Turning 41 has made me realise something unexpected: for a long time, life felt like one big blur. Somewhere between building films, working multiple jobs, moving countries, chasing opportunities, and simply trying to survive as an independent creative, I stopped noticing the passing of time. I was always looking towards the next project, the next goal, the next challenge. Before I knew it, nearly two decades had passed.
Recently, I rediscovered my old online blog. Reading through posts I'd written in my early twenties felt like opening a time capsule. There were photographs I had completely forgotten, stories from productions that had faded from memory, and thoughts from a younger version of myself who was simply trying to make sense of the world. It was both nostalgic and strangely emotional because I realised how much of my own life I had forgotten. If I hadn't kept those records, many of those moments would have been lost forever.
What fascinated me most wasn't the stories themselves, but the way I wrote. My thoughts jumped from one idea to another with little warning. I'd begin talking about one topic before suddenly pivoting to something completely different. There was excitement, curiosity, randomness and an endless stream of ideas flowing faster than I could organise them. Reading it now, I couldn't help but smile.
Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Looking back at those blog entries through that lens, I don't see someone who was disorganised or unfocused. Instead, I see a brain working exactly the way it always had. The diagnosis didn't rewrite my past, but it certainly helped me understand it. The scattered thoughts, the endless list of creative projects, the tendency to become completely immersed in one idea before racing towards another—it was all there, documented years before I ever knew why my mind worked the way it did.
In many ways, those early blog posts are probably some of the most authentic writing I've ever done. They weren't polished or carefully structured. They were honest snapshots of what it felt like to be inside my head at that particular moment in time. There's something beautifully human about that, and I don't think I'd want to edit that younger version of myself, even if I could.
One thing that also caught me by surprise was seeing old photos of myself. I came across one taken in 2009 when I was 24 years old (below with a sword), and apart from a few laugh lines and a little more life experience, I honestly don't feel like I've changed all that much. People often ask what my secret is, and while I know genetics undoubtedly play a role, I also think the way I've chosen to live has contributed. Over the years I've been vegan, then vegetarian, and now pescatarian. I can't say with certainty that it's the reason I still look youthful, but I do know those choices have encouraged me to eat more intentionally, take better care of myself, and prioritise my long-term health over quick fixes.
More importantly, though, turning 40 has changed how I think about time. In my twenties and thirties, I was focused on proving myself. Every opportunity felt urgent. Every project felt like it had to happen immediately. Looking back, I spent so much energy chasing what was next that I rarely stopped to appreciate where I already was.
Now I find myself wanting something different. I want to be more intentional. I want to create meaningful work, but I also want to remember the journey of creating it. I want to document the conversations, the lessons, the failures, the friendships and the small moments that never make it into a film credit or social media highlight reel. Those are often the moments that shape us the most.
Rediscovering my old blog reminded me that our memories are far more fragile than we realise. We assume we'll remember the important moments, but life has a way of compressing years into a handful of highlights. Writing has become more than simply recording events for me now. It's become a way of preserving perspective. A way of leaving breadcrumbs for my future self.
Perhaps that's what this next chapter of my life is about. Not slowing down creatively, but slowing down enough to notice. To reflect. To be present. To document the journey while I'm still living it.
Maybe one day, twenty years from now, I'll rediscover this very post. I hope that future version of me smiles, remembers a few forgotten adventures, and is grateful that I decided to start writing again.
This was my first time visiting, and honestly, I never expected a dental appointment to become such an adventure.
The whole reason I came was after visiting a dentist in Las Vegas and receiving a hefty quote for a single crown. That was the moment I realised I needed to look elsewhere.
To be honest, my teeth have been something I've neglected for years. Between teeth grinding (thanks, ADHD), a sweet tooth, and far too many soft drinks over the years, they had taken a beating. I also lost a tooth more than ten years ago after a difficult wisdom tooth extraction. Living with that missing tooth meant I'd been chewing almost entirely on one side of my mouth, which eventually wore down the molars on the opposite side.
