The voice of Trevor here. A few years ago my film making partner, Eric young, and I made a feature film called "Breathing Hard". It is now part of a film festival called "Had To Be Made". Independent video stores around the country are showcasing the festival over the next six months, releasing ten features in all, along with shorts. The number of stores involved is growing every day, so check out the website: hadtobemade.com. This is truly a great way for small films to get an audience. Go to the store nearest you, and if your local independent store does not yet have the Had To Be Made Film Festival, tell them to check it out. Call your friends and tell them to support independent film. I was in Vidiots in Santa Monica with the Had To Be Made crew last weekend and happened to be leaning against one of the shleves. I glanced at what was on the shelf and what do I see? The VHS collection of Aeon Flux. Is this a sign?

John Lee

-- John Rafter Lee (johnlee9@onemain.com), February 18, 2003

Answers

Wow John this is wonderful, finally Breathing Hard will be seen and enjoyed by people who appreciate a good movie. You and Eric do have entrepreneurial minds. Those in the film must be very happy with this new outcome. I predict HTBM will open Hollywood's eyes to the fact that they are not the only talent on the block. What a great idea! As for another possible making of Aeon Flux; well what can I say but my fingers are crossed, but darn I sure wish you would be at the very least the consultant of the scripts as Aeon herself only really comes into focus through your gaze, and then it really is worth our gaze. P.S. that original dubbing cast of Alexander was one to die for.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), February 19, 2003.

John, if we ask for this in our local film stores and they want to know how to go about obtaining it what info do we give them?

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), March 20, 2003.

hadtobemade.com

To recommend the film Breathing Hard (with Denise Poirier, btw) this is the information you need to give the video store in order to be able to make it available for rent.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), March 22, 2003.

Rent 'Breathing Hard' now!!! This site tells you what store rents it in your own town.

BreathingHardReview

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), October 03, 2003.

Take the shortcut and skip the reviews (or you could rent the movie and post your review on the other site). Breathing Hard

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), October 03, 2003.

Does this mean we can finally buy this movie? I've been digging for it for *months* now.

I mean, not to toot the forum here's horn... but go back to some older topics when we're literally frothing at the mouth for info about Breathing Hard.

skye

-- skye (skyknyt@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Did I mention I am an enormous fan? *grin*

You're like the Crispin Freeman of... err... well, you both do excellent dubs! The number of truly great voice actors in this country can be counted on my hands... and maybe my feet, but I think some of them live in england and don't count.

skye

-- skye (skyknyt@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

With the HTBM film fest, it's just rental. We are hoping to get distribution that will make it available to buy. There will also be an expanded edition after the festival - when we've gauged response - that will have bonus material such as cut scenes and an audio commentary. In July there is a gala event at the Independent Video Distributors Convention in Vegas. Should be fun. Oh, thank you for the compliment. The animation/character work is a little thin on the ground these days. Peter Chung, are you reading this? The audio book stuff is going very well (check out the Books On Tape Website).

-- John Rafter Lee (johnlee9@onemain.com), February 18, 2003.

John, I'll certainly be checking around to see your film-- along with the others in the series. Thanks for posting the announcement here. I want to add my voice to yours and Skye's in supporting independent film. Lately, I've been getting pretty fed up with trying to do anything in Hollywood.

And, to avoid starting a new topic, I'll post some notes here:

Re: Reign/Alexander: Years ago, Jack Fletcher and I worked on the English adaptation of the first four episodes before the series was picked up by Tokyopop. Our first-rate cast included John Lee as Aristotle, Denise Poirier as Cassandra, and Julia Fletcher as Olympias.

I was told recently by Tokyopop that episodes 5-13 were dubbed using either the same actors or actors who could match the voices in eps 1-4. It appears I was misled. Apparently, Tokyopop wouldn't spend the money to hire Jack and the original cast. This is maddening, since good actors will often do such work at rather modest pay to begin with.

All I can say is, the DVD will have the Japanese track with English subtitles. So I'd suggest watching 1-4 in English (I think those eps sound better than the Japanese version-- including the mix), then switch to subtitles for 5-13.

I've also just received word that the long-in-coming Aeon Flux live-action feature is being given another big push. Maybe the recent success of big comic book-based movies has something to do with it. Karyn Kusama (previous feature: Girlfight) has been chosen to direct. Projected budget: 80 million. Casting is is progress. Of course, I had to find out this information through a producer friend in Japan-- MTV films never tells me anything.

This naturally raises the prospect of making additional animated episodes. Honestly, I'm not sure I want to at this point. (Sorry, John). I'm more interested now in getting my own INDEPENDENT FEATURE made without the interference of a Hollywood studio. Things are moving forward slowly on that front, but it looks like I'll likely be doing it in Korea starting soon.

And since my friends at Tinhouse are done with Wonderful Days, I'd be foolish not to employ them on my next project. Check out the beautiful NEW TEASER TRAILER:

http://wonderfuldays.co.kr/download/new_trailer.php

(Also, I have a new email address.)

