Movie Review : The Croods

IMDB  gave 7.4/10 for the Croods while me, personally, would just rated 4/10 and very thankful I didn't watch in the cinema. I wanted to watch and kept nagging for watching it but watching it on DVD is just the best decision! 1 word : BORING and the best thing about movie is only the last 20 minutes. 

The movie is not that entertaining nor kept you awake; quite boring. It is not about the storyline more over on how the story is brought up; not as fun as i was expected them to be. I do love Dreamwork movies but just not this one. 

Random Thought : Successful People Starts Before They Feel Ready.....

I saw my friend on facebook, posted this link and I saw Sir Richard Branson's photo! I read the article "Successful People Starts Before They Feel Ready" at www.jamesclear.quora.com and in sudden, it encouraged me to pursue my dream(s) of expanding my business empires even without uncertain amount of money, I may be getting in the future. The article is really simple, straight-forward and you won't be bored in reading it. I'm encouraging you to waste your precious 5 minutes to read how the opportunist Sir Richard Branson became on the top of the line! 

I've read few articles about him and he is really such a humble man and his tips are often really realistic. Through this article, I saw he's quite an extreme opportunist and he welcomes challenges without care much at the beginning! A simple man with simple idea but ended with an extraordinary achievement. Remember the saying "creativity comes when you are under-pressure" and this man see the opportunities without care much about what's next. 

I love the part of the article that say " a side effect of doing challenging work is that you're pulled by excitement and pushed by confusion at the same time. You're bound to feel uncertain, unprepared, and unqualified!" You don't need to learn every little things in building a business, you just have to find the right people to fit into the job descriptions. It's really better to waste a bit of money than to invest your time in learning every little thing from the beginning. The truth, I have no business background, my dad businesses always went bankrupt so I had no one to teach me about it until Mr. Grumpy came into my life. Practically, I'm learning by experiencing with tons of trials and errors for the first year of the business which I never regretted until now. It was truly an amazing experience to understand people and to develop the business. Neither was I ever feel ready (even until now), and I'm still guided by mr. Grumpy although he said I never learnt but little did he realize , I have learnt a lot. The only thing I've in running this business is "my skills" but lucky enough, my parents, financially supported me until recently. 

The best thing about this article is this " what you have right now is enough! You can plan, delay and revise all you want, but trust me, what you have now is enough to start! We all start in the same place: no money, no resources, no contact, no experience. The differences is that some people - the winners - choose to start anyway!" A very strong message that have opened my eyes and mind on how bitter the truth is! We don't need to have every little things to start something, all we need is just ourself, our skills, our strong will and faith! Others will be following you! And with this message, I'll be strongly hold it as my belief and will be starting in making my recent dream to be coming true! It's more like better to prepare every little things before its started! I believe Money will come once my plans are done! 

I'm not sure whether it'll work or not but there's no harm in trying especially since I really love to dream! It costs nothing even the time I would be wasted is an investment! I've told the same to Mr. Grumpy knowing both of us have different line of interested business but of course, we will be helping each other to make them reality. Glad that I read this amazing article and I'm also looking forward in implementing them and if it does work, I'll be surely telling the world and helping those who're lost like me once :D!! Happy Reading :)

So Random

I'm bored and there's nothing I can do except continue working as I'm rushing to heavy deadlines BUT I never forget to pamper my tummy :p! My mom is off to have her holiday at Hongkong for one week, and everyone in the house went crazy for food. Dad told the maids to cook stuff for him, I also brought the stuff she needed and everyone just keep eating the good food. I'm so thankful that we got her and she made really yummy food! 

Yesterday, I woke up in the morning and she already made food I like but what amazed me is that when I got back home after dinner, she gave me plates of fried tofu with vegetables, fried fermented soya and the vegetables fried with chilly! How could I not be tempted to eat those although my tummy is so full, yet I finished 1/2 of those! And today, she made me orange pop-ice for desert while I had my banana chocolate ice-cream which I made two days back! OMG such a heaven and yes, home food is just the recipe  to make gain weight especially when you make yummy food! 

If I were ....

