It's been a crazy journey for the past one year and three months as I travel from one country to another, from one city to another, from one town to another, including living in Hong Kong while the protests were going on. Quite an experience and learned a lot along the way. Now I am quite exhausted. I haven't completed my goal of going back to South Korea, Taiwan and of visiting Japan for the first time due to the winter season, but at least, with a better airfare than a direct flight back home ($650 against $454, not including my baggage fees) I might be able to stop by Taiwan for seven days before heading back to the US (I might have to go home and visit my Mom for a while until this coronavirus slows down. Still considering it and see how it goes in the next few days. My visa is still good until February 13, so still plenty of time to make a decision.) Anyway if I ever go home, I'll be back, and for my next trip back, I should then be able to visit Japan and also go to Busan, South Korea (been to Seoul quite a few times but not Busan). Well, let's see in a few days if I really have to go home.
The Camera I Need to Be Able to Produce Content That's Good Enough for Netflix
Over the years I tried to make two independent low budget feature films but failed due to financing and/or technical issues, but I haven't given up and definitely would attempt at making another feature. And for sure, this will be more successful than the previous two since I will have full financing before I start production. Having learned my lessons from the previous projects, I can now definitely feel I am able to complete this successfully. And I am excited about this camera. It is not so expensive, and knowing that Netflix approves this camera for any content that is made for them, I definitely want this camera. What makes this project feasible too is that my screenplay's setting is set in Asia. I definitely want to tell stories set in Asia. I think that Asia has so many stories to tell to the Western world. Now with the success of the South Korean movie “Parasite,” I am inspire more than ever.
Racism is Out in the Open Due to Coronavirus
Due to this coronavirus, racism is again out in the open as I look at the comments and postings about this situation. When the e-coli, swine flu and Spanish flu happened, no one got angry at US or Mexico, where those viruses came from. And the Spanish flu killed 50 million people worldwide. That disease was even hidden by most of the governments who were exposed to it. At least China came out in the open with this one. Only Spain was open about it. If they did not expose it, no one would have known about this disease, and it would have killed more people. That's why it was called "Spanish flu," even though, it did not originate from there. This kind of thinking and doing the blaming is just unfair. As for other Asians, they're also unfair to the Chinese. Before you judge them, look at your eating habits too. Some of you also eat some weird shit too, so stop looking at yourself as being better. As for Western food, the French eat snails (escargot) but no one thinks it is weird. Most people think it is such a classy cuisine. The Italians and the French also eat rabbits (I bet no one knows that). And to stereotype that the whole country eat these weird food is wrong because for the most part, based on my experience and observation, the majority of these people eat what most people in the world eat and think that these food are also weird to eat. And if their countrymen eat them, it is just a small percentage of the population, not the majority. For the most part, this percentage of people who do it believe that they have medicinal or aphrodisiac benefits based on old beliefs that was passed from generation to generation. By the way, do you know that according to the Bible, we should not eat pigs because it is dirty? But look, the whole world is eating them. Only the Jews and the Moslems are not eating them since they know better. In conclusion, having this double standard is so unfair.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4ag37q/coronavirus-fears-are-reviving-racist-ideas-about-chinese-food?utm_source=vicefbuk
Bad Experience Trying To Go To Hong Kong
I will write a long post about this, so bear with me, I will do this soon. For now, follow one of my Social Media Channels to get updated with this.
As a photographer, What Matters is the Eye
A lot of beginning photographers are always concerned about the equipment, and most tend to buy the latest and most expensive camera when starting out. First, practice photography with what you have. More likely a phone camera. Learn about lighting and composition and practice with these elements first before getting into learning about the technical part of photography. And if you are ready to move up to a real camera. Maybe start with a point and shoot camera first before getting into DSLR and/or mirrorless camera. As you can see on the video below, I was just using my point and shoot camera, which is about three years old. For me, the only reason I would take out my DSLR or my mirrorless camera is if the lighting condition of the subject I am trying to capture is a little tricky or if I want to do something more creative that cannot be achieved with a point and shoot camera such as selective focusing/shallow depth of field or making the movement of things in the foreground or background burry in contrast with the rest of the image. Anyway check out my YouTube video below, and please give me some support by liking/following/subscribing to one or more of my Social Media Channels. The links are right below.
