazy in your life.
And one aspect I always loved was the planetarium where you could look up at the stars in this room and everything was very peaceful and it was really cool. I think kids need things like that. Educational and entertaining things that really allow them to escape for awhile. If only for awhile.
Chris Lilly, Courtney and friends
And that's why I think Chris' venture, Sassafrass Junction is just a fantastic thing. I have to say that I'm proud that my friend is doing something that not only is something he loves, but is something that brings joy and happiness to so many people. That's a highly underrated thing, I believe. A lot of people talk about how they are going to follow their dreams and they're gonna "do big things" and whatnot. Chris has actually followed up on that and done something truly remarkable.
Looking back, I realize this is really a natural evolution for Chris. I remember us always going back and forth online about Fraggle Rock and Neverending Story and The Muppets and whatever (with a huge hodge podge of various topics thrown in for good measure) and he always came off as someone that really enjoyed that type of entertainment.
So to see him doing something now that involves that, it's very appropriate, I think.
If you are in the area and are interested in visiting Sassafrass Junction, you can give them a call at 304-395-5373.
CLICK HERE for detailed directions to get to the theater, once you are in the area.
For more info on their shows, or just to see what all they do, go to their website at Sassafrass Junction.
I love Durham County. I think it's one of the top shows on Television right now, and really Breaking Bad is truly the only show that I can think of that is currently airing that can approach Durham County's level of depth and detail as it pertains to the characters and world that they live in.
In fact, the one show I would compare Durham County to the most in this regard is The Wire. The Wire was such a complex show and every single character had such a wealth of depth to them and the dialogue and acting were all superb, as was the writing that it often felt like you weren't even watching a show, but were actually watching a real life documentary.
This show has that effect on me as well. I was thinking this as I was watching Ivan and Mike talking to Ivan's friend right before they went target shooting. Ivan was having a conversation and he was talking about why they call the man "Pansy", and then Pansy lifts his shirt to show a huge scar that he claims Ivan gave him.
A lot of shows don't bother giving a lot of back story on characters to provide depth. It's all about the here and now. With so many shows getting canceled early without getting a chance to build the audience, I suppose that can be expected. Or maybe it's one of the reasons WHY it got canceled.
Durham County has always been a very uncomfortable show to get into. It's not for the queasy or the easily offended. If you can't take scenes of violence or torture or crimes against women, then this probably isn't your show. However those who are able to get through it are handsomely rewarded with a top notch intelligent show that is richly layered with various levels of detail.
And as I wrote in my previous reviews of the series, this isn't a show that's violent for violence sake. It's disturbing yes, to anyone with a conscience or a sense of morality. However the violence is there for a reason. It's not gratuitous. It's not torture porn like films such as Saw or Hostel. It's an adult television drama made for and by adults.
And part of what makes it so uncomfortable is that it makes us re-evaluate who we are and how we react to what we see. When we see someone do something horrific and then find ourselves almost on their side later, what does that say? Does that say anything about us? Does it perhaps challenge many people's thoughts of things being simply black or white? I think it might. I think it points out that nothing is black or white, really.
There is good and bad in all of us.
We all have the potential for violence and things that we perhaps are against. Some of us are better at holding it all together than others. As the third, and final, season begins we learn that Sadie and Ray Jr. are still in a relationship, and that they are expecting a child, unbeknownst to her parents, Mike and Audrey.
Sadie and Ray Jr. feel like an actual couple to me now. I'm not sure why, but in the previous seasons they never felt like a strong couple, and that there was just something waiting to happen to split them apart. And that even they didn't seem to think that they would stay together.Considering the history of animosity between their families, and Ray Jr's father, the sociopathic Ray Prager's actions towards Sadie and her father, I suppose it is to be expected.
Now they seem to have more confidence in themselves. There's an air to them that wasn't there before. Perhaps it's the "time heals all wounds" aspect, and with Ray Prager out of their life, they can finally move on. Although Sadie still has the gun that Prager left for her after escaping in Season 2.
When Mike finds out about Ray's gun and demands it, Sadies' response was shocking, and you can see the surprise and frustration on his face. You can see that Ray still has some type of hold on her. Maybe not enough where he would control her or anything, but I think that Sadie looks at Ray as someone she has a connection with, whether good or bad.
And her unwillingness to give up the gun is a strong indicator of that. There's also the idea though, that I believe, that she keeps that gun because she feels it gives her power over a situation that she was powerless in.
When Ray had her in that farmhouse in Season 1 she was paralyzed with fear and despite the fact that she ended up shooting him, she perhaps felt shame at how she allowed herself to get into that situation.
