PICTURE PERFECT: SURREAL IN REALITY

A faultless image is considered a PICTURE PERFECT. Well defined photos (you named it!) or something (that you perfectly captured) which almost give the same comfort you felt when looking at the real things.

SURREAL #01
PIERCE BROSNAN & STEPHANIE ZIMBALIST

The only reason I followed this TV drama series about a couple of detectives, 'Remington Steele' (1982-1987) was because Stephanie Zimbalist & her sexy neck! Since the show ended, I tried to find any other American actress (even local) who can make her neck the center of my attraction, none until Angeline Jolie caught my attention with her lips (but that's not the point here!). The combination of this 2 of a kind has made the series an overnight hit. It has given a successful start for Pierce Brosnan on his first attempt as a TV actor, overshadowed the already established TV actress, Stephanie Zimbalist. But what audience saw on screen were a perfect couple & every demand for the show was to see them play more romantic scenes. Yet even to the final season nothing up to the request for they were just PICTURE PERFECT.

Anything that you capture in reality can turn into picture perfect and that includes taking picture of 2 persons that look perfect together, on and off screen. Even in a group photo, 2 persons who perfectly look adorable together in the picture will make the group photo meant like for both of them instead of everyone else. So what is the big deal when 2 persons become a faultless image of PICTURE PERFECT? It is a big deal! Because it may leads to a lot of misunderstandings, that in the end what so perfect isn't really perfect at all in real life.

SURREAL #02

DAVID DUCHOVNY & GILLIAN ANDERSON

'THE X-FILES' TV drama series (1993-2002) was never a missed show for me. I love the genre they tackled, paranormal. But what's more interesting to me was the chemistry between the two main casts here; the solid team. Especially how Agent Mulder really cares for Agent Scully although there was no sign of them romantically involved. Until it had became chapters of request from fans. Tabloids were digging of any possibilities that they were off screen lovers, but none of them admit. The romantic rumors dismissed once Gillian married Clyde Klotz (The X-Files Assistant Art Director) on 1994, followed by David married Tea Leoni (an actress) on 1997. But fans kept loving them as couple on screen. Until it has become a bore when for so many years, Agent Mulder & Scully were not intimate. But the release of 'I Want to Believe' (2008), fans request fulfilled when there's a scene of them kissing intimately. Yet the kissing scene was the only romantic moment in the movie that really frustrated fans around the world... once they quit the show, no other new duo agents could replace their perfection on screen. Yet who could blame them for they were only PICTURE PERFECT.

When I was a little kid, my late mother always advised me to be alert with the person next to me when took group or duo photos. Make sure whoever was next to me in the picture won't misled anyone about us. She didn't want me to suffer imperfection by other people's perception upon what is surreal that might hurt my feeling in long term. She also said it is also to protect the privacy of people who was standing next to me in the picture for we'll never know the negativity it might attracts!

SURREAL #03

AMITABH BACHCHAN & REKHA

In 1980s, they were the most popular movie couple of Bollywood. Almost every movie they acted together topped the box-office chart. Even my late mother was charmed by their perfection together, but I didn't saw that (coz I was busy preparing for my first love... haha!). All I saw was a pretty lady, Rekha who held a beauty that inspired me to use her charm as my reference for practice in drawing. But as I watched more of movies of them together, I came to understood that they were perfect together on screen. Which then they also meant to be perfect off screen if not because Amitabh was already married to Jaya when he met Rekha. So what's real can be a reality when exactly it was still surreal unless faithfulness untied. In the end, Amitabh decided to save his marriage & they acted in their last movie together joined by Amitabh's wife, Jaya called 'Silsila' (1981). Sometimes when people said we look perfect together in the picture, the thought of making it perfect in real life will linger. Fate we believe, although  PICTURE PERFECT can be very skeptical to be considered as a sign of MFEO.

That was why, none of my photos so far involved anyone very personal to me or romantically involved. That's include my parent (I only had a few photos of my mother and me while I was still a baby/little kid plus a photo with my father when I was a teenager). The principal since then has become so adhere to me that it causes me photo-phobic when it comes to group or duo photos. Yet it won't be so phobic when it comes to my best friends that I have long known or my fans, as long I know how to distance myself or put an act during photo shoots that will not suffer misconception once you see the result.

SURREAL #04

CHOW YUEN FATT & DO DO CHENG

Do Do Cheng is my favourite Canto-Pop actress. She made me rushed to sit in front of TV whenever she was on aired. It was not about her beauty, but her charisma & personality. She's so purely entertaining to watch in whatever character she was in, even her ghost character. Yet, I adored her when she's around Chow Yuen Fatt because they had charms whenever together. But frantically, Do Do Cheng was herself originally & she had no plan of giving up herself to someone else. So she maybe a babe on screen & Chow Yuen Fatt's PICTURE PERFECT, but she has no intention on any perfect relationship. Having bestfriend as partner was her way & that's different to Chow Yuen Fatt. But the fans knew, everytime Chow Yuen Fatt & Do Do Cheng came together on screen, the fame will sure rise to super-stardom, fame of a PICTURE PERFECT!

If in real life you have become the blame of a few broken relationships, you'll only end up being a person with full fences when it comes to connection with another being, start with the image together. I don't care if they accused me for being too over-act, diva-like or overly self-centered. But they haven't experience being a male with extra aura of attraction, and I know better so does who has been close to me for so many years. My security is to protect others though I have to bare the pain of silly accusations. At least it worth my conscience to protect others legal privacy through a photo.

