我的第一次MV記事

回到兩個月前
那時後接到Wind打來的一通電話， 說想找我拍一部溫力銘的MV
哇！ 當時的心情， 又興奮又擔心
雖然嚴格來說， 我沒拍過甚麼MV， 但我還是大膽的接了
回到家裡， 還記得我在FB打了一行字：
“接了一單很大壓力的工…”
畢竟， 溫力銘也算是一位馬來西亞資深有名的歌手
如果你還不知道他是siapa?
對， 他就是siapa的原唱。

第一次和溫力銘見面喝茶， 是在Garden的一間餐廳
那次也是我第一次見到他本人
很親切， 沒甚麼大明星架勢
就像一般二十來歲的青年， 拿著一架iphone
然後把耳機拿給我， 讓我聽聽他的新創作。

第一次聽到”Expired Rubbish”我就愛上了
第一個感覺， 就是回想起他唱的 Siapa
是那種藏著悲傷， 可是很有震嘆力的曲子
那種可以讓聽了深思的歌詞
我很喜歡。
後來聊了 才知道
這將是他新組的一個新組合- DA.MON.STER的主打歌
由Danny溫力銘， Monkey D， 和EsterMayMay組成

謝謝Wind和Danny對我的信任
讓我可以自由的發揮整個MV的創作
我花了幾天時間， 想不到一個好的故事
歌詞內容很直接， 想要表達的也許大家一聽就明白
但在這一個簡單的道理裡面， 又怎樣用一個手法，
讓觀眾看了， 還藏有去思考的空間?
這對我來說， 很重要

這時我想， 一個孩子 他為甚麼會拋棄自己的父母親?
最大的原因， 我想 就是因為他只看到現在 和將來
現在和將來父母老了， 會怎樣阻礙他們的生活 會怎樣成為他們的負擔
可是
很多時候， 我們都忘了回頭看
看看父母親為我們付出了多少
想想父母親給予我們的愛

想到這裡， 我終於有了頭緒
也就是這個MV， 應該用一種倒敘的方式 來說故事。
之後我想起了兒時的玩意 – Baja Hitam (Kamen Rider)
在这一個簡單的父子關係的成長故事里
用它來貫穿整個故事， 使得它更加有意思。
然后再加上一些相對性的畫面和結局
整個故事也就誕生了。

有了故事， 就是開始策劃整個拍攝的時候
這時候， 問題又來了
因為人手與資金的不足， 基本上也只有我和一位助理
所以很多籌備功夫， 尋找演員， 拍攝地點， 都變成很難
我們得尋找的主力演員要有3個， 拍攝地點有大約11個，
再加上助理當時得放下工作去升學，
這些東西頓時變成了一個大難關
當時我也一再的質疑 到底是不是拍不成了
朋友也勸我說不如換個簡單的故事就好了
可是我沒有放棄。

和唱片製作公司談妥了延遲拍攝後
因為時間的允許 我把Kah Giap帶了進來
Kah Giap曾因為監為producer一職和我合作過多次
他的加入也應此解決了不少難關

很快， 就到了拍攝的日期
我們總共拍3天
第一和第三天為故事的背景拍攝
第二天就拍攝歌手唱歌的部分
三天的拍攝 可以說是順利完成了
雖然第三天因為時間的關係， 我不得不放棄一些畫面
但是由始至終我都明白， 整個過程不可能是完美的
我學習取捨， 學習分析甚麼可有可無...
最不好意思的是那個演小孩的阿棟
留下來為我們拍攝到很夜， 因為他第二早還得上學呢

三天的拍攝結束了
感覺身心真的很累
這次的拍攝過程也讓我更加明白做一位導演真的不簡單
特別是在有限的製作團隊 和有限的時間裡
一個導演要顧及的東西實在是太多了
除了指導演員， 演員的走位， 表情動作，
演員根據不同時間與場景的衣著打扮，
背景的真實度， 背景演員的走位，
構圖和角度， 應該用甚麼鏡頭， 畫面應該怎樣動， 燈光怎樣打...
太多了... 因此也讓我更加佩服完成一部好電影的導演

借此我要感謝所有在這期間幫助過我們的人
所有的工作人員， 雖然嚴格來說我們只有4位
所以很多時候 大家都得並肩不同崗位
好像化妝師也得幫我們拿燈 還被派上場當臨時演員
謝謝專業的演員 歌手們
謝謝你們為這支MV的無怨付出 與汗水!

