As Neopets approaches its 25th anniversary in November, it stands at a crucial turning point. Once a leader in the virtual pet realm, the platform has experienced stagnation under various corporate owners over the years. Now under the leadership of CEO Dominic Law, Neopets is on the brink of a renaissance, rekindling its magic that captivated millions when it first burst onto the scene. The team is committed to modernizing the experience by exploring avenues such as mobile and tabletop games and merchandise to ensure Neopets evolves beyond its PC roots, adopting fresh developments while still evoking a strong sense of nostalgia. We speak to Dean Ravenola, who serves as Neopets' Narrative and Creative Director, bringing a tapestry of rich storytelling to the digital realm. With a diverse portfolio from video games to graphic novels, he has dedicated his efforts to weaving engaging storylines and fortifying the brand's narrative arc, preparing it for a global audience. https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-39-justsaying-with-dean-ravenola-narrative-and-creative-director-at-neopets/

tokidoki, which translates to “sometimes” in Japanese, is one of the most iconic lifestyle brands today - founded by Italian artist Simone Legno and his partners, Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold.   

We catch up with Simone Legno, tokidoki’s creative director, in Singapore and talk about the brand's rise, and how it has become the lifestyle icon it is today.   

Since debuting in 2005, tokidoki has amassed a cult-like following for its larger-than-life characters and emerged as a sought-after global lifestyle brand. tokidoki offers an extensive range of products, including apparel, handbags, cosmetics, accessories, toys and more.   #tokidoki #SimoneLegno

In this episode, we chat with Leo Leong, the General Manager of Kitchen & Bathroom, South and North East Asia at Kohler Co. to discuss how consumer habits have changed post-Pandemic.

Since the pandemic, we've spent more time at home than ever before. Where our homes were once our castles, for some, they've become our sanctuaries - a place to rest and relax. No longer a transit lounge between travelling to and from the office.

With that being said, I think it's fair to say that we now understand how we use our homes better as well and have spent more on our houses than we've had before. Bringing luxuries home.

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner-operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

As homes become increasingly connected, Kohler is focused on making everyday moments better through thoughtful design and smart technology.

Mr Leo Leong joined Kohler in 2020 and is in charge of leading and managing the Kitchen & Bath business in the South and North East Asia region comprising Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, Guam and Saipan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam.

The global pandemic has affected almost every industry over the last couple of years. Live music and concerts were noticeably absent and musicians and artists had to pivot - there was no other option. 

We speak to Roland Lim, Sales and Marketing Director, Professional Audio Sales, Southeast Asia, Sennheiser, about how the audio industry has evolved during the pandemic - taking quality concerts online, and us experiencing them from our homes. 

We also touch on some of the technological advancements such as the AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio which is now streaming on Netflix and is designed to deliver an incredibly immersive audio experience with standard stereo speakers.

#sennheiser #ambeo #interview

We speak to Mr Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Head of Commercial of ThaiVietJet who shares the airline's perspective on post-pandemic travel, and its plans to serve the tourist community.

In April 2022, Thai Vietjet successfully commenced the maiden flight from Bangkok to Singapore, with a welcome ceremony at Singapore Changi International Airport.

On the inaugural flight, the Thai registered low-cost carrier, treated its first group of passengers to Singapore with the signature inflight performance ‘Fly for Love’ from Thai Vietjet cabin crew, and received a special souvenir from the airline.

Thai Vietjet is continuously expanding its flight network, both domestic and international while increasing its young and modern fleet.

The airline has also recently been awarded the “Most Passenger-Friendly Cabin Crew” in 2021 by the International Finance Magazine, emphasizing its position as the “airline of hospitality”, and reinforcing its core value, “Friendly and Fun” together with “Safety”, “Punctuality” and “Affordable Price”.

Across industries, research has shown that there is a direct correlation between diversity and an increase in the level of innovation.

This is especially important in the gaming industry, as diverse teams with different experiences and knowledge will no doubt make for more creative and robust titles.

Driving diversity and inclusion is not just about being socially responsible — it is also commercially imperative to create great games and tell craft epic stories.

Companies have to look inwards to rebuild their culture, holistically. They'd have to foster an inclusive work environment, while also taking into account training and development, employee autonomy, and mental health.

