midnite lily's

Sumolah is currently being screened at the Fukuoka Film Festival, the city where it was shot at last year in July. This was one of it's reviews done in the Daily Yomiuri.

Sumo spirit fights on in Asia
(exerpt) But there was one particular movie I had been curious about ever since I saw the list of films to be shown at the festival. Called "Sumolah!" ("Let's Sumo!"), it is a Malaysian-Japanese coproduction. Its director, Afdlin Shauki, is also one of the screenwriters and the leading man. The story follows the life of Ramlee, an indecisive young man who works at a sushi restaurant in Malaysia owned by a Japanese-born man, Honda-san. An eager fan of sumo, Honda encourages his employees to take part in a sumo tournament that is held each year in Malaysia. ...~read more here

Posted by Zona Marie at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are so many opportunities in life that come and go... What happens to us, depend on what we decide to do with those opportunities. Where I am now, is the sum of all my choices - of the opportunities taken, and lost. But it is also the people around me, who choose to share in abundance. And whom most times, believe in me more than I do myself, that has helped me move forward.

Stumbling on Paulo Coelho's blog almost two months ago, is by no means an accident. Inasmuch as how I came to know this endearing writer. He is a man who writes with his soul; and his books, speaks to willing listening souls. Those who know how to listen, and let their hearts guide them.

The Internet is such a vastly amazing place to be in. We live in a sad, yet intriguing era. Never would I have expected to be this close to a man who has had over 40 million copies of his book sold! It is one thing to be reading his words, but it is another to receive his reply to your email in your own mailbox! He is a man of humility, despite his fame. It is amazing how he's embraced his readers - millions, the world over - as friends.

And because of his readers, he's begun The Experimental Witch project.

Throughout my career as a writer, I've met people that trusted me without knowing me well and they have helped me, enabling me to follow my dreams. I've been visiting the pages of readers this last year and I've seen excellent works by actresses & actors, musicians, directors, etc. That's why I thought: why not make a movie together? I would retain the rights of the film based on my latest book The Witch of Portobello while developing this partnership.

I have never done my own film. I have worked on many television shows and one feature film, in various capacity as a director, writer, assistant, line producer... all mostly with factual programmes for commercial viewing. I have never dared touch a dramatic narrative for my own undertaking. And I have had colleagues ask me, when will I direct my own short film. I guess the time to attempt it is now.

So, I have requested to narrate Nabil Alaihi.

Posted by Zona Marie at 2:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It's not even been three months working, and already I'm seriously burnt out. *sigh* I don't have the stamina to work in production any more, sadly.

My blood pressure dropped and I found myself suffering dizzy spells and headaches the last few days. Kinda ignored it, thinking it'd be fine after eating or whatever. But I realised the more tasks I was given, the more stressed I became until it reached a very near breaking point. I've been finding it very hard to concentrate or even make simple decisions like what I was used to. It got even more frustrating for me. And the frustration added to the stress. Driving the distance to and fro work... Planning Lee's arrival, thinking up ideas for the engagement party... All of it adds up.

Doesn't help that when I try looking for time outs with friends, it feels like an uphill task to get anyone who'd be even available for a leisure drink, let alone dinner. Anything to have company that doesn't talk about work.

Never been this physically and emotionally stressed.... Heart palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, trouble sleeping... All those symptoms of stress lah!

*sigh* Makes me feel so inadequate.

Posted by Zona Marie at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The international film community suffers two losses this week. Italian "Master of Modernity" filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni, 94, and Swedish filmmaker icon Ingmar Bergman, 89, both died in their own homes respectively.

Ingmar Bergman left in the early hours of yesterday morning. Within a few hours, Michelangelo Antonioni had followed him through the exit door. It remains to be seen whether this signals the onset of some art-house apocalypse - some Biblical purge of revered European auteurs - but the omens are hardly encouraging. How are Godard, Resnais and Rohmer bearing up? Can we urge them to stay indoors, wrap up warm, and maybe put on some old DVDs. Anything to keep them out of circulation until the curse has run its course.
~taken from Guardian Unlimited

It feels surreal to have lived in an era and lose milestone makers of the industry. And both of them almost side by side, no less. Almost feels like 1997's Princess Diana-Mother Teresa double whammy.

