It's been quite long since I last checked YouTube for music videos, since I occupied myself more for football and film videos lately.
Then last night I had a dream.
It was quite absurd, I couldn't really remember it but I remember I dreamed about meeting a football star (which I believed was Vincent Kompany, I am not sure because I am originally and actually is a Chelsea fan, although I am also a fan of the Belgian Red Devils; logically it should be either Eden Hazard or Thibaut Courtois, right? Well, but I must admit I adore VK too because of his leadership ability), then hanging out with some of my film critic friends (I didn't know how it connected from meeting VK to this, really) and (lastly that I remember until I woke up) then following someone who is a cellist for an exclusive report (it's supposed to be someone famous, but I didn't remember the face, and in the middle of the dream, it twisted to me playing the cello--although I can't in real life--but it was still projected as that someone else and I was still as the reporter, weird).
Anyways, it called me this morning to view again those beautiful violin, cello and double bass videos.
Maybe my mind calls for a balance, so it won't be all the time just about football and film. Or maybe my mind misses watching music videos on YouTube.
Here are just twelve from my awful lot favorite videos on cello, violin and double bass. I can't put all of them so I just choose and if there are same songs covered from different violinists/cellists, I just pick one of them (does not mean that I don't like the others). I need to reassure you all that I do not play any of them. I only play the piano on a basic level.
Eric Wuest - Can't Stop (RHCP cover)
Eric Wuest - Viva la Vida (Coldplay cover)
(Still) Eric Wuest - A Thousand Years (Christina Perri cover)
The Piano Guys feat. Alex Boye - Peponi
(Coldplay's Paradise cover in African style)
The Piano Guys feat. The American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
But because I didn't go anywhere, maybe that's why I still have the urge to go somewhere right now. I know it's impossible, but at least my imagination can help me! XD
In my 21 years of life, I am fortunate enough to have visited Singapore, the USA (with transit at Taiwan), Japan and Australia (although only Rosebud and Melbourne, both in Victoria) as well as some places in Indonesia like Anyer and Carita, Bandung and Lembang, Cirebon, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, East Java (Surabaya, Malang and Madiun), Bali, Riau (Pekanbaru, Duri, Dumai and Rumbai) and North Sulawesi (Manado, Bitung, Bunaken [although I haven't reached the island, just the sea], Tondano and Minahasa Utara). I actually do love traveling, and exploring more and more stuff would be awesome.
I have made a list of my (hopefully) upcoming destination list below.
Some things you do not need to know about why I choose these destinations:
I like beaches more than mountains. I enjoy swimming much more than hiking and camping. But it doesn't mean that I avoid visiting places with mountains as its scenery. Also, to add, although I like beaches, seas and oceans, I'm scared of seeing oceans on satellite maps. So DON'T EVER show my a large scale of it, I would be freaking out!!!
My love towards big cities never fades. The rush and busy times, the crowd, the lights, the tall buildings, even
the traffic (although this one I hate hahaha)--things that I grew up
with.
Culture and cuisine are always important to me. Visits to museums, galleries, exhibition halls and restaurants (or street food vendors) are usually included in my itinerary.
Before we begin, just another unimportant brief, maybe my destination list would require me to at least master one of these:
Yes, diving would be a must if I visit a diving spot, obviously.
And maybe this one too... in which I can't even barely stand up on that surfboard.
But if it's this one, I can manage! I love this one! Can I just do this instead?
Also, I'm not going to put all videos or pictures related to the city/country/destination, as this post would be too long if I do so.
So *drum rolls* here's my 15 dream traveling destinations list!
***
Destination 1: Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
All these elements: the amazing culture and the beautiful scenery... why wouldn't anyone want to go there?! Look at how rich Indonesia is!
I especially want to see the funeral ceremony. I love exploring new cultures and this is definitely something that I would love the checkout by myself. I think that's the most famous, sacred yet important tradition among the Torajans and I know this is celebrated as a big festivity. I don't think a trip to Toraja would be complete without witnessing this funeral ceremony.
Destination 2: Banda Islands, Maluku (The Moluccas), Indonesia
Another proof of Indonesia's beauty! Look at that sunset and listen to the sound of the sea!
I've been telling my parents to definitely add this destination into their traveling destination list. When I first read about it in a traveling magazine a couple years ago, I just fall in love directly with its beautiful beaches and scenery. Well, why wouldn't I?!
