Bettermen | Design X Film X Lifestyle Fan page is up! Hit link here. Less than One Hundred and forty In the new omni-verse of Facebook, Twitter, whatever starts with a small "i" - who is really blogging these days? It seems that the blog has become a more reclusive space. Somehow writing this, it feels personal once again. Who would have thought that keeping an entry to less than 140 characters works better?New year, better things. Introducing bettermen. A new label for the future. M Let's quickly name famous names that starts with M. Madonna, Michael Jackson, McDonalds, Michael Jordan, Mr T... (hmm Michaels may make another list).As oppose to perhaps the letter N, the letter after M. Nelly, Neo... not much. How about L? Lenny... J is not bad, especially if you are Jennifer.So a quick math taking M, against the number of names available, against 26 letters, not including names that start with !. It should be about 21.4%; that M rules.So if you are thinking of changing your name, how about on that starts with M? Mandy sounds good.... oh... Mandy Moore! The Pursuit of Happiness and then there is poker... (this blogpost is also called 开心就好) I have been playing Poker (Texas Hold-em) for the entire weekend (real life and online) and also watching the World Series of Poker, totally glued to the excitement. It is reverting to see a young 20 something online player beat out the professionals and winning all those multi-million dollar. It all seems so easy, sit, play a few hands, be on TV, then hey i-am-a-millionaire! It is admiration and lots of envy. I cannot help but think, I could be that guy... Come on! You would too! Now if you don’t gamble and do not understand the game of poker, this entry will not mean anything to you but that actually it may represent that this is going to matter quite a lot.I will try to explain the game of Texas Hold-em (skip this next bit if you know what the game is about). Made famous by that straight face Matt Damon in the movie Rounders way back. Simple enough game to understand, which is why it is so popular. Did James Bond played poker? Only in latest Casino Royale actually, James used to play Baccarat in the original.- -Poker is a game traditionally a five card game where players with the ‘best hand’ (winning hand) takes a community pot (lots of money) bet in by all the players at the same table. Texas Hold ‘em is one of the most popular variation of the poker game concept. The player with the winning hand: 5 cards that may contain pairs like Aces, 2 pairs (AA, KK and one more card called the Kicker which can be any card), full house (AAA,KK), straights (A,2,3,4,5), royal flush (A,K,Q,J,10)...etc.If you seriously have no concept of this, it makes the next few paragraph very hard to explain. Of course, please go ahead and wiki it! You will get a clearer picture... or just play a few hands with some friends. Or just skip it and move on to what I really have to say. lol.)You want to win of course, so to play you are first dealt with 2 cards, no one can see these cards. You play with the players on the same table (2 - 9 people) not the dealer (this is not playing against the casinos, which in theory makes it a level playing field). After the cards are dealt, the betting begins. And the fun part begins because unlike other games, you can bluff! And you are given a life line as you can always fold - throw those miserable hands away and live to fight another day - when you feel that someone else is going to win the pot.Everyone bets after 2 cards are given to each player, puts money in the middle where the winner takes all, raises (up the value of the bet made before you) or checks (passes to the next person to bet an amount) or you can always fold (throw away your chance).Then 3 cards are dealt in the middle, this is called ‘The Flop’, everyone on the table shares these 3 cards and try to make the ‘best hand’ (or the winning hand with five cards. The Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 is the best five hands possible) and wins the pot of money that everyone puts out in the middle.As this is Texas Hold ‘em and what makes it is so entertaining is that another card is dealt in the middle called ‘The Turn’. Now the winning player may not be you anymore. Even if you had Ace Ace at first, which will probably make the best five cards at the end of the game - you may not necessarily be the winner because the best five cards may shift to another player on the fourth card.Of course, to make matters more exciting and so watchable for TV junkies - there is another community card (a fifth card) is dealt in the middle for everyone to use to make the best hand, this is called ‘The River’.Sounds complicated? There are seven cards you can play with and you want to make the five best cards and you ‘seemingly’ have 2 chances with the fourth and fifth community cards which causes you to bet like a mad person.It is a game that seem to be a game of fair chance (you can fold, fold! Now!) but actually requires a deep level of skill and experience and the difference between a good player and a world class professional is well ‘they’ say ‘no luck involve’. There is more to the game like posting the big blind and small blinds and antes, so if you are really interested go check out wikipedia. Thanks, sorry for this bad explanation.