The Red Street Diner: Dinner Menu

THE ONE-LEG KICK FARM MONSTER

2008-06-11T12:00:00.009+08:00

Ok, let's bring that very long drumroll to a cymbal crash.

With the movie done, lots of non-production and extra-production work is also underway. Testing our dvd copies on a projector was enlightening and frightening in varying parts. Midnight sessions in the sound studios are winding to a close, with the trailer sound edited, and so we've been crunching up on the next big step. Getting it out.

Local premier

Many of you have asked me when the local premier is gonna be. Well, it's equal parts exciting that we're heading out to the festivals but also mildly frustrating that some of these festivals won't entertain you if you've already had your local premier - they want a world premier or nothing. So, because we've all worked too hard on this to risk not getting picked up by any festival for a technical reason like this, we've elected to hold off on the local premier until we get a clearer picture on that front. I am proud of the film, and we're all eager to share in the viewing of it together. Just gotta sit tight on the local dates!

The wild festival circuit

And so, with the film bound for somewhere - anywhere! - we've hunkered down and shortlisted close to thirty film festivals from around the world, the highlights of which would, naturally, be Rotterdam, Toronto and Pusan. Why not Cannes? Well, we're planning to try Cannes, but as we researched film festivals, it became very apparent which festivals were big on nobodies like us and which festivals were big on "only 35mm or 70mm film" kind of people. Cannes, to their credit, are still within trying reach, and they still represent the holiest of grails in this circuit. But for folks like us... Rotterdam, Toronto, Pusan, these are the festivals that make you. As such, we've enlisted another team member in Miss Athalia Lee, who will be keeping track of our festival submissions, all of their respective requirements, researching the fests in detail and overseeing getting the submissions out. First submission is due in July and others will follow for the rest of the next year.

Poster artwork

Elsewhere, Jack and I have been hammering away on our respective Photoshops. I told U-Fu (our sound editor) last night that we've been working on poster art and he asked me who we got to do it. I said we were doing it ourselves, and he laughed, commenting that we've been doing that the whole time. And I realised now that it's true. This film, if nothing else, has been extremely independent, almost to the point of looking fiercely protective. In actual fact, it's really down to it being a budget film. One leg kick. Pau kah liao. Like the mythical egg-laying, wool producing, milk-generating, piglet-birthing farm monster.

And so, as a build up to more good things to follow soon, here's something very simple, which involves going online, downloading a font, applying it to normal text and telling everyone you've busy working on it. Here's a sample of the credits line on the main poster. More on artwork to follow!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

2008-05-20T13:28:00.001+08:00

I'll let good ol' Mr Director make the announcement =)

THE SLOW BURN OF LATE NIGHTS

2008-05-16T14:37:00.005+08:00

That my friends is the icon for iDVD.

That my friends means that we are at the stage where we export gigantic movie projects into gigantic .mov files and then can the thing into an ordinary-looking disc.

That icon, my friends, transports your movie from the studio to the living room.

We are hitting that icon.

Prepare for the cast and crew party.

CENSORED?

2008-04-30T15:39:00.004+08:00

That dreaded slasher of scenes... decapitator of storylines... the mighty hand carrying the scythe of... nevermind :)

A shadowy informant whispers that RSD is slated to be submitted for the censors over the next month.

The is a change in the air.

Watch out for the rain.

PSST...

2008-04-29T21:11:00.001+08:00

Word on the street is...we need to get the cinemas to like our movie so we don't have to cue for six months before we can screen here.

There's always the festivals first =)

Something's churning. Stay tuned.

ALWAYS BE CLOSING - 30 APRIL 2008

2008-04-15T16:10:00.003+08:00

Hello patient world.

We've finally fixed a date to record the hindi singer and we are now looking at a completion date that's still within the month, albeit right at the end of it.

It's been a roller-coaster April, with the steady progress of sound editing juxtaposed with the melodrama of Justin getting hospitalised and my notebook crashing, but all systems are going again and I sincerely apologise for the delay.

Will keep posting as we all head towards that date.

Not long ago, I saw Glengary Glen Ross again, after many years. In that film, a bunch of down-on-their-luck real estate agents have one mantra drilled into their heads.

ALWAYS
BE
CLOSING

I've been repeating this mantra to myself today when I think about RSD. A Always. B Be. C Closing. Always be closing. 30 April. Keep posted.

TODAY'S SPECIAL

2008-04-12T21:53:00.004+08:00

For each and everyone of us, The Red Street Diner means something different.

For some, it was a dream come true. For others, it was another movie to an already existing list of credentials. There are those who got to play boss, dreamweaver, stars in the making.

Then there was one who was fortunate enough to experience friendship and love at The Red Street Diner. But unfortunately, like Lum Tak Wing, Charlotte, Dev and Videogirl, friendship and love was lost.

What a sombre thought.

Desert anyone?

BLAST FROM THE PAST

2008-04-07T03:37:00.002+08:00

HANDOVER

2008-03-17T17:43:00.003+08:00

Apart from the fact that some gear keeps going to sleep on us, preventing a few scores from getting mixed-down, The Red Street Diner is due to meet its sound engineers tonight. It will say hello to Mark Yeoh (the Vernon-type) and U-Fu (the Fergus-type) of Uber Sound, and will return with all the clings and clangs nicely levelled.

On Thursday night, we screened the film for Mr Producer and it was a positive meeting. Especially because at this juncture, the end is very much in sight. For all of us.

Stay tuned.

ps. on a completely inside knowledge basis, today for tea, i had papaya with... "a bit of honey". but alas. no orange.

SCORE!

2008-03-06T14:21:00.003+08:00

Scoring this film has quite simply been amazing. I told Fai and Christine last night that this past week, scoring the film with them, has been the happiest I've been with the film since we wrapped the shoot. When they played the LTW theme for me two nights ago, I had a smile from ear to ear. Last night, they played me more scores.

Christine: You're smiling

(Fergus keeps smiling)

Christine: That's good! You're smiling!

Yes, I am dearly indebted to the beautiful art of these two folks. The end is increasingly in sight. And I can't wait to start dumping music into the movie sequence. I can't wait.

I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait!

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

2008-02-20T10:11:00.003+08:00

Hello waiting world.

Fergus here. The Red Street Diner will be finished and ready this April.

Between now and mid-march, we have scoring, editing the musical numbers, recording musical numbers and a bit more slashing to do before we bring the monster down to fit a 2 hour cage, with tail sticking out the back.

