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KE PRESS HAS MOVED!

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http://kevii.nus.edu.sg/blog/

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KE Press Recruitment 12/13

Do you enjoy writing? Have you ever dreamt about writing for your favourite magazine, the Straits Times, ESPN or even Reuters? Looking for a chance to exercise these passions?

Well, look no further.

KE PRESS is here to provide you with THE opportunity to pursue this dream! We are now opening applications for KE Press for academic year 12/13 for both writers and editors. We look to existing members of KE media/pressas well as new, interested individuals to become a part of our team. If you are currently an existing writer/editor under KE Press, please also apply again.

Why you should join KE Press

• Challenges excite you; yes we are referring to 2-day even 24-Hour deadlines during the IHG period
• You live and breathe Microsoft Word
• For writers, you wouldn’t mind getting nagged at by your editors, when you don’t meetyour deadlines
• For editors, you are an absolute grammar Nazi and feel no in hesitation chasing down your writers for articles
•  Articles are an avenue for you to show support for your friends in sports/CCAs in a uniquely different way
• Commitment is your philosophy; you are a responsible and independent worker
• You want the satisfaction of recognition for your opinions
• Most importantly, you want to be the eyes, ears and voice of our beloved hall, KEVII.

 If you answered YES! to most of the questions above, then, KE PRESS wants you!

What if I’m not sure if I can write?

Don’t worry! We know that writing is and can be a challenge to many. We are looking for commitment, not ability. If you have a passion for writing or want to refine your skills, we would love to have you as part of our team (:

What positions are there in KE Press?

• English writer
• Chinese writer
• English editor
• Chinese editor
• Ad-hoc English and Chinese writers

 What is my jobscope as an editor or writer?

Editors (for an academic year)

• Delegation of work to your writers
• Upload of articles onto the hall blog
• Organisation and maintenance of the hall blog
• Editing articles, and giving constructive feedback to your writers to help them improve their writing
• Ad-hoc articles and interviews
• Several sports articles for IHG
• Creative intiative
• Yearbook collation

English and Chinese writers (for an academic year)**

• 4-5 articles related to hall events
• Free and easy lifestyle articles, e.g. interviews, weekly columns
•  Ad-hoc interviews with selected residents
• Approximately 4 sports articles for IHG
• Creative initiative

**A note for ad-hoc writers: If you would like to apply as an ad-hoc writer, we welcome you to do so. As an ad hoc writer, you can choose to write lifestyle articles during your own time, own target. You may also have to back up writers to cover some events, in the case that the writer is unable to attend his/her delegated hall event.

How do I apply?

• Sign up or simply express your interest for KE Press as an editor or writer at the following link:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERidW9Sc215c0NWWFdIbnBQX3pWR0E6MQ

• Do also remember to come down to our booth during the CCA fair to book your preferred interview date and time
• We will be holding interviews most likely in the week after CCA fair. Don’t stress! It will be an informal 5-10 minutes sit-down session.
• If you have any queries, do feel free to email either me or Zachary (Press Vice Head) at yeap.celine@gmail.com and zacharylow@hotmail.com

Express yourself, join KE Press! (:

Regards,
Celine and Zachary

Heads, KE Press 12/13

The Smoking Marshalls at Stardust 2012

Written by: Jen Yeh

Edited by: Celine Yeap

Photos by: KE Vision

Stardust 2012, aka, a night of epic talent, is an annual nationwide talent-search competition organized by the NUS Bizad Club to promote and encourage the music scene in Singapore. This year, over 200 people/bands auditioned via Youtube. Of these 200, a total of ten solo vocalists and five bands, including KEVII’s own Smoking Marshalls, moved onto the finals held at the Lasalle College of the Arts.

Stardust 2012, a night of epic talent

 Of the solo vocalists, several really stood out from the rest. One was Iskandar Aziz, a guy whose unassuming appearance masked an incredible voice and great guitar skills. As soon as he opened his mouth and began to sing, the crowd was immediately won over. Another notable singer was Nurhayati Abdul Malek. Her smooth voice and emotional performance earned her compliments from the judges, as well as an extra comment from one judge that she was “really an eye-candy.” Boon Hui Lu performed a cover of Jessie J’s “Pricetag,” a song that had must meaning for her because of her family’s financial background. Her strong stage presence, cute appearance, and fun attitude won the crowd over. Last to sing was Tan Shi Yu who chose to perform a piece that differed greatly from all the other vocalist’s choices. She delivered a stunning rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Miserables” causing the judges to declare that she had made the night “worth the money” for everyone present.

Following a very funny performance from the local duo Jack and Rai, it was time for the bands to compete. There was clearly much support in the crowd for various bands, some of which had come from within NUS, and all were noteworthy. The first band Chasing Daylight had many fans, with many of these appearing to be fans of the lead singer/guitarist (this reporter admits that he was quite cute and charismatic). The Kovan Leopards performed some jazz-inspired covers of Michael Jackson, even working in a twist on JB’s “Baby.” Quis, a band that originally did JPop songs, covered Kesha’s English version of SNSD’s “Run Devil Run”, followed by a mashup of Lady Gaga songs. Take Two, a band from Eusoff Hall, gave everyone a lesson in Indie music. Platonic π stood out from the rest by incorporating  a cappella elements in their songs where all seven of their members showed off their great voices.

The Smoking Marshalls!

When it was the Smoking Marshalls’ turn to perform, the supporters from KEVII went wild. The rest of the audience, including the emcees themselves, seemed impressed by Sheik’s build as he strode out onto the stage in a singlet. As those who have watched the Smoking Marshalls’ performances before will know, a bit of stripping can usually be expected on Sheik’s part, so his initial appearance caused some confusion due to his lack of layers. However, he soon assured us by saying that the Smoking Marshalls would be trying something “different” this time around.

Sheik’s infamous build

The band’s set included some older rock songs, including the classic “Eye of the Tiger” and an exciting crowd pleaser, “The Final Countdown.” Sheik’s vocals combined with his stage presence and bodybuilder antics helped to hype up the crowd, while the rest of the band dominated in their individual instruments. During the first song, Sheik began to put on more layers over his singlet, much to the consternation of KEVII fans. However, he soon began to lose the layers (to the delight of the crowd), even throwing his hat so high into the stage lights that it got stuck (leaving the next band paranoid that it would drop on their heads during their performance). As “The Final Countdown” reached its last screaming note, Sheik went one step further and tore his singlet in half. Cheers and screams resounded throughout the hall, while many guys in the audience bowed in the face of Sheik’s muscles.

