the narcotic sound of typing

Hello, Monday!

2010-05-30T21:52:00.003+08:00

Say hello to a new media platform for young urban professionals that covers corporate culture, consumerism and lifestyle. The Monday blog is here. We are also in facebook. Do add us up :)

With Gratitude

2009-08-05T19:04:00.002+08:00

Virulence

2009-02-09T19:30:00.000+08:00

Let's begin this note with a whine: While other people are blessed with friends I'm endowed with bullies whose idea of friendship is for you to come up with something “creative,” emphasizing, while briefing you, that the deadline was yesterday. This scenario, of course, instantly reduces you into adopting the EQ of Freddie Kruger.

The amazing thing is, you allow such abuse. Friendship is another synonym for insanity. Or masochism.

In this light let me help a major bully of a friend who exercised blackmail, and when that didn't work, resorted to threats of physical harm just to come up with this and post it here:

(click image to enlarge and read the copy)

Insanity is viral.Spread the word!

The Concealed Charms Of Humble Things

2008-12-19T02:24:00.003+08:00

Two consecutive Fridays of this month I found myself in two grueling shoots in Tanauan, Batangas. I helped art-directing a branding initiative for a client of Vgrafiks, upon the behest of Russel and Chan. The first Friday was allocated for print, billboard and collaterals production that Art Abraham photographed and the second for capabilities video, directed by Ned and Cenon. I will not enumerate the many insanely hilarious misadventures we all had. Yeah the whole ordeal was tiresome but we had great fun.

While shooting the video in the public market Missy went nuts and began chasing random kids selling stuff from crushed black pepper to crackers. She was merrily snapping pictures of vendors, beggars and kargadors with mad glee that I got infected. I borrowed her camera (technically it was Chan's camera but Missy was in charge of behind-the-scenes documentation) and decided to take snaps of curious objects I chanced upon the chaotic wet market.

No, I have no delusions of being Irving Penn. It was fun snapping pictures of stuff people were ignoring in various corners.

I posted more here.

What You Won't See In Uno Magazine

2008-11-19T03:43:00.004+08:00

Hitting magazine shelves this November is the photoshoot Art did for Dana's brands of footwear in collaboration with Uno Magazine. KC styled the whole thing and Dana/KC/Art insisted I tag along as the resident kibitzer/intrimitido. It was a fun shoot and when I say fun I mean everyone's nerves were on hyperdrive due to overcaffeination. We improvised the sittings within Dana's kingdom, flanked by the Baranggay Tanod outpost and the clustered shanties of surrounding urban misfortunates. Charming neighborhood, I must say. The entire time we were busily glancing over our shoulders, half-expecting an Indian pana to sink in our necks. No, that one is not true. I'm teasing Dana!

KC has the scans from the magazine (I posted some teasers before) and I thought I'd post some of the images that didn't make it to the printed mag. (Also I desaturated the postings here)

More images here.

Photography : ART ABRAHAM
Styling : KC LEYCO
Models : ISABEL DU @ Fabtrix, LANCE HOWARD @ Mercator
Make Up : DIANE DE CASTRO
Hair : RICKY DIOKNO @ KIEHL'S
Also helping us were Dana's Assistants : Chris And Jean

Dreaming In Copper And Resin

2008-11-15T04:54:00.005+08:00

Complete boredom had me poking around the filters menu in photoshop and conveniently I was able to dig from the old files archive a shoot we did for the magazine featuring Ming Ong's ornately constructed jewelry art worn by the lovely Farrah Ramos. Here's what I came up with. (Take note: this is not the final layout for the image it was intended for. This is an 'exercise' layout because my brain is approaching terminal stage of atrophy from underuse.) We will be staging an official shoot for the new concepts we developed for Ming's Obra line which will be used for the advertising campaign/editorial releases very soon. We are still casting/scouting for male and female models to be shot by Art Abraham. (Interested folks who would want to model for this, do drop Ming or myself a line.)

