My 1st (CHAOTIC!) Day as 3R Intern! @ Petaling Jaya (Friday, 28th December 2007)

Salam,

Yes! Finally I am updating my blog on my activities in 2008. I love updating my blog but most of the time I am just too occupied to update it. So today is one of my rajin days I guess.

Ok so when I was selected as one of the Intern 3R Search winners, before going to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for further shootings, I was informed that we’ll have shooting in Malaysia as well. I thought that there must be challenges since this is regarding on being an intern right?

So I was summoned to Red Comm’s office in Petaling Jaya without any prior notice of what to expect, only to be told I should wear something comfortable especially comfortable sports shoes. Aiyoh nak suruh main netball ke? Who knows, 3R is all about women being confident in their own skin, and to be active in almost every single positive things on Earth, so it could be anything. I just wore my old Miss Selfridge baby blue jumper top and jeans, which luckily I could fit in after such a long time not being able fitting into it. Yikes, Suraya is indeed so fat. With my baby blue hijab and my lovely Coach sneakers (always scared that something bad might happen to these like extra dirtiness..oh no..) so basically I look like a Blue Hyppo.. only the shade of blue is lighter. I bet I was going to look extra fat on TV, but lantokkk lee udoh teman memang sendor pun!

When I reached there alone at about 2 pm, I was asked to wait. So I waited. Then after quite some time waiting, Kartini came and greeted me. She’s so adorable wearing a denim skirt and a green top. She’s nice and friendly, and personally I think she is prettier off TV and her face does not need much make-up. This is the first time I met Tini because when I was attached with Maybelline for the Beauty In Me competition, Tini was still in UK completing her Masters in Mass Communication.

She told me shooting was about to be started, so I just have to act normal because this is some sort of reality TV. Uhuh. When the camera started to roll, I was introduced to Mona, here referred as the 3R director. I was introduced to her as the new intern. Sudah mati aku what do I know about TV production except being in front of the camera for very-very small things?! Ok although I am very familiar with the Red Comm’s staffs, but it’s not like I know everyone by name and their job posts. Then Mona gave me an envelope, telling me that I am the PM. Absent-mindedly I asked “Is it Programme Manager?” She just gave me a cold stare and answered, “No. It is Production Manager.” Haa! At least I know, that’s what Julie from Sadiq & Co. is. She handles everything regarding the shooting. She is the one whom people would point finger at to blame when anything wrong happens. Damn it. But at least I got the idea what a PM is. Also I was given RM 20 for the budget of that evening.

In the envelope it stated some names I should contact for a shooting that evening for one of the scenes on 3R namely “Pandang-Pandang, Jeling-Jeling” or “Salah ke Nak Pandang?” or something like that. It is about man staring at women and vice versa until the opposite sex is not comfortable. I knew that this episode had been aired already, I even remember the scene where Reza acted as the pervert teasing a schoolgirl. However since I know this is a challenge on Reality TV, I just had to go with the flow. Mona also asked me to contact everyone so the shooting would be done around 7 p.m. as stated in the paper. I was also asked to prepare the Production Box where many essential equipments are kept in the box or else the shooting would not happen. Not excluding I have to get all the electrical appliances which are needed for the shooting, which I was not familiar with at all.

Luckily I am quite familiar about what the crews do about TV production. This time I was one of the behind the scenes people. Firstly I went to the Red Comm’s bungalow which is located nearby to get the costumes which were school uniform for the girl, books, schoolbag and perhaps clothes for the guy. Then I contacted the cameraman, audioman and casts, everybody played as though as they were not inform about the shooting at all. Everybody made up excuses that they could not come. The casts especially the guy pissed me off like crazy when he got angry at me when I tried to confirm whether he could come or not. You know, acting all Divo like some sort of superstar. One thing I noticed was, I knew all the staffs at Red Comm were always so friendly and helpful and nice, but this time everybody put on a cold front when they met me. Ok I know you guys were trying to make things tough for me, so I tried my best to play it cool and not to be defeated.

Then I contacted the owner of the location, suddenly she said she thought the shooting was supposed to take place next week. A’ah dan dan. Then of course, they tried to see how I negotiated with everyone to get things running, finally I managed to get the location but she wanted everything to wrap up at exactly 7 p.m. since she was about to have a family gathering that very night. Meanwhile, all the other crews with me whom I managed to get them moving tried to delay things for me like “Lepak la Suraya. Masa banyak lagi.” Even Abang Zul the audioman asked me whether he could buy some cigarettes first, I just gave a firm no because we were running out of time. One of the crews Chew, well I always knew he drives in a very speedy way, but this time annoyingly he drove me around in the slowest motion possible.

