A unique bio marker derivative! Say what?

As previously mentioned, there was one more job. After a season in Bangkok that I didn’t produce many TVC, things ended on a high note.  I am ending on a Geddy Lee high note. The company is a well known as Brands, a health drink that is supposed to help with brain function. Booking a big company like this is great, but further excitement livens things up as I am the lead as a scientist and there is a script.

The last time I had a script, I was in tears. Do you remember?

Okay, so for this commercial I wasn’t overacting or being voiced over by a high pitched Thai man; instead it would be my accent gracing the ears of the audience.  My so called “American Accent”, which isn’t American at all but a neutral accent, if you meet people from most cities in the states there is noticeable difference in speech patterns. I would say I most closely resemble California accents than say Texas, NYC or Seattle.  

My nutrition background came in handy for this shooting, as I was to play a scientist. A key researcher for Brands Essence of chicken, I discussed neurotransmission and American ginseng.  I also checked the data of a co-worker and sent her on her way. In the casting I distinctly remember them asking me to lecture about a scientific topic. Naturally I went right to Omega-3 EFA, explaining how they help with brain function and that we typically don’t consume enough of these. Continuing into the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the current diet and how we need to bring it closer to 1:1. The casting director and crew left knowing more in my 5 minute casting than they ever could have imagined. They key of course was to portray confidence in my knowledge, to be a real expert. And it worked!

By the time the 4^th script was in my hand, I had corrected the grammar a final time and was ready to sling some verses. With my tie all mic’d up, I stumbled through the words. Wait what? Yes I ended up getting a little nervous when the time came. One or two takes and my feet were back under me as if they had never left.  I think reality had set in that yes they were using my voice and that it would be my voice for the entire commercial. Pressure was up and my equilibrium must have been off kilt.

This commercial became more interesting when the green screen became involved. It was fascinating to be in front of the green screen and see myself on the video. I felt like the weatherman, except instead of predicting a storm I was scanning fields of ginseng to find only the best. The feeling is very strange when you are trying to position yourself while looking at the TV screen, a fun new experience though. 

After finishing up all the camera work I was to rerecord all my voice again in a separate room. This time with things set up to muffle the sound and get a crisp clean recording of my voice we set off. Reading several versions, timing differently and enunciating the more complex words we recorded the voiceover. 

Overall this ended up being a great way to finish up in Bangkok on a positive note.

I am going slightly crazy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6 switch

“How”. I learned a few weeks ago that that’s roughly the Anglicized way of saying yawn in Thai. As 5 am rolled around the clock I picked my tired ass out of bed to get ready. With a 6 am call time I couldn’t take public transit so I had to rely on the pink little buggies with guys that look at you funny. Either way, off into a cab I jumped and ventured to Cyberworld. With a name reminiscent of an ominous skynet takeover, I had some skepticism going in.

Met with big smiles I could only have been in Thailand or surrounded by people drinking too much red bull. Off to the 44^th floor, I started to feel a little different. I was cast as a feature for the role in the commercial, which quickly became evident by my treatment.  While all the extras (15 of them) were told to stay in one corner, I roamed freely and was provided with fresh ground espresso (extras were given that shitty instant mixed stuff), and provided with fresh fruit. A hairstylist was brought in specifically for me and I had 2 people waiting on my every need. For me this was a very odd feeling. I truly felt like some sort of big shot.

Conversely I could feel animosity from the extras towards me. To start the day it was very difficult for me to get a conversation going with one of the 15 english speaking extras, like I was an outcast or something. Eventually they warmed up and I chatted about UFC with one of them.  

My first TVC of the season (took long enough eh?) was a wild one. Slowly going crazy am I 6,5,4,3,2,1 switch. Starting with papers flying around me like a tornado, then seeing double triple and quadruple vision of my boss yelling at me and capped off with my computer mouse turning into a frenzy of mice. It would be a rough day int he office for anyone. Unless of course you had these wonderful vitamins.  

As I was portraying this young businessman slowly going crazy I couldn't help but sing a song in my head, most of you won't know this if you aren't from Canada, or if you were born much after me.

A Full Circle

 It’s been almost a year since I first set foot in Thailand.  In my previous experience I was put up in the model apartment, and set up with roommates who quickly became friends.  With new sets of friends, I am constantly meeting people through castings and an amazing Expat community called Internations. 

A city that was once completely foreign and strange has quickly settled to become my home for the next few months. The other day I picked up the keys to my new studio apartment, and look forward to a nights sleep in my new bed.

Big thanks to Jan, my rental agent for driving me around and helping me through the entire process of choosing my place. Here are a few pictures of Chateau Zach:

Modeling is an industry that like all others grows as you gain experience.  Coming to a new country can always present challenges. In my previous experience  I built networks and became a familiar face with clients. This is something that will always aid in booking jobs. At this point, I have worked 2 and have another shoot in the morning. No TVC have been booked yet, but I am optimistic that they are coming.

