#also the pink dvd player is based off of the fact that I had a pink dvd player

[funkylittlepenguin]

Just had the funniest fucking realization.

Persona 3 takes place in 2009. In 2009 portable DVD players were still pretty relevant.

Please imagine Minato and Junpei in front of Minato’s pink portable DVD player getting ready to watch something like this

[hockeylvr59]

Secret Love Part 7 || Cale Makar

Requested: [ ] yes [x] no

Authors Note: Sweet man got an apple yesterday and I’m hoping he hits the scoresheet again today. Also I am still DEAD from the photos the avs dropped on us the other day and they are majorly feeding some thoughts... Hopefully, I redeem myself from the cliffhanger with this part. I managed to finish part 8 last night so I plan on starting on part 9 as soon as I actually get some of the things on my to do list done with school starting again this week. (Updates may get slower so just forewarning you about that.) But uh...enjoy and let me know what you think. 

Warnings: smut, cursing.

Word Count: 3,566

~~~~~

You hadn’t even made it two steps before Cale’s hand caught your wrist, gently pulling you back to him. For a moment his expression seemed panicked, but then it softened considerably, a smile breaking onto his face as flickers of awe appeared in his eyes. You watched as he opened his mouth to speak twice, quickly shutting it each time before he finally hummed in content. 

“Is it my baby?” He questioned. “The one you imagine sleeping in there? Are they my kids running around the basement, skating in the backyard?” Though you hesitated, unsure of what answer he wanted to hear, your face must have given you away because Cale’s smile grew, his cheeks flushing.  “You bought this house because you can see our life together here? You couldn’t wait to show me, could you? Hoping that I’d love it as much as you do?” Ducking his head, Cale pressed his lips to yours, easing them together gently. 

“You’re incredible.” He spoke, his breath fanning against your lips. “Would you relax?” He requested. “I’m not going anywhere.” His voice was so self-assured that you couldn’t help but take comfort in it. Kissing you again, Cale moved you over to your living room couch where he sat, pulling you halfway onto his lap.

 “Should we talk about this?” He suggested. “We didn’t want to define this before but I think maybe we should now.” He continued. You’d failed to define things on purpose, not wanting to pressure Cale into anything considering the toxic relationship he’d gotten out of just before your feelings had been revealed. But it had been a few months and if Cale was ready for that step then you needed to hear him out. 

“What do you want?” You whispered, rubbing over your arm as a chill coursed through your body. 

“I want you.” Cale declared. “I want to get to know who you are as more than just my friend. I want to continue to explore this chemistry we have.” Gently his fingers brushed over your thigh, making you shiver for another reason entirely. “I care about you Y/N...and I think I could feel even stronger if given the chance.” 

“So...this is…?” You prompted not wanting to assume anything. Shaking his head, Cale smiled before inching his fingers higher on your thigh. 

“Us dating, an exclusive and serious relationship, you being my girlfriend...take your pick.” Cale grinned. 

“All of the above.” You breathed, almost amazed at how relaxed and sure he seemed about this. It shouldn’t have surprised you but for some reason it did. 

“I like the sound of that.” Cale mused. “But uh...can we keep this between us just for a little while. You know mom will go crazy and…”

“You want to be sure there’s something for her to go crazy over.” You finished. 

“That wasn’t what I was going to say,” Cale said, shaking his head. “That’s already true and I don’t see it changing.” Your heart jumped at his words because indirectly he was saying that this was something he was in for the long haul. Again, you probably could have gathered that from his awed reaction to the two of you having kids together someday, but for some reason, this phrasing was what really hit you hard. “I was going to say that I just want to enjoy this just the two of us for a while before I get looks every time I tell her I’m coming over here.” 

So he wanted to be selfish for a little while, you were totally okay with that. To be honest, you weren’t really looking forward to sharing this with the world just yet either. Still, you had to tease him just a little. 

“You just want the thrill of sneaking around like we’re teenagers again…” You razzed him. Though his cheeks flushed, he didn’t deny it, just shrugging his shoulders in response. 

“Problem?” He asked, his fingers settling at the base of your skull to pull you closer. 

“Nope.” You admitted, closing the distance between the two of you to kiss him again. The feeling of his mouth on yours was becoming addictive, but you didn’t want it any other way. 

By the time you finally pulled away to breathe, you felt calm. Now that the air was clear it seemed like some of the urgency that had lingered in you since his arrival disappeared. It wasn’t that you didn’t still feel needy for his touch, because you did, rather, now you felt secure in the fact that he was yours and so just being held by him was enough. 

“So uh your dad set my tv up for me. I don’t have internet yet but we could watch a movie or tv show on DVD if you want?” You whispered. When Cale nodded, you shifted to let him off the couch before pointing at the box you were certain contained all of your movies. You couldn’t help but admire Cale from behind as he dug through the box, finally making a selection. As you turned the tv on, you watched him pop it in the DVD player before turning to return to you. Suddenly he changed direction, moving over to his bags, and you perched yourself up on the couch, curious as to what had caused the path change. His hand was behind his back when he appeared in front of you again and he wore a sheepish smile. 

“I uh...I brought you something…I forgot about it until just now.” He explained, moving his hand to pass you the object. It was a photo frame and when you turned it over you gasped. Inside was a picture of the two of you from the night at the bar with the Avs. Cale was talking to someone, eyes bright and that lazy drunk grin on his face. You, on the other hand, were just resting against his shoulder like there was no place you’d rather be than tucked into his side. It was a cute picture and you immediately moved to place it on the fireplace mantle. “Lauren sent it to me and I thought it might make you smile.” Cale murmured. 

“It’s perfect.” You assured him, slipping your arms around his waist as you leaned in for a soft kiss. “Now what movie did you pick?” You inquired, the two of you settling back down to cuddle on the couch. A glance at the screen revealed the title screen for The Princess Bride and you giggled totally satisfied with his choice. 

Cuddling on the couch with your head on Cale’s chest was your new favorite way to spend an evening. You quoted parts of the movie to each other, Cale making you giggle each time. At one point he murmured against your head and when you couldn’t make out the words you pulled back just enough to look at him. 

“What was that?” You inquired. Cale looked at you like he didn’t expect to be caught and he shook his head as if to say it was nothing. For a moment you were prepared to let it go, but after how much Cale had prodded you to be open with him all evening, you felt you deserved the same. “Talk to me, Cale.” You nudged gently. His cheeks started turning pink again and you brushed your thumb over one of them, trying to reassure him. 

“I said I hope our kids get your giggle.” He eventually caved and admitted. 

“Oh.” You breathed, that not being what you expected at all. Cale opened his mouth again and you shook your head. “You don’t have to explain yourself Cale, you’re allowed to think those things. But if you want to talk about it, I’m all ears. I mean...I know you’re probably not ready to be seriously thinking about having kids and that’s okay, I’m not going to rush you, I know we’re at different stages…” Not realizing you’d started to ramble, you were shocked to be cut off by Cale’s mouth against yours. 

After kissing you, Cale leaned back against the couch and his eyes focused on the movie once more. You figured he wanted to drop the subject, so you complied, laying your head back down against him. 

“I’ve uh...I’ve had a lot of time to process what happened with Sara…” Cale eventually whispered. “And god I was terrified when she told me she was pregnant. But I don’t think that fear was at the thought of having a baby...it was the fear of having a baby with her.” You didn’t know what to do with that statement and you hoped Cale had more that he wanted to say. “Like I suspected she was cheating. I knew our relationship wasn’t good anymore. Having a baby in that situation would have just been a mess…” 

Cale paused to laugh at the scene on the screen in front of you but after a moment you felt him press a kiss to the top of your head. “But uh...I don’t think I’d be so scared if the situation was right…” That seemed to be all that Cale had to say and you nodded against him, his words lingering in your head. You had no idea what he meant by the ‘situation being right’ but it certainly felt like he was implying that he was open to kids with you at some point in the semi-distant future. 

Deciding that worrying about kids right now was just an exercise in insanity, you shifted your focus back to the movie and the man whose body you were snuggled into. This was new and good and you were going to enjoy it. You had Cale for the summer and you planned to make the most of that time with him. There were so many things left to discover about each other and so many experiences to share. It had been a long time since you were in a relationship and though this wasn’t anything like your previous relationships, you were going to take your time getting to know Cale in all of these new ways. 

When the credits finally started rolling across the screen you glanced up again to find Cale’s eyes on you. You weren’t sure how long he’d been staring, but you poked his side as a contented smile settled onto your face. 

“What are you thinking?” You teased, your eyebrows raised. 

“That you’re beautiful.” He said softly. “And that I can’t wait to spend the summer with you.” His thumb brushed against your cheek as he brushed a stray strand of hair from your face. “But also that I just want to take you to bed.” He finished, desire flickering in his eyes. 

“Lead the way.” You murmured, turning the tv off as Cale stood up. 

When the two of you reached the bedroom, Cale sat on the edge of the bed pulling you between his muscular thighs. With his hands on your hips, you watched as he pressed his head into your stomach for a minute before pulling back. 

“Can we take our time tonight?” He requested, his touch featherlight as his thumbs grazed your sides. 

“Of course, handsome.” You agreed, your fingers shifting to tangle in his hair. He didn’t react right away but after a moment his fingers slipped under your tank, slowly inching the fabric up your body. His mouth followed his hands, pressing kisses to your stomach, your ribs, and up along your sternum. Your breath hitched as first your tank and then your bra hit the floor for the second time today. 

“God I can’t get over how perfect you are.” Cale praised, a soft but wicked gleam present as he gazed at you. “And don’t tell me you’re not because you are.” Taking compliments had always been something you struggled with and Cale clearly knew it. The words of denial on your lips were quickly forgotten, however, when Cale lifted you, gently laying you back against the mattress. 

The way he was exploring your body was reverent and as much as you needed more, you were basking under his attention. There wasn’t a divet or curve Cale left unexplored. He hadn’t even touched you anywhere good yet but already you were aching for him. When his mouth latched onto one of your breasts, his teeth lightly scraping against your nipple, you were certain he could make you cum doing only that. Your body arched into him, your hands scraping against his lower back under his shirt until he pulled back to shed the offending fabric from his torso. 

“Look at you.” He mumbled, pressing himself against you, his lips seeking out yours again. “So beautiful. All mine.” 

“Yessss…” The whine left your throat as you attempted to thread your fingers under the waistband of his shorts. 

“Uh uh.” He immediately chastised, his hand quickly grasping both of yours, pinning them to the bed above your head. “Not yet.” He warned, his voice and the small act of domination making you shiver beneath him. His fingers showed off his dexterity as he undid the button on your shorts. “Keep them there.” He warned again, letting go of your wrists for just a moment while he worked your shorts and panties off of your body. Too absorbed in what he was going to do next, you left your hands where he’d placed them. As he hovered over you once more, his knee parting your thighs, you felt his mouth nip along your neck before he kissed you again. 

“Good girl.” He praised, “Guess I should reward you for being so good for me.” He mused, mischief crossing his expression before settling in his eyes. You felt his hand slip down your side before grazing along your thigh. Finally, his thumb bumped against your clit and you couldn’t help but moan when your skin sparked under his touch. “You’re so wet…” Cale breathed, his voice softening. 

“Cale…” You whimpered, your hips attempting to arch into his hand as much as you could while being held in place by his solid body. Leveraging you back down with his body, Cale slipped first one thick finger and then a second into your core. “Oh fuck.” You cursed as Cale curled his fingers just right, making your entire body hot. He continued to spread you apart, his actions slow and deliberate as the knot in your stomach started to tighten. 

If he was this good with his fingers and that good with his dick, you could only imagine what having his mouth on you would feel like when you finally reached that point. “Holy shit Cale right…” A choked gasp interrupted your sentence as Cale’s fingers scissored inside of you. As he curled them against your inner walls again, you felt your body snap and you cried out as your orgasm crashed over you. As your body finally drifted back down to reality you realized Cale was sitting back on his knees, licking his fingers clean of your juices. 

“You taste sweet.” Cale declared and for a moment all you could do was laugh. Cale eyed you, probably thinking you were crazy as you sat up to kiss him. Everything about this was surreal and in a way overwhelming. “Y/N?” Cale inquired, his forehead resting against yours. 

“I’m good.” You assured him, your hands settling at his hips. “You just keep surprising me that’s all.” 

“Mmm...is that right?” Cale breathed, his fingers trailing down your back. 

“It is.” You grinned. “Believe it or not, I tried not to think about your sex life so all of this is new to me.” With his attention focused on your words, you were able to slide your fingers under the waistband of his shorts, your hands sliding down to cup the globes of his ass. “You’ve got a bit of a kinky side under the boy next door exterior.” You teased. 

“You aren’t as innocent as you appear either,” Cale smirked, his hips rolling back into your hands. 

“I never claimed to be.” You chirped, pushing at his shorts and boxer briefs wanting him free from the rest of his clothes. “Now are you going to fuck me?” You inquired, your neediness slipping back into your tone. 

“Nope.” Cale’s response threw you, especially when he helped you slide his clothing off before leaning over to where he’d stashed the box of condoms earlier. “Lay back sunshine. Let me take care of you.” He guided you to lay back against the pillows, settling his body over you. As he rolled the condom into place, Cale lifted your leg to drape over his hip and then gently and slowly pressed into you. It had only been a few hours since he’d last been inside you, but you’d missed the feeling of fullness that settled in your bones when you were connected like this. 

