tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30044647550997209702024-02-20T18:49:16.847-08:00Kreen PananasTasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-49169509528156717032009-09-16T21:53:00.000-07:002009-09-16T21:55:12.422-07:00Blog Has Relocated! AWOOOO!Hey gang--sorry for the late notice but I've decided to relocate my blog to WORDPRESS. Please visit it now at<br /><br /><a href="http://kreenpananas.wordpress.com"><span style="font-size:180%;">http://kreenpananas.wordpress.com</span></a><br /><br />And make sure to visit my photoblog at<br /><br /><a href="http://gottabeb.wordpress.com"><span style="font-size:180%;">http://gottabeb.wordpress.com</span></a><br /><br />Thanks for your continued viewage and support--you all rock! No really.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-87520684835068370102009-06-15T19:35:00.000-07:002009-06-15T20:08:46.865-07:00Tagged teamed at the BarbershopMondays have a reputation for being the least enjoyable day of the week. At least Wednesday gets the cool nickname like "hump day" and weekends are, in most cases, a time for R & R. Today's Monday has been an exception. I wasn't on the schedule but I swooped in to work to swap clothing and fit in a quick morning work out at the gym.<br /><br />I jumped on the bus on the way back home and excused myself from this mother and her two children that had their stroller littered on the aisle. A minute later this other lady turns to me and laughs exclaiming, "Wow, you have a big smile on your face" and proceeds to smile and laugh. Hah! It's funny that she caught that because I did beam a smile at the mother as I crossed over. I just thought it was interesting that that other lady would find it fascinating.<br /><br />The oddballs didn't end there. I went to the barbershop directly after my bus trip and instead of getting my usual barber, I get the trainee (who I wasn't aware at the time, was a trainee). About 3/4 of the way through, my usual barber finishes with her customer and comes over to inspect. She then grabs her clipper and starts working on my hair too. Never have I ever had two barbers work on me at the SAME time. The feeling of two clippers buzzing atop my scalp was a quasi relaxing (if not tingly) sensation. I would love to have taken a picture of myself the moment I had both clippers dancing on my head.<br /><br />Conclusion: It was a pleasant day off filled with infectious smiling and a barbershop menage a trois.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-8252573487581630442009-06-06T02:02:00.000-07:002009-06-06T02:03:30.719-07:00Heh, really?I cracked open a fortune cookie today and got two fortunes:<br /><br /><ol><li>Your dearest wish will come true.</li><li>This year your highest priority will be your family.</li></ol>Hah...Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-71284988208205792112009-05-12T00:53:00.000-07:002009-05-14T12:42:39.102-07:00Through QuestionsA wealth of discovery upon the edge of questions<br />Sharp and pointed and thirsty for blood<br />Answers come through with asserted dedication<br />A cause for rejoice and a reason for dismay<br />Frolic in a subdued haze of mystery<br />Each step wrought with surprises<br />We walk, daringly true and committed uncaring<br />We sprint, cutting through ribbons of abandonment<br />We share and we are rich.<br />Richer. And caffeinated.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-76445782233845484562009-05-02T02:49:00.000-07:002009-05-02T02:54:23.126-07:00An extension of selfWhen inspiration hits, you just have to go with the flow. In this case, I started a photo blog/journal as I was inspired by a blog that was introduced to me by a friend. The URL to the blog in question is: <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><a href="http://tothetip.wordpress.com">HTTP://TOTHETIP.WORDPRESS.COM</a></span></span><br /><br />There's no real need for an introduction to it, just jump in and experience everything it has to offer.<br /><br />And for those curious enough, here's the URL to the photo blog/journal I started. I'm looking to add a couple of authors as time goes by. So stay tuned.<br /><br /><a href="http://gottabeb.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://gottabeb.wordpress.com</span></a>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-51252818816988798582009-04-19T22:50:00.000-07:002009-04-19T23:05:05.290-07:00Child of warmthI spent the last 10 minutes typing an intro to this entry only to delete it. All I really want to say is, someone give the person responsible for this AMAZING weather a hug. It could do with a little breeze here and there, but geez Louise, how can I even think of living in a place where winter rips through part of the year?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SewQDlBjRWI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/nOgHUq-Pdvo/s1600-h/sjweather1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 89px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SewQDlBjRWI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/nOgHUq-Pdvo/s320/sjweather1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326650112936723810" border="0" /></a><br />Ideal.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-15965226299024755782009-04-17T23:50:00.000-07:002009-04-18T00:15:56.240-07:00The man in the mirror (no, not the Michael Jackson song)I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror this morning and saw someone older. It could very well be the poor lighting in my bathroom, but I saw the same stranger when I washed the tangerine peel stain from my fingertips a few hours ago. Who is he? Where has he been? Why hasn't he spoken up sooner about the horribly humdrum ride he's been having?