Photography : Art Abraham / Art Jewelry Design : Ming Ong (Obra/Kathang Kamay) /Model : Farrah Ramos /Makeup : Janeth Tia / Hair : Cris Aloc of Hairshaft / Image Violation : Myself (note to self: leave post production to skilled experts)

WM Wins 2!

2008-10-29T14:57:00.002+08:00

World Mission Magazine won the prestigious Catholic Mass Media Awards the first time it entered the competition in 2007. (A month later we announced the win in the cover for the Nov-Dec issue. See above)

Just this evening WM Editor, Father Joe Rebelo sent me an SMS announcing that WM won Best Community Magazine and Best In Special Feature, beating the well-funded Philippine Daily Inquirer in the category.

This is an amazing accomplishment considering the magazine's nonexistent editorial budget. It relies on pro bono contributions from writers and photographers. For almost four years now, I volunteer on art-directing and co-designing it with Victor Garcia (yep, that's Victor's hands in the cover above, photographed by Marlon Lacanilao) and the collaboration gave us opportunities to exercise conceptual covers approach which will never see the light of day in a commercial, mainstream title. It is such a joy working closely with Father Joe and Father Dave Domingues, Brother Fabio and the very supportive Comboni Missionaries.

Congratulations to all the generous writers and photographers (yep, Art, that includes you) who keep on donating talent, effort and dedication to promote an independent, smart alternative voice in the sea of mediocrity crowding the newsstands!

Silverboys + Silvergirl

2008-10-28T22:35:00.011+08:00

Jason of Unisilver gave us one confounding challenge: Create a very simple photography-based set of creatives for the mass-centric accessory brand using characters to be channeled by signed celebrity endorsers and make the finished images look expensive.

We scratched our heads and stared at each other. How do you visually reposition a mass brand into something that looked premium when everyone from Boronggan, Samar to Aparri to Jolo knows that in terms of price range you are dealing with something that is not exactly,uhh, Tiffany?! To top it all we will be working with mass darlings Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby and hiphop artist Jay R.

Regular mortals would have backed out from the project but we are deeply masochistic so we said Yes and sealed our doom.

No, not really.

On the contrary we had nifty time collaborating with Jason and his boss, tossing in ideas, narrowing the choices of character sketches, discarding story boards, and sorting out props to go with each layout. Also we had the most crazy fun dodging death by crossing the insane streets of Binondo during meetings. Clint, running out of time for costume pull out decided to take matters into his own hands and sew some stuff himself to be used for the shoot. Yes, he whined and moaned but saw to it that every single strand of silver chains snaking around Jay R's well-toned body and Kim's elegant neck are all seamlessly put together.

Art and Marlon also went overboard by creating more variations than what was agreed upon. All in all we had a terrific time working together except for that episode when the entire shoot was interrupted by a starlet who was shooting in the adjacent studio. She wandered in our sitting and yakked like a parrot on speed. No, I'm kidding about the parrot on speed bit, but you get the gist. :P
Since Art didn't give me the DVD containing the polished layouts I am posting here the rough iterations of Unisilver's new creatives now seen on billboards, bus wraps, in-store displays and print materials all over the country.

And no, JayR didn't catch pneumonia for being shirtless four hours straight.

More variations HERE.
Credits:

Photography : Art Abraham
Styling, props and costumes : Clint Catalan
Hair & Makeup : Benji of Hairshaft
Post production + Graphics : Marlon Lacanilao
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Worm Wants YOU

2008-10-28T16:13:00.001+08:00

Art Director and (now mad) designer Clint Catalan is looking for models for his Fabric event and subsequent campaign for his WORMS line. I will be co-conceptualizing/art directing this campaign to be shot by Art Abraham. Worms is more of a statement project rather than a commercial one so let it be established upfront that models will not be paid in cash. (All collaborators for this project will be working pro bono, myself included.) "So, can you justify why would i strip for you, losers?" you say.

Simple.

Aspiring "Models" will be guaranteed fashion exposure via Worm's segment to be staged in Embassy Fly on 06 November 2008.