- -It is deeply psychological (Level playing field, play the players, you have a chance to fold - not like other game based on luck... blab blab), which is why i enjoy playing and watching it so much. Out of nine players only one person can be dealt with the best hand. And if you win a hand in a nine player game that is $100 x 9 = $900!You are given 2 cards to play with and your cards is Ace Ace, the mind automatically says to you “You are the Winner! Push all your chips in” but you are suppressing it because you are playing with 5 cards’ not 2 card.And to make matters worst, everyone ‘shares’ the five cards dealt. and you get jittery and all the tells in the world appear because even with Ace Ace (best pair possible before the flop, you can be beaten by the Royal Flush (A, K, Q, J, 10) so someone may have the other Ace in the beginning and the community cards comes K, Q, J. You are in trouble because if the fourth card is a 10. Your Ace Ace is no longer the best hand because that idiot with like Ace 2 (which is like the smallest Ace-d pocket cards) can beat you and steal the big fat pot from you.So what do you do when you have Ace Ace - you poker professional? Your mind suppresses the excitement because you will think ‘no other idiot will have these cards, if I will calmly all-in (push all your hard earn money) into the middle and if they are foolish enough they will bet and after all the cards come out, I will emerge the winner. Eat that suckers!So simple to win so much money, especially with so little effort just sitting around pushing some poker chips around. But what happens when you are dealt with the thrash cards like 7,2 or strange playable cards like K,3? Fold them? Bluff your way until ‘The River’ and keep your fingers and toes crossed?So what is this blog about? Getting one to play poker? What an idiot!After playing about 2 overnighters and almost the whole Sunday, my brain was bursting - let’s just say I didn’t lose, well... I won (let me brag a little, this is my blog post.) And the problem with me is that I remember details, sometimes too much. What happened in the game? Who did stupid raises? Who won? Who lose? Where did the losers seat? How they won me when I had a KK? How they lost? Who they lost to? The faces of my opponents when I sucked them all in with my hidden full house...lol.I wanted to eat but the adrenaline was still going, going. Then I stopped. Just stopped whatever I was doing and sat staring at the TV playing some strange programme that no one in the room was really watching.Damn. Why am I so happy?Is it because I almost lost money but didn’t? Or is it because I won? It is because I have gotten newfound respect and possible admiration? Or is it because I have caused my opponents to now start a new blood feud for a rematch the next time around? Or is it simply because I sat around, pushing chips around and won some cash?Is what I just went through a measure of my pursue of happiness?Doesn’t everyone want what those professional poker players have? The Fs in LiFe? Fun, Fame and Fortune? And watching them win millions seemed so easy, they sit, try to look stoned, move a little.. win. Does this fall under sloth or greed in the Seven Deadly Sins? Maybe Pride? Maybe all of it most likely. Of course, we didn’t see much of the players at the final table struggle the last 4 - 5 days before, about 12 hours a day, trying to get to that position to try to win it all. Maybe tournament poker players are not really that bad - it is the cash game professionals! They are the real sharks!Film and television (well all the media, ads and pretty much everything that surrounds us - nice iPhone!) paints such a romantic picture for hard working people. People who work for their money. Real people who have flaws and mistakes and will never see millions in their lifetime but are always given ‘The Hope’.Being in the creative and media industry, it is all about ‘The Hope’. Mass market advertisements, commercials, bus stops ads, supermarket trolleys and credit card roadshows... We sell you ‘The Hope’ so that ‘Our Hope’ can be fulfilled. And the ‘suck out’ cycle never ends.So what is this long blogpost about? What is your point? I have better things to do than hear you ramble on and on? If this is your idea of selling me a product or service, tell me how much already!I never thought much about the pursuit of happiness and what it truly represent... until after a silly game of poker, this is so sad...