<br /><br />He's me, obviously. He's been everywhere I've been. And I've turned a deaf ear to his rants and needs. We are equals but I discriminate him. I've never once offered my handkerchief to dry his grief. Why?<br /><br />I remember now. He's not as harmless as he appears. I have reasons why I dislike him. Because whether or not I listen to him, he always finds a way to slip poison into my drink, my verbal tonic. He always finds a way to lace my thoughts with doubts and he always take me for granted. He cares too much for me but just as easily forgets my needs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/Sel8_ZWDWJI/AAAAAAAAAPI/uaMH1_drlac/s1600-h/108750-FB%7EMisty-View-of-Car-Lights-on-a-City-Street-During-a-Rain-Storm-Posters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/Sel8_ZWDWJI/AAAAAAAAAPI/uaMH1_drlac/s320/108750-FB%7EMisty-View-of-Car-Lights-on-a-City-Street-During-a-Rain-Storm-Posters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325925462919305362" border="0" /></a>All to often I've been the backseat driver to my own life. There's a pro and con to this. On one hand, I get to enjoy (or dislike) the scenery. And on the other, I'm powerless to decide which scenery I'll be enjoying (or disliking). No...not powerless, no...never. Passive, maybe, but never powerless. Perhaps it's time to activate the emergency button on this ride and ask the stranger to help me read this sketchy, dismantled map.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-43203734266961324032009-04-02T01:41:00.000-07:002009-04-02T01:42:08.955-07:00Rambles.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScR82DbcWRI/AAAAAAAAAOI/QNF_FB6WTG0/s1600-h/pillowfeathers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScR82DbcWRI/AAAAAAAAAOI/QNF_FB6WTG0/s400/pillowfeathers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315510728279218450" border="0" /></a>Life is good. Do you think it's possible to throw yourself a curve ball? How often do we surprise ourselves? I feel it's often enough that it becomes unnoticeable and taken for granted. But once in a while an idea, whether a new discovery, or a seed planted ages ago, comes along that completely transforms you. Sometimes these ideas are pillow feathers blown in the wind; Unpredictable and deliriously amusing. The mundane air suddenly transforms into a batter of matter finally formed, dancing and caressed by these...ideas. These feathers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >I am the air. Today (I'm generalizing for relatively recent life events) a pillow commits harakiri (sepuku) and I am once again, changed. I am the air.</span><br /></span>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-35792737620939625692009-03-26T21:32:00.000-07:002009-03-26T21:39:14.368-07:00Music induced nostalgiaCurrently listening to "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTZl5GIkRg0&feature=PlayList&p=90E0B2B9A486ECD1&index=95">FIJI</a>".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoa"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScxXp4FzxrI/AAAAAAAAAO4/f0PcsxUzZw0/s400/Pagoharborair2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317721636960716466" border="0" /></a><br />I miss the beach, the island breeze, the laid back-wear slippers-shades-one layer of clothing feel. It's like a love affair where the consequences consist of tans, genuine smiles and desire to find the closet available pair of coconut trees to hang your hammock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScxXwCt-nLI/AAAAAAAAAPA/Z_5gFeP6Y4c/s1600-h/american-samoa-national-park-ga3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScxXwCt-nLI/AAAAAAAAAPA/Z_5gFeP6Y4c/s400/american-samoa-national-park-ga3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317721742892768434" border="0" /></a>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-47115143646233171062009-03-25T23:19:00.000-07:002009-04-01T23:38:16.091-07:00Hook, Line and Thinker (erratic musing)My curiosity is like a fishing hook. Fishing, now there's a word for the ages. I find women who arouse my curiosity over anything else are the ones I feel emotionally smitten over. As if, by some weird paranoia, I'll never meet anyone quite like her. The more I resist the more this hook tears into me. Sometimes it's a "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE" pain...and other times, it's a "OH IT HURTS SO GOOD!" kind of hurt.<br /><br />What happens when I'm not longer curious about them? It hasn't happened yet. Nothing helps, except time. And even then, time is a double edged sword. A thief even. A double edged thief sword!<br /><br />Blargh!Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-23092966701791203502009-03-24T21:18:00.000-07:002009-03-24T23:12:46.813-07:00Coincidences, or am I too much in the moment?According to Wikipedia (I like the way they worded it, give me a break!), a coincidence "<span style="font-style: italic;">is the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">noteworthy</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> alignment of two or more events or circumstances without obvious causal connection</span>".