Cartoons Underground Returns With An Online Edition from 9 to 13 December 2020

So what if COVID-19 a.k.a. the Big Bad of 2020 is still lurking in the corners of Red Dot Island, and has prevented festivals and events from taking place? Cartoons Underground 2020, the island's very own animation festival, has in fact expanded from a 1-day evening festival to an exciting 5-day online event from 9 to 13 December 2020.

Of course, the festival, which is also South-East Asia's largest, will not be happening in their usual physical venue. Instead, attendees will step into an interactive and vibrant 360° virtual world created by CG lead Enrique Caballero.

Love is in the air

Within this immersive neon-lit cyberpunk 'hood, festival goers will be able to hunt for easter eggs, view films and behind the scene footages, and attend Q&A sessions with directors. Red Dot Diva had a sneak peek of the 360° world, which had tributes to Lady & The Tramp as well as the chef couple from the movie, Ratatouille. According to Enrique Caballero, he felt that during this difficult year, we all needed more love. Since the locals love shopping online, there will also be an art market where you can buy unique items for your own collection or as presents.

While the pandemic continues to rage on in several parts of the world, live action TV and movie productions have either halted or have been delayed. But as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Seemingly pandemic-proof, the animation industry is set to boom in the next 5 years due to market demand, and for the practical reason that most of the work can be performed remotely.

Red Dot Diva welcomes the rise of animation movies. They are not just for kids and children. There are the cookie-cutter Disneys, Pixars, Dreamworks and well-loved Studio Ghibli films, and then there are so many others that fall in between or out of those familiar lines that are as beautiful and moving.

SRT's Shakespeare in the Park : Julius Caesar - Diva's Interview with Director, Guy Unsworth

Freelance director Guy Unsworth is currently back here working on another Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) production - the upcoming performance of Shakespeare in the Park : Julius Caesar.

Last year, he directed the dark comedy SRTs "Hand of God", which scored positive reviews from critics and audiences. His recent works include an acclaimed UK tour of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and his own adaptation of "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em".

Even though he is busy getting the play ready for the 2 May launch date, Red Dot Diva managed to grab a few minutes of his time for an interview:

Red Dot Diva: How did you get involved with SRT's Shakespeare in the Park: Julius Caesar? 
Guy Unsworth: I was introduced to Gaurav Kripalani and Juliet Chia back in 2016 and since then we’ve been talking about the exciting potential of Julius Caesar. I came to Singapore last year to stage Hand to God, and since then have been working solidly on this production.

RDD: What is it like adapting the play for Singapore audiences?
Guy: It’s a fun challenge. I was very keen to find a contemporary equivalent that would work in the international community of Singapore. There’s a lot of talk about Rome and Romans in the play, but specifically the honour, history and responsibility that that identity carries. The big question for me to answer therefore was ‘What is the equivalent of Rome today?’. More than just a literal place, 'Rome' is an identity, it’s a community, and a title which binds these people together. It then struck me that intergovernmental organisations like NATO, the UN, G7, G20 etc. carry stakes on a much more global scale. They require their members to work as a team, but inevitably alliances form and factions are made. And where better to have lots of different nationalities coming together than Singapore? So it seemed a perfect fit to set this at a R.O.M.E. summit.

I was also excited by the age range of the Singapore audiences and I want the show to reach out to younger audience members. When I was a teenager I found Shakespeare very difficult to get my head into, so whenever I direct it, I'm very keen to bear my younger self in mind. It's going to be pretty fast and furious, and there are lots of theatrical surprises along the way. I want to make something which my teenage self would have enjoyed.

Indie Animation Festival Called Cartoons Underground Returns 21 October 2017

Cartoons Underground, South-East Asia's largest indie animation festival, returns for its 6th edition this Saturday, 21 October 2017 at Kult Kafe.

The festival attracted the attention of film makers from over 50 countries, totalling over 400 film submissions. This year, 13 specially curated films will be featured including "Poles Apart" by Singaporean Low Ser En and directed by Paloma Baeza.
 

"Poles Apart", a story about a polar bear and grizzly bear with voices by Helena Bonham-Carter and Joseph May, will make its Asian premiere at Cartoons Underground. The short film won the McLaren Award for Best British Animation at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. (Watch the trailer here.)

Alternative Animation Festival Cartoons Underground Returns on 22 October 2016

Poster art by Jia Lee

Looking for animated films that are more edgy and more adult? Then, head to Cartoons Underground, a festival consisting of alternative animation films which will be held at Kult Kafe on Mt Emily, on 22 October, from 6 PM.

Many movie and art fans might not be aware that the festival has actually been around for the past few years, and this year's show will be their fifth edition.

Cartoons Underground is also the jump-off point for many new animators in Asia as selected projects get to be screened during the event. The festival organizers receive film submissions with 487 applications from around the world, three times more than last year's! As a result, the festival director Tan Wei Keong has curated a total of 20 films listed in two programs called "Time Loop" and "Time Warp". Red Dot Diva imagines it must been be really tough for him to narrow the slew of interesting shorts to just 20!

