Off Season

Right, so now it's summer in the northern hemisphere and most of TV Land is on break til the start of the new television season this Fall. So what is there for the TV addict in me to look forward to every week? Very little would be the answer.

But it's not like there isn't anything for me to watch. If only I was following Psych or Eureka then I might be contented. This summer's new offerings seem a bit lackluster and not quite there, or at least the ones that have caught my eyes anyways.

Pretty Little Liars
Based on a series of YA books, it's premise seemed promising, reminds one of a teenaged Desperate Housewives. Everyone has secrets but what happens when the one person who knows them all dies, yet is still able to threaten to expose it all. For what purpose? Though each episode is slightly intriguing, why is A still haunting these Pretty Little Liars? The reason for all of A's threats isn't really readily known, or if it is it escapes me at this moment.

I swear if it weren't for some of the clothes and the eye candies, I wouldn't waste my time on this show. And I guess I have to admit I am curious about what happens next. But this sure can't be compared to it's Desperate Housewives. Oh and how A became Queen Bee I cannot understand, coz I sure as heck don't think she's pretty enough....

The Gates
Wow, yet another show about a gated community with a shadowy underbelly. This time it's really shadowy, the community living in The Gates are of the supernatural persuasion... Vampires, werewolves, witches as well as succubi thrown in for good measure.

I have to say I love stories about seemingly perfect communities - Cape Wrath, Stepford Wives love love love! And I do have a penchant for supernaturals living in plain sight - Night World, Charmed. So a combination of both would be a goddess-sent no? Not quite. I don't know what it is, bad writing? Slightly bad plotting? It just lacks a certain something.

Some of the supernaturals are intriguing, I particularly enjoy the ones that aren't as obvious like that policewoman whose name escapes me, I'll enjoy trying to figure out what she is.

But recent episodes are improving, when Dylan Radcliff let the cat out of the bag, I swear I breath a sigh of relief. In my opinion, the only way your police chief can fully help you is for him to know who and what you are. Thank you for that whichever writer did it! There'd be too many questions and it'll come to a point of being too glaringly obvious to ignore.

Haven
The latest of the summer offering, just into it's third episode. A touch of Fringe and set in town reminiscent of the recently axed Happy Town, based on the Stephen King novel, The Colorado Kid.

What I've seen so far is extreme intriguing but I'm not really sure if it'll keep me coming back for more. I don't really feel much for their lead protagonist but I love her stoic 'side-kick/love interest'. And he might be the only reason I'd continue to watch the series. The arc is unfolding itself rather slowly. But has a lot of potential plus Stephen King's gotta count for something....

Persons Unknown
Now this is a series I can really sink my teeth into. It's got that whole WTF Lost quality to it coupled with a real seemingly solvable mystery/conspiracy theory behind it. A bunch of strangers from all walks of life stranded in a ghost town in the middle of no where with nothing to eat but Chinese food and they are subjected to random tests at random times. Then there's people on the outside trying to figure out what happened to them...... intrigue, politics, mystery....quite a good package this. But I can't really seeing it lasting more than one season though. But then, people might have said the same thing about Lost.....

kisekae

Woohoo!!! Another toy camera to play with!!

Yesterday I just bought superheadz's kisekae camera. It's basically you uber basic average 35mm camera but it comes with a removable clear plastic front panel so you can add a sheet of whatever to customize it.......and here's what mine look like now....


I've just put in one of the 3 basic templates they've given you....and these are the other 2....


Just think of the possibilities...... @.@

Next target superheadz's blackbird, fly , their toy single reflex. YEA!

In other news.....I've started to kind of pack today. Mommy's coming over to left me lug stuff home tomorrow tho my flight isn't for another week. So we'll be hitting the town...haha...so to speak. Am realli quite looking forward to going home and getting my life in order and getting in touch with my world again and the possibilities that come with it. Can't wait to start acting, shooting, rehearsing and partying again......

See you back home!

