Entangled, the Musical

We’re back!

2008-11-02T19:40:00.001+08:00

Get ready! the dust covers are coming off! Time is short. The people are gathering their strength and coming back with more powerful weapons of string, wire and skin! Great warriors are now joining them. But among that, their greatest, most powerful ally and weapon is their faith and determination.

Like an army on the hills that Elisha and his servant faced. The greater heavenly fiery army behind that puny earthly crowd.

We are that fiery army.

Coming this December.

Hiatus

2008-08-09T20:25:00.002+08:00

We have been putting a hold to the recording for a period of time, but we're getting back at it soon. And this time, with more people to help out (hopefully!)

Do continue to pray with and for us as we record the songs. It's going to be a tough road.

The Stay! Vanquished! Ngeahhh!

2008-05-26T21:41:00.001+08:00

We got together on Saturday. And Ruth came along so we could record Stay.

It went well and Ruth did an amazing job. Though we plan to re-do the guitar parts for Stay, but the Vocals we're awesome.

Initial feedback from Suit and Ben show promising results.

Praise God!

Two eggs for the morning!

Jou Sun!

Jon just woke up. See the hair.

We quickly got to work.

Working on the bridge

The work station. See the tissue. It's because of my sinus.

Ruth In action! Thank You Ruth!

We had lunch. Fried Pan Mien! And Yong Tau Fu! Nicce weih the Brinjal

Mmmmm!

We're done! =)

Now this is Christin. Jon's Churchmate and ex-schoolmate. She was with us when we were doing the one week stint. Haa. Sempat jugak ambik gambarnyer. xD

Pictures of the Day

2008-05-22T21:49:00.001+08:00

We managed to do the electric parts. But Leonard, a perfectionist in terms of being a musician stated that he was not satisfied with the work today. He also wanted to use his own acoustic. A beautiful Farida.

But wah. Plugging it into his Boss effects, the acoustic sounded so much better. Ahh.

Neway. Some Pics:

My living room turned into another studio.

Leonard's precious Goudin. Canadian brand.

Leonard in action. I was so busy handling the comp I forgot to take pictures of him playing.

The gear.

Hope the next days turn out well too. =) Pray for us.

Leonard to the Rescue

2008-05-22T17:48:00.001+08:00

Leonard is my very good friend. He's been my friend for the last erm.. 11 years. He's a classically trained Guitarist and has an awesome flare for the Electric. As I type this, he's now absorbing the essence of the soon to be defeated 'Stay'. We hope to be able to cover Entangled as well. The Two tracks that we lost.

Hope to finish by 8.30pm.

So what's next?

2008-05-21T19:54:00.002+08:00

Well, it's set. I'll be heading over to Puchong to finish off the guitar parts with Shaun and vocals on Friday with Jon. This time we WILL overcome the monster.

Trivia:

Longest song to record: Stay. Duration 6+1(tomorrow) days

Largest File: Candle In the Dark. 700MB

Total File Size: 3.9GB

My friend Jess Yim reminded me of something. We have to register our record with the Ministry. Copyright issues. She ah. High S and C.

edit: Shaun just called. Can't do it. It's okay Shaun. =) Thanks either way =) Means We go friday and saturday! WOOHOO!

Following the Chronicles

2008-05-21T16:03:00.001+08:00

It's been 4 days since the last post on the recording process. Lol It has taken us that long to recuperate. The Experience was no doubt a very beautiful and wonderful one. Meeting people, producing music, recording the work of very talented people.It's just amazing.

Throughout the 6 days I was there, we definitely saw more laughter and smiles as opposed to tears. We had but one major incident during the thing and it was enough to really crush all of our spirits.

On Friday we had the longest day of the whole week. It spanned from 11.30am till 6am the next day.

It was on this day that we nailed to utter perfection two songs. Completed and tried. Sounded Awesome. Every time we nailed a riff, heard the perfect strum, you would see Shaun, Jon and Me jump for joy. Like Pow-wow people after their first hunt. Around the bondfire.

