Will You be my Perfect Girl?

     As web dramas take over our airwaves like "DramaWorld", (an English/Korean mashup) there are those who are creating a whole new way of looking at the KDrama phenomena!

     Christian Lee and Jason Chan from BANANAMANA Films develop English scripts for Asian Dramas! They are a Singapore based production company and have won more than 7 awards internationally!

     Just like "DramaWorld", BANANAMANA Films' "Perfect Girl" was picked up by VIKI! Christian and Jason took their multi episode series and converted it into a hour movie...!

The Girl...

     Jason Chan, along with being one of the creators of "Perfect Girl", also plays the leading man Stan.

     At the beginning of the film we come to find Stan alone and unloved. Not because he hasn't had a chance at happiness but he has been in love with Jenny (Khaleila Hisham) since their high school days.

Meet Cute

     It's been years since Stan has seen his crush Jenny and he still finds himself tongue tied and awkward in front of her...but he can't seem to forget (things that make you go mmm?).

Making a Plan?

     Social situations seem like a foreign language to Stan so he sets out to remedy his lackluster love life by doing what he's best at... calculating information to its best end result...

                                                                       ...Jenny.

Their Past...

     Yet, Jenny still remembers when Stan would write her love letters. A well spring of thoughts that sprung from Stan's heart in the hopes of winning Jenny's. 

     Love filled papers just for her... but as he stood in front of her...nothing. 

     Stan and Jenny's portrayals are funny, warm, and heartbreaking (like all good KDramas) and the series is well put together from alpha to omega and everything in between.

     BANANAMANA Films weaves an intimate tale of two lovers and what they face to be together... not just from the outside but from within!

     Christian and Jason still have many more stories to tell and recently they have been working on a pilot named "BangBang Club". 

     In 2016 it was nominated for Best Editing and Best Score at the Indie SeriesAwards and won a Remi award at the Worldfest - HoustonInternational Film Festival!

A New Spin on DramaWorld!

     As you follow my blog you'll start to notice certain similarities in a typical KDrama. 

     Poor girl meets rich boy, then she has unrealistic expectations that he'll love her forever, and there's always someone to mess with their relationship! (Monster-in-law, 2nd male lead, the Temptress). 

     "DramaWorld" starts EXACTLY like a typical KDrama...

                                                                                  ...then EVERYTHING changes!!

     Viki has broken all the KDrama rules and has given all KDrama fans an incredible treat! This web series crosses cultures, languages, reality, and worlds! Set in Los Angeles and Seoul, the first-ever American-Korean mashup (Omo!) 

     Claire Duncan (LIV HEWSON) is a 20 year old college student who works at her Father's cafe. She feels invisible and her only way of coping with her life (or lack thereof) is by living vicariously through the KDramas she watches. 

Addicted to KDramas!

     Chef Joon Park (SEAN DULAKE) is Claire's favorite actor and plays the male lead in "Taste of Love" the hottest KDrama at the moment! Claire has been following the KDrama religiously and knows something is wrong... 

Meet the Love Triangle...Maybe?

     Claire continues her lonely existence as she tries to figure out what's wrong with her series, "Taste of Love".

     She tries to explain that there is a problem with the KDrama to the many customer's at her Father's cafe but all she does is drive business away.

Claire explains...

       Episode 12 takes a nasty turn in "Taste of Love" as someone kills Chef Joon's Father forcing the story into a darker course. And the love triangle takes a turn for the worst.

The tale continues...

   As Claire re-watches episode 12, trying to catch anything she could have missed in the plot, her Father furiously takes her smartphone in an effort to make her wake up and start living life in reality.

I want to be in KDramas!

     Unable to let the KDrama go Claire watches the next episode as she cleans up. Unfortunately, a spilled mop bucket fuels Claire's desire to stop Chef Joon and the Temptress (KIM SA HEE) from kissing and transports Claire into "Taste of Love"!

Dream come true?

     Claire wreaks havoc on “Taste of Love”. Her only ally is Seth Ko (Justin Chon), a fellow "real" person who also landed in DramaWorld, and is a "facilitator". Seth keeps all the KDramas on track to their happy ending. 

     Seth insists Claire help him because her interference has created an off-balance which is causing other dramas to splice into the series !

     With as many Asian Dramas that have been produced the creation of DramaWorld was clearly anticipated and greatly welcomed by all KDrama fans (Me included!)

     This wonderful series was written by Josh Billig and Chris Martin.  Chris also directed the show and he's been in the industry for about 10 year! I had fun watching it, laughing at all the KDrama rules, crying with all the heartwarming scenes and seeing how much fun Josh and Chris had with the series...

     Many fans are clamoring for a season 2 and I clearly anticipate the possibilities!

Bromance to Romance in 19 Episodes or Less...?

     What happens when the culture you are born into has rules and regulations that can shape your life to an almost alternate state? That's exactly what happened to Pi Ya Nuo (MeganLai)! 