Studios would have to look externally as well, by building the gaming ecosystem in local communities to inform budding developers about the industry, and encouraging them throughout their career journeys.

We speak with Darryl Long, Managing Director at Ubisoft Singapore and Philippines about the need for diversity in the gaming industry.

As a 20-year veteran of the industry experienced both as a hands-on game developer and as a leader of studios across the world, Darryl shares about the need for gender diversity, the impact the Singapore and Philippines have had on the cultural diversity at Ubisoft, and the importance of functional diversity.

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-27-justsaying-with-darryl-long-diversity-in-the-gaming-industry/

Multiple award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga is renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch.

Best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Miss Saigon, Lea has also won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards, in the field of musical theatre. 

She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Miserables on Broadway and returned to the beloved show as Fantine in the 2006 revival. 

Many fans of all ages recognize Lea as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II. For her portrayal of the beloved princesses, the Walt Disney Company bestowed her with the honor of Disney Legend.

Most recently, Lea is a celebrity guest judge for a first-of-its-kind singing competition, Sing for the Stars, by social media platform, Kumu.

Kumu is not only the first Filipino app to be the #1 top-grossing social app in the Philippines, but one of the highest-grossing social apps in the world, ranking top 10 in multiple markets including Canada, Australia, Middle East, Europe, Hong Kong, and Singapore app stores.

We speak to Lea about her start as a musician, and what it was like to be the first female of Asian heritage to win a Tony Award.

Lea also shares how Sing for the Stars is a unique opportunity for many, and what she’s looking for from contestants.

Kumu’s Sing For The Stars also features Michael Bublé as a guest judge and is now live and open for voting.

The second runner-up will win $2,000 in cash, while the first runner-up takes home $4,000 in cash. The grand champion will take home a whopping $10,000 in cash, a one-year record contract with Warner Music, and their own mini-concert inside the Kumu app, plus a one-on-one coaching session from none other than Michael Bublé.

Today, there are more tools and resources than ever for youths to pursue their entrepreneurial spirits - from apps such as Canva that help you design the trendiest logos and social media posts, to platforms such as WordPress, that allow you to easily set up websites, as well as hosting platforms such as Exabytes that not only provide great hosting services for those website, but have initiates to support those pursuits as well. 

However, while these resources are more than we've ever had available, are they truly enough? 

We speak to Faith Lim, who spearheads the Marketing Team in the Communications Office of Cyber Youth Singapore as Deputy Director. Under her leadership, she has led the team through various events ranging from the CYSummit’21 to a number of various Memorandums of Understandings. 

Faith believes that there is still a lack of resources available for youths and young entrepreneurs, which led led her to co-found a digital marketing agency – Faio Creatives, which provides digital marketing services ranging from copywriting to web services to. 

Nurturing and supporting Singaporean youths on their digitalisation journey

Digitalise Singapore (DS) is a joint technology programme offered by the Research & Innovation Corps of Cyber Youth Singapore (CYS) and Exabytes Networks (Exabytes). 

The programme aims to support ground-up technical projects by youths in Singapore through $150,000 worth of digital solutions and services. Launched 22 May 2021, DS will pilot for one year. DS is powered through the Cyber Youth Innovators Programme and the Cyber Youth Researchers Programme and seeks to impact 1,000 youths. 

The Research & Innovation Corps (RIC) is a department in CYS’ Technology Division (TechDiv) responsible for encouraging and inspiring innovation, entrepreneurship and technological research among Singaporean youth. 

The RIC runs both the Cyber Youth Innovators Programme (CYIP) and Cyber Youth Researchers Programme (CYRP), both of which are used to power Digitalise Singapore.

Video On-Demand streaming services such as iQiyi have become a staple of modern love. Today, you'll be hard pressed to find any couple not spending quality time streaming their favourite films and TV series together.  

iQiyi commissioned a survey across four markets — Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand — seeking to track how streaming behaviours and habits corresponded to different stages of a relationship.  

We speak to Dr. Angela Tan, Intimacy Coach and Co-Founder at the Academy of Relationship and Sex who shares her thoughts on the results, and explains how streaming accounts help to advance, and influence, relationships today.