<br /><br />Here are a few coincidences I've read <a href="http://www.oddee.com/item_82923.aspx">online</a>:<br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">In 1975, while riding a moped in Bermuda, a man was accidentally struck and killed by a taxi. One year later, this man's bother was killed in the very same way. In fact, he was riding the very same moped. And to stretch the odds even further, he was struck by the very same taxi driven by the same driver - and even carrying the very same passenger! </span><small style="font-style: italic;">(Source: Phenomena: A Book of Wonders, John Michell and Robert J. M. Rickard)</small></li><li style="font-style: italic;"><span>In Detroit sometime in the 1930s, a young (if incredibly careless) mother must have been eternally grateful to a man named Joseph Figlock. As Figlock was walking down the street, the mother's baby fell from a high window onto Figlock. The baby's fall was broken and both man and baby were unharmed. <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(112, 58, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;font-family:Georgia,Arial,Verdana;font-size:14;" class="IL_LINK_STYLE" >A stroke</span> of luck on its own, but a year later, the very same baby fell from the very same window onto poor, unsuspecting Joseph Figlock as he was again passing beneath. And again, they both survived the event. </span><small>(Source: Mysteries of the Unexplained)</small> </li><li style="font-style: italic;">Mark Twain was born on the day of the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1835, and died on the day of its next appearance in 1910. He himself predicted this in 1909, when he said: "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it."</li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">When faced with (supposed) events like these, should random coincidental real life situations elicit focused worthy emotions?</span></span> My answer is, why the heck not, especially if it's relevant to your minute to minute actions.<br /><br />And when I say random real life situations, I'm not talking about the time when your significant other drapes the entire apartment with red cloth for your anniversary, only to find out you lose complete control of bowel movements when bombarded with the color red. Yeah, no.<br /><br />While it's not unusual to encounter small coincidences, it's interesting to note how it seems to go hand in hand with causality. Again, going back to Wikipedia, Causality "<span style="font-style: italic;">denotes a necessary relationship between one event (called cause) and another event (called </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Result" title="Result">effect</a><span style="font-style: italic;">) which is the direct consequence of the first</span>"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScnI3yGR6TI/AAAAAAAAAOg/zXjbJAJ3nq0/s1600-h/Amazing_coincidences1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScnI3yGR6TI/AAAAAAAAAOg/zXjbJAJ3nq0/s320/Amazing_coincidences1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317001695754053938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Don't worry, I won't even start on what I think about the cosmos and how I think it's related to coincidences.<br /><br />You may be thinking to yourself, "Okay Tasi, what exactly is the point to this entry?". I hate to disappoint (really I do), but I don't think I had a single point I can stick a thumbtack on. Instead, I'm reveling in a coincidental "in the middle of the block, in front of a frozen yogurt shop with smiles on our faces" meeting (or as I'd like say, bumpature) with a friend.<br /><br />You may now be thinking, "Okay Tasi, it must be a really special friend if you're taking the time out of your day to write about it". Sure, you can say that. I have a lot of acquaintances but only a handful of truly wonderful people in my life I'd consider special friend, or, "I'D TAKE A BULLET IN THE GONAD" kind of friend. So yes, this friend is special. Satisfied?<br /><br />You may now be thinking, "Well, I'm not THAT satisfied but that explanation will have to do. So what now about coincidences and causality, you have my undying attention..." Well, this event got me thinking about luck and how paradoxical luck and coincidences are. Is it not true that if you work hard enough, your chance of luck increases exponentially? I'd like to stick my neck out and say, "yes". At the very least, I feel I've been caressed by luck induced hard work, especially when it deals with Acting and the various opportunities I've been able to explore. I think coincidences are similar in that each occurrence is, dare I say, like a snowflake: unique, often elegant and many times, easily missed.<br /><br />So what if I bumped into some friend during an interesting time of the day, at a notable physical intersection of human traffic, with a sunny disposition towards hanging out and sharing a few hours together? So what, you ask? What do you mean so what?! <span style="font-weight: bold;">The moment!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">That's the moment! I live for that</span>. That's the snowflake dissolving on the tip of your tongue, and faster than it can change from a solid state to liquid, your brain has already received information that, yes...a snowflake has coincidentally landed on your tongue and now you are smiling. Coincidence and causality, boy, they must work out together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScnIu0IklKI/AAAAAAAAAOY/rVmMJd1q034/s1600-h/mere_coincidence2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/ScnIu0IklKI/AAAAAAAAAOY/rVmMJd1q034/s320/mere_coincidence2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317001541681714338" border="0" /></a>Is it a coincidence that, this person lives in the same city as me? I don't think so. Same country? I can put some money on that, sure.