A charismatic actor

Often as audience we get confused on actors acting abilities. I adore Katherine Heigl in Grey's Anatomy but NEVER on any of her cinematic works. I think Sally Field was fantastic in Places in the Heart but she's not my favorite as Nora Walker in Brothers & Sisters.

So, as casting agent, director, and producer, how to choose?

Let me paraphrase Yasmin Ahmad -

"How am i gonna choose an actor or actress? I just choose somebody who were born with these "things". I just choose them and I can't take credits from it. And I have to step back as a film director and let people be wonderful. If they're wonderful, take them. If the character you have written, which is pure imagination doesn't suit them, you change it so it suits them because they are God creations. And they are blessed with these things. Who are you? You've just written a semi-fictional character."

And I saw Equus on Broadway with Daniel Radcliffe in it. As much as I've seen him in as Harry Potter or Maps in December Boys or John Kipling in My Boy Jack, this is the closest to his 'natural' personality that I could see in Equus, after all, it's THEATER!

You can watch more here.

One of a hundred reasons

One of a hundred reasons why I am obsessed with, interested in, crazy about Grey's Anatomy is Sarah Ramirez. A two-time Tony award winner, Sara is an amazing stage artist. Shona Rhimes really knows exactly the fictional characters she has in mind in projecting Ramirez's remarkable abilities.

Singing Silent Night beautifully in this scene accompanying Bailey's powerful monologue.

A fierce star moment

And, yes, a true performer.

Did I mention that she graduated from Julliard?

Celebration of ordinary people

This is the latest oeuvres from Yoji Yamada I saw. Thank you to P. Midg for introducing Netflix to me! Super awesome! I've been watching Shakespeare's a lot since I registered.

Okay, back to the film.

Kabei - Our Mother is not like Yamada's brilliant samurai's trilogy - - Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, and Love and Honor, but it hits all the right spots to make me cry like chopping onions. It still deals with Yamada's peculiar observations on humanity, especially family. This is a heart-wrenching tale of a family, in which the husband, a Japanese professor was imprisoned for "thought" crime. Yamada delicately made a searing attack on the stupidity of social system that retained many of the feudal traits of the period depicted in his trilogy. However, beyond these social issues, the story is well-knead to make it a rewarding exploration of a family resilience in the face of distress.

Often when I watch films, I do not always look for brilliant acting, amazing sound effects, beautiful cinematography, etc. Only if the film could move me, then I could start talking about those aspects. Kabei is such an amazing piece for me when I could relate myself to it. It's remarkable that when you watch a film that depicts the actual feelings or stories of humanity, everybody is able to relate themselves in any ways.

p/s: This post could give a glimpse about the film.

Promises

Have we seen enough promises on West Bank conflict, or even the World at large? And how big is our hope towards the peace and harmony? Mine? Bigger when after watching this piece. Personally, for me, Arabs, Jewish, Muslims, Yahudis, Israelis, Palestinians, etc, are just ridiculous labels in this piece.Bones break, organs burst, flesh tears. We can sew the flesh, repair the damage, ease the pain. But when life breaks down, when we break down, there's no science. No hard and fast rules. We have to feel our way through. And you know what? This applies to all the labels stated above. This piece delicately speaks it out to me. Simplicity and ordinary could give greater impact than complexity and extraordinary. Pick our lenses wisely.

Quick update

Wokeh, it's has been a while since my last post. Here you go quick updates:

1. I've been so busy with two stat, two theater, and one dance classes. And again, what's my major?
2. Finally, ended the journey of "Attempts of Her life". Lessons learned ? Tons! Couple pictures follow.
3. Currently, I am working on two monologues, Ariel from Shakespeare's The Tempest and Man from Durang's Laughing Wild. People are afraid of Shakespeare's. Facing off the fear, I found that Shakespeare's are really close to one's heart and mind. EVERYBODY can understand and speak Shakespeare. It's a revelation for me.
4. I've been attending several performances at Purdue. Modern dance rooting on different feelings, theater workshops/productions pertaining various themes and musical performances/gigs in different genres, or all of them combine together.

three important lessons learned:

• As a performer, be true to YOUR feelings in the objectives on being on stage. Don't pretend to be somebody you are not.
• In creating/producing (especially a workshop) a piece or work, start with feelings not ideas.
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse and rehearse!