SURREAL #05

BRAD PITT & JENNIFER ANNISTON

When I heard Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston got married, I never saw it as remarkable & so did most of their fans. Hollywood thought it was rare! For it was like a marriage to prove you're wrong for whatever subject you want to prove. It was like an experiment marriage, a DIY vow. They were not even PICTURE PERFECT though we have to admit that they are both gorgeous people. Maybe this was what they wanted to prove, they didn't have to look perfect together to be perfect for each other. Wrong! I was never proud of seeing Brad Pitt chose Jennifer Aniston, or either way. Every time I saw them romantically together on tabloids, I wonder if that was exactly love of a sibling... "I love my sister so much that I wed her!" said Brad Pitt. Thank goodness their marriage failed & Jennifer should stop dating Brad's impersonation! 2 of a kind, brother & sister don't fit to claim themselves as PICTURE PERFECT, a family does. Say what U like about me being wrong, but Angeline Jolie has saved Jennifer for the best! Jennifer needs to finally wake up & learn from Gywneth Paltrow that the man can only be tame by a Queen of Exotic Beauty.

Being too careful won't always so careful until you forgot what's perfect by pair in real life, can mystically generate a picture perfect by the duo even in group photos. Then I started to hear my friends talked, asked and even wanted to know the extra miles about my pair. When it happened I got extra phobic that caused me to spill lies in denying what supposed to be true, and warned anyone who hold other pictures of us together from being publicly exposed. But my only mistake was I took the charged by myself without mutual conscience of the other perfect. In the end, the PICTURE PERFECT is no more but my legal fault to protect other people's personal life being betrayed.

SO REAL #01
MADDOX & ANGELINA JOLIE

Angeline Jolie was never seen by public as easily captured by men. She controlled her world, she owned her life & she did what she wanted to do! She swore, she hated & she even drugged herself. She even showed her rebellious act by carving many tattoos on her beautiful skin. She was pictured as a perfect beauty that was bound to be broken forever. She was even predicted to end up like Marilyn Monroe or a supermodel she portrayed in the TV movie 'Gia' (1998). But Angeline Jolie is not the type of star who lives up to other people's negative perception. She does what she thought what makes her happy when her heart told her so. That was when she found her first true love, a Cambodian baby boy on 10th. March 2002 whom she named Maddox Chivan. She believed her heart when she looked in the eyes of the 7 months old Asian boy. Since then whatever negativity on press about them, every time their photo together was released publicly, people can't wait to see the pair with so much charm as PICTURE PERFECT. They have prove at least being together, will make others happy too. I'm happy when Maddox & Angie look happy together... ^_^

SO REAL #02

BRAD PITT & ANGELINE JOLIE

The movie 'Mr. & Mr. Smith' (2005) has garnered unexpected box-office hit in spite of bad critiques. I even thought the movie's storyline was a cliche. But the pair of Angeline Jolie & Brad Pitt made me want to watch the movie again & again. If not because Angie was so much devoted to Maddox & at the same time was busy arranged custody to have Zahara from Ethiopia, while Brad was legally married to Jennifer, I wished this Smithens really came out real off screen. Something about them on screen told me Brad really had the right potential to tame the wild Angie. Was it the character of Mr. Smith? No, it was about Brad himself that would be able bend the tough Angie, which is now proven right. The only way to get through Angie is not to fake your heart for any reason, as true love happens without reason. Because Angie is the perfect symptom of any child raised by a mother abandoned by a perfect husband! So Hollywood finally proves not everyone in it fell for stardom, Brangelina does it perfectly pictured! What's next? Only reasons will break them down, but how could you break them with reasons when they don't listen to your negativity? So shut up haters... Brad & Angie are seriously PICTURE PERFECT for real!

There you go of how PICTURE PERFECT will judged you 'good', surreal in reality unless when you're not being so careful with it. Next time do remember, it takes two of a kind to be perfect in photo... but be warned, don't easily get amuse by it for real.

LETS BE REAL

MATT DAMON & BEN AFFLECK

They are distant cousins, they are perfectly together & their chemistry when you saw them connected on screen during interviews or winning the Academy Awards for 'Good Will Hunting' deserved them quite a speculation as gay. Funny thing was they didn't freaked out or even say no to such speculation. They praised each others like lovers do yet they still dated chicks! Most importantly, whatever people say about their chemistry together, I have no doubt they are deeply in love but sexually, girls taste better for them. So guys out there, if you happen to meet a guy that is completely make you inspired & working together make people think you are gay because of the PICTURE PERFECT, terminate the profitable friendship is like closing main door to a better future. The fact is the onlookers just unlikely fascinated by your aura together for the envy factor, but they are amuse by the chemistry & wish to see more. Yet true happiness is not either you are gay or straight, it's about making it right for the PICTURE PERFECT. Look at Ben & Matt in the picture, weren't they adorable in pair? Ok... pass!

WRITER'S NOTE:

Maybe it's true, what makes a PICTURE PERFECT for 2 of a kind is really love. Maybe too many reasons caused them failed to make perfect in real life. So whoever caught a photo of 2 persons that came perfect together in the picture, maybe there is love sparked between them. Like capture ghost in photos, I bet this is how we capture love in the same way... maybe surreal.

CHILD AGAINST ADULT; FAIR OR FOUL?

The Academy Awards (a.k.a. The Oscars) is the oldest award ceremony for the international film industry and since 1929, more than 10 child (from birth before puberty) actors and actresses has been nominated for Best Actor/Actress in Leading Role and Best Actor/Actress in Supporting Role. The nominees were...

JACKIE COOPER

He was nominated as Best Actror in Leading Role during the 4th Academy Awards (1931) for his main role in the movie 'Skippy' at the tender age of 9. But he lost the award to Lionel Barrymore (58 years old) for the movie 'A Free Soul'. Somehow, he was the first child to break the world record as the first child to be nominated in The Oscars and the second youngest so far.  

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS

She was nominated as Best Actress in Leading Role during the 85th Academy Awards (2013) for her role as Hushpuppy in the movie 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'. Being at the age of 9 during the time, she was the third youngest ever nominated for The Oscar but lost the award to Jennifer Lawrence (23 years old) as Tiffany Maxwell in 'Silver Linings Playbook'.    

