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! Music Video: Black Forest 黑森林 Just finished shooting over the weekend "The Days" movie's theme song 还我自由 (My Freedom) by Black Forest. Only one of the best rock bands in Singapore. Nic, April and myself spotted them at a mini concert at our friend's place Hark Music and have since fell in love with their music and passion. Thank you to Ernest, Iqbal, Adwin, Sky and Renhui - you guys are awesome. Working on the edit now, it is going to be something to watch out for. What about No 4? Stills from film "Dystopia: No. 4". Photography by Anthony Levi Kho " Let There Be LightPriorities. What comes first? Not everyone is a good at multitasking. "Time flies", "Minutes Count", "I want it yesterday!". We actually live for a very short time if you really start counting. "No. 4" is part of the "Dystopia" film project helmed by 10 new Singaporean filmmakers. This, I have to admit, was done on a whim. I wrote something else for this segment, which started from interracial relationship to a crazy loner Superhero story, got back into the relationship mode after watching "The Home Song Stories" and "Little Children" and started stabbing the laptop with what eventually became this.I have to really thank Chrissie, Nic and Mike for pulling all of us together. I have to admit also that I was a little reluctant at first because the rest of the guys have actually made films before and most have a formal education in film-making. So I wasn't very confident at first as I always serve as the producer. Very honoured to be part of this new brave group of film-makers.Another person who really made this happen is Yann Yann. I sneakily slipped her the script one day, and she called back and said she read it twice over and really want to make this. Her energy and commitment really made me 'prioritize'. Thank you Yann! "No. 4" is for all of us who do not have time. And looking forward to the other 8 films. While we wait... for September In less than 50 days, "The Days" will open in the cinemas. As we wait (desperately) for out ratings from the authorities there is just so much we can really do. Maybe this wait is a test of our faith; and a way for us to look back at the past years and see the friends we have made along the way. Personally, I have never worked on such an ambitious project 'til date. It is amazing seeing people come together for this - to tell a simple story. I cannot fathom how it must be like for the production of "Red Cliff" who far exceed us by 100 folds. Our editor and colourist have been working countless overnighters. Josef, Sokkuan who are helping us with the motion graphics and illustration to give the film that added oppm! are working tirelessly. Jim is writing the last song for the film to be sung by Adele. Chee Wei is still writing the music and scheduling the plan for the next month. For many, the journey ended on the last day of shoot - you guys are not forgotten. But for the last month, it is the work of the unsung heroes, people who will not appear on the film but brilliant craft and artistry will help finish the film - and make it into a movie. Before starting, Boi, April and myself went to have our fortunes read. As predicted, the route to finishing this film is not going to an easy one. Everyone is constantly tested; and yes - we are all feeling the toil. I haven't been sleeping well as we wait. 50 days to go. Thank you to all. Singapore Release Poster Teaser Posters out at Golden Village cinemas! Check it out! Our teaser posters are up and now things feel quite real - as April puts it 'surreal'. The Days new teaser promo Find more videos like this on The Days MovieNew teaser promo from "The Days" featuring director Boi Kwong and lead actors Justin Chan and Ivan Lim. Yeo Yann Yann speaks with Justin Chan (Part 1) Find more videos like this on The Days Movie The Days 歲月teaser Find more videos like this on The Days MovieLadies and gentleman, this is The Days. A new premise Photo by Nicholas Chee. Cannes. 2008.We can always find meaning in images. My new premise has been established. Thanks bro. We have Ning! Find more photos like this on The Days MovieCheck out the film stills from "THE DAYS 岁月". Now join us at our brand new ning site at thedays.ning.com. 《岁月》 THE DAYS brand new poster Brand new poster for our new film 《岁月》 THE DAYS, due out in Singapore September 2008. Check out www.thedaysmovie.com for updates. We have just wrapped production shoots and working on the post production 29 and feeling 30 Hello and thank you for the well wishes. I am 29 and 12 months from turning the three-o. Looking back at my list of "30 before 30" made when I was 21. I have been side-track the past year with the new venture and cause to fight but I suppose that shouldn't be an excuse. So there is the list once more - 8 more to go - all looking attainable!Start a design house and make it workMove out of my parents placeMust visit: Tokyo, New York and LondonLearn to driveOwn my dream car; a classic Volkswagen BeetleMake a movieGo sky diving and get a certificate to self diveLearn to dive (sea) and go divingBungee jumpRide a horseLearn to snowboardLearn to surfLearn a third languageLearn to rock