 The judges all said that the performance was very entertaining, with one jokingly asking if Sheik would punch him if he commented negatively. Though they stressed focusing on the musicality of the pieces more, all of the judges, and the crowd, had a very good time. Even though the Smoking Marshalls started out the night with a small group of KE supporters, they certainly won themselves some fans during their time on stage.

At last, the emcees read the results. Of the solo vocalists, the dark horse contender Iskandar Bin Aziz placed third. The cute and entertaining Boon Hui Lu placed second, while Tan Shi Yu, who performed “I Dreamed a Dream,” placed first. The audience waited in anticipation while the emcees waited for the judges to decide on the band placements. Finally, the results were delivered and promptly read: The Kovan Leopards placed second, while Quis placed third. After a long pause, the emcees and the solo vocalists all shouted out the name of the first place band: Platonic π!! There was much applause as all the winners showed their trophies and the night of epic talent showcasing ended.

The emcees for the night

Although the Smoking Marshalls did not place, it is clear that they and everyone else enjoyed themselves immensely. A big applause to all the contestants who poured their all into their performances; the results were undeniably amazing. As I left the hall, I was very impressed with the amount of musical talent present in Singapore. I look forward to the Smoking Marshalls other performances in the coming school year, hopefully complete with the ever present stage charisma and added hat tossing.

Regarding that hat, to my knowledge, it is still stuck in the lighting of the Lasalle College of Arts auditorium with no intention of coming back down to earth.

Good lookers of the West Wing

Reported by : Julian Tay

Edited by : Victor Lee

It was less than a month ago when half of the KEVII Hall residents were dressed up as witches, unholy spirits bikers, members of the netherworld or just plain formal for Dinner and Dance 2012: FEAR. It was a night filled with excitement with games like the ‘No Laughing’ game, performance by a professional illusionist and tantalizing giveaways during the Lucky Draw segments. However, it was the pageant segment which stole the limelight that night with elaborate costumes and makeup, sexy yet terrifying dance performances and hilarious replies during the Q&A segment.

This article thus serves as a sequel to the Q&A segment that night by providing more insights into the experiences of some of our beloved pageant contestants. I managed to catch hold of the 2 couples from F and GH Block, Melissa Chee (MC) and Zachary Low (ZL) from F Block and Yasmin Yeow (YY) and Wesley Chan (WC) from GH Block for a brief interview and here are their responses.

What the King of F block looks like when he steams.

1.         What was(were) the title(s) that you won in DnD?

MC: Miss Personality

ZL: Mr. Sexy. I also don’t know why.

YY: Miss Photogenic

WC: Mr Popular + the psycho-motor guy who couldn’t dance

2.         How would you describe your experience being in the DnD pageantry over the past year?

MC: It has definitely been a fun and new experience, I mean it’s not every day that we have an occasion to wear pretty gowns, glam up and dance. Closer to D-date, things got really hectic but it was all worth it in the end. Looking back, the most important thing was about the connections formed between the contestants as well as our caregiver mummy Laine! :)

ZL: Tiring, punctuated with periods of late-night excitement and too much makeup.

YY: It was a totally, totally new experience and very unexpected. I have never done anything like this before but it was fun and definitely something that I will remember fondly of for the rest of my life.

WC: Yasmin your answer is so scripted.

Their love-hate relationship...are both parties playing hard-to-get?

3.         What was the most memorable moment that you had during the course of your preparation?

MC: DAILY DANCE PRACTICES WITH THE GIRLS! What heartened me was how the other contestants actually came to my aid when I was lost after not learning Stacey’s section of the dance. Hee. Practicing with them every night before DnD was really fun. Actually even shopping with the girls for our dance costumes or going to Masquerade to pick out costumes for ourselves and our partners was memorable too! They are all really good memories!

ZL: Memorable implies something positive, so I’ll say… supper? Pizza and butter chicken are always cause for fond reminiscence.

YY: Probably the day before DND when most of us went for a dinner buffet and just talked and joked and talked some more J It was bittersweet because we were relieved that it was ending but at the same time, it was sad because it had been a great experience.

WC: The most memorable moment for me had to be during the filming of the games (the video that was shown during DnD), where we were eating and puking coffee at the same time. (this part wasn’t shown during the video), but it was a game where each of us had a cup (the cup from dining hall), and we drew lots for utensils of different sizes. The utensils would then be used to scoop coffee powder from A BUCKET OF COFFEE and we only had that small cup to fill with hot water. Most of us ended up shovelling undissolved coffee powder into our mouths, and the ‘Whatsapp’ group was busy till 5am. Life damn tough.

Behind that innocent facade is someone who ranks top 50 in the world for the WoW.

4.         Which was your favourite pageant segment and why?

MC: Can I pick two segments? :D In chronological order, it would be the themed catwalk first because I really enjoyed the Alice character and my prop Bunny. Also, Zach was really in sync with the Mad Hatter image so it made the themed catwalk fun. After that it has to be the dance segment, we worked hard to improve our dance and when we danced it for the last time on stage it was when we really gave it our all. I felt happy yet strangely sad after we were done with it, but still insanely proud of all of us for doing our best that night.

ZL: The introduction to the themed catwalk… I got to prance around like a madman. Any excuse for doing silly things is a good excuse.

YY: Playing the games for the funny video that was shown during DND. That was the easiest part out of all the pageant segments (i.e. dance, photo shoots, catwalk, video, finding dresses) plus… the girls won! :D

WC: Yeahh the games were definitely the most fun. Not forgetting Yasmin manhandling most (all?) of the guys, there’s a short 1s moment in the silent library video where u see her turning around and delivering a textbook punch to my sternum.

5.         Did it take a lot of sacrifice in terms of time, energy and so on to be a pageant in DnD?

MC: Close to the actual DnD, yes, in terms of finding costumes, practising for catwalk and dance. All of these were time consuming and tiring, especially when you find yourself up at 4am in the morning trying to rush assignments.

ZL: The DnD prep comes right after the IHG season ends… and happens in the week where every single assignment is due. You say leh? That said, other people probably sacrificed more.

YY: YES! They did not tell us that we would have this much to do during the pageant interview. It was especially challenging for someone who is not aesthetically inclined and is quite unglamorous. But it was a good experience and I learnt a lot! I still can’t sing though.

WC: Actually, I didn’t really think it took up that much time! Looking back, I am surprised we managed to learn the dance(s) and all the segments in such a short time—we only started rehearsals the week before the DnD. Yeah well, if u saw me dance then maybe that kind of makes sense…

6.         What would you like to say to your supporters who cheered you on and voted for you that night?

MC: Thank you so much for your support, friends. I wouldn’t be here without you lovely people. In case you still believe that I am an internationally ranked StarCraft II player, sorry to disappoint but I am not. HOWEVER, do watch out for me, melchee92, coming soon heehee. :)

ZL: That I love them all and would like to give each of them a hug. They can hug me in the dining hall if they still want to redeem the post-celebratory hug. Also, a big shout out to my partner, melchee92, for putting up with me. It isn’t as easy as it sounds.

