20X4 - Resurrection.

Targets in sight.. Photo my Maria from set of Hidden Peaks.

So I have been absent from this blog for a few months, although many things have happened during this time not many are overly positive or acting related without being abstract as well as a lot of nothing. OKAY! there is is no excuse for several months of inactivity here so I'll highlight a few things: Brother's wedding, Licencing, Trip to NZ, The biggest Hard drive loss in my life, Changing agent, High school Reunion, several auditions, a few minor roles, fines and the greatest rash and sickness of my life, a mysterious lady, and coming back to Singapore. I will do what I can to backlog all these in the next few entries and keep us all up to date.
This Entry covers licencing, changing agents and the NewZealand trip
Click read more to do just that.

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Firstly I attained several licences, most importantly my motorcycle L's stepping up to Ps next week, as well as RSA (responsible Service of Alcohol) and I did a Coffee Barista course. On declining occasions I make super frothy milk for coffee on the machine at home, off topic to Acting and performing but I thought I'd mention it as these skills and knowledge comes in handy for the warring Actor to get the odd survival job. So far I have done one alcohol sampling job, pay took several months and found it difficult to get into coffee without experience.

Being on the Motorcycle again is awesome, the sense of freedom and independence and perhaps danger. I read in an artsy book at a cafe in Singapore about a year ago that being on the motorcycle removes the tv like frame of a car and immerses you in the scene. Riding a motorcycle is a lot more involved than driving a car and maybe we can consider acting is like being on a motorcycle as opposed to not acting/driving a car like a normal non-acting person.

Recently I also changed agent, twice (with the first change being a very good intermediate). I have tried to contact my ex-agent repeatedly after returning from SG and kept being shrugged or denied. I realised that my agent was extremely difficult to communicate with, giving the impression of being rather busy with managing the show business. Now I know I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, I have been out of the country for about 2 years and I don't pull the trigger on any of the expensive courses advertised through/by my former agent, so I kinda understand why I'd not be a priority to talk to. But really? you cannot find time to talk to me about my career? like ever? and so we decided to split without much discussion ending on a rather brief sour note. what gets me most is I have been represented for almost 4 years (2.5 if you discount the time out of the country) and when I joined, my agent stressed about the importance of being reliable and more importantly being available, which was basically "don't get a job" and I practically programmed this into my system opting for more flexible jobs which although I may be more naturally inclined to so I can't exactly lay blame on the former agent for that lifestyle but I can't help thinking that I may have passed some decent money making opportunities. 

The agent also stressed not to do anymore extra work as this cheapens your value, that makes sense and for some time I was a lot more conscious about NOT being an extra or doing probono but still did so occasionally under the radar to remind myself that I am an actor and I have written in my previous entry about not being a ranting Diva on mpney until you actually are one. When you are young and inexperienced it is easily to follow orders and take what someone experienced tells you with full weight and in this case I do believe I have been misguided a bit. However you cannot just expect just any agent to understand what it is like to be an actor in this day and age, lately there has been some more technologically up to date agents I have met that sound more supportive and understanding, and I'm not talking about just using emails, skype and MMS, being an Actor in the last 5 years is more about being tech savvy and resourceful with things like indie film makers, cameras, social media, having a web presence, online acting job networks, self management and freelance work, travel, survival promo jobs and most importantly people skills to Communi-friggin'-cate all the above.

It was from being so inactive I decided to go to SG and it is from being alone there and getting that thirst to do what I can to earn money by just acting that I warmed up to the concept of being a working actor. Coming back to Sydney has been like slipping back into the wall-less prison, acting only as the parole officer sees fit (I assume it's also just one way communication with Parole officers and yes I am comparing my former agent to a parole officer). When I was in SG I wrote emails back to my agent occasionally with updates like, hey I have a website now and here is a short film I did, I never had any response or good words, I suppose it's because I am not making money for my agent while overseas so what's the point in opening that email. This can not be what show business is about, I don't want to believe that. I have met with many agents in my time and will write an entry about finding the right one, or at least the most suitable with pros and cons and things to watch out for but there really is no easy answer but you have to at least find one that actually genuinely likes you, sees potential and understands you. My current agent in Au knows I have a thing for Sg and the oddest thing, added me on facebook followed me on twitter and subscribed to me on Youtube, even emailing me at like 12am just to update me that there is no reply yet from that audition video I sent, ending it with a emoticon :) it actually is kinda embarrassing but they know exactly what I am made of and even wrote an updated profile and CV for me! what a wonderful relationship this is.

Mostly in ruins - Christchurch, still functional.

So in October I went to New Zealand checked out Christchurch that was devastated by earth quakes in 2011 and Road tripped the south island with some friends and their friends from Adelaide. It's a beautiful place with more natural vistas that you can hope to see in most other countries and plenty of untouched nature.

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imagine walking from here to there.

Most of these photos were snapped by Jackie Tran, who also had me model in this ridiculous pillow crossed with a beanie hat topless at various locations. You don't get to see my face but at least you see my body is tone and trim. We stayed at various accommodations including a ferry where we had an afternoon of Kayaking, I felt very proficient with the sport and am thinking of doing it more regularly. 

Other things we did were that unpowered downhill go-kart Luge which I tried in SG before, 2 of us went Quad biking which proved that I was not so skilled by being at the end of the pack, but that was fun and harder than it looks. Other activities like Canyoning and water rafting got canceled due to wet weather which I wouldn't complain because I was running tight on funds anyway and Bungee jumping will have to wait. whole trip was a bit costly considering that I am supposed to be working towards the acting career overseas but for times like these with friends and the unique experiences even if not applicable for the performance career it is a small price to pay.

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Next Entry, Maybe: Brother's wedding, The biggest Hard drive loss in my life, High school Reunion, several auditions, a few minor roles, traffic fines, the greatest rash and sickness of my life, a mysterious lady, and coming back to Singapore.