“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” what powerful words echoed in the US Declaration of Independence - our inalienable rights.Happiness is such a simple, under-rated word that we take so much for granted. (In Singapore, we have that in our pledge, “... so as to achieve happiness...”.)Why do we try so hard, work so hard and slogged it out? So that at the end of the day we can be what? Happy? Or are those the inalienable rights of the people of the great United States and since it is not written so clearly and majestically in ours, we do not really deserve to have it. And then, when exactly is the ‘at the end of the day’ for us? When we finally ‘cash out’? When we hit 55 or what 65? Oh wait, the dealer needs to keep some in the pot - ‘The House’ will always win.The bigger question is actually this - Do we actually deserve to attain our state of happiness?I mean in all seriousness, if we can bet $3.50 on a lottery ticket and become a millionaire, why don’t we all just do that. The odds for the group one prize pool is 8,145,060 to 1. The odds for hitting a Pair of Aces in Texas Hold ‘em is 220 to 1.But we don’t bluff our way through life do we? We don’t weight the odds stacked against us and make our decisions? We can’t pretend we have the Aces or the Kings all the time? We have to admit sometimes that even with a full house, someone else may have the four of the kind and beat us to the pot. We can not always win.Do you know what is more admirable more in poker than watching someone win it all? When one person is pushing so hard to win the pot that he goes on a betting craze trying to just make everyone fold and to this - you are contemplating... and the thought should probably be quite simple “If I fold now and throw this chance away, this idiot will be happy and I will be alright and I can live with that... I fold.” Less effort, still happy. Okay, if the idiot shows his hands in the end and is bluffing there is nothing you can do about it. He is a donkey, you are better than that. Of course, this is not to say we should give up all the time, if you really do have ‘The Nuts’ - the strongest possible hand in any given situation - Raise Hell! Tow Truck - A Love Story Trilogy + Epilogue It has been a week not to be relived. Just the night before, Twiggy (the beetle) has fallen 'sick' again and in the morning suppose to make her wedding car debut.7 days, 3 tow trucks and 1 major event later - here is the ending - happy ever afters? - let's hope three times a charm.Enjoy! I Like Tow Trucks!Special Thanks:To April & Boi who I loved so dearly, may you have a wonderful life together. Candice & Ye Siang who were there all this while for this ordeal. Anthony's special guest appearance on Part II and his wonderful photographs. Patrick who had to help me find a screw driver. Inez and Johan for stayng behind the first time around. Steiner for having to redo the decorations and Jason for helping with the shooting part of this epilogue.The 3 Tow Truck drivers - you guys are the best. The receptionists from AAS who have been patient with me and understanding my frustrations. My mechanic Gan who probably benefited the most out of this collateral income.Everyone who has dropped a comment, SMS, called, came up to me to ask how Twiggy is - as if she is a real person (in many ways she is).If there is a lesson I have learnt from this past week - relationships are not easy, you really have to work hard to make it work; now, to apply this with humans. Tow Truck - A Love Story A[mu]sing - Test with Redrock Micro The Battle of Two Stars Since watching my first Star Wars movie - which is the Empire Strikes Back - I have always let it be know that I am a big Star Wars geekzilla. My massive Star Wars collection last addition is a replica of Darth Vader's light saber and a talking Yoda that tells you the story from Episode one to six - not forgetting the action figures that now sits in a drawer that I shall not open. So I have never quite been into Star Trek (sorry M). The closest I ever got to purchasing something Star Trek was this special edition Barbie and Ken Star Trek dolls which I have every intention to mark-up