YY: Thank you so much for coming and supporting us!!! You guys were the ones who made the night unforgettable! I would like to say an even bigger thanks to the people who really believed in me from the start and encouraged me throughout this entire journey.

WC: Uh….Sorry?

7.         How did you find the friendships that you have forged with the other pageant contestants?

MC: The fact that we became friends from being mere acquaintances or even strangers is really something to be thankful for. I think I am blessed to have met these people. The friendships that we have forged after late night practices are certainly meaningful and it would be really heartbreaking if we treated each other as strangers!

ZL: The friendships forged were friendly. Indeed.

YY: That was the best part of this whole experience. I would say that we all know one another a lot better now. The girls (including Mummy Elaine) grew especially close because we would have extra dance practices together and we bonded over many things. Wes and I even have a semi-truce! Haha. But seriously, Wes really helped me A LOT and he was very patient with me. I would not have been able to do this without him. Thanks so much, Wes J

WC: I think we started off really well from the first supper, where it all began? We had these games where suddenly everyone showed how spastic they could be. I think it helped that nobody really treated it like a competition; it was more like a team effort to put up a good show. And yes, Yasmin’s energy was contagious; I think our couple-antagonism kinda worked out huh J

8.         Given the opportunity, would you go through it all over again?

MC: Would agree in a heartbeat if it were with the other contestants as well as mummy Laine, Shaam, Celes, Auggy, Stacey and anyone else who helped in the process of DnD. :)

ZL: You mad bro?

YY: Do you mean, “If I had to relive my life, would I still join KE pageant?” or “ Would I join another pageant if I was asked to?”. For the first question, I guess that I would still join KE pageant again. It is kind of tough to reject when you are sabotaged but looking back, I am glad that I was J For the second question, it would have to be a definite “no”. One pageant is more than enough. Wes and I were asked to join another pageant recently too but for me, I don’t want to spoil the good memories that I have of KE pageant. Pageant was truly one of the highlights of this academic year J

WC: If maybe we could swap partners…(: then yeah, definitely.

 

 

Games Night : A night not to be missed

Reported by : Koh Pin Lang

Edited by : Victor Lee

If you missed out on Games Night, you’ll probably have to wait a long while before you can enjoy another great East Wing supper. This annual event has been held for the past 3 years. While the idea of having fun and playing games remained, I assure you the event is very different from last year. Tempted by the early door gift, I arrived at the communal hall early and got a nice bar of chocolate! The turnout for the event seemed quite good. As I sat down beside a fellow blocker, I realize that some West wing people were present as well. The ever hospitable AB Block Committee seemed to have invited West Wing for the event as well. Oh, the more the merrier! The supper officially started after a brief speech by the new AB RF, Professor Chiu.

The best artist wins!

The first game was adapted from the popular smartphone application, Draw Something. For those who have never heard of this application, it’s basically ‘Pictionary’ but on a smartphone. The two emcees Jen and Sue Yuin were encouraging and asked for volunteers from the audience.  The crowd was quite responsive and everyone had a good time laughing and guessing the pictures drawn. One of my favorite moments was the battle between the block heads, Vicki and Winnie. Armed with a marker, the block heads set out to draw the most convincing picture. The initial drawings were slightly odd. Winnie drew a rectangular block-like thing. As for Vicki’s drawing…it didn’t make much sense either. However, when Winnie started drawing a second picture that resembled a drumstick, someone from the crowd rushed to the front of the stage and shouted ‘Butter Chicken!’, which was the correct answer.  Despite being a AB blocker, I must admit that Winnie is slightly more talented in drawing.

Look at all that food!

With the end of the first game, supper was served.  Trays and trays of food were laid out at the sides with the block committee members ready to dish out the tasty food. Interestingly, there were some new dishes, like kaya toast. I think what puzzled me the most was the Japanese pancake (Okonomiyaki). It looked rather odd to me at first but with the addition of Japanese fish flakes, seaweed and sauce, it begun to resemble a little like a blown-up version of the Japanese octopus balls. In fact, many blockers said it tasted a little like it but with way more vegetables. After reaching the end of the serving table, my plate was piled high with nuggets, fries and fruits. But my favorite was the ice cream cream puffs. Even writing about it makes me hungry! With my plate of food in one hand and a drink the other, I settled down for part 2 of Games Night.

East Wing-ers!

When the next game stated, I found it oddly familiar. Suddenly, it struck me that it was adapted from the TV show Minute to Win, where the contestants had to perform seemingly simple tasks using everyday items such as straws. A handful of blockers from each block had to be sent on stage for this game. The crowd shouted different names enthusiastically and the teams were soon formed. Each team member was up against the opposing team for an individual challenge. One of the tasks was particularly entertaining to watch. Hwee Ting and Yan Yi were first up in a slipper throwing competition. Holding a laundry bag in hand, Yan Yi had to catch the slippers thrown by Hwee Ting, who was only allowed to use her toes. It was hilarious watching the girls as they tried to figure out the best way to perform their respective tasks. Initially Yan Yi was confused about her role and caught the slippers with her hands then placing it in the laundry bag, After a reminder by the emcees, she soon able to catch the slippers with the laundry bag. As you might already expect, the numerous failed attempts left the crowd roaring in laughter. This reminds of the next task , ice-cream eating. It was a fight between Germaine and Yan Shi to see who can finish a bowl of ice cream faster. Taken straight out of the ice box, the ice creams were frozen hard and the contestants struggled to get to their ice cream. Germaine even broke the plastic bowl! The crowds were cheering and chanting for their own blockers. Yan Shi was declared the winner after devouring his ice cream.

The last segment of the supper was the lucky draw. The one and only prize was a lomography camera. Zhi Yi of B302 won the prize and the supper came to an end shortly after. Though Games Night 11/12 did not have sexy ‘babes’ (seniors, remember the ex AB and CD block heads with their great figures?) like last year,  it was a definitely a night to remember.

 

Hallplay 2012 : Overdue but still deeply etched in our minds

Reported by : Azrin NAZIR

Edited by  : Victor Lee

When I signed up to be the Head of Set Building for Hallplay 2012, I already had a rough idea of what to expect. I was a member of the set building team for Hallplay 2011 under the legendary Michael Warren Lim. To build a set that could produce a believable environment where they could immerse themselves into the world of the Baker family. That was my dream. It wasn’t just me though — the entire steering committee though working on many different things, had the common goal of reaching the high standards set by our predecessors.

