The Walk all down and ONline

The Walk from Cheng Tzuu Bong on Vimeo.

After a couple's day work.. well, not too long.. all n all, from pre to post production, i figure not more than 5 days.

With the 1st day (The Awakening) Finally realize if I keep on writing pieces which requires a lot of crew and cast, i'm just giving myself the opportunity to procrastinate. Why wait and dream when you can create. So I sat, stand, walk and took a nap on it and finally came up with a draft. I started writing.... and calls it the walk... y the walk you may say, why named it the walk...well, it talks bout the spiritual walk of humans nowadays who are constantly caught in a dilemma of making a choice to either submit to temptations or to act logically ethical. I like writing piece like these and most of the time making it more of an art film like short films. It may not make sense to many but its the few ppl who understands which makes it special. cause then i would knw who is watching with the eyes and who is really feeling it :P

The walk talks about making the right choices, walking the right path. Tells us that even if it's the very last minute or it may cost us something of value, making the right choice can make a difference and cause a great impact to the outcome in the future.

Anyways, I had the pictures imprinted in my mind how i want to shoot it. and renting a budget motel is all i can afford since i've not been working for the past 1/2 year since i left Kuala Lumpur. But i've no idea of how the layout of the motels gonna look like since i can't just budge in and tell them that im going to shoot a short film in one of their rooms. they are going to charge me extra for that... lol.. so I have to cross my fingers and yellow pages..

2nd day I went out to find the gels / filters... seems like a big disappointment cause non of the stationary / art / graphic shops sells it and they asked me to get it off from the glass tinting shops.. lol.. nope, they don't have it either.. so i went to buy colored transparent book covers which school kids use for their project covers.. (Proves to be too thick) lol.. anyways, I went all over town and found myself an inspection lamp and got some light bulbs. that settles the lighting.. I borrowed my brother's tripod. I went home after that and started sketching the storyboard.. just in case

3rd day I got a piece of large display board as my reflector. and finish off the storyboard...

The shooting starts on the 4th day.. Initially i planned to check in 12 sharp but cause i had to rely on my brother to fetch me over since i don't want to leave my car there. anyways, after waiting and stuff, he finally came and dropped me off around 1 something.. I started shooting even before I dropped off my stuff along the hallway. But only realized that I was standing underneath a CCVT the whole time which shooting. hahaha... anyways, I wrapped the hallway so what is left is the room scenes.

The room is a bit smaller than i expected and the interior is well, not the friendliest u can get. But I managed to get it all done. Initially it was a bit hard since I have to handle all the equipments all by myself while trying not to keep in character whenever i call for action myself. I've to watch out for unwanted things not to be in the scene *I F*** up a little.. hahaha... there were a couple of scenes where I've didn't spot properly. oh well, learned a valuable lesson :) anyways, I've to climb up and down to get the "Bird's eye view" take my own reflector to adjust the reflecting light source, have to press the focus (lucky my sony dcr - sx40 has a auto spot focus so all i have to do is press where i want it to focus and run to the last position for it to focus on) hahaha... so there were a lot of cardio involved.

I think the hardest part was trying to get the lighting cause I only found out then that 1 inspection lamp is not enough to get the lighting done... lol.. but i tried and give it my best shot with the ... emm.. so called filter... lol... I finished shooting everything around 2am but i had a good 1hr rest to recharge the battery. I downloaded the footage and started editing while waiting for it to fully charged. I wrapped the day at 3am.

woke up early on the 5th day and took my breakfast.. well, don't guess 4 slices of rye bread with peanut butter. I continued on the editing and covers whatever which was not shot like some close up scenes to get it sync. I recorded the footsteps again with my boom mic cause the original was a bit noisy since the motel was still under renovation. I was picked up by my brother around 12noon. and continued to finish off the editing till 8pm.... 5 days hardwork paid off and here I present to you, the 1 man crew / cast production... the walk

Canon EOS 550D_rebel t2i

Reviews can be found at

dpreview.com

trustedreviews.com

cameralabs.com

Well, i've been browsing through a lot of machine and there have been a lot of speculations regarding the new found technology in the DSLR on HD video mode. for a indie filmmaker like myself, owning a camcorder machine would most definitely burn a deep hole in the pockets. So I have to look for the alternative solutions as to shoot a short film in which a higher end results. Previously, there is the phone camera style, that didn't go so far as the limitations is still very depressing. then there is the digital still camera which is not too bad but couldn't get the kick out of it as the higher ends machine cost a bomb and there is not much to play around with the cheaper ones... then comes the handycam which im using now (Sony DCR- SX40). It's a good machine but yet, the crave for better effects still stings and the control of the dept of field is a hassle. It's not so user friendly as its all digitally controlled and it's not easily accessible. you have to pass through many functions to get to it and get out of it. I've always been dreaming of getting a higher end Camcorder as the likes of Sony Ex1, Canon A1s, Panasonic AG-HMC152.... but all these beautiful machines cost a bomb :'(