climbDate a modelHave sex on the beachStart a magazine Make my own productsHold a personal exhibitionFight for a social causeWrite a story and get it publishedReceive further educationTeach a classMake a presentation to over 1,000 people about the things I doAttend a foreign film festivalJudge some design or advertising competition or film festivalWin some awards for my worksMake some money off the internetMake enough money to have my own credit cardStill be the same person that I am Weather it is good or bad... You can spent 6 months or even more planning and plotting the path to make a film but when it is crunch time... some things are just beyond your control. We have not release anything much about the new film but many perhaps know that it is being directed by Boi Kwong and produced by April Tong and myself. The teaser website (well, more like webpage) is at www.youknowthedays.com, and we are currently about 2 weeks into production. Making a film is not without its moments - good ones, bad ones and so many things you learn along the wonderful journey and dealing with people. It is storytelling at its best, it is about people pouring their hearts and sweat out to make something happen. And it is magical.Since we started principal photography 29 February, we have been facing the problem of the availability of one of the lead characters played by Derrick R. He is currently serving his national service but we have already secured the days that he needs to be around and the authorities are very supportive. With the escape of Mas Selamat on 27 February, it has cause us so much heartache trying to rearrange the schedules as Derrick's unit is on full alert. As his unit starts to stand down we are getting him back and shot a few crucial scenes with him in it already.Yesterday (12 March), was the biggest blow to our morale with the unexpected March rainfalls. We wrapped early and took today off to recuperate as we approach a big set-up for the weekend. I just spent the off day with Boi, the director and Jason Poh, the executive producer and Beng Huat, the director of photography at Iceberg, the post production house, going through the shots. It has definitely given us much needed boost as most of the shots looks great. Some of the performance by the actors just brought a smile of our faces and I especially like to say a "HOSAY!" to the art department and wardrobe department for helping all of us create the early nineties. It is strange here where we move so fast that things just about 15 years ago are no longer around. Little things: the money we use, the way we stay connected with our mobile phones these days vs the pagers and call zone phones from back then. Even McDonald's have changed their identity so much that when art brought in the old paper cups, it brings back so much memories of the days spent 'studying' at Mac. And the fashion, you will not believe where the wardrobe guys manage to find all the clothes from then.(I just realised writing this that no local film has touched 1989-1990...)I will be away for the weekend attending the HongKong Filmart with Jason, so to the guys, good luck, keep the faith and rest well when you can. SIFF: Coming of Age - Coming Soon I remember the first time I watched a Singapore film it was at the SIFF. I wasn't such a big film buff until seeing the kind of films I have watched at the festival. The typical diet of big blockbusters and Asian flare was suddenly upset with films from another part of the world in languages that I don't understand. Small films with a lot of heart. Big films with a lot of soul. I do not profess to be an arthouse cinema lover (whatever that means). I have learnt and appreciated over the years the vast palette of films the festival has brought. I have to attribute my personal film journey to this every special event. This year, at Sinema Old School we are presenting the Singapore Panorama - an unprecedented amount of works by Singapore filmmakers. My wish is for the survival and revitalization of the Singapore International Film Festival, whether this ends up as the swan song let it then be a big number. Should this become a start of a real Singapore film industry, it will be something.Thank you to all the people: to their persistent and belief - to the magic that is the SIFF. The 1 Second Film The 1 Second Film websiteHelp Produce Film History for US$1The 1 Second Film is a non-profit global collaborative arts project. As a community, we are creating the World's Biggest Shortest Film. Anyone can produce our film by donating $1 or more- yes, even Kevin Bacon! We currently have 8,997 Producers from 56 countries, including many celebrities. The finished film will be 1 second of experimental animation followed by 90 minutes of credits. A feature-length 'making of' documentary will play during the credits, detailing our projects inspiring story. All profits raised by our finished film will be donated to charity. It's the start of a 5 Phase Plan to bring the world together, one-second at a time, using collaborative art to create social change. Our Place In the world of warlords and superbeings, intelligent robots, mammoths and pyramids, man dresses as a bat and battling one of