Therefore, her keeping the gun is not only a connection to a situation that she triumphed over, with finally facing him and testifying against him, but it's also something that maybe she has a bit of "stockholm syndrome" going on. I mean, is it any concern to her family that she's planning on marrying and having a child with the son of the man who assaulted her and tried to kill her father? They don't say anything to her or Ray Jr. but I would have to think it's there in the back of their minds. I think they realize that the sins of the father should not be levied on the son, but you never know.
I swear, a therapist could put their children through college on the Sweeney's sessions alone.
With the case of the character of Sadie (Laurence LeBoeuf) I had a fear, while watching this, that it would turn into a Kim Bauer type situation. In the American series 24, Jack Bauer is played by Kiefer Sutherland and he is a CTU (Counter terrorism unit) agent. His daughter, Kim, throughout the first three seasons was constantly in trouble, getting kidnapped, running into trouble, babysitting for sociopaths and then going to work for CTU and dating a field agent.
It became a running joke (and source of frustration) among fans that she just kept getting into one situation after the next which were totally implausible. The "Jump the Shark moment" was when she got trapped in the mountains by a cougar.
With Sadie bonding with a psychopath, hitching up with his son, going undercover, ignoring advice and going back with someone who may or may not be a strong danger, and then comforting him as he's about to blow his brains out, while listening to sexually degrading voice messages, well...at the halfway mark I was strongly concerned that Sadie was going the way of Kim.
However I was very pleased with how her character develops over the season, particularly with a bombshell that occurs at the halfway point.Michael Nardone as Ivan is just incredible this season, and is truly unsettling. Even when he's smiling and being polite, you just feel something unnerving about him. I'm sure seeing him do something astonishingly brutal in the beginning of the season will do that to ya though.
The main storyline of this season is actually twofold. The main investigation is into murdered drug dealers who are found skinned and dismembered. And in addition to that, there is the situation with the character of Ivan, who is partnered with Mike, and his unstable at best family members and some horrible stuff going on there, as Mike begins to question whether one of Ivan's relatives murdered Ivan's wife who has gone missing. I don't want to get too much into it because it's a tricky thing to discuss a show like this without revealing too much.
With the main dynamic between Mike and Ivan, that's a crazy situation. And once again, we have an antagonist in Ivan who despite us seeing him do something truly horrific in the beginning, we later see that he was manipulated into it and is tormented by memories of war. Much like Ray Prager we see him do horrible things and rightfully despise him. Then we see other things and realize what he's going through and can ALMOST muster up some sympathy, only to see him do something else that draws more questions.
There were so many moments in this series that stood out to me, so many quiet moments, so many loud moments, so many instances of imagery that was both shocking and beautiful and sad as well.Some of those moments (without spoiling anything and being vague about them) include the shot of Mike sitting on the couch and the camera slowly pushes in as you see him through a slight opening in sliding doors. Then as it zooms in, it reveals his daughters sitting on each side. That shot was amazing to me, for some reason.
The scene of Ray Jr. sobbing uncontrollably in the hallway, the image of the woman on the gurney, the sheet covering her body, but her hair hanging down off the edge. Also Mike's conversation with his youngest daughter Maddie about Audrey's former boyfriend leaving a message on their voicemail. When Mike seems to be upset over this, Maddie said "you had an affair, why can't she have an affair?" I actually laughed out loud, and almost expected him to pull out the classic "We were on a break!" Alas, it was not to be.
My one question about the series has to do with what seemed to be a mistake or it could very well just be an error on my part. Ray Jr. was talking to Audrey about his and Sadie's relationship, and she said something about how long they've known each other, and he said "7 years going on 20" or something to that effect. However, I thought they just met in Season 1, when Mike moved his family to Durham County, and across the street from the Pragers. Has seven years gone by between Season 1 and 3? And in that case, however, wouldn't that make the final season taking place in the year 2014?
That was always the running joke with the "24" fans, because each season was supposed to be 6 months or several years after the previous, which would make the final season in like 2025 or something.
Another high mark of this series is the young actor Shannon Kook-Chun who played David Cho, the person that Sadie was going undercover to get information from. His portrayal of the conflicted lieutenant in his gang was stunning and some of the scenes were genuinely unnerving and disturbing on many levels.
And in one scene in particular, you can literally see him falling apart at the seams on a path of self destruction as Sadie does her best to calm him down and bring him back to this side, so to speak. Had never seen him in anything before this but man was he incredible in this.