With arms pressed to either side of your head to hold him above you, Cale rolled his hips, creating just the slightest bit of friction. It was slow and felt beyond intimate and suddenly you understood everything. Cale wasn’t going to fuck you because this was so much more than that. This was the two of you connecting in the most intimate way; it was more than physical, it was emotional. 

Lifting your other leg to wrap around his waist, you tilted your head to kiss along his jaw. The new position allowed him to roll his hips deeper inside of you and you melded your mouth to his, pouring everything you felt for him into it. 

You weren’t sure how long the two of you had been like this, time seemed to be an illusion as your bodies worked slowly in tandem to bring each other pleasure. You could feel your orgasm slowly build, so steadily that you were certain you’d know when your orgasm was about to crest. Then Cale slid a hand under your back forcing your hips to arch and suddenly you were screaming his name as heat and pleasure and relief and love hit you one after the other in waves. Cale followed you into your orgasm, his moans serving as the greatest sound you’d ever heard. 

Kissing his shoulder, you waited for him to come down from his orgasm, your legs still wrapped firmly around his hips. He moved to pull out but you shook your head. 

“Just wait a minute please.” You requested. Cale complied, his nose brushing against your jaw as he buried his face into your neck. As much as you never wanted him to part from you, you knew he needed to and so after a moment you gingerly let your legs drop back to the mattress, whining at the feeling of your aching muscles. Your legs weren’t the only thing that ached as Cale pulled out of you, but somehow as he moved to dispose of the condom, you were able to move to use the bathroom, peeing and cleaning yourself up. 

Moving back into your room you decided that you were too tired to search for clean clothes and you certainly weren’t going to sleep in your dirty ones. So you slipped into bed as you were, yawning softly. You wondered what was taking Cale so long but you heard water running so you figured he was washing his hands and cleaning up himself. Instead, he returned with a bottle of water and a bottle of pills. Shaking a set of pills from the latter, he offered them and the water out to you. 

“So you’re not as sore in the morning.” He murmured. Grateful, you took them downing half of what was in the bottle as well because you definitely had not had enough to drink today. “Go ahead and finish it, I can refill it from the tap.” He insisted. Whispering your thanks you finished it off before laying back down. After refilling the bottle from the bathroom tap, Cale set it beside the bed and then crawled in beside you, his arms behind his head as if inviting you to snuggle against him. 

Taking the invitation, you snuggled close, your head resting on his shoulder. As soon as you were settled, he dropped his arms draping one around you. 

“I’m glad you flew in early.” You breathed. This was your first night in your new home and spending it with Cale just felt right. Like it was just the first of many in the years to come. “Today’s been...amazing.” 

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Cale replied, his lips pressing against your forehead. It was easy to start falling asleep, but you hummed in acknowledgement when Cale spoke your name. “We need to get you a bigger bed.” He mumbled. “Doubles are not made for 6 feet tall guys.” Giggling into his shoulder you smiled contentedly. “We’ll move this bed to the guest room and I’ll buy you a bigger bed. You can call it your housewarming present.” He insisted. That wasn’t a battle you were going to fight with him, you’d do pretty much anything to make sure that he was comfortable here, so you kissed his shoulder. 

“Alright Cale...now go to sleep.” You teased. Less than one day in, you already knew this was going to be the greatest summer ever. 

[ilovethetalkingclock]

A Not-Sew-Magical Sequel (LALALOOPSY CREEPYPASTA)

(WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS CONTENT LIKE LANGUAGE, GORE, DEATH, PARASITES, DROWNING AND DARK COMEDY. IF YOU GET SCARED BY THIS, DON'T YELL AT ME FOR IT. YOU CHOSE TO READ IT.) 

(story under the cut, based on a dream I had)

(don’t worry, it’s not a screamer, i’d never do that.)

No matter how many years passed and will pass, I liked and will still like Lalaloopsy. All the characters and concepts were and still are very interesting (though Jewel was always my least favorite) and the couple episodes I saw of both the original show and the reboot of Netflix were cute and in the case of the reboot actually very emotional. I also watched all the movies and while a majority of them were slightly flawed one way or another, that didn’t stop them from being good. Hearing the toys being discontinued and the Netflix show canceled indeed made my heart sink.

But that’s not all what I wanted to talk about. Onto Lala-Oopsies.

If you don’t recall, Lala-Oopsies was a spinoff line. As the name suggested, the characters were in mixed rainbow colors and body proportions that deviated from the usual Lalaloopsy dolls, looking like, in my own words, mutants. They came as princess/ballerina hybrids and mermaids, with the ‘Littles’ (which in the original Lalaloopsy line, were the younger sisters) as fairies. They had one movie, “Lala-Oopsies: A Sew Magical Tale”. It was like all the others, cute, a bit funny, and a simple Lalaloopsy adventure with the Lala-Oopsies.

What I never knew was that they were apparently planning on a sequel.

I was at a garage sale of sorts (i know, very cliche) when I found a blank DVD case. Here’s what it read:

“LALA-OOPSIES-SEQUEL(UNFINISHED)”

“Is this a joke?”

“Oh, that!” The owner of the sale noticed me and casually went on “I worked at MGA Entertainment… they were making a sequel to the Lala-Oopsies movie… some guy decided to make that, apparently as a joke, and he was fired as it had quite a bit of… crazy stuff. We decided to cancel it altogether as we didn’t have any other ideas... We were handed copies of it from the guy who made it before he was fired. The footage is all there. There’s a lot more stuff that happened after that, but I don’t really wanna go into full detail. If you wanna know completely, it’s worth only a dollar. Not somethin’ I’d wanna watch again.”

Out of morbid curiosity, I agreed to buy the thing.

So I went home, made sure to get my DVD player on, and opened the case. There were two discs. One that read “MOVIE” and another that just had random scribbles on it. I tried to make out if the second one actually said anything, but I couldn’t read it for shit. I got out the one that read “MOVIE”, making sure it was the film itself, and placed it in.

Hoo boy, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

There was no menu or trailers, though that was kinda expected considering it was unfinished. It just went straight to the movie.

It all looked official one way or another. Some scenes were fully animated, others were simple animatics, others were in between. But I’ll just say before we get on that it was not at all the usual Lalaloopsy fare. There was no sign of anyone’s pets at all throughout the whole movie.  There wasn’t any music, like, at all, and that just made it a bit more unsettling.

Well, most of it wasn’t. It started off like your usual Lalaloopsy movie. Bea was walking down a path and singing a song about math to herself. A rather bad one, if you ask me. So bad, I have easily forgot about it. While walking, she finds the door that leads to Lala-Oopsies Land.

As the first movie took place in mostly a story that Bea was reading, she is surprised that apparently Lala-Oopsies are true. She leaves to find her friends, the rest of the Original 8 to be exact, and tell her all about it. This exchange from the conversation is what mainly caught me off guard.

Jewel: “So you just managed to find something from a story you read once in reality? I don’t believe it one bit.”

Spot: “Jewel. This is felting BEA SPELLS-A-LOT we’re talking about. The brains? The genius? The nerd? The know-it-all? She doesn’t seem to be making it up.”

Was felt their way of saying fuck? That was not in the other Lalaloopsy stuff I knew, as it was aimed at young children. I figured that was at least one of the reasons it was never finished. I decided to keep watching to find more reasons.

The Lalaloopsies were at the door to Lala-Oopsies Land, and as she didn’t believe it before as shown by the previous exchange I wrote about, Jewel was understandably dumbfounded. “Felt me, there really is a Lala-Oopsies Land…”

So of course they all opened the door and entered. Only as it turned out Lala-Oopsies land… wasn’t exactly as the story told.

The skies were orange like the original, but were more of a sickly shade of it. The ground was grey, rotted, and corpse-like. The mushroom ‘trees’ looked much more like actual fungi, and the strawberry-milk rivers and seas looked spoiled and curdled, and I could even make out a skeleton (presumably of a drowned Oopsie) in them. Bea probably put it best.

“Well… it seems the book apparently romanticized a couple details…”

The group decided to venture in and explore anyway. I couldn’t help but bring up the fact that a couple of them coughed quite a bit when they went in. Okay, scratch that, they were coughing violently, like they just inhaled smoke.

Pillow: “Felting seamstress, this place is polluted.”

As they were walking through, some sort of large insectoid jumped right on Peanut’s face Alien-style. Now I could really see why this movie didn’t make it. Obviously, everyone was panicking at the sight and trying to get the bug off. It wasn’t until like half a minute that Bea managed to find a stick on the ground and strongly swatted the insect away from Peanut’s face, though it seemed she also hit the face from this dialogue...

Peanut: “TRY AVOIDING THE FACE YOU IDIOTIC FELTING STITCH.”

...and stabbed the insect multiple times, pink-ish blood spraying from the body, gore getting everywhere. The other seven were so disgusted that Crumbs vomited right on-screen from the sight. Organs were coming out of the creature as Bea stabbed, and as I looked close enough the organs seemed rather human-like. That was pretty weird as the insect didn’t look human at all. 

Well at least I found another reason for this movie’s rejection.

Before Bea turned the monster into an unrecognizable bloodied mush, I could make the colors of the insect to be that of the Lala-Oopsies fairy Lilac, hot pink and sky blue. Nah, I’m pretty sure it was just a coincidence. And yet…

Oh, that reminds me of another scene that happened later on.

The eight were venturing on into the islands riding on some sort of old rusted boat they found, and then suddenly some sort of sea serpent or something like that i dunno with the same color scheme as the mermaid Water Lily rose from the rotted strawberry milk oceans. Bea tried to row the boat away, but the monster attacked and even picked Jewel up and devoured her. There wasn’t any doll stuffing or anything cute like that. Jewel’s remains actually spurted crimson blood and human entrails as she was being chomped down on and eventually swallowed. Screaming as if the actress herself was getting violently disemboweled.

I can still hear her agonized screams as I write this, so that’s pretty annoying. 

Pillow’s reaction perfectly described mine.

“HOLY FELTING SILK.”

My god... how the heck was a doll said to be sewn from a dress able to have human blood and guts?! Then again, it was a cartoon… a rather gory one if ya ask me.

In all honesty though, Jewel’s death was horrific yet satisfying for me. I never liked her the slightest.

During the attack, Mittens and Spot fell into the strawberry milk ocean as the boat was destroyed. It didn’t show the rest of what happened to them so I can safely assume they were either eaten or drowned. Or both.

So the ones left were Crumbs, Peanut, Dot, Pillow, and Bea.

They latched onto the boat’s remains as they headed to a large island.

The island’s inhabitants were all the princess ballerinas, both in the first movie and toy-exclusive, mutated to grotesque proportions, their hair all mussy and in tangles. Most of the princess’s faces were obscured by their hair, but the ones I was able to see were distorted in such a way I can’t really describe that well, though I’ll admit they looked pretty damn cool. Oh, their clothes were also a wreck too so yeah.

Crumbs became an idiot and decided to go up close to one (can’t remember which, i think it was Saffron?) to try and approach it friendly enough.

Saffron, like a wild animal, lunged at Crumbs and proceeded to violently rip her to shreds, and sure enough it was just as gruesome as Jewel’s death.

I remember just thinking to myself, “what the hell was this person on when making this?”

And yes, the remaining girls were horrified by that too and ran from the princesses as fast as they could.

Remember the scene I mentioned earlier with Peanut apparently getting attacked by that bug? Welp, they didn’t forget about that. Peanut immediately fell over, having a rather violent fit as she struggled for breath, her skin deteriorating as multi-colored insect larva ate their way out of her everywhere, some even lunging out like the chestbursters in Alien. (yes I know I already made that comparison before but still) They then proceeded to lunge at Pillow and devour her alive as she could only scream and the final two, Bea and Dot, could only watch.

As Pillow was honestly one of my most favorite Lalaloopsy, I just felt awful watching that.

Another princess, Anise, which I recognized full and clear with her pink and blue coloring, approached what remained of Pillow and grabbed some of the larvae, putting it in her mouth and devouring it, as her mouth was coated in a rainbow goo like that one My Little Pony episode with the zombies. 

I would say it was disgusting, but a mutant doll eating a worm was the least of my worries. 

She managed to speak words, which was strange because the princesses here were, again, mostly animalistic. Her voice was rather gravely, only vaguely sounding like the original.

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING COMING TO A PLACE LIKE THIS?”

Okay, they weren’t even trying with that line.

Anise proceeded to grab Bea and beat her, but thankfully Bea was able to kick Anise right in the face, knocking her out before the grotesquely mutated princess could finish the job. Dot swiftly took Bea’s hand. Struggling to get up at first, the badly bruised Bea managed to get on her feet and run as Anise came to.

As they ran, Bea and Dot finally found the door where they came in. It tugged my heartstrings seeing the two tearfully look back, apparently reminiscing their friends, before leaving Lala-Oopsies Land for good.

It then cut to Bea in bed, very ill. She was apparently covered in radiation tumors and her hair was almost gone. Apparently the island was highly radioactive. Dot was next to her bed in tears, as Bea weakly said her final words.

“I’m sorry, Dot… sorry… for everything...”

Violently coughing blood, Bea finally kicked the bucket as Dot sobbed hysterically. The movie cut to black and ended there with, surprise-surprise, no credits whatsoever.

All I thought of was “How the hell did Bea get sick from radiation poisoning but Dot didn’t?”

