Last night. I wrote an open letter to Catholic High School.
This happened because, a few weeks after agreeing to let me shoot RIVER OF EXPLODING DURIANS within their premises, they suddenly reneged on their promise.
A day before the shoot.
When everything's already finalized.
When a Taiwanese actress had already flown here, to good old Malaysia, to do my film, within a limited schedule.
When a large group of actors have been scheduled to act in my school scenes.
When a large amount of money and time had been committed to the shoot.
Good old Catholic High School of Petaling Jaya, which I attended from 1997 to 2001, NONCHALANTLY went back on a deal that almost jeopardized the entire production and flushed all my money into the drain.
The reason given?
A carnival day that they conveniently did NOT tell us about until a day before the shoot. Very convenient.
I had a flashback to 2001 again.
In 2001, I was president of the English Language Club, which also involved drama and debate activities. I tried my best to organize something big on behalf of my club called the "Drama Night", an event where members or volunteers could put up a successive amount of plays and skits in a night at school.
Members were enthusiastic, many submitted their scripts, and just when I was about to finalize things with the vice-principal, it got rejected (because time slots for such events were given to prioritized clubs like their much-beloved Chinese Language Club, the Chinese Orchestra, the School Band etc.)
My soul was crushed then, so did my dream. I remember walking out of the office, wondering why, all my 5 years in secondary school, the forces of the school had conspired so much to stop me from doing anything remotely artistic.
Unlike back then. This has a happy ending.
An alternative location was found. (albeit more money had to be paid and more hard work had to be done)
13 years have passed since I left.
Things are different now. They will never stop me now. I am surrounded by great people.
This happened because, a few weeks after agreeing to let me shoot RIVER OF EXPLODING DURIANS within their premises, they suddenly reneged on their promise.
A day before the shoot.
When everything's already finalized.
When a Taiwanese actress had already flown here, to good old Malaysia, to do my film, within a limited schedule.
When a large group of actors have been scheduled to act in my school scenes.
When a large amount of money and time had been committed to the shoot.
Good old Catholic High School of Petaling Jaya, which I attended from 1997 to 2001, NONCHALANTLY went back on a deal that almost jeopardized the entire production and flushed all my money into the drain.
The reason given?
A carnival day that they conveniently did NOT tell us about until a day before the shoot. Very convenient.
Post by Edmund Yeo.
I had a flashback to 2001 again.
In 2001, I was president of the English Language Club, which also involved drama and debate activities. I tried my best to organize something big on behalf of my club called the "Drama Night", an event where members or volunteers could put up a successive amount of plays and skits in a night at school.
Members were enthusiastic, many submitted their scripts, and just when I was about to finalize things with the vice-principal, it got rejected (because time slots for such events were given to prioritized clubs like their much-beloved Chinese Language Club, the Chinese Orchestra, the School Band etc.)
My soul was crushed then, so did my dream. I remember walking out of the office, wondering why, all my 5 years in secondary school, the forces of the school had conspired so much to stop me from doing anything remotely artistic.
Unlike back then. This has a happy ending.
An alternative location was found. (albeit more money had to be paid and more hard work had to be done)
Post by Edmund Yeo.
Post by Edmund Yeo.
13 years have passed since I left.
Things are different now. They will never stop me now. I am surrounded by great people.