Other news clippings...
Obituary: Michelangelo Antonioni, filmmaker
Filmmaking icon Bergman dies

Posted by Zona Marie at 2:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm reminded... I don't like being where I am... This type of work... This type of lifestyle... I don't want to be like this any more. I know work doesn't need to be this way. I've had so many burnouts to know, this isn't what I want. I am surrounded by so many others, whom I can look at their lives as a reflection of what is ahead of me, and I can say, "I don't want to be in their shoes."

I don't have the patience to sit here and listen to an episode being repeated for edits, over and over again. I don't have the composure to deal with a client wanting constant changes. I don't have the energy, to leave it to someone else when I know it would've been done better if I did it myself. I don't have the passion any more.

So, why do I find myself face to face with it, all over again?

Posted by Zona Marie at 1:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since coming back to KL, I've gone back to the director's seat. Ordering the crew around, deciding on shots, etc. This project is kacang putih compared to what I've done previously. But the reality is, I'm a bit rusty. I can't believe how time has flown by, my last directing gig was late 2005 and it feels like ages ago.

The other thing is, I've long been nursing thoughts of leaving the industry. I don't feel as passionate about production like I used to. I've let go two big opportunities in the last year, which could have seen me working on projects I've always wanted to do. Things that were more serious and substantial in content, than most of the superficial entertainment programmes I've worked on.

Mute said that we might have reached a stage in our careers where we don't want to produce other people's work or ideas any more; that we're craving to create and produce our own passions. There's probably truth in that. I do want to work on my own documentary. And the time out back in KL might be giving me that chance. Yet, honestly, my passion has always been writing. Not creating films or television shows.

It's hard to weigh the two. I've come so far with one career, would it be a waste to leave it behind? I know it shouldn't be. Besides, writing and film/TV producing is a creative symbiotic affair. It's just that one allows a reclusive lifestyle, the other doesn't.

An artist is never satisfied with his work.

Posted by Zona Marie at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm finally listed on IMDB. *grins* For Sumolah, of course. Then I searched Kopitiam, and discovered that one of the episodes I had written, "Scarlet Letters", was listed. Its now awaiting update to link my name to that episode. Whee!

Posted by Zona Marie at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It's hard to accept the one thorn among many roses of acceptance when it comes to work. This one very difficult client of late, is my first script rejection in my seven years scriptwriting for TV and corporate work. The thing about corporate writing jobs versus television is that the latter allows more creative freedom while the former requires almost every fact written out as the client wants it. And I'm very used to that, while they dictate and provide material of everything they say, I translate them into "broadcast language".

In this case, this client insisted his words were better than mine. No matter how many times I changed it to suit the voice over narrative, he changed it back. So I followed what he wanted, and just corrected the grammar mistakes in his "suggestions". Indirectly, I guess you could say I "gave up" fighting the client and was instructed to give him what he wanted.

Continue reading "When it's not worth it" »

Posted by Zona Marie at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

click for bigger version Seems it's promotion day for entries today. Afdlin just released Sumolah's film poster with updates saying that the film has just finished editing and is going into audio dubbing mid this month.

Being the first film I've ever worked on, I've never been as excited as feeling the enormity of such a project. Working on almost 200 episodes of tv programmes just can't compare to one (possibly international) feature film! And Sumolah is big.

I'm just not sure if I should feel sad knowing I probably won't be around for its release. The idea that you're part of a team whom've created a film is something to be proud of. Seeing your name in the credits on the silver screen compared to a 21" TV, among amazingly talented industry folks, is also something. The idea of it feels so surreal. Almost, larger than life. I'm beginning to understand what Afdlin meant when he said his passion was with film rather than in tv. Maybe I should just be thankful to have been a part of it, and realise that this might just bring bigger things ahead. I don't know. Periods in between jobs always make me feel frustrated about who I am, that no matter what I've been able to achieve in, I still always feel stupidly insignificant. Only because I know there's always something bigger, better out there. And it's what I choose today that brings me tomorrow.

So, what am I doing? Where am I going? What do I want from my life? There's just so much to want and keep wanting, but you can only have what you need. I guess I just can't have everything, can I? *sigh*

Posted by midnite lily at 7:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So my holiday's over and it's time to slowly get back into the swing of things. I've still got a bit of outstanding work with Sumolah - just a couple of loose ends that I need to complete before starting at my new job.

Speaking of which, I'm not moving to Singapore immediately. I'm taking the first bus out to the tiny island republic Tuesday morning to meet the people and discuss some employment details. A bit like an orientation, if you may say so. Not sure if I'm staying overnight yet, cos the last bus leaves Singapore at 6pm.

