Hulu: What's Next?

Rumors here and there indicate that Hulu will launch subscription based service soon, not RSS subscription but cable subscription model. Previous rumors said Disney will be part of the joint venture, and soon we watched Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy on Hulu. Personally, I think it is quite reasonable for Hulu.com to move forward to that direction as long as it is not subscription only service.

Reason One: Competitors are working.
A few months ago, we might still think Hulu is competing with other video streaming websites, such as Joost, which now is busy with its lawsuit against former President and CEO Mike Volpi. Actually, the increasing popularity of Hulu has already threatened traditional cable providers. Starting from July, ComCast announced a trial that offers its subscribers to streaming HBO and Cinemax shows through Comcast.net and Fancast .com, an effort of ComCast and Time Warner to enter video streaming business. In U.K., Sky TV has already launched a similar service for subscribers to watch TV program on PC by downloading their software. Confronting with the initiatives from cable providers, Hulu definitely does not want to get behind those competitors, ComCast already has customers but Hulu still needs some efforts to convert and educate its users. Maybe the desktop remote is a start.

Reason Two: No Television sets in the future
From consumer behavior perspective, many years ago, Nicholas Negroponte already said that the future is not about HDTV but no TV set at all after all information is digitized (Bing Digital, 1996). The prediction has not being completely proved but it is on the way. Hulu is definitely at the right spot to welcome all the viewers who turn away from television set but still need content, and would like to pay a little for that if it is user-friendly enough. Also, according to L.A. Times, HDTV sets guzzles energy and state like California is working on the energy efficiency plan to set stand for that. So, watching television on Hulu could be greener than watching it on the HDTV sets.

Yet, I hope Hulu will not go completely subscription only, which will be too cruel to its fans who just want to watch 30 Rock weekly and really does not need that much cable program. And, I saw more big advertisers, such as VISA and Macy's, so the ad-supported model is still working for both parties.

Law of Attraction: The Secret (2006)

My landlord is a very nice old man. Seeing my struggling with job-seeking, he insists that I should watch the documentary The Secret (2006), and he is going to kick me out of the house if I don’t watch it, which he describes as a life-changing movie.

I agree with the idea behind the movie, not the implausible “law of attraction” but the habit of positive thinking. To certain extend, the movie reminds me of also the best-selling book The Alchemist, through a boy’s pursuit of personal legend, the book tells that when you really want to fulfill something, “the whole universe conspires to help you”. It sounds very much like the lines in this movie and the famous saying from Aladin: “You wish is my command”. Coincidently, in the Alchemist, the boy has two stones, Urim and Thummim, to help him overcome frustrates and feel good. In the documentary, one interviewee mentions that he puts a stone in his pocket, feeling grateful for something when he touches it. Still, I like the novel better. In the book, the boy experiences up and down, and tries every possible way to achieve the personal legend, not just imaging he found the treasure while sitting in the dessert. The movie could mislead by repeating "ask, believe and receive”. This idea contradicts to Chinese philosophy which I grow up with that no working, no fruits. Overall, the movie used a more straight-for-word and aggressive to tell positive thinking, no, to sell it.

This design of the documentary is quite business-oriented and it is indeed a marketing success. As Wikipedia noted, the major selling point of the movie is the secret of “how to enhance wealth”. Therefore, it has a great hook, a popular way of narration (citing historically famous people), and a clear message. It once again proves the power of world-of-mouth selling. In certain way, the documentary projects the ideal middle class life and indicates people can achieve it by thinking. (Is it the reason the documentary becomes so popular on those talk shows?)

For me, it is just too far to believe the “law of attraction”, especially being presented in this way. I will rather go with the simplest saying, “dream big, work hard”. BTW, I think Wikipedia really does a good job in The Secret (2006) article in English.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_%282006_film%29

Visiting the JANM Museum

Last Saturday is my second weekend in Los Angeles. Honestly, I went to Little Tokyo just for grocery shopping. Even true, I was looking around because I cant find the store I used to go. Then, I saw the posters hanging in front of a museum like building: “Kokeshi: From folk art to art toy”. Well, I just could not go away when I see creative toys. (So, all the photos are from my cell phone.)

The building actually is the Japanese American National Museum, which holds two new exhibition currently, the Glories Excess by Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda and this toy exhibition. I will say both are worth visiting.

Though I listen to Linkin Park’s songs sometimes, I am not familiar with individuals of the band. So, I am surprised to see this kind of reflection on celebrity culture by a member of such a well-known band. Shinoda’s exhibition has two sections, which are Glories Excess (born) and the Glories Excess (death). The first part was held last year and this second part will be shown in the museum from August 30 to October 4. Under the death theme, he uses skeleton to symbolize the excess and illustrates its relationship with fame, money, sex and other tempting things. Comparing to his paintings, for me, the notes on the wall are more meaningful. He explained his initial interests in this project and explains his understanding on this excess. All the things we are experiencing are actually short and temporal which can not be over-used but we never pay attention to the excess until it is too late. I also like the meaning behind the exhibition, a celebrity’s awareness on the celebrity phenomenon and I think this critical expression should be appreciated.

The toy exhibition is on the second floor, no photos, sorry. Kokeshi (こけし), is a traditional Japanese doll, which usually has two parts, the head and the body. These dolls are all hand-made and painted by local artists. The evolution of the pattern and shape of the doll also convey the historical changes and the expression of the artists. The whole collection includes all sizes of Japanese traditional Kokeshi but also some creative Kokeshi by contemporary artists, a nice combination. I did not buy any Kokeshi souvenir when I visited Tokyo but I got two from the museum store this time.

For more information about the museum and the exhibition, please visit:
http://www.janm.org/exhibits/gloriousexcess/ (August 30~October 4, 2009)
http://www.janm.org/exhibits/kokeshi/ (July 11~October 4, 2009)