"When Geek Meets Serial Killer" Nominated At Film Festivals

Malaysian Remus Mook's first directing in a feature film, <When Geek Meets Serial Killer >, scores a nomination for best new director.

Ecstatic at hearing news of the director being nominated for an award, because after I watched his movie, I wechat him right away that I had been blown away, impressed enough to tell him that I could see that his story telling, the shots, the characters, the choreography had been thoroughly thought through. This is so refreshing, especially unexpected from a first-time director, a sleek movie compared to the many mundane Malaysian/Asian fare being touted out there.

I wrote about meeting old friend, Remus, who has been seeking his fortune in Taiwan for many years, first as an actor, and then now in realizing his dreams of directing movies, in my entertainment blog, http://i-like-entertainment.blogspot.my/2015/06/when-geek-meets-serial-killer.html just a few months ago.

The director had shared with me his disappointment in not getting enough marketing support, and that resulted in the movie being screened in less cinemas, and movie-going audiences being unawares. Though I am still learning the ropes of the movie business, I believed that his next step was to take his movie, hop on the plane to visit the film markets happening around the world, and show his movie to distributors and investors.

So, on hearing that the movie had been getting attention from various international film festivals, I could not be more thrilled to know that the "light of my eyes," my 眼光, my judgement was right again!

Here's an English translation of the news report about the recognitions for the movie:

"Produced by Lee Jian Xing, an adaptation of the famous HK comic by renowned artist Zheng Jian He, the movie <When Geek Meets Serial Killer> , on top of being selected as the opening film for INDYWOOD Film Festival, first time director Remus Mook (Jin Pei Cheng) and Zheng Jian He were nominated in the best new director award in Indonesia Filmmaker of the Year Film Festival (FYFF).

During the recent interview, Lee Jian Xing said that the nomination is confirmed but the result whether it will be gold, silver or bronze, will only be announced on the award night.

Lee further claimed that although the box office of the film was not satisfactory, but it continues to receive nominations and recognition in various film festivals and many times honored as the opening film in those festivals.

"Due to the clashing of dates of INDYWOOD and FYFF, we are yet to decide on which festival to attend. However, we sure hope to be able to attend both."

Casts of <When Geek Meets Serial Killer > includes Chang Rui Jia (Taiwan), JC Chee (Malaysia) and Lian Shi Ya (Hong Kong). This is also the first film that JC Chee played a leading role."

The Timelessness of "Rose, Rose, I Love You"

While producing the upcoming show with the artiste Yudi Yap 友弟 named "East Meets West," I learned some interesting information from her years of research into the songs that were popular in both the East and West during the romanticized 50's. 

"East Meet West" 《中西唱盘》is a concept music show that artiste Yudi concocted to pay tribute to the wonderful era of the iconic 50's (also encompassing the 40's to 60's) when popular music from the West and the East started to flourish worldwide and integrate into each other's culture. 

"Rose, Rose, I Love You by Frankie Laine (from 1951), with the Norman Luboff Choir, orchestra conducted by Paul Weston.

This #3 juke box hit was released on the flipside of the million-selling "Jezebel" and is purportedly based upon a traditional Chinese melody." - Mark Gallagher. 

The English version of the hit song originally recorded as 玫瑰玫瑰我爱你 (meigui meigui wo ai ni) in Hong Kong in 1940 by Chinese diva Yao Li 姚利, was thought to be a tribute to the legendary burlesque performer of Malaya, Rose Chan. 

I also love this version by Gordon Jenkins, a very musical 50's chorus rendition.

I think the 50's was such a fascinating time that the world cannot get enough of its legacy. This song indeed proves that there is such a thing called "timelessness."

So, to celebrate our music legacy, come on and sing along with me:

Rose, Rose, I love you, with your almond eyes
Fragrant and slender, 'neath tropical skies
I must cross the seas again and never see you more
Way back to my home on a distant shore

Make way, oh, make way, for my Eastern Rose
Men crowd in dozens, everywhere she goes
In her rickshaw, on the street, or in a cabaret
"Please make way for Rose," you can hear them say

All my life I shall remember
Oriental music and you in my arms
Perfumed flowers in your tresses
Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms

Rose, Rose, I leave you, my ship is in the bay
Kiss me farewell now, there's nothin' to say
East is East, and West is West, our worlds are far apart
I must leave you now but I leave my heart

Rose, Rose, I love you, with an aching heart
What is your future, now we have to part
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay

On Air About "East Meets West" Show Concept

Did you know that the theme song to the Hollywood movie ‘River Of No Return,’ sung by Marilyn Monroe, was rendered in Chinese as 大江东去 (da jiang dong qu?).  The world’s top 100 pop songs 'Rose Rose I Love u’ by Frankie Laine was originally a famous Chinese number sung by Yao Li 姚利in the 40s.

These and many more interesting stories is what the upcoming show I am producing is all about. 

