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• GO!

  2009-05-04 6:55PM / 標準BLOG

  And...we're off!
  
  It became official last night here in Shanghai as Shanghai Rush finally kicked off!  It was too much fun watching it with everyone.  I think we've created a really fun, enjoyable show for the public and gauging from the early feedback, it seems people think so as well.  Viewers can interact by texting for their favorite teams and the one-liners on the show were priceless (and repeated often).  Thank you producer people - you guys rocked it and created/edited/pulled together the best people for it all.
  
  To my delight/surprise, everything is watchable on-line, so if you're not here in Shanghai, no worries.
  
  Follow our journey here:
  
  Episode 1: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODg5NDI2MDQ=.html
  
  Show website: SHANGHAI RUSH  - Vote, guess, read, blog.
  
  Thanks everyone who made this possible.  I hope everyone enjoys and that everyone feels the RUSH!
  
  

  
  
  
  

  4個評論–  我來說兩句

• hi folks!

  2009-04-23 12:08AM / 視頻

  My goodness, I just came back from watching maybe the saddest movie I've ever seen.  Nanjing!  Nanjing!  For some reason, they call it The City of Life and Death now in English when last year I had learned it as its original (Chinese) name  It's the story of Japan's atrocious acts of terror against the Chinese way back when.  Talk about a sore subject point.  They did an amazing job in telling the story - maybe a little too good.  It's important to deal with this subject matter and quite frankly, I'm surprised there haven't been more films about it.  I've often thought of the repercussions of this event and how it's affected my parents generation's feelings about Japan and also how today, myself, my friends, and anyone of Japanese or Chinese descent generations removed from this history interact with one another.  I wonder  -- what if our ancestors could see us now?  Would they believe it?  I mean, what happened generations ago cannot necessarily be something we live and breathe by today, but I've heard the off-handed remarks while growing up that "the Japanese did this to us" or that "I will not buy a Toyota" and I wonder how long this could/will carry on.  The Japanese government still denies any atrocities they did back then, which is stunning.  The Chinese people won't let it go.  I think this film will reopen some wounds but it'll be interesting if it serves as a tool to perhaps heal some as well.  Is this something we can simply say "bury the hatchet!" or "let by-gones be bygones" to?  Methinks not, but what else can be done?
  
  And on that note....greetings!!
  
  
  
  
  

  3個評論–  我來說兩句

• it's coming...

  2009-04-14 4:18PM / 標準BLOG

  Phew!  Today has been my first real day where I haven't had to be anywhere doing anything since I arrived in Asia.  A nice breather...though there's lots to do yet.  We recently wrapped shooting and post-pro is in full swing.  I've started seeing clips here and there and let me just say that post-pro people are magicians!  It's coming soon...so tune in, Shanghai!
  
  I'm hoping somehow episodes starting May 3 will make it onto Tudou so friends back home can watch!
  
  My sisters came out last week for a visit and basically ate/shopped their way through the city.  Always fun hanging with them as we rarely get to these days.  Two words for them: Fabric Market.  We got away to Suzhou on a day trip and saw Shanghai properly since our first trip as a family in 2000 "didn't count."  You know how it is when you're with the 'rents. 
  
  The timing on everything worked out great.  It was crazy.  Selena arrived at the Pudong airport right when we were shooting something there.  I can't tell you the odds of that happening, but it was way too randomly awesome as I got to pick her up personally and she got to ride back with us.  Then when both Steph and her left, I was leaving at the exact same time for Taipei and Hong Kong this past weekend so we all went to the airport together.  None of this was planned.  On our cab ride, we got a driver who kept falling asleep at the wheel.  Man, I had to keep coming up with questions to keep him awake.  "Sir, have you a brother?"  "Sir, have you a child?"  "Sir, what's your favorite colour?"  I guess this could happen anywhere, but for some reason, the fact that this happened in China...well, it just adds to the craziness of this place.
  
  And so when I arrived in Taipei where the air is better, the people friendlier, the food better, the cabs newer, well, let's just say I really really fell in love with it all over again.  So much so that I'm now thinking about moving there!  It was a whirlwind weekend, but every step of it was a joy.  I went on food crawls, discovered new spots, got great spring weather, found a sweet jogging route around the Sun-Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and hit the town at night to some spots I could get used to.
  
  Had a quick jaunt to HK and caught up on some business and with friends - and now back in SH.  Guess it's back to the grind...if you can call it that!  ; )
  
  
  

  2個評論–  我來說兩句

• Pause...

  2009-03-25 5:43PM / 標準BLOG

  Wow - a much needed day off from production today!  Well, for me anyways.  Poor crew - they're still at it feverishly...I figured I'd throw in a blog on my off day as I haven't really been able to sit at a computer for more than 15 minutes in the last couple weeks ever since we started going at it!  5:45/6:00am wake ups and not returning till up to 10pm. 
  
