Archive for March, 2008

Little Penang this Sunday

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

Fans of Indie Movies and Books…

Don’t miss this Sunday!!!

Too bad I can’t go. But have fun!!!


AMIR MUHAMMAD @ Little Penang Street Market THIS SUNDAY!

Amir Muhammad

Amir Muhammad is a writer and independent filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Born in 1972 in Kuala Lumpur and took law at the University of East Anglia. He has been writing for Malaysian print media since the age of 14, notably for the New Straits Times.

In 2000, he wrote and directed Malaysia’s first DV feature. Some of his works have also been featured in a number of international film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. He had also produced several Malaysian films, including The Big Durian. Two of his films, Village People Radio Show and The Last Communist have been banned in Malaysia. He started publishing non-fiction books in 2007 under his company Matahari Books. The first book Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things (Vol 1) was a best-seller.

Amir's Book

Malaysian Politicians Say the Darnest Things

by Amir Muhammad, with illustrations by Shahril Nizam

A collection of over 100 illustrated quotes by the species known as the Malaysian politician from the past three decades. Some will make you go hmm, some will make you go gaga, and others give a pithy introduction to issues of their time.

New Malaysian Essays

New Malaysian Essays 1 is local non-fiction writing. From polemic to ode to memoir, this series invites Malaysian readers – and writers – to notice, analyse and interpret the living, throbbing, squelching vitality around them. Multi-disciplinary, multi-tasking and best appreciated on multi-vitamins….

Writers: Brian Yap, Aminuddin Mahmud, Burhan Baki, Saharil Hasrin Sanin, Amir Muhammad & Sonia Randhawa

The Old House
The Old House and Other Stories

by Chuah Guat Eng
Chuah Guat Eng

brings together 9 Malaysian short stories in English, written between 1992 and 2002.

Amir Muhammad & Chuah Guat Eng will be autographing their books

at Little Penang Street Market, Upper Penang Road

Sunday 30th March 2008, 10am-6pm (or till stocks run out!)

Their book reading will be held at 2pm – 3pm

Limited spaces only! Register at Little Penang by 12 pm!

People without courtesy on social networking sites

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008

You know how interestingly people can simply add you as a friend on social networking sites without even knowing you.

Man, where is the courtesy to introduce themselves anymore?

Just because someone is online, it does not mean they want to be acquainted with you, even if it is the cyber world.

My rule is, you must at least introduce yourself before simply adding people.

A ‘friendly’ person added me to his list recently. Because I use these sites to keep in touch with people I know, I do not add strangers. After all, they are called STRANGErs for a reason. Now this particular weirdo had the nerve to reply my question, of whether we know each other with ‘NO, LET’S BE FRIENDS.’

Ummm, I do not know you and I doubt I am even interested to have any communication with someone who lacks courtesy and class when it comes to making friends. Call me a snob if you must but in this day and age, you just can’t be too careful with all the loonies who lurk in cyberspace.

For the rest of you who do not mind adding people because you want to break some record of how many people you are connected to in cyberspace; do iit anyways. After all it is your perogative, I am just reminding all of you, to be safe.

cheers! ;)

Dedicated to all my fellow actors…

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Recently I was invited to join an online group which was fittingly called – “You know you’re an actor when” on Facebook. I am sharing this so that all my ‘stubborn’ friends will finally understand why Facebook is better than some of the current social networking sites out there and that they should just jump on the bandwagon.

Anyways, read the lines below (Nope, I did not write them, I just copied it out of the group for your enjoyment and hopefully entice you into opening a Facebook acount for the sake of networking)

P.S. No, Facebook does not pay me. I just like being on there.

Now before I kill the enthusiasm. I shall let you enjoy these.

You understand what opening up, quartering out, projecting, and the magic if are.

You can read faster than a speeding bullet.

You know you won’t get cast in a role that’s 30 years older than you- but you audition anyway.

You are crazy enough to act professionally.

You know who Stanislavski, Hagen, Chekhov, and Miesner are.

You laugh when someone uses the words “Keanu Reeves” and “good Actor” in the same phrase.

You are terrified of the stage manager.

You are used to working until 10 or 11 p.m.

You are constantly looking and memorizing monologues.

You use things like ” British accent” “scuba diving” and a picture in your resume.

You can put on full hooker make-up in under five minutes.

You can COMPLETELY change clothes in under 15 seconds.

You are extremely comfortable in the dark.

You can’t watch a movie without judging everything about it.

You see more plays than movies.

You know someone in every play you see- and want their part.

top raumen is a staple.

You go to New York to live in a tiny apartment with 7 other people.

You accept that you will just have to marry rich.

You can dance ANYTHING in heels.

You don’t mind blisters or costumes that don’t fit.