To me, ‘Come Blow Your Horn’ is a story about growing up. The irresponsible and self absorbed Alan Baker who cannot come to terms with the realities of growing up and his own feelings. The young and naïve Buddy Baker, who is beginning to take the first steps away from his sheltered upbringing. Put these two contrasting personalities with their parents, whom most of us can relate to. Mr Baker, the strict and despotic father who only wants the best for his sons. Mrs Baker, the typical dramatic and worrisome mother who loves her children dearly.

Alan and Buddy are at the crossroads of their lives. Alan is torn between a promiscuous lifestyle, courting girls like Peggy (the stereotypical blonde/bimbo) and the as of yet unrealized love of his life, Connie (sweet, beautiful and family oriented girl). Buddy, who just ran away from home to stay with Alan, is torn between living life to the fullest and the disappointment of not meeting the expectations of his parents. Coupled with problems with the family’s wax fruit business, both Alan and Buddy are disowned by their father. To make matters worse, Alan messes things up with Connie because of his reluctance to commit to a serious relationship.

3 weeks later and we see an almost incredible transformation. Alan with his new found sense of responsibility tries to set things right, finding new business deals for the business. Baker with his newfound freedom, blossoms into a flirtatious man very much like Alan 3 weeks ago. Not only did the brothers’ personalities clash, things worsened when their own mother runs away from home to live with Alan and Buddy after she could not tolerate her husband’s passive-aggressiveness at home. With Mr Baker arriving on the scene further chaos ensued. Connie’s arrival sparks a sudden moment of clarity in Alan as he finally realizes what he had always subconsciously yearned for. He proposes to Connie and finally gets his father him not as an irresponsible bum but as a dependable son. They reconcilled and Mr Baker even allows Buddy to carry on with his current lifestyle, seemingly to understand that everyone goes through that rebellious phase before they can finally grow up.

I have come to love not just the main characters, but also every single member of Hallplay 2012. The level of commitment was absolutely amazing. Rehearsals were always held almost full attendance, regardless of the date. Personally, I was impressed with the number of people who turned out for the rehearsal on New Year’s Eve.

Preparation work started days after the CCA fair in Semester 1 after all the members were split into their different sub committees. The sacrifices made by the all the committed members paved the way for a successful production. From the cast practicing for hours every day to memorize their lines to the marketing team arranging for sponsors when exams were around the corner, to the ticketing department for taking on the nightmarish task of keeping records for tickets sold, or the publicity team who worked tirelessly to make sure that the production was made known not just to KEVIIANs but to the rest of the school.

Behind the cast’s stellar performance was the director Annie, who was constantly making improvements so that the audience will get the best possible show. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of people to be in charge of. As Head of the set building team, I have to be a little biased right now and thank set décor head Vincent and his team for being so instrumental in bringing the set to life. Of course how could I forget my own team of builders for sticking with me all the way!

In all honesty, Hallplay 2012 was one of the most defining moments of my hall life this academic year. Being part of the steering committee has allowed me to witness the bigger picture and appreciate the finer details that go behind a production of such scale. It has allowed me to make new friends and create memories that I will cherish despite the many hours spent during my holidays.

Now that its all over, I feel slightly empty inside.

DND 12′: Fear, A Contestant’s Experience

Written by Zachary Low

Edited by Celine Yeap

The room is cold: the air-conditioning is at full blast. Yasmin, Ashley and Jen are curled up in decidedly unglamorous foetal positions on the floor, seeking whatever warmth they can find in layers of fabric. Alex and Wesley, with makeup already on, are reading their lecture notes. Jack is wearing a singlet, sleeping in a chair, oblivious to the cold. Isaac entertains the rest of the world. While Mel and Celine are having their makeup done, I mentally slap myself for not bringing anything to do.

Pageant girls (spot Yasmin and Ashley behind the chairs) and me, foaming hard.

Two hours later and I am regretting my decision to let everyone else get their makeup done first – I suffer the ignominy of having nine other people laughing at my pained expression as my face becomes the slightly unwilling canvas of the makeup artist. But a miracle happens and in ten minutes I am the gleeful owner of rust-orange eyebrows and blue eyeshadow. We move backstage and await the beginning of the pageant themed catwalk segment of the evening’s entertainment.

The powers of make up

This is it: DND at last! No more late night dance practices, later night photoshoots, strange games, costume fitting, catwalk training, et cetera. On the 25^th of March, as KEVIIans gathered for the annual dinner and dance, I stood backstage, relieved that the entire pageant process would be ending soon.

Life is tough when you’re backstage. You can’t eat the food, for one. When finally released into the main hall, I descended upon the food, inhaling whatever was on my plate. I must admit that the excellent fare was a welcome change from the daily diet that we all enjoy.

No magic show to watch – from backstage you can hear the oohs and aahs of the crowd.

One must wonder what Mitchell is smiling about.

Also, you can’t see Shaam and Ryan strut their stuff as the emcees for the day. Life is tough.

I did, however, enjoy myself immensely in being allowed to prance around like the Mad Hatter.

But DND isn’t just about the show. It’s also about the people in hall. An occasion to dress up and where everyone is licenced to break normal social etiquette: where else can you see Andy Sim wearing pseudo-diapers? At this point one must stop to ponder what walking back to hall in that outfit must have felt like. Other than the slightly disturbing (in addition to the abovementioned example, please also refer yourself to pictures of the winner of the ‘most sexily dressed female’), there was a huge variety of other costumes on display, from chained-up ghosts, MIB agents wielding Nerf guns and Super Soakers, and even a gang of Al-Ameen delivery bikers. I suspect that the rampant photo-taking that was going on had something to do with all this dressing up.

Al-Ameen delivery bikers – did they bring the naan?

Please explain the physics behind your… weapons?

This night of debauchery fun was punctuated by the MAB awards ceremony, which saw Lok Liangxun and Jen Yeh taking home the Freshman and Freshgirl/Freshlady/Freshwoman/Fresh-I-don’t-know-if-there’s-a-specific-term of the Year awards respectively, and Eddie Tan receiving the Outstanding KEVIIan Award, among others. The night’s activities ended with the crowning of our very own Hall King and Queen: Isaac Chay and Ashley Tong of CD Block.

Liangxun - our freshman of the year!

Jen - our freshman (female) of the year!

