Interview with a Celebrity

Just the other day there was this big hoo-ha about some celebrity being snobbish or "disconnected" during interviews. Let's take a peek at me appearing on Entertainment Tonight (E!).

E: Hello and welcome to the show

Angel: Thank you, I can't say I'm glad to sacrifice my spare time to be here but my publicity manager forced me to.

E: I'm sorry but we'll try to make this worth your time.

A: Ok, maybe I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry but shall we proceed?

E: Sure, what do you think of your latest role in the upcoming blockbuster?

A: My producers would like me to say that it's a very defining role that they created for me but personally I think the character is pretty messed up with the way he does things.

E: But isn't this role suppose to revive your stagnant career?

A: Yeah it may but then again, at the end of the day it's just a job. I do what my employers tell me to do. I don't ask to be held up for worship, hell I don't even need that much money.

E: Oh dear, is that why you've been playing the philanthropist to many major charities worldwide?

A: I do what I can. Beats having those fakes who pay lip service about doing their bit and encouraging others who earn less than 1% of their own paycheck to chip in.

E: We applaud you for that. Moving on to your personal life and gossips, how do you feel being on the wrong side of 30 and still single? Are you actively looking for a partner?

A: 30 is kind of a bad time when things start to go downhill for you and you feel it. On one hand it sucks to be single because of the stigma and pressure from others. On the other hand, it feels much better to have more control over the things you wanna do. And no, I am not seeing anyone special at the moment, despite what the tabloids have been trying to cook up.

E: But do you have plans to settle down and start a family eventually? Do you have a particular eye out for someone at the moment?

A: Now if I were just some average Joe sitting here, I'd probably go "Mind your own f***in' business" *chuckle* but yeah, it's be great to settle down eventually. I do have some interest in a few names in my black book if that's the juicy bit you were looking for.

E: Last question. Beauty pageants all wish for World Peace, what do you wish for?

A: Hmmm, how bout a gorgeous interviewer instead? But seriously, I wish those a**holes (paparazzis) out there would get a decent job and David (Letterman) not make jokes at my expense. Oh, and an agent with more wit and a brain. MJ, Rest in Peace bro! G'night all you kind folks!

The writer is glad he's not a celebrity though he doesn't mind the obscene paychecks. He just can't stand the flies and vultures that gather around. He aslo wish to state that this is all in jest and should not be taken seriously.

Climax or is it Anti?

Two days after an intensive week that saw me scrambling to do some rescue touch-ups on my model kit en-route to the competition finals site, helping with the packing and unpacking of stores, waking up in the early mornings throughout the weekend.... you get the picture.

So there I was, scheduled to pick up my model kit from the display cabinet of Takashimaya shopping centre and transport it to the site of the finals. Horror of horrors when I inspected the piece and found some cracks in the base! So quietly, I packed it up and good thing the workshop is along the way so I stopped by and some frantic work ensued before I walked over to the convention centre and then spent another 10 to 20 minutes figuring out the best placement with respect to the lighting in the display cabinet. After that, I spent almost the rest of my evening helping out to unpack at a friend's booth nearby.

Day 1 of the Anime Festival Asia 2009. I met up with an old acquaintance of almost a decade now. Kaika would be one of the cosers under my charge that day and of all the characters, had to be one that many of people are familiar with (and young boys drooling after... kekeke) - Souryu Asuka Langley. Kinda big turn off for the day was the crowd and the noise, not to mention the swarm of "flies" that were following Danny around.

Then there was star attraction Shoko-tan (Shoko Nakagawa) walking around in the hall while all the attraction was on the cosers at our booth! I didn't know who she was until I asked someone about the Japanese girl walking around with a few people and a cameraman in tow. Still clueless as to my role? I'm in charge of guarding the cosers at our booth and also limit access through the designated exit. Which worked pretty well when Danny went in to discuss some things with the boss and I take pleasure in shutting out those flies. Ended the day with an aching back and sore feet from standing the whole day!

Day 2 and it was a bad start. Just as I was about to park the car in the lot, my car died and I can't get it to start due to a dead battery. Had to push the car into a parking lot and call up for reinforcements. The crowd wasn't that bad for the day since most of them already snatched most of the hotter shirt designs anyway. Danny's wandering around out of his armour today and surprise surprise, not many flies in sight. A good thing I brought my camera today so before the flies appear, I managed to exchange name cards with him and had a mug shot with him. Then its a group shot of the gang that I never had a chance to capture the day before.

Pretty much more to do today with the car and all. First, had to linger around to wait for the Bandai Action Kit Universal Competition prize presentation and photo taking before rushing back to the parking lot with a friend to jump start the car and pass the keys to my dad. Then back to work. In the midst of everything, along came Mizuki Ichirou aka Aniki. Another famous anime singer doing a walkabout. The thing about Aniki-san is he's super friendly and obliges everyone who asks to be photographed with him. I got my chance and together we struck up his favourite pose for the camera.

Towards the end, with camera in hand, I prowled around the area taking shots of various cosers and even had the opportunity to take a group shot with some maids from the Moe moe Kyun Maid Cafe who were wandering around. It's all good folks. Last shot was of a neko-chan before its back to frantic packing up for the end of the event, collect my model and prize before heading back for dinner with the group.

Then along came Monday.... and a bout of common cold.... tchoo!

The writer was tire out from the 2 days and had a good time with his group of friends. Monday was a drag and Tuesday was a bore because of the illness. Thank goodness its a 4 day week....

Back to work

How is everybody? Coming back from a 2 month hiatus (Read: AWOL!! - Ed), the traveller fatigue is somewhat gone although I could always use more breaks. My mind's somewhat cleared by now and I'm just about ready to give up chasing shadows.

Ever since my last entry, I have been piling in a fair bit of energy into completing my piece for the (somewhat) gala competition for the year. The annual Bandai Asia Universal Kit Competition (BAKUC for short) and managed to complete it to a somewhat satisfactory level just before the submission deadline. The bad news is, the worse is yet to come. The stress was simply too much to handle as the piece is placed on display among so many other nicely done pieces. The stress is not in the expectation of my own but rather the feeling of inadequacy among so many pros. This should be the first and last time I'm going to be doing something like this again.

Work-wise, managed to settle some heavyweight issues, really heavy one at that. Although the weather does seem to get on my nerves. If it isn't one thing, it's usually the other. Then there's the disparaging remarks from some friends of my colleagues about me being an otaku. He had been trying to introduce me to some of his Japanese friends (females of course) ever since he knew I was into their culture and all. From what I heard, the first question out of their mouths when my colleague mentioned I do models was, yup: OTAKU? As if it's a disease or illness. Fine. I could do without company that shows such disdain for a largely misunderstood hobby. Try turning $50 worth of plastic into something worth over $200. Would you even pay over $500 for a "TOY"?

Anyway, I finally got my hands on the CD I was hunting for. Apparently only HMV carries it and they had been out of stock for the last 3 to 4 times I was down to ask for it. It may just be a soundtrack for a movie but the instrumental scores are really phenomenal and I'll certainly be playing this for my car rides.

The writer is still trying to ease the tension within his body as he quietly awaits the year-end break that is to come.