and resale (which I didn't but I should have).So I have watched 'Fanboys' and remembered, understood and connected with the zillions of Star Wars fans and why there is such a negative force-field against the 'Trekkies'.However, with the new Star Trek movie opening tomorrow. I am actually excited. Perhaps indirectly it is because of Sheldon from 'The Big Bang Theory' or perhaps it is Mr 'Sylar' Quinto as Spock. Or perhaps it is because the last (supposed) great sci-fi franchise (SW Episode 1 to 3) disappointed me so much - and looking forward to the start (or re-start) of another - and deep down hoping that it will disappoint me more so that Episode 1 to 3 seem so much more enjoyable.Silently, I do hope I do not become a 'Trekkie' but who knows until I boldly go where no SW fans have gone before - to the dark side with pointy ears and tights. 12th Shanghai International Film Festival News just in! The Days is competing in the Asian New Talent Award competition, June 13 - 21 2009.With the development of global cinema, various cultures become the leading role of every cinema trend. Recent years, the thriving Asian film talents gradually grasp the world cinema with their unique point of view and artful tastes. Film industry in Asia has aroused attention from all over the world. The Asian New Talent Award (ANTA) is set to attract outstanding and new film talents and to provide a stage for them to show their works to the world's film industry. At the mean time, SIFF hopes to be the incubator of more and more Asian film talents, who will support the development of the regional film industry. HBO/Movie HBO/Movie from Kenky on Vimeo.Directed by Jake Scott with vfx done by Asylum touches the voyeur in us all and leaves you darting around to watch the drama unfold in the different rooms. Breaking and Entering Haven't done this since Secondary School - jumped over a gate and into an abandoned building with this amazing interior. Notice building does not contain a roof. Sleep More Lose More I have been informed and pinched by a good friend having not seen each other for sometime that I have gained significant weight. Funny, as I thought I was losing more - not that it really matters much. I haven't had a good nights sleep for sometime due to my irregular bio-clock that is reacting and acting erratic.According to WebMD.com, sleeping more may/can actually cause you to lose more weight. "One of the more interesting ideas that has been smoldering and is now gaining momentum is the appreciation of the fact that sleep and sleep disruption do remarkable things to the body -- including possibly influencing our weight," says David Rapoport, MD, associate professor and director of the Sleep Medicine Program at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City.See link. Thousand Words The pictures here were taken on my latest recce around Singapore. I don't really take pictures to begin with; often doing so for work or work related record purposes. Had the chance to work with some of the best photographers around ever since, but I was never quite pushed to make some of my own. Honestly, photography has not connected as much as how film does. Maybe because I am too lazy and would rather be an almost passive viewer and not 'immerse myself' with a single frame, although I know I can if I make a choice or choose to... then again, why should I?We asked this question to our participants: Does a picture need to tell a story for you? Answers all mixed. Some really want their pictures to say something, some doesn't really care and just want the eye candy. Actually, the question is flawed and unfair, we were not asking the participant about how they feel - in actuality. The picture doesn't really care if it is going to tell a story for you. In itself and why it ever existed, telling a tale is it's sole purpose. Bad pictures tells stories, badder pictures tells stories too, 'long arm' shots of yourself meant for Facebook tells a story. So why were these shots taken? I just wanted my laptop desktop to have wallpapers that I made myself. Do they tell stories? Ask them yourself. Photography by Let There Be Light Great new photography by Anthony Levi Kho & imaging by Janice Poh from Let There Be Light. Special thanks to Chris and Shaine. Visit www.lettherebelight.com.sg. My City Screams - for Help! I am largely feeling depressed after watching 'The Spirit' earlier today. I am a big fan of Mr Frank Miller's works and I have to say it seems apparent now that that shall remain in print form in the likes of 'Sin City', 'The Dark Knight Returns' (which I insist that Chris Nolan's Batmobile was 'inspired by') and even 'Robocop'.Frank Miller has always resisted having his works translated into film until Robert Rodriguez came along and convinced him to make 'Sin City' (they are planning to do a 2 and 3) and even co-directed a few scenes. Nicely done Bob, you've got him hooked. So it perhaps made Zack Snyder's life easier when he pitched '300'. So dear Frank has now gotten his hands dirty and made 'The Spirit'. And back to his resistance on HIS work being translated, I would believe he has instead turn Will Eisner's grave over. 