This video was made specially for Kavern. He organized Sarcoma Awareness Day on 25th July 2009. Two weeks before he went for his forth tumour debulking surgery.
Monday, October 05, 2009
sPIN cITY 1
This is an experimental video I made. It would be nice to have it screened on a big screen in a dance club!
Friday, July 24, 2009
The unheard voices of the deep South of Thailand
Sometime in November last year.....
The heart piercing voice of Yaena filled the air with despair. It was a voice of a wailing heart, singing the anguish of a widow who had lost a husband in such a tragic way. I sat still in the darkness, quietly listening to the song sung by Yaena and my heart was troubled. I wished our presence could somehow comfort her.
There I was, at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, which is located at the penthouse of Meneeya Center Building in Bangkok. The penal discussion on community response to violence and unrest in Thailand’s southern provinces was officially started after the song ended and the lights turned on. The projector had somehow failed to function at such an important event but our good spirits were not dampened. Thank goodness the televisions were in good conditions, which allowed the slide show to be screened.
The slide show of a series of portrait photos of the Lost Loved Ones graced the screens of the televisions. This event also marked the soft opening of the Lost Loved Ones photo exhibition at FCCT by Masaru Goto, an award winning photographer, who had travelled through rural armed Buddhists villages as well as Muslim villages to document the many faces of those who lost their loved ones in the conflict.
Speakers of that evening were Yaena, Lamai Manakarn, Isma-ae Salae from The Young Muslim Association of Thailand, Yala Province and Sunil who also acted as the translator, not to mention the charismatic Kraisak Choonhavan.
Yaena, clad in head scarf, spoke in Thai instead of Bahasa Melayu, her mother tongue. Then, Mr. Sunil acted as a translator. Last year, Yaena’s husband was assassinated. Then, Yaena received a letter from a government agency, accusing her of being an insurgent.
The day before the panel discussion, 50 kg of car bomb exploded in Narathiwat. It was said to be the biggest since the conflict started. According to one of the speakers, every time a bomb exploded, the security forces started to sweep the area in the vicinity of two to three kilometres, arresting everyone including children. I started to have goose bumps upon hearing that. Of course, I know the security forces had done more than just that. Few years ago, Amnesty International, Malaysia sent me a soft copy of a special report on the conflict in the deep South of Thailand. I felt like fainting while reading the report. There were just way too many cases of unlawful killings committed by the Thai security forces.
Looking at the mild mannered Yaena, I wondered how on earth the Thai government agency could even have the thought that Yaena is an insurgent. It was just ridiculous. Yaena is a Thai Muslim woman who is in her 60s. She started a small scale community project for women affected by poverty and the conflict in Narathiwat, selling batik shopping bags sewed by women affected by the conflict.
This year, there will be another Panel Discussion on ‘The Southern Unrest Today’, which will be held on 6th August 2009 in Bangkok. To go or not to go, there's the question!
Actually, last week when my mum gave me her left over Thai Baht, I knew it was a sign. I already had a feeling that I have to go to Bangkok again. To go or not to go?!!!!!!!
The heart piercing voice of Yaena filled the air with despair. It was a voice of a wailing heart, singing the anguish of a widow who had lost a husband in such a tragic way. I sat still in the darkness, quietly listening to the song sung by Yaena and my heart was troubled. I wished our presence could somehow comfort her.
There I was, at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, which is located at the penthouse of Meneeya Center Building in Bangkok. The penal discussion on community response to violence and unrest in Thailand’s southern provinces was officially started after the song ended and the lights turned on. The projector had somehow failed to function at such an important event but our good spirits were not dampened. Thank goodness the televisions were in good conditions, which allowed the slide show to be screened.
The slide show of a series of portrait photos of the Lost Loved Ones graced the screens of the televisions. This event also marked the soft opening of the Lost Loved Ones photo exhibition at FCCT by Masaru Goto, an award winning photographer, who had travelled through rural armed Buddhists villages as well as Muslim villages to document the many faces of those who lost their loved ones in the conflict.
