This War of Mine - What a Game!

There are games like Call of Duty, where you pick off enemy soldiers one by one, not caring where they come from and who they are.

Then there are games like.... this one.

That makes you feel guilty for stealing from an old couple's home. And when kids knock on your door to ask for food for their sick mother, you have to think twice because that's all the food you have.

So this is a game where you start off with 3 civilians, living in an apartment that is somewhat still liveable (it has a fridge! SCORE! And a heater tooooo), but there are parts of the home destroyed, so it isn't exactly robbery proof. You're in the middle of a war, where there are scarce supplies in the city and you'll have to assign someone to go out to scavenge in the night. 

The first round I played, one of my players died of depression on the third day, because I got him to rob an elderly couple's house. And thinking like how one would in normal games, I cleaned them out. Even when the old man was begging me to leave some medicine for his sick wife.

I got pretty frustrated, and I restarted the game. There's no save mechanism so it only saves before the next morning. Meaning, whatever you build in the day/ scavenge for in the evening, counts for nothing if you choose to exit. And when your characters get shot by hostiles and die, the game saves. The message is clear, you can never save and redo your life in times like these.

This is Pavle, he digs digging.

When I played through my second round, I decided to try punching a fellow (friendly) scavenger for fun. 

I died.

And so the house was left with 2 people. Which, actually works out because there weren't enough resources to go around. So I continued playing, although the 2 people started becoming sad. 

But mostly, I went to the abandoned places on the game map and collected resources, instead of killing hostiles.

One day, while I was playing, my boyfriend asked if I could knife Marty (a trader willing to trade for medicine for his father) for fun. He'd been playing Fallout 4, and that seemed to be the most logical thing to do, in Fallout 4 that is. I did, for fun, but with one stab, Marty died. And then Marty, whose father is a sickly man, comes out and mourns his fallen son. My boyfriend was appalled. 

You can't kill him dear, look at him. That's not right, my boyfriend mutters. 

Huh, but look at all the supplies I get from killing him! I said.

But you just killed a poor defenseless man and his father is so sad. Look at the supplies though. Wah so much.

Are you schizo? I asked. First he asked me to kill this man, then he says it's not right. Alright, alright... in the end, I restarted the day. Yay! Marty no die.

Shortly after, someone came to the house asking if he could stay. Great! 3 more people. And from that day on, I didn't kill a single soul and was so proud of it. Oh. Except that rapist guy who was going to rape the poor girl in the Supermarket. That's er, justified right?

Finally, war ceased on the 43rd day, just as I was about to saw my way through a ruined block of flats. And I survived, miraculously, after scavenging parts and having my own "factory" at home and sustaining on rats.

This game is oddly satisfying, but depressingly so. And so it showed me, if Singapore is ever going to be in war and such conditions, I'd die pretty fast.

The Diary of a Crazed Editor (or are you sure you want to be in Post Production?)

This is my log from 11pm on 12 Jan 2016.

It is a day, no a night, in the life of an editor. Think twice before you think post production is fun.

The situation:

I have 3 things to do. Export 2 episodes and edit, then export one more episode. I thought I could do it after the freelance editor does his changes and presents it and leaves, as I needed the computer in the editing suite. Turns out, he took the whole day and he still wasn't done.

Finally, he left around 10.45pm. And so my "night shift" started.

My esteemed reader, you must also know the fan in my office server isn't working today. So it goes beep beep beep, pause, beep beep beep, pause and repeat until tomorrow morning when the IT guys come to change the fan. 

11:40pm

Premiere Pro got stuck at 6% of export. The beeping is getting to my head. Two bangs of the table just so I can clear murderous thoughts in my head. Restarting computer. Goes to my computer and tries to relink files. A few thousand missing files. Okay. This will test my patience. Asked self why did editor changed root folders and make things so hard to find?

11:56pm

Had to wait 3 minutes before I can restart because was copying files. Longest. Three. Minutes. Ever. I wondered if I could have a more meaningful life than this.

12 midnight

Finally, restarted the computer and opened Premiere Pro CC2015. The icon kept jumping. Seriously if it hangs again....

