Heartbeat

I have so much to say but I don't know where to start.

Last night was really crazy. I could see a year's worth of preparation unfolding right there in front of my eyes. When the video for the opening dance played, I was shaking like mad. I was nervous about the audience reaction. I crouched down near the stage trying to take a video of the pageant contestant's performance, but my hands were shakin uncontrollably. I was nervous, thrilled and obsessed at the same time. They took the stage by storm and I was really proud of them.

Those hours we spent rehearsing had not gone to waste. In some aspects they had it harder than we did. Their catwalk was more complicated for one and I guess overall it was much more intense for them. I know I was rather critical and sometimes even harsh but they always took criticism very well. I was honoured that they would come up and ask me what I thought and how they could improved. I was very impressed by how much they wanted to do well even though they'd always make noise about rehearsing and all that shizzle. It was also because of that that I felt freaky whenever they stepped on to perform because they were nice enough to bring my ideas on stage with them and because of that I felt like I was performing too. The experience was really mind-blowing. The pride I felt when they were up there impressing the shit out of everyone and the fact that for all of them it was probably their best performances despite there being an audience. They were really brave.

What was particularly memorable for me was also the fact that the seniors were beside me as we cheered like mad for the performances. Halphas even took out their phones to wave while David and Audrey sang Closer. Jing Ying and I had a hell of a time shaking our thang while they did the clubbing catwalk. They really lost their inhibitions and were all so natural on stage!

Of course I was quite upset when I found out that Liqi's camera went missing. I was just doing a rehearsal and I left it just beside my laptop. I guess I was stupid that way. There weren't many people left in the ballroom except the hotel staff. I don't know how it got lost. I spent the remaining time rushing about, trying to find it and it really spoilt my mood. And of course I couldn't find it. The anxiety took over me. I didn't borrow another camera to video their performance. It was really unprofessional of me, and I really regret it. But I know I would've regretted had I not tried my best to find it.

I think the residents had a lot of fun yesterday! There was non-stop photo-taking and prize-winning... I guess the entertainment value was really high. I went insane during Deal or No Deal. It was crazy when the person playing was from Halphas, and then there were 4 contestants holding up the prize-money enevelopes from Halphas too. I was nervous like mad. But Chia Heng walked away with $175 out of the possible $250. It's like my one month's tuition money! I also think this year's DND standard has moved up a notch. I liked the stage layout, but I didn't like the fact that there was no backstage and that there were pillars blocking the audience. I heard feedback that the food was so-so as well.

One of the greatest things that DND has given me a chance to accomplish was to do what I've always thought that I would like to do, except within the boundaries of expectations, demands, deadlines and then incredible exposure. I've had lots of people telling me the programme booklet was good. I thought it was one of the things that were really had standard. The other things I did rather out of experiment but still it was my absolute best - the 3 videos that were played during DND. I could literally feel electricity around me as I nervously played them to an audience of 200 and seeing it that large on a screen was also really different. It really made me appreicate the difference profs talk about when they discuss the movies and TV. Last of all, my pet project which I enjoyed doing the most - www.the12thparallel.wordpress.com. It was awesome to have people come up to me and express their appreciation for the work that has been churned out. It means so much to me when people tell me what they like and that they acknowledge the effort that I've put into all of it. There's a passion that drives me to work but it's all this positive energy that I've gotten back in return that makes me feel that wha I've done is worth it.

To the DND Committee. I don't know what to say except that I have the utmost respect and appreciation in what you guys do. The pace really went into overdrive the last month - which is totally different from what we've experienced the past year. Everyone of us truly stepped up when it required us to and I know that it's been a crazy for everybody. I'm really impressed by all the hard work that everyone willingly put in and going out of their way to make this event extremely successful. Thank you all for being so supportive and inspirational.

To all the people in my life... thank you for being understanding.



I was Neo! And yes I cut my hair. Pei Ying's a burglar... and she roxxor! Without her I wouldn't have had any photos to post already!



We camwhored like mad.

Which reminds me... a big thank you to Shannon for coming down to take photos for us. You rock!



My crazy OG - Halphas. You guys make me fucking proud.

DND Fever

It's The 12th Parallel in two more days and yes I am excited. I've been slogging crazily for that very day and I think the rest of the committee will agree that we want to see it happen with a bang. There's a lot of preparation to do as well. As of now PNP has already designed a polo-tee, a banner, tickets, programme booklets, taken thousands of photos, hundreds of videos, a blog... and probably tonnes of other stuff that I cannot remember. I'm happy I was pushed to reach such a level of productivity and having to produce work with consistency. I've certainly felt that being at the helm of PNP for DND 08, we've worked to raise the standard that has come to be expected of a hall event. Of that, I am proud.