 JUSTIN HENRY

He was nominated as Best Actor in Supporting Role during the 52nd Academy Awards (1980) for his role as Billy Kramer in the movie 'Kramer vs Kramer'. He is the second youngest ever nominated for The Oscar at the tender age of 8 and the first for the category of Best Actor in Supporting Role, but lost the award to Melvyn Douglas (79 years old) as Benjamin Rand in 'Being There'.

 HALEY JOEL OSMENT

At the age of 11, this boy was nominated for Best Actor in Supporting Role during the 72nd Academy Awards (2000) to grade his remarkable performance as Cole Sear in the movie 'The Sixth Sense'. But he lost the Award to Michael Cane (66 years old) as Dr. Wilbur Larch for the movie 'The Cider House Rules'. For the record, he was the second youngest to ever be nominated for the category.

 BRANDON DEWILDE

For his role as Joey Starrett in the movie 'Shane', he was nominated as Best Actor in Supporting role during the 26th Academy Awards (1954) at the age of 11 years old. But he lost the award to Frank Sinatra (39 years old) as Private Angelo Maggio for the movie 'From Here to Eternity'. 

 MARY BADHAM

She was 10 years old when nominated as Best Actress in Supporting Role during the 35th Academy Awards (1963) for her role as Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird). But she lost the award to Patty Duke (17 years old) who played the role as Hellen Keller in the movie 'The Miracle Worker'.

QUINN CUMMINGS

Played as Lucy McFadden in the movie 'The Goodbye Girl', she got nominated as the Best Actress in Supporting Role during the 50th Academy Awards (1978). Sadly she lost the award to Vanessa Redgrave (41 years old) who played the main role in the movie 'Julia'.

ABIGAIL BRESLIN

She was nominated for the Best Actress in Supporting Role during the 79th Academy Awards (2007) for her role as Olive Hoover in the movie 'Little Miss Sunshine'. But she lost the award to Jennifer Hudson (26 years old) who played as Effie White in the movie 'DreamGirls'.

PATTY McCORMACK

She was nominated as the Best Actress in Supporting Role during the 29th Academy Awards (1957) for her horrifying role as Rhoda Penmark in the movie 'The Bad Seed'. But instead of her, the award went to Dorothy Malone (32 years old) who played as Marylee Hadley for the movie 'Written in the Wind'.

With those children as nominees competing against adults for both category (Best in Leading Role and Best in Supporting Role), all of them lost to grown-ups. I was not so sure if they were fairly judged (as adults or as children who'd being professionally-acclaimed actors/actresses like adults), but putting them in the same category with grown-ups was surely a silent cruelty. Because among many of them (children!) being nominated in The Oscars which has been held for 86 times now against grown-ups, only these two kids won the Academy Awards to beat the adults...

TATUM O'NEAL

Out of the impossible at the age of 10, she became the first kid to ever garnered an Oscar for Best Actress in Supporting Role during the 46th Academy Awards (1974). Thanks to her role as Addie Logins in the movie 'Paper Moon'. She beat all the grown-ups; Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil (The Exorcist), Candy Clark as Debbie Dunham (American Graffiti), Madeline Kahn as Trixie Delight (Paper Moon) and Sylvia Sidney as Mrs. Pritchett (Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams). Since then, she was never nominated again in The Oscars although she's still acting professionally with her latest movie released was 'She's Funny That Way' as cameo.  

ANNA PAQUIN

At the age of 11, she was the second youngest to ever received an Oscar and the second youngest for the category of Best Actress in Supporting Role during the 66th Academy Awards (1994). Thanks to her role as Flora McGrath in the movie 'The Piano', she won the award to beat up the grown-up actresses; Holly Hunter as Tammy Hemphill (The Firm), Rosie Perez as Carla Rodrigo (Fearless), Winona Ryder as May Welland (The Age of Innocence) and Emma Thompson as Gareth Peirce (In The Name of the Father).Today, you might know her as Rogue in the 'X-Men' movie franchise but to the Academy Awards, so far, that was her only Oscar (although she did being nominated in other movie/TV awards ceremonies and won a few).  

Now, let us rephrase the Academy Awards for children against adults and how all of sudden the committees found it was unfair to see their acting talent being judged alongside the grown-ups. So during the 7th Academy Awards (1934), an award ceremony only for young actors/actresses (under the age of 18) was established. For what reason? Either for pity or for the sake of other young talents which were out on nomination for the real Oscar, the Academy Juvenile Award/Honorary Juvenile Award has awarded 12 young actors/actresses but let me mention only these kids who were still before puberty...

SHIRLEY TEMPLE

6 years old honoree in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the year 1934. She was the first to ever received the Honorary Juvenile Award and had been acting in more than 30 films since age 3 before made an exit in year 1949. She who had just passed away in February 10 this year (2014), is much remembered for her role as kid in a movie and hardly as grown up.  

MARGARET O'BRIEN

Being the honoree at the age of 8, she started acting since the age of 4. Still alive today (during this article is written) at the age of 77, that was the only award she received from the Academy Awards. But to be fair to the film industry, she's still actively acting (prior to demand).  

CLAUDE JARMAN, JR.

He's 80 years old today, and started his acting career by the age of 10 (during the fifth grade) and being honored as the Oustanding Child Actor of 1946 for his role as Jody in the movie 'The Yearling' when he was 12. He continued acting in 10 other movies before decided to work behind the scenes after the final film, 'The Great Locomotive Chase' as Jacob Parrot in 1956.

IVAN JANDL

This kid was pretty much special as he was a Czech and never got the chance to received his award as the honoree (by the age of 12) because he couldn't get the permit to fly to the United States in year 1948. For his role as Karel Malik in the movie 'The Search', beside the Oscar, he also won The Golden Globe Award for Best Juvenile Actor. He was recorded to have 2 more Czech films in his profile before land a job with radio station. At the age of 50 (1987), he died from complications of diabetes in Prague.