     When she was born her parents, who are truly trusting and loving, went to a fortune teller to get advice on their newborn child (feels very fairy-tale like...). 

     They were told of great misfortune for Ya Nuo in the future if they did not take steps to change her fate! (oh no!) 

Tricking Fate?

     On a parallel storyline Du Zhi Feng (BaronChen) also had a rough start in life and was rescued from being an orphan by a generous mafia family! (ok...I know how it sounds but they're nice!)

     Zhi Feng is facing challenges, on his own, since his Father disappeared 7 years ago...does tragedy follow this duo throughout the drama?

Love Thy Father

     As Ya Nuo continues to hide who she is (for almost 26 years) she has lived her life as full as she could. Her best friend, Liao Guang Chao (YangMing Wei), helps to create laughter and a sense of stability in her life.     

Working Man

     As the story unfolds Zhi Feng is keeping his Theme Park running and waiting for his Father to come home...but rivalries won't leave him alone! All he really needs is a friend to have his back...(mmm...wonder who that could be?)

Gentleman in Distress?

     Zhi Feng and Ya Nuo hit it off but Ya Nuo doesn't want any rewards for helping Zhi Feng. 

     But when Ya Nuo rescues Du Zi Han (Elleya Tao),  Zhi Feng's  sister ...things get really complicated! 

(...and funny!)

Sworn Brothers!

     Bromance is a hilarious view on the gender bender theme (when a character dresses/acts like the opposite gender) that many Asian Dramas have.

     I find this Taiwanese twist delightful because Ya Nuo has been living this lifestyle for almost 26 years and has become adept to the role! She truly is a boy through and through. 

     She fights, has swag, and drinks just like all the male characters! ...sometimes better! 

     Watching this drama was addictive most especially since Ya Nuo got to rescue her "Prince" on more than one occasion and I loved to watch her kick butt!

Love Now...there may not be a Later...

     How do you get a workaholic to take a time out to smell the flowers? Convince her she only has six months to live! (Oh no!)

     Yang Yi Ru (Annie Chen) is on her very first vacation in years because her Sister, Yang Yi Qing (Yang Yong Cun) and Father, Yang Hao (Shen Meng Sheng) have convinced her, for her own good(really?), that she only has a few months to live!

The Scam!

   The downside is that she meets Lan Shi De (George Hu), who falls for her in three seconds (or less), and wants to spend all his time with Yang Yi Ru. The romance is put on hold however when Yang Yi Ru breaks down and confesses about her impending death.

The Confession...

   Lan Shi De makes the next few days an incredibly fun filled and sexy vacation turned honeymoon...(Oh My!)

Let's Get Married

   

Great Adventure!

     Unfortunately for the pair of lovers Yang Yi Ru's family's deceit comes to light and she is too ashamed to face Lan Shi De. (even though NONE of it was her fault)

     Yang Yi Ru tries to get her life back together (trying to forget Lan Shi De - good luck with that!) and back to work with her boss Sun Qi Ming (Bobby Dou); who was also in on the scam to make Yang Yi Ru forcibly take a vacation.

The Lie stops Here!

   Oh! To make matters worse Lan Shi De is the owner of a large family owned business who is suing Sun Qi Ming's production company!! (yup! Yang Yi Ru is in for a nasty surprise) 

     Love Now is a great Taiwanese Drama that is filled with humor and heartaches which created an unforgettable story thanks to the writing team behind these lovable and endearing characters. (Writing Team: Shao Hui Ting, Lín Pei Yu, Zheng Ying Min, and Huang Xiang Min) 

My First KDrama: Boys Over Flowers!

     If I had to blame anything for my KDrama addiction it would be Boys Over Flowers! It was the first, of its kind, that I watched and I have not been able to put them down ever again!

     This flirty, fun, and fiendish group of boys rule Shinhwa High School...and their lives are forever changed when a new addition is introduced to the school on a swimming scholarship by the name of Geum Jan-di (Gu Hye-sun).

     We first encounter the 4F(Flower Boys): Goo Joon Pyo (LeeMin Ho) the Leader, Yoon Ji-hoo (KimHyun-joong) the 2nd in Command, So Yi-jung (Kim Bum) the Artist, and Song Woo-bin (Kim Joon) the Gangster on Geum Jan-di first day of school and she is both fascinated and repulsed by this group of boys. 

Introducing the 4F

      Geum Jan-di is bullied and teased at school because of her lowly commoner status but she is tough, endearing, honest, and loyal to her friends. This starts chipping some of the ice around Goo Joon Pyo's heart but unfortunately he has no clue on how to love and be loved. (Plus he's the one that started Geum Jan-di's bullying to begin with! Sigh!)

Geum Jan-di stands up for herself

       This could easily have been another typical drama but the cast brought empathy and laughter to Boys Over Flowers and it has become one of the most watched and celebrated dramas since 2009. This is the epitome of high school dramas that pushed these actors into Hayllu status.