~The insights of crappy Jasmine gal~

A lucky week!

2013-05-03T22:36:00.000+08:00

It has been such a wonderful week so far, besides having a public holiday to rest.

First, my boss gave me a belated Secretary Week gift and got his hairstylist, Tony from Gorgeous Hair Studio to give me a new hairstyle yesterday... The dye colors were selected by his wife and business partner, Clara.

Tadah!!

Me with my new hairstyle

I rather like my new look and have received many good comments to my new look. The fringes are actually dyed with pink and the base is copper color. But the pink looks more red now, so just need to wait for it to become more pinkish with each hairwash.

Then I also received a call yesterday that I have won tickets for the Glass Anatomy Musical from a Facebook giveaway contest I entered. Just collected my tickets this afternoon and will be going for the musical with a friend on Sunday! Woohoooooooooo~~

Image taken from Where To Eat Singapore Facebook page

I sincerely hope my good luck will continue to spread to the rest of the year! Wish me luck! :P

The Full Moon

2011-05-19T01:09:00.002+08:00

I saw the moon on my way home tonight.
So bright and shiny,
like a pearl in the dark skies.
Oh, how I wish I can steal it away
and keep the treasure for myself.

I saw the moon on my way home tonight.
So lonely and sad,
like a log drifting in the gloomy seas.
Oh, how I wish I can bring it to my side
and keep it comforted and warm.

I saw the moon on my way home tonight.
So pure and innocent,
like a gentle guardian angel.
Oh, how I wish I can make it stay
and be our guiding light in life always.

I saw the moon on my way home tonight.
So big and round,
like a delicious cookie to the poor.
Oh, how I wish I can take a huge bite
and fill my hungry stomach.

I saw the moon on my way home tonight.
So bright and shiny.
So lonely and sad.
So pure and innocent.
So big and round.
And now it's time for bed.

The Last Bus

2011-05-17T02:15:00.001+08:00

Tonight I took the last bus home.

It was late and trying to catch the connecting train seemed impossible. The bus was not empty yet not full. Chatters were heard among the loud engine sounds as the bus travelled on the road slowly. Slowly it went, past the buildings and up the expressway. It travelled in a constant speed as it was the last bus and it won’t be nice if someone missed the last bus, right? I glanced through the window as the views changed and smiled. If only all the rides are like this…

Tonight I took the last bus home. What about you?

Thoughts on life

2011-03-26T11:11:00.004+08:00

The recent Japan crisis has led me to the profound questions like the meaning of life. I have wondered constantly if I die tomorrow, what regrets will I have?

Then I realised I will have plently. I will regret not eating what I want, not travelling to where I want, not meeting friends enough and not spending enough time with my family.

So what's the point of working so hard now if you may just lose it very soon? I am once again reminded of the Fisherman story that I have read online before.

The Fisherman

An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The investment banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The fisherman replied, "Only a little while."

The investment banker then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"

The fisherman said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The investment banker then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening and spend time with my family, I have a full and busy life."

The investment banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a big town and eventually to the the city where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."

The fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the investment banker replied, "15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the fisherman.

The investment banker laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions?...Then what?"

The investment banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings and spend time with your family."

So I hope you will learn to love yourself abit more. Go out and do what you want today as you may not be able to enjoy tomorrow well. Cherish all the time you got. But I am not asking you to quit your job and stop working, ok? Just learn to appreciate what you have and smile everyday! :)

Movie Review: Forever 《我爱你爱你爱你》

2011-03-11T08:36:00.009+08:00

I received an invite by omy to watch the movie, "Forever".

Synopsis
Since she became a flower girl at the age of eight, Joey has been in love with the idea of finding that special man and being his bride. So much so that she got a job as a video consultant at the Wedding Education Department (W.E.D.).
There, Joey shares the art of getting and marrying a man, through her romantic 'faux' wedding videos, which are screened to young singles all over Singapore. But the idea of fantasy and reality are blurred as Joey falls madly in love with Gin, a handsome music teacher from Taiwan. They appear together as bride and groom in a landmark W.E.D video that will serve as a prelude to their upcoming nuptials.

