Two Weeks into the June Holidays

Recently I’ve been rather caught up writing new poems and editing some of my old works to put into my mentorship portfolio. (You can’t imagine how much I want to get it.) I’ve also found the time to do up the outline for the campfire script, which despite my best efforts still looks like a Kids Central show to me. But oh well, if HSM can make it big while keeping its storyline clichéd, then so can this musical/campfire.

 

Another thing I’ve been working on is the Sherlock Holmes promotional video which can be found at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3R_N0iohLA 
Frankly, I find it rather dull now so I’m going to edit it a bit more before I let it be put on the VR website. Don’t forget to catch us at the amphi during LitFest!

  

As you can see, I’ve really been spending a lot of time on non-academic work, which sucks cause that means I’ve no time at all for academic revision. Two weeks left and that pile of bio notes looks ever more daunting. I think I just can’t bring myself to do science after all that arty-farty stuff I’ve been engaging in. 

  

Yesterday was great though. I sort of learnt how to rollerskate backwards, visited a few new places in Singapore like Henderson Waves, Alexandra Arch and a stunningly beautiful place called HortPark. That’s where I saw a lonely mushroom growing out of the carefully cut lawn and it inspired me to write a poem (don’t ask me how) which I penned while giving tuition. Giving tuition to Primary 6’s can be the most mind-stiffling thing on earth and that’s why I had written another poem inspired by my cousin’s 21st birthday during Monday’s session. Hmm… if I can pen one every session, that’ll give me a total of 5 poems, enough to fill up my portfolio! Whee! xD

   

Now in less than 4 hours time, I’ll be going away on a church camp. I’m going in the faith that I’ll have a real life encounter with the Almighty God and my love for Him will be renewed, as will my faith.

   

These holidays have been very meaningful for me (although not in the academic sense) and I have God to thank for that. Because He made me see that life is so much more than just school. It’s also about doing what you like to do and what you were made to do.

MadCAPped Adventures

I think my emotions have finally settled down enough for me to start blogging about CAP.

What was CAP like for me?

Fighting drowsiness during morning plenaries. Then staying wide awake till the wee hours at night, trying to get into NUSOPEN (the wireless internet connection that spasmodically connects and disconnects automatically) which ironically won’t stay open & playing card games.

Trying in vain to subdue writer’s block in Cyril Wong’s poetry workshop. Cringing as he reads out my poetry to the class and suppressing my laughter as he goes about lamenting on our penchant for writing about “hanging heaviness in the air between us”.

Straining my mind’s ear to hear the faint “voices” of two characters in Robin Loo’s playwriting workshop. Writing a letter to an alien and wondering how in the world I’m supposed to string “umbrella” & “urine” into something coherent. Recording the bickering between a cigarette butt and an auntie’s handbag as it plays out in my imagination.

Mummifying dolls & a table with tape late into the night, bleary-eyed. Thinking how I never want to see another roll of scotch tape in my entire life. Smsing Lyn in a bid to kill the monotony and waiting for her reply that never comes till the end of the workshop.

Hiding in the Sky Garden, under the pale moonlight, with our guitars, pebbles and bath towels, waiting to surprise a very touched Gan on his birthday. (I have the video if anyone wants it)

Reading works of published authors and fellow CAPpers and wishing I were half as good as them. Dreaming of getting a mentorship and getting published.

Playing “daidi” every chance we’ve got & camwhoring together. Putting up with Naomi’s frequent “he’s so cuteeeee” as she fawns over a certain NQ. Laughing uncontrollably as Kar Liang gets chased away by a very fierce Bowei. Looking at friends on the last night and wondering if we’ll ever be this close again.

These are the memories of CAP ‘08 that I’ll never forget. It may not have taught me as much as I would have liked to learn about writing, but then again, how much can you learn in 5 days? Most importantly, I came out of it inspired, enlightened, and much much happier.

To all my friends at CAP, new & old, thanks so much for making it so memorable. They say pictures speak a thousand words so let’s have the promised photo gallery.

 
My OGL, Bowei!                                                                             

Cleo thinks Lysander’s a cool name. (:

 
Lyn dearest!

My primary school classmate, Norianna!

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.”

I’m sulking cos Alex’s wearing my T-shirt. He forgot to bring casual wear.

Room A222, Kent Ridge Hall                                            

Just look at Kar Liang’s priceless expression.

Sweat, blood (I cut my finger) and tears (figuratively)… and finally we have Decrescendo

Creative Arts Seminar ‘08

How was CAP? Two words. Unbearably fun. I’m seriously dead beat now & I’ve still got to go to school at 7.45 tmr for CLIMB. -.- Anyway, I wanted to post this on Day 2 but the Internet connection got cut off for some reason & no matter how I tried I couldn’t get it back. Yea, so anyway, digest this for a bit and give me some time to write about the whole CAP experience another time.  To all the new friends I made at CAP, I love you people very very much & hope I’ll get to see you again soon. <33333

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Hey people. Just to give you a semblance of what my life is like now, I’m blogging specially from the CAP Seminar.

