Drama Practise with PA System

Three teams went ahead with PA system fully in place. Now, besides remembering their scripts they have to remember who is to take which microphones, that too, whether it's the clipped on wireless mike or the wireless handheld mike.

A bit chaotic this time .......... but full of laughter. At times, some just throw their voice without even holding the mike to their mouth (even though they were holding the mike). So, you can hear people jeering and teasing those individuals.

For the first time, the three teams's cast members got to watch the other teams's video clips and I tell you, it was truly laughing out loud as other team members couldn't believed those video shootings that had taken place. My Co-Director, Lud Lee, was at the floor ensuring the finer touch on the way they speak, act, express.

I was up at the balcony, controlling the video clips, seeing from a higher angle provides a better assessment of the drama, telling the two guys (Eugene and Joel, who are secondary students having their year end holidays now) in charge of Lightings to blend the lightings with respective scenes. At the same time, the two sound engineers (both Ben Ngh and Tan Kah Hooi not fully qualified guys in this field but truly experienced enough playing with our PA systems for the past number of years).

We got our Stage Manager, Albert Lee, writing down notes to see what sort of props were required and where should it be placed on the stage. And he shouted to me "We need to buy three laptops as there are office scenarios" .................. hahahaha. There goes my budget.

Our two make-up artists, Sabrina Seong and Shirley Woo, were scribbling some notes on their note pads. Maybe noting down what sort of make-ups to be applied on those actors/actresses. They'll be buying those make-up stuff too.

At the end, arranged with a few of them to plan for two more video shooting scenes, coming Sat 10am and 6pm at different places with different cast members. This are the last two video shootings ........................ my cinematography guy (yeah, we got this name for him after seeing him put the word cameraman only in the banners ........ not high class enough hehehehehe).

After this last two video shootings, I can sleep much better. This weekend onwards we have to concentrate on the stage designing, preparing for the Christmas decorations and the BIG steel bridge will be delivered on 27 Nov morning (have to take leave). All the five dramas' main theme is about The Bridge.

Watch for the banners which will be unveiled tomorrow.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, PA System, Co-Director, Lightings, Sound Engineer, Stage Manager, Make-Up Artist, The Bridge

Feel Good, Feel Bad

The name of the drama to be acted out on 23 Dec is called Feel Good, Feel Bad. Story revolves around a teenage girl who felt being picked by her parents.

The drama cast members rehearsing their scripts before going up on stage.
Some of the youth were practising their dance which is part of the drama.
They were moving quite fast till my camera couldn't cope with that movement. Does that mean I need a more powerful camera? hehehe
See, I told you ........ can't catch that speed. But those youth were enjoying their dance.










The two choreographers for this dance, Niki and Ria (centre, in black & yellow), had to fine tune their steps even during a rest peiod.
This was a classroom scene where full nonsense was going on at the back of their class, paying no attention to the lecturer who was standing besides me.

The guy in blue (left) was my co-director trying to instill some sparks into the scene.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Feel Good, Feel Bad

Young Man's Life

The Christmas dramas are getting on very well with all 4 teams going into the November month trying to discard their drama scripts. Have to start memorising their scripts fast before their presentation starts in the month of December.

One of the dramas which depicts the life of a newly graduated young man has a group of hardworking actors/actresses who are having practises twice a week as their days are numbered. Keep it up fellas.

This drama is entitled "The Ladder".

Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, The Ladder, Drama Script

Scouting Around for Video Shooting

In wrapping one of the dramas' video shootings, we were scounting around Taman Desa's pasar malam. A pasar malam is like a night market which is held weekly at a designated place in a particular residential area.

In this scene, we were trying to show the teenage girl's parents running all over the place looking for their girl who left home.

We were waiting for the right number of people to appear at the pasar malam and then show the parents on their toes, sticking their heads up, here and there, in the sea of people.

The mom (Susan) in black t-shirt and dad (Ritchie) first person on the right were just lingering around that spot while waiting for the crowd. Thank God yesterday night's weather was perfect.








While walking around, I saw this stall selling clothings and this big banner was hanging on the side of his van. A Liverpool banner!!!!!!!!!! Hello uncle, where's the Man Utd's banner??? I didn't ask about the price ..... if Man Utd's banner, I would have asked.

After the pasar malam scene, we went to a nearby food court. A continuance of the parents looking high and low. They ran towards a curry mee stall, whom the owner is known to the parents and enquired whether the stall owner has seen their daughter.