Okay, while I'm listening "Rest of my Life" song loudly in my earphone, the first thing came out in my mind is " what If I were a celebrity, living life like them with glamours and fame? and which celebrate would I be?" Flashing back into my childhood / teenage's years, I really wanted to be celebrity whom people praised, adored and become a role-model. I wanted to use my fame to bring up those unnoticeable, passionate creative people whom haven't gotten their chances to show their creativity side! I used to say "when I'm in my 40's, I want to own home production - producing movies and novels.!" and now, I'm in my (very late) 20's , living life not like a celebrity, but I do believe, I'm in the process of being one of them! The funny thing, I'm more interested in entering into Bollywood movie industry and my country's movie industry, Indonesia. I want to educate people (especially kids) thorough movie about any kind of life struggles, teaching on how not important it's to use bad words in a movie for nothing. Educating the children yet giving a good entertainment to the viewers from any age! Teaching youngster society that at their age, pride and showing off isn't going to bring anything good in the future. I want to bring those talented and creative young people to produce great movies, upbringing Indonesia movie industry to International world. I'm sick of our film industry producing tons of crap, wasted, not educative and worthless movie whether it's the storyline, dialogue, actions and the worst "the cinematography"! You know, producing light movie with strong messages! A movie that will touch millions of people's hearts, remembering them over a decade and making the target market becoming better person. I want to produce movies that will be total blessing to others, movies that will make them cry over the reality but through the ending, yet still believing in happy endings. Those movies, where the viewers will be having three emotions for 1.5 or 2 hours! Scenes that will be touched their heart and soul with tears dropped from their eyes, then later, they would be laughing and putting big smile on their face and at the end, for those who are lost in their life, will find answer thorough the movies I produced. I'm not talking about religious movie, but more about making movies based on reality, not from imaginations but awaken the viewers' dream.

I want to learn a lot from Bollywood movies like how their love story movies have touched my heart, made me such a dreamer but although for many times my heart got broken into pieces, yet watching Bollywood movies still made me believe that "true love exists". Yes, their movies are super long some may reached into 3,5 hours but lately, they make it for until 2, 5 hours which is great improvement! As for me, I've no problem as long the movie has good flows and not too draggy!! My favorite Bollywood movie is no other than Shahrukh's movies and Diwale Dulhanian Le Jaayenge is definitely the first in my list. The movie title means "take the bride away", a very simple movie but beautiful cinematography, simple dialogue, joyful scenes but the climax would made your breath take away and ended the movie with "aww and wow effect". I'm sure those who watched it in cinema would be clapping their hands by the end of the movie and you could see the ladies face dropped with tears but happy face! That's kind of movie, I will be making. As for Hollywood, I'm in love with 50 first dates! what not to love about the simplicity of the movie and I never get bored (with a big smile in my face) whenever I watched them!

Nowadays, these love story movies are being so exaggerated and often are quite extereme. Unfortunately, society (youngsters) are followers, so from whichever movie they are really obsessed with, they would be acting like the role(s) they like! Teen years are years of making trials and errors, years where an individual become follower! those are the years where they develop into whoever they adore, obsessed or want to be! And honestly speaking, I want to lead these youngster for enjoying their teenager life by doing or believing in things that will be bringing them for great future. So basically, not wasting their 10 or 15 years of freedom without any attachments. I don't know whether I'm able to do it, whether I've the capabilities and capacities to do so, but that's how I want to do and be when I'm in my 40's. The funny thing with these kind of ambitions, I haven't done anything with it nor being directed into those path but at least I know what I would love to be doing in the next future :)

For few times I said I wanted to be "director of photography", but I do know and aware I'm not yet capable to be so at this moment! I'm still in the process of learning in photography but I do want to make some short-movies with the capabilities I have. It is still long way to go but It would just be awesome if I can be given so many opportunities in the future to study photography whether from the simple basic, lighting methods, angles, and whatever awesome lessons I can learnt. I'm more interested in taking "full time school" of diploma or bachelor. Just be a real student and doing so many school's assignments; just be a beginner. Long time back, I read at somewhere that the essence is in order to learn something or improving your skills, you have to think and act like a beginner. Ever since, before I do my works, I would be acting like a beginner, asking mr. google some simple questions, seeking some new poses and all, and it's really helpful. And I hope, Me and Mr. Grumpy will be given that opportunity to learn everything for once more from the basic, doing the assignments and improving the skills and knowledges from being a beginner. At least for the job I'm doing as children photographer, I would really want to improve a lot and looking forward to be producing great images; creative and touchy images! 