So anyway I took the movie disc out and put in the one with all the scribbles.

It was a compilation of recorded clips, all of them surprisingly in the MGA Entertainment headquarters itself I presume.

One clip I remember was a Lala-Oopsies Princess Anise doll flying, chasing a random employee as said employee was in a panic. Yea it was a weird one.

Another consisted of another employee testing out a Princess Juniper doll. As they were squishing the head, (the Lala-Oopsies dolls had squishy foam heads) the doll suddenly started to bleed violently. Not gonna lie, I laughed at what the employee said.

“GOD DAMN IT GARY WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT MAKING THE DOLLS BLEED.”

Last one I remember was two employees talking to each other. One of them asked the other,

“What exactly was your motivation in making this weird-ass movie?”

The other employee just responded in a weird reverse demonic gibberish I didn’t have time to translate. The first employee’s only response was a flat “what”. Exactly my reaction too. I decided that was enough and took out that disc and put it away.

Where’s the case now?

In one of my shelves. I’m keeping it. I just think it’s pretty unique in a way.

Not like it’s cursed or anything.

The End

[gachaesthetic]

Gacharic Spin & DOLL$BOXX Information Masterpost 2018

Warning: this is quite a long post, if you’re just looking for videos and song recommendations you can just scroll straight to the end

Gacharic Spin is an all-female rock band based in Tokyo, Japan, formed in 2009 by two friends and former high school classmates, F Chopper KOGA and Hana. Their sound varies wildly, from hard rock to dance pop to funk, but usually settles somewhere around the range of energetic electro-influenced pop rock. Their signature assets according to fans include their talented musical skill (particularly the technical slap-bass of F Chopper KOGA), complex songwriting, wild visual aesthetics, and an unforgettable live concert experience.

In terms of their marketing strategy, you might think of Gachapin (the band’s nickname) as a rock band that leans on some of the tactics of the grassroots idol scene. Members have a designated color, and you can guarantee that at any live show you’ll see a sea of fans decked out in their favorite member’s color. They’re very active on social media and take several opportunities throughout the year to interact with their fans, at in-store meet and greets and photo op events, at the merch booth at their shows, at fanclub-exclusive casual gatherings, etc. The band takes their touring schedule very seriously, performing upwards of 100 shows per year throughout the country, and each show is a spectacle, rife with penlights, costumes, props, choreography, and fan chants. Performer Mai, the band’s own hype-woman, leads the crowd in these interactive elements of the shows, and the fans dance and chant in sync in harmony with the band--a far cry from the usual fist-pump-head-bob of your typical rock concert and more in line with what you’d expect to find at an idol show. But don’t let their appearance fool you: the members of Gacharic Spin are some of the most technically proficient female musicians active in the scene today.

DOLL$BOXX is a side project of Gacharic Spin and their friend and vocalist, Fuki. They are a more traditional rock band and more familiar to overseas audiences, with their music video Take My Chance practically viral on Youtube with 2.5 million views. More on them later in the side projects section, but if you found this article through your exposure to DOLL$BOXX, welcome! You’re lucky enough to have stumbled upon not just one but two amazing bands and I hope you’ll give your support to both of them.

Gacharic Spin Members

(left photo is in Gacharic Spin, right photo is DOLL$BOXX - except Mai)

F Chopper KOGA (2009 - present)

Position: Bass, Leader

Real Name: Koga Michiko

Color: Yellow (Green in DOLL$BOXX)

The leader and founding member of the band, F Chopper KOGA (interchangeably called Chopper or KOGA for short) is the emotional core of Gacharic Spin. She is the spokesperson for the band, appearing in radio interviews and leading the MC’s during concerts. Toward the end of the larger concerts, she is known to give a heartful, tear-filled speech of appreciation to the fans and her fellow members. Her bass skills are no less than virtuosic; she plays a slap-bass style inspired by Les Claypool. She has released two instructional bass DVD’s and was named in the top 20 bass players alive in a Japanese magazine ranking (the only female to make the cut for ANY instrument in that article). She is also influenced by KISS and especially Gene Simmons, whom she credits as the inspiration for Gacharic Spin’s gregarious performance style.

KOGA is often teased by her bandmates for her tone-deaf singing (she’s the only current member without any lead vocal credits) and for occasionally stumbling over her rapid-fire words, for which she’s been given the nickname Kami-sama (written 噛み様, a pun on the verb 噛む “to fumble one’s words”). Outside of the band, she’s devoted to her dog Suku, who is an unofficial mascot of the band. She’s also interested in radio work and hosted her own regular radio show for about a year.

Hana (2009-present)

Position: Drums, Vocals

Real Name: Sano Hana

Color: Blue

In addition to her full plate as the band’s drummer and one of the two lead vocalists, Hana, described as a “musical otaku” by her bandmates, is also the musical leader and main songwriter of Gachapin. In her career she’s something of a perfectionist and spends long hours in the studio practicing and writing, even without the other members present. Hana is a long time veteran of the music world. Growing up, she lacked any real hobbies and enrolled in some dance classes for something to do, and ended up auditioning for some idol groups at her musician parents’ encouragement. She joined the youth idol group PRECOCI and later joined the kids’ band 12.Hitoe as a vocalist, but it wasn’t until high school that she started to experiment with playing instruments. Today, she can play at least ten instruments, and in past bands has been a bassist and a guitarist. You can even see her on rhythm guitar in Gacharic Spin’s song “Boku Dake no Cinderella.”

Despite her serious demeanor towards her work, Hana is just as goofy as her bandmates. During her drum solos at concerts she’s known to don a yellow helmet with cowbells and jingle bells duct taped to it. She was also named the “Bakadan Leader,” the biggest idiot in the group, after a quiz event. She’s also the most prone to getting pranked by her bandmates; she’s had her drumsticks swapped out for chopsticks, she showed up to her birthday event to find her bandmates all dressed in her stage costumes from throughout the years, and she got slapped with the unwanted nickname “King” that’s haunted her ever since. Outside the band, she’s into fitness (just take a look at her biceps sometime), currently learning boxing and practicing to climb Mt. Fuji. She also has a fondness for birds.

TOMO-ZO (2010-present)

Position: Guitar

Real Name: Midorikawa Tomoko

Color: Pink

TOMO-ZO is the self-described “idol-type” of the group. Wherever she wanders, you’re sure to see an absurd amount of pink, glitter, bubbles, and toothy smiles. In the early years of the band, her gimmick was that she was an eternally 14 year old magical girl, and during MC’s she would hit the audience with a magic spell that would knock them back into their seats. In 2014, she came out to put the record straight: she was not actually a magical girl, but in fact an ancient alien from Nicorin Planet who is currently 400,000,014 years old, and now she hits the audience with her “TOMO-ZO Beam” which blasts them with her alien...psionic powers or something. I don’t know. Her sweet personality is also a little shady; during oneman concerts she gets her own MC section where she “introduces” each of her bandmates by telling an embarrassing story about them, and then introduces herself by saying something like, “I’m sorry that I’m so cute!”

As the only guitarist of the group, TOMO-ZO has a lot of responsibility in delivering Gachapin’s melody while Hana and KOGA drive the rhythm. And even though she isn’t officially listed as a vocalist, she always gets at least one lead vocal song in each album. They’re usually ridiculous. She’s also the only member to have performed a solo tour outside of the group. Additionally, she is responsible for designing all of Gachapin’s merchandise. TOMO-ZO is known both for her sweet tooth (she’s known to carry around lots of sweet treats and once said that her dream was to have a house made of candy) as well as for discreetly being a big carnivore. Hilariously, TOMO-ZO is the leader of the strait-laced, dark color schemed, super serious DOLL$BOXX.

Oreo Reona (2012 - present)

Position: Keyboard, Vocals

Real Name: Suzuki Reona

Color: Purple (with white as a secondary color)

On paper, Oreo Reona (also called Oreo or Oreo-sama) is the keyboardist and one of two lead vocals, but in practice, she’s...so many things. Something like Gachapin’s trump card, during a live performance you’re likely to see her all over the place, rushing out to the front of the stage to join Mai as one of the dancers, jamming on the keytar or even playing acoustic guitar on certain songs, and of course, standing upright on her keyboard during climactic moments of the show. She’s the self-proclaimed “sexy member,” with lots of moans and suggestive motions, but she’s just as much the band’s comic relief. Sometimes you’ll see her sporting tiny shorts, fishnets, and a light-up bra harness that shoots out fog. Sometimes she snatches off her own wig mid-concert and waves it around in midair. Sometimes she’s a hamburger. It’s a beautiful mess. She’s often the victim of slapstick in the group - getting pans dropped on her or smacked in the back of a head with a shoe; forced to bungee jump as she shrieks at the top of her lungs; getting her face crushed into her own birthday cake. And sometimes she’s her own victim and takes a faceplant onstage. It’s OK. She’s sturdy.

Oreo is usually teased for her laziness behind the stage and for her big appetite. Whenever the band goes overseas, you’re guaranteed to see a social media post about Oreo gushing over the food. Another running gag is her ongoing, unsuccessful struggle to find a good man, which was the theme of an entire tour in 2016. Oreo studied ballet as a kid, and subsequently became Gachadan’s dance coach when they became part of the lineup. She adores pandas, especially after Gachapin visited China in 2013 and she drew the short stick to get to hold a baby panda. Lately, she’s also taken an interest in Mexico (mostly because of the food). Despite her constant antics, the members seem to think highly of Oreo’s intellect, as she was ranked the #1 most likely to pass a general knowledge quiz.

Mai (2013 - present)

Position: Performer #1

Real Name: Morishita Mai

Color: Light Blue

Mai is currently the sole member of Gacha Gacha Dancers (Gachadan for short). Rather than playing an instrument, Gachadan is responsible for standing center stage and leading the choreography and getting the crowd pumped up and playing along. Mai has one lead vocalist credit to her name (Tokenai Candy, which was released as Gacha Gacha Dancers together with Arisa). Mai is in charge of creating choreography for the whole band, and after Nenne’s departure in 2017, she started to take on even more responsibilities. She’s started to learn guitar under TOMO-ZO’s tutelage and now plays guitar occasionally during Gachapin’s lives, and has a guitar line and rap verses in the lead track from the G-litter album, “Redline.” She’s also been responsible for coaching Gachadan Jr. On top of all that, Gachadan used to promote independently as an idol unit outside of Gachapin, with their own concerts, but that has stopped since Nenne’s departure. Mai is not a member of DOLL$BOXX, but she did make a cameo in their “Hero” music video.

Despite her slim body, Mai is well known for her big appetite. She’s often posting on her blog about different ice cream flavors she’s tried and asking for recommendations; she’s also a fan of REALLY spicy food. She likes South Korean culture and music. She’s often called “Sweet Devil” because, according to her bandmates, her innocent face is just a cover to hide her true nature. She’s also Hana’s #1 workout buddy. Outside of Gachapin she has a prolific gravure idol career as part of the Chu-Boh idol circle, but she hasn’t been active in gravure since graduating high school a couple years back.

Gachadan Jr. (2017 - present)

Gachadan Jr. aren’t really true members of Gachapin, but rather are a rotating stable of performers that back up Mai onstage. In 2017, Performer #3 Nenne took a hiatus due to medical reasons, but much of Gachapin’s choreography relied on having 2 bodies at center stage, so Gachapin recruited about 20 young girls to participate in one of their big concerts. Nenne left the group permanently, and instead of hiring a full-time replacement for her, the Gachadan Jr. lineup was pared down to three girls who rotate to appear in certain live performances: Misaki, Anna, and Hazuki.

Former Members

Eita (2009)

Position: Guitar

Eita was the original guitarist of Gacharic Spin, but left due to creative differences before any CDs were released and was soon replaced by TOMO-ZO. Years later, Eita formed a band with Armmy called TAKAEITA.

Armmy (2009-2012)

Position: Vocals

Real Name: Ashitomi Takae

At the start of Gachapin’s existence, the band only had one dedicated vocalist, with Hana solely listed as the drummer. Like Oreo, Armmy’s character was based on over-the-top sexiness that sometimes eked into comic territory. Armmy left the group after an extended period of absence in 2011 due to poor health. She was off the music scene for a while but then formed a band with EITA, but unfortunately she passed away suddenly in 2015.

Arisa (2013-2015)

Position: Performer #2

Real Name: Kamiki Arisa

Color: Green

Arisa was hired alongside Mai as the first generation of Gacha Gacha Dancers in 2013. She was adored by her fans for her “genki,” “baka,” goofy personality. Despite that, she also had an occasional friendly rivalry with Oreo about who was the sexiest member. Just after Gachapin’s major debut in 2015, Arisa decided to leave the group to focus on her last year of high school. She hasn’t been seen on the entertainment scene since then.

Nenne (2015-2017)

Position: Performer #3

Real Name: Konishi Nene

Color: Orange

Nenne was an underclassman at Mai’s school who attended the same dance classes as her, so Mai invited her to come see some of Gachapin’s live shows and got to know the members. When Arisa announced her intention to graduate, Nenne became a natural candidate to replace her, as she had been a member of two idol groups in the past and could also play piano. They began to train Nenne behind the scenes before Arisa’s departure, so Nenne was ready to go iimmediately after Arisa left. Nenne was the first to push the envelope of the Gachadan position as she also acted as a backup keyboardist/pianist to Oreo. This granted flexibility to the band, letting Oreo come out front as more of a lead vocalist while Nenne took her station at the back of the stage. You can hear Nenne’s work throughout the Music Battler album, including the twin piano duel at the start of Nostalgic Blue. Nenne went on hiatus from the group in 2017 due to hearing damage. She spent several months in recovery, and while the condition did improve, but she decided to fully withdraw from the group to prevent any future damage. She remains in contact with the members and attends some of their lives, and she also remains active on Instagram and Twitter.

