Lazy Sunday

Last Sunday, my two friends Mela and Marco helped me paint paint paint for my next window display project. Marco also drew all the illustrations, and Mela is my neighbor so she thought to drop by and help us.

Set-up days (days when I gather and make all the things I need for shoots and displays) are so unbearable sometimes. I completely dread them! I never know if what I plan to accomplish will actually get done, nor if my strategies of putting crafts together will work. But it's always great when a helping hand from two of my closest friends, and to talk and laugh together for the 6 or so hours we painted. At some point, even my mom and sisters joined in!

Tomorrow, I have a GRAND SET UP DAY, hoping to finish as much as I can for the Fully Booked Back-to-School displays which are due for pick up sometime next week. It's crunch time! Really, there's so much to do, and so little time left to finish them.

So now, I'll get off the internet and work!

Happy Earth Day!!

Making do with what we've got -- that's what Alexandre Orion, a Brazilian artist has done in his street art project using exhaust dirt in tunnels and underpasses. "Cleaning the Streets" was the title given to the project in an article my friend Robbie tweeted awhile back.

I thought the theme would be apt for today is Earth Day! And project like these are our reminder to make do with the damage that we've already done, and at the same time, do our part in respecting what resources are still available.

Doing my own part is hard -- I use and dispose materials left and right in my job. But I try my best, hoarding all that I can reduce, reuse and recycle!

Another example of the project, this time by Paul Curtis, for Clorox's Green Works.

I wonder if we can do this here in Manila... without getting stopped by police or authorities! We definitely have MANY dirty spots in the metro that would be perfect for this.

Happy Earth Day again!!

These photos plus more and a short write-up on the project can be found here: http://illusion.scene360.com/graffiti/8190/cleaning-the-streets-reverse-graffiti/. More videos there too!

Why I Love Emmanuelle Alt

I was never a girly kind of girl. I only really decided to learn how to wear (and not to mention, move around in) a skirt until after college, I still don't wear make-up (even if I'm trying to be a make-up artist, terrible!!), and I don't particularly favor jewelry.

For some reason though, everyone around me does! Every other girl I know has mastered getting in and out of SUV's in skirts, finds the time and discipline to put on a new face every morning, and can maintain a manicure for more than three days.

So for someone like me, who runs around in jeans and t-shirts, and walks out of the house with messy hair, and a hairtie around my wrist as sorry excuse for a "bracelet," there are so few fashion icons to look up to for style I'd actually take after.

But there is --- Emmanuelle Alt!! She not only takes charge of the fashion pages in French Vogue, but also influences people like me -- the un-girly girls -- and shows us that the usual jeans and t-shirt can in fact be one of the most stylish outfits!

I love love love her trademark blazer look too! I probably own too many for my own good.

I think I reached a point of superficial frustration sometime ago, venting to my close friends about how I wished to be a manicure-maintaining, heels-wearing, jewelry-collecting, poised girly girl. Being covered in paint and sawdust all day, running around in rubber shoes and feeling sticky during shoots, I'm clearly far from leading the most glamorous lifestyle ever.

But I love Emmanuelle Alt for showing me that there is hope in the un-girly girl's wardrobe. There is style in the most well-fitting jeans, perfectly loose t-shirts and plain, make-up-free faces. There is hope for me! Hahahaha!

Here pictured with Carine Roitfeld, Editor-in-Chief of French Vogue

And tonight, I gathered enough courage to wear heels! Yes, I survived my first night out in heels! Hahaha!

Photos from Tommy Ton of http://jakandjil.com/, one of my favorite fashion blogs!

Run and Play

run&play ph with Arigato, Hato! - Mister Music Maker from run&play ph on Vimeo.

In his pursuit of portfolio-building and music-loving, one of my good friends, Marco (not to be confused with my boyfriend Marco, whom I mention a lot in this blog and who helps me with almost everything art dept related!), started a website here in the Philippines that features acoustic performances of local independent acts. Since launching only a few weeks ago, Run and Play Ph is well on its way to provide a library of music played best -- stripped down to its most sincere form.

This video of Arigato, Hato! has to be my favorite of what they've released. It's a simple, cute performance for a simple, cute website!

For more videos, including those from Outerhope and Ang Bandang Shirley, visit http://runandplayph.wordpress.com/. You can also find them on Tumblr: http://runplayph.tumblr.com, and  visit their Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49164306@N04/. Beautiful pictures! :-)

Alive Out There

There's nothing like the experience of watching music played live. No matter who the band is, I find myself always inspired and in awe of performances when backed up by the most complementary lights and a perfect pitch sound system.

Just two or three weeks ago, I was part of a crew that taped a concert, the first of a series for online viewing called Alive Out There. At the end of the shoot, we were nothing short of amazed. The band, Urbandub, already a favorite among us crew members, even prepared to play their songs with a string quartet, dj and other guest performers (as can be seen from the teaser above).

Now that the program has been released and the website launched, everyone else can see what an awesome show it was as well. After all, there's nothing like the experience of watching music played live.

To watch the concert (I definitely recommend it!!), click this next link:
http://pelicola.tv/channels/index_gg.asp?msg=Passkey%20Required#watch, and for more information on Urbandub, visit their website http://urbandub.bembang.com/. :-)

Hopefully more of these soon! And HAPPY WEEKEND everyone!!

Johnoy

This is Johnoy Danao, a very very talented musician and the subject of today's shoot. With his guitar by his side, he makes beautiful beautiful music. Watch out for his solo work coming soon!!

And click on this next link for his music in his duo act, Johnoy & Kakoy: http://pelicola.tv/channels/episode_aatw.asp?video_id=54 (an episode for Pelicola.tv's Alive at the Womb that I was part of too!).