12.03am

Programme launches. My life has meaning again! But the edit loads.... Slowly. Ah damn. The other computer is still showing "locating media". Brilliant multitasking isn't as brilliant after all.

Shut up beeps.

1.12am

Attempt number 3. Updated my QuickTime. Deleted unnecessary files. (Why are there 4 layers of video when we only need one? I need to write a rule book on this). At this moment I hate all editors, including myself. Had banged on table at least 4 times and stomped feet. Luckily no one is in office but damn, I am so pissed right now. Exporting just segment 3. Ok it went past 6%. There's still hope but I am still raged up.

Those *beepin* beeps!! Shuuuusshhh Artooooo.

3am

It seems that tidying files and updating QuickTime did the trick. I now have 2 segments under my belt. I feel a little invincible now. Finally a break from the horror. Also a break because am in the toilet and typing this. Will wash hands, don't worry.

Oh, and I've also finished my changes for the third episode. Awesome possum.

3.09am

Maybe I got happy too soon. Trying to open another episode crashed Premiere again. Oh why oh why?

Current score: Adobe Premiere Not-So-Pro 3, Sleep deprived editor 1.

And now the computer doesn't want to restart because Premiere refuses to force quit. Great. 

3.10am

The great mouse click war begins. I'm clicking till you force quit yourself, Premiere Pro! 

4am

Just checked the second episode and I just need to render a few parts and export is imminent... In 10 mins. I can smell my bed.

Also spotted 1 mistake from another editor. Haiya... But surprised at own alertness at 4am in the morning. Not too shabby eh.

4.09am

Looking at Facebook while things render. Hmmmm... Patience young padawan.. If I use the force, I can tune out that incessant beeps.

5.06am

Two episodes down, and just checked my last edit. 30minutes for the export and another 15 for uploading. An editor's job is really one of patience. Maybe I can cultivate my inner tranquility... Oh but wait, stomach's rumbling... Is it too early for breakfast?

5.25am

8 more minutes for the export toooo be dooone. And I think I hear school kids everywhere waking up.

5.27am

5 more minutes!! The excitement is killing me!!!!! Almooooooost there. If I am a superhero can I call myself the Exporter? My superpower will be rendering. Not rendering others unconscious. Just... Rendering.

5.32am

Stay awake! Stay awake! Anytime now.... 

5.33am

It says 100%! But er, the dialogue box is stuck... At 100%. What does that mean? Oh whew, it's done!

After much struggling with Google ( every piece of technology seems to be working against me at this juncture), it is uploading. But whhhaaaa.....tttt. 42mins for the upload?

That's it. I'm leaving it to upload. Getting outta here!

Update at 6.21am

I'm in my bed, still hungry, but I'll sleep it off. It's been a heck of a night. Goodnight all.

How To Get The Feeling For Wedding Videography

On 1st Jan this year, I had the opportunity to help a friend with a videography job for her wedding. That would be my seventh official wedding ceremony coverage. And well, being my seventh, least to say, I know the routine somewhat well. Makeup shots, veiling shots, groom gatecrash shots, entering room and kissing bride shot (VERY IMPORTANT!), walking down the aisle shot, exchanging rings shot, I dos... I have just about list down the most important shots of a wedding. With this checklist, one can never go wrong. 

But then again, once we get used to these shots, sometimes, the magic goes flat. Personally, I have experienced certain periods during the wedding where shots are quite uninspired. That happens mostly during times where something is being done for a long time, eg. make up. and I have already just about shot the bride from 10 different angles and 8 different shot sizes. I made up those numbers, of course.

So what do I do during that time? 

In the words of Jesus, seek and ye shall find! I found that when I look for things around to play with, with a keen eye and some luck, there will be interesting items to shoot. A hamster, curious about the commotion, a small mirror that I can use to play and shoot some reflection shots of the bride, and sometimes, close ups.

Close ups can intensify moods really well. Perhaps, that's why we always feel more intimate when we look at close ups of photographs.

They are holding hands! With some colour correction, her gown wouldn't look overexposed.

I recall that there were a few moments after the official ceremony was over, where they wanted to do a simple photoshoot with the photographer and I could jump in to do any shots as the videographer too. The photographer was busy snapping, making them pose, snapping again. When it was my turn, I tried to do the same, but moved the camera around.