Day 2 of camp just ended & I had a very enlightening poetry workshop with Cyril Wong, an accomplished Singaporean poet! I’m gonna buy his newest collection of poems tomorrow, Tilting our Plates to Catch the Light. O.o Got to tell you though, he’s painfully blunt. If he doesn’t like your writing, he says it immediately which I kinda appreciate because just praises won’t get you any improvement. For example, he absoultely abhors clichés (I mean who doesn’t, really) and is very adamant about being straight to the point instead of flowery and rhetoric (just like his criticisms >.< ouch)

Oh oh, and for my performance workshop we’re suffocating baby dolls in tape to make sculptures. No it’s not a school for psychotic killers-in-training, it’s really an art workshop conducted by Arron Tan (I didn’t spell his name wrongly; the nurse did). It’s really interesting in concept but gets tedious when you do it. Here are some pictures by Mark Jenkins, a famous tape sculpturer.

 

Most unfortunately I can’t post pictures I’ve taken now cos’ I stupidly forgot to bring my cable along. Nevermind, I’ll post a post-mortem of the whole camp at a later date. Right now, my mind is convoluted with jumbled thoughts and poetic lines. (Did that make sense?) I just want to leave you with something interesting that stuck in my mind for the whole day:

“A word after a word after a word is power.” – Margaret Atwood

Doesn’t that just sum up the reason why writers choose to write? Alright, the teachers just came to check on why I wasn’t in bed yet. I’d better turn in soon. 3 more days to CAP finale!

GOLD WITH HONOURS!!!

Latest news: RJC just got Gold with Honours for their SYF production, Sisters! One of 4 schools who got the award. GO RAFFLES!!! Haha it’s moments like these when you feel this immense sense of school pride welling up inside you. Lol. I’m so full of crap.

Hmm… This probably means we’re gonna restage it to a college audience. Wonderful. Now everyone can see my horrendous hairdo. >.<

Anyway, I’m amazed that I actually used an Iron Man quote today for the AQ on marriage. A rich businessman, aka Tony Stark, was asked if he had a family. When he said that he didn’t. The reply that he got from Yinsen was “So you’re a man who has everything, but nothing.” Of course, I didn’t mention which movie it was. I simply said it was a recent Hollywood movie. Marvin was pratically foaming when I told him.

I never intended to blog today, but this piece of happy news totally killed my mood for work. After all, I’m supposed to hand up Chapter 1 for PW tomorrow but I still haven’t gotten down to completing my section on “The Plan”. 

Ok, should get back to PW. My teacher never seems to be pleased with our group. No idea why. Till next time, dear reader.

SYF + College Play + PPBs

Ok, so I haven’t posted for a long time. But it’s not because I was lazy (ok, fine I concede I was a little) but the main reason is cos it’s been a helluva week recently.

Anyway, here’s what’s been going on lately:

SYF PLAY! – SISTERS

Went down to ACJC on Tues. The play itself went very well, with few screw-ups, except for one of the five stones being left on stage. But I don’t think the judges noticed it since it was so small anyway. SYF gave me a chance to work with some pretty amazing actresses (it’s very female dominated) like Aruna, Shuli, Sarah, Priya etc. and also very interesting directors, Mr. Vadi & Joyce. Oh, and I thought that Shuli’s performance was especially commendable. She played the role of Mei Tze perfectly and gave the ending the impact it needed. Anyway, the waffles at the AC canteen are damn nice! After the performance, we rushed down to buy them & I koped the last one, much to Joyce’s dismay. Sorry dear!

Oh and we cam-whored throughout the day. Try to refrain from laughing at my hair… I know it makes me look like Lim Bo Seng’s son and all but you have to remember that the play is set is olden Singapore. Anyway, here are some of the products of our cam-whoring, courtesy of Tanvi & Mathan:

Attempted dreamy shot outside PAC :p

(Left to right: Yona, Mathan, Sally, Moi)

 

Steffi & Me

 

Pouting

Post-Production in AC canteen (I got my hair back!)

 (Left to right: Mel Ho, Joyce, Me, Mathan, Shuli, Tanvi)

 Let’s hope we get our GOLD WITH HONOURS!

 COLLEGE PLAY 2008 – OUR TOWN

By now everyone who has watched the play will probably be thinking how totally random & crude my character was. If you don’t remember, I was the baseballer who appeared for like, let’s see… 5 seconds? Yea, but at least I got to meet & talk to very cool ppl that I’ve never actually gotten a chance to talk to like Claire, Camilla, Abigail Kang & Ho, Auyong, Joshua, Miffy, Hannah, Bryan, Fiona, Anna, Lin Tong etc. And not forgetting Mr. Booth, our director, who is a very funny man if you ask me. Anyway I asked my friends who came down to watch it and they all said the play was good so WELL DONE CAST & CREW! To those of you who came down to watch the play, thanks for all your congrats/flowers/gifts. They reminded me of how much my friends care about me, even if I do end up with lines shorter than my write-up. Sadly, I don’t have any pictures to show for college play though, cos no one has sent me any pictures yet. *hint hint*

PPB’s

So now Post Production Blues are hitting me. No more rehearsals to attend. Going back to normal school life & not skipping classes anymore feels kinda surreal after all the fun that I’ve had. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from all these experiences, if you want photos in time to blog about the event, you have to take them yourself. So from now on, I’m gonna master the art of camwhoring with my camera phone. Looking forward to CAP seminar in a week’s time. And this time, I’m gonna take plenty of photos.