Speakers of that evening were Yaena, Lamai Manakarn, Isma-ae Salae from The Young Muslim Association of Thailand, Yala Province and Sunil who also acted as the translator, not to mention the charismatic Kraisak Choonhavan.
Yaena, clad in head scarf, spoke in Thai instead of Bahasa Melayu, her mother tongue. Then, Mr. Sunil acted as a translator. Last year, Yaena’s husband was assassinated. Then, Yaena received a letter from a government agency, accusing her of being an insurgent.
The day before the panel discussion, 50 kg of car bomb exploded in Narathiwat. It was said to be the biggest since the conflict started. According to one of the speakers, every time a bomb exploded, the security forces started to sweep the area in the vicinity of two to three kilometres, arresting everyone including children. I started to have goose bumps upon hearing that. Of course, I know the security forces had done more than just that. Few years ago, Amnesty International, Malaysia sent me a soft copy of a special report on the conflict in the deep South of Thailand. I felt like fainting while reading the report. There were just way too many cases of unlawful killings committed by the Thai security forces.
Looking at the mild mannered Yaena, I wondered how on earth the Thai government agency could even have the thought that Yaena is an insurgent. It was just ridiculous. Yaena is a Thai Muslim woman who is in her 60s. She started a small scale community project for women affected by poverty and the conflict in Narathiwat, selling batik shopping bags sewed by women affected by the conflict.
This year, there will be another Panel Discussion on ‘The Southern Unrest Today’, which will be held on 6th August 2009 in Bangkok. To go or not to go, there's the question!
Actually, last week when my mum gave me her left over Thai Baht, I knew it was a sign. I already had a feeling that I have to go to Bangkok again. To go or not to go?!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
22 Hours preview
22 Hours is my first experimental short film. It is still in the post production period. This is the preview of the film.
The film was shot using a soundless digital camera. I always wanted to shoot a film on the train. So, that day, I decided to start shooting and let a story unfold itself and it did. I developed the script after putting the film together. Thailand used to be my second home, I just wanted to capture it on film the political unrest which has affected many peoples' lives and my life
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Nurin Tragedy
This is an experimental video I made using still images. The murder of an 8-year old girl traumatized the nation. The perpetrator is still at large. I was inspired to make this experimental video after I saw the graffiti in the streets. This video was made using stop motion technique and plenty of effects. This video is among the 60 videos featured in Eyeka Asia video section.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Pour some love on me
It's raining now. I am sitting inside an air-con cafe, feeling so cool. I miss Kavern, can't wait to see him again. Feeling comforted talking to him over the phone. I want to make things right again. I feel optimistic again. It is such a great feeling. I wish I could maintain this feeling forever.
We moved to a new house 3 days ago. It is like too good to be true because the house is so beautiful. Then, I realized money can create miracle. There is a playground near to our new home. From the playground, we can see the post card perfect stunning scenery of paddy fields and mountains at the back.
I feel happy for my parents and I feel grateful to my sister and my brother for creating this miracle for my family. May God bless them for creating this miracle for our family. Of course, praise the Lord for the many blessings.
I am always very thankful that my parents give me the freedom to choose how I live my life. Many parents will tell their children what to do with their lives. May God take good care of my parents.
Tomorrow I will go to the market with my mum. My mum will be cooking a storm tomorrow cos my cousin sisters and brothers will be coming over. House warming. I had been working for two days, helping my mum to sew the curtains, mopping, sweeping (you name it, serving the guests who came over for dinner. I was really glad that all the guests were happy. Family bonding.
We moved to a new house 3 days ago. It is like too good to be true because the house is so beautiful. Then, I realized money can create miracle. There is a playground near to our new home. From the playground, we can see the post card perfect stunning scenery of paddy fields and mountains at the back.
