Monday, April 30, 2007

Day 12 Jarum Halus



















Today is where we shoot all the office scenes. Met Ping, the famous drama Director from Popiah pictures. His latest work would include; “Reality”. He’s really a nice guy, smiling all the time. Extremely humble lah.

Pic of Razif and I at the lift scene. They wanted us to look happy when we enter into this scene so they requested Razif and I to crack a joke to get into the mood. So we decided to crack a joke on ........



















Also included for today’s scene is Dato Razali and the famous Mr. Helmi.

I think this is a nice pic of Razif. It was taken during a scene. I think he is drawing a naked picture...... wonder who???
























Juliana Ibrahim and I. In this Scene, it's supposed to be our first time tackle scene.....

Christien New
http://www.christienlavin.com.
christien@christienlavin.com

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Day 11 Part for Jarum Halus

I had an interesting day today. Met some new friends today; Ashraf (7 years old) and Ayesha. He goes to the same school as Razif. I promised him I’ll hang out with him when I am free. Yeah!!!

Pic on the right: Mark (our director), Ashraf, Juliana Ibrahim, Ayesha and of course me on the back ground....

Anyway, today’s shoot was in Ashraf’s house. The main event for today’s shoot was a party scene. Mark also got 96 dozens of roses = 1152 roses. The roses were place in the entire room. Nice!!!

We also had Dato Razali and tons of other people too.

Pic on the left: Me, Colin, Stephanie Chai, Razif and Justin
I had a great time today, especially meeting my new friend Ashraf, Ayeshah and his big brother too.

Nite Nite……Ashraf and Ayesha…


Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
http://www.christienlavin.com/

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Day 9 - house scene




Took photos with Razif and Juliana.





Today’s shoot was interesting. Scene: an argument scene with Farah and Mona. We had to do 31 takes before Mark and Colin was finally happy with it. It was mostly my fault as I was not able to get angry enough. Those that know me well enough would know that I am a happy go lucky person so getting angry was not my nature and I must say, I needed sometime to get warmed up…… sorryyyyyyy

Had a shower scene later where I literally had to submerge my whole body and face into the bath tub. While in the water, I had to keep my eyes open wide for quite awhile. The eyes was one problem, it was the nose cause I was lying down so water was just getting into my nose. But for the sake of our movie, I had to bare with it. Otherwise they will blame me if the Jarum Halus do not win any awards in Cannes Movie Festival in France or Sundance Festival in the Iowa, US.






This is how it looks like from the actors point when a scene is taking place. This is just 4 people staring at you. There are times when satu rombongan stands right in front of you staring at you and expecting you to perform....



Hmmm why is Mark looking at the girls like that???? What is he thinking about???? He is looking a bit cheeky huh!!


Next was Mona and Farah, where Farah was concern about me and complain about me in a way, buy my good old Mona stood by me .... yeah BABE!!! Pic of the right: Mark was giving pointers to Mona and Farah on how he wanted it to look like....feelingssssss pls.... otherwise i would have to do it myself....hahaah just kidding lah!!!
Dr. Colin is trying to look serious here, I think he is falling fast asleep here. Amazing how he can maintain his looks all the time. These guys are good!!!




Pic on the right: Mark yelling "IT'S A RAP!!!!".......
Didn't realize how big his mouth is till now.....



Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
http://www.christienlavin.com

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Day 7 of Jarum Halus the house scene


One of my scene today was with Mona (Juliana Ibrahim), my wife. Where we argue cause I suspect she is like cheating on me. But cause I have no solid evidence, I let it out on something else lah. Something that I had given to her, something meaningful to me…

We did the scene in Mark... Grandpa’s place…. It was such an honor; he was the Malaysian Ambassador in USA during Ronald Regan’s time. You’ll see like lots of his pics with good old Uncle Ronald. We’ll guess life is full of surprises, huh! You'll never know who you'll meet.

Took lots of pics today….. I realize that if you don’t take pictures in your very moments in life, you’re missing out a lot….. here are some of today’s scenes and after scenes too….

I am supposed to post as if i am in deep thoughts in this pic but hey...... wonder what was i really thinking about? Do i kill her or not??? hahahha.....



