I just ate Cha Soba from Sakae Sushi in Changi Airport, and it is the most horrible Cha Soba I have ever eaten. It is too stiff and cold! Conclusion: never ate anything from Sakae Sushi in Changi Airport. I still love Sakae Sushi though :D
Off to Hong Kong in about 20 minutes time. The construction under Terminal 1 is sending vibration to my feet haha. I hope that everything that I am planning to do in Hong Kong will be realised (and not be spoiled by him).
Cheers.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tales
Today is my third day being back in Singapore. It has been quite busy, with the increasing activities involving SMU Film<3Fest. Marketing has been our prime focus now, and in the past two days I finished doing our website (on Wordpress, which sadly doesn't allow free CSS customising) and Facebook group. I am happy with the results thus far (albeit feeling helpless on wanting to increase the wordpress' page font size).
Today I went for an interview for the Office of University Events. I was already expecting kind of a corporate stuff, but still felt uneased when left waiting in the meeting room alone, with its long table and two rows of chairs. The interviewer didn't give me chance to even say "Good Morning", and forgot to introduce himself. Yes I know his name, but I think it would be nicer if he could say his name again? It turns out that if the job title goes by the name of event assistant, it means helpers-cum-ambassadors for events, and most probably no involvement in the event organising stage. It is all about execution! The pay would be S$8.18 per hour if you do the event, and the guy told me that one event roughly takes 4 hours. I could not help being amused when seeing my CV, he went we don't do arty farty stuff. Inside me I went, "Yes sir, I know your office only deals with corporate stuff."
The interview was okay, but could be better. I don't know what questions to ask him, since there was a lack of information before the interview, and that through his briefing he had kinda answered the questions that I had beforehand.
To make matters bad, I met a person whom I absolutely hate on my way out of the floor. Sigh, why do I have to see her?
Anyway, after that I went to the National Library. I managed to have a proper read of the Moulin Rouge moviebook. I was surprised to find the inspiration of the story (which is of greek myths) and that the elephant set took about 2 months to build, 2 days of shooting and 2 minutes of destroying the set hahaha.
The most interesting I read in the library was the Grimm brothers fairy tales. It was amazing that reading fairy tales as an adult you may see the stories in different manners. The version I read was original and annointed, so some explanations were included on certain parts of stories. I was amused that in the original frog price story, the frog got thrown against the wall by the princess when he requested to sleep on her bed. And then the frog turned into a prince hahaha. The version that most of us had known got the princess kissing the frog before him turning into a prince haha.
I read Little Red Riding Hood, and found it quite stupid that she didn't recognise the wolf pretending to be grandmother haha. And then the part where the hunter stab open the wolf's stomach to rescue Little Red Riding Hood and Grandmother and then sewing it back... that is sooo like C-Section hahahaa. Guess what, in a different version of little red riding hood, little red riding hood was supposed to do striptease to the wolf O_O Hahahahaha. Yes, there are actually some sexual connotations to fairy tales, and of course we would not be aware of them when we are young. Some scholars (yes there are folklore scholars) deemed the pricess' relationship with the frog in the frog story as a metaphor as a young girl being disgusted by male genitals (represented by the frog), and then when the frog asked her to do some stuff like put him on the dining table and eat dinner him, it is like the evolution of domestic relationship. His request to get to her bed supposedly refers to marriage. So his transformation to prince represents the princess being comfortable with marriage (does that make sense?)
Till the next entry.
Today I went for an interview for the Office of University Events. I was already expecting kind of a corporate stuff, but still felt uneased when left waiting in the meeting room alone, with its long table and two rows of chairs. The interviewer didn't give me chance to even say "Good Morning", and forgot to introduce himself. Yes I know his name, but I think it would be nicer if he could say his name again? It turns out that if the job title goes by the name of event assistant, it means helpers-cum-ambassadors for events, and most probably no involvement in the event organising stage. It is all about execution! The pay would be S$8.18 per hour if you do the event, and the guy told me that one event roughly takes 4 hours. I could not help being amused when seeing my CV, he went we don't do arty farty stuff. Inside me I went, "Yes sir, I know your office only deals with corporate stuff."
The interview was okay, but could be better. I don't know what questions to ask him, since there was a lack of information before the interview, and that through his briefing he had kinda answered the questions that I had beforehand.
To make matters bad, I met a person whom I absolutely hate on my way out of the floor. Sigh, why do I have to see her?
Anyway, after that I went to the National Library. I managed to have a proper read of the Moulin Rouge moviebook. I was surprised to find the inspiration of the story (which is of greek myths) and that the elephant set took about 2 months to build, 2 days of shooting and 2 minutes of destroying the set hahaha.
The most interesting I read in the library was the Grimm brothers fairy tales. It was amazing that reading fairy tales as an adult you may see the stories in different manners. The version I read was original and annointed, so some explanations were included on certain parts of stories. I was amused that in the original frog price story, the frog got thrown against the wall by the princess when he requested to sleep on her bed. And then the frog turned into a prince hahaha. The version that most of us had known got the princess kissing the frog before him turning into a prince haha.
I read Little Red Riding Hood, and found it quite stupid that she didn't recognise the wolf pretending to be grandmother haha. And then the part where the hunter stab open the wolf's stomach to rescue Little Red Riding Hood and Grandmother and then sewing it back... that is sooo like C-Section hahahaa. Guess what, in a different version of little red riding hood, little red riding hood was supposed to do striptease to the wolf O_O Hahahahaha. Yes, there are actually some sexual connotations to fairy tales, and of course we would not be aware of them when we are young. Some scholars (yes there are folklore scholars) deemed the pricess' relationship with the frog in the frog story as a metaphor as a young girl being disgusted by male genitals (represented by the frog), and then when the frog asked her to do some stuff like put him on the dining table and eat dinner him, it is like the evolution of domestic relationship. His request to get to her bed supposedly refers to marriage. So his transformation to prince represents the princess being comfortable with marriage (does that make sense?)
Till the next entry.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
A Quote
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle,
Then I realised God doesn't work that way,
So I stole one and prayed for forgiveness
-Emo Philips
Then I realised God doesn't work that way,
So I stole one and prayed for forgiveness
-Emo Philips
My Head Wonders Far
Holiday is here! After the 15 weeks journey of school, I think this holiday is a really well-deserved one :) I am currently in Jakarta... and will be so for about 2-3 weeks. Before I left for Jakarta, I managed to borrow 2 scriptbooks: Little Miss Sunshine and the Truman Show, and a book on acting. I considered borrowing the scriptbook of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but decided not to, since it had only been a short time since I last saw it! Sadly, I could not find the scriptbook to Lost in Translation, or else I would have borrowed it!
My first plan to do in Indo was actually to finish taking up my business course. Sadly, I found out the ongoing round was finishing! So now I am left to spend of my days here at home... which I am not really complaining haha. I have started reading the acting book... and it has allowed me to learn more the craft of acting, which can be tedious and arduous. I do still want to act a bit here and there, but I know my acting kinda sucks in some ways haha. But still, I will try! But most importantly, learning more about acting will help me next time when I start directing movies. I think that, since actors take up most of the screen time in movies, it would be extremely important to be able to communicate with them and to motivate them to perform to the best of their ability!
This somewhat reminds me of the scriptwriting class that I want to take up. It will be happening in March 2009 in Singapore. But, yesterday when I checked the price, I realise it could be way more expensive than the 2-day film school, which is crazy! O_O The price for Singapore course had not been released, but the student price for the Manila course, when converted to Singapore Dollar, was almost S$700! Tina Fey had attended this scriptwriting course before... and had read its book before! So since this book cannot be found in the National Library, I am thinking of purchasing the book from Kinokuniya first. When I checked online yesterday, it cost only S$29! Hahaha. I guess S$29 would be a better investment for now? I am also afraid that what had been taught in the 2 day film school will contradict with what was taught in the scriptwriting course. We will see...
I had a strange dream last night. I dreamt I was helping out in a film production and Christian Bale starred in it. The film was about him and a group of soldiers fighting an annaconda lookalike O_O Then at the end of the day shoot, I met him with the production head... then the production head told me that I will have to send Christian heated unagi rice on a banana leaf for the next day production O_O I don't know why heated unagi rice on a banana leaf haha. Anyway, I recalled thinking he looks good when I was in the dream hahaha.
Until the next entry.
My first plan to do in Indo was actually to finish taking up my business course. Sadly, I found out the ongoing round was finishing! So now I am left to spend of my days here at home... which I am not really complaining haha. I have started reading the acting book... and it has allowed me to learn more the craft of acting, which can be tedious and arduous. I do still want to act a bit here and there, but I know my acting kinda sucks in some ways haha. But still, I will try! But most importantly, learning more about acting will help me next time when I start directing movies. I think that, since actors take up most of the screen time in movies, it would be extremely important to be able to communicate with them and to motivate them to perform to the best of their ability!
This somewhat reminds me of the scriptwriting class that I want to take up. It will be happening in March 2009 in Singapore. But, yesterday when I checked the price, I realise it could be way more expensive than the 2-day film school, which is crazy! O_O The price for Singapore course had not been released, but the student price for the Manila course, when converted to Singapore Dollar, was almost S$700! Tina Fey had attended this scriptwriting course before... and had read its book before! So since this book cannot be found in the National Library, I am thinking of purchasing the book from Kinokuniya first. When I checked online yesterday, it cost only S$29! Hahaha. I guess S$29 would be a better investment for now? I am also afraid that what had been taught in the 2 day film school will contradict with what was taught in the scriptwriting course. We will see...
I had a strange dream last night. I dreamt I was helping out in a film production and Christian Bale starred in it. The film was about him and a group of soldiers fighting an annaconda lookalike O_O Then at the end of the day shoot, I met him with the production head... then the production head told me that I will have to send Christian heated unagi rice on a banana leaf for the next day production O_O I don't know why heated unagi rice on a banana leaf haha. Anyway, I recalled thinking he looks good when I was in the dream hahaha.
Until the next entry.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
My Brain.. My Brain.
My brain simply loves Ryan Gosling too much. I watched "Quantum of Solace" yesterday, and was beyond happy to see Daniel Craig in suits and getting dirty.
And then my brain gave me a Ryan Gosling dream last night. I dreamt that we were in some game where we have to take care some traditional Japanese house, and avoid ourselves getting killed by the Japanese Samurais in armour O_O And then there were some parts where he introduced some book on flowers to me! Hahahaha. But then again, unfortunately I didn't really get to experience lucid dreaming. When I told myself, "Kiss him!" I sort of woke myself up. Hahahaha.
I guess my brain had dedicated itself to Ryan Gosling a long time ago.
By the way, Quantum of Solace was simply brilliant. More action-packed and fast-paced than the first story. Whether you would like it more than the first one depends on whether you are looking for more action from Bond, or for more in-depth story of personality from Bond. After the great origin story from "Casino Royale", I was expecting more action-packed Bond. Like my friend, Steph, said, they covered water, air and foot chase. Hahaha. The front sequence sort of reminds me of Bourne: the car chase in the tunnel, then the foot chase on the roof. I love especially the opera sequence, was not expecting something like that in an action-packed show. Anyway, as I said, you will either like or hate this movie :)
I simply have no current movies to watch left haha. It seems more interesting movies will come out the beginning of next year, which I am fine with. Maybe it is time for me to catch up with my DVD watching again hahaha.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Voom... Doubleness.
Though it could have ended on a better note, examinations are still over! OVER! Yay. Now, with the holiday, I am looking forward to doing things outside schoolwork! I had the privilege of sharing this with Zita today... since we went to the National Museum to visit the two ongoing photo exhibitions, which are part of Season of Photography. The first exhibition was Voom Potraits by Robert Wilson, while the second one was Doubleness by Chang Chien-Chi. These two exhibitions are rather contrasting, but they are appealing in their own unique way.
Robert Wilson is an artists whose works are mainly on the fine arts and operas. His Voom Potraits works contain videos that represents portraits. The subjects of videos include personalities like Dita Von Tesse and Princess Caroline of Monaco, and actors such as Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, Brad Pitt and Steve Buscemi. In each video, the subject was very still, or performed little actions. Somehow, these little actions broke the barriers between the flat dimension of a still potrait and a life action potrait. When the subject is still, it only seems that you are staring at a potrait. But when the subject begins to perform his or her action, you realise that there is something more to the potraits. Another thing that I find intriguing was what was the cutoff point of these videos? These videos seem to loop seamlessly and endlessly. I don't know where is the beginning and ending point of the potrait. Was the person supposed to move at all? Was there more story to the potrait that I don't know of? These interesting questions kept coming into my mind.
From the fine art side, we move on to documentary style of photography. Chang Chien-chi's potraits are intimate and truthful works. In this exhibition, he covered three themes. The first was on the illegal migration of Fuzhou's villagers to work in New York City. The story was really heartbreaking and surreal in some manners. Yes, these men living in New York City are living their American dreams of earning more money, but because they are smuggled into the country, they have no way back to Fujian to see their families. I found the most depressing part was when I saw the video and photos on these men relying on porno and sex doll to satisfy themselves. Masturbation is not funny at all in this sense.
