Making of the video

Equipment:

• Camera: Olympus VG120 pocket camera
• Software: PowerDirector 10

This two and a half minute video is made entirely from still shots – 22 of them. A number of them had been cropped to remove unnecessary or distracting parts.

The way I went about was first, decide on the story, then the theme – the mood. The choice of music is crucial. From the music, I timed the duration. That's the time I have to tell this little story. From the thumbnails of the collection of shots taken of the event I selected the ones I felt will fit the bill.

A little digression. I am an impulsive buyer. A year back I had bought a pocket video camera without any research. Used it a bit, had too many drawbacks and limitations, therefore didn't travel much with me. I arrived at Kuala Lumpur airport at 2.30 in the morning to begin a 6-hour wait for my onward flight to Penang. At 7am shops began to open. I came across this stall selling Olympus cameras at good discount. I have a strong bias towards things Olympus. If only I had not deviated in my earlier purchases. I confess that I actually did buy a small Nikon still camera only a few months earlier. It wasn't bad but didn't thrill me. Gave it away.

The sales girl was enthusiastic and I had no reason not to buy one – a low end one. So glad I did and at half the price of one of my earlier purchases!

I felt it a good, cheeky way to shock old friends with an in-your-face shot of myself taken by this sweet sales girl. So that shot made it into the first frame. This is followed by two cropped photos with panning effect to show my boredom at the airport reflected in the other passengers. Although these were taken at the domestic terminal where I had only a half hour wait, it didn't matter, just so long as I have the material to help the story along.

The actual Class of 66 story begins with meeting of old friends in the lobby of the school. Ours is a top school in the state and the Class of 66 did produce some very successful and prominent citizens, and many of this class' students have maintained very close ties as a group as well as with the school, and it's all due to the patience and organisation skills on one among us "Bobby Boo". He's the one shaking hands with the School Principal at the presentation ceremony. The elderly man with us is a 90 year old La Sallean Brother who played a prominent role in the school during our time and much loved by the students.

"Forever Young" is an appropriate theme for this group which does actually remain very young in our ways and thinking. I suddenly insert three shots that don't seem to fit in the story. I was actually profoundly touched by this group of young students and it hit me loud and clear why this school is truly great. For ten years now they have been running this very special bakery class for students with greater passion for food than for letters. The school runs this impressive class without Government funding. Many of its students have progressed through colleges on to good jobs in the fast growing hospitality industry. These are the students who will continue, like us, to remaining forever young.

I end the story with the farewell dinner at my favourite eating place (a very typical setting in Penang) with the group and my dad before I left them for another few months.