With so many positive changes happening in my life lately, I felt it was finally time to clean this up too.
A colleague at work swore by getting all of his dental work done in Mexico. Another told me that even with health insurance in the United States, much of the major dental work still isn't covered. Considering crowns in the US can cost around USD $2,000 each—and I needed two—I couldn't justify putting it off for another decade.
Naturally, I turned to ChatGPT for research and was introduced to Los Algodones, better known as "Molar City."
I was fascinated.
A town of only around 7,000 people somehow has more than 300 dental clinics packed into just a few streets. Dentistry isn't just an industry there—it's the town's identity. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people from the United States and Canada cross the border seeking affordable dental, medical and optical care. During the cooler months—from around November through March—the town comes alive as retirees and seasonal visitors ("snowbirds") escape winter while taking advantage of lower healthcare costs.
I deliberately chose to travel in July. Although it's much hotter, it's considered the slower season. That meant fewer tourists, shorter waiting times, easier bookings and a much more relaxed atmosphere. For me, that was the perfect time to visit.
I spent hours watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, comparing clinics and looking through patient reviews. My shortlist came down to Sani Dental, Del Rio Dental and NovaDental.
I originally booked with Del Rio before changing my mind and choosing NovaDental. Their communication stood out immediately. They prepared a detailed treatment plan before I even arrived, organised airport transfers, covered my first night's accommodation and handled all transport between the hotel and clinic. From the very beginning, everything felt organised and professional.
My Treatment
Over two days, I had:
Dental hygiene treatment – USD $50
Root canals (2) – USD $700
Posts (2) – USD $200
Zirconia crowns (2) – USD $700
Dental implant – USD $700
Four front veneers – USD $2,000
Crossing the border into Mexico was an experience in itself.
Walking across, surrounded by steel fencing, border gates and giant national flags marking where one country ended and the other began, felt a little intimidating. Like many people, I'd heard plenty of stories in the media about Mexico, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
The reality couldn't have been more different.
As soon as I crossed, I was picked up by the clinic and driven straight to my appointment. Within an hour, I'd already had X-rays and scans completed, sat down with the in-house dentist, and been walked through every stage of the treatment plan.
During preparation for my crowns and veneers, I discovered I actually needed two root canals as well.
A specialist came in with his team and they worked with incredible efficiency. It almost looked choreographed. In just over an hour, both root canals were completed. I later learned he performs more than 30 root canals each day across multiple clinics, even during quieter periods. It was obvious this wasn't his first rodeo.
Afterwards, I returned to California Comfort Suites and completely crashed.
I slept from around 4:00 pm until 7:00 the following morning, missing dinner entirely.
Since I'd effectively fasted overnight, I decided to make the most of the morning and get some blood work done. Machado Laboratory was only a two-minute walk away.
Although they didn't speak much English, we managed perfectly by pointing at the test menu and using translation apps. For around USD $120, I ordered three comprehensive health panels:
Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Complete Hematology (Complete Blood Count)
Female Hormone Panel
Later that day, I received a detailed six-page report—entirely in Spanish.
Thankfully, AI came to the rescue once again.
I simply uploaded the report into ChatGPT, which translated every page into English, explained what every marker meant, highlighted which results were normal and pointed out anything worth following up with my doctor. Instead of trying to decipher medical terminology in another language, I had a clear understanding of my health within minutes.
The equivalent testing in the United States could easily cost anywhere from USD $500 to well over $1,000, depending on the laboratory and insurance coverage.
What started as a dental trip unexpectedly became a preventative health check as well.
Afterwards, I treated myself to breakfast at Margarita Restaurant. One thing you quickly realise is just how affordable the food is in Los Algodones. Eating well doesn't cost much at all.