Oh, but then again, I think maybe I have to learn how to dive first before visiting this island.Why? Just check this out.
SEE THAT DEEP BLUE OCEAN? SEE?! :")
Destination 3: Ternate, Maluku (The Moluccas), Indonesia
Another Maluku island takes place in my list. My want to visit Ternate was because last two Christmas ago, when I visited Manado, my plane happened to transit in Ternate. I saw Ternate from the back of my plane's window and immediately just got interested. I also told my parents that this should be one of their next destination trips!
Destination 4: Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia
Similar reasons like Cook Islands and Banda Islands, look at how *caps lock alert* BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING this place is. Indonesia should be proud and should keep its pride by maintaining the place!
The beautiful islands and the diving spot... I have nothing more to say. Just take me there, please!
Destination 5: Cook Islands
The beautiful sea, sand, nature and culture has spoken by itself so... CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TAKE ME THERE? :")
Destination 6: Singapore
I've been to Singapore for a couple of times, but I love and am always fascinated by this place that I never get bored of visiting it (maybe it's also because I don't visit it thrice a year like some people do, so the long gap makes me feel like I miss the place).
In Singapore, think that there is always something to do there and there is always something new to explore. Like a visit to the National Museum of Singapore or Esplanade would be lovely in every visit, because there will always be different events. Even not all places listed in the video I have visited. Plus, I also haven't tried to stay at this wonderful hotel.
Ladies and gentlemen, the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel!
See, there's always something to do in this tiny island!
Destination 7: New York City, New York, USA
I have been to this city that never sleeps once back then when I was still 4 years old. The twin WTC towers were still standing. Couldn't remember much, really, except this memory when I first passed the twin WTC buildings (I saw them through my cab's window), I thought they were like some sort of air conditioner factory -___-
Yup, now that I'm 21, I think it's about time to go back the Big Apple, which has always been in my dream since then, because, as I told you, I love big cities. It's up to you, New York, New York!
I will definitely add her in my destination list as well!
Destination 8: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
This big city looks beautiful especially with the Gateway Arch and its love for sports is definitely something to check out on! I just read the information about Saint Louis a few moments ago while searching for videos and pictures of my other destinations, but this one catches my eyes real good!
Destination 9: Denmark (especially Copenhagen)
This original country of Lego has been fascinating me for long that it makes me want to study and spend some time (or maybe even the rest) of my life there. Look at those beautiful buildings in Copenhagen and how developed the place is. I even hope one day I can get a scholarship to Copenhagen University.
I also have a wonderful pen pal, Lise, who is a fellow Il Divo fan living there whom I have never met physically (only through Twitter), so a visit to her would be so much lovely!
Destination 10: West Europe
Europe has been my dream continent to visit, so these countries would never slip away from my list. I have a stronger urge towards the big cities, but would never ever skip the nature. These countries enchant me so much!
I also would love to get a scholarship to the university in one of these cities. Who wouldn't?!
Destination 11: The UK and Ireland
Beautiful nature, wonderful big cities, the love of football, food, history, culture...
Plus, a lot of great (and my favorite) musicians, singers and bands are from here: The Beatles, Enya, Coldplay, The Verve, Snow Patrol, Bastille... you name it! They all come from the UK and Ireland!
Destination 12: South Europe
Oh my God I'm so in love with these places: food, culture, arts, history, food again, culture again, football, scenery, food again, just please take me there!
Destination 13: East Europe
I believe that East Europe has a lot of things to discover: culturally, historically, and nature-wise. And look at the beautiful cities!
I especially want to visit this museum in Zagreb because I find it funny, sad and interesting at the same time!
Zagrebians really have a great empathy towards brokenhearted people.
Destination 14: Brazil, Argentina and Peru
These are paradise! Beaches, big cities, cuisine, culture, football, history, beaches again and BEACHES EVERYWHERE!
If you guys read my previous post, you will definitely know that I'm in love with Brazil. So yeah, of course I wouldn't miss it!
Hi, I'm back... with a bucket list in my mind!
LOL.
Well, actually, it's not that I want to pass away soon or what, it's just that I want to share something that has never been in my mind until I finally turned 21. So, this is not really only about the bucket list, but it's more on how turning 21 has actually changed (and disturbed) my mind in living life.