The result? A somewhat zombie-looking bride and groom with frozen smiles standing static in my shot. There was absolutely no magic in that. Yikes. When we moved on to another spot for another photo opportunity, I had to think hard in my head. WHAT DO I DO?

I asked them to talk to each other. Bride, tell the groom what was the funniest thing that happened to you today. She did, they giggled. Groom, what was the funniest or weirdest thing that happened during the wedding? The bride chipped in with, you forgot your handphone! And they both laughed.

His hair falls. She reaches out to tidy it. She notices his tie is crooked and adjusts it.

Ahhhh... and all I had to do now, is to capture these moments. The magic flowed right back into my shot, and even though it was a very simple tight shot of the both of them together, life really came back into the picture.

In my humble opinion, even with the best angle and framing of each of the aforementioned checklist, if you forget to capture the humanistic, always spontaneous expressions from the bride, the groom, even their family and friends, meh... the edit will be super boring. But with each crack of a smile, each cheeky grin, movement, touch, reaction, that's what brings life into the video.

Trust me, I'm an editor in my day job :)

Side note: I was on standby to wait for the bride to march out, and I was trying to frame the door. Turns out to be a nicely "framed" (geddit!) shot of the full ceremony! Loved this shot! MAGIC!

Of Weddings

Having some skills in editing and handling a camera has paid off, somewhat literally.

I remembered the first time someone asked me to film their wedding, it was Moses and Yunhui. Oh, what FAITH (literally, again) they had. It was 2012, and I used my trusty Canon 550D and my Sirui tripod/ monopod to do the job. And yes, you read it right. A Canon 550D and a $100 tripod. I was inexperienced, and crazy. While the bride was walking down the aisle, one of the batteries died. Luckily, I replaced it just in time as she reached the groom. 

Then the second time came sometime after. In 2013, Pam asked me to help her with Jared and her pre-wedding. It was a simple shoot with them, and an interview. Plus a fun gimmick -- although it might come off as a little cheesy. However, come to think of it, I could have gotten to know them a little bit more before the shoot, as I think I made them a little awkward with some of the stuff I got them to do. TEE HEE... But by then, I had my handy Zoom H4n recorder. Woah, upgrade!

My very own cousin also asked me to help her with hers. Only problem was, I was less than prepared. Again, with my Canon 550D and $100 tripod, I came rather unprepared. It was an evening wedding, and as the sky went dark, so did the bride's face. In the end, with desperate colour correction, she looked like a little ghastly and somewhat orange-y. 

And that's when I realised, cannot la... I have to up my equipment and skills.

2014 was an unforgettable ride. Three different weddings in three different months. Plus one where I had to be bridesmaid/ camerawoman for the morning. I roped in Jabez (now an award-winning filmmaker) to help me as a 2nd camera operator-cum-glidecam operator, and the results were crazy. Crazy beautiful. In the last wedding, we even had a slider operator, Ben, and I was more than happy with the shots. We rented Manfrotto monopods, sliders, even LED Video lights for those "my-god-need-me-to-get-married-by-7am" weddings.

Our first time experimenting with Glidecam. The results were fantastic.

My cousin's wedding. Played with the slider for the first time.

My church friends' wedding. Slider + glidecam + monopod. Everything thrown in for a wonderful day.

Camerawoman by day, bridesmaid by night. This edit was voluntary as the camera people (also a friend) had no time to edit it and I felt so happy seeing the bride and groom loving the final product.

In 2015, things slowed down, thankfully, and I only did a pre-wedding video with Cooper and Sheila. It was no-frills, but with a great concept, it went well and it also went down well with the audience. 

We thought of doing this fun stuff on the beach very spontaneously and it worked!

As you may have noticed, most of the above are all friends who approached me to help them out. Of course la, I got day job one leh. And also I'm below market rate. But nonetheless, I am grateful for these opportunities to be part of an exhilarating ride and an important role in a special day of someone close. 

As the jobs increases, the equipment list start to increase too. As of now, I own a second-hand Canon 5D, 5 CF cards and 3 batteries, a Canon 24 - 105mm lens and just today, I finally bought myself a camera bag to store all the goodies for my next jobs.

