Deeply Rooted: Adhyatmika Talks New Projects and Old Heroes
Indonesian filmmaker Adhyatmika has once again captured our imaginations in his latest film Akar Dari Enam (Roots of Six) with his signature mix of raw emotion and quiet angst. Roots of Six stars Banjo Tasning (who you may recognize from Adhyatmika’s previous short film It Could Have Been a Perfect World) who inexplicably wakes up to find his friends bewildered as to how/why he is still alive. It’s an eerie pretense that’s layered with great music and haunting visuals. Never one to tie things up neatly, Roots of Six is an homage to Adhyatmika’s film idols and a treat for those of us who love a good mystery.
Recently I chatted with Mika about his latest short film and what he has in the works for his fans.
What was the inspiration for this film?
The film began as a discussion between me and the lead actor, Banjo Tasning, back in 2011. As we hit our mid 20’s we wondered, what are we going to do to with our lives? This discussion was sparked by the death of a talented young musician, Gendra Aldyasa Pasaman, better known as Noises by GAP. He had tragically jumped out of an apartment building… while having a mushroom session. He was just 18 years old, yet his music reminded me of someone older. Then I wondered, so young so talented, what would have happened if he survived? Would he have gone on to produce more great music?
My discussion with Banjo grew into insanity. We became fixated on notions of youth, life, death, and eventually our preoccupation evolved into a script titled “Null.” The themes of existentialism and nihilism were there early on. Then a year later, I was working on a shoot that ran all night. I went to bed around 4pm. At around 11PM I woke up, and somehow I wanted to hear this song ‘Setengah Lima’ by SORE. The words “Mati suri di taman” were ringing in my ears, and it just hit me. What would happen if someone asked you “How come you’re still alive?”
It took me 3 years to slowly gather ideas for Roots of Six. Long story short, the trigger as to why I decided to do this film, like other art works… a relationship. A broken one to be exact. In the end I just needed 4 hours to write it. 3 months after that, we were shooting the film.
Banjo Tasning in Roots of Six
Ambiguity is so skillfully used in your work, is it your intention to always keep the viewer wondering/wanting more, or is it a byproduct of your style?
Interesting question. I just realised that after you asked it. As a young (well I’m not sure I’m young anymore) filmmaker, I always try to learn new things, do new a project, try a new challenge. I’m not sure that I have a certain style already. Perhaps there are a couple of traits in my films that I’m not aware of, but that the audience has realized. I believe the style and mood must serve the script. It can vary depending on the script. For Akar Dari Enam, I wanted the audience to feel a sense of ambiguity. Because that’s what life is about, right?
Strange creatures in Adhyatmika’s Roots of Six
I’m a fan of Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg. So those two filmmakers are in my DNA. For this film a few names ran though my head: Fincher, Nolan, Aronofsky, Polanski, Lynch, and Winding Refn. It was important to me that Roots of Six didn’t look like an “Indonesian Film” but like “American Indie Cinema.”
What’s up next for you? Will there be a sequel to this short film?
I did write a script that has a similar tone, mood, and theme as Akar Dari Enam titled, In Somnis. This film is about a man who is stuck in his nightmare and can’t wake up. The script was selected to be produced as an Omnibus feature film, but there seems to be a problem with the production company, so the project has been halted. Perhaps if there’s a chance I want to do that as well.
For my next project, I’m going to do something different. As I mentioned before I like to do genre-hopping to challenge myself as filmmaker. The next project is a drama titled Lomba Puisi about a woman who never talks to her father finding herself waiting in a hospital room as her father is dying.
It’s actually the first proper drama that I’m going to do (I never did drama, even back in film school!), so I’m quite excited about that.
Still from Roots of Six
We’ll look forward to that Mika!
☞ Stay tuned for upcoming screenings of Akar Dari Enam by liking the Vakansi Visual Facebook Page.
Ten Questions with Rebecca Viveash
All Photos Courtesy of Rebecca Viveash
It is rare to find a photographer who can capture the subtlety of a relationship or the quiet vibrancy of a city as poignantly as Rebecca Viveash. Her photographs are as much steeped in color as they are rich with emotion. Recently I chatted with Rebecca hoping to delve into her creative mind and glean a little photographic insight along the way.