But soon her bubble is burst. A beautiful girl, Cecilla, claims to be Gin's real fiancée while Gin claims that his affection for her was strictly for the video. Not letting her childhood dream go, Joey pursues Gin to make him see that she is his true bride as she sees his true heart. As her work mates, family and Gin begin to find out who she really is, will Joey's relentless drive to restore the happiness and joy she once knew also be her ultimate failing and undoing?

Movie Website: http://www.foreverthemovie.com.sg

Review
I have not seen the first film "Gone Shopping" by the director, so I walked into the theatre half expecting to watch a normal love comedy. After watching, I have mixed feelings about it. There are instances of humor implanted throughout the film which left the audience laughing. However, we are also frightened off by the story plot where the female lead behaved like a stalker.

Frankly speaking, I don't really understand what the film is talking about. Is it true love is all around? Or everyone is too concerned with trying to find the RIGHT ONE in their lives that they can't see other important things? The ending left one even more confused as we are not sure if it is part of the female lead's imagination or that the male lead finally sees her as his true love.

Although I know the director wants to present a film that is different from the usual box office movies, but we need to face the fact that audience will not buy tickets to see a movie that only the producers can appreciate. At the very least, I won't watch it again.

I do need to applause at the effort for the songs written for the film. It is rather fitting for the film and will makes a nice soundtrack.

Happy 2011!!

2011-01-18T19:19:00.002+08:00

Happy 2011!!

It felt long since I last blogged here.. There seemed to be a virus going around recently... Everyone is getting sick.. I haven't been feeling well on and off as well..

Here's a cold joke for all to laugh in the cold weather.. :p

A: I have been puking every morning...
B: Why? Morning sickness?
A: No, because Rabbit Year (兔年) is coming..
B: ....

It's almost the end..

2010-10-06T07:58:00.008+08:00

My Advanced Corporate Finance result came out yesterday and I was rather happy that I managed to pass it. A pleasant surprise since this paper was rather hard for all of us and I did fail Corporate Finance last year. Lucky my hard work didn't come to a waste.

I can't believe that two years just passed by so quickly and I'm almost at the end of my course. Almost seem like we have started our studies only yesterday. Kinda feel a sense of loss... Well, just a little bit.. Most of the feelings are still a mix of happiness and relief that it's almost over. There had been so many problems for our batch, namely the module with the wrong exam instruction and the module delay due to the volcano issue. So much such that our batch seemed more bonded together.

Last module to go and it will be done in this month.. I'm pretty sure I will welcome November with open arms. :)

Open Arms - Journey

Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mind
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere
How could our live be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Living without you, living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home

But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay.

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Start of the school semester

2010-09-13T13:02:00.004+08:00

School starts today. It's the last module for me and a module that sends me into a state of confusion already - International Competitiveness & Innovation. Plus the fact that I need to complete a 2000-words essay before exam is already stressing me out.

Oh well, I guess i will just try my best. Totally worried about the past two papers' results which should be out these two weeks too. Praying praying that i will score well (above 55). Ok, need to go off.

Adiós for now.

鼠牛虎兔龙蛇马羊猴鸡狗猪

2010-08-29T16:27:00.002+08:00

(转发于Cruz Teng)

一群中国人参加接待了一个由欧洲贵族组成的参访团的活动。他们中的大多数跟王族有亲戚关系，非常有学问和修养，待人彬彬有礼，但他们的修养背后隐藏着一种傲慢。

最后一天聚餐，可能酒喝多了，这些贵族的言谈举止变得比较率性。席间，一位德国贵族站了起来说：你们中国人，怎么属什么猪啊，狗啊，老鼠啊!不像我们，都是金牛座，狮子座，仙女座……真不知你们祖先怎么想的!