Till then! Later!

....oh wait! Lady Gaga's coming to Purdue? =x

Proud

I'm very proud of 15Malaysia.

I used to believe that there's no hope of returning, but these wonderful characters give me something to believe in.

Check out this video.

The last 30secs really gets trough my veins to my heart.
click here.

Man!

Fuh! It has been forever since I wrote the last post.
Here are some updates.

- Less than a year to graduate!

Majors: Actuarial Science, Statistics, Theater

Minors: Economics, Management.

Future Profession: Rock climber?

- Currently rehearsing for a play/movement.It's "Attempts on her life" by a notorious-well-known British playwright (or rather not to be called so himself) Martin Crimp. I would say that a workshop is not a performance. It's more to an exploration of an idea towards a piece of art work and could be considered a more organic work. It's on its best when dealing with unconventional artwork. In this piece, we are working on expressing the world of post-modernism (really fascinating!). I'm a part of "Faith in Ourselves" scene and being a voice-over for three others,including the best part of the play, the final scene!

- Finally, I am a grader for STAT department, continuing the tradition of actuarial science kids. Now, I agree with Zehan and DJ that this is THE BEST job in college!

- Oh yeah, one last thing, actually three. Movements for Actor, Voice for Actor and Modern Dance combine together is diving into an obsession of your body and mind. I got Tao Te Ching (Charles Muller), The Soul of Rumi, View With a Grain of Sand and A Tree Within in my mailbox the other day! so sexificated to get lost in them!

Till next time!
Later!

Something I always go back to..

Something worth to watch, for me, at least. I always find something new everytime I watch this.

From my favorite film

Recently, I stumbled upon these two pieces from Rabindranath Tagore works and, I swore that I've heard it before. It took me a while to recall my memory of listening to these beautiful poems. Any guesses in what film you can find them?

Say of him what you please, but I know my child's failings

I do not love him because he is good, but because he is my little child.

How should you know how dear he can be when you try to weigh his merits against his faults?

When I must punish him he becomes all the more a part of my being.

When I cause his tears to come my heart weeps with him

I alone have a right to blame and punish, for he only may chastise who loves.

- The Judge, The crescent moon

I hold her hands and press her to my breast.

I try to fill my arms with her loveliness, to plunder her sweet

smile with kisses, to drink her dark glances with my eyes.

Ah, but, where is it? Who can strain the blue from the sky?

I try to grasp the beauty, it eludes me, leaving only the body in

my hands.

Baffled and weary I come back.

How can the body touch the flower which only the spirit may

touch?

- 49, The Gardener

A missive

Gratitude

Between Caley Milliken and You

Hello Caley,
How you've been? What are you up to lately? I hope everything is going well. I'm writing this message to extend my gratitude for all the lessons you gave me last semester.

I has never come to my intention to dive into theatre world or any kind of arts, until I took your class. The initial intention was to fill up my double majors; actuarial science and statistics, double minors; economics and management schedule making sure that at the end of the day I would have something fun to indulge myself into. And here you came opening my eyes, heart and soul to see the beauty of art, which now I realized that it wasn't just specifically for theatre. Everything you brought into class applies for any kind of arts in general.

My direction has slowly changed towards exploring the persona of performing arts. Now, I'm religiously reading Twyla Tharp's we used in the class for my 3rd time. I've never got enough of it. It is so fascinating that the materials and ideas she presents in the books are closely matched to lessons we had in class because when I go back to those lessons, I've started to see what you were trying to say in every single lessons, which some of them I didn't fully understand the purpose. Honestly, it excites me so much when I could see the real intentions behind it. For example, our first "presentation", when I almost broke down in class. In the book, Twyla points out different kinds of memories including "Sensual Memory" and also in "The Fervent Years" Harold Clurman talks a little bit about affective memory, which both are recalling on the memories actors felt when they were in a situation similar (or more recently a situation with similar emotional import) to that of their character. I would say the "presentation" we had in class was an excercise of recalling the memory and act upon the emotions, which can be used in the future as a tool on stage.

