FYP Blues

Now this may seem like a frivolous thing to fret over, especially with terrorist attacks in India, and children in parts of Africa starving, I still can't help but feel the heat. What started out as a really exciting project has turned my palms wet and feet cold. Not that it doesn't interest me anymore, I'm still pumping with adrenalin at the thought of shooting in Beijing all alone in winter. The horrible part about this whole thing is the settling the logistics. Sourcing for sponsors, booking air tickets, accomodation, loaning of equipment, preparing backup list, establishing contacts in Beijing and praying hard that Air China is not going to start charging me for my overweight hand luggage which will consist of a 14 inch ibook, two S3 Pros and 3 lenses, not to mention my wallet, handphone, bottle of water and moisturiser. With all those winter clothing in my check-in luggage, which will carry all my batteries, chargers, tripod, flash, light, I'm getting a bit worried. Well, the pain is not over yet because guess what, I'll have to do this all over again when I return on Dec 1 and leave on Dec 19. Sigh...

Exams may be over for good, but there's still plenty to be done, from sourcing for printers, quotations, getting test prints done, to exhibition location recees, bargaining of rental fees, invitation card designs, press release, food catering, exhibition decor, picture framing, mounting and the putting together of the creative content which includes, choosing the pictures, writing the story, captions, to picture editing, laying out, determining size of prints, number of copies...now have I left anything out?

Just the thought of this daunting feat throws a huge burden on my shoulders. I can't help but scoff when people say "At least you can enjoy after your exams." or worse "So good hor you, don't need to work still get paid." Gee, I think I've covered my yearly commitment in the first half of this year during internship. It's strange how people seem to take it for granted that as public entertainers, it is a given for us to be working 365 days a year and if we don't, we are paid slackers. Well, just a gentle reminder that when we do work, our working hours aren't exactly from 9 to 5pm with Sundays and public holidays off. But of course I'm not saying we are the only ones who're working so hard. Journalists and reporters don't get that fabulous a life too and I'm sure many other occupations that I'm not familiar with at this point. But they aren't exactly the ones having the added pressure of being in public scrutiny. Anyway, I'll probably gripe about that another time. This entry is about my FYP.

This final year is where I know my pain is long suffering. I can't help but wonder which is worse -- studying for exams and yet not do well, or investing so much time and money on my FYP and not get an A.

And by the way, if anyone who's reading this entry is interested to sponsor my final year project, which I believe would be, or at least would like to make it, a one of its kind, culturally rich photo-documentary of the loss of a traditional part of Beijing as they embrace the world and modernise, you are welcome to write to
me. No amount is too little and I will give appropriate credit in my book and exhibition when it takes place next year.

Otherwise, if you'd like to volunteer your service as an assistant for my upcoming trips, which unfortunately, will not be paid for, you are free to send in a full colour 4R facial shot of yourself, with your full resume and contact details before 10 Nov 2005 to
Dreamy Abstractions. Selected candidates will be notified by phone and asked for an interview.

I just remembered, last year I spent my Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year with the cast and crew of A Life of Hope. This year, I'm going to spend Christmas and New Year all alone in the cold winter of Beijing. Oh well, the price to pay for taking up an overseas FYP I guess.

I cross my fingers and hope everything works out, exams, FYP and all.