Felt like rain after a drought. A gift from God. The sound of music.

Then at 4am, After a long had day's work, we wanted to do the bass line for the songs when we discovered 'Stay' was gone. It was like the whole song just reverted back to it's old self. All the sounds we recorded. Gone. What was left was a poor experiment me and Jon tried with looping. Not the very awesome keng-chow piano progression, riff-laiden sound we had made earlier in the day.

Wah it felt like hell man.

We were all very down. we couldn't find it. We had no idea how it could have happened. Perhaps it was during a back up process. We're very sure we saved the file.

it was a very painful experience. So painful that the next morning I awoke with a pain in my heart.

But I've already mentioned part of this experience here.

Apart from that painful experience, the rest of the week was awesome. (TM)

We already had Shaun who is an amazing guitarist. Later we had Phoebe, who has the sharpest tongue on MSN, and has a voice that complements quite well with Jon's

We had an amazing time when she came on Thursday afternoon. Because later we were joined with Christin Tan, Jon's ex schoolmate and current church member.

Along with the other days which were filled with fun, misadventures and experiences.

One experience was with the view sonic speakers was a terrible one. We had found out after some travelling that the pin for one of the speakers had broken into the socket.

So we brought it to a shot that sold second hand TV's. Jon had thought that he was an electrician. We showed him the problem

At first he said he did not know. Then he in all his splendour took a screwdriver and shoved the rest of the pin into the socket. All we needed was a pair of pliers (muncung tirus) and then can pull out de wan.

This feller summore can scold me when I exclaimed in surprise when he pushed it in. He scolded me by saying that he was only trying to help.

I give face to Jon oni. Or else I would have scolded him back and ask him for RM 8 for the money WE had to pay to get it out later.

But that aside, the entire week was a very wonderful one. Ask me to do it again? Sure will! Some shots for your feasting. We also did some videos but they are not for the fainted hearted.

Jon's mom made an apple cider drink for us on Tuesday night. Weih. Very syok weih. I also want to learn how to make. Good for the throat.

Wednesday:

Let's record Listen weih. Good or not..

Jon Lyn Chu

We had Ramlee burger. Something Jon's been craving for since Sunday when we were online.

Thursday.

It was another day of recording. But Jon had to be away to help out in the tuition. So it was me and Shaun.

Then at 5 we had Phoebe! The first of our featured vocalists. Running through the song. Phoebe is featured in "Love You More"

It's a miracle actually because initially we were reluctant to ask her but we did. But in the end we did. It was either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. But What a miracle because she was willing to do it! It was awesome.

We did a few takes at around 6. Christin came around 6.20ish. We decided to take a break and go for the very famous Curry Mee called Ah Lok in OUG. I tell you it's the most amazing mee and Asam laksa weih.

AND the Tau Fu Far! There's this truck that sells cold Tau Fu Far and they come with various flavours. Mango! Strawberry! Drool*

And especially the Tau Fu Far. Soft, Smooth, Got real flavours in there. wah Cekap weih.

RAWR! Say's Jon. MMmmmmm!

So anyway, after that we headed over to a local shopping mall to get some McD's ice cream. We rode in Shaun's Proton.

Trivia: All three of us drive a proton saga. Only mine is the hatchback version. The Iswara.

Bradder - brader ku.

We had to teman Christin because she broke her sandal. AFter reaching McD's we found out they were unable too sell ice cream because their sundae machine had just got out of servicing.

We then returned back around 9 to continue recording. Snippets of the night.

Shaun doing the mastering.

We ended around 11pm. Phoebe sent a message later in the night and she said that she had fun and was happy she was here.

Phoebe, we had fun too =)

Friday.

More Jon

I love these guys very much. We had much fun =)

Working the whole of Friday.

We nailed it! The beautiful custom Ibanez

I think I'll stop my post here. It's good to leave it at a nice ending. Not that I am avoiding reality. I have already mentioned the painful parts. I'd like to end it with this sweet note. That at the end of the week. We accomplished much more that we expected. every step of the way, we knew God was there with us. Protecting us on the road, sending us the right people. We are the blessed indeed. We are His children.