Right: this is our back up actors in case we fall sick. Aaron our camera man and Min Yaw our lights dude. Wonder why our director never used them...hmmm





Monday, April 23, 2007

Day 6- Club scene at BED



I started today’s shooting at 1pm at a club called BED. This is a scene where we were like hanging in a club but landed up fighting and stuff like that. It’s a pretty intense day as there is also a car scene where Iskandar and I landed up arguing in the car.
The truth is, we got no idea what the heck is Colin talking about!!! but out of courtesy, we "layan lah"...
We also had to walk down a quite street that is .... hmmmm shall I say smelly…..big time.... it’s the back the lane of a butcher shop, so that pretty much spells out the whole picture, huh!!!

Colin was there everyday just to make sure that we are up to standard, his standard. And as you know, stage play standard is way high… so when Colin says ok, I know for sure, it’s OK!

So, Colin… thanks for everything…. You the best!!! hehehe...

The pic on the right: Khai pointing out to Mark..."hey did you see that?". Mark said in his heart, "you think i am blind or what?" but of course, being Mark...so polite...he replied, "hey good point, keep it up khai!!" "what can i do without you??"

Anyway, got home at 2am. So tired but productive. I love my work!!!


p/s sorry for any type-o yah!!!


Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
http://www.christienlavin.com

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Day 5 Off day for me but .........


Hey, who says it wouldn't fit??? Only problem is...how the heck do i go out now????
Today is my off day. Funny enough, off day is where we take a rest but as an artiste, there is no such thing as off day. I still had to attend events and as for today, it was the optical expo in KL convention center.

Tomorrow is working day for me and that’s Sunday! So to all of you out there, stop complaining that you are working past working hours or you do not work on Saturday or Sunday!!! Hahaha. Appreciate what you have cause you may just lose it tomorrow, if you know what I mean.

I recall going to India many years ago. You’ll get a major culture shock especially for the first timers such as myself then. You’ll see poverty beyond your imagination. Kids going around begging…without limbs. Rumors has it that their limbs were actually chop of by the syndicate so that they will be sympathize by people. It’s part of the business model, can you believe it!!!

Remember all the things that we always complain why we don’t have this and why we don’t have that, well, when I got back, I truly appreciated everything I have including my life. We complain, why am I not tall enough??? Well have we ever thought about those that don’t even have limbs to begin with???

Guess today is what I call myself actualization day!!!

Have a good weekend ……..


Lov,

Christien New

Friday, April 20, 2007

Day 4 for Jarum Halus...by the sea











Jarum Halus outdoor shooting today, Bagan Lalang. We arrive at around 12noon, I think. As we know this is the low tide time so we had to walk like a mile out just to get our feet into a half foot deep water. Quite an interesting experience as the water was so muddy. You really need to get use to it, I mean stepping into the muddy water. There were like so many little crabs all over running from these small like holes to another. Naturally we had to be dress in the respective clothing for the scene and the color was like light, color was not picked by us obviously. So you can imagine trying to walk thru all this muddy water without getting dirty. Not easy I must say! Juliana Ibrahim was like screaming half the time. In fact she even cut her leg and that got us like really worried! Nevertheless, she still had to continue to walk and act for the scene.

The scene for the day was like a happy by the sea scene, you know, a dating scene lah. I had to carry her and spin around. Thank god she’s very light, other wise I would have to get a trolley for this scene, hahahha. And as you know, I had to repeat this scene for like so many times….. can die!!! Mark kept going, Christien New just one more time, just one more time. It came to one poing, I just said no more lah..... koyak already.......

For the record, Juliana is better in character than she looks. I mean this girl is like popular but without any air. She is so down to earth. Very fun to be with yet she takes her job seriously. I am very happy to have the privilege to be working with her… FYI, she is currently hosting “You think you can Dance”. So people, you gotta watch it ok!!! Must support “good” people ok!!!

Mark got a pretty bad sunburn. This UK mari boy obviously had never got under the sun in his life hahahha. Funny enough he feels that he is getting a sun stroke!! Alamak Hahahha. I did tell him to go get some aloe vera gel lah.



Khai posing for Malaysia Idol 2008. Pls SMS to vote for Khai at 1800umbrella








Day 3 for Jarum Halus


Mark our Director, Aaron our Director of Photography, our sound man and lighting crew (all big shots here) preparing for the big scene...actually what is really happening is that they are figuring out...how to use the camera ahh? Hmmm where is the "ON" button ahhh? How to put the "TAPE" in ahh? While we are figuring this out, lets just act as if we know what the heck we are doing, ok guys!!! Remember, no matter what happens, we gotta look good....k???
Just got home, almost 1am now. Shooting a movie or drama is really not easy, especially the long hours you have to sacrifice but I must say, I really like it. In fact, I love it. Guess it’s a passion that I learn to love….