The second part was on a temple-cum-mental-institute in Taiwan, where each insane person was chained to another person considered less sane. The pair would do their routines chained together for the whole day, except for when they sleep. It is believed that this method would help to cure these mentally-ill people. From some of the pictures, you can tell which ones are of the less sane. Somehow I get a sense that these people have been used to being chained to another person. But at what point would one consider both of these people to be cured? And what do the saner think of less sane, and vice versa? Do they get chained willingly everyday?
The last part of the exhibition was on the wedding match practice in Asia. The part where I found most intriguing was when each of the couple pose in front of a mock bouquet with mock champagne... to create a mock celebration of their wedding. Another set shows the couples reading the legal requirements. The relationship between the couple was obvious in some. Some were more intimate while others are more distant (with obviously no connection yet). When I was in this part of the exhibition, I do realise that this practice was only prevalent in Asia. It's not really prevalent in Western countries. There's this one photo where the women are sitting down in groups, and I somewhat felt these women are commoditised in this practice!
As you can probably tell, I found Chang's works really inspiring.
It reminds me of what I hope to accomplish if I become an artist. I want to bring into light issues that the society is not aware of. Through this, if there is the need, change could implemented for the better.
Robert Wilson is an artists whose works are mainly on the fine arts and operas. His Voom Potraits works contain videos that represents portraits. The subjects of videos include personalities like Dita Von Tesse and Princess Caroline of Monaco, and actors such as Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, Brad Pitt and Steve Buscemi. In each video, the subject was very still, or performed little actions. Somehow, these little actions broke the barriers between the flat dimension of a still potrait and a life action potrait. When the subject is still, it only seems that you are staring at a potrait. But when the subject begins to perform his or her action, you realise that there is something more to the potraits. Another thing that I find intriguing was what was the cutoff point of these videos? These videos seem to loop seamlessly and endlessly. I don't know where is the beginning and ending point of the potrait. Was the person supposed to move at all? Was there more story to the potrait that I don't know of? These interesting questions kept coming into my mind.
From the fine art side, we move on to documentary style of photography. Chang Chien-chi's potraits are intimate and truthful works. In this exhibition, he covered three themes. The first was on the illegal migration of Fuzhou's villagers to work in New York City. The story was really heartbreaking and surreal in some manners. Yes, these men living in New York City are living their American dreams of earning more money, but because they are smuggled into the country, they have no way back to Fujian to see their families. I found the most depressing part was when I saw the video and photos on these men relying on porno and sex doll to satisfy themselves. Masturbation is not funny at all in this sense.
The second part was on a temple-cum-mental-institute in Taiwan, where each insane person was chained to another person considered less sane. The pair would do their routines chained together for the whole day, except for when they sleep. It is believed that this method would help to cure these mentally-ill people. From some of the pictures, you can tell which ones are of the less sane. Somehow I get a sense that these people have been used to being chained to another person. But at what point would one consider both of these people to be cured? And what do the saner think of less sane, and vice versa? Do they get chained willingly everyday?
The last part of the exhibition was on the wedding match practice in Asia. The part where I found most intriguing was when each of the couple pose in front of a mock bouquet with mock champagne... to create a mock celebration of their wedding. Another set shows the couples reading the legal requirements. The relationship between the couple was obvious in some. Some were more intimate while others are more distant (with obviously no connection yet). When I was in this part of the exhibition, I do realise that this practice was only prevalent in Asia. It's not really prevalent in Western countries. There's this one photo where the women are sitting down in groups, and I somewhat felt these women are commoditised in this practice!
As you can probably tell, I found Chang's works really inspiring.
It reminds me of what I hope to accomplish if I become an artist. I want to bring into light issues that the society is not aware of. Through this, if there is the need, change could implemented for the better.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Strangest Thoughts and Happy Moments
I am on the brink of another start of an examination! Every time the examination preparation arrives, I somewhat keep thinking of those days where I would eat koko krunch milk supper while watching channel 5's late night movies at like 2 or 3 am during my O level examination 1-month study break. I do still study until about 1-2 am, but now I don't really have the energy to watch the late night movies on tv... or maybe now I feel contented taking a break by surfing the net... since most of my studies now are done on my laptop. I do miss turning to traditional forms of entertainment! TV and magazines! Mindless Internet surfing could really just let time pass by. I still prefer those studying on textbook days, since there is a clear distinction between study and play time. Now since the distinction is more muddled up, I have to discpline myself more... and not be tempted by Internet while studying on the laptop haha. So far thankfully it has been working :)
I had a very strange dream yesterday. I dreamt that Sir Alex Ferguson died of heart attack, and I saw him collapsed. Then Arsene Wenger and another guy immediately went to look after him and called for ambulance.
I don't know how on earth my brain works.
The second part of the dream was me going for a fortune teller session... and being told some coming year my life will be bad O_O and then the most outrageous part comes when Virgin Mary comes in the form of someone wearing a Virgin Mary paper costume. You know like Disney characters in Disneyland, but the costumes are made of a mix of cotton and papers. Then she kept asking me why could I not stay behind and look after the kids at the tuition centre, which is where the fortune teller works. And I kept saying I could not since I have exams to prepare. She was quite reluctant to let me go, but I managed to slip away when one of the kids approached her.
I don't know how on earth my brains works. I don't know what on earth it is trying to say.
Okie, I'm going back to study for a while...
I had a very strange dream yesterday. I dreamt that Sir Alex Ferguson died of heart attack, and I saw him collapsed. Then Arsene Wenger and another guy immediately went to look after him and called for ambulance.
I don't know how on earth my brain works.
The second part of the dream was me going for a fortune teller session... and being told some coming year my life will be bad O_O and then the most outrageous part comes when Virgin Mary comes in the form of someone wearing a Virgin Mary paper costume. You know like Disney characters in Disneyland, but the costumes are made of a mix of cotton and papers. Then she kept asking me why could I not stay behind and look after the kids at the tuition centre, which is where the fortune teller works. And I kept saying I could not since I have exams to prepare. She was quite reluctant to let me go, but I managed to slip away when one of the kids approached her.
I don't know how on earth my brains works. I don't know what on earth it is trying to say.
Okie, I'm going back to study for a while...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Season of Mugging
Mugging season is back... and it took some time for me to catch the mugging bug. Only when I planned out what I had to study did I realise that I have such a short time to prepare for my exam. So I guess for these upcoming days, my 8-10 hours of studying mode will be back O_O albeit temporarily thankfully.
Today I realised how much my life depended on Ed's Fish Soup. I could eat Ed's Fish Soup 4 times a week when I lived in Leonie Hill. Well, it's healthy and cheap.... and most importantly tasty! All of the fish soups in my new home area tasted bland :( Some of you may argue that I could just take the Great World shuttle bus to town... but considering how much time school requires from me, it is not really possible for most of the time!
I caught two movies this week. One was Tropic Thunder, and the other was Cape No. 7, a Taiwanese movie. Watching Tropic Thunder was a spontaneous decision, since I was scrolling through the Cathay movie timings on its website, and found Tropic Thunder's timing to be perfect. Well, I found the movie okay. Some parts are funny, while others are way too lame. Ben Stiller was the sanest out of the lot (until the last part), Jack Black the lousiest and Robert Downey Jr. was the most ridiculous... but he stole the show! How on earth did he inhibit the character? O_O It's amazing. Anyway, since I watched Tropic Thunder alone, I kinda regret not watching Blindness instead, as I think it will be a more suitable movie to watch alone. But since I paid only S$6 for Tropic Thunder, I won't complain :)
This picture says everything:
Anyway, let me talk about Cape No. 7. I had read that it is a huge box office hit in Taiwan (and that has not happened for like ages). So when I found out I could go for its preview for free, I seized the chance! It was a great movie! The movie kinda reminds me of Japan, most probably because of some of the sceneries in the movies and the movie's colour palette. Giving a different potrayal from the normally bustling side of Taiwan, the movie showcases a laidback life in a less known city (when compared to Taipei), the northern seaside town Heng-Chun. I really love the dialogues of this films. They come naturally funny and witty. The humour doesn't come out forced. The development of the characters were really superficial, and the movie kinda loses its plot midway and gets cliche, but I was not expecting this movie to be the serious sort! Just let your hair down when you watch this movie, and enjoy it!
I shall go back to mugging. Take care people... and good luck to those having or will be having exams too!
This picture says everything:
Anyway, let me talk about Cape No. 7. I had read that it is a huge box office hit in Taiwan (and that has not happened for like ages). So when I found out I could go for its preview for free, I seized the chance! It was a great movie! The movie kinda reminds me of Japan, most probably because of some of the sceneries in the movies and the movie's colour palette. Giving a different potrayal from the normally bustling side of Taiwan, the movie showcases a laidback life in a less known city (when compared to Taipei), the northern seaside town Heng-Chun. I really love the dialogues of this films. They come naturally funny and witty. The humour doesn't come out forced. The development of the characters were really superficial, and the movie kinda loses its plot midway and gets cliche, but I was not expecting this movie to be the serious sort! Just let your hair down when you watch this movie, and enjoy it!I shall go back to mugging. Take care people... and good luck to those having or will be having exams too!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
I Smell Tokyo!
Finally, I went to see a movie today (with a fellow random mate, Zita)! We went to see "Tokyo!" "Tokyo!" made us happy, confused, sad, touched.. and scared! "Tokyo!" comprises of 3 short films based in Tokyo: one by Michel Gondry (yay!), one by Leon Carax (not sure about his works) and finally one by Bong Joon-ho (the Host director). Out of the three, I found the Michel Gondry one the most enjoyable! First of all, Michel Gondry's short film was titled "Interior Design", and it told a story of a couple who was moving into Tokyo.. and was temporarily staying in their friend's one room house. One was unemployed, one was a (pathetic) filmmaker. Anyway, I found the storyline the most touching and logic out of the lot (though in first place you must overcome your logic to appreciate this short film). Michel used a very fitting metaphorism to describe how the girl feels and what she wants to be. Some people may find it very random, but once you see past that, you will be touched by this short film :) It's more of dramatic Gondry, not a whimsical Gondry sort.
The second short film was by Leon Carax, titled "Mendre", which turned out to be the name of the protagonist of this short film. The protagonist is a psycho and he lives in Tokyo's sewers, and likes to come out of his sewers to terrorise Tokyo habitants. It is quite funny how some of the props reminds me or represents to me something else, like the leprechaun coat that the psycho wore represents how the people in general don't notice him at first.. and when he starts to do the weird things and terrorise people he becomes more visible to the people in general! Towards the end, the story gets draggier.. and scarier somewhat haha. This is my least favourite shorts out of the 3, because I felt the story should be more precise.
The final short film was by Bong Joon-ho, titled "Shaking Tokyo", which is on the hikikomori phenomenon, where people choose to seclude themselves from the society and confine themselves in their homes. I can somewhat relate to "Shaking Tokyo", on how the world becomes more and more individualist and gradually loses its idealism, and only when major events take place (ie the earthquakes in the movie) then these people connect with the world they live in again, albeit temporarily. The short film was beautifully shot, and I found the washed out scene as the protagonist emerges from his home particularly beautiful! And I really really am fascinated with the empty Shibuya crossroad scenes. How much did they pay to stop the traffic? That scene was really really mystifying.. and terrifying in some ways.
It is really interesting how different directors are inspired in different ways by a city. Except for Michel Gondry's short, this movie doesn't really make me so eager with visiting Tokyo as much as Lost in Translation. But, that is not the point right? :)
The second short film was by Leon Carax, titled "Mendre", which turned out to be the name of the protagonist of this short film. The protagonist is a psycho and he lives in Tokyo's sewers, and likes to come out of his sewers to terrorise Tokyo habitants. It is quite funny how some of the props reminds me or represents to me something else, like the leprechaun coat that the psycho wore represents how the people in general don't notice him at first.. and when he starts to do the weird things and terrorise people he becomes more visible to the people in general! Towards the end, the story gets draggier.. and scarier somewhat haha. This is my least favourite shorts out of the 3, because I felt the story should be more precise.
The final short film was by Bong Joon-ho, titled "Shaking Tokyo", which is on the hikikomori phenomenon, where people choose to seclude themselves from the society and confine themselves in their homes. I can somewhat relate to "Shaking Tokyo", on how the world becomes more and more individualist and gradually loses its idealism, and only when major events take place (ie the earthquakes in the movie) then these people connect with the world they live in again, albeit temporarily. The short film was beautifully shot, and I found the washed out scene as the protagonist emerges from his home particularly beautiful! And I really really am fascinated with the empty Shibuya crossroad scenes. How much did they pay to stop the traffic? That scene was really really mystifying.. and terrifying in some ways.