Singapore-based digital learning technology company, Kydon, recently launched ZilLearn Plus (ZilLearn+) an extension of the company's learning platform, ZilLearn. 

Kydon is one of Asia's leading digital learning technology companies and a key partner in Singapore's Alliance for Action on EduTech.  ZilLearn+ builds on the ZilLearn platform first launched in January 2021, which provides adults with personalised skills analyses through the use of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven skills analytics tool and a vast resource of diverse international courses.   

We speak to David Yeo, Group CEO of the Kydon Group and ZilLearn about how the pandemic has changed the manpower sector and the nature of employability and job success.  

David also touches on how ZilLearn benefits individuals looking to upskill, its AI capabilities and how is it different from other learning platforms.   Following the launch of ZilLearn+, Kydon looks to continue expanding its services across the region to tailor solutions for the individual needs of each market.   

Priced at S$198 per annum, the annual subscription costs can be offset with SkillsFuture Credit for Singaporeans aged 25 years and above. No upfront cash is required upon subscription payment.  

ZilLearn+ courses are available on the ZilLearn app for learners to access quality learning anytime and anywhere, and pick up new skills at their own pace and convenience.  

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-23-justsaying-with-david-yeo-zillearn-taking-digital-upskilling-to-the-next-level/ 

#ZilLearn #Education #Skillsfuture

We speak to Singaporean filmmaker, Nicole Midori Woodford, whose Folklore episode, The Excursion, deals with family trauma and loss. 

Nicole is a film director, writer and editor and an alumnus of Berlinale Talents as well as the Asian Film Academy in 2010.  Her short film For We Are Strangers competed at the 20th Busan International Film Festival. Permanent Resident, her latest short film, was selected in Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2018, Busan International Film Festival and SeaShorts 2018 amongst other festivals.  

Nicole's Folklore episode 'The Excursion' centres around a troubled mother who has to cope with depression, chronic insomnia, an absentee husband... and a ghost that might threaten the life of her only son.  

We speak to Nicole about the inspiration for 'The Excursion' and her experience making the movie, as well as her take on what makes Asian horror different from its Western counterpart.  

Season 2 of Folklore is now available exclusively on HBO and HBO GO, with new episodes every Sunday. 

The Excursion by Nicole Midori Woodford premieres on December 19.  

#Folklore #HBOGO #AsianHorror 

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-22-justsaying-with-nicole-midori-woodford-asian-horror-and-folklore-the-excursion/

Introducing TTRacing - the ergonomic gaming company whose mission is to craft top-tier ergonomic gaming chairs that elevate your seating experience to new heights. Their products are engineered to deliver comfort and support, to ensure that every moment spent in their chairs are optimized for peak productivity and performance - whether you're grinding through a marathon gaming session or tackling a demanding work project. We speak to Henry Ting, the mastermind behind TTRacing, who brings a finance background and a degree from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, with over 8 years deeply immersed in the gaming hardware industry. Henry's forte lies in product development and digital marketing. Under his guidance, TTRacing has not only seen remarkable revenue growth but has also maintained an impressive Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS) and customer satisfaction rate. Henry shares with us his vision for TTRacing, his start and gives valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-38-justsaying-with-henry-ting-ceo-ttracing/ #TTRacing #HenryTing #gamingchair

Mobile gaming is no longer just a form of entertainment, it is becoming a culture of its own. There is a lot of untapped potential in terms of using gaming as a platform for brands to reach out to consumers.

Yet, brands are hesitant to do so because of the lack of measurability and concerns that advertisements will interrupt gameplay.

Brands typically use an interstitial ad model when it comes to in-game advertising, where a full-screen ad is played halfway through a game. With the advent of gaming, brands are discovering the potential of the digital gaming space and creating a blended Video Out-of-Home (VOOH) media environment to engage with gamers.

In Asia, AdColony is synonymous with leading the gaming space. Gaming is the fastest-growing category, surpassing movies and sport due to changing behaviours from consumers.

AdColony offers blended in-game advertising solutions across both display and video to brands and agencies in SEA.

