14th June, me and two friends departed from Jakarta to Bandung for a MoDaoZuShi photoshoot. Things were supposed to run smoothly but it didn’t. Here’s a brief run through of what happened during the journey and photoshoot. Although the process wasn’t easy, the experience definitely was a learning material. On 14th June, when Lena, Azane and I went to the train station, I printed the wrong ticket and we were late to boarding due to some toilet business and traffic jam. The train left and we had to go by travel car. It was our first time going by train, after all. It was a financial loss but it made us learn that not everything is late in Indonesia. We thought there would be 5-10 minutes spare as ‘being not punctual’ is a sort of a bone-seeping habit for most Indonesians. This experience definitely taught as to be punctual or at least earlier as some traffic jam could be unexpected in Jakarta. So, we rushed to the closest car travel office and we got caught in traffic jam. Supposedly there was a redirection of traffic due to demonstration in Central Jakarta. After purchasing tickets for the travel car, I almost left my luggage. Good thing two babies reminded me and I did not lose my luggage. Before we departed, we had some time for lunch and fortunately near the travel office was a fast food restaurant. We replenished ourselves with food and drinks then got on the car. Most of our time in car, we spent it by sleeping. When we reached Bandung, we got some instructions from friend who lived in Bandung and a member of the photoshoot as well. We waited at the instructed location and our friend, Gege, fetched us from there to her Grandma’s house where we would be staying for four days and three nights. The first day of our photoshoot, Azane accidentally ripped her contact lenses and could only wear one on an eye. My hanfu kept sliding off my chest throughout the photoshoot which was frustrating as Bandung’s temperature was much lower than Jakarta with its natures. Hanfu that is made of most chiffon is definitely thin and not recommended for 7AM photoshoot. We woke up at 3 AM to bath and put on makeup as well as costumes. Then we departed to the location called Situ Patenggang at 6 AM. We reached the location around 7AM and started taking photos. We also met up with the photographer at the location. The first day went by with photos taken and with Gege’s pocket camera, I recorded scenes that we planned to use for a video. Second day of our photoshoot, we woke up on 12AM in the midnight to bath and get ready then departed on 3AM. We reached the location, Ranca Upas, around 4AM. Since it was freezing with mist covering the whole area, I rushed to get to the garage of the car in order to get my shawl. As there was minimum lighting, I couldn’t see clearly although I saw a pit. I thought it was just a pit filled with grasses and did not think too much about it. Azane came down the car and went to the garage as well, who knew she fell into the pit that turned out to be a drainage. I was about to warn her about the pit but she already fell into it when I was speaking. Quickly we pulled her up, asking her if she was wet as we couldn’t see much. “It’s just water.” Azane said and right at that moment someone turned on flashlight with phone and it wasn’t just water. It was blackened water that she fell into. So, Azane stained ¾ of her Lan Wangji costume which was shocking and agonizing as the costume was white. Immediately, Lena and Bimo rushed to help wash the costume. The photoshoot must go on. We travelled far for it after all. Fortunately there were stores around and we got some detergent. In order to help Azane, Lena and Bimo removed their outer part of costumer so that they did not risk staining their costumes. With their magical hands, Azane’s costumes were saved although it was rather mentally suffocating to wait for it to dry. Nick and I didn’t help much with the washing. My costume was light in colours and it was risky, I also didn’t know much about washing certain clothes material. The best I could do was not to try helping and ending up making trouble for Lena and Bimo. Nick, as the Ghost General Wenning, could not see properly due to her white contact lenses. We could only wait patiently in the car. Lena who obviously got cold because she removed her outer shirt and got into contact with freezing water, got a round of asthma attack. We all went into panic but we tried our best to let Lena recover. Fortunately, she brought her medicine along and after a while, she returned normal. Azane, while waiting for her costume to dry, had a mental breakdown. She tried to dismiss herself but Lena and I managed to convince her to join the photoshoot. We all agreed to wait for the temperature to rise and for Azane’s costume to dry at least half. We finally got to the photoshoot. During the photoshoot, no one was clean including photographers Ryo and Kleinda. The ground was soft and wet, it was difficult to walk in boots and costumes. We all got stains and dirt on our costumes. My wig also almost slid off my head. The braids also came undone halfway. Regardless, we managed to accomplish the photoshoot. Post-photoshoot, our legs were sore and aching. Azane and Nick even had scratches from face-taping. Bimo even got fever because he didn't sleep and didn't eat or drink much... Good thing his fever went away quickly.
There were sacrifices made for the photoshoots but it all ended well. The whole trip also became a priceless and precious experience. Everyone worked hard! Here’s the video we made! Special thanks to Jacky who was willing to sing cover for the song! Enjoy!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorThis page will serve as information. It includes articles, travel journals and academic paper work. Archives
April 2020
Categories
All
|