+

in any other world

2010-02-22T05:11:00.001+11:00

lonely is so lonely alone.

N

.

2010-02-21T06:45:00.002+11:00

i want to forget. i want to remember. but i can't.

N

time n tale

2010-02-17T07:36:00.002+11:00

man yasmin, that was some touching shit. even though the original dvd didn't even have subtitles (for the sign language, chinese and tamil), the emotions still got through. The storyline was neatly woven. Simple yet effective. The look is simply beautiful. Nothing over the top, just enough to convey a story.

My favourite scenes (that I can think of now):
1. The car ride with Ida Nerina. "Dia masuk Islam, bukan melayu...not even arab." In you face! hah!
2. Obviously, Shafie's final performance, right after his mom's tahlil. "I promised my mom I would do my best". =(

But, I found myself cringe every time the english/scottish lady spoke. And all the 'proper' english speaking people in that household was just a bit pretentious.

Syafie Naswip. Amazing! Mahesh was pretty awesome too. and even Azean Irdawaty. Also, highly commendable performances from Mei Ling, Adibah Noor, Mahesh's mom, and Jaclyn Victor.

Talentime is the best work from Yasmin, in my opinion. Dah lama, baru nak tengok. Tak sempat la wayang. Kejap sangat.

Tak puas hati dgn DVD original yang takde subtitles. WTF!

N

augmented reality

2010-02-06T21:09:00.001+11:00

still

2010-01-29T03:24:00.000+11:00

green peace in the year 1960. This is not for the public.

N

forgetting to remember to forget

2010-01-26T12:36:00.002+11:00

she was there. in the kitchen. she was there in the living room. the bedroom. the mall. the car. the street. the desk. in front of the tv. she was everywhere. she was next door. the next suburb. the next next. then she was in the next continent.

but she's still here.

N

2010-01-26T02:55:00.000+11:00

indra kayangan

2010-01-24T13:19:00.001+11:00

road trippin

2010-01-15T04:14:00.002+11:00

checkpoint. milestones. reached. time for a break.

we're going on a road trip of sorts to Ipoh! and also a night in Pangkor. Hope I can get the needed reset I kinda need. Refresh the brain juice.

I still wait for messages that won't come. Everyday.

N

writing is re-writing

2010-01-10T17:59:00.002+11:00

I'm in the process of making up a story. Just exactly what I love most. Project telemovie is go. Everything is low profile still. Just the way I like it. Hope to have something by the end of the week. (Actually I hate writing vague stuff like this).

I'll just say it, I'm writing a script! and I don't know what its called yet. But its gonna be good. I hope.

N

the invisible ink

2010-01-05T06:25:00.002+11:00

this ink has the power of making things dissapear. I like it. I should be following my gut. Do what my heart tells me to. Eventhough, I'm a semi mess atm, I should do this passion once and for all. Hmmm.

N

Haih.

2009-12-31T00:57:00.000+11:00

The feeling of void return again.

N

The Great Battle!

2009-11-05T05:54:00.002+11:00

This is a weird stage in my life. It's good to know good people and orang hensem2 macam fungusinthemilk! I'm kinda confused about a few things. But we have to move forward.

Two songs are playing in my head. Yuna and Hanafi's 'Sparkle' VS 'The Foreigner' by seven collar t-shirt. Two really awesome songs. Go get 'The Great Battle' album by scts. Coming out soon! This feeling of zoosh is fully complemented by the album. Awesome stuff!

Watch Yuna and Hanafi performing sparkle here!

*album artwork by Rewan Ishak (Awesome!)

**ikanPaos Collective: the engine's warming up. We need support! Watch this space.

N

ikan paos

2009-10-02T16:06:00.000+10:00

something big is awaking from a deep slumber. it's coming.

N

On things to come

2009-09-06T15:44:00.006+10:00

It is time to start. We need something that triggers our imaginations, frees our minds, liberate us. not just mere propaganda or sociopolitical video stints to boost popularity (Although some are different). We need to inject quality in things we do. Challenge the society's intellect. Produce work of such high taste, that whoever doesn't understand it will have to wisen up and follow. Say 'tak nak' not only to cigarettes but also to low quality, mindless content. We are ready. The time is near.

Something is coming. And we need to jump on board.

We need something like this to move us:

(New music videos by Rewan Ishak. 'Wild Child' and 'Fragile' from Seven Collar T-Shirt)

N

.

2009-07-31T20:12:00.001+10:00

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd.

again and again

2009-07-20T18:44:00.003+10:00

It's final. Mid August. That's when I'm leaving. It's a huge deal. After nearly six years, I'm finally going back to Malaysia for good.

I can't wrap my head around that fact. But, it's just something I have to do. Life, and specifically career wise, has been stagnant for too long.

This first half of 2009 have been very productive and informative. It's time to use whatever I've learnt here and apply it back home. (Even if the fate of the industry is still highly questioned and doubted)

A few friends have asked if I wanted to make films in Australia. Why not Australia? Why Malaysia?

Firstly, I don't see myself qualified to make anything, anywhere, YET. I have to learn still and gain more experience. But, I'm free to indulge in my imaginations and daydreams. So even if I wanted to, I can't make films here. Its too competitive and I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. Also the fact that I'm an outsider and communication issues.

I'm Malaysian. I want to make Malaysian films. Help grow the industry in some way, if at all. Patut aku tulis Bahasa Malaysia kot kalau nak berpatriotik ni. Lantak. Lagipun, aku rasa kalau kerja ngan orang Malaysia lagi senang nak communicate kot. Wavelength sama. And, aku rasa skarang mesti lagi ramai orang celik pandai yang nakkan something new. Aku pun nak jugak!

So what now?

Perah otak!

There's a million options to choose from. Maybe first and foremost, some kind of financial stability. Don't mistaken this for mundane-ness. This is merely to survive.

Next, I'm really excited to meet these growing number of youngsters yang semakin mengancam kerja2 diorang. Filmmakers, musicians, artists, creative writers. I need to be kept up to date because I've been away for far too long. I've missed out on so much, watching from a distance. This time, I wanna be in the mess too. I'm offering my services for something similar in return.

For now, that's about it. I'm not yet ready to disclose more plans on this forsaken blog. But I really do have a million things that I want to do. How exciting.

La Nouvelle Vague

2009-06-26T20:35:00.004+10:00

I need my own new wave.

l'tourbillon d'la vie

2009-06-15T22:07:00.002+10:00

the whirlwind of life.

i haven't been home for awhile. When I get back, I'll spend a week there. Then drive with my dad and brother back to my grandparents, before fasting season starts. Haven't done that in awhile as well. I think I will take a lot of photos, on film hopefully. It's been 5 years since I last celebrated hari raya in Malaysia with my family. That's too crazy. I'll get a chance this year.

