Toy Story 3 Trailer Impressions

[Minor Spoilers might be in this impression. So don't read on if you're afraid of that. Trailer can be found here]

Usually I don’t feel that there is a need for an extended look into a trailer but kudos to Pixar and their craft that just one visual image would invoke a powerful emotion in me. Beginning of the trailer we see a video recording of Andy’s life as he’s playing with his toys and we follow him as he grows up and leaves us with him packing away his toys to send to a day care center. It’s a highly effective scene as we catch up with Andy’s life and we get a sense of time passing from this entry of the series from the previous one as toys don’t visibly age or grow over time so seeing the fact that so much time has passed from when Andy was a child where we wouldn’t see much or any of his face to where we see him go from his young childhood days until the point where he’s about to depart to college. We see clips of him playing with Woody, with Buzz, and with all the other toys not only as toys. Andy doesn’t see them as only toys but as part of his family even without seeing the other side of the toys where they can speak and walk around. He doesn’t just see them as play things, he cherishes them he loves them. Like all children, that’s what we do with the things that we have. For me, I’m reminded of this every time I see my nephew playing with his toys. He might a little rough to them and doesn’t really take good care of them but you see that when one of them just goes missing and he’s running around trying to get everyone in the house to help him find this one toy. And I myself have had toys and I’ve played with them everyday, crying when one of them broke or lost them. It’s something which is relatable.

Another thing which is relatable to each and everyone of us is that we grow up. We cast aside our youth and embrace what we believe to be the new us, the adult us. We spend more time with friends, we have responsibilities, we have other interests. This was even made evident in the trailer, as toys begin to be replaced with computers, sports equipments, car posters. Andy has grown up and it’s time for the toys to go. This is a Toy Story movie so we can expect fun and laughter all around and this 1 minute or so of the trailer isn’t indicative of the mood that the whole movie will have. But I felt that this, together with how Up had that opening montage of Carl and Ellie as they grew up and got married and had a life together this one small bit of the trailer was able to do what a lot of other movies many times fail to do which is to give us something relatable. Something where we can say that yes, I’ve gone through this myself. It’s something that I can add to this movie with my own feelings and experiences and not just sit back and chew popcorn while flashy things happen on screen. I could honestly say that while watching this trailer it just tugs on so many moments of my own personal life that I couldn’t help but cry and this is all without even having even a single toy speak a line yet. Yes, it’s their story but for a while it was mine as well.

Dearly Beloved… Watermelon

Dearly Beloved… Watermelon, originally uploaded by Nick T..

Finally was able to get some new pictures to post up onto my Flickr account. The month of August was kinda my one track mind month as I was focusing on doing everything based on only one single thing or person. Now that that’s out of the way, not that I wanted it to be in the first place. I’m starting to fall back into my usual routines…

“The Race” Set

I took this set when I was with my brother at his office the other day. Was talking about how I didn’t like studio lit photos of cars but preferred the natural in motion photos of cars instead. I guess I was trying to play around with the idea of being a director of a car race scene or something like that when I took these pictures. Played around with some depth-of-field effects that zooming in with a kit lens and flash as well. Was able to apply them to some good effects but still got a long way to go.

No Shoes?

No Shoes?, originally uploaded by Nick T..

Still at Pusat Ehsan, saw horses for the first time up close!

So I was saying in my previous post that I met some of my ex-tuition students, it was good to meet them again. It gave me a sense of progression in life, a sort of a look back and see that time has moved on and I’ve moved on and grown as well. They all asked why I was still alone and for that I don’t have any answers for them.

She Shoots!

She Shoots!, originally uploaded by Nick T..

I went to Pusat Ehsan’s 4th Annual Charity Bazaar thing last Sunday, my mind was in a buzz ever since Saturday night and I guess there was a lot on my mind. It wasn’t that there was anything specific weighing down on me, it was more like everything in my head was fragmented and I couldn’t piece a single coherent thought.

Going to the bazaar itself was refreshing not because of what was available to see or buy at the bazaar but meeting some of my ex-tuition students whom I taught last year.

The Mall

The Mall, originally uploaded by Nick T..

I took this picture right outside Courts Furnishing on the outskirts of Kiulap right next to the highway. Sometimes you’ve just got to walk around and get the right angles and all that. I’m not going to give photography advice here cause I’m not exactly a pro in the field or have the equipment to do so.

Birthday Dinner

Birthday Dinner, originally uploaded by Nick T..

Just had my 23rd birthday a few days ago. I didn’t really do anything extravagant or out of the ordinary. I pretty much stayed at home for most of the day and I went to YDM in the afternoon due to other people’s insistence that I be there. If not I would have just stayed at home and bummed until dinner time.

As you can see from the picture, I had sushi for dinner. My family and I went to the new branch of Escapade at Kiulap. The place was as packed as the other branches making me wonder what is it about sushi that just draws Brunei people to them.

The Wedding

The Wedding, originally uploaded by Nick T..

At this point of the wedding, the bride and groom were just standing there and taking pictures with all the different groups and sections of their friends and families, colleagues and acquaintances…

Kinda makes you sit back and think about who all these people standing around you at one of the happiest moments of your life, wanting to a part of that moment. When I think about it, I hope to be able to remember all those who have been a part of my life and have them be with me at that moment.

Mister and Missus

Mister and Missus, originally uploaded by Nick T..

Congratulations to Stephen & Lorene for finally tying the knot. It was a tiring but ultimately satisfying day. I took more video than photos on that day because there was already an official photographer hired and I wanted to finally give the video recording function on my D90 a try.

I haven’t even started editing the videos yet. Not too sure if I should cut out parts or keep them in one long shot. I’m torn between whether to keep it personal or have a more for general viewing kind of editing. Decisions, decisions.

Little Caleb

Little Caleb, originally uploaded by Nick T..

Sometimes it’s hard to get that right shot. Those fleeting moments that catches you unawares and unprepared. I wish that that hand wasn’t there in this picture so that it would be that much more better. But sometimes you don’t get what you want exactly in a shot and you just have to accept that it’s a once in a lifetime catch and sometimes the flaws just makes it seem more real.