ANOTHER DAY: Reflecting & more reflecting

It was a not too bad start of the week with loads of productivity at work, processing tons of invoices and report writing.

To end the 9-5 working hours, I was called into a casting audition just a street away where I worked. It's been a terribly long time such I cut my teeth on auditions and the last one was "My Place" a few years ago.

Still, it is thrilling experience in posing in front of the camera with a scrappy looking piece of paper that identifies who you are. Then a couple snaps later, you are bidded farewell and good luck with the same generic signs that "if we are interested, we will contact you soon". On the way out, I made a smashing impression as I almost knocked the director over with my backpack as he was coming in from an important phone call. Brilliant.

Well, who cares, really. I'm a forward thinker (just like these passengers on the train I took going home) and I can't wait till I get home to my hubby to some martial arts training, dinner and office painting. To finish off the night, processing the final invoices with a glass of muscato before a hot bath soak.

My new likes, Matcha Green Tea Latte. For $5.90, I occasionally get the Grande at Starbucks & french plaits, which I practise on the train.

WEEKEND: New Office Space

This saturday I missed a shoot but did set up my new 3 screen panel editing suite at is new location at Dong Tam Martial Arts Centre in Fairfield.

In case you didn't know, at the age of 27, I've finally part moved out to live with the bf, who's an engineer at QANTAS airlines and a hapkido master (seriously), who has currently supports my "Quest for Jackie Chan!" via production and prop design and has a cameo in one of the playback sequences.

This week, Adrian Castro, my diehard film bud in crime has revealed a teaser or a project. Yes, a teaser! I was so excited and the quality looks real spunk. Unfortunately, I won't be able to reveal much except it looks like an almost trailer or a teaser on steroid.

How shall I describe quest? Vloggy action pack stuff. My official attempt at unveiling what 'film' is all about.

Here's some pics of my peeps working on the "Quest" it its new location.

Trung Ly - not as scary as he looks

Adrian Castro - Film bud

Peter Phan - doing something to Jackie bear

DAILY OBSERVATIONS: Coffee & Dogs

"Some hallucinogenic substance must have resided in the coffee I bought from the mean streets of Fairfield because I saw a lady walking her to two sausage dogs and I started to wonder, if I was to ever come up to the and lick them, would they taste like a sausage or a hot dog, or something in between? It seemed like such an important question at the time"

The above is something i facebooked today, I'm not sure why. Below is an image that adds to the hilarity of my candid daydreaming. 

It looked more like the one below, without the bun. 

It does pose a question how such creature with such short legs and a long body survived? The max this one can do is a light jog (running is out of the question as it will put the body of of motion whack). It looks so odd and so impractical I wonder how they beat the dodos and exist today. 

NEIGHBOURS: Cat Meeting

My mum's place in Carramar is becoming a little bit "kitty" hectic. The local cats are having their regularly meetings in front of the garages or on people's car bonnets.

Here's a picture I took of them earlier, they remained unfazed.

REJUVENATED: Nature & Trees

Date: Mon, 21st of May, 2012
Time: 10.30pm @ home
It has been 3 weeks of 3 times per week of jogging during my lunch breaks and I'm one lucky ducky having Sydney The Domain as my training ground.

The Domain is such a beautiful public space out in the city of Sydney. With its massive age old trees that overlook such a stunning habour and Opera house, it is times like these I get a healthy dose of rainchecking.

I'm not being pompous or anything, but it is great to me. I've come to this point in my life that everything is making sense. Nothing seems random or meaningless. Every moment lived points to something bigger.

Everything done or not done has repercussions. Everything thought concieved from the depths of the mind seems to, one way or another, come our and play in reality.

But nature and trees have this calming and reflecting affect on me. The prickliness of the field grass, the rough texture of the tree bark and rustling of the leaves. It murmurs calm and when you are in a still frame of mind, you can see crystal clear where are heading and how great is the present moment.

That's how I felt today. I start work at 8.30am at Screen NSW, do my thing of rummaging through tonnes of active scripts, conducting loads of mini research on film trends, nit-pick through budgets, finance narratives, deal and memos.

Amidst through the genres, I still want to head off the martial arts comedy film genre. I know it uber specific, but you have to, if you want to hit a specific mark.

Today I've also just ordered a pile of screenwriting text to load my mind with invaluable knowledge and ready to "fire!".

Movie watching is is vital these days. From running the Digital Series | Film Club Initiative and its weekly movie night, to regular cinema going and watch the latest, and now a healthy dose of old school black and more foreign films.

Acting, martial arts training and learning Chinese is on my list to dos as well. I know they are all important and all will be needed in future so I better start taking it seriously.

My team is also important to me. They don't come by the truckload, but the ones I have are my treasures in making my projects come true. It is like a collateral vehicle heading in the same direction.

Family is paramount. Spending quality time, watching films and enjoying good supper is rewarding.

So everything in life that looks magnificent on the outside has deep roots within.

ONLINE: Netball Comedy "Team 11" - Check it Out!