To Him alone. Amen.

Updates on Recording

2008-05-16T22:49:00.002+08:00

Now as I type this, Kee Aun and Shaun (our guitarist for the recording) are currently brainstorming on how to improve guitar parts for "The Candle in the Dark".

Things have been very interesting this week, although I have three undone assignments, which are to be handed up on this coming Tuesday, four meetings to plan for, two events to plan for... (the list continues)

This recording is happening, people. The different voices are recorded and mixed, equalized, and guess what, it sounds awesome!

So, yes, people, we will keep you updated with our current progress! Stay tuned for more! :D

The Story So Far

2008-05-13T21:30:00.001+08:00

Tis been a long two days for the both of us. Me and Jon. So much, I just don't know what to say. We scraped the original plan and now we based in Puchong. We moved because Jon's Roland is much better in terms of sound so we decided to pack our things to record in Jon's church.

I'm especially grateful to Jon's parents who've been so accommodating for the sake of the project. Jon's mom even bought Ayamas for us. But we didn't know so we went and ate outside.

Anyway, I've got no more energy to say. So we'll let the pictures say the rest. My neck hurts because of too much driving. There is a blister on my right index finger. too much mouse clicking.

Okay, so at the top we're at Low Yat getting the sound card. Which has proven to be a bit of a hassle cos apparently the driver I was using is causing a bit of distortion. I'm now getting the latest one. Hopefully it works. I'm about 20Mb's away from downloading it.

The dude above is Shawn and he'll be playing the guitar, electric guitar and bass for us. Thanks too Jon.

So you can see the three different studio's we're set up. Two of them we've torn down.

The story so far involves beefball noodles in KL town. Hunting raoches to clear the area. One dumbass TV salesman. Countless number of times of retakes. Driving back and fourth from church to the home we're staying in and being encouraged by friends around. Thanks guys.

At The Threshold

2008-05-11T17:57:00.001+08:00

Yup, ladies and gentlemen, we have come to the day where we will be recording the soundtracks. Sorry for not updating much since the last time because it has been exam and a seriously hectic period after that.

Starting tomorrow till the end of the week, me and Jon Chu will be recording the songs. Though there has been some change in the original plan.

You see, initially we were supposed to go to a home studio in Bkt Antarabangsa, Ampang. But at the last minute, the studio owner backed out of the project. This was on Friday.

I then called another friend of mine. He so happened to be at the Guitar Store in Damansara and I asked him if he knew any recording studios. So happened, the Store Owner knew a few and asked one of the producers to call me.

I did not know what would happen till the call came. Turns out, he was willing to do for us for RM2000 only the EP with only Piano and Vocals.

I and John thought about it and decided that we could do it ourselves if it was that simple.

So yesterday and today were days occupied with research in doing a home recording with a laptop.

We don't know how good the songs will sound but 17 tracks is what we're aiming to accomplish. 13 from the Musical and 4 for the EP. We just pray that everything will be alright. We hope that you'll pray along with us too.

And in wondering, what do you think is the right price for the Entangled Album? Give us your feedback!

Uber, dude.. uber

2008-04-14T11:30:00.003+08:00

So what have we been up too since the last time we posted? Ah. After some escapades to the fabled experimental theatre in UM, viewing experimental plays, and thinking about next year's Easter, we have come to the stage (no pun intended) where we have started preliminary samples of Entangled the Soundtrack!

YEA!!

So yeah. Besides the Soundtrack, we'll also be doing an experimental EP featuring 4 new songs by Jon Chu including his first song ever written. Yeah! So it's going to be uber awesome as we see this project unfold. Keep us in prayer yah!

Oh an do I hear people asking for samples?

Well, all that and more in the weeks to come!

A Writer's reflection: Where now?

2008-04-02T03:09:00.000+08:00

The thing about staging what most people regard as an awesome (Thank you for your encouraging words!) show with our limited experience, resources and talents is in its right, a amazing testimony to how God uses the weirdest combination of people to achieve what He sees as relevant to our times.

