I see people viewing my blog even though I haven't been updating regularly (understatement, I probably only post something up once a year or so, and slightly more if I'm feeling bored, and it's all meaningless stuff lol). I don't know about this, but I'm going to write cos I feel like it. So, whether anyone will be reading this, or not, let me talk a little bit about my life in NAFA.
Why I chose NAFA
I've been interested in design and media from a young age (11-12YO). When people asked about my "dream" career, I'll always answer them some jobs that are design and media related. So, instead of dreaming, why not make it a reality, right? So yeah, after my O level, I went around looking at schools, trying to get the right kind of vibe (the school that makes me feel right). A friend of mine, who was a final year student in Nafa at that point of time, told me to go down to Nafa to take a look. He briefly told me about the courses and I went online to research more about the school before deciding it's worth my time going down to take a look.
Honestly speaking, Nafa doesn't look like an art institute from the exterior LOL. It look more like a hospital, or clinic. I mistook the campus for that anyway. I thought the map brought me to the wrong place, until I asked someone and she pointed at the "NAFA CAMPUS ONE" on the wall, I was all like *shocked face*. Hahaha.
But anyway, I walked in the school, and. Damn. It feels like home. Instantly. So, I went ahead and applied for the school. When I was applying from the registration office, I didn't know I have to choose my major on the spot. Fml. I did some speed reading through the majors the department of design and media offered and decided to put video production as my major. (Majors: Advertising, animation, graphic design, illustration, interactive media and video production)
How I got in NAFA
I can't remember how long it was from the date of registration to the "test" date, but it was probably a week or 2. So, I had thst period of time to prepare myself for the "test". Based on my not-that-awesome memory on things like that, the test was probably about drawing a subject in 3 different point of view and to do a collage with the magazines we brought along with us. I didn't take any form of art back in high school, so I was really nervous about the test. Everyone around me seems to be doing a great job with their drawing, and I got more worried about mine. But anyway, I finished up the test and hope for the best, knowing that I gave my all.
Fast forward to a week or 2 (again) later. I received my letter of acceptance from Nafa. Woohoo. Looks like I got what it takes after all. LOL. Or maybe not. Based on my drawings, I would think as long as you've the basic knowledge for art and that they can at least tell what you're drawing, you're in.
So, anyway, I got my letter of acceptance, and enjoyed (while working) myself till the day before the first day of school in NAFA. Supposed to have a full day or 2 (or so? I can't remember) orientation camp but swine flu was going on at that point of time, so it was shortened to an hour or so (Went for briefing and all, that was about it).
Foundation year
Well, what can I say? I didn't enjoy foundation year while I was on it, but I miss it so bad now. The modules I had during foundation year were mainly about drawing, painting, Photoshop, and introduction to the majors our course provides. The introductions I took were introduction to advertising, introduction to video production, introduction to interactive media and introduction to graphic design. We also have to fulfill a handful of CDEs (cross-disciplinary electives) and SAS (Singapore Art Scene) modules. I remember taking up western painting, photography, music, fine arts, 3D design and dance (and some others that I can't recall). Moving on the end of semester 2, I decided that I want to take up advertising instead of video production. I filled up the form provided by school for change of major.
One of my classmate's (Seri) shoot. Fake accident, fake blood.
I also get to produce my first ever group project (There were 16 of us in the class, we were divided into 4 groups. Each group have to assist another group in the shoot). For my group, we have Anoo as the director, Nina as the DOP (director of photography, AKA the one handling the camera), Kianyong as the editor and me, as the producer. I was really stress at that point of time, as my contribution to the film will affect not just my grade, but all my group mates' grade. I told myself I've to do a good job, so I won't let myself, and my group mates down.
Well, it turns out to be good enough.
Why I chose NAFA
I've been interested in design and media from a young age (11-12YO). When people asked about my "dream" career, I'll always answer them some jobs that are design and media related. So, instead of dreaming, why not make it a reality, right? So yeah, after my O level, I went around looking at schools, trying to get the right kind of vibe (the school that makes me feel right). A friend of mine, who was a final year student in Nafa at that point of time, told me to go down to Nafa to take a look. He briefly told me about the courses and I went online to research more about the school before deciding it's worth my time going down to take a look.
Honestly speaking, Nafa doesn't look like an art institute from the exterior LOL. It look more like a hospital, or clinic. I mistook the campus for that anyway. I thought the map brought me to the wrong place, until I asked someone and she pointed at the "NAFA CAMPUS ONE" on the wall, I was all like *shocked face*. Hahaha.
Yeah. This is what I meant by, judging from the exterior, it doesn't look like an art institute (P.S. This was from year 2012. I entered in year 2009. It was slightly different in 2009, but still... LOL) (love the interior though)
But anyway, I walked in the school, and. Damn. It feels like home. Instantly. So, I went ahead and applied for the school. When I was applying from the registration office, I didn't know I have to choose my major on the spot. Fml. I did some speed reading through the majors the department of design and media offered and decided to put video production as my major. (Majors: Advertising, animation, graphic design, illustration, interactive media and video production)
How I got in NAFA
I can't remember how long it was from the date of registration to the "test" date, but it was probably a week or 2. So, I had thst period of time to prepare myself for the "test". Based on my not-that-awesome memory on things like that, the test was probably about drawing a subject in 3 different point of view and to do a collage with the magazines we brought along with us. I didn't take any form of art back in high school, so I was really nervous about the test. Everyone around me seems to be doing a great job with their drawing, and I got more worried about mine. But anyway, I finished up the test and hope for the best, knowing that I gave my all.
