under a Pipala Tree

笑傲江湖

2009-12-08T20:31:00.003+08:00

We haven't had a wuxia success for years since Lee Ang stunned the Western audience with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. But it's not a Jinyong classic anyway and some film adaptations in the 90s haven't been giving justice to these popular wuxia classics. But news is that Yuen Woo Ping is going to direct a film based on The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, titled The New Swordsman. More news here. Takeshi Kaneshiro can make a good Linghu Chong but Jay Chou as Dongfangbubai?!?!?!?!?!?!???!

Swordsman 1 more than a decade ago was a disappointment, considering that King Hu was directing. He later left the set due to creative differences but Sam Hui as the young and suave Linghu Chong is rather out of place. Jet Li made a good rendition in Swordsman 2 and Brigitte Lin stuns the world of course as Dongfangbubai.

The theme song from Swordsman 1.

Of course our beloved Mediacorp, then TCS (I think) in their better days and their tv serial version.

Bodyguards and Assassins

2009-12-08T20:17:00.002+08:00

Watching out for Bodyguards and Assassins.

Reminds me quite like some of old Shaw Brothers' classics, like The Ten Tigers of Kwantung.

Before Canton had Wong Fei-hung, Fong Sai-yuk and Yip Man, there were the Ten Tigers. Wong's father was one of them. Hua Yuan Jia was not part of the Cantonese fighters cos he was in Shanghai.

2009-12-08T01:30:00.002+08:00

This was something from last year found within the hidden deep corners of the hard disk. Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, RADM(NS) Lui Tuck Yew impressed me as a very charismatic speaker.

On the other hand, feeling a little bit heart pain to lose all my film script and treatments when the MBP was reformatted.

FYP is going on fine now. Really thankful for so many people who have gave a helping hand.

2009-12-07T03:44:00.001+08:00

You can't help but feel that many people are simply anti-establishment for the sake of anti-establishment.

2009-12-05T01:01:00.002+08:00

It is easy to find faults but difficult to give praise when it is due.

If you are a frequent user of the roads here in the island, especially the drivers, you should notice the efficient and meticulous our roads and traffic are planned. How in certain roads you have wider lanes, in certain corners there are more leeway in turning, etc. Years before, Braddell used to be heavily congested, even during off-peak hours. Just less than 5 years ago, we have the existing tunnels ready for our use. Not to mention the many mini-sky bridges that now decorate the town estates. Both projects we see springing up across the island and the very one that is causing a disturbance now along Upper Serangoon Road.

Proper road planning, especially in town estates away from the city is something I have always failed to see even from the developed nations that so many of us admire. It takes a certain amount of efficiency and care to the populace to do up something like this. Lets not even mention the current subway extension.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-12-05T00:39:00.005+08:00

I never bother with children's classic adapted onto screen but damn I'm looking forward to this.

Kids picture book + Spike Jonze + Arcade Fire =

荷花

2009-12-03T23:30:00.003+08:00

荷花是圣洁的代表，更是佛教神圣净洁的象征。荷花出尘离
染，清洁无瑕，故而中国人民和广大佛教信秆都以荷花"出
淤泥而不染，濯清涟而不妖"的高尚品质作为激励自已洁身
自好的座右铭。荷花是友谊的象征和使者。
中国古代民间就有春天折梅赠远，秋天采莲怀人的传统。

Rehearsal

2009-12-03T22:48:00.003+08:00

Our first rehearsal on our shooting locations.

My personal take for the thesis film at this stage now is to simply do not only our best, but to also just enjoy the process. It's important that we make a good film, but doing so, we must not lose sight of the many more important things there are in our lives. Whether the audience will like it or not, I think the most important thing for us now is to really learn and grow from the experience.

adidas Questra

2009-12-02T22:01:00.003+08:00

Bought a new pair of football boots, after the previous one had its sole torn off.

Going back to hall to squat and play for the last IHG... and of course ISG. Lao le... have to retire soon.