Going back is all well and good. But I'm leaving things behind. Memories and good times. Most of that is coming back with me, sooner or later. But, I'll definitely miss the ones that won't be able to come along on the next phase.

So what's the plan after getting back? The obvious answer is I don't know. But things will work out.

N

movies and me

2009-06-03T03:39:00.002+10:00

Last week I saw:

Samson & Delilah
Mary and Max
Synecdoche, New York: twice.
O brother where art thou
Miller's crossing
Intolerable Cruelty
I heart huckabees
The virgin suicides
Candy
Shadowplay
Dream Life
The pitch
mean creek

I think I'm forgetting 3-4 titles.

Last night I saw 'Peter Pan'. Today I saw 'Star Trek'. It was brilliant!

N

.

2009-05-12T01:09:00.003+10:00

The end is near. I have been thinking about it for a long time. It is creeping up on me. It's going to be the end of a part of a world, for me at least and it is inevitable.

I guess in a way, the end has come and passed, but I guess not for me. But this time, it is for real. There is a word for it...I can't seem to remember what. Something like morbid. pessimistic. negative.

I don't know if I have a choice or not. Either to end that part of the world, or just leave it for awhile. There are chances to be grabbed out there. People to meet, networks to be forged. But with it being so close, I don't know if I'm ready. I guess I'm not.

Time has always been the enemy.It is inevitable. inevitable. inevitable.

In the future, I'll find myself being over it. Everything has an ending. I'll have to. get over it.

But this is the present. And I'll keep thinking about it until it comes knocking. Pfft.

N

story story

2009-04-06T23:53:00.003+10:00

A man sits at a cafe, looking around and absorbing his surroundings. The waiter gets his order, coffee. She goes on to get orders from other customers. She accidentally steps on a dogs tail. It yelps in pain.

A young woman comes and joins the man. She is revealed to be the daughter. The man has a gift for her, neatly packaged in a box. It is a shiny gun, with silver bullets to match. She examines it and finds that it is to her liking. She loads it.

An old lady is about to cross the street. The young woman sees her and takes aim. A shot is fired and the old woman is left on the ground, dead. No one seems to care, everything doesn't even stop.

Two policemen walk along and finds the old woman's body. They look around and spots the father and daughter at the cafe. They go over. One of them inquires about the gun. Dad says its a gift. His daughter asks the cops if they like the gun. They say they do.

End.

~I thought that was interesting. some may disagree.
~this is plagiarized kinda. yay.

N

In a dream

2009-04-05T23:00:00.001+10:00

with blue sky and clouds?

N

Swamped

2009-03-31T01:03:00.002+11:00

What's so great about a drag queen in Sydney? Him being a lawyer/ student doesn't make it all that much more interesting. Well he is aboriginal, but doesn't look like it. A person with identity issues and looking for acceptance in a quite conservative community. The concept of the story is just so so. That's the documentary we just recently finished shooting. I've still got to get signed permission from UNSW for using their premise. This week is editing week and I'm already dead tired.

Some other ideas were pretty good, but didn't get chosen somehow. A gay loan shark who bashes people half to death, on boats, and goes to visit them at hospitals, a cancer patient and all round nice guy. That'd be one heck of a story. Instead, we got stuck with drag boy.

He's nice too I guess but I'm sick of the sound of his voice. (been listening to it the whole day, and possibly the whole week!).

Tidur.

N

A combination

2009-03-07T22:25:00.002+11:00

Of these:

After School
Burn After reading
Pan's Labyrinth
Royal Tenenbaum's

Buang yang keruh, ambil yang jernih.

N

Screenplay 1.2

2009-03-07T18:00:00.000+11:00

Charlie Kaufman says,

'I don't know what the hell a third act is.'

N

nervous

2009-03-01T22:21:00.002+11:00

i haven't been to classes for awhile. starting tomorrow, it's going to be hectic. full time classes from monday to wednesday. night class on thursday. work from friday to sunday. goodbye social life. oh well, sacrifices need to be made. One of the strongest people that I know is going through worse scheduling problems and being away from home. That one is a tough cookie. Hang in there!

N

the ticking time bomb

2009-02-28T16:39:00.004+11:00

I've always been worried of the ticking time bomb. I thought it was gonna go off about one year ago. looks like its probably definitely going off some time at the end of this year. I'm not sure if I'm prepared for it. Maybe I should be. It's been ticking for awhile.

Once it blows, its the end of my life here as I know it. Metallica said it, only 'memory remains'. In a way, the bulk of the good stuff are already memories, but at least now I can still be in denial, as long as the bomb is still ticking. Here's me going on about the past again. pfft!

I guess we face a few ticking time bombs throughout our measly lives (one of them was when I had to stay away from home, one was moving here) but this one would be the biggest one yet. It's not as big as 'death' but for now, from where I'm standing, it's pretty fucking huge. Not yet! But there's no stopping it. It's inevitable.

Hope: the time left is well spent with important people.
Hope: they have the time for it.

*note: I freaking hate Beyonce's 'single ladies' song. WTF.

the wishing well band.

N

Screenplay 1.1 - What is a screenplay?

2009-02-25T00:35:00.006+11:00

ANSWER:
ACT I: Set-up -> plot point 1 -> ACT II: Confrontation -> plot point 2 -> ACT III: Resolution

Setup:
The story is set up, the characters are established,the situation is shown, we find out what the story is about and what he relationships of the characters are.

Confrontation:
The main character(s) needs in the story is challenged. (S)he faces obstacles that keep them from achieving their goal in the story. There is a conflict.

Resolution:
Unlike an ending, a resolution is the solution to the problem put forth by the story.

Plot points:
are incidents that occur that will ultimately change the course of the story from one act to another. It changes the flow of the screenplay to a different direction. Act I turns into act II, act II turns into act III.

*personal notes from chapter 1 of 'Screenplay' by Syd Field. I'm at chapter 3 atm. More to come.

I begin my journey into the world of films, officially starting Monday. Action!

N

The future of shorts

2009-02-22T13:54:00.003+11:00

Untuk Tiada Siapa - Untuk Saya

2009-02-21T18:13:00.002+11:00

Enak, lazat, berkrim.

N

budak

2009-02-20T19:14:00.002+11:00

Aku ingat dulu masa kecik slalu pikir orang besar ni pelik. Takkan diorang tak paham fikiran budak. Aku (masa tu) confirm lah tak paham apa yang diorang fikir, sebab aku belum sampai umur diorang. Tapi, diorang pernah umur aku (yang budak). So since diorang dah pernah lalui alam tu, takkan tak faham kan?

