WEEKEND: 18 months since my last haircut

If anybody knows me, they would know that I'm all "dag" with a bold caplock. But this weekend I ventured 30 mins down south to Campbelltown to finally come face-to-face with those snippers. My buddy and "beauty mentor Sophea Moeln treated me to a good relaxing hair wash and treatment, cut and loosely curled on the house. Sophea can probably vouch for my "tomboyness" but I guess there's some commonalities this this foxy lady as she, herself, admit to being one in her earlier years.

I look up to her, she's down to earth yet daring and she is bloody hard working. From being a bikini model to now a full time business owner of "Design for Pleasure" she's definitely boldly independent, even with two very young kids of her own.

Let's recap the week. Its been hectic. Lots of work demands (juggling two jobs - coordination and school teaching) as well as keeping up with the connections all over Australia and some fantastic

film projects that are in the pipeline.

I had some deep and meaningful moments with some of film colleagues who were upfront, "Maria Tran! Start finishing the Quest for Jackie Chan!". Yes...I've procrastinated, knowing at the back of my head that the clock is ticking and that this project's bold, daring and adventurous nature will make it a hit. But of course, that all depends on me. I've been trying to get over some confidence issues lately.

There are times that I'm just overthinking the whole thing and just don't feel quite there to make it happen. Deep down, I'm afraid of failure and seeing that it will be my first feature film that I direct/write/ produce, it makes me feel like I just want to crawl into a hole and die.

A good chat with Adrian Castro provided me with that wake up call. We ended Friday night with watching some more old school Jackie Chan snippets on you tube and it made me feel better that what I'm embarking on is actually quite unique. We brainstormed on some of the old school scenes and how the "Quest" can recreate some of it to pay homage to Jackie.

So in the next 7 days, I'm going to nut out the whole movie on paper. I have to do it once and for all. No fear.

P.S - Speaking of "hair" I'm currently looking for a good black quality to style into Jackie Chan's haircut. Any suggestions?

SOPHEA MOELN: Inspirations of One Bold Daring Woman

This a confession that I'm really have a background in nerdology in the past schooling years of mine, having been the target for bullies in high school when where I would sport a long pass my knees pleated, Fringe cut hairstyle, braces and oversized oval gold rimmed glasses. 

I was the nerd - the know it all nerd, who got rejected by the Spice Girls group, would get bashed by the sporty bullies and left for dead on the handball courts to fight for "Queens" in every match. 

These days were my TOMBOY days, hanging with the boys and even today, traces of this "classification" is still within and now, after meeting Sophea, has been reinvigorated and transformed into something a little bit surprising. 

Meet Sophea Moeln, ex-Tomboy who use to hang with the Tongans and Aboriginals, an outlier growing up in Western Sydney. 

Now, with her determination of going against the grain, she has pushed the boundaries and gone to places where she has never been before. 

Having two kids, it didn't deter her from pursuing her modelling career and in the field of swim suit and lingerie, a field that has quite often elicited many negative remarks from the Asian community. 

She is no Tila Tequila, but a passionate and sensitive individual, who may be brash and upfront on what she wants, but overall, is very considerate of other people's well being. Being a giver and less of a taker, she breaks the stereotypes of egocentric "Me! me! me!" kinds of models and people who think that the world revolves around themself. 

So here is my stamp of approval for this lovely lady and thank you for our guidance and boundary pushing for 2010. 

RECAP ON: Action Photography Shoot

Photographer: Thierry Cuu Nguyen (Main), Vincent Nguyen, Sid Nou (Secondary)

Models: Sophea Moeln, Andy Minh Trieu, Gary Quay & Maria Tran.

It was a full day shoot at the Mr Ponds Gardens located in Horsley Park, Western Sydney and it was my first one with Ms Sophea. She was quick to show me the ropes and encouragements when I was unsure of myself. 

Thierry Cuu Nguyen (Nomad Photography) was a great person with a light hearted sense of humour and of course, lots and lots of patience with my awkward looking poses. I have to admit, his demo ones definitely beat mine. Some of his shots are below:

Sid Nou is an aspiring photographer who eagerly sported his gear out and had fun shooting the prelims. Here are his shot below:

Shout out to the young and dangerous boys and of  course Mr Pond for lending his lovely Tweety bird lotus. 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Action Photoshoot with Sophea Moeln

Date: Saturday, 27th of Feburary, 2010

Location: 67 Cobwall Rd, Horsley Park.

Modelling is perhaps, one of my 2010 challenges to date, something that usually belongs in my parallel lives but have somehow crossed over through 28 year old, Cambodian-Australian freelance model - Sophea Moeln. 

This woman knows her stuff when it comes to being 'sexy'. She's done countless bikini shots and other shoots that acquire very little attire. 

Sassy, bold and talented, Ms Moeln is so sure that, under her wing, she will transform me from dag to confident model babe, a notion that still is hard for me to comprehend as I simply think of myself as more "academic" and conservative in dress code.

But "what if" is always a question to tickle the senses and if she can do this, I guess I can also achieve my own dream "Quest for Jackie Chan!". 

*R - Ms Sophea Moeln

A recap of the day: A long shoot from 10-5pm with the likes of Gary Quay and Andy Minh Trieu as our budding gangster ghetto homies sporting broadswords, straight swords, and all things sharp and illegal if legit. And for the girls, we had to play it up with the theme of school girls riding a Lotus, fighter chicky babes and Asian girl militant. 

Oh boy! Did I had fun! Even though it proved to be quite difficult to remain confident all times and sure of myself, I still flaunted that mini mini pleated schoolie shirt and sprawled myself on the yellow eye catching sportscar Lotus and attempt to captivate the lenses. 

We probably ended up with over 100 shots, all of which Thierry Nguyen  at Nomad Photography will have to edit and facebook in the coming weeks. 

In the meantime, I'd like to send a special thanks to Mr Pond, a close friend of Sophea Moeln who lent the set in-kind.