It is really interesting how different directors are inspired in different ways by a city. Except for Michel Gondry's short, this movie doesn't really make me so eager with visiting Tokyo as much as Lost in Translation. But, that is not the point right? :)
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Missing the Cinema Atmosphere
It really worries me that the last movie I watched was 2nd round of "The Dark Knight". What the heck what the heck what the heck. I know that 1 or 2 months after Batman, I felt I didn't miss anything, since none of the movies being shown in the cinemas interested me. But then, the past 1 month or so had been quite a different situation. Several movies that I wanted to catch were released, and due to my deprived social life in SMU, I missed a couple of them! And now, more has been released, but most probably I am going to miss some more of them :( I am desperate to go to the cinema and soak in the atmosphere. It has been way too long! Why am I missing the cinema atmosphere now? I guess it is because I am feeling more free with schoolwork now (with most projects over, and less homework).
Lol, where are the movie people in school? O_O
Lol, where are the movie people in school? O_O
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Dos
This is part two of my October recount.
I had two interesting encounters that were related to films. Firstly, and I still can't believe this, I had gone to Hollywood Film Institute's 2 Day Film School! Looool. It is really amazing to think that Guy Ritchie, Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee and Christopher Nolan had gone to the same class... and from there started their careers! In short, the 2 Day Film School (by Dov Simens) condensed the nitty gritty of making a film of 4 year film school education to 2 days! After the course, I did feel like I can putting on a parachute, having a free fall and releasing open my parachute (in a literal sense)... until I came back to reality and realised I still need to finish my school properly first -.- Nevertheless, the course motivates me more than ever to make a film. I feel fortunate of being able to attend the class (and at such an early age! Majority of the class participants were working adults, and only 2 other people are of my age). I am motivated to write a proper script during the upcoming December holiday. I don't know why after the class I felt tears in my eyes. Maybe I just didn't want to the class to end? Maybe I just felt so inspired by Dov? When I thanked him after the class and told him I hoped to do filmmaking in the future, he said that I would be able to make it as long as the script is right. It still gives me chills to think of those words of his.
The second film-related encounter is more weird (and, I realised later, profound). Helping out in organising my school's film fest reunited me with Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) Festival Director. I never thought that this would eventually led to me having a more thought-provoking and in-depth conversations with him. Yes, he did ask me some critical questions during Film Festival, but not as critically as this time around. It all started with him recommending this film titled "The Art of Flirting" by Kan Lume as the Gala Night movie. I watched it, and thought that it would not really be appropriate for the opening night, though I liked the movie. The problem was, the movie was driven by dialogues, and it took a mighty amount of patience to see such types of movies (eg. Before Sunset). Most people are more visually stimulated than audially stimulated when watching films, as such I felt this movie may not provide enough hook as an opening night. I told him that the movie somewhat reminded me of the opening film of SIFF opening film, Princess of Nebraska, which was an unconventional choice. That same evening, he smsed me, saying on the line, "So the question is, should we have opened SIFF with princess?" That was the first time I was placed in a really awkward position of having to be honest but respectful at the same time. I had a lot of respect for him and his works, and was really afraid what I would say would offend him. But I decided I should just be honest (with "No offence intended" line added on the 5 sms reply, which took me half an hour to figure). Waiting for his reply was quite daunting. The reply came next morning, with a new question,
"So if Princess was that inaccessible, why did Golden Village ask him to come back and do restropective on him?"
I replied, "Princess may be a more experimental work of his. I have not seen the rest of his films so I cannot say much. But probably his other works are more accessible to the mainstream compared to Princess."
Another day wait, then comes the first cryptic message. It goes "'i've never seen a child who didn't want to build something out of blocks, or learn something new... And the only reason why adults aren't like that is... they've been sent to school n other oppressive instituions which have driven that out of them.' the lsson is that the arts need to be innocence. In your case u perhaps need to rediscover the "baby" in you." I didn't reply.
The next day comes the second cryptic, and last, message of this story. It goes "we social scientists would do well to hold back our eagerness to control that world which we so imperfectly understand. The fact of our imperfect understanding should not be allowed to feed out anxiety and so increase the need to control. Rather our studies could be inspired by a more ancient motive: a curiosity about the world of which we are part. The rewards of such work are not power but beauty." by Gregory Bateson.
What I derive from the last two messages was that sometimes it does take more effort to appreciate art. Or less effort, depending of how you see it. Now I kind of realised that having no expectations when watching films ('innocent mind') allows you to taking a stride as you watch a movie. So far I have tried this method once and it works. Somehow when I read the first quote, the first thing I thought of is the Michelangelo Antonioni's restropective, whose films I found hard to comprehend. I do think that one has to expose more to films of the same genre and era to be able to understand those films completely. I am willing to give Antonioni's movies another try a few years down the road. Yes the first time I saw it I had the conformed idea of how movies should work (mainly from school's teaching of story writing and current movies). I have to have a clean slate of mind when I watch those movies again in the future. The second quote reminds me of how scary the world is getting with humans trying to make everything they and the nature does perfect. It is this drive of making everything perfect that creates new problems, and kills our appreciation for flaws. I strongly believe that these flaws are the things that make us human, and these flaws are reminders of the good things that exist among us. Without these flaws, everything will be good, and then it will get tough to appreciate something. There are some films that one may perceived as flawed, but then again another person may perceive these flaws as beauty. With regards to film, I relate this quote as being as much as possible open minded towards films that are from different genres and eras.
The episode somewhat increases my respect for the Festival Director. I am thankful for him putting me in such a thought-provoking position (I think it was a more thought-provoking position than any of Margaret Chan's Creative Thinking class lol). Yes, the first time I got the messages I was kinda freaked out. But now thinking back, I see those messages of his way of advicing me on how to curate SMU film fest, and beyond that, how to perceive films of unfamiliar grounds.
I had two interesting encounters that were related to films. Firstly, and I still can't believe this, I had gone to Hollywood Film Institute's 2 Day Film School! Looool. It is really amazing to think that Guy Ritchie, Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee and Christopher Nolan had gone to the same class... and from there started their careers! In short, the 2 Day Film School (by Dov Simens) condensed the nitty gritty of making a film of 4 year film school education to 2 days! After the course, I did feel like I can putting on a parachute, having a free fall and releasing open my parachute (in a literal sense)... until I came back to reality and realised I still need to finish my school properly first -.- Nevertheless, the course motivates me more than ever to make a film. I feel fortunate of being able to attend the class (and at such an early age! Majority of the class participants were working adults, and only 2 other people are of my age). I am motivated to write a proper script during the upcoming December holiday. I don't know why after the class I felt tears in my eyes. Maybe I just didn't want to the class to end? Maybe I just felt so inspired by Dov? When I thanked him after the class and told him I hoped to do filmmaking in the future, he said that I would be able to make it as long as the script is right. It still gives me chills to think of those words of his.
The second film-related encounter is more weird (and, I realised later, profound). Helping out in organising my school's film fest reunited me with Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) Festival Director. I never thought that this would eventually led to me having a more thought-provoking and in-depth conversations with him. Yes, he did ask me some critical questions during Film Festival, but not as critically as this time around. It all started with him recommending this film titled "The Art of Flirting" by Kan Lume as the Gala Night movie. I watched it, and thought that it would not really be appropriate for the opening night, though I liked the movie. The problem was, the movie was driven by dialogues, and it took a mighty amount of patience to see such types of movies (eg. Before Sunset). Most people are more visually stimulated than audially stimulated when watching films, as such I felt this movie may not provide enough hook as an opening night. I told him that the movie somewhat reminded me of the opening film of SIFF opening film, Princess of Nebraska, which was an unconventional choice. That same evening, he smsed me, saying on the line, "So the question is, should we have opened SIFF with princess?" That was the first time I was placed in a really awkward position of having to be honest but respectful at the same time. I had a lot of respect for him and his works, and was really afraid what I would say would offend him. But I decided I should just be honest (with "No offence intended" line added on the 5 sms reply, which took me half an hour to figure). Waiting for his reply was quite daunting. The reply came next morning, with a new question,
"So if Princess was that inaccessible, why did Golden Village ask him to come back and do restropective on him?"
I replied, "Princess may be a more experimental work of his. I have not seen the rest of his films so I cannot say much. But probably his other works are more accessible to the mainstream compared to Princess."
Another day wait, then comes the first cryptic message. It goes "'i've never seen a child who didn't want to build something out of blocks, or learn something new... And the only reason why adults aren't like that is... they've been sent to school n other oppressive instituions which have driven that out of them.' the lsson is that the arts need to be innocence. In your case u perhaps need to rediscover the "baby" in you." I didn't reply.
The next day comes the second cryptic, and last, message of this story. It goes "we social scientists would do well to hold back our eagerness to control that world which we so imperfectly understand. The fact of our imperfect understanding should not be allowed to feed out anxiety and so increase the need to control. Rather our studies could be inspired by a more ancient motive: a curiosity about the world of which we are part. The rewards of such work are not power but beauty." by Gregory Bateson.
What I derive from the last two messages was that sometimes it does take more effort to appreciate art. Or less effort, depending of how you see it. Now I kind of realised that having no expectations when watching films ('innocent mind') allows you to taking a stride as you watch a movie. So far I have tried this method once and it works. Somehow when I read the first quote, the first thing I thought of is the Michelangelo Antonioni's restropective, whose films I found hard to comprehend. I do think that one has to expose more to films of the same genre and era to be able to understand those films completely. I am willing to give Antonioni's movies another try a few years down the road. Yes the first time I saw it I had the conformed idea of how movies should work (mainly from school's teaching of story writing and current movies). I have to have a clean slate of mind when I watch those movies again in the future. The second quote reminds me of how scary the world is getting with humans trying to make everything they and the nature does perfect. It is this drive of making everything perfect that creates new problems, and kills our appreciation for flaws. I strongly believe that these flaws are the things that make us human, and these flaws are reminders of the good things that exist among us. Without these flaws, everything will be good, and then it will get tough to appreciate something. There are some films that one may perceived as flawed, but then again another person may perceive these flaws as beauty. With regards to film, I relate this quote as being as much as possible open minded towards films that are from different genres and eras.
The episode somewhat increases my respect for the Festival Director. I am thankful for him putting me in such a thought-provoking position (I think it was a more thought-provoking position than any of Margaret Chan's Creative Thinking class lol). Yes, the first time I got the messages I was kinda freaked out. But now thinking back, I see those messages of his way of advicing me on how to curate SMU film fest, and beyond that, how to perceive films of unfamiliar grounds.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
2:30 AM
I don't know how to describe October in one word. Too many chains of events took place. Interesting, wreckful and strange events. And October is finishing. In 2 days.
Since I last wrote, I have moved house. I am no longer living in the little serene Leonie Hill road. I have moved downhill to Kellock Road. Moving out was a tumultous process, with my flat being a battleground for my Mom and Dad. I kept wanting to sit on the fence, and live in my own little happy bubble. But then either I keep getting forced to join one of the sides or one of them keeps bursting my bubble. Home did no longer feel like home, and the playground downstairs felt much more peaceful and calm. It is tragic that the last few days in Leonie Hill was spent in such a horrendous way, but at least I do have the little memories to keep (in my head and in the photos I took). I do miss how I could conveniently take 90% of the bus home. I do miss how it takes only 7 minutes to walk to Takashimaya. I do miss window shopping on my way home (though when I was still living in Leonie Hill, being in SMU did not really allow me time to do this as much as when I was in secondary school and JC).
I went to Orchard Road for the first time in 2 weeks or so on Saturday, and I experienced multitude of shockness. First, when I was in Wheelock Place, I found out Sakae Sushi has moved (to 2-3 unit awat from its origin), New Urban Male and BYSI has just opened a branch there. Second, I went to Takashimaya, and saw the branded sale was being held. Oh man.. I felt so deprived of Orchard Road. I kind of realised how SMU has kinda taken my social life away. I still don't really have SMU friends to go out with until now :(
I am contented living with my new home, though my room is still rather messy. I believe IKEA will eventually solve it. My mother still complains occasionally, but the rate has decreased exponentially from the moving out days. I do hope my father won't be here when we moved out again next year. I want a calm, peaceful moving out, not a frenetic type of moving out.
I do realise that I have to start getting more patient with my Mom. I don't know why, but I do get irritated when she repeats her question within short period of time... or when she seems to ask a stupid question when she really does not know the answer. Either I am getting impatient from stress and deprived social life, or my mom is getting forgetful. I have to start seeing my mom less as an authoritative figure who knows answers to everything and how to make decisions for home. I have to start seeing her on the eye level of me. The full cycle of life is taking place I supposed, when a child has to take care of his / her old parents. I will not want my children to be impatient or rude with me when I grow old too. At least I will be concerned with my Mom. For my Dad, that would be another consideration.
Speaking of which, a palmreader set up a booth in my school's bazaar last week, and I went to see him. He charged $90 outside, and only $20 in school, and had done consultations for celebs. After queuing for about 30 minutes, it was my turn.
The first thing he said interestingly was, I am aggressive. AGGRESSIVE. Huh? I am aggressive?
Then he said I am a tough cookie. Okie that may be true.
Then he said, because of this agressiveness, I tend to drive people close to me away, like my family and friends. In my opinion, family maybe, friends no.
Then he said that one of my parents would die early and that I am not closed to one of them. LOL, I so know which is which.
