” ~ wain~

Niaw’s performance has always been outstanding. And with the magic touch with a genius named Jeremy and a filmmaking blacksmith, Niaw is even doing better than ever. Jeremy is the most knowledgeable man about automobile that I have ever met. Although I only received two crash courses from him, I understand most of the mechanics behind Niaw that I am able to fine-tune Niaw accordingly.

Here are only some minor/easy tune up from the wisdom of Jeremy: spark plug, tire, engine oil, and the choice of premium gas. The result is magnificent: record high 51 mpg.

Then the filmmaking blacksmith decided to really make Niaw the true filmmaker companion: the mobile studio. He took out the back seat of Niaw to start with. Then he is going to completely re-do the floor with plywood and install a stable tripod where a regular crane can mount on it. The capacity of the back trunk is going to exceed a SUV, only with twice better mileage. The only challenge of the project is that it has to be an expandable, stable and artistic design.

Ps. Million thanks again to Elliott who found Niaw for me.
Ps. Billion thanks to Paul for the inspiration of the crane design.

to remind myself i have to write these entires:
(it has been intensely too busy to slow down and digest what had happened)

-I am home (in New Mexico)
-New inside look of Niaw [posted on Aug 8]
-The most spectacular drive in Colorado, +accident
-Rocky Mountain Blacksmiths Conference XVII, Carbondale, Colorado.
-Colorado Rocky Mountain School
-Driving 2000 miles in 2 days…
-RED Coffee inspiration
-I am home (in New York)

yes. there will be a lot to write. a lot to come.

July 7 painting the apartment, building the set
July 9-17 finding filming location in nyc
July 18 drive to Virginia to meet the screenwriter
July 19-21 screenwriting
July 22 drive back to Maryland to pick up the cameraman, then drive back to nyc to meet the leading acteress

RED Coffee credits

Producer Wain Yee
Co-director Teddy Wolff & Wain Yee
Screenwriter David Hogue & Wain Yee
Starring Sungyeon Lee, Teddy Wolff & Wai Kuen Yee
Cinematographer Teddy Wolff
Music Producer Claire Chun
Special Thanks to Van Tran & Ryan Kelley

*filming schedule
July 23 Sung’s apartment
July 24 Sung’s apartment
July 25 Marriott Execustay
July 26 Korean restaurant, Queensboro Bridge, Manhanttan apartment
July 27 Downtown Manhattan

So I did it. Filming a 30 minutes movie in 5 days. More about RED Coffee later.

so next up:

July 28 drive to Baltimore to see Claire
July 29 drive to Virginia to see David
July 31 drive to Kansas City
August 1 drive to Carbondale, Colorado
August 2-5 Rocky Mountain Blacksmiths Conference (blacksmithing!)
August 6 - 18 Blacksmithing in New Mexico
August 19 - 26 USC, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara
August 26 - 30 more Blacksmithing in New Mexico again
August 31 - Sept 2 Carbondale then Boulder
September 4 Northfield, Minnesota. School starts, *Graduation trip ends.

Work Hard & Play Hard. That is the plan.

summer: Graduation trip. Road Trip. Chicago, NYC, LA and home sweet home New Mexico. Mainly seeing friends that haven’t met for 4~5 years, doing blacksmithing, and forget about all the work in Scoville. Disconnect and reconnect. Rest, relax and enjoy.

fall: reform the equipment checkout system in the Media Lab. also helped Paul complete complete as many projects as possible.

main study: this definitely has the HIGHEST priority. will take more CAMS classes. Intro, film theory, documentaries, seriously anything. I just need to theorize myself, my knowledge, my passion, before i make my own film.

side study: prepare level 1 JLPT. aiming at level 1, should at least pass level 2. also should practice better mandarin.

future plan: apply to film school/grad school. need helps from Michael, Carol, John, and Paul. also apply to Cathy Pacific.

I am not going to spend much time on any easy project. there are much more to study.

Last but not least, hopefully if all things go well, I will be able to make a film about the NGO-Osmosis in Brazil. Finger crossed.

This is Niaw (pronounced as “neo”), my new filmmaking companion.

It is named by its Godmother Jipei, and the name means “the one”.

It is a 2002 Hyundai Accent 2-door Hatchback Manual Transmission. 37 per gallon and only 67000 miles!

I love it. I am a very happy person.

ps. Notice the liscence plate is “HKv” !!

June 20 ~ July 14 (tentative)
ROAD TRIP!!!
I am DRIVING to the east coast this summer! The plan is NYC will be my base. Hope to see as many people as possible whoa are in a reasonable driving distance.

July 18 ~ August 30 (tentative)
BLAKCSMITH!!!
I am not sure about driving or flying. But I will be in New Mexico doing blacksmith again. Possibly going to Colorado for a blacksmith conference. Possibly stop by the uwc reunion.
May also drive around to USC, LA, San Francisco, and Portland.

Drop a note if you think you will enjoy my company and grant me a place to stay.