This whole process of pulling everything back from the class and trying to piece them back together is really exhilarating for me and finding the validity behind it through books and articles is something I'm really looking forward daily. This is not my field, formally, but you pulled me into this world and you placed me on the right track. I've never been grateful enough of whoever I am now and of whatever I'm chasing for. I might not end up graduating in Theatre but I will continue exploring this world. I was hoping you would come back this coming semester and share with me a dollop of your humble pie that I would spare some to sweeten my journey in the future. A great gratitude comes from my heart to you for a piece you shared with me.

Thank you.
p/s: sorry for my poor English.

A missive

Hanif,

I try not to show it, but going back to base is one of the scariest responsibilities that I have put it off for so long. To be honest, I wasn't planning to ever return to base. I had a set, comfortable life of nothing, and running became my dream. I found it easy to hide from the government, and I have been fortunate enough to have great people who are happy to shelter me in my time of need. Yes! It was the simple, comfortable life of escape.

...then I met you.

I know what I now have to do. I am not any less scared, nor am I any less tempted to run, but you are worth so much more than what I now lack. You are the reason that I am going back to base; I love you, I cherish you, and I desire to remain with you as long as you'll have me.

I am scared, but I will andure fear for you!

The next weeks to follow will be undoubtly rough. I am only going to be as strong as you support me. Please, don't give up. I will return.

Seriously?

Read more here

After all she has done to Malaysia film industry, this is what she get? A huge defamation a day after her death? It's not about telling the truth, it's about dignity of her family, her companions, her "anak-anak". I've been questioning the morality and ethics of most of Malaysian reporters and newspapers. Instead of supporting the industry towards a much more matured field competing with other nations, they dig a whole of humaliation of a true Malaysian artist.

This is not how I, at least, remember my "mother", who has served country well. If you are also disgusted by Kosmo! please support this protest.

Some of us agree that boycotting them won't work. Contact them. Spam them with calls - emails, espicially emails!

Send your complaints on that insentive piece of innuendo laden news piece that cowardly didn't have a byline to berita(at)kosmo.com.my.

Call then at 603-92214001 (ext 508 & 506) demand to speak to the editor.

Fax them your complaints to 603 92218590

I'm spreading the words so they won't forget.

Ask for apology - not for us, but for the memory of Yasmin Ahmad, our storyteller and filmmaker and her family who are hurting the most.

Thank you.

And she's gone..

She taught me how to open barriers I built against love.

She showed me my roots of being a Malaysian, which then I translate through my daily interactions with other human beings, regardless the differences.

She introduced me to the great oeuvres of Pablo Neruda, who now becomes my favorite poet.

She told me to find the beauty behind Mira Nair's collections, which then lead me to "meet" Jhumpa lahiri.

She adviced me to seek the truth behind stunning act and enticing lines, which then lead me to have another degree, which is Theatre.

She wanted me to seek refuge in the tranquility of Qurans sentences, which then I portrayed in my art works through humanity.

And there she goes, my greatest hero, Yasmin Ahmad, returning back to the Almighty.

I'm grateful to God for letting me meeting this beautiful creature of His for a very short time. It has always been my dream to meet her in personal after years of conversation through e-mails and instant messages. A huge part of myself right now has been built according to her guidance, that I will treasure in my whole life in becoming an artist. After all, she was a friend, a teacher, and a mother to me. And truth to be told I am not coping with her death well.

Rest in peace Mak.

Eros II

I do not love you as if you were a salt rose, or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
So I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

- Love Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda

Man.. I'm really drunk in this love.

You're not alone

One of my memorable trip to The Red River Gorge, KY was with Jenny and Endo. It was 5-hour driving, filled up with spontaneous jokes, twitzzlers, coffee, stops at "weird" fancy restaurants and Michael Jackson songs. I will remember that trip as I will remember Michael Jackson as a true entertainer. And I feel like too often we wait until someone passes to truly celebrate his/her impacts. Rest in peace.

Cherry Blossoms - Hanami

This film definitely reminds me of the only Yasujiro Ozu's work I have seen, Tokyo Story, and of course a little bit of Rabun. It's a kind of film that moves 'slowly' so that I, personally, would pay attention to every little details in the film that blended mostly in delicate metaphors - flies, ducks, cherry blossoms, apart from a very compelling storytelling. And I believe that Doris Dorrie has had great thoughts on every single materials she presented in this piece.