The four outstanding picks will be the centerpiece of a conceptual photo shoot for the WORMS campaign which will be distributed in print (magazines, dailies) and viral (blogs, online networking sites, forums etc). Think high-caliber photography for your model's folio/book. You will be given top-notch creatives and photography which you can use in whatever application you deem appropriate.

WORMS is looking for edgy 'character' faces (boring boy/girl-next-door faces will be ignored. kidding.) Multi-ethnic ones preferred.

Interested parties are encouraged to send head shots (or links to your sites) via Clint's sites here and here.

Thanks. see you at the studio!

How To Disrobe A Rock Star

2008-10-28T04:10:00.008+08:00

Frantically digging through boxes of DVDs for a set of files I needed, I unintentionally fished out the CD containing my very first assignment for NoFear underwear. It featured Kjwan front man Marc Abaya whom we collaborated earlier for Dana's in-mag creative integration program. So I might as well post them here in black and white version.

Dana wanted a very sexy shoot and right from the start we plotted for the images to be iconic, sensual and edgy.

More of Marc here.

Photography : Arthur Abraham

Hair & Make up: Cris and Marlon of Hairshaft
Tattoo/Styling : Clint Catalan
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Lawnmowers

2008-10-21T23:07:00.005+08:00

Between takes for Dana's editorial integration project with Uno Magazine I decided to take a few extra snaps for the respective Books of models Isabel and Lance. Both gamely rolled in grass populated by ants and dog shit. As we always joked around the set, no amount of shit should stop you from getting good snaps. Disagreements will be automatically ignored. Photography : Arthur Abraham / Styling : KC Leyco /Models: Isabel @ Chameleon and Lance @ Mercator / Hair : Ricky Diokno @ Kiehl's / Makeup:

More Here
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Lace up, Giddy up

2008-10-21T22:39:00.009+08:00

Pony is going to be very active visually this coming few weeks. We collaborated with them for a portrait pictorial for the band, Hale. I'm posting here the raw stuff as teasers.

And here's a take from another shoot involving Jake C. I am sure his rabid fanbase will shred us apart for deglamorizing the Methatione hearthrob. Brace yourselves, Arthur, KC and Jean! I'll be in hiding starting today. Haha.

Photography : Arthur Abraham
Styling : KC Leyco
Post production : Chris Azana
Hair & Makeup : To be credited later
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The Sexier Side Of Fearlessness

2008-10-18T01:27:00.003+08:00

Already installed is our team's billboard project for NoFear Underwear. This is the first installment. (Grabbed this from KC's site.)

Hope to see the "threesome" version later. Hehe.

Erika, Dana in her (duster chic hahaha), Fabio, KC, Mariana and Tring.

Sicko

2008-10-17T23:59:00.009+08:00

Back to back shoot in collaboration with four shoe brands plus helping out in art directing an editorial shoot for a progressive men's magazine have taken their toll. It was a blast though and we all had a funtastic time. (will post pics of the shoot later). Right now I'm too depleted and sick enough to rain check on an invitation for a Friday night gimik. Bummer. Instead of guzzling on beer I am home uploading stuff on multiply, which, the way I look at it is just three stoplights away from pure loser-hood. Haha. Stupid body pains. Argh. But let's see what I have unearthed among the unsorted/unfinished clutter of possible folio materials.

More of this here.

Sensual Connection

2008-10-14T05:34:00.002+08:00

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Other pics in the series
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Find Me The Frigging Cello!

2008-10-14T05:14:00.003+08:00

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Poor Dana and Tring had to scramble around to find the cello for the Kjwan shoot in collaboration with No Fear.

They swore NEVER to work with me again!
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Ely

2008-10-14T05:08:00.002+08:00

For the album launch of the first Pupil album, Pony Footwear commissioned me to come up with a conceptual presentation of the band, the album and the shoes. These photos were later magnified as ceiling to floor window displays in record bars.

The rest here

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Elitism For Every Joe

2008-10-14T05:01:00.003+08:00

Previous RDeA Campaigns

Moar here!

