Capitao Nascimento

Elite Squad (2007) dir. Joseph Padilha

Winner. Golden Bear, Berlin Film Festival 2008. This film ranks as one of my all-time favourite. The Sequel is actually much more explosive and mature though. But nothing beats the first experience of watching the first parter.

When The Cold Wind Blows

Every Singaporean men who have served in the military will find this song sweet. One of my favourite marching/running chants with Jaguar Company back in Pulau Tekong. Always thought about my mother and what she was doing back home.



In the early morning march
with a fieldpack on my back
with an aching in my heart
and my body full of sweat
I'm a long long way from home
and I miss my mama/lover so
in the early morning march

when the cold wind blows
When the cold wind blows
When the cold wind blows
When the cold wind blows
When the cold wind blows

I know I know
you have to go
so hurry back home
I miss you so.

Kudos to whoever that made this into an indie rock song. Brings back good memories. May many more generations to come continue to find National Service a worthwhile duty for the nation.

Ten Commandmants For Dogs

Tara is actually a very skinny dog.

• My life is likely to last 10-15 years; any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you buy me.
  
  
• Give me time to understand what you want from me; don't be impatient, short-tempered, or irritable.
  
  
• Place your trust in me and I will always trust you back. Respect is earned not given as an inalienable right.
  
  
• Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment; I am not capable of understanding why. I only know I have been rejected. You have your work, entertainment, and friends, but I only have you.
  
  
• Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice and your tone. You only have to look at my tail.
  
  
• Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it, and if it's cruel, it may affect me forever.
  
  
• Please don't hit me. I can't hit back, but I can bite and scratch, and I really don't ever want to do that.
  
  
• Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right foods or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak. It may be I am just dog-tired.
  
  
• Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old and may also need love, care, comfort, and attention.
  
  
• Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch" or "Let it happen in my absence". Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, regardless of what you do, I will always love you.
  
  
  © Stan Rawlinson 1993

Flash Floods

When I was at Bangkok 2 weeks ago, the people there were so calm, despite the looming threat of a flood that had caused devastation elsewhere in the country. Back here, I'm convinced something is very wrong with some of my countrymen the way they whined about flash floods with waters as high as erm, till the ankle that is. It's the gahmen's fault lah!

Hugging the Buddha's Foot

Mentally drained from the dayjob. But not that it's terrible. It brings back good money, funds the films, keeps me sane, connected to the society, the "real world".

Sayang Sayang, the Tiger Nephews

So cute these nephews. Brings a smile, warmth inside me.

Waterfront Town

Punggol used to be where my parents would bring us for the weekends. The marina club, seafood dinner, live band and yachting.

In 5 years time, this will be home.

Stump

I was born and raised here / I got it made here / and if I have my way I'm gonna stay here / for life 

Patrick Stump's stuck in my head the entire day. Met King of Deception my former boss, somewhere not too far away from the above. I don't mean Deception in a bad way, if anyone could recall one of local tv's finest moments back in the good 90s. One of the most genuine person I've ever met.


"So are you coming back to film production?"

Facebook

"We are defending a piece of land where other people do everything for us so that we can live comfortable lives and complain about people doing everything for us."

Thinkers

Buddhism as a philosophy attracts a lot of thinkers. Naturally, the local Buddhist community has many members who are active critics, devil's advocate, lots of bright ideas, reasons why things will work and why some things don't, and then when action is required, they remain comfortably on their armchairs, contented with mere rhetorics, citing this and that reason for not being able to translate thoughts into actions.

The same way why I have huge respect for this young team. Bright young adults with lots of tertiary, family and youthful commitments, yet they still put their heart and soul into the youth group, sacrificing personal time and endeavours. Of course, there's always room for improvement and my wish is that they not burn-out, from the lack of support, the lack of people who step forward when it actually matters.

Hug The Buddha's Foot

Working on a new short film.

Sabai Sabai

Bird Thongcai McIntyre's Sabai Sabai was playing in my head as we made our way around the streets of Bangkok, especially since a Thongcai KTV DVD is on top of my dad's wish-list. Sabai Sabai is also the philosophy, attitude of life which the Thais exude: No worries, take life as it comes. Bend with the wind, like a tree. And above all, keep smiling. Something I can appreciate very much.

The most natural thing for me even in the holidays is to raid the DVD stores. Armed with a list of to-buy Thai films but did not had much hope since Thai DVDs rarely include English subtitles. Only managed one, Blissfully Yours, by Cannes winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul. 

 Blissfully Yours (2002) dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul

DVD stores (those selling original discs) are a rarity in Bangkok. Could only find 1 in Mahboonkrung. The rest of the stalls peddle pirated discs. But even in that 1 rare shop, you could find gems, films you could hardly ever find on the shelves of local shops.