<br /><br />Is it causality that I'm writing this blog entry because of earlier events? Debatable, maybe I just felt like writing. Is it causality that I'm in a great mood because of earlier events? You're warm. No, you're red hot!<br /><br />Is it a coincidence that as you're reading this, you're probably missing out on a favorite television show (I can wish), or forgetting to fetch your laundry from the dryer? Forecast: "Highly Unlikely". What it most likely falls into is:<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Timing</span>.<br /><br />And according to Wikipedia...Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-86953447124414038922009-02-26T23:18:00.000-08:002009-02-27T00:14:04.263-08:00Cinequest is back (2009)!Weird. I thought I blogged about my <a href="http://www.cinequest.org">Cinequest</a> experiences from last year but I realized I actually wrote it in a journal and NOT online! Well, this year, it's going to this blog. For those that are unfamiliar with it, Cinequest is a widely known Film Festival based in the Silicon Valley. The organization utilize The California Theatre, Camera 12 and San Jose Repertory Theatre to host the films and local establishments for various uses.<br /><br />Last year I spent most of it wandering around, watching films and just talking to some filmmakers. I was mostly a passive observer. At the closing night gala I told myself, "next year, I'm going to be involved in Cinequest somehow", lo and behold, I'm fulfilling that by being part of a media team that's diving into the festival with a show called "<a href="http://insidecinequest.blip.tv/">Inside Cinequest</a>", appropriate, no? I mentioned in the previous entry that I was fortunate enough to participate in <a href="http://kreenpananas.blogspot.com/2009/02/adobe-youth-voices.html">Adobe Youth Voices</a> and here is a wonderful clip from that event (can you spot me in it?):<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ae_CN5PfQA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="380"></embed><br /><br />Inside Cinequest has a host of exceptionally talented people behind it. Among them are Sinohui Hinojosa, Thomas Koch and Amy Puzia from <a href="http://www.emergingartist.org/">Emerging Artist</a>. A fellow 48hr filmmaker (and San Jose coordinator), Vincent Lowe and a slew of other great folks. As an aside, there's a terrific web series you have to check out, especially if you love theatre! It's called <a href="http://www.lowrytheatercompany.com/">EXIT STAGE LEFT </a>created by Sinohui. I highly recommend it. In fact, keep an eye out for future bloggage. Following is the latest episode of Inside Cinequest:<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ae_GAJPfQA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="380"></embed><br /><br />At any rate, I asked myself recently, "<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">What am I looking forward to to this year's Cinequest (19)?</span>". My head flooded with answers, each one of them valid and worthy of my best efforts. Here are some of them:<br /><br /><ul><li>Meet new people and reinforce friendships from prior networking</li><li>Watch at least 10 films</li><li>Work work work work work (yes, work)</li><li>Fulfilling my commitments with Inside Cinequest</li><li>Earn some exposure with filmmakers, local and out of towners alike</li></ul>I'd like to toss a shout out to my friend and Cinequest alum, Alejandro Adams. His film, "<a href="http://canarymovie.com/">CANARY</a>" is featured this year (some of you may remember "Around the Bay" from Cinequest 18). Some of you may also remember him from previous entries regarding <a href="http://babnikmovie.com/">BABNIK</a>. Show dates will be <span style="font-weight: bold;">March 1st 6:30p and March 7th 4p</span>. Both shows will be hosted in <a href="http://www.sjrep.com/">San Jose Repertory Theatre</a>. You can purchase your tickets <a href="http://www.cinequest.org/event_view.php?eid=469">HERE</a>.<br /><br />Don't forget to bookmark or RSS for updates on the Cinequest romp.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-37852886431000666052009-02-21T23:32:00.000-08:002009-02-22T00:24:10.586-08:00Adobe Youth VoicesToday I had the privilege of attending one of <a href="http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/philanthropy/youthvoices/">Adobe Youth Voice</a>'s workshops. I was originally asked to help present, interview and document the event but as the day progressed so did my involvement. Just a quick background for those I haven't told already, I'm part of a media team lead by Vincent Lowe and I am assisting in helping document (ala behind the scenes glimpse) <a href="http://www.cinequest.org/indexCQ.php">Cinequest</a>.<br /><br />Today's planned format went straight out the window, and in the end, I think it turned out a better experience for me, and I'm sure for many others. I ran into some familiar filmmakers from San Jose State University too, so that was neat. Richard from <a href="http://www.barkadainc.com/">Barkada Inc</a> was also in attendance because, as coincidences would have it, he was assigned to work the event!