I also stopped by Farmacia Phoenix to stock up on pain medication, which turned out to be one of my smarter decisions. I was prescribed over-the-counter Ketorolaco 30mg which costed $5 USD and I think it helped a lot as dental implant surgery is not joke painless in the aftermath. Surgery itself is on both the gum and jawbone, not just the tooth. But also to make sure you do your research prior to taking Ketorolaco as well and not take it for more than 5 days.
My second dental appointment was meant to start at 1:00 pm but was delayed until 3:00 pm because of a power outage that interrupted the crown-baking process in the dental lab.
That afternoon was the big one—the implant surgery.
The titanium implant post was placed into my jaw, beginning the four-to-six-month healing process before the permanent crown can eventually be attached. My veneers and crowns were also fitted during the same visit.
By the time I returned to the hotel, I was completely exhausted.
I slept from about 5:00 pm until 7:00 the next morning.
The implant surgery definitely hit harder than the root canals. Once the local anaesthetic wore off, the throbbing set in, and I woke several times throughout the night despite taking pain medication. By then my face had swollen into full chipmunk mode.
Thankfully, by the following morning I was already feeling much better.
The swelling was still there, but I finally had enough energy to venture out, grab a coffee, find something to eat and explore a little more of this fascinating little town that has somehow become one of the dental capitals of the world.
For anyone travelling to Los Algodones for the first time, be prepared for a little culture shock.
The landscape is unlike anything I normally experience. Desert stretches in every direction, dusty roads, colourful shopfronts, pharmacies on nearly every corner, dental clinics everywhere and locals inviting you into their businesses. It almost feels like stepping into an old Western movie.
For me, though, it felt strangely familiar. Having grown up around Vietnam, the busy streets, local vendors and energetic atmosphere reminded me of travelling through Southeast Asia. It wasn't overwhelming—it actually felt comfortable.
Yes, people will approach you to promote dental clinics, pharmacies, optical stores and restaurants. That's simply part of the local economy.
Overall, however, I felt safe throughout my stay. Los Algodones depends heavily on healthcare tourism. The reputation of "Molar City" is incredibly important to the town, and the professionalism and customer service reflected that. Every interaction—from airport pickup to the dentists, specialists, drivers and accommodation staff—felt welcoming and efficient.
What amazed me most was just how much dentistry could be completed in only two days.
If you're planning similar treatment, I'd strongly recommend allowing extra recovery days afterwards. I underestimated how physically draining multiple procedures would be. Looking back, recovering in Mexico actually made more sense than flying home immediately. Accommodation is inexpensive, food is affordable and there's very little pressure to do anything except rest.
One unexpected bonus was the forced digital detox.
The Wi-Fi wasn't particularly reliable, which meant I couldn't spend hours online even if I'd wanted to. At first that frustrated me, but after a while I realised it was exactly what I needed. Recovery became my full-time job.
Food was another pleasant surprise. The authentic local Mexican restaurants were fantastic and incredibly affordable. My advice would be to skip the American-style options and eat where the locals eat. As for coffee... I never really found one that impressed me, although perhaps I simply didn't discover the right café.
Looking back, this journey became about much more than fixing my teeth.
It became an investment in myself.
I restored my smile, replaced a tooth I'd been missing for more than ten years, gained a comprehensive snapshot of my health through blood testing, challenged many of my own assumptions about travelling to Mexico, and gave myself permission to slow down and properly recover.
Sometimes we spend so much time investing in our careers, our projects and everyone around us that we forget to invest in ourselves.
For me, this trip wasn't just about dental tourism.
It was about finally saying yes to my own health.
And sometimes, the best decisions are waiting just across the border.
It still feels strange saying that out loud because in many ways, it feels like yesterday. In other ways, it feels like we've lived several lifetimes together.
This anniversary wasn't about expensive gifts or extravagant plans. We escaped to Sedona for a day—our little "woo woo" place. The red rocks, the quiet, the slower pace... somehow it always reminds us to breathe.
Life has been incredibly full.
Between building Phoenix Eye Films, making feature films on almost impossible budgets, moving countries, working late-night jobs, chasing dreams that don't come with guarantees, receiving an ADHD diagnosis this year, and simply trying to become better humans... it's easy to forget to stop.