Many of times in the past, I imagined myself of doing this press conference for so many times because of my success with my man behind of me (well, next to me). I'm imagining myself of owning and riding cars like GMC, Roll Royce and Mercedes Benz and traveling around the world, looking for inspirations, enjoying my precious holiday BUT having lots of hectic schedules of work meeting and producing movies. Owning tall, minimalist, oval building with lots of employees and expanding my business empires wider, wider and wider. I'm enjoying these kinds of life; life where I'll be having hectic work schedules, going for meetings, relaxing only on Sunday, playing with my kids at night (and fully theirs on Saturday Afternoon & Sunday), and then keep expanding my businesses internationally. Holidays are very precious for me at least few times in a year although it would just be quick gateway but each days of my holiday are precious with lots of laughters, sleeping, eating, playing, movies and NO work whatsoever! I want people to know me wherever I go yet respect my privacy whenever I'm with my husband, kids or with bunch of family. I want to bring my mom around the world, whenever she wants, eating whatever food she wants and putting any car she wants in the garage. Opening my businesses here and there, in overseas, employing lots of people BUT at the same time, I treat my employees with dignity and educate them; so when they are out from the companies, they would be useful for society; although they aren't smart but they have the skills and personalities! 

I really want to be famous and living life just like celebrity but not messing around with the fame which is given to me. I want to keep low profile, I don't want to get involved with drugs or nightclubs or even drinking and I want to use shorts and t-shirt with my camera wherever I go! Just really a simple person who don't look wealthy but really wealthy. Have loads of savings, do lots of "save" investment and not spending money without a purpose for example like buying $50,000 dress or bag! I rather buy cameras and whatever stuff. My shoppings aren't clothes and accessories but more into gadgets, and well perhaps, teddy bears :p!

Well, now, let's go to sleep! Enough of me being such a dreamer. But I pray it won't be just a dream but will be coming true. I hope, my ways will be directed as soon as possible so I can start making those movies fast. Looking forward to be internationally famous and can be blessings to lots of people.  Goodnight everyone and i love the part where they sing " I was born for the fast life. I go for broke, a lesson I can't afford. But for what it's worth I'm ready to pay for the rest of my life" and the last part where Luda's sings "I'm stuck in this moment, freeze the hands of time Cause I feel inner peace when I'm outta my mind"  #so sleepy! 

disappointed with my answer!

The growth in photography has been amazing for the past five years especially in Asian countries where people are more interested in owning DSLR than the digital cameras. And the past two years, the digital camera is upgrading themselves including their look, size and machines; Regardless no matter how cheap they are nowadays and how handy they are, the majority point of interests toward that is lesser, lesser and lesser by months! Gradually, you'll be seeing SLR army ruling in today's photography world. Whether it's the youngsters or older, they have one and it's seem the heavy weight not an issue. Everyone is calling themselves as photographer, buying so many lenses (unused mostly) and often upgrading the gear with today's trend that even the professionals aren't doing so. It becomes a trend and fame that owning that heavy big camera make their pride is above cloud 9!

I, as a children's photographer, not even as updated as these enthusiasts that even I don't know much about the recent's products from Canon/Nikon/Sony unless the marketing they do is really engaging! Of course, I've lots of people (whether met online/ in my surrounding/ even my clients) asked "which camera should I buy?", "which lenses I should have for this, for that... kind of photography". My questions for them are very simple "why do you need SLR" and "what kind of photography do you love the most (or would like to focus nowadays). And often, you would be just like "doh" with their answers and the word "big camera produces awesome results" would be heard many of times. I'm sure a lot of DSLR's users are quite naive and although some of them may take some formal education but it doesn't guarantee they would really be applying those theories nor they ever remember what its being thought. 

I've seen most of those who asked me questions got disappointed with my answers or become very defensive; acting and talking like a professional. Sometimes, they would just gave such you know "seriously you're a photographer and recommending me that?"Most of them, I give my recommendation to either use "mirror less cameras or buy Digital camera!" Guess, because digital camera is so not in anymore, it hurts them! But really, why would let's say someone who are in their 40's (or even 60's) want to bring DSLR for show off unless they are really into photography for decade.  

