We came. We saw. We conquered. We also got wasted at the clubs, but that bit’s irrelevant (or the details too hazy to recall).

Yes indeed Ladies and Gentlemen. As a group of friends, we originally came out of the woodwork to try our hand at making an amateur short 5 minute film to enter in the FAVC Kula Film Awards 2010. No expectations were held, no previous film making experiences were brought to the bench, and a meager $80FJ (roughly $40USD) of a budget was scrapped together to facilitate the vision of one group of slightly aimless guys (and 1 girl ).

Now a month later, the Kula Film Awards over, we have managed to win the first prize of the Open Category Film Awards section. A fancy cheque, an A4 certificate, and history was made. While we never got to make a thank you speech of any sort, the open bar at the end of the show more then made up for the organisation’s shortcoming. Which, by any standard, was pretty short.

But that is a QQ post for another day. For now, we look to the future to creating another whip-cracking, back-breaking, tear-inducing, blood gorging, but all round worthwhile film project to slave over.

Kania Na Yalo Bula (Eat the living)

Kania na Yalo Bula. The Trailer.

Here it is. The first proper (albeit short) teaser look at the movie “Kania Na Yalo Bula” that premiered on our Facebook Page. Our brave heroes are involved in a deathly struggle – bah. Just press play.

There are wingers in a rugby team, and there are wingers. Rupeni Caucau used to be a wing. And when he was the wing for the Fiji Team, everybody said this fucker could run.

Regarded by many as the greatest attacking player in world rugby, he has as many tries to his name as his no-shows, marijuana bans and failed passports. No other fiji player has garnered so much love and hate at the same time as Rupeni. Well. Maybe Serevi. But that’s sevens. We’re talking about the big boys here.

Speaking of big, Rupeni has recently gone the way of the whale, putting on pounds to place him in the running for both wing and prop. Personally I blame the french and their apple tarts. Seriously. As he is now, he surprised even me, and trust me, I’ve seen some pretty chubby rugby players in my time, but none as hefty as him.

However, while they may share the tipping scales element, there’s something they all lack compared to him, a vital point that separates the fat rugby players, from the others. They’re not Caucau. French apple tarts be damned, overweight or underweight, Caucau still possess the speed, agility and allround what-the-fuckery he had back when he was in his prime. He’s packing on the pounds, but he’s still running in the tries.

Watching the above video is an exercise in amazement as you see Caucau receive the ball, and like an eel, slips through the defense like a hot knife through butter. Oh the defense tries to stop him. I can see why they have hope. It’s just one fat dude right? WRONG. Fat dude is magically drenched in oil, you-no-tackle-me-voodoo and so much good luck he’ll make any Irish green with envy. And speed? As the second score demonstrates, fat don’t matter if you can still outrun FOUR rugby players. (Although it does result in a funny cartwheel at the end )

This man better be allowed to play for Fiji come the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Or no amount of french pastry is going to save the Fiji Rugby Board from the ensuing wrath of the fans.

Courtesy of Rugbydump.com

It’s true. Watch as Vijay Singh commands the elements to his will as he bounces,  rolls and ultimately pockets this near hole in one play.

Now if only he can do this on a game by game basis, we’d be the 7s equivalent world champions of golf, and both golf and rugby would be guaranteed medal earners in the Olympics, thanks to our otherworldly prowess.

Thanks Mark Simpson!

PS: Still alive and kickin

When the words “Local Music” is mentioned, what springs to mind? Cheery, smiley fijians standing on white sandy beaches, smiles beaming away, ukaleles in tow, harmonious tunes echoing in the pacific breeze? Calm stringed melodies singing of times of old, when times were simple and the grog flowed like the stream next to the house?

If you were just visiting our shores at the local hotel then, yes.

However, a cursory glance at localmusicinfiji.com will reveal a totally different picture.

Times are a’changin’, and amongst many young musicians today, its definitely all about the hip rap hop.

With the advent of westernisation, cheap computers and coupled with the ease at which the internet has made itself available to many families today (ah the good old days of dial-up…or maybe not), anyone and everyone with a musical bone or a lyrical leaning towards rap can make themselves heard. Several rappers have already made a name for themselves, such as Sammy G, Mr Grin, and Red Child, to name but a few.

The distribution channels for local grown music has improved with the help of the internet via bebo groups, reverbnation profiles etc, but the traditional means still remain, either through radio, a music video (if you’ve a video production company at your disposal), and even through public performances:

Not to be outdone by the advent of hip hop, krumping is also making headwaves with its subsequent introduction and growth.

It would be interesting to see just how far this genre of music and dance would develop, and with plenty of raw talent and the internet as their oyster, we should be in for alot of surprises in the coming years.

Ahem.

If you are a fan of Heroes, and you find the japanese mainboy Masi Oka quite the funny guy, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised that he is kinda funny in real life as well.

Here’s a clip from teh internet teeveez that has Stop Time Boy fishing out from the crystal blue waters of Fiji something that doesn’t quite seem at home in the sea…

Of course, I’m assuming this guy was bored when he made this video. Surely thats all there is to this? A need to karaoke yourself to the Black Rose “Teivovo” song, regardless of the fact that you know half of the words…but who cares? As long as you do that whole head-banging ‘teivovo’ thing, widen your eyes, flare your nostrils and adjust your camera to zoom in on your…nose…as long as it keeps you occupied, then where’s the harm in that?

Funnily enough, although you’ve pretty much seen the whole video in the first “teivovo” chant of the song, you can’t tear your eyes away from the screen, wanting to know what other tricks this guy has up his sleeve…