the greatest villains of all time, where do we stand. I am humbled everything a new trailer of a major blockbuster is released. These films are also made by humans, a lot of them and with a huge amount of cash. When would we ever get to make one (just for the sake of it) here on our island state?Yes, we all know a good story sells - but it is more than that now more than ever. Every time I give a presentation to filmmakers or film lovers, the question that never fails to come up is "Why does all Singapore films have this 'Singaporean-ess' in them?" In which the answer (or question back) has been:"If the film is made here, why shouldn't it have its Singapore flavour?"This has been bugging me the last few days after an interview with The Business Times together with other 'new' filmmakers. Back to the first bit and this other nagging situation - If I pay S$9.50 to watch a big time blockbuster and be mindlessly entertained after a long week, why should do the same for a local film that is going to remind me of my meaningless and rather depressing state? Films (or movies) - or rather going to a cinema - has become a way of escapism for many people. I am one of them too. It has become a natural choice. Here's the deal, after dinner, how about going for some drinks? Nay, driving later kana road block. So we go drink some coffee? Had too much, later cannot sleep, too crowded, smoking corner now always full. How about... what else is there? We natural don't watch plays, nothing much at the museums, library? must be kidding (has too much of that i school), go home (sian...). So movie quite safe right? No need to think, sneak in some Mos Burger corn soup, watch - laugh, cry, get scared, get excited, watch some hot celebs get down and dirty - shiok what.So the filmmaker is torn. I really want to make my personal film or break some new barriers. Should I be concern if anyone watches my film? If so, how do I do that? Hardcore marketing doesn't even equal guaranteed viewership. So make a 'commercial' flick, what the hell does that even mean? I am not going there.The current thinking of going to festivals and gaining some awards so that maybe only maybe someone would pick up the film here is not going to be viable very soon. If you do not have people who put in money to worry about, that's fine and dandy. But what if you did? Make it cheap. Sure - than what? Then fuck lah make if for S$10 million - then what?I started this post without a real purpose. Maybe I just wanted to know our place and perhaps writing it and coming back a while later may help. Maybe I just needed to get this off my chest and move on. Maybe someone out there has an answer. Ya lah, smart aleck can say make films so difficult, don't make lor. Of Placards and Petitions Something came to mind. We have become so adamant in making (positive) changes that we believe change involves petitions, open letters, blogs and the mass email. The double-edged sword of 'New Media' which has been so much in discussion seems to be the way to "make yourself heard" in the less money-spent-way as possible (and getting really popular very quickly).The back-fire of rejections of personalities like Mr Brown and recently Ms Catherine Lim for their views has instead sparked off bush fire on www. In the silliness of the entire episode, being rejected seems to be the way to reach an even bigger audience.Freedom, openness, fairness and reformation are too big-a-word for the frog in the well. What do we want? What is making us so upset in the first place? And just what the hell are we fighting for? What birth rights are we really denied? Change only happens when enough people believe. And more than that - more than signing a letter and so much more than adding your comments on a post - it requires us be sure that that change can actually better and benefit everyone. That of course is not possible in the first place. (Where I am going with this as I rant seems to be going no where. And there seems to be no real point in this post, but hey, welcome to the blogging world.)Personally, it all just seems very passive.I think the idea is to conform differently. You can only evoke positivity if you are in the system and not out of it. As an artist, it has never occurred to me that defying conventions is the route to take - rather, it is embracing conventions and working with the constraints that makes the work or cause more interesting. With complete freedom, things are not believable. And I for one am more skeptical about the intent of the individual than the collective.A world without leaders would not be something I am up for. A world without middle-management - maybe. The Magic of Keeping Mum Quiet. The rattle chatter stops. Pins. Magic. Newness and being Comfortablly Challenge I have a confession to make: I feel most at ease when there is something new in my life - disclaimer: I am not referring to relationships here. Simple NEW things, like when Twiggy (the car) gets a new shine or when I get new shoes or a new DVD boxed set (Transformers 2 disc set is out). And there is this other thing when getting something new, like when you get to open the (damn) plastic wrap and removing the (disgusting) price tags. Newness