1) Color is such a poignant component to your photographs. It’s almost like a character itself in your prints. Tell us how you view/incorporate color in your work.
I love colour! If you love light you have to love colour. Colour draws you in, adds narrative to a story. It inspires emotion, it can make us happy or sad, confident or uncomfortable. It can increase heart rates and stir passions. But to be honest it’s also hard to get right. It is important to realise that the human brain requires a sense of order or it will not take in a message from the image it sees. If too many colours are used, the viewer can become visually confused and may reject an image. So as much as I love it, it’s also my nemesis.
2) Your work captures spontaneity in the most beautiful ways. Is it challenging to make this look so effortless?
Spontaneity is a tricky thing to pin down. With everyone, including myself, it comes and goes. The first thing to always remember is that people are only spontaneous if they are happy in their surroundings and amongst people that they trust. Which is why, as a photographer, it’s important to establish personal relationships as quickly as possible.
There is a fine line that most photographers try to tread between observation/documentary photography and engineering these moments. Sometimes you do need to give the situation a little light push in the right direction. This is fairly easy, it’s just a matter of gauging people and knowing what they will respond to. For example, telling people to look lovingly into each other eyes will normally cause an eruption of giggles. Telling children NOT to smile results in lots of cheeky grins. When taking one-on-one portraits with clients who are shy in front of the camera you need to get creative. Once, when shooting for an editorial I pretended to be making a quick phone call, but really I was phoning the client’s mobile. I got the shot when she just looked up from her magazine and heard her phone. It was the best one of the afternoon.
3) What are your personal favorite things to photograph?
Faces, moments, and music gigs. I answer that very quickly without much thought but now I can’t think of anything else so it must be true. Faces, of course, for all the obvious reasons, moments for the hidden voyeur inside me, and music gigs as I love predicting where the lights are going to be. It’s like a game, a war in my head with the lighting technician. Oh and of course my children :o)
4) Who inspires you as an artist {and why}?
I have a habit of getting ‘stuck’ on photographers on a monthly basis. These last few months have all about Marta Bevacqua, Katharina Jung, and Leila & Damien. These are young photographers (directors) and I mean young young. But this is how it should be, talented, unconventional, innovative and most importantly unafraid. Swoon! Eek I think I’m feeling my age.
5) I love how you manipulate natural light in your photographs. What is your favorite type of light to work with?
Not polluted light that’s for sure! But I’ve been living in Asian cities for so long that I’ve almost forgotten what clear light looks like! I LOVE pre and post storm light. When everything looks like it’s singing with colour. When shooting in the tropics, for natural light it’s best to shoot before 9am or after 3pm.
6) What is your number one pet peeve when it comes to photography trends today?
Newborn babies in baskets/ buckets or flower pots. Sorry but it’s not for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the skill that goes into this form of photography, there are some amazing baby photographers out there who do this, but it’s not for me. I LOVE taking baby photos, but in the home, cuddling up to mum and dad, where they should be.
7) Do you have any shows coming up? Where can we find your work?
Earlier this year I had a show called ‘Ladies of Jakarta’ which was about depicting Jakarta in a humane way, to try to show its vulnerable side. Overlaying streets scenes with a human female figure. I have to say it was a great success (blush) and I would love to do it again. I have been approached by two small galleries in KL but after some correspondence they are not too keen to show any ‘naked’ images. Humph. Not really the done thing here I believe. So sadly I shan’t be exhibiting this again until I return to England, or find some kind of private exhibiting space. There are only a handful of the prints left for sale though as there was limited print run and the images can be seen here.
I do have a few things on the go, which I’m trying to manipulate to fit in with Kuala Lumpur, so fingers crossed!
I also try to keep all news about upcoming works on my Facebook page
8) What’s your favorite camera to work with?