Nonetheless, it will be finished. Not may be finished. Not aimed to finish. Will be finished. And yes, I'll post here more often as we lunge towards March.

(big smile)

PANGEA DAY

2008-01-12T19:06:00.000+08:00

http://www.pangeaday.org/
May 11

RED STREE...WHA...?

2008-01-03T10:22:00.000+08:00

"You know? The movie we made?"

"Movie? What movie?"

"Red Street Diner! You know? Long nights, sleepless days. Girls everywhere? Bollywood??Lights, camera, action!?!?"

"Oh that! "

"Yes THAT."

"It was way back in November 2006!! Gosh. It's 2008 now."

"Yeah man."

"Yeah."

Two people. Sitting on the roadside curb. A conversation about days gone by. Abruptly stopped like news about The Red Street Diner. Awkward silence. Person One twiddles his thumbs. Person Two looks out into the dark night. Cut to flashback. Camera, lights, action! Fades to black. End. Credits roll.

But hey, Apocalypse Now took four years to complete. Martin Sheen had a heart attack, Marlon Brando threatened to quit and a typhoon destroyed sets, causing further delays. Did I also mention it won two Oscar awards? Right. I just did.

If you asked me, it would seem that The Red Street Diner is on the right track.

One year down, three more to go. What's a little longer to wait?

WHEN

2007-11-11T08:04:00.000+08:00

Fergus, remember the Rotterdam film festival! Better still, the Berlin one.

WE'RE STILL ALIVE.

2007-07-09T14:03:00.000+08:00

When will RSD be done you ask?
In good time, in good time. Haven't you heard? Patience is a good virtue =)

Hope you guys have been well.

Cheers,
Eevon (on behalf of the RSD team)

THE FIRST INTERVIEW

2007-04-19T16:00:00.000+08:00

News. finally. and literally too. as in, the papers. three days ago, vernon and i met up with mr dennis chua of the new straits times for a brief interview. mr dennis (as opposed to mr chua, who would otherwise also be known to the rest of us as mr producer) was very enthusiastic, and we talked about our backgrounds, the movie, and largely about the four leads. it was our inaugural contact with the press over RSD and for that alone, i'm chuffed.

i remember daydreaming about giving interviews when studying in australia. i remember having time to ruminate and be quotable. it wasn't like that at all. it was conversational. and in some ways, so quick, blink and it was over.

they took photos of the two of us. we were supposed to be staging a conversation but we were really just trying to recall who had been in what before. oh and we brought a rough cut of the trailer, fresh from the oven, which we didn't get to show mr dennis. but more on this soon.

if all goes well, the story could turn up in your daily in a few weeks time. and i think i'm about to enjoy this.

SNIFF SNIFF...

2007-01-18T17:33:00.000+08:00

For those of you who know and who were there, the vacant apartment that was Dev's apartment is now sold. To a family. Who'll never know what went on there. I just like. Writing. In segmented. Sentences.

Anyway yeah. The original owners of the apartment have been meaning to keep it and eventually rent it out. But oh well...no renters, just a very interested buyer. So they figured it's time to sell.

What's sad is knowing that all the magic that happened there will not be appreciated by the new owners. Because they don't know. But, what's really special is knowing that we know what went on and like Fergus says, "It'll be all our little secret".

Just a little trip down memory lane:

* At its height, the apartment housed 20 some girls.
* It was the place where Doralina Lee Hoi Mun was discovered.
* The DP stuck tape on the ceiling, assured me that the paint won't peel. Then only asked his gaffer if it would peel. Well, it peeled.
* Amir Muhamad and Hardesh Singh visited.
* The guards and the building management thought we were running a whore house because of the 20 some girls.
* It was the only time you'd hear Fergus say "Yupp, no jeans. Just the shirt."

So...goodbye Dev's apartment. You've been wonderfully green. We'll miss you. Not the guards that kept you safe though. Don't forget us.

p/s: Sorry. I don't have pictures of the place. I may or may not put some up. Depending on how lazy I get. Which can be quite lazy. I'm doing it again. Writing. In segmented. Sentences.

SHHH...

2007-01-03T18:09:00.000+08:00

You remember the time when everyone was asleep and there we were, in the middle of the night, making magic on the streets? Magic that could only work because of the stars and the lights? And you realize how no one else knows except those who were there during that magical moment when surreal became real?

Yeah, it's like that again. Except this time, only Fergus knows. Along with the stars and the lights around him.

Happy New Year folks!

ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK

2006-12-01T15:46:00.000+08:00

A 300 gigabyte external harddisk - by its very nature containing no cinematic value whatsoever, and in the days when noir greats like Robert Mitchum and Lana Turner prowled the celuloid landscape, had no practical use either. Yet, today a post on an independent film's blog headlined by a picture like the above can only mean one thing.

Post-production.

Yes, there comes a time in every films life when it gets cut up into a million little pieces and gets reconstructed into a cogent piece of work. This, it seems, would be that time. And upon my possession of said harddisk, the snipping can begin. Sure, it will not nearly be as hectic as running around like a bunch of thieves in the night, nonetheless, it will be a time of equal challenge, albeit for fewer folk.

While our first editor, Shokichi, ploughs away with the trailer and a rough cut, across town Mr Producer will be hard at work putting together a future for our Diner.

Yeah, you'll hear some RSD circles - unofficially spearheaded by my notoriously optimistic nocturnal alterego self - touting a cinematic release date as early as April 07. That may change yet, but a filmmaker needs tight deadlines, and the notoriously pessimistic diurnal self that is me right now shudders at the thought of a looming self-imposed deadline.

Not exactly the right time to have one's identity start fragmenting, but it is the season for cutting things up.

AND SO, IT ENDS

2006-11-27T08:13:00.000+08:00

No, that's not true. If anything, it begins all over again. Except a different cycle.

Just in case I never get to do my little "award speech"...*ahem ahem* (I promise, nothing corny, cliche or soppy):

To all the cast:
Here's to tomorrow's stars.

To the camera crew:
These guys here are the unsung heroes of RSD. If you're wondering how you managed to look stellar in a scene, it's these guys who gave you the best lighting. You need a light for an oven without a light? You get these guys to fix you one.

To the production team:
We need to celebrate. By ourselves. Soon. But especially to Blanche and Elaine (the two most deprived of sleep), herein lies all the difference.

And lastly,

To our parents:
Because no award speech is complete without us thanking them for all their support and love.

Cheers.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 24

2006-11-25T11:45:00.000+08:00

We have truly come back full circle as we shoot - on this final day @ LTW's apartment...