Fast forward to a week or 2 (again) later. I received my letter of acceptance from Nafa. Woohoo. Looks like I got what it takes after all. LOL. Or maybe not. Based on my drawings, I would think as long as you've the basic knowledge for art and that they can at least tell what you're drawing, you're in.
So, anyway, I got my letter of acceptance, and enjoyed (while working) myself till the day before the first day of school in NAFA. Supposed to have a full day or 2 (or so? I can't remember) orientation camp but swine flu was going on at that point of time, so it was shortened to an hour or so (Went for briefing and all, that was about it).
Foundation year
Well, what can I say? I didn't enjoy foundation year while I was on it, but I miss it so bad now. The modules I had during foundation year were mainly about drawing, painting, Photoshop, and introduction to the majors our course provides. The introductions I took were introduction to advertising, introduction to video production, introduction to interactive media and introduction to graphic design. We also have to fulfill a handful of CDEs (cross-disciplinary electives) and SAS (Singapore Art Scene) modules. I remember taking up western painting, photography, music, fine arts, 3D design and dance (and some others that I can't recall). Moving on the end of semester 2, I decided that I want to take up advertising instead of video production. I filled up the form provided by school for change of major.
After filling it up,I started thinking to myself if that was really what I wanted. Yes, I love advertising, but, at the same time, I love video production. I can do advertisements in video production too, but I wouldn't know as much in details in terms of theory. So, I decided to think it through again and left the form aside on my desk.
Well, I think I took a little too long to think about it (okay fine, I was enjoying the school vacation while working), I missed the deadline. So, yeah, I ended up majoring in video production after all.
Year 2
I went for my first class as a video production major student. I entered the lab and the first thing that came to my mind was "What. Not this boring lecturer again. (He taught us for introduction to video production in foundation year) (Sorry Matthew hahahaha)." I saw a couple of my foundation year classmates whom I wasn't so close to back then and they were like "Hi Angie! What are you doing here?" And I was like "The same reason as to why you are here? LOL." And another was like "Eh you take video production also?" Me: Yeah.
Anyway, in year 2, we basically learn the basic of writing a script, producing, directing, art directing, editing and learning how to operate the cameras, how to set up the lights and stuff like this.
The above was the first individual project we did in year 2. Something about shooting a short scene in 6 different cuts.
One of my classmate's (Seri) shoot. Fake accident, fake blood.
I also get to produce my first ever group project (There were 16 of us in the class, we were divided into 4 groups. Each group have to assist another group in the shoot). For my group, we have Anoo as the director, Nina as the DOP (director of photography, AKA the one handling the camera), Kianyong as the editor and me, as the producer. I was really stress at that point of time, as my contribution to the film will affect not just my grade, but all my group mates' grade. I told myself I've to do a good job, so I won't let myself, and my group mates down.
Well, it turns out to be good enough.
Yay to us! In year 2, we too, went for a trip with some Theater students to Kelantan for a shoot. Spirits of Kelantan, was a success and was shown on MediaCorp channel, Okto.
Year 3 - Final year
Obviously, the most stressful year. We had to make 3 films as a class, learn about media law and some other theories related to video production, and do up our documentary and short film for our final year project.
I was the producer for two out of 3 of the films we have to do as a class, with one of them being my main.
Suzanna was my main film for the class project (Anthology). You can watch it here.
It was one of the toughest project I had gotten from school, mainly because it was a class project, but we did it anyway. We were thankful to get great casts who are about to carry out what we wanted.
After the anthology project, we did our final year project. It was..... stressful, but well, what's life without stress, right? But anyway, people can usually find me hiding in the Whisper room (the soundproof room in our main lab) when I'm stress. The Whisper room should be called the stress-release room instead. You can totally find people crying and screaming in the Whisper room LOL.
Here is how my work space look like when I was doing up the final year project short film schedule for myself and a couple of my classmates. It was considered pretty neat. Hahaha.
During the post-production stage AKA editing of my short film. You can watch it here.
Yeah. That concluded my 3 years in NAFA. We were basically in school from 9am till 12am everyday. Including the weekends. Oh, remember what I said about that boring lecturer?
He is not that boring after all. I have learnt a lot from Matthew. He is more like a friend, than a lecturer, and I'm really thankful for that. Definitely deserve the best lecturer award from us. Lol.
Oh, we also had our graduation show after our final year project.
Our show case.
Well, the comments I got from some of my classmates were
"Angie, you don't look like the kind that can work."
Me: WHAT?!
"I mean, when I first saw you, I thought you are just a bimbo. Hahaha. But after knowing you, I realised you can actually work."
"A bimbo who can work."
Yeah -.- Thanks people. That's very kind. Hahahaha.
Okay. Ending this abruptly. BYE.
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