So this is where DSLR comes in with it's range of fabulous HD Monsters at a reasonable price and best part of it... you don't have to buy an expensive adapter or converter just to get that awesome dept of field compositions.... :) The lens don't come cheap but hey, who says u can't make a film with just one lens :P

Canon, a name not foreign to the likes of Photographers has now coming to the favourite list among the budget filmmakers with it's latest baby, the Canon EOS550D / Rebel T2I which is reasonably priced for the power it provides. I've read a lot of written reviews and even video logs on this Machine and it's all very positive. The only set back is that the battery tends to heat up which makes it not suitable for events or wedding shoots. but You won't really shoot a film up to 1hr on each take, do u? hahaha... but hopefully canon will solve this issue cause it would be a major + if the battery last longer :) Let's cross our fingers on that.

And definitely, this is my next dream machine :)

Finally done after editing 1st draft.....

After retiring from the Malaysian Industry to fly home so I can be a filial son after being away for 13 years, I got a little bored and missed my love.... acting, writing, producing and directing... im a greedy fellow eh :P having more than 1 love.... anyways... So i've been writing all this while but lack the manpower and resources to shoot anything... and furthermore, budget is a problem as I'm still unemployed.. thankfully, i've a little side income now and then and i've saved a little.. barely... anyways, I figure there is no point writing something which i can't shoot at the moment and give myself a chance to procrastinate... so I went out and had my creativity walk.. hahaha... and right then, an idea popped in my head......

So I went home, started planning the plot and started on the 1st page that very night.. and finishes off the next day.. 2 pages.. well, its not the best of all scripts but easy enough for me to understand and work on.. so I worked on the storyboard the next day and pick a hotel out of the yellow pages... (Its Miri after all) anyways, one of my friends stayed there previously and I think its not too bad.. and I went around to search for the best option for a cheap lighting and found an inspection lamp with cost me RM15 and the bulb RM2.90 (Make that RM3 then)

so all set, I packed everything into my trusteed Huge Red Bag and took off to the location...

I checked in at the hotel around 1pm, that cost me another RM60 and I got a loaf of Rye Bread with a take away peanut butter from home so another RM3.60. Right after I made sure there weren't anyone at the hallway, I took out my Sony Handycam DCR - SX40 and did a handheld.. lol. that took cared of everything.. but only then i realize there was a cctv above me ... hahaha.... of well..

So I started shooting in the room.. it's the 1st time I've forgotten to take my snacks .. cause i was busy rushing the shoot as i've only the budget to pay for a night... and trust me, 1 man crew is not easy. I've to adjust my focus and find framing myself. and I've to watch out for lightings and conti all together. and even set up the whole set and tripod and props... but everything went smoothly... well, not all.. but still, it's a smooth sail shoot..

I think the hardest was to try to adjust the framing and focus while getting the reflector to catch the lights and act at the same time ... but other that, i figure it's a great experience... I wrapped around 2am cause both my battery ran out and i had to charge. So I downloaded everything into my laptop and started editing some of them to try to catch any error shot.. so practically, I did half of the editing there and managed to walk up 7am to clear everything before I checked out.

Man, was i burnt. I didn't edit that morning.. but ended up editing that night till wee hours in the morning and well, took me 2 days to finish editing it.. along with the sound effects and subtitles.. well, i've already done the 1st rough draft... so now i just need to check if everything is sync :)

stay tune for more :)

The Making of THE WALK from sony Ericsson W610i

Assembling Talents in Miri / Brunei

CHAOTIC BABOONS FILMS

Well, as everyone knows, I'll be going back to Miri where my family is but that doesn't mean i'm going to give up my dream. I'll just be missing from the local Malaysian Industry but I'll be working hard to keep myself in the world industry.

It might not be so soon as I need to sow before I can harvest. I'm going to keep writing and preparing while working full-time to gather capital for shoot.

currently I'm writing a sitcom which is planned to be 20 episode of 10 minutes each for season 1. But I'll be doing short film shoots till I gather enough capital for the sitcom. If any of you who are interested, you can contact me or leave comments with your contacts and what you can do or experiences on this log.

I'm looking for :

Crew

• Directors
• Cameraman
• Director of Photography
• light person
• sound person
• editors
• conti person

(and anyone who is interested to be in a production)

Cast
(For the moment)

• Martial Artist who can/cannot*but interested to act
• Actors / Actress
• Anyone who is interested to act

I'll be doing some fight sequence or maybe some test fight scenes. I'm gathering talents to see who is suitable for which role.