When we arrived at the location which was a nearby house, I greeted an old lady asking for the owner, she did not even recognize the name I mentioned but it did not hit me then that the ‘owner’ might be an actress as well. Then Mona asked me where is the Production Box. Uh-oh I completely forgotten about it! Then I had to return to the bungalow and searched for the box. That time things got a little hectic, I even toppled the Christmas Tree! Keong, the cameraman whom recorded me that time was really excited of the footage but it was edited when this episode aired on TV.

When I arrived back at the location, Bull-Dog, the cameraman for that day carelessly dropped the lights where it freaked out the owner, and she told me that she had warned us about not having any scratches or damages. Yes yes noted. Then one of the crews broke a flower pot, and that really made the owner angry. I had to use my communication skills and intelligence and what not to calm things down, at that point I was annoyed myself too. Urgh I knew they purposely did it! Sabar je la! At the same time, the casts were not there yet, and from time to time Tini interviewed me about how I was doing. Once I told Mona that the talents were still not around she just said, “Then are you asking ME??” I spontaneously answered “No, just talking to myself,” when indeed I was asking her.. huhu.

One thing which really irritated me and made my blood boil was when I could not contact the girl talent at all! Her phone was ringing all the time but she did not answer! Arghh! At first she said she was in front of UIA Matric Centre, then when I went to fetch her there she said she was at the bungalow, when I went to the bungalow she said she was at the office. Oh darn it, we should have started to shoot at that time already! When she finally showed up at the office, my heart skipped a beat. She was wearing this really revealing top (no problem with that) but the problems were her eyebrows were thinly waxed, pierced nose and her nails were so long and painted in deep red nail polish. My heart sank because I knew she would be rejected to be a schoolgirl. This time I was really confirmed as dead meat.

Nevertheless, I asked her to change into the school uniform and asked her to remove the piercing. I asked her gently why were her nails painted, didn’t she know at all about the shooting? She said she forgot about the shooting and she was not at home when I phoned her. I just knew I would be dead but kept silent.

When we arrived back at the location, Mona had this really grim expression which could scare anyone to death. Ok I guess there is too many words relating to death in this post, but seriously although I knew they purposely created the challenges for me, I was really scared of failing. Then Mona said to me she did not want the guy talent because his hair was dyed blonde and he had eyebrow piercing. I just tried to calm her down and said since he was supposed to be the bad boy so that should not be a problem. However I told her the girl would be impossible due to her appearance. Mona just shook her head in a super annoyed way. Ouchhh. Then after a few seconds of silence, another flower pot fell on the floor and broke. Tini did it in the most accidental way. I was boiling but did not utter a word.

The ‘owner’ showed up being all angry chasing us out of the house. Me too, instead of backing up my crews I just said “ Yes I understand, I’ve told them to be careful but they did not, so nevermind no shooting for today.” Cehh konon! Then the guy talent got angry and said “ Hey I have come all the way for the shooting but there is not shooting so what about my payment?!”, I did not care anymore at that time it was his fault as well for coming really late. At one point, when everybody stared at me, I just could not think of anything else to do just stared on the floor hoping that they would say everything has ended.

Alhamdulillah, Tini finally said “Suraya, actually all these were planned to see how you would handle the situation as a Production Manager.” At that time, tears filled up my eyes and I said “Although I know from the start everything was planned to go against me, I still wanted us to shoot and wrap and I do not want to be considered as not capable to perform work.” Arghh, I told myself not to cry but still I had tears in my eyes. I was so disappointed but was truly glad everything has ended.

At the end of the shooting, Tini commented that I am a perfectionist, and a very result-oriented person, creative and tried my best to find the solutions to the problems. My negative points were, I should be gentler to people around me, and in showbiz sometimes you just have to kiss people’s asses because we might work with them again in the future though in reality we feel like choking them. I also have to be gentler to people since all around me were older than me. Well I agreed with her, I know I respect older people around me for example when I had my attachment at CSI Bukit Aman but I did not have any problem with them because things were going my way. This was indeed a worst case scenario.