To simply be.
As we walked around Sedona and later visited Lowell Observatory, I found myself thinking about perspective.
Percival Lowell spent his life searching the skies, convinced there were greater mysteries waiting to be discovered. Whether he was right or wrong almost doesn't matter. What mattered was his curiosity. His willingness to dedicate his life to something bigger than himself.
Maybe that's what storytelling is too.
Every place we've travelled. Every hardship we've survived. Every job we've worked. Every person we've met. Every disappointment. Every victory. They all become part of the stories we're capable of telling.
The older I get, the less I believe success is measured by how fast you arrive somewhere.
I think it's measured by who you become while getting there.
Marriage has taught me that.
People often celebrate the highlights—weddings, anniversaries, holidays—but the real relationship is built in the ordinary moments.
The airport pickups.
The long drives.
The cheap motel rooms.
The nights where you're both exhausted but still find something to laugh about.
The moments when one person carries the other because life feels heavier than usual.
That's where love quietly grows.
I'm grateful because Takashi has never expected me to become someone else.
He's seen the ambitious version of me.
The overwhelmed version.
The filmmaker questioning everything.
The woman trying to understand why her brain worked differently.
The version of me chasing dreams that often made absolutely no financial sense.
And somehow... he stayed.
Not because life has been easy.
Because we've decided that we're on the same team.
That feels increasingly rare in today's world.
I also realised something during this trip.
So much of my life has been about proving I belong.
As an Asian Australian.
As a woman in action films.
As an independent filmmaker.
As someone making movies outside the traditional system.
As someone recently discovering I have ADHD.
For so many years, I felt like I had to earn my place.
Now, at 41, I don't think I need permission anymore.
I just need to keep creating.
Keep learning.
Keep loving the people who choose to walk beside me.
And keep building communities where other people feel like they belong too.
Because that's become the bigger mission.
Not just making films.
Making people feel seen.
As we head into another year together, I honestly don't know what life will look like.
Maybe One Black Night becomes our biggest project yet.
Maybe another unexpected opportunity appears.
Maybe we'll fail spectacularly at something and have to reinvent ourselves all over again.
Who knows?
But if the last six years have taught me anything, it's this:
Life moves incredibly fast.
Dreams take longer than we expect.
People come and go.
But the people who stay beside you while you're still becoming the person you're meant to be...
They're priceless.
Happy 6th anniversary, Takashi.
Thanks for choosing this wonderfully strange adventure with me.
Behind every visionary lies an extraordinary team of individuals who pour their heart and soul into turning ideas into reality.
We are just 581 days away from the start of our film production for the 'Echo 8 Trilogy,' and I am filled with anticipation for what lies ahead. The countdown is on, and I have absolute faith that we will bring our vision to life, just as we did with our previous project.
Today, I had the privilege of spending quality time with a group of incredible people in Sydney, who have continuously inspired me with their unwavering support, updates, and willingness to listen. We gathered to skill up, network, and share valuable insights on how to transform our team's vision into actionable steps.
In this moment, I want to take a pause and reflect on the incredible power of teamwork. It never ceases to amaze me what we can achieve when we come together, combining our strengths and working towards a shared goal.
You see, it is true what they say, "Teams make dreams work." Whether we're talking about personal endeavors, academic pursuits, or professional projects, having a strong team by our side can make all the difference. The support, collaboration, and synergy that arise from working together can turn even the loftiest of dreams into tangible reality.
Think about the monumental achievements throughout history—they were rarely the result of solitary efforts. It took a collective force, a team of individuals with diverse skills and perspectives, to bring those dreams to fruition.
So, today, I want to give a shoutout to all the incredible teams out there—our families, friends, colleagues, and communities—who consistently inspire us to aim for the stars. Your unwavering support and involvement in my journey serve as a constant reminder that dreams are within our reach when we unite our efforts.
