Saturday, December 14, 2013

Living Simple

I have been spending a good 2-3 days organizing my personal belongings and tidying up my work desk. In short, I'm throwing away lots of stuff. Like secondary schools books, poly notes and army stuff.

This Christmas as many are doing their regular shopping for gifts, I'm actually throwing away many things. And I do hope people will stop giving me presents specially photo frame or mugs or even pens as soon enough in afew years time they will be thrown away. What I do appreciate is actually just simple notes of encouragement and gratitude from one to another.

Came across this article: "World's poorest President"
Uruguay's President Jose Mujica only worldly possession is a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle. Why the emphasis on living simply? Mr Mujica, a former left-wing revolutionary, says he has no interest in amassing a fortune. The vegetarian said he has all he needs and that material wealth does not buy happiness. He said, "I'm called 'the poorest president' but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more. This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions, then you don't need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself."

2 yeas ago, his annual personal wealth was US$1800 which was the value of his car.
Robert Kiyosaki defined wealth by the number of days you can survive without physically working and still maintain your standard of living. For eg, if your monthly expenses are $5000 a month and you have $20 000 in savings, your wealth is 4 months. Wealth is actually measure in time and not dollars or asset.

With that being said, I learning to let go and throwing away many things that once defined me.
And I'm on a campaign to live as simple as possible to the point that if I can live with just $5 a day and perhaps $400-500 a month. And I hope possibly I can live off from a suitcase or smth. Life is simple but many can't accept that it's that simple thus we made simple things sophisticated to get some form of kick. Trust me life is indeed simple. If we learn to let go and change our perspective and attitude we will made complexity to simplicity:)

Is what I am doing now really what I want in life?

Today marks the 1st week after I left my job. Well not exactly, I am still a freelancer for 4-5 days.18 months ago was my last post where I was in a dilemma and after 33months + 3 months of internship I finally left.

Perhaps not many people who knew me know that I actually was working in a IT line. I hope to write about this little chapter in my life, a few years of self discovery and getting my relationship right with God, that till this day, I have no regret! And perhaps you too can take a little risk if you are at a point of indecision.

Is what I am doing now really what I want in life? I have been praying very hard on this issue. I have been talking to a lot of people ever since 8 months into my job. I come into the job hoping that I could take a break from film because I wasn't doing well in the film industry as mentioned in my previous post. Ever since my first colleague left, many things start to change. There were more business opportunity, more workloads, more OTs and overnights and with no benefits and welfare eventually more people left. I was holding the fort for very long and it seems like they were waiting for me to give my letter or forcing me out of the org. And I was there as long as I could to prove to them wrong.

Then my job eventually took up 90-95% of my time. Not creating or making film for more than a year. For a very long time, there was this constant unrest and almost continual sadness and disappointment, not that I was not performing well in my job, just that there was this great emptiness within, as if something was missing and unfulfilled.

I dragged my feet to work and occasionally even chao keng, and I was actually extremely sorry for those clients and internal staff, that they had me as a unmotivating colleague. I am not putting down my job here, just that I think I’m not made for it. And that I am lacking of something that the company needs.

I knew deep down in my heart, I wanted to go back and complete what I have left undone.I asked God to put a passion in me if I was to go back to film. Well I do not see myself becoming a known filmmaker, influential director or anything like that but more of a storyteller. Telling compelling story that hopes to inspire and give empowerment. Telling stories across all format. Be it roller coaster ride, painting, films or just verbally. And I hope God will redeem all my wasted time of 3 years!

Why now?
Because if I become too comfortable and I might be more hesitant to leave at a later time. And that my job has taken way too much of my time!

What have I learned?
I learn a lot about myself and my people skill and I learn that life is too short to be around people that u don't enjoy. I don't have time for anything that isn't good for me. I learned that my manager is not for everyone but he could be for a lot of people but he has tried to be that. Ha that aside.

I do have mixed feeling as I depart. Its coming from a realization that I'm not the person that I necessary thought I was and that I can be a better person that is more pleased with myself and the decision I made and the things I pursue. Because I risk, because I want the most unlikely guy to be managing so many things and solving so many problems, and I found my way out here, and I was ridicule, and people pick on me and I didn't back out. In fact I made one of the biggest move still (because many thought I have a lot of courage by choosing to move on) I'm a new guy now because I think apart of me died out there and a new part of me was reborn. And now unfortunately the journey has come to an end and it is time for me to go

So what is my plan?
I hope to go back and discover how fun film can be. I no longer want to do it for others’ sake or for results; I want to do it as a personal enjoyment. Taking the view that since He put me back at it, He is held responsible for the end result. I know God will put me into the right perspective, many years of discovery, a precious life lesson learnt, that is, all things will always turn around for our good as He is always faithful!

