The City Never Sleeps

After getting addicted to Sex and the City, i had the habit of writing a blog beginning with '... and the City.'

No no no. I am not imitating Carrie Bradshaw in her tiny sex column on The NY Star every Wed. But living in this tiny red dot on the map that has developed rapidly in 1/2 century's time means people are moving on as if they are taking a bullet train. The train just speeds without stopping, so that literally means people tend to miss the good stuff when they moved on without stopping to see what is happening around them.

And because people are moving so fast, that there are many little things to talk about, so long as you slow down and observe what is happening around you.

Bought 3 books yesterday, and never in my life would i buy 3 books at a go. Hey, i feel that i am becoming the next Paul, a distance friend of mine from Malacca who loves reading good books. While movies is still my No 1 choice of unwinding myself, books and music has slowly taking over coffee breaks or rather, coffee time in Starbucks.

Book No 1: SQ 21 - Singapore Queers in the 21st Century. Written by Ng Yi Sheng

This little yellow book published by Oogachaga (a counselling circle catered to the needs of people facing problems with sexuality, especially gays, lesbians, bis and transgenders.) brings us personal experiences from 15 Singaporean gays, lesbians and bisexuals from all walks of life, where they share their journey of self discovery, coming out to their loved ones, facing the acceptance of the society, and most importantly, moving on.

This book is not about glorifying homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender. No. More rather, it makes us think of how this people moved on with their lives and lead a normal life, just like you and me.

Book No 2: Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier

Bought this book at a weekend flea market located beside Cineleisure Orchard, where it was a group of volunteers who sold their books/DVDs to raise funds to help the migrants in Singapore. Their main purpose of helping them is to assist them in terms of development, psychological assistance and etc. (Well, it is not easy for one to settled down to a new land where he/she are not familiared with the new environment.)

And Frazier's debut novel was later turned to prints on the big screen by Anthony Minghella (of English Patient and Talented Mr Ripley fame), which gains Renee Zelleweger an Oscars for Best Supporting Actress in 2004. Oh yes, the film features another 2 beautiful celebs: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. Putting fame and beauty aside, Cold Mountain is about a soldier's named Inman on his journey back to his home, Cold Mountain, after the American Civil War, and the things he went thru in the journey. On the other hand, his lover, Ada, was struggling with financial difficulties and coping with things on her hands after her wealthy father passed away, leaving her with a piece of land.

Book No 3: Four Films of Woody Allen - Woody Allen

Another rare hidden gem found at the stall, and at that moment, i took it with me home.

Nothing worth seeing it if you are not a fan/understands Woody's films. But this rare collection contains 4 screenplays of Woody's highly celebrated classincs: Annie Hall, Stardust Memories, Interiors and Manhattan. And know what? Love the front cover of the book, for it was a hand-drawn picture of Woody himself and the poster of the 4 films.

Woody and his simplicity again. (And if you understand what does this means.)

Bro gave me his Panasonic VS2 after he bought himself a Motorola Raza VX3. And i am really over the moon. :)

Even though VS2 is not really in vogue, i am satisfied. In fact, ever after since working as an RP in Bedok Camp, i find happiness from myself by not being in the trend, but going back to a life of simplicity. Having slices of peanut and red bean min chiang kuih on the streets of Orchard Road while walking towards Topman gives me the kind of happiness i've never experienced for long, compared to sipping grande vanilla latte on the road and yet thinking of not having enough money to survive.

You might have guessed correctly what am i trying to say over here: money.

During the days when i get my allowance from my mum, all i know is to spend them and save up a little. And though i do not have to work for money, happiness is simply not with me, since i know once i spend all of it, that's it. Especially when my peers in TP gotten themselves the latest gadgets or bags (either through work or receiving their $$$ from their parents, if they are rich.) and yet i am still using my red Deuter bag. Till today, i am still using that red Deuter bag, even though it is dirty and i have the thought of getting a Crumpler/Philosophy bag. I may get the bag, i may not. And just like how Carrie Bradshaw spend her money on branded shoes, i am not frugal when it comes to home videos, thus that explains why i don't really have much money in my pocket.