- Dick Chua



這支MV即將會在8月1日開始播映
8月1日 - 摩斯特 • DA.MON.STER 的FB首播
8月5日 - 8TV <八八六十事> 全马电视首播

大家記得要支持支持! :)

想要看看MV的幕後劇照， 請按這里。

D1 Production facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/D1-PRODUCTION/117380118293932

My new sound gadgets

Sounds and audios are very important in film making, yet they are always something not taken care by the independence film makers. From the previous videos I had made, I realized that the audio is a big issue with VDSLR camera - it's mono and doesn't allow any setting control for audio/sound, not even a AGC (Automatic gain control) built in it, so even when I plug in a external mic, the audio level can go too high and result a very bad audio.

So here's something I bought in recently, a ROBE Video Mic & a ZOOM H4N handy recorder.

ROBE Video Mic is a condenser microphone which made to mount on the DSLR's hot shoe. This directional condenser microphone focus on the sound coming from infront, and isolate the sound from the background. It is a very good mic for taking on-the-go dialogues, very useful when shooting documentary. The quality is almost as good as pointing a boom mic at the subject.

ZOOM H4N recorder is a combination of a high quality stereo microphone and a sound recorder. It can be taking up to 4 channels of audios, and you can control each sound level. It records in both wav and mp3 format, with the qualities up to 24bit/96kHz. Many more functions and setting you can play around... It works as an independence device, it's very handy and easy bring around, and I love that it supports XLR cable!

Here's a quick test of the stereo mic:

Now with these 2 gadgets, I can have good audios in my video! Yeah! :D

DIY slider for tracking shot

Many people were asking about the DIY slider I made for shooting tracking shots like the video above. If you search online, there are companies produce mini dolly/slider for smaller video cameras or video DSLR, for example - GlideTrack, although it is very compact, easy to carry and setup, but the price is very expensive... So I decided to make one my own, before I have the enough saving to buy a proper one.

The idea came across one day when I was hanging towel in my washroom. The concept is simple, it is exactly how a dolly track works, but you just gotta "miniature" it. Stuffs that I used here are like: the towel hanger (got it from Ikea), some cheap skateboard bearings, small pieces of wood, crews and nuts.... etc.

How to do it? I will just let the pictures do the explanations:



You can directly place your camera on top, or together with the video/tripod head, either way will works. There you go, a cheap and simple slider which help bringing your cinematography to another level! :)

To see another video sample from this slider:
http://d1production.blogspot.com/2010/01/7d-documentary-20-years-initiator.html


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Meet my new girl

Brought her home last Thursday, 19th Nov. On our first nite, we shot this...


*Shot with 50mm F1.4, without IS.

夢無界 Dreams In November

再次為這一班人鼓掌。

他們的鼓聲，敲醒了我們，
人生，不能沒有夢啊！

去吧！還沒看的朋友，萬萬不能錯過！
手集團又一巨作 - 夢無界 Dreams In November。


相關資料：http://www.hands.com.my/

Now-a-days' photographer...

YENG!





I was attending Xiong's wedding dinner at KB the other night, while I was taking some casual photos, this very "yeng" pose kept appearing infront of me. He is my best friend - CH.



A newly born wedding photographer. He's hardworking, and improving fast.
Keep it up, buddy!

Yaa-aai~

It's been so long, guys... I hope you haven't forgotten here. :P
Will be back soon, with more to share.

See you!

CHs & LUNAs

Again, Congratulations to my best buddy Chin Hong & his beloved wife Luna!