Machete (2010) dir. Robert Rodriguez

 The Usual Suspects (1995) dir. Bryan Singer

JSA (2000) dir. Park Chan-wook

The rare Korean film that I admire. The Korean wave didn't really get into me. Too intense for my liking.

Memento (2000) dir. Christopher Nolan

The newspapers penned a different image of Bangkok. Yes, there were sandbags around major buildings, but the mood here was so relaxed, it's like business as usual. No panic, no shortage of food in the market, the streets were crowded, hordes of tourists, even Singaporeans as well.

There's something magical about this city that keeps me coming back, the third time in 5 years.

"... ... I think its amusing how foreigners like me think how lucky and blessed Singaporeans are, and yet they don’t see it. Their comfort, their safety, their opportunities, an economy that is still keeping and creating jobs, a government that is possibly not corrupt. what is wrong with being satisfied with these? so many other countries can’t provide jobs for their graduates, are in debt... ..."

Bangkok

Flying off in noon time. Still weighing the options. News have been positive thus far.

Nasi Lemak 2.0

Nasi Lemak 2.0 (2011) dir. Namewee

Low-budget indie comedy across the straits. Shot entirely on a 5DMk2 which helped made the film look sleek and professional, despite the shortage of funds. Sincere and heartwarming, it's like the director's love story to Malaysia (my only gripe with the film is its lacklustre climax and abrupt resolution). Having spent a lot of my primary school December holidays at my maternal grandfather's kampong in Muar, the film speaks to my heart like a personal love story to the northern neighbour as well.

Went to Johor Bahru to spend a lazy weekend in Grand Paragon Hotel with the home folks. 10 minutes walk to Pelangi with DVD shops that peddle pirated DVDs. Tough to find any originals around. The pirated industry is big business. I asked for the original of the film. The pirated version cost RM2 (that's S$0.80!) while the original disc goes at RM6 (S$2.50). Bought an extra disc as a belated gift to Rojak Boy, the DOP for the thesis film. Something I think he can relate, especially since he carries a Malaysian passport. The funny thing is he packed his bag and left for this Southern Island when he was a child, cannot speak proper Bahasa Melayu, served Singapore as a fireman and cheered on the Singapore Lions during the Causeway derby football match.

The peninsular to the north and the southern island has a very peculiar relationship.

前人种树，后人乘凉

RIP Steve Jobs

I know everyone on cyberspace is flocking to pay homage to Jobs but I've got good reasons to join the bandwagon as well. The MacBook and then the MacBook Pro have been my essential filmmaking tool since entering comms school. Save for The Soldier, all the films I have made were edited on a Mac computer. These machines enable amateurs to edit professional videos easily, cheaper and good, via another Apple product, the Final Cut Pro (and Express). When they say all you need now to make a film is only a computer, a software and a video camera, that computer is usually a Mac and that software, Final Cut. Indie filmmakers, amateurs, hobbyists and students need not rely on established studios or break their banks anymore just to have access to expensive editing facilities and making films. Steve Job's Mac computers gave us that freedom.

... Jobs made digital editing and filmmaking a more realistic and low-budget option, affording those with a passion for film opportunities they might not have gotten in the past. "As an up and coming horror film director, I had to be careful how I spent use the budget for my films and one way of maximizing the budget was for me to also edit my own film," James Wan, the creator of the 'Saw' franchise and director of this spring's surprise horror hit 'Insidious' said. "Thanks to the technology that Apple created in my indispensible MAC computer, I was able to edit on my own without sacrificing quality." - George Lucas, JJ Abrams and Other Filmmakers React to the Death of Steve Jobs.

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

 May you find Nibbannic bliss.

Confessions of a Nobody Filmmaker

Cataloged all the films I've made and put them in the Films page above, conveniently ignoring those mini video assignments/homework/re-edits-in-progress, or too-embarrassed-to call-my-own. Until someday with 0.01% chance of making it big and it could be on some DVD special of features to come.

In the meantime, I can take "pride" that I have no festival awards, no films on the circuits. I couldn't bear to watch my thesis film. I think all my shorts from university days are campy, predictable and pretentious. I'm a hobbyist/wannabe/guerrilla/day-job/Sunday/ HDSLR-wielding/nobody filmmaker. True story.

Sometimes I wonder what could have happened, if I had made a better impact with that once-in-a-lifetime chance with the Kungfu Master and the closest I could ever get to enter the mainstream HK/Chinese film industry.

Buddha's Palm

Buddha's Palm (1982) dir. Taylor Wong

Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Yee he started out as an actor in the movie industry. The protagonist of this Shaw Brothers' Classic.

Sophomore year in 2008. The 1 week break before the examinations. I had a bad flu so I had no mood for the books but this film on DVD in my Macbook at the benches.