I feel happy for my parents and I feel grateful to my sister and my brother for creating this miracle for my family. May God bless them for creating this miracle for our family. Of course, praise the Lord for the many blessings.
I am always very thankful that my parents give me the freedom to choose how I live my life. Many parents will tell their children what to do with their lives. May God take good care of my parents.
Tomorrow I will go to the market with my mum. My mum will be cooking a storm tomorrow cos my cousin sisters and brothers will be coming over. House warming. I had been working for two days, helping my mum to sew the curtains, mopping, sweeping (you name it, serving the guests who came over for dinner. I was really glad that all the guests were happy. Family bonding.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Finally....
So sorry for the long long silence! I finally managed to put my short film together and sent it out to film fests. Whatever it is, I felt a great sense of peace after I put the film together. Phew....finally, I can rest and relax....
So, what's next? I went fruit picking in the orchard on Sunday afternoon and ate too much durian. It was a great experience, I mean the fruit picking. It was so nice to be surrounded by mother nature again.
I think a few well wishers out there must have prayed for me...cos my heart is filled with hope again or simply because I had accomplished my mission...putting the short film together..I feel empowered. I think it is very important to dream, to pursue our dreams because it gives us hope....we will shine and bring light to the world when we are doing the things we are best doing. I am in my best element when I am on my own doing my own things.
Imagine the late Micheal Jackson decided not to pursue his dream and ended up working in a office, doing job that didn't mean anything to him, there would be no legend, no moon walking, he wouldn't have shined as he did. Please pursue your dreams no matter how hard it is and become the person you have always wanted to be.
If God gave you another 20 years, what would you like to be or to do?
So, what's next? I went fruit picking in the orchard on Sunday afternoon and ate too much durian. It was a great experience, I mean the fruit picking. It was so nice to be surrounded by mother nature again.
I think a few well wishers out there must have prayed for me...cos my heart is filled with hope again or simply because I had accomplished my mission...putting the short film together..I feel empowered. I think it is very important to dream, to pursue our dreams because it gives us hope....we will shine and bring light to the world when we are doing the things we are best doing. I am in my best element when I am on my own doing my own things.
Imagine the late Micheal Jackson decided not to pursue his dream and ended up working in a office, doing job that didn't mean anything to him, there would be no legend, no moon walking, he wouldn't have shined as he did. Please pursue your dreams no matter how hard it is and become the person you have always wanted to be.
If God gave you another 20 years, what would you like to be or to do?
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Randomly
I have become a couch potato and feel no shame about it. I have been watching Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, American Idol (Adam Lambert is super super hot), America's Next Top Model and drama series(Chinese and Korean). When I live on my own, I live a T.V less life because it is easier for me to move around. I bought a T.V when I lived in Langkawi Island but I gave it to my brother when I moved home. Actually, I still have my belongings left in K.L and Bangkok. Probably my friends had thrown away my things. I won't blame them if they do.
I worked for the past few months on project basis. It's a man's job....industrial art but at least it has something to do with art. In the end of a working day, I look like a mechanic in a workshop with paint and grease on my cloth. I have to wear a mask when I do the spay painting with a spay gun. It's a very tedious job. The professional job title is called `wood care specialist', sounds very glamorous but it is not. Normally, I work for a week and then rest for a week. It is just good for me for the time being.
Last month, I was in the final stage of editing a documentary and thought it would be ready this month to be submitted to film festivals, then, suddenly, while I was rearranging my movie files, there was some sort of technical problem and the whole documentary just went down the drain. I felt like I was stabbed by a knife. I have to redo the whole documentary again. To do or not to do, that's the question. Of course, I decided to redo it from scratch, from the beginning. Sometimes, I think it is much much easier to drink and get drunk, to smoke and get stone because it is much much easier than to really want to do something. Will the documentary ever make it to a film fest?
Life has become really tough since I have become clean from alcohol addiction and weed addiction and started to pursue my dreams or probably I have taken life a bit too seriously? I am trying to figure out what have gone wrong. Actually, I miss my alcoholic friends and weed smoking friends because they understand me the most and they love me the most.