Thai-Ness - An Exhibition at the Siam Museum in Bangkok, Thailand
Few days ago, I went to the Siam Museum and learned about Thai-Ness a lot. It is a lot different than most exhibitions I've been to. It is more interactive and hands on so it is a lot more fun than just staring at things. Whoever came out with this concept was quite creative 😁 I will write a blog about it and also make a long version video about it with narration later. For now, enjoy this short version video about this great exhibition.
Doing Photography in Singapore
Singapore is such a modern city with a mixture of different people, just like Malaysia: Malays, Chinese and South Indians with some Arabs, not to mention, Westerners who chose this city to be their home. Check out the video below on Instagram as I did some photography of the city, especially its skyline, which was quite breathtaking.
Film Photography is Having a Resurgence
As a photographer and as a filmmaker, I started with film, and I still do have my still filmcameras (35mm and 645 medium format film), including a 16mm motion picture camera. Unfortunately I I don't have them with me here in Asia. They are back in the US. I definitely want to use them for my conceptual artistic photography and filmmaking. Maybe when I go back to the US, I'll bring them with me. But the bad thing about it is that I already have too much camera equipment, gadgets and accessories with me. Well, definitely shooting with a film is going to be a very different experience and practice since every shot I take costs money, unlike digital photography in which you can take as many pictures as you want, and it won't cost you any money other than when you print some of the best pictures. Maybe I will come up with a project which only uses film. Let's see.
Fear is What Keeps Us from Achieving Our Fullest Potential
I had to post this graduation speech by Comedy actor Jim Carrey. It really resonates with me. When making a decision, I read this to help me go through it without fesr. Here is his speech
“FEAR is going to be a player in your life; you get to decide how much, you can spend your whole life imagining ghosts, worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will ever be, is what's happening here, in the DECISIONS we make in THIS MOMENT, which are based in either LOVE or FEAR.
So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality, what we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect so we never dare to ask the universe for it... I'm here saying, that I'm the proof, that you can ASK the universe for it, please.
The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.
Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world.
Risk being seen in all of your glory.
I was always out to do something in the world that was bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself, made me realize that there was nothing bigger than myself.
As far as I can tell [getting what you want] is about letting the universe and working toward it, while letting go of how it comes to pass. Your job is not to figure out HOW it's going to happen for you, but to open the door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, to just walk through it. And don't worry if you miss your cue because there's always more doors opening!”
I am quite fearless, but of course, I can still have doubts since I am a human being.
Maharishi University of Management (http://www.mum.edu) granted degrees to 285 students representing 54 countries. Jim Carrey gave the commencement address to Maharishi University of Management's class of 2014. The University Board of Trustees also presented Mr. Carrey with the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Causa, in recognition of his significant lifetime achievements as a world-renowned comedian and actor, artist, author and philanthropist.
War? What Is It Good For?
War affects the whole world. It does not help to have a a war. A tooth for a tooth is not exactly a way to deal even with a bad guy. It will just become a cycle of revenge that can continue for many years affecting lots of lives. Also President Donald Trump threatened to destroy important cultural sites in Iraq. These, I am sure, have religious significance to Moslem people. This, in turn, will radicalize more people from the Middle East and even Asia (Indonesia and Malaysia, and some parts of the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan and even China have a Moslem population). Terrorism will then increase some more. Besides, the Geneva Convention states that any sites which do not have anything to do with military are not supposed to be destroyed during a war. You break the rules of the Geneva Convention, which is the rules of war, then it's free for all. In addition, now oil prices are gonna go up. This, in turn, will increase the prices of goods. At the same time, seeing that Russia, China, and Iran are right now having a military naval exercise, this could also lead to World War III. I am sure if only governments are not allowed to go to war unless their people vote for it in the perfect world, most people would not want to go to war.
