Something to Blog About
I kept putting off posting this week: all I had to offer was a couple party and BBQ pictures, and that wasn't really inspiring me. Then Macky sent us this email:
abbey brought this talk. A certain foreign game company will hold a rollout tomorrow nite. free booze and a meal arrive and can be given it of XXXX yen. There is the photography, too. they want to make some promotion video maybe. its gather at Omori Station in 7:30pm. A bus comes to pick you up. Do you participate?
We were intrigued, although not really sure what he was talking about. Macky said he would babysit, giving us a rare night out for the two of us, so we said what the hell. Free food and booze, and a possibility of making a little cash on top of it, so why not?
The next day, he emailed more information:
I confirmed the details.
The set is Omori Station during half past 7 from 7:00. If arrive; of xxx-xxxx-xxxx please talk on the telephone. Mr.Tagami (the master ring charge of abbey's company) and a saying human being seem to go to it to meet you by car. There is the game that a company called MOZOO gives in Microsoft system for Europe and America and seems to want to record movement as the part of visitor of the scene to play in that. It is have fun by the performance in what a band comeand seem to play U2. Therefore beer and a light meal seem to come. So it seems to be different that there are a lot of foreigners else and seems to have a party. The guarantee is XXXXX yen by around 10:00 from 8:00.
The only thing that was clearer from this message was that Macky was using an automatic translator. Was it a premier party? A video shoot? A trick to round up gaijin and put them in a camp? If I'm going to be filmed, what do I wear? Tattoos showing or hidden? Tho I made sure I washed my hair, at the current state of growing out mind-of-their-own curls, I'm never sure how it's going to come out. Would it look cute or frizzy today?
Happily, my hair looked pretty good. We didn't know what was coming, but we took the train to Omori.
We called the number we were given and we were given instructions by Pete, a helpful English speaker at the site. We got in a cab and handed the phone to the driver, who received directions. We drove for quite aways from the station, into a very warehouse-y area. We understood that we were going to a studio, so we weren't too nervous that we were going to be locked up in a warehouse. The driver found the place and we were met outside by a Japanese guy who paid the driver and showed us inside.
It was a huge black space. The first thing I noticed was a band out on the floor. Their instruments were flat black (pretty cool), and they were dressed in spandex, dotted with little silvery balls. I knew immediately that they were outfitted in those CGI mapping suits, or whatever they are called. I saw it in the behind-the-scenes of Lord of the Rings. It's how they did Gollum.
We were ushered to a corner with comfy seats and met two other guys: Pete from NJ/NY, and Adam from Cleveland, of all places (Lakewood, specifically, no, he's not gay, for those of you who know that Lakewood has the largest gay population in the US outside of SF). They are both young guys in the gaming industry, working as translators. They've been here for years.
We were given beer and snacks, sat around a bit, and learned a little bit about what we were going to do. We were going to be a "crowd" at a U2 concert, for some Guitar Hero-like video game. They wouldn't tell us the name of the game, and we don't know if it'll be used for promo purposes, or the actual game, or what. Apparently they wanted foreigners because our body dynamics are different from Japanese. Having seen Japanese girls at shows "dance" in their cute-cute way, I believe this absolutely.
Then we learned that we were going to be outfitted in CGI spandex, too! With helmets. So much for the agonizing over wardrobe. And so much for my cute hair!
We all got suited up in three layers of the tightest things I've ever worn. Worse for the boys, tho, who are totally unused to wearing tight clothes in general. Adam, Pete, and I got balled-up (Jeff was an alternate and a background crowd filler).
We were photographed in various poses, and then the real fun began. "U2" came out (a young Seattleite with a Robert Sean Leonard smile was the lead, the rest of the band Japanese), and we jumped around, danced, clapped, woo-hooed, and generally acted as if we were seeing U2, our favorite band, live (I'll say your band is my favorite, too, if you pay me enough). It was just the entrance, a verse, and goodbye-thank part of the show, like 4 or 5 times. We altered our show-watching and dancing styles (rocker, hippie-trance fan, whatever) each time. I am going to be a thousand women!
That was pretty much it. The whole thing took like 2 hours, and we got beer, bento boxes, and and yen for it. And a blog entry. Sweet.
Group shots. The "band":
all the players:
Adam and Pete said they'd keep their geek-feelers out, so they can find out what game this is and our part in it, and let us know what they find out.
Jeff and I went to a funny little bar in Kawasaki after, and then to Namamugi, to an Irish pub called King Crane. Jeff somehow got Tomoi and Norichan to show up (they live like a minute away from the bar), tho Tomoi had said he was sleeping when Jeff called. I'm kind of hurting today, but it was worth it.
Anyway, here's pics from the 2 BBQs and the party last weekend. One school BBQ:
one BuzzBQ (this guy was already sleeping on the bench when we got there to help set up, and woke to a full-swing party, poor guy):
and Shingo's birthday party. Helen and I gave him the mask-tiara-boa set, and everyone had to try it on:
And this, just because it's funny, is James Brown rubber ducky from the Kawasaki bar.