We speak to Tom Simpson, Senior Vice President, APAC of AdColony, and one of Singapore’s most prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders. He has been described as a mentor in the start-up space, a serial entrepreneur and a futurist. He has predicted and driven many of the large consumer and industry shifts such as big data, programmatic, the rise of gaming, esports and the metaverse.

Tom shares how advertising has evolved over the years, and what the future holds for the industry with the rise of gaming and as the metaverse starts to take shape.

Compared to the rest of the world, Asia has taken a much more cautious approach to the resumption of travel, while countries in the other regions have already been experimenting with the reopening of borders much earlier.  

We speak to Rachael Harding, Club Med's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of East and South Asia & Pacific (ESAP) about the outlook and impact of reopening of APAC with the new VTL implementation and the lessons that Club Med took from their successes and failures.  

Rachael also shares how Club Med is refining processes to ensure a stronger and safer environment for travellers from enhanced hygiene processes and flexible booking and refund policies, to vaccination and regulatory measures and considerations, and its plans for expansion in the regions to provide travellers even more options over the next 5 years starting with their first greenfield beach resort in South East Asia.  

Club Med targets a full re-opening of all its resorts in APAC by the end of 2021.  

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-20-jus... 

#ClubMed #APACTravel #TravelNews

Award-winning television series such as Game of Thrones, Disney's The Mandalorian and HBO's Westworld have all relied on groundbreaking virtual and real-time technology to create their stunning visual effects. 

While green screen and CGI technologies aren't new, virtual production tools are proving to be a gamechanger for the industry — enabling faster production workflows, in-camera visual effects, and collaborative post-production processes, all in real-time.

These technologies are fast revolutionizing the traditional filmmaking process and have already proven to streamline workflows, as well as reduce resources, with significant time and cost savings for filmmakers. 

In fact, virtual production also proved critical in 'saving' the film industry during the pandemic. Production hurdles, which were tricky enough to navigate under regular conditions, were further exacerbated when Covid-19 halted most in-person shoots and productions on location.

However, virtual production enabled film crews to resume shoots remotely, and build and walk-through sets, and work more creatively and collaboratively than before. So, it's little wonder that these next-gen tools are seeing rapid adoption across the media and entertainment sector.

We speak with Epic Games Tech Evangelist, Arvind Neelakantan, who shares his insights on how the evolution of game engines and technology have benefited the media and entertainment sector as well as the opportunities this presents for filmmakers.

Epic Games also sees the future of immersive media and entertainment further evolve through a Metaverse - an online world where creatives come together digitally, to develop, and work on media in the future. 

With Esports quickly gaining traction amongst the youth of Singapore, Esports talent management agency, EMERGE Esports and Mediacorp, Singapore's national media network, have announced a partnership to develop budding esports content creators under Mediacorp's Bloomr.SG network.  

Aiming to further evolve Singapore's Esports content creator community amongst Asia's competitive e-gaming industry, EMERGE Esports' talents will receive sponsorship, cross-promotion opportunities and get the chance to work with local and regional celebrities to produce content by tapping into Mediacorp's wide range of resources and facilities.  

We speak with Roy Kek, CEO and Founder of EMERGE Esports about the talent management aspect of Esports - from finding the right talent and platform (game), to commercialization and how corporate sponsors are getting into the game.  

#Esports #TalentManagement #ProGamer

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-18-justsaying-with-roy-kek-emerge-esports-the-talent-management-perspective/

Where once investing in Art was limited to an exclusive club, we speak to Troy Sadler, Managing Director of Art Works, who explains that there are a lot more opportunities available now than before.   

Art Works is a leading fine art investment gallery in Singapore. Established in 2011, Art Works' fine art consultants specialise in providing comprehensive, independent advice to private investors and art collectors who are seeking to capitalize on the fast-appreciating art market.  

With more than a decade of experience in supplying art in Asia, Sadler speaks to us about Art investment trends, such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) gaining popularity in Singapore and how it has shaken up the contemporary world.  

He also shares his thoughts on the return of investment of NFTs versus physical contemporary art, and which is a better investment for art buyers, and how investing in art is no longer just for the wealthy, but has now become accessible to a much wider demographic.

