"Trapped": 3D Audio Spot for Spotify Immersion Workshop (SG), 2019

Spotify offers immersive audio experiences for its clients.  To market its product and service to advertisers in Singapore, I was tasked to create a 2-3 minute script earlier this year that could help accentuate the audio benefits of 3D sound technology. Same brief as the one for KL, only a different set of clients looking forward to something different, and bigger!

Bearing in mind the time limitations, and also how sound can travel outward, inward and from left to right (and vice-versa), I wrote a script about a couple trapped in a cave. It's just one of those settings that would offer a rich source of effects to bring the technology to life.

To build a climax, I created a monster (pun intended) twist that would allow the sound engineers to play with volume, depth and distance. And end the experience with a bang. Listen to the spot here.

Source: Unsplash

Life and Times of Misai and Longkang: Comics

I love using old school approaches when doodling. So when I decided to write little scenes involving a cat and a mouse -- who are unlikely friends -- I gave them each a signature personality and resorted to my trusted Faber Castle set to bring them to life. Misai translates to moustache, while Longkang refers to, well, the drain. This should give you an idea of what the rat's like.

Comic #1

Comic #2

Comic #3

Comic #4

Comic #5

"Chase": 3D Audio Spot for Spotify Immersion Workshop (KL), 2018

Spotify started championing 3D audio technology and marketing the service to advertisers mid of 2017. So, no, it's no longer just a modern-day mobile and virtual playlist for millions of music lovers everywhere.

To help market the technology and service, I was asked to work out a 2-3 minute script that could glorify its benefits in a series of planned workshops, whereby the clients would don sound-cancelling earphones to get the most out of an immersive experience.

Personally, the challenge was to ensure that production lived up to the script's intention. As I would have no direct control over the former, I had to create a script that would supply the sound engineer with a playground of possibilities that could provide clear contrasts; and the listening audience with a rich, audio experience. It had to be exciting, dramatic and yet incorporate enough contrast between sound and the absence of it, to keep the listener interested all the way to the end. Most of all, it had to help put the listener in the thick of the story as it unfolded.

You may listen to the spot here (Note: There are two versions here -- one for the Australian market and the other, for Malaysia. The only difference is the VO talent employed.)

Source: Spiritual Unite

A Very Heineken Christmas: Spotify 3D Audio Spot

In December 2017, Spotify managed to convince Heineken to test out its 3D Audio service. Fuse, an audio company based in KL (with a branch in Singapore), approached me to try writing a 30s Christmas radio script for the beer brand via its Spotify client. With a short duration, it was challenging to create one that could do justice to the immersive benefits of 3D audio technology. So this was what I did: I assumed the role of a party-goer walking through an apartment passageway towards the door to an on-going house-party. It certainly helped, although I admit that the alternative script would've been better.

You can listen to the short spot here.

Source: VinePair

Immersion Heineken Christmas Ad Ver. #2 | “All I Want for Christmas” Campaign

Setting:  Man comes out of lift of apartment, walks past a few apartment units, and arrives at the unit where the house party’s at so what you hear is a progression of sounds one would hear in such a situation

. (Sfx: “Ding” sound of the elevator goes off as doors crank open. We instantly hear echo-ey footsteps walking out)

MVO: Is Christmas just round…

(Sfx: As ‘person’ walks past a few homes/apartment units, we hear faint car meowing in the corridor and the bell on his collar jingling as he scampers off; dinner party sounds of cutlery clinking and dinner chatter; someone playing a few bars of a Christmas song…)

MVO:… the corner? Well, Heineken’s got…

(Sfx: We hear growing sounds of electronic music melting into the Christmas song from the piano which slowly fades away as we approach the door where the party is being held; we hear the doorbell being rung followed by the door opening; a blast of a full-on party hits our senses - (1) thumping EDM music (2) people chattering loudly (3) clinking of bottles followed by a thunderous “Wooooo-hooo!” or “Here’s to 2018!” (4) outburst of laughter accompanied by clapping (5) few balloons accidentally popping

MVO: … the welcome party sorted. 

MVO: For the best kind of gift this festive season, visit heineken.com. Open your world.

Doodles for Charity

Sometime last year, I decided to go back to doodling. It's not something I have much time for as I write as a profession and when I'm not doing that, I'm busy raising two monkeys.

It began as a form of expression and relaxation. A therapeutic balm to long days of being on my feet and multi-tasking. But over time, I was invited to an online doodling network where I found opportunities through an artistic, self-styled philanthropist, to donate my doodles as healing art for terminally ill children around the world.

Here are some of the doodles, ranging from personal expressions to the ones for the kids.

For Joshua who suffered a relapse in Lymphoma

For Spencer with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

For the orphans at Rumah Harapan (House of Hope)

For Keisha in the USA who has Muscular Dystrophy

For Victor, with Leukemia and Bone Cancer

For little 5 year old Jack-Jack with the Genetic Syndromes -
Kat6A and FG syndromes - plus Dyskeratosis Congenita

For little Neo who has Leukemia

For the kids at the Ewin Sarcoma Ward in Dallas

 Here are some personal doodles under my collection of 'Animals with Something to Say'.

The consumerist snake

The naive zebra

The perceptive camel

The sentimental snail

The self-assured praying mantis

The sagely cat

The blue-collar vulture

"Some days are a little...off, but we gotta keep playing."

"We're all a little strange, but true friends stick together."

"When we look deep into the eyes of our enemies,
we may find...ourselves."

"When we stop hiding and, instead, face our
challenges, we may find that we're not alone."

"Honesty is nutrition for the soul."

Global Insurance Gets Web Update: Chubb

Chubb is one of those international brands with a fixed tone and manner and a guide to copy length for writers. I went into this project knowing I had to write about serious (and seriously dry) stuff. And it was going to be a lot of it because this brand has endless personal and business products. But I took it on as a challenge because I have always mostly done consumer perishables, if not automobiles.

The project was a good learning experience coming off on some consumer banking work with UOB, Standard Chartered, and Citibank with the previous agencies I have been at. I definitely know a lot more about the difference between energy and environmental protection insurances now, and why they're necessary for businesses. Lawsuits are not funny. :)

Lone Pine Hotel Penang: Refreshed Website for a Newly Renovated Boutique Hotel

I was asked to help inject freshness into this charming little boutique hotel's website after they completed renovations back in 2012. And that's what I did.  In addition to fresh paint and the refurbishment of their rooms which had become a little tired from wear and tear, they'd also added a Japanese restaurant to their F&B options. The clients ended up tweaking some of my copy but I don't mind. At the end of the day, it's a collaboration. I'm glad they're still doing good business and looking amazing while doing so, too. The link to their website can be found here.

The delightful Lone Pine Hotel, Penang