Ashley and Isaac - Hall Queen and King

As DND concludes and people move out of the ballroom to begin a new round of photo-taking, it becomes a hugely communal activity, a celebration of the friendships forged over the year. Group photos for the different blocks spark off new cries for various CCAs to gather to take more group photos. The lobby of the Kent Ridge Guild House becomes a space in which KEVIIans affirm and immortalize their friendships through the vehicle of a digital camera. A very noisy space, no doubt, but  a space in which a warm, fuzzy feeling manifests itself. Perhaps this is why people indicate their ‘home’ on their Facebook profiles as 1A Kent Ridge Road.

Even amidst the rush and preparation for the proverbial crunch that is the Finals (with a capital F, mind you), I find myself looking forward to going to DND – just another reminder on why hall life is such an enriching experience.

Speaking of enriching, the acquisition of the ‘Mr Sexy’ title also came with a voucher from New Urban Male. One must wonder how these two equate. The prim and proper Zachary Low, confronted with the prospect of entering a NUM store, is at a loss of what to do. Maybe you can help.

Hall King and Queen Interview

Written by Mitchell Yeo

Edited by Ong Hui Shan

While attempting to organize the interview with the Hall King and Queen, it was clear that the chemistry between the east-wingers is very good. Both of them displayed due consideration for each other, always asking if the other had lessons. Let’s find out the post DND-feelings from the regal couple of CD Block.

Press: Immediate reaction upon being crowned King and Queen?

Isaac: I was d*** shocked, didn’t expect it. I was just in it to have fun and make new friends.

Ashley: Can I answer first so that I can say those two lines? I was not expecting it either. Amongst all the girls, I was the least active person in hall!

Press: Who was your biggest competition?

Isaac: Shaam! All the guys are d*** c**** ; there was no competition amongst us. All of us were just in it to have fun.

Ashley: Chay. *laughs. Jen. She is so haps and tall. She has a lot of CCA points from just one semester of stay; she is so crazily involved, always volunteering to be emcee and other activities. And she doesn’t even need to because she is on exchange.

 

Intense chemistry between Ashley and Isaac

 

 

Press: Has post-DND life been different from pre-DND life?

Isaac: Webcasting is my new best friend. But no, not much difference. People still calls me Isaac or Chay with the occasional disses of “hall king”.

Ashley: End of DND freed up a lot of time and the sudden realization of the need to begin studying.

Press: Has members of the opposite gender displayed more attention post D&D?

Isaac: NO. But more people in hall have said “hi” to me. I live in D Block; the ulu part of hall, so not many people know me. But I am still not getting any.

Ashley: People I don’t know say hi and hall queen under their breath. *laughs

 

Press: What is most memorable about the entire process?

Isaac: It brought everyone closer especially when we were struggling with the dance. It was good to have the Shaam along to help.

Ashley: The dance practices! We put a lot of time into it and it was really fun. The chorographers were experimenting with weird stunts and all.

 

AY10/11 and AY11/12 Hall King: David and Isaac

 

 

Press: What do you think about Melissa picking Isaac to live on the island together?

Isaac: Zachary was not around for most of the catwalk and dance practices and I was always the stand-in to partner Melissa. And I am of the same height as Zach so I could try on his costumes. So in that way, we got closer. But I can use my limited medical knowledge to save her and I know CPR now.

Ashley: So, you might just get some after all.

 

Press: So, I was in the DND-nominee interview with you guys. Do you think I stood a chance at toppling the Hall King?

Isaac: YES, YOU WOULD! YOU WOULD GET A LOT OF VOTES. HALL BEAST.  On a personal level, when I was selling DND tickets to my Hall Play steering committee, Pin Lang mentioned that she would vote for you if you were one of the contestants. So yes, you would stand a chance.

Ashley: *speechless and stares into blank space.

Thanks for the support Pin Lang.

 

Press: So, tell us the secret of CD Block. How is it that you guys are able to produce the Hall King over and over again?

Ashley: Hide them in a corner of the hall and all of a sudden, bring them out for all to see for the first time and BOOM.

 

Press: Speaking of CD Block, any idea who played the prank on April’s Fools Day?

Isaac: No idea. Someone said it’s Sophie but she’s not tall enough. My friend from FASS also knew about the prank. I really want to know who did it, it’s so cool.

Ashley: No idea either. It was very freaky; I was home for the weekend.

 

AY10/11 and AY11/12 Hall Queen: Yutong and Ashley

 

 

Press: So, does Ashley really go for brainy guys (based on your answer during Q&A)?

Ashley: Not to Sheldon Cooper’s extent. I am an English Nazi; it is something I won’t compromise on. I would go for someone I can hold a conversation with, and not having to constantly correct him.

 

Press: Fellow pageant contestant Zachary is a Grammar Nazi too. Would you consider him?

Isaac: He has big boobs and is a first-class c***. Would he even consider you?

Ashley: *seriously pondering He’s too full of himself. Chay is also full of himself. Actually all the guys are full of themselves, Jack being the least.

 

Red Riding Hood and Huntsman

 

 

Prior to the interview, office staff Jackie was chatting with our royalties. She even wants a photo of the couple printed with their signatures to be displayed in the office.

Press: It sounds like Jackie is your biggest fan. What do you have to say about that?

Isaac: She is damn cool; (I) respect how she remembers everyone’s names. She knew my name even before I checked in.

Ashley: She takes the effort to know the residents. It is very commendable and she is a fun person to talk to. She’s very cute; she knew the pageant contestants and couldn’t decide who to vote for.

 

At this point, Jackie walks in with cups of tea and biscuits. (The resident interviewer had a share too.) She even asked our hall queen if one packet of sugar was sufficient. Need I say more? Jackie said that she had voted for Celine knowing that Ashley would have won. Jackie went on to say that she was under the impression that Ashley and Wesley were dating as they once had breakfast together. Even their names rhyme.

 

Isaac: Jackie is the only one who has showed me special treatment. I am touched. The most romantic thing a girl can say to a guy: I cannot finish my food; can you eat it for me?

Ashley: I cannot finish my biscuit; can you eat it for me?

 

Aww…

 

Press: Any closing statements? Anyone you would like to thank? Anything you want to say to your subjects in hall?

Isaac:  I would like to thank the DND committee, especially the pageant side.

Ashley: Mummy Elaine, Shaam and Celestine! They followed us everywhere for costumes-fitting and dance practices. Elaine was like a baby-sitter, always taking care of us even when she was ill.

And this concludes the intimate interview with our victorious couple, Isaac and Ashley! All hail the Hall King and Queen of 2012!

