So I showed Sarah the very cool looking Transformers trailer. The macho trailer with all the robots transforming.

And she laughed and laughed.
She laughed at Bumblebee transforming. She laughed at Starscream transforming. She laughed at Blackout transforming. She even laughed at Optimus transforming and bending down to meet Witwicky.

I wasn't sure what was funny about robots transforming and fighting. It's a serious macho movie. Not some chick flick.

Yes it's a love story.
It is.
It is.

A loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee story.

Believe it or not, filming for The Idiot Generation of Faltasia is complete.

I brought the script to campus. I got the camera. We rolled the tape and shot Chien Aun's bit. Then filmed my bit. Then discovered the camera is spoiled. Then got another camera. Then re-shot Chien Aun's bit. Then re-shot my bit.



Then went for my last tutorial. After which I made students stay back. Let them read the script. Upon agreement I shot scene by scene. While me and Fikri shot the scenes, Eddie did some recording with Anna, and also cut his own song up. Then other actors prepared their own scenes. So all I had to do was move from place to place to shoot whatever was needed.

And in an hour, I finished tembaking all of Idiot Generation. Let's aim for an early June opening.

And new record. I shot this whole thing for free. Not even RM7.
Let's see if I can get a negative value for my next film.

Let's get Idiot 2 going. Script done.
Casting now. Maybe shooting tomorrow.
Always jittery before starting something for real.

I didn't save my script for Idiot 2

Check this out if you're into the indie stuff. Fikri's stuff is on too. Ikan Emas. I have no cameo in that one.

And Fikri wrote my profile down there because I didn't know how to write profiles.

I won't be there myself cos I have something on that night, but I imagine Fikri would be nice enough to speak on my behalf too. I think. Haha. He IS after all, Mr.President.

(Here's a spoiler, at the moment, in the sequel, there's a newspaper heading that says, "Zul Wins Re-Election)

*
FILMMAKERS ANONYMOUS 4
1 JUNE 2007 Friday
800 PM
ZOUK @ THE LOFT
Contact: filmaholic@gmail.com
Website: www.filmmakersanonymous.blogspot.com

TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 84 MINUTES (discussion with filmmakers after)
All films have English subtitles. The screening is free. The Loft, Zouk is located walking distance from KLCC. For more info please contact Anonymous at 016-6531167.
ps. if you are an addict yourself, please feel free to bring dvd copy of your film to the screening and pass to Anonymous.

1. ‘Almost’ by Wan Azhar 20mins/color/2007

Synopsis
A bunch of friends.Three parties, false starts, mis-steps and things that could have been. Almost.

Director’s Statement
I was bored to death and wanted to kill myself. But decided against it and instead made a movie about lost opportunities.

Director’s Profile
012-7711990 wazharwahmad@gmail.com


2. ‘Idiot Nation’ by Tan Meng Yoe 9 mins/Black & White/Sound/2007

Synopsis Idiot Nation is set in this fictional country called Faltasia. The film is set during the height of election season, and 4 candidates, including the incumbent, have a chance to address the nation on television.

Director's statement
Quite simply, this is a result of watching two much of The West Wing during the holidays. I just wanted to make a cheap film with my friends as guinea pig. So I took a page out of the TV show and just videoed my friends rambling on and on about some fictional country called Faltasia.

Director’s Profile
Tan Meng Yoe is a blockbuster maniac, a Neil Gaiman fanatic, and a hopeless romantic. Fortunately for us, he's also a talented filmmaker to boot. In between reading comic books and watching Star Wars movies (again), he found time to complete his Bachelor of Communications at Monash University. He currently tutors at the said university, busy telling his students that when you meet the love of your life, time stops... myoe.tan@gmail.com


3. ‘Self portrait’ by Kok Kai Foong 16 minutes/ color/ stereo/2005.

Synopsis
An artist lost her self-portrait on a trip with secret lover. Strange things started to happen to them.

Director’s statement
This is a film about the journey of searching for love. Most of the time, chaos will be waiting for the two parties.