can come also old things - like getting a vinyl record or laserdisc (the big ones yes) of a great film just for the sake of it.Newness can very comforting.The fixation with newness on the broader spectrum may not be so. Don't we just love the idea of spending millions on a beautiful (usually fully glass windows these days) building (facade) or landscaping or both - only to realised that a. We don't need the new building in the first place. b. The monumental structure that gave way to this newness need not be pulled down. c. The maintenance bill for a fully glass cascade in an equatorial country wastes more paper.Newness comes with a price tag.PS: The new space at Old School is coming along. (Looking at the red seating and putting up the banner, gleaming like a proud parent.) We should be operational in a couple of weeks to fit the kinks. The other office in Katong will be undergoing a face lift soon. None of which gave way to an previous structure, both kind of in a conservation bit and no glass cascade.Confession #02: I have this (almost) sick obsession to fight as the underdog. There is really no fun if you have the means to succeed - by which I mean monetary. It is when you are low on funds and have no idea what KPI means that makes it interesting. 6 years ago, my design agency was started with a 12" Mac, a box of Adobe software and a printer. We have not grown to a huge agency with big accounts - which is something we don't really want actually. What is interesting is always the pitches against the 'big' boys and winning the account. Haha! Then there is film-making. The almost impossible in our country to make a buck but the crazy nature to want to keep making them. And the good fight against all odds to get the word out of what the hell we are up to.Challenges can be very comforting.Just got a call a few nights back from an old friend who I have not met up with for a long time (try 10 odd years). Chat. Chat. And this popped out: "You are always up to strange things." No, I am not. I think I am doing things and making thinks happen - things that have not happened before - and it is not strange, it is challenging.When you have an idea and everyone else thinks it wouldn't work it means only 2 things - the idea is crap or it is something special. Either way, you have a 50:50 chance. Look, I am not totally stupid here. The odds on this is much better than striking TOTO or even 4D. And usually, it is a calculated risk - not pure calculation - as most people would know I can't count very well. And most importantly, it is fun, it is different and (sounding like a warp record) it is challenging.Being comfortably challenge is different (obviously) from the usually 2 state that one could be in. Uncomfortably Challenge - must be damn stressed. And I think worst: Uncomfortably UnChallenge. So I am kicking back tonight as I prepare for the weekend. It is going to be a long one, packing and moving the office and may be helping in a shoot. I still have the new(ness) DVD and some Scrabulous to challenge. A Few Good Creative Men More ERP Gantry Points come November 2007 "Oh! You must be kidding! F#@K!" As heard driving out of town towards the east yesterday on the ECP. Couldn't help but notice a brand new ERP gantry erected over the flyover into the ECP bridge. "Traffic congestion affects the quality of life and the environment as well as the overall efficiency and productivity of the economy." Sure, so the richy poos who are not bothered by this gets to go home early to the family. Scenario: If one is to work at Plaza Singapura and drives to work in the morning - kana one gantry on the ECP, the second one just after the Rochor exit and a third near Fort Canning. And leaving on the dot for home would meant one KNN one just outside The Cathay, then maybe can avoid a second but one just before entering ECP. Of course, going done the very jammed up Beach Road is one option and there is Nicoll Highway, no gantry yet right? Wait Ophir Road has another one. Ass!Of course we have public transport, also got fare changes. Then maybe we carpool. Or maybe we just stay in town for drinks - cannot, later kana caught drink driving. So how? Stay in town watch movie, expensive popcorn and equally expensive parking. Just wait for 8pm lor. Then next time "Traffic congestions after 8pm has prompted the LTA to increase the evening ERP to 10pm." Then the taxi's all disappear.This is perhaps the resolution - move offices out of town. Since rental prices are sky high anyway. Then Ubi, Eunos (already jam spots), Tampines and Changi prices goes up some more. Then cause more congestions. Solution. Simple - more ERP.I suggest we go all go Green. Get a bicycle. (But that may eventually lead to an IU unit installed on the bikes). Forget it. I am going to work from home. See Link here The Iron Man Trailer I must say, it looks potentially a very good take. Iron Man has always been one of my favourites, often under-rated largely due to the nonsensical villians (Living Laser, Spymaster?) he faces. The whole Civil War really put me (and I believe a lot of fans) on the Captain's side.So this is Marvel's arsenal next year. Let's see what happens with DC and The Dark Knight.