No Beat

After watching OTFB for 26 episodes, all i can say is the show is disappointingly boring. Perhaps they shouldnt have made a sequel - particularly when they had to change half the original cast. Unlike the action-packed Academy, multi-angular relationships take the centrestage in OTFB. They are draggy and repetitive, making me already blase as to who likes who, who makes up with who, or who breaks up with who once again. Up till the current ep, there still seems to be no sign of a conclusion in sight despite having to end after 4 more eps. Also, i was expecting more action this time round since the streets of HK would appear to offer more possibilities for activity as compared to the PTS grounds previously. But no, all they do is just take us on a patrol around Yau Ma Tei. YAWN. Cummon man! Whatever happened to all the energy?! Helloo, i wanna watch Lap Man and Pak Kiu continue to pit themselves against each other, the teamwork and camaraderie between the cadets and the life lessons they're supposed to learn from their new "Lee Sir". Sadly, this pathetic guy's too caught up with his own relationship troubles to remember at all his promise to continue teaching and guiding them. Tsk.

I gave this show the benefit of the doubt despite my initial apprehensions after reading early reports about the production. However, im sorely disappointed - not so much with the acting (the OTT Kate Tsui excepted) - but more with the plot itself rather. While the Academy at that time was slightly hindered by some weakness in the acting (*cough* Ron Ng *cough*); the focused plot and emotional storytelling well redeemed it. On the other hand, OTFB suffers terrbily from the bland story so much so that even the much-improved performances by Ron & Sammul couldn't stop me from fast-forwarding every now and then. I think i should just go back to rewatching The Academy and recall why they decided to make a sequel in the first place.

心領

Ok, im still going on about our corp doco. I just found out that Marilyn, my dearest director, actually cried during last fri's screening! OMG! I thought we (both of us in particular) would be so damn sick of watching our own doco that we couldnt get any more immune to it already. I guess im the only one eh! But haha, it makes me glad to know that our doco is such a "choker" (i quote John Beaton). Even when i was back in the matrox suite that afternoon to burn us the dvds, Lyn, one of the editors from mon's class came over and said to me how much she loved our doco and it almost made her cry too. I didnt really believe her then until later on when i was told by Cindy and Marilyn that they did really hear people at the back whispering how sad our doco was as they were watching it. HMM.

O well, it's good to hear that our project managed to touch people's hearts. I think this production has cemented my belief that film/video does indeed have a distinctive ability to trigger emotional connections - which is why ive chosen to pursue this course of study! I want to debunk the myth that film/television makes audiences passive!!! The satisfaction and fulfilment that the medium has given me urged me 3 years ago to contribute something back and work towards sharing this fulfilment with others. I know it seems like a very lofty ambition and i have to admit; all the projects i did the past few years indeed made me doubt myself and my belief. But im glad that God has been giving the strength and showing me the way all this time. By leading me towards this project, He has enabled me to see the light at the end of the tunnel! I have to say, i certainly do feel restored after working on this production knowing how much it has impacted others as well as myself!

Of course, i also feel especially blessed with my wonderful group. Through this project, we have become more than just mere groupmates and im extremely glad that ive been led to working and bonding with these amazing people. I cant express enough my immense gratitude particularly to my favorite director "Ma lau" Lyn for all the time, effort and support she has given me; putting up with all my complaints and whinings, sitting beside me in the edit suite always without any complaints despite it being a waste of her own time. And to Cindy as well, our lovely gal who always generously offers to drive us home after late evening/night editing or even just taking the initiative to pop by every now and then to see how Ma Lau Lyn and i are surviving in the matrox. Plus, I would never forget the crazy Tong Sum discussion sessions the 3 of us always share! From debating over who we prefer Seung Joi Sum to end up with - Alfred or Duk Duk Dei - to bitching about the evil Sai Kai...and of course, the ending! Haha! I'll always remember how Cindy and i are forced not to talk about the ending in front of Marilyn cos she wouldnt allow us to spoil it for her...Ahh...what memorable times 334 has brought us!

没咗溏心风暴的日子 第一日 晴

噚晚溏心大结局啱啱播完，我宜家已经开始掛住佢wor! 唔知以後的日子點过啊!

终

Finally completed my last 2 essays. I guess that's a conclusion to this sem. And also a conclusion to my 15 years of academic life.

It's been a struggle writing these 2 essays, particularly the 4000-word one. It's a research paper on narrative complexity in american dramas; yet it's odd how out of all the examples cited, i've never actually watched a single one of them. Nonetheless, it's prolly a good experience to remember cos i'll never get to do such a paper like that again. Not that i'd ever want to, but then again, who knows? You'll always end up missing things that you dont treasure as much now.

On a more emotional note, yesterday's 溏心 episode really got me bawling my eyes out at the end...

Tong Sum Ep 31

得得地? Alfred? 得得地? Alfred?

