Miss G:" How does it works?"

Dear Miss G, all these are done by a compositing software, Adobe After Effects. This process is one of the most tedious and complicated process while completing TRAP. Video footages, pictures and 3D files have to be combined (composite) using this software. Some of the scenes are dealing with many files and effects, so it needs time to process (render) to become the final image as shown below.

Final Image 01

While shooting for Final Image 01

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Final Image 02

While shooting for Final Image 02

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Final Image 03

While shooting for Final Image 03

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Final Image 04

While shooting for Final Image 04

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Final Image 05

While shooting for Final Image 05

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.