Director’s Profile
Kok Kai Foong graduated in Computer Science at Tamkang University(Taiwan). Since 2003, he has made several short films next to his job as a freelance software
engineer. His films traveled to film festivals such as Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand, Rencontres, Busan Shorts etc. kaifoongkok@yahoo.com www.kaifoongkok.blogspot.com


4. ‘Hijack’ by Aaron Chung 4 minutes/color/ 2006

Synopsis
A minimalist gangster flick of three guys and two cars on one messed-up afternoon.

Director’s statement
Having been successful with short films featuring one girl within a house (Crook & Wicked), I decided to do the opposite – 3 guys, 2 cars, isolated road. ;=p

Director’s Profile
Aaron is a versatile filmmaker inclined towards directing, acting, action design and cinematography. Having completed tertiary education at a very small film institution called Malaysia Film Academy (no longer in existence!), he is currently based in Kuala Lumpur freelancing as a cinematographer for television (programmes & commercials), music videos and shortfilms while in pursuit of the big-time feature film ambition.

5. ‘Goldfish’ by Fikri Jermadi 15mins. Colour, sound, 2005 Synopsis The film tells the story of Tan, who longs to be with the love of his life. However, he can't, for reasons that we shall see. Director’s statement In making the film, I was trying to explore and express the negative emotions that one may feel inside. In This is my first short film. Director’s Profile Fikri Jermadi enjoys reading books, but doesn't buy them. Likes listening to music, even to the songs he hates. Love to sing the song he does like, but can't sing them well. Went to Korea, but felt an indescribeable longing for Muar, Johor, even though it's not his hometown. In between all these, he found the time to complete his Communications degree from Monash University, and is currently working as a writer, an editor and a film reviewer, all on the road to film directorship. fikri@mail.com www.fikrinet.tk


6. ‘Feels Like Falling’ music video by Mien.ly 3mins/color/2006

Synopsis
Elevator is a box. Box of power. Power relation. Relationships?

Director Statement:
It was an honor to work with one of the most amazing singer-songwriter around; Mei Chern’s work is very inspiring.

Director’s Profile
Mien Lor is a full time activist, feminist, filmmaker who believes that filmmaking is at once personal and political. www.sheblogs.net/users/mienly/

7. ‘Raining Amber’ by Azharr Rudin 9min/ sound color/ 2005

Synopsis
An exuberant one-man dance number at a strange umbrella-shaped taxi stop which ironically may represent the dying moments of the relationship. - Robert Williamson,

Director’s Profile
A companion piece to "Raining Amber", "Majidee" won Azharr the Best Short Film Award at the Hawaii International Film Festival (2006). Azharr is currently prepping for his debut feature-film set in Johor Bahru, "Punggok Rindukan Bulan" with Amir Muhammad producing. sinemazharr@gmail.com

8. ‘The Road Not Taken by Tricia Miller 10 mins/ color/2006

Synopsis
The timber road blockade of Long Benalih stands in hopes of protecting the last tract of untouched ancient rainforest in Sarawak. Unfortunately, the indigenous communities responsible for this blockade has always been accused by the government, timber companies, and the media of obstructing development in the remote regions of Sarawak. This film aims to lend a voice to the people of Long Benalih as they struggle what little that they have left.

Director Statement
On the 15th of January 2007, an official European Union delegation was on a official visit to enquire about the legality and sustainability of timber production in Malaysia. This film was made for the EU delegation, who despite their request, was denied a visit to indigenous communities affected by timber production.

*

Upcoming love story

Yes. Love story. Of sorts.

The end of Tung Ling is near. Me and Paul have taken approximately 1500 photos over the last 3 months. I'm posting some here now.

I've picked out about 7 or 8 photos that I really like. More than half include trademark TMY snap-while-you-look-like-an-idiot photos.

For the real serious stuff, come for the Tung Ling grad this Friday and there'll be a better selection of photographs in the magazine.

So, let's begin. I'm not sure who took which photo, but it's me or Paul. We don't really discuss who took what.


The first person I must acknowledge is Paul of course. All 18 year old boys should learn a thing or two from him.


