Ellen Degeneres @ Oscar 2007

Ellen Degeneres is so funny, I can die. These quotes set me LOL in an empty cafe, at 6.30am.

1. 'If there weren't blacks, Jews and gays, there would be no Oscars. Or anyone named Oscar, if you think about that'

2. 'I think there are even a few Americans - I'm talking about the seat fillers. No one fills a seat like an American' Degeneres noting the many foreign nominees this year

3. 'Let that be a lesson to you kids out there: Aim lower' Degeneres on how it had been her dream to be host for the Oscars, rather than to win one

Nothing better than a good dose of sarcasm on a Tuesday morning. You got me there Ms. D, my #9 life-must-do list, meeting you.

DETOUR review

1. The plot was interesting, the ending was abrupt. It left me dissatisfied and I wanted more.
2. I like the mood. Is that what they call cinematography work well-done?
3. A few charming moments which made me smile.

Overall, the film’s imperfection was perfect for me. It makes me imagine how else I could improve it and that’s better than not knowing what to do with it at all.

Moving on, I find the critique session even more amusing than the screening itself.
I learnt something productive that I’m compelled to share for the benefit of my budding filmmies out there.

BE PREPARED WITH 4 TYPES OF QUESTIONS IN YOUR NEXT SCREENING!

1. Questions that makes anal-tical sense
Audience: I noticed Zarul (the thief) runs with a limp yet he is consistently 100m ahead of Isaac. In a chase, how can a limping man run faster at a consistent 100m gap than a regular person?

(Me: Wow! That’s Carl-zeiss x 100. An acute observation that makes total sense but how is this comment be conducive to the director’s next film, I wonder?)

2. Questions that provokes the crew’s defense mechanism
Audience: Hello, I’m A, it’s my first time to this kinda thing. I find the film didn’t flow well? (This is a short-version of a long-winding question)
Moderator: Don’t expect a Hollywood production.
Director: Like I said, this is an experiment.

(Me: This guy is the only courteous one who bothered to stand up, introduced himself, being apologetic for his non-fluency in indie films before starting a long-winding question of just 1 point – the flow just ain’t right. His innocence was shot down by the moderator. Sigh.)

3. Questions that should never exist. (Answers too!)
Audience: Can you apply this film to another city? (Referring to the film’s reliance on Chinatown and backlanes of Changkat Bukit Bintang and “Malay” actors)
Director: We didn’t intend to paint the city as KL. If you notice, we didn’t use any identifiable Malaysian landmarks like KL Tower or KLCC. (But in fact, the film opens to 50th Malaysia Cermelang ad on the LRT body)

(Me: When has location becomes the central discussion of a film? Human stories are universal and characters can live in Paris as well as in KL. You could have answer it this way, Jass. Or not answer it at all.)

4. Question the meaning of everything, including the existence of a prop.
Audience: Is the yellow cap symbolic?
I couldn’t remember what the answer was but this question bugs me. For a 20-min film with a measly budget, my answer would be NO. The cap is not symbolic. We just don’t have enough money for wardrobe change.

(Ok, my bad. It was an imaginary question. According to source, it wasn’t about a yellow cap but of another insignificant prop)

Here you go, a little amusement written from my vantage point that night. Jass, Gavin, I already imagine you vetting yes-no-yes-no as you read each line, but take a break, will ya? I’m only a backseat audience so I’m expecting you to forgive me for any ‘inaccuracy’ and ‘injustice’ here.

Cheers, all the best in the year of Pork Chops.

Habits to kick for 07

In the midst of a looming deadline, I can't help but to take 5 and review some nasty habits to kick for 07 (doesn't mean it wouldn't re-suffice in 08).

A typical conversation with my boss.
Like now?

Geez, I got to get out of here. Jurassic line printer is rhyming my ears and making me sick!

DETOUR at Central Market, 13/02 @ 8pm

Finally, the long-awaited non-oscar jewel.

Official screening:
13th of February 2007 @ The Annexe, Central Market, KL (It's at the end, same block as Liquid, Disco) All is welcome, apparently.

Gavin is keeping it mums so I don't have much to say about this film. Save our comments for later, ya?

