It was very hard to imagine back when I was just a small boy how anyone could make a real-life movie of Transformers. I and my friends thought of some very crude ways. You couldn’t blame us for thinking in such “low-tech”. It was the 80’s, and we were in a beautiful rural town quite distant from the city. Away from any form of advance technology that was more advanced than my dads’ betamax player. We thought of having actors put on some cardboard boxes, or perhaps empty cigarette boxes to achieve some sort of resemblance to our robot idols. The word ‘body suit” did not even exist in our vocabulary then. All we could think about is that it would be a dream come true to see a real-life movie version of our favorite cartoons. Not that we did not like the animated Generation 1 Transformers, it’s just that it must be such an amazing thing to see on the big screen if such would be available. Just how would they make cars transform into speaking robots? In addition, can you just imagine the amount of cosmetics and paint such project would use?
Early mornings, before our parents would sound off the breakfast call, were spent discussing the countless “hows” and “why nots” of such dream or fantasy if you may. Finally, after a long time spent thinking and talking about the subject as if it were the only thing that mattered to us, we just resigned ourselves to the fact that the technology to put the show into a real-life flick was not available and perhaps may never be available at all in our lifetime.
Or so we thought…
A friend of mine, inspired by Transformers and many other popular cartoons of days gone, told himself that he will become an animation artist when he grows up. Not just your run-of –the-mill animation artist, but one of the greatest in the business, if not the best. We supported his dream. The thought of the next big cartoon TV show being a creation of a friend sent waves of excitement to each of us. Free betamax copies of the show we could enjoy and we wouldn’t be missing any episode at all. Isn’t that just great? Although, at the back of my mind, I thought perhaps his dream was just a passing thing. Very much like our fascination for our favorite cartoon TV show “The Transformers”, and our being kids.
Or so I thought…
My first take in the world of fm radio was not illustrious. It was not even close to mediocre. It was a complete disaster. The biggest factor to it was my English skill. All parts of it –svo, coherence, vocabulary, pronunciation, consistency, shifts, the list was endless. Had there been a prison sentence for grammar offenders, I would be writing on prison walls now instead of typing on this laptop. Perhaps I wouldn’t even learn how to type at all. I was a repeat offender; mighty good at it. I don’t know how I got in the training or what the dj’s saw in me when I auditioned for the slot. Radios biggest mistake: Me. I thought of quitting and sparing myself from more embarrassment and shame. Perhaps I am not meant to be in radio, I thought.
I’ve been in radio for more than half my life (I started really young and I did not quit). So far, it’s been great. My English remains a work in progress, but I’m so over the dark days -- the time when opening my mouth was always an “Are you sure about this?” moment. Relentless practice, study and observation helped me a lot in becoming better in my passion.
My childhood friend has realized his dream. He is now an animation artist in the big city. Though his ultimate dream of getting the best break remains elusive, he remains firm, full of conviction, and full of faith in developing his skill for that perfect opportunity that will come his way in time.
The Transformers, as you may have known by now, has conquered the planet for the second time. A very superb work of technology which was ginormously unimaginable in those sweet early morning discussions with my friends back in time. You bet I’m excited to watch it as soon as I can.
Looking back to the days when I thought that all of these would never happen, all I could say is, “What was I thinking?
Transformer. Are you?
Early mornings, before our parents would sound off the breakfast call, were spent discussing the countless “hows” and “why nots” of such dream or fantasy if you may. Finally, after a long time spent thinking and talking about the subject as if it were the only thing that mattered to us, we just resigned ourselves to the fact that the technology to put the show into a real-life flick was not available and perhaps may never be available at all in our lifetime.
Or so we thought…
A friend of mine, inspired by Transformers and many other popular cartoons of days gone, told himself that he will become an animation artist when he grows up. Not just your run-of –the-mill animation artist, but one of the greatest in the business, if not the best. We supported his dream. The thought of the next big cartoon TV show being a creation of a friend sent waves of excitement to each of us. Free betamax copies of the show we could enjoy and we wouldn’t be missing any episode at all. Isn’t that just great? Although, at the back of my mind, I thought perhaps his dream was just a passing thing. Very much like our fascination for our favorite cartoon TV show “The Transformers”, and our being kids.
Or so I thought…
My first take in the world of fm radio was not illustrious. It was not even close to mediocre. It was a complete disaster. The biggest factor to it was my English skill. All parts of it –svo, coherence, vocabulary, pronunciation, consistency, shifts, the list was endless. Had there been a prison sentence for grammar offenders, I would be writing on prison walls now instead of typing on this laptop. Perhaps I wouldn’t even learn how to type at all. I was a repeat offender; mighty good at it. I don’t know how I got in the training or what the dj’s saw in me when I auditioned for the slot. Radios biggest mistake: Me. I thought of quitting and sparing myself from more embarrassment and shame. Perhaps I am not meant to be in radio, I thought.
I’ve been in radio for more than half my life (I started really young and I did not quit). So far, it’s been great. My English remains a work in progress, but I’m so over the dark days -- the time when opening my mouth was always an “Are you sure about this?” moment. Relentless practice, study and observation helped me a lot in becoming better in my passion.
My childhood friend has realized his dream. He is now an animation artist in the big city. Though his ultimate dream of getting the best break remains elusive, he remains firm, full of conviction, and full of faith in developing his skill for that perfect opportunity that will come his way in time.
The Transformers, as you may have known by now, has conquered the planet for the second time. A very superb work of technology which was ginormously unimaginable in those sweet early morning discussions with my friends back in time. You bet I’m excited to watch it as soon as I can.
Looking back to the days when I thought that all of these would never happen, all I could say is, “What was I thinking?
Transformer. Are you?
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