And that's a high praise for a show defined by it's stellar performances by the actors and actresses that inhabit this series. Hugh Dillon, once again, was stellar as well in his role as Mike Sweeney. A man who has gone through just about everything a man can and seems to find a way to survive it. Many of his issues are self-inflicted, others are not. Yet he makes the best of a horrible situation, and has to check himself for whether or not he is able to go on. He has to evaluate some of his motives and actions towards the second half regarding his family and that was not an easy thing to deal with, by any means.
The thing I like about this show, one of them anyway, is that no one is just good. No one is just bad. They have layers to them. On the outside they seem completely evil and irredeemable, and then you stick around and see their personal lives, see their motivations and you realize that man, these people are just like us, only they made horrific choices. Even the "good" guys are deeply flawed and occasionally do things that are beyond defense, even while they justify what they have done.
PACKAGING/SPECIAL FEATURES
The packaging is a standard dvd case that holds two discs. It has the insert in the middle of the case that holds the second disc, that flips back and forth. Nothing spectacular, but it gets the job done, so to speak. I have noticed that from Season 1 til now, each season has gotten progressively skimpier on the packaging and the extras. This season the case seems a bit flimsy. I've gotten a couple of DVDS that were "manufactured on-demand" such as the Warner Brothers Archive titles that had that same type of cheaply used cases. There's nothing really wrong with them, but it's still something I noticed.
As for the extras on this, the only real extra is the Making Of Durham County Season 3. Clocking in at almost thirteen minutes, this is a really good and informative featurette highlighting the producers and directors, as well as info from the actors and actresses on several of the scenes and the set locations and whatnot.
Very fun to watch and while I wish it had more extras, I realize the show may not have a massive following outside of Canada, and so perhaps the money just was not there to fill out the set with commentaries and other featurettes.
It's one of those things that I would have loved to have, but all things considered it's not a make or break on getting the series. You don't get the dvd set because of the extras. They're a bonus. They're gravy. They're the cherry on top of the sundae. You get it for the sundae, and in this case you buy this because this is one of the best television series to come along in the last ten or twenty years, if ever.
Besides, at least the set is released. There are other shows that I've loved over the years that either didn't get releases at all, or they released the first couple seasons and then didn't release any of the others due to poor sales.
Now for those who are perhaps wondering, there will NOT be a Season 4 of Durham County. However the producers of the show have stated that they are working on a movie to wrap up everything. When I asked the producers about what's going on in the film, they were predictably tight lipped however when asked about the character of Ray Prager, they said the following:
Absolutely! In Season 3 Ray doesn’t make a physical appearance but the effect he’s had on the characters is always present. None of our main characters can escape from the torment or memories that they have of him. As for the Durham County movie – he’s definitely back!
There's a few things I think need to be addressed in the film, mainly the Ray Prager thing seeing as how season 2 ended. That said the one thing I'd love to see but probably won't, is for the killer of the two girls in the beginning of Season 1 to be caught. That might not actually happen as his role was simply to set up the back and forth between Mike Sweeney and Ray Prager.
All in all this is a fantastic series, one of my top 5 ever, and seriously if you can, you should pick this up. Word to the wise though, it is for adults and not for kids. And it's not for those who are offended by violence or cursing. That said, it's an amazing work of art and really should be seen.
This collection, "Through The Soul's Window" compiles short stories that I have written over the last twenty five years or so. Some fairly old, some more recent with one being written last summer. The people who have read it (and contacted me afterwards) seem to have enjoyed it, and I hope that you -- whoever YOU are -- do as well.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Also, I would like to give an enthusiastic and appreciative nod to the great Miami Kaos who came through with that amazing cover for me. I was humbled to get a Kaos cover for my book. Check out his work at his website Miami Kaos Art, and you can follow him on twitter as well at @RealMiamiKaos1.
NOTE: Click the cover art below to download the .PDF (Mediafire link)
SYNOPSIS
Emotions define us, for better or worse. Emotions more times than not dictate how we proceed through our lives. Whether our actions are motivated by guilt or passion or doubt or any number of other emotions, many of us walk around every day with said emotions written across our face viewable by all except ourselves.
Through The Soul's Window is a collection of 12 short stories dealing with people whose actions are driven by their emotions and how they react to them. Some react well, others do not. Some end happily, others do not.
Whether we like to admit it or not, we all tend to be driven by emotions, try as we might to avoid it.
