As for the post-production, I try to help out with the edit by trying to find any mistakes in it visually and ‘audioly’.

2.What have you learnt in each phase?

From the footage, we saw some lighting continuity problems(some look like night even though it’s a day scene) and I learn that this problem could be prevent if I had noticed it during the production and tell our DP. I guess that’s why production is a group work and no job should be done by one person unless they have no problems.

As for the assistant director, I’ll try to assist the director as much as possible. I also try to make sure that we do not overrun too much as the cast need time to rest for Day 2 and making sure we did not forget to shoot any shots. As we do not have enough grip on Day 1, I tried to juggle my job as AD and grip, helping them out to set the dolly and lights although in Day 2, there were enough grip so I try to help when neccessary.

2.What have you learnt in each phase?

I have learnt that I’ve made a mistake in juggling two jobs as it affect my original role especially in Day 1 when we overrun, luckily by only an hour. I also lean that it is important to have enough grips for the shoot as the shoot is delayed for setting up the equipments and if we had enough grips, the equipments can be set-up while we are doing other shots.

For this project, I held the role of Assistant Director(AD) and Casting Director as Wee Kiat(Director) is overseas during the casting session. My job as an AD is to produce a reasonable call sheet and make sure that we didn’t end too late. I also asked Wee Kiat to try minimise the shots used as we went over 12am during the initial call sheet. As the Casting Director, I’m supposed to audition the actors and try to find the actors if we couldn’t find any during the audition.

2.What have you learnt in each phase?

I’ve learnt that Casting Director is a tough job if the roles required are hard to find. Firstly, we usually find our actors through AADB and facebook(not recommended). Unfortunately, it is hard to find a middle-age woman and secondary school boys as AADB is mainly filled with guys/ladies in their 20s/30s. Luckily, my aunt, whose boutique was used by a production company, managed to help me get in contact with an AD of the production company which help me find the actress. I guess the main lesson from all this is it’s recommended to have as much contact as possible (in the industry) to help with the casting.

No role, dude(maybe passing the camera report to the editor). All I can do right now is wait and hope it turns out great and as what my director had visioned it. Now is the game time for my editor, Bryan. I guess moral support is available in the arsenal if I were to do something during post-production and make constructive comments to improve the edit.

2.What have you learnt in each phase?

During the DI session, Wee Kiat(director) told me that the third roll cannot be used as it has a double image effect. At that point, my heart sunk thinking that I’m 100% at fault for that due to my drench, sweaty palms that probably affect the film. And as I listen to you( Mr. Lau) explaining what possibly could happen, I didn’t really understand what you’re saying but when the words “human error” was uttered, I think I get the drift. It was not until after the session that Wee Kiat explain to me we didn’t slot the magazine onto the camera properly. Although I knew that it wasn’t me that slot in the magazine, it was still my responsibility to do it and that I’m completely at fault. So I guess that if I learn anything from this, it is that every little mistakes count and that it doesn’t hurt to double check.

As the Assistant Cameraman, I’m supposed to count how much footage we’ve shot, make sure shot is in focus, help the d.o.p set up the camera and check the gate for any slice of film that was cut off. As no lights/dolly was used, I didn’t have to do any grip work.

2.What have you learnt in each phase?

Well one thing for sure, if you think you are 100% prepared to load a film, you’re not. I didn’t had any problems when I load the second film(the first one was load by my d.o.p), although I took about 5 mins. However, (cue dramatic music here), on the last day of filming, the magazine’s lock mechanism was faulty and I had to load out the exposed film into the can and the unexposed film into another magazine. Now, as I did this at a bus-stop while other people are looking at me wondering, why is there a guy sitting on the floor, beside a trashcan, with his hand in a bag? At first, it was easy but as I was transferring the unexposed film into another magazine, I took out the small black thing with the film which means I had to take out the small circular black thing(I’m really sorry about my lack of knowledge on SR2) and put it back in the magazine. Although I successfully manage to did that with the aide of my drenched, sweaty palm and in about 15 minutes(yup, that long), I knew I wasn’t prepared. I guess the saying “there’s no such thing as too much practice”(i think I’m making this up) is more appropriate than (practice makes perfect).

