Month 1: The Practice: Camera, Writers, Documentary

After one marvelous month of studying and having fun in Melbourne, I realized that most people are always pursuing something unknown but joyful in the present moment.

"Don't drain your time without being present.", my friend said to me.

Where I am and what I dedicate myself to define me. That requires long-term practice.

Let's see how we practice in the Writing with the Camera class.

Study & Play Hard - week 2 day 2 at Deakin

How to create vibey footage in a thriller film: it relies on camera movement, lighting, and sound design, with editing as the final step to synthesize these elements into a cohesive clip.

I'm utilizing generative AI tools(such as Copilot, Shakker.ai, and InVideo.ai) to build resource archives for the concept demonstrations of web series script I wrote in the Writers Room.

knock knock in the Writers Room

We got more and more practice in Week 3.

Writing with Camera & The Writers Room - Week 3

Now we have 4 musketeers (Aarav is a bachelor's student of film and TV)

Additionally, I am so lucky to have met the happiest tram driver in Melbourne, Bruce, on the first day I arrived here, because now he is my documentary subject. While I found his card and had an interview with him this week, he promptly agreed to my filming.

Documentary Production Practice - Exhausted on our Assignments - Week 3

Bruce's story is fantastic. Like he said in Mandarin, "頂好，剛剛好!"

Then the Taiwanese guy, CW, he took me, Jason, and Simon to nightclubs in Melbourne city. It was such an amazing wild-life experience.

Melbourne Nightlife A Filmmaker's Dream

A few days ago, I suddenly thought that Henry, one of my online programming students,  was planning to study in Australia. I tried to connect with him via the Line app. One day later, I received his response, and we met at a coffee shop near Burwood Village in Camberwell. OMG! He has been studying at the University of Melbourne for more than 1.5 years, and his current place is very close to my house.

What's a coincidence! Henry will graduate as an IT specialist at the end of this year and is looking for some local work opportunities next year. 

Henry drove his car with me to the city and explored many tourist places I hadn't been to yet during the past month.

Henry asked me a question. He was curious about my apparent talent for connecting with foreigners easily and quickly. Basically, I don't speak English well, but I really love making foreign friends. I have failed many times before, but now you just see my apparent talent. 

I told Henry, "You will be if you practice, practice, and practice."

University of Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market

National Gallery of Victoria

Yarra River

One thing that happened this week I want to mention is a homeless lady I met on the tram and later met on the street near Camberwell station, where I met Bruce. 

The homeless lady politely asked for the tissue from me because she saw me wearing a mask and blew my nose with tissue, so I gave her the tissue. At that time, I didn't know she was a homeless person. Afterward, because I would meet with Bruce, I went to Camberwell station and saw her sitting on the ground of the street to beg money.

I saw her using corrugated paper, writing down "Human Kindness" & "Please Help."  She recognized me as the man on the tram. I kneeled down beside her and said, "I will give you 20 dollars, but can I take a photo of the paper? only paper, thanks." She said, "Sure."

I just saw that the paper she made was beautiful and wanted to memorize it. Also, I asked her several questions, like, Where do you live? Do you have friends? Why don't you go to the city for more tourists?

She answered all my questions and said thanks to me as well. I am not sure I was polite without discrimination. I hope so.

Anyway, one thing is for sure: Melbourne has given me memories I'll never forget. 

It's been a documentary.