DETAILS: 12 Stories / 40 Pages / 16,336 words
Contains some adult themes and mild adult language
01. Playing God: What do you do when you witness someone do something so horrific that goes against everything you believe in. And what if that person is someone that you envisioned making a life with? How does that affect you going forward, and what does your reaction say about you?
02. My Biggest Fear: A scorned lover drowns their sorrow in alcohol soaked memories, as they lament the one that got away, due to a lack of commitment.
03. The Flame: A tragic event births something even more tragic, one that will eventually come full circle.
04. Anniversary: A car crash wipes out the hopes and dreams of a newlywed couple, sending the lone survivor on a year-long spiral of depression and suicidal thoughts. Then he is presented with a potential second chance at the life that he thought he would have.
05. Unconventional Plans: A man seeks solace from the pain and anguish and guilt that he feels after a tragic accident, and finds perhaps the answers to his problems.
06. Ghost Story: Grant Joche, a prospective buyer inspects a fantastic loft in downtown Charlottesville Virginia, and listens to the real estate agent admit to the horrific events that took place in the building, which has caused many to shy away from renting.
07. My Encounter With Morris: Julian is a recovering addict who immediately upon drying out, packs everything up and moves away from everyone and thing he knows in an attempt to get a fresh start....to the worst possible place.
08. Circle Of Life: Four kids are at the end of their night of trick-or-treating when one of them is dared to go to the house of a mysterious resident. There have been stories about what happened to Gerald, and his mental makeup, however no one really knows for sure. What young Dylan finds up there is not at all what he expected.
09. A Hero's Guilt: What should have been a routine flight for a rookie US Marshal, the shooting of a armed man running for the cockpit door turns this supposed-to-be routine flight into a life changing situation for more than one person.
10. The Forgotten Letter: Clearing out the attic after his mother passes away, he finds a letter from the father that he barely knew -- but despised. This was a letter he had never seen though, and it was addressed to him. The shocking contents will change him forever.
11. Vegas Baby: They say "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas". She can only wish that were true, as the memories of what happened in Vegas, and her actions that led to them, are going to be burned into her mind forever.
12. Time Out: Roman and Margaret meet up in a bar, and once the introductions and pleasantries are exchanged, the games of seduction and flirtations begin, leading both up to a line that, at least one of them, is not sure they are ready to cross.
Years ago when I was living in Virginia I knew a woman named Carissa. This girl was amazing. I mean we just sort of clicked, you know? We both liked the same types of music, we both liked the same types of movies, we both had similar beliefs that strayed a bit from one another, but for the most part we were sympatico, as they say.
And I think we were both happy for about a year or so and then ... not so much. I'm not going to go into the reasoning, but we had a falling out. Carissa then ended up moving out of my place and into the apartment of someone else that she knew. The guy she moved in with and ended up getting into a relationship with was an abuser. He manipulated her, he abused her both physically and mentally. I don't know if the abuse went deeper than that, but I can only speak on what I was privy to.
I tried to intervene and help her out after I realized she was being beaten, and she rejected my help. She'd bring up past issues with me and her and she would insist that she was fine and that I wasn't wanted or needed. At the time that stung quite a bit, but as I've gotten older I realize what it was. She was locked into a relationship that she felt she could not leave. He had made her feel like she could not live without him. Despite his abuses, she had been conditioned to believe that without him there she would be lost.
So she stuck by him and took the beatings and the humiliation suffering the utter destruction of her mind, body and soul.
I pleaded with her to leave him and tried to make her understand, and yet she wouldn't. Or couldn't.
Then one day I got a call from a friend of her's telling me that she was dead, and that her "boyfriend" had been arrested. The frustrations and feelings of helplessness was devastating to me. I blamed myself for not doing more, I tried to rationalize the irrational, I tried to somehow find some reason that I had caused this. That something I had done when we were together pushed her away from me and into his abusive arms.
He ended up doing time for it, and it never felt like enough. I had since gotten involved with someone else and she was amazing in the face of this. I was a wreck and she helped me out immensely.
I tell that story, something I haven't really told anyone, because I find myself thinking back to that when I see all this stuff about Rihanna and Chris Brown. Chris Brown, as most people know by now, completely and viciously attacked Rihanna a few years back. The initial whispers about what may or may not have happened absolutely pales in comparison to the police report of what happened.
Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown’s cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.
“A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against he passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.
“Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.’s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle.
“Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, ‘I’m going to beat the sh– out of you when we get home! You wait and see!’
” The detective said “Robyn F.” then used her cell phone to call her personal assistant Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer.
“Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, ‘I’m on my way home. Make sure the police are there when I get there.’ After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, ‘You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I’m really going to kill you!’
“Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.
“Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps (sic) that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.
“Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.
“Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.
“Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of 333 North June Street and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it.
“Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.’s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.
“She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown’s body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.
“Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.’s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order
And HERE is a picture of Rihanna taken after the incident
Now looking at those pictures of her, and reading that police report, ask yourself something. Do you think Chris Brown got off easy? He's done no jail time, he's paid no fine that I'm aware of, and aside from being ordered to stay away from her, he's really suffered nothing. There were allegations that Jay Z blackballed him from performing at the Michael Jackson tribute on the BET awards, but Jay Z denied this.
All in all, Chris Brown viciously brutalized a woman he professed to care about, and has gotten off scott free. Then when he came back he was attacking those attacking him and said that he was being persecuted.
Jay Smooth of Illdoctrine.com pretty much laid out why that is such a ridiculous thing to say and why Chris Brown really needs to brush up on his history of persecuted individuals.
So Chris Brown beats this woman he professes to care about, gets a restraining order slapped on him and then he makes out like he's being persecuted like Jesus or something. All the while, on the flip side of the coin, Rihanna is surrounded by well wishers and a strong support system. She's got some of the most powerful people on her side at this moment.
She is then in a position that very few women who are victims of domestic violence find themselves in: A situation where they TRULY have options. She does not have to run back to Chris Brown because she can't make it on her own. She doesn't have the problem of providing for herself or worried that he's going to be showing up at her job.
She's got people on her side who can help her out. Give her the support, emotionally and otherwise, that she may need. She clearly can provide for herself financially, so that's not an issue. Once the pictures came out showing what he had done to her,the overwhelming support was in her corner and against Chris. Everyone was on her side, and rooting for her to overcome her tragic situation and were casting Chris as the devil incarnate.
The only thing she could do to change all that good will towards her, the ONLY thing that she could do to change people's opinions of her, she has done. Almost immediately there were reports that she was actually still associating with Brown. And just recently, there were reports that he showed up at her birthday party, after trying to get non-disclosure agreements from everyone at the party saying they would not tell anyone that he was there.
Brown and Rihanna were reportedly sitting together, holding hands and seeming close.
I also mentioned that Glamour was given the first exclusive interview by Rihanna about her situation prior to being given that "award", so that should be noted as well.
Look, I realize that this situation is not a black and white thing. Co-dependency is a powerful thing. And I'm sure that Chris Brown has gotten into her head and made her think that he truly loves her and he didn't mean it.
But dammit, man. Read that police report. Look at those pictures of what this motherfucker did to her. And to see him act like he's being persecuted, to see him lash out at those who find fault with what he did with "Hate all you want, I won a Grammy, that's the ultimate "fuck off", just infuriates me. It shows someone who has a severe lack of perspective.
And it shows a society that rewards bad behavior where Brown faces almost NO repercussions for his actions. He didn't lose his record deal, his album still came out months later, he just won a damn Grammy for his shitty ass music, and he's STILL got a legion of female fans that are deluded into thinking this is some romantic guy.
He beat the shit out of a woman, and yet these mindless girls are tweeting things like "Chris Brown can beat me anytime". Seriously?
This is about as bad as it gets, folks. And the saddest part of this whole thing is that Rihanna has officially screwed herself by still being associated with Brown. Because when this happens again -- and it will -- she's going to get much less sympathy and support than before. Because before it was the first time and no one should blame a woman for being beaten at all. That said, if you go back to that person and get beaten again, as sad as it is to say this, a lot of people are not going to rush to your defense as quickly.
Because they don't want to feel that they are wasting their time.
And finally, what are the Grammy's thinking? Three years ago after a pre-Grammy party, Chris Brown beat the ever living shit out of Rihanna. So three years later the Grammy's bring him onstage to perform and he wins a Grammy? SERIOUSLY?
If there was ever a finer example of "money talks and bullshit walks" I don't know if I can think of one right now. You can tell the Grammys are covering their bases for the inevitable Chris Brown and Rihanna duet song that will come out. Anyone wanna take odds on the comeback song for the two? My money's on "A Fool In Love".
Jin Au-Yeung, better known as Jin tha Emcee or 100 Grand Jin, has had a pretty accomplished career over the last ten years. Since hitting the ground running on BET's Freestyle Friday segments on 106th and Park back in 2002, Jin has been busy ever since.
In the 10 years since he was on BET, he's been on the top of the battle rap scene, got a deal with Ruff Ryders records alongside hip hop heavyweights DMX, The Lox and Eve, had a minor role in the sequel to The Fast and The Furious, had some losses in the Battling arena, mutually parted ways with his label, and continued putting out music independently on his own mixtapes.