I’m a Nikon girl. Film or Digital. Always have been. I shoot with prime lens as I like to move my feet rather than zoom. It makes me work for the shoot a lot more which in turn helps me slow down and think. (I’m not very good at slowing down) Oh and I’m new to the world of ‘instagram’ so there’s nothing wrong with a quick phone shot :o)
9) So many family portraits focus wholly on capturing time, but you also place great emphasis on place. Has being an expat influenced your perspective/what you value in a portrait?
I think there is definitely room for the ‘expat family shoot’ for sure. Many families who travel abroad for work very often go to countries/cultures that are far removed from their lives back at home. After a few months it’s easy to get blasé about the changes. As we rush to work or take the kids to school we no longer notice the brightly coloured shop doorways, the palm-tree shadow across the path, the incense smoke coming out the temples, the hawkers carts or the textures on the monsoon drenched walls. But when we leave these are the things that we will remember, that will stick in our heads.
If I can capture these small details in a family shoot– the memories of the smells/the sound of morning prayer and the textures will all come flooding back when viewed 20 years later. I believe that each place we live in leaves, or should be allowed to leave, an imprint on us and it’s important to acknowledge this. I’m not saying that each shoot has to be a Condé Nast Traveller’s guide, it’s just important to capture life, how it is in that moment, as it will never be the same again.
10) Speaking of place, what are some of the most photogenic places you’ve found in KL?
I’ve been in KL 9 weeks and counting now – so ask me in 9 months ;o) Ha, no I have got around quite a bit, and been to places that I probably shouldn’t (including down flood drains to photograph some amazing graffiti outside Pasar Seni train station). China town / Little India is of course great to photograph, as it’s a jungle. Don’t forget to look through cracks of doors, it’s amazing what you see! But I think my favourite is going out, in my neighbourhood, SS2 PJ, at 7am around my back streets and market, people are walking their dogs, breakfast is being delivered, kids are arguing on the way to the school bus, incense is being lit and there is a lovely pinkish (pollution?!) light reflected on the sides of houses. I’m a sucker for ‘beginnings’, hence the constant moving around, so this is my favourite part of the day. I also love around Port Dickson as I’ve a strange fascination with slightly crumbling seaside towns, no matter what country! This time next year the favourite places to photograph will be as long as my arm, promise!
Breakout of Your Routine
A mysterious looking place…
When date night with my better half rolled around, we were both in the mood for something adventurous. We had seen the mysterious Breakout corner in Avenue K, and wanted to see what it was all about. Breakout (advertised as a “Real Escape Game'”) has 5 games to choose from. Since we were beginners we opted for the Infinity room, which was rated a 3 out of 5 for difficulty. I don’t want to give too much away as the mystery is a big part of the fun, so I will just say that for this exercise your team will be separated, but you still have to find ways to work together. If you don’t work together you will fail miserably. (We may have failed miserably but at least we had a great time doing so!)
There were several points where both of us became stuck on task. Fortunately the staff at Breakout was very kind and helpful, so eventually we did make our way out. It was a lot of fun and really challenged us, so we signed up to do it again.
For round two we brought along good friends who also have an adventurous spirit. We decided to try Project Fallout which was rated as the least difficult game. This time we were scientists (complete with new names and lab coats) who had to breakout of captivity. With our team working together I am happy to report that we did escape and each of us earned a pin (which we are perhaps overly proud of).
This picture will make sense once you start a game.
Both times we went we had a great experience. Working with your partner or good friend is very entertaining! I would definitely recommend Breakout to anyone looking for something creative and fun to do. *Be sure to book online to get the time slot you want (each game takes about 45 minutes).
Happy Gaming!
We escaped : )
Retail Cravings: Snackfood Hits the Spot
Located on the second floor along one of Bangsar’s trendy shopping streets {17 A, Jalan Telawi 3} Snackfood is like walking into a cool collector’s loft. With a genius mix of vintage treasures nestled among modern finds, it’s the perfect spot to find something memorable.
Snackfood is a treasure trove of modern and vintage finds from around the globe.
The eclectic mix of clothing and home accessories is perfectly paired with a soundtrack that invites you to linger and spend some time examining the items on display.
Turn your desktop into a landscape with a cool terrarium.
Shopping at Snackfood is a real pleasure. Above the bustling street below, it becomes easy to lose track of time.
