My Weddings Galore

The last few weeks has been ridiculously busy. Between work and the various out-of-town trips, I barely to time to collect my own thoughts- not even having a moment to plot an entry or two on the ol' blog. So yeah, this is one of them personal thoughts blog entries. It's what happens when you're awake at 2:30 in the morning in the New York heat.

I attended my fourth wedding of 2010 this past weekend and am going to go to my fifth wedding this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. To top it off, there's three more to go after before the summer of weddings is over. Yes, I'm usually pretty good at going to these things without dates after getting lots of practice shortly after college of just showing up and fulfill my duties for the happy couple.

But man, maybe I'm getting old(er) or the age of the betrothed are getting younger, but it's starting to take its toll. Being single has its perks obviously but one has got to wonder when you're badgered by weddings after weddings, rather or not it's time to catch my designated fish in the sea everyone's talking about.

My Ten Cinematic Facts

Despite knowing the cheese factor, I'm a sucker for interactive blogs. So when fellow Seminole (FSU Holla!) Walter over at The Silver Screening Room tagged me to blog ten cinema facts about myself, I jumped at the opportunity to do what I do best- talk about me. Also, I have the utmost respect for anyone who hates the AMC in Tallahassee more than I do.

1. My first movie at the theater was 'The Land Before Time'. I was so not emotionally ready for the dramatic elements cartoons had to offer so I cried so loud and hard in that dark room when the mother died, my dad had to escort me out due to embarrassment.

2. Not that I have any acting ambition, but if I had to play one role in the history of films, I would choose Conrad Jarret from 'Ordinary People'- he's so complex, tortured and all too relatable... minus the death of a brother thing.

3. I have a very unhealthy crush on the late Marlon Brando and currently have five posters/memorabilia hanging on my bedroom walls- including the original Playbill from the 'A Streetcar Named Desire' Broadway production and a canvas photo still from the film production.

4. The first VHS I ever bought with my own allowance was the straight-to-video Aladdin sequel 'The Return to Jafar'. I still remember it was $19.91 before tax at the Waldbaum's Supermarket that has now been replaced by a Best Buy down the street from my house.

5. If I ever make my own film and had the powers to do so, I would cast Barry Pepper and Guy Pearce in a heartbeat. Even though they're not my favorite actors, I have a deep appreciation (and misguided sympathy) for the two actors.

6. My favorite movie theater in the world is the Clearview Ziegfeld in Midtown Manhattan. My least favorite is the AMC/Loews in Kings Plaza Mall- it smells like urine, gangsta and prune juice.

7. I used to think it was cool that I memorized the entire 'Jerry Maguire' script was I was younger. I'm still waiting for a real life moment where I can use a similar/converse line to "That's more than a dress, that's an Audrey Hepburn'' movie on a date.

8. The only film I've ever seen twice in one the same day at the theater was 'Birthday Girl'... oh that's right, I said the little seen Nicole Kidman/Ben Chaplin starrer 'Birthday Girl'. The film I've seen the most times at the theater is 'Black Hawk Down'... oh that's right, I said 'Black Hawk Down'.

9. I know 'Syriana' was suppose to be important and relevant, but I just don't know why.

10. A little more personal, but I'm still waiting to work on a project I'm completely passionate about and gets me excited to go on set everyday. Granted, I love a lot of the people I've worked with in the past and present but I wish I could work on a project where I fall head over heels for. Conversely, I've worked on some crappy shoots and there's nothing worse than script supervising a feature you don't believe in and having to know and memorize all the little details inside out.

Okay, I won't subject anyone to continue this madness for my sake, so I'm not going to tag anyone. It's all about me. See? I am just that conceited.

My American Anniversary

This day 19 years ago, my family brought me over to this great country and 19 years later, it's hard to believe (or remember) that journey. I honestly believe moving to New York was the best thing ANYONE has ever done for me considering what has followed and thank my lucky stars it made me unique. Where else are you going to find a dude from Hong Kong with a Bensonhurst accent and a small flair of southern charm? Okay, pretty much everywhere... but I'd like to think I'm special.

My Break From Breaking

The last two jobs nearly killed me. So after a week of rest from being on set, I'm ready to get back to the swing of things instead of catching up on television via Youtube. This weekend... shooting a couple of acts of 'Julius Caesar' with a few television and stage stars- finally, something of merit.

My Return To High School

Added a new entry to BK Southie about my return to Midwood High School. You know what? It wasn't as painful as I thought it was going to be. Go check it out.

My New Beginning

It's emptier, but cleaner and drama free.

My Attempt To Save Money

If I knew I could bargain with my utilities fee collector, I would've done that years ago. In an attempt to cut some costs around the apartment since we're losing (sounds so negative) a roommate starting next month, I've toyed with the idea of eliminating cable television in the apartment. While I don't know what my other roommate thinks of the idea, I couldn't help but think everything I watch can be found on the interweb (still using the word). and for legally free. So why should we pay $80 a month for that? (NYT)

My Weekend Off Consisted Of...

Pretty much this...

... except on a bed and with a lot of medicated drugs in me.

My Break-Up Text

Reason #56 Why I'm Not Badass: One of my roommates decided to tell us he's moving out.... via a text... under 30 days.

My Boxers Renaissance

For the most part of this century, I've been a boxer briefs kinda guy when I opted to wear underwear. I just like the way it feels and looks on me. But due to not laundry for three weeks an uncontrollable circumstance, I'm down to boxers I haven't worn since my shopping spree days at FSU. For goodness sakes, I'm wearing boxers from Structure(!). I've gotta say though, this temporary switch back has been a nice one. I don't feel discomfortable like in the past and I don't feel the urge readjust myself like I remember either. Hmm... perhaps being on the boxer briefs team for so long has blurred my ability to see the advantages of wearing just plain old boxers.

My Murtaugh List

On Monday's episode of How I Met Your Mother, the gang brought up a list of things they were getting too old to do since they're pushing 30(ie. playing laser tag, beer bong, piercing an ear) without feeling the pain afterwards and named it 'The Murtaugh List'- after Danny Glover's character in Lethal Weapon who famously says 'I'm getting too old for this shit.'  

So gradually, I thought about my own Murtaugh List and what I would love to do but would regret later but drew an absolute blank. I'm not sure what to make of it, perhaps I'm still a little too immature to conjure up an activity.

Just skip to the 5:19 mark to see what I mean. So what's on your list?

My 18th Anniversary In America

Exactly 18 years ago to this day, I set my feet on this great nation for the first time. It's kinda weird to think that once upon a time, I didn't speak English, pronounced 'Z' as 'zed' instead of 'zee' and thought calling sweets 'candy' was silly. But here I am, 18 years later and can barely speak Chinese, making fun of the British and think Candy is a hookerish name (obvious irony on that last one for those who know me). It's a tad sad sometimes to see I've steered this far away from who I was but I still thank my parents every chance I get for not only for having the courage to relocate the entire family for that ever underestimated opportunity for me and my engaged sister, but also for relocating me to the greatest city in the world. I love me some America. In fact, I'll take America behind the middle school and make it pregnant. 

My Mini-Depression

That'd explain the lack of posts lately. So how do I get myself out of the dumps this time? 

(Note: The picture above is not me.)

My Cody Update

My friend Julie asked me why she hasn't read about Cody recently and wondered if he was okay. To answer her, Cody is doing fantastic and as seen in the picture above, he's ready to embrace autumn with his new hoodie.

My Second Hand Shoes

It seems to me that a lot of wardrobe doesn't fit me anymore. Either I've grown taller (how!?!) or I've gained a few pound (gasp!) around my waist, it appears I have to donate some of my clothes to people who fit them. What makes me saddest is that a pair of Adidas (show above) given to me by my ex-hall/room/housemate Micah is a part of that problem. I've tried to squeeze into them on multiple occasions but the pain was just not worth it. Trying not to sound Carrie Bradshaw-esque, but those freakin' shoes goes with everything- I've even worn them to a wedding!

My Mystery Phone Call

I'll admit it- I screen calls when it doesn't come up as someone I know. So this morning, when I got a call a 414, I was curious as to who from who-knows-where wants to get a hold of that early on a Monday morning. After looking up the digits, I realized the said 414 number has been getting a lot of complaints online about being a prank call or a tele-marketer that would not answer if you call back. So unless this Robert Oistech guy from Wisconsin really wants to talk to me, I think I'm going to block him out from now on.

My More Successful Alter Egos

According to IMDB, I'm the seventh of the current eight Peter Chans to have a film credit- not too shabby considering how many people have the same name out there. So, being the vain person that I can be, I've discovered that I have the third most credit after the producer from Thailand with over 20 films under his belt and the special effects guy who worked on the first Harry Potter. They've got nothing on me though, I worked a short film about a gay man who was impregnanted by his one night stand.

Whatever self gratification gets me through the day....

My Itty Bitty Birthday Bash

Yes, it was indeed my 26th birthday last week and as I've grown to realize I'm not a fan of big crowd gatherings, I had a few friends over for a quiet rooftop dinner overlooking the memorial WTC light beams and the chilly Bensonhurst night.

Oh, what a night to have takeout and wine with a few buds on the roof.

My Obi Is Dying

So it appears I'll be bringing Obi, my laptop, to Tekserve for its last hurrah. What wrong with him? Between the overheating and my need for extra RAM he doesn't have, Obi has recently resorted to crashing. And now, after a short circuit incident, it appears his power adapter is burnt out as well. The good news? I'm told I'd be able to extract all of Obi's files onto a hard drive. Between this and Goldmember, it's been a rough calendar year for the techie department in my life. So you heard first here folks, Peterio is in the market for a new laptop.... a Mac, of course.

My Four-Month Absence

For the few of you who've actually logged in occasionally prior to my extended, unannounced absence, I do apologize. I really should've said something.... 

If you were wondering what I've been upto in the past few months, I got caught up on one of the best sets ever shooting an independent film pending a 2009 release. Besides that, just little things here and there which I'm sure to blog about. I've really missed the constant typing my thoughts here. I know, excuses... excuses... I'm gonna try harder, I promise.