JON WHITELEY

His role as Harry in the movie 'The Little Kidnappers' has awarded him as the honoree of Academy Juvenile Award at the age of 10 in 1954. After acting in 5 films (1952-1957), he quit acting to further study and is now a respected art historian at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. He wrote his Doctorate on French painter Paul Delaroche. He published a book on the Ashmolean's Stringed Instruments in 2009, and is working on a catalog of the later French paintings in the Museum. In May 2009, he was made a chevalier (knight) of the French Order of Arts and Letters.

VINCENT WINTER

Winning as the honoree at the age of 7 alongside his co-star (Jon Whiteley) from the movie 'The Little Kidnappers' in 1954, this Scottish boy had been acting in 9 more films before landed his behind the scene talent as Production Manager for hit movies like 'Superman' (II & III), 'Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom' and 'The Color Purple'. He also became Assistant Producer for a few productions before he died in Chertsey, England, as a result of a heart attack.

So there you have them kids! Any of them above 12 years that received the Academy Award, I've considered them a teenager and well considered already a grown-up to be able competing with adult. Unless my indication here is juvenile, than I might consider those up to 18 years old or maybe 21. The biggest issue right now is how transparent did the committee of the Academy Awards upon children talents in acting when compared to the adults? How did the juries decide the child actors/actresses to be more talented than the grown-ups? What are the criteria to define a children (before puberty) is a far better actor/actress as compared to their eldest (after puberty)? As acting take a major control in psychological performance of a person, how a children translate a character as compared to how an adult translate theirs? Most importantly, why there was a period of time, The Oscars had this Juvenile Award? The question remained until it is answered with logical reasons despite of all the fame beyond the legitimate art of acting based on puberty or otherwise.   

Meanwhile in Malaysia...

Recently the Anugerah Skrin ke-18 (ASK2014) awarded a 7 years old kid, Puteri Balqis the title of 'Pelakon Wanita Terbaik Drama' (Best Woman Actor in Drama) which is pretty much an issue for the local acting industry. The problem is simple, the definition of the word 'wanita' which is translated as 'woman' that referred to someone who is able to give birth (from puberty until menopause), which any less than that is considered a child. In the common fact of biology, most female (translated in Malay as perempuan/Kaum Hawa) will reach puberty by the age of 10 (or above) and by right Puteri Balqis is not even yet close to such period. Then, this very talented child is again nominated for Asian Television Award 2014 in the category of Best Actress in Leading Role (Aktres Terbaik dalam Watak Utama) which some Malay medias again quoted as 'Pelakon Wanita Terbaik'. My concern right now is how the Malay media (as ASK2014 itself is organized by Media Prima, a media tycoon), really utilize the Malay language to its proper use (or definition) and how Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) should reworks on the Malay language by redefining the word 'aktres' as pelakon perempuan (female actor) instead of pelakon wanita (woman actor) when referred to Kamus Dewan Edisi Ke-4. But most importantly, in any talent awards, it is best to open a new category specialized only for children (or else Juvenile!) and let other categories for adults competed among themselves, grown-ups! Because kids has got to be kids... among themselves.    

DONE... ^_^"    

WIRA CICAK; RANUM DI LUAR, BUSUK DI DALAM (RE-EDITED)

Sejak beberapa bulan ni selalu jer dapat seru nak mengkritik sesetengah idea orang kita yang 'ranum di luar, busuk di dalam'. Nak ikutkan hati, memang malas nak amik port. Tapi lagi tak dimulakan, lagi tu terus saban hari perilaku persekitaran yang dilalui asyik bagi hint² yang menjurus ke arah tu. Pastu tetiba rasa cam tak sedap hati kalau terus dipendamkan, rasa cam lari dari tanggungjawab lak. Tak best betul! Masa tulah terbayang-bayangkan kata² trademark dalam francais Spider-Man...

With great power, 
comes great responsibility!

Jadi dengan bismillah, ikut jerlah gerak hati. Tapi (demi Allah!) kritikan ni dengan hati yang sabar, ikhlas & minda bersih dari prasangka mahupun iri hati. Zero enemy! Kat sini saya hanya nak kritik filem atau any subjects yang berkaitan dengan kerjaya diri sebagai penulis, pelukis komik & bekas ketua pengarang. Berdasarkan pengalaman diri & orang sekeliling. Harapan saya, dengan pendapat berbaur kritikan ni dapat menjadi renungan kepada sesetengah karyawan baru kita yang rasa...

"Sesiapa jer boleh jadi pembikin filem!"

Ini contoh sifat terlampau over-confident sampai sanggup mengenepikan ciri² 'keselamatan' yang menjurus kepada tanda amaran...

"Your first gonna be your last if U're not careful & wise enough!"

Ramai yang tak sedar hakikat sebenarnya...

"Nothing stops U but yourself!"

(Tak faham bahasa Inggeris? Maaf la... tak siapa yang halang kita daripada belajar memahami bahasa Inggeris. Kalau ada orang halang pun, sebenarnya masih boleh buat kalau niat & semangat tu ada)

Tetapi hakikat disebaliknya ialah...

"Can U really stop yourself for nothing?"

(Faham bahasa Inggeris tapi tak faham maksudnya?! Terlampau berfalsafah?! Sudah terang lagi nak bersuluh... kannn!)

Majoriti ramai yang saya temui, kenali & dekati sering terkeliru, camner saya pelajar aliran Sains (hingga berjaya menjulang segulung ijazah dalam bidang tersebut) tapi end-up jadi pelukis komik, novelis & ketua pengarang? Ada yang complaint "Sia-sia jer kau habiskan masa diploma & ijazah kau tu. Ambil ler course art ke. Ada kaitan gak. Buat membazir masa jer!"

The truth is... 
We can't really stop ourselves for nothing and hold back the thought for what we think we are before we turn to something we're not.

