all jassed up

Your world?

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:18:00 +0000

What do you live for?

What's your world made of?

What colors do you see?

How do you feel?

Just thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:55:00 +0000

Slowly, walk slowly,
thread slowly,

one

step

at

a

time

and, time, effort,

will tell.

Jason on Azhar Rudin's Majidee

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:09:00 +0000

I think this was written not too long ago as part of a test for my Film Appreciation course. It took a couple of hours to write. It was kinda cool back then, but reading it again now makes me laugh:)

Realism in Azhar Rudin’s Majidee (2005)

Majidee is a good example of realism film form. The 15 minute short film is shot in one take following two characters’ walking on a busy Kuala Lumpur streets from the bus station to the LRT. The short contained important aspects of realism as outlined by Bazin.

Bazin said in order to be real, cinema must locate objects in space and Majidee exemplifies that point. Here, the camera objectively picks up a subject and follows his brief journey, intersected by another man on the street. Unlike conventional narrative, this subject and its situation can be easily understood by audience because the situation may happen as well to any of us. Our experience identifies the familiarity of the location, the environment, and the progressing conversation as something that we could also have encountered in real space.

Key to Bazin’s attempt to define spatial relationships of cinematic reality is the long take, deep focus, and mobile framing photography. To that point, the cinematography on Majidee held true. Firstly, the short was shot with a handheld camera in one long take with aperture that shows entire frame in focus. The outcome is an emphasize on better audience experience since in reality we also see our environment and subjects for long duration in real time and cannot selectively block our deep vision. Additionally, by the use of mobile framing, the handheld camera intensified viewer participation in the film by inviting us to be any one of the people walking on the street that so happened to be around the two main characters.

The styles emphasized by Bazin and used by the filmmakers in Majidee also added more ways for the audience to interpret the film. Bazin claims that editing presents the point of the director in a more clear and direct way to the viewer. By using longer takes and not relying on editing, a meaning of a film is ambiguous and the audiences are free to decide. Similarly in Majidee, the meanings are open to interpretation, limited only by audiences’ personal knowledge and experience. The film may be about meeting with strangers or act of kindness or even the hardship of communication in a city of cacophonous sounds and language. Even the ending was left open ended; we do not know the fate of any of the characters, just like the way in our real life. Everything is part of life reality.

Bazin said that cinema is perfect when it is the “art of the real”. As in Majidee, it is as every bit real as us walking the 15 minute journey and confronting different facets of our society.

Sometimes

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Sometimes people are strange, or is it just me?

Kinda have a thinking these days. Had to shake up a few things lately. Maybe past stuff was held up too long, or maybe its something else. Was it hard? You bet. Was it worth it? Just maybe.

Go on, move on:)

Cleaning the garden

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:29:00 +0000

As in, this blog.

Phew, wild grasses are growing all over this blog because I was all hooked up with work, all month long. Merdeka day seems like Chinese New Year to me. Just gotten back from Penang (stuck in the NSE for hours!).

Few things:

First, officially confirmed at the studio. Getting a little bragging rights at last. Hehe.

Second, found a bit of direction in my career.

Then, there's always the issue with expenses and whats left after that.

Ah, hopefully September gives a bit of leeway in the working schedule so I can devote more time to anything else.

Stuck with workin', no time bloggin'

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:14:00 +0000

This is another filler update, the once-in-a-hundred-years type. Apparently work is sucking every damn bit of time I have, but things are starting to get better (hopefully). After being paid for two months, I'm starting to get into the groove of commercial photography. Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly there for the money though;)

By all means, it's not a stressful job, nor a do-until-you-die kind of thing. It's fast paced, but you can't rush it. It's like playing a Brahms violin concerto finale: fast, controlled tempo with lots of flair. Focus, and responsibility are two major key in this career, then learn from observing how things are done and mistakes are made.

A lot of times I feel bad because people close to me gets neglected. For instance, those few who still reads this hardly updated blog. But, I'm trying;)

The thing with guys singing

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:32:00 +0000

70% of music in my playlist are sung by women. I never liked male vocals as much as females. There are very few exceptions, but only a few. Guess that makes me a sexist eh?

