Singapore: Edits (2010)

To find yourself a world away in a foreign country for the first time is surreal. You quickly forget just what it took to get there when you're won over by the spectacle around you. For me, this was Singapore.

When I was asked in February if I'd like to go on a business trip with my co-worker Stephanie, I was elated. Not just because I'd be paid to travel, but because Singapore was a destination that I never really saw myself going to.

I'm fairly well travelled around North America, but this was to be my first time putting my feet in the other side of an ocean. It was my first time travelling for over a day in the air (combining all my flights that is). It was the first time I answered 'business' to the 'are you traveling for business or pleasure' question.

Singapore was a mix of welcome and unexpected surprises. Never did I think that we'd be able to see and do so much while still working during our days. Somehow, we still managed to cross all of the big highlights off of our list, leaving us both feeling like we were truly able to explore the variety and individuality the country/city had to offer.

From eating exotic seafood along the coast of the South China Sea to taking in the view of the city from the Singapore Flyer, from cruising up the river through the heart of the financial district to an afternoon in the sun at Universal Studios on Sentosa Island, to the Red Dot Design Museum, the famous Merlion landmarks, the Night Safari at the Zoo, exploring an ornate Hindu temple, raising our glasses of Tiger beer at restaurants and clubs, and shopping on Orchard Road - we managed to play just as much as we worked.

I hoped, but never knew it would have turned out this good.

Top 3 of Yobi Film Finals!

To skip ahead and vote click here.

First of all, thank you to everyone who voted (and who will hopefully cast a vote again)! I can't tell you how happy I am to find myself with so much support in this film competition! It really is amazing!

The voting for the Yobi Film Competition has been going for two months now, and after making the Top 40 - here I am after all those weeks and rounds - 1 of 3 filmmakers in the running for Filmmaker of the Year!

I know I've been promoting my short The Geology Student throughout the contest, but as a finalist you're actually voting for my entire Yobi Film profile. This includes numerous short films that I've uploaded and my promotion within Yobi itself. This really is a huge deal for me - potentially opening a lot of new doors and helping me make a lot of contacts.

By taking a couple minutes and voting with your email address (no understatement here) you could absolutely change my life. If I were to win I'd get a trip to the Toronto International Film Festival and a chunk of cash that I could put towards bigger and better projects. Not too mention all of the promotion and exposure I'd continue to receive.

There are now only two voting rounds left before a winner is declared. It's so close that I'm really going to try and pull out all the stops.

Please help me spread the word, use your email address, post my link on facebook, tell your roommate, send an email, tell a coworker, etc. Any little bit can help and if any of you ever need a vote I'm there, haha.

Check out my profile and vote here.

The 500th Post

Here I am nearly 3 years into an online project titled Editing Luke, now writing my 500th post. While the anniversary celebrating will have to wait until the end of this month when this site officially turns 3, I'll use this milestone as an excuse to list 50 reasons (one for every 10 posts) why it's been so important to me to keep Editing Luke alive - effectively, 50 reasons why I blog.

1. You never know who could be reading/watching.
2. It's helped me create more of a name for myself.
3. It makes my work relatable.
4. It makes my work easy to identify.
5. Writing my thoughts keeps me motivated.
6. My entries have become time capsules.
7. It stimulates creative feedback.
8. It looks great to potential employers.
9. It looks great to other artists.
10. It gives my videos a one of a kind showcase.
11. I've been able to map my growth.
12. It contextualizes my film experiences.
13. It's helped me get work.
14. It's been essential for promoting my videos.
15. It's been essential for campaigning during festivals.
16. It makes me want to share more.
17. It's inspired me to find other like-minded filmmakers.
18. It makes me more observant.
19. It's made me a stronger graphic designer.
20. It's a place to vent.
21. It helped me transition out of film school.
22. It shows how serious I am about what I do.
23. It's made me easier to find.
24. It's given me creative discipline.
25. It keeps me forward thinking.
26. It's made my mistakes relevant lessons.
27. It's amplified my successes.
28. It gives me clout with other video-makers.
29. It shows consistency and stability.
30. It's allowed me to help other artists.
31. It's allowed me to receive help.
32. It connects me with complete strangers.
33. It gets me honest reactions.
34. It keeps my creative standards high.
35. It's a reason to keep my work diverse.
36. It keeps me organized.
37. It's expanded my professional network.
38. It keeps me engaged between projects.
39. It keeps me competitive.
40. It makes me a better writer.
41. It makes me a better editor.
42. It's an excuse to test my ideas.
43. It gives me ownership of all my content.
44. It helps me reflect.
45. It makes me think about how I present myself.
46. It makes me an example for others to follow.
47. It makes me efficient.
48. It allows me to reinvent myself regularly.
49. As a filmmaker, it keeps me original.
50. And above all, it's fun to do.