-- Peter Chung (pkchung@sbcglobal.net), February 19, 2003.

Oops forgot to link it:

New Wonderful Days Teaser

(John, I didn't mean to clutter up your topic with unrelated stuff-- but I thought that by posting this here, your page might get some extra traffic.)

-- Peter Chung (pkchung@sbcglobal.net), February 19, 2003.

So much to look forward to!

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), February 19, 2003.

Wow, and I thought I was the only one that had heard of Wonderful Days. I've been hyped about it since I saw their trailer last month, linked by one of my friends. The animation is so beautiful! And the action looks pretty intense.

Do you know if there're any plans for a stateside release?

Also, who would be writing the script for an Aeon Film? I'd want you, but if you're uninterested, well... surely one of the other writers for the series could come in?

I just don't want it to turn into a watered down BDSM fetish action movie... Remain in the spirit of the show, you know?

skye

-- skye (skyknyt@aol.com), February 19, 2003.

Skye, I posted a link to the old trailer at this thread back in October. (I've noticed that since then, the file has been showing up all over the place.) Whereas the link above is for a new version which includes a lot of new footage and new music. Check it out if you've only seen the older one.

As for the AF feature-- well this is about the third time in six years they've said they were ready to go. We'll see what actually happens. And no, I've never been asked to contribute to the writing. Seeing as how I screwed up the writing on the series so badly, no doubt.

-- Peter Chung (pkchung@sbcglobal.net), February 19, 2003.

of course, I can see that. I mean, who would want a writer that supplies actual *depth.* That doesn't sell! BOOBS GUNS VIOLENCE.

... bastards.

I'm not bitter, I swear.

skye

-- skye (skyknyt@aol.com), February 19, 2003.

This "Wonderful Days" movie looks great! But the entire site is in what I can only assume is Korean, or Japanese, or Chinese... It realy all look the same to me(no offense)... I tried to go to the "about wonderful days", but all the text is also non readable to my ignorant eyes... Can someone give me some explaination on the movie? At least tell me whats it about, drives me mad because it realy looks great.

-- zach the new lurker (mr_spidy@hotmail.com), February 19, 2003.

Zach, look here for more on Wonderful Days' plot (it's truly ingenious, IMHO).

If there's anything living in LA has taught me, it's that Hollywood is a business like any other. Just not a particularly well-run one.

-- Inu (paul@nadisrec.com), February 19, 2003.

Why does linking to threads work for Peter and not me? one more try

-- Inu (paul@nadisrec.com), February 19, 2003.

I have to act like a fanboy now and say: Hey John, your my no.1 favourite voice actor, that reason alone is enough for me to have all intention of seeing "Breathing Hard". Hope the animation/character work picks up. In any case, the best of luck, and keep up the awesome work.

-- Sam (janecherrington@paradise.net.nz), February 19, 2003.

Zach, there is info in English on WD at http:// wonderfuldays.co.kr/english/

And, to relate this back to John's original topic, Wonderful Days was independently produced by a small crew of dedicated artists by a first-time director.

The completion and release of this film, along with projects like Breathing Hard, are just the kick in the pants I need.

-- Peter Chung (pkchung@sbcglobal.net), February 20, 2003.

Just watched the second trailer... AMAZING. The music is wonderful, and the art is just fantastic. To be honest, I've been seeing a lot of great stuff come out of Korea lately- Magna Carta, Wonderful Days, Ragnarok, Kim Jong Il transforming into a giant robot...

skye

-- skye (skyknyt@aol.com), February 20, 2003.

Hmm, the english version is a lot less... Fancy.

I like what Im seeing though. Looking forward to seeing it, if that'll be an option.

-- zach the new lurker (mr_spidy@hotmail.com), February 21, 2003.

Wow, I just saw the Wonderful Days trailer. Absolutely beautiful, it looks like a great film. I was impressed with the mixing of hand- drawn and computer animation. Good music, too. And, did anyone else notice Klimt's "The Kiss" in the background of one of the early shots?

Peter, all the best with your independent project. If you do employ Tin House, from what I've seen, it ought to look all the better.

-- Mat Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), February 21, 2003.

ouch

-- (stellastell@aol.com), February 25, 2003.

stellastell! dont leave me hanging, here?

-- (trixino@hotmail.com), February 25, 2003.

It's July, John...I'm curious to hear how the Independent Video Distributors Convention went. Hopefully all went well.

Is there any further news on the distribution for "Breathing Hard" in either rental or sales?

I've harrassed a couple of local video stores and even went out on a limb and asked netflix.com to carry it. Though their "Independent" section is very mainstream, I didn't think it would hurt.

I wish you luck in finding more voice work, as well. I'm always amazed at the amount of skill you have in imparting believable emotions on animated characters and hope to see (or hear) more of you.

-- Ivy Stone (ivyclarice@hotmail.com), July 21, 2003.