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Frozen

2008-10-14T04:45:00.004+08:00

A Fashionable Mess

2008-10-14T04:06:00.003+08:00

Elan Modeling Agency relaunched itself some years back and collaborated with people in the industry: fashion, beauty, creative, editorial and photography. Cecile, Elan's managing director agreed on my request to work with the high master advertising photography, Francis Abraham. Instead of just shooting models for the exhibit I suggested we develop three anchor "statement" photography about the modeling and fashion of the time. Francis, the virtuoso that he is nailed the lighting and we stayed until three in the morning to finish the shoot. (interesting side note: You gotta give it to avant-garde fashion designer Alcs Porras because these gowns are not 'real' gowns. Alcs and Cecile draped these random raw fabrics and some de-constructed tops around the models and you couldn't tell the difference!)

Grandness

2008-10-14T03:43:00.004+08:00

I was teasing Jaycah that when it's her turn to get married I'll take time off to make her wedding photos much grander than RJ's because we will have plenty of time to prepare. What I had in mind was this photo we took of Maike Evers hanging in the chandelier of Shangri-La hotel that we shot for an editorial assignment.

Covering The Mission

2008-10-14T00:30:00.002+08:00

Until I received the CD compilation of covers I did for World Mission Magazine I haven't realized that I have been volunteering for four years now. It started in 2005 after mass in EDSA Shrine when Father Dave Dominguez was promoting the magazine for new subscriptions. There I was in the front pew, looking at the copy he's holding thinking how hideously designed it was. So I approached him after mass, volunteered to redesign the identity and grid structure, art direct its covers and strip it down visually for some commercial appeal without losing its serious editorial tone. I am glad that it's then newly-installed Editor, Father Jose Rebelo (from Portugal), was open to experiments and gave me opportunity to pursue insane cover ideas (one of which sparked heated debates among the religious community, passionately arguing why one cover isn't theologically appropriate. It's the picture of communion host being held by chopsticks to go I was planning for the Asian Congress and Jesus' presence in Asia.) Now I'm browsing through four years worth of covers and I am so glad having summoned the nerve to approach Father Dave after that fateful mass. I have met a lot of dedicated people while volunteering on the magazine and have enjoined two of our office designer and (just very recently) our photography director to do volunteer work for the magazine, too. Considering nonexistent art and design budget it's some sort of miracle that we continue to pull off a well-presented issue month after month. And it's such a creative exhilaration every time we get hold of the freshly-minted copies.

(This is the first of the series of creative work I'll be posting regularly. This how the magazine looked like before the redesign. The editor insisted of bringing back the red border that was used and dropped a decade ago.)

Shoot The Bride. And The Groom

2008-09-28T02:48:00.018+08:00

: CLICK TO ENLARGE THE IMAGES :

WHEN MS. ROSE, MY BELOVED EX-BOSS, informed me of her son RJ's nuptials I immediately volunteered to art-direct the wedding portraits. (RJ and his sister Jaycah were kids the first time I worked with their mom and I practically saw them finish high school and college before I leapfrogged to other job opportunities here and abroad. Though I have always kept in touch with Ms. Rose.) I bullied Art Abraham, a young wunderkind of advertising, fashion and editorial photography (who happens to be under my creative team) to collaborate with me and thankfully he agreed (probably out of fear of getting fired! haha. Talk about blackmail) despite of our tight schedule.

The downside was instantaneously apparent: I knew of the wedding date belatedly and there is no way we can pull off a pre-ceremony sittings for the portraits because RJ is based in Japan and some members of the entourage are based in Zamboanga. Considering how elaborate the photos I had in mind, there is nada possibility of last minute arrangements for location scouting, set designs and hunting for props. Ms. Rose suggested I fly with them to Zamboanga for the portraits to be taken during the wedding day and in my mind I was swallowing Maalox. Considering the tight pacing of schedules during the wedding day I knew we're in for a challenge: to be able to take fast but good pictures without disrupting the proceedings of the event's pre-set itinerary. We made a concession to fly a day before the ceremony so we can scout for areas to shoot and plan ahead the blocking for the pictures. Thankfully we got decent stuff and I'm sampling it here in desaturated, panoramic format. (Note: some of the images' lighting are not yet adjusted and some are not even edited.)

