JB Log 7: Series of Unfortunate Events

I was really, really pumped for the week. I genuinely felt that as we carried our luggage up to the service apartment. It didn't take long for my motivation to be completely swept away.

1st: MAGGOTS!!

We found maggots on the floor, chewing on the eggs I carelessly left there. The smell wasn't too bad, but cleaning up was really hard. They keep popping out of the carpet!! While I was using tissues to clear off maggot by maggot, Joseph was smart enough to google our way of this mess: BOILING HOT WATER. Still, it took us several hours before the situation was resolved, because we couldn't find the electric kettle... Ewww, DISGUSTING!! Oh I kept 2 dead maggots. Anyone wants to test themselves for fear factor?

2nd: TOO MUCH WORK!!

I was hoping to personally say a big thank you to my boss for giving us that 1 week break, but only managed to smile as he rushed for a meeting. He called later, surprising us with an almost unbelievable task - make 21 videos in 2 weeks!! That's crazy!! But Joe & I are determinded to make it happen. We have these yellow stick-ons that will help us keep track of our everyday work schedule. We still don't have a board, so the cupboard will have to do for now.


3rd: Almost useless footage

We immediately got to work as soon as the instructions were given. First stop would be Danga Beach Clubs. I had to do the commentary this time, as my weak wrist won't allow me to carry the video camera. Took me a while to get into the groove, but I did it. I was so proud of myself that I even camwhored a bit (just a bit). I was very excited about editing the footage too. But there was NO AUDIO!! NOOOO!!! Somehow the wireless mic didn't work, so all my live commentary is now gone. & so is my confidence. Will have to do several re-shoots & a lot of editing tomorrow night.

4th: I still don't have a bed!!

I finally have a proper mattress. The dude who delivered the bedframe said we could install it ourselves, so we spared him the trouble. To our dismay, we found out that there were no screws provided!! Can't install bedframe!! By the way, the bedframe is not a new 1!! No idea when the guy will come & claim the frame back. Might be here in the room forever. Like the dead maggots under the carpet.

So tonight I go sleep on a frameless bed, hoping that the maggots won't come alive & eat me in my sleep (eat joseph, please!!) & wishing for a better tomorrow. ZZzzzz....

JB Log 6

In my previous post I had a wishlist. Turns out we got way better - 1 week holiday!! That's right!! No need to leave KL for the entire week - how amazing is that? Can spend time with family & loved ones...

Ok let me share with you another highlight of mine. Last Friday, while we were covering the Landmark IT Mall Computer Fair, I approached a girl (with name card & everything) in view of recruiting her into our video crew. It was a real breakthrough for me, as I had been having this fear of approaching unknown pretty girls. I shouldn't have this fear - afterall, I'm going to be a big-time director.

I got down her email, & in case she doesn't reply emails we do know where she works (& studies). The plan is to meet up with her, get to know her personally, try her out in several video shoots, then only determine how or if we want to integrate her into our video crew. I'm excited about it. She seems excited about it too, so let's hope this works out well.

JB Log 5

It's our fifth week here in JB. We have descended from a high - big apartment, covering events, meeting people - to a very low, low. We now live & work in a room that is infested with dustmites. We thought we killed them all last week, but they live to fight another day. Joseph's going to bring his lampberger next week & we're so going to nuke this place!! ITCHY!!

Nowhere else to hang our clothes... so the room smells like wet laundry.

We finally got the table we needed to work like normal people, but it somehow slipped people's minds that chairs and tables normally come in pairs. And guess what? I still don't have a bed!!

mattress with brick-like pillows

The weather isn't helping too. It's been raining for the entire week here in JB. And when it rains in JB, it rains the whole day. & because we live by the sea (I think), the rain smells like a dirty toilet!! The only good side about it is that we don't have to go out for videoshoots. I miss covering events - hanging out with the press, free pass to events, meeting new people. But it seems that March is a dry season for events. We figure it's due to CNY & General Elections...

Joe lying comfortably on his queen-sized bed, watching a movie

Wishlist for next week:

1. Get my bed!!

2. Events to cover.

3. NUKE to KILL all dustmites.

4. New teammate on crew!! Girl!!

5. No rain!!

JB Log 4

Yesterday our boss finally took time to see the room he put us in for himself. We sounded our troubles to him - well, we basically really really REALLY really wanted to move back to our previous apartment. But I suppose a clean room, an extra bed with clean sheets & good pillows, powerful aircon, & proper work furniture will have to do for the next 3 months - till we get our proper office & apartment.

So we spent last night & this morning cleaning our room with our boss' powerful vacuum cleaner.

& we found out what caused us to itch for the past 2 days - dustmites. It was really disgusting!!

Now our room looks like this.

Drying the bed sheet using 3 chairs. & here's a look on our working condition.

Yes, it is messed up. Our backs are aching really badly right now. We didn't get our tables, nor did we get our extra bed, in spite of the best efforts of the HR girl. So overall, it's been a shitty day. Our shit is emotional & all, but we still put in our best efforts in producing videos. Hopefully the boss & our sponsors will see our desire to do our best for them, & respond by giving us the best living & working environment possible.

JB Log 1

Yesterday I got a suprising request from a friend to update my blog. I don't have any friends, & most of them don't read my blog (when bloggers say that, it's a small hint of request for readers to leave comments. I'm sincere however, but that goes to show that I'm just talking to myself now. Tragic....). But anyway, I wanted to write about my videography expeditions in JB anyway. In fact, Joseph & I have been messing around with the idea of starting a personal vlog on our life here. We still can't agree on a name, so don't know if that will ever become reality.

So anyway, Joseph & I landed a videography job in JB. Yes, our namecards do say "VIDEOGRAPHER". Our task is to produce videos on the happenings in the Iskandar Development Region, South Johor. Basically, we're vloggers lah. Paid ones. The website that bears our mark is www.iskandar.com.my. That would give you an idea on what we do here.

It's been about 3 weeks now, & everything is starting to fall into place. Not very nicely, but we'll play the cards we're dealt with (Joseph's quote) & produce the best videos for our company. The first thing that was provided for us is an apartment in Danga View Apartments. It's a very nice 3-room apartment, but Joseph is everyday awaken to the sound of Muslim prayers. It has microwave, washing machine...

But just as we were about to get comfortable with 2 of us OWNING the whole apartment, our boss asks us to move in with 4 other people. Worst part is that we have to share 1 room!! How crappy is that?! From a big apartment to sharing a room? We're going to sleep, eat, & do work in that small rectangle!! GOSH!! How sucky is that?

There's a lifeline though. The original plan was to provide us with an apartment cum office in Danga Walk (office lots). And that can only be realised if we manage to get more people to work together with us. So, if you do anybody who lives in JB, loves to be on & off camera, has a great personality & enjoys working in a team, let me know at joashchan@gmail.com.

I'm actually blogging in the car, parked outside Festive Street Mall, using their free WIFI (ya, we still don't have internet connection - sad right?). And we're hungry, so I think I'll just leave the rest for another time. Come back soon.