Then he said I am most likely to marry a foreigner. Singaporean counted as foreigner? O.O
Then he said I can work with foreigners well. So I should work in MNCs. Hmm.
Then he said I will most likely to travel a lot. Which is true.
Then he said I am detail-oriented. Which is true.
Then he said I can be flirtatious and fall in and out of love very fast. INTERESTING.
Then he said I may have problems conceiving a child. So, horny does not mean fertile? O.O
Then he said I may drive away my husband because of my agressive nature. Hmm.
Then he said I should marry when I am 29 or older. OKIES.
Then he said I should invest in stock exchange or real estate. OKIES.
Then he said 2011 will be a success or a bust for me. OH NO.
One important conclusion: somehow I must tone down my aggressive nature! Patience is the key.
I want to write some more, but I guess this is long enough for an entry. My October recount is not finished yet.
Since I last wrote, I have moved house. I am no longer living in the little serene Leonie Hill road. I have moved downhill to Kellock Road. Moving out was a tumultous process, with my flat being a battleground for my Mom and Dad. I kept wanting to sit on the fence, and live in my own little happy bubble. But then either I keep getting forced to join one of the sides or one of them keeps bursting my bubble. Home did no longer feel like home, and the playground downstairs felt much more peaceful and calm. It is tragic that the last few days in Leonie Hill was spent in such a horrendous way, but at least I do have the little memories to keep (in my head and in the photos I took). I do miss how I could conveniently take 90% of the bus home. I do miss how it takes only 7 minutes to walk to Takashimaya. I do miss window shopping on my way home (though when I was still living in Leonie Hill, being in SMU did not really allow me time to do this as much as when I was in secondary school and JC).
I went to Orchard Road for the first time in 2 weeks or so on Saturday, and I experienced multitude of shockness. First, when I was in Wheelock Place, I found out Sakae Sushi has moved (to 2-3 unit awat from its origin), New Urban Male and BYSI has just opened a branch there. Second, I went to Takashimaya, and saw the branded sale was being held. Oh man.. I felt so deprived of Orchard Road. I kind of realised how SMU has kinda taken my social life away. I still don't really have SMU friends to go out with until now :(
I am contented living with my new home, though my room is still rather messy. I believe IKEA will eventually solve it. My mother still complains occasionally, but the rate has decreased exponentially from the moving out days. I do hope my father won't be here when we moved out again next year. I want a calm, peaceful moving out, not a frenetic type of moving out.
I do realise that I have to start getting more patient with my Mom. I don't know why, but I do get irritated when she repeats her question within short period of time... or when she seems to ask a stupid question when she really does not know the answer. Either I am getting impatient from stress and deprived social life, or my mom is getting forgetful. I have to start seeing my mom less as an authoritative figure who knows answers to everything and how to make decisions for home. I have to start seeing her on the eye level of me. The full cycle of life is taking place I supposed, when a child has to take care of his / her old parents. I will not want my children to be impatient or rude with me when I grow old too. At least I will be concerned with my Mom. For my Dad, that would be another consideration.
Speaking of which, a palmreader set up a booth in my school's bazaar last week, and I went to see him. He charged $90 outside, and only $20 in school, and had done consultations for celebs. After queuing for about 30 minutes, it was my turn.
The first thing he said interestingly was, I am aggressive. AGGRESSIVE. Huh? I am aggressive?
Then he said I am a tough cookie. Okie that may be true.
Then he said, because of this agressiveness, I tend to drive people close to me away, like my family and friends. In my opinion, family maybe, friends no.
Then he said that one of my parents would die early and that I am not closed to one of them. LOL, I so know which is which.
Then he said I am most likely to marry a foreigner. Singaporean counted as foreigner? O.O
Then he said I can work with foreigners well. So I should work in MNCs. Hmm.
Then he said I will most likely to travel a lot. Which is true.
Then he said I am detail-oriented. Which is true.
Then he said I can be flirtatious and fall in and out of love very fast. INTERESTING.
Then he said I may have problems conceiving a child. So, horny does not mean fertile? O.O
Then he said I may drive away my husband because of my agressive nature. Hmm.
Then he said I should marry when I am 29 or older. OKIES.
Then he said I should invest in stock exchange or real estate. OKIES.
Then he said 2011 will be a success or a bust for me. OH NO.
One important conclusion: somehow I must tone down my aggressive nature! Patience is the key.
I want to write some more, but I guess this is long enough for an entry. My October recount is not finished yet.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Worst Thus Far
Today I did something that had been the worst thus far in my academic life. Lol it may not be as bad as you think it is, but.. I was late for my mid term exam for 30 minutes! I thought that it would start at 230 pm.. and when I arrived about 5 mins earlier I wondered how come everyone was already doing the paper. Then I asked the prof what time the exam started, and he said "200 pm". Crikey. My mind was of course in disarray for the first 3 mins, but after that I managed to calm myself down.. and I feel that I will be able to at least pass the paper. But passing is not what I aim for for Statistics T-T Sighhhh. Why do I feel so bad about this exam? It's because it'll take up 30% of my final grade.
This event makes me hate the GPA and grading system. Getting A is so much harder now in Uni. One has to score a bloody 83 to get an A. Like what the heck? From 70 to 83? O_O Maybe this is somewhat God trying to teach me that I have to see pass the grades in university (but that does not mean I have to screw my university academic aspect!). Why can't university be less stressful?
I know I'll have to calm down eventually, since I have to prepare for my second exam tmrw, which will be the last one for now. I am editing photo to calm myself down.
Somehow I'm starting to enjoy more imagining my life after university O_O
This event makes me hate the GPA and grading system. Getting A is so much harder now in Uni. One has to score a bloody 83 to get an A. Like what the heck? From 70 to 83? O_O Maybe this is somewhat God trying to teach me that I have to see pass the grades in university (but that does not mean I have to screw my university academic aspect!). Why can't university be less stressful?
I know I'll have to calm down eventually, since I have to prepare for my second exam tmrw, which will be the last one for now. I am editing photo to calm myself down.
Somehow I'm starting to enjoy more imagining my life after university O_O
Thursday, October 02, 2008
October
Wow, week 7 is already here.. and it's already ending! My recess week will be next week, just a one-week holiday. However, it won't really be a holiday for me! My days living in Grangeford Apartment is really numbered, because I'll be moving out of the house to another apartment in River Vallery area in about 7 days time :( :( :( Why must my house be en-bloc-ed? So my family will be renting the new apartment for the next coming year, and hopefully by then we'll be able to purchase the new house *cross fingers that my father doesn't become stupid and waste or got cheated off the money*
Yes I am hating my father here. He thinks that he can help me and my mom move house. Oh please, him being here makes us more stressful. He thinks that he knows how to pack. He never asks my mom about her stuff and just throw away her stuff. That's why I have started to lock up my room whenever I am out. I don't even really want to talk to him.
There are some CCA activities next week that I want to go for, but with moving house and the high probability of Biennale commitments, I don't think I'll be able to go for some of them. Hmm, I guess the Biennale commitments kind of take up a lot of my time now too (10 hours per week), but I really hope of using it to clear 80 compulsory hours of community service, so that I can write my community service report based on that stint alone (which would mean less confusion compared to writing a report for stints in more than one organisation). This means I would have to do more hours during the holiday, which I don't really mind actually haha.
I want to go see movies! Mama Mia, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Burn After Reading! But so far, I don't really have time, sigh :(
Hopefully my next entry will be a more upbeat one. Haha.
Yes I am hating my father here. He thinks that he can help me and my mom move house. Oh please, him being here makes us more stressful. He thinks that he knows how to pack. He never asks my mom about her stuff and just throw away her stuff. That's why I have started to lock up my room whenever I am out. I don't even really want to talk to him.
There are some CCA activities next week that I want to go for, but with moving house and the high probability of Biennale commitments, I don't think I'll be able to go for some of them. Hmm, I guess the Biennale commitments kind of take up a lot of my time now too (10 hours per week), but I really hope of using it to clear 80 compulsory hours of community service, so that I can write my community service report based on that stint alone (which would mean less confusion compared to writing a report for stints in more than one organisation). This means I would have to do more hours during the holiday, which I don't really mind actually haha.
I want to go see movies! Mama Mia, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Burn After Reading! But so far, I don't really have time, sigh :(
Hopefully my next entry will be a more upbeat one. Haha.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Week 4
It's already Week 4 of school, which means that I have been studying in SMU for 1 month! Thankfully I am already starting to get used to school life (after the major disoriented feeling of confusion for the past month). On the academic side, I am getting used to the piles of homework and readings. I have to admit that I am not the type who likes to finish things once I start with them, and being done with for once and for all! Sadly, that cannot really be applied to my SMU study life -.- Because for most weeks, the prof will already set aside the list of homework or readings that must be done before class, which means I can never be done with the subjects for once and for all! (Well, at least until the term ends, and the lessons officially close themselves). It does really take some time to get used to the new system (one month!), but oh well, now I realise for every free hours, I must try to do as much homework and readings as possible! So that I can relax with the rest of the time. But then again, sometimes I just need to chill first (like now ;) ) before I can start mugging again haha.
On the social aspect side, I am starting to get to know people better (it's still a slow rate, but at least it's improving :) ). I have to admit I do intentionally decide to involve myself in CCAs and school events, since I know that only through these means (until it's not proven such as the case) that I will be able to "properly" make friends. At least through CCAs you will have shared interest to start with! However, I am constantly aware that I might be joining too much CCAs! Hahaha. Yes, all of them are ad-hoc basis, which is good, but I really want to narrow down the list of CCAs.. or else it will be perpetually impossible to be more committed to the CCAs. Quality is much more important that quantity! I really really hope that I'll be able to start whittling down the list.
Currently, I am involved in the planning of SMU Arts Fest 2009. I am part of the film curating team, along with some other girls! (no boys! haha) Besides SMU Arts Fest, I am planning to involve myself in the Indonesian Community's major event near year, GAYA 2009. I auditioned for acting last Friday, and it was great experience. Firstly, I was damn shocked when I have to sing during the audition, since I purposely chose a role that will not need singing or dancing (or at least be required in the minimum level). The second shock came when I found out while on the waiting room that one of the judges would be a very famous Indonesian veteran actress (Titi Puspa!). And I thought, "Oh shucks!" Hahaha. Anyway, the audition had a few parts. The first part was singing, second was situational improvisation (mine was to sell vegetables in English, which I found totally amusing -.-) and the third part was scene enactment. The feedback was okay (thankfully! Phew!). It wasn't as horrifying as I thought it would be! Haha.
I can't wait for this Friday, since it will be my first day volunteering for Singapore Biennale 2008! Yeeha. Well, the Biennale preview was held on last Sunday. From now on, I kinda decided to avoid previews if possible. My main reason to this will be, since some of the artworks would not be ready by the preview (duh), I feel that seeing the artwork in its unfinished state will be unjust to the artists, since they would have wanted the audience to see the artworks in the manner the artists want to present them. Another related reason to this will be I feel that only by seeing the completed artworks that our curiosity will be completely piqued as to why the artists chose to present the artwork that way. Seeing the completed artworks will allow us to pick up the smallest details and decipher how much efforts the artists work for. If you already know HOW the artist construct the works, then most probably you have already known the little details that he puts in into his artwork even before you see the finished product! The magic would have been gone! I guess one of the greatest pleasures of art is to be able to observe and be amused by the littlest details, and to have those "aha" moments when you finally realised what the artist really want to say through his artwork.
So, if you are going to Singapore Biennale in the months of September or October, come on Tuesday or Friday! On Tuesday afternoon, I will be working as ticketing officer (selling tickets), and on Friday evenings, I will be serving you if you need my help (as a customer relations officer). To where I will be dispatched on those days I will know on the day itself, so if you are going, give me a ring!
The last thing I want to talk about at this post is Wall-E. Yes, Wall-E. I went to see it last Friday after school, and thought I have heard of the wonderful reviews that it has earned, I didn't really expect the movie to be good in different way. This is probably because for the past movies, Pixar has always created great animations for kids that adults happened to enjoy, not the other way round! In my opinion, for Wall E, most probably the adult would enjoy watching it more! It doesn't really have a lot of funny moments (though this is compensated by the short film "Presto!" which was shown before Wall E), and it really touches on the ongoing social issues of human complacency over environmental destruction and of how technologies may really rule the world over. Okay, the first issue was really obvious, with the poor state of Earth in the future being shown in the movie. The second issue takes more time to be noted (and digest). The humans in the film are literally the couch potatoes of today! They don't do exercises, they constantly eat and drink (soda perhaps) and they are very individualistic. This is how our real world is starting to shape up, which is a really frightening case. The movie kinda have this message that sometimes we humans do need a major jolt (most probably an event of a seismic magnitude that affects the whole word) to be able to appreciate what we have, and to realise the bad things that are going on within ourselves, our community and the world. In an increasingly individualistic world (sometimes I am frightened to think that to me SMU had been an individualistic community thus far), it's very hard for us not to be complacent. That is why I think it would really be important for all of us to keep in touch with the reality, and help one another with the best ability we have. The key phrase would be "down-to-earth".