Masa belajar dulu, bila bosan study atau mood rasa nak melukis, saya akan melukis tak kira masa atau tempat. Masa sekolah rendah, ada la kelas belajar melukis. Masa tu jer peluang dapat mendekati minat terhadap seni lukisan. Balik rumah it's all about being a successful scholar! Bila kat rumah emak didik saya dengan fahaman bahawa TV is bad, Radio is bad, entertainment magazines are bad but encyclopedia books are GOOD! So... that's where I got the habit of being a book worm, knowledge digger & a self-taught machine. Worse... a dust is like my source of knowledge!

Maybe dumb on the outlook, but what's inside I rather not let U know for God knows me better, instead of me telling U what's worse.

Jadi kerana yang teruk tu la membuatkan saya tak tahan, gatal tangan nak tegur gak — rimas kalau dibiarkan.

'Malaysia Boleh!'

Tak boleh jadi seperti arwah Tan Sri P. Ramlee pun takper. Takyah susah²-kan diri nak jadi very outstanding. Tapi kalau diberi peluang & rasa boleh buat, buatlah tapi boleh diterimakah? Jadi kalau boleh diterima, elokkah diteruskan hingga menjadi teladan buat generasi seterusnya? Yang paling penting, boleh ke jadi one-of-a kind hari ni & selamanya dalam erti kata bukan one-of-a-kind yang satu hari nanti jadi lawak bodoh serta cemuhan orang? Sebagai contoh...

Inikah superhero pertama Malaysia yang dibangga-banggakan kerana francais filemnya mampu kaut untung besar... walaupun ia untuk tujuan komedi. Camner spesis reptilia dipanggil cicak (cicak rumah lak tu!), boleh terlepas dari penilaian Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia/FINAS & diluluskan untuk tayangan hingga mencapai box-office?! Tak kaji salasilah kejadian cicak ke? Camner Malaysia boleh dimalukan oleh bangsa sendiri dengan fakta cicak boleh menyumbangkan keistimewaan hingga menjadi manusia berkuasa perwira? Hancur la fahaman generasi muda kita pasni. Nak melawak pun melawak la gak, kan? Tapi dalam melawak tu tapis la gak, kan? Tapi jangan masa menapis pun nak melawak kot...

Nak membanggakan produk sendiri pun berpada-pada la, jangan sampai jadi bodoh sombong. Nak melawak pun biarlah kena pada tempatnya, jangan hari ini buat orang ketawa, esok kelak menangis.

Kepada pro cicak, pro Cicak-Man, pro KRU atau pro sesaper jerlah yang pro-projek ni, tolong la JADI cam superhero korang. Jangan salah ertikan kritikan ni sebab saya tahu kita tetap akan lastik cicak atas siling rumah atau mesti sagat lantai sampai bersih kalau nampak taik cicak bertepek di lantai. Tapi kalau disalah-ertikan, mesti korang akan automatik memanjangkan lidah menjilat cicak di siling @ taik cicak di lantai cam cicak gak! Tapi ia tetap makhluk yang tak layak di-superhero-kan biarpun dalam erti kata melawak sebab...

"Kenapa perlu menjadi seekor cicak sedangkan kita berkuasa seumpama seekor naga? Hanya orang yang lemah semangat saja yang tidak meyakini keupayaan diri sendiri. Belajarlah teknik berbicara dengan minda, Insya Allah kita akan mampu melakukan sesuatau yang dianggap mustahil pada satu masa dulu."

[http://virtualfriends.net/article/articleview.cfm?AID=10850]

Jadi kenapa perlu NAGA menjadi CICAK?

Sebab cicak tak selawak naga? Kerana naga hanyalah mitos sedangkan cicak memang di depan mata? Hakikatnya, cicak tetap terus menjadi lambang spesis berkeperibadian terendah berbanding lain² spesies reptilia yang sememangnya eksotik tapi bagai 'api dalam sekam' (dalam Islam sendiri hadis riwayat Muslim, Rasulullah mengesyorkan cicak dibunuh!). Mengagungkan sifatnya bak superhero dalam diri manusia terbukti tidak mampu menandingi sifat keperibadian tinggi labah-labah (Spider-Man), kelawar (Batman), kucing (Catwoman), lebah (Red Bee) atau belalang (Kamen Rider), apatah lagi semut (Ant-Man).

Anyway, kalau iyer pun nak menyokong seruan Dr. Lee Grismer (profesor dalam jurusan biologi di Jabatan Biologi, Universiti La Sierra, California, US) yang mempersoalkan... 

"Kenapa kita tidak sepatutnya menggemari cicak?!"

Dr. Lee Grismer yang begitu mengagumi spesis cicak menganggap ia sebagai hadiah yang diberi Tuhan untuk dibuka & teroka. Justeru dia mungkin boleh berbangga bahawa cicak kini menjadi kebanggaan rakyat Malaysia, tak seperti di US yang sentiasa menggambarkan spesis reptilia cam cicak sebagai super-villain (kecuali siri TV klasik 'Reptile Man' @ filem komedi 'Superhero Movie' yang tergolong dalam kategori exploitation movie oleh penganalisa filem dunia).

***************
SKETSA CICAK; IBU & ADIK 

"Ibu! Adik nak minum air yang masuk Cicak tu! Adik nak jadi cam Cicak-Man!"

 "Ibu! Adik nak jadi cam Cicak-Man, selamatkan orang dari kejahatan! Semua cicak² dalam rumah ni semua adalah kawan Adik!"

"Ibu! Adik nak super-power cam Cicak-Man, boleh panjangkan lidah, boleh melekat di dinding."

"Boleh nak, ibu tak kisah adik nak jadi Cicak-Man. Tapi kenapa Cicak-Man? Kenapa tak jadi Venom @ Toad jer?"

Venom (Spider-Man)

Toad (X-Men)

"Apa la ibu ni, tu ciptaan Barat. Mana boleh samakan dengan superhero Malaysia yang cool ni! Inilah filem superhero pertama Malaysia, ibu! Idea bangsa kita tu... Sokong la sikit."