KE Chinese Drama 2012: Amber

Written by Stephanie Yeo

Edited by Mitchell Yeo/Ong Hui Shan

“Amber is a pure chroma colour on the colour wheel halfway between orange and yellow. It is named for the material known as amber, which varies from nearly yellow to orange or reddish-orange.” Its ambiguity and complexity resemble that of human feelings in this story, as the characters go through a whirlwind of emotions, the most compelling one of which, is love.

An hour before the show started at 8pm, there was already a long, winding queue at the entrance. Some people got there early just to reserve tickets and get the best seats in the theatre. The response to the KE Chinese Drama production has always been positive, thanks to the strong reputation built year on year since its inception 12 years ago.

“Amber” tells of a gripping love story. The heroine’s (Xiao You, played by Cheng Ran) fiancé dies tragically in a car accident. She later learns that his heart had been donated to the suave but cynical playboy Gao Yuan (played by Hua Yue). In Act 1, the life and personality of Gao Yuan is revealed. His failing heart is a result of his flamboyant lifestyle – sex, women and alcohol. When Xiao You finds out that Gao Yuan possessed her dead fiancé’s heart, she visits him in hospital just to “hear his heartbeat”. Flattered by the attention Xiao You gives him, Gao Yuan decides to seduce her on first sight (she is single and pretty afterall). A video on Xiao You’s depression and despair after the death of her beloved was also screened. This video presentation is a first in KE Chinese Drama history.

on-stage chemistry between the protagonists

In Act 2 after the intermission, things start to heat up as the love story between Xiao You and Gao Yuan unfolds: motives are questioned. Beneath her soft-spoken demeanor as a museum curator, Xiao You seems to be suppressing her fiery passion for Gao Yuan, who is certain that Xiao You has fallen madly in love with him. The tides turn when Xiao You finally reveals that she has been following him around, burying her head in his chest just to hear his heartbeat, the only remnant of her fiancé’s presence in this world. It was an epiphany of all sorts, as the liar realizes that he had been cheated by a woman who came across so harmless and fragile. Nevertheless, it was still a good ending as Xiao You eventually comes to terms with her fiancé’s death and Gao Yuan decides to cherish this woman, all of this expounded in a lengthy exchange of sweet nothings and confessions.

the lovers embrace

This year, things were done a little bit differently – the production team toyed with the idea of experimental theatre. Instead of having the audience as passive observers, they wanted the audience to react directly to the characters’ actions, and engage them on a subconscious level by challenging their thoughts. The sets were simple, white wooden boxes. They could be easily climbed on or moved anywhere on stage by the characters, representing the characters’ intentions to overcome an obstacle or realise a thought.

enter the music mode!

The team also pushed their creative boundaries by incorporating many visual treats, one of which was the video presentation right in the middle of the play, and a music-cum-dance number choreographed by Zeyu, also another first in KE Chinese Drama. The play became the talking point for the rest of the night as people pondered the deeper message delivered in this novel approach.

Chinese Drama never fails to impress with their high standards of production and publicity, from their superb acting to the ingenious use of technology. It’s no surprise that the turn out every year is close to full house for both production dates!

CD Team 2012!

KE Hall Play 2012: Come Blow Your Horn

Written by Stephanie Yeo

Edited by Mitchell Yeo/Ong Hui Shan

Blow your horn: proudly proclaim your achievements

Hall Play 2012 was definitely worth every penny I paid for. The audience was thoroughly entertained with the hilarious screenplay and comedic chemistry of the cast, against the backdrop of an impressively lifelike apartment interior set (I really liked the bar and fireplace!). This was further augmented by ambient lights and sounds which fitted the play to a T. The hallplay ensemble could only have delivered such a heartstopping and smooth-running performance under the capable leadership of Producer Pin Lang, Production Manager Linus, and Director Annie.

“Come Blow Your Horn” is the first play written by Neil Simon in 1961. An interesting piece of trivia: the play was previously made into a movie starring Frank Sinatra, who was subsequently nominated for a Golden Globe, as Alan Baker in 1964! The play tells the story of a young man’s (Buddy Baker, portrayed by Wesley) decision to leave the home of his parents, and arrive unannounced, at the bachelor pad of his older brother, Alan Baker (played by Asher).

Alan leads a swinging and carefree ’60s lifestyle – he would rather chase girls than take over his family’s business. Much to Buddy’s surprise, Alan welcomes him with open arms as he is glad that his younger brother is finally taking a shot at independence. The 2 brothers cannot be more different – Buddy is no ladies’ man, awkward around girls, and has always been “Mummy’s boy”.

As the story unfolds, Alan tries to integrate Buddy into the New York community, teaching him the “cool” way of life. Buddy embraces the whole new culture so successfully that he soon takes over his brother’s liquor cabinet and girlfriends, like struggling actress Peggy (played by Stacy). Buddy is so eager to please Peggy that he impersonates a famous producer, and ends up spinning a web of ridiculous lies to very amusing effects.

Peggy and Buddy sizzling things up

Along the way, an anxious Mrs Baker (played by Eunice) and a furious Mr Baker (played by Shaam) drop by the apartment to convince Buddy to renounce his new lifestyle and return to the family business. It is clear that Mr Baker disapproves of Alan’s behaviour, and regards him as a bad influence.

I can imagine him saying: “I’m disappointed in you my son”

After giving Peggy up, Alan gets beaten by the husband in yet another fling. Broken, Alan alienates his long-time girlfriend Connie (played by Ellie), his commitment phobia rearing its ugly head. Alan is ashamed to realise that his life is now reflected in Buddy’s changed behaviour. This realisation impacts Alan greatly, and he begins to see the futility in his previous lifestyle. Alan urges Buddy to renounce his casanova ways, but Buddy is having too good a time to heed his advice.

Finally, with the help of Connie’s persistence, Alan jolts back to reality, realises what he really wanted in life, and proposes to her. It is a sweet ending with the couple back together and the family reunited and stronger as ever.

Alan pops the question!

As the cast and crew came out for the curtain call, a final bow was made, words of appreciation exchanged and the first night of Hall Play 2012 concluded to wild, raucous applause. This is yet another well-received Hall Play, an unforgettable experience for crew and audience alike.

cast of hallplay 2012!

 

Hallplay 2012, Come Blow Your Horn – An Interview with the Steering Committee

Interviewed by Zachary Low

As this year’s Hallplay, entitled “Come Blow Your Horn” comes to a successful end, join us as we sit down and have a chat with the members of the steering committee, whose every efforts have gone into making it a hit with the residents of KE7 and more.

Hallplay 2012, Come Blow Your Horn - A full house!

Q: I think we can all agree that Hallplay 2011/2012 was a resounding success. At the risk of blowing your own trumpets, what are your thoughts on this year’s performance? Don’t be shy.