I've been neglecting almost everything else in life, especially my health and now I'm paying for it. But it's so close to DND already I really cannot be arsed about it. I've learned a lot though, that my life shouldn't stop just because there is some big event like exams, DND, whatever... There should be some fixed routine that I can settle comfortably in.

But then again I'm never a person for routines.

Last of all, I'd like to thank everyone (despite the fact that I often use the blog to thank everyone) for their support during this terribly insane month. I appreciate every word that has been said, every action that has been made to deal with my exhaustion and sometimes my un-enthusiasm at the things going on around me. Also the fact that I cannot turn up for all events and outings that have been planned... I hope that this is something that will change in the future. I seriously cannot thank you guys enough for all that I have been given... I am very blessed.

A special shoutout to the pageant contestants - the video shoot was quite crappy and although I looked like I had an idea of what I what I was doing, I didn't convey my ideas across fantastically well. However I hoped you guys enjoyed working with me - I was really encouraged with all your appreciation for what Pearlyn and I have been doing. You guys rock!!!

Over

As much as I've enjoyed it all I think it's time to stop everything and settle down in school. I haven't read a single page of readings and I haven't done any of my assignments, at least not seriously. I guess I'm not a good multi-tasker. I know I sometimes say that everyone graduates with a degree, what matters is what else you can gain out of university life. But I guess I've been too much other than studying and reading about interesting facts such as sons have the inate urge to screw their moms.

All the stuff I've been missing out on!

I guess I am competitive. But it's come to a point where I need a break because I'm not putting in my best.

But yeah, it's going to end soon.

It's A Wrap

And today marks the end of the shoot for "Fang Shou"! I'm happy because the scene where I have to be shirtless is over and I can pig out like there's no tomorrow already! Yay! I even had a scene ala Felicia Chin in The Champion, running down the street...

It was a great experience, although it was a tough one. I had a greater insight into how films are made and it was also a great chance to work with CS people. It's always something I enjoy becuase the chemistry is fantastic.

I can't wait to see the finished product as well! The tough thing about acting for film is that I feel that it's quite a... disjointed process. Scenes are not acted out according to the order that things happen and the camera being turned on and off sort of takes me in and out of character just like that. It really is quite different from theatre where the consistency and focus is there for a required period of time. It's difficult to compare the two mediums. Both of them have their own set of challenges and advantages that I don't know which one I like better.

But yeah, I need to see the final product before I comment... my first "major production"!

A big thank you to the cast and the crew. I had a lot of fun. You guys rock!!

Bernard's 21st

Ad-Hoc Event: Bernard's 21st Birthday
Chairman: Jason
Vice-chairman: Daosheng. Felicia.
Chief Logistics cum Financial Controller: Yong Xi
Chief Programmer: David
Publicity and Publication: Glenn. Pei Ying.















Thanks to Halphas for being so supportive and everyone for turning up. I think it was a memorable evening for all. You guys rock!

New Season

I've not been updating the blog as often as I like because I've been updating (jac says hi. happy birthday jac jac!!! =) ) another blog - the Hall 12 DND blog. The results have been very promising. I think blogging has served me well and it's fantastic to be able to put what I've learned about the Internet to good use. It's crazy because I've been updating the blog almost every day but it's all worth it seeing the amount of publicity it has generated, even outside of hall.

DND will be the last event of this work year before the new season starts. New committees are being formed, there're elections going on etc etc. I ran for Social Sect for my school CI Cluband was informed last night that I've got it. I was a tad surprised in a good way. It was a really unfamiliar feeling, being told that you've been chosen for a post, not by one person, or a group, but the school population. Realisation of the implications of being voted in only struck me when I was told that I got it.

Thanks to all who voted for me. Your support is my motivation.

Edwin and Hendric ran for Social too and they did a fantastic job. The board the put up was brought them crazy publicity and in terms of standards it was probably one of the best promo material that got put up around school for elections. I'm honoured to have gone up for elections against them. I had hoped to have the chance to work with one of them but from what they last told me, they are going to withdraw and run for our school ad hoc instead. But since they're really cool and told me that it was because they wanted to work together rather than they didn't want to work with me, I wish them all the best in whatever they'll be organising.



In addition to other DND projects that I've been slogging on, I've finally finished designing the programme booklet. I'm really very proud the final product after having spent hours on it. I can't wait to see it in hardcopy. I was inspired by this, and later on the CD sleeve of Futuresex/Lovesounds. The process was really exhausting though. I'm just glad it's done.

There's still the pageant video.

Somebody stop me.

Hall 12 Bash

Last Saturday at Velvet Underground...



Suspenders are the new pink.



CS = stylo milo and more awesome than you.



Ra. Vi. Oli.