  I can't decide what I can or can't say, but after I opened the local Shanghai Daily today and read this article, I guess some things I thought couldn't be talked about are fair game now.  If it's in the press, it's on!
  
  As the article alludes to, we are going all over the place.  And folks, I mean ALL over!  I wake up everyday and realize how ridiculously lucky I am to be a part of this whole thing.  Hosting this thing is great, but the opportunity this has afforded me to see parts of Shanghai I would have otherwise never gone too....that's the best part of all!  Yep, we went to the Shanghai Film Studio where everywhere it looked like 1930's Shanghai.  Unreal.  Maybe the most surreal point of this whole thing happened then when, at one point, we were shooting a segment right smack in the middle of a set that was shooting a TV series.  I'm kind of still not sure how that happened, but it was nuts.  All around us were these extras in 30's attire, rickshaws, and old cars moving down a busy street and we sat there in the midst of it all talking about that day's episode.  You kinda had to be there to understand.  I was wondering if we'd get into anyone's shot.  Finally, after about 30 minutes of shooting, some official looking person came over and instructed us to move.  I could only keep thinking that if this were to happen on a set in the States...well, it just never would.  It really is true folks, anything can happen here in China.
  
  

  
  Shanghai, circa 1930
  

  
  Yes, as the article also says, we hit a Formula 1 race track.  I didn't get to gun it in an F1 car, but just being on a track like that was, well....to think: I USED SIT MY BUM IN A CUBICLE AT AIG!!!  (I found it hilarious that the building down on Wall Street I used to walk in and out of everyday took down their big ass logo from the front in an effort to "rebrand."  Right.  In an effort to not get eggs and things thrown at it everyday is more like it.)
  
  

  
  

  
  There are 20 districts that comprise Shanghai and we are hitting half of them as part of this show.  I dare say I've seen more to this place than the average local person now.  Normally, one never leaves the comforts of the central Puxi area where all the hotels, bars, clubs, etc. are and here I was yesterday wandering the grounds of a 4,000 year old temple when a monk on an iPhone walked by me.  I almost feel bad saying this, but I love my life!
  
  They don't pay me to say this, but I really think we have a great show on our hands here.  There have been your normal bumps and bruises (and man, have there been bruises) of producing a reality show, but as we've been moving along, it's really starting to feel like something.  Our crew is outstanding and despite our sleepless days, we really are having fun.  I know I'm having the time of my life!  Our shooters who follow the contestants are all using HVX 200 cameras while there is one P2HD getting coverage and a master high-def camera that my friend in the know promises me will make it all look crisply outstanding.  I get a glimpse of some footage every once in awhile and from what I'm seeing of the challenges, contestants, and venues we've hit, it's lookin' hot to trot!  (Did I just use that phrase?  And speaking of trot, I'm bummed I missed my Hall & Oates Dancin With the Stars experience on Tuesday night's episode.  If anyone has a copy and can send it to me through the web somehow...)
  
  

  
  Shooters' gear...
  

  
  I'm learning so much about Shanghai through this experience that I gotta admit...I am falling in love with this town.  The amazing food, the ancient history, the modern art galleries, the internationalness of it all.  (I was waxing poetic to friends about how only here in Shanghai are you able to so easily make friends with people from all over the world and bond with them - life in the States seems so dry by comparison.)  I can't peep yet how the future will go, but suddenly situating myself from this side of the world - especially now as things Stateside appear to be dead - seems within reach.  I wish I could bring certain people and things from the US over here to be with me (March Madness and Starbucks' White Chocolate Mochas to start), but really, I got nothing to complain about.
  
  They say you never know what can happen in life.  Right now, literally, I am living by that phrase virtually every moment.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring?
  
  
  

  5個評論–  我來說兩句

• Shhhhhhhh-anghai Rush!

  2009-03-13 10:02AM / 標準BLOG

  Well, the title says it all.  We're underway with the filming in Shanghai - rainy Shanghai that we really need to be sunny Shanghai.  Mother Nature already has been messin' with our shoot schedule which is a buzzkill, but all that means is we throw things around in different order and shoot stuff we were planning on doing later that wasn't weather dependent.  As for the details of what's already going on...?  Well, I can't really say much.  As you can guess, secrecy is paramount on a show like this, so while my family and some friends have asked me to keep blogging about what's going on, sorry guys, this is going to make for a boring read cause I can't really say anything!
  
  I've met the 10 teams - all very fun and competitive people!  I think it's going to be a doozy and I can't wait to see how it all plays out.  Now, if the rain would just go away so we could do this uninterrupted!
  
  Here are a couple of newsbits on the show:
  
  Shanghai Rush Starts.
  
  Meet Everyone.
  
  My official host photo.  Trust me, I'm laughing as hard as you are. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  3個評論–  我來說兩句

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