Many young people say that self turmoils will eventually really bother you on the day you turn 21. I don't know if this is just some sort of suggestions given by people around me or not, but it's somewhat true that after I turned 21 last August, I started to think about what are the things that I have done and what are my plans for the future... that is already very near. Yes, in my mind, my future will eventually turn into life reality when I graduate from university next semester.
I'm not going to discuss about my plans for the future here, as thinking about it makes me feel nervous from time to time, for I will very soon leave this "unreal reality" of being a student in college. I'm not going to discuss about what things that I have done either, as I don't think I have done many significant things in my life especially for other people... ._. so, instead, I'm just going to discuss my "happy yuppy" plans before I die. That's what a bucket list is for, isn't it?
I know it isn't that important, but there's nothing wrong to be unimportant when it comes to posting on a personal blog... I guess.
So, before I die, there are five things that I would really love to experience. Please note that these things are apart of my main dreams and wishes, which is not included in my bucket list, for my bucket list is, according to me, the list of things which are based on the personal fun and pleasure purpose only, as I have mentioned earlier.
5. Watch Chelsea beat Manchester United live from the Old Trafford.
Before going anywhere further, please let me address my sincere in advance apology to my mates who support Manchester United. I have no personal hatred towards you guys. Really.
Ironically, this video shows Juan Mata's goal over MU that brought Chelsea on their away victory at that moment. JUAN MATA. A former blue who is now in... MANCHESTER UNITED.
I'm not sure why, but I just want to watch this derby even more than watching Chelsea winning the London derby against Arsenal live from the Stamford Bridge or even the Emirates Stadium. Plus that I have never been to the UK in my entire life, so putting this as my bucket list is not a mistake, right? Right?
4. Ride on a hot air balloon.
Awesome, isn't it?
Anywhere will do for me, actually. Because the hot air balloon itself is already a special thing for me. But if I could choose, then Turkey would my my first preferable country to experience this.
Cappadocia FTW!
3. Watch Armin van Buuren live from any music festival.
A picture speaks a thousand words. A video speaks even much more than that. So, I have nothing more to say for this.
2. Watch Gustavo Dudamel conducting an orchestra live, anywhere it is.
Young, handsome, talented and passionate, this guy has been able to inspire me (and a lot more people, of course) through his beautiful music. It might be just me, but classical music sounds different and rather profound under his command!
He also makes me think even further that El Sistema, which is Spanish for The System,
the music program established by Maestro Abreu in which Dudamel is his
protégé, can really uplift the social condition towards a country. Yes,
people, sometimes we need to acknowledge that art can even be more
powerful than politics!
Click here to read more about Maestro Abreu and his El Sistema program.
Dudamel giving his respect to Maestro Abreu
And if I were to watch him conducting the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra playing Arturo Marquez's Danzón No. 2 live, then it would be a freaking special bonus for me!
1. Visit Brazil.
Especially during the Rio Carnival.
Or during the World Cup, someday...
Brazilian fans rooting for Brazil (obviousleeeh!!!)
Although technically I root for the Netherlands, but still, watching football live in the country of football... it would be incredible! Especially when it comes to the Netherlands beating Spain in the World Cup (again, I apologize to my mates who root for Spain. I must say that I have no personal hatred towards you, guys)!
A short film is a form of medium that is honest; with its time limit, it gives the filmmaker freedom and creativity to turn it into something according to what they wish and what they have meant in the first place directly. Since it has less interventions if compared with feature films where there are more investors and parties included in the making, short films are able to bring out the message that the filmmakers would like to point out with the most suitable form for both the audience and the filmmaker. In this essay, I would like to bring out how a short film is able to bring out the issues of class struggle and the abuse of power within the authority of the society. Here, I am going to use the film Lawuh Boled (Misyatun, 2012) as my study case. I will also point out the political and economic relationship of the film with the society in which Lawuh Boled portrays and how this film points them out.
Cassava, Structural Poverty and the Abuse of Power
"Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton
Lawuh Boled (English: Side Dish: Cassava)is a film made by a group of students from SMK Negeri 1 Rembang, Purbalingga, Central Java. It tells about Sutimah, an illiterate woman who was not able to get her raskin or beras miskin (the rice for poor people provided by the Government) since she took the wrong coupon with someone else's name written on it. Her Pak RT (neighborhood leader) did not help her in getting the right coupon because he was busy with his own personal phone call while Sutimah asked for his assistance. Because of this, Sutimah could not provide her daughter rice for that day's food and must stick with boiled cassava.