I really recommend them to buy Sony Nex-7 and the similar kinds like them but these people just think I'm dumb enough or I made them dumb. See, if it's for traveling with great results, light and have a great end result like DSLR entry level, then why not buying those? Although entry level cameras may be cheaper (slightly or not) yet the cost of the lenses are really expensive. I'm really a happy user of Carrying my Sony everywhere for traveling and I brought my fixed lenses for really a great deal. But I'm sure they won't listen to my advice and the next time I see them, they are asking me another question "which lens(es) I should buy?". Once again, my answer is a bit annoying for them "master your kit's lens! it does wonder!" They would asking how to make bokeh and all. If all you want to do is create "blur background" then My Sony lens of 50 f.1.8 with a price around $300 is really awesome! While for SLR camera, you have to spend more than $400! $100 saver is something, isn't it!

Nowadays in Indonesia, India and in most of asian countries, owning a SLR become necessity even for those whose income is somehow squeezed. Sometimes, I really wonder, why does owning SLR give so much pride and confidently said that 'using big camera will give better results", yet when you see their original files, it's blurry and shaky! The different is that, they don't realize when they see in the viewfinders until they see in 100% using their laptop/PC! Then after few months of producing those kinds of photo errors, they say "this camera isn't good! buy the latest ones or they would ended up buying digital camera again".

I'm just giving simple answer based on what they needed the most but guess the pride of owning what matters the most. One of my friend also was eager in buying SLR and knowing she's my best friend, so I kept telling her to just buy Sony. Glad she followed my advice and she is really happy for choosing Sony! At least I'm being honest with those people but well, they'll understand me someday or NOT =p!

Movie Review : White House Down

We were so busy with editing (well not me :p) that we forgot we needed some refreshing. And the only movie I haven't watched is " White House Down" and heard the rumor that this movie is really good, even better than Olympus has fallen! For this movie, surprisingly, the trailer didn't attract both of us, so you know, nothing impressive left from the trailer! it's more like "another white house attack's movie" and the only thing we ever recalled are only "Olympus has fallen". But reviewers and my friends said the movie isn't as bad as it look and even a lot better than Olympus has fallen. IMDB gives 6.3/10 for this movie while 6.5/10 for the other ones.

As for us, we agreed with IMDB rank for giving this movie 6/10. As the title says, the movie is all about "white house got under-attacked with the insiders and someone just have to save the president! The funny thing about this movie is that Cale, Channing Tatum, came to White House for an interview to be "president's  guard" yet himself had no idea about White House's building structures! His daughter knows even more than himself, which is well what the hell. Okay, get into the reviewing parts.

Olympus has fallen's actions are far more thrilling! You would completely forgot about checking your phone while watching the movie; it brings more actions than White House Down. As in fact somehow, I feel White House Down is just the lighter and simpler version of Olympus has fallen. It seems they are trying to make the movie better but in my eyes, they failed. The best scene from this movie is the "car chasing"Some part of the movie is a little draggy especially when its reaching the end. So if you like actions movie with less brutality and explosion, this one is the right one for you! If you're planning on going to date, bring her to watch this movie but it's so not gonna work for me! :D!

And OMG Channing Tatum is just too perfect for the whole 2 hours like he only got slight bleeding and the heroic action of the president is just a big no-no! How could President is being portrayed that weak? And the man who had been working in the white house had no idea about the building structures himself? It's quite hmmm, you know what the? =p!! 

I don't say it's really crap but it does worth for the penny but it won't be leaving any "wow" effect, not for me at least unless you haven't seen Olympus has fallen! Seriously, this is just another action movie with the same twist, ordinary acting and actions. If only they had been more aggressive in attacking and all, it would had been good! 

Random Thought : Lessons learnt in 3 hours!

GOD's ways in giving new lessons in life are really surprising; Often you need to learn in the longest and harder way but sometime, it may just in shortest time but very unforgettable. Yes, HE was teaching me something, I'm sure off, a lesson that made me really scared, to open my eyes, to just able to recall  the  "almost three hours" simple lesson! You must be wondering what HE did in just three hours that have changed my life into the better, I pray! I knew it just happened last week, few days back, but until now, I could recalled those moment, felt those moments and pains and felt like I was in total trauma. It is a great lesson HE made me learnt! In those "3 hours", I learnt that :

1. SAVING is a must, even it's just a bit but you just have to save as much as you can! For almost three months we had such big expenditures every month due to the visa making and often in time, when we got the clients' payment, we would just "spent like there's no tomorrow". so what it left on that day is that ' both of us were really starving and we had no extra money for just decent food. We were planning to give all the documents and cook at home but instead, we were stuck in traffic jam for more than 2,5 hours. Our driver had some snacks with him while both of us sat in the back, pampering each other and starving. My tummy was really paining, twisted, the acid started to come in burps and my body was sweating in cold. Okay, we do have money on that time that we could have used but I was thinking twice because the money is supposedly used to pay the agent. Big amount it was! The twisted in my tummy really hurts and I decided to just ignore the paining tummy and decided to sleep even it was hard to sleep but I managed to fall asleep due to the pains. And even until now, I could still felt the pains at that moment and whenever I recalled that, It hurts me a way too much; A trauma it becomes for me. 