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就黑白

一直都很喜欢黑白照，
但以前都不敢用DSLR拍黑白，
因为觉得很浪费，
所以都只拍颜色然后再用电脑后制成黑白。

五月的某一天，
我把我的40D调去黑白设定，
Contrast调至最高，sharpness最低，
Filter选红色。
这样一次冒昧的尝试，
让我意识到原来DLSR也可以随拍出很满意的黑白照。

马六甲。半日游。















































P/S: 除了加暗角，所有照片都没有经过修饰。试试看吧~

更多照片


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the Negative Effect @ Comic King

I didn't know until Simon told me about this. Thanks to Edmund for scanning the page.
Check this out！

A brief intro about【樂魔 the Negative Effect】in Comic King (漫画王）magazine vol.108：


*click photo for larger size

The full content, including crew and cast interviews will be out at the next issue (vol.109) end of this month! There will be some sharing about making-the-movie and also lomography, don't forget to grab one home if you're interested! Thanks~ :)


p.s: 就这样，我的压力又增了几倍... T_T
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【LIVE LIFE】 DID IT!

I usually don't submit my films to festivals as I believed they are for Art's Film, well, most of the time. Plus, out there has like thousands and thousands of film festival over the world, and I believed for film submission, you need a certain level of experiences and skills, and making the right choice.

I'm certainly not that person, not yet. That is why I always wished to have a producer who helps and leads me on this...

So how did I know about Akira Kurosawa Memorial Short Film Competition?

It happened one day when I visited Kinokuniya. at the Japanese section's counter I saw this postcard about the competition. What attracted me was the theme of this year's competition - LIFE, and it required a short film less than 10mins, without any submission fees(that's the best part). Instantly I thought about LIVE LIFE, and from there I thought "why not give it a try?"

Months later, at Janury this year I received a letter from Japan. I was so excited because LIVE LIFE was announced for the nominated 19 films from over 500+ submission worldwide! There are 2 nominated films from Malaysia, one is from Ho YuHang, who directed "The Rain Dog" few years back.




It was a great news to me. Few months later, it came another greater news...




Wow! Unbelievable.... Congrats to myself, hehe~ And ofcoz to all the cast & crew members of LIVE LIFE! This would be the first award for LIVE LIFE, and for myself in filming career. Yeah! So can I go Japan for the awards ceremony??

Also congrats to YuHang for the Grand Prix! He's a great actor/director, funny guy!



More about LIVE LIFE, click HERE.

【樂魔 】宣传分享会

【樂魔 】宣传兼预告短片 首映分享会，终于圆满的结束了。
真的真的非常谢谢各位的出席！万分感激！

更多详情与照片，请游览【樂魔 】电影部落格。

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一个梦想

去槟城参与Giă Giá Kuà Kuă 前几天的一个早上，
我的脑里突然出现一堆画面，一个点子，
那是一个已久的梦想。
我一直很想拍一部纪录片，一部很写实，很贴近生活，
不复杂，不造作，的一部年轻人的故事。

十二月十二日，
它实现了。

http://lomodocumentary.blogspot.com/


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Giă Giá Kuà Kuă

现场广告时间 + 黎明与 陈峰

每次从电视机观看直播的时候，你会不会好奇当进入广告那一段时间现场会是什么情况？

我昨晚终于有机会现场看一次直播，也同时解答了这一个谜...


第一次进广告的时候，司仪还会告诉我们说这个广告是给家里的电视观众看的，然后他们就开始和现场观众聊个有的没的。一直到电视广告要结束了然后台下的工作人员用手势叫他们闪去后台时，不知道是不是之前没沟通好，弄得他们不知所措，场面非常搞笑！

影片接下来的是大马黎明与 陈峰为娱协奖担任颁奖嘉宾。黎明一出场，现场掌声不断，歌手们个个站起来鼓掌迎接她，非常壮观！黎明加油，下个月一定要拿个金马回来！

my PR business card

Eventually, this is my first official business card since I started to work! hehe~

摄。影

刚刚翻看相簿的时候无意间发现了这张照片，非常的喜欢。
在那一大片蓝天白云的底下，有我 背着相机的剪影。
也因为这个偶然的画面，提醒了我，
在这么辽阔的摄影世界里，我，要做自己的影子。


这是阿xiang用LCA拍下来的。我没修饰照片，只是简单地加上了两个字。:P

An wide evening in office...

Introducing the artist and their stations:


Aik Sern the Boss


Yong Hao a.k.a Haozilla


Hoi Mun the english guy


Simon from Simon West Gate


Jing Liang the sarung uncle


Chong Cheng the drinking machine


Dick the photographer


and some vertical shots:










It was quite an interesting evening...
but that's not the point; the point is...



p.s: Taken with my new baby... kekekeke~