Masa tu aku nak macam2. Jeles ngan budak lain yg dapat mainan. Paling aku jeles, transformers. Sial ar, aku nak optimus prime gak. Tak dapat punya pasal, skarang aku balas dendam beli Optimus Prime Masterpiece yg boleh tahan mahal jugak laa. Habis satu Tokyo aku pusing untuk cari. Hmm, mungkin satu Akihabara. So imej backpacker rugged aku hancur dengan kotak optimus prime kat tangan, tapi takpe.

I used to think that being a toy maker is the best job in the world ever. Eh ter-english lak. Dulu aku tengok cerita 'Big' Tom Hanks. Dia faham minda budak walaupun badan dia orang besar. Hebat!

Kembali ke budak, aku faham skarang. Aku faham yang memang orang dewasa tak faham budak. Kita dah lupa. Aku tak ingat cara aku berfikir masa umur 10 tahun. Skarang ni ada budak umur 8 tahun sebelah aku. Dia buat name tag sendiri, tulis pakai pen. Then silap, dia padam guna pen, scratch it, then guna liquid macam gila. then color guna highlighter. comot gila. Conteng2 kaki pakai higlighter hijau. Tulis2 benda. Gila kot budak ni.

so i'm wondering, was i like this when i was her age? when i was a budak? because i always felt that i'm matured. or was that just a feeling? Even now? Even in the future? Do we all forget how it is to be kids?

N

The Graveyard Book

2009-02-15T21:24:00.008+11:00

Neil Gaiman is a superstar. Well I haven't read this book but I have it. I'm sort of saving it. It's the last Gaiman novel I have. Aw man!

You would find that it's not unlike Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. Bod is to the Graveyard Book as Mowgli is to the Jungle Book. The major difference is that Bod is raised by the undead in a graveyard, instead of by animals in a jungle. That's sort of the gist things.

Gaiman goes on tours and does readings, one chapter per place. After the readings, the one chapter of the night, he gives a long Q&A. In a way, they're sort of giving the book away because all the readings are filmed! Click here to hear the book, read to you by the superstar himself, chapter by chapter.

N

gambarasu 3

2009-02-12T22:59:00.000+11:00

*semalam saya pergi memancing buat kali pertama. tak dapat ikan langsung. yay!

N

gambarasu 2

2009-02-11T18:42:00.001+11:00

the answer cometh

2009-02-11T02:29:00.000+11:00

the game has started. Just a bit, but it has definitely begun. This is the journey into the unknown I've been waiting for. I have found a temporary answer.

ok, malas tulis panjang2.

N

Gambarasu

2009-02-10T12:42:00.000+11:00

The Peak

2009-02-07T18:31:00.000+11:00

I'm not sure what it's called. The golden years? Hmm, maybe that's old age. It's definitely called 'youth' but that's so boring. It must have a better name. I can't remember. But whatever it is, I am at the peak of my time, I'm supposed to be unstoppable now, conquering opportunities, ambition and dreams.

I always thought that the early twenties was the perfect age to live. Do what you want, no regrets, but of course with limitations. I am not afraid of temptation. I believe in my values and principles enough to not do something stupid. I won't do anything that will leave me ashamed of myself. I do have vices though. Oh well.

We are mentally prepared. Less talk, more action. I choose to do what I love, throwing away stability in the process. Everything will work out when the time is right.

Knowledge. I have very limited knowledge on the world. Especially emotionally. 24 years hasn't supplied me anywhere near enough knowledge. I don't even know much about my home country or it's neighbours. I will spend a month traveling around Malaysia, alone. Okay, maybe longer. A week in each state (macam ada duit je).

Travel and learn. Jauh perjalanan, luas pemandangan. I haven't even been to Singapore, Thailand or even Sabah and Sarawak!

This is the last year I can go visit my brother in London. I'm not too much of a fan of the whole Eurotrip thing but will do. Maybe Snowboarding with my cousin's family in Finland. Go around India on a train.

Kan best kalau aku anak Tan Sri or Sultan. Kalau related pun okay dah.

Then what? Stability. That's hard. Not to worry, all in due time. For now, layan lagu jepun dulu.

Good Omens

2009-02-06T21:50:00.001+11:00

Adoi bosan sial pak security ni membebel. Budget negara India dia tu best sangat. IT capital of the world konon. Dah le kena jumpa dia ni setiap Jumaat. Aku ignore dia dengan menulis blog post ni. Alamak dia datang balik, bertenggek kat sini nak cerita la ni. Dia nampak pulak buku aku bertajuk Good Omens.

Dia pandai pancing sial. Dia cakap satu ayat, then tunggu and stare untuk response dari aku.

Dia: The middle East are investing heavily on warehouses on the border of India.

(Apa mengarut ni tiba2?). Dia tunggu.

Aku: Oh.
Dia: It's more convenient for them. It takes 1 hour 40 minutes by flight from Mumbai to Dubai.
Aku: Oh.
Dia: Dubai is great. Most of them are royalty. (mumbles something about how much they invested, aku pun tak ingat dah)

Inilah masanya untuk zone out. Tutup otak. Kepala still angguk tapi pikir benda lain. Aduh beratnya mata aku tiba-tiba. Terasa nak menguap lak depan muka dia.

Bagus! Blah pun kau! Taktik tak layan sambil menaip berjaya! Update blog pun skali gus.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett or Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman.

Pasal 'the Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angels of the Bottomless Pit,Great Beast that is called Dragon, Prince of This World, Father of Lies, Spawn of Satan, and Lord of Darkness'. Alah, aku rasa ni cerita pasal Antichrist aka Dajjal. Betul ke Antichrist tu Dajjal? Biar aku wiki kejap.

okay, dah wiki. Still tak tau. Naseb ar.

Alamak, dia datang bertenggek balik!

N

Disproportionate

2009-01-29T11:54:00.001+11:00

At the moment, summer is crazy and I smell wood. Man, saw-freaking-dust! in my face! this dude called Mario is slicing up my wooden floor just to make it fit. it's crazy! He's doing everything with sunglasses on. That's what happens when water gets in under wooden floors. Note: Never get wooden flooring close to any kind of water. No Luigi today. Just Mario.

9 days pass. Still no news. Maybe time for a little retail therapy? I dunno.

To film or not to film? Too many DSLR nowadays, puts me off snapping things.

Money makes the world go round but I don't have enough of it for therapy. I've been binge book buying recently and I have 10+ untouched/ half read books. They're all in a box and in a different place so I can't read them yet. Wait till things settle down then I'll dive into my Murakami's and Neil Gaiman's. For the time being, I will try and learn to be a Warrior of Light. Here's a snippet:

The warrior of light concentrates on the small miracles of daily life.