My Philippines photos are up at Flickr - go check it out. Not much really.

Posted by midnite lily at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dazed. I just got a job offer in Singapore that needs wants me to suggest I move down and start on September 18th - the day after I come back from the Philippines! x_X

Oh gawd, this is happening too fast...

Posted by midnite lily at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

I'd been in a world of my own lately, drugged and what not, I'd forgotten that I'm supposed to be presenting at a career talk this arvo at KDU.

The audience (bout 70-80 pax) will consist of film students and they would love to listen to you talk about the TV industry, tips for aspiring directors, good ideas for shorts and documentaries, etc etc.

I've never been intimidated by a crowd before, and have always been good at winging it... Hey, how many times have I repeated my career beginnings story to friends and new acquaintances - so how hard can it be? I'm just worried that I haven't thought out anything with a bit more effort on the presentation. Nyek.

*trails off* & I haven't packed for the Philippines yet... finished up work... changed currency... bla bla...

Posted by midnite lily at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

At day 63, it's over. Principal photography at least. The Production Management team, Wardrobe and Art Department still has a few more days of clean up and do hand overs. But for now, for me, the most painful is over.

And at least I'll be able to breathe easy and spend a bit more quality time with Lee. I've already been accused of being a bad hostess just because I had to bring him to set. x_X nyek. Well, no excuses this time.

Posted by midnite lily at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've been awake since 11am on Sunday and just got back home from filming. Madness. Hee... I'm a bit on a strange hyperactive high at the moment, and trying to tie-up some loose ends for work before I try to sneak in some sleep in my schedule. Har-har. One of the things that's keeping me going came from an SMS Christina sent me this morning just as we finally wrapped Sunday's filming day - "Check out cartoon in the NST today. Pg 26 Life and Times"

Hee! Fauzi helped us out draw out the storyboards for the film's sponsored scenes in such amazingly short notice. And this must be his inspiration of the week! How cool is that? If you've got the News Straits Time's today, check it out. It's actually the "Spot the difference" cartoon strip. So I've got my name twice, just as Fauzi's the only Malaysian cartoonist who gets his comics printed twice in the same day! Heeheehee...

Posted by midnite lily at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

It's week three (only?? it feels like more than a month already!) on Sumolah!. And I've begun posting up photos at the film production blog. So it's time to pay a visit and see what my film crew's been up to and keeping me so stressed out. Plug! Plug! Plug!

While the gorgeous Inthira Charoenpura, affectionately known as Sai, began shooting with us last week, the famous Mr Phua Chu Kang, Gurmit Singh arrived in KL today on his first day of shoot in Sumolah! If you're up to it, I've uploaded a couple of videos of the shoot at Boleh Sushi earlier this evening. Cheers!

Posted by midnite lily at 1:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Week one is over, and the madness continues. Introducing some of the people on Sumolah...

L2R: me & Tomoko
She's one of the writers of the film, and our precious Japan Location Manager. Also going to be my source of Japanese! ^_^ She's so kawaii!

Anne!
Our Artiste Liaison Manager - the person you'd have to get past to see our stars! Heheh...

2nd AD Shima
Jotting the first conti sheet of Principal Photography, she's also Afdlin's manager, so she's the one you need to get past to see our main man, Afdlin!

1st AD, Hairuk-call-me-O
Apparently one of the few times we're going to see him smile on shoot. If you want production to go on well, this is the guy the production depends on. Big responsibility O! I know you can do it! ^_^

Posted by midnite lily at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's been a rollercoaster ride at work the last week and a half. Even though I've been working with the film for that length of time, it feels like a month. It is intense. But where's the fun when it isn't?

Shoot began on Sunday, and we're moving at a promising pace. Although the rainy weather does threaten to affect our schedules.

I know I haven't been able to blog of late, and some of you have been msging me about it... =P heheh... I know lah, but the little time I do have free to get online, I'm obviously spending it with my BFG. ^_~ That's a reasonable excuse rite? Heheh...

What's not excusable is that I haven't even blogged at Sumolah's production blog yet! I have pictures and should be doing it pretty soon. Need my own laptop to access the Internet for that. At the moment, very difficult at the office because everyone's a Mac user here and the airport isn't allowing my lappie to get online. Bah...

Posted by midnite lily at 6:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Life is taking an amazing turn for me this year, and I'm getting more and more excited every day. I've already jumped right in to work with the Sumo-lah! team on Sunday. And while feeling overwhelmed by the amount of homework I've to catch up on - my stack of papers including the film script I have to read is piling to almost 3 inches high now! - I feel liberated and ready to take on the challenges ahead of me!