Parasite, the South Korean film, an Oscar's Best Picture Contender
There's a big possibility that this South Korean film will win the Oscar's for Best Picture. From all the films I've seen last year, this was the only film that really captured my attention and lasted on my mind even weeks after watching the film. It is that powerful.
New Year 2020
When you say “2020” we usually refer to our eyes being able to see clearly. I think now I can see clearly, having learned a lot about life. It is now time to reflect and look back at what I've learned all these years, and I feel that I am now more of what I should have been all along. I will talk about that later. But for now, Happy New Year to Everyone and hope that you'd have a great year ahead of you. Now almost time to leave this city. Time to go home. Oops, I mean, go somewhere else and make that my home at least for a few days or a few weeks or even for a few months. Home is where my heart is at the moment.
Traveling is like a Book But an Eye Opening One
With travel, you get to really see what it is like out there, especially with long term travel. For most people, what they learn about the world is from the TV, books and the internet, but it is not the same. The more you travel, the more you learn about what is real and what is considered is someone else’s perspective. Everyone has their own experience. Everyone’s experience of a place is different. Let’s say a person goes to Thailand, and over there, she is treated like shit, and she writes about it in her blog or does a video about it in her vlog. Then maybe a million people get to read her blog or watch her vlog. What happens then is that these people now have a bad impression of Thailand. And then another person goes to Thailand and all he has over there are just great experience. Wherever he goes, he is treated like a king, then for sure, on his blog and vlog, his content will be about Thailand being a great place. So then maybe only three thousand people are able to read his blog and/or watch his vlog. Then only three thousand people get a great impression of Thailand. There is a quote from Saint Augustine, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page,” and that is so true. So for those who cannot travel all the time or maybe do not have the luxury of being able to travel, my goal is to show the two sides of the coin when it comes to my travel experience in every country I visit. I will write and do a video about a place, its culture, its people, its beautiful spots, but at the same time, I will also show the bad part and the ugly side. But the thing, for every bad part and ugly side, there is some reasoning behind them, so I will not just label as such and such. Also for me to focus on the negative aspect is not a good thing. Every place, or even every person, is like a coin. It has two sides. The bad side and good side. Nothing is perfect. Sometimes I do believe that sometimes there is a beauty even in the ugliest of all places. Anyway to read more about my experience in each country and each city, make sure to follow/like/subscribe to all or some of my Social Media Channels. The links are right below.
Looking Forward to the New Year 2020
I am looking forward to the New Year and will undertake a major step in achieving a major goal in my personal life, in getting my career not just back to where it was before but more, in trying to be as healthy as possible and in fulfilling my travel objectives.
For sure, I am so tanned now from hanging out too much at the beach and pool, from trekking and hiking, from walking a lot here in Asia. My Mom was even surprised, telling me that she has never seen me this dark, considering I go to the beach and hiking a lot in California too. She even joked that "you are now tall, dark and handsome." Not sure about the handsome part. I am just decent looking. Somehow I think the traveling just made me look haggard. My kind of traveling is not what I consider luxurious since I really go out there and try to experience the outdoors, the nature, the local life and even go to neighborhoods where most tourists have never been. I try to capture everything with my camera and to experience its environment fully. The only thing I care about when I travel is where I stay. It has to be clean and very comfortable with an air-conditioner, and the host (if it is an AirBnB) or the receptionist (if it is a hotel) has to be friendly and helpful. If not, I tend to move to another place right away. I hate rude people. A smile definitely makes someone's day. It is easier to smile than to frown.
Follow Your Heart ❤️
Making a decision is rough. It is what I fear the most: of making the wrong decision that could lead to the wrong path. I have to be able to see some signs according to my instinct before I can make a decision. That's why I am quite spontaneous and also slow when making a decision. Every decision I make is based on a strong feeling or what we call, instinct. There has to be a hook that doesn't let go of me, for me to make a choice. Just hoping that it still leads me to my overall goal whichever choice I make. Making the right decision is the most stressful thing to do.Maybe for every choice, I take a long way instead of a short cut, but in the end, it still goes to the same goal. For the most part, I always take the road less travelled.
"Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you."
David Gemmell, Fall of Kings (Troy, #3)
This advice doesn't always work in my case , but I always follow my heart no matter what.