He is capable of seeing what is beautiful because he carries beauty within himself, for the world is a mirror and gives back to each man the reflection of his own face. The warrior knows his faults and limitations, but he does all he can to maintain a good humour in moments of crisis.

The world is, after all, doing its best to help him, even though everything around him seems to be saying the opposite.

-Paolo Coelho, Manual of the Warrior of Light

One Sided Conversation

2009-01-28T15:48:00.000+11:00

I'm speaking more to myself than anyone else.

Hopes and dreams will stay only that, if you don't do something about it. Sometimes, in order to achieve it is to sacrifice something. It could be anything, be it time, money or even a 4 year degree. Let's write a story. Of what? You already know what, you've already started writing it. It's just time to sprint to the finish. Complete your thesis of thought, your dream journal.

N

Absolute emptiness

2009-01-17T19:45:00.000+11:00

This is the absolute worst feeling someone can have. Total emptiness.

I have been following them since I was a kid. There is no other band that I look up to in Malaysia. Why does it have to be now? When I'm stuck in Australia. I should be in my home country, listening to their last performance.

4 shows with a full line up.

PENERBITAN BUTTERWORLD presents

Sesi Istana Budaya Butterfingers

Saturday

17/01/09

1996 - 2001 Unplugged

With guest band Bunkface

2:30pm - 4:00pm

RM 35 per entry

Saturday

17/01/09

Mari Hidup Kembali (Sessi Gitar Kapok)

Dengan band jemputan Hujan

8:30pm - 10:00pm

RM 35 per entry

Sunday

18/01/09

Transcendence 10-year Anniversary Rock Out

2:30pm - 4:00pm

RM 35 per entry

Sunday

18/01/09

Mari Hidup Kembali (Sessi Gitar Karan)

8:30pm - 10:00pm

RM 35 per entry

Adam called me from the gig with 'the chemistry' playing. That'll be the last time I would be hearing it for a long while. Why?! Now I'm just an empty shell.

N

Freud

2009-01-12T17:17:00.000+11:00

I have never studied psychology before but it interests me. I am very intrigued by our minds, to say the least, and the way it works. The most interesting aspect of the mind, to me, is in its complexity and the possible untapped powers it possess. I have written about this before (I think) but never actually researched about it.

I plan/wish/would like to embark on a 'thesis' to uncover something about Freud's theory of the subconscious. I know that his work is very popular and dozens of people would definitely have studied this but I personally have not. I don't even know what he says about the topic. I would very much like to find out and see if I agree or not.

Here I go. Into the world of research.

N

A note on power

2008-12-19T20:42:00.000+11:00

I feel that everyone needs a boost of motivation every now and then. Actually, I could really use that myself most times, to lift spirits, to be extremely optimistic and highly inspired. Reading Rewan's post somehow made me a little motivated to really strive for what I want. It also triggered a memory of a quote shown to me by someone very smart.

I was told that this quote is from Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech. But, I just read somewhere that it was originally written by Marriane Williams, who I know nothing of. No matter who wrote or said it, it has meaning and the power to move nonetheless.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I do believe that we are powerful beyond measure, and there's no need for us to be afraid of that power within. There is absolutely no reason why we cannot achieve what we set out to do. We can live our life however way we want and make our dreams come true.

What a nice thought.

N

between here and there

2008-12-15T17:17:00.000+11:00

input and out. I need to work on both.

You observe and you think and you ponder. Jane said it. We live now. Not later, not in the future as we tend to think and want to. Where am I now? I'm between here and there (maybe even literally). I am waiting and making people wait. I shouldn't make people wait.

So, observe what? I guess, as cliche as it might be, the answer would be life. It might not be the present life. Definitely not the future. It could be the past. Even though now is an un-inspirational point in time, I have to make something out of it. I need to make it a point to soak in more information.

I am not the type of person who concludes things in my mind. I watch a movie and I get ideas and thoughts from them. And they stay that way. Ideas and thoughts. It doesn't get out, no output. I could not write reviews and opinions. Well, I might have opinions, but when I focus on it, to figure out what I think to put in words, what I thought about something, all I can find is...VOID. Hence the title and possibly original purpose of this blog.

I need to learn to observe and churn out some sort of contribution. I need to have thoughts on things and put it in words. How else can you translate this life? To tell it? That's my aim, telling life, as honestly as possible, but with a few twists and turns of course. So I have to learn.

N

marathonia

2008-12-05T22:03:00.000+11:00

My marathon started on Tuesday. This post is by no means a review of any kind, merely opinions I guess. I am useless when it comes to reviews. I am void of thoughts. I saw all the following movies alone. heh.

First was 'Australia'. I thought it was decent. The cinema wasn't full, I was comfortable. I had room for my legs, which was good. I found it just okay. I wasn't bored. But I wasn't moved or feel connected to it either. It was an OK experience. However, I did something exciting last night. We went to ATLAB. This is where most, if not all films are developed and/or color graded in Australia. They were working on 'Australia' while I was there. They also had heaps of film rolls lyring around, waiting to be sent to cinemas. I saw 'When the earth stood still' film rolls. How cool is that?! I got a small souvenir, a strip of 35mm film roll. Jakun!

Later that night, was the opening film 'After School'. This was a huuuuge treat. This was probably the best movie I've seen this year. Everything was just brilliant. The acting, the marvelous plot, the beautiful color of film, etc. Everything. ... I can't find the trailer on youtube. How sad. I wonder how you guys are going to find this little gem. Haha. Too bad.

The next day, Ichi. This was good too. It wasn't astoundingly brilliant like after school. But, it still has its own merits. Ayase Haruka is simply beautiful. She doesn't have to do much, just stand there and look pretty. And it works! Storyline was pretty slow but I was indulging the fact that I'm watching a Japanese movie in a theatre. It was also quiet. I couldn't eat my bag of chips that I snuck in. Overall, it was a pleasing film.

I cheated with ALWAYS 2 and Welcome to the quiet room. I saw both on Crunchyroll.com. Bad bad. But, that's because I couldn't go watch it in the cinema. I had work. I wished I'd seen ALWAYS 2 in the cinema. It's just breathtakingly beautiful. Also because Horikita Maki is in that. You guys might want to check out ALWAYS first though. It's on crunchyroll as well.

Next one is tommorow, Kabei. This might prove to be yet another good one. With the likes of director Yoji Yamada, famous for Daremo Shiranai (Nobody knows), and also one of my favourite japanese actors, Tadanobu Asano! Ahh...it's going to be great!

Apart from these movies, I've also rented out 5 DVDs last night. I watched one this morning (Miss Potter) and there's 4 more to go. The marathonia continues!