A Qwik-blog before cruising to work

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:18:00 +0000

Wanted to add something fast just to keep the blog flowing.

Blogging is a bit of a chore these days, thanks to faster ways of getting shorter thoughts around (read TWITTER). By the way, my default wake-up time has been 7AM these days, and by 8.45AM I'll be cruising off to my workplace. No need to rush, because its not really far. Except if the aunties of the entire KL came out on the road. I'll usually arrive within 7 minutes. That's one thing good about it. But on the other hand, its not exactly economical to drive short distances. For example, my mileage on a full tank driving to work only lasts a third compared to a full drive from Penang to KL. The fuel simply doesn't get enough time to burn and maximize efficiency.

Later.

Like I'm doing?

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:55:00 +0000

I wanted to crap a lot about my new work, but there's reasons not to do so.

Firstly, my work is shrouded in secrecy. I work for an advertising production company, specializing in the creation of still photographs. Whatever we shoot are as important as Pentagon. It might be an upcoming car, a box of cereals, a lovely artist, a bug, some buggers. You name it. Whatever it is, its off limits to the public, until the public is notified. It is no interest to you unless until our clients -the agencies, say so. So we literally do not call the shots;)

Secondly, its not a lot to crap about. Doing this is not fun. But its important to both the company (they make money) and self (we learn things that made money).

Interesting?

PeeJay I come again!

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Tomorrow, I'm moving back to PJ again. This time to start work. More on that later.

Ish....

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Lost a 8 gig CF card. Could have bumped out of the pouch. Damn pissed. But, its comforting to know that the card served me well during the travels in China.

Oh, hi all. I guess I'm back to blogging.

Busy/Dizzy

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:02:00 +0000

There's a lot of cacophony going on this weekend. I'm going to shoot a video on a very short notice. If some of you may have known, I stress pre-production a lot, because it's reassuring to get my ass covered up. Admittedly, I don't see this shoot as my co-producing friend does. When I can't visualize, it means I'm half ready. Anyways, nothing much can be done for such a short time. We are prepared to make it regardless.

April, and a fool

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:42:00 +0000

It's been an incredibly long month since I last posted on this blog. Grass is growing all around here.

I don't really know exactly, but I don't have the impetus to blog that often anymore. Life is just plain dull. Someone said about crossroads, and yeah, I'm on a crossroad in my life. I wish I had 4 sets of brain and hands. So life is draggy lately.

Happy April anyway. Stop being a fool;)

Going Home, and Being Political for Awhile

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:31:00 +0000

It's been an unbelievable 30 days in China.

By this time tomorrow, I'll be touching down at KLIA. While not being the best of vacations, this trip has really opened my eyes and mind to the hidden potentials of one of the fastest growing economy in the world. In times where everyone is talking about recession and losing their job (and heads), China is growing like it has been doing for the past 50 years. This is not the Communist China you've read in history books, this is not the country full of touristy places you've heard from family and friends; this is the world's biggest superpower (and single-party government).

There might be some who've experienced China before who would tell you that you're not seeing the real picture of China: unemployment, polution, petty crimes, persecution of ideology and religion, the list goes on. What I can say is that what I see is as real as China gets. This is the picture of a country in transition, where certain things must go in the road to development. Ultimately, this is Yin and Yang in motion. Nothing is inheritantly good or bad. It is a balancing act that any country must learn to harness.

In retrospect, I like every part of the "new" China. Large and effective networks of public tranportation; apparent waste management; a blooming television industry; good hospitality (if you can speak Chinese); environmental friendly measures (Yay! No plastic bags). Of course, I'm also aware of the "other side" of the dragon, but it is unfair to say that people from rural areas are being neglected or treated unjustly. It all depends on their mindsets and determination: if this guy in downtown Shanghai can own a car, there's nothing to stop the farmer in faraway Kunming doing so. Everyone has to try; no government can feed all of its citizens (something most people wants).

Love the weather too!

Smelling the pages

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Probably the best thing in Shanghai (and the rest of China) is that they are great when it comes to books and knowledge. Those of you who still think Communism is bad might just be missing your point or living somewhere down the drain.