Oh, and apparently we are having a Halloween party. Wish I could've kept the CGI suit for a costume.
abbey brought this talk. A certain foreign game company will hold a rollout tomorrow nite. free booze and a meal arrive and can be given it of XXXX yen. There is the photography, too. they want to make some promotion video maybe. its gather at Omori Station in 7:30pm. A bus comes to pick you up. Do you participate?
We were intrigued, although not really sure what he was talking about. Macky said he would babysit, giving us a rare night out for the two of us, so we said what the hell. Free food and booze, and a possibility of making a little cash on top of it, so why not?
The next day, he emailed more information:
I confirmed the details.
The set is Omori Station during half past 7 from 7:00. If arrive; of xxx-xxxx-xxxx please talk on the telephone. Mr.Tagami (the master ring charge of abbey's company) and a saying human being seem to go to it to meet you by car. There is the game that a company called MOZOO gives in Microsoft system for Europe and America and seems to want to record movement as the part of visitor of the scene to play in that. It is have fun by the performance in what a band comeand seem to play U2. Therefore beer and a light meal seem to come. So it seems to be different that there are a lot of foreigners else and seems to have a party. The guarantee is XXXXX yen by around 10:00 from 8:00.
The only thing that was clearer from this message was that Macky was using an automatic translator. Was it a premier party? A video shoot? A trick to round up gaijin and put them in a camp? If I'm going to be filmed, what do I wear? Tattoos showing or hidden? Tho I made sure I washed my hair, at the current state of growing out mind-of-their-own curls, I'm never sure how it's going to come out. Would it look cute or frizzy today?
Happily, my hair looked pretty good. We didn't know what was coming, but we took the train to Omori.
We called the number we were given and we were given instructions by Pete, a helpful English speaker at the site. We got in a cab and handed the phone to the driver, who received directions. We drove for quite aways from the station, into a very warehouse-y area. We understood that we were going to a studio, so we weren't too nervous that we were going to be locked up in a warehouse. The driver found the place and we were met outside by a Japanese guy who paid the driver and showed us inside.
It was a huge black space. The first thing I noticed was a band out on the floor. Their instruments were flat black (pretty cool), and they were dressed in spandex, dotted with little silvery balls. I knew immediately that they were outfitted in those CGI mapping suits, or whatever they are called. I saw it in the behind-the-scenes of Lord of the Rings. It's how they did Gollum.
We were ushered to a corner with comfy seats and met two other guys: Pete from NJ/NY, and Adam from Cleveland, of all places (Lakewood, specifically, no, he's not gay, for those of you who know that Lakewood has the largest gay population in the US outside of SF). They are both young guys in the gaming industry, working as translators. They've been here for years.
We were given beer and snacks, sat around a bit, and learned a little bit about what we were going to do. We were going to be a "crowd" at a U2 concert, for some Guitar Hero-like video game. They wouldn't tell us the name of the game, and we don't know if it'll be used for promo purposes, or the actual game, or what. Apparently they wanted foreigners because our body dynamics are different from Japanese. Having seen Japanese girls at shows "dance" in their cute-cute way, I believe this absolutely.
Then we learned that we were going to be outfitted in CGI spandex, too! With helmets. So much for the agonizing over wardrobe. And so much for my cute hair!
We all got suited up in three layers of the tightest things I've ever worn. Worse for the boys, tho, who are totally unused to wearing tight clothes in general. Adam, Pete, and I got balled-up (Jeff was an alternate and a background crowd filler).
We were photographed in various poses, and then the real fun began. "U2" came out (a young Seattleite with a Robert Sean Leonard smile was the lead, the rest of the band Japanese), and we jumped around, danced, clapped, woo-hooed, and generally acted as if we were seeing U2, our favorite band, live (I'll say your band is my favorite, too, if you pay me enough). It was just the entrance, a verse, and goodbye-thank part of the show, like 4 or 5 times. We altered our show-watching and dancing styles (rocker, hippie-trance fan, whatever) each time. I am going to be a thousand women!
That was pretty much it. The whole thing took like 2 hours, and we got beer, bento boxes, and and yen for it. And a blog entry. Sweet.
Group shots. The "band":
all the players:
Adam and Pete said they'd keep their geek-feelers out, so they can find out what game this is and our part in it, and let us know what they find out.
Jeff and I went to a funny little bar in Kawasaki after, and then to Namamugi, to an Irish pub called King Crane. Jeff somehow got Tomoi and Norichan to show up (they live like a minute away from the bar), tho Tomoi had said he was sleeping when Jeff called. I'm kind of hurting today, but it was worth it.
Anyway, here's pics from the 2 BBQs and the party last weekend. One school BBQ:
one BuzzBQ (this guy was already sleeping on the bench when we got there to help set up, and woke to a full-swing party, poor guy):
and Shingo's birthday party. Helen and I gave him the mask-tiara-boa set, and everyone had to try it on:
And this, just because it's funny, is James Brown rubber ducky from the Kawasaki bar.
Oh, and apparently we are having a Halloween party. Wish I could've kept the CGI suit for a costume.
posted by Sandi at 3:20 PM
2 Comments:
fan-fucking-tastic! you are having such a great japan experience, you davises, you!
Woa... You guys look so Tron-like in those pictures... Did you have to fight off the Evil CPU? [/ultra-geek]
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