FIDELITY OF WEI SHENG AWARD REVIEW

LAUGHING HARD…at ScreenCraft review of my animated movie script, based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa Buddhist novel. While the reviewer acknowledges that “…the script is high on poeticism, …spirit changing bodies…” (vv: read reincarnation), she also advises “…For example, a green heron startles Wei with its cry on page 4, but what if the heron flew into Wei and inadvertently attacked him?” Yeah, right, shot sort of — blood gushing from his eye — Read More …

BAUDOLINO TRILOGY: MOVIE OR COMIC BOOK

MOVIE ADAPTATION of Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climate book, Johnny Depp in the leading role? OMG! Actually it was only “Announced” in 2008, but never made. IMO, an adaptation closely following Tom Robbins’ story could be controversial, if not a box office problem. Why do I care? Because my “based on” script…oh well, we Read More …

DRAMA: SOMALIA, PROXIES AND THE WORLD IN 2067

Baudolino’s second mission in Somalia needs drama. Just a lame adaptation of Switter’s second CIA mission in Syria of 1990’s, from the book, will not work in the 2060’s action of the movie. To figure out the drama surrounding Baudolino’s delivery of “goods” to the Bedouin clan, I had to come up with a mind Read More …

BAUDOLINO IN SOMALIA OF 2067

Somalia stands out as the best location for Baudolino’s second CIA mission, after the first one in Peru. In Tom Robbins’s book Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates, Switters delivers in 1990’s gas masks to kurds fighting in Syria. In my movie adaptation, Somalia had reverted to monarchy since 2041, has lots of rare metal Read More …

THIRD PART. BAUDOLINO REINCARNATES IN 2067 AS A CIA SPY.

First sequence with his aunt and the parrot in the Rejuvenation Room done. In the second, on a CIA mission to Peru, his airplane lands on Lima airport… ….The “Fasten your Seat Belts” sign blinks in the aircraft about to land. Except for the reinforcement trusses, the skin of the aircraft is transparent. Lima downtown Read More …

Sequential Art for Ryunosuke Akutagawa short Buddhist story

Inviting a Japanese or Chinese (preferably) artist to render my adaptation of “The Faith of Wei Sheng” short story.  The sequential art book (aka comics) is addressed to both the mature and young philosophical minds. The whole job will be awarded based on the rendering of two tryout pages, panels included, in color. The artist Read More …

The spy, parrot, nun and Pyramid Head

THE THIRD PART OF THE TRILOGY. Reincarnated in 2067, Baudolino encounters The Pyramid Head who preaches the Universal Consciousness religion. After meeting with him, Baudolino falls in love with a nun, but has to change the way he walks in life or die.

BAUDOLINO: ONE MORE TO GO

Happy to had finished the second part of Baudolino’s adaptation trilogy, work started on 09/20/14. Other than Umberto Eco’s inspiration, I could not have been able to do it without Google maps and searches on history, religion, philosophy and art. To post images related to the narrative, I had scavenged the artwork of talented graphic Read More …

THE GRIFFON GETS BAUDOLINO TO CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1204

Baudolino dozes off while looking at the griffons, one of which…flies off the tent’s cover and, after circling the courtyard, lowers itself by Baudolino who gets on its back. They fly over the Nile, desert land, the shore of Mediterranean, then inland. Baudolino rejoices at the sight of a fortress with tall towers and minarets, Read More …

1202 July. The flying fish loses its scales

On the deck of the Greek trading ship, a group of tradesmen sit crouched and argue. Neither the Muslim nor the Venetian merchant seem impressed by Ardzrouni’s and The Poet’s meteorite stones. A Buddhist monk next to them meditates impassibly. Laying down on a rug, Baudolino turns his head away from the merchant’s group, annoyed. Read More …