I remember when I finish my MBA, naturally I had so many dreams and the most obvious one was to be a millionaire lah. Like who doesn’t, right???? Well, bought a book and after reading the whole book, it all goes to just one simple logic. You first fine something you really love to do. Because you love doing it, you would naturally be passionate about it. And with passion, you’ll do it well and people around you will take notice of what you do. They will be able to see it and you will also stand out of everybody else. Once you gain recognition from what you do, money will come naturally. As for me, I have found something that I truly love, in fact I found more then one, I love business and I love acting. I am very bless cause, with god’s grace, I found both. I have my own business with is Christien Lavin and I also host my own TV program and act in other company’s movie or drama too.

You’ll know when you have found what your heart desires when you do not look at the clock to see when the day is over. You’ll somehow find that you are just not getting enough of it. And that’s when you found the love of your life; it can be your work or your life partner.

I will retire now as I need to be at Bagan Lalang early in the morning for a beach scene with my wife …. My wife in the movie lah that is…..

p/s pls ignore any typo-error…. :)


Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
www.christienlavin.com

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Day 2 for Jarum Halus Rock Climbing...trying to that is....


Hey see, we finally figured out how to put the belt on....hmmm wonder what is it called? Ahhh whatever....

Ok done for Day 2. Eleanor and Mark came to pick me up at about 11am and we headed for Summit the mall that is… for the Rock Climbing scene. It took quite a long time to set-up the scene cause we actually brought in a crane. Of course since it had to be dismantled to be able to bring it in, it also needed time to put it all back to one piece. The crane was an excellent idea and work every penny cause it could bring the camera over a big Rock that was next to us and then come down onto where we were…. just about to climb.

Just when we were ready to go, the rain started to pour. As you may know, when it rains we are not able to proceed cause the sound of the rain will ruin the recording of our voices from the shoot. So, what to do, wait again lah till it stop… and that was like for the next 2 -3 hours. So I deceided to entertain the gang by telling some of my silly jokes. Well, we did had a good laugh, I must say…. You know exchanging dirty jokes is usually interesting or shall I say, refreshing…hahhaha

Right pic: Ok, how do we tie this damn rope? was it from left to right or right to left? razif said "hey you think i look good in this? I replied : hey, can you focus here? otherwise we'll be here all day. Shit, the director is starting to think we may not know what heck we are doing? how ahhh? told you to go ask that pretty girl... see now how to do this, not her damn phone number?? Idiot!!!

When we finally got the scene done, the crew just clap cause after all the waiting, jokes and the many takes, it was finally done. But Mark our director and Colin felt that we have to do one more. So one more lor…what to do…..

Anyways, next scene was like in Shakey’s Pizza downstairs. So off we went for the scene. Great place to act, cause food and drinks was on the house. I have never eaten in Shakey’s before but I must say, nice pizza lah.…hmmm… we had so much pizza cause we had to keep doing the scene for quite a few times cause Mark wanted 4 different shots for the scene. I had to slice so many pizza till my finger hurts…..but it was worth it. Good take and good food was just GOOD.

Anyway, we are like very happy with the results. I think it went well. On the way back, drop by at Mark’s place to try out the clothes they bought for me. Got home like around 10.30pm. I am so so tired….. I am sure I am going to enjoy my sleep tonight.

Tomorrow will be another long day for me, like really a long day cause I have like so so many scenes. Big time sad and crying scene too. Mostly with Mona (Juliana Ibrahim).


Good Night!!!

p/s sorry for any typo error....damn tired lah...


Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
http://www.christienlavin.com/

Day 1 Experience for Jarum Halus

The day started with a scene where it’s shot in an old house in PJ old town. It was like at 4 – 6pm and I tell you, damn hot man! Because the house had like zinc roof on it. Well I finally get to experience how it feels in one. Cannot imagine how it feels like during noon time. Arggghhh!!! It was certainly a good experience as I now appreciate more on what I have. We always complain about things we don’t have but till we see hardship will we appreciate our own life!

Lavin and Gabriel was in this scene. This is a flashback scene where I play as my Father, Lavin plays my mother and Gabriel plays me when I was like 3 years old. It’s Gabriel’s first movie. I must say, he did a great job! He had no problem getting around and did what he was supposed to do. I mean, this kid is like 3 years old. When I was 3, I was like this “Dunggu” walking around. Hahaha. My mom would was so proud of me answering the phone but I was like 7 years old then, hahahha. Bodoh right!!!! Well I guess, Gabriel, being in the cover of 14 different magazines helps huh!!! I have a funny feeling he is going to grow up as some kinda artiste …… hmmmm… I wonder why?????