Another thing that I’ve learnt is that to check the gate. CHECK THE GATE. I remember when we were halfway shooting on the first day, Kevin, my d.o.p, checked the gate and says there’s something inside. The fact that checking the gate is my responsibility, I’ve begin to be paranoid, imagining what the outcome will be. Will there be like a huge line cutting across the frame?So, yeah, check the gate.

1.What is your role / contribution to the film in each phase?

As the Assistant Camera(A.C.), I’m supposed to learn how to load a film successfully without any visual assistance. Other than that, I had to learn how calculate the amount of film by using time and frame per second. (Time x fps) /fpfeet. Other than other than that, I’m supposed to assist the dop in regards to setting up the camera, checking the gate and try to estimate the distance in relation to feet.

2.What have you learnt in each phase?

How to check the gate(although I’ve been told that it is not recommended to remove the lens and instead open up the aperture and look through the lens), formula to find how much film is used, the detailed parts of the camera and how to load a film after a few, miserable tries. Also, I have learn how filing up the paperwork for pre-production can be a pain and I salute students who aspires to be producers and existing producers. Not just that, our group had a big problem in getting the actors as they’re not available during the weekdays due to bus availability. I guess we have to be prepare for any change and not lose it.

As I recall flashbacks of my life, there was this time when I failed an English papar in Sec 3.It was mid-year examination.When I look at the red numbers on the paper, I didn’t felt sad or regret.It was like I was receiving a plain piece of paper.

If I go back deeper in my childhood or you might say teenhood, there was this incident where my classmate pass away, tragically I might say. He was hit by a van after his NPCC teacher called him to come to school even after he told her he was sick.He alighted at the bus stop nearby our school and cross the road without waiting the bus to go first.We had a reception for him the next day and I saw some of my classmates falling into tears.I just COULDN’T cry.I tried to.Maybe because I only knew him for just a 2 weeks.It was the start of the secondary school for my batch.But think that will always stick in my head is when the reception was over,we went back to the classroom and there was this girl who ask me,

“Eh, Afiq.You didn’t cry ah?Aiyah,tisk…tisk,you got no feeling is it.”she said with full disgust.

I was damn shocked.The fact that she just said that spontaneously while our classmates were grieved for my late classmate made me felt…well,shock.Since when does one needs to cry to show empathy towards the deceased ones?

Then, last two week, my grandma passed away. It was actually not a sad occasion, my family kind of accept her death probably because she was admitted to the ICU twice. The first time my mum cried non-stop. I was sad for her but again, I failed to cry.

So,last week I watched Requiem For A Dream…finally!!!After searching it at HMV,Gramophone,Video Ezy and many more, I finally found it.Lets just say the law ain’t going to be happy with me…you all did not hear what I just said.Don’t know if any T1B1 had seen it(I know Atiqah did),but this was one of the most beautiful yet depressing movie I’ve ever watch.I regret never watching it at one go(assignments) but it still give me the chills.Then there was this last scene, it didn’t end happy,and after watching it…there was tears flowing down my cheek involuntarily.

Ironic,a movie made me cry yet real-life situation don’t.

McPranks:

Last friday I rode the fully occupied bus 154 to go home.Its a direct bus service from Ngee Ann Poly to Boon Lay interchange.So after sitting on that vibrating chair(…that sounds wrong)for about an hour,I suddenly had the urge to buy a McDonald’s milkshake when I spotted a big poster of it at taman jurong.So,I pressed the bell and alight even though I knew that I’ve to wait another 30 mins to board another bus.When I enter the place,there wasn’t a long queue so I kind of feel optimistic about this abrupt decision.There I was, standing in a queue with my purpose only to buy a chocolate milkshake.Then…there was the big board.I am sure all of you had encountered a situation where you had one goal in your mind only to be distracted by the pictures of the big board.The power of the big board shouldn’t be underestimated.There is numerous times where my intentions were to purchase a small ice cream cone only to be tempted by the big board and only to find me saying “One big mac meal please…upsize”.Thats what happened to me that Friday.The worse thing was,when I went home I unintentionally burped and my mom asked if I went to McDonald’s.Oh..oh.