It was a heady night - rife with anticipation, underpinned by a hotbed of excitement. And then at exactly 12:20:14 am on the 19th of November 2006...

"... and it is a wrap!"

"I have been searching everywhere for you..."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 23

2006-11-25T11:42:00.000+08:00

2nd last night of shoot... it almost seem like we are moving backwards...
We return to the streets of RSD

"Suspects are many, and police believe this an underworld crime."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 22

2006-11-25T11:37:00.000+08:00

Cheese... Loads of Cheese!

Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Cheddar… and Roquefort thrown in for good measure...

"Just for you, Jim. You and any first 50 caller!"

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 21

2006-11-25T11:25:00.000+08:00

As we enter the last lap of RSD production, the workload is less but the scenes are no less pivotal... tonight we shoot - for the last time at Dev's apartment - a very touching moment of sanity

"When I wake up tomorrow, everything will be different. And beautiful..."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 20

2006-11-15T15:21:00.000+08:00

Tonight is the night where they burst out in song and dance...

"... still looking for your song and dance girl?"

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 19

2006-11-15T14:54:00.000+08:00

Today we shoot the videostore - the final 'yet to be filmed' set location for the RSD...

Amidst the rows of videos & CDs, a small but insistent rhythm seems to leap out of the every corner... saying

Tragedy, Drama, Comedy... & Action

"You have to watch this with me..."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 18

2006-11-15T14:21:00.000+08:00

Girls! Girls! Girls!

There were girls everywhere...

"You see what I mean, Evra?"

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 17

2006-11-14T10:08:00.000+08:00

The cast and crew begins Day 17 slightly exhausted with the long hours and exhiliration of yesterday's big shoot.

RSD is now nearing its completion (production) - with both LTW and Charlotte wrapping their shoots in the past few days. The focus is now on Dev and VG we move to wrap the movie shoot within the next week.

"Thanks. You know, this is really strange."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 16

2006-11-14T09:59:00.000+08:00

Lights, colourful costumes, in sync dancing... it is as if we have been transported into another world.

"It’s about to begin."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 15

2006-11-10T21:24:00.000+08:00

It was a scene of sheer energy and rampant emotions...

it was exciting... spectacular...

Tonight we shot a major climax...

"It can't be you."

"It is not you..."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 14

2006-11-09T20:43:00.000+08:00

0000 HOURS, 24 HOUR SUPERMARKET, RSD

Today we finally begin shoot at the location our LTW spends most of his waking hours, walking along the endless aisles of food, toiletries...

And we wonder - Y does he go there every possible night?

"Is Y working tonight?"

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 13

2006-11-09T17:55:00.000+08:00

Its Hot & Steamy today @ the RSD as we dealt with a few of Dev's scenes... the RSD Cast & Crew also tried some experimental photographing involving 1 videogirl & some dodgy looking fellas and a car...

The RSD Official Stills are evolving as well - as production continues... In the previous post - we now see the official sign of the Red Street Diner that features so prominently in the film and all watermarks and published official materials shall now bear its font...

As the moviemaking continues into the night, as production steadily moves towards completion, the cast and crew continue to rejoice in each other's sacrifices and efforts - and bask in the grace and providence of God almighty.

"Maybe we can go back to your place? We can’t keep using these bathrooms forever."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 12

2006-11-08T19:14:00.000+08:00

Day 12 was a relatively short shoot - due to a persistent and torrid rain... Nevertheless - tonight we were introduced to the entrance of the diner that plays such a big role in our movie...

"Why not? It says “diner”. Let’s eat here."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 11

2006-11-07T12:30:00.000+08:00

A minor celebration was held at the end of the Muar shoot today to celebrate its completion as well as achieving our milestone... RSD filming and production is now officially 1/2 complete...

We are departing back to KL... with 260 otak-otak in the boot

"This video must mean a lot to you..."
"Yes. It means the world to me."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 10

2006-11-07T09:17:00.000+08:00

We enter Day 10 of the shoot with the return to colour @ the 'charming riverside town' of Muar...

The good news is that we are now fast approaching the 1/2 way point of production and a tired but elated cast and crew stands ready to celebrate that milestone... besides - we have so much good food here...

"Someone once said that in this modern world, we are all prostitutes selling our bodies in exchange for things that bring us pleasure or survival. "

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 09

2006-11-04T13:30:00.000+08:00

After a 4 day break, production on the Red Street Diner resumes with the shooting of a surreal scene in a dimly lit restaurant... Tomorrow, an expedition to the charming riverside city of Muar will embark to film the pivotal scenes for Videogirl, one of our 4 main characters.

"Join us for a drink... Have you ever killed a man before?"

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 08

2006-10-30T09:26:00.000+08:00

Day 08 already... and the shoot is progressing almost in a frantic rhytmn - Dev's apartment, Dev's Office & of course the RSD...

"That girl. Do you see that girl? Her name is Nancy. She's 18. Been working here for a month now. If I choose it, if I will it, everything that you have will be hers..."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 07

2006-10-29T19:01:00.000+08:00

Tonight on the Dinner Menu... we serve out the 'shoot' @ the ONE and ONLY - Red Street Diner.

"More than what your miserable heart can forgive..."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 06

2006-10-28T10:05:00.000+08:00

This morning, a milestone was reached with the filming of a few Videogirl scenes - as of date - filming has started for all of our four leads.

Tonight we move forward with the big black n white weekend...

"But it is neither. My world is too lawless for reckoning, and too loveless for revenge."

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 05

2006-10-27T10:29:00.001+08:00

Shing arrives from Singapore today so work has begun on her scenes. The set and production has gathered a much darker atmosphere when compared to the earlier LTW shots - the warmth has been quashed, bleakness has crept in...

Blood, blood was everywhere, on the hands, in the sink, under the fingernails! Can it be ever totally cleansed?

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 04

2006-10-26T04:49:00.000+08:00

RSD enters its fourth day of shoot with a change of setting and feel. LTW & Y is now replaced with Dev & Sapna...

The bed is empty... but echoes of past moments and acts continues to ring in the silence of night.

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 03

2006-10-25T12:11:00.000+08:00

Today is the 1st day of a major conversation scene (aka the Big Date *grin*)... and the entire production, crew and artistes were apprehensive to its outcome - or rather the amount of takes we have to go through...

In the end - our fears were allayed and out came one of the most beautiful pieces of acting - bravo LTW and Y... Bravo

"Lam Tak Wing, 这样可以 ma?" Setting up the table for dinner...