<br /><br />It was heaps of fun learning about what the young participates found inspiring and what they wanted to get out of the program. Part of AYV's goal is to make sure their voices/ideas are heard and what better way than through the visual medium, right? Right. When formal introductions concluded, we went straight to work. The first thing that caught my attention was that they provided the students/participants with Canon HV30's! And if you've kept up with my blog, you should know that that's the exact camera I own! BONUS: their editing software, obviously, is adobe premiere, so I had some familiarity with the evident trouble(s) the premiere pro has with capturing hdv footage from a canon hv30.<br /><br />I felt like 'Johnny-on-the-spot' with the quick fixes. But the real credit goes out to those that spent hours assisting with creating something out of nothing by incorporating years of experience to help guide these students through tasks. Who knows, there could be another Speilberg in the bunch, right? It could happen, why not? At some point I assisted with a trio of student's documentary project. I helped them conduct the interview and offered suggestions on how to always keep an eye and ear out for footage that you didn't mean to capture initially because there could be a gem in them. More is better, in the case of documentaries. I hope their project ends up being something they can look back on and know that they'll always remember the small lessons it taught them.<br /><br />Well, that was my day at Adobe. I left with a smile, experience in my pockets, new friends and a slew of free Adobe software training books. Chhhheeeeehhoooooo!Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-10797866589467592262008-12-06T01:09:00.000-08:002008-12-06T21:44:56.465-08:00The Phantom of the Opera (SF 2008)THREE words: PHENOMENAL, MEMORABLE and BEAUTIFUL.<br /><br />I could go on writing volumes about how mind blowing the tech was, or how elaborate the costumes were; I could probably chat your ear off about how intelligent the staging was, or how memorizing the cast was. I could even go on about how this production has provided me "passion-energy" the way the sun re-energizes Superman after a long day of hard battles with evil-doers.<br /><br />But I won't.<br /><br />Instead, I'll just use those THREE words. And coincidentally they're exactly how I'd describe my date (in a very non-traditional sense of the word date, mind you) for the evening.<br /><br />All in all, a terrific way to have spent a Friday evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/STpF-gv6lpI/AAAAAAAAAMI/-Vh9ygK4Qf8/s1600-h/DSCF1393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/STpF-gv6lpI/AAAAAAAAAMI/-Vh9ygK4Qf8/s320/DSCF1393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276606853663069842" border="0" /></a>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-12167974633220649272008-11-21T12:41:00.000-08:002008-11-21T12:58:29.747-08:00Bakitwhy.comAs some of you may know, I'm not exclusive to my own blog but I do write entries in several other *blogs. Recently I wrote an entry regarding Barkada Inc's documentation of Bakitwhy's Mixer in San Francisco.<br /><br />For the uninitiated, Bakitwhy(.com) is an organization that promotes, cultivates and but certainly not limited to, discovering talented Filipino Americans while promoting the Filipino American lifestyle. As I mentioned, it's not limited to just Filipino Americans, it extends to Filipinos in general.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SScfziBVLdI/AAAAAAAAAMA/VbN8yHsqjyo/s1600-h/bakitwhypromo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SScfziBVLdI/AAAAAAAAAMA/VbN8yHsqjyo/s320/bakitwhypromo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271216859026632146" border="0" /></a>Our film team, <a href="http://www.barkadainc.com/">Barkada Inc.</a>, was fortunately enough to attend the Mixer and we had a great time. If you're interested in viewing the vlog, it's available on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBkkz1p897c">Youtube</a> & <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/2262694">Vimeo</a>. In any event, we were excited to find out that Bakitwhy has decided to post our video and give us a quick shout out on their website! I, for one, am stoked. Here's a screenshot of their front page with our video hosted.<br /><br />If you're a Filipino please take the time to visit their site. Actually, even if you're non-Filipinos but find interest in learning more about the culture, then by all means, visit them at: <a href="http://www.bakitwhy.com/">HTTP://WWW.BAKITWHY.COM</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.barkadainc.com/blog<br />*http://babnikmovie.com/blog</span><br /></span></span>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-4311769189261617892008-11-15T23:29:00.000-08:002008-11-17T19:51:49.545-08:00Dorito's Commercial Contest Vids are IN!Here they are folks, all three videos made for the Dorito's commercial video contest. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was fortunate enough to work with EyeQ Films on this project and here are the fruits of the labor. Please enjoy and spread.