However,I proudly say that not on all occasion McDonald’s had the better of me.During my secondary school days,me and my friend frequently went to McDonald’s taman jurong outlet just because of their drive-thru.Only there we were able to release our stress by pranks.For example,my friend would walk up the intercom of the drive-thru and said what he wanted to eat.After saying it,he would ran away,I didn’t even think that the staff even realize about this but we would laugh when we stop running and forgetting our homeworks and other serious things.I knew what we did seem to be morally wrong but I felt what we did wasn’t that bad after watching Super Size Me(2004)

Fattie Move Aside:

Tiredness conquered my body last Thursday.I haven’t ate and sleep for one full day.I was more pissed when I saw a fully crowd train coming towards the railway and I board it.As it reaches Jurong East interchange,lady luck smiled on me when there was more people alighting than boarding which led to one empty seat.I rushed towards it and I also saw a young lady rushed towards it.Usually I gave in but I felt I deserved some rest so…I won the race!I sat there smiling and expressing my relief as my buttocks made contact with the seat.Then,I saw the same lady with an angry expression on a face and walked away with an ‘attitude’.Well,sorry honey,I won.Thinking about it,I think that she doesn’t have the right to be angry cause I truly deserved the chair.Lets look at it.I’m overweight which means I get tired fast and I was sweating so much that it look as if I just fell in a swimming pool while she look like the ones who appear on the commercial to promote a certain kind of exercise machine and also make a number of boys staring at the screen with full of lust.So thats what happened last thursday… The next day,despite sleeping for 12 hours,I still felt weak.As I board the morning train to school,It was fully seated but it wasn’t crowded.So,I stand in the middle of the carriage and then there was this kid who was sitting who looks two years younger than me staring at me.And he was fat.Real fat.I looked away and when I look back he was still staring at me.So then,I was real pissed at him.In my mind,I was thinking that this fatso really needs a beating.I mean,he should let me sit down.Doesn’t he sit long enough at home to be that fat?And then I realise.I was actually thinking in the same perspective as the ‘fit’ girl who despise me.That fat boy could be me.Looking at it,he was sweating and look unwell.I felt bad having that thought in my mind.But does that mean the fit girl was to be fully blame?Doesn’t the obese boy should stop staring at me?I guess both parties play a certain part in keeping a balance….uh…I’m still seaching for the word.

My friends are good convincers.They are willing to humiliate me to make me do something.Hell, they are willing to humiliate themselves.It was after school.45 minutes to remedial.I sat on the pavement beside the court where the red ball are kicked by many pairs of leg.Sec 4 vs Sec 5.Then,the goalie said that his dad is waiting for him outside.I was about to escape to the canteen when I heard…”Afiq!!!”.Damn.

So there I was standing between the two posts.It was an easy job not because I am good at it but the post were so small that I couldn’t walk through them.So,the first 15 minutes there wasn’t any action.My friends really played well.I was beginning to like my job when suddenly what seems to be a BIG BALL OF FIRE came approaching me.Before I could get ready to catch the ball…boom!!!

I fell down doing the “WILL YOU MARRY ME” posture while my left hand was holding my crotch.If hell feels like this,I’d rather be a good man.As two of my friends led me to the canteen benches,I felt like fainting…twice.As 3 of us sat down facing the stalls,most of the stall holders looks at me maybe because my hand is still on my crotch.Then,one of my friend said,”I guess there’ll be one less holiday for you”and then we burst into laughter including me even though laughing worsen the pain on my groin.

