School of Thrones

If you're like me and (what seems like) half the western world, you're addicted to Game of Thrones on HBO.

A new web series takes Game of Thrones and plops them into high school. It's an entertaining couple of minutes, and I recommend you check it out.

Highlights for me:

• Families as cliques - I particularly love the swim team Greyjoys and hipster Starks
• That title sequence (!)
• "Have you embraced the Lord of Light as your personal saviour?"

The series has had mixed reactions so far, but I'm enjoying it (episode 2 is now up as well). 

Auckland Art Gallery's White Night

Checked out the Auckland Art Gallery last night. I've lived here all my life, but had never actually been inside. They were running a special event - White Night - as part of the Auckland Arts Festival 2013.

Auckland Art Gallery

I know next to nothing about art, so I spent much of the night saying things like 'I like these colours' and consequently being berated by my sister (who has studied Art History). In spite of my lack of knowledge, I did enjoy the night. In particular, the Victorian paintings and the modern art installations.

Ani O’Neill’s Fresh Eke (Eke nui and babies)
This crocheted octopus was filled with recycled plastic bottles.

Outside the gallery, they had a wall sculpture that you could control using your smartphone. 'Got Milk' by Paul van't Hof is made out of LED lights and plastic milk bottles. A very cool concept, and I especially liked the collaborative aspect of it.

Source: http://artinthedark.co.nz

A long time ago, we used to be friends

There was once a TV series called Veronica Mars. It was dark and witty and oh so addictive. Kind of a cult series, it lasted 3 seasons before being taken off the air.

Until today, when it was announced that they were seeking fan funding to produce a movie. Using Kickstarter, creator Rob Thomas wanted to raise US$2 million. As I write this, US$2.2 million has been raised and counting. It took just 4 and a half hours to raise the goal amount.

I'm super excited for this, for 2 reasons:

1. It's Veronica Mars, one of my favourite TV series of all time. The source of my girl-crush on Kristen Bell.
2. This could potentially open up ways for other fan-favourite IPs to be revived.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that the studio system is dead. Far from it. In fact, I could see the studios themselves jumping in on Kickstarter to raise money, while at the same time minimising risk (free advertising!) and gauging fan interest. Boo hiss.

But I also think that the Veronica Mars Movie Project has the potential to shift things around in the distribution chain. Just like Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog opened the floodgates for internet video (both for amateurs and Hollywood).

A way for film makers and TV creators to tell the stories they want to tell with complete creative freedom, funded by the audience themselves, and delivered directly to them. Cut out the middle-man.

I for one, eagerly await Season 2 of Firefly in my inbox*.

*sigh. I wish.