Karwan Bazaar

2009-12-02T02:28:00.002+08:00

A multimedia journalism project (a video consisting of photographs, video and sound recordings) we did as part of GO-FAR: Bangladesh.

Modern day retelling

2009-12-01T14:03:00.006+08:00

of Prince Siddhartha coming face to face with Mara (the personification of the illusion of our ego self) and eventually realizing enlightenment to become the Buddha.

From the film, Little Buddha, by Bernando Bertolucci

The 3 daughters of Mara signifies the dark side that exist within every individual; Greed, Hatred and Ignorance.

A skinny Keanu Reeves apparently underwent a strict eating and exercise regime, portrays the Buddha.

2009-11-29T14:31:00.002+08:00

The video that I made about Bangladesh has been included by CNN into the first frame of their promo video for Asia-Pacific Screen Awards.

Nothing much or big la, just fleeting images of the local street hawker and the flautist.

unproductive

2009-11-27T20:23:00.005+08:00

So much plans for the day, but I woke up to find my entire upper body in pain. Had to be in bed till late afternoon. My back and chest is still sore now, so much for the piled up work. Popped some muscle relaxation pills after dinner and hopefully it will turn out better. Hope it's nothing too serious.

Inspiring

2009-11-27T14:15:00.001+08:00

2009-11-26T21:18:00.003+08:00

With so much resources, money and expectations involved, I would only be lying if I said I'm not stressed up over the thesis film.

It is time like this that the Buddhist training of the mind really comes in very handy and important.

As the Buddha said it in the first phrase of the Dhammapada,

"The mind is the forerunner of all things."

Indeed. Everything is merely mind-made.

nothing is impossible

2009-11-26T03:46:00.002+08:00

Fresh from graduation, a 23 year old subjected himself as a human lab rat to raise USD$7,000 to shoot his first feature film. The trailer is show below:

And with that, Robert Rodriguez became the player in Hollywood we now know.

Self Indulgent

2009-11-25T02:40:00.000+08:00

"A director who really wants to do something with a film, who has a need to express it, and fulfill his wish in that way, is going to make a more interesting film than most directors, who's wish is to make a lot of money and get a lot of tickets sold at the box office. Is he self indulgent? Bergman is self indulgent, Fellini is the most self indulgent of directors. Every great director is self indulgent. I mean, who else are you gonna indulge? If you indulge the audience then you're not a director at all. You're just a caterer."

- Roger Ebert

New Collection

2009-11-24T23:26:00.007+08:00

Spotted rare finds. New babies for my collection. You don't really find the films of late Swedish filmmaker, Ingmar Bergman around here in Singapore. There isn't a market for those kind of films. The last time I checked was one copy in town at a price of $70. But I was recommended to a sort of "warehouse" where they actually have classics at a very affordable price. They should be. Afterall, the DVDs were lying in a corner, unnoticed by the mainly elderly crowd, who were there for the operas.

A pity they did not have one of Bergman's Cannes winner, The Seventh Seal.

A touching tribute to Bergman.

Of course must get my hands on Murnau's The Last Laugh. It was one of the films shown during a film class back in year one and the image of the crestfallen old man fallen from grace has stuck with me ever since. I always have a soft spot for old gentlemen. The film was also part of the required viewing for year three COM427 class during my time. Not sure if it still is this year.

Watch the above scene from The Last Laugh, for one of cinema's most heartbreaking moments.

Aud Lang Syne

2009-11-23T03:02:00.003+08:00

No lah, we're not ready to sing that song yet. There's still another semester to go. But this will be the last photo the class of 2010 will be taking together as a batch in a class. Media Law 2009.

Because JJ is too busy with his new company while Shannon deflected to the US of A, quick thinking and mastery of the fine arts produce the above work.

The Jocks of 2010. Not all of them but you have nearly 1/3 of the entire male population in the batch. The last we counted, that's 24 men within a round-off figure of 180 students.