History

Ultimately, the story of Gacharic Spin is the story of KOGA, so it’s worthwhile to take a few paragraphs to tell her story. Born and raised in Nagoya, KOGA set off on her own at age 14 to move to Tokyo to get her foot into the entertainment industry with a dream to become a TV announcer or producer. She soon met a producer named Kihara Michiko, the president of the briskcrew talent agency, who signed KOGA on to her agency as a gravure idol (think racy swimsuit modelling). One day, briskcrew decided that the idols on its roster were going to hold a fanclub event, and encouraged the idols to come up with fun ideas for the fans. Some of KOGA’s seniors approached her about their idea to form a one-time band for the event, and since the other members had already chosen the other instruments, KOGA was left with being the bassist, despite never playing one before. The fan event was such a success that briskcrew decided to make the band a permanent fixture, and the punk-pop group The Pink Panda was formed.

At the same time, KOGA was working part time at a recording studio, which gave her a chance to broaden her horizons and learn about different rock bands that she heard the studio musicians covering. Her two biggest influences were Primus, which lead to her adopting her signature slap-bass style that became the basis for her nickname, and KISS, whose theatrical, over the top performance style she wanted to emulate.

Pink Panda grew in popularity and started to get scouted by major labels. What happened next is subject for debate, but KOGA’s side of the story is something like this: the record label wanted Pink Panda to tone down their boisterous style and try to go more mainstream, and specifically they noted that they’d never had a female slap bassist sell well. Rather than kick their friend out of the group, Pink Panda decided to split amicably with a full breakup. The remaining members, minus KOGA, went on to form another band called Blistar.

Short on cash, KOGA was ready to throw in the towel and move back to Nagoya, but her producer, Kihara, seeing the talent KOGA had, pleaded with her to stay. If KOGA would give it one more chance and form another band, she’d have the full support of briskcrew behind her all the way to the end. KOGA agreed but with conditions: this would be her last band, and she would only do it if one other person agreed to join: her high school classmate (and onetime bandmate in a jam band she was temporarily in during the Pink Panda days), Sano Hana. Hana was already in a band of her own at the time, so KOGA was surprised when Hana immediately agreed. Originally the plan was for Hana to continue working in her old band concurrently, but since she was a bassist in that band and KOGA wanted her to be the drummer in the new band, she decided to give one up and give her full attention to just one instrument.

The two founding members named the band Gacharic Spin. Orginally it was a bacronym because they liked the word “Gachapin” and wanted something they could shorten to that. Now, they explain it as a combination of “Gachagacha,” the onomatopoeia for the clattering sounds that a gachapon capsule machine makes, and “Spin,” mixing things together. Therefore, Gacharic Spin is mixing together several clattering, clashing elements.

The band recruited Armmy on vocals and Eita on guitar through an audition process, and the group started to perform in clubs. The group got an early boost in popularity from old Pink Panda fans, but in the back of her mind KOGA had anxiety that those fans could wander off at any time. So the band pursued an active touring schedule to try and get as many new fans as possible. Only a few months in to the band’s formation, Eita left the band due to creative differences, and they held another auditon, where they found TOMO-ZO, from the recently disbanded girl band EU-PHORIA (whom KOGA had shared the stage with before as Pink Panda). Apparently, they hit it off great with TOMO-ZO, and took a liking to her the moment she entered the room. With their permanent guitarist now onboard, they entered the “Gachapin 2.0” formation, and the group hit the studio and recorded their first two singles, Lock On!! and Hunting Summer all at once.

2011 brought Gachapin their first mini-album release and their first overseas appearance in Houston, TX. Toward the end of the year they also started to perform with a support keyboardist on tour, TOMO-ZO’s former bandmade in EU-PHORIA, Oreo Reona.

In  2012 the band reached its biggest crisis to date, a period they call the “Gachapinch” era. Armmy was repeatedly absent due to chronic health issues. The band had to cancel several co-headlining shows as a result, but they still had a headline tour of their own coming up. They recruited several of their acquaintances from different bands to act as guest vocalists throughout the tour. Two of these guest vocalists turned out to be very important: their own support keyboardist Oreo Reona, and Fuki, the lead singer of the power metal band Light Bringer.

After the tour, there was still no indication that Armmy’s condition was improving, and the band was finding it difficult to contact her at all. They made the decision to remove her from the band, with the intention to recruit a new permanent vocalist. Around the same time, Oreo was hired as a permanent keyboardist. However, the band had a tour in France already lined up for that same year, and it was too late to back out. The band decided to move forward with the France tour, with Hana and Oreo splitting lead vocal duties. The dynamic worked better than expected, and when they returned to Japan they decided to keep the four member lineup, which became known as “Gachapin 2.5.” This formation released the single “Nudierhythm” together.

For the rest of 2012, Gachapin went on the backburner a bit while the members started to work on another project. During the Gachapinch period, they developed a rapport with Fuki from Light Bringer, and the two parties had casual talks about doing a collaboration together. The talks escalated until Fuki and Gachapin decided to form a side group together called DOLL$BOXX. Their debut album, “Dolls Apartment,” was released in 2012 under the major label King Records.

After Dolls Apartment’s promotional cycle ended and DOLL$BOXX went back on the shelf, it was time for Gacharic Spin to resume its activities in earnest. However, the members decided that the 2.5 formation was lacking something. Oreo and Hana were the main vocalists, but both of them were at the back of the stage. Koga and TOMO-ZO stood out front but were mostly occupied with their own instruments. This led to a void, no front woman standing at center stage to get the crowd hyped up. The solution they found was to hire two dancers as support members. Through her connections in the idol industry, Kihara recruited Mai and Arisa, who became the first generation of “Gacha Gacha Dancers,” Gachapin’s support dancers. The new formation was dubbed “Gacharic Spin 2013 style.”

All of these changes in such a small period of time--cancelling shows, losing their vocalist, and then completely relaunching the band with a totally different lineup and performance style, were a big gamble, and the members worried about losing their fans--but, to their amazement, the fans largely stayed with them, embraced the dancers, and the band’s future was secured. In 2014, the Gacha Gacha Dancers became full-fledged, permanent members, and later the same year, after all these struggles, the band signed a major label deal with Victor Records, releasing their major debut Sekira Liar / Tokenai Candy in 2015.

Since going major, the band has continued to have some ups and downs--the loss of Arisa, and then later gaining and subsequently losing their third dancer Nenne--but nothing compared to the troubles they’ve overcome so far; they are continuing to barrel forward as they always have, with an insane touring schedule, regular CD releases, and a loyal army of Gachaman & Gachapinko (male and female Gachapin fans, respectively) cheering them on every step of the way as we inch ever toward their 10th anniversary next year. Their biggest milestones since going major have included recording an ending theme for the Dragon Ball Kai anime (their 2nd major single Don’t Let Me Down) in 2015; performing a oneman live at the legendary Hibiya Outdoor Amphitheater in 2017; more overseas shows in the United States (San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago), South Korea, Taiwan, and China; and completing a 23-show oneman nationwide tour culminating in a double oneman show (Gacharic Spin and DOLL$BOXX both performing separate, full-length headline sets on the same day) at Tokyo Dome City Hall in 2018.

Discography

Singles

Indies 1st: Lock On!! (2010)

Indies 2nd: Hunting Summer (2010)

Indies 3rd: Setsunaku Melody (2010)

Indies 4th: Nudierhythm (2012)

Indies 5th: Boku Dake no Cinderella (2014)

Major 1st: Sekira Liar / Tokenai Candy (2015)  (available on Spotify)

Major 2nd: Don’t Let Me Down (2015)  (available on Spotify)

Major 3rd: Shakishaki Shite!! / Aru Busu no Shoujo (2016)  (available on Spotify)

Major 4th: Generation Gap (2017) (available on Spotify)

Albums

Indies Mini-Album: Virgin-A (2011)

Indies 1st: Delicious (2013)

Indies 2nd: WINNER (2014)

Major Best: Gachatto Best ~2010-2014~ (2014)  (available on Spotify)

Major 1st: MUSIC BATTLER (2015)  (available on Spotify)

Major 2nd: Kakujitsu Hendou -KAKUHEN- (2016)  (available on Spotify)

Major 3rd: G-litter (2018)  (available on Spotify)

Side Projects

Never content with the status quo, Gachapin has participated in a number of side projects and collaborations over the years.

DOLL$BOXX

DOLL$BOXX (called Dorubako by fans) is a band formed by the instrument players of Gacharic Spin and Fuki, a vocalist previously from the bands Light Bringer and Unlucky Morpheus. The project arose out of the chemistry between the two acts when Fuki was a guest vocalist on the Gachapinch tour. Their debut album Dolls Apartment released under King Records in 2012 (technically, it was Gacharic Spin’s major label debut as they did not sign to Victor Entertainment until 2015). DOLL$BOXX toured through the end of 2012 in support of the album, but disappeared into the shadows for several years.

They reconvened briefly in 2014 to support a music video collection DVD, but for the most part DOLL$BOXX went completely radio silent, leading many to believe it was just a one time collaboration. However, in 2016, Fuki signed to Victor Entertainment as well, and with all five musicians on the same label finally, a path forward appeared. Hints of a DOLL$BOXX reunion swirled, with a one-off reunion show performed in February 2017. Then, Fuki appeared as a guest performer at Gachapin’s Hibiya Yaon concert in June and confirmed the suspicions: DOLL$BOXX was back, and a new mini-album was in the works, released late in 2017. DOLL$BOXX has remained active since then, with two tours and hosting their first music festival, DOLL$FESTA, in 2018.

DOLL$BOXX sports a heavier hard rock and less electro-influenced sound than Gachapin. Fuki’s swooping vocals are complemented by Hana’s backing growls, a talent of hers seldom showcased in Gachapin. Their music video Take My Chance has over 2.5 million views on Youtube and has spread outside of Japan due to their tongue-in-cheek parody of idol culture juxtaposed with their aggressive sound. Onstage and in interviews, DOLL$BOXX has a much more serious demeanor than Gachapin, but it’s immediately apparent that this is tongue in cheek as well, and that behind the serious faces and dark clothing, they’re having a blast and trying their best not to laugh and stay in character.

Members

TOMO-ZO (leader)

F Chopper KOGA

Hana

Oreo Reona

Fuki

Fuki

Position: Vocals

Real Name: Tenge Fuyuki

Color: Orange

Fuki is a very prolific singer in the Japanese hard rock/heavy metal scene. She gained notoriety as the lead singer of Light Bringer, and was a member of that band when she first met Gacharic Spin on tour. She volunteered as one of Gacharic Spin’s guest vocalists during the Gachapinch tour, and the collaboration was so successful that the two sides decided to team up and form the side project DOLL$BOXX while each remaining in their original bands. During DOLL$BOXX’s hiatus, she also participated in the recording of Gacharic Spin’s major debut best-of album, singing guest vocals on Black Survival (a song originally recorded by Armmy, but it became deeply associated to Fuki during the Gachapinch tour). Light Bringer has since disbanded, but Fuki is currently active in three different groups: DOLL$BOXX, Unlucky Morpheus, and her own solo project Fuki Commune. She’s also participated in a myriad of collaborations and side projects, including Sound Horizon, Nozomu Wakai’s Destinia, Carbonic Acid and Dragon Guardian. Her solo career has included many video game and anime soundtrack contributions including Terraformars, Kaitou Joker, and the Hyperdimension Neptunia series.

Fuki is well-respected in the scene due to her powerful, pitch-perfect, metal-influenced technique, as well her signature “high-tone” vocal style, but despite her power metal background she’s proven herself equally proficient at pop music and ballads. Fans also know her for her geeky side; she loves anime, games, and Sanrio characters (her favorite is Cinnamoroll), is frequently seen cosplaying on her social media pages, and is a founding member of Unlucky Morpheus, which started as a doujin metal circle performing rearranged covers of songs from the Touhou Project video game series and selling their work at Comiket.

DOLL$BOXX Discography

1st album: Dolls Apartment (2012)

Mini-album: high $pec (2017) (available on Spotify)

Metallic Spin

Metallic Spin is a European metal band that has gained popularity while touring in Japan, covering songs by western metal acts. Despite the similarities in names, and the fact that the bands have performed together often, they have no relation to Gacharic Spin.

**yes, but seriously, they are just Gachapin in wigs and makeup. The running gag is that they’re a totally different set of people, and it’s taboo to suggest otherwise. The original vocalist of Metallic Spin was Fuki/”Ki-fu Richards,” but now the vocalist is a guy from Saber Tiger.