<br /><br /><object width="460" height="380"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://images.crashthesuperbowl.com/images/1/partners/doritos/build14_7b/tv.swf?id=1013"><br /> <embed src="http://images.crashthesuperbowl.com/images/1/partners/doritos/build14_7b/tv.swf?id=1013" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="380"></embed><br /></object><br /><object width="460" height="380"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://images.crashthesuperbowl.com/images/1/partners/doritos/build14_7b/tv.swf?id=932"><br /> <embed src="http://images.crashthesuperbowl.com/images/1/partners/doritos/build14_7b/tv.swf?id=932" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="380"></embed><br /></object><br /><object width="460" height="380"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://images.crashthesuperbowl.com/images/1/partners/doritos/build15_7b/tv.swf?id=1803"></param><br /> <embed src="http://images.crashthesuperbowl.com/images/1/partners/doritos/build15_7b/tv.swf?id=1803" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="380"></embed><br /></object><br /><br />Or visit:<br /><br />http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/video/1013/<br />http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/video/932/<br />http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/video/1803/Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-59488003997427818942008-11-14T20:53:00.000-08:002008-11-14T21:24:00.000-08:00Barkada Inc announces new blogJust as the subject suggests:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" >http://www.barkadainc.com/blog/</span><br /><br />Please visit and see what we're up to. I'll be blogging there as well.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-73568550252175479712008-11-13T17:25:00.000-08:002008-11-13T17:42:16.947-08:00Cheers with PeersDue to the nature of my career path, I'm always mixed with an assortment of people. They say networking is one of the most important aspects of an actor's job but to what degree? How aggressive should the networking be? I'd like to think that you should only push far enough that you're not putting yourself in a position where you're not presenting the most truthful representation of yourself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gothamist.com/attachments/tien/2007_08_bridges.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 242px;" src="http://gothamist.com/attachments/tien/2007_08_bridges.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />October moving into November has been an exciting ride for me. Not only have I been a slew of new people but I've also reinforced some of the recent friendships I came across during the last 48hr Film Festival in San Jose. Not even a year ago Cinequest was in town and I remember whispering to myself that one day I'll be fortunate enough to work with a director whose work was presented in the festival.<br /><br />Boom, enter Alejandro Adams. A wonderful man, a terrific director and one whose work I do enjoy. You may remember a previous entry I made in regards to his current film, <a href="http://babnikmovie.com/">Babnik</a>. I look forward to working with him again soon.<br /><br />Last weekend in a very interesting turn of events, I was, again fortunate enough to work with a crew I've looked forward to meeting. The folks at EyeQ Films offered me the chance to work with them on a few videos for the <a href="http://crashthesuperbowl.com/">Dorito's contest</a>! You'll see the results of our hard work soon. While I could go into detail about what who's and what's, I'll save that for another entry when our vids are actually online. In the meantime, here's a short they entered into the last 48hr Film Festival: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZICwRjREoY">The Animals</a><br /><br />I guess what I'm trying to say is, when you're building bridges...make sure you build it good and strong.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-13462200387400910392008-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:002008-11-06T20:53:41.560-08:00Food and PassionOriginal post found here: <a href="http://babnikmovie.com/about">"Babnik"</a><br /><br />Some people have passion in food. Others feel that passion is food for the soul. Regardless of how you look at it, working on an indie film is very much the combination of food and passion. <p>When Alejandro invited me to join them on the set of <em>Babnik</em>, I was more than delighted. But at the same time I couldn't help feel like that neighbor you bring along to a picnic. If you think about it, an indie film can easily take on a very family-like atmosphere. There are rules, there's work and there's play.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SQTd2027FdI/AAAAAAAAAI4/qDTEZXlluCM/s1600-h/babnik_blog_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SQTd2027FdI/AAAAAAAAAI4/qDTEZXlluCM/s320/babnik_blog_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261574198647264722" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The location for the shoot was remote so a carpooling system was put in place. Due to the nature of indie films, it's easy to see how close the cast and crew can be. I carpooled in Alejandro's vehicle and it took on a very comfortable picnic-like appeal, complete with bottled water and tasty snacks. Fast forward 2hrs and I've met the bulk of the cast and crew and immediately I feel at ease as they're incredibly cordial and generous. Food arrives just as shooting starts and there's an energy that reminded me of family gatherings: plates passed around, laughter smothers the air, and stories start being shared. Regardless of where everyone came from, they all share a common destination: The realization of the project in the highest quality.