Behind the scenes of Lawuh Boled.
Bowo Leksono, the Founding Father of Cinema Lovers Community (CLC), a film community in Purbalingga in which Misyatun and her friends got their film education, pointed out why cassava is chosen as the side dish. "Simply because it's the cheapest food. In Java, it is how the identity is pointed out: when you eat cassava, then you are poor," he said, in an interview with detikHOT during the South to South Film Festival Awarding Night. Misyatun, the director and producer of the film, also pointed out that this film is related very much with her real life experience. "My mother's name is Sutimah, and once she was not able to get her raskin because she was illiterate and not being helped by her Pak RT to get the right coupon. The people at the Balai Desa (Village Hall) also did not help her with her situation, although actually they could, if they would."
From the explanation above, I can tell directly that this is a problem of the abuse of power by the authority, which brings unfortunate circumstances to the people. The word power itself is derived from the Latin word potere, which means "to be able". Power itself is described as being able to achieve what one desires using the physical, intellectual or even the combination of both forces. The source of power varies from wealth, position, knowledge, skills, expertise and information. In the film Lawuh Boled, the Pak RT who has power abused his power for his own benefits, leaving Sutimah with the consequence of not getting the rice that should have been hers.
Lawuh Boled winning Best Short Film at the South to South Film Festival 2014.
Bowo admitted that the problem in which Lawuh Boled portrays is the problem that is very much related with political issue. In an interview with Windu Jusuf from Cinema Poetica, an Indonesian website that discusses critical thoughts on world cinema and film culture, Bowo explained on why many of CLC films are about politics. "I always give them freedom in making whatever they want. But when they come to me and talk about their ideas, then they are able to connect their stories with the social contexts. When you talk about poverty, you talk about politics: why are people poor? This is not about fate. They must be able to answer the question. There will be a long discussion. Okay, so poverty happens because of corruption and so on and so forth. They got this conclusion after they directly get in touch with the society." Research and downfield are the keys on doing so. CLC also believes that through film screenings, and not just filmmaking, people are able to get their political education.
Lawuh Boled brings out the point of structural poverty, where, exactly like what Bowo said, poverty happens not because of fate but because the wrack of the system. This is a very simple yet close-with-real-life-experience example of authoritarians who abuse their power in the lowest level, which is the RT or the neighborhood. This problem then points out a question that can kick all people in the Government: how is it possible that our whole Government can govern the people well and clean, when the lowest level of the Government itself is already dilapidated? Just because of this simple action of Pak RT not assisting Sutimah to get the right coupon and instead is busy with his personal phone call, a family is not being able to get their right for rice and must stick with cassava instead, the cheapest food that even symbols poverty. This clearly shows structural poverty, where the happening of the poverty itself is much supported by the dilapidated system of the Government, in this case one person who abuses his power for his own benefit.
This film is so powerful that it is said after this film was screened for public, one Kepala Desa (Headman) must face his resignation due to his blunders. Lawuh Boled also won a lot of short film awards, where the judges always pointed out the same thing: this film is able to bring out the issue of class struggle and politics without having to sound and look preachy. It clearly shows how a short film is able to bring out social and political issues within the society honestly and actually bring an action after that. In this era in which democracy is being highly appreciated and everyone is free to contend, this is one of the most effective forms of medium that people can use to speak up and protest: film, in its audiovisual medium, gives more chances and opportunities to bring out the values that we need to bring out.
yes, i just feel like i have to update this blog for some random reason in which i could not explain.
i haven't been sleeping for almost 48 hours (minus two 20-minute naps, actually) for a combination of reasons and have been sleeping very late for the past week or two. it has started to torture me though -- all the heavy sleepiness, wooziness, physical exhaustion and even this feeling of uncertainty that has been coming to me for the past 2 days.
i remember last year, during the early even semester, i was hospitalised for the disease that i could not even identify until now. at the moment, i was sick, in fact i was very sick. i have got this kind of reddish spots all over my body and those were itchy. i remember it was combined with stomachache and painful joints, somewhat. i was off from campus for 2 weeks -- my pitching preparation had to be done during my bed rest time.