As per earlier photographs, click on the picture to gain access to a bigger 800 x 1203 version hosted off blogspot. Enjoy! All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 02

2006-10-25T06:15:00.000+08:00

I know... I know - 2 photos posted on the same day... I am currently trying to catch up with the shoot, now entering Day 4.

Day 2 was an eventful day - holding the gist of the LTW scenes...

LTW enters the apartment alone in his chef's uniform...

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 01

2006-10-25T06:00:00.000+08:00

Finally - The cameras are rolling and the action has started...

The RSD: Dinner Menu will be bringing you choice OFFICIAL photos everyday for your consumption! Here is the 1st one - for Day One: 22nd October 2006

*Hope you guys don't mind but my language is far from my best... due to the hour of day I suppose... *grin*

Fergus holding up the 'Director's Note Book' *drumroll* in the streets of RSD. Fai as the quintessential hero chef boy looks on from the distance... obscured by the mists

Click on the Picture for a larger 800x1203 (approx) version. All photos are copyrighted by the Red Street Diner.

D-DAY

2006-10-24T18:55:00.000+08:00

Well, sorta.

So shoot started on the 22nd night. This post is obviously delayed. But given the fact that we've been wrapping up at ungodly hours (6am being one of those times), posting real time would be pushing our ~~sanity~~ ~~limits~~ something I don't know what.

Okay, gotta go. Call time.

...

2006-10-22T13:35:00.000+08:00

ACTION!!

1...

2006-10-21T15:25:00.000+08:00

Cameras!

Stress levels? High.
Excitement? High.
Giddyness? High.
All priorities? High.
Speed of work? High.
Readiness? High.

And in all these, we all haven't got time to sit around and sigh.

(I don't know...just wanted it to rhyme.)

2...

2006-10-20T08:55:00.000+08:00

Lights!

Lots to do. Lots to do. Lots to do.

Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.

3...

2006-10-19T14:31:00.000+08:00

Explosions in the sky.

QUOTED

2006-10-18T23:10:00.000+08:00

Fergus and myself were discussing stuff over googletalk. When out of the blue, he whips up this paragraph of Writer/Director description he came up with.

(After reading Fergus' paragraph)
ME
Don't you have more important production stuff to do?

FERGUS
A mild distraction. The production schedule is coming along well.

EEVON
Yeah well, it better be. Or I'm unleashing The Master Nagger 2000!

FERGUS

"Look joe! it's master nagger 2000!"

"Quick, cover your ears with the hydra-ignora! It's your only hope!"

Yes, your directors are inane like this.

4...

2006-10-18T18:21:00.000+08:00

The contracts went out today. But I'll have to resend them again. Sigh...

On the upside, we've got the contracts! Yay!

We wrapped up rehearsals for LTW and Y, and Dev and Sapna. Everyone's toes are intact so that can't be a bad thing =)

I'm excited. Are you?

READY IN 5...

2006-10-17T15:36:00.000+08:00

Everything is franctic now. The adrenalin's pumping.

But it's all good.

COMING SOON, TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU

2006-10-09T22:08:00.000+08:00

*Clack*, [that word] and a dream come true.

--------------------------------------------------------

Ahem, due to slight retardation, I've mixed up dates. So it's no longer "22 to 22". Which explains the disappearance of that post. Yes, that one which showcased my mathematically and temporally challenged abilities.

A CASE OF THE EXES

2006-09-28T23:53:00.000+08:00

It's never good news when all your exes start to reappear at every nook and cranny of your life.

For Dev, he's going crazy. Are they real? Are they part of his imagination? Is he guilt stricken because of the many, many hearts he's broken? Is he just going mental? Do they reappear because they're looking for closure?

Or.

Is it Dev who's looking for closure, that's why they reappear, and it's making him mental, because of the guilt, and so really, it's all just a figment of his imagination, which means they're all not real?

Ash (to Charmaine, who plays Shanice): Are you real?
Charmain: I think I'm real. But do YOU think I'm real?

Shanice - The Forgotten One

Evra - The Vixen

Dev - The Confuddled Anti-Hero

WHERE DO THE GANGSTERS COME FROM?

2006-09-25T14:38:00.000+08:00

Victor and Nazim, who play two of the three gangsters John, Paul and Mondo, were in over the weekend to rehearse.

"Where do they come from?"

The gangsters ... how do i put it. Imagine three guys watching a movie. And as they see the movie, they think maybe they want to change stuff in the movie. So they have a chance to go in and meddle with the filmic world. But in order to go into the filmic world, they have to go in as a cinematic type as well: bruce lee style martial artist, frank sinatra style crooner, italian mob boss, the final girl in slasher films, a money-grubbing cowboy in a spaghetti western. They can't just go into a cinematic space as themselves, so these three go in as Humphrey Bogart style gangsters. Maltese Falcon. They've probably watched too much of those films.

So when they go in, they are restrained by those conventions: the hats, the suits, the cigarettes, the talk. They go in and the first thing they wanna do is have a bit of fun, so they go and seek out the girl, try to find out her name and bring her out for a harmless dance. Then they go and do what they really wanna do: kill the villain. So they go and meet the confused protagonist, give him a job and then go out of the cinematic space - perhaps back into their living room - and watch as Dev is now tasked to kill. The repurcussions are beyond their expectation - they probably wouldn't have predicted Lam Tak-Wing hijacking the gun and taking it to the supermarket.

Then again, they probably don't care. As John the gang leader says, "we're just here for a good movie".

CHEF BOY SPURNED TWICE

2006-09-22T10:41:00.000+08:00

One boy. Two girls.

Both will turn him down.

"I'll cook you dinner. What do you like?"

Justin rehearsed with Ching Ching and Alice the other night, the girls respectively playing Rosalind and Siao Lian, the two cashier girls who spurn Lam Tak-Wing's offer for dinner. They go about it in very different ways, and it was enlightening for all of us to explore the disparity in their rejection of our poor chef.

Rosalind toys with Lam Tak-Wing

Rosalind was always going to be a bit of a bitch, and we first worked on getting Chingz to play girly girl flirt, and then juxtapose it with sultry seductress. It didn't fully work, of course, and we went with a coy seduction that gives and then holds back, and then gives a bit more. It drove Justin nuts. Which means it worked.

Alice on while developing Siao Lian's character

In the evolution of Siao Lian, she initially spoke mandarin, and then english, and then cantonese and finally a mix between english and cantonese. We finished rehearsal with Alice going for full manglish. Siao Lian is quite poorthing cos she'd actually love to be out with boys like LTW, but she is too responsible, over her sister and her job, to just take off and have her fun.