Pin Lang: This year’s performance was quite good. While there remain some minor areas for improvement, I think all Hallplay members really put a lot of effort to create a memorable show for our audience

Linus: Well, I think that the whole performance was just great! The well-dressed cast was great, the sets were apt, and coupled with the right ambience; the result was a wonderful performance. I myself was quietly pleased when I got to sneak some time as an audience member on the second night. And all these couldn’t have been accomplished without my dear department heads and every single one of Hallplay’s members!

Annie: Nah, I’m not afraid to blow this horn. :) I’m very proud of the entire Hallplay cast and crew. Again we’ve lived up to the KEVII reputation for putting up a great show, a show that impresses even other halls and gets critical acclaim. It’s quite an incredible feat to pull more than 80 people together, to create one of KE’s crown jewels: the magnificent beast that is Hallplay.

Greg: Awesome! For me, I would give it a 9/10 rating as there’s always room for improvement. The team put in great effort both in front and behind the stage. Hopefully next year we’ll achieve greater heights!

Ruth: It’s blow our own horn la. And I shy leh.

Jamil: Performance wise, I think the production team did a brilliant job. The cast put up an awesome show on both days. When I read the script for the first time, I thought the story was supposed to be a more serious drama rather than a comedy. Kudos to Annie and her team for turning it into a fun-filled play full of laughter.

Azrin: I really liked the performance this year. There was a brilliant mix of comedy, emotional parts and heartwarming scenes. Plus, being in the steering committee let me see all the things the audience isn’t privy to: I can safely say that everyone performed their jobs to the best of their abilities and this contributed to an awesome performance.

Q: Looking back, what was the most difficult part of pulling the whole thing off?

Pin Lang: Coordination among committees. As everyone knows, Hallplay is a crazily big CCA and it’s difficult to keep everyone updated. But, I think the Steering Committee was cooperative this year, which makes coordination much easier. I could count on my SC to be responsible for their work and to keep me in the loop with what they are doing.

Linus: Personally, it would have been to envision the ‘big picture’ and keeping everything on track towards this ‘big picture’. Many a time, I was too caught up with individual aspects of the production such that I neglected the others. Due to the later CCA recruitment fair, we started work late and also experienced delays in the work schedule. Fortunately, everything worked out in the end. Phew!

Annie: Always trying to improve it. This pressure to keep making it better was immense. It meant effort in trying to inspire everyone into doing a good job, or thinking of fresh ideas every rehearsal, or analysing and dealing with recurring problems, because we always wanted to make the show better. We worried a lot. Sometimes I would cry just thinking about how much more I wanted to do. But there is no room for weakness in Sparta. We just kept going.

Ruth: Hallplay this year coincided with Chingay 2012 and Infusion, which affected quite a bit of our sales, especially for friends and people from other halls who wanted to come, but involved in their respective events.

As for the ticketing department, communicating with everyone involved in Hallplay (which works out to 80 people) through email and SMS was quite challenging and phone battery consuming.

Jamil: I think for my department, the most difficult part was getting the booklet out. Getting people to come for the photoshoot is the hardest of all. And printing them was another pain. But I had a brilliant cooperative team and worked efficiently. So we owe a lot to them.

Azrin: The hardest part is always the beginning. Apart from my experience as a humble minion in Michael Warren Lim’s epic set builder team in last year’s edition of Hallplay, I was a noob. Once the designs for the set were up, all that was left for me was to rally my team and take the plunge and start building. But at the time I felt at a loss of what to do since the task i had ahead of me seemed too vast for me to tackle. Oh and did I mention that this was the first time I was taking charge of something like this? Admittedly, once I finally got around to drawing up my workplan, buying the needed wood and teaching my members how to use the various power tools, things started to flow through despite the many difficulties we faced along the way.

From left: Yan Yi (Assistant Productions Manager) and Linus (Productions Manager); Pin Lang (Producer) and Isaac (Assistant Producer)

Q: What is the thing that gives you the greatest satisfaction in this year’s Hallplay experience?

Pin Lang: The fact that it has concluded.

Linus: Between the wonderful performance staged, or the valuable friendships which I made in the process working and toiling together for one full semester, I can’t decide!

Annie: Seeing everything come to life, piece by set piece, every sound effect and perfect line. I was watching some early videos of the cast auditions – things that should probably never see the light of day – and I’m amazed that the cast, the production as a whole, have come such a long way. It’s hard to describe the surge of pride that comes from seeing people reach new heights and from knowing that you were a part of that process.

Ruth: Getting good feedback from friends outside of Hall.

Jamil: Probably seeing Hallplay being featured (as a major article) in The Ridge!

Azrin: Watching the curtains go up during performance day and hearing the audience’s first reaction upon seeing the set – pure bliss I tell you. That and meeting and making friends with so many new people throughout my journey as the set builder head. I don’t think my hall life would be as fun and memorable had I not taken up the role as set builder head.

 

Director Annie and her cast of six (Wesley, Stacey, Shaam, Ellie, Eunice and Asher)!

PRODUCER and PRODUCTION MANAGER – Pin Lang and Linus

Q: Everyone loves comedy – but why pick an American comedy? Do you think audiences would be willing to watch a production with a more Singaporean slant to it?

Pin Lang: We did British last year and it seemed nice to do American for a change.  A couple of years back, Hallplay did do a local play and though I am not sure of the details, it was relatively well-received. We did consider of doing a local play but Singapore playwrights are pretty limited. Somehow, the plays we read just didn’t feel right, so we decided to forgo the idea.

Linus: Actually, we didn’t pick ‘Come Blow Your Horn’ just because it was American. We stuck to the comedy formula because we wanted people to just relax and get a healthy dose of American humour and felt that the theme of family and relationships was something that everyone can relate to. We actually wanted to showcase the work of a Singaporean playwright but couldn’t find a suitable work and ended up with Neil Simon instead, which turned out to be a good choice!

Annie: We actually wanted to do a Singaporean play, but we were limited by the scripts we found (a lot of the famous Singaporean scripts were either very abstract, or had extreme language or themes that we thought wouldn’t get approved, or simply didn’t have a workable number of cast members). Anyway Neil Simon’s script had a heart to it that we thought Singaporeans would be able to relate to, and it was modern and clever, and most importantly it was feasible.

Q: Hallplay is undoubtedly one of the biggest CCAs in hall. How did you guys make everyone see the bigger picture, even within the framework of their individual sub-committees?

Pin Lang: I think the fact that all comm head were aware of their job scopes and had their own unique ways of dealing with their members helped a lot. Through them, a lot of things that I wanted to convey were efficiently communicated across. In addition, the goal of having a successful performance was probably a major factor why everyone cooperated with everyone else and made things relatively soon.

