SGX

Well, remember the production that I was involved in a couple of weeks back where I played golf and ran out of a shoddy hotel? Well, here's a short outline of the storyline.



There was once a rich kid, who was felt trapped by his parents' wishes for him.



There was an Ah Beng, who was rather cultured. And artistic.



They bumped into each other while running away from their various problems.



Just when they were about to tear each other apart, He Xian Gu appeared.

For the ending, watch it yourself on Youtube!



I think I sulk a lot like Edison Chen, and no it wasn't on purpose. (Note that in no way did I mean that I looked like him.) Laugh at me or with me, I'm fine either way. I suppose it'll provide great examination de-stress! I think the seniors did a great job editting the footage. You can also take a look at the "famous blogger" song that they did which appears on Part 4. I must really thank them for letting me be a part of their project although I'm so noob and all! It was a great experience, and I hope they scored well for their module!

Last Lesson

This was a week of last lessons - last lectures and last tutorials before the exams. The teachers go through exam tips and everyone gets nervous and hangs on to every word. CDP101 though, is so outside the norm. It's the reason you sould take non-examinable electives. The elective itself is just so fun and we all got along smashingly well after working with each other for the past 11 lessons. The potluck was amazingly good.



The variety was incredible! We didn't manage to finish everything though. And we each had personal cups with our own nicknames such as those I mentioned in the previous Theatre post. Mine was Dustbin Boy but sadly it got changed to...



Yeah, I should've taken photos of the rest such as Sexy Girl and all! Haha... While we waited for people to turn up, we took a bite of everything. We only managed to watch the video our performance about an hour after the lesson started! It was a hilarious and cringe-worthy experience. It was made all the better since we weren't watching for the first time, and we knew all the funny parts. We were all laughing madly at the humorous performances and each other's mistakes such as forgetting the lines. Apparently we did a good job of improvising I think, but just admitting the mistakes was a like sharing a dark secret! Haha... I forgot to take an essential prop, a piece of paper, on stage and I had to grab one from Ros during the office scene! Ridiculous!

Eh, after that they all tried to sabo me to dance a Britney dance, again. And again and again. If we actually sat through the entire video of random things that Melvin filmed of our last lesson, there'd be a good 30 minutes or so of people chanting my name, Britney or Gimme More. As much as I'm cool with dancing, I'm not so... attention-whorish! So I didn't do it! We took a class photo, which I haven't got, but here are some of photos of the final project groups and our teacher Joanne!



The Overcoat ft Akaky Akakavich, The Important Person, Mrs Gobshka, Petrovich and Bully!



The Three Fat Virgins!

After that Noorlina came in to tell us about other modules that would become available in the next semester, which include directing, acting and playwriting. I think I'll probably take playwriting if it fits ninto my timetable. I think I'm cool with a 5 day week even. I just want to do something I really like.

Arhm. Screw maths.

Anyway, everyone demanded that I do the dance again, and the only good part about it all was that I got to drag Ros and Chun Yan to dance with me. We made a rather lame attempt, and it was funny of it to be caught on video. I think I've had enough of being in videos. Watching myself act was painful enough, now I've been caught on camera dancing... Traumatised!

We then went outside to take a couple more photos...



Ah yeah, my co-dancers! Haha.. they actually climbed the ladder up there!

We cam-whored a bit more at random places. It was really hilarious... I'm going to miss these guys!

BIllboard Bitch

I'm apalled.

All through the past week, ever since Blackout hit the stores, Billboard has been reporting that it would debut at the top of the pile, no matter the competition. After that news came out that the Eagles were actually selling almost double of what she was selling but they weren't elibigle to chart as they were only sold by one retailer. Or some shit like that. Imagine my shock when I found out that... well... Bah.

"Geoff Mayfield, director of charts at Billboard, said Spears' album could debut at No. 1 with sales of between 200,000 and 300,000, well down on the more than 600,000 copies sold of previous album In the Zone during its first week. " - 24th Oct

"Britney Spears looks to have a clear path to top The Billboard 200.