The night was fairly light-hearted, but i think we achieved a good deal considering it was the first time Justin met with the girls. In the end, they both got picked up by their cars, and any effort on Justin's part to "give you a lift" were spurned as well. Poor boy. No fish head curry.

QUOTED

2006-09-19T08:57:00.000+08:00

Fergus, Ben and Shing discuss the relationship between the Old Man and Charlotte.

FERGUS
Okay Ben, does the Old Man love Charlotte?

BEN
Hrm...of course he does. Like a daughter...

SHING
(Nods head)

BEN (continues)
...but with sexla.

SHING
Hahaha...this needs to go into the blog.

QUOTED

2006-09-19T08:54:00.000+08:00

After rehearsals, Fergus, Shing and Sen Kiat were sitting around and discussing Sen Kiat's schedule.

FERGUS
Okay Sen Kiat, your first day on set, we're shooting your dead body.

SEN KIAT
Great! Do I get to be naked?

THE WEEKEND THAT WAS

2006-09-18T15:12:00.000+08:00

Shing, who plays Charlotte, came up for rehearsals last weekend. We rehearsed all of Charlottees scenes, her song, monologues and voice overs. The bulk of it was the scene where Charlotte "picks up" the unassuming assassin and also all of her scenes with the Old Man. It was a long and exhaustive one, but we all had fun - Fergus, myself, Mel, the assassin and the Old Man. If you were there, you'd have laugh yourself silly in some bits. All in all, it was thoroughly fruitful.

Although the scene between Charlotte and the assassin is a small one, it was nevertheless challenging to block and direct during rehearsals. Mostly because in that scene, there isn't any dialogue. Our assassin (Sen Kiat) arrived shy but towards the end loosened up and provided a bit of comic relief and a cigarette for Shing to work with. Bless his generous soul. (Cigarettes aren't cheap these days).

Fergus going through with Sen Kiat and Shing the journey which the two take in their scene

Introducing: Sen Kiat's cigarette. And Sen Kiat too of course

What was funny during the Charlotte-assassin session was getting Sen Kiat and Shing to switch characters. It was kinda cute seeing Sen Kiat turn on the giggly charm and seduction on Shing. After that, Fergus demonstrated his idea and vision of Charlotte opposite the assassin in this scene to Shing. I had to stomach the laughter and bite my lip. I've been given strict orders not to mention any more than that.

We took rehearsal out of Fergus' apartment for the first time seeing that in this scene, the two walk a very long street. So Fergus did the blocking for that - when Sen Kiat is to pick up pace, turn and look, drop his lighter, stop at the lights, so on and so forth.

The "walk": It's hard to capture walking on camera

We called rehearsals off at 7, had dinner, chatted a bit, said adios to Sen Kiat for the day and proceeded to stick Shing into her hotel for the night. That being said, we continued rehearsals in the hotel. Once again, the change in scenery was much welcomed. Although towards the middle of that session, I had the shivers and Shing gave me a towel to wrap myself with. I couldn't decide if I felt super because I had what could be passed off as a make believe superhero's cape or just idiotic. It didn't matter, the towel kept the chills away.

We did mostly Charlotte's voice overs and monologues in the hotel

It was close to midnight by the time we were done with that day's rehearsals. Tired and satisfied, we capped the night, I said goodbye to my "companion" which kept me warm and promised Shing chicken rice for the next day's lunch.

***

Sunday rolls around and we're all rolling off our beds and into another rehearsal session with Shing, this time with the Old Man. As promised, we took Shing out for chicken rice. Few days prior, Shing was down with a gastric flu. But she made it to KL nevertheless and we were all glad her tummy was feeling much better by the time lunch arrived on Sunday. For dinner, we had wanted to bring her out for Tom Yum and delish curry noodles in KL, but decided not to push our luck for now.

With chicken rice sitting comfortably in all our tummies, we headed over to RSD HQ, pumped and ready to go. We started the session with Charlotte's song. This time, Mel was there and so I had company. Pictures were taken in black and white, in honor of the noir treatment to Charlotte's scenes.

Cold, cold Vagabond girl

Fergus and Shing researching for the best femme fatale representation for Shing

Ben arrived not long after and so they started with characterization. What is the relationship between Charlotte and the Old Man? Why is the Old Man keeping her? What sort of person is Charlotte. Why is Charlotte the way she is? Why did the Old Man pick Charlotte and not her friends? What is it about Charlotte? The Old Man? Is there love? So on...and so...forth.

Establishing character

We got into the lines pretty soon after we somewhat nailed down the characters. We managed to do all of their scenes. It was amazing seeing both of them go in and out of the different feelings and emotions through and within each scene. The read and blocking was smooth and at some point, rehearsals started to look like Calvin Klein photo shoots, seeing that both Shing and Ben were in white and black, and jeans respectively.

Charlotte and the Old Man sharing a tender moment

Charlotte and the Old Man sharing a not so tender moment

The femme fatale and her lover

We called it a night at around 8pm. Mel bought us food and the day was over. We loaded the pictures up and realized a total of 150 pictures were taken over the weekend. Were we satisfied with the weekend's work?

You bet.

THIS IS MEL

2006-09-17T12:53:00.000+08:00

Mel and the bean bag.

Mel is a gem. Also known as the director's PA and RSD's little helper =) We give her bits and pieces of information on pieces or paper and she files them all in a little folder, which may or may not grow to be a huge binder someday. She takes notes during meetings and later on turns them to our to-do lists. She comes once in a while during rehearsals to keep me company and I've started to associate her with food because she has on more than one occassion coordinated cast and crew meals. I can only forsee that she'll be the person you go to if you need to be fed. Sometimes, when she sits in the bean bag, you worry it might swallow her whole. She's tiny and cute like that.

Just one thing to remember when you're around Mel:
You smile at her lots and she'll smile back at you even more. There's no beating this one when it comes to smiling.

JESSY'S TOE AND MIRROR TALK

2006-09-15T00:19:00.000+08:00

Jessy and Ash were over tonight, and were doing a focus exercise using the song Dil laga liya (pictured above, and no, those aren't jessy and ash, that's priety zinta and her costar, but i swear we'll get there, i swear).

