Future

Being kept busy today finally makes me feel far better today after feeling very disoriented from knowing of Heath Ledger's death yesterday and on the day itself. Since I often frequented movie websites, most of the news for the past 2 days surrounded his death and remembrance, which made it harder to overcome the grief just like that.

I got the news the first thing in the morning of the first day after the John Robert Powers examination. The news was just surreal, too hard to believe. How could such a young, fine, talented actor just die? He is one of those actors who really have BRIGHT prospective ahead of him. A friend of mine and I were just discussing 2 days before his death of how great his performance seems to be for The Dark Knight judging from the trailers so far.

There's one period of time when there were so many deaths of old actors, producers and directors. In that period, I was like wondering how I would react if an actor of my generation of a fine caliber died. And this tragic death brought me back to the question. Well, the answer was I was sad. Strangely, because I don't even know him personally. I guess it is more of the sadness over the fact that I will not see Heath displaying his full acting potential and reaching the peak of his career. I had a strong feeling that his popularity will skyrocket after the Dark Knight. But now we'll never know whether that will happen.

This also led me to another question. So, if one of my handsomes dies tomorrow (touch wood), how will I react? Will I be overcome with soooo much grief that I would not be able to function properly for at least a day? Will I shed tears? Again I don't even know them personally, and yet these are the reactions that I could think of if they die.

It was really fortunate that Heath's short career has been wonderful of late. At least with that, many people will remember him in the best way possible.

A closure.

R.I.P Heath Ledger

1979-2008

Happily Merrily Go Round

Finally, I've finished my grooming class! Today was the practical and theory tests. The practical was obviously the more frightening part, but it wasn't as frightening as I thought it would be. I was the last one to go up. Honestly, going up last is worst that going up first, because going up last means more pressure to do well is on you, since you can learn mistakes from the previous candidates. Anywho, I managed to keep my breathing grounded... and not be too scared.. and said some prayers haha. The results will come out in 3 days time. Hope it will turn out well.

So I'm now left with photography course, which will run to the end of February. Not that I mind! :) Yesterday's lesson though was rather strange in some ways. Firstly, the lesson taught yesterday was on beauty shot. Oh my gosh... after going to the lesson yesterday, I kinda vowed of never doing beauty shot in my life ever. Do you know why? It is because in yesterday's lesson, I saw the extreme end of digital image editing. Well, first of all, I've seen some Hollywood magazines before and after image editing process (with slimmer hands, bigger boobs, smaller thighs for women etc.). But yesterday, I realised sometimes they may employ a model, only to change the model's eyes in the computer. To me that's like not respecting the model's body parts. Like helloo you can't just go around pasting other people's eyes or lips on a model. I think it doesn't do the model justice seriously. I guess beauty photography is not an area I want to work as a photographer. I just don't really support some of its ideas.

Actually there's another reason why I find yesterday's lesson interesting. But I'm not really that willing to say why just yet :)

Something that I wrote yesterday in my Punk book:
That faint smell of smoke off him. The constant clicking of the pen which he borrowed from me. The blue pen with faded writings in his hand. I tried to smell any scent of him off the pen, only for my sense of smell to be overcome by my soap perfume. This entry I wrote with that pen that was in his hand.

Somebody Please...

Hmm I guess in life it's good to have somebody (or more) to pull you down back to Earth whenever needed. Because sometimes in life when you are experiencing too much good things, you begin to take your life for granted... and get too 'high'. This is where the role of that body comes in.. he or she will pull you back down to earth... to stop you for getting to high and crashing back to earth hard when the good things stop coming and bad things start coming in.

If you don't have anyone to pull you down occasionally back to earth at the moment, better find a good one soon. You'll never know when you need him or her. Only he or she will know that you're in need of him or her.

Something Rather True

Actually, etiquette is equal to acting.

Because etiquette is all about projecting a good image of yourself to others.

Something interesting that I learnt this week.