It was a good and unforgettable experience for me, and yes a tiring one too! And yes people, they did not manage to show the real picture on TV due to time limit, all the troubles I went through, it was unbelievable really!That night I smsed Sok Peng, the Producer saying thank you and told they really acted well, she laughed and said everyone in Red Comm has acting qualifications of some sort. Would not deny that. :p On the next day, I was supposed to meet the other 2 winners, so just hang in there and check out The REAL CurHat Sue soon. Later. J

Interview with MRSM KKB Juniors @ Coffee Bean, KLCC

A bunch of Form 5 students from my school, MRSM Kuala Kubu Bharu contacted me to interview about my work as a make-up artiste. I cannot really recall the subject which required them to do this assignment, but actually their focus for the assignment is about how to use make-up properly so that the health of the skin would not be affected. Still, it must be related to Science. :p


Finally after some postponement, I finally managed to meet them at Coffee Bean KLCC. I met 3 of the group members, and they were nice sweet girls though initially they were pretty shy. I met them with my mother, Ummi and they treated us with some drinks and muffins.


Basically I explained to them how I juggle my studies with my make-up career, and how we have to take importance on cleanliness and using the good quality make-up so that nothing bad would happen to our skin. I even explained to them the usage of brushes in creating flawless make-up texture.


Suddenly out of nowhere, Ummi’s eyes were closed by the hands of a stranger. Such a pleasant surprise, my boyfriend appeared before our eyes. He was watching a movie with his friends when he saw us there. He knew that we were supposed to meet the girls but he did not know where we were exactly. So automatically he became our instant photographer :p


Basically it was a brief meeting with the girls, but it was nice to know that in a way I could help them with their schoolwork J

Akma's Wedding @ Medan Gopeng, Ipoh, Perak (Sunday, 23rd December 2007)

When I received the wedding invitation card from my friend Akma I felt the most excited. She was my first friend in my life to get married. Yes there were schoolmates in SMKTM whom hitched the knot even after we left high school, but they were not my friends. However in MRSM KKB, since we were the pioneer batch of the institution, all of us are just going to be 22, so far none in the record is married yet. We’ll see who’s going to get married first among us :p

Well yes Akma, I have known her when both of us underwent the Nurul Shukor’s Intensive Bridal Make-up Course in June 2007. We were partners for those 2 days, where I experimented my make-up on her and she experimented on me. Akma is 5 years older than me, so she is more like an elder sister, a very sweet one indeed. She works in the ICT field during the weekdays but at the same time she runs a company providing bridal services such as make-up, bridal dais, hantaran (wedding gifts) etc with her then fiancé.

So I met her on only those two days, after that we continued chatting via sms and YM! mostly about this one great passion of ours towards the beauty business. We shared our tips and pointers about everything related to it, but never met again since the course.

It’s not a surprise to see her astonished expression when I arrived with my family and my boyfriend at her wedding ceremony. That was because for a friend whom she only mingled with once, she did not expect at all that I would drive all the way from KL to Ipoh, Perak, just to celebrate her important day. It was a joy for me to see her expression and she could not stop thanking us for coming. I was glad that I followed my friend from CSI, Fazilah @ Milah’s advice to always attend the wedding ceremony of the person who has invited you personally, because it indicates that they hope that you could be a part of their joy. It was simply true.




She was so excited telling me that most of the preparations for her wedding ceremony, they were ‘Sdn. Bhd.’ She informed that the bridal dais, ballroom decorations even to her make-up from the engagement until the wedding ceremony she did it on her own with the help of her fiancé! Her husband is so lucky to have a wife like her I guess because I bet that their wedding ceremony did not cost a bomb on him then. :p

To Akma, thank you for inviting me. and her beloved hubby, I bid all the best for both of you. May Allah bless your union with contentment and happiness for eternity. Amin.

PS* Akma, promise me you will hit the kitchen and cook using the cooking utensils I gave you as your wedding gifts ok dear? Masak jangan tak masak! ;p

'Intern 3R' Search Audition @ Giant, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong (Saturday, 22nd December 2007)

Salam,

I knew about the 3R Intern Search to Vietnam from Abang Jamal, one of the crews at Red Comm. He asked me to come to the audition since he said it’d be a good experience from me. Then I saw the advertisement on TV quite a few times. For those who do not know, 3R is one of my most favourite TV programmes and it’s not the typical women’s TV programme. It concerns about women’s issues and rights, in a cool way, and yes it got spunk.