Well, if you are interested and in Miri / Brunei / or anywhere near but willing to travel to Miri, you are all welcome... sorry, It's a no budget film production for the moment so there won't be any payment but if you are interested to sponsor or support us financially, You are definitely welcome :)

Soul Searching

Sometimes I wonder who I am sometimes, and trying to figure out who i am the rest of the other times... spending hours trying to figure out what living is all about isn't an easy task.... to some it may b easy, but have you tried to look out of the box and out of the couch where you lay there telling yourself that is life? thinking deeper, further than your hand's reach and yet further than your eyes can even focus on the blurry images?

Ask yourself every morning

Why am I here?

for this is what I do... and I can tell you this, even if I've been asking myself many years now daily, I have yet found the answer..... what else are you asking for? but by doing this, you actually know yourself better even if you don't have a definite answer.......

Scene from UCSI Student film project

My 1st edit....

LoL, well, i got a little naughty yesterday... used my webcam to capture a video and oh well, its not the best, but im learning... well, every1 have to start sumwhere rite :P

Featuring my Nephew, Jordan Bong

Shooting for Museum NEgara Short clips...

it was a 2days shoot in Pahang.. I was shock to find that there is a Villagish kinda resort in the middle of the jungle.. well, its really very village like kinda resort.. everything made out of nature.. located at Janda Baik, Bentong. its quite a distant from the main road.. if you don't know nobody who knows the place, its best not to come cause you might get lost... lol anyways, the only reason that we are there is because the Director owns the house next to the resort...

anyways, I was sleeping through the whole trip due to my fatigue from the previous shoots and casting sessions and very little sleep.... so don't ask me how to get there again... lol.. oh well, the 1st days shoot started at about 4pm.. was suppose to be there at 8am.. but they push it to 12noon.. and like every1 was coming late and all and finally started the journey to the location at 3pm... haiz, it started to rain heavily as we are about to reach the location... thought we can start early and end early.... so any how... the shoot started with "Batu Bertikam" which is a local story of a mystical stone where two warriors stab their "Keris" into a big stone due to Frustration.. I was a Palace Guard who helped the Sultan to carry his shirt during the fight scene. The shoot ended at 1am.. every1 took their shower but ... emm... I kinda didn't know that we will be in a ... emm... village like resort that they don't provide any facilities or utilities... so I didn't bring my towel... but I managed to use my shirt as my towel after the shower.. the water pressure was very weak... anyways, I slept while seated up waiting for my food to digest.. but every1 was curious as to why I slept seated up... lol.. I told them I was meditating... muahahaha....

Woke up the next day to a sunny day... but cause of the heavy rain yesterday.. the pipes broke and there weren't any water... some of the guys went to take a bath in the river nearby but I was lucky that the tank in one of the room's still half tank cause they didn't use much yesterday... I washed my face there and went to have my breakfast... "Nasi Lemak" typical Malaysian Breakfast... We shot "Awang Lembing" which is about a mystical Spear which killed 99 villages... this is the time when I was like having a leech theraphy.. hahaha... well, we were shooting at a site which is infested with spiders, crickets, and leeches.... I think its a grass spiders nest... anyways... Halfway throughout the shoot, I noticed that my leg was bleeding.. I thought I cut my self while walking but then I notice a a leech on my foot and only realized that the leech came off accidentally while I was walking throught the grasses.. oh well, I was bleeding 1/2 hr cause of that... lol

My wound after a couple of wipes.... there is a small hole where the blood kept oozing out..

The house where we have out shoot.. a very classic Malay house

Resting, waiting for the next shoot.. emm... actually waiting for the make up for the 1st shoot..

Taking picture with our very own Malaysian Veteran Actor

My costume for the Batu Bertikam.. I am the Palace Guard

Looking for Dedicated Actors

Hey every1.. Im writing a 25 minute short film script now for a short film competition and I need lots of talents... Its at the early stage of planning and I aim to finish the script by next week and getting the storyboard done the next week or so... so i can begin my shoot early december..

CHARACTERS TO FILL

MAIN 001
Male
Nerdish looking college student.. not too nerdish lah.. (Kuai Chai Look is fine) good boy..

Main 002
Male
Occupied

Main 003
Female
Occupied

Main 004 (Villain)
Male
Rowdy looking, to play as a leader of the bullies

Supporting Male (X3)
Rowdy looking lot to play as mischievous college students

Supporting Female (X2)
Simple, nice looking college girls (Kuai Lui Lah).. haiz.. don mind the spoil looking lass too..