My Brain and My Heart

I don't know what is wrong with my brain seriously. It has been dreaming of Johnny Depp the past two days.. hello I'm not even into him haha. This is soooo weird. Today I dreamt that I was talking to him about a movie I was going to direct, then he agreed to be a part of it! Hahaha.. what the heck. Then he even called some producer.. and asked what credit card the producer has. I don't know why in the dream we only accept the Red card by Citibank (which I don't think even exist in real life lol). Okay lah, at least it's Johnny Depp, not somebody bad haha. By the way, Johnny is going to star a film with Christian Bale. How exciting!!!!

Anyway, my days in Indo has been filled with Photography courses at Darwis Triadi School of Photography, grooming lessons at John Robert Powers, self-SAT preparation haha and Sims 2 in PS2. The classes at JRP had been the most stressful one.. because I forgot to bring some items, such as clothing and make-up, from Singapore O_O Nevertheless, it was quite an eye-opening experience.. and interesting too. 7 more days of JRP to go. For photography, it's been quite okay. Maybe it's because I've still not known everyone in the class, and so I still can't enjoy the classes to the fullest. Nevertheless, the first two lessons on studio lighting were interesting. 13 more lessons of photography.. which I'm sure will quickly pass by haha, compared to JRP classes heh.

SAT preparation has been quite stressful.. mainly because of the tight schedule I have with the two classes. JRP lessons are everyday (Mon-Fri, with next Tuesday being theory and practical evaluation, the last day), and photography classes take place on Monday and Thursday night at 7.00 pm. Thankfully I've been quite able to juggle well thus far. I'm using SAT official book.. and am now in the Maths section haha. I need to start doing the Right Word soon hahahahaha.

So no golden globes tomorrow. Hopefully Oscars will still be held.

No time to see movies thus far. Hope I can start watching movies once JRP lessons are over.

Let it not be Mr. Depp in my dream tonight.

2007

Best Movies of 2007 (in ranking order)

Atonement
Half Nelson
Persepolis
300
Hot Fuzz
28 Weeks Later
Transformers
Lars and the Real Girl
Eastern Promises
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Best experience of 2007 (in a rather chronological order)

Muse concert
First midnight movie outing (Babel) + watching it slightly underaged
Creating Science Symposium promotional video
Chingay night outing (having a stretch of Grange Road to ourselves hahaha)
GYLC experience + New York
First ever freelance photography job
Phantom of the Opera
Buying SLR camera
Winning Simpsons contest
Having a hug in my dream for the first time
Dreaming of Ryan Gosling several times
Writing in my punk book

Worst experience of 2007 (in a rather chronological order)

Going for first ever detention in my life
One of the birthday presents
Being stalked by a guy O_O
C for PW
Being irritated by a guy in New York
Forcing Geography studies into my head
Missing the chance of seeing Christian Bale in person :( :(
A Level
Christmas and New Year outing at China
Wasting HK$1000 in gambling in Macau
Having a strange dream of 3 letter word

Songs associated with 2007

“1,2,3,4” by Feist
“Misread” by Kings of Convenience
“When You Were Young” by The Killers
Da Ba Da Ba song by Gym Class Heroes
The Gatsby song haha.

Things broken in 2007

2 Charles and Keith Sandal
1 U.R.S. sandal
1 computer screen
1 ipod mini
1 brown bag

Welcome to 2008

So 2008 is finally here. 2007, which is the year of pig, was rather okay. Ups and downs as usual. Kind of balanced. Though there are much good and bad things to remember for 2007. Lessons that I learnt, and also the various experience which shape me as a person as I continue to grow. I managed to observe human behaviour more, and how some characteristics in me are somewhat related to my parents. 2007 taught me to really treasure the friends that I have. 2007 also taught me to be thankful of the parents that I had, regardless how annoying they can be and different they can think.

2007 taught me to never let go of my dreams, regardless of how impossible sometimes they can be.

Even though 2007 kinda ended in a bad shape, at least overall it was okay. The year of pig didn't treat me as badly as I thought it would. A snake and a pig don't go well supposedly. Well this year it will be the year of mouse. May it be a good year (for you and your family). Even if it's a bad year, at least there will always be things that I can learn around from the experience.

Next post: 2007 listings.