It hurts me so much watching this piece that it gives me more reasons to love my parents. When I realized mak's devotion to abah, I thought it was merely an obligated responsibility. My childhood memories were full of hatred towards abah after what he had done to mak and it was not just me, but also my siblings. And not until couple months before I came to the States that I fully understood my confusion of mak's devotion (Yeah, another childhood pshychological trauma. Nothing much to complain about). Trudi and Rudi's love shows me exactly what I need to see as a son and a future partner to a soul.

I miss you, mak, abah.

Okuribito - Death is not the end of humanity

It could be told from most of my entries that I'm amateurishly sentimental (speaking about professional, Yasmin Ahmad owned it). Okuribito (Departures) definitely deepened my understanding of this human's emotion, in coping with life. It does not really have mind-twisted-tricky plots because its events unravel predictably, but the film is profoundly affecting, well-written moving story, rich characters and superlative acting - Kudos to Yojiro Takita.


The fact that it has expected plots does not take away all the credits from other attributes of the movie. Kundo Kayama's screenplay has made the film very well-paced. I'm amazed by his way of putting real-life witty gist in every encoffing ceremonies.

In a scene, in the office, when it's snowing over Christmas outside, Sasaki, Yuriko and Daigo are enjoying fried chicken with wines. And Daigo grabs his old cello to play a song requested by Yuriko.

Daigo - Well what should I play?
Sasaki - Let's see.. something Christmasy
Daigo - Uh..will different religions bother you?
Sasaki - Don't worry. Buddism, Christian, Islam, Hindu. We handle all religions here.
Daigo - Then, for the Holy Night.

And there it goes the best version of Holy Night I've ever heard. This is another part that made me drown into the film, the music composed by Joe Hisaishi. Soundtracks have been my attentions in watching movies since Casablanca and I believe Hisaishi has composed and placed ALL the soundtracks well in the film. It was very moving piece for me. (And guess what..I just bought its original soundtracks!)

Regarding the acting, personally, I found it is hard to pull off Daigo Kobayashi character portrayed by Masahiro Motoki as I've been told by my acting mentor to put myself in actors shoes when I watch acting performances. Interconnected emotionally, Daigo and I have a common painful history except that he is healed, sadly with a heart-wrenching lost. Overall, I found that the actors never overplay, never spell out what can be said in a glance or a shrug, communicate great passion very quietly, as I wish Daigo's extremely cheerful wife, Mika (Ryoko Hirosue) was real.

As one of the runners for Best Foreign Language Film along with Waltz With Bashir, Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex and The Class, Departures definitely surprized lot of critics. From my perspective after watching all the films running for the title, I think Departures deserved the Oscar.

Death may be the termination of a life, but it's not the end of humanity.

New!

Running on tracks, entertaining along with orchestras, playing in team sports, arguing on stage, flying across the world, backpacking on a well-known trail, climbing at one of the most greatest climbing spots...and now, cooking in a kitchen!
I got a job helping a culinary chef at The Union.

Happy Go Lucky

"Enraha" the word stuck in my mind right now whenever I think about "Happy Go Lucky". My acting mentor, Rich Rands, told me to see this hilarious and enriching movie directed by Mike Leigh because the fact that Mike Leigh uses a lot of improvisation in his script, from what the actors come up with during rehearsals.

Critics elaborately talked about Sally Hawkins' ability to portray Poppy's character, who must smile, be peppy, optimistic, talk high-pitched with infectious giggle at almost all times. It must be done naturally and convincingly, which some claims that's harder than playing Lady Macbeth. However, for me, I strayed away a little bit from my actual purpose of watching the movie. It took me far away from thinking about technical acting abilities among the actors, which I was told to look at. The storytelling aspect of the movie brought me to a higher level of understanding humanity in the effect of Sally's portrayal in "living truthfully under imaginary circumstances".