</p> <p>Filming started as the last paper plate was crumpled and trashed. Perhaps the greatest angle about being active in your passion is how it doesn't feel like work. Maybe it's different for others, but that's how I look at it. When I'm acting, or participating in performance art, I've never been weighed down by the fact that it's still work. There are certain rules that each person is responsible to abide by: being on time, listening to directions, completing a task to the highest degree possible. Sure, after a 12hr day my feet are sore but I'd be more than willing to throw down another few hours if needed. Watching everyone contribute to the project reminded me that the set of a movie (or stage production) is probably one of the most <strong>organic</strong> work places.</p> <p>Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all work in rustic <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=calistoga&ie=UTF8&z=13&g=calistoga&iwloc=addr">Calistoga</a>, there were enough shenanigans taking place to make any High Schooler jealous (in a good way). There was dancing, running, walnut cracking, gun trotting, food gobbling, and all around goofiness shared by the cast and crew.</p> <p>All in all a fantastic experience!</p> <p>My deepest thanks to Alejandro for having me along to share the magic of filmmaking, to meeting new friends and to spark in me the belief that family extends beyond blood relation and that maybe all we need in life is <em>food and passion</em>.</p><p>For more information please visit: <a href="http://babnikmovie.com/about">http://babnikmovie.com/about</a><br /></p>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-35442030550271254242008-10-23T21:19:00.000-07:002008-10-23T21:37:06.894-07:00Project March has begunThey say the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Or something to that degree. Well, I've officially embarked on a journey that I hope will make a difference in this world. It's a project <a href="http://www.barkadainc.com">BARKADA INC</a> has decided to complete. I won't let the cat out of the bag just yet but we'll probably be starting a blog about it soon so keep your eyes open. If you're itching to find out, just follow this <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/sfeature/bataan_filipino.html">LINK</a>.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-12939497822588392342008-10-22T10:35:00.000-07:002008-10-22T10:38:15.231-07:00Brain teaserA friend recently had me read this thing she did in class and wondered what my answer was. Apparently I answered correctly but I'll let you try:<br /><br />In this world all married men lie and all single men tell the truth.<br />A young woman in a club approaches three guys.<br />She asks the first guy if he is married but doesn't hear his answer because the music is too loud.<br />The second guy replies "the first guy said "I'm married", but he is really single."<br />The third guy says that the second guy is single.<br /><br />Determine the marital status of each man.<br /><br />PM me your answer or leave a comment.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-65931606440886437712008-10-21T12:51:00.000-07:002008-10-21T13:16:45.644-07:00Anyone notice the spiel?A friend and I were talking about human interactions and she brought to my attention, the "spiel". The deal is, when people to talk to each other, especially if either they've just met or they're having a conversation after some time apart they always seem to want to push their spiels onto the other person. It's probably a generalization but think about it, when was the last time you had a conversation with someone you haven't seen in a while and just listened. Purely listened with no intention of really wanting to share what you've got hidden in your conversation bag?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SP44lShZmaI/AAAAAAAAAIw/hi2m5bmB_Hw/s1600-h/conversations.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wgrtsU5HC7w/SP44lShZmaI/AAAAAAAAAIw/hi2m5bmB_Hw/s320/conversations.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259703628093561250" border="0" /></a>Okay, maybe I overstated that idea. Now that I think about it, there are numerous conversations I've participated in where I'm content to just listen. I suppose what I'm trying to say in this entry is...I'm now more aware of the "spiel" when it comes around. It just surprised me because I like to pride myself in my well practiced behavioral observations of humans. Just to clarify, I'm mentioning this purely for personal awareness and not because I think the "spiels" are silly.<br /><br />I took a film analysis class a few years ago and it gave me that extra dimension of watching film. I now feel that way about conversations. So, what's your name?Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-63803898551058185152008-10-13T20:01:00.000-07:002008-10-13T20:36:44.326-07:00Notable Moments (in life)We all have them. Some more than others. Here are three notable moments in my life:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Number 3: The Loogie.</span><br /><br />Oh yeah...so in third grade, I arrive at school on Monday morning after suffering from a cold all weekend and before the first period bell even goes I explode into a sneeze that literally projects a THREE foot loogie string out of my nose! Yep, I said...in many respects I can look at it now and be proud that something so amazingly disgusting came out of my body so early in my life. I won't go into details about the actual texture and shape, but it was impressive! I'm sure I'm not the only one who has forgotten about that. I mean, if I can remember a classmate who ATE boogers, I'm sure someone would still remember little ole me ejecting some oozy goodness out of my nose, right?