Members

Kawai Tomozo (Guitar)

Nose (Drums)

Anarchy Stocking (Keyboard)

Chopako Gaefu (Bass)

Gezan Satsuporo (Vocals)

Gacha Gacha Dancers

Gacha Gacha Dancers (Gachadan for short) is the collective unit name for Gachapin’s performers. Therefore, the 1st generation of Gachadan was Mai and Arisa, and the second generation was Mai and Nenne. In 2015, Gacharic Spin released a double A-side single, Sekira Liar / Tokenai Candy. Tokenai Candy was credited to Gacha Gacha Dancers, was entirely sung by Mai and Arisa, and had its own music video. The single was released in two limited edition types, one cover featured the instrument team and the other cover featured the Gachadan team, and they had a contest to see which version would sell more copies. If Gachadan sold more, they would get their own solo CD debut. In the end, Gachadan fell short, but they still occasionally got to work outside the group attending some idol concert events as a separate unit. After Nenne’s departure, Gachadan’s outside activities have ceased so far. Gachadan has at least one unreleased original song called Banban.

Unofficial Local Idol Group Project

In 2014, someone thought it would be a good idea to create a fake idol group out of Gachapin’s members to be their opening act at a show in Atsugi. TOMO-ZO was the producer, and Hana, KOGA, and Oreo became the members in this masterpiece of a group called USUGI.

The show happened, USUGI released a demo CD, and someone had the even more brilliant idea to keep running with it, so Gachapin launched a full “unofficial local idol group” project in which they created a separate fake idol group for each city in their spring tour. Each unit had a different mix of Gachapin members, was themed around a certain part of that city’s culture, and lampooned a range of musical styles from classic Showa-style bubblegum pop to modern kawaii metal. At the end of the tour, they put on a battle of the bands event between all of the different idol groups, and they repeated the process again in 2016 with a new roster of idol groups to integrate their new member Nenne into the fold.

Hilarity ensued all around.

Teradaric Spin

Gachapin’s latest side project is a collaboration between the 4 instrument players and Terada Keiko, the lead singer of the long-running all-female band SHOW-YA. Gachapin has looked up to SHOW-YA as their “older sister band” for years, and they are a perennial participant at the SHOW-YA hosted music festival NAON no YAON. In 2018, Gachapin and Terada got together to form a side project together; they embarked on a mini-tour and also performed at DOLL$BOXX’s DOLL$FESTA event. Gachapin posted a survey on Twitter asking fans what Gachapin and SHOW-YA songs they would like to see covered, and they built the setlists for the tour based on those responses.

Links & Resources

Official Pages

Gacharic Spin Official Website

YouTube

LINE Blog (updated by all members on a daily schedule)

Twitter (TOMO-ZO)

Facebook (Hana)

Instagram (Oreo)

Instagram (Mai)

Ameblo (KOGA)

DOLL$BOXX Official Website

Twitter (Official)

Twitter (Fuki)

Ameblo (Fuki)

Music Videos

Listed in chronological order by CD release for each band. Bold links represents videos I recommend watching first for newcomers. A lot of their later videos only have short versions posted on Youtube, so I provided links for both the short, official version (higher quality + give them more hits) plus a link to the full version on another site whenever possible.

Gacharic Spin

Lock On!!

BROKEN LOVER

Setsunaku Melody

LosT AngeL

Juicy Beats

Nudierhythm (slightly NFSW) (Live version)

Next Stage

Ima wo Ikiteru ~2013nen haru~

Meromero Fantasy

Boku Dake no Cinderella

WINNER

Shuumatsu Fantasy

Sekira Liar (longer version with a watermark on it)

Tokenai Candy

Don’t Let Me Down (full)

MUSIC BATTLER (full)

Final na Fantasy (full)

Shakishaki Shite!! (smartphone version)

KAKUHEN (full)

Shiro ga kono machi to boku wo someru

Generation Gap

Redline

DOLL$BOXX

Loud Twin Stars

Merrily High Go Round

Take My Chance

monopoly

Role-Playing Life

fragrance

KARAKURI TOWN

Omocha no Heitai

Doll’s Box

Shout Down

Sub-liminal

HERO

Sekai wa kitto ai wo shitteru nda

Dragonet

[obakeband]

Black Coffee – Muyè (Remix)

Listen to Black Coffee’s hit single “Muyè (Remix)”. Download Black Coffee – Muyè (Remix) here:

Black Coffee – Muyè (Remix) (0 downloads)

  Get more music from South Africa

Black coffee (born Nkosinathi Maphumulo on 11 March 1976) is a South African document manufacturer and DJ. He started out his profession around 1995 and has launched five albums as well as a live DVD under his Johannesburg-primarily based record label, Soulistic music. he’s arguably the maximum outstanding digital track manufacturer in Africa. Black coffee had his large damage shortly after being selected as a player within the 2004 purple Bull track Academy held in Cape town. In September 2015, he gained the “step forward DJ Of The year” award on the DJ Awards in Ibiza, a few weeks after the discharge of his 5th studio album, pieces Of Me.

Maphumulo turned into born in Durban, South Africa on eleven March 1976. He grew up in Ngangelizwe township, in Mthatha, japanese Cape. In February 1990, as humans had been celebrating the discharge of Nelson Mandela on the streets of Ngangelizwe, from 27 years of imprisonment, Black espresso become concerned in a taxi coincidence that left his left arm paralyzed and changed his life. about the twist of fate, Black espresso says:

“within the past years at the present time use to be quite heavy on me, still does to some extent however searching again at how a ways I’ve come considering then i will only be pleased about how at the moment has fashioned me to be the man that i’m. 27 years later I choose to celebrate this present day…additionally making a promise to myself to discover the whole lot expertise i have and be everything God wanted me to be while he spared my existence,”

on the thirteenth of might also 2011, he married actress and television presenter Mbali Mlotshwa. He has fathered kids along with her: Anesu and Asante, and two extra from preceding relationships: Esona and Lilitha.

Early career Maphumulo majored in Jazz studies at Technikon Natal before operating as a backup singer for Madala Kunene together with then schoolmates: Mnqobi Mdabe (Shota) and Thandukwazi Sikhosana (Demor). Black coffee, Shota and Demor later fashioned an Afro-pop trio referred to as SHANA (certainly hot and evidently African) which turned into signed to soften 2000, then headed by means of Robert TrunzBlack coffee was selected as considered one of two South African members within the crimson Bull track Academy in 2003, jump-beginning him into the South African dance track scene.His first huge destroy became when his music “Happiness” became featured at the DJs at work album.

tune career 2005–2006: Black coffee In 2005, he launched his profession with a remix of Hugh Masekela’s 1972 hit Stimela. Later that yr he released his self-titled debut album underneath his Johannesburg based record label Soulistic tune,Black espresso’s wholly owned corporate shape, his group’s home base and the leap-off point for himself, and as time has evidenced for many others too. The album featured collaborations with the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo among a few. “Black coffee” become properly acquired within the SADC region and got sufficient airplay to win an award for The excellent city Dance Album on the 2006 MTN SAMA. His album, “Black coffee” was created using very simple music-making software. “I don’t understand the way to give an explanation for the production levels of my album because all I did turned into positioned down the primary ideas that I had, I didn’t use any MIDI controllerseverything changed into played with a laptop mouse”.

2007–2008: Have any other One by 2007, Black espresso had become a household call within the South African DJ scene, firing up flooring along with his tribally infectious, vocal-laced beats. within the identical yr he launched his 2nd studio album titled “Have every other One” which featured “Wathula Nje”—a remix of Victor Ntoni’s 2004 jazz ballad “Thetha”. “Wathula Nje” become later released in Europetogether with “even though” offering Bantu Soul via a european label Realtone facts on vinyl and digitally. The twelve-tune album featured the likes of Siphokazi, Busi Mhlongo, and kwaito sensation L’vovo to say a few, it additionally brought a then 17-12 months-vintage excessive school producer from Eshowe Kwa Zulu Natal; Culoe De song who have become the second artist to be signed under Soulistic music.Black coffee found and collaborated with Culoe De song on an afro-digital dub titled one hundred Zuluwarriors.

for the duration of this era Black coffee become invited to carry out on the pink Bull music Academy front room on the Sonar pageant in Barcelona,in which he played alongside the cream of local and global DJs, consisting of Little Louie Vega, Alix Alvarez, Franck Roger, Charles Webster, DJ Spinna and Osunlade.

2009–2011: domestic Brewed In 2009, Black coffee dropped his 0.33 album, titled ‘’home Brewed’’, featuring Ringo Madlingozi, Zonke, Hugh Masekela, Zakes Bantwini and others,and on the South African song Awards 2010 he scooped two awards in the categories quality urban Dance Album and best Male Artist and later in the equal year he gained exceptional Produced Album and nice Dance Album at the Metro FM song Awards and Channel O’s most proficient Male for his tune “Juju.”

With international demand and hobby in a Black coffee overall performance starting to get up and shout so to speak, Black coffee began a brand new section of increase between 2009 and 2010 with a string of latest Soulistic tune signed releases from Culoe de tune,Tumelo and the great Zakes Bantwini all achieving gold and platinum income.In 2011, he became nominated for fine global Act inside the Africa/Asia/middle East class at the MTV Europe Awards.seeing that launching his label, Soulistic music, Black coffee had toured to Sydney, big apple, São Paulo, Luanda, la and Athens together with fellow label artists.

In 2010, Black espresso was inducted within the Guinness book of worldwide records while he DJed 60 hours non-prevent at Maponya Mall.In 2011, Africa rising changed into released and had its first presentation at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, together with a live band and 24-piece orchestra in front of an audience of 8,000; the concert turned into filmed for the Africa rising DVD.

also in 2011, there were four releases on the Soulistic Label which include Culoe de tune’s “Elevation”, Sai & Ribatones “here and Now”, Boddhi Satva’s “Invocation ” and the label’s “Soulistic tune Cuts.

2012–2013: Africa growing Black espresso’s “Africa rising” DVD and CD (triple CD) offered double platinum in a space of a month in 2012 and later the award for exceptional Dance Album on the 2013 South African track Awards. This took place shortly after Soulistic tune announced a newly signed club DJ named DJ Shimza.Black espresso featured creative artists on the album “Africa rising,” which includes Bucie and the soulful musician Toshi Tikolo on the worldwide house hit “Buya”.

2013 noticed Black coffee retain gracing world tiers such as Southport Weekender, Panoroma Bar. Circo Loco Boiler Room and collaborating in tune conferences like ADE and RBMA in Johannesburg. among a few 2013 terrific collaborations are with Mi Cas and Black movement.

In 2013, Black coffee additionally became one of the key audio system on his pal Vusi Thembekwayo’s tour. Black coffee has graced numerous publications which includes the smooth destiny man magazine in November 2013.

2015 – gift: portions Of Me & DJ Awards After his global tour which started out on 12 Jan 2015 at Circoloco near Shosholoza at Blue Parrot in Mexico and ended on 31 Aug 2015 at Circoloco at DC-10, Black coffee came again to his domestic united states to release his 5th album, portions Of Me.

pieces Of Me was launched on the second one week of September and were given criticism in a single day for the quilt and identify identically to US singer “Ledisi”. Musically the album got reaction from social media as well as charting on iTunes ZA with the song “We Dance again” he featured Nakhane Toure topping charts by 30 September. on this album Black espresso worked with Azola, Portia Monique, Ribatone, Nakhane Toure, Mondli Ngcobo, Kensy, NaakMusiq & Lungi Naidoo.

weeks later he went to Pacha, Ibiza, Spain to wait Dj Awards which he become a nominee on, at the twenty ninth of Sept 2015 he became named “step forward Dj Of The year”.

on the twenty third of October 2015, pieces of Me went platinum in South Africa.

In 2016, he carried out at Coachella Valley music and humanities competition and ultra tune festival. also in 2016, Black espresso accrued the award for the nice worldwide Act: Africa at the bet Awards 2016, the primary South African to achieve this.

on the end of 2016 he became named 91st on Resident guide’s pinnacle one hundred DJ’s listing encompassing all expert DJ’s. In 2017 he contributed to the beat of the music “Get It collectively” on Drake’s album “extra life” launched in March 2017.

The post Black Coffee – Muyè (Remix) appeared first on Obake Band.

[liambaileyjournalism]

I recently managed to interview Dee Tails about his time working as a creature and droid performer in The Force Awakens, Rogue One & The Last Jedi. His roles in the franchise consist of, Cratinus, K-OHN and Slowen Lo.

Cratinus was an Ubdurian male and the identical brother of Prashee. The pair were fond of games of chance and would use their identical appearances to swap identities during profitable scams. In 34 ABY, both brothers were present in the castle of the pirate Maz Kanata on the planet Takodana. They sat together by a fire pit playing a game and interacting with another alien before the castle was attacked and destroyed by the First Order.

K-OHN was a manumitted L-1 tactical droid that provided people with his programming skills in exchange for energy and credits. K-OHN’s personal goal was to gather enough funds to obtain a processor upgrade that would allow him to comprehend the idea of spirituality, but he also shared part his earnings with a band of street urchins he once befriended. K-OHN was present in Jedha City shortly before the Galactic Empire’s Death Star destroyed it. He was equipped with an AA-1 VerboBrain.

Slowen Lo was a male Abednedo who resided on Canto Bight. He made a fortune selling driftwood sculptures and lived on the beach in the coastal city on the desert planet Cantonica. In 34 ABY, Lo saw Finn and Rose Tico illegally land and abandon their ship on a Canto Bight beach. Annoyed, Lo told Finn and Rose they were not allowed to leave the ship there, but they ignored him and proceeded to the Canto Casino. Lo informed the Canto Bight Police Department about this and accompanied officers to the casino, where he observed Finn and Rose and confirmed their identities to the police. He was startled as the officers stunned and arrested Finn and Rose.

