小幸运

A big thank you Charis and Jocelyn. These two girls sang their hearts out during an impromptu K session in the small confines of my trusty rusty new-but-old Nissan.

And created a timewarp earworm in my head.

We went through the hottest song of the season, Hebe's 小幸运, and then S.H.E, and a few more, but we kept bouncing back to S.H.E.

By the time I dropped Jocelyn off at her ULU Sengkang house, we've gone through 3/4 of S.H.E's repertoire. I'm serious.

So I'm now on a train bound for Memory Lane, which I'll just indulge for a little while. Blame it on the movie, which I conveniently got from Charis. It wasn't quite 那些年，and I could never be that lead girl because frankly, I couldn't afford going to the salon for hair treatments at that age and with that hair, but still, it did evoke some wonderful memories from the days of youth. And crushes. And likes. And "can't believe I fell in love with that guy" kind of thoughts.

While the song that's the title of this post plays. On repeat.

Thanks ah, Charis.

I'm trying to understand the song as I go along.

I think it should be a reflective piece, after a break up, looking back at the better times of a relationship? And then accepting the break up while still being able to cherish the moments of it, being able to appreciate the good side of the other party and knowing that whoever loves next, will be really blessed to have them.

I think lar, my Chinese is not that good.

OR

It's about realising that you don't want to let go but you did, so too late already. So there's nothing left to do but remember all the good things about them and their experiences and then to say they'll be a blessing to the next person.

Well, no matter which it is, it is still a very beautiful song.

And the movie made me cry buckets. Although I found it a little creepy for the male lead to be smiling constantly.... he might be trying to give a new dimension to his character though. Okok, the editor in me is trying to analyze the film- staappphhhh.

Alright now, I guess once I get sick of it I'll be ready to move right to Future Road.

On a last note, you think it's appropriate to play this song at my wedding or not, ah?

The TV Industry Is Magic Made From Mundane.

After the n-th person quit from my office, I feel that this has to be said. Guys, TV is nothing more than mundane activities strung together, creating a formula that looks magical. But there is nothing magical about having to source for an obscure prop, or having to be on set on twelve-hour shoot days where you are far away from friends and family, or even getting crew all the drinks they need to plow through the day.

Nothing magical at all.

So before anyone sees a Behind-The-Scenes and go, oooooh so fun, and decides to jump into this industry because you get to see stars, please, I beg of you, DON'T.

The glamour, the lights and pizzazz of television are all made possible on the backs of sweaty men and women who wake up before the crack of dawn, making every minute on set count, doing things that defy the "laws" of a university graduate.

When you read a script, it is just words, description words, character names, dialogue chunks. There is no magic.

When you stand, physically behind the scenes, there is no magic. Everyone is busy in their own department. The logger logs the shot, checks the script and notes continuity. The make up artist scrutinises the actor's face on camera, ready to jump in to touch up at any time. The props master is waiting to put in the props for the next scene and the welfare person is making sure everyone is well and properly fed. On screen, is the action being filmed, one shot here, one shot there. You see the raw, flat shots. There is no magic.

In the editing suite, there is no magic. The editor cuts out the front and the back of the clips, stitches the sound and visuals together, splices different angles together, picks out the best takes and assemble it together. It can be pretty boring to sit through a whole day's footages.

Then it goes to colour grading and audio mixing.

When after all that work is done, from scripts to shoot to the final mix, and you play the video, the film comes to life. That's where the magic is, inside your TV box.

So if you can stand that the satisfaction only comes in that little box, please, come join us in this industry.

If not, seriously, don't even.