Dinner with someone who knew me well enough led to the statement;

"When I sat in the hall, and listened to the songs, the lines and the characters. I see so many bits of you."

I was taken aback, sure there were parts of me inside (I believe that every writer engraves his or her essence inside their creation) ways I would react towards there fictitious situations and circumstances, maybe my present struggles as well.

But certainly not my past.

”No, Suit Lin, you might not see it, or even realize it. But your past is etched as strongly as the person that you are inside the characters of the Musical.”

Vertigo.

As I have drafted once, writing this musical is a tireless process. Ideas are fun to play with when they are hot and fresh. They bounce of nicely on the empty canvass that you have set. The initial excitement of having the power to tie and create characters and plots ‘exactly the way you want them to be.’ was more than sufficient to make us crazy with the virginal enthusiasm of writing a story and telling it our way.

You have your ideals and you play ‘god’ to those people whom you have created. You choose your story and who tells them, you even say how and when they ought to tell them. Everything was your prerogative.

You plunk yourself endlessly with your co-author cum song writer and the ever faithful laptop and allow the creative process to take its course, each playing the other’s devil advocate and encourager, each pouring whatever lines or phrases, both pitching whatever little we had, pushing doubts aside and laying the very first foundation and ground of the musical.

I must say that Jon is incredibly patient with me when I get writer blocks and all sorts of stupid mood swings. He is my never ending idea feeder and stress reliever, a person that I can trust to complete this with me even when the going gets tough. And after many meet-ups and coffee, the script was done.

As it was finally printed, all in it’s 50 plus pages, we thought we could focus in now translating the script to action, we have written out ideas on paper, now it’s bringing these ideas to life in the people on stage. Seeing our character become tangible humans, seeing the scenes put together, making the story alive, all such euphoria.

After the script reading and week two in to the practices, Jon and I have already a major headache.

Chaos strikes.

Your characters evolves with your story and with the change in that character, there was a need to change the method of imparting the scene, there was a need to write more songs, to rewrite lines and scenes, to create or erase visuals.

The idea was beginning to stale and it was then the real test begins, the once blank canvass is anything but blank now, places where the idea bounced off leaves it’s mark, concepts, progressions, songs, semi-conceptualize scenes, random lines lay all over it, begging to be shown, begging to be explored and to be justified of it’s existence, yet how lost was I looking at the mess and the flattened idea in my hands, I was unable to throw it around, unable to navigate between the waste land of everything, unable to move, unable to turn back.

We were stuck. And it sucked.

I had to then remember how the idea was like and hold that memory framed in the very edge of my brain. Present although not always visible. Then we rolled our sleeves and started to get down from the cloud of our idealism to actually make something out of what we have already came up with.

Re-writing 4 major scenes (which consists of 70% of the script) was pure madness and horror. Staying for practices until late into the night and returning to MSN to talk to Jon about scenes and songs and etc was draining for both of us, we still had to post mortem the practices. Find ways to teach the casts things that even we ourselves were not sure of.

You never know. Whether the lines has meaning to the audience or even the actors, you never know whether we can pull certain long lines off, you never know so many things that sometimes I feel like we know nothing much at all.

To be honest, if I was doing it alone I would have called it quits then, the idea was so big, we have bitten off more than we can chew. There were ideas from the some PKVians especially from Ben at this stage, yet it was hard to piece these together to fit the different gaps and holes in the plot, to weave the scenes together.

Many a times the co-writer was frustrated with our lack of progress, sometimes (or most of the times) due to how picky I am with words and phrases. I tend to drone on and on (syok sendiri la) sometimes to the point of going off tangent. Whereas Jon is better in short lines that can deliver a full impact, I on the other hand love the momentum that long lines build. A mix and match of our different yet coherent styles brought you to what I would now call a fusion of the expressionist and the philosopher.

