Boy bands in the film and reality
To review the lecture we had before the break, it was about the bands. During the break I have watched a very interesting film-“Heavenly Kings”, and I would like to introduce to everyone here. Also, I want to give some personal thoughts about the film.
Boy bands, they exist everywhere-magazine, advertising, television, radio and film, so it seems that they appear incessantly. However, People response to them differently: some people are driven mad by them, some people just shoot out a snort of disbelief to them. In the realm of popular culture, you have to admit its importance: they increasingly contribute to satisfy a girlish dream and also fill up the wallet of music industrial tycoons.
However, how much do we actually know about boy bands? How to be a member of this kind of band, and what is concealed from the public? Through tracing these four main characters, “Heavenly Kings” explores the things of Hong Kong popular star factory that is been hidden. By adopting the way of zero distance filming, this documentary film dramatically tells the rise and fallen of the boy band “Alive”: Four young people, who have talents and potentials to become famous, once they have engaged with the entertainment business, it turns their life in a different way as it change the potential into actual.
From learning how to sing, dance and performance, as well as how to promote themselves, they successfully bring a new band to us not only in the film but also in the real life. In the opening of the film, it acknowledges that in 1995, the revenue of Hong Kong music industry was 17 billions, however, after 10 years it was decreased to only 7 billions, and then the story starts afterwards. There are also many actual famous popular stars appearing in the film, in the way while they are interviewed. They talk about their personal experience, and the old and new music industry, the rules about such a “game”, and these interviews are edited into the film as part of narratives. In addition, the film director is actually play one of the important roles in this film. Therefore, it perfectly gives us an idea of contrasting between the reality and fabrication.
To review the lecture we had before the break, it was about the bands. During the break I have watched a very interesting film-“Heavenly Kings”, and I would like to introduce to everyone here. Also, I want to give some personal thoughts about the film.
Boy bands, they exist everywhere-magazine, advertising, television, radio and film, so it seems that they appear incessantly. However, People response to them differently: some people are driven mad by them, some people just shoot out a snort of disbelief to them. In the realm of popular culture, you have to admit its importance: they increasingly contribute to satisfy a girlish dream and also fill up the wallet of music industrial tycoons.
However, how much do we actually know about boy bands? How to be a member of this kind of band, and what is concealed from the public? Through tracing these four main characters, “Heavenly Kings” explores the things of Hong Kong popular star factory that is been hidden. By adopting the way of zero distance filming, this documentary film dramatically tells the rise and fallen of the boy band “Alive”: Four young people, who have talents and potentials to become famous, once they have engaged with the entertainment business, it turns their life in a different way as it change the potential into actual.
From learning how to sing, dance and performance, as well as how to promote themselves, they successfully bring a new band to us not only in the film but also in the real life. In the opening of the film, it acknowledges that in 1995, the revenue of Hong Kong music industry was 17 billions, however, after 10 years it was decreased to only 7 billions, and then the story starts afterwards. There are also many actual famous popular stars appearing in the film, in the way while they are interviewed. They talk about their personal experience, and the old and new music industry, the rules about such a “game”, and these interviews are edited into the film as part of narratives. In addition, the film director is actually play one of the important roles in this film. Therefore, it perfectly gives us an idea of contrasting between the reality and fabrication.
As a film that is mixed up of fact and fiction, things happened in the film could be true and false, so the audiences can make judgment on it. But, the more important thing is to question does the band “Alive” exist for the real music fans? Or make up or the film making? If a fictitious band becomes famous in the real life, they only have good looking but lack of strength, and they still win the fans over, undoubtedly, in this case this film is such a satire to the Hong Kong music industry.
2 comments:
I've never seen Heavenly Kings - but Elaine's description of the film's pseudo-transparency as it charts the careers of these pop stars, reminds me of the Spice Girls' 1997 film Spiceworld.
Although the Spice Girls existed as a real band, the fictional 'behind-the-scenes' elements of the film were clearly intended to parody the band themselves, and the fickle industry they were a part of. At the same time though, it pandered to fans' hunger to become 'closer' to their pop idols, and to know what their lives were like off-stage.
If you remember the unfeasibly large tour bus, stereotyped outfits, and countless cameo appearances, you'll know what I mean.
Hiya. Just saw an Australian movie called "Boytown" in the weekend Extremely dry humour that is a complete parody of the classic boyband audiovisual aesthetic. Tells the story of middle-aged ex-boyband members and their desire for a comeback. Guess what they DO make a comeback and one of the pivotal moments is when they realise they need to start singing for women around their own age.-Out come the videos about men doing housework, picking up the kids from school, doing the shopping..etc Some very sick moments and outrageous scenes that are so bad they start defying the notion of comedy..check it out fiFA
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