The Best Job in the World.....

http://www.islandreefjob.com/en/#/home

Is it? Most probably......~_^

So.....APPLY!!!

fortylove.tv

A friend of mine's involved in a behind-the-scenes kinda way......way cool idea for the digital age.....video postcards.....I wish I could do it too.....,perhaps in future with Mission Americana (now scheduled for Spring 2011) and Mission Britannica (scheduled for Fall/Winter 2011)

So in the meantime......check out fortylove.tv

Soul//Music

Have you ever come across music that, no matter what they're singing about, no matter how sad the lyrics, how melancholic the melody, it just puts a smile on your face? That takes your breath away? That makes you just want to jump up and shout and scream and run? Perhaps it's just wistful thinking, maybe it just my imagination....but I like to think of it as passion. The artist's passion for what he's doing, his music. He's putting his heart and soul into this and he's exhilarated. I like to think that it's his joy at being able to put this down on record. This music. His music. His passion. His conviction. His joy. His meaning to exist.

Or perhaps his thought and feeling at that precise moment. The views before his eyes, or their eyes as is the case of Taiwan's iconic band Mayday （五月天） for their album, God's Children Are All Dancing 《神的孩子都在跳舞》, which they recorded in a 'remote' studio up in the foothills of Mount Fuji. I mean, how can you not be filled with joy when you're playing to floor to ceiling glass windows opening out to Mother Nature in all her glory? But then again.....Mayday's music has always been about hope and heart......

Or perhaps it's music that comes out of tragedy? Music that does in itself sing of the exhilaration of being, alive. Like Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin, formerly of Something Corporate. The Glass Passenger, Jack's Mannequin's latest studio album, was writing by Andrew post -leukemia....does that have anything to do with it? Actually when it comes to Andrew...I doubt it because just their debut album, Everything in Transit, alone......blew me away....

But for what ever reason, what ever else it is. This is music that feeds the soul. Gives one hope.

These are just some of the bands that make my soul sing......what's yours?

ps: mind the vid....it's the best audio track I could find.....

Like Father Like Daughter - 有其父必有其女

What is it with daughters of famous directors? They always come out with these visually stunning works of art. Perhaps it's the constant exposure to daddy's works. Or perhaps the need to make a statement of one's own and step out from under daddy's shadow. Whatever it is, there's only one word for it. Stunning. Who am I talking about?
Sofia Coppola and Mika Ninagawa.

Sofia Coppola
Daughter of Godfather director Francis Ford...Rose to fame after directing The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation.....

Then came the visual candy that is Marie Antoinette....


Mika Ninagawa - 蜷川實花(Ninagawa Mika)
Daughter of famed Japanese theatre director Yukio Ninagawa....Rose to fame as a uber vibrant and stunningly vivid photographer.....

Then came her directorial debut with the visual feast that is Sakuran...

quarterlife

Well....quite poetic isn't it.....that I stumble upon quarterlife on my 25th birthday....

Check it out. I think it rocks.....so far..and I'm only on part 3.......

Things like this and LG15 only go on to inspire me......of course after Mien pointed out of FB that any content posted on FB becomes thier property thereafter....makes you wonder...make me wonders anyways......was tempted to launch my own web series, some day, on your average vid platform, including perhaps even the quarterlife network.....but thankfully we have a local alternative...popteevee.....go check em out if you haven't already, sure they're not at user gen-ed as YouTube...but hey these are guys we know, I'm sure they'd respect our property rights....

internet tv

Right....okay..so watching a wee bit too much internet tv...mainly from the US...will be leaving me with a wee bit of a Valley Girl accent.....

Right so.....I've been like online virtually the whole day checking out webisodes on the internet right...and I've stumbled onto some real jems.....see..me and my friedns back home have toyed with the idea of doing like lots of online media stuff...Malik with his post Joanne Kam revue show/SNL idea and David C with his no-holds-barred zine idea.....and well...lil'o me who gets easily inspired by watching everything and anything I get my peepers on....tho usually on more fanfic like endeavours..

But anywhos....on my quest today, I came across the whole lonelygirl15 phenom....and I find it really really intriguing...... of course, viewing it all now in like ultra retrospect and the complete knowledge that is it a 'show' more than likely detracts from it's impact. But for 'research's sake, I'm planning to follow the current lonelygirl15 series - lonelygirl15:the resistance. just to feel the effects........

Aside from that I'm totally into like imagining a phenom like that's impact on the Malaysian TV industry....I can't wait to tell Boss!!!