The audition took place at Guardian at Giant, Bandar Kinrara Puchong, since Guardian is one of the main sponsors of 3R Season 13. The requirement of the intern (they would choose 3 winners) were they have to be intelligent, spontaneous, confident, has a great personality, fluent in Bahasa Melayu and English, knows how to deal with computers and most importantly loves to be involved with social work and loves 3R! I just think I fit the criteria (or I just feel perasan that I fit the picture) I prepared myself for the audition.

At the audition, they required all applicants to introduce themselves and tell them the reasons for us wanting to be 3R Intern. Besides that we have to show a 30 seconds talent. Any talent that you could think of it does not matter. Some did yoga, some danced and sang, one even showed the ways of weaving the ketupat. As for me, I did hosting, already as the 3R Intern hosting in Vietnam. :p The crews applauded when I finished, so I was happy with the audition and returned home with a good feeling.

Alhamdulillah, next 2 days the Producer of 3R phoned me informing that I was chosen. I sounded too stable I guess she even asked me “Did you expect to get this?” I just laughed and said “Yes because I had a good feeling about the audition!” and she laughed too. She told me that I would be joining them for the shooting in Vietnam from 3rd – 6th January 2008. Yes Vietnam here I come for the first time! However before that, they were some ordeals prepared by the 3R production team that I had to go through… (coming soon)

Function/Night Make-up (Solekan Majlis/Malam) @ Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya, Selangor.

Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

My best friend Mira Zuraika became the MC for the Cultural Night at her university, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya. She is always a fan of heavy & dark smokey eyes make-up. It was lovely to see her wearing a gorgeous traditional Songket garment in Banana Leaf Green. It was the first time for her being an MC for any event, and when she knew she looked fabulous, she was confident and managed to pull it off.

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Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

Rakan baik Sue Mira Zuraika telah menjadi pengacara pada Malam Kebudayaan universitinya, Universiti Multimedia, Cyberjaya. Mira seorang peminat tegar solekan berat dan gelap di mata iaitu Smokey Eyes. Sungguh cantik Mira pada malam itu mengenakan pakaian Songket berwarna hijau pucuk pisang. Ia merupakan kali pertama Mira menjadi pengacara sebuah majlis, dan apabila Mira tahu yang beliau kelihatan hebat, maka beliau yakin untuk melakukan yang terbaik.

Wedding Reception / Bridal Make-up (Solekan Majlis Persandingan/Pengantin) @ Bandar Manjalara, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.

Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

For this bridal make-up, the bride was naturally gifted with baby smooth skin and beautiful features. However she co-operated with me in choosing the suitable colour of her contact lenses and also she asked me to choose for her the most beautiful but natural looking fake eyelashes. I bought for her from Shu Uemura's Tokyo Lash Bar (of course she topped up the cost) the fake eyelashes with black diamantes (look awesome under the lights) as used by Datin Seri Siti Nurhaliza for her wedding ceremony at KLCC Convention Centre (only hers were without the diamantes).

I also did the make-up for the groom, styled her hijab and also managed to did the 'Kain Samping' of the groom but with the help of the groom of course :)

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Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

Untuk solekan pengantin ini, pengantin perempuan memang telah dianugerahkan kulit sehalus bayi juga kecantikan semulajadi. Walaubagaimanapun, beliau bekerjasama dengan Sue dengan memilih warna yang sesuai untuk kanta lekapnya dan telah meminta Sue untuk memilih bulu mata palsu yang cantik namun nampak semulajadi. Sue membelikannya dari Tokyo Lash Bar Shu Uemura(sudah pasti beliau menambah kosnya) sepasang bulu mata dengan diamante hitam (nampak sungguh hebat di bawah limpahan lampu) seperti yang digunakan oleh Datin Seri Siti Nurhaliza untuk majlis persandingannya di Pusat Konvensyen KLCC (cuma beliau memakai yang tiada diamante).

Sue juga menyolek pengantin lelaki, menggayakan hijab dan mengikat Kain Samping dengan bantuan pengantin juga. =)

Convocation/Day Make-up (Solekan Konvokesyen/Siang) @ Kampung Chubadak, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

I did make-up for two sisters where one of them was graduating. Thus they want proper looks for her Convocation ceremony. They never had make-up really before this especially the one in green, but finally I managed to make her made-up and she was happy with the results although it was not my best. As for the convocation make-up it is also suitable for a day outing.