Linus: We got everyone in the steering committee to regularly share their individual sub-committee’s plans, ideas and progress to have an overall view of the whole production. Members were also welcome and encouraged to come down to watch the many rehearsals held at the comm hall so that they can view their efforts as a part of the ‘complete picture’.

The DIRECTOR – Annie

Q: Compared to last year’s production, you only had 6 cast members on hand this year. How did you overcome this challenge?

Annie: Actually, having six cast members was something I wanted. I looked for a smaller, more intimate cast. I knew it’d be tough to work with the schedules of 10 people from different faculties like last year, and getting every single person to a certain standard of acting – well, the more of them, the bigger the challenge. I was thinking a small cast would bond quicker and so we’d all get comfortable working with each other onstage more quickly, build our chemistry sooner, and so on. (But later the SC realised that a smaller cast meant we couldn’t sell the same volume of tickets as easily because the pool of friends/family was smaller.)

Q: Having acted in Out Of Order, which was a unabashedly slapstick affair, what prompted you to cast a more sombre mood in some of the scenes in Come Blow Your Horn, especially with regard to the scenes which dealt with more serious issues, like family relationships?

Annie: Great question! Unlike last year, the material was a little heavier and it carries its humour more through dialogue than physical slapstick. To me, Come Blow Your Horn had a definite message about family, love, and life choices. It dealt with universal human themes that weren’t always frivolous. And as a director I thought this “sombre mood” was interesting to explore; it adds a bit of substance to the performance. Perhaps I got itchy for more emotional material after acting in a role for pure comic relief last year. Or perhaps I knew I couldn’t live up to Asher’s great directorial capability to consistently bring on the hilarity, and chose to adopt a slightly more serious style as a result.

STAGE – Greg

Q: Tell me about the challenges you faced, having to use the comm hall as a place for rehearsals, especially with Chinese Drama using the space at the same time, and the IHG season in full swing.

Greg: Most of these challenges were actually minimised due to a planned schedule of the comm hall usage before the start of our rehearsal. However, one of the main challenges that my team and I faced was that the stage markings were either gone missing or mixed up with other productions’ marking.

Ticketing and Publicity – Ruth and Jamil

Q: The house was pretty packed on both nights. Do you think we will ever be able to fill the larger theatre in UCC?

Ruth: I think your question can be asked in another way, like whether we can look at having three performance days. I think the UCC hall has a more conducive environment for a play compared to UCC Theatre. The attendance of the audience could still be improved, as I’ve mentioned above, that there were clashes in events resulting in lesser audience. However, with IHG, Chingay, and other hall productions and events during that peak period, I guess our competition with all these events will still be quite strong.

Jamil: There’s a reason why we have 2 shows instead of one. It gives a choice to the audience to choose to watch on either day if they are not free on one of the days. The small UCC theatre seats about 400 people while the big hall has 1000+ seats. Unless we are like Chinese Drama which gives out free tickets, it is going to be very hard for us to ever fill the larger theatre.

Q: Was having a grand total of only 3 people in ticketing a problem?

Ruth: Compared to the department from the past few years, the ticketing committee has always been run by 2 members (and with mostly guys involved, not to say that girls are not capable). 3 people in the department are actually sufficient for ticketing. Even during the production days, we had the help from the publicity team. So, it’s manageable.

Jamil: Lol. Last year it was just Patrick and Ruth who did everything. This year Ruth has June and Melissa plus 6 more people from my Pubs Team if she needs manpower. 3 people is quite a number of people actually. Unless we want to do more chim stuff like online ticketing system, but that will probably require more manpower and technical expertise…

Q: What was your overarching strategy for publicity this year? Did it work?

Jamil: Well, this year’s publicity I aimed to publicise more to the general population of NUS. We got an article in The Ridge which was not achieved last year. We had banners and posters all over school including the other halls. I learned that it is not difficult to reach the NUS population, but admittedly the response was not very encouraging. This is mainly because our main audience are actually the people from our hall (or was from our hall). Future publicity should concentrate more on getting the whole hall to come down and watch Hallplay. Besides the people in hall who come to down, the only other audience members were the friends and family of the people who are part of the production. We really need Hallplay members to sell their tickets in order for us to fill up the seats. It is not just the job of the Ticketing and Publicity department. Selling tickets is everyone’s job.

All in all, I think Pubs and Tix learned a lot this year and have quite a number of things to pass down to the future generations of Hallplay.

SETS (the building half) – Azrin

Q: How did you deal with the situation where it was necessary to rebuild the bar top? Any words of wisdom to provide on hindsight?

Ah, the bar top. The problem with productions is that things always come at you out of the blue. The bartop was one of the first few things we had built for the set, and when the cast began to do rehearsals, we realised the bartop was unnaturally tall with respect to the actors. This was sometime towards the end of the December holidays, when full dress rehearsals were scheduled to start. I had a couple of courses of action available. 1) leave the bar as it is and let the actors look awkward, 2) build a platform for the actors behind the bar so that they wouldn’t look too awkward, and 3) rebuild the entire bar at the cost of more work and possibly not meeting my deadlines. I took up the job in the first place with the aim to build a set that would do justice not only to the actors but to the entire production itself. Such an imperfection could not be allowed to exist on the set and my course of action suddenly became very clear to me, much to the disdain of the set decor head who had spent lots of time doing up the old bar. Besides, it was the perfect chance to use better wood and better construction techniques to fabricate the new bar which in the end turned out to be a whole lot better than the original.

The takeaway? make sure you clarify everything and leave nothing (as much as possible) to uncertainty or guesstimation. but in the event that things do muck up, you shouldn’t be afraid to take a step back and even start from the basics if that’s what it takes – within reasonable limits of course. Don’t decide to rebuild your set a day before the actual performance.
Q: What makes you soldier on late at night, even when your ears are buzzing with the incessant noise of the electric drill, and your fingers bruised from getting inadvertently hit by hammers, nails, and other such potentially destructive items?

Oh, it was difficult believe me. I had to juggle set building, floorball, choir and reservist ICT as well. It was so tiring but the end product kept me going. The motivation of building a set that could add to and complement the atmosphere of the play as well as wow the audience was enough for me. Besides, the consequences of failure were extremely dire. It helps to have a team of builders that are extremely enthusiastic and fun to work with. I swear, I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have a team like the one I did. As an added incentive, working with power tools is really fun and the feeling you get when you see your work slowly take shape from a pile of wood and screws into a functional set is unparalleled. When I watched the play from the audience and I saw the set in its full glory I knew that all that time working on the set was time well spent.