I proposed to hit chinese radio channel MelodyFM 103 which caters to music for the non teeny boppers, e.g. music from the 80's & 90's, oldies and jazz, to interview Yudi 友弟 for her years of interesting research into songs she has put together for "East Meets West" 《中西唱盘》, the show she conceptualized to be performed on 13 & 14 November 2015 specially for a theatre restaurant setting. 

You can hear her on MelodyFM 103 in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley, Monday to Friday (5th - 9th Oct) 12noon & 9pm repeat.

In "East Meets West" 《中西唱盘》, Yudi 友弟 leads us into the charming era of the 40's, 50's & 60's which produced many hit songs in both the East and the West, in English and Chinese. The iconic 50's conjures up the glamorous Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Audrey Hepburn inthe West and names like Lin Dai 林黛,Yao Li 姚利, Rose Chan in the East. 

This is the thematic inspiration of this show, brought to you in a theatre restaurant experience, beginning with 5-course dinner then charming nostalgic entertainment by award-winning Yudi 友弟 and top jazz band WVC led by maestro Tay Cher Siang, & introducing 17-yr-old soprano Calista Lim.

#EastmeetsWest #Yudi #dinnertheatre #melodyfm #radiostation #radio #music #dinnertheatre #theatrerestaurant #50s #goldenoldie #entertainment #thesopranos #chinesepop

Have You Thought Of Using Entertainment To Hook Customers?

Recently, I have been busy organizing and promoting a performance for a restaurant which has been facing challenges attracting customers especially since it's under a year old, and still finding its feet in an economic and political condition which has started to feel de-spirited. 

Being an experienced producer director especially of TV entertainment, gameshows and reality shows for the past 20 years, and having pioneered higher-standards in producing entertainment shows for the Malaysian market, I want to offer "entertainment marketing" which has not been taken advantage very much by Malaysian brands and companies. 

"Entertainment Marketing" has not been taken advantage of very much by many brands and companies.

How To Fulfill A Human Need?

Hook your customers' attention and persuade them to consume your products by fulfilling the human's needs for entertainment.

Now what is "Entertainment Marketing?" Here is a simple definition:

Entertainment marketing is the strategy of creating, associating with and promoting entertainment and entertaining activities to excite, then engage the customer, while forming a high-profile, positive affinity with the brand to drive continuous profitable customer action.

Other Marketing Approaches

Some other marketing terms that have been used by marketers, for example, are:

Retail Marketing: Retail marketing is the range of activities undertaken by a retailer to promote awareness and sales of the company's products -- Tracey Sandilands, Demand Media

Content Marketing: Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience -- and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.

When it comes to marketing and attracting more customers, I observe many businesses, especially retailers, hit the wall. Usually, the strategy being employed tends to be more of what I call "sales marketing" which is offering services such as "discount coupons, freebies, sales, ladies' nights, happy hour, special packages, birthday specials... "

Those are strategies a business should keep using regularly, but after awhile, it loses its lustre with customers and in the end, it doesn't matter much to them if they get another discount. I know this is what happens with me.

Why Does Entertainment Marketing Work?

But on top of that, a business should really look into the immediate elevation of your brand or product in the minds of the customer by associating itself with an entertainment idea or activity, whether it be an event, a performance, a song, a movie, an entertaining video, a game or contest, celebrity or public figure endorsements and appearances.

Now, "entertainment marketing" probably works best for retail businesses, but it is not only applicable to B to C's (business to customer), but often, bosses find that they also need it in B to B's (business to business).

McDonald's is a ready example of a business that has kept customers coming in for years with entertainment marketing. Rather than keep "pounding on" (no pun intended) the ingredients or value meals for their burgers, McDonald's is often your source for the current box-office movie premiums. Remember the "Hello Kitty" or "Minions" soft toy craze which saw alarming lines at McDonald's? Well, we don't need to ask McDonald's to show us their daily sales report in order to know that they would have had jackpot sales that day!

If, as a business, you are expecting the media to give you some coverage -- unless you are an NGO (non-governmental organization), political or governmental organization, social or charitable benefit, cultural or educational association -- do not expect the media to give you much time of day unless you advertise hugely with them.

Now, many small medium enterprises (SME) might lament that you could not possibly afford the licensing or cost of bringing entertainment to your premises, or even being associated with big-time Hollywood films, like the McDonald's example.

Believe it or not, your customers will still be entertained by cleverly-executed concepts at much lower budgets. Therefore, don't worry if you cannot afford the licensing fees for hit movies such as Star Wars or engaging top Hollywood or K-Pop superstars!

The keywords to remember are Excite, Entertain and Engage -- conceptualized and customized for your needs.

Once entertainment elements are used to market your business, product or brand, the opportunity is very much bigger for:

1) the media to report your stories,

2) the customers to run through your doors,

3) customers to bring friends and family along to enjoy fresh offerings,

4) elevating your brand into a premier, go-to position,

5) more public relations and networking,

6) collaborations with and third-party endorsements from the media, celebrities, public figures and customers.

Email me at irriessechia@gmail.com. http://www.irriessechia.blogspot.my
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Irriesse_Chia/2191685

#thentruelovecomes #entertainmentmarketing #entertainment