Also, I've been busy coming up with ideas for short films. I've finished writing one. We'll see how that goes. I'm writing a second one now. And there's 3 more ideas in my head. Slow and steady, pen to paper, slow and steady. Exciting times, just can't wait to get back and get things going. It's just a matter of time.

N

I can't wait to watch these

2008-11-23T23:19:00.000+11:00

After School

If what we know of anyone's character is limited to what they want to reveal, how can we really know the truth about them? Three high school alumni and a shifty detective find themselves tangled in a web of deceit under the watchful eyes of the yakuza. Like planning for the perfect heist, this intriguing drama of love and affection will catch you completely off guard like a lurking pawn who just became Queen.

After three hard-working years, After School is the follow up to Kenji Uchida’s unheralded debut, A Stranger of Mine that won several prizes during the Critics’ Fortnight at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2005.

Director : Kenji Uchida

Producer : Makoto Fujimoto (exec), Satoshi Akagi, Hiroshi Ohnishi, Daisuke Ohoka

Screenplay : Kenji Uchida

Cast : Yo Oizumi, Masato Sakai, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Takako Tokiwa

Japanese w/English subtitles
2008 | 35mm | 102 Mins | Comedy/ Suspense/ Mystery

Sydney: Tue 2 Dec, 8:00pm

Ichi

On a journey to find her long-lost caretaker, Ichi travels alone. She is beautiful, gifted with a remarkable shamisen ability… and is blind. Many try to take advantage of her disability but beneath her frail exterior lies an iron-willed justice-seeking swordswoman. She trusts no one and fights with passion and absolute precision. Her voyage leads her to meet Toma, a samurai, and she finds herself caught in a web between two factions vying for power.

Director : Fumihiko Sori

Producers : Nobuyuki Toya (exec), Nobuhiro Azuma, Koji Yoshida, Yasushi Umemura

Screenplay : Taeko Asano

Cast : Haruka Ayase, Takao Osawa, Shidou Nakamura, Yosuke Kubozuka

Japanese w/English subtitles
2008 | 35mm | 118 mins | Action/ Samurai/ Romance

Sydney: Wed 3 Dec, 9:15pm

Always, Sunset on Third Street 2

Following the box office sensation of Always, Sunset on Third Street, the residents of Third Street return in this uplifting story of hope. Tokyo Tower is now completed, and Japan is about to begin a decade-long boom. This period piece of life in post war times serves as a reminder that despite the many obstacles and adversaries we face, there is always a brighter future ahead. The Third Street residents will remind you of the essential elements of the simple life: love, joy, hope and plenty of laughter.

Director : Takashi Yamazaki

Producers : Shuji Abe (exec), Seiji Okuda (exec), Chikahiro Ando, Nozomu Takahashi, Keiichiro Moriya

Original Story : Ryohei Saigan

Screenplay : Takashi Yamazaki, Ryota Kosawa

Cast : Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki

Japanese w/English subtitles
2007 | 35mm | 146 mins | Drama/ Comedy

Sydney: Wed 3 Dec, 6:30pm

The quiet room

Asuka awakes to find herself in the isolated ward of a psychiatric hospital for women. The young magazine journalist has been in a coma for two days after an abusive night of alcohol and sedatives, and no recollection of what happened. In ‘the quiet room’, Asuka is forced to deal with her repressed past, amidst a quirky assortment of fellow patients.

Director : Suzuki Matsuo

Producers : Masao Toyoshima (exec), Naoki Kitagawa (exec), Shiniji Ogawa

Original Story : Suzuki Matsuo

Screenplay : Suzuki Matsuo

Cast : Yuki Uchida, Kankuro Kudo, Yu Aoi, Ryo

Japanese w/English subtitles
2007 | 35mm | 118 mins | Drama/ Comedy

Sydney: Fri 5 Dec, 8:55pm

Kabei - Our Mother

Set in the shadows of pre-WWII, the sudden arrest of Shigeru sends the Nogami family into distress. Kayo, along with her two daughters, is now left alone to carry the burden of making ends meet. Life is tough as fear, exhaustion and anxiety settles in, yet Kayo maintains her firm composure. Kabei - Our Mother is a compelling account of maternal love and survival, paying homage to mothers who have sacrificed their all for the sake of their family.

Director : Yoji Yamada

Producers : Hiroshi Fukazawa, Takashi Yajima

Original Story : Teruyo Nogami

Screenplay : Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu

Cast : Sayuri Yoshinaga, Mitsugoro Bando, Tadanobu Asano

Japanese w/English subtitles
2007 | 35mm | 132 mins | Drama

Sydney: Sat 6 Dec, 1:30pm

*Information taken from Sydney Japanese Film Festival Website.

I'll probably be watching these alone. loner sial. Might miss Ichi. hmmm.

N

Photoshop benar

2008-11-22T03:15:00.000+11:00

Ini dibikin oleh orang-orang genius.

Ini tak boleh blah. Orang-orang dari seberang yang serumpun dengan kita boleh buat camni. Kita pun mesti boleh kan? kan Malaysia boleh? Well, not exactly this lah, but something else and hopefully as creative. Tapi orang kita suka tiru. Dah tiba masa untuk melangkah ke depan. Ada sesetengah orang dah mula mara dah. Mereka ini harapan negara (Aku tak mau tulis harapan bangsa). Tapi tak lama lagi semua orang mesti ikut jejak langkah.

N

Wartawan Hiburan

2008-11-16T15:06:00.001+11:00

This is from a draft a while back.

I thought I wanted to write about the Malaysian entertainment press today. This thought came to me as I was watching Butterfingers being interviewed on Melodi. While watching that, I can't help comparing the person interviewing them with the likes of David Letterman, Jay Leno or even Rove. What makes it so different is the way they ask the questions.

Letterman, etc. ask questions in good light of the interviewee. I mean that their questions are based on promoting the interviewee, be it an actor, musician etc. Their Malaysian counterpart however (the Melodi person), asks questions as if he was harassing the interviewee (Butterfingers in this case) instead. Every answer by Butter is countered with a different, punishing and blaming, question. It's like a debate, with the interviewer on the offensive and interviewee on defense. Just accept the answer given and move on to the next question.

Even worse, the whole interview is twisted and turned in the editing room to make the interviewee look bad. They probably have a sick mindset of thinking that this is a way of presenting a 'panas' news? No wonder Malaysian artists hate to be interviewed.

This sickness is not unique to Melodi vs. Butter. It is there nation-wide. Have a look for yourselves.

P.S: Sapa kat Malaysia tu belilah album original. Jangan jadi macam aku, dengar online. Nanti balik aku beli. Janji.

