Over the past few weeks I had to, and also wanted to, reduce and downsize my belongings. Anything that wasn’t portable or small enough had to say goodbye to the rest of the gang and walk away! I know I don’t really need a lot of the things I have, but we don’t get things just based on our absolute needs! that would be boring wouldn’t it!? We get them based on our interests, hobbies and hopes, however, knowing that makes the elimination process easier, especially nowadays with internet and sites like eBay where you can convert them into cash with so little effort.

I decided I want to be able fit everything I have in two suitcases, of which, one is quiet big actually. Since I had recently moved into a new place I had already been getting rid of a lot things that I haven’t used in years, perhaps the only fun part of relocating! So what I was left with was the essentials, or so I thought at the time!

Even though we live in a digital age and that’s supposed to give us more space and efficiency I noticed the biggest and heaviest parts of my things are technology related! From my PC to camcorder, cameras, monitors, sound recorders, hard drives, cable and wires and all sorts of different equipments! Without them probably everything could have been fitted in a suitcase which I found odd since last time I moved, I’m sure I didn’t have these many equipments and still managed to fully stuff my suitcases! Had technology replaced something else? Do I have lessees clothing now?

There was no question that the PC had to go, as hard as letting go of a device that will let you do pretty much anything you need to do to, and getting used to a tiny screen of a laptop is! I haven’t had a laptop since 2008 and for the few past years iPad and my phones have successfully fulfilled the in between portable computing device role, but it’s not a replacement for a PC by far, not for me at least. Although it goes against my usual shopping sensibilities to get a first generation device which is soon to be replaced, I decided to get Microsoft Surface Pro simply because nothing else excited me! and soon after I sold everything and used the returned money to pay for the smaller replacements! barely! Portability sure is expensive.

Now that I really am able to pack everything up in two suitcases I feel a little lighter and more willing to move again! it feels like a big invisible burden has been lifted off my shoulder and although I had to let go a lot of things I would have liked to keep, I hope this new approach will make my future decision makings easier too, life is a series of unexpected events so the lighter, the better prepared you are to face them! who knows maybe less really is more!

After about 10 months I’m finally departing with my paper wallet! I enjoyed how slim and light it was and even renewed it once! But it’s time to try something new and what’s recyclable must be recycled! besides, finding a good wallet is no easy task so once a good one is discovered you shouldn’t turn your back on it! trust me the next discovery may not happy any time soon!

The replacement is of a similar concept, a flat foldable design but this time in leather! yes it smells good! There’s not much to see, three same size pockets with a red strap making sure nothing is going fall out, a nice compact wallet that can easily be the home to up to 9 cards and with a little push you can fit even more, but I like my pocket to be light and don’t really wanna feel it there, the keys and changes (coins) already making enough fuss there!

The only downside for me and in comparison to slimfold wallet is you have to fold the cash notes too to fit inside the pockets which mean at time you need to take them all out to find the right one! not a deal breaker but design wise a small flaw.

Designed by Bandit Manchot, it’s currently being sold at London Design Museum shop for a very reasonable price!

“Getting spit on the face or becoming momentarily deaf or even having someone step on my leg wasn’t enough to distract me, I was there with the characters and in the play”

You only truly experience the performance of the actors and the essential difference between watching a movie and a play when you seat at the edge of the stage. Seeing the actors that close, puts you in middle of the action and everything is enhanced to a level beyond what your sensory inputs are able to handle at times!

For some reasons every time I watch something it takes me a little while to be convinced by the characters, especially if it’s a period piece. To believe those people belong to whatever era they supposed to belong to … but being closer was kind of a shocking experience and instantly made me believe whatever they wanted me to, it was as if the was no longer a curtain in between. I’m not sure if the actors can actually see you with all lights pointed at them, but occasionally you find them looking right into your eyes and it does add to the experience, makes it feel very direct and personal.

Seating at the first row in the stalls was a fascinating but a little exhausting experience! And I wouldn’t recommend it for every play, but once in a while, seat close and let the actors take with them on a journey, close and personal!
___________
Photo: The Low Road at The Royal Court

There were so many fantastic VFX movies last year. From the (Hollywood) blockbusters such as The Avengers, The Hobbit, Prometheus or a film that didn’t get as much attention as it deserved; Looper, or even Total Recall that didn’t do so well at the box office but Double Negative’s work on it was top notch.

One however, stood out from the rest. Life of Pi was the most beautiful movie of the year. Sure the work on the tiger was unbelievable, even with the tiger swimming sequence being real, it was still superb. But that’s not why Life of Pi got my attention. Life of Pi was a complete package. How a movie should be. Good directing, story telling, acting, cinematography (in this case married heavily to vfx) and a visual effects that enhanced everything to a level beyond anyone’s believes. A creative collaboration at all levels. Even the 3D Stereo delivery was flawless, did you notice the aspect ratio changing in the flying fishes sequence and the fishes actually coming outside the frame?

What is not even remotely close to a complete package, is the behind the scenes story. The VFX studio responsible for the work, Rhythm & Hues, filing for bankruptcy, The Academy (Oscars) cutting the VFX team speech short just when they were about to address the recent difficulties for the VFX industry and while there was a protest going on outside. It is just such a big shame that Life of Pi will go down as movie that won the VFX Oscar that tasted so bitter!

People working in VFX are there only for one reason, their love and passion for the films and arts. They tolerate all the difficulties, instability and unfair working conditions just out of their love for the craft. However, when on top of everything else they see their work and contributions are not respected, then all the other problems come to surface. I hope whatever happen from now no, and with the awareness raised to the state of VFX industry, and a new movement starting amongst VFX artists calling for unity, film studios will work towards establishing mutual respect and understanding, and for once not driven purely by numbers and maximising their own profit, there’s enough here for everyone!.

In the business of daily life and dealing with its’ never ending surprises! I forgot to write more about my attempts in drawing and how the workshop ended. Seemed less important at the time but today I came across one of my life drawing sketches and it felt so alien. I feel I’ve been just rushing through my life in the last few years trying to find some stability, I have missed on so many other things, and when you discover that stability is just a mirage, things come in focus; You must either choose to make peace with the chaos and continue or, well give up! Nevertheless, even giving up is a choice. Life is such a bizarre experience, there are really no words to describe it.

The last day of the workshop, everyone was gathering their drawings to take with them, I didn’t see the point. I wasn’t impressed with my body of the work, and those I thought I was able to capture something interesting were recorded on my digital companion, so I threw them all in the rubbish bin. Just before leaving and to my surprise, someone asked if she could have one of my drawings, I had to go back and take everything out of the rubbish bin and find it for her, it felt strange, as if I was going through the days of my life that I had no care for, to find something that someone else thought it meant something, did it?