To end off, some of things that my colleague say about me during my farewell is really surprising to me. "Resourceful", "very focus person" and "intelligent" :)

Saturday, June 30, 2012

How I started...

Today I decided to write about I started as a filmmaker and my thoughts thus far...
I'm afraid i'm might not get opportunity to share my life story so i wanted to share it here..

Ever since young my only form of entertainment at home was watching TV.. I love to watch old hk movies, series and singapore tv series.. it was really entertaining back then and I remember occasionally my father would take me to watch Jackie Chan movie during sch holidays.. Jackie Chan's movies are the very first movies I watched in the cinema and I remember it was at Kallang Theatre (think its closed down already). It was quiet and there was not much people. My father would always fall asleep and I would be thinking what a waste of money for him. The interesting part about Jackie Chan movie is that it would always show behind the scenes during the rolling credits and I thought there is so much effort put into it and how I wished i'm part of the crew as well.

During my secdonary sch days... TV programs and shows have evovled but I was still interested to be in the media industry. I didn't do very well for my O level and was rejected by all the courses I applied first time and appeal for 1 course for each Poly. Choo Teck advised me on the courses I should take. I waited for 1 month for the results and NYP MIT responsed fast and I was in the course in no time. The word multimedia was appealing to me too. Sounds so interesting and AH TAS...
The modules were very technical and not what I like to do but at the same time I have no choice and didnt know very much what I can or love to do. It was perservance and the friendship with my poly mates that keep me going...

During my 3 years I joined OGL and there was a finale team (another ahtas name) that was "specially" selected to do a last day performance for the freshies. I was not selected and jumped at a chance to volunteer be an actor for the skit part. I think the writer and director for the skit was Kamal and all the cast was given a temp role to try out. Majority of the cast were given a fix role after a week and i think Nic, my classmates who was in the finale team tried to keep me in the team even though Kamal thought I wasnt good enough. After much discussion I became a backup actor incase any of the main cast was sicked, couldn't make it or decided to backout. I sat there and observed most of time that they decided why not I try to be a "ninja". A ninja's jobs is to move and shifts props when the curtains is drawn between scenes. The 3 weeks of rehearsal became a success. The experience make me feel that doing threatre is not easy but worthwhile. It was an eyeopener for me even though I was not acting. That is my 1st and last threatre experience so far..

Throughout the 3 years in poly I did skit for church as well and for the cambodia trip. For church it was worse because I'm actually nervous about remembering lines and doing facial expressions infront of so many ppl so ended up I acted as "Pig" and "Tree". Yes not even proper human being with lines. It was it and thing that I acted but ppl actually laugh at it and I though just a simple movement and gesture and make a crowd laugh so hard..maybe i can do better next time. So during cambodia trip all of us have to act in the skit. I was okie with anything and acted as a doctor. I think we have to do 2 skits in a day and for 6 days contiuous. This was a simple skit but an experience for me as well as a filmmaker now. We have to make students laugh and feel interesting even though we are already doing it for 3-4 days for the 6-7 times...

Nothing much went on and I went to army.. UIP make me feel really depressed couple with guard duty and being COS duty. After afew weeks of uip suddenly an officer shouted out "Anyone have multimedia background?". Chin wee, Desmond and me raised our hands because all our diploma had "multimedia" word on it and we were picked out to be under a captain. He showed us the multimedia room and I was like "what the" there is such a cool room in army camp? So yeah we are suppose to do division video for the camp. I actually cant edit and was learning.. chin wee thought i couldn't do anything and we decided I did the most tedious yet most simple editing which was to create a pictures montage for the ending video using after effects. First and last time I touch after effects but was really cool.

After the video we went back to our depressing situation then Ronald asked me if I was interested to do video for NDP youtube and of course I said yes. Along with some that do not have film background we shoot whatever theme was given to us for the week. The life was shiok and I get to go so many places and met so many interesting people. We have Staff Sarivjit to drive us around and whenever we are done we can go home and report to camp next day evening. I met ppl like Li Nanxing, Irene Ang, BG Tan Chuan Jin (now MP), Kelvin Tan, Electrico and interesting tourists.. and been to the Flyer for free, went to media event, stage of the marina platform, and ops room where all the COLs operate for NDP, marina barage and even see how shooting gallery work together to shoot for NDP MTV 09.. there is so much more to mention...

After NDP I was convinced film was the path I wanted to take because my life changed and i'm more happy doing films. I took the chance to sign with JCM as a talent. I was cheated of money and they never got back to me. I applied ntu adm 2 times but was rejected. After ord I wanted to study film but I have no money so i wanted to work in films. Only h**ds replied and I couldn't fit in. I was a production assistant and did location but was abused and cheated of salary again. work for 5 weeks i think. I watched some audition tapes and observed onset.. I was thinking that is not so difficult. Haikel doesn't have looks and Belle is so diva and they can stay in the industry for so long...
The only thing I learned is probably their professionalism when they working with outsource ppl and females in the company.