I mean, Malaysian media is already doing stuff like Media Prima's CatchUp TV and also Gua.com.my's online shows. With the lack(or lax) of censorship on the web in Malaysia, online would be the way to go no? I mean, imagine the stories you could tell? Already before discovering lonelygirl15. I had wanted to do a very teen and internet based TV show.....adding a internet dimension to it...would only add to the.....mythology? or coherence of the show's universe or whatever you call it......of course...right now, it's just me shooting my mouth off and not being able to do anything much about it concretely since I really envisioning doing this in KL and all my resources are there anyways......

Of course this strong desire to do something back home, kind of detracts from my vision of my future here in Taiwan.....all Laws of Attraction and stuff like that.....I mean, I can totally and almost abso-concre-lutely envisioning taking this project off the ground....I mean, it'd just be so easy....tho of course, the hardest part would be the writing...it would need to be so incredibly tight! I am an absolute believe in strong scripts not to mention good art direction......

Oh..the possibilities!!!!!!! But concentrate.....I need to concentrate on the task at hand!!! That's one of my problems.....I daydream alot......so many ideas......but I don't know how to execute them!!!


Now for those of you who don't know what lonelygirl15 is......check it:
start here : http://www.lg15.com/lonelygirl15/?p=69
on Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonelygirl15
on Encyclopedia Dramatica : http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Lonelygirl15
*warning Enclyclopedia Dramatica is not work or kid friendly!!! But in my net tv show research...I think it's a gem!!! eugene......i think you'd like this site...... ; ]

It has began.....

And it begins again......

试验 - tesing - 1, 2, 3

Woohoo!!! Yatta! It works!!

现在再也不用靠NJStar了！

Currently using - Google PinYin IME. (Get it yourself)

Now to make it spew Traditional Chinese Characters......

Boodles....

My latest obsession........Boodles!

Check 'em out.......whimsical jewelery(especially the wonderland collection)............so pretty! But they look dead expensive......afterall, they are also British!



Plus the word is so fun to say! Say it with me now.....Boodles....Boooooodles....Boo-dles...Bo'dles..Boo!dles.....

Heehheheee.....

BOODLES!!

Yoga in a bottle....

While out shopping for mozzie repelent at the 'local' organic store in BSC, I came across something called Bach's Rescue Remedy. I've heard about Bach's a few times prior and thought it interesting that it now came in spray form! Har har!

Now frankly, I'm as clueless and you as to what's so miraculous about it or what it's even for, so I did the two things everyone, I would think, does when in doubt. Turn the box over and search the internet. Reading the back of the box, all I could glean was that Bach's Rescue Remedy would help you relieve stress and calm nerves. Upon closer inspection online, it seems that Bach's is made from minuscule amounts of flower extract, water and brandy.

According to Wikipedia though, "Controlled clinical studies of the remedies have generally found the flower remedies to be no more effective than a placebo."

And really, what would you expect? Bach's Rescue Remedy is made based on the science of homeopathy, which in itself is a dubious science anyway.

But of course, tons of people believe in it though. And frankly, I'm quite sure it works, coz really.......if the plant extracts doesn't....the brandy sure will!

I think I just might get meself a bottle.......never know when you're gonna need a spot of 'self-rescue'.

YO! Sushi

I first discovered YO! Sushi when I was studying in the UK. A little shop, nestled next to a 50's diner knockofftucked into an alley, , not far from Chinatown, Leicester Square. Obviously a non-"traditional" sushi bar outfit, they served fusion and westernised sushi with of course, westernised names. Catchy but still far from authentic, and extremely pricey, by student standards....not mine tho. I only went there once or twice in my nine month stay in the British Isles.

My time in the UK has always been a period of fond memories, montaged to the soundtrack of John Mayer and just a hint of nostalgia. So imagine my delight when I discovered that YO! Sushi would be openning up outlets in KL starting with thier inaugral one in Pavilion! Now I don't have photos from my first trip to Pavilion's YO! Sushi, but I do have some from YO! Sushi Midvalley. It's located in the underpass that connects Midvalley with the Gardens. Do go check 'em out. They are albeit, a bit pricey, but thier fusion stuff is quite interesting.

I recommend, the duck salad and would stay away from the rawish beef ........not that I'm not a fan of seared beef, or was it tuna? But is was just plain weird looking.....

How I Learned to Drive.....

Right....so this is the culmination of what I've been busying myself with for the past 3 months........

THE ORAL STAGE presents

PAULA VOGEL's

HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE

Growing up in a family with thin, penetrable personal boundaries, Li'l Bit becomes the victim of an incestuous intimacy - Uncle Peck does not only teach his teenage niece to drive, but sexualises her childhood as well.