First-day sales from the eight chains that report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building Charts put Spears' Jive/Zomba release "Blackout" at 124,000 on the report released today (Oct. 31).

The Building Charts also seem to confirm that the nation's biggest seller, Wal-Mart, will not report sales on its U.S. exclusive, the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden," as that much-anticipated album is missing from the Wednesday list." - 31st Oct

"With their first studio title in nearly 30 years, the Eagles land atop The Billboard 200 with "Long Road Out of Eden," which sold 711,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan... As reported last night, this marks the first time Billboard has allowed exclusive album titles that are only available through one retailer to appear on its charts." - 6 Nov

It's a fucking conspiracy. Walmart and Billboard suck. If they wanted to be taken seriously I don't see why they couldn't have announced it earlier or changed it the following week instead. Other artists like Garth Brooks opened with #1 sales last Christmas and they didn't do shit to it. So now Britney's releasing an album they've just got to ammend the damned rule moments before the chart's published? Just writing about Britney going to #1 all week and then suddenly dropping the bomb that the Eagles would be #1 is just unacceptable.

The significance of course, was that it was gunning for another record to be in the books. Baby One More Time went #1. Oops! went #1. Britney was #1. In The Zone hit #1. Her greatest hits and remix CD didn't hit number one but no one cared. But this is her 5th studio album! It's the first one not the go #1! It's a freaking conspiracy - poised for top spot till the very damned last second!

How professional of Billboard.

On the bright side, Piece of Me debuts at #65 on the Hot 100. Definitely one of the best songs on her album, so it better do well.

Edit - Okay, actually I'm really upset over this. I never thought I would take such nonsense seriously, but after reading all the comments on Billboard, I really felt that she was robbed of the top spot, that Billboard's unethical. I don't know their reasons for doing so, because the move is so controversial - to change the rule 24 hours before the release of the chart. Is it to reward the Eagles because they did indeed sell more? Or was it to get publicity? There's so much hate and dissatisfaction... As an observer of the music industry for the past decade... sigh. This is disappointing.

Studying

What can I say about studying that hasn't been said. Everyone's doing it. It's kinda crazy. There's really a lot of pressure to do well but at the same time it's only the first semester. I think I've only just warmed up to life in University. By that I'm referring to academically, not hall life!

Today's lesson on COM203 was a little encouraging, but a look at previous papers discouraged me a bit! It is quite interesting to see how the questions will be set because the exam is really unconventional. We've got to do our own research and coupled with the knowledge blessed upon us by our dearest professors, overcome and defeat the fearful, monstrous questions in the exam papers (which happens to be set by our dearest professors). The interesting thing about COM 203 is that we actually learn about Journ, PR and ad and EBM together, so you get to choose your media/weapon to battle against the evil monster which comes in the form of Global Warming or The Future of Media. That's where the problem comes in.

I haven't chosen my weapon. Yet.

I scared later my sword smaller than other people one lei. Else is I take same one as them then they can swing it harder than me. Then in the end they one hit monster KO, I never hit, see monster only then turn to play-doh.

It's an exciting battle though, and I'm looking forward to it. I probably sound a bit more optimistic than I really feel but... I think my interest will get me through.

For the other subjects though, that is hardly the case. It's the case of forcing everything into my brains. The worst part is though, now you know that the people who are taking the exams with you have more or less the same kind of strengths that you have, you'd have to work your fucking ass off just to be average. I did think of quitting but hey, since I'm here, I might as well give what I've got.

The problem with what I'm taking now (how many of you actually thought I was an arts student?) is that it requires me to come up with my own ideas and everything, which I'm not that used to. I'm not even used to writing stuff, other than in GP! And that was 2 years ago! It's a pain in the head and it requires a lot of exposure to different perspectives and forming one of my own. Tough stuff.