How does working on Star Wars compare to all your work on other projects?

There is absolutely no comparison. Until now I’d never worked for a Production or a movie franchise that I had dreamt of working for. I find that regardless of how little we may or may not know about the story or script while I’m on set, that because I know and love Star Wars from the ground up I have a good idea of how to perform (which would be tweaked by Paul Kasey) and also how to conduct myself. I’ve worked on various obscure little productions as well as those a little bigger and found that the real difference working on a Star Wars movie, for me it’s probably being able to give 100% to a project that you feel everyone and every department is also giving. You don’t always get that on other productions; Yes some of it can be put down to a production’s budget and how people feel about the projects they’re working on but very few movie franchises have the ability to reach into your childhood and be everything and more than you could’ve ever expected like Star Wars.

How did you get the role of Cratinus? 

Tom Bell (who went on to play Prashee, the twin brother of Cratinus) and I were originally brought in to see Neal Scanlan about playing Hassk creatures supporting Paul Warren who played the principle Hassk Varmik and was later teamed up with Nathan Plant to play the other one. I and Tom were going to be another two Hassks, I’m guessing when I say ‘we were probably going to be a part of Varmiks gang’. But no sooner had we been in for fittings we then found out that they’d given those parts to the actors from the Raid movies. Neal had said ‘Let’s see if we find something for Dee’ But I wasn’t holding my breath, because at this point I thought well that’s it, this is as close as I’m going to get to Star Wars and began celebrating thinking at least I was seen for Star Wars, because there was no way the sun was going to shine twice on me for something this huge, or so I’d thought.

But then a call came through asking me how I felt about working on my knees? And knowing that it was Star Wars asking there was no other reply than; ‘Of Course!’.

Over the weeks that followed, I was then brought in for fittings and was given these little slippers to put on which had these incredible kneepads attached in case they wanted me to walk around. I also got to try on the head which was unpainted at the time. Eventually, I was also reintroduced to Tom and found out that there would be two of us! On our final day of wardrobe Tom and I were waiting for them to bring in our heads, and as they did so they brought out what I thought was my head as it was the only one I’d been trying on, but they gave it straight to Tom, and told me mine was on its way. When they gave it to me I wasn’t sure whose smile was bigger, mine or the one on Cratinus’s face. They couldn’t have tailored that to me any more than they did, it was such an amazing moment. I love that little Ubdurian Dude, I think it was Jake Lunt Davies and Luke Fisher who designed them, with Luke designing mine.

Playing Cratinus wasn’t your only role though, you also played K-OHN and Slowen Lo.

  K-OHN & Neal Scanlan.

  K-OHN The Manumitted L-1 Tactical Droid came about very early on in production, as he was intended to be the K-2SO droid, but as the project began to grow, so too did the development of the droid and began to make more and more sense to evolve the droid from the Super Battle Droids that were seen in Attack Of The Clones. But it was Neal Scanlan who put me forward for this role telling Gareth I was a perfect choice.

It was amazing to be apart of the whole development as my makers Neil Ellis and Toby meticulously built my suit to fit me perfectly, which it did. It was such a joy to be encased in that suit, I keep hoping that one day they’ll put me back in it, so fingers crossed we’ll have to see.

  Slowen Lo & the Canto Bight Police.

  Slowen Lo was just another character I was coming in to play (so I thought) not knowing if he’d be seen much or what it was they were going to need me to do. Originally I was told he was going to be a beachcomber with a metal detector who looks up to spot a ship flying overhead. Then he became a swaggering local as he was then going to be a player in the Casino, to then finally becoming the concerned citizen he is in the movie.

Are there any other characters you have played that have not been mentioned?

  Lexo Sooger.

Letrun Pay

In The Last Jedi, I also play an alien called Brother Letrun Pay who appears just as the Fathiers break through a wall after Finn yells out ‘Too Much Cover!’

“Brother Letrun Pay was an alien male who spent time in the city of Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica in the year 34 ABY. He stood at a railing looking out over the edge of the city and speaking to a human female when a fathier carrying the Resistance agents Finn and Rose Tico crashed through an archway behind him at high speed and lept over the railing. Pay recoiled in surprise at the sudden appearance of the fathier, which was followed by a herd of riderless fathiers also fleeing the city. Pay had blue, light-sensitive eyes which he shielded with over-sized droptacs. He had white and pink skin and wore the white and black Vestments of the Sacred Circle.”

I was stood with actress/stuntwoman Claire Lawrence who was helping to guide my movements as I couldn’t see out of that head at all, while I had more guidance in my ear from Olly Taylor in between him singing.

I also play Lexo Sooger who appears in the Canto Bight book. The scene was cut from the movie but we hope to see him somewhere on the DVD behind the scenes. I was puppeteering this one. He’s Canto Bights best and most famous masseuse. This guy was beautiful to operate and was designed by Ivan Manzella and operated by Pete Hawkins.      

“Lexo Sooger was a Dor Namethian male who was the star masseur at Zord’s Spa and Bathhouse in Canto Bight. He was sought after by the gangster Sturg Ganna, who eventually kidnapped his daughter Lula.”

How did you get these roles?

As one of their Actor/Creature performers it’s up to us to make sure we can provide the production with the types of performances they’re after and we’ll be called in based on creature suits made to our specs, only sometimes will we be given a heads up on who or what they’d like us to perform. Some are massive suits that may need two people to operate or a really big suit they’ll need someone like Ian Whyte to put on etc.

It’s a beautiful team that is ready and willing to throw themselves into whatever’s being asked within reason of course, but that’s where the rehearsals come in handy. The type of work they call on me to do usually falls in Paul Kasey’s arena where he’ll get us up to speed with a better understanding of our specific range of performances, and then he’ll run off to go jump into a suit himself like Admiral Raddus or C’ai Threnalli to name but a few he has to his credit.

Even things like that are just awesome because I get prepped and trained by the best who are also part of the team/cfx family.

Can you describe your time doing creature and droid performance for Star Wars?

I’m beyond words to describe the feeling, I know Star Wars and love Star Wars, I played with the toys as a kid, watched the making of’s and eventually the movies. To be able to work and perform at such a high standard for Disney & LucasFilm on a Star Wars movie feels like I was always meant to be here doing this, in a realm far beyond it being a dream come true.

I feel very humbled every day to be able to contribute to Star Wars and work with all the puppeteers, wardrobe etc. All in production. I think due to the fact that it’s always so surreal helps me never to take anything for granted.   

How did you get into this line of work? 

I’d been acting for a good few years doing various Shakespeare projects here and there and also being involved in a few concept projects from people who were filming and making their own. But during this time I’d been acting at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and also doing Christmas Pantomime shows, both for seven years; At the Opera House I got to wear a 15’ft costume in Wagners Ring Cycle for two years and in Pantomime I got to play Dick Whittington’s cat Tommy for five years. To be honest I think the suit and creature performing I was doing due to growing up watching the Muppets, Sesame Street along with their movies, and even though I knew they were either being operated or worn by people never seemed to spoil my enjoyment or understanding of what was taking place, which is why I think I’m able just to connect with this Galaxy Far, Far Away etc.

What are some of your fondest memories from your time in Star Wars? 

That’s a very hard question, I’m currently not being given the time to ponder upon everything, I can grab moments here and there to look back on but you gotta understand that for me every day I turn up to work is like the best day of my life, genuinely each day is outdone by the next. Right now I can tell you that being taken away on location to Dubrovnik for The Last Jedi was just incredible. The performers I was out there with, the crew I was out there with & the location pre-dressed for our arrival, not to mention how beautiful Dubrovnik is, it’s an absolutely incredible place. You see, I can recount this for you today but ask me this same question tomorrow and I’ll have another amazing moment to hit you back with.

Was there much interaction between yourself and the directors, if so, what sort of things would you discuss?

Yes, I think we all do at some point, which is beautiful because there’s this thing where if you’re performing and no one says anything to you by giving you a note or something, means you’re doing just fine. But occasionally a director may want to give us a specific note. J.J Abrams had a few notes for me on The Force Awakens in Maz’s Castle, where he directed me to acknowledge Han Solo like everyone else does when Maz calls out his name. It wasn’t used in the end but that’s filmmaking, you kind of just do everything that’s asked of you because sometimes the director/s may just want editing options later down the road.

Rian Johnson was lovely, I’d been told that I could be asked to play Slowen Lo a few different ways in regard to his walk and movement mannerisms and it wasn’t until the very day where I was due to go on and shoot my first performance in the Casino, that Rian told me to play him as a ‘Chilled Out Hippie Dude’. Now here’s the thing about how things get developed; All those ‘Hippie’ body movements were still able to support Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s voice performance of his non-hippie character and vice versa. When you’re aware that this is part of how they do things and have grown to do these things since the prequels especially, it makes me feel that much more honoured to be apart of the process.

You have appeared in three Star Wars films now, how does that feel? Out of the three, which has been your favourite to work on and why? 

Yes, I have. How does it feel ??? I struggle with questions like this because I find it hard to find the words. I know the words are tucked away deep in my emotional feelings somewhere, but to push them out of my mouth is tough. I never thought I’d get to appear in any! Ever!

There was no chance on any of the prequels and when they were done most people thought ‘Well that’s that then’ Only to discover that there was a plan to complete Georges original vision for nine movies in the Skywalker saga, while plans would be made to continue telling other newer stories within the Universe George Lucas has created. So to have appeared in three is beyond a dream come true and to love the entire process as much as I do is just nuts.

My favourite? That’s tough, but maybe playing that little dude Cratinus alongside Prashee, because I think If I had totally messed up on that character I doubt very much if Neal would’ve had me come back so through Cratinus everything became possible I think.

If you could play any other characters, who would it be and why?

I don’t really know when I was a kid I never watched any movie even Star Wars wanting to be any of the characters, not even Lando. I had the toy figures for that sort of thing. I just wanted to be a member of the team helping really.

Who are some of your favourite characters from the franchise and why?

  I’ve always loved R2-D2 his little beeps, his size and his attitude. Between him and C3-P0, their banter has always been brilliant. I love the moment in the first movie where they’ve just landed on Tatooine and he decides he’s going on his mission with or without C3-P0 which meant he’s not dependant upon his companion.

I also loved it when C3-P0 told him to mind his language, which told us that he just swore! The only character to do that in the entire franchise I think, and I’d say he must’ve said something far worse than ‘Poo-Doo’.

Oh, and I loved it when Captain Antilles was told to wipe the protocol droids mind and R2 starts cracking up! How could anyone not love this little droid?

What does Star Wars mean to you?

Star Wars is more than just movies to me.

I was already a huge Sesame Street fan and a Muppet Show fan and knew a small amount about Jim Henson and Frank Oz and it was one weekend where they showed the making of the Star Wars movies. I think they showed them individually at first until all the movies were made and I got to see them all back to back. It was like watching a more organised pretending session in the playground. And then I saw Jim Henson and Frank Oz on the Dagobah set and I was sold.

It’s also that continuation of storytelling in a palatable tone I had as a kid from the Ray Harryhausen movies, giving us those Greek fairy-taled myths of the past. And it wasn’t anything like watching Gene Kelly dancing with little Jerry Mouse, this was a fairy-tale sincerely acted by real people acting opposite people in creature suits, puppets, stop motion and ‘whatever it was they did’ to make me believe that they were in the model ship flying through space. Not to mention the laser blasts that travelled across the screen. That amazed me just as much if not more than the Lightsabers.

This was a big deal for me because I began to realise that these guys were doing what I and my friends were doing in the playground ‘Pretending’ but getting to show and tell a really good story. And Still, this is all before me even seeing the first one. Then I finally saw the movies and was blown away at how different some of those shots looked pieced together.

It was later that I then began to watch all the documentary’s on George Lucas and his struggle to get the movies made, some of this had been mentioned in the previous making of episodes I’d seen before, so his struggle and perseverance in making these movies all came hand in hand with my love of the stories and his personal struggle that told me; It doesn’t matter if no one believes in you, as long as you believe in you!

No one believed the music band MN8 I was in would succeed and we did. No one believed before, during and after MN8 that I would achieve my dream to become an Actor, working on feature films instead of dreary soaps.

When you see all the charities LucasFilm/Disney work with, and see just how far reaching the love for Star Wars goes it’s impossible to ignore how special this franchise is and to see how many people it has and will go on to continue inspiring. Nearly everyone I work with on these movies has been inspired to do what they do because of Star Wars or even the Muppets with Frank Oz being involved. If George Lucas could achieve everything he did and has with little to no support, what excuse do I have, is how I’ve always seen it.

I’m guessing that I’ll never work on anything else that I know and love as much as Star Wars.

What are some of your favourite scenes from the Star Wars films and why?

My favourite scene in the entire franchise has to be watching Han and Luke riding on their Tauntuans on Hoth in Empire Strikes Back, merging my love for the Ray Harryhausen movies that came before with this new story set in space, and not here in some near biblical relatable past.

Do you attend many comic conventions, if so, what does fan interaction mean to you, and do you have any appearances coming up?

No, not unless I’m just visiting to look around or even to do a podcast interview. At the moment I truly prefer to have a chat on a podcast actually talking about Star Wars to a Star Wars loving audience. So not sure when and if I’ll do any conventions just yet, but we’ll have to see.