When the super efficient Zamboanga-based team of wedding planners gave us a tour of local interesting spots Art and I automatically got awed with Zamboanga Museum's indoor courtyard and begged the planners to secure permission to shoot in the area. Our obstacle: we cannot plug our lights in the electrical outlets of the museum so we added the burden and stress to the planners and Janice's mom to look for a generator. Luck is with us because they managed to find the compact gen set ideal for lugging around. Here are the stuff we snapped at the museum:

At this point the genset was moved and the voltage re-calibrated which caused one set of lights to conk out. We carried on using the remaining available light and we were getting worried because it's getting dark and the quality might be compromised. For some miracle and the uber-skillful manipulations and expertise of Art in disastrous situations we were able to pull off the shots.
After the museum we hurtled towards Zamboanga City's coastline to get dramatic sunset shots. Problem: How do you shoot intimacy when there are many kibitzers standing around observing us as we prop Janice and RJ for the shots. "Are you all right to kiss in front of these people?" I asked. "No problem, I don't mind!" RJ replied. Sports that they are they kissed and hugged and we snapped giving the surprised folks a moment of drama. Haha.

For the church ceremony we wanted the stark, moody feel so we deliberately dimmed the lighting.
While the wedding ceremony is ongoing I was frantically scanning the whole church for props to supplement the shots. Then I climbed up the spiral super narrow stairs and discovered the wedding singers/musicians up at the church's mini balcony and borrowed the violin from the musician and we got these shots:

I also spotted a parcel of hill with thick clusters of gabi plant and we plotted to shoot Janice and RJ among the very large umbrella-like gabi leaves but aborted the plan when we realized the soil was very moist. We don't want the bride to march into dinner reception with mucked up gown. Their moms would murder me if we did.
At the reception we spontaneously decided to do sittings for the guests and some were shy at the start and later got into the groove. Thanks to Pettyzou who gamely gave us this vampy pose, channeling a Renaissance girl draped across the sofa. Way to go Pzou!

Our direction was random. From formal to candid as you can see here:

Also, glamour:

And spontaneous blocking:

And composed:

Or downright unconventional (bride and entourage sitting on the floor, anyone? Haha.):

More shots and the full color version here :-)

Blink

2008-07-06T23:06:00.002+08:00

Dreaming. Still.

Will have something very tangible very soon.

That's one too many use of the word 'very' in one sentence.

Is it?

2008-04-01T23:26:00.002+08:00

Optimism is the breeding ground of disappointment. Yet we persist on being hopeful. Is it because we are stubborn? Or plainly the case of absence of suitable alternatives?

Tenacity

2008-04-01T23:09:00.002+08:00

Homecoming dinner at Dusit hosted by the airline executives we were collaborating with for a co-branding feature went very well. Despite my initial anxieties no glitch ensued, which made us exhale, relax and enjoyed the food and conversation. Post dinner I had a talk with a close friend and the ongoing shit we are all raking in at work, and our respective personal lives. We remain optimistic however. Weary, beaten, but refusing to give up. Stubborn as hell. That's us.

Seething Summer

2008-03-31T15:29:00.004+08:00

SUMMER IS UPON US, seething, hissing, like a smug bully who wants his presence known. Pavements crack, desires simmer, and it awakens my dormant inclinations to wander into far off places, away from the madness of hot concrete and steaming streets.

A weekend getaway is in order. But where?

Insomnia Begets Bloggorhea

2008-03-31T01:31:00.015+08:00

SLEEP SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM BUT IT IS. The lack of it. Never getting enough of it. Or, if you are like me, typing this first blog entry while a huge fraction of the humanity is wedged in dreams and nightmares. This is when insomnia justifies the excuse to bake yet another blog: Words are our only true abundance. Yet we choose to remain ignorance to their worth, the degree of their wounds. Not much different from swimming in a crowded street and not really see anyone. So we withhold our phrases, edit our sentences, and in a sad routine of paranoia, suspend ourselves in silence.

How can anyone be so selfish?