We just did what we could the best we could, but even now I can only say that it was a good creative experiment and it was refreshing to hear new ideas and use them. But oh, the constant uncertainty and fear, the inexperience experimenting, and the insanity of it, all in all, a roller coaster ride.

If it weren’t for God, no way you could have seen Wednesday happen. No way you would have understood the story, as I have often ask myself whether I am making any sense after writing each dialogue. On the contrary, I am sane, sometimes.

I am somewhat satisfied with the end product. The process of writing it was rewarding, never have I written something for so long in my life. In fact I look forward to other opportunities to story tell. To (hopefully) shed light on issues that are more common than we dare admit it to be based on my very limited experiences as both a writer and a human.

Who knows what lies ahead for this wild effort, I don’t know about my co-author cum song composer, but I believe that we have gain valuable insight on our abilities and have seen how far believing in a vision, together, even in disagreements have brought us. Truly the supernatural strength to pull through is from God and God alone.

Until now as I end this so long can die (see my point of me being wordy) I cannot say for sure how much of me is inside the characters and to be frank, they were never created to mirror me.

But maybe, just maybe, by planting the lessons or the questions in my life subconsciously inside this story, I have given voice to myself in ways I will never be able to do in real life. To the actors who took the time to understand their characters, I am fortunate to work with the person that you are.

I can’t answer for everyone. But where do I go from here? Does this question even need to be answered?

Possible Track List for Recording

2008-04-02T02:27:00.004+08:00

Entangled, the Musical

Track #01 - Sweet Melody
Track #02 - Ginger Soup Fight
Track #03 - Love You More
Track #04 - Stay
Track #05 - The Three Hot Sisters
Track #06 - Can't You See
Track #07 - Silence
Track #08 - The Ballad of Entanglement
Track #09 - That is My Dream
Track #10 - Entangled
Track #11 - Untangle You by Edmond
Track #12 - Untangle You
Track #13 - Candle in the Dark

Bonus track: When Love Came Down

- EP -

Track #01 - Great Is Your Reward
Track #02 - Bid You Goodbye

*For EP, there will be more to come.

Just A Poll

2008-03-27T18:10:00.001+08:00

Do you think the songs from Entangled, the Musical should be recorded?

En(d)tangled

2008-03-27T16:44:00.001+08:00

It is finished!

No practice tonight. We will carry some memories with us forever.

I missed my first class this morning. Sitting in the second class, Shakespeare's famous words came to me; "All the world's a stage..." Does that mean everywhere is a place to act, or that there's a fine line between acting and real life, or something else?

Entangled the Musical is over, but sometimes I think the musical was more real than the real lives we live. Suit Lin knows this; that the mask reveals its wearer.

Make no mistake, I'm not living, nor suggesting we ought to live, in a make-believe world. But I think, if not for the musical, we wouldn't have discovered and come to terms with a lot of the things we truly deal with in this 'real world'. Go watch Tim Burton's Big Fish and you'll get what I mean.

To God be all glory; we have these treasures in fragile jars of clay that no one may mistake our victories for the power and truth and triumph of God.

Amen.

(The title of this post is a silly pun Kee Aun, Suit Lin and I came up with while on the train from Taman Jaya to Masjid Jamek. We were heading to Pudu to get the film developed.)

Edit (6.50 p.m. 27 March):

It was very generous of the UM authorities to put up a notice for the musical on those signboards flanking the road in front of the library. Not only was there a notice, it was the first time (as far as I can remember) the words were in colour.

"Sambutan Hari Paska [in red]
Easter Celebration"

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of it.

Practices At Hall

2008-03-25T03:11:00.003+08:00

Tired we are, but we will nevertheless triumph! This will indeed be a life-changing experience for each of us - from the committee to the musicians to the casts to the ensembles to the technicians - because we do it not for our glory, but for the King and kings'.

So, finally, we could get the Perdana Siswa hall to start practicing. As intense as it is, as tiring as it may be, we believe that God will do a work in our hearts and in the audiences'.