After I left I went to try out acting. I went for afew audition. I was nervous and wasn't selected. After about a week or so a group ITE students contacted me and asked if I was interested to act for their fyp. And i thought why not?.. so in the end the assistant director cum writer decided to drop their mediacorp part time actor as the lead because he is too hard to work with and I became the lead. 3 days shoot became 8 days over 2 weeks. I learned alot about acting through self taught because the role was absuive, depress and violent. The lead artress was good and I learned alot from her infact we got to work again in my 2nd acting gig. It kickstart my momentum and thereafter I got afew more acting gigs. In the end the film was never release because of their imcompetence they have to redo the shoot using different casts.

I was working as a temp admin at that time and taking courses at objectifs and wrote and direct my first short film.. I was spending more than earning..roles became harder to get..from lead and supporting to extras for bigger production.. jobs in film was hard to find and I didn't want to do what I did in h**ds cause i never learned much and the time frame for each project is too long.. as a actor I can act for 2-3 projects at the same time over a month..
I decied it was time for me to stop whatever I was doing and find a decent job. Contacted joke and got into bis. I remember the night before I started work in bis i was still shooting for fairytales as passerby policemen...

Though still working in bis i still managed to get afew acting gigs and decided to direct yet another short film for a chance to work with jack neo and get out of my work situation. I hate to work on sat. I don't like what i do in bis yet i have no choice because i dont have a skillset in anything other than fixing computer and acting. Every now and then i keep thinking to myself should i go try out acting full time freelance for a while or go for acting class..sometimes i see myself onscreen i think i really cannot make it sia.. I didn't win anything for the filmfest but went for an audition for his upcoming movie and was casted as an extra.. again?!

At the age of 25, 1 year 3.5 months into my job.. i'm at a crossroad..i'm looking at my life..this is the turning point.. i could carry on in bis as long as God carries me or quit my job and find a better one and continue doing films as part time or hobby OR I can choose a path that is not certain and clear as a film maker but whether as a actor or director/writer producer i'm not sure. I want to quit my job and venture acting for a while..maybe 1 year? if cannot then find a part time job.. continue acting and consider studying BA in creative producing and see where i can go from there?

This is my life history so far! The journey continues…….
I hope next year when i blog again everything will be better...

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Hi All, its been 3 years since I updated this blog. The last time I wrote here it was before I went to army and now I'm out and working already.

I would like to take this opportunity to let you know what I'm doing!

Currently I'm a freelance Writer/Director/Producer/Actor.
I have produced a few videos but not write or direct for anyone except for my own short films.

God of Wonders Universal Production is currently the production name I used as an entity for my production team working together for my films.

This entity stretches to Animation, Design, Videos & Photography. In short Multimedia.

So all these services are provided for anyone out there as well, at a low cost. =)

Details:
Animation -Do contact me for more infomation
Videos -Depending on the man hours needed and manpower and equipments
Photography -Services provided at the end of next year ($50per day for weddings, events etc..)
Design -Poster, Web Design, Logos etc...

First consultation is free!

Do not expect hollywood films or fanciful stuff. The services are but a hobby for me to earn extras money. But I guarantee they will be exceptional and presentable.

While I'm still learning about writing and directing, I make used of acting as a main source of learning about filmmaking and also earning some extra income. To me its learning from a different perspective. I used this opportunity to network and get to know more people in the industry as well.

If you are interested for a collaboration or want to me to show you my acting/directing showreel or CV do drop me an email: eugehetatyahoodotcomdotsg/eugehetatgmaildotcom and title it "Film Collaboration" or "Film Casting".

If you are looking for calefare/extras/supporting roles or lead roles, do contact me as well.

I hope with the little money I earn I can attend more film short courses and acting course to up better myself. Help me fulfil my passion.

So you may ask how I earn a living doing all these?

I do not have any skills set other than doing films and IT.

I'm also a workstation specialist. I can help to repair and recover your workstation.

Here's my services.

Overhaul includes:
1. Setting for new systems (32/64bit Windows or Mac OS or even both)with recommended programs installed

2.Troubleshooting your system such as unable to bootup and virus infection

3. Diagnose hardware failure



All these services are provided at $100 inclusive of gst but not replacement of hardware.
An additional $50 for pick up and delivery.

As ususal first consultation is free!

A combination of Film and IT and who knows I can be the next george lucas forming lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic.

Thanks all for the visit. Take care. God Bless
I believe no one is here reading my blog by chance.


Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Pre-enlistment

It will be less than 48 hours before I go in army. Just a little update of what I had done.

Recently went to JB with Jackson, one of my yamaha colleagues. I don't know how to put it into words but after a hectic life in school and working, to be able to enjoy the day relaxing its unbelieveable.

We took a long bus jounney to a 5 star hotel. There was this place where you can swim, spa, massage, watch movies and eat the whole day just for Sing $40. There were extra services as well which I'm not gonna talk about it.

So when we get there we just eat and eat and eat and eat. Feel like Julius Caesar Man. It was my first time doing spa and massage and the experience was shoik.

When we came back, Jackson and I were smuggling dvds and cigarettes into singapore..stuffed all kinds of things into our pocket and it was really funny when we walk..

A day after, it was my last day in Yamaha. I have a great time working there. Take away the boss it is actually a perfect working environment. Definitely learned a lot from this bunch of ppl. Hope to see them soon.





Been spenting my last week idling around in the house doing nothing. Everyday I woke up not even knowing what is my agenda or what. Just lazed around seeing the day goes by. Was browsing the Cambodia pictures and wanted to share these 2 pictures..

This was the time when the girls were learning how to dance their traditional dance .Then they were brought out to show the guys what they had learned. After that all the guys were bought into the cricle and they danced around us and asked us to dance with them.


We look at each other, 19 of us from different walks of life, 1000 miles away from home in paradise, you know this is incredible. I will never hear another tribal drum beating from the radio, I wouldn't think about that day and bring about a smile on my face.


These cambodian people, you could tell the ritual and the dance they were doing were authentic and you could tell that the love they gave was real whether we are the best in our studies, loser or backstabber or whatever. It felt good to get away from Singapore and not think about the commitments we have in Singapore and just remember what its like to be a human being.

With that being said, I hope those people reading my blog would also take time to really enjoy life because we only get to live once. Doesn't matter if we are not the best in this or that. When was the last time you looked up the sky and was really amazed at God's creation? When was last time you went to Seletar reservoir enjoying the beautiful scenary?

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Happy Birthday =|

Happy birthday to u..
Happy birthday to u..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you..
Happy birthday to u..

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Weird Customers

Here are some of the most weird and moronic encounter while I was in Yamaha:

Me: Hi Madm, Yamaha member?
Moron No.1 : Yes
After cashering everything, packing her items and giving her recipt
Me: There you go Madm have a nice day yea
Moron No.1 : Eh where is my separate receipt?
Me: What separate receipt?
Moron No.1 : I though you say u could print separate recepit? One receipt with yamaha member
discount and another one without.

WTF? did I say that? Maybe i really did when u were doing the talking and I was doing cashering

Me: Sorry Madm we can't do separate receipt because the cashering machine doesn't allow that
Moron No.1: But u say that you could. I'm buying this for my friend and I wanna show him both
receipt!

Obviously she bought 2 keyboard pedals with her discount and showing his friends the receipt without the discount so she could get the full money back. The difference is only $4!!! knn



Me: Sir total is $236.60
Moron No.2: Where is the receipt?
Me: Eh.. Sir u havn't pay so I can't show you the receipt
Moron No.2: I know, you got to show me the receipt then I will pay!

KNN.. u got go NTUC ask them to show you the receipt then buy the items one. Fucking stupid sia.


Me: Hi Sir
Moron No.3 : Hi, I am looking for nylon for guitar.
Me: Sir u looking for classical guitar strings?
Moron No.3: No, I am looking nylon not strings.

What the hell is he looking for? In the end I showed him classical guitar strings

Moron No.3 : Ahh yes yes. What is the difference between these strings?
Me: Blah blah blah..

In the end he asked 2 more colleagues of mine and sat there for 15mins staring at the strings.



Me: Hi Mdm
Moron No.4 (Korean) : Hi I'm looking for music stand for my son
Showed her all the music stands.
Moron No.4: Is there discount?
Me: Mdm is your son a yamaha student? If he is, there will be 10% discount.
Moron No.4: Student..yes yes. He is a student

Iris(My colleague) : Mdm total is $24.
Moron No.4 : I thought that gentlemen there(me) said there is discount for student?
Iris : Oh.. Can I have ur son's yamaha student card?
Moron No.4: Yamaha student? No no.. he pri 5 student.

Cheese pie.. Trying to sabo me sia.. Boss was around and make her signed up for yamaha membership. Did all the documentation for her.

2 days later.. I got a lecture from Boss. why?
Because her son is 11 years old. To be a member you must be at least 13years old.. She put her son's particulars with her birhdate so while doing the documentation I didn't realise anything wrong.

Cheese pie HQ gan Boss.. Boss gan me.. Don let me see her again sia bloody hell..