<P class=MsoNormal>Something that just caught my eye recently: <A
href="http://www.movie-talkers.com/press.html">http://www.movie-talkers.com/press.html</A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This appears to be an event being held in New York
celebrating the art of the “byunsha”, or the Korean live film
narrator, whose art has “to the post-war generation, Byunsa have
become almost a myth”.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This all sounds rather familiar to me. Its often written
that the katsuben commentary of the Japanese benshi is a </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>“unique tradition of live film narration”,
but funnily enough, even Sawato Midori, when I interviewed her with Mike
Arnold last year mentioned that even the Japanese are not under any
delusions as to the uniqueness of live film commentary. She mentioned that
live narration also occurred amongst screenings for non-English speaking
immigrant communities in the US, and also parts of Europe. But as for Asia,
can anyone tell me if there were any other benshi/bunshya equivalents in
other countries’ silent cinemas, and just how “unique” is
the benshi art form? </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Any info would be greatly appreciated,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Best</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Jasper Sharp</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Midnight Eye: The Latest And Best in Japanese
Cinema<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>www.midnighteye.com</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P><BR />
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