But, you need to draw a clear line between a want and a need. Want is what one desires. Need is what one really needs. Now, i really hoped that someone would enlightened me with controlling the 'wants' and fufill the 'needs'.

And did i mentioned that sometimes you can find happiness in sweet memories?? Some of the past that i had were too painful to be remembered. Thus i would rather savour the sweet memories of the past over and over again. Think gatherings,birthday celebration, graduation ceremonies, POP, the seminar and close encounter with Royston Tan, Tom Cruise and Faye Wong...

At least i tell myself, never indulge too much of it, for time will never rewind itself back. What to do to get back the happiness?? The answer is: it's in your hands. Go work for it, and if you work hard, you will see it for yourself. ;)

Was lucky enough (or should i say it was somekind of fortune that falls on me due to the good deeds done in the previous life??) to won a pair of tickets to From Local to Global: A Seminar with Royston Tan and Kelvin Tong held at National Library. Knows that it was an golden opportunity to meet the young director behind 15, whom was named as one of the Asian Heros (or in my view, Royston is more of a rare gem found and polished under the international limelight) by Time Magazine, and Lawrence was working on Royston Tan for his project, i decided to lend a helping hand to help him excel in his project.

And so we came to National Library Level 16, which was a gallery where you can see the magnificient view of Singapore River, Esplanade, Marina Area and blah blah blah.... was hoping to see Indonesia, but since the Indoneisan government is facing the problem of their countless forest fire, it was impossible for me to see Indonesia.

And when talking to Lawrence, all of a sudden, i felt that i am attending a seminar in Genting Highland. The only difference is the climate and the atmosphere, where it is freaking cold in Genting, yet it is extremely warm there.

Both Royston and Kelvin were late for 40 mins, and the seminar begins with their development of film making and their view on local films. Some extracts from Royston on his view of local productions and movie making:

1. Never take making short films as a doorway to making full length feature films. It will never work. The experience one got from making short films and full length features are different.

2. Teens would rather spend $9.50 on a $6 million blockbuster production than a small budget production. True, not every teenagers like me (around my age) could learnt how to appreciate a low budget high quality production, but too much high cost low standard productions would simply pull down the taste and appreciation of an audience. Are we going to be stuffed with craps such as Date Movie and Scary Movies Series in theatres, or more gems such as The Departed and controverisal blockbusters such as Munich and WTC in future ?

And it leaves some room for thought on the future of Singapore Cinema.

In the Q&A session, i opened 2 questions to Royston and Kelvin:

me: how has movie making change your life and what movie leaves you with the deepest impression?
Royston: ...movie making makes me realised that there is no take 2 in life....and the movie that leaves me with the deepest impression is Three Colors by (Krzysztof) Kieslowski. You know who is he? Everytime when i watched it over and over again, i find new meanings to the movie.

After the semianr, Royston was kind enough to take pictures and give autographs to his fans. This is the diamond opportunity to achieve our objectives. Royston was nice enough to give his signature to his latest movie 4.30 on DVD, and on his Royston's Shorts, a DVD featured all of the short films made by him in his previous years. And i had a short chat with him.

Me: I was amazed that Three Colors was the movie that leaves you with the deepest impression, cos it left me with deep impression too. So have you heard of this Spanish director named Pedro Almodovar?
Royston: You mean Almodovar?
Me: Yep.
Royston: Oh yes...
Me: His All About My Mother leaves me a deep impression too, and that was my all time favourite film. He potrays the love of a mother, where she would do anything for her son. That was so great.
Royston: Oh yes...what's the another Almodovar film that leaves me a deep impression...Bad Education. Have you seen it?
Me: Yes! And how about his Woman on the Verge of Nervous Breakdown?
Royston: Eh no...
Me: Mabey you should watch that if you had a chance. That was a really great film. But sad to say, Yangtze cineplex had a run of Almodovar's Matador, a 1986 drama which stars Antonio Banderas, ended up in Yangtze as a cheap...you know what i mean. What a waste to the film...
Royston: Ooh...seems that you are a movie buff. (smiles)

And Lawrence got his opportunity to complete his project. He finds Royston is a friendly chap too.