A huge thank you to Dee for answering all of my questions and sharing lots of information about his time working on Star Wars. Hopefully, we will continue to see him feature heavily in all the upcoming films from the franchise.

May the force be with you!

I recently managed to interview Dee Tails about his time working as a creature and droid performer in The Force Awakens, Rogue One & The Last Jedi. His roles in the franchise consist of, Cratinus, K-OHN and Slowen Lo. I recently managed to interview Dee Tails about his time working as a creature and droid performer in 

[reelbugs-blog]

ReelBugs

Netflix on PlayStation

Netflix, The American On-line On-Demand Video Streaming Big crossed the border into Canada on September twenty second of 2010 looking to capitalize on the largely untapped on-line TV and Movie streaming market.

While Netflix Canada, for the moment, won't offer its flat charge online DVD-video and Blu-ray Disc rental service as in the United States, it's bringing a high quality video streaming service to Canadians...however will or not it's enough to vary the way in which we lease, purchase and watch our favourite TV episodes and Movies?

So what's the verdict?

Once I first heard that Netflix was coming to Canada, I used to be fairly excited. I watch a variety of films, mostly on my laptop after everyone else has gone to bed, and the idea of being able to watch any number of movies on-line at any time for less than the cost of 2 movie leases per 30 days sounded pretty good to me. When Netflix Canada finally did open for business, I was a little upset by the initial evaluations pointing to a limited number of movies and TV episodes and, because of this, put off attempting out their service. I would just about forgotten about it till one night time a few weeks ago when I found myself and not using a film to watch and decided to provide Netflix a shot.

For $7.99 per month for unlimited online TELEVISION and online movies, what did I've to lose? It was an excellent simpler sell once I received to the Netflix Sign In page (www.netflix.ca) to be taught they're providing a 30 day, no obligation, free trial. After making an attempt it out for every week, I have to say that my solely disappointment is that I did not join sooner!

How does Netflix Canada stack up?

Let's discuss their selection first, in order that we can get that out of the way! Netflix Canada presently gives a listing of a tad over 7000 titles, which includes motion pictures in addition to some (emphasis on some) seasons of well-liked TELEVISION reveals. Whereas they do have some fairly new releases, generally, Netflix's film offerings embrace some blockbusters from the last few years, a number of classics (Clint Eastwood, John Wayne) and a healthy mixture of lesser recognized titles.

When compared to the a hundred thousand+ film titles available online to American Netflix subscribers, it's not quite the mammoth selection I hoped for.

Apparently, it all boils all the way down to licensing points and a few authorized pink tape. I assume, however, that Netflix is dedicated to its Netflix Canada subscribers and that they will be adding thousands extra to their catalog because the year unfolds. Simply this past week, they've added several in style TELEVISION series full seasons and I count on (hope) the same will happen on the film entrance.

Personally, I'm not the type to hurry out and lease the newest releases. I prefer to discover and try out completely different movies and watch some outdated favorites time and again (some I've seen 10 occasions or more), for which, Netflix Canada has proven to be a small treasure trove however for many who need to see the most recent releases as they grow to be obtainable, Netflix, not less than in the intervening time, may not be for you. Maybe Pay Per Vu at $four-$7 a shot or your local video retailer continues to be your greatest wager.

If, like myself, you end up renting films several occasions per week or shopping for DVDs every now and then, you owe it to your self to give Netflix Canada a try. At $7.ninety nine per 30 days, I will be saving tons of money on late fees alone and the convenience of not having to expire to the shop is really nice. I've been making an attempt it out for a little over 2 weeks and have watched about 20 films since I first signed up.

What I like about Netflix!

One thing I actually like about Netflix is that it asks you to rate films you've seen and affords up customized recommendations based on your solutions. In actual fact, the whole suggestion system works fairly nicely. I additionally like how nicely motion pictures and TELEVISION exhibits are categorized. At the moment, offerings are sorted amongst 20 genres and numerous sub-genres, which lets you quickly pinpoint what you need to watch.

Documentaries, Motion & Journey, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Romance - it's all there!

Navigation on the Netflix site is easy and intuitive sufficient for anyone to use. There are additionally quite a couple of interactive features that provide up additional information, opinions and bios.

Hovering over alternatives brings up a description and score for each movie. Clicking on a title brings you to a page stuffed with information and opinions from members and critics. I also like that you can click on an actor or director's identify to pull up their bio and an inventory of all their films Netflix currently has in it's catalog.

Up to now I've watched Reservoir Canines, The Eiger Sanction, the very creepy Human Centipede, The Final Rites of Ransom Satisfaction and a few latest releases I had missed once they got here out.

I've also by no means seen Weeds or MadMen, so I am wanting forward to start out watching those someday quickly, as Netflix has a few seasons of those reveals and quite a couple of more.

What about Netflix's On-line Streaming?

That is the place Netflix shines. The system routinely detects your Web bandwidth pace and streams accordingly. Video quality is both DVD-video in full stereo (for connections of 1.5Mbps or higher), better than DVD high quality in full stereo (for connections of 3Mbps or better) and 720 or 1080 HD high quality with stereo or full encompass sound (for connections of 6Mbps or higher).

Netflix's video participant is modern, fast and gives minimized and full display screen viewing modes. Thus far, out of the 20 or so movies I've watched, the participant solely paused once to toggle video high quality to match my Web connection speed and that was whereas watching on my laptop computer via a Wireless G reference to 3 bars. Suffice it to say, in my humble opinion, the quality of video and sound provided is fantastic!

Can I solely watch Netflix on my pc?

Netflix has a number of connection and streaming options. At present, Netflix Canada subscribers can watch on any Windows or Mac Pc, Nintendo Wii - Microsoft XBOX 360 - Sony PS3 gaming consoles, Netflix appropriate LCD - LED - Plasma Televisions, a selection of Netflix suitable Blu-ray players, iPhone - iTouch and Blackberry devices.

imageIf you haven't any of the above apart from a pc, you may still watch your movies in your TELEVISION so long as you are able to connect your pc to it using VGA or HDMI cables. Most newer TVs supply this level of connectivity.

Netflix's present catalog is restricted, particularly the place new releases are concerned, and that could be a deal breaker for a few of you. Aside from that, I can solely say that the service is high notch and I can't think about anybody however die laborious "new launch" junkies who would assume Netflix Canada isn't great comfort and value for the money. Either way, I recommend you sign up to Netflix for a 30 day free trial and resolve for your self!

Netflix was established in 1997, and so they offer the flexibility to lease DVDs online by way of the Internet. I initially joined Netflix in 1999. I was not satisfied with the service and canceled my membership three months later. Quick forward to 2005, and the excitement in my workplace is about Netflix. My co-employees tell me service is great and so they find it irresistible, and I inform them I hated it. I waited about ten days for my first DVD, and I never received any other DVDs.

I used to be a member for three months. I forgot I used to be a member because I by no means obtained any DVDs. My co-workers inform me differently and I decided to try Netflix again. After three years I am still with Netflix, and I have convinced numerous co-employees to hitch, and now I am going to share a couple of of my Netflix Tips with you.

Distribution Center - Having a distribution center close to your private home or mailing deal with will determine how shortly you receive your DVDs. I reside in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the Distribution Middle for Hawaii makes use of a Honolulu PO Box. If I put my DVD within the mail on Monday, Netflix will obtain the DVD on Tuesday and ship out a brand new DVD that very same day. This implies I'd obtain my subsequent DVD on Wednesday. That is pretty fast in case you ask me. VITAL: Please pay shut attention to the mailing address on the Netflix return envelope.

Every infrequently a DVD may take some time for supply (I find this true with a number of the older films). Check the return handle! If it isn't out of your local distribution middle, for this reason delivery was delayed. Do NOT ship your DVD again in that envelope. Only use envelopes that have your local distribution heart tackle.

I usually put 2 DVDs in one envelope in order that I've an additional envelope with my native distribution middle deal with to use at a later time. You solely want a couple of extra envelopes as a result of Netflix will at all times send you a return envelope.

Select the Proper Plan - I switch plans all the time, when you select the incorrect plan, you'll be able to easily change it online. I'm at present enrolled within the three at-a-time plan. What number of DVDs can you watch in a single month? In case you common $2 per DVD rental, which plan would be the most effective deal? For example you may watch eight DVDs in a month. That is about $16 utilizing my $2 DVD rental common.

The 3 at-a-time plan is $sixteen.ninety nine and the two at-a-time plan is $13.ninety nine. On this case, the 2 at-a-time plan is a greater deal since you bought $16 price of DVD leases for less than $thirteen.99. I would never select the 1 at-a-time (Limitless) for $8.ninety nine or the 1 at-a-time (2 a month) for $four.ninety nine because in case you use my $2 common, Netflix is getting the higher deal.

Getting New Releases - People all the time complain to me that they by no means can get New Releases from Netflix, but I always get New Releases. You'll have to check this one for your self, however in the event you're in Honolulu, and put your DVDs within the mail on Friday (Saturday and Sunday additionally work, but Friday works greatest for me). Netflix will receive your DVDs on Monday. New films are normally released on Tuesday, however Netflix already has the DVDs prepared for cargo on Monday. Netflix will send out the New Releases on Monday, and I will get them in the mail on Tuesday.

After I first started utilizing Netflix I not often ever acquired any New Releases until I figured this out. I merely returned one DVD on Wednesday, one on Thursday, and one on Friday and waited to see what film on my queue was despatched as Netflix obtained each DVD. So long as the New Launch was at the high of my queue, I might usually get the New Launch delivered on Tuesday. If I missed the first cargo of a New Release, likelihood is I would not get the New Release for a while.

I can lower down the ready time if I miss the primary shipment, by having one open delivery place, and never having something on my queue except for the New Launch. This cuts down on the quantity of DVDs I rent in a month, but when I missed the first shipment of New Releases, this nearly ensures that I will get the New Release on the following cargo. You can simply have New Releases on your queue, but then you definitely wouldn't get your moneys value.

Do you could have any thought what are dad and mom needed to undergo back within the day simply to lease a film? They had to trudge five miles through eight feet of snow to the native video retailer in frigid, under-zero weather. And when they finally arrived there, they solely had a choice of twenty or so movies to choose from, none of which had been new releases. After they rented a video, they needed to hurry dwelling and rapidly watch it as a result of if it wasn't again by 5:00 the following day, they had to pay a late payment that was twice as much as the original rental. And you already know what, they liked it and they appreciated the opportunity to be entertained.

Fortuitously, occasions have changed and it has change into rather a lot simpler for people to benefit from the cinematic arts within the comfort of their own residing rooms. Particularly, the video-rental big Netflix, now a family name across America, has revolutionized the nature by which a person is ready good movies to watch on netflix to hire a movie; providing a web-based service providing limitless leases for one flat month-to-month charge and no late fees. With supply and returns offered by the US Postal Service via pre-stamped envelopes, Netflix has grow to be a cheap, no-brainer for voracious film watchers throughout the nation.

Now, as an enormous movie buff myself, Netflix is simply in regards to the best factor to happen to me since cheese in a can. But after I converse with certain family and friends who are also massive movie lovers and I inform them why they need to be a part of Netflix, they appear hesitant and ask quite a lot of questions. Many appear to be the provide seems to good to be true, while others do not see a problem with the standard method of visiting a video retailer to lease a film. Whatever the cause, I've personally discovered myself having the conversation of why or why not be part of Netflix sufficient instances to recite from memory and write an article.

So here we are, and as a lot as I like Netflix, I'm also fair in my debate and admit that there are some downsides to the web service that individuals teetering on the edge of signing up needs to be privy to. So, with out additional ado, here are my three large pros and cons of using Netflix.

[liambaileyjournalism]

I recently managed to interview Dee Tails about his time working as a creature and droid performer in The Force Awakens, Rogue One & The Last Jedi. His roles in the franchise consist of, Cratinus, K-OHN and Slowen Lo.

Cratinus was an Ubdurian male and the identical brother of Prashee. The pair were fond of games of chance and would use their identical appearances to swap identities during profitable scams. In 34 ABY, both brothers were present in the castle of the pirate Maz Kanata on the planet Takodana. They sat together by a fire pit playing a game and interacting with another alien before the castle was attacked and destroyed by the First Order.

K-OHN was a manumitted L-1 tactical droid that provided people with his programming skills in exchange for energy and credits. K-OHN’s personal goal was to gather enough funds to obtain a processor upgrade that would allow him to comprehend the idea of spirituality, but he also shared part his earnings with a band of street urchins he once befriended. K-OHN was present in Jedha City shortly before the Galactic Empire’s Death Star destroyed it. He was equipped with an AA-1 VerboBrain.

Slowen Lo was a male Abednedo who resided on Canto Bight. He made a fortune selling driftwood sculptures and lived on the beach in the coastal city on the desert planet Cantonica. In 34 ABY, Lo saw Finn and Rose Tico illegally land and abandon their ship on a Canto Bight beach. Annoyed, Lo told Finn and Rose they were not allowed to leave the ship there, but they ignored him and proceeded to the Canto Casino. Lo informed the Canto Bight Police Department about this and accompanied officers to the casino, where he observed Finn and Rose and confirmed their identities to the police. He was startled as the officers stunned and arrested Finn and Rose.

How does working on Star Wars compare to all your work on other projects?