众人听了哈哈大笑，还互相碰杯，先前的优雅完全不见了。

这时有一个中国人站了起来，用平和的语气说：”是的，中国人的祖先很实在。我们十二生肖两两相对，六道轮回，体现了我们祖先对我们的期望和要求。”这时，现场气氛慢慢安静了下来，不过，贵族们的脸上还是一幅满不在乎的神情。

中国人说：第一组是老鼠和牛。老鼠代表智慧，牛代表勤奋。智慧和勤奋一定要紧紧结合在一起。如果光有智慧，不勤奋，那就变成小聪明；而光是勤奋，不动脑筋，那就变成愚蠢。这两者一定要结合。这是祖先对我们第一组的期望和要求，也是最重要的一组。

第二组是老虎和兔子。老虎代表勇猛，兔子代表谨慎。勇猛和谨慎一定要紧紧结合在一起才能作到胆大心细。如果勇猛离开了谨慎，就变成了鲁莽，而没了勇猛，就变成了胆怯。这一组也非常重要，所以，中国人看着这些贵族，补上一句：当我们表现出谨慎的时候，千万不要以为中国人没有勇敢的一面。

看着大家陷入沉思，中国人继续说：第三组是龙和蛇，龙代表猛，蛇代表柔韧。所谓刚者易折，太刚了容易折断，但是，如果只有柔的一面就易失去主见，所以，刚柔并济是我们的祖训。

接下来是马和羊，马代表勇往直前，羊代表和顺。如果一个人只顾自己直奔目标，不顾及周围环境，必然会和周围不断磕碰，最后不见得能达到目标。但是，一个人光顾及和顺，他可能连方向都没有了。所以，勇往直前的秉性，一定要和和顺紧紧结合在一起，这是祖先对我们的第四组期望。

再接下来是猴子和鸡。猴子代表灵活，鸡定时打鸣，代表恒定。灵活和恒定一定要紧紧结合在一起。如果你光灵活，没有恒定，再好的政策也得不到收获。一方面具有稳定性，保持整体和谐和秩序，另一方面有能在变通中前进，这才是最根本的要旨。

最后是狗和猪。狗代表忠诚，猪代表随和。如果一个人太忠诚，不懂得随和，就会排斥他人。反过来，一个人太随和，没有忠诚，这个人就失去原则。无论是对一个民族的忠诚，还是对自己理想的忠诚，一定要与随和紧紧结合在一起，这样才容易保持内心深处的平衡。

解释完毕，中国人说：最后，我很想知道你们的宝瓶座，射手座等星座体现了你们祖先对你们的哪些期望和要求?希望赐教。

这些贵族们很长时间都没有说话，全场鸦雀无声。

Orchard Road is flooded!!

2010-06-16T12:10:00.003+08:00

My colleague sent over photos of a very flooded Orchard Road today.. OMG.. the heavy rain is really crazy.. Lucky it is still possible to do underground shopping if you are taking the MRT. :)

In front of Takashimaya:

In front of ION Orchard:

View from top:

Stress is taking its toll on me...

2010-05-15T12:54:00.003+08:00

Sorry for not blogging recently.. really busy with work and studies.. And I'm so happy i got a good grade for my International HRM module. Seemed like the first time my HR module got B as I only got C for HR modules in poly even though I majored in it.. :P

But I'm still worried about my grade for International Marketing as I am not really prepared for the exam. Plus, my current module was delayed due to the volcanic ash cloud.. Now we are cramping a 6-wks module into 3 weeks. Lucky the exam will be after the next module so I will still have 2 weeks to study. So stressed up that my face and body have pimples!!!

Anyway, My brother said my two pimples below my mouth looked like the vampire's fangs.. LOL.. Maybe i should go suck his blood loh... hehehehe

Google designs

2010-02-03T08:16:00.002+08:00

I love looking at the various designs Google features on its main page.

Today's design features a drawing by Norman Rockwell because his birthday was on 3 Feb. :)

Nice right? Remember to check out the other designs on other days. :)

A new wallpaper = a new start

2010-01-13T15:05:00.003+08:00

Changed my desktop wallpaper to this...

To represent a fresh start and to feel empowered.. All little things help.. LOL..

坦白 - 蕭亞軒

2010-01-05T01:50:00.001+08:00

A sad song... that i can't get out from my head..

