The time of Chicago

Before I went to Chicago in 2012, I was not a very confident person. Though I had been working in a theater group for three years, and had some experience in the art field. However, I knew I was holding something back and didn’t do my best to pursue my dream. Luckily, I had a close friend who was an actress, and she encouraged me to go to Chicago to take some short-term classes. I took her advice and managed the trip. I signed up for a comedy school and became a student in the comedy club, “The Second City.”

Staying in Chicago was quite inspiring. I didn’t realize that I could live abroad and write scripts in English. All of my classmates in the Second city were Americans, which meant I had to work twice as hard to keep up with them. I felt like I was a fish out of water, but sometimes you just have to leave your comfort zone.

I wouldn’t say I was the greatest writer of the class. Obviously, I’ve never grown up in the States, and there are just some cultural barriers you can never cross. Even though, I still enjoyed my class very much.

After the trip, back in Taiwan, my writing skills somehow improved. But the most important thing I learned is, keep writing and never be afraid of being myself. 

Zaz-Prends garde à ta langue

Mind your tongue

Ouch, ouch, how naive you can be

of all these untrusworthy people
Who promise the moon for you,
Letting them your power
So they can manipulate you,
Your precious freedom
And even sometimes your moolah.

It's crazy, you think you're safe
You laugh at the world
That you hold in contempt.
way too clever
To fall in this trap
You are deluding yourself
And it plays what follows (?)

Blinded by the gold coming out of his mouth,
You are drinking deliciously by the ladleful
Don't you see squinting this fool who is splashing you
With his seductive ways and telling you his lies

Hey damn rascal, mind your tongue
I am the cat that will eat it
At this game you will not win
Sooner or later, one gets punished

No, no don't fall in the trap
Of this rowdy character and his spells
From wanting too much to hear what pleases you
he had flattered your ego well
But now he's going to hurt you

Hum, hum look at him chuckling
He's getting a feel of the situation, divide to reign better
In his priest disguise
He proclames the true intention,
Controls you through your fears
You will become his dog

Blinded by the gold coming out of his mouth,
You are drinking deliciously by the ladleful
Don't you see squinting this fool who is splashing you
With his seductive ways and telling you his lies

My favorite spot in the city

The Journey to the west

Monkey King, an arrogant and commanding monkey, who can do 72 character transforming changes and desires to be an immortal. He flies to heaven and asks Jade Emperor to complete his wish, as he wishes, he becomes a protector of horse. However, after he finds out not only he is deceived by Jade Emperor by offering a low-ranking position but also is not invited to Lady Queen Mother’s banquet; he eats all the immortal peaches. As result, Jade Emperor demands that the heaven officers and guards catch Monkey king, but none of them can defeat him. At the same time, when Monkey king is proud of himself and becomes the most powerful and eternal king of the time, the Buddha shows up.

Buddha tells Monkey King to stop, but Monkey king wont. So Buddha makes a bet with him, “As long as you can fly out of my palm, your sin will be revoked.” Monkey king takes the challenge and jumps on his Cloud Somersault. However, no matter how far and how high he has flown, he realizes there’s no way to escape from Buddha’s palm. Finally, Monkey king has plead guilty, and been under the mountain till someone who is called “Xuanzhang” releases him.

500 years pass. One day, a young and ambitious monk called Xuanzhang , whose mission is going to India and getting the scriptures back to China, passes the mountain. He hears someone calling his name and asking for help. A kind monk rescues Monkey King immediately. In order to thank Xuanzhang and also show his determination to be good, Monkey king joins the journey as Xuanzhang’s disciple; and protects him all the way to India. On their way to India, they also meet Piggy Monster, who is a part human part pig monster, and Sandie Orc, who is an orc living under the river. Piggy Monster and Sandie orc have also become Xuanzhang’s disciples and accompanies with Xuanzhang on the road.

The travel is unsafe and dangerous. All the monsters get excited about Xuanzhang’s arrival, because they want to eat Xuanzhang, so they can be more powerful. In order to bewitch Xuanzhang, the monsters transform themselves into different shapes. However, Monkey King has supernatural eyes, he sees through all the monsters and defeats them. Xuanzhang, on the other hand, is just a normal human being. He doesn’t understand those people who are defeated by Monkey King are actually monsters, and blames Monkey for killing the innocents. After an intense argument, Monkey King decides to leave Xuanzhang.

