STARMAKER : Musical Theatre Boot Camp

Yes, people, I joined the Bootcamp. Thank you very much Bilot for talking me into it, Intan Zarina & Syarifah Nabilah for helping me find the place, Daddy for paying for it, Paan for your encouragement. Normally I'd wait till something is over, and then recap....but I feel so strongly about this, that I feel like my chest is about to burst. why wait? I've found my love. The best thing this camp has done for me is making me realize how much i truly love performing and that i probably can't live without it.

My Maksu was the one who sms-ed me about the camp; she got the sms from Ida Mariana, the camp manager. I didn't even think about it at first coz I was focusing on my elective project (bacterial contamination on the white coats of health care workers and medical students) and on wanting to go back home to Penang. That night, I was talking it over with Bilot and then it was as if someone flicked the switched 'ON' within me : I HAD TO GET INTO THE CAMP.

The next day, I emailed to ask more information and set off to Ampang Point to locate the studio. Mind you, i was using public transport and walked around the blocks for hours through rain and shine, literally. I didnt care that my jeans & shoes were wet from the puddles, my face oily and tudung blotchy from the rain & sweat. Mission failed. Then, Enfiniti Productions responded to my email, and i learned that classes stretched till 11pm. This was a problem : I cant rely on LRT and i have no clue how to drive myself there. I got directions from Intan Zarina, (may Allah have mercy on her soul) and the next day (Friday), i proceeded to settle my registration. I had them fax the papers to my grandma's house and i banked in the deposit (mind you, Enfiniti called me coz they thought they messed up the account number!). 12pm, I had Syarifah Nabilah join me on my quest to familiarize with the road to Ampang and to locate Ten on Ten studios.

3 hours and RM6 tol fees later, we found it and satisfied our hungry tummies at Linda Onn's chicken rice downstairs. I reached my grandma's house at 4, finished my packing, secured my baby in a box (Baby J, my rabbit), waved for a cab at 4.30. I reached the KTM at 4.50, and managed to get tickets for the 5pm bus to Penang (mind you, next bus was 8pm). If that's not hectic, I don't know what is.

Saturday : grocery shopping. Sufia's bro's wedding. Dinner at Swensen's

Sunday : sent my sis to the bus station. brought my baby to the vet. met up with Sufia, Nadia, Hazirah,Illani & Durar (The ol gang) at Queensbay, helped mum make creme caramel

Monday : 10am bus to KL

Then, Tadaa! The launch of STARMAKER. Tiara was there, Adlin was there, Ida, Pat, Sean, Reza, the press, etc. And there I was at one corner of the room, a nervous wreck. I'd be lying if i said i wasn't worried/self-concious about the fact I'm bertudung, and the fact I have ZERO experience and unsure of what I have to offer. Everyone seems to know everyone and i stuck out like a sore thumb. I started to pick out first-timers like myself and befriended them. Then after the press conference, we went straight into Boot Camp Mode. Intro to every class we'd have. Sean even taught us a lil routine.

The next day was dance class with Pat Ibrahim. The only word I can think of to describe him is 'Jiwa'. He reminds me so much of Hafiz that I can't help but smile everytime I see him. Never mind that, Pat really takes the concept of body aches and sore muscles to a whole new level. We learnt the chorus routine of Titah Sultan (super cool). 10 seconds worth of dancing took us >4 hours to learn. Brilliant, fantastic, I love it (even though i look like a spinning walrus doing it).

Thursday was Reza's session. It wasn't as physically taxing, but it was challenging nonetheless. I personally found it hard to grasp the concepts of acting that was being taught. But like the other campers said, Reza's class is the time when we first got a sense of working together and learning more about each other. That night, was my first breakdown. I felt I didn't belong, because 95% of the students are professional singers, dancers or actors. Even first-timers at least has had vocal or jazz/ballet lessons before, or an early exposure to the world of theatre. During the class, Reza said singing was like being on stage naked for him, and for Soefi, it was dance. Me, i felt like i came into the camp completely naked.

Friday was Sean's class, and we managed to learn & complete the chorus for The American Dream (TAD, from Miss Saigon), singing harmonies + dance. As if our muscles arent't in pain, Sean made us do a lot of ab exercise during warm-up. And then, added the intro steps for TAD. It was fun, exhausting and a lot to take in. And as always, I was very unsure about my singing. Friendship among bootcampers were developing, and that took a lil edge off me, thank God.

Saturday. Pat taught us the intro routine for Asmaradana. Again, brilliant and bloody hard to follow. We had another session with Reza, with gibberish and making lasting impressions. Then, with Llew picking our audition song. Sunday, the best day to date. It was the first time Pat, Sean and Reza joined forces to really drill us. We did Titah Sultan, TAD chorus, then the boys went with Reza & Llew for their audition songs while the girls were grilled by Sean teaching more steps for TAD intro. The 30min break that followed lead us to an intimate chat session with out camp leaders. Everyone shared their story : how they came about, what they do, how'd they join the camp. Our stories paralelled one another : everyone had 2 sides to their lives/identities. Suddenly, there was such a strong bond being forged. It was like everyone came to a mutual agreement without really discussing it. We were family.

Last part of the session on Sunday, we did Seasons of Love picture postcard. It moved so many of us to tears; I thought i was the only one. Had I been more confident I would've let go earlier. When we returned to our homes, some of us, myself included, really broke down and cried. That's when our Virtual E-Family (as I call it) really picked up. Some continued sharing stories, others sending clips to motivate and help us learn. The best part is when Ida, Tiara and the admins admitted they wanted 'in' on our mailing circle. They were surprised with the love and energy going around, even if it is on cyberspace.

Today, the first day of Week 2 in STARMAKER. I personally felt the dynamics in the class has changed almost dramatically. Tiara joined us today and shared her experience. By the look on her face, I'd say she was impressed with the campers. Ida came too; apparently she's been sick the past few sessions. I got all the PGLM cast members that were there to sign my programme book. I felt so happy. And you know what? Next, I'm gonna ask everyone (campers+cikgus) to sign in my camp notebook, just like i did in SGGS before I left for MRSM.

There you have it. That's how this 3rd Year Medical Student (sem starts Monday, 9th) sacrificed the 1 week remaining in her 2+month semester break (most of the break was spent in UM doing the elective project). I have no regrets. I will find a way to juggle medicine and theatre. I will find time to watch the musicals we've been referring to and those that you guys talk about so often.

One guy in GOAT (refer previous posts) said to me, "Dima, I hope to see you succeed in two theatres; the operating theatre and the stage theatre". I'll do what I can, the best that I know how, to fulfill that. That dream and desire I've had, buried for so long. Doctor by day, performer by night. Say YES to an extraordinary life!