The feeling of liberation doesn't just extend to my creative freedom, but also my web presence here which I am now allowed more freedom to reveal myself. As some of you would've read, my previous employer had barred me from talking about anything related to my work in my blog, and I had to follow on with trying not to reveal even my name.

But with Sumo-lah!, almost everyone in the team has a blog and so does the director! It's just awesome that Afdlin believes in how the web is a media form in its own right and that blogs are a wonderful tool to attract fans to a first hand production experience. Besides, the entertainment industry, namely filmmaking in this case, is about the people who watch it and without our audience, who do we have to show it to anyway?

So for information sake, I am a Line Producer with the film. And though my six years of television production has mainly been creative (from writing to directing), this challenge of assisting in producing such an amazing film is something I'm thoroughly excited about! It's something I haven't officially done before in either capacity. It makes it even more worthwhile knowing that everyone in the team has the same drive and passion for work. This in its entirety is already motivating and rejuvenating the previously burnt out artist in me.

Posted by midnite lily at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Since I can't, for the life of me, blog about work... *retch*
I'm redirecting you to Disco-Very's blog for a really cool update and snippet of the fun you can get by coming to the latest TV show I'm working on. She's done it up really nicely, with loads of pics (taken by Naz) and very well written. *^_^*

Posted by midnite lily at 9:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This is my son, for the weekend. Hahah.. I was casted as a TV mum for a biscuit commercial, thanks to mute. I was a bit overwhelmed at the idea of being in front of the camera. Especially being a TV mum! Though I grew up going for endless castings but never getting any. Now, for the laugh of it and while visiting mute at his new workplace, I was given the mummy job. One of the main reasons they said I was chosen was because I had the "first-time-mummy look". That was so the part where my kid goes hysterical was more believable. And it was no joke wei, this boy's a veteran actor, and a potential heartbreaker when he grows up. =P He's half Greek, half Chinese.

Continue reading "Single Unmarried Mum & Weekend Son" »

Posted by midnite lily at 7:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

I loathe the office environment right now. It's become farking congested and we're stuffed into a room like sardines ready for shipment. The first floor where I sit used to be a haven of peace and quiet. With the occassional laughter and chatter of four females when taking a break from staring at the monitor too long.

Now, two are gone. And one more is leaving soon. *sigh* Lucky them. And there I am, stuck with 15 noisy, smelly, inconsiderate idiots who have Thai & Malay rock music blasting from their laptops, while they sit around and discuss loudly how stupid mat rempits are. Very intellectual, I must say.

Continue reading "The Retching Sardine" »

Posted by midnite lily at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

It's time to feast your eyes on celluloid delights now. And yes, back into work mode for me. The 50th Asia Pacific Film Festival is in Kuala Lumpur, and I can't wait to catch some of the films they'll be screening.

Continue reading "A-Pac Film Festivals!" »

Posted by midnite lily at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

To the three Generasi Digital winners!
Brandon Loh (LUCCT) for his heart-tugging adorable film "Ditinggalkan"; Prakash Gopalakrishnan (UCSI) for his LOL Bollywood comedy, "Pertemuan yang Abadi"; and Zaidan Zainuddin (The One Academy) for his uniquely treated dramedy, "Kantoi"

And to all the other 19 teams, you've been great! Thank you for making the show come alive! May you find yourself encouraged & inspired to be our new generation of directors & producers.

Posted by midnite lily at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It gets to me a whole lot when people accusingly point out how emotional I am. It's as though you're not allowed to have emotions. What more when this person says to me that people will use it against me? Well, had I not been interrupted by a commencing film, I'd have said,

"Fuck them. And you too."

Yes, it gets my goat. If you can't accept me as an emotional person, then I'm glad to let you know (as you're reading my blog) that I couldn't give a damn what you said last nite. And for all you think of how I ill-manage my emotions. Because even though I do see it as a weakness, it is also my strength. As a writer and as a person whose happy to be just who I am.

The Generasi Digital team's been working for 8 straight days now. With yesterday being the judging segment studio shoot. We had quite a few good names from the industry... Mior Hashim Manap, Zarul Albakri, Naa Murad, Aida Fitri, Deepak Kumaran Menon, Zan Azlee & even Yasmin Ahmad. My EP and Producer left me to brief the guest judges prior to each recording. And I was quite overwhelmed by Yasmin's presence, that I'm sorry to say I fumbled quite a bit. I didn't do it right. So what I got during the recording, wasn't quite up to expectations. I just got to see what I can salvage from it later during editing.