After Monkey leaves, only Piggy Monster and Sandie Orc are left to protect Xuanzhang. But neither Piggy or Sandie is capable enough to protect Xuanzhang. Piggy is lazy and bodily appertites, Sandie is slow-witted. The monsters are very happy about this, especially the demon “Yellow rope”. Yellow rope kidnaps Xuanzhang while Piggy is taking a nap!

When Piggy and Sandie find out that Xuanzhang is missing, they don’t know what to. So Piggy goes to find Monkey king and asks him to come back so they can all go to the demon’s palace and rescue Xuanzhang. Meanwhile, Yellow rope is about to kill Xuanzhang. Just as Xuanzhang is crying for help, Monkey, Piggy and Sandie break into the palace and rescue Xuanzhang successfully. After the incident, Xuangzhang apologize to Monkey king for his innocence and they continue on their journey again. Although there are some other monsters waiting for them, such as OX king and Spider beauties, Monkey can always turn peril into safety.

       Finally, they arrive in India and get the scriptures from Buddha. As they are celebrating the completion of the mission, Sandie finds out that the scripture are empty books! Everyone is confused, and Buddha appears. Budda tells them this is the final test, and ask them a question about what the real treasure of the journey is? No one has a good answer except Monkey King. When Monkey says the real treasure is the journey itself, the Buddha smiley nods. After the quiz, Buddha gives them the real scriptures. At the end of journey, they all have changed and find out the real treasure is deep down in their heart.

The Outsider

On the stage, light fades in. He is holding the mic and doing stand-up. No one is laughing but him. And what even more pathetic is, actually, probably, no one here understands English but him. However, he doesn’t give it a damn. He takes another sip of beer and carries on. “The joke. Oh, where was I? Right, family issue.” He looks at the audience, and the audience give him draining eyes like they’re falling asleep, but this is even a Saturday night.

At the moment, he can’t help wondering, how did he end up like this? This, like being a total joke. Life should be sunny and wonderful after he left America. America, the land of bitterness. He recalls when he stepped out the gate, he really thought his miserable life would be ended. Taiwan, Formosa! Before he came he assumed this is a sunny island, just like Kwan, beautiful beaches and bikini girls. But once again, life betrayed on him, just like many others before. After the first week staying in Taipei, he found out it rains like hell. Hot, humid and stuffy hell.

But he got no choices, the life has to go on, so as the show.

He takes a deep breath in and continues, “I know I can never compete with my brother. After all, my brother, he is a lawyer, making big money and working in the building. As to me, being an English teacher. Making small wages and has achieved nothing in my life. How can I defeat him? I mean, I got no chances. Everything is settled before our births. He can defeat me even when we’re sperm, with his giant tail and sweep me away.” He makes an exaggerative face, as if trying to convince the audience this is a joke. But sadly, no. People drinks like he doesn’t exist.

The stand-up is finished and he takes a bow. But no one notices that the show is over.  “Fuck it.” he thinks, “What do you guys know about humor?” He gives up, put the mic back and turns his back on. Heading toward the bar and looking for some alcohol. Suddenly, he falls. He looks down, and finds out he is trapped by the wires.

 “Ouch!” he cries out and swears. All of the sudden, people burst out laughing. Harder he tries to stand up, harder people laugh. Finally, he gives up and twines by wires, looks like a pity clown.

At the moment, he realizes that he is the biggest joke that he’s ever made. Slowly, he feels water in his eyes, and is still being trapped. “What a perfect metaphor.” He thinks, “Now I’m literally stuck in here.”

Day 1

I've never thought that I would write an English blog.

Well, it is quite challenging for a person who is not an English native speaker. However, I'll keep doing it until I get native like enough. Though I don't really see why am I doing this? As a screen writer, the only two skills I need are write and read Mandarin well.

I guess that is because I want to achieve something. Something can be referred to  a movie. I'm not really satisfied by only making movies for Asians. I'd like to be connected with people all around the world. Some people may say I'm just day dreaming. But, hey, there's nothing lose for aiming high.

Anyway, I sincerely hope the practice could be continue.