March 2006 Archives

I loved this comic novel, a bit long, but very engaging non the less.

Thanks to Adam, I got the link to see the title sequence of a very much anticipated film - Thank you for smoking. The title sequence is done by Shadow play Studio and you can view the title sequence here.

Adam's site would be www.adamdines.com however, for no good reason, it is banned in China, for those of you who live in this unfortunate area, you can view it through anonymouse.org go there then type in his address.

I have to say I didn't fully get the movie when I finished watching it. I think its about a nightmare experienced by a psychiatrist after he witnessed a deadly car accident, or something close to that. Anyways, the interesting part about this movie is its visual style, people should watch this movie just to check out how cinematography and editing can complement each-other. The result, visually, is dreamlike.

I always pass this new real estate development called NAGA on my way home from work. The other day on the news, it said that NAGA would be the last housing project within the 2nd ring road, so I decided to check out how much this piece of real estate would cost. It turns out, It takes about 2.5 mil USD to get in to the smallest unit there, which is about 3200 sq ft. (300 sq meters). This makes me think what would I get if I were to buy a house in LA with that much money. I'm not going to elaborate here, lets just say buying NAGA is a big mistake, unless they turn the whole neighborhood into Beverly Hills, or install a beach no further than 10 miles away.

Stupid work got me bogged down at the office after 6 again. Decided to hang out and just let lose after that. Ate at this restaurant in San Li Tun called The golden elephant, they served some wickedly delicious curries. Then the 7 club with Stone, David, and Kama and girlfriends. There were so much cigarett smoke in there that it burned my eyes, and I left with Silvia soon after that.

Chinese people love their red banners. Every banner has to be red, no exception. The president of the olympic committee, apparently will be visiting beijing soon. I can't imagine that there's a banner for that too in this city. Normally, if this was in the states, the hotel would be the last thing on any quasi dignitary / celebrity's itinerary to flaunt and advertise one's arrival, or putting up a gigantic banner right across their entrance. They might as well hire somebody to stand out side and shout out "Yes, thats right folks, he's staying with us."

I watched this play called "有多少爱可以胡来" or How much love is there left to mess around (with)? It depicts 3 depressing romantic encounters of a male advertising executive. Although the title suggested some hint of sexual escapades, the play merely unfolded a series of relationships. each of the 3 different women in 3 different age groups and their appropriate social backgrounds enters and exits this guy's life one after the other, causing pain, frustration and confusion. The performances of the actors were commendable, but the script isn't. Non of the three encounters were moving enough nor explicit enough to be engaging for me. The radio interview story telling backdrop sometimes was annoying, especially with some horribly dry jokes. The ticket price is from 100 rmb to 280 rmb, I'd suggest spending it elsewhere.

Yay, finally, the s6 came out. Man, this camera retails in best buy for $449 before tax. I got the camera, plus a 512mb memory sd card for about 410 total. A digicam that can wirelessly transfer shots as i shoot them, just what I needed. I can totally imagine roland young shouting in my face "Cool and Awesome!".

In the past couple weeks, my office is suffering from fools ball fever. Everyone, including me got so into this, before work, after work, during work, in between work, we get in cue, formulate strategies, join teams, and let our wrists roar. Constant cheers from the break room, the neglected old favorite pool table, and the confrontational look of the bosses, they're all part of the beloved game. Fools ball, I love you.

My company just switched our gym memberships from a highly respectable, 5 star hotel spa/gym/pool place to a private taiwanese gym chain, called alexander. This chain is so badly designed, that every time I go there, I get my self lost in it. One of my co-worker once walked into open waiting area butt naked thinking he was going into shower room. There are so many bad designs in this place that the cheesy decor actually goes well with it. Last night, my locker key got screwed up, I got #170, not sure which lock to insert my key into, I tried #171 by accident, it opened, and I used it without suspicion. Afterwards, I used the same key to open the same #171 lock, and alarm sounded. I had to explain my self so I can get my own stuff. Unbe - fucking - lievable. I haven't even mentioned that they get you two lockers, shoe locker, and regular locker, what's up with that??? Whoever designed this place deserves to get shot!!!

finally, a tvc will be in my portfolio. It is for a new product from Motorola I can't yet to disclose. I was lucky to have this script come to life since it involved some special effects. Will have the tvc posted when it launches in april.

