Before I left SG in July one of my agents asked me to do a shoot with my Motorcycle, just in case they want to see my half-boiled bikie side. So before I left Syd again, I parked Mild Ride (that's what I named it) at a wall on a sunny afternoon, programmed the camera on a tripod and shot under 130 photos in an hour, most of them rubbish, but I did manage to get this one sell-able shot out of it all. And the rest I turned into a Montage below :) I miss Mild Ride. Performance Rating: 6.8/10 Could have had hit marks better and earlier.
0 Comments
Yes, I dig hacksaws. on young models Performance Rating: 5.7/10 could have done more research of the time period even though I found out what was going on during the day on set, was a touch late cos i got a bit lost. accent was not down and since the shoot was so long with sets not needing me I drifted out a lot. I got a role in a directing student's scene exercise for the film Hard Candy, I play a photographer that likes to get jiggy with his models - totally my alley. No images yet but here's a teaser. Another great thing is during the rehearsal in front of the class on Thursday, the tutor, who we were warned would kick our ass if we didn't deliver actually smiled... after we delivered ;) Another student of the class who recognised me from another shoot, also wanted to cast me for his assignment. totally there. yesterday I got a call back for a car Insurance TVC which i auditioned for last week on Tueday. I shall rock it this time on Monday and make their choice easier. 0.17 click for link to see video. since there is so much positivity in this entry I thought I'd balance it and leave with a sour tone. I finally managed to chase down this probono gig i did to promote cancer research awareness last year... I did feel a bit featured in it at the time what with the camera in our general direction, but nope. Not saying AU is racist again, but honestly, the ad had only one non Caucasian face visible, the tattoo artist? I was just sitting there fake playing a guitar, arguably serenading to this girl. Seriously?! all you could show was an elbow to represent the Asian portion of this generation that you believe in? is this a fake representation? or have our perceptions of a multicultural society that we worked so hard to build been an illusion. Regardless another small triumph to change. Performance Rating: 0.1/10 for spacial set presence Intersection at Chinatown Sussex st Anyone who has ever found a place to call home in a foreign country would understand the bizzare feeling of taking a holiday back to your actual home. You feel like the world slows down again, pace is lazy and comfortable almost instantly. But more awe is the feeling that things haven't changed as much as much as yourself. (Unless you moved into a cave for longer than the average time one needs to gain enlightment.) beach outside my old work place. well this is kinda how I felt being back for a month. I saw all of my closest friends, imported 2 pairs of new heelys, bought the acting bible, visited my old work places, went snowboarding at perisher, Cameo'd in the most talked about reality drama show, watched a youth theatre production, saw Sapphires the Australian film which I extra'd, attended a Comic Con and met Squidward and just before I left, visited the hospital where one of my closest high shool mates just became a father, he was also first to get married. It reminds me of how last year i just managed to catch one of my eldest cousins embarking motherhood in a Vietnam hospital. A well rounded trip, but I do wish I found time to see more old friends, or they would find time for me, but its kinda a lesson to learn not to wait for people, because anyone, especially friends can hold you back from growing and well your life and you wouldn't know what you are missing, and that's the sad part. Back on SG Set (Actual appearance may not be as Spectacular) So after touching down in Singapore again I parked my ass in a decent dorm hostel for 3 nights (they don't really do privates SG) and looked for a place to stay for 2 months (because I supposedly might have a job in NOV and Dec in Malaysia) and omg that was not easy, it took me 3 days. In between waking up at 5am on my 1st day I had to do my recurring Cameo for Point of entry the multicoloured English crime series of SG. (i noticed I'm describing extra work as cameo instead, it feels more redeeming) The amazing or strange thing is, I'm coming back to wrap my role as a client of an under-age prostitute, the scene this time: a night club I have no lines and yet they were willing to reimburse for my replacement airfare (i've yet to receive). They said they needed me early Sept so I booked 4th and then they said they need me ON the 4th so they would pay for a ticket on the 3rd. Thou Shalt Hath Faith in the Singapore Industry and their respect