Finally, the world is witnessing the downfall of capitalism. Yes, capitalists, you are the real crisis. I was sucked into the world of capitalism too when I was in K.L. I thought I could change the world but I let the world change me instead.
I have put on weight, thanks to my mum's cooking. I have been watching too much T.V, another addiction. Well, at least it is something legal. hehehe.
Finally, about Gaza and the Palestinians. During the war, I wrote five appeal letters to the Israeli embassies. Two Israeli embassies replied to my first letter to justify its bombings on Gaza and killings of the innocent. I refused to back down. After five appeal letters, at least one diplomat `sympathized' with my call for peace and agreed with me. I fight my own war and I won it. At that stage of my life, I felt like I had lost every thing like the Palestinians but I haven't lost the fighting spirit in me. One day, the world will see an independent Palestine because nothing can kill the great spirit of the Palestinians. When the day comes, I hope I will be there with them to celebrate the victory. Of course, my dream is to see peace in Israel and Palestine.
I worked for the past few months on project basis. It's a man's job....industrial art but at least it has something to do with art. In the end of a working day, I look like a mechanic in a workshop with paint and grease on my cloth. I have to wear a mask when I do the spay painting with a spay gun. It's a very tedious job. The professional job title is called `wood care specialist', sounds very glamorous but it is not. Normally, I work for a week and then rest for a week. It is just good for me for the time being.
Last month, I was in the final stage of editing a documentary and thought it would be ready this month to be submitted to film festivals, then, suddenly, while I was rearranging my movie files, there was some sort of technical problem and the whole documentary just went down the drain. I felt like I was stabbed by a knife. I have to redo the whole documentary again. To do or not to do, that's the question. Of course, I decided to redo it from scratch, from the beginning. Sometimes, I think it is much much easier to drink and get drunk, to smoke and get stone because it is much much easier than to really want to do something. Will the documentary ever make it to a film fest?
Life has become really tough since I have become clean from alcohol addiction and weed addiction and started to pursue my dreams or probably I have taken life a bit too seriously? I am trying to figure out what have gone wrong. Actually, I miss my alcoholic friends and weed smoking friends because they understand me the most and they love me the most.
Finally, the world is witnessing the downfall of capitalism. Yes, capitalists, you are the real crisis. I was sucked into the world of capitalism too when I was in K.L. I thought I could change the world but I let the world change me instead.
I have put on weight, thanks to my mum's cooking. I have been watching too much T.V, another addiction. Well, at least it is something legal. hehehe.
Finally, about Gaza and the Palestinians. During the war, I wrote five appeal letters to the Israeli embassies. Two Israeli embassies replied to my first letter to justify its bombings on Gaza and killings of the innocent. I refused to back down. After five appeal letters, at least one diplomat `sympathized' with my call for peace and agreed with me. I fight my own war and I won it. At that stage of my life, I felt like I had lost every thing like the Palestinians but I haven't lost the fighting spirit in me. One day, the world will see an independent Palestine because nothing can kill the great spirit of the Palestinians. When the day comes, I hope I will be there with them to celebrate the victory. Of course, my dream is to see peace in Israel and Palestine.
Secret Garden
This is an abandoned space at the back of our old house in the country side that we turned into a little garden. There is a hammock too where I can relax under the tree. Yeah, it's so great to be surrounded by nature again. For me, nature has the power of healing. Hmm...why it takes so long to upload a photo. Sorry...I think I will upload the photos some other times. I am not so patient to wait around.
Few months ago. the trees in my hometown started blooming with flowers. So, everywhere was dotted with trees with pink flowers and white flowers. It was so fascinating. It was like the season of cherry blossom in Japan. So romantic. When I was in K.L, I was so deprived of nature. I felt like a fish that was put on land.
Everywhere I turn now, there are trees and plants, basically, there is live everywhere.
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