At the beginning of the year of 2019, I
found a swallow fledging at Kings Cross, Sydney on my way to a “Soul Power
Workshop” run by Diane Bellchambers. The year started in a very metaphysical
way and the introduction of a baby swallow bird was just another addition.
Maria Tran, Diane Bellchambers, Therese Chen & Nancy Trieu
So how I came across this little birdie
was when I crossed the street and found this little one on the ground,
motionless. I picked it up and it animatedly started to fly out onto the busy
street and, ironically hit the side door of the car that reads “no birds”. I
quickly ran towards it picked it up and once again, it struggled to fly off and
hit a brick wall.
Chilled birdie
Annoyed, I casually walked up to it and
spoke in English something along the lines of “You are either going to stay
here by yourself or come with me, your choice and I don’t have time for this”.
It stopped moving and eyeballed me straight in the face. I slowly picked it up
and placed it on my arm and walked for another 30 minutes to my destination.
Birdie showed no signs of protest and sat quietly.
For the next 8 hours, she actually sat
in class with me. Every night and then, she’d chirped, but she was quietly
sitting in my colleague Nancy Trieu’s lunchbox. During lunch, I walked to a
nearby park to let her go, but she refused so I had no choice but to take in.
In Australia, swallows are wild, and
they can’t be domesticated. Like most wild birds, they will try to get away
from you or look for food. Not this one. She (I’ll call her that, but I wouldn’t
really know) was very different. She had very “human” features. She was
patient, observant and at times very cheeky and talkative. She lived pass the
48 hours marked and stayed with us for another 3 weeks.
"Phoebe" the birdie meets "Happy" the dog
She's sleeping on the chopstick
Hiding
Her new home
Just hanging
In the following three weeks, she
ventured with us to our production company in Fairfield, watching us edit,
eating loads of meal worms, singing and playing peakaboo with us. She brought
myself and my team members great joy and she represented many attributes that
we as humans strive for; resilience and overcoming adversity.
Sadly, she passed away on the 3 week
mark. After a few days of a strange heat wave that came through Sydney,
followed by wet cold weathers, “Phoebe” passed away.
The following morning, myself and the
Phoenix Eye girls decided to give her back to the earth, and so we conducted a
funeral ceremony at the 162 year old Oak tree in Carramar.
I gave the girls individual tasks from
digging the hole, lighting the incense and preparing Phoebe’s body with oils,
stones and flowers to help her make the transition into the after life.
We then watched the sunrise in
meditation as well as reflecting on the beauty of what life brings.
5 Things you learn when face with death:
1.Death Is Inevitable
It will
happen to all of us and it doesn’t discriminate between bad or good. Losing
something you love is tough and regardless of how much joy was experienced
prior, death can still strike unexpectedly.
2.Time Is Extremely Limited
Time
always goes forward and never backwards and hence, we should really see the
time we have as a gift and live our lives at it’s fullest and most inspired. To
many people live in fear and in pain or find ways to “kill time” as if they are
immortal. The truth is, you will die one day. Get that into your head and start
embracing life.
3.Memories
When
something passes away, the only thing that you have is memories. Hence, it is a
reminder for everyone to live a life full of kindness and as much positive
impact. Be the change you want to be in this world and give as much as you can.
4. Health is Wealth
Do not
forgo health for wealth. Chasing all the money in the world and a material
lifestyle and trading in your health is setting yourself up for major regret
when your health deteriorates. All the riches in the world cannot fix your
health if it is going on a downward spiral. So do your best to consistently eat
healthier, exercise, meditate, enjoy nature and spend time making memories with
those you love most.
5.Do What You Can, When You Can
Live a
full life. Forgo the what-ifs, should’ve, could’ve, or would’ve done moments. Explore
and travel in the physical as well as the metaphysical world. Connect deeply
with family members and friends. Be passionate about your life and do as much
as possible to keep on growing.