Mostly, Poppy's life episodes are similar to us, me, at least and that means the characters she encounters or surrounded by. But, the ways she deals with all of these, regardless the emotional states of the situations, has shown me the wonderful side of humanity. For instance, Poppy's relationship with Scott (Eddie Marsan). Bad tempered, Scott is an odd for a driving instructor especially he seems to channel road rage. His system for helping her remember the rear-view mirror and the two side mirrors involve naming them after fallen angels. He screams at her. No one could drive with Scott at their side. Any other person would quit working with Scott after one lesson. Not Poppy. Does she think she can help him? Their relationship descends into an extraordinary scene during which we suddenly see right inside both of them and understand better what Poppy's cheerfulness is all about. We also see Scott's terrifying insecurity and self-loathing.

Apart from very thick British accents, which I was having a hard time to understand with, I believe "Happy Go Lucky" has taught me the value of accepting people around me, despite their traits and characteristics.
"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart" - Marcus Aurelius 121-80 AD, Roman Emperor, Philosopher.

Pain

There's too much pains obscurely portrayed by Kristin Scott Thomas in this masterpiece from Phillipe Claudel. No fancy shots. No distinctive and eloquent soundtracks. Just purely and emotionally engaged characters pulling off the cruelty state of "pain". This portrait strikes the feeling right away when it comes out in the movie. It's a very beautiful piece by Emile Friant. (click on the image for larger version)

I've Loved You So Long carries small zephyrs of suspense, but they are not the kind to send chills down te spine and set us grippping the handles of our seats. If you happened to see this one, try to fully immersed yourself in the characters' emotions.

Universal language

I was sitting in Green-room (a room for actors chillin when they are not on stage) reading an article about Dustin Lance Black's struggles to make Milk happens in W, when I heard somebody sang "Kendati selautan segunung/Permata di kanan dan kiri/Selagi jantungku berdegup hingga tiba saat terhenti/Dialah dihati" with perfect enunciation! It was Nico singing that verse while listening to his iPOD. It amazed me too that he told me he was trying hard to find the song after listening to Siti's beautiful rendition from Royal Albert Hall concert years ago. Since he found that song, he said he's been listening to Siti's over and over again and can't help falling in love with her voice.

Weeks ago he asked me who's the best singer in Malaysia and with no doubt I said Siti Nurhaliza three times so he could pronouce it correctly. I didn't expect that he's gonna be really into Siti, considering the fact that he doesn't know Malay to understand Siti's songs. He said "The beauty of arts is universal. Arts speak universal language."

I don't understand Italian but after listening to this song, a collaboration between three great legends, Andrea Brocelli, Chris Botti and David Foster to produce the mesmerizing piece, Italia, I couldn't agree less with Nico.

Busy ending

I know Addin's gonna be laughing reading this post, but, seriously, I AM gonna be busy towards the end of this semester (huh! Almost done with Junior year!). After doing wardrobe for "You Can't Take it With You" last semester, it feels like eating garam belacan and mempelam, that from the moment you start dipping, you can't stop it, because the hotness needs to be kept on going. So, I requested to do backstage work again this semester. Since, my You Can't Take It With You's fierce partner, Kat Garrow - she just recently decided to go with Kait, her real name, but I call her Kat anyways, is in "The Shape of Things" cast, we decided to do "Much Ado About Nothing". The play is set to be in Miami and the cast is gonna be Cuban!

"Kat Garrow!!!" I yelled her name when I saw her walking out of Performing and Arts Hall across the street.
"Hanif Kamis!!" She ran across the street and gave me a hug. The yelling at each other's name part is not something unusual when you are around or inside Performing and Arts building, as people who see this would assume that you're one of those crazy actors practicing their scenes or Evelyn in The Shape of Things is doing another thesis.
"We need to bring sexy back to the backstage this semester." I said after we agreed to do Much Ado.
With her left hand being rested on her left hip, another hand pointing to the air and her body leaning back a little bit, she went "Nah-ah....we're not bringing sexy back, because sexy NEVER LEFT!"

Much Ado's gonna run from April 17th to 25th. With some matinees, it means my life will be pretty much in that building. Hmm... wait a sec...isn't my major Actuarial Science?