This is Sean. Victim of my victimizing trademark photographic style.


This is a lucky shot of Isaac's ear with Keith walking past.

Watch the ultimate Transformers trailer here.

The robot here is Jazz, by the way. He turns into a... police car, I think.

*

Then, let's talk about my next film.

Currently I'm writing. I'm not sure which one I'll want to shoot.
I'm writing a film called The Idiot Generation of Faltasia. Yes, it's a follow up of sorts from Idiot Nation.
I've written about three pages of material, but it's not at a filmable standard at the moment. Why? Well. I set out wanting it to be mocking and funny. So far it's more offensive, degrading, and plain insulting.
So let me work at it a while more.

Then there's this love story. Something about obsession.
No, nothing like Captivation. It's got something about a paper rose. I'll probably get Josh to make me a hundred of those. Currently I've done nothing much but doodled.

*

Then the other day when Paul mentioned about a new video for our youthgroup. He asked if I could write out some plan for him. So while we were supposed to be listening in class, I took out some paper and storyboarded the entire thing. 30 shots in all, not including additional clips. I just took up an idea Jamie wrote up last year and put it in boxes.

Then now I have to write the fine prints anyway cos Paul is the only one who understands my drawings and he can't write the material (which was why he asked me to do it in the first place anyway. Talk about messing up the process of doing a video).

*

Then I finished reading The Eternals. 7 issues in all. I must say that it's not the most exciting thing I've read. The artwork is sweet, but the story, well... The Eternals aren't the most intriguing band of superheroes I guess. Chapters 5 and 6 did catch my attention, and it did make me wonder what a film adaptation would be like, but that's about it.

*

Tung Ling Graduation is this Friday night. Feel free to attend.
It's at Wisma Eagles, Jln TP4, Subang Jaya.
8Pm

*

Here's an incredible video by one of my Tung Ling classmate, Hock. He made this video for his church's Mother's Day event.




*

One more link.
Click here to watch the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny.
Thanks Eddie for the Link.

*

Okay. I have to be nice to the film I'm trying to promote so here's one nice still from Stardust.



*

And Milan,
Destroy Liverpool.
Like you know, really destroy them.
Pulverize them.
Something to that effect.
Thanks.

*

International Carrot Day.

*

And so at the moment if I have to describe this woman briefly,

she's...

hm.

sugar.

Boring.

CGI - Freebie. I almost felt like I was watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Venom was cool tho.

Music - Probably the biggest insult to any Danny Elfman fan. He didn't even come CLOSE. His music was flat. FLAT.

Characters - Sandman was a total waste of screen time. Mary Jane Watson was surprisingly my favorite character. Much improvement since she was the most hated character in the past 2 films. But that says alot about the other guys heh.

Misc - This show just ain't Spidey enuff.

Rating - C

Why the heck are they wanting to make Spidey 4?

Game show host: So, what's it gonna be, Starfish... movie or your life?

Starfish: Er. *smiles* Undilah Ikan bintang-bintang.

Actually i posted a nice picture of tanshu here. big pimples. grouchy face. the pig like thing. u know.

she made me take it down cos she didn't like it.

so i did.

because i am kind.

*





but just for all of you who didn't manage to catch it.
here it is.


(click to enlarge. only if u want to see details. recommended by victim.)

I have nothing to blog about. So might as well put a nice photo of a friend up.
She'll love me for this.
Sho cute. Ha.

*

Yup.
I deleted it already.
Hee.

I must admit, this season my support for Milan is big only because Juventus is taking a sabbatical in a different division.

But there are moments in life where you are suddenly enlightened to a new truth.

When Milan so gracefully and easily put Man Utd in the recycle bin last night, I almost became a convert. The Milanese crowd were so fanatical I wanted to be part of them, even though I was watching the TV. The thought of becoming a full fledge Milan fan was at the tip of my tongue and mind.




And yes, Shu, I must say that currently, Kaka is Milan.

Milan, do me a big favor, and beat the team that is born of hell later.

Thank you.
I appreciate it.

For I am persuaded that neither death not life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in the Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39