SOULFOOL iCE

This I gotta blog about: about a month ago, someone emailed me asking if the company would work on collaborations with a music interest group to develop content. No further details were offered, except an invitation to meet and speak. In that reply, I asked specifically what sort of collaborations we were looking at, no replies came.

2 weeks ago, I got a response, telling me that I didn't pick up my phone. Yeah well, so I missed the call, but with dozens of fax calls a week, I would be sceptical about calls understandably. Anyway, I replied politely with my mobile number, but not until 3 days later did I get an SMS, asking me to attend a meeting on that Friday, at 6pm.

I was cool with that despite being in the midst of a lengthy and heavy project, but on that Friday, 6pm, there were no follow ups until 9pm citing ill health that will have to have a reschedule of the meeting to the following day, 2pm.

I was again cool with that. But Friday night's romp at the bars got me up late on Saturday afternoon. By 1:30pm, an SMS came and revealed a late meeting that would force our meeting time to 2:30pm. I was okay, went with the flow, and rushed down to the office.

We were supposed to have the meeting at a fast food restaurant a street away, and, having had no lunch, I decided to do lunch there might as well. At 2:30pm, no calls came, so I kindly sent a message to inform me when whoever's supposed to be there, was there.

Done with lunch in fifteen, I sat till 3pm at the alfresco watching people and wondering if they were the ones I would be meeting up with. Those who seemed potential were none that, but at least there were 2 rather cute chicks sitting right in front of me in the restaurant to ogle at (hey, obvious that would be the best seat no?).

Still, no calls came, no one showed up. I packed myself back to the office, and at 3:30pm, a call came asking for directions to my office.

I provided the details, and in 5 minutes, they reached my doorstep, popped me a call proper, and I opened the door. That 2 rather cute chicks stood right in front of me.

Hiding as much as I could the temper that nearly erupted within that split second, I recomposed myself inside, invited them in, and offered them drinks. The best part? One of the girls saw me at the restaurant seated outside, LOOKING at them.

Wait, that's not the best part. They settled down, we started small pleasantries, and she asked me if they could preview some of my works. I was like... WTF?! Oh did I mention, in between making arrangements to meet, she sent me a message TELLING me to meet up so that she could answer MY queries. I mean, she didn't even tell me her plans! What am I supposed to fucking ask?

AND! She asked to preview my works whatever fuck for?!

I was so darn offended, I rebutted, "Oh, gee, I did so much work I'm not too sure what would be appropriate to show you girls at all! (big friendly smile)"

SHE had the fucking cheek to respond, "No problems, just show us whatever you've done!"

That was when vengeance mode kicked in. I flipped out my showreel, popped it into the DVD player, turned on the big widescreen LCD tv, and courteously offered, "Well, in that case, maybe I can show you some works I've done for TV and the film industry! (BIG BRIGHT SMILE)"

You know what she said? "So what's your latest work? Show us your latest work!"

At this point, I was caught so off-guard by her stupidity that I didn't know I should laugh it off, or simply show her the door. Trust me, that cutesy look of hers suddenly became plaster. I was akin Neo in Matrix looking through her in grids and falling alphabets and numbers, much like Cyclops burning through material in X-Men.

I gladly announced then, "My latest work? Gee. Did so much, but one of them was a film I did last December that won ALL the awards at the (undisclosed here) Film Festival! (HUMBLE, VERY FUCKING HUMBLE GRIN)" That is when she was finally impressed. She battered her eyes and gasp a little, which, I would assume, was quite unintentionally let out. IF, you know what I mean.

So for the next twenty minutes, I showed them some of my most powerful works, explaining that I deal lots in broadcast as well as a variety of music and their creators. For those who know me, I did work with some of the most amazing talents in the industry, although I gladly would just keep that to myself (seriously, in this current tone, don't blame me for being bitchy and overtly pompous please).

Then it happened. I jumped my biggest question: what was she (that girl who makes you slap your forehead a million times kind) looking me up for. Do you know what she said?

Do you fucking know what she said?

"Oh, as I've explained to you, we are a group of music enthusiasts, and we are actually looking for people to collaborate with to get some projects off the ground."

What were some of these projects?

A singing competition that is NON-PROFIT, and talents from there can win prizes from sponsors (potentials like me), and they will be promoted to the industry cos SHE personally feels that the quality of local programming sucked big time, and even those contracted artistes are not explored to their fullest potential because, mind you, BECAUSE our industry was small. AND! Mark my words and I translate, SHE feels that there are a lot of talents out there waiting to be discovered, AND SHE hopes to dig them out.

And who is she? Drum roll please...
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SHE, IS, none other, than the girl who comes from a music interest group. AND! SHE! wants to discover new talents, make them big, and overturn the Old Guards whom SHE thinks are not treating talent correctly.

So here's the big question: What am I good for? I asked her, she repeated her whole idea again. If I have ever spoken to any pea-brains, she's the only one.

The only one. I repeat: the only one. I'm sorry, can I rephrase that? I have never, EVER met CLEVERNESS in reverse.

I'm sorry, I just have to get it out of my system. It's like, it rained, you've got no umbrella, you got drenched, and the only shelter in reach is leaking in the roof, is flooded, and is already crowded.

I encourage new ideas, and I certainly would love to pledge my support to young people (mind you, she is probably in her late 20s). But if it's anything I detest, that's pure stupidity.

Then again, she ain't stupid. She's just a personification.

Oh, for those don't understand the word "personification", it comes from "personify", which describes the girl (see above).

She's really good. Emailed and messaged me in English, and asked if I could speak Mandarin. So our entire conversation was in Mandarin, which was tiresome, considering my vocabulary to insult her in her face was so damned limited. Hence, imagine my frustration double-folding throughout.

Ok, you guys can laugh like mad now, I don't mind. Pity me if you prefer, but just to let you know, I'm still willing to support the cause, just as long as I don't need to deal with her.

I'm not in entirety heartless, or devoid of a human side. Neither am I some great person abled and great to support any cause to its fullest potential, but why should those SHE has convinced over her plans suffer and not get help just because SHE herself is stupid in human form?

Loves, I think I've lamented enough. Shan't go on about this like forever. Time to sleep. The current project is taking a toll. Cheers.

ONCE EVERY TURN

If there was a following, I second the notion. Once every so rare, a good song makes it to the big screen, pondered over by the makers who cracked their heads feeling blindly a score that was never even started. More than 2 decades back, 2 did sit and make one: The Color Purple. This year, Dream Girls.




Believe me. Having been a big time anal music critic,
this has been one of the finer pieces.



The Color Purple.