There is absolutely no comparison. Until now I’d never worked for a Production or a movie franchise that I had dreamt of working for. I find that regardless of how little we may or may not know about the story or script while I’m on set, that because I know and love Star Wars from the ground up I have a good idea of how to perform (which would be tweaked by Paul Kasey) and also how to conduct myself. I’ve worked on various obscure little productions as well as those a little bigger and found that the real difference working on a Star Wars movie, for me it’s probably being able to give 100% to a project that you feel everyone and every department is also giving. You don’t always get that on other productions; Yes some of it can be put down to a production’s budget and how people feel about the projects they’re working on but very few movie franchises have the ability to reach into your childhood and be everything and more than you could’ve ever expected like Star Wars.

How did you get the role of Cratinus? 

Tom Bell (who went on to play Prashee, the twin brother of Cratinus) and I were originally brought in to see Neal Scanlan about playing Hassk creatures supporting Paul Warren who played the principle Hassk Varmik and was later teamed up with Nathan Plant to play the other one. I and Tom were going to be another two Hassks, I’m guessing when I say ‘we were probably going to be a part of Varmiks gang’. But no sooner had we been in for fittings we then found out that they’d given those parts to the actors from the Raid movies. Neal had said ‘Let’s see if we find something for Dee’ But I wasn’t holding my breath, because at this point I thought well that’s it, this is as close as I’m going to get to Star Wars and began celebrating thinking at least I was seen for Star Wars, because there was no way the sun was going to shine twice on me for something this huge, or so I’d thought.

But then a call came through asking me how I felt about working on my knees? And knowing that it was Star Wars asking there was no other reply than; ‘Of Course!’.

Over the weeks that followed, I was then brought in for fittings and was given these little slippers to put on which had these incredible kneepads attached in case they wanted me to walk around. I also got to try on the head which was unpainted at the time. Eventually, I was also reintroduced to Tom and found out that there would be two of us! On our final day of wardrobe Tom and I were waiting for them to bring in our heads, and as they did so they brought out what I thought was my head as it was the only one I’d been trying on, but they gave it straight to Tom, and told me mine was on its way. When they gave it to me I wasn’t sure whose smile was bigger, mine or the one on Cratinus’s face. They couldn’t have tailored that to me any more than they did, it was such an amazing moment. I love that little Ubdurian Dude, I think it was Jake Lunt Davies and Luke Fisher who designed them, with Luke designing mine.

Playing Cratinus wasn’t your only role though, you also played K-OHN and Slowen Lo.

  K-OHN & Neal Scanlan.

  K-OHN The Manumitted L-1 Tactical Droid came about very early on in production, as he was intended to be the K-2SO droid, but as the project began to grow, so too did the development of the droid and began to make more and more sense to evolve the droid from the Super Battle Droids that were seen in Attack Of The Clones. But it was Neal Scanlan who put me forward for this role telling Gareth I was a perfect choice.

It was amazing to be apart of the whole development as my makers Neil Ellis and Toby meticulously built my suit to fit me perfectly, which it did. It was such a joy to be encased in that suit, I keep hoping that one day they’ll put me back in it, so fingers crossed we’ll have to see.

  Slowen Lo & the Canto Bight Police.

  Slowen Lo was just another character I was coming in to play (so I thought) not knowing if he’d be seen much or what it was they were going to need me to do. Originally I was told he was going to be a beachcomber with a metal detector who looks up to spot a ship flying overhead. Then he became a swaggering local as he was then going to be a player in the Casino, to then finally becoming the concerned citizen he is in the movie.

Are there any other characters you have played that have not been mentioned?

  Lexo Sooger.

Letrun Pay

In The Last Jedi, I also play an alien called Brother Letrun Pay who appears just as the Fathiers break through a wall after Finn yells out ‘Too Much Cover!’

“Brother Letrun Pay was an alien male who spent time in the city of Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica in the year 34 ABY. He stood at a railing looking out over the edge of the city and speaking to a human female when a fathier carrying the Resistance agents Finn and Rose Tico crashed through an archway behind him at high speed and lept over the railing. Pay recoiled in surprise at the sudden appearance of the fathier, which was followed by a herd of riderless fathiers also fleeing the city. Pay had blue, light-sensitive eyes which he shielded with over-sized droptacs. He had white and pink skin and wore the white and black Vestments of the Sacred Circle.”

I was stood with actress/stuntwoman Claire Lawrence who was helping to guide my movements as I couldn’t see out of that head at all, while I had more guidance in my ear from Olly Taylor in between him singing.

I also play Lexo Sooger who appears in the Canto Bight book. The scene was cut from the movie but we hope to see him somewhere on the DVD behind the scenes. I was puppeteering this one. He’s Canto Bights best and most famous masseuse. This guy was beautiful to operate and was designed by Ivan Manzella and operated by Pete Hawkins.      

“Lexo Sooger was a Dor Namethian male who was the star masseur at Zord’s Spa and Bathhouse in Canto Bight. He was sought after by the gangster Sturg Ganna, who eventually kidnapped his daughter Lula.”

How did you get these roles?

As one of their Actor/Creature performers it’s up to us to make sure we can provide the production with the types of performances they’re after and we’ll be called in based on creature suits made to our specs, only sometimes will we be given a heads up on who or what they’d like us to perform. Some are massive suits that may need two people to operate or a really big suit they’ll need someone like Ian Whyte to put on etc.

It’s a beautiful team that is ready and willing to throw themselves into whatever’s being asked within reason of course, but that’s where the rehearsals come in handy. The type of work they call on me to do usually falls in Paul Kasey’s arena where he’ll get us up to speed with a better understanding of our specific range of performances, and then he’ll run off to go jump into a suit himself like Admiral Raddus or C’ai Threnalli to name but a few he has to his credit.

Even things like that are just awesome because I get prepped and trained by the best who are also part of the team/cfx family.

Can you describe your time doing creature and droid performance for Star Wars?

I’m beyond words to describe the feeling, I know Star Wars and love Star Wars, I played with the toys as a kid, watched the making of’s and eventually the movies. To be able to work and perform at such a high standard for Disney & LucasFilm on a Star Wars movie feels like I was always meant to be here doing this, in a realm far beyond it being a dream come true.

I feel very humbled every day to be able to contribute to Star Wars and work with all the puppeteers, wardrobe etc. All in production. I think due to the fact that it’s always so surreal helps me never to take anything for granted.   

How did you get into this line of work? 

I’d been acting for a good few years doing various Shakespeare projects here and there and also being involved in a few concept projects from people who were filming and making their own. But during this time I’d been acting at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and also doing Christmas Pantomime shows, both for seven years; At the Opera House I got to wear a 15’ft costume in Wagners Ring Cycle for two years and in Pantomime I got to play Dick Whittington’s cat Tommy for five years. To be honest I think the suit and creature performing I was doing due to growing up watching the Muppets, Sesame Street along with their movies, and even though I knew they were either being operated or worn by people never seemed to spoil my enjoyment or understanding of what was taking place, which is why I think I’m able just to connect with this Galaxy Far, Far Away etc.

What are some of your fondest memories from your time in Star Wars? 

That’s a very hard question, I’m currently not being given the time to ponder upon everything, I can grab moments here and there to look back on but you gotta understand that for me every day I turn up to work is like the best day of my life, genuinely each day is outdone by the next. Right now I can tell you that being taken away on location to Dubrovnik for The Last Jedi was just incredible. The performers I was out there with, the crew I was out there with & the location pre-dressed for our arrival, not to mention how beautiful Dubrovnik is, it’s an absolutely incredible place. You see, I can recount this for you today but ask me this same question tomorrow and I’ll have another amazing moment to hit you back with.

Was there much interaction between yourself and the directors, if so, what sort of things would you discuss?

Yes, I think we all do at some point, which is beautiful because there’s this thing where if you’re performing and no one says anything to you by giving you a note or something, means you’re doing just fine. But occasionally a director may want to give us a specific note. J.J Abrams had a few notes for me on The Force Awakens in Maz’s Castle, where he directed me to acknowledge Han Solo like everyone else does when Maz calls out his name. It wasn’t used in the end but that’s filmmaking, you kind of just do everything that’s asked of you because sometimes the director/s may just want editing options later down the road.

Rian Johnson was lovely, I’d been told that I could be asked to play Slowen Lo a few different ways in regard to his walk and movement mannerisms and it wasn’t until the very day where I was due to go on and shoot my first performance in the Casino, that Rian told me to play him as a ‘Chilled Out Hippie Dude’. Now here’s the thing about how things get developed; All those ‘Hippie’ body movements were still able to support Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s voice performance of his non-hippie character and vice versa. When you’re aware that this is part of how they do things and have grown to do these things since the prequels especially, it makes me feel that much more honoured to be apart of the process.

You have appeared in three Star Wars films now, how does that feel? Out of the three, which has been your favourite to work on and why? 

Yes, I have. How does it feel ??? I struggle with questions like this because I find it hard to find the words. I know the words are tucked away deep in my emotional feelings somewhere, but to push them out of my mouth is tough. I never thought I’d get to appear in any! Ever!

There was no chance on any of the prequels and when they were done most people thought ‘Well that’s that then’ Only to discover that there was a plan to complete Georges original vision for nine movies in the Skywalker saga, while plans would be made to continue telling other newer stories within the Universe George Lucas has created. So to have appeared in three is beyond a dream come true and to love the entire process as much as I do is just nuts.

My favourite? That’s tough, but maybe playing that little dude Cratinus alongside Prashee, because I think If I had totally messed up on that character I doubt very much if Neal would’ve had me come back so through Cratinus everything became possible I think.

If you could play any other characters, who would it be and why?

I don’t really know when I was a kid I never watched any movie even Star Wars wanting to be any of the characters, not even Lando. I had the toy figures for that sort of thing. I just wanted to be a member of the team helping really.

Who are some of your favourite characters from the franchise and why?

  I’ve always loved R2-D2 his little beeps, his size and his attitude. Between him and C3-P0, their banter has always been brilliant. I love the moment in the first movie where they’ve just landed on Tatooine and he decides he’s going on his mission with or without C3-P0 which meant he’s not dependant upon his companion.

  I also loved it when C3-P0 told him to mind his language, which told us that he just swore! The only character to do that in the entire franchise I think, and I’d say he must’ve said something far worse than ‘Poo-Doo’.

    Oh, and I loved it when Captain Antilles was told to wipe the protocol droids mind and R2 starts cracking up! How could anyone not love this little droid?

What does Star Wars mean to you?

Star Wars is more than just movies to me.

I was already a huge Sesame Street fan and a Muppet Show fan and knew a small amount about Jim Henson and Frank Oz and it was one weekend where they showed the making of the Star Wars movies. I think they showed them individually at first until all the movies were made and I got to see them all back to back. It was like watching a more organised pretending session in the playground. And then I saw Jim Henson and Frank Oz on the Dagobah set and I was sold.

It’s also that continuation of storytelling in a palatable tone I had as a kid from the Ray Harryhausen movies, giving us those Greek fairy-taled myths of the past. And it wasn’t anything like watching Gene Kelly dancing with little Jerry Mouse, this was a fairy-tale sincerely acted by real people acting opposite people in creature suits, puppets, stop motion and ‘whatever it was they did’ to make me believe that they were in the model ship flying through space. Not to mention the laser blasts that travelled across the screen. That amazed me just as much if not more than the Lightsabers.

This was a big deal for me because I began to realise that these guys were doing what I and my friends were doing in the playground ‘Pretending’ but getting to show and tell a really good story. And Still, this is all before me even seeing the first one. Then I finally saw the movies and was blown away at how different some of those shots looked pieced together.

It was later that I then began to watch all the documentary’s on George Lucas and his struggle to get the movies made, some of this had been mentioned in the previous making of episodes I’d seen before, so his struggle and perseverance in making these movies all came hand in hand with my love of the stories and his personal struggle that told me; It doesn’t matter if no one believes in you, as long as you believe in you!

No one believed the music band MN8 I was in would succeed and we did. No one believed before, during and after MN8 that I would achieve my dream to become an Actor, working on feature films instead of dreary soaps.

When you see all the charities LucasFilm/Disney work with, and see just how far reaching the love for Star Wars goes it’s impossible to ignore how special this franchise is and to see how many people it has and will go on to continue inspiring. Nearly everyone I work with on these movies has been inspired to do what they do because of Star Wars or even the Muppets with Frank Oz being involved. If George Lucas could achieve everything he did and has with little to no support, what excuse do I have, is how I’ve always seen it.

I’m guessing that I’ll never work on anything else that I know and love as much as Star Wars.

What are some of your favourite scenes from the Star Wars films and why?

My favourite scene in the entire franchise has to be watching Han and Luke riding on their Tauntuans on Hoth in Empire Strikes Back, merging my love for the Ray Harryhausen movies that came before with this new story set in space, and not here in some near biblical relatable past.

Do you attend many comic conventions, if so, what does fan interaction mean to you, and do you have any appearances coming up?

No, not unless I’m just visiting to look around or even to do a podcast interview. At the moment I truly prefer to have a chat on a podcast actually talking about Star Wars to a Star Wars loving audience. So not sure when and if I’ll do any conventions just yet, but we’ll have to see.

A huge thank you to Dee for answering all of my questions and sharing lots of information about his time working on Star Wars. Hopefully, we will continue to see him feature heavily in all the upcoming films from the franchise.

May the force be with you!

Dee Tails Interview – The Man Behind Cratinus, K-OHN and Slowen Lo in the Star Wars Saga! I recently managed to interview Dee Tails about his time working as a creature and droid performer in