Yes I am rambling already -.- I should stop here. Oh, I am participating in Canon Photo Marathon, which will be on 18 Oct! It will be great experience I hope, since 3 years ago when I joined it, it was a really fun, enriching experience. Okie, I shall stop. I shall end with something I said today when somebody asked me why I would like to work in film industry. It was quite a spontaneous response.
"I find that film is a great medium to express ideas..."
Thinking back now, I would like to add the words "and explore" before ideas :)
On the social aspect side, I am starting to get to know people better (it's still a slow rate, but at least it's improving :) ). I have to admit I do intentionally decide to involve myself in CCAs and school events, since I know that only through these means (until it's not proven such as the case) that I will be able to "properly" make friends. At least through CCAs you will have shared interest to start with! However, I am constantly aware that I might be joining too much CCAs! Hahaha. Yes, all of them are ad-hoc basis, which is good, but I really want to narrow down the list of CCAs.. or else it will be perpetually impossible to be more committed to the CCAs. Quality is much more important that quantity! I really really hope that I'll be able to start whittling down the list.
Currently, I am involved in the planning of SMU Arts Fest 2009. I am part of the film curating team, along with some other girls! (no boys! haha) Besides SMU Arts Fest, I am planning to involve myself in the Indonesian Community's major event near year, GAYA 2009. I auditioned for acting last Friday, and it was great experience. Firstly, I was damn shocked when I have to sing during the audition, since I purposely chose a role that will not need singing or dancing (or at least be required in the minimum level). The second shock came when I found out while on the waiting room that one of the judges would be a very famous Indonesian veteran actress (Titi Puspa!). And I thought, "Oh shucks!" Hahaha. Anyway, the audition had a few parts. The first part was singing, second was situational improvisation (mine was to sell vegetables in English, which I found totally amusing -.-) and the third part was scene enactment. The feedback was okay (thankfully! Phew!). It wasn't as horrifying as I thought it would be! Haha.
I can't wait for this Friday, since it will be my first day volunteering for Singapore Biennale 2008! Yeeha. Well, the Biennale preview was held on last Sunday. From now on, I kinda decided to avoid previews if possible. My main reason to this will be, since some of the artworks would not be ready by the preview (duh), I feel that seeing the artwork in its unfinished state will be unjust to the artists, since they would have wanted the audience to see the artworks in the manner the artists want to present them. Another related reason to this will be I feel that only by seeing the completed artworks that our curiosity will be completely piqued as to why the artists chose to present the artwork that way. Seeing the completed artworks will allow us to pick up the smallest details and decipher how much efforts the artists work for. If you already know HOW the artist construct the works, then most probably you have already known the little details that he puts in into his artwork even before you see the finished product! The magic would have been gone! I guess one of the greatest pleasures of art is to be able to observe and be amused by the littlest details, and to have those "aha" moments when you finally realised what the artist really want to say through his artwork.
So, if you are going to Singapore Biennale in the months of September or October, come on Tuesday or Friday! On Tuesday afternoon, I will be working as ticketing officer (selling tickets), and on Friday evenings, I will be serving you if you need my help (as a customer relations officer). To where I will be dispatched on those days I will know on the day itself, so if you are going, give me a ring!
The last thing I want to talk about at this post is Wall-E. Yes, Wall-E. I went to see it last Friday after school, and thought I have heard of the wonderful reviews that it has earned, I didn't really expect the movie to be good in different way. This is probably because for the past movies, Pixar has always created great animations for kids that adults happened to enjoy, not the other way round! In my opinion, for Wall E, most probably the adult would enjoy watching it more! It doesn't really have a lot of funny moments (though this is compensated by the short film "Presto!" which was shown before Wall E), and it really touches on the ongoing social issues of human complacency over environmental destruction and of how technologies may really rule the world over. Okay, the first issue was really obvious, with the poor state of Earth in the future being shown in the movie. The second issue takes more time to be noted (and digest). The humans in the film are literally the couch potatoes of today! They don't do exercises, they constantly eat and drink (soda perhaps) and they are very individualistic. This is how our real world is starting to shape up, which is a really frightening case. The movie kinda have this message that sometimes we humans do need a major jolt (most probably an event of a seismic magnitude that affects the whole word) to be able to appreciate what we have, and to realise the bad things that are going on within ourselves, our community and the world. In an increasingly individualistic world (sometimes I am frightened to think that to me SMU had been an individualistic community thus far), it's very hard for us not to be complacent. That is why I think it would really be important for all of us to keep in touch with the reality, and help one another with the best ability we have. The key phrase would be "down-to-earth".
Yes I am rambling already -.- I should stop here. Oh, I am participating in Canon Photo Marathon, which will be on 18 Oct! It will be great experience I hope, since 3 years ago when I joined it, it was a really fun, enriching experience. Okie, I shall stop. I shall end with something I said today when somebody asked me why I would like to work in film industry. It was quite a spontaneous response.
"I find that film is a great medium to express ideas..."
Thinking back now, I would like to add the words "and explore" before ideas :)
Friday, August 29, 2008
I Will Never Like Clubbing
I have just come back from the SMU's Freshmen Bash in Zouk. OMG, seriously it is the worst party that I have been to! The pageant took forever to finish (and it was super boring), and the dance floor was only at 1130. Still, the dance floor was really packed! I could not even dance.. and the music they were playing were horrible -.- What kind of lousy pop songs!
Anyway, yes, I don't think I will ever like clubbing. I prefer socialising in pubs or lounges (with chillout songs!). I am quite sick of seeing wannabes in my school (people who tries to be hip). Okay there are a lot of wannabes in my school, which is saddening :( Sometimes, I do feel quite sad that there is a side of me which is maturer (in some ways).. and thankfully there is still my youthful, idealist side of me as well.
I somewhat like my youthful idealist side a lot! This year, I really learnt that the world can never be as perfect as how I have perceived it when I am young. But then I guess this idealist side will help me to strive to achive the best for myself.. and the societies that I live and will live in :)
Anyway, yes, I don't think I will ever like clubbing. I prefer socialising in pubs or lounges (with chillout songs!). I am quite sick of seeing wannabes in my school (people who tries to be hip). Okay there are a lot of wannabes in my school, which is saddening :( Sometimes, I do feel quite sad that there is a side of me which is maturer (in some ways).. and thankfully there is still my youthful, idealist side of me as well.
I somewhat like my youthful idealist side a lot! This year, I really learnt that the world can never be as perfect as how I have perceived it when I am young. But then I guess this idealist side will help me to strive to achive the best for myself.. and the societies that I live and will live in :)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
University Life Is Here
Helloz! Sorry that I have not updated this blog for a month.. since I've been concentrating a lot in a recently created photoblog of mine in Wordpress (http://itshallberemembered.wordpress.com). For now, all of the photos there are from my recent trip to the Middle East, but I really hope to diversify my pictures once I get through my Middle East photo batch! The blog will be constantly updated, and will sort of take over from my DeviantArt photo gallery account (which will still exist... but it will be of less priority). I felt that, after 4 years in DeviantArt, I thought I really needed to move more to something outside of it... and also to do things more properly. The DeviantArt gallery look can be quite all over the place, so I really like how the Wordpress photoblog is very simple, yet functional :) And now I am quite lazy to continue my Middle East tale in this blog -.- I prefer to use the pictures to tell the stories in the Wordpress blog! So, I hope you'll check that blog out!
Anyway, so how has my life been? University life has finally started (after the 8 month holiday which began to feel agonising)... and I am still adjusting to it! Before university starts, I attended 3 camps: the Business Faculty camp, the Catholic community camp and the compulsory Freshmen Teambuilding Camp (FTB). Well, Business Faculty camp... since I was having flu then, I was not able to enjoy it to the maximum. And I don't really like the dirty, mindless games we were forced to play! :( Catholic community camp... I got sunburnt in Sentosa the 2nd day! :( I guess I didn't put enough sunblock. Well I forgot to tell you that the Catholic community camp and FTB were back to back. I am still glad that I completed those 2 camps still intact! Albeit with lots of bruises for FTB camp haha. However, despite this, I felt that FTB camp was the most fun out of the 3.
There were about 400-500 participants, and it was run 4! We stayed in tents in OBS East Coast. Having heard how bad the camp could be, I really had low expectation of it. But, in the end, I found out that things were not as bad as it seemed to be! Like the shower room (which was perfectly standard type, with no hot water.. which is fine with me! though no cloth hanger -.-), the food (which surprisingly had fruits! haha), and the debriefs (which some of my friends told me were bound to be horrible). Well, I guess I was really lucky to get a good facilitator, who was able to make debriefs interesting and meaningful ones! My group was one of the smallest in the run (we started with 9, and ended with 6 people -.-), and yet I felt it is because of this small size that we bonded really well. The games in FTB (which are supposed to be called activities) provoke a lot of creative thinking and group discussion. In FTB, we also did tunneling (which is torturous but okay) and rafting (which is fun!). The last day of FTB was the most tiring one. The activity was called the Last Station, and it contained 12 game stations. So each group has to race as fast as they could to complete the 12 games, and there were lots of running and physically tiring games! So, even though FTB was the most tiring camp out of the 3, I felt that it was the most satisfying and fun out of the 3 camps!
First week of school had passed! I am taking 4 course units this semester (I dropped one.. since the class was 95% Year 2 students, and the rest, which were freshmen, were in a clique). Last week was quite horrible with all the textbooks buying! I bought a textbook of a wrong publisher in Clementi bookstore, and had to waste time going back there (and being nagged by the auntie). It was tiring also because I had to cram my readings in the library, since at that point of time I had not bought my textbooks yet. With the purchase of all the books, I felt that this week would be much better than last week! YAY haha.
One thing that I am still struggling with in school is the difficulty to make close friends in school. I have many hi-bye friends now.. though I would prefer quality to quantity. I have also yet to find arty farty people in school (don't need really indie type one!). I joined a few art group CCAs, and hope that through these CCAs, I would be able to find people who appreciates art! The main passions that people I talked to have are outdoor and business-oriented O_O This is my personal opinion, but at my age, I do not think we should talk so much about business.. since in the future we will be talking about business a lot! I really feel that university life will be the last chance of exploring passions that you may have outside your workplace in the future! I do not want my life to centre around work O_O
In the Business Government Society class last Friday, my lecturer(-cum-tutor) showed us a portion of a documentary "The Corporation". It somewhat turns me off corporate life even more O_O I find this quite ironic, since if what I hoped to do in arts don't work out, I will have to work in corporates! Well the documentary concludes that the behavior of corporations can really be as similar to that of a psychopath, which I can agree. But then again, it is really irony that despite this, people still have to rely on corporation for consumer goods, and for employment to earn money :(
This entry is getting long.. so I shall stop here.
Cheers.
Anyway, so how has my life been? University life has finally started (after the 8 month holiday which began to feel agonising)... and I am still adjusting to it! Before university starts, I attended 3 camps: the Business Faculty camp, the Catholic community camp and the compulsory Freshmen Teambuilding Camp (FTB). Well, Business Faculty camp... since I was having flu then, I was not able to enjoy it to the maximum. And I don't really like the dirty, mindless games we were forced to play! :( Catholic community camp... I got sunburnt in Sentosa the 2nd day! :( I guess I didn't put enough sunblock. Well I forgot to tell you that the Catholic community camp and FTB were back to back. I am still glad that I completed those 2 camps still intact! Albeit with lots of bruises for FTB camp haha. However, despite this, I felt that FTB camp was the most fun out of the 3.
There were about 400-500 participants, and it was run 4! We stayed in tents in OBS East Coast. Having heard how bad the camp could be, I really had low expectation of it. But, in the end, I found out that things were not as bad as it seemed to be! Like the shower room (which was perfectly standard type, with no hot water.. which is fine with me! though no cloth hanger -.-), the food (which surprisingly had fruits! haha), and the debriefs (which some of my friends told me were bound to be horrible). Well, I guess I was really lucky to get a good facilitator, who was able to make debriefs interesting and meaningful ones! My group was one of the smallest in the run (we started with 9, and ended with 6 people -.-), and yet I felt it is because of this small size that we bonded really well. The games in FTB (which are supposed to be called activities) provoke a lot of creative thinking and group discussion. In FTB, we also did tunneling (which is torturous but okay) and rafting (which is fun!). The last day of FTB was the most tiring one. The activity was called the Last Station, and it contained 12 game stations. So each group has to race as fast as they could to complete the 12 games, and there were lots of running and physically tiring games! So, even though FTB was the most tiring camp out of the 3, I felt that it was the most satisfying and fun out of the 3 camps!
First week of school had passed! I am taking 4 course units this semester (I dropped one.. since the class was 95% Year 2 students, and the rest, which were freshmen, were in a clique). Last week was quite horrible with all the textbooks buying! I bought a textbook of a wrong publisher in Clementi bookstore, and had to waste time going back there (and being nagged by the auntie). It was tiring also because I had to cram my readings in the library, since at that point of time I had not bought my textbooks yet. With the purchase of all the books, I felt that this week would be much better than last week! YAY haha.
