Ouch.

Last Tues night, I attended the 'official' Frankenstein in Love (FiL) cast & crew party. Unfortunately, many couldn't make it. And that's really too bad since Gavin said a lot of good things about people who deserved to hear the recognition he was giving to them in his little Director's spech.

I was glad for having been recognised as an actor with a good work ethic. That's the kind of actor I want to be. Always trying new things to discover different aspects of the craft - just to do justice to any character I play. Just so that I can communicate something special and personal to the audience. If I could learn how to do it effectively and move people who watch me - that'd be a dream skill to have.

Anyway, it all still feels a little surreal. Having immediately jumped into working with Popiah Pictures as a Production Assistant a mere 2 days after closing FiL, I believe I haven't had the time to let the reality that FiL has actually just come and gone - sink in yet.

So much has happened (as I have been saying in the latest string of blog posts) - from graduating Law (after so many years of doubt and struggle) to getting to play Cockatoo in FiL (and acting in Pentas 1 again!) and now getting a job with Popiah - learning the TV & Film production trade in a journey to realise my dream perhaps?

Not forgetting some of the in between stuff, the rough goings on at the home front (which I haven't really talked about here and probably won't - but those of you I've spoken with; well, you know how it is - things are better now), a painful but inevitable break up and then the meeting of someone who completely caught me off guard and has now burrowed her way into a solid place in my life. Appearing in a few local TV shows, some good friends have left the country, some good friends have returned to M'sia...

And come to think of it, all this has really only taken place since June - that would make it approximately 6 months. I feel as though a year and half has passed. Odd how that works eh?

I digress, forgive me for all the blabber above - this was supposed to be a short post about the only FiL review I have read thus far. I heard that there are some reviews here and there and the response is decidedly luke-warm. The Kakiseni review however makes no qualms about being 'nice' to FiL. In fact, it would be apt to say that it ripped FiL to shreds. My name was even specifically highlighted. Unfortunately, not in a positive light at all. And while I do admit that saddens me a little, I am not all that affected by it for some reason.

Moving along, I'll put the exerp highlighting my 'lousy acting' here - and if you're interested - you may go to the link provided below to read the full review.

"We laughed more at the death of Cockatoo, El Coco’s right-hand man, the night I watched Frankenstein in Love. Played by Michael Chen, this apparently tragic scene in the second act was made comic because of the performer’s inability to get into character: every time he had lines, Michael would noticeably turn to address the seats, instead of actually engaging whichever fellow actor to whom he was supposed to be talking -- and this tic extended to his supposed demise."

http://www.kakiseni.com/articles/reviews/MDk4Mw.html

Thats it for now.

I'm out.

FiL done - now PA begins.

As the title suggests, FiL is over now. I'm actually at work and don't really have time to elaborate.

Which leads me to say that I am now officially working with Popiah Pictures as a Production Assistant. If you're wondering what a PA does - basically, I'm running around getting lunch for people, carrying equipment and such.

I've been to the office 3 days thus far and have just been attending meetings and making phone calls and sending out emails. So far, so good. Also, not much time to elaborate now, so I'll leave it at that.

Above - you can see a picture of Cockatoo. (I ripped it off Nicholas's blog = misunderstoodcreature.blogspot.com)

Cockatoo was a cool guy - I'll miss playing him.

I'm out. Later.