得得地

Im like SO totally hooked on 溏心風暴. It has met my expectations and 真係幾得得地 i must say. Although im seldom a fan of such family saga drama, the show's (younger) cast and humour really makes me dig it big time. I think the scriptwriter did a pretty good job. I reckon my infatuation is gonna get deeper when my Lam Fung officially appears next Mon. Hmm. This is gonna be one hellava 40 ep series and a semester to survive.

If it werent already my last sem, I would prolly just quit uni and apply for my dream job at the chinese video store (Vision something) in Hougang St 21!



* Image credits to the fellow folks @ asianfanatics.net

溏心風暴 Heart of Greed

Background story:

至逸 (Bosco Wong) makes a video ad for his adopted elder brother 至安 (Moses Chan) to find his biological parents.

Hilarious! But pretty cool!

酒店風雲 Revolving Doors of Vengeance

Finally finished watching 酒店風雲! I couldnt help but chiong 14 eps in one night and only went to bed at like 6.30 this morning. But it was worth it! It's been ages since a drama like this kept me on the edge of my seat! The plot is just damn bloody riveting, i have to say. Im sure Jh would agree with me as well. All the twists and turns make it so unpredictable and so engaging to watch! Ok except for the parts with Chloe in it (and to some extent, Ron Ng as well). Elaine Yiu is such a cringe-worthy actress i just had to skip all her parts. She basically tarnished what could have been a perfect show. Urgh. Nonetheless, RDOV has definitely claimed top spot on my list of all-time best/favourite dramas. I seriously think Mediacorp has a lot to learn from TVB. The no. 1 lesson: Family feud dramas dont have to include market-style yelling all the time. Why dont they EVER learn that?! Tsk. Perhaps our local writers and producers should start playing chess and kendo to learn how to reach the highest level of their craft. O and back to the show, i think its english title is simply perfect.

Nothing else can top this on my April/May's must-see list!



*Credits to MetalAZNWarrior

Heart of Greed Trailer #1



Waaa...cant wait for April 9th!


*Credits to MetalAZNWarrior

好悶啊。。。﹗

冇嘢做﹗ok﹐其實係冇戲睇才真。已經 (差唔多) 溫好書﹐想dl 啲皆大歡喜的新集但係又冇人upload wor﹗grrr。。。唔知要等幾耐先可以解悶tim。

anyway, 喺Indon 111課上學到首非常簡單的歌。試唱俾你地聽下:

satu, dua, tiga, bunga
empat, lima, enam, bunga
tujuh, delapan, sembilan, bunga
sepuluh bunga-bunga!


LOL.

喺班上當大家一齊唱的時候哩﹐真係好似再返幼稚園冚。九個廿幾歲的大學生唱indon版的10 little indians 歌實在太好笑啦! 嗰日真係毋面見人。

Prison Break has wrapped up for the season.

So has Grey's Anatomy.

La Femme Desperado has also ended.

Hmm, it's all very timely indeed. Gone are the three distractions when its time to make a last mad dash to the finish. Rejoice! That leaves just one guilty pleasure that i can indulge in for 45 minutes a day as a form of break from work (ok, except maybe for Big Brother - oops. I think i just came out of the closet there. Please dont condemn me. I have no idea myself why that trash has me consumed.)

The abalone in braised sauce has been scoring a 5/5 on my drool-meter the past week. Im just imagining how chewy and juicy it is in my mouth right now...and with that yummy braised sauce...Mmmmmmm~

Darn!

Im slacking around on the net too much. Have to get started on my mci essay thats due next week but im constantly procrastinating! fine...ok its only a 1000 bloody words so it doesnt sound that nerve-wrecking, but grrrr...did i mention i absolutely detest mci? not that theres a lot of work for this particular unit (only 1 presentation, 2 essays for the whole sem). its just that its not the least bit interesting (how dry is media law, policy and regulation?!) and theres heaps of readings and research to do. bah.

I have the urge do my ftv work instead. Although being editor means i have to double as continuity supervisor, at least breaking down the script for next week's mock shoot gives me abit more of an adrenalin rush compared to discussing media policies. tsk.

O and i met Dawn (the one in jac seow/natalie's clique) outside the library on monday. Kinda surprised to see her at Curtin. All the S'poreans i know (and practically almost every other one i dont know as well) are all flooding U-dup. Anyway, we didnt really talk much cos i was in a rush to meet Supa, but its nice seeing someone familiar once in a while though. O and yes, that reminds me - Regina (the one 2 years our senior in PL, the Dodsworth house captain if im not wrong) is actually Shan's dorm neighbour. I think i gave her a huge scare a few weeks back since she didnt know me at all when i actually went up and asked her if it was really her (geez, didnt even know what came over me). Damn malu.

Mmm...my craving for egg tarts are coming back. Was watching the new tvb series Bar Benders yesterday night and the characters were having those yummy dan-tats. Made me drool man. Gotta make an appointment with Shan and Kris to go yum cha soon!