Christopher Nolan

Such indeed is life. One big mystery, psychological thriller. Nolan moment.

The Prestige (2006) 

Memento (2000)

 

The Dark Knight (2008) 

I've reached my 165th piece of DVD but there are about another hundred more on the shelves. There isn't much space left. Some time later, some titles may have to go, especially those which you would probably not watch again. Maybe I will reach a stage whereby only the top 200 titles will be on the shelves. The rest tucked away in a dry dark corner. Information Literacy professor back in university taught that DVD archives can last only about 20 years. A reminder on the ephemeral existence of ours. Change is the only constant.

Tim Burton

Films by Tim Burton. Only 3 of them. Each work is a reminder of a certain phase in life, growing up, watching movies, thinking about life.

Big Fish (2003)

I'm not big on Gothic films so Big Fish is for me the favourite Burton film. I think this is one of the most touching film ever made, though it got critically panned by critics and audience alike. Maybe it's just me.

 Batman Returns (1992)

I remember spending Friday afternoons with my mom, fetching my elder sister from her piano lessons at Geylang. We would take a bus in front of an Econ Minimart stall with a Batman Returns poster and stickers (I think Panini) for sale. Buy either Gardenia or Sunshine Bread and you can get a packet of stickers for free as well. A few years later, caught the ending of the film while the parents were shopping at the Kallang Courts Megastore .

Beetle Juice (1988)

I reckon my love for cinema started at a young age. Sometime around 5 to 6 years old, I spent a lot of time with the VCR and the tv. Yes, my mom taught me how to create "bootleg" copies of my favourite cartoons and movies. Had the film on tape and spent lots of afternoons re-watching and re-watching Beetle Juice.

Sam Gerard

U.S. Marshals (1998) dir. Stuart Baird

I'm trying to swear off sociopolitical blogs for awhile. It gets too depressing, reading all kinds of comments there.

...Straighten Up... Fly Right...

The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) dir. Robert Markowitz 

Friends die in our business, and for a lot of reasons. And the only protection you have against losing one is not to have any.

Love in a Puff

Love in a Puff (2010) dir. Pang Ho-cheung

Changi Sunset

Had a "reservist" call-up so I didn't have to work. I don't mind the occasional military obligations. National Service was a significant part of my life, though I reckon I could have done better as a soldier.

Went to Changi Beach in the evening to take some pictures. It rained a bit and so I sought shelter in a verandah. It was the less popular stretch, plus it was a weekday so there was no one else in sight within about 100 metres. Worked on the feature film script for the first time, tentatively titled "Finding Kar-wai".

Refreshing, very liberating. Haven't felt this way for a long time.

Home-cooked Dog Food

Credits go to Pearly Sim. I can only cook Maggie Mee and non-edible jungle-survival food stuff.

The Wee Kim Wee Spirit

One of the perks of working in this wonderful place is your own personal office room. The work is tough but meaningful. On the desk is a SCI mug, a reminder. The Wee Kim Wee spirit lives on in this alumni!

Long before the faculty takes on the name of Singapore's 4th President, the late Mr. Wee Kim Wee who himself had an illustrious career in journalism, the school was simply, SCI (School of Communication & Information). We are now known as the Wee Kim Wee School. More commonly known for its journalism division than the other concentrations, it's great to see the works of current students in the Broadcast & Cinema gaining some recognition.

On hindsight, I wish I've made better student films.

Who are who are who are we
we are we are Wee Kim Wee!

I "penned" the school cheer, or fondly known as the Weekimwee Cheer, back when I was in the students' club. It warms my heart to hear about it again.

Help make a film!

Crowd-sourcing is big amongst American indie/DIY/micro-budget filmmakers and now it has taken root in my alma mater. Likely to be the first every crowd-sourcing attempt in Wee Kim Wee School. Help my juniors make their thesis film so that they can not only graduate in one piece but most importantly, make an impact and land themselves a coveted job in the tv/film/broadcast industry.

Fast Food High Times

During a Q&A session after a public screening of my short films, the moderator asked me what would be the type of films I would like to make in future / or make a name for myself / something like that lah. I said bromantic comedy, something like Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (minus all the weed and sexual references).

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) dir. Danny Leiner

Harold: So what are you in here for?

Tarik: For being black.
Harold: Seriously.
Tarik: I am serious. You wanna know what happened. I was walking out of a Barnes & Noble, and a cop stops me. Evidently, a black guy robbed a storein Newark. I told him, "I haven't even been to Newark in months." So he starts beating me with his gun, telling me to stop resisting arrest.
Harold: Holy shit! What'd you do?
Tarik: I kept saying, "I understand I'm under arrest. Now please stop beating me."
Harold: I don't understand how you can be so calm about all this.
Tarik: Look at me. I'm fat, black, can't dance, and I have two gay fathers. People have been messing with me my whole life. I learned a long time ago there's no sense getting all riled up every time a bunch of idiots give you a hard time. In the end, the universe tends to unfold as it should. Plus I have a really large penis. That keeps me happy.

the Chosen One

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002) dir. Steve Odederk

 Master! I was hoping one day I could be the Chosen One!

all you need

All you need to make a film is one car, one HDSLR, 2 friends and many many Buddha's feet.

Failures

"I've missed more than 9000 shot's in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game's winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."

Like a Boss

Chess Master

The Chess Master and an evening nap.

ND Fader

Another filmmaking investment.

ND Fader

Lai lai... Another investment, new toy, must-have.

The weekend film adventure turns sour. Must have an AAR. Starting to have the thoughts of "maybe I'm not good enough, this isn't for me".  I do not want to grow old and become indulgent/delusional like most..erm.....xxBLANKxx do.  If you can't do your best, show your best, you might as well not start.

Stages of Film Production

Credit: The Frugal Filmmaker.

True.

The Altis' Dashboard

Anyone with a Spider-man, alloy or bronze?

Sea Bass Go Home

Same ol' march again.

"Otto, I'm not a Nazi"

Stalingrad (1993) dir. Joseph Vilsmaier

"The best thing about the cold is ..." "... you don't have to worry about sunburnt..."

Supported Zak's presentation of his photography project, Our Gurkhas. 

The photographer-turned-Computer-Progammer ended the night by sharing this nugget, "perfect is the enemy of the good."