As I think back,it’ll be frustrating for infertile guys to live their lives.I knew one of my older cousin who has been married for 6 years but he still have no heirs.I could hear gossips from my aunties talking about him each time there is a gathering(you know how malay aunties nowadays behave).I imagine myself being infertile in the future.Do I adopt a baby just to get rid of “infertile” status or because I really wanted a child.As I came back to reality,my friend shove a pack of ice towards my groin.

And no,I’m not infertile…

entenmanns.gwbakeries.com

My primary school friends call me ‘Doraemon’.Not that it have anything to do with this post.My secondary school friends call me ‘Bulat’ because if you really study my head you’ll realise that it is in a circular shape coincidentally like ‘Doraemon’.Two days ago during a gathering with my relatives and uncles and aunties and so on, one of my older cousin shares his experience as a NS man.Talking about the cliches on how hard it is to complete all the training, how it is a transition from boy to man, about how all the girls will find you attractive wearing that uniform and about the ghost stories that most of us have heard.Then suddenly, one of my cousin ask if the guy had to wear green and black camouflage as seen on tv and he reply yes.

By now,I am imagining myself wearing the tight army uniform that almost doesn’t fit,heavy black boots,the helmet that usually doesn’t serves it purpose and the usual black rifle that I don’t even think I could carry.But the peculiar thing was how I look wearing the green and black ‘makeup’.As I try to use my limited creativity to imagine how I look wearing the ‘makeup’, I finally found the answer,a BIG MINT DONUT.I am gonna look like a nice, big mint donut that is usually found in a Dunkin Donut store that make you want to taste it but you hate mint.

The point is, do I really want to look like that?Do I really want to be in a situation where I am at the enemy’s line and when they spot me they will say “Sir.There is a man disguising as a mint donut on sight!Do you want me to shoot it sir?”.So what am I suppose to do to avoid such circumstances?Lose weight?or gain weight like how Mr Douglas did it in Korea?And I don’t think I’ll be ready when I am enlisted.How could I when I even need a boost to get off my own bed(ok…that’s a quote from Seinfeld)Also,I’m sure that if there is an imminent war during my service,I’ll get shot which I think is a good thing.(not that I want any war)They say that if a man is shot in the head,you’ll feel nothing.And I believe that.Once the bullet hit the skull,you’ll either be surrounded by fire and naked or you will be surrounded by goddesses and naked.But, is hoping to die first in a battle a cowardly way to end your life unlike in Japan when the survivor felt that they were coward?Well,only one thing is certain,I hope that the Mint Donut images in my head are gone by tomorrow morning. And to add….

Full Metal Jacket(1987)by Stanley Kubrick

This is the best war/NS movie I’ve seen so far and I’ve seen Apocalypse Now. This is no Army Daze(the Singaporean Film)kids. Just look at the poster above and you could make out the story.Attached to the helmet is a PEACE BUTTON while the helmet is written BORN TO KILL.The training of regular American citizens into KILLERS are seen through the eyes of the main protagonist played by Mathew Modine(for those in my IS class,this is the guy who act as the main scientist in AND THE BAND PLAYED ON).The first part of the story is when they were trained.He meets a drill instructor who specialises in racist and offensive one liners.As the training advances,the protagonist saw how all of his buddies were dehumanised to the point where they do not have any emotions and one of them had gone completely mental which lead to a suicide.

Second part of the story is when the main protagonist was sent into Vietnam where the war occur.As the war progresses,he sees american soldiers killing innocent farmers without any conscience and then saying to an interview that they were helping America in the war so that the future will be in peace.There was one scene that really shocked me in which an american soldier sitting beside a man sleeping in an american uniform while his helmet covered his face.The american soldier then introduced the protagonist who the guy beside him was.He lifted the helmet where we could see the guy’s face.The peculiar thing was it is a pale asian face and then the whole army crew just laugh.That scene is just a part where it questions the presence of american soldiers whether they are heroes sacrificing their lives for a better future or sadists where killing is just part of the entertainment.And whether they are the same person as the one before becoming soldiers.To conclude,many former Vietnam War Veterans said that this film is the most accurate war movie and personally,for me, this is a must watch film by either genders.