坦白 - 蕭亞軒

無數個夜晚
任性的被你寵壞
我曾想就這樣耍賴
如今默默呼吸孤單

失去了什麼
還剩下什麼不再等待
面對你慷慨無節制的愛
我該不該勇敢的離開

對自己坦白愛狠狠的還在
找朋友陪伴都抵不過你一半
淚在眼裡打轉愛已變成黑白
找不到答案也不想謊言主宰

對彼此坦白我們真的失敗
背叛不是意外就算承諾不再
新歡成了舊愛愛的沒了姿態
我會釋懷讓時間把一切都沖淡

hum~
就讓它沖淡

Results of 5th Annual Asian Festival of First Films

2010-01-04T07:57:00.002+08:00

Sorry for the late report.. One month late exactly.. Here's the press release and list of winners if you have not read about it yet. Happy New Year. :)

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

The Asian Festival of First Films (AFFF), the world’s premier film and documentary festival celebrating first-time film makers, announced the winners of the festival on 4 December at the Raffles Hotel Ballroom at a glittering awards night dinner.

The week-long search ended with Japanese film, ‘Looking for Anne’, the story of a 17-year-old Japanese girl on Prince Edward Island with a secret mission to find her recently deceased grandmother’s first love, a Canadian war veteran who gave her the book “Anne of Green Gables” years ago. ‘Looking For Anne’ won Best Film and Best Director.

And first-time producer, Sona Jain, bagged 4 awards for her story of a family, seen through the eyes of their child. Six year old Shruti feels disconnected from her mother and withdraws into her own fantasy world where she believes her mother is an alien. Both the film’s main child leads, first-time actress Sriharsh Sharma Churai and first-time actor Zoya S. Hasan captivated the jury with their heartrending depictions of a family caught up in its own tragedy.

The gala awards night was attended by the movers and shakers of the film industry, including for the first time in Singapore, Chris Lee, Producer of Superman: Man of Steel, Malcolm Young (Managing Director/Executive Producer, NYU Tisch Asia School of the Arts), Wolfgang Muench (Dean Faculty of Media Arts, Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore), Juan Foo (Executive Producer, Shooting Gallery Motion Pictures) and ambassadors and chancellors from the Asia Pacific from the Embassy of the Australia, Britain, Canada, Malta, Pakistan, the Philippines.

An international jury made up of distinguished personalities who specially flew in for the festival were also present. Jury members include award winning filmmakers and internationally-acclaimed producers Ana Kokkinos (Australia), a multi-award winning filmmaker from Australia, Chris Lee (Hawaii), notable film producer of blockbusters Superman Returns and SWAT, and Kabir Khan (India), the AFFF’s Best Director winner in 2007 and multi-award winner for his incisive portrayals of the historical milestones of our time. The event was hosted by Singaporean Lavinia Tan.

More than 30 nominee-hopefuls flew in to attend the glamorous occasion, including first-time director Takako Miyahira (Japan) of ‘Looking for Anne’, Kaushal Oza (India) of ‘Vaishnav Jan Toh…’, Seema Kohli (India) of ‘Swayamsiddha’, Saqib Mausoof (Pakistan) of ‘Kala Pul’, Rita Hui (Hong Kong) of ‘Dead Slowly’.

In between award presentations, guests were regaled with local performances, by Singapore’s own song-writer celebrity, Dick Lee, a dramatic stunt act replete with flying stunts and somersaults by Picasso Tan’s Kuen Wushu School and local indie up and coming singer-producer, Iris Judotter.

Supported by the Media Development Authority (MDA), the AFFF is a part of the annual Asia Media Festival (AMF). "The AFFF has once again shone the spotlight on budding film talent in Asia with a body of work that reflects the heart and soul of Asia. In this light, every nominee is a winner. I am confident that the AFFF will continue to bring to the fore promising talents with quality films that resonate with an international audience," says Ms Cassandra Tay, Director Communications and Community and International Relations, MDA, and the guest-of-honor for the evening.

