birdmanlive.com

I was shocked and dismayed when I read that the digital files form Club Helium was stolen yesterday. Before you say, “What the fuck is Club Helium?” Please let me explain.

Club Helium is a web based reality TV show shot in Manila Philippines, but one thing makes this show different. Instead of using the the native indigenous language of Tagalog, it was shot completely in English.

I embraced this idea, because I too wanted to shoot an English language film/tv series in the Philippines for a long time. And trust me, it’s a lot easier said than done. One of the obstacles that faces the Philippine media industry is the lack of international distribution because Tagalog isn’t an international language. For example, I’m a huge fan of the band Pupil, and I can’t just run down to Wuxtry and pick a copy up. I have to order Tagalog DVD’s via ebay.

As of July 4th, 2009 some asshole broke into the office of Truancy Live Media Management, the creators, and stole the editing laptop, hard-drives, contracts, and various tapes. Thousand of dollars of other gear was untouched, making this seem to be an inside job. Sense this is under investigation of the Philippine National Police, so I am unable to mention names of the suspects.

Like the show idea or not, this would have been a huge step for the Filipino media industry.

Club Helium was almost complete with pst production, and was to be released this fall.

Whoever stole this is a chicken shit conformist.