Ending

The ending part was actually plan to shoot after Chinese New Year. Due to this part is not in a rush, I decided to shoot it when TRAP is almost finish.

At first, I had a dialogue for Jason but the result is just not there. I had decided to make TRAP as a no dialogue master piece but still remaining the maximum impact to deliver to audience.

One of my most respectful secondary school teacher - Madam Chan Siew Lei. She is actually one of my mentor when I was in Form 6. My thinking style started to go crazy when she decided to organized a English Drama Competition among Form 6 classes. I totally put all of my effort to make the drama become a special one.

I purposely request her to act as the mom character, hopefully she can have a special experience when she is contributing for her ex-student and giving her first time in acting for student work. Perhaps, letting someone to have good experience is also a form of appreciation. Thank you!

"Finally I have watched your work. I was surprised for the beginning part. It is very suspense. Thanks for your DVD, it will be a good commercial break for my relatives during Chinese New Year" She answered me with a nice smile :)

Another "TRAP"

Although this "Jungle" is free admission for everyone to visit, but certain species of creature take "advantage" to intrude and destroy the green. I have witnessed the cycle of nature with this "Jungle". I have seen how a species been taken over from another species. I started to appreciate the art of ecosystem.Mold (white color subject) caused from moisture in the "Jungle".

Disaster from the damping. The base couldn't support the weight after flowering the greens.
Disaster of the unpredictable whether. Hardly can do anything.

Facts

At first, Alex was planning to forge a sword for me. He has been forging few swords since he had agreed to help me. Bad things always come first. All the swords had the same faith. Seems like they were cursed by the blue spirit and not be able to serve for their master.

He was so patient on forging the third sword for me in The Expensive Day. "Wah, how come you know how to forge a sword?" Most of the crew asking the same question. I get bored. But he is not! I think that's the advandtage of an Anime lover should have.
Finally, I'm not be able to conquer the blue spirit. I have to spend money to deactivate the curse. I got this sword after searching around in few shopping complex. Mid Valley was the final destination of the curse.

It was strange when I met this sword. At first, I had chosen another model (not so nice) in the display corner, but the shop worker accidently taken the wrong sword to me. I was amazed by it sparks, reflectivity and design. It sparks at me as loving to serve me for TRAP. It becomes alive!

"This is it man! Thanks for taking the wrong sword to me!"

There are few dramatic camera moving shots that only can be done with the help of Thomas Na (Owner of Chuan Hong Hardware). At first I had made some surveys on how to make a DIY camera track which need to spend more than RM100. After explaining my intention to Thomas, he had suggested me on this camera track using PVC Pipe which cost around RM20! TWENTY Ringgit! Perhaps he might be one of the top student in my faculty! Thanks Thomas! "Are you sure you are still under budget? If not I still can reduce some of the hardware price for you!" Thomas has been helping me a lot for all the hardware and discount! You will get busy in my next project. Thanks my friend!

The 99 Nightmare

After the editing and music are done, the nightmare starts. The visual effects and the compositing stage begins. These 99 shots are the 2nd phase of the storyboard, which will lead me to shoot the "jungle" part and composite them to the background of the hero. All the "jungle" footages will be replacing the blue screen behind the hero.

Where is the "Jungle"?

Dear Miss R, thanks for question. It was encouraging! These might be able to answer your question! Phase 1: Was planting some individual grass layers and distributing spaces for different camera angle. Grass was digged from a football field.
Phase 2: Most of the grass has been planted. Will leave it to grow by their own for at least one month. Man-made pond was successfully created! Functionality of the pond is no longer perfect after 2 months.
Phase 3: Front & Back view of the "Jungle". After filling up the remaining space with grass and wood.
Phase 4: Rain proof precaution and blue screen setup. Initial plan is to shoot the "Jungle" part in day time. But it fails due to unexpected whether in day time.

"Apa you buat sini tiap tiap malam?" The guard asked me once when he is hanging around in the neighbourhood.

21/1/07 | The Expensive Day

According to storyboard, I have to finish 72 shots in one day. The Expensive Day starts from early morning 6am. But the mind set was always hoping this day shouldn't be so soon. There are always room to improve and things that hasn't been done. I have lots of stuff to be done in this day. The emotion, the directing, the psychology, the work and the desire of every crew and talents which combine together becomes the most expensive day I ever had! Just do it!
Christiano Ronaldo was always the Man of the Match when he is on the green. Till now, I have 2 Men of the Day that had contributed a lot in TRAP.

left Woon Tien Jing (Lighting Man), & center Luke Hwong En Ting (Camera Operator) .