Yeah, I got the lady stall owner to be part of the drama. Later our cameraman and myself ordered 2 bowls of her curry mee (you call this a bribe or in support of her helpfulness?)

Guess this scene would make my church members baffled as to how did you get the food court people to participate. That's the fun part.
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Drama, Pasar Malam, Food Court, Curry Mee, Liverpool, Man Utd

Video Shooting Madness

The Teenage Girl's drama team was at Cineleisure Damansara, filming their part at a shop called Seraphina.

The team was assessing the shop and planning where to start.
Last minute planning between my co-director with the first few girls before the video shooting began. And what was I doing taking pictures?????
CUT!!!!!!! Shouted the co-director and back to the scripts for them............. they managed to mumble their words at last.
Kerk said "I think this angle is not right". All we had was just a handheld video camera but it was good enough. With the number of people inside the shop, other shoppers thought this shop's goods were fantastic and they came in to have a look as well.





Halfway shooting, I noticed that the payment counter and changing room were resemblance of a kitchen and a shower area. Really cute.


After finishing our video shooting at the shop, we went to a karaoke place located 2 floors above Seraphina.

Nope, we were not celebrating the success of the video shooting earlier but to continue. Yeah, the drama entailed a scene at the karaoke place too.

Now this 3 guys, Lud, Jon & Terence were supposed to be 3 customers enjoying their time in the karaoke lounge. They were testing the microphone's working condition.

Kerk, our cameraman, worked unceasingly trying to capture the best angle and moments.


The papasan (missed his face) 'introduced' his girls to the 3 customers. The papasan was the karaoke caretaker and we managed to talk to him to play that special papasan role ......... hehehe. Producer's role lah.
So, the customers were enjoying their time chatting with the girls, who are college girls trying to earn extra income to sustain their lavish lifestyle.

Ain't it true. It's a fact which is happening in the real world.
This picture was taken just before Niki's (right) parents found her in the company of these men.

A fight erupted as her dad was too angry. The mom held on to the daughter. Didn't take any pictures as I was busy directing how the fight should be, how the others should react and where should stand for the best angle to be captured by the cameraman.

Long day indeed for some of them. The video shooting started at 4pm by gathering at one house to take the scene in the girl's room and moved on to Cineleisure Damansara. The whole thing ended around 12 midnight. So, it was a solid 8 hours involvement. For me, 4 hours was tiring too.

Some of our friends found out the long hours we took to film the drama and said "Wow, it must be exciting and you fellas must be making sure the best is done".

Upon hearing that, another friend said this "Those fellas took so long to film it because all amateurs and not Hong Kong movie stars. They kept having CUT!!! Do it Again! No, No, No, not like that one, cut, cut, cut...........". Nevertheless, we enjoyed our time.
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Drama, Cineleisure Damansara, Seraphina, Video Shooting

Tiring Video Shoots But Fun

Well, really want to say kudos to the Teenage Girl's Life's drama team that pushed themselves to the limit in getting their video shoots done. A few of them were involved on their video shoot since 4pm on Fri afternoon. That 4pm scene depicted 3 girls in one of the girls' room where they had girls' talk.

I went over to the Curve to have my dinner while waiting for the team to have their video shoot at the Cineleisure Damansara.

Could see that Curve's was having a Malacca Day with performances by the Malaysian Portugese community. Had a quick dinner at the Paddington's with my family.

Oh yeah, my sis has a shop at the Curve, called ETC (stands for etcetera???) which is just above Marche restaurant or opposite of Colonial Times restaurant. Her shop sells coffee machines, coffee beans, higher grade chinese tea leafs and lots of kitchen wares (will blog about it next time).

Actually I didn't ask her why it was named ETC.

The night is here and walked over to Cineleisure Damansara to meet the team.

We had our first shooting at a shop called Seraphina at around 8pm plus. (more pics in next blog posting)

Wanted to blog about this yesterday but I can't seem to log into www.blogger.com. Of late, it has been like this.
Tags: The Curve, Cineleisure Damansara, ETC, Christmas Drama, Christmas, Marche, Colonial Times, Seraphina

Camera is Rolling Already

Yeah ........ the camera is hitting the road and going places to get our dramas on video. Our brother Kerk is the man behind the scene. Together with my co-director, Lud Lee, we arranged for a shooting at Vista Kiara condo located at Mont Kiara.