Prepared to be lucky

Lately, my Zune's playlist is full with original soundtracks. Atonement OST has taught me the beauty behind OST that is curcial to be incorporated in a film. Of course, I have owned several OST's before Atonement - thanks to Miss Eti for introducing Craig Armstrong. Slumdog Millionaire, Brokeback Mountain, Mystic River, Changeling, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Chicago, and Moulin Rouge are among films that I've collected their OST. However, the best part of this is what Tyla Tharp said in her The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life, "digging your grooves".

Listening to all these great composers, I started to gain interest knowing their other works. This process also introduced me to another world of creativity in arts. For example, after being mesmerized by melodramatic soundtracks in Cinema Paradiso, I've come to know Ennio Morricone, Italian Academy Award-winning composer for Cinema Paradiso itself and other great films such as the astounding Once Upon a in America. The soundtracks Cinema Paradiso and Deborah's Theme relatively from both films mentioned, have been re-arranged and played by numerous musicians in all over the world and one of them is the great comtemporary jazz trumpeter, Chris Botti. This is the point I think I got my "groove". Botti's music expressively pulled me into the ecstactic jazz music. Other than that, his music makes me wanted to listen to opera songs, which I never thought I would fall in love to. Nessun Dorma popularly sang by the legendary late Luciano Pavarotti, which is also an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, is one of the songs recomposed and played by Botti.

On top of that, his music has become a part of my daily routines. Again, Twyla emphasizes that it is important to have a solid rituals of preparation in order to pull out creativity in daily life. Botti's music gives me a solid ritual as I wake up turn on his music, grab a cup of coffee, stand next my room's window, look outside at people walking to classes and I feel like I'm lilting in this beautiful rhapsody. This ritual really helps me creating my character in my theater class, such as imitating different styles of walkings with different feelings - being late to class, enjoying a sunny morning, walking while eating, etc. 

After all of this crap that i just wrote, I think your creative endeavors can never be thoroughly mapped out ahead of time. You have to allow for a suddenly altered landscape, the change in plan, the accidental spark - and you have to see it as a stroke of luck rather than disturbance. Habitually creative people are, in E.R. White's phrase, "prepared to be lucky". I'm lucky enough to know Chris Botti.

p/s: I just bought (BOUGHT! - i don't buy DVD except for this one) Chris Botti in Boston which features Sting, Josh Groban, Katherine McPhee, Lucia Micarelli, John Mayer, and Steven Tyler! 

A cherished regret

Do see this great film. I just saw it for the 2nd time. A commentary will be posted.

A tag from Justin

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle. remember! SHUFFLE !!
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down NO MATTER HOW silly it sounds.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Put this on your journal/blog.

1. If someone says, “Is this okay?” … you say?
'Lay Your Hands On Me' by Bon Jovi - (there's a lot of imaginary circumstances could be created from "Is this okay?". I take it personal. Hence, "lay your hands on me" is appropriate..ahaks!)

2. How would you describe yourself?
'Chasing Car' by Snow Patrol - (Hell yeah! My fav number! "Those three words are said too much..")

3. What do you like in a girl?
'Mind Trick' by Jamie Cullum - (indeed!)

4. How do you feel today?
'The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore' by James Morrison - (hmmm...i'm thinking of something specific..)

5.What is your life’s purpose?
'Details in The Fabric' by Jason Mraz - (I need to draw, color, bring it alive!)

6. What is your motto?
'Submarine Attack (The Curios Case of Benjamin Button's OST)' by Alexandre Desplat - (referring to the scene. Life is full of wars!)

7. What do your friends think of you?
'Uninvited' or Alanis Morissette - (really?)

8. What do you think of your parents?
'Elephant' by Damien Rice - (My Goodness! This is the greatest piece from Damien Rice. For you mom and dad)

9. What do you think about very often?
'Lucky' by Jason Mraz feat Colbie Caillat- (To be lucky I need to be generous)

10. What is 2 + 2?
'I'll Stand by you' by The Pretenders - (2+2 Double dates? Such a nice old school song for a date!)

11. What do you think of your best friend?
'The Half Killed (Atonement OST)' by Dario Marianelli - (wow...honestly, my best friends change along the way in my life. Or does that mean I don't have best friends? They're Half-killed along the way?)