Forget censorship! The Chinese appreciate art. That means hooray for nude art and stuff like that. Most importantly, these people know and (seemingly) appreciate the borders of political ideology and creative ideas. Unlike the snobs in my poor old country. Heck, seven floor bookshops are common around here while back in Bolehland, bookstores are trimming down to cut costs.

It's sad that a country that boasts its technological and cultural advancements is probably the one with the most people that doesn't read. Kids in China are fed with thousands of years of history. Our kids might not even recall the sequence of former prime ministers.

You think that three metro lines in Kay Ell is a milestone? Well, there are 8 operational lines here in Shanghai alone. They are going to complete another 10 by next year. We folks of Bolehland had to wait until 2012 before the third line gets running, and that line only benefits the capital city. We folks not living in KL still has to sit on crummy busses and cabs operated by renegades who are seemingly out to suck every inch of your soul.

Well, Bolehland is democratic at least. But you know that's crap! We are living in a place no different than everyone is. In the age of globalisation, it's the system of operating a country that matters, not the ideology. Politics is long dead. The key is to organize chaos, and that is what I see going on here in China. They are not perfect, but at least some of them are happy.

Shame on you, Bolehland!

Shanghai on cold feet

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:15:00 +0000

Alrights, this is day 5 of our Chinese trip and we've left the relative comfort of ultra-efficient Hangzhou to come to the ultra-modern metropolitan of Shanghai. It's about 10 degrees C and darn cold!
Pictures to come.

Waiting Pt. 1

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:29:00 +0000

It's boring sitting at a KFC table blogging about absolutely nothing. Anyways, I'm officially on my journey to China. But first, we had to wait and wait and wait. Hoping time flies, or else.

Bon année!

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:52:00 +0000

I've finally moved 6 years worth of assets from KL back to BM. Will be here for at least a couple of months, and officially unemployed. Though I'm looking at the prospect of freelance graphic design. So if anybody out there needs designs for logos, trademarks, banners, name cards, greeting cards, or simply wants to do corrections/restorations for photos, I'm here at your service.

Anyways, happy new year 2009 to all of you who happens to read this. Whether it's incidental or accidental, thanks for viewing!

Selamat Hari Krismas

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:58:00 +0000

Selamat hari krismas buat kawan-kawanku di mana jua anda berada! Diharap tahun depan baik baik belaka. Maaf zahir dan batin.

P/S: Google translate this if you don't read Malay.

Bye bye lor...

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:52:00 +0000

We've gloriously terminated the phone lines so I would not be able to regularly go online for the rest of the week. I'm returning to Penang by the end of the week. If there's anything, just call me or drop me a sms.

3 years down the drain!

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Just kidding. It was a bittersweet college experience anyhow.

Yesterday was the last exam paper I sat for in this darned university. I'm glad it's over, even if that means I'm officially on the "unemployed" statistic.

My thanks to few of the lecturers (and staff) who really cared. Thanks too to all the freaky friends along the way. Also not to be missed are the tonnes of cash my parents injected to bring me to where I am now (I'm great).

For now, I'll be back to Penang. There might be something brewing over there. This is going to be my 6th Christmas day in KL. I'm tired of it. It's good to breathe a different kind of air once in a while. I miss my creative space! Don't worry, the 5 year plan is still on for my debut feature film. I'm no Mozart when it comes to creativity, but when the bulb lights, I'm as sure as a Bruce Lee.

Will miss you all (and you).

Time to move!

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:51:00 +0000

What? Still waiting?

If you still wonder around wanting a DSLR, now's the time. Ask me 6 months back or six months ahead, I'll still say the same thing! Get it now!

No, the price of the previous model won't go down a whole lot, and by the time it drops, it's already yesteryear's model. So you might as well get the newest most affordable on the block. There's no point having an age old body when all the new stuff is really worth what you pay.

If you still want the cheapest deal without having any regrets, then the Nikon D40 is still my ultimate pick. It's dirt cheap, under 1.8k, handles well, and makes perfectly great pictures (just look at the zillions of flickr pictures tagged with a D40). The de facto entry level Canon is a 450D, anything else is history. It's got almost everything innit for someone starting out. Canon's other entree, the 1000D, is already a bit dated, but also passes as a choice if budget is your biggest worry.