Studying's monotonous. It can be lonely. It's laborous. It's tedious. It's frustrating. It's rarely enjoyable, probably in the rare instance that some idea just strikes you and you see the lights. Like lightning-bright stadium lights.

The only thing that takes my mind off the stress of studying is exercise. And I had a great run with LQ today, which I attribute my current brilliantly clear state of mind to. But I'm going to sleep now cos my roomie's sleeping till damn shiok!

I'm looking forward to the end of exams though. As Louis put it... all we want is to have guilt-free fun.

Theatre

The sun is shining incredibly outside now, but I'm stuck inside preparing for exams. That's pretty much what's on my mind now, but it'll end soon enough I guess. Anyway, I can't stand this nonsense anymore. I've had it with being stuck with books on weekends. I'm going to find someway to have fun in the sun tomorrow. I'll probably go Sentosa tomorrow. Probably.

I'm currently working on all the journals and essays that I'm supposed to be doing for CDP101. It's great that there aren't exams, but these are the things that I'm going to be graded on, so I'm struggling to do a good job with them. Anyway, last Wednesday we had our final performance and everyone did a great job! I enjoyed all the performances. Everyone stood out in one way or another. Brilliant stuff.

I was quite freaked out when it was my group's turn to perform but I think I did the best job that I've ever done. The part that freaked me out was this guy who rehearses scolding people in the mirror and then bursts out laughing. The cycle of scolding and laughing goes on two times. The character is kind of psychotic so it was a challenge for me. And then I forgot to bring an essential piece of paper on stage, but I improvised a bit and grabbed one from Ros. The timing wasn't as good as it could have been but... it's all over and we're done! It was great still! Next week's the video viewing though and I'm tempted to shut my eyes at the part where I play the Important Person!

I think everyone did a great job and they were all memorable for me. Working with the two groups for lighting was great too. I think I did a decent job and they were all very encouraging and appreciative. Cool!

So after the entire thing was over we took a couple of photos!



Here with our teacher Joanna. A couple of them left early because they had lessons, or there'd be about another 7 people or so!



And these are my groupmates, who coincidentally are from CS. Shannon and Linda left early so I guess we'll be taking another photo next week. We went through so many rehearsals together, fruitful discussions and doing a whole lot of nonsensical stuff while preparing for our performance... It was really a great experience.



And this is the crazy group of people with shitty powers. There's Dustbinboy, Jokerboy, Vulgarboy, Emogirl, Bullshitgirl... and some couple of others that I can't remember!

Next week we'll have our final lesson and celebrating the journey that we've taken in this course. There's going to be potluck and the current list is already making my mouth water!

1. Cheese cake from Shannon
2. Drinks from Kherray (ooh. alcohol... nice.)
3. Samosa from Yen Nee
4. Potato Chips from Chun Yan
5. Melvin from Melvin...haha..just kidding...i will bring my camcorder!! and err...fries from Macdonalds!!!
6. Mango & Macadamia Nut Cookies + SEXY DANCE from Jason spears
7. Oreo wafersssss from ros =]
8. Tissue papers (never underestimate the importance of it) + Xiaolongbaoxxxx (flown in from china). kindly sponsored by xiang.
9. Ham and bread by Yiling

I suggested dressing up to a theme that's related to theatre but I don't know if we'll come to a conclusion before then! Anyway, Melvin included in the e-mail that's being forwarded around, "Jason should dress up!!! u need to dance britney!!!" and that led to Xiang Yu adding that I'm going to do a sexy dance.

Arhm.

What nonsense!!!

On a sidenote, I think CS people (me excluded) are hilariously witty and crazy.

This is the only lesson that I'm going to miss when it all ends.

Panic In The Industry

I'm Miss Bad Media Karma, another day another drama



Well get in line with the paparazzi, who’s flippin’ me off



Hopin' I'll resort to havoc, end up settlin' up court



You wanna Piece of Me.