Narrated through a series of bittersweet flashbacks, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE is an honest, coming-of-age account on forgiveness, healing and growth – and how one can find light even from the unhealthiest of relationships.

HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE was first produced in 1997 in New York City and has since been awarded, in addition to the Pulitzer: the Obie, the Drama Desk Award, the New York Drama Critics Award, the Outer Circle Critics Award, and the Lucille Lortel Award.

Featuring Amelia Chen, Johann Lim, Doreen Loo, Davina Goh and Mark Beau de Silva, with Kelvin Wong as Creative Director.

Supported by Living Arts and Autodetailer.

"…one of the best plays of the decade." – USA Today

"…a tremendous achievement; genuine and genuinely disturbing." – Village Voice

*FOR MATURE AUDIENCES

SHOWDATES & TIMES
4th – 7th June 2008 @ 8.30 pm
7th – 8th June 2008 @ 3.00 pm

VENUE
The Actors Studio Bangsar Level 3,
West Wing Bangsar Shopping Centre
285, Jalan Maarof Bukit Bandaraya 59000 Kuala Lumpur

TICKETS
RM33 (Adults); RM22 (Students, senior citizens & the disabled)

TICKET CONTACT
TAS @ BSC Box Office: 03-2094 0400/1400

OUR BLOG!
http://howilearnedtodrive.blogspot.com

ON THE WEB
http://www.theoralstage.com
http://www.theactorsstudio.com.my

Founded in 2004, The Oral Stage (TOS) is an independent youth theatre company comprising of youth from all walks of life, regardless of theatre background. TOS has nurtured more than 70 individuals to date and has 5 productions under its belt, having performed in several venues around Kuala Lumpur, The Klang Valley and Penang Island. Presenting a myriad of issues pertaining to youth today, the company utilizes theatre as a significant medium that engages, evokes and entertains an audience, while channelling across the voice of Malaysian youth.

Should you require additional information regarding the production or The Oral Stage, please contact Charmayne Chung at charmayne@theoralstage.com or Melissa Loovi at melissa.publicity@theoralstage.com

COME AND WATCH!!!!

If nothing else, to watch me get groped by Johann...... this year's Cleo Bachelor No 42

Malaysian Artistes for Unity

Pass it on.....

Malaysian GE 2008

Right so with elections just around the corner.......the question is......who are you going to vote for? What will the country decide?

MalaysiaToday decided to do a 'dry run' on the elections.........they're still doing it as a matter a fact......go to the site and vote.....but the results may not be that much of a surprise.....because really......if you read MalaysiaToday, by either default or something......there's really a majority of which may you'd vote already right?

Spread the Joy

Here are just a couple of web comics Yu Han and Alfred got me hooked on while working at The Curve...

For those army enthuses amongst you.....the slowest updated comic on the web......
Gone with the Blastwave - http://www.blastwavecomic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=1

For the gamers amongst you.......
Ctrl+Alt+Del - http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/index.php

Enjoy!

Bitch of a Living

The Bitch of a Living - from Spring Awakening The Musical
by Steven Sater & Duncan Sheik - yes THAT Duncan Sheik......



MORITZ
God, I dreamed there was an angel
Who could hear me through the wall
As I cried out, like, in Latin “This is so not life at all
Help me out, out of this nightmare.”
Then I heard her silver call
She said, “Just give it time, kid. I come to one and all.”

She said, “Give me that hand, please, and the itch you can’t control.
Let me teach you how to handle all the sadness in your soul.
Oh, we’ll work that silver magic,
Then we’ll aim it all the wall.”
She said, “Love may make you blind, kid, but I wouldn’t mind at all.”

ALL
It’s the bitch of living

OTTO
The bitch, just the bitch

ALL
With nothing but your hand

OTTO
Just the bitch, yeah

ALL
Just the bitch of living
As someone you can’t stand

GEORG
See, each night it’s, like, fantastic
Tossing, turning without rest
‘Cause my days at the piano
With my teacher and her breasts
And the music’s, like, the one thing
I can’t even get at all
And those breasts!
I mean, God, please, just let those apples fall

ALL
It’s the bitch of living

OTTO
The bitch!

ALL
With nothing going on, nothing going on
Just the bitch of living
Asking: What went wrong?
Do they think we want this?
Oh, who knows!