Today is my birthday. I'm 34. I don't mind telling you my age, as it is just a number. I'm very proud of my achievements but more so, what is on my mind for the future.
My birthday, is a day where I focus on giving back to 'me'. I started the day waking up at 5am. It's been 30 days straight and another daily ritual I'm keeping. Waking up at 5am means that you are ahead of 95% of the world's population, meaning you get extra hours to be productive and reflective on your journey.
I then did some decluttering as I gave to charity 8 garbage full of "stuff" and clothes and things I just don't need in my life and have had them around because I worried that I might need it in the future.
By lunchtime, I drop by my Phoenix Eye office to share a birthday moment with my work colleagues with a fresh, wholesome lunch and my very own homemade, vegan, sugar free, gluten free, paleo, keto chocolate birthday cake! Yes....it tastes great!
Yes I'm in love with this cake because I made it from scratch!
Also, I would like to celebrate me being a vegan for the past year! I definitely don't miss the meat, cheese, milk etc... as I've started to meal prep and plan all my delicious homemade meals. Once you learn how to cook, there's no need to eat out.
Some of you may say, that's a social life killer, but for me, I love being me, and have amazing people that gravitate towards me on the majority of days and our work at Phoenix Eye is so much fun and fulfilling that we don't feel like it's work.
Phoenix Eye & PYT Fairfield are my loves
I wanted to say that since 2019 arrived, I feel like a brand new me has emerged and I would like to share with you. My life has taken a fulfilling course, it's "awakening", "spiritual", "soulful", "manifesting", "powerful", "visionary" and "destined for big things".
Some of you may be reading this and thinking, "Maria's gone a bit hippy", but trust me, it's an amazing feel and state when you are free from the constraints of social expectations and mundane reality.
Freedom from the fears, anxieties, pain, judgement & negativity and it all starts from your mind. How simple is that! But of course that requires you to believe in yourself (skills & abilities) and at the same time, look beyond 'yourself' and how 'you' will be able to 'serve' the greater good. Majority of people will do things to 'serve' themselves first. But to be able to 'serve' others first, you also 'serve' yourself as a by product.
After that, I visited my sister, gloated to her about my amazing cake, visited little Phoebe the bird and then spent time at the Oakdene Tree with a moment mindfulness meditation.
I've only started this practice the last 30 days, and it is something I'm keeping for the rest of my life. Meditating at the 160 year old tree is very special as I can literally feel it's energies charging me up like a battery and coursing through my veins.
Then I hopped on the train and headed to the Redfern Acting Studio to drop in to watch a Meisner class run by Hunter McMahon to keep my mind open to what I'm trying to excel in for 2019 - Acting. It was a great class and Hunter was an in tune trainer.
I feel like I am both learner and teacher in one and it is my duty to spread this awareness through my many interactions with other people, there are many things I can learn from them as they can learn from myself. I hope everyone's birthday is enlightening. I wish you all a special day -- everyday!
25 Sept: It's been a while since I've blogged (a couple of years so to speak) but for my journey and reflection, I shall share my insights and knowledge. I'm currently casted as "Mai Ngo" on a training video and had a fair bit of lines to chew. I must admit, I'm use to being an "action" type of actor but am proud to be able to get in the actor zone, spit out the lines and feel comfortable with the range of emotions.
26 Sept: Great day on set and acting with Lyn Collingwood (13 years on "Home 'n' Away"). She spoke to me about the lack of diversity on screens and her experiences on acting on Australian TV. She started out acting during her university days. She loves being able to create characters and learns lines well when she's able to grasp the narrative and belief in her lines. Great actors take directions well and hits the mark first/ second time. She spoke about working with Chris Hemsworth and seeing his detail and professionalism.
So where does that leave me? Well I'm still on my path to becoming an all rounded one day memorable actor with great skill and range. I stumbled into it in 2007; a time when acting was just pulling faces, but I'm now constantly pushing myself onscreen and behind. Time moves fast and forward and I have to keep up the momentum and energy despite opportunities (or lack of) in the film ecosystem. Onwards and upwards!