I can’t believe that after all this while, you’re still the one who makes me happy.

Well, it’s true. You were the highlight of my otherwise dreary day. So many months have passed, so many things have happened, yet just simply talking to you makes me genuinely happier than I’ve felt for a long time. It’s the same kind of high you get when you drink an extra shot of caffeine or you wash down tons of candy with a sweet drink, except without the nauseating bit. After that the world suddenly seems a little brighter, the voices a little more distinct and your reactions so much livelier. Then you realise you’ve been sleepwalking for the whole day.

Maybe we don’t talk much - I don’t know what’s going on in your life and you know nothing about mine either – but it doesn’t really matter does it? Cause the feeling’s still there, the same high that I’ve always felt whenever I see you. Isn’t that all that matters? It’s what we like about our friends, that they never fail to make us smile.

I’m so crazy over something so simple, it’s ridiculous.

Busy Little Bee

Life’s getting busier now, that’s for certain. With all the tests/assignments/rehearsals/exco elections/meetings coming up it’s hard to deny that fact. Well, in a way, it’s what I’d been kinda yearning for at the start of the year when my time wasn’t packed, this need to feel occupied. Haha. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a workaholic. It’s just that I want to feel like I’m doing something meaningful instead of wasting my time away. Well, I’ve gotten what I wanted I guess… Just doesn’t feel to me like it ought to.

I think I really miss Dramafeste. That was one of the best times I’ve ever had. Crazy schedules and a measly few hours to sleep every night but always that sense of enjoyment & satisfaction. I think that’s what I’m looking for. Sounds stupid but it’s what I want, something to make going to school worthwhile. Not that my friends don’t make it worthwhile. x)

How come wordpress doesn’t let you put a tagboard? I think commenting on posts makes ppl feel like they need to have something important to say. Not so with the tagboard. With a tagboard you just spam your thoughts, even if they aren’t particularly important. Hehe. So pls do comment if you want.

That’s it. Looks like my blog is still surviving, I’m already into my thrid post! Haha. So good luck with handling everything that comes along this week. We’re all busy as bees.

(Try answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to this question: “Do you refuse to say ‘yes’?”)

Sick

I think I’m down with a cold. Last night I had a headache, a runny nose and a bad sore throat. Now the headache’s gone but I’m still left with the other two. It must be all these late nights I’ve been having. Don’t know why but it seems that I always can’t get down to work till late at night which is why I always sleep so late. Haiz.

Actually sitting at home just slacking around feels pretty good, although there’s always the tinge of guilt that I’m not going for school & the script read.

Oh yes, apparently I’m casted for the college play. The role isn’t really that glamorous but I’ve learnt to be content with what I have. Can only hope that I’ll become some IC or else rehearsals are gonna get kinda boring.

Tomorrow is gonna be a killer day. All my three CCAs clash in this one phemonenal mess & nothing can be rescheduled. >< Which means… that I’ll have to rush from here to there, being late for everything. Which is why I really hope I get better soon.

Day of firsts

Alright, so I finally got down to publishing a blog of my own. Truth is, this is long overdue as I’ve been wanting to do this for a logn time, just didn’t have enough motivation to do so. WordPress is rather user friendly, and looks more professional than Blogger so I’ll be sticking with this unless any major problems surface. I’m still trying to figure out much of the stuff here so this page may constantly change.

So anyway, saturday was a day of first times. I had my first Lit week meeting for playlets where I got to read the finalised script for Sherlock Holmes, which I’m codirecting with Denyse & Jon Chan. I’m still not very happy with the idea of performing in the canteen in school uniform but I guess I don’t really have much say in the matter.

Then I had to leave for my first SYF rehearsal. Gosh, the script is really cool. It’s written by Mr. Vadi & it’s entitled “Sisters“, based on some true Singaporean stories. It’s this tale of two sisters who get seperated and also muses on the loss of the kampong spirit where in the past everyone knew everyone else but now everyone is just pidgeon-holed into HDB appartements.  I like the ending – kinda expected but still cool all the same.

Then I attended my first drums lesson with Yee Le. The teacher’s name is Justin and he’s quite a nice guy. I think it’s really fun but I just kept screwing up my drum beats while Yee Le just kept playing away with ease. How discouraging. Oh well, I must perservere and work hard so that lessons can move faster (Yee Le keeps nagging me to practise more). 

Finally there’s the matter of creating my first-ever blog. Whee! I’m so happy to finally have a space to rant & ramble. Happy birthday, blog! Maybe I should come up with a name for it…

Casting results for College Play will probably be released later in the day. I really hope that I can get a fun character to play; it’s been quite a while since I last acted on stage. It’s a 2 hour play, something that I’ve never done before & I’ve quite curious to see how things will turn out.

So thus concludes my first post. Keep watching this space for more changes!