You HAVE NO SHAME whatsoever.

You burst out into song.

You repeat lines from the current show you’re in casual conversation.

You have thousands of temporary friends.

You can’t do calculus but can recite Shakespeare from memory.

You know the value of a good headshot.

You have hundreds of copies of your headshot.

You would cut and die your hair in a split second for a part.

You have more makeup than a 13 year-old’s bathroom (even if you’re a guy).

You never wear jewelry unless you’re on stage.

Rolling on the floor “interpreting” music doesn’t seem weird to you.

You are used to bright lights shining in your eyes.

You look like a crazy person riding public transportation because you’re practicing your lines.

You can memorize anything.

You get yelled at more than you get spoken to- and it doesn’t bother you.

You can walk around in just panty hoes.

You can share a bathroom with 20 people.

You can be EXAUSTED but still play the lead in a musical.

You can sing and dance at the same time.

You aren’t shy about kissing a stranger.

You whip out cigarettes anytime someone says “5 minutes”

You smoke, know it’s bad for you, but do it anyway.

You can still work even if you’re sicker than a dog.

You try to remember what if feels like when you cried.

You wear all black and don’t see the problem.

You can do eight accents at the drop of a hat.

You know Choices are good- but emotions are not.

You work well under pressure.

You can do 3 shows a day and still want more.

You can fill a room the size of a stadium without a microphone.

You know how you put on a body mic in under 10 seconds.

You know why there’s that drawer full of condoms- (no, not for that!).

You can do a full show with broken limbs.

You understand that being early is on time, being on time is late and being late doesn’t happen.

YOU’RE NEVER LATE!

You understand the director is never wrong- even though they are a lot.

You can kiss major ass and not feel bad about it.

You have really bled during a show but still do the full show.

You have accidentally flashed large rooms of people.

Your roommates never see you.

You don’t have time to eat, sleep, or do anything other than rehearse.

You don’t practice, you rehearse.

the quote “Actors without techies are just people trying to emote alone in the dark. Techies without actors are people who have marketable skills.”
makes you mad- even if you know it’s true.

You live on less than minimum wage- and your parents told you so.

You have beet hit or almost been hit by the fly at least once.

It is snowing outside but once you walk in that dressing room you sweat rivers… and it only gets worse on stage.

You don’t want to think about where those costumes have been.

You have been fined for costumes being on the floor.

You have seen every member of your cast naked when trying to do a quick change.

You wish you were shorter if you are a girl or wish male actors were taller.

You know curtain call is always a little shaky…

You can smile during curtain call even if you are dying inside from an awful show.

You struggle to mention the scottish play even when you aren’t in a theatre.

The words “Good Luck” never come out of your mouth, no matter what the circumstance!

You know you’re an actor when you call job interviews or tryouts for sports teams, “Auditions”

You know you’re an actor when you don’t call your friends by their names; you call them by what character you think they’d be best as.

People stop in the middle of class to hear YOUR conversation even when it’s the most mundane thing. They’re just confounded by our skills.

Looking for work?

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008

Hi all,

The organization I am working with is looking for a suitable person to fill in the vacancy below.
If you are interested, just give it a try.

Medical Clerk
(Kuala Lumpur – KL)

Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Migration Health Physician and the direct supervision of the Chief Nurse and the Deputy Chief Nurse, the incumbent will provide finance and administrative support for the Medical Processing Unit. Specific duties and responsibilities will include:
Assist in data entry of medical-related information into the MIMOSA database.
Prepare reports with supporting documents according to the specified medical format.
Assist the physicians and nurses of the Medical Processing Unit in various clerical tasks (e.g. cash management and accounts).
Performing such other duties as may be assigned.

Requirements:

Malaysian national
At least secondary education with minimum 2 years relevant work experience
Experience working with international humanitarian organizations, non-government or government institutions/organization with a multi-cultural setting is an advantage
Good team player with the capacity to work independently; sensitive to cultural and social issues
Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from various cultures and professional backgrounds at all levels
Good command of English and Bahasa Malaysia
Excellent computer skills in MS office applications

All potential candidates must demonstrate personal initiative, flexibility and able to work independently. Interested applicants are invited to submit their resume & cover letter by email to bkkrecruitment@iom.int

The deadline for applications is April 5, 2008.

Another wedding

Sunday, March 16th, 2008

I was at my colleague’s wedding yesterday.

My first Malay wedding. Can you believe it?

Yes, yes. I know, you are probably wondering what kind of Malaysian am I, right?

Well, most of my friends are only getting married recently. Some have invited me but are just too far for me to attend.

So going to my first Malay wedding is a crazy first experience.

But as usual, pictures will have to be delayed yet again because the photos are well, naturally stuck in someone else’s camera. So please do keep checking on for the pics.