Wheel Love

Look out for the wackiest guerillas in town, and they are all about being mobile.

Yet another kind day

The weather is especially kind this morning. It is 8AM on a Friday working morning, and here am I, typing away with my first Luckies. Unlike other regular Fridays when I will still be in slumber, the first thing that came to mind was a freshly written draft – a thank-you note to a friend (yet another one).

She is quite underrated on my priority list of hang-out friends but nevertheless, a friend who’d seen me through shit and glories for the last 15 years.

She is one of the rare few who truly get it:

She understands my way of life and why it needs to be as such that differs from the rest. Now on, I’ll make an effort to pick up my calls and not disappear for months to show up again like it was yesterday.

She knows I’m accident-prone and doesn’t make a big fuss out of my misfortunes. Instead, she sternly tells me to ‘just be a little bit more careful’ AKA ‘be in this world’

She submits to my whims and fancies, from places to go, the food to eat and the music to be. Now on, I promise I’ll not burn you the music that I like, but the music that you like.

She keeps my deepest darkest secret and hold on to it like it is sacred.

She told me to open up and cry whenever I feel like and I took on that privilege ever since.

And most importantly, I listen to her. (Friends out there would know my genetic make-up to be one hell of a stubborn girl who needs to have her last words).

So, this respect and gratitude is way overdue but as the clichés always get it right, it’s better late than never.

Yian, I remember that you asked for me to write you a poem on my 21st birthday. I made a mental note to do so, but never got it right. You asked me again recently, on the Air Asia plane, and this time, you made it easier by noting what you want to feel.

I got my ass moving with a mental sketch and here is the proof. But it wasn’t sincere enough for me to present, as it still sounded aloof.

So, here am I to tell the world today, I will always remember everything you did or say. And please let me plan your wedding, I promise it’ll be a haven that you’ve always pray.

Today was especially kind (1/2/07)

It’s been a pretty productive day actually. I slept till 6 (the evening), and in-between, woke up for an hour or 2 to write a poem about a new found friend.

I guess life takes place better in our sleep. In fact, it feels more of an Ethiopian-state than being awake. I have developed a strange preference for sleep-to-live than the usual way. Except today, I feel exceptionally conscious about this preferred state-of-mind. And no, it is not weird, wired nor warped as you might think. (I read an article once about the hobby of sleeping-in, and discovered a surprising fact - sleeping-in is one of the top list of things-to-do on dates)

Anyways, getting back to the point, I want to list out why today has been especially kind to me.

The weather is unusually good. It felt like early Minneapolis summer.

I had drunken-fun the night before, with my best buddies in the world.

I manage to write something light that I actually like at an oddest time. (To writers out there, you know how it feels)

I realize that there are still real people in my realm and being very thankful for it

A good conversation with an old and a new friend over dinner at (yet again another pleasant discovery!) a nicely-ambient forest-like place not faraway from my home. It felt so comfortable that I made an impulse call to another friend whom I’ve deferred for the past 2 months, and also a mental note to go again to write.

From conversations and a series of fortunate realizations come new discoveries, naturally - One of it, A Pre-punk history for the Pro-punk world, the other, an invitation to the private screening of my friend’s film. Long awaited, ahem.

I’m actually thinking about somebody and feeling sweet about it, at the same time, thought of another person without feeling bitter.

If I may conclude without sounding boastful or assuming, 2007 did kick-off well.

I wonder how many more months would God grant me this state-of-bliss? And if you are out there, God, please continue to surround me with this moment of peace.

I promise to be a very good girl and drink my coffee with lesser sugar.

(Y)amen.

Hats down

I’m so compelled to write this for V6
So please tell me that I got the right mix
He’s a super duper kick-ass man!
Through the eyes of a kick ass super duper fan

V6 is the one, if you gals are looking more than just fun.
I must admit, my first impression of him wasn’t too favorable
However, that was 2 years ago, so it’s not even accountable
He’d proven that all the clichés are right,
Hey, down right to those who dare to fight
Metro sexual sensitive new age guy,
He is so rare, even your money can’t buy

No please, this is not a classified ad.
It is my tribute to the man and tell my gals,
V6 is the greatest catch!

Vodka, 6 more please! HAHA.