Lights, Camera, Action!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Tricked by Ed the Halal Pig aka Director of Photography aka Camera-man last weekend.

Well, not exactly tricked, since he didn't know that the damn shoot was going to take that long either.

Oh, for those who are clueless about what I'm talking about, I was a Production Assistant to Ed's short film last Fri~Sat.
In the industry, the PA(Production Assistant) is something like... the logistics man/utility man/driver/sai-kang warrior/shit worker.
Yups.
The PA does anything and almost everything that the crew needs, and you think that's the worst job? Talk to my boss aka direct supervisor Yap aka Production Manager(PM). He not only had to do what I had to do, he had to PLAN what I do, be in charge of finance, and get to go home later than all of us. Something like the logs head lah.
Respect to him.

Anyway it was quite an eye opener for me, despite the late hours and all.
Serious. I got to visit places where I never thought I would set foot on, ie: da old Commando Camp at Changi, just next to the 'haunted' old Changi Hospital.
In Ed's words, not a place to visit if we were sane. (or something like that lah)
Still, we did spent the night there. With the necessary precautions like praying before we started filming, having LOTS of lightings(and light sticks and torches) and of cos, our trusty ciggys. :)

Smoked damn a lot during the set.
Either was too stressed or too bored.

Preparations were aplenty for a SINGLE shot.
Its amazing how much effort actually goes in for a perfect(or somewhat perfect) shot to be taken.
Lighting.
Sound.
Etc etc..

Had enough of rose petals for quite some time.
Ain't quite funny when one has to pick up the damn petals after showering them again and again for the visuals and the scene.
Like picking up the damn expended rounds after firing.
Ler(our... I think Producer) kept reminding us: Guys(meaning me and Yap), at least 80% of the petals ah. Just like in da friggin' army.

Drove around quite a bit.
But the funniest trips must be trips to bring our Director(Melissa) and lead(and only) Actress(Mag) to the toilet at Changi Village, since they can't go Al Fresco like us guys.
Lucky they didn't pee often.
Oh, and the cock-est trip belonged to the late late morning trip to get gas for the damn generator. Me and Yap.
We were either high from the intense inhaling of petrol, or the severe lack of sleep.
So high that when a cockanathan taxi zoomed past us in the manner which we like to term as 'accident waiting to happen', I actually flashed the damn car with a TORCHLIGHT.
Next thing that happened, both Yap and me started to laugh, hoot, scream and shout. Oh, and sing horrig-ibly at the top of our voices.

Some people are really DUMB.
F**king dumbass STUPID.
The cocksters this time came from the, erm... 'Middle Kingdom' or big mass of land occupied by erm, big body of people who can drown Stinkapore with their spit and accent.
Wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and be leniant to them since they were kids.
But f**k.
Like what me and Yap concluded.
We weren't this dumb when we were their age.
Reasons being:
1. We don't make a lot of noise if we are approaching a supposedly haunted area.
2. We don't dress like we're going clubbing if we are visiting a supposedly haunted area. My choice of clothing? Something that will not hinder me if I'm supposed to run for my life. Plus we wouldn't dress like we were in the 80s, not even for Mambo night, not in any other occasions.
3. We don't go someplace in the middle of the night without having proper equipments. Ie: Torchlights to actually illuminate the place in case of any potential pitfalls or things like that. And no, we do not think that a HANDPHONE is a source of light. A Maglite IS a source of light. A handphone is just a HANDPHONE.
4. We will not go to a place if someone tells us that it is better to be prepared because there might be paranormal thingys happening there.

and most importantly.

5. WE WILL NOT VISIT THESE KIND OF PLACES IN THE FIRST PLACE. If we do, it will be in the middle of the day where we can actually see properly and thus have a mental preparation should we(in a moment of lunacy) decide to visit it later in the night.
Hightlight of the moment: When Yap 'recommended' them the old Changi Hospital as an 'exciting' place to visit.
Pure EVIL-ness.
But then again, I did play along too.
I have no pity for these ah tiong kids.
Should anything happen to them, I would say they deserve it.

Made a couple of new friends.
Most notable, Ler the 'Grandmaster' and Dan the singing Soundman.

Enough talk for now. Pics will be up as soon as I can find the cable to upload them.

Till next time...