It was then that our two actors, astute as they were on the floor, got their feet tangled, eventuating in Jessy hurting the baby toe on her left foot. After some tlc that first involved tying her baby toe to her fourth toe (so that it didn't "pop out") and then followed by home-made ice pack, we got back into rehearsals. Jessy did spend the remainder of her night on the sofa, which worked out pretty alright considering that in her scene, she is in a bath tub.

Jessy also brought some really yummy chocolate chip muffins, which she baked till 1am the night before. Thanks Jessy!

"How do you feel if i told you that the whole dev story is a dream, a big conjurance in the mind of sapna, as something to soothe the hurt she feels? like, nothing about dev is real. it is all sapna's extensive imagination, fleshed out to make her feel better about losing him?"

"Dev, for you, it is opposite. sapna is your imagination. both of you believe that the other one is imagined. it's like a mirror image, but the object and the image both believe they are the object. both insist that the other is the image, a mere reflection. maybe both of them are objects. maybe dev and sapna are both in that bathroom. or maybe both are the image, reflecting someone else. maybe neither dev nor sapna are there at all"

HOPE SWELLS

2006-09-14T12:35:00.000+08:00

Last week Ash and Bel had their chance to rehearse Videogirl and Dev's scene. As always, it's was a lot of fun. I must apologize for the delay in this blog post. My day job doesn't allow me to slack off, but today I shall! Muahahahhaha...*ahem*

Anyway, Fergus did the usual with them as he did with the rest who've come for rehearsals so far. He made them go through the different energies of acting and got them to role play in different scenarios. The funniest, I think, was the one where Ash played a smooth door-to-door sales man and Bel was the hyperactive home-owner. The situation was this: Ash is trying to sell Bel something, but in the process, he knocks down an urn which houses Bel's dead grandmother's ashes.

So...pics pics pics!

Fergus demonstrating one of the energies.

I can't tell if Ash was in the midst of crossing his legs when I snapped this picture, or if he was goofing around this time.

Ash and Bel paying full attention to Mr. Director Man.

And finally...the read.

I left the session early. From Fergus' apartment door to the elevator, I can't help but feel warm and fuzzy, so much so, a skip threatened to force its way in my stride. Every actor and actress brings with him or her a very different feel and mood to the sessions. Sometimes, it's very playful, sometimes it's dead serious. This time, it was hopeful. Maybe because they were rehearsing the very last scene, where everything comes together.

TABLAS ARRIVE

2006-09-13T17:17:00.000+08:00

This weekend i'm getting my* tablas back. i've not seen them since i was ... fifteen? I don't even know if i remember how to play them anymore but i'll sure die trying. surely, it's nothing wikipedia can't teach me. wikipedia can teach anybody anything from scratch.

I say this to mark the beginning of me nosediving into the world of bollywoodia, the concluding of my writing dev and sapna's hindi song and the encampment in an atmosphere of all things Bollywood. I've just spent hours downloading the songs from some of my favourite hindi films and so the impending arrival of the tablas is most timely.

* they're not really mine. they're my mum's. but i did pester her to buy them when i was ten.

QUOTED

2006-09-13T16:28:00.000+08:00

This actually took place during an MSN conversation with me. She typed it to me when I was talking about something else I don't know what. For whatever reasons, I don't know that either.

Jin: if you want to buy a drink, you must stay

(two seconds later)

Jin: eh...if you wanna STAY, you must BUY A DRINK.

Jin: aiyah...

It seems that most bloopers come from Jin. Is this cause for concern? Or for delight? Hrm...

"YOU FORGET THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE!"

2006-09-08T13:03:00.000+08:00

It was the Old Man and Dev's turn to rehearse.

Firstly, let us introduce Ben Tan who'll be playing the Old Man. He's asked that the Old Man be given a name. I thought Richard. Or was it Raymond. I can't remember. So if any of you have suggestions, do feel free to post them in the comments =)

Anyway, the rehearsal session was intense. Maybe because the scene they were rehearsing was very erm...intense? The warm-up exercises were very different from that of LTW and Y's. It was interesting to see character development based on warm-up exercises. To see each of our cast get into character is amazing.

Fergus made the two men relax to background music which set a mood for them to think about their characters' lives. Their journey from how they started to how they ended up as how they did on script.

Drift...drift...drift away....

There was a lot of discussion during this rehearsal. Mainly to delve deeper into the psyche of both the Old Man and Dev. To see what power games they were playing on each other. In order to get both Ben and Ash to develop that state of mind and be in it, Fergus did a "I lead, you follow" exercise. Both men took turns to focus on the other's body part or object on the other's body part. So with music in the background, the "leader" would move and the "follower" keeps his eyes on the part he was focusing on. The outcome was interesting and to be expected.

It turns out, Ash didn't find it easy to lead but Ben did. So that was cool.

Just the boys discussing the dynamics of the entire scene.

Ash and Ben squaring off in their scene.

That's about it for the Old Man's and Dev's scene until closer to shoot. There's something so sad about this scene, when you do experience it in front of you. You get the impression that there's definitely more than what seems to be heartless and cold. Hrm...

THIS IS JAN

2006-09-07T10:16:00.000+08:00

Also known as oomoo. Or as our Production Designer person before she left for the Netherlands to finish her masters in architecture. She's got this cool top with lotsa polka dots. It's a pity you guys couldn't meet her because she's uber cool and funny. Anyway, this introduction is long overdue. The four of us, Fergus, Elaine, Jan and myself brainstormed on the costumes for the cast. Elaine has taken over overall movie design since Jan ~~ditched us~~ decided to pursue her studies. She sent a video wishing us luck etc etc but I'm too lazy to load it =P

That's Jan writing stuff on these sketches she made while Fergus Mr. Director Man and Elaine Ms. Art Director look on.

"Okay Jan, I want Videogirl to be in a pink tutu. No? How about leopard print leotards? Too tacky? Yeah, I thought so. We'll put her in a red dress. Perfect."

WISH I WAS THERE!

2006-09-06T06:48:00.000+08:00

bloopers are the greatest...

QUOTED

2006-09-05T12:47:00.000+08:00

Scene 777
INT. NIGHT
DIRECTOR'S SOHO

FAI and JIN are sitting on the couch. Paper is strewn across their laps, they are busy perfecting Fai's Mandarin. Or so it seems.

JIN
Hey, do you know how to write your name in Mandarin?

FAI
Yeah sure.

Fai proceeds to write on a piece of paper and Jin looks on. Then Jin takes the paper and pen from Fai and writes something on it as well.

FAI
Hey great. Is that how you write it?

JIN
Yupp. So next time, you can write your name in Mandarin, not draw.