"Tapi Adik, sememangnya tak dinafikan yang menghasilkan filem tu adalah diorang yang berbakat dalam industri perfileman & kecanggihan CGI filem tu memang cun habesss! Tak salah nak support. Tapi mengapa harus naga ingin menjadi cicak?! Lagipun Lizard (cicak) Man kan dah wujud sebagai super-villain (musuh!) Masters of The Universe."

"Itu Lizard-Man, ibu. Ni Gecko-Man!"

"Gecko biarpun menjadi simbol eksotik yang comel, namun untuk menjadikan ia sebagai simbol kekuatan unggul? Rasanya stick to the road like geckos to a wall yang menjadi tagline promosi kereta Wiesmann masih tak mencirikan kekuatannya, selain ciri eksotik yang klasik. Lebih bersifat sidekick berbanding ahead of time seperti kuda Ferrari."

"Ala... diorang kan melawak jer tu, jangan la serius sangat."

"Bagi ibu... tak salah pun guna haiwan lain sebagai idealogi superhero & lawak tu masih kekal. Lagipun kita kan ada Kenyalang dan Harimau, atau mungkin sekecil-kecil semut atau sepandai-pandai kancil, kenapa haiwan sedemikian tidak dijadikan teladan wira negara kita? Dengan kepakaran CGI yang ada, bakat penulisan dan pengarahan filem yang baik, pasti ia tetap berhasil. Tapi kenapa mesti cicak?!"

***************

Kebenarannya sekarang bagaikan seekor cicak, sering kita hanya menangkap ekornya & menganggap bahawa itulah kebenaran yang sebenar. Tapi hakikatnya mencari kebenaran itu berbahaya, tapi lebih berbahaya jika kita rasa telah menemukannya sampai terasa diri itu benar hingga cenderung menyakinkan orang lain (seperti yang cuba saya lakukan melalui penulisan ini... been there, done that!). 

Kita manusia adalah rela­tif & penuh dengan segala kekurangan, namun boleh dengan pelbagai kelebihan. Namun hakikat manusia tidak boleh menangkap seluruh kebenaran itu secara mutlak, selalu sahaja ada yang kurang. Kita tak dapat menangkap kebenaran secara utuh dan bulat, selalu saja ada sedikit yang sumbing. Apatah lagi bila wang dan kemewahan sudah menggelapkan jalan untuk melihat yang lebih baik selain keuntungan semata-mata. 

DREAM SUCCESS STARTS SINGLE

When your dream is about being a life companion to the one you love the most, that dream also will have to start alone before you've reached it. Same goes to what you want to achieve or a career you want to succeed, as a successful achiever, you still have to dream alone. The point where a dreamer has to be made by two, seriously not relevant at all unless you're hopelessly romantic type of person.  Usually these people who dream big (alone!) and achieved at peak in their respective category (that inspired many!), will surely have meaningful quotes to share with us. Let me introduce to you in the world of creativity, some of the well-known achievers of their own dreams:

BILL GATES

 This man is not a charmer, either to the bitches or the scholars. He don't have that hot looking features or that hot braining CGPAs, but he scored reasoning test of SAT for reading, writing and calculation (mathematics) with less than 10 points out of 1600. He also enrolled to Harvard University but dropped out once he found friends to realized his dream of starting a business based on his own 'software' dream; Microsoft. Before he released the Windows 95, he got married to her own project manager, Melinda. But his success accelerate further not because he got married but because he's married to a lady who supported his dream. He empowered his marriage by taking his wife not only into his dream, but also into his power.

[Category: Operating System] 

STEVE JOBS

He's maybe not the best example for a business tycoon but he surely is the best example of a creative tycoon! From the very beginning he is the man of himself, of his own dream and his own achievement, which is shared by many. He is the 'i' man; the iPhone, iPad, iMac, iTune and iPod, from Apple to Pixar to Apple again. Labeled by many business critiques as egomaniacs, he was the man of his own dream that led others to realize his vision. As a perfectionist, he wanted every detail of his dream becomes a reality. Came from a broken family, abandoned child and uncertain relationships; this man not taking marriage as priority or love companion as his success advancement. His death considered a big loss to the iCommunity, but his dream now a reality that will move forward brought by his apprentices.

[Category: Creative Digital]

OPRAH WINFREY

At the very beginning of her life, she claimed herself to be promiscuous & sexually abused. Her dream was to get connected with everybody so she can shares a lot about everything with everyone. Even her mother described Oprah's childhood as someone who liked to interview others, began with a doll to a crow. Now that she has reached her dream, reality claimed she has interviewed thousands of successful figures around the world which in the end, drove her to be successful too. Before she even knew media, during her poverty the pattern has already evolved with her as an innovation in the making. Like any rebellious kid who only wants to do what she loves doing, there goes Oprah who believes she's her own woman that having love companion is nothing more but a reward to her success, not the lead. Because she led her own way to stardom, led her friends to believe in her way to success that now she has all the the rights to be proud of the Oprah's team that led her to be a media mogul!        

 [Category: Media]

WILL SMITH

He is the man of his own success & he don't need a lady to make him famous, but he has the power to make her lady famous but never overpowered his stardom. Definitely this man is the controller instead of the decoder & hold the main power of the encoder. Since the very beginning of his career, 'be in demand' has been his natural trademark & a short failure of finance (which made him almost bankrupt because of overspending!) after being known as a successful rapper, was a blessing to move him into the acting world. Started with the 6 seasons sitcom 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air', his acting career rose extremely well that he can be considered as the 'Fresh Prince of Box Office'. Even now his own family members trying to keep up with his success & that's include his wife, Jada Pinkett. But so far, he's still the power of his own dream & master of his own success for reality. Family just got to keep up with his stardom! 