A part of the Asia TV Forum held in Singapore which brings together a global buyer network, the AFFF further propels the interests of budding regional film talent by giving them this platform to attain access to commercial interest and funding, crucial to the success of every good film and filmmaker. Over the years, the AFFF has managed to attract top film talents and international stars to be part of the festival, further enhancing Singapore’s media hub and economy.

“This year’s films captivated our hearts and minds and transported us from the mud huts of Afghanistan to the Canadian countryside and the slums of Mumbai to the back alleys of Singapore. Each year, the festival grows in stature among the film circuit, and first-time filmmakers take heart that they too have a platform created specially for them where their dreams can unfold,” notes Sanjoy Roy, Festival Director.

Shweta Asnani, Executive Producer of AFFF adds, “The AFFF allows budding talent in Asia to portray the diversity and depth in the stories of the region to an international audience of film professionals. My heartiest congratulations to all our nominees for taking this step into the world of filmmaking and for telling the world our stories through their eyes.”

Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, who headed the Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA) jury for the FCA Purple Orchid Award, comments, “The overall level of entries was good but the jury felt that ‘Land Gold Woman’ from India was able to portray the dilemma that Asians cope with having to face the world and their families in a perpetual struggle between globalization and their roots.” The winning film tells about the tough choice an immigrant Indian professor in Birmingham faces, between saving his family’s name or his teenage daughter when she is found to be in an illicit relationship.

For this year’s competition, a total of 700 entries were received from 28 countries. A total of 22 nominated films and documentaries view for 11 awards. The winners and films are listed in below:

Best Film
Looking for Anne

Best Producer
Sona Jain (For Real)

Best Director
Takako Miyahira (Looking for Anne)

Best Screenplay/ Script
Sona Jain (For Real)
Avantika Hari, Vivek Agrawal (Land Gold Woman)

Best Cinematographer/ Editor
Shweta Venkat (Superman of Malegaon)

Best Male Actor
Sriharsh Sharma Churai (For Real)

Best Female Actor
Zoya S. Hasan (For Real)

Best Documentary
Faiza Ahmad Khan (Superman of Malegaon)

Best Director of Documentary
Jawed Taiman (Addicted in Afghanistan)
Faiza Ahmad Khan (Superman of Malegaon)

Best Short Film
Vinoo Choliparambil (Vitthal)

Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid Award
Avantika Hari, Vivek Agrawal (Land Gold Woman)

More information is available on the festival website: http://www.asianfirstfilms.com.

Goodbye 2009, Welcome 2010!!!

2009-12-31T23:21:00.002+08:00

Here's to the last post for 2009. Have made a good deal of mistakes throughout the year, set goals but never attempt to achieve them.. Well, hopefully these will not happen again in 2010. Going to spend a few days to think of my new year resolutions that i can actually achieve. Hahaha..

Well, Happy New Year to everyone~~~ May 2010 brings more love and hope for you!!!

Where Are You Now - Honor Society

2009-12-20T23:31:00.007+08:00

Just watched the movie "Bandslam" yesterday and I really enjoyed it. I cant deny i am always fascinated with movies that involved music or dance. And I will also love them, no matter how bad. Oh well, if it involves music or dance, it cant really be that bad, right? Think "Sound of Music", "Sister Act" etc.. All are excellent movies..

Now, let's enjoy one of the songs in the movie. I only remembered hearing it at the credits though. However, it reminds me of my long gone youth, somehow.. Enjoy. :)

Where Are You Now - Honor Society

To my favorite teacher
Who told me never give up
To my 5th grade crush
Who I thought I really loved
To the guys I missed
And the girls we kissed
Where are you now?

To my ex-best friends
Don´t know how we grew apart
To my favorite band
And sing-alongs in my car
To the face I see
In my memories
Where are you now?

Where are you now?
Cause I´m thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn´t for you
I would never be who I am

To my first girlfriend
I thought for sure was the one
To my last girlfriend
Sorry that I screwed it up
To the ones I loved
But didn't show it enough
Where are you now?

Where are you now?
Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how,
how to live like I do
If it wasnt for you
I would never be who I am.

And I'll never see those days again
And things will never be that way again
But thats just how it goes,
People change,
But I know
I wont forget you

To the ones who cared
And who were there from the start
To the love that left
and took a piece of my heart
To the few who´d swear
I´d never go anywhere
Where are you now?