Supporting Villain (X5)
Bullies.. bullies... need I say more.. (If ur a gal & looks rascalish.. ur on too)

Look guys... its a project for a short film competition.. and we are on a tight budget.. so I can't pay you for your contributions.. I can only show my appreciation by cherishing you all as a good friend and filling up you stomach during the shoot... of course, We will be teaching you acting skills and how to act in front of the camera and if you want more, we can teach you more bout film production, directing, camera....etc...

this is my 2nd project and there are more to come.. but I'm writing on my full length feature film now (this we will have budget to pay you$$$ - don't ask how? just know its a full budget film) (Ps. for those who stand by my side all this while, i would have already told you how :P ) But i'll be shooting a couple more shorts before I hit the big one.. this is because Im scouting for talents, people who love acting for the sake of art... I've told friends my goal, my vision and dream... are you willing to share with me? are you willing to work with me through thick and thin? Your sacrifice and dedication will not be forgotten...

my crew are people of the industry.. director has 8yrs experience, so does my editor, iv musicians and ... well, you can say i have the whole crew who are willing to work with me to realize a dream, a dream no longer captive in the imaginary...

if you are still interested |
Email me your profile and pictures @ chengtzuu.bong@gmail.com .... u can request for my number in your email :)

(ps. Im am sharing the pot if we win RM5000 with every1 involved in the film.. and the bonus prize - Sponsorship for a full feature film by the organizers)

Pss.. that means, you will be in a film too... no kidding

Finally here.....

Its here.... Finally blog it up.... my 1st short film.... Produced by me and my best friend, King or better known as Heman.... please log on to my link at "MY Acting Video"

hope you enjoy it and... please.. please do leave a comment.... I need all your opinion so I would know what I need to work on for my next short film.... :P

thanks

Short Film Competition - Power and Grace

In Search of Life - Is my friend, King and I's 1st film production.. muahahaha.... u know what... mayb I should use that as my production house's name... "the king and I" muahahaha... anyways... we only have a short period of time to accomplish this short film to be submitted to the competition... there's no time to do any color grading nor ample time to get more actors in... most of which, shot me the 1st question "How much is the Payment?" lol... anyways... im Blessed to have so many Good friends who are willing to lend a hand in making this short film a success... I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the names below...

Written and produced
Bong Cheng Tzuu
(haiyo... appreciating myself - cannot meh)

Co-produced, Edited and Directed
Hii King Wu

Music
Elaine Teoh

Assistant Camera
Ester Ng Shu Yin

Cast
Charlene Tan Cui Zhi
Elaine Teoh
Ester Ng Shu Yin
Sam Poon Wei Kiat
Vince Hon
Yeo Mei Ling

DV camera - borrowed from
Silva and Adeq

The actual shooting days we use was only 4days in actual... minus the days when the camera went hair-wire.. lol... cause i actually shot 5 - 6 times of the jumping off the wall scene due to the technical error from the camera... anyways... the editing was quite fast as we need to finish it up before end of this month to submit it... i learn a lot and not to forget, had a great time with my friends who helped out...

i will post the video soon... not too soon... bt soon enough... right after the winners are announced.. just in case they wanna disqualify me by saying that i've posted the video before... anyways.... i'll post it up on youtube to see how many hits i can get :P

im working on my 2nd project now... mainly targeting the social issue of today... targeted time "20Min" short film.. I will need more actors.. lots of supporting and features with dialogues... even the extras haf dialogues... please be inform, its still a project and i don't have the budget to pay any actors or crew yet... but if you are looking to grow with me and my friends... gain more experience in acting, shooting and producing a film... please leave me ur contact in the comment box for this log... :P ... be sure that the 2nd project will be a lot more professionally done as i'll have more production crew who are brilliant in this field....

standing on the 18th floor roof edge without any safety equipment.... well, actually we had wires... but we were so rush that we left it at home... my friend who was handling the camera had to be extra careful not to knock me with the camera which was attached to the tripod...

I had so much running scene in the film that i actually pulled my hamstring muscle due to the stress I place on them... gym, training for ransan and this film...

well, its an art film... so when i post it up... if you guys wana leave a comment.. pls add in with you own words what you understand bout the film... thanks...

our lovely talented musician.. Elaine Teoh

cute assistant camera - Esther Ng

emmm... speechless... The King... hehehe... by now u should know, he's my best buddy...

graceful actress - Charlene Tan

Fabulous Friend - Sam Poon

Vince is the only male on the far right and Mei Ling is the only gal with a bag...

Well, catch a glimpse of me lunging off the top of the roof... without any safety equipment... :S don't do this at home kids...

emmm.... still live to tell... muahahahaha.....