Preparations started prior to 6pm and ended at 8pm plus and the outcome was only a 2minutes 50seconds video........ manyak susah..... toil and sweat but the outcome was so little but we were satisfied. The fun we had, the laughter, the excitement, the tense moments, the quiet moments (during shooting) .... was worth it all .... like how Mastercard advertised - priceless!

The husband & wife team was depicting a conman and a corporate lady having a dinner arranged by a matchmaking agency. Bear with pictures as it was taken by a camera phone at 2MP at 7pm plus.

As for tomorrow night, we are hitting Mutiara Damansara area. Will be shooting in a boutique shop in Cineleisure Damansara (next to The Curve) followed by another scene in a karaoke. Then karaoke all the way???

All 5 dramas will be acted live on stage and certain parts of each of the drama will be in videos. All in the month of December, each Sunday and Christmas Day. Of course, you are invited too!
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Drama, Video, Priceless, Vista Kiara, Mont Kiara, The Curve, Cineleisure Damansara

Running All Over

Going to a friend's condo at Mont Kiara area to have our video shoot for the upcoming Christmas dramas (5 of them in production).

Today's drama's video shoot is for the Lady's Life which depicts this lady having a date with a guy that was introduced by her friend who owns a matchmaking agency. Somehow this guy is not the type of guy you would want to meet. He registered himself with the agency to know ladies and then cheat them by taking naked photos (after spiking the lady's drink)....... now how are we going to video shoot that scene ...... hehehehe

During wild brain storming sessions - this guy (we chose the actual actress' husband to play this role also....hahahaha) was supposed to take out her clothes (without showing her of course) by holding a bra and throwing it away ........... guess that wouldn't pass the censorship board....hehe. Well, that was the wild brainstorming sessions lah.

Going in a short while ....... have to set dining table just outside a japanese restaurant located within the condo compound, as if it was a dinner at an open air japanese restaurant. More pictures later on.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Christmas, Japanese Restaurant, Mont Kiara

Second Drama Team's Practise

Another had their drama practise, this team depicts a Lady's Life where she's a workaholic and a career-minded lady. As time goes by, she found that her social life is going nowhere and tried her close friend's matchmaking agency's service. One after another, unsuitable match-up caused more problems for her. Relationship with family members were in tatters too. Where else could she go?

This team has an executive director of a securities firm, a manager for a top IT company, a director of a freight forwarding company, a former banker, a university lecturer, a company secretary. All are busy people but they still availed their time. Great efforts there, keep it up!
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Drama, Matchmaking Agency

Start of Christmas Drama Practise

On Thursday night, it was the beginning of the Christmas drama practise. This team is mainly showing a Young Man's life who has just graduated from overseas university and was glad to meet up with his close friends while getting pressured from a quite materialistic girlfriend. He was gung-ho about his new job but got paired up with a snaky senior employee.

This team read through their script and tried to understand each other's role and character. This team comprise people from various background like a lawyer and an executive director of a airfreight forwarding company and I was glad that they were there even on a weekday night. It could have been more relaxed at home but their love for God is greater. (hmmm do they know that this picture would appear in the blogosphere???)

Just halfway through the practise, I received a SMS message from a colleague of mine based in Sudan. A note for me that I was required back there, my so-called second home (after being based there for 2 years plus). Oh noooooooooooooooooooooo .....................

My babies are about to be given birth ................... not real life biological babies but my 5 scripts. Painstakingly wrote it and I thought I could see this Christmas project in December. The moment I read that SMS message, I lost my mood immediately. Got lost in reading the script even though it was right in front of me. It really did disturb me there and then.

It's not that there were no capable persons that could take over but I felt that responsibility since it was me who gave the idea and wrote those scripts too. The fact was I wanted to see the end result of it also. Meantime, I would be bringing what I have in mind for the drama to Sudan with me leaving the 5 teams to strive it out ....................... sigh ...................... how to transfer my mind to them??

I was feeling not well too on Thursday afternoon in office and true enough, I felt warm when I got back home after practise. On Friday morning, my whole body was aching and fever with migraine had set in by then. Slept till 11am, crawled out to call office and had to find food to take medicine.

Nice day to sleep/rest and only managed to see doctor by 3pm plus. It was too hot outside (actually nothing compared to Sudan) but because I was not feeling well. Came back home and had simple meal for dinner. The worse thing is ................ I left my medicine at the clinic. What's wrong with me? Drove out to get my medicine later in the night and the nurse said she wanted to contact me. Wanted??????????? Should have called me when I was walking out of the clinic.

I feel much better now. Hopefully I'm getting back to normal. Maybe because I didn't blog hehehe. 2 more Christmas drama teams are having their practises tomorrow afternoon, more pictures also.
Tags: Christmas Drama, Sudan, Fever

Christmas in India

Students join sand sculpture artists to create a 30-meter-long (100-foot-long) Santa Claus sculpture on the Puri golden beach, in the Indian state of Orissa on Christmas Eve, Sunday. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)
Tags: Christmas, India, Puri, Orissa, Santa Claus, Sand Sculpture

CHRISTMAS !!

Finding The Joy Of Christmas

Ten Timeless Christmas Traditions

1. Celebrate 12 days of Christmas

2. Organize a Christmas Eve Scripture reading

3. Do something for somebody else

4. Go Christmas caroling together

5. Make Christmas ornaments together

6. Do a missions project as a family

7. Celebrate with music

8. Hold Christmas Communion

9. Organize a game night

10. De-stress Christmas

Christian Meanings For Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a Christian holiday.
Though many non-Christian traditions have grown up around this celebration of the birth of Jesus, there are still many remnants left of its original intent. Nativity scenes, the singing of carols, and other traditions are reminders of its true meaning. Many traditions that don’t seem to have any connection with the Bible’s Christmas story actually began — or were adapted — to point to Jesus. Knowing a little bit about the symbolism of Christmas traditions helps us understand what Christmas is really about.
Here are the stories behind some of our Christmas traditions.

The date: Was Jesus really born on Dec. 25?
In ancient Rome, there was a pagan festival celebrated on this date. Courts and schools were closed, there was no military activity and slaves were even freed temporarily. When Emperor Constantine became a professing Christian, he was influential in instituting the Christian feast of “the birthday of the Sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2) as an alternative to the pagan festivities then in practice. This points to the Christian triumph over paganism. By the end of the fourth century, the “Feast of the Nativity of Christ” or the “Christ Mass” was celebrated throughout most of the Christian world.

Secular traditions and excesses eventually dominated, causing Christians to be wary of the celebration. In the 1640s, Puritans in England actually outlawed the celebration of Christmas.
Today some Christians in other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6. We don’t know when Christ was actually born. But it is good to have a set time to honor such an important event.

The Bible says, “Some of the Lord’s followers think one day is more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind. Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord” (Romans 14:5,6, CEV). It is not the day, but the honoring of Christ that is important.

Santa Claus: A fourth-century bishop in Myra, Turkey, was named Nicholas. He supported the doctrine of the Trinity at an important church council. He also was extremely generous and loved children. Legend says he rode a white horse and threw coins through open windows to impoverished families.

After his death, he was eventually sainted by the Catholic church and from then on was known as Saint Nicholas. On the eve of Saint Nicholas Day (Dec. 6), some came to believe he visited children with admonitions and gifts, in preparation for the gift of the Christ child. Some even thought he had a companion who carried switches and promised sweets to good boys and girls, but threatened punishment to the bad. (That’s the source of, “You’d better watch out, better not pout … .”) This legend spread throughout the Old World. In other countries he became known as the Christmas Man, Father Christmas, Father January or Grandfather Frost.

The Dutch added customs, such as leaving hay for his horse (later hot chocolate and cookies in the U.S.), and putting out a wooden shoe to be filled by “Sinter Klaas” (the source of our stocking tradition). When the Dutch settled in New Amsterdam (now New York), they brought these traditions with them. In America, Sinter Klaas became “Santa Claus.” The mythos grew here. The red suit today’s Santa wears is actually a poor copy of the bishop’s clothing the original Saint Nicholas would have worn. The name Kriss Kringle is a corruption of Dutch words meaning Christ child (who some said brought gifts on Christmas Eve). By 1842 Kriss Kringle was identified with Santa Claus.

On Christmas today the focus should be on the true story of Christ more than the legend of Santa Claus.

Christmas tree: The use of the evergreen probably began in the eighth century when Saint Boniface brought Christianity to Germany. One variation of this story says he cut down a so-called sacred oak tree to convince the pagans he was preaching to that it was not sacred. When it fell, behind it he found a small fir sapling and dedicated it to the Holy Child.

In the 16th century, Martin Luther popularized decorating trees. One night while walking home shortly before Christmas, he felt a strong love for God and His creation. He placed tapers on a little evergreen to symbolize the forest and the stars. The custom of decorating the tree spread throughout Europe, reaching England in 1841 and the U.S. in 1851. A young pastor named Schwan in Cleveland, Ohio, created a furor by bringing a lighted tree into his church. People thought it was a pagan custom. Later research proved this to be a Christian tradition.

