In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Invasion of the paper-mache toy bots.

Sometimes I think I read too much feminist literature and films. Women with super-strong personalities are appearing in my dreams and terrorising me. To read about last night's dream, flip over to the b-side. This is one of the milder dreams I've had about women recently.

I'm going ahead to apply for film school for the beginning of next year. My portfolio is nowhere near complete, but I'm going to try my luck anyway. WIsh me luck. I know that one doesn't really have to go to film school to become a filmmaker. But I have no other way in gathering resources. Yes, my purpose in going to film school is to get to know people and build a strong production crew. Of course, that's not something I'd say to the school if they decide to interview me.

Ah, films. Sometimes, I just want to be like Jean-Pierre Jeunet, to make films that are a whimsical fantasy of reality. Something that's not real yet applies to us all... I don't think that dwelling in the realm of fantasy makes us escapist. Some people may fantasize to run away from problems. But frankly, I think a lot people indulge in fantasies because they want to. To a greater or lesser extent, films allow people to do that. After, films can never tell the 'real' story. Sure, non-fiction works are based on actual events, but is the story not shaped somewhat? Non-fiction is necessarily fictionalised too, you know. Well, enough of opinions.

Anyway, I've been watching the IAAF World Championships Athletics since Day 1. It's really fantastic! Even from the opposite side of the world, I feel the atmosphere. No doubt my body is now adjusted to Parisian time. Haha.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Come and sit with me on the b-side of life.

A new web page has been added to this website. It's called the B-SIDES. It's funny, it's quirky, it's romantic and most importantly magical. It's twisted, and nothing is ever right. No holds barred. That's the Genshi B-Side for you. Stuff of dreams, imagination, technique and memories - playground for grown ups.

Originally, I wrote a very nice post but when I press the POST button. The bloody thing disappeared. For a few seconds I almost blew up. But it's okay, for I will smile now. And if I can smile, will you, too?

Now, everybody. Smile together! That's right.

*hurst!*

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Melburnian Flashmobbers in action. Read about it here.

A new section of this website is coming soon. It will be called GENSHI.NET b-sides. It's a page where longer posts will be found: short stories, weird dreams and some of the stranger occurences in everyday life. Watch out for it soon.

Last night, I did have a weird dream, but I won't go too much into it. The main thing that happened was that I was rapping on stage with Dr. Dre and Puff Daddy. Dr. Dre and Sean Combs? Weird combo. And we were rapping to Will Smith's 'Men In Black' too. I know the hip hop community will tear me down to pieces for this.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Electric Hands? (LOMO ColorSplash Camera)


Federation Squared. (LOMO SuperSampler)

Apparently, these two pictures (out of three) are a big hit with gallery visitors to the Obscurity Picture's Plastic Show. And their the lowest-priced too. Everyone else is selling their works for a few grand each and mine is only $100 each. Anyway, it's fun to know that people like your work at your first show. Haha.

I like using film as a medium, as opposed to digital. Film has a much higher resolution at a lower cost. If you are a photographer who takes less than four rolls a day, it is still cheaper than digital. I'm talking about comparing with film-quality digital SLRs. Not your normal consumer digital camera. Apparently, you need at least an 11-megapixel digital camera to match the quality of film. This means that the megapixel chip itself is as big as 35mm capture spot. But a camera like that will cost $14,000.00. Nice price for a nice camera. So if you want top quality photographs when you're not a professional photographer, you need a film camera, not digital.

Film has also a certain aesthetic quality that's missing in digital. For example, colours are not as charming as on film. It quite depends on what film emulsion you're talking about though. But a lot of digital cameras actually capture things correctly, maintaining colour consistency, whereas film does things to your pictures. But precisely because of that, film looks better.

Sorry, I'm all over the place here. I've never been satisfied with digital. Even digital video.

If one takes notice, an overwhelming majority of movies are still shot on film, even though digital video is dramatically cheaper. The problem with digital is it doesn't have that same 'film look' as film. If I had the budget, I would shoot something on film. Even though some may philosophise that we are in the digital age, I still don't think digital video has even come close to emulating film.

Right, not all digital is good. Music on records sounds better than on CDs. How? It has a warmer, more coloured sound. CDs don't normally give you that kind of sound. What about the cracks, hiss, pops and whistles? CDs don't do those either. But these deficiency adds more character to music.

