Over the past few weeks I’ve been involved with RandomAlphabets working on the next project happening on 25th of February, Keretapi Sarong. Above is a pic of me and 2 of the team members at Fly FM radio for the interview, and below is a podcast of the interview done with BFM radio. Click here and here to know more about the event.

PusatRakyat LB (LoyarBurok) / Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR)

3-4, 4th Floor, Jalan Bangsar Utama 3, 59000 Kuala Lumpur.

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Take LRT to Bangsar. Walk behind, to the other side of Wisma UOA. It is the shoplots facing the building of Wisma UOA as well as the multi story parking lot.

I’ll be speaking at this next week on Sunday 12 June, 3.15pm at the Annexe Central Market, alongside Chi Too, Pang Khee Teik, Sharon Chin. I personally like the angle of this talk, because for most of the work (that I assume) you know me for, production can be as huge of a mental turn on, as with ideation.

“Session 4
HUH? LIKE THAT ALSO CALLED PRODUCER?
3:15pm – 5:00pm

Unconventional producers on their work:

• Chi Too (Main Dengan Rakyat)
• Zain HD (Random Alphabets/flashmob)
• Pang Khee Teik (Annexe Gallery)

Chairperson: Sharon Chin (Festival Buka Jalan)

The role of a producer is constantly evolving, with new terms cropping up like Arts Facilitator, Creative Producer, Cultural Producer, etc. This session aims to present the idea of a producer as other from those involved in shows in performing spaces/ theatre stages. These examples include presenters of performance art, installations, mini festivals, flash mob and programming for a venue, and basically anyone who has ever grown tired of waiting for other people to organise anything for them. Now everyone can produce!”

FB event page for this, here. More info on the other sessions, click here.

- http://zainhd.com/2011/06/viva-production/

Yesterday was the International Women’s Day and I managed to sneak to one event by Kakiseni that was commemorating it. The organizers had also release a set of good videos online. At some point, I hope it will be used as a case study in Malaysia for promotions/marketing via youtube, something I forecasted in early 2008 as an amazing tool to get word out (including vlogs).

Anyhow the video above is related to Butoh performance and the one below relates to media studies of women on film/stage (perception, stereotype, expectations, image), something I either blogged or tweeted about recently.

Below was Michael from Kakiseni meeting me and some others some time ago to discuss the flashmob element in their campaign. Click here to know more about their overall campaign as there’s an array of interesting stuff they’re doing this coming weeks that you can go to.

Very recently, a rapper did a song to recap current affairs of 2010. I must say I’m crossed at 50-50, between liking the song and the fact that (probably) the most significant project I’ve done, was acknowledged in the song. (Bottom most video).

I would like to leave it at that, but there’s a chance many would be wondering what I’m referring to. In January 2010, there was a court case deciding the usage of the word Allah, which led to the attacks on places of worship.

The mood in the country was simply said: dark. Even some rational people, weren’t level headed due to emotional knee-jerk reaction. So I was part of a group of people that wanted to do something, that said a lot, without saying much. And we had a 6 day timeline.

Me, Juana and Jennie came up with Tali Tenang. An event where everyone was invited to come to Bangsar LRT, bringing a piece of string as long as their arm, in a white t-shirt with a Malaysian flag. Together we formed one long piece of string and walked together to Bangsar Village, then sports centre.

Our objective was not to make a stand on either the court ruling, nor how we felt about the attacks. We were just there to send good vibes by smiling and waving to anyone who saw us. The rest, let them make what they want of it. The support and love received for this project, could jerk a tear.

Anyway, the project received mention on the 30th second of the song below. Many days ago when twitter was buzzing what some people there liked the most about 2010, Tali Tenang was also mentioned.

- http://zainhd.com/2011/01/tali-tenang-rap-up-song/

Happy New Year. I am now at home. Landed Subang Airport early this morning and have literally since then, every hour been working, until now closing in on midnight. That said, the last ten days with family was lovely as love.

- http://zainhd.com/2011/01/back-in-business-with-love/

Some weeks ago I was asked to be part of this. I’ve not actually seen the magazine as I was away during the issue party, but they emailed me this. Thank you M2 magazine for the recognition, honour and also Marina Mahathir for recommending them to me. More importantly, thank you to the people who has been part of the progress, the work I’ve been involved in. In many and not some ways, this is yours too.

I’m not going to explain how the selection or nature of the work of the people selected for this was done as I may have inaccurately understood it, but one that I do remember was, even if you’re a man contributing valuable work as a fund raising personnel in a pre-dominantly women staffed NGO, then you’re in the scope as well.

*Please note that the top picture, was a mock by them and not the actual cover of the magazine. Click the second picture to read the writeup.

- http://zainhd.com/2010/12/m2-leading-men-of-2010/

Shortly, at 9.30am I’ll be on BERNAMA TV. And last night I did the talk at Bangsar Village* and above are two videos of me speaking at it. Click here to watch videos from other speakers. A few very good points were raised by Marina Mahathir and Sivin Kit. I’m not sure which video it is, but try looking for that video on that youtube channel.

As a member of the audience Niki Cheong asked a very good question/raised a very good point, if there’s any move to educate teachers about child abuse because to him parents and teachers who expect and impose upon their children to get straight As for example, is considered child abuse. He relates this story to his niece/nephew who was crying after receiving her UPSR results, because he/she didn’t receive top grades and the teacher was telling her about how she had told the student to focus on that subject.

*Click here to read about these two things I’m talking about event.

Thank you Yeoh Ee Ping for taking the effort to record the session and promptly uploading it. Very much appreciated.

- http://zainhd.com/2010/11/videos-from-pump-up-the-volume-hidenseek/

I’ve been working on putting a flashmob project, hideNseek (on behalf of RandomAlphabets) on Saturday 20th November, that supports Unicef‘s campaign against child abuse, Get on Board.

On Monday 15 November, I will be speaking at a casual talk in Starbucks Bangsar Village II, alongside other far more credible people such as activist pastor Sivin Kit, campaign advocate Marina Mahathir, Unicef Malaysia rep Hans Olsen, Childline rep Michelle Wong and psychologist Prof Goh Chee Leong. It does seem peculiar having me there, I agree, but they are looking for a perspective from a non-expert, social media savvy, etc. Click here for more info, and here to RSVP. The first 20 guests to arrive that night, gets a crème brûlée from Starbucks.

On Tuesday 16 November, at 8.15 am or a little after, I’ll be on BERNAMA TV to promote the flashmob (on the same cause as above) happening on 20th November. For the first time I am organizing a project that has a significant concentration and emphasis on participation from children. People of other ages are invited and welcomed to come, but we want to see loads of kids come, and their elders can come too. :)

There will probably be more media appearances that I’ll be doing re this project, will post about it here.

- http://zainhd.com/2010/11/building-up-to-hidenseek-flashmob/

I can’t say I’m a fan of how this (amazing) idea was executed, but because I’ve no alternative suggestion on how else to do it, so I conclude it’s brilliant nevertheless. Important to take note that this idea was originally done in June 2008 (see below and click here to read how did theirs go) by a small group based in NYC called ImprovEverywhere. Whereas the video above, done with sufficient if not ample financial support among other resources, was uploaded yesterday 29 Oct 2010 (probably some hours ago, UK timezone). Either way for me, it would be super to have a small group of reliable people willing to execute an idea like this, or a adventurous if not visionary client willing to spend money on an idea like this.

*Thanks to Omar Davison, my fellow Stephen K Amos fan mate, for sharing this. See you in London/Singapore soon. I hope!

- http://zainhd.com/2010/10/grand-airport-welcome-flashmob/ (If video doesn’t appear, click here)