We stole

2008-03-23T14:04:00.005+08:00

into the auditorium and brought along with us a big case of "tools"

Our target was lying there, sound asleep, oblivious to the plans we have installed for it.

It was a sad sight as the piano was in a very poor and tune-less condition. Abandoned and neglected.

Our specially hired personnel sighed endlessly at the sight of the poor instrument.

and got to work fixing it.

One and a half hour later. After taking lots of ~~rubbish like tissue paper~~ foreign items out of the piano and putting it back together again.

We have the grand piano tuned and ready to be used for the show. =)

----------------------------------------------------------

[Edited]

Somehow, although tuned, we mourn for the piano. Since it is a public property, people don't usually take good care of it. Look at the rubbish in it.

Look at the scratches

And scratches

And scratches

After the tuning, the tuner insisted that the piano be carried, not pushed!

The Making of Entangled

2008-03-22T21:52:00.002+08:00

Here are some footage from the rehearsals

Teaser 2

2008-03-20T15:24:00.002+08:00

FAQs about the play from those who know nothing about it.

The poster, the blog, the pictures are ALL black and white, why?
We are saving the colors for the performers. =)
Why "entangled"?
It all started with the first Easter Committee meeting that one of those present shared about how she is entangled in God's love. That word sort of hit the right keys with the script writer.
What is "entangled"?
In the context of the script, it's about lives being entangled by all things painful and bonding, it's about how forgiveness will be the answer to such pain.
What can we expect?
The usual musical package, singing and dancing, and whatever funny things that the directors can somehow persuade them to do.
What are the main cast like?
Well, we have color fanatics in our line-up, one green and one purple, no the musical has nothing to do with egg plants. We have another who demands respect with a red and white umbrella and one who can't stop singing the song "entangled", trust me, the directors always unanimously shuts him up before he can reach the second line. Finally, we have a sweet sounding girl who is nothing like that on stage. What happens when you put these people together? Chaos.
What your working hours?
As early as 7am, as late as 4am. erm, wait. ah Never mind I don't know what is early or late anymore. =) We are crazy people who sleep at bus stops and wake up at 6 plus for dimsum.

Stay tuned for more!

Entangled Promo Flyer

2008-03-19T21:50:00.001+08:00

This is the promotional flyer, complete with a map to UM and a map of UM.

Copy it and send to your friends and family!

Extra Extra Read all about it!

2008-03-19T21:34:00.003+08:00

nuff said =)

Simple promo

2008-03-19T07:03:00.001+08:00

The Answer for Why

2008-03-19T00:40:00.002+08:00

As the day draws near, practices for Entangled, the Musical intensifies. Directors are burdened with many unfinished business and worries; but I've to admit, this means work.

Many have asked me why a musical. Why not something else? Why travel to and forth, spending so much money on petrol and energy on something that will not drive me towards success in the future? Why use so much time on something that you couldn't call yours, because at the end of the day, it says, "PKVUM presents?"

Experience is the answer.

At the end of the event, I would end my day with Sweet Melody, Entangled or Untangle You playing over and over again in my head. The lights will shine before my eyes even though I lie on bed with darkness enveloping me. Applauses will resound at my ears, and smiles on PKV-ians' faces I shall see.

This experience will push me towards a limit I have not seen myself as capable of doing it.

And somehow, I begin thanking God for placing me in my family. Believe me, I realized they have thought me so much about handling people and situations, and above all, mentalities and attitudes while working. I believe if it weren't for them, I would be a procrastinator and one who settles for mediocrity. But no, I aim for excellence, because I know that when I aim for it, I push myself to a higher limit where I can see a broader view of the world, a deeper and clearer view of the ocean bed, a better understanding of myself; I mature and am more prepared for the working world out there.

Lessons I need not learn so painfully at the working field I have learnt through this experience, and for that, I thank God.

Trust me, readers, friends, that planning for a musical isn't easy but rewarding. At the end of the day, you look back at what you have done, you can happily pat yourself at the shoulder and say, "Thank God and thank you." That is satisfaction.