What I learnt is really simple thing; we can't live life without backup especially in terms of money. We went through these phases oftenly; yet we still took them so lightly. I remembered last month when I was sick, had no money to go to doctor (thanks to the client(s) who decided to pay on installments)! No backup, no anything but thank you Mom! Couldn't imagine on that time without my mom! We do have money, spent loads for the visa and entertainment and forgot to "save"!! 

Those three hours are horrible, I felt worst than a beggar. We are working hard, get good payment, but where did all the money go? We could spent the client's payment in less than 24 hours whether it was for food, treating people or just for shopping BUT why we never separate those small amounts for savings and business? we talked about it "we have to save, we need to save", but almost 2 years have passed with no single action, and lived in the same situations over and over again. We are working like crazy and we are workaholic but why often in times, we are poorer than those who's working or have monthly salary? Sometimes, we couldn't even had food outside nor had any entertainment for a week or two! thats how poor our money management is! 

The only word, I could say is only THANK YOU LORD! for truly opened my eyes for that unforgettable moment in the car that I could clearly able to feel the exact feelings I felt on that time! Since that time, I promised myself I NEVER want to suffer like that EVER again even by means I've to be MORE STINGY, but I NEED TO HAVE SAVING! I used be a money saver long time back although not much but those money saved me a lot, and now, I'm back on that track, that moment but this time even more strict to myself. Even my mom always said this 'you always said you have no money but you always found money!. 

If you're teenager / worker / business owner, start to save your money from this very moment even the amount isn't much but trust me, that emergency money will be needed. Just make yourself financially safe although you aren't receiving lots of salary but do save at least 10% out of it. It's better to cut your monthly budget and lower your monthly living cost rather than to enjoy your life to the fullest every month but no penny when you're sick or when you are in need! Another that, believe me, as your income is increasing, you'll be upgrading your lifestyle too; regardless it's how big/small the extra money would be. And yes, you can surely be following trends, but there are several days in a month, where you need to be low profile and push yourself to minimize your daily income. It's more like balancing! 

True, I haven't done any of this yet, but I already have started the saving and I beg to LORD to let me able to keep doing this for the rest of my life - managing my income and do tons of savings! Now, I understand why my mom saved so much since the first day she started working until her retirement. Yes, everyone amazed on how she could had done it, but she did and now I learnt it all. I understood her pains, her stress of spending lots of money and at one moment, you felt like there's a big stone hit your head and you woke up and was like "where the hell all my money had gone?" Then you started to regret "i shouldn't brought this, that, should had saved more, this and that"! 

You will never satisfied yourself fully at least not for a very long time! So for all the money you had spent, it only gives days, weeks, months or maybe less than 5 years satisfaction only. And sometimes, it's only to feed your pride and following trends. it is better to save your money for your passion and future than to waste your money for the sake of pride and be trendy! Do you want to please the society, your surroundings or save the money to fulfill your passion?" Starting from this client, we are going to divide the money for ourselves, our business and the last is our passion for traveling. There are many countries, we want to see and explore together although it may not be those luxurious traveling or backpacking style. Our kinds of traveling is a little different mainly because of me :p!!!  And personally, I also need to start saving too! Now, time to look for cute piggybank and start to do "weekly saving", right? :D!

Remember : Saving money doesn't mean be STINGY! it's more like you need to balance your luxury lifestyle and ordinary lifestyle. It's like in the weekends, you can live life to the fullest but in the weekdays, you may prefer to have an ordinary lifestyle. OR, You can "BUDGETED" your daily/weekly expenses or put money in your wallet and the rest in your bank or well, tell your parents/trusted people to hold them for you. At first, you'll be very stingy in order to start saving, however, after you feel "enough" with your savings, then you can start to life your "preference" lifestyle.