If you can splurge, or have a good direction of where you are heading with your interests, go for those mid range models such as Nikon's D90 and Canon's 50D. They are not relatively cheap, but at least they are a whole new generation ahead of their predecessors.

Don't waste time with lenses and accesories too. Only worry about them when your current setup limits your needs, not by what pictures others make with this or that lens.

Lastly, DSLRs don't make you a better photographer. You had to grow that skill on your own terms. If you had a point-and-shoot, by no means must you switch. DSLR is not a natural progression from years of using a PNS. I had only three reasons when I picked a DSLR: (1) bigger sensor, therefore higher sensitivity to light, (2) close to nil shutter lag so your click is as close as what you see and (3) larger appertures, meaning more creative possibilities and faster shutter speeds to counter wobbles. In other words, get one if your current setup limit your needs.

So, as long as you understand what you'll be getting and using it for, then you'll be a happy DSLR puppy. If you already had your mind on one, get it now!

If you see this, sing it as well!

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:43:00 +0000

I'm taking this opportunity at the day before my last exam, and therefore technically the last day in university, to fark one of my housemate.

Why don't I confront her? Nope, I'm just using her default way of "non-confrontation". I "sing" it to everybody (or at least my readers).

_____

Dear Farking Housemate,

You're my misery for the past 3 years. I've heard endless complaints about you coming in and out of my ears non-stop and that deteriorates my listening.

You yell, shriek, laugh, blabber like a 12 year old bitch. Yes, like a bitch.

You talk like the whole house belongs to you yet you're only interested in cleaning the places you used most. I know, I don't clean the toilet. So what? That's farking intentional of me.

You regard that parking lot as yours just because you happened to own (or use) a blardy big car from a company that chickened out of Formula 1, and has a farking parking sticker.

You awaken people in the middle of the night and early in the morning just because your blardy four wheels wanna go in.

"Please remove your car." does that sound familiar? Fark you lah!

You walk like you're a descendant of big foot or you have rocks tied to your feet.

You close doors like your hands are paralyzed.

You knock people out of toilet because you're out of time. So what? Everybody is.

You complained TNB charges so much when you used equally that much amount of electricity.

You have hundreds of ways to calculate things but can't make a bloody decision.

You hog the connection to download some farking drama. I hope one day this either:
i. got yourself in trouble with intellectual laws
ii. fry your hard disk and mobo (wait, that happened before right?)
iii. choke yourself to death

You complained when the connection gets bad, but you don't know the connection got worse when you download like a bitch.

You ask stupid questions that I can google for it easily.

You can bodek anybody, but we know that lah bitch!

You wanna sue me for defamation after this? No problem, come lah.

You suck.

Thank you.

______

Oh, that's not all lah, but I think one minute is deducted from my life with every line. So that's generally it.

Boringness in the midst of exam (or sort of)

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:54:00 +0000

One exam down, two to go.

It's starting to get really boring and aimless. 3 years of study is ready for the toilet bowl.

I often ask myself what have I learned that can be practically used in the real world. There's no easy answers though. Some things seemed to work while others are a pile of rubbish, or at least, papers awaiting to be recycled.

So I still haven't found that direction I was pretty much hoping to find this day three years earlier.

The thing that made me decide it was Mass Comm in Broadcasting was that jib arm operator. The thing that made me think "holy bunch of crap!" was the endless communication theories and stories about dead people. The thing that made me think further than being a jib arm operator?

No easy answers. The school does not direct us, it just gave us easy tips to exams. We never tried past the paper.

Holy bunch of crap!

Happy December!

noreply@blogger.com (jassed) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Whoop! It's the time of the year again. The time when the blues come to play; the time when you are busy contemplating about the entire year's misses and minuses.

But hold it there! Go out, go out! Time for excitement, relax, and reset. Get yourself together, give yourself a pat, give your wife/husband or girlfriend/boyfriend a hug and some kiss, give your kids a present, give your parents your love; because you've deserved another December because you've tried and tested for the rest of the year.

Be thankful!