but before the disappointments came, i remember during me being very sick, i was full of spirit. i was full of spirit for directing (and i just left my producing preparation part, what an effing mistake). i was full of spirit for the class directing 1 in which i had to repeat (and i was satisfied with the overall class, honestly). i was full of spirit for working in aksara (remember i used to work in that gift and bookstore for 2 months). i was even full of spirit for the class film and society (the class that turned out to be one of the very few classes in which i got almost nothing, but let's not discuss this).
i was just full of spirit. i was even beyond my own control that i made myself clear i didn't want to be sick for too long.
and now, here i am, on my 6th semester, with a major film project in my hands and some other works along the way.
and i need that spirit i used to have during the early semester 4.
i don't know what's behind the reason of my currently missing, disappearing spirit, like seriously. i was trying to relieve myself during the (missing, disappearing) holidays and prepare for the next big thing that will come this semester. i was also full of spirit last semester (semester 5, odd semester with no major film production assignment) and i could feel like my passion is running inside my blood. even honestly, i enjoyed semester 5 so much that it was also one of the best semesters that i have gone through during film school years.
i have been telling my director that he needs to keep encouraging me simply just because i need it. i need encouragement. i need some sort of power that can make me keep going on. i need it like crazy. i just need it and need it and need it that i kept repeating the same thing for my own sake.
i feel guilty to my director who also said that he also feels the same way like i do, but with more reasonable and acceptable reasons that if you were him, you would probably experience the same thing. it's too long to be written, but i know that he has that right to feel the way he feels now.
but me? a brat like me? what reason could be acceptable enough for the disappearance of my spirit besides the fact that filmmaking might not be my expertise? after all, life is not always about just doing the things that you like or excel the most, right?
luckily, i have not been losing my passion for this project. producing is indeed a new thing for me. i can't say that i am fully ready for this. but i can say that i am stepping myself into it -- a good thing for a start, shouldn't it be?
(and yes, my true passion is film criticism, actually, just as what i have written in my media business and entrepreneurship assignment, in which i do not stop doing too.)
all i only need is to regain my spirit to continue going on with all the other things and also with this project. that is my goal: i need to pass this semester with full spirit.
with readiness and alacrity.
and with full love for what i am doing right now.
yes please, dearest spirit. come back to me and run through my blood like it's the early semester 4 or even last semester.
And here it is my last post of this semester... It is hard to believe that this semester is about to end in just 2 weeks. All classes will end soon and the holiday will come, and I'm going to be a 3rd-year student. Seems like yesterday when I first entered my first Directing 1's class. And now my second Directing 1's class is about to end.
In Directing 1, I personally think that this year's class is far more fun than last year. The learning process went much better and I think that this year is also more interactive. I believe that Charles and Willy experience the same thing as I do. Also, this year's projects are, in my opinion, more applicable for filmmaking. Maybe last year's "scene copying" project works as well, if I may say. But all these treatment, blogs and stuff really does work for me, at least.
To be honest, I can say that so far this is my toughest semester during my time in film school, but this is also the semester in which I learned the most, be it academically or non-academically. I made A LOT of mistakes this semester, and many of them are fatal mistakes. I did not win the pitch (which I can say that it is because of my own mistake), I made another bad film (which is the result of mistakes that I made), in the production workshop I won most of the "worst" awards and so on and so forth. On the other hand, I took part in 2 of my seniors' projects and I became an Assistant Producer for Lisa and Angkasa's film, where from these projects I learned a lot more. I may say that I am not a fabulous Assistant Producer because still I made mistakes, and some mistakes gave not-so-good impacts towards the others. But, seeing from the positive sides, I really am grateful to have gone through this semester. I learned not just about filmmaking, but also about social skills and management, which I am still lack of it sometimes.
I am not happy with what I have done this semester, but I am happy to have the chance to undergo all these things, because now I know that those things that I did were mistakes and I know what to do next time. I guess learning from mistakes is the best thing to do. So I know exactly how to fix it because I know that it was a mistake. Of course I am not satisfied with my achievements this semester (because I achieved nothing). I sometimes think that I am even worse than my classmates, but I hope that this can be a push for me to be better next time, in the next projects.
To everyone that must gone through hard times because of me this semester, I truly am apologise for my mistakes. And to everyone who have taught me a lot of things this semester, I thank you all truly from my heart.
I really am excited to learn more in the next upcoming semesters. Thanks to this semester that I have learned more about myself as well.