'The Spirit' begins strong enough, for maybe 2 mins, and started to look like Sin City film and then it became clear that it is NOT. It reminded me sorely of 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' if you can painfully remember that one. The plot just loses itself, the characters became desktop wallpaper that speaks emptiness and the visuals became a sad rip off. Translating the 1940s to modern day and being lost between the two became a sick joke. I just re-watched the trailer and notice critics calling it 'Movie of the Year'...etc. Ah, honesty.Yes, sexy the women are, and great that the city screams - perhaps because this film was ever made. Dear Mr Eisner R.I.P.Official website http://www.mycityscreams.com/Now I am just hoping that 'The Watchmen' will live up to its reputation - kind of worried after seeing the second trailer having been very impressed with the teaser trailer.Separately, Mark Miller (The Authority, Ultimates, Civil War), no relations to Frank Miller, is thinking of writing for screen a brand new Superman trilogy. Way It has not been a great past few months. I have completely become nocturnal and just realized it is close to 8am and I have not slept the entire night. The last two weeks, I have been living in New York time in Asia. I don't make resolutions anymore as I don't keep them anyway. My answer to the resolution question the last few days was "My resolution for 2009 is 1080p." and I have been spending a lot of time in front of the plasma. It has been a roller-coaster, 2008. Many highs and many lows. Emotionally and physically. Relationships and career. I began to think that 2008 feels like 10 years jammed packed into one. A year that went by with so much change - even without Obama using it as a slogan.I would want '09 to be a little more grounded. Maybe because it is time to drop the "2" and enter into the "3". Someone once told me that as we get older, we start to lose 'friends' and the close ones (and real ones) becomes clearer and more preciously few. And I would like to thank them who have helped me 'survive' 2008. Here's to 2009! Peace! The Days DVD out in Singapore To all our fans and friends, we have all worked very hard (especially Ms April Tong and Mr Andy Zeng) to make the original "The Days" DVD something to treasure. For everyone who have seen and enjoyed the film, we have jammed packed (until it's maximum capacity!) the DVD with a Making-of special, many deleted scenes, director & producer commentaries, music videos and much more. And for everyone who have missed the film in the cinemas, this one is for you and hope that you will enjoy the film as much as we have all enjoyed making it. So buy the original! Don't even buy parallel imports!PS: "The Days" is showing at Sinema Old School as well, and they have a special bundle for the DVD and soundtrack! Visit www.sinema.sg/oldschool for details. Time & Place It has been a while since the last time I actually wrote a proper blog entry. It is about 5.30am now and I just got back home. It is one of those nights that it doesn't feel at all like it is early morning. We are in the second week of the theatrical release of "THE DAYS", we are still in the midst of our endless promotions and roadshows.The last hour, I am thinking about the notion of time & place and how we can sometimes control how that works in one's favour. To be in the right place and right time is a real art form. Some may argue that it is luck but I beg to defer. I think it can be created either consciously or more often subconsciously. And I am not talking about work (Dear Ernest who is leaving for London today, I don't work all the time! And all the blessings for the year ahead!), I am thinking about relationships.I just got something beautiful in an SMS, apparently the lyrics of a song "...The months they don't matter. It's the days I can't take. As hours turn to minutes and I'm seconds away." (Part of something I am working (shit working!) on which is now still a secret.) I think procrastination should be one of the seven deadly sins. If we are such great creatures of creation, can we then create the (impossible) place