ERNST
See, there’s showering in gym class

HANSCHEN
Bobby Maler, he’s the best
Look so nasty in those khakis

ERNST
God, my whole life’s like some test

OTTO
Then there’s Marianna Wheelan
As if she’d return my call

HANSCHEN
It’s like, just kiss some ass, man
Then you can screw ‘em all

MELCHIOR
It’s the bitch of living
And living in your head
It’s the bitch of living
And sensing God is dead

ALL
It’s the bitch of living
And trying to get ahead
It’s the bitch of living
Just getting out of bed
It’s the bitch of living
And getting what you get
It’s the bitch of living

MELCHIOR
And knowing this is it

ALL
God, is this it?
This can’t be it
Oh God, what a bitch!

Check out Spring Awakening at their website......http://www.springawakening.com/
Check out the original Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind too.....

This is what new musicals should be all about......

The Vapidity of Life

From the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary -

vapid
Pronunciation: \ˈva-pəd, ˈvā-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin vapidus flat-tasting; akin to Latin vappa flat wine and perhaps to Latin vapor steam
Date: circa 1656 : lacking liveliness, tang, briskness, or force : flat, dull (a gossipy, vapid woman, obsessed by her own elegance — R. F. Delderfield) (London was not all vapid dissipation — V. S. Pritchett)

synonyms see insipid
— va·pid·ly adverb
— va·pid·ness noun
-----------------

That is not to say that my life....is vapid...far from it...my life.....is rather emo....

But vapidity is what one would expect from beauty queens...no? I mean if you make it your life's career to be a beauty queen.....vapidity is bound to follow........having to look pretty all the time.....does 'wonders' for the brain cells one must think......at least...that was what I was half expecting going into a beauty pageant myself.....

My, how low must one stoop to fulfill one's dreams of stardom, some might say.......and perhaps that is in part...true.......the Asian entertainment industry is nothing if not superficial........beauty queen turn actresses are a dime a dozen.......whether they are good actresses...actors!....is another matter all together...and more often than not....unimportant.....

I'm pleased to say tho...that I was.........partially wrong...for the most part.......there are bevies of young women with reasonable good heads on their rather well adjusted shoulders.......and I've got to admit...you have to respect them........it's takes quite something to do what they do......and competition is at times harsh....and totally unfair.....

But enough about that and being philosophical....and back to me......

Today was a emo day for me...and I have to thank Paolo Delfino but especially his Short-Attention-Span Band for helping to cheer me up.....you guys may not of course realise it....but I was really bummed before coming to the show.......but good music's always good for the soul....and so was hanging out with EuGene, Edwin and Anne after the show...... ; D

Truth be told......hanging out with Z prolly would have done the trick too........but boy, you need to get it together man! Sorry mate I tried......I got all dolled up for near nothing!!! YOU OWE ME Z!!! Plus I really wanted to see Twilight Action Girl!!!

But how the evening eventual transpired was still great........nothing beats just plain hanging out and getting to know new people....and getting dish about others.......

FYI Ed, and I know you read this sometimes......what I didn't say at the mamak just now was...... tho from EuGene's teasing you might have gathered.....I had a thing for JC for a while.....okay, quite a while....but really, with his antics, which sane girl wouldn't??!!!...it's actually one of the reasons I came for that gig at JamAsia that first time.......but I'm glad I went coz you guys are awesome...and I really mean it......I heart you guys man......but anyways.....so yea...I had a thing......but I'm no longer in the fan club coz I got shot down.......so right now...I'm kind of keeping my distance........so yea........but then...that shouldn't really be that big of a revelation should it?? hehe......this is a 'public' blog afteral.........and somethings I just can't say.....coz it's not my place......

Okay....enough about that........here's a plug......

If you aren't coming to my party tomorrow...or tonight.....that's the 15th..........GO CHECK OUT PAOLO DELFINO at BB Park at like....9-ish pm...........coz they rock!....in a mellow sorta way......

Eugene, Anne and Edwin..............WE ARE SSSOOOOOO GOING KARA SOON!!!! *wink*

30 Hour Famine....

So anyone up for 30 Hour Famine?

What is it?

Check the site out.....

Malaysia

International

So any takers?

I'm gonna try to do it this year...I mean why not...it's for a good cause......

See you there!