for... Cameo Talents. See I have nothing to hide* Anyway, about finding a place to stay, I settled with a place in Punggol, the north east limits of Singapore, a Swanky modern 3 room HDB apartment with a gay house mate and a puppy. A friend of mine said that sounds like a recipe for a sitcom! If only i was a more capable writer. Now back to attacking the sets of Singapore, taking them down like Dominoes. Performance Rating: 7/10 A fairly rough welcome back but the extra role was cake Me with Sophie and Vernesa and Rif Raf the rapper Cameo in The Shire Got a Cameo Role last Monday for The Reality show Shire, which I vaguely heard of before I left Sydney last December. I got the job the day before and wasn't told what show, so Wiki-ing on set found out it is the Aussie Jersey Shore, and it did kinda feel wacky like the American counter part which I which I did manage to get a flavour of in the recent 3 stooges film. The Shire ladies Sophie & Vernesa were amazing performers, even though they say they were acting like their real self, they are really fun and professional, knowing ques and all on set including angles to "favour the camera" with their assets. So what I had to do was walking as part of a bunch of boys they were considering makeovers for, because they were so fashionably switched on. Highlight, I got stripped by the ladies, collar shirt only though, but for better or worse, I was not for the selected for makeover - I probably come off too gay and trendy, oh well. Even though is a reality show and alot of the material is raw, there are certain things they ask us to re-perform and is it a shock to mention that I am an actor on the show? the average Joe has better things to do on a Tuesday than hope for a makeover. Hope I didn't destroy your Reality TV illusion. Will update when this episode AIRS, assuming I will know. Performance rating: 7/10 Despite my general confidence, these ladies are intimidating, hey they are well equipped that combined with cameras and you get a bit cautious with saying stupid things. Still, I could have said a lot more funny things, what I did say probably won't make the cut. reality TV still needs to be sharp guys.
I didn't get through the final stage, but passed the other 4 stages with flying colours (pun intended). The 5th stage was the one to one interview where they really judge character, and gave it an epic fail.
But I later spoke to a crew member and learned what it really takes to be cabin crew in a totally epiphanal and magical way. (assume we can make words like that) I will try to explain this, thing is I was asking "when the next recruitment was" or something like that and this was not to my interviewer or anyone involved in the elimination/examination process, but he would have sensed my self disappointment or disposition (didn't even know it my self) and as a cabin crew dude he is naturally compelled to comfort me. Now he didn't actually answer my question (not that it was that good a question) but somehow made me feel better and actually kinda sorry for being such a nuisance in a subtle way, it was very strange, he just gave me some very reassuring vibes and energy. It felt like a performance but had a real effect, it was absolutely bizarre how it felt. it was like that girl in the wolverine movie who can persuade, or a Jedi mind trick. I walked away thanking him and complementing on how good he is at whatever he just done, thinking... That was amazing, and that is the vibe I have to bring if I ever want to be cabin crew. Honestly I'm sure he couldn't give a shoe about where I ended up, otherwise he'd add me on Facebook and call me every so often and ask how's the cabin crew interviews going and tell me Emirates is recruiting next week etc. But his helpful nature had me lost in a moment of blissful "someone really cares about you" ecstasy. I understood that moment what sets us apart and was really happy to know, maybe I am not ready for the airs yet. To move people emotionally, and effectively be supportive is very much a performance and one day I hope to make people smile not with cheap jokes and puns, but an embodied sincerity and compassion. Sorry this is all kinda off topic to being back in Sydney, but i honestly have nothing to write about here and flying back by scoot was the only way I could bring up this tangential story I am featrued in the latest Issue of Peril - Asian Australian arts webzine, after attending the seminar in Melbourne last year they sent me some Qs for As to see my perspective on the production and performance industry/ies in Sydney and a taste of Singapore.
Go have a read ;) http://www.peril.com.au/2012/qa-jack-ngu/ Performance Rating 9/10 Not difficult, but my Writing could always be better, and faster |
The above guy is writing this blog. Thanks for taking some time to read it.
Archives
November 2012
Categories
All
|