Then came the move to China where he's released the well received Cantonese album "ABC (American Born Chinese), and gotten roles on various TV series including a top TVB Drama "Lives of Omission".
Oh and he's married and has tightened up his life both musically, acting-wise, and his relationship with God.
It's been an eventful ten years for Jin, and he was kind enough to talk about it with me for this interview.
JIN: I went up to Harlem on 106th street and Park Avenue where the BET studios used to be for an open audition, like the nearly 300 rappers that showed up that day. They gathered us into groups and two at a time, we would battle for a panel of judges which were comprised of the shows producers, etc. However, it wasn't a win or lose situation. After we'd each do our 30 second bit, it was pretty much, "Thank you gentleman, we'll keep in touch." Then we were sent on our way. About 2-3 weeks later, I got a call and they said, "You're the challenger this coming week." The rest is history.
SFCB: As you came up, you were, as obvious as it may be to point out, a Chinese rapper in an African American dominated art form. And a byproduct of that is that in a medium where the rules seem to be “anything goes”, there would often be personal attacks thrown your way with strong racial components. And this is a situation where clearly there is not an even playing field in that regard, as just about any rapper you go up against could throw out the Asian stereotypes and racial slurs against you, while if you were to have gone that route against an African American opponent, there might have been a bit of controversy there.
And the reason I bring up a touchy subject like that, is that many of your supporters over the years have pointed out that while those types of attacks have been used throughout, particularly in the Freestyle Friday battles, there was one battle in particular (against Serius Jones) where it felt like, as you watch it, that the racial stuff was flowing heavily and Jones was racking up points based on those racial stereotypes and slurs. And the common complaint that I’ve seen made from your supporters is that it wasn’t a fair playing field, because you would never have been able to respond in kind, even if you were someone that would have wanted to.
What are your thoughts on that aspect of it, and did knowing that you would be facing that type of thing encourage you to try to become even better to perhaps make up for that perceived uneven playing field, or was that something that you never really worried or put any stock in?
JIN: Dang, you wrote like a near essay just to get to the question at the end. Props to your for your incisiveness! When it comes to my battling experience and my race, it's almost been the most talked about topic ever since I stepped onto this platform. For me, it was never something I put too much emphasis on. I did in the sense of, strategically, when I did realize that my ethnicity seemed to be the main focal point for my opponents, I would utilize that to my advantage. As G.I. Joe always taught us as kids, "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle".
Since I was aware that my ethnicity would be targeted, I was always able to mentally prepare myself for it. From day one, I've never ever taken any of the race related insults to heart. In fact, as the years went by, I would always find myself reacting in different ways.. such as.. "Great, not the fried rice and egg roll stuff again".. or.. "Man, that was pretty creative!".
Pertaining to the Serius Jones battle, what he did was nothing new in the sense of content. "I ate DMX's dog. A billion people in China and I can't sell a record there." His efficiency was in two things: One, his demeanor was incredible when he delivered all that stuff. Two, I let it get to me in a certain way. Whereas all the previous times I would be able to brush it off when facing these tactics, this time it hit me. It happens. So when it was my turn to rebuttal, I was just ranting aimlessly into thin air without effectiveness. Think of a boxer who's throwing multiple punches and none of it is landing.
SFCB: So once you won the seventh week and was inducted into the Freestyle Friday Hall of Fame, how soon after that were you approached to sign with Ruff Ryders, and what was that like dealing with the potential of a major record contract?
JIN: I officially signed with Ruff Ryders around the 4th week of my Freestyle Friday run. All the way up to that point of my dream of pursuing a career as a rapper, it was the single most exciting moment. The feeling was like climbing Mount Everest and reaching the top.
SFCB: Once you signed with Ruff Ryders, you became the first Asian-American rapper to sign a major record deal. How did that feel at the time, knowing that you had accomplished something that had never been done before?
JIN: Initially, I think the media and the masses in general put more emphasis on it than I did myself, to the point where that became the main focus. It was like, "Yeah he won on BET, but he's Chinese! That's crazy!" In essence, I naturally fed into it like, "Yeah, I am Chinese". Of course, although my initial goal was never to overtly emphasize my race, it is not something I felt the need to shy away from either. I always say this: The fact that I was Chinese helped propel me into the spotlight as much as it held me back. If that makes any sense
SFCB: Your debut album “The Rest Is History” was not the commercial success that many had perhaps imagined it would be. I’ve always kind of felt that you were a strange fit for that label. When I thought of “Ruff Ryders” I just always imagined these really hard edged street cats, and while you clearly have your talent and your skills and whatnot, I just never thought you were a good fit with that label.