12. What do you think of the person you like?
'Glasgow Love Theme (Love Atually OST)' by Craig Armstrong - (This is when instruments in a beautiful song speaks to you about beauty)

13. What is your life story?
'Falling Slowly (Once OST)' by Glen Hansard - (How i appreciate Humanity so much..love Glen's music so much)

14. What do you want to be when you grow up?
'Live High' by Jason Mraz - (Yeah! Live High, Live Mighty! Live Righteously!)

15. What do you think of when you see the person you like?
'Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)' by Boyce Avenue - (Self explanatory)

16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
'Time after Time (Accoustic)' by Bon Jovi (Perfect!)

17. What will they play at your funeral?
'Hidden' by Craig Armstrong - (amazingly crafted for such event)

18.What is your hobby/interest?
'Catch the sun' by Jamie Cullum - (I'm ready for that! Can't wait for summer!)

19. What is your biggest fear?
'Benjamin and Daisy (The Curios Case of Benjamin Button OST)' by Alexandre Desplat (afraid of having such relationship between Benjamin and Daisy)

20. What is your biggest secret?
'Love Letters (Atonement OST)' by Dario Marianelli - (I have never written any love letters. Not a secret anymore.)

21. What do you think of your friends?
'Thankful' by Kelly Clarkson- (well said)

22. What will you post this as?
'People Can't Change (Changeling OST)' by Clint Eastwood - (Partially, true.)

23.say something bout the person tagged you.
'Under the influence' by James Morrison - (yeah! influence from others to tag others!)

My "pencil"

As suggested by Twyla Tharp in The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life, this is my "pencil" for now:

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

-The tragedie of Hamlet, prince of Denmarke

V-day

Ophelia:

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day,
All in the morning bedtime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a mind
Never departed more.

(William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5)

It has occurred in my past twenty years that I never celebrate Valentine's Day. (Yes, I chose "celebrate" as the action here). For the sake of respecting Islam I was told not to honor one of Early Christian martyrs, Valentine, to keep my faith from straying away, in general. Thence, had I known in my life in Malaysia not to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Last week I attended an acting workshop conducted by Shakespeare & Co., which headquarter is in Boston, MA, one of the established theater companies throughout the world. Monologue above was recited by my fellow in theater class, Amy, at the workshop. The question of "intention" in celebrating Valentine's Day aroused, when I was wondering my action of not celebrating it. I DO want to celebrate Valentine's Day, but MY intention is not to honor Valentine, may be appreciating my beloved one on the same day as other couples do, or appreciating Shakespeare's oeuvre.

Wish you were here

We all get at least one good wish a year. Over the candles on our birthday. Some of us throw in more. On eyelashes, fountains, lucky stars, and every now and then, one of those wishes comes true. So what then? Is it is as good as we'd hoped? Do we bask in the warm glow of our happiness? Or, do we just notice we've got a long list of other wishes waiting to be wished?

We don't wish for the easy stuff. We wish for big things. Things that are ambitious, out of reach. We wish because we need help and we're scared and we know we may be asking too much. We still wish, though, because sometimes they come true.

A car?

Recently, I've been watching several movies from Sean Penn, Gus Van Sant, Ron Howard and Clint Eastwood. Some of you might notice that most of them worked together in one production or another. Mystic River, Changeling, Unforgiven, Frost/Nixon, Good Will Hunting, Elephant, and Gran Torino are all the movies I've covered so far. Damn! I have no life! Anyway, I don't wanna talk elaborately the style of directions and storytelling by these great artists.

As for Gran Torino, I supposed it's another masterpiece from Clint. For those who always see movies straight to the plots, this movie might be another boring movie. Not saying that I'm really good in integrating ideas of a movie and concluding its premise, I believe this movie, Clint's last performance on silver screen, summarizes Clint's credibility as one of the greatest actors and filmmakers in the industry.

Here's Gran Torino's original song, music by Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens; lyrics by Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens. It's gonna compete in Golden Globe with Down To Earth from Wall-E, I Thought I lost You from Bolt, Once in A lifetime from Cardillac Records, and The Wrestler from The Wrestler.

p/s: pyan, I don't review movies. I write what I feel and think about movies.