March 15th,
10:05 am, stepping out side, 75°, sunshine, over-cast, perfect.
10:07 am, turned on ipod, walking with Fear of sleep. I'm feeling invincible, euphoric.
10:13 am, the song continued, taxi in sight, no traffic, air still smells clean, i'm happy.
10:15 am, realized i forgot to take my phone with me.
10:15 am, the cab driver looked at me longingly, i stopped, murmured "fuck!" and turned around.
10:16 am, good feelings... gone after Fear of sleep, walking back to my apartment.

That the ad people :), sitting there on sunset boulevard. Logos and the product shot were in a much better shape when I handed it to them, but o well.

All my US friends will jump out of their seats over this one. Everything's acted out, in every scene.
Copy and paste the link below to see it.

http://www.bestadsontv.com/ad_details.php?id=1823

This past friday, our nice AE Jessica took some people from work to her favorite Xin Jiang Restaurant, since she's from Xin Jiang, and most of us loves the "chuar" aspect of Xin Jiang food, we went along.
The restaurant, which was simply called ... Xin Jiang Restaurant, hides its self next to Xin Jiang provincial representative office served the best Xin Jiang food I've ever had, place is fairly clean, and staff is fairly responsive. Just a bit above average compare to the normal everyday restaurants in Beijing. The food though, is great. Although when it comes to "chuar" or lam kabobs, I have to say I've had better else where in Beijing. Jessica and her boyfriend is the couple in the picture.

Yay, washing machine at home, after coming out of my massive denial about the fact that public laundromats don't exist in Beijing, I finally gave in.

last snow day of the year, freakishly quick and massive.

The biggest Ads I've ever made in my life :D, are currently up and running now. If you are in LA now, my ADs are on a media buy called "The LA Spectacular" it is a building on Sunset, between amoeba music, and the CNN building. The Ads will also be featured on the trains of Chicago, the meat packing district in Manhattan plus several other locations I barely recall. Get ready USA, Global campaigns made in China just landed, hehe.

Hopefully I can get some pictures soon :/

Nervous about uncertainty again, excitement and fear intertwined, what will happen this summer? I really really wonder...

Came across this gorgeous print done by asterik studio, thought it represented my mood of the day today.

There are a lot of super tiny shops dotted through out beijing, they are literally a hole in the wall some times, occupying spaces thats less than 20sq meters. I am absolutely fascinated by these tiny places, and people that runs them, so this past weekend, I decided to start photograph them. Can anyone recommend me some tiny shops to photograph? I will offer lunch or dinner in exchange.

Wow, first year for me to miss both the Superbowl, and The Academy Awards. Today though, I won't blame it on China for a change. CCTV apparently broadcasted it live, but I was working. Really glad that Crash won film of the year, I left the shitty city because of a lot of things this movie depicted, and I thought the movie is pretty damn accurate on a lot of things. Also, of course, I'm happy for Ang Lee for achievement in directing, (and no my american friends, his name is "an - lee" don't know why there's a "g" in his name). Nice to know King Kong and Memoirs of Geisha received recognitions on some technical achievements as well, I still can not believe China banned Memoirs of Geisha, o well, don't worry freedom of speech advocates, I think almost everyone in China now has a pirated copy of that movie by now, everyone I know here saw it and enjoyed it.

Sucks to watch the re-runs when you knew who the winners were already. T_T

Beijing manicipal government has finally had it with spits. A lot of people in China, well, at least in Beijing don't really mind hacking off in the open, this poses an image and health problem to the city. So, starting this month, a million-yuan ($124,000 USD) spit patrol van is launched in the city, equiped with satellite transmitters, 3 cameras, (one of them with infra-red night vision), search light, computers that handles digital recording, and a huge plasma flat tv screen. First day in operation, the police fined 9 spitters.... (wow). The average fine for spitting in beijing - between 20-50rmb ($2.50 - $6.50 USD). One of the 9 spitters did ask for proof when the police got to him, so i guess the taxpayers money did do something, but come on, a plasma flat screen? and satellite transmitters?

hahaha... o wait.. thats.. me :(

I'm just catching up some homework here, all these china-banned movies take time for me to go through them. Didn't like this one since the narrative style is exactly like traffic(Stephen Gaghan, director/screenwriter also wrote for Traffic), and though story is compelling, the topic has been on the radar screen for quite a while now. Its just... not as fresh as Traffic once was.