Love You More

2008-03-18T12:43:00.002+08:00

Love You More
Lyrics and Music by Jonathan Chu

Every smile, every touch
Reminds me of the days spent with you
Every picture, every memory
Reminds me of the times spent with you
Every thought if filled with you
Every action done to please you
Every minute, every moment
I think of you

Times together, I'll love you more
Even if we're not together
It's as if you were here
With me
I'll love you more
In this life, with every breath
I will love you more

So if harsh moments try to blot you
Out of my heart and out of my mind
I will triumph over
Over every pain
Over every hurt
Over every fear
Because of you -
Just because of you -
Will give me strength
I will love you more

Jottings:
The musicians asked, "Who were you thinking about while writing this song?" The truth is, nobody. All I knew was this song should and will signify the romance between Bernardo and Desiree, show their affection for each other even though struggles persists between both of their lives (especially Bernardo's).

Yet, it is not just about the musical I had in mind; there is more to this.

I have met many who yearn to be close to somebody, to be embraced, to be loved. They hope that one day, just one day, somebody will come by and admit that every action done is to show affection, to show importance towards them.

So, here it is: Love You More. To some it might be cheesy, but to some, the song signifies a yearning of acceptance and love. What is yours?

Sweet Melody

2008-03-18T03:09:00.003+08:00

Sweet Melody
Lyrics and Music by Jonathan Chu

Sweet Melody
Dance in the atmosphere
Sink in the beauty of the night
There is joy, there is fun
There is gladness all around
Tonight

In this time, in this night
There is fun, there's delight
Stop your sulk, let's get bright
There is joy, tonight

A cup of tea, a cup of joy
A toast for all, let's enjoy
Stop your sulk, stop your gloom
There is joy, let it bloom

Sweet Melody
Dance in the atmosphere
Sink in the beauty of the night
There is joy, there is fun
There is gladness all around
There is excitement, there is pleasure
Let's be jolly, let's be merry
Tonight, tonight

A hum of pride, a song of hype
A burst of delight, screw all your plights
So cheer up, brighten up
For the night starts now
It starts now
It starts now

There's no reason to be down
There's no why to wear a frown
So let's forget all sorrows of life
Let us enjoy the night
Let us enjoy the night

Sweet Melody
Dance in the atmosphere
Sink in the beauty of the night
There is joy, there is fun
There is pleasure all around
So let's forget all sorrows of life
Let us enjoy the night
Let us enjoy the night
Let us enjoy the night!

Jottings:
This song marks the opening of Act I, a song that basically brings the atmosphere of jolliness and glamor as Cassandra sings it. It would, also, be somewhat her trademark song.

It wasn't my intention to make it this way. In fact, I originally wanted something more... glamorous and hippie, if there's a word that describes both emotions, if you get what I mean. However, it turned out to be this, which was very unexpected, but nevertheless, I love the way it is.

If you ask me which phrase(s) I like the most in this song, it would be"Dance in the atmosphere" and "Sink in the beauty of the night." Somehow they are rare and fresh to me (even though we have practiced it multiple times!)

KFC, Scene 7 and the Weirdest Hour of the Day

2008-03-18T03:05:00.001+08:00

Monday, 17 March 2008. I was supposed to meet Adrian for supper once practice ended. Suddenly sometime past eleven, Tim called and said Kat needed my pictures. Thus I was whisked back to KPS.

Sometime around midnight, those of us left behind started feeling hungry.

12.49 a.m. KFC arrives courtesy of Tim.

Strengthened by the food, we turn our attention to the final scene of the musical. We throw ideas around and talk about theatre and other musicals. We need to find some sort of closing sequence.

Finally the idea comes. And the more we think about it, the more it comes across as something, in the words of Sherlock Holmes, ridiculously simple. The ultimate non-taxing scene which quotes ideas from the musical, albeit like an overture at the end. (Is there a name of such a sequence?)

Perhaps it just might work...

Praise God for encouraging developments at odd hours!

This is how we all felt at about 2.00 a.m.

Joy holding the handbills for publicity.