I hate this. It's always at the back of my head to 'blog' and I keep on letting in slide and 'forget'. The last time I properly caress this space was mid last year and since then, I've been doing a bunch of things, as usual, but lately everything seems to making more sense.
So what's new? Well the biggest thing to date would have to be owning your own space. Trung Ly, my engineering prodigy of a partner of mine had taken the leap and bought up 1/10 Childs Rd, Chipping Norton. This is a fabulous hidden gem, only 12 mins from Cabramatta and a now transformed martial arts, tutoring, arts creative, film screening space where the diverse Asian communities can get together and jam their ideas till their hearts content.
Throughout the years, I've outgrown my mother's 2 bedroom unit, my father's make shift D.I.Y sun room and even an ancestral shrine at Dong Tam. Now, I get my very own kick butt multimedia space where I can conduct all my meetings, screenings and training. The great thing is, it is a shared space and I'm quite to opposite to the artist in solitude. I love people's developments and transformations and being able to view it from my window as I edit the latest project, is rewarding.
Speaking of projects, "Maximum Choppage" ABC2 6 part TV series has just finished airing. Most definitely an interesting project, one that provided great insights towards how projects are made in accordance to the Australian film industry. There were definitely great friendships and memorable moments during the behind-the-scenes and seeing it all on Australian television felt like a great achievement. However, it doesn't mean the fight for on screen diversity stops here. It's just the beginning and in fact, great fuel for my own personal fire to get my own shit up and running.
Similarly "mychonny" a.k.a John Luc have broke ground when he got "My Chonny Moves In" through RK Pix and Screen Australia. John wrote and directed the series, some one say his humour isn't their taste, but wait a minute, how many views has he generated? 200,000 views, 10,000 likes and 500 comments, now that's the spirit.
Hence, that is where the next generation of content creation is veering - where the demand is.
Anyhow, so late last year I was whiffed away back to China to make another action movie called "Death Mist" (sounds ridiculous huh?), and it was great to be reunited with the same cast and director (Antony Szeto). I'm not sure when it's hitting China theatres but one can say your craft expands when you put it into practice more and to be honest, in Australia, it's a hard slog. 95% of my showreel is made from independent projects that I either wrote/produced/ directed. The 4% of that is my overseas work and 1% is when I play the common shop owner or prostitute on mainstream TV. That's the reality of it my fellow Asian actors, there's no consistent work in this country and if there are roles, they are simply written by white people or hardcore bananas who exoticise our stories to be oh so "chopsocky". I for one, am over it, over pretending to be that nice little Asian girl who is ever so obedient and efficient. Rant. Rant. Rant.
Finally the end of the year saw me commissioned to make 37 "Foodielicious" clips for Fairfield City Council, which I found unexpectantly doing quite well on the online world. Who would know that food porn is popular? This is has now led me to today and on the road to making another 37 as well as 5 mini docos that explore Asian cultures. Neat! Then, about a month ago it hit me, what it I make a TV show hosted by Asian-Australians called "Yell-oh! TV". A phone call to Foxtel and the next thing you know, it's on its way and scheduled production in September. Gotta be a go getter and fearless to get what you want.
Then there's the other side of my work plate where I'm working on the photo collection of a 5 metre wall in Cabramatta that will hold 300 photos printed on tiles for the next 20 years, in parallel to a documentary project that I'll be directing in July called "Vietnamese Mosaic: 40 Years Settlement in Australia". And did someone say "Quest for Jackie!"? Lol...who knows when that finishes when there are other things kicking off that has the bling, bling attached.
Life diaries can be so time consuming even though they are quite worthwhile in documenting your life for years to come. I've now taken the pleasure in vlogging my daily-weekly adventures. Life is for celebrating and there is plenty delights in mini stories of your life.
Anyhow, back to basics; only less than 3 weeks to the show I've been working on kicks off and so here's an update.