My Thai My Pride

 Look back, way back, okay maybe that far how about May. Do you remember that fateful day where I shared my love with a beautiful woman on a boat amongst an incredible backdrop? No? This may refresh your memory then Wedding in Phuket

Now a little controversy was created as my cousin and some family members thought I actually got married all of the sudden.  While I am all for “taking those shots”, I shy away from jumping into a relationship let alone marriage thoughts. That blog was all written with regards to a Thai Airways commercial I was filming. Well, it’s here!

In Calgary, the leaves are falling, frost is etching the windows of cars in the morning. Yikes every day that is gets colder becomes the coldest day I have seen since I packed away my winter jacket and headed for the tropical environment known as Singapore. Freezing cold and wearing gloves I willingly traded for sweating bullets and flip flops. I will be leaving Calgary one month earlier this time around, although Korea isn’t exactly the 40 plus degree environment in October that Singapore treated me too, I am equally excited if not more. 

Beyond imagination ( GLOBAL LG OLED TVC I was in)

Those of you that are closer to me, or have worked with me know some of my frustrations over this job. While not the job specifically, as it was great and fun to do, and as you will see the finished product is rather amazing. I am referring to some agency issues that I will become more vocal about if things don't get sorted out ASAP.  

Dealing with some of these said issues I decided to search the product, then click on the wonderful youtube tab. LG OLED. Turns out that the video has been out for several months, for shame I didn't discover sooner. Anyways guys enjoy!

High Stepping ( second set on magazine shots + my french TVC)

Wow, I haven’t been incredibly busy lately, but for some reason I have neglected the period of personal reflection I like to share so much. As a matter of fact I actually just read about my wedding again (Oh the memories) to refresh me on where I left off.

Hold up before that. About a month and a half ago I briefly mentioned that I was hanging from the side of a building for a TVC.  Well my buddy Charles who just returned home to France saw my face pop up on the television this morning. Here is what he saw:

After the wedding I didn’t get to enjoy a honeymoon, it was straight back to work.  Unlike these two friends:

Ben and Janelle, got married on May 12 in Calgary and they decided to visit me here in Bangkok. Well not quite, these two lovebirds are off to enjoy their honey moon (a real one). Congrats!

I haven’t worked as much since the Thai Airways ad was filmed.  Today being the 3^rd job since that fateful.  In all my hipster bashing of Kevin, it seems as though stylists for brochure (today) and catalog (last week) are set on making me look hipster. I can imagine someone just prodding my eyes out of the lens less glasses, or turning my suspenders into an evil death contraption suitable for an episode of Games of Thrones.  Example of me being an evil leprechaun.

I have made friends with some incredibly fun Brazilians and also took the opportunity to knock back a Brazilian BBQ with them, cooked by a Brazilian. It was cool as I learned some of the traditional dishes and also ate some incredible cuts of meat. 

For those that never have experience Brazilian BBQ, get on that ASAP. It’s pure deliciousness on a sword of awesome.  You essentially get to eat all the meat you want, beef, lamb, pork, chicken heart you name it. After finishing a meal I end up with a food baby, which is born the next day.  I didn’t get a pic with my camera but here is an example. 

Lastly it appears as though I have really honed the fashion sense for golfing. Now I just need to learn to be a decent golfer, damn that slice, or draw or fade or whatever that send my ball 250 yards straight and then makes a left turn at Albuquerque.  

Don’t Stop ( tons of phuket pics and of course one with my bride)

Just a western boy born and raised on Canadian soil.

Just a city girl, living in a Bangkok world.

Two fates that random, met. On a boat to fortune, never forget.

Okay so I am certainly not the best a writing lyrics, and for those to have the fortune of hearing me sing, I don't exactly have the voice of an angel. As a matter of fact this song was playing on my IPod on the plane to Phuket. But that one fateful day, Wednesday may 9 will not be one forgotten easily. It was the day I tied the knot with my beautiful Thai bride in a bay just past Phuket.

For a Canadian guy, that has only experienced 4 islands, (Iceland, Cape Breton, PEI and Singapore); my mind resembled a high school cafeteria after a food fight. I didn’t realize that you had to be up at 3:30 to board your boat for the wedding. Needless to say I was a little tired, but excitement took over quickly with sunrise.

Every island we passed whispered its own unique greenscape and rock face. One island stood out above the rest though. One some may recognize from the movies, as part of my favourite series, 007. In the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun", Scaramanga (the dude with 3 nipples) lives on this Thai island.

And just like that, it was over.

Where did we go wrong? We broke with tradition last week when we took some pictures of her in dress and myself in linen suit. Or maybe it was the language/ cultural barrier? Then again some say we rushed things too much. I mean it was only 1 week from when we met to when we married. It's a shame that our destiny has come to an end she was such a nice, fun, and beautiful girl too.

In all honesty though, this was an incredibly fun experience shooting a TVC (TV commercial) in Phuket. It proved to be a stunning backdrop to a picture perfect wedding. The commercial should be ready in the next month or so.

My camera arm is sore from all the pictures I took, enjoy! I am disappointed I didn’t get more pictures of the bride and myself; hopefully some will turn up over the coming days. A few more pics for good measure. 

Here is a link to my facebook pictures. A Wedding in Phuket (TVC)