One thing that I am still struggling with in school is the difficulty to make close friends in school. I have many hi-bye friends now.. though I would prefer quality to quantity. I have also yet to find arty farty people in school (don't need really indie type one!). I joined a few art group CCAs, and hope that through these CCAs, I would be able to find people who appreciates art! The main passions that people I talked to have are outdoor and business-oriented O_O This is my personal opinion, but at my age, I do not think we should talk so much about business.. since in the future we will be talking about business a lot! I really feel that university life will be the last chance of exploring passions that you may have outside your workplace in the future! I do not want my life to centre around work O_O
In the Business Government Society class last Friday, my lecturer(-cum-tutor) showed us a portion of a documentary "The Corporation". It somewhat turns me off corporate life even more O_O I find this quite ironic, since if what I hoped to do in arts don't work out, I will have to work in corporates! Well the documentary concludes that the behavior of corporations can really be as similar to that of a psychopath, which I can agree. But then again, it is really irony that despite this, people still have to rely on corporation for consumer goods, and for employment to earn money :(
This entry is getting long.. so I shall stop here.
Cheers.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Top Priority
As someone says, for me, Batman supercedes everything in this blog. Dang, I do agree with that :D
Anyway, I have to interrupt my recollection of my Middle East trip with my Dark Knight ramblings! Hahaha.. I just have to write my thoughts out on this movie. I do really feel like a geek when seeing the first sequence of the show. I was like "Oh my gawd, this could just be a dream! I'm here watching a Batman sequel! How can it beeee?" Well about a month ago I dreamt I was watching "The Dark Knight" and it totally sucked! Hahaha. Okay, the first sequence of the show didn't really appear like a Batman movie, and has a film noir feeling to it, which now I thought was really appropriate considering how Christopher Nolan would be taking us through the complexities of the world of Gothan City for the next 150 mins.
Joker appeared at about 5 mins into the show, and Batman at about 10 mins. Yes, I am a huge fan of Christian Bale, but I got to say that the Joker really steals the show. Oh man, his mannerism is so freaky and psycho, with non-stop mad giggling which either you'll find it frightening or sadistically amusing (which happened to me a few times). Heath Ledger's performance was truly a masterpiece. I do agree that, like what the cast said, that this movie is really a celebration of Heath's talent.
Considering how much spoilers I had seen for this movie (from the paparazzi and official behind-the-scene shots and the viral publicity campaign), I am really surprised at how Christopher Nolan still managed to keep everyone guessing on how the movie would progress. Based on the spoilers, some of my guess on the plot were right, but most of them were wrong! I was already amazed by the stuntwork while watching the official behind-the-scene shots (IMAX featurette for the Joker-Harvey chase scene), but now when I was watching that scene in the show, it made more sense, and I was left even more amazement. The best stunt work was arguably the flipping truck. Yes I had watched that scene a couple of times in the trailer, but seeing that on the full cinema screen, I just went "Whoa!"
Maybe you are surprised by why I haven't talked much about Christian Bale. Well, he looked consistently good in the show! :D So there wasn't really an "A-HA" moment where I thought "Oh mann he looks soo goooood!" (unlike the airplane scene in the Batman Begins.. or the memorable push-up scene hehehe).
I'm giving this movie a 5 stars out of 5. Which is the first time I have ever given to a movie. I am hoping to catch the movie again, so that I can digest the story more properly.. and feast my eyes more on Christian Bale :D Hopefully, after the 2nd watching, the 5 stars rating will remain! :) I really do hope that Chris Nolan will do at least one more Batman film!
P.S. Judging from what I read in Empire, Watchmen is likely to turn out as bloody as 300. Hmm, can't wait ;) *desire to read the graphic novel increases*
Anyway, I have to interrupt my recollection of my Middle East trip with my Dark Knight ramblings! Hahaha.. I just have to write my thoughts out on this movie. I do really feel like a geek when seeing the first sequence of the show. I was like "Oh my gawd, this could just be a dream! I'm here watching a Batman sequel! How can it beeee?" Well about a month ago I dreamt I was watching "The Dark Knight" and it totally sucked! Hahaha. Okay, the first sequence of the show didn't really appear like a Batman movie, and has a film noir feeling to it, which now I thought was really appropriate considering how Christopher Nolan would be taking us through the complexities of the world of Gothan City for the next 150 mins.
Joker appeared at about 5 mins into the show, and Batman at about 10 mins. Yes, I am a huge fan of Christian Bale, but I got to say that the Joker really steals the show. Oh man, his mannerism is so freaky and psycho, with non-stop mad giggling which either you'll find it frightening or sadistically amusing (which happened to me a few times). Heath Ledger's performance was truly a masterpiece. I do agree that, like what the cast said, that this movie is really a celebration of Heath's talent.
Considering how much spoilers I had seen for this movie (from the paparazzi and official behind-the-scene shots and the viral publicity campaign), I am really surprised at how Christopher Nolan still managed to keep everyone guessing on how the movie would progress. Based on the spoilers, some of my guess on the plot were right, but most of them were wrong! I was already amazed by the stuntwork while watching the official behind-the-scene shots (IMAX featurette for the Joker-Harvey chase scene), but now when I was watching that scene in the show, it made more sense, and I was left even more amazement. The best stunt work was arguably the flipping truck. Yes I had watched that scene a couple of times in the trailer, but seeing that on the full cinema screen, I just went "Whoa!"
Maybe you are surprised by why I haven't talked much about Christian Bale. Well, he looked consistently good in the show! :D So there wasn't really an "A-HA" moment where I thought "Oh mann he looks soo goooood!" (unlike the airplane scene in the Batman Begins.. or the memorable push-up scene hehehe).
I'm giving this movie a 5 stars out of 5. Which is the first time I have ever given to a movie. I am hoping to catch the movie again, so that I can digest the story more properly.. and feast my eyes more on Christian Bale :D Hopefully, after the 2nd watching, the 5 stars rating will remain! :) I really do hope that Chris Nolan will do at least one more Batman film!
P.S. Judging from what I read in Empire, Watchmen is likely to turn out as bloody as 300. Hmm, can't wait ;) *desire to read the graphic novel increases*
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Shalom!
I am back in the Asian continent! Well, okay, I have been in the Asian continent for the last 9 days. 11 days ago, I was on the African continent, since part of the country of Egypt was located on the edge of the African continent, and next to the Asian continent. It was a tiring, whirlwind 11 days trip to the Middle East, but it was really eventful and worth it. You are warned that this entry might be an extremely loooooong one.
Let me start with how this whole trip started. First of all, this trip was never planned for this year. NEVER. My mother and I know that we will visit Israel eventually. Yes, eventually. But we never thought it would be this year! The real plan was to do a pilgrimage to Lourdes for the 150th anniversary of the apparitions and Fatima (in Portugal). But the plan didn't work out, with airplane tickets being fully booked all over the place, and mother getting stressed all over the small things. Thus, I prayed to the Lord that what will be, will be. If Plan A doesn't work, maybe He already has Plan B unbeknownst to us. And He did! Somehow, the trip to the Holy Land would perfectly fit into my family's schedule. And also, since the trip wouldn't really cause any major administrative glitches (eg visas), we decided to go for the trip... after much pushing from my part (and in turn from my mom too). I realised that pushing people can really be a mentally draining process when the person you pushes refused to budge. Thankfully, for this case, the outcome was really rewarding :)
My trip started in Egypt... and what a way to start the trip. We arrived at Egypt at 3 am in the morning O_O, got 2 hours of sleep, and started the Cairo city tour at 8 am. I am amazed that I survived that day, considering how much sleep I usually require per day. Anyway, the first place we visited is the Giza pyramids (hello Giza in Japan!), which is surprisingly located very close to a developed area (the Giza district, in Cairo duh). The Sphinx was located near the Giza pyramids area as well, and sadly, the Sphinx was not as big as I had imagined it to be!
Giza pyramids with a road in Giza district at the foreground.
Sphinx on the left, with pyramids on the background.Besides the pyramids, in Cairo, some of the places that I visited included the Nile River and the Egyptian museum, which is filled with Egyptian artefacts, including mummies and the Tutankhamun tomb (which is, to this day, the only intact Pharaoh's tomb ever found. No photos were allowed to be taken in the Cairo museum, so here is a picture of the Tutankhamun mask from Wikipedia.
Tutankhamun mask
A Cairo Street
The view from a ferry of Cairo, with Nile River on the foreground.I was really surprised over how Cairo seems to be dated, with its old architecture and cars. I felt like I was in the 1970s or something O_O Time seemed to in this place.
Cairo's Taxi (meter system is not used)
The Volkswagen Van is a popular public transport mode. (Look out for the next Little Miss Sunshines! :D)
Something that I found really interesting in Cairo was the housing. Generally, the housing looks like this:
Up close
From afar
Up close
From afarYes, most of the houses are squarish, made of bricks, unplastered and unfinished at the top. Here is the explanation: since in Egypt the man is allowed to have a few wives, when a man has a new wife, he will add another floor to the house, which explains the steel frames being left on the roof of the houses. If the house is plastered, it may add complication to the addition of the new storeys. Alas, the unplastered look.
Egyptians seems to have the culture of hanging out, with cafes often being seen by the streets, and the traffic jam still being bad at like 10 pm O_O The travel guide told us that most people went out with their family or their friends after work, which explained the traffic jam at such late hours.
I noticed that majority of the women in Cairo covered themselves fully up, albeit mostly in modern ways. Of course the belly dancers don't cover themselves fully up. I learnt that to be a professional belly dancer in Egypt, you must take a test with the Egyptian government, and earn a license to work.
Okay I shall end this entry here (or else it's never gonna end!). Next up: St Catherine in Egypt.. and Israel.
Cheers.
Egyptians seems to have the culture of hanging out, with cafes often being seen by the streets, and the traffic jam still being bad at like 10 pm O_O The travel guide told us that most people went out with their family or their friends after work, which explained the traffic jam at such late hours.
I noticed that majority of the women in Cairo covered themselves fully up, albeit mostly in modern ways. Of course the belly dancers don't cover themselves fully up. I learnt that to be a professional belly dancer in Egypt, you must take a test with the Egyptian government, and earn a license to work.
Okay I shall end this entry here (or else it's never gonna end!). Next up: St Catherine in Egypt.. and Israel.
Cheers.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Finally It Shall Be Revealed
Since it's bound to happen tomorrow (unless something weird happens today), I'm happy to finally reveal this secret of mine (okie, only 2 people already have the privilege of knowing it beforehand). It is that...
I am....
going to MIDDLE EAST tomorrow! :D
Egypt - Israel - Jordan
For 11 days!
I really hope that the trip will go out smoothly (and that my family and I will be able to overcome the extreme heat of those 3 countries)... and that I won't get tanned! :D
And, yup, Batman will have to wait! Hahaha.
I am....
going to MIDDLE EAST tomorrow! :D
Egypt - Israel - Jordan
For 11 days!
I really hope that the trip will go out smoothly (and that my family and I will be able to overcome the extreme heat of those 3 countries)... and that I won't get tanned! :D
And, yup, Batman will have to wait! Hahaha.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Bad Idea
Yesterday, for the first time of my life, I watched 3 movies at a go! With a friend of mine, Tomatoe, in the National Museum. The movies are of parts of Michelangelo Antonioni's Retropective, which had been going on for 3 weeks, and yesterday was the last day. I chose to watch those 3 movies, because they were part of an unofficial trilogy done by the Italian director on the alienation of human beings towards the society. So in the end, did I enjoy the 3 movies? The answer.. is no, which is sad. I think part of the reason is mainly because I still haven't reached the age where I can appreciate his movies fully. Sometimes I feel some scenes of his movies are really pretentious, with lots of lingering around and long takes. Okay, his movies are really visual treats, with lots of attention to details and composition (the movies are all black and white!), but that doesn't help to prevent my boredom as well.
The 3 movies that I saw were L'Avventura, La Notte and L'Eclisse. The first one is considered to be one of the director's best works. But I don't really like any of the 3 shows O_O Sometimes, there are movies where you can find ways to fall in love with them, but these 3 are just not the case. I fell asleep in the middle of the 2nd movie, and my friend also fell asleep here and there. The endings of the 3 movies leave me feel unsatisfied. I guess I don't really enjoy an ending that is too open. Some movies make perfect sense with the open endings, but the endings of these movies are way too open. Then again, it may be because my brain has always been set by the schools from young age to accept a story only when it has a beginning, climax and conclusion. Seriously, if a student writes the type of stories that Antonioni wrote in school, he or she will surely be regarded as a horrible writer by a teacher. I don't know, I guess I have not gone to the ability of appreciating the extremes of art films.
Lol, this somewhat reminds me of my hate towards Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorscese films. I had given them one to two tries, but just could not bear with watching any more shows directed by them (just yet). Maybe the time will come where I'll watch them again, and hopefully by then I can enjoy it to the extent that these directors hope to achieve in their audience.