Greater Union George St

2008-11-14T18:42:00.000+11:00

This is going to be huge! Who wants to go check out Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, it's happening this Thursday (edit: Tuesday) guys! I can't make it. Tensyen! Patutkah aku ponteng? Mesti kalau nampak pun, 2 saat je. Sapa yang free tu, pergi je lah!

N

darlington rd

2008-11-14T01:52:00.000+11:00

I used to live here. Good times.

N

Tunggu

2008-11-12T22:10:00.000+11:00

10.11pm

I am still waiting for that 'ticket'. I need a fresh start. I am stuck.. Even though my plans have changed. I always wonder if this was a good choice. It's still not too late. Passion or the rat race? I've got support behind me, choice doesn't scare me. I've made the choice.

I'm maybe all talk, no action. But then again, i need that 'ticket' to act.

Luck? Am I just plain unlucky? A few others have got it already! Some people with the exact same circumstances as me! It's not luck, it's just how it is.

Obama is planning his moves now. Even when Bush is still president in office. Obama says he wants to start on the ground running. In a way, Obama is in waiting too. He can't act. But when he does, people expect it to be one hell of a ride. That's probably not going to be the case with me. Maybe I'll start out crawling but soon it will change hopefully.

What the hell am I rambling about?!

This is what you get when you sit in one place for a long time. You talk to yourself, in the form of blogging. Pass the time.

10.23pm

Most blogs are as vague as this. What the hell is the 'ticket'? What 'choice'? 'Luck'? What?

I believe this jumpyness is because our minds are jumpy. We can't think of one thing too long. You have to really concentrate. Which I am NOT doing at the moment.

Mental note: I am out of pictures. I shall go out tomorrow and take some. It's been awhile.

Might as well turn OFF.

10.29pm

N

Kore wa ii nioi ga shimasu

2008-11-10T19:23:00.000+11:00

"This smells good".

Have you ever been stuck in a small space with a foul smell? Today my friend is unlucky to experience that. Aoki-san, I totally understand how you feel. I had a similar experience.

I was on a flight to the Gold Coast, or was it Adelaide? I was probably flying back from Malaysia. I had the window seat. The guy next to me was sleeping soundly, wearing nightshades. Across from us was an elderly couple. And directly behind us was the toilet.

Don't beat me to the punchline!

Well, as you'd guess, the toilet was used...by the granny! I think she has short intestines or something because the foulest smell on the face of the earth came out! Ya Tuhan! I could tell she had some kind of vegetarian meal just before.

So there I was. Stuck! The stech was so bad that the person next to me actually woke up. I could tell he woke up because he was stirring restlessly. He continued pretending to sleep. The guy next to him was avoiding eye contact with the makcik. She was looking in our direction. Three people who suddenly became restless. The third guy started coughing. He was the closest to the toilet. pity him. NOT! He took a blanket, covered it over his nose and pretended to go to sleep as well.

I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to use my mouth because then the germs and bacteria of the smell would go IN my mouth! I do not want to taste it. I held my breath as long as I could before the occasional breathing through my shirt.

By then, both guys next to me were coughing like crazy. I contributed some coughs of my own in the chorus. The sleeping guy must think that either people next to him let out this demon of a smell. He must also be having nightmares.

Suddenly, the old lady got up. I thought she was offended with all the coughing."I'm old, this problem comes with old age! Wait until you lot get old and face the same treatment!" she said. Or at least, that's what I thought she was thinking or going to say. Instead, she moved aside to let her husband through. He passed her in the aisle and went into the toilet. He shut the door behind him.

I screamed in my head.

Get ready for round 2!

Yes miss Aoki, I really understand.

N

Floating in vacuum, Moksha and Gelombang Cinta

2008-11-07T04:25:00.001+11:00

I have been lazy these few days. Last month was my busiest month ever, in terms of blogging. I've never written so much shit in my life. Maybe except the time when I was back in high school, writing my 'Agama' exam paper.

My back is killing me. This imac requires me to sit in an up right postion. Kalau laptop, boleh baring and malas-malas.

It is now 4.31am in the morning and I don't have any reason to be up. There's nothing that is interesting happening. 25 people are online in my MSN, 222 offline. I just chat with only about 5 people from the list, the other about 5-10 very rarely, and the rest, probably never. My facebook is practically in a standstill for some reason. Maybe its exam season and nobody's really doing anything, indirectly making me not have anything to do. I just feel like writing some empty crap on here that has no meaning whatsoever.

It is going to be hard for people to comment because apparently, this post has no real content. Some who feel like commenting would maybe come up with a 'hahaha', or 'Finally, first to comment!'*

I can't remember if I've plugged anything before on here. So, if you're feeling down whenever you're reading this, or maybe stuck at work, or have millions of assignments due and just need a break, or sitting alone at starbucks with your laptop and getting annoyed with the noisy surrounding, or...you get the idea, you can check out the following (if you haven't already):

1. Flight of the Conchords (saw this again after awhile):

2. Mr. Afeeeeeeef pointed out this funny little clip that I've so ignorantly missed out on. Meet Achmed:

Oh Butterfingers, thank you for 'Floating in Vacuum' and 'Moksha' and the likes. Brings back good old memories. Maybe this is what they mean by 'Kembali', reminding us that they're still there and to go back and listen to old records. It's a good soundtrack for middle-of-the-night inspirations.

Is anybody in the mood for love(not really):

09 Gelombang Cinta.mp3 - Butterfingers

*1. I don't see the point of being first in a comment box, is there an organisation that keeps track of first commentors and supply funky prizes like a trip around India on The Darjeeling Limited Express? 2. I don't think anyone reading my blog is racing to be first to comment.

N

Recollection of past (non)adventures

2008-11-03T17:11:00.000+11:00

On my first day of school, I received RM5 from my dad. He told me to buy food during recess. I was pretty hungry that day and I needed to get food. Waiting for recess felt like the longest time, even though I had no idea what recess was. When it finally came, I went to the canteen to look for some FOOD. There were so many kids around pushing and shoving and screaming and laughing. We were supposed to queue up, but being kids, that did not happen.

For the longest time, I was standing at the very front, in front of the mak cik kantin, looking for something worth RM5. I couldn't find anything. Packets of tiny munchies and sweets for 50sen, 20sen, 10sen...and a super delicious mee goreng for RM1.

"Why?! Why is nothing RM5?! I'm so hungry!"

I didn't buy anything that day.

I went home and told my dad. He laughed at me, I didn't understand why.

The next day, he gave RM1 for my pocket money. Finally, I get to buy my mee goreng. Yay!

Note: I got RM1 until the end of form 3.

N

Daydreaming

2008-11-01T19:36:00.000+11:00

Angan-angan Mat Jenin. I know there's a story about Mat Jenin who likes to daydream. I just can't think of what he was daydreaming about and what happened to him. I know it wasn't something good.