Marvel Studios’ Loki, an original live-action series created exclusively for Disney+, features the mercurial God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow. The series, described as a crime-thriller meets epic adventure, takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Loki Creator and Head Writer Michael Waldron is no stranger to time travel with his work on Rick and Morty. We have a chat with him about where the show picks up, Loki's journey and who he thinks might be the next breakout character in the MCU.

#justsaying #justsayingwith #loki #disney #disneyplus #marvel #mcu #mcuphase4 #lokiseries #tomhiddleston #michaelwaldron #interview #podcast #avengers

Since 18 March “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” has aired across Asian TV networks featuring 16 candidates, handpicked from around the world to compete in a high-stakes competition involving business and physical challenges, for the top prize of a US$250,000 job offer to work directly under ONE Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, for a year as his protege in Singapore.  

As fellow candidates were sent home along the way in the search for The One, Russia's Irina Chadsey proved to be a tough competitor and made it to the Top 4.  

We have a chat with Irina about her journey to the competition, the unique format and the circumstances that were faced during The Apprentice, as well as life after the show.  

Full article on https://www.justsaying.ASIA.  Catch our other 'justsaying with' interviews on: 

Web -  https://www.justsaying.asia/category/podcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/justsayingASIA
YouTube - https://youtube.com/justsayingasia
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Y2vyJ7kNFtSFkxQVJOwx0
and Apple and Google Podcast  

#ApprenticeONE #TheApprentice #ONEChampionship

We speak with Charlie Baillie, Chief Growth Officer at Ampverse, a seasoned digital media and entertainment executive with commercial and operational experience across Europe, North America & Asia Pacific.  

Charlie provides insights on the evolution of esports and how the industry has become part of mainstream culture, and the different opportunities available with its rise.  

Also, with professional esports teams now set up more akin to the holistic structure typically found at a top-tier (traditional) sports team, we also talk about the ecosystem that surrounds a high-performance team, as well as what Ampverse looks for when signing a professional esports player or team.  

#Esports #Ampverse #TalentManagement

Read the article: https://www.justsaying.asia/justsaying-with-charlie-baillie-ampverse-the-rise-of-esport-personalities-and-opportunities/

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier picks up right after Avengers: Endgame - where everyone who was "snapped away" by Thanos, who turned half of the world's population to dust, returns after 5 years of absence.

The Blip (snap) has been undone and the restored population return, only to find that the world has moved on and they're now displaced, refugees. However, while half the world's population is back, Captain America is no more and there is a need to fill the void that he's left behind.

Malcolm Spellman takes the reigns as Head Writer and Executive Producer of 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' to lay the foundation for the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on DIsney+.

Now the home of "pre-Phase 4" of the MCU, Disney+ has kicked off with WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the upcoming Loki series.

While WandaVision, is quite literally set in a Wanda Maximoff-Vision bubble, and the focus is solely on those characters and the ones directly impacted by them, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier not only puts a lens on the relationship between Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) but a greater conversation on the social and political impact of the Blip.

Malcolm Spellman discusses what it was like to write for two new Captain Americas, the relevance the show has to today's narrative, and breakout character Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl):

The fourth season of Young Sheldon returns to Warner TV. In this season, after graduating high school, Sheldon has a breakdown when he realizes he may not be ready for college.  

Young Sheldon stars Iain Armitage plays the once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science in a land where church and football are king.  Iain burst on the acting scene, at the age of 7, when he made his acting debut playing the role of "Ziggy Chapman" on the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning HBO limited series Big Little Lies, based on the best-selling novel by Liane Moriarty. 

He has also appeared in the Netflix feature Our Souls at Night, opposite Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, the independent feature I'm Not Here, with J.K Simmons, and The Glass Castle, for Lionsgate with Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts.  

We catch up with Iain and have a chat about the latest season of Young Sheldon:  

Created by Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, Mom, Mike & Molly) and Steven Molaro (The Big Bang Theory, The Class), Young Sheldon is executive produced by Lorre, Molaro, Steve Holland, Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak.   

New episodes of Young Sheldon Season 4  premiere every Friday on Warner TV (Starhub TV: 515, Singtel TV: 306).  