And I felt that if you had been with another label that would perhaps have given you time to develop and work with you, that things may have gone a bit better. I’m sure it didn’t help when Roc-a-fella basically kneecapped you by not letting you release as a second single the track with Kanye West, when West was just becoming a major star due to them not wanting to “over-expose” Kanye at the time.
Looking back on your time with Ruff Ryders, what are your thoughts on that time? Do you think that you were given the best of chances there, or are there things you wished had gone differently?
JIN: By the standards of 2004 it certainly was considered a flop. In 2012, to sell 250,000 records (actual physical CDs) would be considered a cause for celebration by any label. Even for me, as bummed as I was when things unfolded and I didn't catapult into superstardom as many predicted I would, upon releasing my album, I look back now and it's like, "Wow, 250,000 people bought my album, that's great!".
Considering once upon a time, I was standing on corners selling battle mix CDs for 5 dollars a pop. As far as the Ruff Ryders factor, this will always be my stance: I will forever be grateful for the label for giving me a chance and allowing me to learn what I did in the years that I was with them. Things just don't work out sometimes. Everyone had the best intentions I believe. Even the Roc-A-Fella/Kanye/single scenario. Back then I didn't think too much of it. Now, I'm even more beyond dwelling on the what ifs.
SFCB: After your time at Ruff Ryders you went the independent route and dropped some well received mix-tapes including The Emcee’s Properganda which featured what is probably one of your most well known and most popular songs, “Top 5 Dead or Alive” which was filmed inside Fat Beats with DJ Kool Herc. The video, I think for many, completely solidified your credentials as a true lover of hip hop and your utmost respect for those who came before you as you paid homage to the greats.
Talk about the making of that video and working with DJ Kool Herc.
JIN: Bottomline, Emcee's Properganda is straight up backpack rap. Which I think I've always been a fan of and had it in me to want to do. Top 5 Dead Or Alive specifically is a track that was without a doubt inspired by my love for the culture. To shoot the video in Fat Beats and have the legendary Kool Herc on the ones and twos is just mind-blowing to me.
What are your memories of Fat Beats during your time in New York.
JIN: Fat Beats will always hold a special spot in my heart. Not so much for what took place in the store but downstairs. I can remember vividly standing by the entrance hours upon hours just trying to push some mix CDs to not only the people who were coming in and out of the store, but even just pedestrians who were passing by on 6th Ave.
Ever so often, the staff would come downstairs and scurry myself and other entrepreneurs away. I think that even though they may not have been keen to the idea of people selling CDs downstairs of their store, they realized that what we were doing downstairs was just essential to the essence and nature of Hip-Hop as what they were doing upstairs.
SFCB: Over the last several years your supporters have noticed a marked shift in not only your image but also your content as well. And you have spoken on your Christian faith and how it directs your life, and when people hear that you’re a Christian, they try to pinpoint the exact moment when the switch was flipped and you were suddenly “Jin the Christian Rapper” or whatever.
And I think that mentality kind of stems from the necessity that many of us have to explain things. To put something in a box and say "oh, so THAT's the reason", rather than being able to accept that things often happen after an accumulation of events in our lives, and that not everything has to be the result of a singular event in time.
How do you explain to those who desperately seem to want to latch on to that idea of "well there HAD to be something that pushed you to this"?
JIN: I think the most efficient way for me to describe it would be to say this. I've always believed in God. However, believing in God and having a relationship with Him is two different things. More so, to live a life that is reflective of love for God is also something that hinders many from really getting to know Him intimately. What may seem like a sudden switch to many in terms of direction and image is actually years and years of being lost. I am just thankful that He never gave up on me.
SFCB: So after you had released several mix-tapes independently, you decided to do something that was kind of bold and daring: you released an album entirely in Chinese called “ABC” (American Born Chinese) that was produced by the Far*East Movement. What made you decide to do that? Was it something that was on your list of things you’d always wanted to do?
JIN: Not at all. The only reason ABC came to be is because I had nothing else to do. Things weren't particularly popping in general.. I was totally moving on an independent level at the time. Which is the only way we were able to freely do a Cantonese project. Which if I were with a label, they probably would have thought, "Who's gonna buy it?"
SFCB: After your Cantonese album was released to success, you ended up moving from the United States to Hong Kong, China. What was that move like and what was the impetus for such a big move.