The day moved on to a mamak store in Wangsa Maju. My ohhh my, the mamak was so huge that it looks more like a food court. And next to the place had like this huge KFC. It’s nice to sometimes step out or our home ground and goes exploring something new, huh!!!

Hey, can you guys stop eating all the food? there are props lah!!! Farah, you have been drinking like 4 glasses of teh tarik!! patutlah dah gemuk!!! Justin ask "hey you think i look better from my left or right?"

The place was pretty humid, so humid that your face would be full of oil in a few minutes. Anyway, we had made our own news which was supposed to be played at the back ground while they shoot our scene. Our news reader was “Yasmin Yusof”. I must say, so was very good in reading news, hehehe. In fact for a minute, I thought it was like for real. In fact it was done in NTV7, so it did look very real lah.

I was done by around 1am but I was told that the rest finish like at 5am this morning. Well, lucky me huh!! Juliana Ibrahim drop me home as I was too lazy to drive.

Hey that boom looks delicious lah, now that they told me not to eat the food on the table!!! said Farah..... "do you think i am fat?" ....well you can be a bit slimmer......!@@#$$%^^

Anyway, today is another day. Day 2 shooting. I’ll be doing rock climbing with Rajif. A whole day event, I guess…… long day for me I supposed.


Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
http://www.christienlavin.com/

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Day 1 Shooting - Jarum Halus mamak store

Today is the first day of shoot for the movie Jarum Halus. Scene will be on as follows;



Scene 1.
Description: Flashback
Location: Somewhere in PJ Old town

My mom, dad and I, when I was like a toddler. This is the scene where it shows how my parents would argue all the time and has somehow affected me then. When I grew up, naturally I did not want to be like my dad so I would try my best to be a perfect husband ….. or at least I think so…..

Scene 2.
Description: Meeting at Mamak Store
Location: Wangsa Maju

Scene is done in a mamak store where my best friend Iskandar would try to psycho me that women should be in the kitchen, bedroom …. and giving birth. But I disagree and call him a chauvinistic dude. At this point of the movie, I am deeply in love with my wife….. after all we did elope and just got back home…. Hahaha.



The following scene on the right is where we get to see the news presented by Yasmin Yusof. I must say, she is excellent in news reading.... terror lah!!! Go Yasmin... FYI, the whole news scene is done by mark and the crew....as in, it's a home made news....but shot in NTV7.

Well hope that the first day of Jaurm Halus would turn out well so that we can all go back to early for tomorrow’s shoot…. me Rock Climbing….. hahaha.....


Next, you'll see Razif our Quickie Host doing a scene where he "mengamuk" cause he is ain't getting any.....


Christien New
christien@christienlavin.com
www.christienlavin.com

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Welcome my Dear Friends


Hello People,

Welcome to Christien New zeee blog. I am like.... new at blogging but I guess I gotta be up to date right? Hahaha.

Anyway, how is live been treating you? As for me, all is good.

I will be acting in an English movie called “Jarum Halus” which will be playing in the cinema sometime around 16 September 2007 nationwide. It’s based on the famous Shakespeare play called: Othello but in a movie format and in a 2007 modern environment. I’ll be playing the lead role…Othello, but since it’s brought forward to 2007, we have change the name “Othello” to a more acceptable name called “Daniel”.

The whole movie is filmed in English with a 'localized' touch. As for the “Iago”, Othello’s best friend, which in this case, he'll be called “Iskandar” will be played by Rajif (Quickie TV Host). Desdemona my wife will be called “Mona” and will be played by Juliana Ibrahim.

Other artiste involve; Lavin Seow, Gabriel, Stephanie Chai, Dato’ Rahim Razali, Yasmin Yusof, etc. Jarum Halus is directed by a fine gentlement....Mark Tan. His work is out of this world, you gotta see it to believe it!!! So Malaysia, watch out for the new kid on the block, Director Mark Tan is in town. To top it up, he is like only 21 years old. When to school in UK and did some fine work there before coming to Kuala Lumpur.

We are also very lucky to have Malaysia's famous Stage Actor; Colin Kirton as our Casting Director and Acting Coach, Eleanor (Producer) and Aaron Chung (Director of Photography). Shooting starts on Tuesday 17th April 2007. Looking forward to seeing you all at the cinema when it’s played sometime in September.