#IainArmitage #YoungSheldon #justsaying

After being listed on Fest Mag’s “The Best of the Edinburgh Festivals 2022” and receiving ★★★★ from The Age during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sam See is taking his show ‘Government Approved Sex’, on the road all over Asia. In 2020, Sam See was asked by the Singapore government to run a series of educational panels in the National Library about love and sex. After a critically acclaimed run in 2022’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Government Approved Sex is a stand-up comedy show about relationships, BDSM and, of course, scientific facts. The show covers love languages, a virginity guessing game, and a love story at the heart of it all. See’s previous shows have been awarded ★★★★ by BroadwayBaby, Fest Mag and Scottish Field. He has also played the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and is moving to the UK in 2024 to continue his comedy career. We catch up with Sam and chat about his career, the scene in Singapore, and Government Approved Sex.

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-37-justsaying-with-sam-see-government-approved-sex/

#SamSee #standupcomedy #SingaporeStandUp

Multiple-time Karate World Champion Sage Northcutt stands tall among the brightest young mixed martial arts stars of today. 

In 2018, he joined ONE Championship on the back of three straight victories and looks set to continue shining on the global stage with his winning combination of athleticism, skill, and charisma.   

Also known a "Super", Sage Northcutt, the life-long athlete held 77 world titles at a youth level and is now in Singapore to join as a guest on the The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.   

We speak to Sage about keeping focused in the "new normal" and his thoughts and experience on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.   

#MMA #TheApprentice #OneChampionship

The new Swamp Thing has his roots in villainy. With a tough, imposing, and frightening presence -- accentuated by his muscular build, deep-set eyes, and bald head, Derek Mears fit the bill for some of the most menacing roles in Hollywood.  

Mears' career culminated with the remakes of two iconic slasher movies: The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007), in which his appearance seemed to evoke the presence of Michael Berryman's Pluto from the two original Wes Craven Hills movies; and producer Michael Bay's remake Friday the 13th (2009), where he played the hockey mask-wearing, machete-wielding serial killer Jason Voorhees. 

Mears now takes on the role of DC's elemental superhero - Swamp Thing. Derek Mears chats with us on taking up the mantle of Swamp Thing, his career and what he thinks is the elemental hero's greatest superpower.  

The ten-episode superhero horror drama series is now available on Warner TV. A new episode airs every Wednesday.  

#SwampThing #DerekMears #WarnerTV

We speak to the creator of the We Bare Bears - Daniel Chong. 

Daniel talks about the phenomenon that is the We Bare Bears and their latest adventure that fills in all the gaps and tells the story of how the bears first met - We Bare Bears: The Movie.  We Bare Bears: 

The Movie will debut on Cartoon Network and other WarnerMedia channels such as Boomerang, HBO, HBO Family, streaming service HBO GO, Warner TV, and Korean entertainment channel Oh!K on 12 September 2020.  

#justsaying #WeBareBears #DanielChong #WeBareBearsTheMovie

We have a chat with Sophie Rundle from The Nest (BBC First). Sophie shot to fame after her role in Peaky Blinders as Ada Shelby - just one of 3 female leads.

Since then, Sophie hasn't looked back with lead roles in Gentleman Jack (Ann Walker) and Bodyguard (Vicky Budd) and now, The Nest.

Sophie talks about how she feels about Peaky Blinders' global success, the audience's appetite for strong female leads and her character (Emily Compston) in The Nest.

The Nest is a The Nest is a five-part thriller series that features young couple Dan (Martin Compston) and Emily (Sophie Rundle) as they attempt to have their own child with the help of young teenage surrogate, Kaya (Mirren Mack). 

However as their relationship with Kaya begins to deepen, they start to realise that maybe their chance encounter with teen was not as coincidental as it seems.

All 5 episodes of The Nest are now available on BBC Player.

Mong Chin, also known as @mongabong, began her career with blogging as a hobby. As an avid reader of fashion and beauty blogs in her secondary school days, honest and organic reviews of products always spoke to her best as she relied on their reviews before shopping. 

This led to her starting her own blog where she reviewed products that she personally had good experiences with.  Today, with over 255,000 followers on Instagram and 88,000 subscribers on YouTube, Mong Chin is one of the top beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencers in Singapore.   