I guess you can say that recently, I'm moving towards a more analog/mechanical position. Consumers go crazy about digital, but I think this is only because advertisers go crazy on their advertisements.

Anyway, yes, don't listen to me. I'll just ramble on and on. Like I said, I'm all over the place here, writing down only what comes to me at this moment.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary


My sis Kim and my cousin Michelle. Unbelievably blinked.

Was talking to my mother about film school last night. I actually mentioned Hong Kong and Beijing (???). For what? If they teach in Chinese, I'll be doomed. It'll be great to go to NYU. But that will be difficult to get in. Plus, it'll be heaps expensive too. And there's London. The most probable choice, though, would be to stay here in Melbourne and go to the Victorian College of the Arts. But that means that I won't get to explore new places...

Anyway, I was trying to look for film schools in France and Germany but the internet didn't turn up much.

My producer will be leaving the show in three weeks. I think I might leave too, to work with my producer on what might be her new project. Also, I will have more time to work on my projects.

Yes, I finished my script! The first one I've ever completed. It is a short film drama. Will need to call for cast and crew soon. Plus, I am thinking about that film grant from the Singapore Film Commission. Does anyone think SGD 5,000.00 is enough though. Got to work everything out before I send them a proposal. Gosh, I need a producer.

I've decided to do it on DV, including the slow-motion scenes. That would mean that I will working on HDCAMs, which I will rent along with hiring the right camera crew. So after recording the footage on HD, I will transfer it onto Mini-DV for editing. A down-convert, but then, I can't edit it any other way, can I? Will put on something to advertise for positions for this production soon.

Please watch this space.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


My first successful cross-processed Holga shot. Film: Kodak E100VS.

Hullo again. I'm very free these days. Plus everyone I could hang out with are busy. So it does feel a little more lonely than usual. I just wish I had a friend who would sit out with me in the cold and watch the city skyline sharing a coffee, at night. Something like that. Not too emo but emo enough. I just want to talk plainly with people now. No arguments, no indulgence. Just talk. Within a nightly routine.

Not online. Face-to-face. No nonsense. Just talk. Not too serious. Maybe that too magical for reality. Perhaps. Why don't people talk for real nowadays? Everything's a joke to them.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Drey. Click here for more pics of the prata shop and COOS.

Yesterday was a busy chocolaty day. Yup. Marina and I went out film for next Monday's vox pops and the theme was CHOCOLATE! We went to this place along Johnston Street. It's called Chocolate Paradise... they sold all sorts of chocolate there - Belgian, Swiss etc... We bought a few Belgian variety, but ended up with a whole lot of free Swiss chocolates (lots of Lindt chocolates) for our efforts from the owner.

It goes without saying that we were continuously chewing on a piece of chocolate throughout the rest of the day, when we interviewed people on the streets to express their thoughts on chocolate. Yum. We gave them free chocolates as rewards too...

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

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Note for photographers: The photo above was taken on FujiFilm Superia 100, cross-processed to slide and scanned. No color and image adjustment was involved. Camera: LOMO Compact-Automat, F/2.8, 1/2s. Copyright 2003 Chris Ong.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


My cousins Sarah and Sophie, and my sister Kim. (More...)

Phew! Been a while since I updated. Busy here and there... also can't be bothered to update sometimes. Well, then. At my own leisure, really. Ha ha. Since I touched down in Melbourne, I've been doing a few things. My sister came down with me for a visit. Went to Great Ocean Road again, St. Kilda, etc. etc. etc. Then Ruth visited too. I followed this woman up to Canberra for her graduation. Then I came back down. Then I went to see how my photos are doing at the exhibition. Then I went to LomoMelbourne's LoveIn meetings.

Life is slow at the moment. I feel a bit detached from the rest of the world. Maybe I'm just a bit hung over from entertainment people. School's alright. Been doing not bad. Life is not very problematic here... maybe that's the problem.

Ha. We humans like to keep asking for more.

I've been doing some more camera work for Pluck. They want to stay on the camera forever. Ridiculous. Well, then, I'll have to just do camera, won't I? Meanwhile, I can also do other stuff elsewhere. Where? There are a few jobs around the campus. I'm doing editing, of course, but I really want to do films more than TV. I hate TV. I don't even watch TV if not for the news. TV sucks. Cinema is so much more fun.

He he. Anyway, I can't be bothered to write more at the moment. I'm stocking up on some ideas for a screenplay. Hope it turns out right.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam