Attendre et Espérer

"…one desperate mouthful of sweetness at the bottom of a bitter cup…"

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:24:25 +0800

““…one desperate mouthful of sweetness at the bottom of a bitter cup…””

- — Jacqueline Carey

Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love

theurbanhistorian: Too Beautiful. Too Inspiring. So I’m sharing...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:21:12 +0800

theurbanhistorian:

Too Beautiful. Too Inspiring. So I’m sharing this to you. Found in the Internet.

Ang Lee: A Never-Ending Dream

“In 1978, as I applied to study film at the University of Illinois, my father vehemently objected. He quoted me a statistic: ‘Every year, 50,000 performers compete for 200 available roles on Broadway.’ Against his advice, I boarded a flight to the U.S. This strained our relationship. In the two decades following, we exchanged less than a hundred phrases in conversation.

Some years later, when I graduated film school, I came to comprehend my father’s concern. It was nearly unheard of for a Chinese newcomer to make it in the American film industry. Beginning in 1983, I struggled through six years of agonizing, hopeless uncertainty. Much of the time, I was helping film crews with their equipment or working as editor’s assistant, among other miscellaneous duties. My most painful experience involved shopping a screenplay at more than thirty different production companies, and being met with harsh rejection each time.

That year, I turned 30. There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘At 30, one stands firm.’ Yet, I couldn’t even support myself. What could I do? Keep waiting, or give up my movie-making dream? My wife gave me invaluable support.

My wife was my college classmate. She was a biology major, and after graduation, went to work for a small pharmaceutical research lab. Her income was terribly modest. At the time, we already had our elder son, Haan, to raise. To appease my own feelings of guilt, I took on all housework – cooking, cleaning, taking care of our son – in addition to reading, reviewing films and writing scripts. Every evening after preparing dinner, I would sit on the front steps with Haan, telling him stories as we waited for his mother – the heroic huntress – to come home with our sustenance (income).

This kind of life felt rather undignified for a man. At one point, my in-laws gave their daughter (my wife) a sum of money, intended as start-up capital for me to open a Chinese restaurant – hoping that a business would help support my family. But my wife refused the money. When I found out about this exchange, I stayed up several nights and finally decided: This dream of mine is not meant to be. I must face reality.

Afterward (and with a heavy heart), I enrolled in a computer course at a nearby community college. At a time when employment trumped all other considerations, it seemed that only a knowledge of computers could quickly make me employable. For the days that followed, I descended into malaise. My wife, noticing my unusual demeanor, discovered a schedule of classes tucked in my bag. She made no comment that night.

The next morning, right before she got in her car to head off to work, my wife turned back and – standing there on our front steps – said, ‘Ang, don’t forget your dream.’

And that dream of mine – drowned by demands of reality – came back to life. As my wife drove off, I took the class schedule out of my bag and slowly, deliberately tore it to pieces. And tossed it in the trash.

Sometime after, I obtained funding for my screenplay, and began to shoot my own films. And after that, a few of my films started to win international awards. Recalling earlier times, my wife confessed, ‘I’ve always believed that you only need one gift. Your gift is making films. There are so many people studying computers already, they don’t need an Ang Lee to do that. If you want that golden statue, you have to commit to the dream.’

And today, I’ve finally won that golden statue. I think my own perseverance and my wife’s immeasurable sacrifice have finally met their reward. And I am now more assured than ever before: I must continue making films.

You see, I have this never-ending dream.”

(Following Ang Lee’s second Best Directing win at the Academy Awards last night, this beautiful essay resurfaced. Here is my translation of Ang Lee’s words, written in 2006 (post-Oscar win). Please credit the translation to Irene Shih (and to this blog), thank you!)