Snackfood features a great selection of books and indie magazines.
Since first discovering this little shop, I’ve been back at least three times. It’s the first place I think of when I need a gift for someone special.
Gifts for the young, and young at heart, are easy to come by here.
I especially love that they carry one of my personal favorite brands, Jewel Rocks. This is a brand I came to love in Jakarta, and was able to visit their flagship store in Bali–which is a magical little place in itself.
A sampling of armcandy by Jewel Rocks.
There is something interesting around every corner at Snackfood.
If you happen to love vintage typewriters, the folks at Snackfood will help procure one for you and will do their best to make it functional again. You can even have one customized. Personalized service like that is hard to beat.
An example of a customized vintage typewriter. How cool is this?
Whimsical home accents are something of a specialty here. These ceramic pieces are cute and functional.
Snackfood also carries hard to find brands like Tokyo Milk. I get compliments every time I wear Tainted Love.
These little dishes would be perfect ring holders by the sink. Items with such personality help turn a living space into a home.
This is Tara. She may come out, if she feels like it.
If the assortment of quirky goodness isn’t enough to convince you to drop by, then the fact that Snackfood has two feline permanent residents, should do the trick. Tara and Black Jack are great shopping companions (but a little camera shy).
Erica Choy and Chip will help you find something great to take home.
Snackfood is a beautifully curated shop and with many great restaurants nearby, it becomes easy to make heading there into a great afternoon. The friendly staff and perfect mix of old and new items makes Snackfood completely satisfying.
☞ SNACKFOOD Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-7:00 17 A (Second floor) Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru Ph: 019-267-3296 ilovesnackfood@gmail.com ilovesnackfood.com
Out and About with the Fujifilm X100S
I was able to attach my Dad’s old camera strap to my new camera. I think they look great together.
A couple of years ago I met filmmaker Frank Cantor in Bali. He saw me lugging around my beloved Nikon D7000 and tried hard to sell me on a little Sony point and shoot. Granted his shots were beautiful, but I wasn’t quite ready to downsize in such a major way. He repeated the age old golden rule of photography that, “The best camera is the one you have with you.” At that time carrying around a heavy object was just par for the course of getting great shots. The root issue was probably that I felt most confident in my work when I had a great camera in my grasp.
Kuala Lumpur’s answer to Men’s Wearhouse
For better or worse, that phase of thinking eventually faded and as I remembered Frank’s advice, a new more practical perspective emerged. Like many who perpetually lug around a DSLR, on many occasions you find yourself more conspicuous than is ideal and/or carrying more weight than is comfortable. For me I reached a point where I found myself relying heavily on my iPhone because my Nikon was back at home on its shelf.
Untouched by post-processing, the Fujifilm X100S delivers vibrant color.
Enter the Fujifilm X100S. Picking out a new camera is a daunting task, but I went with the Fujifilm as it came highly recommended by a friend whose photography I admire. I didn’t want to spend a crazy amount of money. I wanted more than what a point and shoot could offer, without the bulk that is standard with a DSLR.
It’s easier to take street shots without the noise and bulk of a DSLR.
So far I really enjoy using the Fujifilm. It is compact but still feels like a sturdy camera. You can shoot RAW if you like, and the colors it produces are rich and nuanced. This camera takes some getting used to, and it won’t completely replace my Nikon, but it is exactly the compromise I was was eager to make.
Penang in Pictures
Just a four hour drive north of KL sits Penang Island. With its laid back charm, cool street art, unbeatable street food and abundance of cultural sites Penang Island makes for a vibrant weekend getaway. Here are a few highlights (just kidding! I couldn’t help myself and have included lots of pictures) from our excursion to this exceptionally photogenic place.
There is plenty of great food around every corner. Just watch out for these guys! (Unless you are into being punished by your food…then, carry on : )
At night the city lights up with street side restaurants. We happily tried as many as we could. My daughter gave them each 5 stars.
The beach was lovely.
Treasure Hunter : )
One thing to watch out for in the water are jellyfish. After being spotted, this one quickly met his maker.
A convenient way to get around.