A short, sweet and steady afternoon shoot!

Photography by my good friend Pong Ignacio (who also shot the Alive at the Womb episode), shot at The Living Room Photography Studios http://www.thelivingroomphotography.com/.

Headshots

Nothing's more inspiring than seeing your heroes up close. Though I can't pretend I know much about the faces above (and below) except that they are sports legends (and maybe I know some of their names!), a lot can be deduced from every wrinkle, every freckle, every scar. A story perhaps behind them all!

Tomorrow I'll be tasked to be a make-up artist for a shoot with these headshots as pegs. And though I've consulted with other professionals more senior than myself, taken notes about how little or how much less of a face I should put on tomorrow's subject, nothing will tell his story better than his own wrinkles, his own freckles, and his own scars.

I'll just be there for back-up!

The photos above are all from The Originals, A Portfolio of 16 of the Coolest Sports Heroes of All Time, taken by Martin Schoeller for GQ Magazine November 2006 The Sports Issue. Visit the website for more inspiring faces http://www.gq.com/, though if you get a chance to see the magazine itself, I suggest you look over it too. The pictures printed differ from those online, and the close-ups of Kelly Slater and Shaun White are beautiful!

Paper Man

Oh my, a movie that's filled with paper crafts!! I can't help but feel like I have a special connection with this film. Then again, I feel that way about a lot of movies hahaha!! From the trailer, we already see what's to come including a book couch, and a few other paper banners. I'm so excited!!

Paper Man is written and directed by Kieran Mulroney and Michelle Mulroney. Starring Jeff Daniels, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone and Lisa Kudrow. Visit its IMDB page for more info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437405/.

Things to Remember

Once in a while, we all have to be reminded of the things we forget.

Whether it's about work

(Conan O'Brien's last words before parting with his show!),

or just life in general!

Sometimes, we lose our way and forget what we set out to do (in my case, this year!!),

but we remember what's important and we get right back on track!!

And even if it seems like it's more than impossible to fulfill,

the best frame of mind to keep is always that

it really is never too late or too early for us to get a move on!!

To be everything we've ever wanted to be. :-)

The first photo is a lovely reminder to all of us from Banter Banners http://www.banterbanner.com/.

The rest, my own in my workspace at home! One of the reasons I love doing crafts is that it allows me to make things I see online that aren't available in Manila. Here's a quick two-step DIY tutorial for anyone else who wants to do the same. Just cut and stitch! Enjoy!!

Bangkok 2008

Visiting Bangkok was easily one of the most colorful experiences of my life. Riding tuktuks, learning new alphabet characters, seeing new architectural styles, finding different cultural practices were all things I did and that pleasantly surprised me as I learned more of Thai culture.

Their Songkran Festival was definitely a highlight! During this period of two or three days, the Thai celebrated the New Year (in April!!) by soaking each other on the streets, in the trains, between stores in the market, everywhere! Even tourists weren't safe. At times, white, flour-like powder was also smeared across faces (including mine!) to add to the vivacious celebrations. I got my share of being smacked!! And I still have a water gun too, I just can't find it....

And of course, what would I do in other countries but find and photograph crafts I had not seen before? This balloon exhibit was definitely a first!! I took 50 different angles and solos of these dresses before the mall closed on me!

Bangkok was so similar to Manila. The people looked the same, and walking around the city somewhat felt the same as well. But there were small hints here are there that indicate how the Thai are ahead of us, and though it goes much deeper than "their shopping malls are bigger," or "their mall displays are much more elaborate than ours," it's true! Have you ever seen something this grand here? I know I haven't. But it definitely shows that we can do this too!!!

And lastly, the Bangkok trip was very close to my heart not only because I had never been before or because of the arts and crafts I found there, but also because I was with my favorite people in the world! My friends. :-) We celebrated our college graduation with a trip abroad, a new place and a new set of memories.

Sometime this week marks the two years that have passed since the trip. And though we've seen each other and had other out-of-town vacations since, there is still nothing like spending an entire five days in the same hotel with the people you love the most, at the time in our lives when we were all at the cusp of...something.

I miss them very very much! We haven't been getting together as often as we all would like to. But that's what entries like this are for, for remembering the wild Songkran times, for digging up the matching t-shirts we had made so we wouldn't lose each other while touring, and for being reminded of the memories that have come to pass, and those that can still come to be.

Hope to see you guys soon!! ♥

Give Space A Chance

Today is my good friend, Sab's birthday!! And to show her that I'm celebrating (she's timezones away in New York!), I'm posting photographs of all the things she loves, outer space, vintage-looking patterned wallpaper, and straight-on framing like these next two pictures show:

Perfect for her taste are these images from Vincent Fournier's Space Project, a series of photographs that also includes some of large space-training machines and complexes with the same silent emotion depicted above.

I had never taken a special liking to outer space, but under Sab's influence, I have definitely appreciated the astro world a lot more. In her words, I should "give space a chance" hahahahaha!

This last picture is my favorite!

Before Sab left to fulfill her film school dreams in New York, we were production classmates, and we bonded about what kinds of projects we'd like to do for fun. Our imagined scenarios included children popping water balloons perpendicular to a band being drizzled on by the residue, flying elephants on panels, and little kids waking up from giant sofa chairs. We were able to make one video together! And though none of those dream scenes came to be, it's still one of the projects I'm most proud of.

I miss you Sabbie! I know you're having fun in New York!! :-)

Space Project by Vincent Fournier, http://viacomit.net/2010/02/05/space-project-by-vincent-fournier/ for more of the series and for a write-up on the collection.