I Wrote This For You: The First Day On Earth

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:47:23 +0800

I Wrote This For You: The First Day On Earth :

officialiwrotethisforyou:

First, you need to relax. I know it’s not as warm as it once was but you get used to the cold and warmth can be found in the people around you. Secondly, do not get used to crying to get things. Some people never grow out of it. Avoid them. Spend time around people who smile in the face of…

Photo

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:55:14 +0800

sweethomestyle: rope light installation.

Wed, 23 May 2012 03:27:42 +0800

sweethomestyle:

rope light installation.

"17 Why is the word yes so brief? It should be the longest, the hardest, so that you could not decide..."

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:28:49 +0800

“17

Why is the word yes so brief?
It should be
the longest,
the hardest,
so that you could not decide in an instant to say it,
so that upon reflection you could stop
in the middle of saying it.”

- “[Why is the word yes so brief?]” by Vera Pavlova, in If There is Something to Desire: One Hundred Poems, translated by Steven Seymour (via growing-orbits)

Photo

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:46 +0800

The Defiance Of The Different

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:47:26 +0800

officialiwrotethisforyou:

Most importantly, if you can at all avoid it, don’t be normal. Strive, burn and do everything you can to avoid being the industry standard. Even the highest industry standard. Be greater than anything anyone else has ever dreamed of you. Don’t settle for pats on the back, salary increases, a nod-and-a-smile. Instead, rage against the tepidness of the mundane with every fiber of whatever makes you, you. Change this place.

Please, do that for me.

jtotheizzoe: The New Symbol of Love? From Mad Art Lab, an...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:08:49 +0800

jtotheizzoe:

The New Symbol of Love?

From Mad Art Lab, an excerpt from an ode to the kidney as a new symbol of love:

… Offer an organ you can actually spare
One that works hard, but is somewhat less rare

An organ whose measure is greater than wealth
And when shared can invigorate health

For true love, if we may call it that
Gives of itself and expects nothing back

Such a love may be given, but also rejected
For love is like antibodies and very selective

So if love is something you want to give free
Select as your symbol of love the kidney

(via Mad Art Lab)

Gawad Panitikang Pangkalusugan

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:14:02 +0800

Gawad Panitikang Pangkalusugan:

unibersidadngpilipinas:

The Gawad Panitikan Pangkalusugan is a NATIONWIDE children’s storybook writing competition with HEALTH as its main theme. Entries written in English are geared to bring into light health issues and concepts to Filipino children aged 5 to 10 years.

It challenges participants to break away from a clinical, straightforward and sanitized presentation of health and to mold it in a form that is enjoyable and of interest for its young audience.

The project not only seeks to raise relevant health issues to the national consciousness, it also carries an advocacy for literacy and education, even as it celebrates Filipino ingenuity and culture.

After its successful pilot year, which carried the theme “Tabi-tabi Po: Exploring Philippine Health Myths” and donated more than 10,000 books to institutions nationwide, it now focuses on child safety and health.

This year, it carries the theme “Luksong Tinik: Kwentong Kaligtasan para sa Kabataan” and attempts to advocate creating safe and caring environments for children through education.Child safety is likened to the children’s game, luksong tinik, wherein you have to use skill to jump over obstacles to get to the other side. With our books, we hope to provide children with the skills and knowledge to jump over dangers and into safety.

For more information, contact us at info@gawadpanitikan.com.

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beanfield: ROCA BARCELONA GALLERY by CARLOS FERRATER

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:31:05 +0800

beanfield:

ROCA BARCELONA GALLERY by CARLOS FERRATER

modeavenueparis: Nyasha Matonhodze in Alexander McQueen |...

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:35:44 +0800

modeavenueparis:

Nyasha Matonhodze in Alexander McQueen | Ph: Sølve Sundsbø
Vogue Nippon 11/11

Photo

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:35:06 +0800

"I know you’re not here, I can see it in your eyes when we talk. Where ever you are, come back soon."

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:35:06 +0800

“I know you’re not here, I can see it in your eyes when we talk. Where ever you are, come back soon.”

- I Wrote This For You: The Lack Of Postcards (via anditslove)