The Khoo Kongsi Leong San Tong clan house was built over 100 years ago. It’s a definite “must see.”
The Kek Lok Si Temple the place to go if you have wishes that need granting. : )
Wishing Ribbons 1RM (a small price to pay I’d say)
Lots to choose from…
Crockery Dealer : )
My favorite part of this trip was seeing all the street art. It’s surprisingly interactive.
Don’t we all…
They weren’t kidding about this…
Getting home took a bit longer than we expected.
Quick Bite: OMG Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Enjoying a cup of ice cream at the mall is a pretty standard activity, and one that usually occurs without fanfare. The folks behind OMG Ice Cream are out to change that with a method for crafting sweet treats that is borderline magical.
It all looks very high-tech.
OMG’s kiosk in Pavilion mall looks like some kind of ice cream laboratory. Mixers connected to elaborate hoses are situated next to a menu whose extensive range is just about as maniacal as the process itself. What makes this place so different? OMG uses liquid nitrogen to instantly turn their fresh ingredients into super smooth ice cream. And the best part (well, besides the delicious ice cream) is that you get to see the whole process (which only takes 1 minute) as the place is set up for you to watch every step.
The magic is happening!
Your chosen ingredients are placed in a mixer and before you know it white gas is careening out of the bowl (much to the delight of any child within view). When your order is done, you are handed a super fresh treat that tastes as good as it looks.
Cold Fact.
You may be thinking that OMG stands for the ubiquitous phrase, “Oh My Gosh.” You would be wrong on that point, as it actually stands for the much less appealing, but more amusing slogan, “Ooh My Gas.” Aside from the full name, the sizing too is a little off kilter as the two sizing options are Cutie (small) and Sexy (large). It could just be me, but there is something a little weird about ordering a five year old a “sexy” ice cream. Luckily that was not a bridge I had to cross as Cutie size was just perfect for us.
Have I mentioned how good the ice cream is? When it comes to menus with customizable options I tend to stick with the prefab ones, because when left to my own devices I end up blending all of my favorites together which somehow never works out. (Like mixing all the play dough colors together thinking you’ll get the best color of all and ending up with a sad brown hue. These instances must fall under the “Too Much of a Good Thing is Bad” rule.)
Decisions, decisions…
One of the rare instances where the pictures look identical to the actual product.
Two Cuties.
But I digress. The ice cream is so silky and the flavors we tried were truly satisfying. The Apple Strudel was my favorite, while my daughter loved the Strawberry Cheesecake and my little son was smitten with the Mint Chocolate Chip. We will definitely head back to OMG next time we need a sweet fix and/or a science lesson.
Apple strudel, Mint Chocolate chip, & Strawberry Cheesecake. : )
And then there were none…
OMG (Ooh My Gas Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream : )
NO. 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Pavilion
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 55100
P.S. “Like” them of Facebook and receive a free extra topping.
Follow OMG on Twitter and Instagram for special promos and info.
Flossy’s Favorite: Desa ParkCity
Flossy in her happy place.
Moving from a yard with a house (which is I’m sure how Flossy would describe it) to an apartment has been an adjustment for our 3 year old golden retriever. Our building is advertised as “dog friendly” but in reality it is “dog tolerant” at best. There is no place for her to run free outside, and when we take her for walks we are relegated to using the service elevator and can walk her only in a few very specific areas of the complex.
While we still take her for walks several times a day, and give her lots of indoor playtime, we are always on the lookout for a good park to take Flossy for some outdoor fun. Recently we headed over to Desa ParkCity, which friends had highly recommended as a great place for dogs, and happily this is definitely the case.
The park surrounds a huge man-made lake which is pleasant to walk around.
Not the friendliest sign, but hey, at least they provide disposal bags.
There are also nearby restaurants, a handful of which have outdoor/pet friendly seating. But Flossy’s favorite spot was at the playground. The playground is large and beautiful, and as you can imagine the place to be if you are around 5-12 years old. All Flossy had to do was sit in the shade and as if on cue, a parade of new friends stopped by for a chat.
For a gentle giant like Flossy, all the attention was heavenly.
Of course, there was some cute competition. But there was plenty of love to go around.