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Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

Sue telah menyolek dua adik-beradik di mana salah seorang daripada mereka bergraduasi. Oleh itu mereka mahu kelihatan elok untuk mernhadiri Majlis Konvokesyen tersebut. Mereka berdua tidak biasa bersolek khususnya yang bertudung hijau, namun akhirnya Sue berjaya menyoleknya dan beliau sukakan hasilnya walaupun ia bukan kerja Sue yang terbaik. Manakala untuk solekan Konvokesyen pula juga sesuai untuk solekan santai/siang.

Function/Night Make-up (Solekan Majlis/Malam) @ Bandar Tasik Permaisuri, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

My client was attending her company's Annual Dinner with the theme 'Polka Dots'. She wanted me to tie her hijab in a trendy way or as most Malaysians refer as the Bienda way (a singer famous with this way of hijab style). I am not used of tying my hijab this way but it's my mission not to disappoint my clients, thus I tried and Alhamdulillah she was more than happy! :)

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Assalamualaikum Stylistas of Abaya Suraya!

Pelanggan Sue perlu menghadiri Majlis Makan Malam Tahunan syarikatnya yang bertemakan 'Polka Dots'. Beliau mahukan Sue mengikat tudungnya dengan gaya terkini ala penyanyi Bienda. Sue tidak biasa menggayakan hijab begini tapi ia misi Sue untuk tidak mengecewakan para pelanggan, lalu Sue mencubanya dan Alhamdulillah pelanggan ini berpuashati! =)

Dari Dapur Ummi! Kari Kapitan (Kapitan's Curry)

Salam,

The word Kapitan, if I’m not mistaken is originated from the Chinese immigrants’ clans living in Malaya (the name of Malaysia before the independence in 1957) especially the ones whom worked in the tin mines. Perhaps this is their curry recipe. To be noted, again we used the range of Seri Murni’s cooking pastes, however below are our ways of modifying it.
This is one of my personal favourites, besides that, it is without any doubt, my boyfriend’s MOST favourite meal in Malaysia. He would be acting like he discovered hidden treasure whenever Ummi and I cooked this meal for him. He even would close his eyes while swallowing each handful of rice telling me he’s trying to enjoy the delicious gravy to the utmost. Well, enough said here, just please try it out and insya Allah you’ll thank me later. :p

Ingredients/ Bahan-bahan

• Chicken / Ayam
• Seri Murni’s Kari Kapitan Paste/ Pes Kari Rendang Seri Murni (2 packets/ peket)
• Cili Padi (12)
• Red Onion / Bawang Merah (3)
• Tomatoes / Tomato
• Coriander leaves / Daun Ketumbar
• Coconut Milk / Santan
• Water / Air
• Salt / Garam
• Oil / Minyak

Firstly pound the cili padi with salt according to your liking. / Mula-mula sekali tumbukkan cili padi dengan garam mengikut citarasa anda.

Next, pound the red onions with the cili padis. / Kemudian tumbukkan bawang merah dengan cili padi tadi.



Fry the ingredients in heated oil. / Tumiskan bahan-bahan dalam minyak yang telah dipanaskan.



Put in the Kari Kapitan paste into the wok and stir it with the previous ingredients. / Masukkan pes Kari Kapitan ke dalam kuali bersama bahan-bahan tadi.





The arising of the ingredients’ aroma indicates that they are partially cooked. Put in the chicken. Stir the chicken with the paste./ Kemudian setelah bahan-bahan tadi telah naik bau menunjukkan ia telah sedikit masak, masukkan ayam. Balik-balikkan ayam bersama pes.




After that cover the wok with the lid and wait until the chicken is cooked. / Tutup kuali dengan penutup, tunggu sehingga ayam masak.




Pour in a few cups of water as the gravy, do not pour in too much to so the gravy would not be too thin. / Masukkan beberapa cawan air untuk dijadikan kuah, jangan terlalu banyak supaya tidak cair.




Next put in the sliced tomatoes / Kemudian masukkan tomato yang telah dipotong-potong.





Next, put in cut turmeric leaves for extra taste and especially for its nice fragrant. / Selepas itu, masukkan daun ketumbar yang telah dipotong-potong untuk rasa yang lebih enak dan paling utama aromanya yang harum.



Finally mix all the ingredients until the meal is cooked and ready to be prepared. / Akhir sekali gaulkan semua bahan-bahan sehinga ia masak dan sedia untuk dihidangkan.


ENJOY! =)