Seriously Wee Kim Wee School is a convent, a heaven for straight men. Erm, hopefully we menfolk haven't been too much a disappointment for you girls.

School

2009-11-23T02:51:00.004+08:00

Been thinking a lot about plans after graduation. Application for grad school has started and I'm highly swayed to stay on in NTU for another year with this. The problem is my brain has been too spoilt by the self-indulgence of filmmaking classes that I'm not too sure if I am wiser than I first started out in freshmen year.

On the other hand, exams will begin in 15 hours time. First and last paper in year 2009. Well, I had 3 modules this semester but when two of it involves writing scripts and traveling to a country far away, only one entails a 2-hour retreat in the air-conditioned examination hall. The thing with comm students is that we are so busy doing oru projects, the only time we really give serious thoughts over our books and notes is the 1 week pre-exam break. This however of course does not include the chao muggers, which is itself not a crime ok.

I enjoy study breaks. Going to school without any lessons or deadlines at the back of your head. Find a good spot on the benches and then start your revision. Ends off with a stroll or web surfing after the end of every chapter which made you feel confidently smarter than you just started out 30 mins ago. But this time round, there's the niggling FYP at the back of your head. Once the papers is over, FYP is here. There are so many things hanging in midair still and I am not ashamed to confess that I'm the sort of guy who becomes jittery and insecure when I'm not in control of situations.

Everyone hang in there and just simply enjoy university life, especially fellow Senior Years and the remaining 4 months to convocation.

Mingyi sentenced to 10 months jail

2009-11-22T20:51:00.003+08:00

Notice the omission of the customary "Venerable" in the news.

Now the question is will Mingyi disrobe before he begins his sentence. I'm not sure but I thought I read somewhere about the Vinaya stating that monks should disrobe before beginning a sentence in jail for a crime.

Chinese Blockbuster for 2010

2009-11-22T15:44:00.003+08:00

2009 was Red Cliff II but 2010 has the limelight on Chow Yun Fat as the titular character in the Confucius biopic.

And of course there's Mulan, not the Disney cartoon, but live-action. Our SIngaporean songstress, Stephanie Sun, apparently turned down the chance to play the legendary Hua Mulan. Quite a wasted opportunity if you ask me. But Zhao Wei as the lead may seem to be a better choice, especially since she is a Chinese national.

Of course Sun was eventually invited to sing the theme song and written by Singaporean song writer, Li Sisong.

The Wrestler

2009-11-21T00:25:00.004+08:00

Darren Aronofonsky's The Wrestler won the Golden Lion in 2008 Venice. But it had to take me nearly 1 year later to watch the film. I think most boys my age can appreciate the film, having all grown up with a staple of WWF (now WWE) on Saturday afternoon 5pm. It made me wonder, what happened to all the men we all grow up idolising?

Thailand 0 - Singapore 1

2009-11-18T21:31:00.002+08:00

We won!

Singapore climbs up to second spot, behind Iran after winning the game at Rajamangala Stadium. Thailand drops back to third place while Jordan remains at the bottom of the table.

Lions

2009-11-18T14:00:00.003+08:00

We were down 3 goals and while almost 1/3 of the crowd were leaving, we refused to leave the terrence. The Lions repay our faith when they earned a penalty and scored. But it was too little too late. We lost the game to Thailand, 1-3.

I think you can see the true fans who stayed with the team, and those who are there for the glory. Nothing wrong with the latter. It's a chicken and egg thing. The fans should always be behind the team. Likewise, the players on the field should and must earn the respect of the fans.

The Lions played a terrible game last Saturday, as they have, when faced with bigger and larger opponents. The Lions were unfocused and didn't seem to have the bite. But they are still my team, our team. We all have our bad days, just that sometimes, we seem to have them more with the team. I never once leave a Lions match-halfway, even when it was a forgone conclusion.

Please repay the fans' faith in Singapore football tonight.