But speaking of overwhelming, just watching some of the student contestants' reactions was quite fulfilling. The first week of shoots with them on location, while conducting the interviews, I practically saw the show come alive. A lot were genuinely thankful for the opportunity. And real potential talent emerged. What more to see them side by side these industry mentors giving them advice, praise and criticisms.

I'm nursing a cold at home today. I'd been sick since Wednesday last week. But I couldn't be more anal about going to work. I am not about to let being sick keep me from working on my first project baby.

And neither was the fact that my Assistant Director rammed her car into my parked Wendy yesterday, going to bring me down. Yeah so, I am mad about it. But I'm not going to let it get to me.

Posted by midnite lily at 3:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Generasi Digital's been out in the papers this week. We're still on the hunt to look for participants. Today, we're in The Star, with my producer's mugshot gracing the article! Muahaha... =P I was so worried they were gonna use the other pictures they took of us in front of the show's banner. This is Raz's belated b'day pressie from Allan! hehehe...

Anyway, we begin shooting on Sunday with the first batch of students. And I'm getting very anxious about the whole thing. The scheduling, the content, scripts, overall management etc. It's not a joke trying to manage 22 mini-productions plus the whole 13 episode show! But I've got a great team working with me, and I'll say I'm blessed. *^__^*

Meantime, stressed out shopping for a new laptop. +_+

Posted by midnite lily at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's a madhouse for me right now. My 4-year-old laptop is dead, and I've to contend with the rickety office computers. I'm in the midst of working on episode 1's offline. And the machine's chewed up my tape!!! arrrgh. Anyway, we're begining shoot for Generasi Digital on Sunday after all the fuss about the Audition day and Workshop. So it's gonna be one helluva month for me. You'll be lucky again to get any posts from me. ^__~ But there's always the archives! heheh...

Sharizal!! I accidentally deleted your comment just now. Could you repost a hello? heheh.. Take 2?

Yeah, that aside... I've been meeting some cyber-celebrities over the last week. I don't like to make it a habit of meeting other bloggers (for some unknown reasons), but from yesterday's count I've met *holds fingers up* 8.

Ah, and I finally did take Toffee for a nice pampering and grooming session at Alicia & WH's new pet shop, Scales & Tails, in Aman Suria Damansara (beside Dataran Prima). Now the spoilt brat is all nice and soft, irresistable to pet!! *^__^*

To watch out.. more pictures of Toffee in colour! Cheers!

Posted by midnite lily at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've got a defeatist attitude. Along with a waning self-esteem, high self-expectations, stubbornness, paranoia and rebelliousness. A recipe for disaster related to any kind of change.

I love my comfort zone. I love my retreat into my own quiet, undisturbed world of thoughts. And the independence that comes with it. The way I like to work is no different. But when I'm in my director hat, it's transformed into utter rebellion.

Continue reading "Taming of a rebel" »

Posted by midnite lily at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This April would be five years since my first project in the world of TV. It doesn't feel that long. And I say my experiences are still scarce, compared to what is ahead of me.

But what scares me right now, is the reality that I'm being left creatively in-charge of a half a million Ringgit project. *choke*

The last two weeks have been, in a way, organizational hell for me. Little Miss-Perfection, sits in front of the laptop all day, thinking thoroughly hard over what she's missed in all areas of production. From creative control to budgeting and producing. And since I've been given such power, I think I've became somewhat of a monster. =(

Continue reading "Too proud, too young" »

Posted by midnite lily at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DOUBLE VISION (a member of the Vision New Media Group) is looking for film/TV/Media students of colleges/universities in the Klang Valley for a new Bahasa Malaysia Reality TV show. The show will feature 22 teams of 4 people producing their own 3 minute short film based on their chosen kata pepatah Melayu.

Interested participants are expected to pitch their ideas & concept at an audition session on March 26th April 2nd at the Double Vision office. However, a concept paper must be submitted first to the producers by March 22nd 2005 March 26th.

For further information call Fitrine Abas at 012-277 6330, or email gendigi @ visionnewmedia.net

You can also download the rules & regulations, and participation form here and email to gendigi @ visionnewmedia.net or fax to 03-7958 6930

Posted by midnite lily at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)