QUOTED

2006-09-04T15:56:00.000+08:00

Scene 89
INT. NIGHT
24 HR SUPERMARKET

LTW
Why is it so hard to love you?

Jin: Because got obstacle lorr...

--------------------------------------

Like bloopers, we're starting a series of posts to record zany rehearsal/reading sessions. It may or may not make sense, or come across as funny to you if you weren't there, but I assure you, it's a nice thing to keep around and laugh about =)

DA DUM...DA DUM DA DUM DA DUM...

2006-09-04T14:58:00.000+08:00

So...

Rehearsals have begun.

Last Saturday saw Fai (LTW) and Jin rehearsing their lines. Incindentally, Jin plays Y, who couldn't make it to the get together we had Thursday last. Anyhoo, it was good fun seeing Fergus getting into director mode, coaching them and getting everyone to loosen up. Even I took part in some bits, but tired out after our little "energizing pick-me-upper" (*be forewarned actors, physical ~~labor~~ exercises will be included during rehearsals). We also worked on Fai's Mandarin, which was great fun as well. Between Jin, who's also Fai's Mandarin tutor; me, who speaks but can't read or write for nuts; Fergus and Fai who barely understands much less speak the language, we managed to come up with the best lines to capture the essence of LTW and Y's scenes.

That's Jin, whose face you can't really see.

"So okay, guys, I want you to get into character..."

Fergus listening and watching intently as Jin and Fai hash their lines out.

As usual, while everyone's getting into the zone, I naturally decided to goof around midway rehearsals.

Jin: Okay, here's how you say "My name is..."
Fai: Great stuff, write it here

Fai: Ni ke yi zhiau wor Lam Tak Wing
Jin: Mm. Good.

ROTTERDAM

2006-09-03T05:41:00.000+08:00

Rotterdam is half an hour away.
The festival is a year away.
It goes to say that RSD will be at the festival.
I will be in Rotterdam in half an hour, in one year. QED.

WORK HARD GUYS

SOMETHING IN THE AIR...

2006-08-28T15:42:00.000+08:00

I can't explain it...

Every corner I turn to I expect a red dominated cafe... dark with red leather chairs, tendrils of smoke floating above the hand held cigarettes of faceless, middle aged, balding men.

Funnily enough - over the past 4 days, I was in 3 such places... something is surely in the air...

Only 3 days to go before it begins...

3 days...

THE PERILS OF PITCHING

2006-08-28T13:43:00.000+08:00

She walks into the door, adrenalin pumping. Already, her sweaty hands are creating fingerprints on the sample prints that she made. She remembers his comments from weeks ago, that the poster for the movie was to be painted. Hand painted according to the film noir style. She had sent a phone message to him just yesterday, asking if he was open to options.

Yes, I am. The message had read.

She walks to the table where he was seated, piles of paper all around him as he worked the storyboards. A grunt greeted her.

I think that means "sit down", she told herself.

Nervously, with words tumbling over each other, she shows him the posters she had done.

"Great for a horror film, this one."
But not for this. That was my favourite, she gulped.

"Quite in the spirit of the occult. But this black one is closest to what I imagine."

Pause.

"Painted, definitely painted. Noir style. Try again."

She sees the top of his head, bent low, working on the storyboards again.

Damn storyboards!

"Yes sir." Her voice tiny.

She slinks out of the room to breathe the air of her defeat.

DINNER, IS SERVED

2006-08-21T08:58:00.000+08:00

Finally, a break from my day job. Which has been hectic. And eratic. And left me spastic. At times. I just wanted to rhyme. Ignore me.

Anywayyyyyyyyyy...

I had an RSD "insulin shot" Tuesday of last week. Churned out the schedule, emailed it, introduced the blog to our cast, sat, twiddled my thumbs and waited for emails to pour in with questions. Ah...all in a days work. Called it one by 4pm, took a leisurely drive home and thought to myself:

"Holy moly...the schedule's out. It's really, real. Like real. Real. Really real".

Yes, sometimes we still find it rather surreal that this thing, this thing called a movie, is slowly, but very surely, about to leave the runway and take full flight:

"Good morning ladies and gentleman, welcome to flight RSD 001, direct from dream to reality. We are preparing for take off; please fasten your seatbelts and enjoy your flight. Today's weather forecast - clear skies with a high of huge excitement and sunny disposition. Welcome".

By the way, I'm still working on the "personalized" chairs. Will a taped piece of paper with your name on it suffice?

Cheers!

CINEMA OF ICONOCLASM

2006-08-04T15:21:00.000+08:00

(extracted from gtalk with eevon)

i worry myself sometimes because i'm so deeply obsessed with cinema, old cinema especially, that rsd sometimes feels less like its own movie but rather an encyclopaedia of cinematic references: godard, bogart, bollywood, kar wai, karina, takeshi, femme fatale, lynch, assasins, musicals, gangsters. icon after icon after icon, i plough up and fit in. some days, i look at videogirl and ltw and think these are real people, because people connect with them, feel like them. and then some days i think they are nothing but brightly coloured cutouts from cinematic history.

i'm not ashamed. i just think about it and it can be a bit intellectually unsettling. i believe that great films provide you moments where you can zone out and because of a scene or a dialogue, you momentarily escape from the film and think about something. when i saw in the mood for love, i zoned out and saw myself saying the following words "my films don't move slowly. my films don't move at all".

when you say that the actors need a point of reference to begin somewhere, i suspect mine will go nowhere, and they will end up exactly where they started. icon to icon. to say that an actor begins with an icon as a reference point, a starting point if you will, implies that the actor progresses from there and builds something new, albeit in reference to that earlier point. i suspect that no one will go anywhere here. fai will be my image of a takeshi at the start and he will finish the film as an image of takeshi. bel will begin the film as karina and she will finish it exactly the same way. my films don't move slowly. my films don't move at all.

it's the cinema of iconoclasm. nobody is new. everybody is an image, an approximation of the original.

eco said that when the originals are no longer available, the last copy is the original.

in fact, originality is no more and never will be anymore. rsd is a most highly unoriginal film, but still i believe it is unique.

GUILT IN STASIS

2006-08-02T13:35:00.000+08:00

At times like this, taking a night out to do completely RSDless activity can do very bad things to your heart, as eevon elucidated on in the prior post. Taking two, or godforbid three, can make a grown man go mental.

For me, it was returning home after a late night in the office intent on a quiet night reading my newly acquired Umberto Eco book, which as a writer/filmmaker, can as easily be filed under research and inspiration as billionaire businessmen file rolls royces under company transportation. Nonetheless, i still relaxed with a heavy heart.

On a related front, my conscience will appreciate news that KL Recce part 1 has been confirmed for tomorrow night, as is Muar Recce on saturday. Good ... now I can sleep in peace.

BUSINESS STILL AS USUAL

2006-07-31T10:06:00.000+08:00

For the most part of May and July, I might as well have been intraveneously fed with all things RSD. After the casting sessions were done, Vernon, Fergus and myself had to sit and revisit the performance of each actor and actress. While making the decisions weren't difficult, the impending task of me having to tell those who didn't make it was. I didn't like breaking hearts. Still, the job had to be done.

A few months back, Fergus had approached me to take on the role of Production Manager after my stint as Casting Director. It was an honor. According to Fergus, I'm the one you come to if you've got a tummy ache, if your heel breaks, if you're unmotivated, if your fingernail breaks, if your zipper doesn't work, if you're dress is falling apart, if your Evian and Beluga hasn't arrived (by Evian I mean Eau Claire - it's as foreign sounding as we can find - and by Beluga I mean McDonald's Chicken Nuggets).

I'm pretty much there to make sure everyone is there to run everything on time in the right place. Shouldn't be too difficult. So with casting 90% complete and production kicking into first gear, I am once again entering into Energizer Bunny mode.

Or so I thought. Because essentially, unlike Casting where 90% of the work has to be put in before I proceed to the crucial 10%, with production, I only put in 10% and the 90% is, well, the crucial 90% that's going to come very soon. I'm still very much psyched.

In fact, I'm so psyched that last week, my first break from anything RSD related got me panicking and anxious.

Me: Fergus, there's nothing scheduled for RSD this week right?
Fergus: No, take it as a break.
Me: Are you sure? Wasn't I supposed to call someone? Weren't we supposed to see someone?
Fergus: No, it's just mostly me dealing with the music and recce from here on.
Me: We're not casting anyone? Any production details to go over?
Fergus: It's a very well-deserved break Eevon...go enjoy your weekend already!
Me: Are you very sure?
Fergus: Eevon Chung...
Me: Okay, okay.

Honestly...I still think I'm missing something out.

Anyhow, your Casting Director is taking a bow and if you have any whims and fancies during production, do feel free to consult your Production Manager. If she decides to ignore your Diva-esque requests, she apologizes in advance. And no, we're not getting personalized and private trailers. But, I might be able to negotiate for your own chair.

Cheers!

TOUCHING A DREAM...

2006-07-26T01:09:00.000+08:00

Dreams are strange things - usually lofty, usually at the end of a long road, usually difficult to obtain.

Yet dreams... are contagious, invoke passion and undoubtedly worth it at the very end.

Yesterday, the road to the RSD dream continued. Plans were considered, schedules were worked out and the shoot was preliminarily planned. It was but a small step in our great leap of faith - yet while I was gesturing wildly at the projected Gantt chart (which, with the help of a projecter covered 1/3 of Fergus' wall), explaining some idea or another I cannot help but felt excitement. As my hand moves over the chart - I feel like as if I am literally touching a dream - one that Fergus has so generously shared with us.

Mind you, there is a long way to go - but finally I can see that we are plotting a course to our destination - the chart is being drawn, ready for us to navigate! And what a breath-taking journey it will be.

God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end."
Exodus 33:14 (The Message)

MAY I TAKE YOUR ORDERS PLEASE?

2006-07-25T14:22:00.000+08:00

Jack and Fergus hard at work.

I was goofing around. And taking pictures of pre-production of course. When we were done, there was a tinggling sensation that ran from the base of my neck till the bottom of my spine. It's exciting to see tasks and schedules, rehearsal and shoot dates materializing in front of you.

United Colors of Benetton, step aside!

I got really giddy seeing all the colors on Fergus' notebook. Aren't they pretty? I think this is Fergus' way of compensating for the hard work we're all going to put in very soon. At least he's got a pretty schedule up and running.

My, my...what big feet you have, Jack.

This is more proof of me goofing around. By the end of the night, we were either running on a really good RSD high, or suffering from brain damage. The Gantt chart was massive! We were giggly and laughing at gross indecencies that I won't be sharing here. But it's all good and "everything will be beautiful...".

A STAR IS BORN

2006-07-25T10:18:00.000+08:00

Every night is a new beginning. Every night, a window is opened on prehistory.

Last night, with the trusty help of Jack and Eevon, we completed both the rehearsal and shooting schedules on a Gantt chart. It helps to see everything put down, and it is definittely exciting to behold.

I'm still gripped with an unshakable fear of the bollywood shoot and all the preparation it entails, but i guess if there's something for me to fear, it ought to be that. Bhangra aside, i can feel the wave of confidence kicking through the whole team now.

The Red Street Diner: Dinner Menu

THE ONE-LEG KICK FARM MONSTER

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

THE SLOW BURN OF LATE NIGHTS

*CENSORED*?

PSST...

ALWAYS BE CLOSING - 30 APRIL 2008

TODAY'S SPECIAL

BLAST FROM THE PAST

HANDOVER

SCORE!

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

PANGEA DAY

RED STREE...WHA...?

WHEN

WE'RE STILL ALIVE.

THE FIRST INTERVIEW

SNIFF SNIFF...

SHHH...

ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK

AND SO, IT ENDS

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 24

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 23

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 22

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 21

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 20

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 19

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 18

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 17

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 16

RSD OFFICIAL STILL: DAY 15

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D-DAY

...

1...

2...

3...

QUOTED

4...

READY IN 5...

COMING SOON, TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU

A CASE OF THE EXES

WHERE DO THE GANGSTERS COME FROM?

CHEF BOY SPURNED TWICE

QUOTED

QUOTED

THE WEEKEND THAT WAS

THIS IS MEL

JESSY'S TOE AND MIRROR TALK

HOPE SWELLS

TABLAS ARRIVE

QUOTED

"YOU FORGET THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE!"

THIS IS JAN

WISH I WAS THERE!

QUOTED

QUOTED

DA DUM...DA DUM DA DUM DA DUM...

ROTTERDAM

SOMETHING IN THE AIR...

THE PERILS OF PITCHING

DINNER, IS SERVED

CINEMA OF ICONOCLASM

GUILT IN STASIS

BUSINESS STILL AS USUAL

TOUCHING A DREAM...

MAY I TAKE YOUR ORDERS PLEASE?

CENSORED?