“The Future belongs to those who Believe in the Beauty of Their Dreams.”
I Will Be Doing Podcasting
Next year I will start a podcast about travel, life, photography, filmmaking, art and writing. Are you interested in that? Let me know what you think of it. I will be posting the link to my podcast once it is up and running. So follow/subscribe to/like my Social Media Channels to get updated about it. The links are right below the picture of my handy digital recorder to be used for my podcasting. Also please share this to your friends and family who might be interested in this topics.
Are You a New Photographer or Filmmaker?
If you are, I highly recommend the camera equipment on this link just because I've used them and I have been very happy with them. (Disclosure: Some of these product links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I might receive a small commission if you decide to purchase them). If you are a new photographer and/or filmmaker, no need to buy the most expensive equipment. What's important is your own vision, your creativity and your content:
This is most of my photography and video equipment. Some of them were not included in this picture such as a new mirrorless camera, a new action camera, a gimbal, a 360 camera, etc.
I Am Also a Digital Media Producer and a Social Media Manager
Please be informed that in addition to doing photography and video projects for exhibitions and screenings around the world and for my book, I am also available to do photography, video, writing, and copywriting for advertising and social media digital content creation (which is what I do for freelance work). In addition, I am also a freelance Social Media Manager for Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, Pinterest and other Social Media Channels. The great thing about me as your Social Media Manager is that I can also produce the videos and stills for your Social Media needs since I am a photographer and a filmmaker myself. Please send me a Direct Message @ my Instagram account (www.instagram.com/chrisrevon) with an info about your business/company and what you want, and we can collaborate and discuss what I can do for you.
Things Change When You Least Expects It
Even when everything around you feels comfortable and safe, it just feels like it. Nothing is fixed. People change, things change, situations change. These are circumstances which are beyond our control. We might think we have control of these things but not really. It is better to be in an environment where everything is out of your comfort zone, it is a lot more exciting and extraordinary. Just go with the flow and see where it takes you. The unpredictability puts you on your toes and gives your life an edge. I've been told by many that I am unique. My Mom told me the same, but I think they're just being polite. What they really mean is that I am a little crazy. But life as it is, is crazy itself. I am just going with the flow of life as crazy as it may seem.
Time to Say Goodbyes to Anything That's Bad for Me and Say Hello to the Ones Which Are Good for Me
I love this essay. About 70% of the words in this essay I wanted to express myself but never had the time to do it, and this came out. Exactly something that's been brewing on my mind.
https://thoughtcatalog.com/erin-cinney/2018/08/im-slowly-learning-to-say-goodbye-to-everything-that-is-no-longer-good-for-me/
“I’m learning to say goodbye to the people in my life that don’t provide any type of quality on who I am as a person. I’m saying goodbye to the doubters, the naysayers, the selfish, the arrogant, the lazy and the deceitful. I’m saying goodbye to the ones that shattered my heart and didn’t look back to see where the pieces fell. I’m saying goodbye to the ones that planted poisonous doubts in my mind because they had leftover seeds from planting their own insecurities. I’m letting go of the ones who support negative competition, the holier-than-thou attitudes, and the ones who thrive on comparison. It’s time to say goodbye.”
“I’m learning to say goodbye to a comfortable lifestyle because it’s the one I’ve always known. I’m ready to say goodbye to the familiar and safe so that I can make room for the extraordinary and exhilarating. I’m learning to say goodbye to bad habits and limiting beliefs. I’m learning to say goodbye to everything and anything that is preventing me from living the life I want, which is the one I will only deserve upon actively pursuing it. I can’t actively pursue anything when my hands and heart are full of outdated crap.”
“I’m learning to say hello to a new way of life. A one in which I surrender to the worthwhile work of doing what it takes to love myself wholly. I’m learning to say hello to self-compassion in conjunction with the discipline it will take for me to achieve what I have always dreamed of. I’m learning to hold onto the right difficulties – the ones that make me grow instead of shrink. I’m ready to say hello to discomfort because I know it means that the old is being broken down to make room for the new to be built.”