Where are you now?
Cause I´m thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn´t for you
I would never be who I am

If it wasn´t for you
I would never be who I am
If it wasn´t for you
I´d be nothing
Where are you now?

I Love The Way You're Breaking My Heart - Peggy Lee

2009-12-11T21:32:00.003+08:00

Just watched this movie, Bernard & Doris over DVD and heard this song in the movie as well as during the credits.. It really captures my attention and I think it is really a great song.. Hope you think so too. Enjoy~~ ^_^

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

I Love The Way You're Breaking My Heart - Peggy Lee

I love the way you're breaking my heart
It's terribly, terribly, terribly, terribly thrilling
I love the way you're breaking my heart
Although you're gonna ruin it
It's heaven while you're doin' it
I love the way I feel when we kiss
You're terribly, terribly, terribly irresistible
Sigh to me, and lie to me, you really know how
It's gonna hurt tomorrow, but it feels so good now
So darling, just keep playing your part
Take your time and really finish the things that you start
'Cause I love the way you're breaking my heart!

AFFF 2009: Ticket Giveaway

2009-12-01T11:26:00.005+08:00

Ticket Giveaway to the Asian Festival of First Films (AFFF)!

AFFF is the only festival that celebrates first-time film and documentary-makers and provides a platform for budding film talent. This year’s nominated films hail from Australia, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA and UK and will be screened in their original languages ranging from Hindi and Persian to Cantonese and English.

This year, AFFF will be giving away the first 20 readers a pair of tickets to movie Frontier Blues or Looking for Anne!

Simply write in to rsvp@roi-strategy.com and include in title “Blog Ticket Giveaways” and in the message your NRIC name, NRIC no. handphone number, email address and your movie choice.

Film Title: Frontier Blues
Nominated for: Best Actor, Best Screenplay
Country: UK
Language: Persian
Length: 95 mins
Showing on: 3rd Dec, 4.45pm, GV Marina

Frontier Blues takes place on Iran’s northern frontier with Turkmenistan. It consists of 4 stories:

-Alam is a 28-year-old Turkmen man who lives with his father and works in a chicken farm.
-Hassan is a 28-year-old Persian man who has a pet donkey and lives with his uncle.
-Kazem, is Hassan’s uncle and he owns a clothing store but the clothes he tries to sell never seem to fit anyone.
- A 55-year-old Turkmen minstrel is the subject of a book of photography by a photographer from Tehran. His wife was stolen by a Sheppard in a green Mercedes many years ago.

Film Title: Looking for Anne
Nominated for: Best Director, Best Film
Director: Takako Miyahira
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Length: 105 mins
Showing on: 3nd Dec, 7pm, GV Marina

The journey of a seventeen year old Japanese girl, Anri, who comes to Prince Edward Island with a secret mission, to find a Canadian war veteran. Gradually we find out that the veteran was the man who gave the book "Anne of Green Gables" to her recently deceased grandmother, and was potentially her first love.

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This festival will take place from 28 November 2009 to 4 December 2009. A total of 30 films will be screened at GV Marina and The Arts House. Tickets sold at $10 each at GV and The Arts House box offices, http://www.gv.com.sg/ and AXS Stations islandwide.

For more film schedules and synopses, please go to the official site: http://www.asianfirstfilms.com/.

AFFF 2009: Celebrated Jury Members

2009-11-29T11:46:00.003+08:00

Here's the list of celebrated jury that AFFF managed to invite for this year.

Ana Kokkinos, Filmmaker

Ana Kokkinos is a Melbourne-based filmmaker whose career spans film and television. Her recent film, Blessed which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2009 won her Golden Shell for Best Screenplay, the Contemporary World Cinema Section at the Toronto International Film Festival (2009) and the BFI Times London International Film Festival (2009). Blessed has also been nominated for 4 Australian Film Institute Awards including Best Film.