Adrian and Kat working on the programme book.

Jon writing something... he was sketching eyes not long ago.

Suit Lin working on the synopsis for the programme book.

Ben and his good friend. He has a photo shoot at 7.00 a.m. tomorrow (today) and wonders if he can possibly wake up on time.

It is now 3.00 a.m.

How Do I Get There?

2008-03-16T09:02:00.001+08:00

If you are coming via LRT, take the Kelana Jaya Line to Universiti station. From there, take Rapid KL bus no. 632 and alight at the UM Library (a big white building). Members of the production team will be there to guide and assist you.

If you are coming by road, follow the map below to get to UM (click map to see larger image)...

... and this map to get to the KPS Auditorium.

KPS Auditorium is the building marked with yellow label number 2. The Library is black label number 1.

For further inquiries contact Joy at 012-3008391 or Adrian at 017-5896742.

Entangled Main Cast and Ensemble

2008-03-15T12:48:00.001+08:00

The Creative Director wanted some pictures up here. So I'm reproducing my most recent blog post, word for word, pixel for pixel...

Enjoy!

(p.s. can someone please do something about this blog's default time?)

* * * * *

A man, with an unknown past.

A young lady, with a dream for greatness.

A family, with untold hurts.

A wrong, that can never be made right.

When your past threatens to bind you from your future,
Forgiveness is the only way.

A story of love, of dreams, of fear, of forgiveness.

Untold inside the hearts of many people.

Entangled - the Musical

26th March 2008
7.30 p.m.
Kompleks Perdana Siswa (KPS) Auditorium
University of Malaya

(Free Admission)

* * * * *

Just this Sunday we did the shoot for the main cast, writers and musicians.

It was followed on Monday by the ensemble shoot.

I did it with Tim...

... and Yen. It was probably her first time handling an SLR camera for an extended period.

(I think I'm beginning to understand why Anton Corbijn developed--no pun intended--an overexposed black-and-white technique for his subjects, e.g. U2 in the early '80s and in the album booklet of All That You Can't Leave Behind. )

Siew Yong is Anita.

Denis is Bernardo and Shoba is Desiree.

Ai Wei is Cassandra.

Titus is Edmond.

Presenting an original musical by Lee Suit Lin and Jonathan Chu.

The ensemble in formation at the end of the song 'Sweet Melody'.

The ensemble again.

Call or sms us if.....

2008-03-14T11:04:00.002+08:00

CALL or SMS us if:

1] it rains. Don't let the rain stop you from going

2] you are lazy to walk.

Our drivers will pick you up.
(We only provide transport from Residential Colleges, University Tower and Millenium Court.)

C ya!!

The meaning of Easter - What does it mean to you?

2008-03-14T10:48:00.001+08:00

The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ's victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had merely died and not been resurrected, He would have been considered just another teacher or Rabbi. However, His resurrection changed all that and gave final and irrefutable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all.

However, Easter did not always symbolize Christ's resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different than what Christians celebrate today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honored the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ's resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation.

Today, the meaning of Easter, for million of Christians, is that of honoring and recognizing Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, and His glorious promises of eternal life for all who believe in Him.

Learn More about the Origin of Easter!

The above was taken from www.allaboutjesuschrist.org

Finally Done

2008-01-23T16:04:00.002+08:00

Finally, the script is done, and practices shall begin soon.

I am very sure many - especially Suit Lin - has sighed at least once when the script is done.

Buckle up, folks! The best is yet to come!

Teaser 1

2008-01-06T05:57:00.001+08:00

A man, with an unknown past.

A young lady, with a dream for greatness.

A family, with untold hurts.

A wrong, that can never be made right.

When your past threatens to bind you from your future,
Forgiveness is the only way.

A story of love, of dreams, of fear, of forgiveness.

Untold inside the hearts of many people.

Entangled. The musical.

[Note]
- More to come, still busy script-ing!

1st Post

2007-12-20T04:30:00.002+08:00

Welcome to the production of Entangled the Musical.

There is more to come. =)