I've been working on this one since late last year under the wing of Craig Anderson's guerilla filmmakers and performers and to see this one wrapped up and online is purely awesome. I've had so much fun working with the rest of the cast and crew and got the chance to flex my 'acting' muscles a bit more than usual sitting behind the computer desk and researching. 

So here it is! Watch the full 23 mins via this link 

2012 Colourfest Film Festival - Submit Now!

Colourfest Film Festival is now open for entries. Please share this with filmmakers who maybe interested in submitting their work.

Colourfest is looking for short films under 20 minutes and feature films over 60 minutes. Film must be produced in the last two years (May 2010 onwards) and portray the lives of one or a number of culturally diverse Australians.

Colourfest is Australia’s Multicultural Film Festival focusing exclusively on culturally diverse Australian stories. Colourfest was conceived as a response to the lack of 'non-white' stories on Australian screens. Colourfest challenges the lack of representation and often stereotypical portrayals of migrants/refugees by showcasing a more real and inclusive image of Australians as a nation of diverse faces.

Colourfest prioritises works where the storytellers (writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and/or composers) are of diverse backgrounds. As per previous years, Indigenous filmmakers are also encouraged to submit works for consideration.

Entry of films to the festival is free. Visit http://colourfest.com.au/submit-your-film/ for submission form and guidelines. Entries close 10th of August.

To keep up to date with the festival follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

EVENT: Friday May 18: James McTeigue - Directing in Hollywood

Now the story of James McTeigue is an interesting one to follow. From production runner to now a film director based in Hollywood, McTeigue has come to associate with some of the top notch action films. Join me in attending this event and hearing about his journey.

Raised in Sydney, Hollywood based James McTeigue began his filmmaking career as a third assistant director on Australian films working his way up to first assistant director on a string of films including The Well, Paradise Road, and the Wachowski brothers; The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in addition to first AD'ing on Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

McTeigue made his feature directorial debut with the Wachowskis' screenplay, V for Vendetta starring Natalie Portman and then went on to direct Ninja Assassin in 2009. McTeigue's latest project - a dark  thriller - The Raven, about a 19th century serial killer who begins murdering victims using methods from Edgar Allan Poe's stories, starring John Cusack has just opened in the US.
James will talk about The Raven and the journey from third assistant AD to Hollywood director...


Guest: James McTeigue

FREE every Friday at AFTRS at 5pm.

AFTRS Theatre 1 

FREE

Doors open 5pm 

First in - best dressed

PUBLIC HOLIDAY: Anzac Day in the City

What a fun filled day with the bf. Here is how it went down.

10am - Yum Cha @ Golden Harvest Seafood, Canley Heights
11.30pm - morning mocha
12.30pm - riding our bikes around The Domain, Sydney

Trung is fixing the bike lock by using his hapkido bashing skills

2pm - Watched complimentary movie "Bowfinger (1999) @ NSW Art Gallery
3.15pm - riding to Hyde Park
4.30pm - Mocha & banana bread @ Hyde Park Cafe

Break time and figuring out where to go

5pm - riding to The Rocks

http://www.barangaroo.com/

6.30pm - German Dinner at Lowenbrau

Celebrating an awesome day!

Such meaty food!

7.30pm - Riding back to Harbourside to get changed and collect the van
8.00pm - stocked up on slurpies and popcorn
8.50pm - watched The Avengers in 3D
11.45pm - Finished movie and headed home

Now that is how to spend and go time with a gal like me. Thanks Bung!

HEALTH: Eye on Eye

It took me a recurring eye problem to finally do something about it. After a few days of red eye, weepiness and a sandy gritty feeling in both eyes, the paranoia kicked in. Is it conjunctivitis? Pink eye?

By midday at work, my eyes started to burn and my vision blurred. As an innate researcher, I googled my way to the different symptoms and with skill of deduction, I jumped from possible problems to another.

I had an epic moment to think though. What if I was to lose my eyes? I mean, not in this context, but if ever? I closed my lids for a few brief moments to imagine. Sound became more sensitive and my tactile sense became more aroused. But, when you have sight, and somehow lose it, it's like as if you live in a strange black world. I'm a big time visual person and emerging filmmaker so the visual sense is paramount.

I flicked my eye lids open and googled the nearest OPSM to where I worked at the MLC. With a small consultation fee of $40, I was able to get my eyes scanned for abnormalities and my eyes rechecked.

A run through of 'best practice' of contact lens was conducted by the optometrist and I knew I was guilty of one thing - double dipping contact lens fluids. I ran out of fluid and decided to reuse it. Little did I know that this cross contamination was the possible cause of bacteria growth that vesseled in the lens and transferred to its new home - my eyes.

Lesson learnt. Look after those parts of the body, sight is everyday so don't take it for granted!

I also took the time to buy a pair of trendy glasses. With the prescription from OPSM, I logged in the details to this Australia based website Clearly Contacts to order myself a pair of new specs. I selected it on Tuesday and it arrives to my home on Friday. The frame costed $40 while the lens costed $80 (-3.50 for both eyes and I ordered the ultra thin lens with additional anti scratch coating).

I'm very impressed that I was avoiding the middle man, having not return visits and also I can digitally check out online ( via uploading a photo) what frame suits me.