Nevertheless, I still like to daydream.

I like fictional real characters. This means the character is 'loosely' based on a real person. I don't write about myself much. Maybe its some kind of phobia but I'm scared of revealing my 'inner' self. But everything is fine in fiction.

My fictional character would be called Zuhal, like the planet. (This name is partly inspired by 'Matahari' credits to YMF Kish). Zuhal is going to be following 'the Hero's journey'. He will have at least three different points in his life.

He starts of comfortable in his own world, content with whatever it is that he does. He then gets confronted with an unavoidable 'dillema/problem'. This could either be from an outside source or from within. I prefer the latter just because I find it can open up huge possibilities but it comes with the risk of being cliche. Zuhal then continues to travel through the second 'phase' of his fictional life, facing the aforementioned 'problem' (whatever it may be). Finally, he learns from this experience and this changes him. He would bring this new knowledge back to his original world to affect it somehow.

As you can see, Zuhal is still just an empty vessel at this stage and that's okay. Hopefully, I'll be able to paint him more in the future. A second observation could also be that this is quite a linear experience. This is true but that could be spiced up a little.

The HOW part is a totally different story.

N

The making of a fantastical world

2008-10-29T14:09:00.001+11:00

These are probably some notes, yet again. I might blog again later tonight but for now...

Red leaves

Continued...

How would your version of a fantastical world be? What does it take to actually build it. From this morning ( before 'continued'), I've just came up with having red leaves. I think it'll also be nice if the bright sky was full of light pink clouds. The picture has to be crisp with the characters a bit less saturated. Vignettes would probably work out, a la Top Gear. The characters must also have the right wardrobe with the right color tones. I prefer dark colors ( against the bright-ish background). I know, this is all merely cosmetic.

Sometimes I think that whatever I write could make no sense to other people reading. It might be random but I need to get these thoughts out somewhere. Why not my blog. I used to be void of thoughts. Somehow, things are looking okay in my head. Maybe I need distractions.

*DETOUR*

I might do a quick bullshit count in my head.

Status: 2 events detected
Description: n/a
Solution: Bullshit 1 = n/a
Bullshit 2 = wait

*END DETOUR*

I'd like the fantastical world to be urban. in a city like KL (red KL trees). Secret alleys with magical lighting and sparkling fog. Random weird, magical people around doing random things that don't make sense. Maybe a fantasy night market. I'm just trying to pass the time here.

Night market:
1. Small stalls decorated to high taste but cheap.
2. People selling mind food. Or books in food form and literally digesting knowledge.
3. Street performers performing mind numbing magic tricks. Yet, in that world, it is normal.
4. Beggars begging for happiness.
5. Emotions in physical form. People carry their emotions on postcard sized notes around their necks like a necklace. They are able to change these emotions (if they have the corresponding card)

ENOUGH!

I could go on and on. I should spare some time to churn out more and more and more and more and more and more ideas (properly!). This might not be the right output vehicle. An online blog? Compared to making private notes (that only I can read), it's just more fun when you think somebody else would read these (meaningless) words.

N

Twists and turns

2008-10-27T21:41:00.001+11:00

Something reminded me of the 'Never-ending Story'. How cool is that title.

I saw an old Bjork video. She finds a big book talking about her life. She brings this book to a publisher who loves it. Hence, it gets published and gains popularity. It turns into a play and shown to a packed theater. The publisher is among the crowd and Bjork is the star of the play. The play is about her finding a book, which turns into a play. So, in her play, there is another play with another group of people as crowds (the publisher is in this crowd as well).

confusing?! i don't remember the song name.

Adaptation:
Charlie Kaufman writes the screenplay. The movie is about Charlie Kaufman writing the screenplay to the movie that we're watching. How twisted. Synecdote, New York. Can't wait to see this genious' directorial debut.

I find these interesting, yet something is still missing. All these concepts are but a shell. I need to find the underlying essence, the core.

Unlike life, it is all make believe.

I have an idea for a project.

N

notes to self

2008-10-27T02:29:00.000+11:00

ON NLP

1. key to unlocking potential
2. can lead to developing innovative and effective skills
3. what people believe is more significant to their lives than what is real/true
4. we have great wisdom in our subconscious mind
5. people are complex adaptive learning 'systems', surrounded by and communicating with other complex systems (world)
6. reality has to be seen in context

ON SCHIZO

1. delusions
2. altered states
3. hallucination, unlike dreaming, involves consciousness

ON REALITY

ON TIME

*note: this is an incomplete post. It has no meanings or intentions. A mere act of putting pen to paper. Fingers to keyboard to data to cyberspace. We live in a highly complex world and any attempt to fully understand it is futile. Or is it?

N

KERENAH II

2008-10-25T03:50:00.000+11:00

I thought i wasn't really clear when i posted about people's 'kerenah' HERE! I found the perfect example. A picture tells a thousand words. But how much information is in an audio clip?

This is right on the dot because I was thinking more in the sense of customer service. Please let us not be like this. Our nation needs to wisen up.

CLICK!

N

memories

2008-10-24T03:06:00.000+11:00

I remember a nursery. I was there most of the time when I was about 3-4 years old. I used to play hide and seek with the other kids there. I was one of the youngest there. (At present, I'm not apart of the younger crowd anymore but things are changing a bit). Also at that time, it was just me and my brother in the family. No younger sisters yet. We used to have to take naps during the day. It was a fun time but I always missed my parents and would wanna go home.

I remember my first music class in primary school. I was scold for swearing, and I didn't even realize it. We were learning how to read notes. You know, the one on paper...F.A.C.E..."Fucker!" I shouted in class. That was how I learnt about swear words. I was 7.

I remember having a blue tricycle. My brother had the exact same one but it was red instead. They had plastic rims and the wheels were full rubber. As we grew older, we adjusted the two 'support' wheels ourselves to turn it into a proper bicycle. We grew too quickly and before I knew it, I was too heavy for it to support. The plastic rims gave in and smashed into pieces.

I remember quite a significant amount of my childhood. Somehow older memories tend to stick better than recent ones. These past 5-10 years just seem to pass in a blur. Before we know it, everything is too fast and blurred that it becomes blinding. Nothing but white light.

I wonder if we have memories of the future.

N

aku ingin mencuba

2008-10-22T22:03:00.000+11:00

Aku nak try tulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Aku rasa memang susah untuk tulis macam ni sebab aku dah biasa 'bercakap' dalam BM tapi bukan menulis. Mungkin ramai diantara kita yang macam ni. Kalau tulis comment boleh je tulis BM. Tapi kalau nak tulis blog, mesti English juga paling lancar. Bukan poyo tapi kebiasaan.