Jessie Ong (Make Up Artist) was beautiful on that day!
These are some of the Scout Members that volunteer to help me as the Super Personal Assistant in every departments. They had painted the blue screen board, hung up the huge blue fabric, built up the scalfolding and preparing the grass for the miniature.

Foo Shee Yang, Woon Yung Sheng, Chook Yao Seng, Moh Chun Kit, Wong Tze Xiang.
"Not tired." Was their answer all the time.

"Mommy, I had been standing for more than 14 hours today!" Jason's first respond to his mother on that day after the rap on 12:30am next morning.

Main Character

Started to think of the character design. Has drawn few characters. I realised that I can draw creature better than human. Strange... References from http://www.indexstock.com/ Check this out. It's useful for stock photos. Costume design and make up is designed based on this reference.
Luckily the T's he is wearing is cheap. Only RM6.50. I had bought 4 Ts for my dying test. First dying process was a failure due to the amount of dying powder was too much. Only get the desired color in the second time. The "socks and strings" were cut from my friend's old Ts. Thanks for the SUDDEN sponsors from Yeong Keng Heong. I had bought 4 different colors to try out. Each color cost about RM4.50. Track bottom is RM18.50. Shoe is cheap, RM12. And the wraist protector cost RM19.80 per pairs.

The wooden stick was a surprise, it wasn't the initial plan. The initial plan is to get a straight tough stick instead of stick with curvature. It happened in a day when I'm planning for the production design on stage and suddenly I saw a big buck of wooden sticks were thrown right at the back stage. Luck?! The "Huge Chopper" cost is RM12.50.

Hemp cord were sponsors by the Scout Troops. Thanks! Make up was helped by Jessie Ong! Thanks for the fantastic contribution and your material. I don know how much does it cost! But thanks!
Jason... Well, he is still a young kid. Perhaps everyone that had watched TRAP will ask me who is this kid. He is my scout junior from my secondary school. 14 years old. Contacts often been very helpful when I need help. When I was doing casting, I asked one of my scout master, "Which kid likes to bump around during scout activities." Five kids were suggested and only he has the look that I'm looking for after gone through the casting and practical session.

"Mommy, a senior came to my school asking me to act in his final year project, can I join him?" Was his first question to his parents.

Bulb & Visual

Initial idea was rejected by lecturers. Desperately need to come up with another idea in 2 weeks. Desperately... Rejected again for some stupid cheap idea.

Finally I met TRAP. Probably 2 days before deadline. The idea was inspired by an incident when I knew one of my smart friend had addicted to online games until he had forgotten his responsibility to be a useful person in the competitive world. (Fortunately, he gets back into the right path way! Unfortunately he is still single.)
Storyboard has been drawn for the need to visualise the story flow. Also used to plan for all the shots. It shows my bad drawing skills. At least, mom is still mom not dad!

How trap becomes TRAP

Finally the journey has begun. I'll be sharing some of the moments of my final year project - TRAP.

It all starts here!

It all starts here because it all starts here. For quite a while, TRAP = Me, Me = TRAP.

TRAP - My final year visual effects projects. It has been my signature work since it was screened to public in May 2007. Proud that I had been through the 8 months process with this master piece.

Why TRAP? Unfortunately, I left my shadow in it. That's why TRAP = Me, Me = TRAP.

"Where is the jungle that you shoot this video?" & "How can you get electricity in the jungle?" Miss R asked. Both are the most memorable and meaningful questions for TRAP and it tells the success of TRAP (as a student, not professional).

Someone asked me how much did I pay for the boy in TRAP. They were surprise with the amount. Well, I think I gained more than what he earns. I mean MMOORREE! Really MORE!

Courage was the issue in my mind after the completion of TRAP. Frankly, in short term, I have no courage to work on something BIG yet. Need some time to rest. Desperately. Perhaps... when or after I meet someone.

Hopefully, ?????????? = Me, Me = ?????????? in someday.

Graduation is on 13th August 2007, precisely 8am-11am. Hopefully I can be released from TRAP.

"All the Grass had been sacrificed heroically. I witnessed it with my only eye. They deserved a click!" - Chiau Ran's Video Camera
TRAP :: movie :: synopsis :: @vailable www.youtube.com/chiauran.