Thursday 25 November 2010

At Last!

After 5 years of grappling, wearying and sacrificial dedication to this unfathomable, elusive, ever-changing, frustrating, abstract thing called "Law", I will finally be called as an advocate and solicitor of the Bar tomorrow morning. After that, you can officially label me scum of humanity. Just don't forget to settle my bill.

The ceremony will be at 10.00am Friday, 26th November 2010.
The venue: Mahkamah Rayuan & Kuasa-kuasa Khas 3, Level 3, Right Wing of the Jalan Duta Court Complex.
The presiding judge: Y.A. Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman Pn. Hadhariah bt. Syed Ismail.

If you're free, do drop by! It's probably be the only time you'll see everyone in a court in a happy mood.

In the evening, I will be celebrating the happy day at Apartment KLCC, around 10.00pm onwards. Reza Salleh will be launching his album "Realize" there, so there'll be live music from him and guests:
Narmi
Asmidar
David Knight
Liyana Fizi
Zalila Lee
Najwa
Isaac Entry
Mia Palencia
An extremely impressive line-up, if you ask me!

Come share with me the joy of joining the dark side; after all, they say it goes downhill from here on. Even if you don't like me (what with my new "lawyer" status and all), I'm sure you'll love the awesome music from these talented performers. See you there!

Sunday 21 November 2010

Hey Normal Day!

by Mary Jean Iron

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.
One day I will dig my nails into the earth,
or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut,
or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

Monday 15 November 2010

Le Sigh...

This video made me want to buy a ticket to the UK. Seriously.


And this video made me want to walk around London waiting for something to happen.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Quote of the Week

"Why are lawyers miserable: want a list?"

Sathnam Sanghera writes about London lawyers. Click on the post title to visit the article, on the Times Online website.

A lot of what he states applies to KL lawyers and firms too, because I was nodding and smirking on almost every sentence.
There is one point that doesn't apply though: most KL lawyers are not, I repeat are NOT well paid. The sooner the public dispels that notion the better. The chauffeur driven, Rolex toting, Bukit Tunku swinging ones: they are few compared to the the thousands out there who are still struggling to settle the rent.

Thanks to Vince for the heads up. Now he's a lawyer whom I know truly enjoys his work. Hehe.

Monday 8 November 2010

Better Late

Happy Belated Deepavali, Guy Fawkes Day, and a belated birthday wishes to the Sister.

Sorry this is uber-lambat, I was busy with Lost & Found.

Please Read This: Generation Why?

Zadie Smith reflects on the film "The Social Network" (directed by David Fincher, screenplay by Aaron Sorkin), "You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto", a book by Jaron Lanier and the phenomenon that is facebook.

Click on the post title above to visit the article, on the New York Review of Books site.

Sunday 7 November 2010

Lost & Found, Over & Out

Today, we had the last show for Lost & Found at The Actor's Studio Lot 10, and a cast party after. The rehearsal process felt like it took ages (especially considering I was juggling my job), but the run itself? It was four shows and it felt like the blink of an eye. Or should I say, the snap of a finger?

Ok, I can't resist getting a little emo about this. You have been warned.

To the rest of the world, it was just another short-run play, but for me personally, it was a journey.

And I cannot even begin to tell you how challenging a path it has been. I had to juggle work, had my car door smashed at KLPac, had to find time to write, had to come for endless rehearsals (even one after I drove to and fro from KL to Kluang for work) and I even lost my phone at a KLPac toilet. Yet, I have been blessed, because it's ridiculous I got this far: all the late nights at the firm didn't clash with rehearsals, and I finished my pupillage just as rehearsals went back-to-back. I really have to thank God for these happy coincidences.

I will of course remember also what a rewarding journey it has been, not only in terms of the play's script and performances, of which I am proud, but also in terms of what happened along the way. I have gained confidence in myself, I have had a ball of a time, I have done something I never thought I was able to and I have met wonderful, funny, loving and truly inspiring individuals, and very importantly, I made a communication breakthrough with my family. Even if the show was a complete flop, all that would have been worth the trouble.

And it wasn't a flop. Thank yous are in order.

To all those who came to watch, thank you so much, it meant a lot to me that you took the time, money and effort. I hope you've been rewarded not just with entertainment, but with things to ponder and chew on, which hopefully will last long after the show. For those of you who didn't come, well, your loss, really. No pun intended.

A big thank you Gavin and Joe, for giving all of us the opportunity to do this, and for trusting us as performers and individuals, and to Faridah, for producing.

Major props to SM Marta, publicist Val, lighting guy Azhar and all the backstage/office/admin crew for helping us out.

Thank you too to all the previous Platformers of 2009, in particular Marina, Wan Azhar, Alex, Adel and Calvin, for helping me on my way. I owe you guys.

Lots of love and thanks to my family, for coming round and supporting me.

Last but not least, thank you and thank you and thank you again to intense Toby, macha Niktia, lawyer Jeremy and towering Ian, my original Platform actors awesome Khai, sexy Amanda and even sexier Aizat, and not to forget mummy Malin, ever-healthy Muna, underage Marvin and thoughtful Justin, for sharing this amazing experience with me so generously and so graciously. Thank you for the support, concern and love. I cannot even begin to say how much this experience has meant to me and how much I will miss you guys. I won't forget, I won't forget.

Special mention goes to Ash, my muse from way back in the day.

Thank you, everyone, a million times thank you.

Monday 1 November 2010

Lost & Found Plug #2

How was your Halloween? Mine was scary. I was a Hakka Association dinner in Klang. The second in a month. I never felt less Cina in my life. I donno whether I should be proud or embarrassed.

Lost & Found rehearsals are coming along well (see previous post). Here's the facebook event page. And here's a short interview on Clive with one of my directors, Gavin Yap.

I hope you're coming. It would mean a lot to me.

1 hour 15 minutes. No intermission.
You need to pay attention. You need to listen.
Because it's minimalist.
No giants, monsters or dragons.
No falling chandeliers, lasers, explosions, stunt doubles or ships.
No mother-in-laws. No villains. No superheroes. No tokens.
No set. No costumes. No props.
No, not even actors.
Just us. On stage.
With our stories and our truth.

Come with an open mind, and I hope you'll leave with a moved heart.

Ok, off to my last studio rehearsal. Tomorrow we bump-in to TAS Lot 10!