Topik hari ini ialah 'kerenah orang'.

Somehow, BM lebih sesuai digunakan untuk caci maki. Aku paling tak suka melayan kerenah orang. Aku tak gemar terlibat dalam bisnes 'people pleasing' sebab manusia memang banyak kerenah. 'Treat people like how you want to be treated'. Tak ramai orang yang buat macam ni. Aku mengaku, aku bersalah juga kadang kala. Tapi, kebelakangan ni aku jumpa terlampau ramai orang yang kerek.

ISI:
Hal ini akan lebih menjadi-jadi apabila kita berkata tentang 'collective minds/behaviour'. Ataupun dalam BM nya...aku langsung tak tau...'Kumpulan minda/perilaku'? Perangai manusia akan lebih menjadi-jadi jika kita dalam satu kumpulan.

CONTOH:
Perkara ini boleh dilihat dikalangan mat rempit yang berleluasa di Malaysia. Kalau kita lepak one on one dengan diorang, more often than not kita akan lepak dengan orang yang decent. Tapi bila 'geng' dia dah join, MASYARAKAT!

KESIMPULAN:
Aku tak suka melayan kerenah orang yang kerek. Aku boleh menulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Paling kurang pun, separa lah.

MARKAH KARANGAN:
51% (Bagus. Tapi usaha lagi. Rajin membaca)

*EDIT*
Somehow after writing this I feel its a totally worthless post.

Note to self: Write about memories next time.

N

The mind

2008-10-20T17:16:00.000+11:00

Do we only use 10% of the brain?

Are we able to develop psychic abilities?

It has been said that a while back, a few scientists found out that we were only using a very limited part of our minds. They are divided into two parts; the conscious (10%) and the subconscious (the rest). If you repeat something to a lot of people long enough, even if its a total myth, people will eventually believe it to be true.

Some say we are only what we believe. We get sick because we think we're sick. We believe panadol can cure headaches but its probably just in the mind also. Fear is also just in the mind.

MYTH : We only use 10% of the brain
FACT : We use 100% of the brain

Who knows which is which.

But, what if the myth were true. How exciting would that be to unlock the secret of using an extra 90% of the brain. Here's a list of the things that we might be able to do:

Photographic memory
Fast language learning
Stress relief
Increase our energy
Develop super heightened senses
Eliminate pain
Telepathy
etc.

In other words, the sky is the limit. I think it's a pretty impressive list. I would like to be able to do those things. Or at least, have Derren Brown's abilities.

N

Retail Therapy

2008-10-18T21:53:00.000+11:00

Well, not really...

I guess it's necessary for me to have these things if I wanna go forward. Being idealistic is one thing, but I guess practicality needs to come in some time. Now is the time. I'm making my move.

First up, the 20" iMac! I bumped up the RAM from 2GB up to 4GB, and increased the hard disk size from the standard 320GB to 750GBs. I plan to do some serious editing with this new toy. It's a bit scary buying this though. Just 1 day after i bought this, Apple released their new macbooks and macbook pros! If they come out with a newer iMac, i would be really unlucky! However, i suspect even if they did, the price might be more than I can afford.

I bought my second 'toy' today after reading and reading reviews for the longest time. Here you go, the best video camcorder ever according to camcorderinfo.com, the Canon HDV HV30! Woot!
It uses mini-DV tape and not hard disk, which most consumers nowadays would get. I purposely chose this format because of itsease and speed when it comes to editing, so they say. Also, the best part about it is the 24p 'cinematic look' that it's so popular with.

Can't wait to come up with projects soon. For now, it's learn learn learn!

N

Story 1

2008-10-15T21:28:00.000+11:00

I'll try to write as much as i can remember.

When we were sixteen, the first exercise our new english teacher gave us was a short essay. It was her way of gauging our levels, giving her some sort of vague idea of how to teach i guess. I can't remember how she looks like. Before giving out the title of the essay that we had to do, she ripped out a piece of paper from her notebook. She crumpled it into a ball and put it on her table, which was in the centre of the class. "Now write something about this" she said. Everyone didn't understand her words for a second, and then, everyone started writing.

N

living in the past

2008-10-12T22:46:00.000+11:00

I am living in the past.

It is beautiful.

I know I shouldn't be.

There is no one here but me.

why am i here? i still want a piece of this place.

lifeisshortliveinthenowdowhatyouwant.
ittakescouragetobeidealisticandpursuewhatyoulike.

N

With choice comes action

2008-10-08T20:02:00.000+11:00

One has dreams. One has desires. One has wishes.

I wish I knew what other people who went through something similar has done. Wish I had access to enough people with experiences and stories to tell. Most people would have stories, I just have to get it out of them somehow. Maybe by asking politely? Hopefully.

Do we strive for these dreams, desires and wishes? sometimes. I know I will. That is a choice I've made.

What's next?

I need to follow up. Take action. Learn and seek knowledge. Build a solid background. Practice makes perfect. Be inspired by my surrounding and through people generally. Do what I can for the time being. As much as I can.

Be constant. Persevere.

How weird is it giving 'advice/support' to one's self? Online?

Very weird.

N

on repeat

2008-10-04T19:29:00.000+10:00

If a person were to sit at the same place with nothing else to do but to listen to the radio, he/she will notice one thing. The radio has songs on repeat.

It's a form of subtle torture. The sounds seep slowly into your head going on some kind of killing spree. Rampaging on and on in your mind, clearing it of all other thoughts or memories. Even the important ones are not spared. You are left blank with nothing else but those few songs.

1. I kissed A girl *edited
2. viva la vida
3. sex is on fire?
4. etc. I dont even know their names

even

5. i'm yours!

Radio stations have the power to kill songs.

How? Quite easily done. put it on repeat.

N

times of freedom and uncertain future

2008-06-28T14:10:00.000+10:00

I have been here for four and a half years and have not been to Watson's bay even once until recently. Some might embrace this freedom and the luxury of time i have at the moment but in all truth, the weight of choice is sometimes overbearing. It is very daunting when you're at a fork in the road that determines the uncertain future.However you hate it. You still have to face it sometime. And make it soon.

N

still...

2008-06-13T01:55:00.000+10:00

...void of thoughts.

I hope things come to me soon.

N

the crossing

2008-05-09T18:55:00.000+10:00

I am a bit inspired by a few people (and their photographs) that I've seen on the internet. I wonder how they do it.

N

carriage works

2008-02-26T02:28:00.002+11:00

its been so long.

N

sly

2007-10-22T05:13:00.000+10:00

i stumbled across words that were inspiring while blog-hopping.

click here

N

in search of dreams

2007-10-17T01:03:00.000+10:00

thinking no more? just dreaming.

N