to best give a timely delivery? What if the entire time & place is perfect but the result is an infinite failure? I am thinking about "No. 4" (my new short film) suddenly. I remember talking to Yann Yann about finite possibilities. A 'What-if' scenario - 'What if' we know the time & place of how we will eventually die - and knowing this early in our lives. Will we live any different;y? Will the maybe 70 years (or less) that we have on this world be put into better use? What will we do with our lives? What will we fight for? Who do we choose to love? Who do we have to leave behind?I just re-read what i just wrote and I realise I am rambling aimlessly. I think I am feeling the morning on my face. Better go to sleep. Razor TV interviews More Music Videos from "THE DAYS" 《懂》KnowingPerformed by: ADELE WONG 王惠珊Music by 曲: JIM LIM 林倛玉Lyrics by 词: 慧明Produced by: JIM LIM 林倛玉Music Arrangement by: JIM LIM 林倛玉Music Video Director 導演: Candice Zin Ni ChuaMusic Video Cinematographer: Sng Ye Siang《分叉路》CrossroadPerformed by: JUSTIN CHAN 陳嘉健Music by 曲: JIM LIM 林倛玉Lyrics by 词: JIM LIM 林倛玉Produced by: JIM LIM 林倛玉Music Arrangement by: CLEMENT YANG XI 楊熙Music Video Director: April TongMusic Video Cinematographer: Sng Ye SiangFeaturing: Adele Wong 王惠珊 Should a gangster film be made accessible to young teens if its message is educational? Sunday Times, 14 September: Let under 16 watch "THE DAYS". Click to read article. More killer updates on The Days 歲月 official site Refresh your web browsers! Clear your cache! The Days 歲月 official movie website has added all 3 music videos, online comics (first one more to come!), download the toys and make your own and film crew bios!Visit www.thedaysmovie.com and catch the movie in cinemas TODAY! 11 September 2008. My Freedom 《還我自由》 Music Video - "THE DAYS 歲月" Movie Theme Song Blackforest 黑森林 is Ernest, Nur Iqbal, Adwin, Renny and Sky. Performing here theme song 《還我自由》My Freedom for "THE DAYS 歲月".Performed by: BLACK FOREST 黑森林Music Video Director MV導演: RANDY ANG 洪溫漢Music by 曲: ERNEST CHUA 蔡锦喜Lyrics by 词: EDDY SNG 孙斯玮 / ERNEST CHUA 蔡锦喜Produced by: JIM LIM 林倛玉Music Arrangement by: ERNEST CHUA 蔡锦喜 & BLACK FOREST 黑森林黑森林"THE DAYS 歲月" in cinemas 11 September 2008 The Days 歲月: Music Video Trailers My Freedom《还我自由》by Blackforest Knowing《懂》featuring Adele Wong Crossroad《分叉路》featuring Justin ChanCatch these trailers on TV Mobile! Also, full music video will be at K Box KTV very soon! The Days 歲月 Theatrical Trailer Find more videos like this on The Days MovieOfficial movie website is 'live'! Click here. The Days Cubee MADE! Download them FREE! from toysrevil.Make your own! (Special thanks to Fu Er for making these!) The Days Parody Film Title: BOI KWONG'S -THE DAYS- PARODY VERSIONDirector: Welven Tan, Ye XiangCast: Alan, Alvin, Ye Xiang, WelvenProduction: TrikesPicturesGenre: Comedy, DramaFilm: Short Parody FilmBudget: $0Promotional Item: Parody To Director Boi Kwong's "The Days Teaser Trailer" The Days Cubeecraft Toys Don't you wish we can have a Singapore film that actually has action figures? The closes think suppose for the moment are these, created especially for "THE DAYS 歲月".Head over to toysrevil where they are available exclusively. Free for download and do help us spread the love!(Thanks Andy for the post and the photoshopping of the 3D.)Also, thanks to Chris from Cubeecraft for so generously letting us use his template. Head over to cubeecraft.com to find more Cubees! What the hell is Callzone? Dear internet user, In the early 1990s, we had a mini revolution. It was the time of the pagers and the first handphones. Those brick shaped ones that you will see on Channel 8 re-runs some late nights. What was the revolution? It was the introduction of the Callzone phones. A slim, light weight, black, with a green rubber trimming (excuse) for a phone that can only be used within 'zones'. And you will see the privilege few carry this prized item and using them like it was the coolest thing around. And... usually, the Callzone areas have a row of coin phones nearby. But no, you have to be on the Callzone phones. I don't remember being able to receive calls on them and my uncle had one. It was seriously one for the cool kid.See external post here. You can see the graphic signage of the CallZone... er zone.And check out the reminisce on Hardware Zones's forum.Thank you for your time,The Days crew The Days 歲月 Handphone Teaser Find more videos like this on The Days MovieThe Days 歲月 opens in cinemas 11 September. Meanwhile, catch this handphone teaser from mid-August in theaters. And remember, please be polite, switch off your pagers and handphone when watching a movie! Thank you!