Her other multi-award winning films include Head On which she directed and co-wrote with Andrew Bovell and Mira Robertson, The Book of Revelation which she directed and co-wrote with Andrew Bovell and Only The Brave which she directed and co-wrote with Mira Robertson. Films such as The Secret Life of Us, Young Lions and Eugenie Sandler Pl were also directed by Ana.

She is currently a board member of Film Victoria and was an Industry Consultant and Mentor to MA Directing students at the Australia Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney, in 2007. Ana was also a participant in the Creative Stream of the 2020 Summit in Canberra in 2008.

Chris Lee, Producer

Chris Lee was formerly the head of Columbia/TriStar where he oversaw the production of films such as Jerry Maguire, As Good As It Gets and Philadelphia. After leaving Columbia, he went on to produce internationally-recognised films such as Valkyrie, Superman Returns and its sequel, Superman: Man of Steel. Lee is the founder of the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media.

Other movies under his belt include:
· Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985) (Assistant Director/Assistant Editor)
· Blood of the Samurai (2001) (very special thanks)
· Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) (Producer)
· Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) (Producer)
· S.W.A.T. (2003) (Producer)
· Superman Returns (2006) (Executive Producer/Assistant Visual Effects Production Coordinator)
· One Foot Off the Ground (2006) (Executive Producer)
· Real Fiction (2008) (Executive Producer)
· Valkyrie (2008) (Executive Producer)
· The People I've Slept With (2009) (special thanks)
· Superman: Man of Steel (2011) (Executive Producer)

Kabir Khan, Director

Kabir Khan is a film graduate from Jamia, New Delhi and his film and documentary assignments have given him opportunities to travel extensively to over 60 countries. In 1998, he won the Grand Jury award at Film South Asia 2000 for his documentary, The Forgotten Arm. He moved on to direct a film, Two Assassinations and An Accident which won him Best National Film Award jointly with another film, Mechanics of Change at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2002. He was also awarded the National Critics Award.

His first feature film, Kabul Express premiered in the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival 2006 and then went on to the London, Pusan, Dubai, Singapore, Casablanca and Cairo Film Festivals. At the Asian Festival of First films in 2007, he received the Best Director’s Award and the Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid Award for Best Film. His second feature film, New York, released worldwide in June 2009 to much critical acclaim and box office success. The film is set against the backdrop of post 9/11 New York and was shot in a single 100-day schedule in USA.

Other than filmmaking, he enjoys photography and this has won him several awards such as international photography awards at the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Convention in Switzerland in 1999 and the Nikon International Photo of the year in 2003.

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All the nominated films will be screened at Golden Village Marina and The Arts House from 28th November to 3rd December 2009. Tickets are available from the respective box offices and online (only Golden Village) at $10 each. Click here to see the schedule in full size.

For any other info, pls go to the official site: http://www.asianfirstfilms.com

AFFF 2009: List of Nominees

2009-11-26T20:51:00.003+08:00

Here's the list of nominees for Asian Festival of First Films 2009:

Best Director
· For Real
· Lahore
· Looking For Anne
· Madholal Keep Walking
· Storage
· Dead Slowly

Best Producer
· Storage
· For Real
· Land Gold Women
· Madholal Keep Walking

Best Film (Producer & Director)
· For Real
· Lahore
· Looking For Anne
· Madholal Keep Walking
· Storage
· Dead Slowly
· Land Gold Women

Best Screenplay
· For Real
· 7 Days In Slow Motion
· Bollywood Beats
· Frontier Blues

Best Cinematographer/Editor
· Blood Ties
· Lahore
· Superman Of Malegaon
· Cowboys In Paradise

Best Actor
· For Real
· Cashless
· Basic Love
· Frontier Blues

Best Actress
· Blood Ties
· For Real
· Closed For Winter
· Trick Or Cheat

Best Documentary/Director Documentary
· A Homecoming Spectacle
· Addicted In Afghanistan
· Superman Of Malegaon
· Vitthal
· Cowboys In Paradise
· Alternate Lives: The Street Busker
· Honey Hunters

Best Short Film
· Vaishnav Jan Toh
· Love And Luksah
· Certain Chapters
· Kala Pul
· Swayamsidhha
· Ikaw Sana
· Just Kabir

Image taken from Vinashare.net

Out of all these films, I have only watched Basic Love on DVD before. It is a very simple movie and great when you need something to relax your mind (a no-brainer type of movie). I do think that the male actor is great, especially since he is actually from a singing background. Hopefully he may win the Best Actor award.

