twinkle2 big2 star

As I was looking through the photographs, I noticed how much fun we had making this short film. There were not many high-tech equiptments and sophisticated lighting. In fact, we were stripped to the bare minimum. However, what we had were solid acting and a reasonably workable script. Not to forget, our cinematographer tried so hard to get the best angle possible. His dedication and seriousness attracted all of our admiration for him.

There is always the issue of not having enough time. Despite working under quite stringent circumstances, every actor gave his and her best performance. It was amazing. Some acted for the first time but this did not prevent their talent from surfacing. Even when asked to perform some rather challenging acts, not one actor turned down the request and said, "No!". The enthusiasm and strength shown by everyone involved are the driving force behind this film.

The explosion - I didn't mean to blow-up that night and I don't think I can or should give any excuses for doing so. It was no one's fault, honest. There are many ways to discussing an issue. So, my sincere apologies.

I hope that we can work on another project soon. Thank you very much. This is our film.

PS: Click on the picture for its larger version.

2 days

Everything is Illuminated or is it?

Two more days before I receive the photos. I intend to create a collage and post it here and I will write about what happened. It is a note of thanks and an explanation. I am not perfect and I have my bad moments. These moments are a nightmare for some and maybe others would symphatise. Not everything occurs for a reason that is comprehensible. For the time being, I will keep mum. When an answer is demanded from me openly or implicitly, it makes things very difficult as I already have plans to deal with the issue. I care for the project and a lot more for the people involved than anybody can understand. So it does hurt very much. Two more days and I hope I can provide for everyone a satisfactory answer.

api

When you go to a sushi bar, do you pay attention to the cooks who diligently make the sushi that circulate on the kaitan belt? Your eyes are busy scouting for your favourite sushi, while the hands are reaching for a can of wasabi and the head is thinking about school work, unpaid credit card bills or the latest movie. If not, you are busy chatting away with friends.

It is not weird or unacceptable to smile at the cooks and to notice how swiftly their fingers dance; stuffing rice into a piece of folded sea-weed. Their eyes concentrating on how the salmon should be arranged neatly.

My sis and I frequent a local sushi bar and it is a popular chain-store in KL. On one faithful day we made friends with a sushi chef. Something in the way she moved and crafted the sushi captured our attention. She was fast and yet precise, firm and at the same time gentle. From the instructions she issued, it was clear that she ranked higher than the other cooks. No matter how seriously she focused on her work, her voice and demeanour was always polite. She seemed rather strict and we tried our best to smile at her. She smiled back.

From that moment, we became her supporters. It is amazing how she responds to us each time we eat there. We know her name because she wore a name tag. Nevertheless, she doesn't know ours until now. We never had any formal conversation other than "Hi and bye".

The special treatment started on the third time we met her at the same sushi joint. We couldn't see her from outside and wondered if she was at work. So we asked the receptionist if she was in. To my surprise the receptionist said she was and immediately took off like an arrow into the kitchen to inform our special chef that some girls were there to see her.

I looked at my sis and we both hoped that we could each put on a mask to cover our faces. Left with no choice we sat down around the kaitan belt wondering if our chef would be angry with us. To be honest, we are not her friends. We were just regular customers and she does not own the sushi joint. She works there. She might not like to be disturbed.

Before we could device a plan, the kitchen door flung opened and there comes our special chef stretching her neck finding the girls who asked for her. At that point, I knew she didn't recognise us but I thought it was rude if I didn't surrender myself.

Feeling a gush of blood to my cheeks, I raised my hand to wave at her. She immediately spotted me and charmed who I was. She smiled and said "Hi!". My sis was laughing and covering her face with the menu. By way of gesture, she asked who was that giggling and hiding. I pulled down the menu and she exclaimed, "Oh!" and smiled cheerfully to my sis. She signaled to us that she was busy in the kitchen but would come out later. Actually, we were relieved that she was not annoyed.

We placed our orders and while enjoying our sukiyaki beef, she came out from the kitchen and made her way to behind the kaitan belt. She asked with a smile on her face, "Two California temaki hand rolls and one nishoku special?" We nodded with joy like kids who have been given two big bags of sweets.

The hidden message that we will only eat the hand rolls and nishoku she made reached her by unknown methods. I don't know how and why but she naturally gave us personal attention every time we hop in. She would take time off from her kitchen work to attend to us. After that, she goes back into the kitchen. We hardly talk to her. We only smile and smile and smile. That was miraculously enough to initiate a meaningful relationship!

We will tell her face to face that she is very nice. The hand rolls and sushi that she customised for us taste juicier and sweeter because she has a kind heart.

I know that you pay for the food. However, I hope the next time you walk into a eating-place, appreciate the cook who prepares your food. You will never know what surprises will spring-up at you.

Happy eating!