[Category: Performance]

BRUCE LEE

What so great about this man is so much more than just a martial artist of all time, he was also a philosopher. He died at the age of 32, but though deceased so young but he left a legacy so big that no one can deny that many martial arts movies surely inspired by him, though so little. Those who really adored this famous figure, will surely understood that his toughness in fighting was bloomed by his artistry ability in poetry that balanced up his martial skills. He is the best example to others about pure human expressions of the way he act in a movie, or how he practiced his own Kung Fu. The American born Chinese, he was raised by his native aristocrat family, therefore his performing skill was naturally in his blood since childhood. But how he brought martial arts to the stardom world of film industry, that was uniquely his own to begin with when compared to others!   

[Category: Martial Arts]

SOICHIRO HONDA

This man created his own journey to success inspired by a dream he transpired from his daddy's business garage to the Art Smith's airplane demonstration. His innovation skill started for his little interest of traditional education, where he created a fraud rubber stamp to represent his parent as report card's approval. He got caught after making the same stamp for his school mates! Though naughty in such a way, but his love for machinery and invention proved his skill is meant for a bigger success of his life. Started as an apprentice at a garage, then he formed his own auto repair business at the age of 22. By the age of 42, he owned Honda Motor Company which produced the best-selling motorcycles in the world which outsold Triumph and Harley-Davidson at that time. Died of liver failure in 1991, this man was an obvious proved that dream alone leads to reality shared.     

[Category: Industrial]

BI-RAIN

 He' s a great dancer, a great actor, a great singer and by all means, a great entertainer! It all begins with his passion in dancing. Though at start he was rejected for his look, and heartbroken for the death of her mother because of diabetes, his will to survive with his dream into reality has given him a chance from being outcast! He's a great example for youngsters today that once you've given a chance, never waste it for your selfish act like protruding personal 'love relationship' in the public eye except what's relate to your professionalism. Gossips and cheap publicity were not a part of this star! He was all about great effort to realize his dream. Throughout his journey as a great South Korean entertainer in the world view, he really made his success for being a total professional and everything about love, you can only have them in his singing, dancing & acting. As purely born Asian from his own native region, he only took 8 years to conquer the world entertainment industry on such high level with his musics, dramas and films. 

[Category: Entertainment]

   

None of these figures I've mentioned were tolerable people, because they're selfish dreamers who only live to cherish what they want in life. But like many, they also used to fail but unlike many, they didn't give up on their effort and never changed course just because of failures. Though how much love you have offered in trying to tame them away from their dream, they know better of how to reach love of those who will tame them in realizing their dream for the benefit of many! Not to say these people totally didn't believe in the magic of love companionship, but they believe in looking for the one that will stand with their dream till reality succeed. No dreamer wants to end up success ruined by love like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain or Whitney Houston. But who doesn't want to be dreamers who is not only success in career but also in love like Brangelina, yet still success with their own respective unique ability. 

ALBERT EINSTEIN

No matter how, it's all about how we control our own life and decide our own success to be shared by those who understand; not being controlled and never give up with our own natural talent to build effort!

STARS STILL SHINING AT 40s & ABOVE

In South East Asia, you hardly find these kind of stars shine this far, or say... close to NONE! We just started the year 2013 and let me tell you somethin'... they're not slowing down. They're moving on and moving high, higher than any young stars ever. The good example for any young star generations of how old star generations that really never give up on their talent, effort & best of all... their age! The best part is, the industry doesn't want them to stop being the leading role because they are sure still the big hit for the big budget. I mean people really want to go & watch the movie because of them, not because they are James Bond or Jason Bourne or Transformers (Err...?!). My point is they are the magnet of audience, because they are them... the STARS!

WILL SMITH
(age 45 this coming September)

 First known as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air back in 1990s (at the age of early as 22), this man is nothing but a non-stop box office hit! He's not a Jew & he's definitely black, best of all he's rapping too. Every movie with his name sitting as the main cast, guaranteed a profit making. The last time I knew, his latest film 'Men in Black III' collected 65.55% profit & coming this year is his new movie (a science fiction), 'After Earth' acted with his son, Jaden Smith (who most of his movies got box-office because he co-starred with main stars like his daddy). The thing is this 'uncle' is not quitting yet, because by 2015 you're going to see him resumes his bad boy character in 'Bad Boys III' as Det. Mike Lowrey.

SHAH RUKH KHAN
(age 48 this coming November)

How old this guy again?!!! Damn... he sure look hot for his age in the box office hit, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'. This is the most branded star of Bollywood, seriously the one & only surpassed all the young stars effort. He is definitely the next best thing in Asia that we have to agree upon fate that he's not going anywhere but making more box-office. 'Chennai Express' & 'Happy New Year' will be his upcoming movies in 2013, and every expensive world brand sure wants to have him as their spokesperson. To me, he's not really that super-duper handsome when compared to other Bollywood actors, but he sure is super-talented on screen. He knows how to turn his funny 'big nose' face to a charming gorgeous dude. Go farther Datuk, you own half of the world already!

BRAD PITT
(age 50 this coming December)

He's maybe married to one of the most exotic beautiful lady in the world, Angelina Jolie. But don't forget, before that he's already a super-hot sexy dude on and off screen of Hollywood that is not only box-office the movies he acted but also every magazine he covered, witnessed by the world! He's not only keeps on working for himself and family, but also for charity. This year you're going to see him back in action as the main cast for 'World War Z', horror zombie action-movie that surely going to use a lot of his energy as an 'old man'. Great thing is... another 2 movies with him leading; 'Twelve Years a Slave' & 'The Counselors' are planned to be out this year too. Brad sure is still working tough for 2013!