Today, the evergreen Christmas tree represents the Holy Child in His everlasting nature — and the eternal life available to all through Christ.

Presents: Merrymaking and gift giving were originally a part of the ancient Roman celebrations. Only in the last century or so has the tradition of gift giving increased to current proportions. Previous Christian celebrations focused on a giving spirit, with token gifts of food and so forth. The commercialized giving of today neglects the true association of gifts with Christmas. The Christ child received gifts from the Wise Men. We must not forget to give to Him.

The best gift you can give is yourself — a commitment to serve Jesus Christ with your whole life. Another Christian way of giving at Christmas was stated by Jesus himself: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). We should not exchange gifts, but give them. Giving to the needy is one way to do that.

Today: Though these and other customs have obscure origins, their importance is in what they mean today. Christmas is about the Son of God who came to earth to save sinful man. Let’s do our best to keep Christ in our celebration of Christmas.

(Extracted from Assemblies of God)

Tags: Christmas, Joy of Christmas, Christmas Traditions, Christmas Meanings, Christian, Christianity, Holiday, Santa Claus, Christmas Tree, Presents, Gift, 25 December, Jesus Christ, God, Holy Child

Christmas in Tokyo

During every Christmas season, many spectators gather at the "Zerosuta Hiroba," located on the B2 floor of the Nittele Plaza in Shiodome, to view a gorgeous candle tree. The tree, which has become one of the favorite seasonal sights in the area, is designed according to the year's theme color, which was yellow last year and is still unknown for this year until the candles are lit. A romantic illumination throughout the building of the Nittele Plaza also fills the space with gentle brightness. Visitors who participate in lighting candles will receive a commemorative gift. (source: Tokyo Toursim)
Tags: Nittele Plaza, Shiodome, Zerosuta Hiroba, Tokyo, Christmas, Christmas Tree, Tokyo Tourism

NORAD Tracks Santa

A website has been launched to track down Santa's movement from North Pole to any part of the world. Strategic placements of powerful radar system and ultra hi-tech Santa cams have been properly linked to the NORAD system.

How NORAD tracks Santa? You can read it here and here. The Ironton Tribune has also written a similar article. Not only that, it seems that Santa has obtained a NGA Toy Delivery System X-100. This specialized geospatial-intelligence product was specifically formatted to let Santa create quick and easy routes around the globe using this new navigation system.

Click here to track Santa LIVE!

Tags: NORAD, Santa, North Pole, Ironton Tribune, NGA, Christmas, Technology

Christmas in Vietnam

Vietnamese women sell roast dog at a streetcorner market in Hanoi. Dogs, bats, Kentucky Fried Chicken and barramundi will be served on tables, much contrast to turkeys being served in developed/western countries (source: Claro Cortes IV/Reuters)

Santa Pictures

Tags: Christmas, Santa Claus, Funny, Humour

Living Christmas Tree

Choristers sing from a platform shaped like a Christmas tree during a rehearsal of the "Living Christmas Tree" concert in Osan, about 60 km (37 miles) south of Seoul on 19 December 2006. [source: China Daily]

Do you know when you do a Google Search on the words "Living Christmas Tree", you will find tons of christian websites offering that same performance or highlight.

The biggest party is not found in the Christmas Eve's parties all over the world. The celebration of praise is found in all churches' Christmas Eve or Christmas Day's services throughout the whole wide world.

Just to share a thought; even if I do not get out of Sudan alive, I know where I'll be heading to i.e. heaven with God. For those of you who are sitting in the comfort of your home, or intending to party till your body drop to the floor, consider this...... where will you be after death!!

Tags: Choristers, Carollers, Christmas, Seoul, Living Christmas Tree

White Christmas

Christmas approaching nearer.....
Tags: Christmas, White Christmas, White Wine, Red Wine

Christmas Season

Christmas season is definitely around the corner as Santa is in need of new recruits. As seen, 4 white Belugas displayed Santa hats during a new Christmas show at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo. (AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

Tags: Christmas, Beluga, Santa, Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Yokohama

Rockerfeller Center Christmas Tree

Annually, Rockerfeller Center in New York City itself will definitely put

up this marvellous Christmas Tree during end of the year. There is a public ice skating rink just right in front of the Christmas Tree.

At night, the whole area is lighted up giving a marvellous atmosphere.This place is also a much recommended tourist area.

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Tree, New York City, Rockerfeller Center