We did not leave the seminar empty handed. We got what we wanted eventually.

Both of us headed to Gloria Jean's Coffee at Raffle City SC for a cuppa and a cake. Had low fat iced mocha, and he had carrot cake, while i had 2 iced cupcakes. (And iced cupcakes seems to be the favourite among the 4 girls in Sex and the City.) Made our way to The Grand Cathay for the 5.20pm show of The Departed. It just happened that we walked pass The Cathay Gallery, and we were amazed with what is displayed on the Gallery. It was like walking down the memory lane to the history of Cathay Organization. Lawrence was surprised to find the traditional ticket booklets used as a display. ;)

Scorsese brings in new life to Infernal Affairs Trilogy in The Departed, and within 152mins, he concluded the whole story. Go see it for yourself, for you will loved the ending if you find the ending of Infernal Affairs 3 disappointing.

And the song entitled 'Happy Together' by the Turtles has seems to become a favourite song for gay and lesbian themed movies.

1st, we have Happy Together, Wong Kar Wai's gay flick that explores the love life and problems an unhappy gay couple (the late gay celeb Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung plays the ill-fated couple) who made their way to Bueno Aires, and found out that they are meant to be together.

Next, British comedy Imagine Me and You explores a bride falling in love with a lesbian florist on her wedding day, and her discovery to lesbianism, and eventually, getting happy together with the florist. And amazingly (and unamazingly, Golden and Yangtze had a run of Imagine Me and You, since they lack new films to draw the crowds for the show.)

Watched Imagine Me and You at Golden on Wed, and it did draw some crowd (and i am referring to working class people) for it was the last week we get to watch Imagine Me and You in theatres.

Nothing much to say, for it is just a lesbo chick flick.

This year's Mid-Autumn has not been very nice, compared to the previous years. Imagine the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia are celebrating Mid-Autumn under the thick haze, thanks to their neighbour, Indonesia, with their constant burning of forest by those money minded developers.

And thanks to the haze, it foiled my 1st invitation of my friends to Mid-Autumn gathering. Invited Lawrence and Jess Lin to have some lovely moonies at home. Mum serves them fried noodles with curry chicken, stir-fry veggies and braised sea cucumbers in sweet and sour sauce. Sad to say, Jess just had her wisdom tooth removed, that she is now unable to eat much thing, except for congee. =(

And it so happens that Dad brought home a box of SDS mooncakes from Johore Bahru, i served Lawrence and Jess with 3 moonies, all with single yolk: lotus paste with black sesame paste from SDS, Lotus paste and Shanghai mooncakes from Kum Lun Tai (another Malaysia household brand.) served together with Lipton Gold Tea from Kenya. While Lawrence loves the moonies with tea, Jess could only simply feast her eyes with the moonies, not on the lips. =(

Lawrence caught hold of the dvd of Road to Guantanamo, a docu-drama i bought recently. We watched it, and discussed what i've learnt from RP course onto the film. Well, by right, we should have Teresa Teng singing The Moon Represents My Heart on the stereo, but we had POWs on the discussion table instead.

And forget about looking at the moon, since Sister Moon was coughing away due to the haze. I bet Sister Chang-E and her lovely Jade Bunny must be coughing away, and Brother Wu Gang trying his best not to chop off the tree, since photosynthesis can help to cleanse the air, and produces more oxygen for the people in the moon, lest they died from breathing in too much toxics, CO and CO2 from the haze.

And mabey this words from Clarence could apply on that night itself. He asked: 'David, want me to draw a moon on the balcony?'