I hope to eventually research more on the Italian director. Sometimes, one needs to learn more on how a person's mind works to more appreciate his actions and works.
The 3 movies that I saw were L'Avventura, La Notte and L'Eclisse. The first one is considered to be one of the director's best works. But I don't really like any of the 3 shows O_O Sometimes, there are movies where you can find ways to fall in love with them, but these 3 are just not the case. I fell asleep in the middle of the 2nd movie, and my friend also fell asleep here and there. The endings of the 3 movies leave me feel unsatisfied. I guess I don't really enjoy an ending that is too open. Some movies make perfect sense with the open endings, but the endings of these movies are way too open. Then again, it may be because my brain has always been set by the schools from young age to accept a story only when it has a beginning, climax and conclusion. Seriously, if a student writes the type of stories that Antonioni wrote in school, he or she will surely be regarded as a horrible writer by a teacher. I don't know, I guess I have not gone to the ability of appreciating the extremes of art films.
Lol, this somewhat reminds me of my hate towards Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorscese films. I had given them one to two tries, but just could not bear with watching any more shows directed by them (just yet). Maybe the time will come where I'll watch them again, and hopefully by then I can enjoy it to the extent that these directors hope to achieve in their audience.
I hope to eventually research more on the Italian director. Sometimes, one needs to learn more on how a person's mind works to more appreciate his actions and works.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
July Has Arrived
I find it really interesting of how this year has been, despite my low expectation of it at the end of last year. I can't believe it's July already. That means 182 days of the year 2008 have gone O_O It is quite amazing that, despite the lack of major events happening this year thus far, I had learnt a number of lessons, of small and big sizes.
I got to learn more about myself. I got to learn more about my family.
I made a few new friends. I met a few weird people.
I saw a master practicing his craft. I saw a master succumbing to his sly self.
I'm finding myself maturing bit by bit. I'm finding my naive self more and more.
I learn to respect the underdogs. I learn to not always trust those high in power.
I learn the importance of humbleness. I learn the downfall of arrogance.
I learn to push myself to the limits. I learn to push others towards their goals.
I lose my faith on some people. I hope for the best for some people.
I learn it's okay to have dreams. I learn some dreams may not meant to be achieved.
I learn to see the direction life is pointing. I learn to trust my instincts.
... And I learn people need to be crazy from time to time :)
July means a few things. Firstly, BATMANNNNN! Finally, after 3 years wait O_O Sighhh, can't wait to drool and drool and drool (over the sight of Christian Bale) :D Secondly, there are only about 10 days more before I visit some interesting places (that I've never been before). I hope it will go as planned, because everything associated with it depends on external factors. Meaning, it is out of the control of my family, and the tour planner haha. Wish me luck on this! :)
Only 1 1/2 month more to school! I can't believe that I am looking forward to school. It's been too much of a holiday :( I'm quite looking forward to the orientation programmes (except for the overnight camps, which I'm rather worried about haha).
Make full use of your remaining holiday people! I'm telling you, or else you'll regret it!
I got to learn more about myself. I got to learn more about my family.
I made a few new friends. I met a few weird people.
I saw a master practicing his craft. I saw a master succumbing to his sly self.
I'm finding myself maturing bit by bit. I'm finding my naive self more and more.
I learn to respect the underdogs. I learn to not always trust those high in power.
I learn the importance of humbleness. I learn the downfall of arrogance.
I learn to push myself to the limits. I learn to push others towards their goals.
I lose my faith on some people. I hope for the best for some people.
I learn it's okay to have dreams. I learn some dreams may not meant to be achieved.
I learn to see the direction life is pointing. I learn to trust my instincts.
... And I learn people need to be crazy from time to time :)
July means a few things. Firstly, BATMANNNNN! Finally, after 3 years wait O_O Sighhh, can't wait to drool and drool and drool (over the sight of Christian Bale) :D Secondly, there are only about 10 days more before I visit some interesting places (that I've never been before). I hope it will go as planned, because everything associated with it depends on external factors. Meaning, it is out of the control of my family, and the tour planner haha. Wish me luck on this! :)
Only 1 1/2 month more to school! I can't believe that I am looking forward to school. It's been too much of a holiday :( I'm quite looking forward to the orientation programmes (except for the overnight camps, which I'm rather worried about haha).
Make full use of your remaining holiday people! I'm telling you, or else you'll regret it!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Har Har
Mr Tumnus (the faun) makes me laugh :)
....for all the wrong reasons!
From Mr Tumnus to Wesley Gibson (of Wanted).. what a transformation!
....for all the wrong reasons!
From Mr Tumnus to Wesley Gibson (of Wanted).. what a transformation!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
I Have No Reason To Fear
I always have the thought that with this 8 freaking month long of holiday that I will be able to travel to a place or places that I won't normally go to. I'm kind of sick of my father's empty promises.
This year actually would be a special year to visit a certain place. Yes my Mom keeps emphasising the annivesary celebration associated to the place. Emphasised it like thousand of times. But yesterday I realised that, oh well, it's just a number. If she and I are not meant to visit that place this year, then I would accept the fact. The place will always be there regardless of the number. It doesn't matter if we add 1 or 2 or 3 to that number.
Two weeks ago, I really wanted to go to that place and the surrounding areas. I hoped so hard that it will turn out smoothly. But my inner being secretly knows that things don't always go as planned. So interestingly, instead of praying that that trip will happen, I prayed that the right path will be shown to my family and me, because I felt what my mom and I wanted may not be the best for the moment. Somewhat, two weeks later, which is now, I just felt somewhat calmer and more peaceful with myself. I had put in so much effort in planning out for the trip, with the endless researching and the continuous attempts to ignore a very unappreciative person. Yes I've accepted the fact that this trip is dead, for now. It's kinda of doomed from the start. I hate how my father comes out with random travel plan and how he never planned out the year, so that we can have early reservations of tickets and hotels.
When an alternative route was served, I thought that the direction of where my family is supposed to go has been shown. The direction is OBVIOUS. It is being pointed to. We are supposed to go down that alternative route! Yes now I'm kinda angry that that person who failed me endlessly wants to fail me again. Let's just hope my mother has enough strength and will power to overcome all this and make the best decision for us and, most importantly, for herself. Because I strongly think that whatever will happen, she would be the key.
I hate empty promises. I guess I have said that for the umpteeth time.
This year actually would be a special year to visit a certain place. Yes my Mom keeps emphasising the annivesary celebration associated to the place. Emphasised it like thousand of times. But yesterday I realised that, oh well, it's just a number. If she and I are not meant to visit that place this year, then I would accept the fact. The place will always be there regardless of the number. It doesn't matter if we add 1 or 2 or 3 to that number.
Two weeks ago, I really wanted to go to that place and the surrounding areas. I hoped so hard that it will turn out smoothly. But my inner being secretly knows that things don't always go as planned. So interestingly, instead of praying that that trip will happen, I prayed that the right path will be shown to my family and me, because I felt what my mom and I wanted may not be the best for the moment. Somewhat, two weeks later, which is now, I just felt somewhat calmer and more peaceful with myself. I had put in so much effort in planning out for the trip, with the endless researching and the continuous attempts to ignore a very unappreciative person. Yes I've accepted the fact that this trip is dead, for now. It's kinda of doomed from the start. I hate how my father comes out with random travel plan and how he never planned out the year, so that we can have early reservations of tickets and hotels.
When an alternative route was served, I thought that the direction of where my family is supposed to go has been shown. The direction is OBVIOUS. It is being pointed to. We are supposed to go down that alternative route! Yes now I'm kinda angry that that person who failed me endlessly wants to fail me again. Let's just hope my mother has enough strength and will power to overcome all this and make the best decision for us and, most importantly, for herself. Because I strongly think that whatever will happen, she would be the key.
I hate empty promises. I guess I have said that for the umpteeth time.
Monday, June 09, 2008
L'enfant Terrible
I am a horrible person when it comes to hiding emotions. When I'm happy, I'll smile. When I'm sad, I'll frown. When I disagree, I'll complain. But with the Internet, I could just hide behind the screen, and conceal the real emotions that I was feeling at that point of time. Well, I try to. But, at some points of time, when I couldn't bear to conceal the emotions, I would need to get away from the computer, and take a walk or drink a cup of water or two, before my emotions calm down. But then again, sometimes this doesn't work either.
When someone angers me, yes, I do feel like retaliating, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Confrontations should always be avoided when possible. I wouldn't want someone else to feel hurt, when I myself am already hurt.
Just hearing you say "sorry" will be more than enough for my anger and depression to subside. But you never did.
When someone angers me, yes, I do feel like retaliating, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Confrontations should always be avoided when possible. I wouldn't want someone else to feel hurt, when I myself am already hurt.
Just hearing you say "sorry" will be more than enough for my anger and depression to subside. But you never did.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Thief Has Stolen My Magpie!
Hmm, quite a number of things to write in this entry :)
I was terribly worried that the 5 weeks that I would be spending in Indonesia will be a bore (well, the first 2 days here kind of proved that point). So, I asked my dad on whether he could get me a place in his friend's office. An unpaid one, just for learning experience. So his friend got me a place and I found myself in the Asset Management department. Today was only my 2nd days, and the 2 days had been filled with reading of tons of materials on Asset Management (since I have zero knowledge of it). Well okay, more of 1 and 1/2 day. The other 1/2 day I spent stoning, and boring myself to death at the office. The head of the department left early to meet her client, and so after reading the materials, I didn't have anything to do! So I spent 2 hours rotting on my table, doodling and drawing (old-style entertainment, since I don't have a computer of my own).
This leaves me to the first conclusion of this article: if you are a high school student, and looking for an employment during the holiday, it would be highly recommended that you do not go for office jobs! Because.. most office jobs will require some special skills (technical skills that university education will usually impart). Instead, go for jobs that are more service-oriented. This way, you can build more on your people skill. As some of you would have known, an employee would need good people and working skills to be a good employee. I guess service-oriented jobs will force you more to talk with your customers. It is extremely important to build on your customer service skills to build a good business of your own. But again, this opinion of mine might lack other perspectives that will give a truer picture.
Oh and I realised something. I can actually use this work experience thingy as an excuse to volunteer in Jakarta International Film Festival (if they open volunteer spots) in December. Well, my father said why do I work for free for Singapore Film Fest? So why is he willing to let me be in his friend's office and work for free? Contradictions?
I saw the weirdest movie I have ever seen in my entire life. It's called "Mulholland Drive" by David Lynch. This movie is CRAZY. It takes a lot of time for me to digest it.. and fully understand it. How on earth does Mr. Lynch's brain work? Anyway, the first act of the movie, which was 2 hours long, makes complete sense. It's only in the 2nd act of the movie that the show get weirder and weirder. Actually I kinda like how 1st act breaks into 2nd act. The last scene of the 1st act, in my opinion, is the most chilling scene in the movie and kinda sums up the description of Mulholland Drive. The scene took place in this night show theatre called "Silencio", in which the MC of the show keeps saying do not believe what you are seeing on stage since everything there was an illusion. Somehow, when an opera singer emerged on the stage and (seems to) started singing a song soooo well, I was enthralled by her singing (goosebumps!) and believed that she was singing that song.... until that woman fainted on the stage.. and the sound recording kept playing across the theatre! Oh man, that scene freaks me out more than another scary scene of the show (which I shall not mention).
I love how the movie works, forcing the audience to make sense of the interspersed details of the scenes (some scenes at first don't make sense at all). And the cinematography is vividly parallel to the storyline. The movie also showed some film techniques which I have never seen in any other movies (I guess only David Lynch do such things), like the muted colour pallette and tons of usage of surrealism. I recalled seeing a movie recently with which I also would associate "surreal", but oh well, it's nothing compared to Mulholland Drive! I would not mind watching Mulholland Drive again in the near future (not so soon!) I have a feeling this movie might turn a lot of people off.. haha. So if you have little patience for movies to unravel their stories, don't watch this film! Cos all the important things only happen after the 2nd hour.
2nd conclusion: David Lynch's brain is nuts. It will take a lot of thinking from me on whether I should watch his other works. It is said that Mulholland Drive is his most accessible work to date haha. Oh no.
I was terribly worried that the 5 weeks that I would be spending in Indonesia will be a bore (well, the first 2 days here kind of proved that point). So, I asked my dad on whether he could get me a place in his friend's office. An unpaid one, just for learning experience. So his friend got me a place and I found myself in the Asset Management department. Today was only my 2nd days, and the 2 days had been filled with reading of tons of materials on Asset Management (since I have zero knowledge of it). Well okay, more of 1 and 1/2 day. The other 1/2 day I spent stoning, and boring myself to death at the office. The head of the department left early to meet her client, and so after reading the materials, I didn't have anything to do! So I spent 2 hours rotting on my table, doodling and drawing (old-style entertainment, since I don't have a computer of my own).
