Waiting for Dinner

Tze Char, Cooked-to-order.

Siamese House

There was a phase back in junior year when I was extremely obsessed with Thai arthouse films, so much so that I wrote a thesis for Popular Cinema module, chose to do Thai cinema during the final exam (which includes memorizing complex Thai names), made a pseudo-Thai short film and scoured the Internet and the shops for the likes.

Invisible Waves (2006) dir. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

Ploy (2007) dir. Pen-ek Ratanaruang

Citizen Dog (2004) dir. Wisit Sasanatieng

Uncle Boomee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul

C+ Detective (2009) dir. Oxide Pang

Ok lah this is not exactly a Thai film but considering that Thailand is the colourful backdrop and Oxide Pang and his brother had their beginnings in the streets of Bangkok.

There's a good reason for bringing these titles up again. Another trip back to Bangkok.

The Palm Tree

I did not give you my vote but you have earned my respect. All the best to future endeavours.

The Fad

It's like the "in" thing to be spotted doing. Just like pop stars/pop culture/the latest fad and etc. Never mind what's popular now, I think Dr. Tony Tan deserves more respect, especially for his years in public service.

Halus Wetland

Tan/Tan/Tan/Tan

Which ever "Tan" it will be, do have a heart for the best interest of Singapore and be a unifying figure above political lines.

I Have Confidence For The Future

It's here!

Them books and the indie film guru. Endured 3 weeks of shipping anxiety, what if the books got lost in sea? Sing dollar versus the US greenbacks means more books and DVDs to come.

The 60+%

"hello all you people who voted for PAP - you still want these kind of people to control your country?"

"You know who will vote for this asshole? The mindless 60.1% who voted for the PAP."

"The same shit for brains aunties and uncles are also why PAP still had 60% in the last GE."

"too bad i think some WP supports are as daft as the 60% that voted PAP and wanted to vote TCB!"

"Can't wait til those old fucks who voted for PAP dies.."

Just looking around within my own social media network. It's one thing trying to be a crusader and another, a poseur. Now putting the blame upon the aunties and uncles and the old f**ks is really going too far. It's becoming a political circus. Sometimes, there are so much heartbreaks that I might as well be apathetic. If only the world is really defined in black and white.

Dog Avenue

The Tiger Nephews

Buddha Rocks Socks

Filmmaking.

Such times

when even the bimbos and the himbos, bengs and the lians tell you that they are now "experts"and have a thing or two to teach you about politics . Bashing the establishment is the "in" thing now.

Viva La Vida

Alexandra Canal II

The new jogging hunt, a mere 5 mins jog away from the office. A few days after the Halus wetlands, you really got to give PUB a thumbs-up for the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters Programme all around the island. Unfortunately, most online are only interested in criticizing for the sake of, well, criticizing. Too much noises and politicking, to the extent that I absolutely detest such a topic now.

Alexandra Canal

Taiwan

There's a certain energy/impulse/romanticism in Taipei that was inspiring and a timely recharge for a burnt-out soul. 4 months on, the effects are still lingering. A post for Taiwanese films.

DVDs haul from Taipei, though not all are Taiwanese productions.

From Hou Hsiao-hsien,

Three Times (2005)

A Time To Life And A Time To Die (1985)

Not Without You (No Puedo Vivir Sinti) (2009) dir. Leon Dai

The Fourth Portrait (2010) dir. Chung Mong Hong

Pinoy Sunday

The most recent find thus far for myself is a film by Taiwan-based Malaysian born filmmaker about Filipino migrant workers with a 'modest couch dream'.

Pinoy Sunday (2010) dir. Wing Di Ho

Catching up on sleep on a rainy Monday afternoon is one of the simple joys in life. Never mind the hustle and bustle of work.

The Road Trip

Front seat.

These two old folks were really sitting under the shade of a pipala tree.

Serangoon River.

Lotus

Halus Wetlands

Halus Wetlands

The Team (can do without me)

A mini-sort of road trip to Punggol and the Halus Wetlands. Come 2016, the new home will be ready along the river and a good 2km away from the beach.

Geylang

There's some charm to this cowboy town, like traditional craftsmen and pastry stalls.

The Mission

Tathagata, thus gone.

On Devadatta.

Obviously someone wasn't doing his meditation.

Family Feast Man

Recycle

Recycling Man

The Red Door or the Green Door.

Colonial (Little) India

Cowboy Town

The Lorongs of Geylang is perhaps our own rendition of a cowboy town. But good food abounds.

5D Hollywood

Probably my most prized possession (other than the car), the 5D Mark II camera now see its brethren shooting for Hollywood films. Captain America: The First Avenger looked like it was shot on 5D and I later found out that it was! And even so in Iron Man 2.

Now most recently, on the set of Lucasfilms' Red Tails (and the trusted hands and eyes of Philip Bloom).


Welcome to the democratization of filmmaking with just $3,200 for a camera body. Surely it's not an excuse anymore not to make films just because you do not have access to 5-figure sum celluloid film equipment.

Troma

With the Sing dollar going strong against the greenbacks, I thought it should be a good time to buy some books over from the States. According to the tracking system, the books are at New Jersey now.



From the ingenuity that is Lloyd Kaufman and his Troma Entertainment.

I like it that he and his team make films the way they like them to be, cheap, creative and guerrilla-style. Not bothered and restricted by the narrow-mindedness of mainstream Hollywood.