Phwoar! Handsome-handsome-handsome!



Pop Ya Collar.



Halphas 4 EVA.



Toxic. Wasted. Nasty.



Things to do while waiting for the prata to get delivered to your table.

Working On My Fitness

Audrey. Pageant babe. Ravioli freshie. JCRC Publications hopeful. Vote for her.



The most act cute senior I know. Got a lot to learn from him. Shall try this expression next time.



Pageant contestants are funny people.



Wished it was DND 07 all over again.



David. Man with big dreams. Musically talented. All the best for Monday.



Can pose even while talking on the phone. Power.



Wo men you yan dao. Wo men you chio bu. All the rest can go fly kite.

Such Great Heights

If there were a stop button for time, I'd not hesitate to give it hard jab, take the equivalent of 24 hours to sleep before reaching for the play button.

FOC was a blast for me and it was a huge thing that I put a lot of work into to make it successful and it was great while it lasted. I was super tired though and last week wasn't nearly enough for me to recover.

I spent the weekend filming for Shannon for his first "major production" - Fang Shou. I was honoured to be chosen and although there were times I felt that I could have done better, I was thrilled by the number of times I managed to do shots that required very few takes. I think I did a decent job! I had an insane schedule for four days starting from Friday. We had a shoot at Sentosa, then at Pasir Ris the next day, after which we travelled to Orchard Road, NUS and Alexander Arch. Sunday I did a scene of Ray being unable to sleep as huge lights lit up the bed. I also had scenes to do at Shannon's place on Monday, where I played mj and didn't even win a single round. Dong. Nan. Xi. Bei. I won none! Anyway, it was really enjoyable working with the rest of the cast as well as the crew. I felt like a little kid working with them, fresh, green, and they were just like the rest of the CS seniors I've come across in the past year - confident, charismatic and very talented. I really hope that after I've been through as much of this course in this environment as they did I'd turn out to be like them!

This week has been a crazy week for the DND committee as we prepare for DND which happens on 30 August as well as the bash this Saturday at Velvet Underground. I've been busy with the DND blog, taking photos, editting them, writing the posts... and I'm really proud that I've been given the chance to be a pageant coordinator on the side. It's been fantastic interacting with the freshies these days although it's been terribly exhausting, dealing with school, with PNP, with pageant training, choreographing the dance and then teaching them. The best thing though is that I feel so proud that all our hardwork paid off and they are actually progressing. In no time at all they should be confident to take on the stage like it's their playground. I also feel like the big bro of the guys along with Yixiang. Initially I cared quite a bit about who would win what, but as I've had a chance to work with them I get to see all different sides of their characters and how they are as people. We all know how pageants work. To a large extent they are chosen based on looks, but it's fantastic to see their personality shine as well, which I guess is what all of us PCs are doing to make it happen.

And then there's school. Tutorials have started this week. Add/Drop is going to end soon. It's time to take things seriously although now I feel like I cannot be bothered. I'm too caught up by everything else I guess. Everything else seems more thrilling, more exciting, more fresh...

Or maybe I just need a break to get my priorities right again. I should actually set aside some time where I have nothing to do, so I can be spontaneous and maybe do something... just because I feel like doing it at that time and not something I've planned way in advance.

I am so fucking exhausted.

Ash's BDay

So the 3 of us went to celebrate Ash's birthday awhile ago and I know it took me damn long but I've finally got the photos. I stashed them into another memory stick and sort of misplaced them!



This was the roast duck at Fei Cui. It was seriously damn awesome.



And then after that we had the cake celebration at this cake place at Raffles City. I can't remember what it's called but it has a real dark, chillout ambience and the cakes looked exotic.



Wooo... the birthday girl with her cake!



The three of us. Friends forever.

Shit I sound like some secondary school girl. But these are the friends I've known since secondary school and that really describes how I feel about them. And us. Till the next celebration - less than a month away!

Handsome!

On Facebook:

Jason - How not fair. I'm beside two of the handsomest people in my OG and I dont look handsome!~ dammit.

Bernard - LoL.. its ok la Jason. you bring out the best in both of us. =P

Now it's like handsome-ugly-handsome when it should be handsome-handsome-handsome. I demand another photo.

Dare Devil

Halphas freshies can really play volleyball.



Hall 12 seniors can really cheer.



So when we cheer with them, they cheer.



We look at evil in the face.



And got drowned by our words.



We look, how good.



Faces of joy for victories to come. Miss Talkative and Mr Cute.



Who's your daddy?



Hall King.



TKD + Canoeing pro.



Too cool to paddle.



I said, "Don't come back if you don't win." Guess who won?



My awesome OG Part I.



My awesome OG Part II.



What did I say about sleeping during camp? Don't.