This leaves me to the first conclusion of this article: if you are a high school student, and looking for an employment during the holiday, it would be highly recommended that you do not go for office jobs! Because.. most office jobs will require some special skills (technical skills that university education will usually impart). Instead, go for jobs that are more service-oriented. This way, you can build more on your people skill. As some of you would have known, an employee would need good people and working skills to be a good employee. I guess service-oriented jobs will force you more to talk with your customers. It is extremely important to build on your customer service skills to build a good business of your own. But again, this opinion of mine might lack other perspectives that will give a truer picture.
Oh and I realised something. I can actually use this work experience thingy as an excuse to volunteer in Jakarta International Film Festival (if they open volunteer spots) in December. Well, my father said why do I work for free for Singapore Film Fest? So why is he willing to let me be in his friend's office and work for free? Contradictions?
I saw the weirdest movie I have ever seen in my entire life. It's called "Mulholland Drive" by David Lynch. This movie is CRAZY. It takes a lot of time for me to digest it.. and fully understand it. How on earth does Mr. Lynch's brain work? Anyway, the first act of the movie, which was 2 hours long, makes complete sense. It's only in the 2nd act of the movie that the show get weirder and weirder. Actually I kinda like how 1st act breaks into 2nd act. The last scene of the 1st act, in my opinion, is the most chilling scene in the movie and kinda sums up the description of Mulholland Drive. The scene took place in this night show theatre called "Silencio", in which the MC of the show keeps saying do not believe what you are seeing on stage since everything there was an illusion. Somehow, when an opera singer emerged on the stage and (seems to) started singing a song soooo well, I was enthralled by her singing (goosebumps!) and believed that she was singing that song.... until that woman fainted on the stage.. and the sound recording kept playing across the theatre! Oh man, that scene freaks me out more than another scary scene of the show (which I shall not mention).
I love how the movie works, forcing the audience to make sense of the interspersed details of the scenes (some scenes at first don't make sense at all). And the cinematography is vividly parallel to the storyline. The movie also showed some film techniques which I have never seen in any other movies (I guess only David Lynch do such things), like the muted colour pallette and tons of usage of surrealism. I recalled seeing a movie recently with which I also would associate "surreal", but oh well, it's nothing compared to Mulholland Drive! I would not mind watching Mulholland Drive again in the near future (not so soon!) I have a feeling this movie might turn a lot of people off.. haha. So if you have little patience for movies to unravel their stories, don't watch this film! Cos all the important things only happen after the 2nd hour.
2nd conclusion: David Lynch's brain is nuts. It will take a lot of thinking from me on whether I should watch his other works. It is said that Mulholland Drive is his most accessible work to date haha. Oh no.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Hasta La Vista!
Hasta La Vista indeed! I have just uninstalled Windows Vista system and install Windows XP. Yayy.. this means my printer will finally be working again, after being dormant for at least a month now. Anyway, I would like to warn anyone off upgrading their Windows XP system to Vista. First of all, there are a lot of compatiblity issues with Vista, whether it is hardware or software issues. Secondly, I think Vista has quite a number of redundant features! So, if you're the type who cannot be bothered with installing/uninstalling softwares, do not upgrade to Vista. I repeat, do not upgrade to Vista. Or else.. prepare for an onslaught of headaches! (which I had kinda experienced haha).
I might be going back to Indo at the end of this week. I'm worried that I will be extremely bored there. I hope to do some stuff there, like Executive course at John Robert Powers, and driving lessons! I don't think I'll do Advanced Photography class hmm. Not that I mind looking out for cute guys! Haha. Looking at the curriculum of the course, I don't think the lessons are useful to what I hope to do as photographer (like photography on automobiles, food products and still life etc.)
If I can work at any magazine as a photographer,
I'll choose National Geographic or TIME.
If I can work at any magazine as a reporter,
I'll choose Empire (fat hope!)
If I can work at any film festival,
I'll choose Cannes or Venice or Sundance (that's a lot)
If I can work at any music festival,
I'll choose Glastonbury!
If I can be a music video assistant director,
I'd love to work with Michel Gondry.
Sigh, dreams dreams dreams. But there is nothing wrong with dreams right?
I might be going back to Indo at the end of this week. I'm worried that I will be extremely bored there. I hope to do some stuff there, like Executive course at John Robert Powers, and driving lessons! I don't think I'll do Advanced Photography class hmm. Not that I mind looking out for cute guys! Haha. Looking at the curriculum of the course, I don't think the lessons are useful to what I hope to do as photographer (like photography on automobiles, food products and still life etc.)
If I can work at any magazine as a photographer,
I'll choose National Geographic or TIME.
If I can work at any magazine as a reporter,
I'll choose Empire (fat hope!)
If I can work at any film festival,
I'll choose Cannes or Venice or Sundance (that's a lot)
If I can work at any music festival,
I'll choose Glastonbury!
If I can be a music video assistant director,
I'd love to work with Michel Gondry.
Sigh, dreams dreams dreams. But there is nothing wrong with dreams right?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Boohaha
Hola! It's been ages since I blogged haha. I went to Hong Kong and Vietnam recently. It was the first time visiting Vietnam and I went to 2 of its cities, Hue City and Ha Long Bay. Overall, It was an interesting place to visit. I noticed that its culture kinda overlapped with China's, and it's still obvious that it shares the same political ideology as China, seeing the blatant display of Communist symbols (the hammer and sickle one) on the banners along the roads of Hue City. On some junctions, posters of Ho Chi Minh are up too. Anyway, while Hue City is more of an old, historic city, Ha Long Bay projects itself more as a tourist destination, especially with its picturesque view (which I think I had failed to appreciate fully, since I have seen a lot of such views from China. The word 'typical Chinese view' came out of my mind. Sorry!)
The cruise experience which I had to Vietnam was made really interesting by the room that my brother and I got. While my mom and dad got a room with nice balcony, my brother and I thought that we could live without a window for 4 days, so we opted for a non-windowed room. Well, we saved up about HK$6000 (about S$1000), which is a lot! Anyway, the room we got was funny, since in replacement of the window, a HUGE painting of a ship reaching the land was put up hahaa (unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it! but my brother took one haha thank goodness). So yeah, me and my brother was perpetually within the reach of the land (even though in reality we're stuck in the mass of blue sea) and perpetually in the darkness too. A sense of time was completely lost, and 12 noon felt like 4 am! Thank goodness that the two rooms was side-by-side, so when my brother and I felt lacking of Vitamin D (aka sunlight), we would evacuate to my parents' room. Interestingly, my mom gets excited by the sunrise and sunset easily. I remembered on the 2nd day, she knocked on our door in the morning to wake us for the tour, and said, "Come to our room to see the beautiful sunrise!" What a way to start the morning! :)
So it's been almost a week here in Singapore. I'm happy that the Red Devils had retained their title! Woot. My days here had mostly been filled with meeting up friends, reading old TIME, Cinemags and Seventeen Magazines and tearing out articles from them to save and the rest to throw... and chatting up online. I watched Iron Man 3 days ago, and though it was good, it didn't meet up my expectation which I came to realise was of too high a point! Therefore, I shall start lowering my expectation on the Dark Knight (aka Batman sequel) to avoid the utter disappointment that will be inevitable if I maintain the level of expectation I had of it at this point. Check the new batman trailer and see whether you would be excited for it as well :)
The cruise experience which I had to Vietnam was made really interesting by the room that my brother and I got. While my mom and dad got a room with nice balcony, my brother and I thought that we could live without a window for 4 days, so we opted for a non-windowed room. Well, we saved up about HK$6000 (about S$1000), which is a lot! Anyway, the room we got was funny, since in replacement of the window, a HUGE painting of a ship reaching the land was put up hahaa (unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it! but my brother took one haha thank goodness). So yeah, me and my brother was perpetually within the reach of the land (even though in reality we're stuck in the mass of blue sea) and perpetually in the darkness too. A sense of time was completely lost, and 12 noon felt like 4 am! Thank goodness that the two rooms was side-by-side, so when my brother and I felt lacking of Vitamin D (aka sunlight), we would evacuate to my parents' room. Interestingly, my mom gets excited by the sunrise and sunset easily. I remembered on the 2nd day, she knocked on our door in the morning to wake us for the tour, and said, "Come to our room to see the beautiful sunrise!" What a way to start the morning! :)
So it's been almost a week here in Singapore. I'm happy that the Red Devils had retained their title! Woot. My days here had mostly been filled with meeting up friends, reading old TIME, Cinemags and Seventeen Magazines and tearing out articles from them to save and the rest to throw... and chatting up online. I watched Iron Man 3 days ago, and though it was good, it didn't meet up my expectation which I came to realise was of too high a point! Therefore, I shall start lowering my expectation on the Dark Knight (aka Batman sequel) to avoid the utter disappointment that will be inevitable if I maintain the level of expectation I had of it at this point. Check the new batman trailer and see whether you would be excited for it as well :)
Anyway, so 1 comic book hero down, 3 more to go! The Incredible Hulk, Wanted.. and Batman. It is still hard to believe that I have been waiting for the Batman sequel for 3 years O_O Impossible! I still remember my Bale craze day 3 years ago, watching his batman interviews, which in the end I came to be bored of, since he looked the same all over the place for the batman press promotion! I am extremely thankful that thus far my fascination with Mr. Bale had not ruined my O-level and A-level grades. Or else it would have been very confusing for me on whether to hate or like him. Yes, I do still rue my chance of meeting him in person last year when Batman was shooting in Hong Kong. It was a really close call! I still remember preparing for A-level, and then on the day they started shooting in Hong Kong, I automatically went to tune in to Channel 5's news (which I rarely does) and waited for Batman news... and then there he was, very handsome-looking (and clean-shaven!), in the press conference. Arghh. He was only 3 hours flight away from Singapore :(
I don't know if this is only me or what, but sometimes there are things that I just have to associate with my O level and A level preparation. Well, mostly it's not serious stuff that I remember. It's the funny, non-sensical stuff. I remembered eating Koko Crunch with milk in a mug and watching Late Night Movies at like 1 or 2 am on Channel 5. Two of the movies I remembered being played were the Truman Show and Election (the Reese Witherspoon one). Yes I didn't feel guilty eating at like 1 or 2 am. It was my early morning supper haha. For A level preparation, since it was a recent one, the cramming experience is still fresh in my mind. Nevertheless, I'll forever associate the preparation period with my Bale gagaism haha. Umph, I just realised that I didn't eat as much supper for the A-level preparation! I'd like to ask you, does a bowl of cereal make a good supper for you? Apparently not for the cruise crew. They didn't include cereal, or even milk, for supper! :(
This is turning into a long post. I shall stop here :) Thanks for reading. Hope to update soon again.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Open Up Your Eyes
Don't ever brag in front of me if you don't know what you're bragging about. Somebody p**sed me off today in this matter.
Friday, April 25, 2008
And..
Speaking of computer, I've decided to get Apple Notebook for my uni :) Cos Apple is more likely to have film editing programme.
Yay for Apple.
Hope I can work my way thru the OS and PC systems haha.
Yay for Apple.
Hope I can work my way thru the OS and PC systems haha.
Globalisation Has Finally Brushed Me
Everybody, please learn from this experience of mine!
This morning I called the Dell technical support to ask some questions about my problematic speaker and the decision to change window vista system to window xp system. I had been calling Dell a few times for the past few days (because I keep missing out important details of the problems), and somehow the people who picked up the phone always had thick Chinese accent of English O_O Well, today, after clarifying about the vista to xp problem, I started rambling about the speaker problem to the person. The person was double-checking the place I was staying at, and she asked near which area I do stay. When I said "Orchard Boulevard", she said, "Can you spell Orchard for me?" In my head, I went, "What the heckkk?" So after the call, the person emailed me on the vista to xp problem, and guess what I found out from the email? The person is from Dell Inc. (China). Yes, CHINA. What the heckkk... so the supporting hotline links from Singapore to China??? Suddenly I thought of the booming call centre service in India. But I think India would have better service since they have accent naturalisation. The person I talked to for Dell when I called yesterday had such a THICK chinese accent that I was asking her to repeat her sentences like 5x. My goshhh...
One other thing if you have a Dell CPU, and you need to find the service tag for technical support, please do not be misled by the diagram of the service tag shown in Dell website, which has a barcode, or by the telephone message going "the service tag can be find at the side or back of the CPU". Hellooo.. first of all, the service tag on my CPU is grey colour.. and it doesn't have barcode. I keep thinking it has barcode.. so I just looked over the grey sticker with the service tag on it O_O Secondly, the service tag is on TOP of the CPU.. not at the back or at the side. Sighhhh....
Enough of Dell rambling. Hope you'll never have to go through the Dell terrible experience.
One other thing if you have a Dell CPU, and you need to find the service tag for technical support, please do not be misled by the diagram of the service tag shown in Dell website, which has a barcode, or by the telephone message going "the service tag can be find at the side or back of the CPU". Hellooo.. first of all, the service tag on my CPU is grey colour.. and it doesn't have barcode. I keep thinking it has barcode.. so I just looked over the grey sticker with the service tag on it O_O Secondly, the service tag is on TOP of the CPU.. not at the back or at the side. Sighhhh....
Enough of Dell rambling. Hope you'll never have to go through the Dell terrible experience.
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