Sunday, July 23, 2006

Japanese Animee

Episode Poster

Set Location : Taro Ramen, Low Yat Plaza

(L-R) Alvin Ng, Director & Michael Wong, Creative Consultant debating on who to cast as lead roles in this episode.

1st Lead Cast : Sapporro Ramen

2nd Lead Cast : Beef Ramen

Support Cast : Fried Dumpling

Desert Drink #3 : Tong Yuen

Rating : 3 stars. Planned for a short commercial but ended up with a full episode. Storyboard was swiftly rewritten and producer and director wasted no time in casting the roles. Options weren't aplenty and the Ramen bothers, Sapporro and Beef, were cast as lead roles. Acting was good but did not match the whopping salary that ensued, RM17++ per sibling. The support role played by Fried Dumpling was well... support role. Creative Consultant's attempt to cast a Chinese in a Japanese role was not as well received as Memoirs and merely reduced it to a side show that cost RM7.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Kayu Show

Set Location : Restoran Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar, Aman Suria

Cast : Various Artists

Stunt Co-ordinator : En Abd Rahim

Script Writer : Ms Chong

Costume Designer : Ms Ding

Full cast and crew.

Ratings : 4 stars. Great acting overall. Did not had high expectations being the fact that Kayu has so many sequels and prequels all over Klang Valley. Assumed that the acting would just be like a long commercial (eg Secret Recipe, as many critics I know has testified. Pending my rating though). Budget for this MTV of cast was less RM25 with appearances by mutton rendang, fried calimari, fried roe, fried chicken and many more.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Say Cheese!

The Set Location : Tak Fok Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant, Kepong

The Lead Cast : Cheese Crab. (Background, Support Cast : Fried Mun Tao)

Second Lead Cast : Marmite Crab. (Background, Support Cast : Bamboo Clam)

Supporting Cast : (L-R) Plain Vegetable, Deep Fried Seafood Tofu

Guest Director from Singapore : Benny

Rating: 4 star. A very ambitious project by the 3 directors (Alvin, Nai Wei and Benny) to have 4 crabs. Nonetheless, they managed to complete the project but with some leftovers at the editing room. Mostly scenes involving the bamboo clam and the vegetable. Their acting were just plain. However great performances by the cheese and marmite crab. Surprisingly, the deep fried seafood tofu played its support role very well even though it was not the first candidate to be offered that role. Actual cost of production was RM90++ which is reasonable considering the project size. Inflated due to the presence of guest director and we needed to cast 2 lead roles.

Fook Chow Tafo was rumoured to star in this project but was turned down for other roles due to its earlier sold out performance.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Food Journey - Pilot episode

Director: Nicholas Lee

View of Marriott Putrajaya on the way to set location.

Set Location: Hj Samuri, Kajang

Co-Director: Aun Wei

Lead Cast: Satay Ayam (L) and Satay Kambing

Supporting Cast: Ketupat, Timun and Peanut sauce

Makeup artists at work - Determining how good the cast gonna look (and taste).

Directors taking a bite at the actors.

Actors worked to the bone.

Producer and Director

Rating: 3 1/2 stars - Ordered 9 satay ayam and 9 satay kambing but only delivered 8 each!! Con job. Thought that complaining would be futile since we discovered only after counting the sticks at the end of makan. Surprisingly they changed our order forms to 8 each without complaining or investigating. Must have gotten away with other customers. Decided to order more - 9 satay ayam and 9 satay daging. Came 9 satay ayam and 8 satay daging. Another attempt to con (i think). Don't think the journey was worth it, but heck travel anywhere away from PJ somehow food gonna still taste good. Price wise, RM15 will get you a complete meal and more (Ayam/Daging RM0.60, Kambing RM0.90).