Another film I actually taken note before is Blood Ties, which is produced in Singapore. However I changed my mind to watch it at the last minute as I feel that it is a little too bloody for my taste after watching the trailer. But since it is a Singapore film, i will definitely be giving my support to it and hoping it will win all the awards it is being nominated for. :)

If you are keen to watch the nominated films, they will be screened at Golden Village Marina and The Arts House from 28th November to 3rd December 2009. Tickets are available from the respective box offices and online (only Golden Village) at $10 each. Film synopses and schedules will be listed on the festival website http://www.asianfirstfilms.com/.

Click here to see the schedule in full size.

Certain Chapters is one of AFFF 2009 nominees

2009-11-24T23:09:00.003+08:00

AFFF is a prestigious festival that celebrates first-time film and documentary-makers and provides a platform for budding film talent. This year, the festival attracted over 700 entries and Certain Chapters is the sole Tamil nominee out of the 30 nominees from 28 countries.

Certain Chapters is a short independent Tamil-Language film released in Singapore.
Directed by Singaporean Abbas Akbar, it reveals the world of Indian gangsters in Singapore. Click here to watch videos of Certain Chapters.

The winners of the Asian Festival of First Films 2009 will be announced at the AFFF 2009 Gala Dinner in Singapore on December 4th. It will definitely be an unforgettable event for all the nominees.

For all updated news, pls refer to the official site: http://www.asianfirstfilms.com/

Painting your face

2009-11-09T08:06:00.004+08:00

I was watching "Guess Guess Guess" program on Ch U last Saturday and there was this section where they invited three women to attend the show showing their pre make-up faces. Once again, it really highlighted the wonders of make-up which can transform an otherwise normal face to that of a supermodel.

It was also said in the show that 80% of women in Taiwan do not go out without applying makeup. The three women on the show also said that they were treated differently by their boyfriends or suitors once the men saw their real faces.

So I guess this is one of the reasons why I do not really use make-up. I prefer the person to be looking within me first rather than focus on my face. If the person does not even try knowing me first, then he is really a superficial person that I could not be bother knowing as well. But then again, all men are "visual" creatures who love looking at beautiful women.

Of course I cannot deny that I am also rather lazy to learn the make-up tricks, plus all the cleansing that I will need to do at the end of the day. I also need to look for cosmetics that are suitable for my oily skin as the previous foundation kept caking on my face. Or maybe I have applied them wrongly. :P

Oh well, I know I must start learning the tricks very soon, as it is always polite to dab a little make-up when attending events or in a workplace. Of course, my current and past workplaces have always been lenient on this so I guess I will put it off for a little while again. So to all friends of mine, please bear with my plain old face for the time being.

Tata and it's off to work for me now.. See ya again soon!

不能说的秘密 - 周杰伦

2009-11-01T08:22:00.002+08:00

I love this song and piano piece from the movie, "不能说的秘密". If you haven't seen the movie, it will be broadcasted on tv tonight at 9pm. Enjoy the song for now.

不能说的秘密 - 周杰伦

冷咖啡离开了杯垫
我忍住的情绪在很后面
拼命想挽回的从前
在我脸上依旧清晰可见

最美的不是下雨天
是曾与你躲过雨的屋檐
回忆的画面
在荡着秋千
梦开始不甜

你说把爱渐渐放下会走更远
又何必去改变你走过的世界
你用你的指尖
阻止我说再见
想象你在身边
在完全失去之前

你说把爱渐渐放下会走更远
或许命运的签只让我们遇见
只让我们相恋
这一季的秋天
飘落后才发现
这幸福的碎片
要我怎么捡

Piano piece

MJC Farewell Assembly video

2009-10-25T14:18:00.003+08:00

The Maths teachers at MJC are so cooooooool....

[Via DK]