As the sun went down and the heat retreated, the park became even more lively as more people came out to walk their pups and grab a bite to eat.
I definitely recommend heading out in the late afternoon when the heat is less intense. Be sure to pack extra water for your pet. This is a great spot for the whole family. Enjoy!
☞ Desa ParkCity 5, Persiaran Residen Desa ParkCity 52200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Desa ParkCity Facebook Desaparkcity.comIn Search of the Highlands
After months in the city I was ready to be surrounded by nature. I wanted to wake up and hear birds instead of construction, and see more green than gray. Don’t get me wrong, city life has its rewards, but there are times when nature is the best remedy. Herman Melville sums it up, “Whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul… I account it high time to get to the sea as soon as I can.”
The sea wasn’t really an option this time around, instead we headed to the hills for a visit to the Cameron Highlands.
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s top tourist attractions. Known for the cooler temperatures, venues where you can pick strawberries and mushrooms, tea plantations, and scenic vistas, we found in the Cameron Highlands the perfect getaway spot.
There is also an air of mystery here as this is the place where Jim Thompson (who created a veritable silk empire in Thailand) disappeared. While on vacation here Thompson went for a walk and never returned. A massive manhunt ensued, to no avail. To this day no one knows what happened to the textile giant, and many have found a way to cash in on the mystery, offering special tours and menu items dedicated to the man.
For us, the hillsides offered crisp air and a fresh perspective.
Everywhere you turn there are souvenir shops brimming with strawberry themed knick-knacks. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a strawberry shaped pillow, this is the place for you.
What I loved about the Cameron Highlands was the sheer variety of plant life on display. Little shops featuring exotic mushrooms, cacti, (did I mention strawberries?), and even lavender dot the road, inviting you to see or try something new.
What a captivating color palette to stumble upon.
Succulent succulents : )
Our timing wasn’t right in terms of picking strawberries, but we were able to purchase and enjoy them nonetheless.
Self plucking? Who knew!
Not quite ready for us.
The best souvenir is the kind you can eat.
We were able to feast our eyes on lush tea plantations, and taste yam flavored ice cream (it was delicious) and strawberry coffee (which oddly did not taste like strawberries… or coffee).
Tea time.
Even Ben & Jerry would give a thumbs up to this flavor.
This one I might pass on.
Two days in the Highlands was not nearly enough time to explore all they have to offer, but it was the perfect respite from the noise and stress of Kuala Lumpur.
Giveaway Time!
I’ve been wanting to do something special for my readers/subscribers for awhile and since it is the season of giving, it occurred to me that now would be the perfect time to have a special giveaway!
One lucky reader will be receiving this special Olio clutch featuring the Celosia print in Red Rumor from Tulisan.
So pretty : )
I love all things Tulisan. The prints are so bright and cheerful and the quality of each product is impeccable. I happen to write for this brand, but I picked out this clutch and paid for it with my own bucks. I would love to buy each subscriber a great gift like this, but Mama ain’t got that kind of cash (but I do wish everyone good luck!).
Tulisan accessories instantly infuse any outfit with a lush sense of personal style : )
All you have to do to enter is:
- Subscribe to WanderlustandWonder.com
- Leave a comment below sharing what your favorite holiday tradition is. It doesn’t have to be related to Christmas; any special holiday tradition will enter you in the contest.
- Only one comment allowed per person.
The winner will be chosen at random at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23nd and notified by email. It doesn’t matter where you live, if you win I will mail you this lovely clutch. Should the winner for some reason not claim her/his prize, then another will be randomly selected.
I love my Tulisan clutch. It holds everything, and doubles as a wallet too. Tulisan makes such lovely gifts. Have a look at their website to find out more.
I can easily fit my checkbook, iPhone, and all my cards and notes in here.
P.S. you may have noticed the blue expatsblog.com badge in the right hand corner of this page. I entered a blogging contest for the first time. If you have a couple minutes to spare please have a look at my post and leave a comment of ten words or more below it. I’d appreciate the support and would love to read your comment!
Happy Holidays! And, good luck!
~Melany.
wanderlust and wonder 