TOM CRUISE
(age 51 this coming July)

A newly divorced handsome old man that still standing hunky & smoochy as a Hollywood film star that attracts worldwide blockbuster. He's short but he's not short in fame & what else, cash! He's one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood & still making money. His latest movie 'Jack Reacher' may not well received by young critiques, but he still standing strong & the movie sure did make profit. Upcoming this year, many young audience might want to forgive him for his age because he's coming back & this time with a science-fiction movie, 'Oblivion' (adapted from a graphic novel of the same name). That's the only movie he is appearing this year, but next year he's coming back with another science fiction movie, 'All You Need is Kill' based on a Japanese light novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. You know what, sometimes I think a divorce might be a good new start after all. Huhu~

BRUCE WILLIS 
(age 58 this coming March)

The latest movie of his I've watched is 'Looper', a box office hit! Funny thing is, at the age of almost 60, producers still trust him to do action pack movies & surprisingly, all goes profitable! I'm not sure if this grandpa is going to slow down with his career, but with a new born baby daughter in 2012 with a young beautiful wife (a British model!) & 3 action-pack movies (all as the main cast) hitting worldwide cinemas this year; 'A Good Day to Die Hard', 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' & 'RED 2', he's definitely not affected by his age! Some more he's going to come back in 2014 with another action pack movie, 'Expendables 3' (with other golden age stars)! I'm not sure how he keeps his strength up & energetic, but I still remember I've read somewhere that before he became this successful, he used to be a beggar before taking job as a security guard. What a great example of a hardworking man!

JACKIE CHAN
(age 60 this coming April)

I called this man a super multi-talented human ever born in Asia! Even his own son (Jaycee Chan) couldn't outshines him. He's everything in a movie production; from casting, choreographing, filming, directing & acting... it's all by Jackie Chan! He did the fight scene himself & he even did his own box-office hit! Trust me, who else you can respect in the movie industry from Asia to West that garnered so much respect for his perfect figure as a man who never gives up on his career, even his age feels nothing compared to his energy. His latest movie, 'CZ12' though not so well received by Asian film critics, but despite all the negative responds, it's still a box office. Upcoming are more movies from him; 'Police Story 2013', 'The Karate Kid 2', 'Rush Hour 4', 'Expendables 3' & at least as voice over in 'Kung Fu Panda 3'. He's not slowing down of course!

AMITABH BACHCHAN 

(age 71 this coming October)

 He came close to Harrison Ford when it comes to which actor still active with their career. But who involves more in a lot of movies, it's Mr. Amitabh Bachchan! His upcoming movies this year as the leading role are an epic fantasy movie titled 'Talismaan', then follows by another epic political movie titled 'Satyagraha – Democracy Under Fire'. After that he's reported will reprise his role as the clever bank robber, Vijay in the sequel of 'Aankhen' followed by another type of Vijay in the sequel of 'Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap'. All those movies put him as the leading cast & even his son, Abishek Bachchan keeps biting his nails seeing his dad still top the list of Bollywood box-office stars while his daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai now in stress to lost weight to be fit like his father-in-law! Another great news about this 'bbuddah' is that at his age of this late, it is never too late to know that he has made a debut in a big-budget Hollywood movie (soon to be release in 2013), 'The Great Gatsby' as Meyer Wolfsheim (cameo appearance).

        So you see... being old doesn't mean you quit progressing in career you love the most. But what I'm trying to stress here is that mostly in SOUTH EAST ASIA, being old like them means RETIREMENT. Most likely in Malaysia the retirement mentality is at 40, I wonder why?! If not blaming themselves, the blame is on the industry itself, again I wonder how strong is Malaysians psychology when it comes to effort? It's time to wake up & moving high against all odds!

"STARS NEVER QUIT TO OUTSHINE, 

NOT RETIRE BY THE QUITTERS."

SODERBERGH: THE RIGHT TIME TO LET GO

"Everything is feeling really familiar & that's not good. The solution is to tear down my process & rebuild it from scratch. It's not an incremental process. It has to be scorched earth. I have to stop making films & maybe later come at it from a different angle. It would be abnormal to keep going, an insult to the art form."

— said Steven Soderbergh to The Times

Best known for his 'Erin Brokovich', 'Traffic', 'Ocean's Eleven', 'Ocean's Twelve', 'Ocean's Thirteen', 'Full Frontal', 'The Informant!' & among others, more than 20 movies he has directed.

It was at the age of 26 years old that he got his first pride in the International Film Industry as a director through 'Sex, Lies & Videotapes' (1989 film), by winning Palme d'Or award at Cannes Film Festival. While at that similar age, I got my first pride in the Malaysia Comic Industry by becoming sub-editor for a local comic magazine, GEMPAK™ that soon later became one of the Malaysia's best selling magazine in the respective industry. So when he decided to quit his position as one of the best director in the Hollywood film industry—his decision came after 22 years while mine came after 10 years.

He is planning to focus more on his painting while I want to focus more on my comic arts. You might saying, am I bragging over my achievement in the Malaysia Comic Industry by comparing it with the Academy Award's winner? Why Should I?! When all I wanted to do is making a prove that in life...

When we got stuck up to familiarity,

art don't prevail in such manner.

Maybe Soderbergh has given so much in his directorial career that he wants to get back to what he enjoys most, painting. Same goes to me! I've done so much for the GEMPAK™ magazine as a sub editor then editor; wrote lots of articles, trained a lot of people for their best, convinced a lot of clients & at the same time able to draw comics; published at least 4 books. Things got to change, if you don't decide early before it's too late—before hurricane strikes your fate, do it on time while you can!

Maybe most of his fans hoped after filming 'Side Effects' (2013 film), he might changes his mind & directs a few more movies. But I hope he will not do that & keeps on focus on his plan to pursue painting. At my age of 37 years old (this coming 14th February 2012), I feel overly old already because I've done so much to my life, gave up so much of my love line. While he is already 49 years old (a few months older than Brad Pitt) & already a benchmark to the respective career, which is the best time to call it a "CUT!" & moves on to his own favourite "ACTION!"

My saying is...

Why stay firm to something that makes you a hit but unhappy compared by doing something makes you steady but happy.