Looking back though, you know what's funny? My first paid job was to do a photo montage for a man heading for divorce. He wanted to get his wife back and it was such a crazy thing to do. But powerful enough for him to believe in the video and powerful enough for me to agree.

So far, have I made much of a profit? Haha, not really. Am I good enough, or skilled enough? I really am not sure where I stand, although I do believe my editing skills, honed by my day job's requirements, add a lot of value to the final product. No matter what, it is always an exhilarating process, and just when magic happens, I'm glad I'm there to take it all in.

可能就这样了。

又有想回到听华语歌的念头，所以把梁静茹全部的歌曲都放进新手机里。

这一听，有一点回到过去的味道。

她的歌，陪了我过好多好多年轻的岁月。如今，我已经快二十八岁了。

我应该认老了吗？哈哈，我也不懂。心里还是有二十二岁的感觉吧！

其实，我也蛮惊讶我还记得她的歌词。我想，也就是这个原因，才让我还没真正失去能够读和写华文的本领吧。几天前，我的老板还叫我检查一个华文剧本。辛亏我还OK啦。。。还能明白故事在说什么。

我现在无话可说了。哈哈。。我的华语也够烂的。

Resilience

So tough a quality to have.

A Wonderful Evening At The Dancing Crab, Vivocity

After having been to Turf City's The Dancing Crab twice and falling in love with the concept and the freshness of the crabs, the boyfriend decided he wanted to have his 30th, 21st birthday at The Dancing Crab at Turf City. But, the place was always crowded. Every time we went we had to reserve seats ahead, and there was always a queue for the walk-ins. Even though Turf City isn't exactly the most accessible place for the non-drivers.

On searching their website one day, we discovered there was a new outlet at Vivocity. In fact, there's also another one at Orchard Central, but the Vivocity one looked more scenic considering it faces a body of water. Haha, not the sea. That teeny bit of water between Vivocity and Sentosa is too small to be considered the sea!

And so the boyfriend magnanimously decided to have it at the Vivocity one. Leading to cheers, and slightly better attendance. As a typical kiasu girlfriend, I asked his best friend to help book the place way in advance, fearing that it might be as crowded as Turf City's. They were really nice, and told his best friend that they would give us the sea-facing, I mean, water-facing part.

And they did! While the rest of the diners were upstairs, we had the whole space downstairs to ourselves. It was also just nice that there was a bar right next to us, so there are always waitresses lingering there. Yeap, we had a private party. Haha. It might also be because the Vivocity one is not yet as popular as the Turf City one, so not as many people. But yay for us :)

At first we were worried and tried to pair everyone up for the Combo Bag. But some of our friends decided to have the entrees, eg. lobster rolls, fish and chips (but the name on the menu was long and almost deceiving) so they ate individual meals. It was nice that there were stuff for non-crab lovers, although one of our friends exclaimed to them, "But this is The Dancing Crab, not The Dancing Fish eh".

The food arrived in about 10 minutes after our orders. That was super fast, considering I once waited 45 minutes for the one at Turf City. Everyone dug in and were complimenting the freshness of the seafood. The prawns were crazy fresh and even the breaded fish was so easily broken, unlike the kinds where you know it's been frozen. Even the best friend was digging up treasure from the sauces when everything visible was gobbled up.

A pair of our friends wanted some fries to have some more carbohydrates, and we all started stealing from their bowl of piping hot potato fries. Once you pop, you couldn't stop.

Our private party!

Before we dug in.

A shoutout also to Temptations Cake! They made this Stormtrooper cake possible for me. Even though there was a miscommunication in the morning, they dealt with it very professionally and even hand-delivered it over!

The damage for those who had the Combo Bag were about $50. Those who ate the entrees paid $22- $29. One of our friends had a UOB card and so we had a 15% discount. NO GST! So yea, bring your friends who has UOB cards over la.

I know I've never done any restaurant reviews ever in this humble blog of mine, but I have nothing but compliments for the two places that made the boyfriend's birthday memorable! Okay, maybe one complaint, why our crab smaller than the others? Hahaha... I think we had more prawns though, so it's okay lar.