JIN: Initially, I was only planning on the Hong Kong run to be a three or four months at max. Not because I didn't have faith or was opposed to staying, but mainly because I wasn't sure of how I would be received as an artist. Three months turned into six months, which turned into a year and then another year. Now 2012 marks my fourth year here.
SFCB: Now a lot of your supporters may know that you’ve done Freestyle Friday, and you’ve been in the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious, and done your mix-tapes and Cantonese album, but what many may not know is that you have even tried standup comedy and motivational speaking.
If you would, talk about the decision to go into something like Standup, that really wasn't something that most people on the outside looking in would expect from you.
JIN: Ha! Standup comedy. That was just a one time thing. I put together a routine and rented a venue. Invited some guests. The show was called "I'm Not A Comedian". I really admire and appreciate the art of making people laugh and bringing them joy. As for the motivational speaking.. I don't know if I'm a motivational speaker by any means. I often get invited to share my testimony and experiences at various events. It is an enlightening experience for both me and the audience.
SFCB: You have pretty much hit on so many areas of entertainment, from rapping to acting in films and television to the comedy and motivational speaking, to commercials as well. You've done albums in English and Chinese. Is there anything out there that stands out as being something you've always wanted to do yet haven't really been blessed with the opportunity?
JIN: I've already exceeded my own expectation in this aspect.. At this point, just letting nature take it's course and trusting God's plans.
SFCB: When you moved to China and you got more involved in your faith, do you think that played any part in your desire to move away from the battle rap arena due to perhaps the necessity, in battling, to rely on tearing down your opponent, or saying and doing things that do not exactly mesh with the spiritual, or was it for other reasons?
JIN: It's a combination of the faith factor and just evolving out of that world. Once upon a time, battling was all that mattered to me. It defined me. Which is why, when I did endure those brutal losses, it was like a major, major reality check. You go from being top dog to bottom of the barrel in an instant. It's kind of refreshing and relieving to be able to break free from that stigma.
SFCB: Last year I was late to the party and just finally saw the video for “Angels” and was just blown away by not only the lyrical content, as this was the first time I had heard you in awhile so I was unaware of your faith, but also the visuals were just stunning.
Who directed that video, and where was it filmed? The environments were pretty amazing as well.
JIN: The video was directed by Hosanna Wong and we shot it in the city of Hong Kong. No rhyme intended. Angels, as a song and video, is a milestone for me. I say that not only because it's my one video to pass the one million mark view on Youtube but because it's my first track to really proclaim my faith boldly and what I want to say with my music in terms of how God is influencing my life.
SFCB: You recently were featured on the TV drama “Lives of Omission” which is a very popular show in China. You also were awarded the “Most Improved Actor” award from the TVB Anniversary Awards 2011, while also being nominated for “Favorite Male Character” as well.
What has it been like being on the TV series.
JIN: Another chapter in the book of "Things I Never Imagined I'd Get a Chance To Do But Am Enjoying Every Single Moment Of It".
SFCB: You are very involved on Twitter and often will spend a lot of time responding to just about every one who tweets you. And also on Youtube as well in the comments to your videos. Many artists who are on Twitter don't really interact with fans that much. They either have someone manage their account for them (while perhaps not always letting the fans know that it's not really them) or they will only seemingly respond to other artist friends and only occasionally respond to an actual fan of theirs.
You, on the other hand have sort of embraced your entire community of Twitter followers and have enacted what you have referred to as a "No Fan Zone". Explain what that is and what it means to you, if you would.
JIN: Real simple. The internet and real world are almost synonymous in this day and age. Especially as a performer/artist, one has to maintain internet presence. Any regular Joe can tell you that. For me, it's gotten to a point though where I feel like it's not even about maintaining a presence anymore or necessarily peddling whatever new project I have lined up. I just enjoy interacting and connecting with people in a real organic manner.
SFCB: Finally, it’s been just over 10 years since you burst onto the scene with your appearances on 106th and Park, and you've achieved so much whether it's music, TV, film, etc. Looking back and seeing what you've done in the past 10 years, and then looking forward, what do you hope to be able to accomplish over the next ten years that you have not already done?
JIN: As an artist/performer/entertainer, making the use of this talent and platform that God has given me to shine for His glory.
As a man, just to make a difference and contributing to the betterment of society in a very practical way.
SFCB: So I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview, and in closing is there anything you’d like to say for your supporters out there who may be reading this right now?
JIN: I love you all. God bless you.
SFCB: Thank you very much, Jin, and I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do.