<br /><br />Right?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Number 2: The Secret is Out</span></span><br /><br />Okay, so number 4 is actually a combination of different situations in my life where I've had a secret crush revealed and while it didn't really have large negative results on my development, they still contribute to those "Oh god, I'm red as a tomato" moments. This teaches me to keep my mouth shut when I have a crush on someone, or at the very least, find mutes to share secrets with. I suppose the way I've combated this problem lately is I've decided to quickly tell the person I have a crush on that...well...I have a crush on them. Yeah, sounds like balls right? You'd be surprised. In many cases, I really enjoy the friendship and would hate to ruin it by mentioning that, oh, I have the biggest crush on them. Yeah, double edged swords blow monkey chunks.<br /><br />Luckily I think I've come off less creepy than other people have been made out to be, so I suppose the risk is worth it. In the end, the truth is out and I feel better having said what bubbled around in my mind and the person(s) in question can be happy that their ego has successfully been fed.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Number 1: The Banana Tree</span></span><br /><br />When I was younger, say early teens, a neighbor and I ventured into the edge of the jungle near my house and decided to see what lighter fluid and a match can do. *Laughs* I can't tell this story without at least letting a cackle out. So anyway, we doused the shaft of this banana tree and some of its leaves with lighter fluid THEN read the instructions on the back of the canister. Gee, how can this amazing liquid be so dangerous?<br /><br />Moments later we lit the match and tossed it at the tree. FRAAWWWWWOOOM! This tree light up so fast and so viciously that we were knocked back. LOL, oh man...I miss being a kid. Anyway, we ran our asses so fast out of there that we were clear under our sheets when we noticed all the mechanics from the nearby auto shop dashing towards our "experiment" with buckets of water. Oh man, I got such a whooping that night. Extremely notable.<br /><br />What are some of <span style="font-weight: bold;">YOUR</span> notable moments?Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-41870100081752024352008-10-05T21:11:00.000-07:002008-10-06T21:03:19.096-07:00"Benchies" [short film]A short film I put together after Alana and I visited the <a href="http://www.calacademy.org/">CAS: California Academy of Sciences</a> in San Francisco. We had a great time! Just as we were leaving, Alana decides to change her roll of film allowing me a small window of time to film. Enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1892915&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1"> <embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1892915&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/1892915?pg=embed&sec=1892915">Benchies</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/kreenpananas?pg=embed&sec=1892915">Tasi Alabastro</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/?pg=embed&sec=1892915">Vimeo</a>.Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004464755099720970.post-8619324569323010672008-09-27T23:09:00.000-07:002008-09-28T00:52:47.113-07:00A pocket full of thoughtQuickly, before I forget. I met up with a friend and previous castmate to watch another former castmate's play, "The Dentist" by John Rebstock. (More on this in another blog). Anyway, we had one of the deepest conversations I've ever had. And it wasn't deep to be deep, it just turned out that way. Unfortunately, like most things that are precious, their gone just like that and they end up reserved in the deepest recesses of our memories. But here are some questions that came up.<br /><br /><ol><li>What are your principles?</li><li>Are you open minded?</li><li>What philosophies do you adhere to?</li><li>Am I offending you?</li><li>Which would you pick, truthful or real?<br /></li><li>Are they inexplicably connected?<br /></li></ol>You're probably thinking, "Those are simple questions". Okay, maybe. But they start being complicated, complex and exciting when the person asking them challenges them. Or asks a side question that spurns you into gear and the conversation gets deeper and deeper. It occured to me, a couple of times, that I'm answering some of his questions in a way feels like I'm only answering it in this way to justify my reasoning when I should be answering it in a way that's truthful to me.<br /><br />Does that make any sense?<br /><br />Anyway, I just want to make a shout out to my friend, <a href="http://www.bezachin.blogspot.com/">Bizachin</a> for a terrific and thought provoking conversation. Which, if I were to describe in one sentence, would be:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"It was profound to me in a cerebral way, in that, I want to rave about it to the world, but I know the experience and feeling was singularly mine and his, and everyone else will only feel the aftershocks."</span>Tasi Alabastrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12851968015191992730noreply@blogger.com3