Join in a Guinness World Record Bid at "The Ghostbusters" Singapore Red Carpet Premiere on 12 June, MBS

Continuing the string of glitzy red carpet premieres and celebrity appearances held in Red Dot Island this year, "The Ghostbusters" team from the movie reboot will also be making their way here to meet the fans.

As part of the red carpet event, fans are invited to join in the attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Ghosts at a Single Venue.

Not just ordinary ghosts mind you, but as the iconic No-Ghost Sign usually seen as "The Ghostbusters" logo.

Local movie portal Incinemas.SG has the registration webpage for the record-breaking event. If you want to Answer the Call and be one of 300 costumed No-Ghosts, head to this link to register: https://www.incinemas.sg/ghostbusters/.

The No-Ghost costume will be provided to participants at the event, and an image of the costume can be seen on the link above.

Do note that, to be eligible, participants have to be 16 years or older on 12 June 2016.

Date: Sunday, 12 June 2016
Time: 4 PM – 10 PM*
Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Event Plaza (that's the outdoor area where Reed Exhibition held "that other Festival" in April)
* Dinner will be provided to participants 

Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig will be attending the event, and are set to make their appearance at 8 PM.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Where VIPs RIP

Right in the heart of Hollywood is one of Los Angeles' oldest cemetery. The 114 year-old cemetery is aptly named Hollywood Forever, for it was the chosen resting place by many starry VIPs.

No surprise there since the site is just next to Paramount Studios. And in addition, when one stands on the main driveway looking back to the front gates, the iconic Hollywood sign could clearly be seen.

Having a morbid interest in cemeteries (the older, the better), Red Dot Diva roped in good friend Chelle for a morning walk at Hollywood Forever last week. With the help of a $5 map purchased from the flower shop, the two set off to hunt down a few famous graves.

Shakespeare in the Park 2013: Director Bruce Guthrie Shares about the Staging of "Othello"

The historical Fort Canning Park, with its colonial buildings and landmarks, has always been a magical setting for a good Shakespearean play.

This year, the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) has continued its yearly tradition of producing Shakespeare in the Park. And this time, the chosen play is the dark, jealousy-fueled tragedy called "Othello".

With a cast consisting of British actor Daniel Francis as main protagonist Othello, and local-based thespians like Daniel Jenkins and Wendy Kweh, the updated version of the play kicked off its run on 24th April. Apparently, it has already been watched by an audience of over 25,000.

Red Dot Diva has already seen the play, and she cannot deny that the staging was indeed very grand and elaborate. But what she enjoyed most from the play was Daniel Jenkins' portrayal of Iago. The actor had given a wonderfully nuanced performance of a villain without a shred of remorse, which made him even more evil than she ever thought possible.

Director Bruce Guthrie returned to the Red Dot Island this year for the epic production of "Othello". He had also helmed the previous year's light-hearted romantic comedy "Twelfth Night" - which boasted of a gorgeous set that consisted of a beach, a mansion, a swimming pool and a visual projection of an ocean view.

Red Dot Diva got hold of Bruce Guthrie to share more about himself, and what went on behind the staging of "Othello".

Abe Kwang And Gordon Chan Chat About "The Mural" at Screen Singapore

"The Mural" concept poster

For those who were invited to Screen Singapore's gala premiere on opening night, 1 minute was all they got for "The Mural" 's trailer.

When news was released that director Gordon Chan was doing a follow-up to the successful "Painted Skin" (画皮), "The Mural" (画壁) became one of the most highly-anticipated Chinese movie this year. This was especially after knowing that "The Mural" was going to be a action-romance-fantasy film set in a magical fairy land, involving over 2,000 special effects shots.

As it always happens on opening nights, the screening of "The Mural" teaser faced with an initial sound glitch! Red Dot Diva asks, who released those nasty Gremlins in GV Vivocity, huh? Anyway, it was quickly re-screened again so that the audience could take in the fast-moving images for another time.

Justin Harley Directed Zod's Return in "Smallville"

"Kneeeeeeel....Before Zod."

Red Dot Diva thinks that Callum Blue just reels that phrase off his tongue so snarlingly sexy in that rich British accent of his. Mmm hmmm...

Yes, peeps. Phantom Zone's resident leader, General Zod, was back in last week's "Smallville" episode entitled "Dominion", simmering with mean scruffiness in his medieval-cyber-punk wear. He has even managed to Ikea-himself a throne of bones and skulls, and made friends with some slinky albino pythons. Count Red Dot Diva impressed and ready to kneel.

She is even more impressed when she learnt that the well-paced episode was the directorial debut of "Smallville"'s very own (and Red Dot Diva's favourite character) Green Arrow - Justin Hartley.