A big believer that beauty and fashion go hand in hand and one truly compliments the other, she is known to create engaging beauty and fashion content on her channels and is a well-respected voice and guide for her followers.  THEFACESHOP, a leading Korean beauty brand, kicks off the #EcoBeautySquad Campaign, a nationwide search for a new star in Singapore - of which, Mong Chin will be the Campaign Mentor.  

She will share her first hand experiences and knowledge of being in the industry; and the tough but necessary lessons she has learnt. By explaining and being transparent on what goes on “behind the scenes” she will give new insights into the ways of creating fun, engaging, exciting and unique content for the participants followers.

Jasmine Sokko is an incredible talented singer, songwriter and producer from Singapore known for her signature masks and infectious music.

Jasmine made the music world take notice when she became the first Singaporean to win the MTV Europe Music Award’s Best Southeast Asia Act for her single “FEVER” last November.

Recently, Jasmine has used her influence and partnered with TikTok to launch the #blessthismess challenge which has garnered almost 3 million views. The challenge encourages users to face their deepest insecurities and weaknesses, and cast it aside during these hard times – along to Jasmine’s new empowering pop-anthem MESS.

MESS is the her latest English pop single that aims to inspire listeners to always pick themselves up despite the setbacks they face.

We chat with Jasmine about her start, challenges, winning at the MTV EMAs and her Tik Tok Challenge.

Brec Bassinger stars as the lead character, Stargirl, of DCTV’s newest series of the same name.

You might recognize Brec from Nickleodeon's "Bella and the Bulldogs", where she plays cheerleader Bella. Brec, a former competitive cheerleader herself, uses her skills to take up the mantle (and cosmic staff) of Stargirl.

Created by Geoff Johns, the thirteen-episode series will follow high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to take up the legacy of a long-lost superhero team – The Justice Society of America – and stop the villains of the past.

We speak to Brec Bassinger, in the latest episode of justsaying with, on playing Stargirl, joining the Arrowverse and her plans for the future.

More news: https://justsaying.asia

#DCTV #Stargirl #justsayingwith #justsaying #BrecBassinger #superhero #interview #geek #geekout #talkshow #podcast #warnertv #warnertvasia #cw #DCcomics

In this episode of justsaying with, Angela Lee talks about how she started in MMA, plans for the future and being part of a "fighting family".

We're justsaying with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre who talks about how he approaches matches since becoming champion, and how he hopes to continue  engaging with fans during this COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

We chat with The Fandom Menace, a Singapore-based non-profit organization that seeks to empower creators to realise their ideas.   We talk about the evolution of the arts scene in Singapore and their latest Kickstarter - Singaheroes, a comic book anthology featuring superheroes inspired by, or based on, Singapore.   

The 100-page comic anthology features not only 13 stories of varying genre, but also close to 20 artists from Singapore (with some support from talents in Malaysia).   

Singaheroes Kickstarter: http://kck.st/2Sb0Cot   

The Fandom Menace: http://www.thefandommenace.org  

 More from  justsaying.ASIA: https://justsaying.asia

Ten years after becoming an overnight sensation on Australia's Got Talent, Cosentino's star has only shone brighter.

Widely acclaimed as "ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST MAGICIANS" by CNN, and praised for having "ONE OF THE BEST ESCAPE ACTS I HAVE EVER SEEN" by Simon Cowell, Cosentino is undeniably one of the reigning stars of the magic world.

Our conversation with Cosentino discussed his illustrious career, and he delved into the transformation of magic as an art form over the years. He even performs an astonishing magic trick during the call.

In collaboration with Sands Theatre, and presented by Base Entertainment Asia, Cosentino is making a triumphant return to Singapore to celebrate a decade of unparalleled magic with his best-ever production—Cosentino: Decennium - The Greatest Live Magic Show.

When asked about his upcoming show, ‘Decennium’, he expressed, "The last 10 years have been incredible for me, both professionally and personally. This new show is a celebration of everything I have achieved over the last decade."

"All of the pieces in this show have been chosen for a reason as they represent a significant time and place within my career. This is the best production I have ever created."

Running from the 24th of August to the 3rd of September 2023, this show promises to eclipse his last highly-successful season of 'Cosentino: Anything is Possible' in 2017. This time, he promises even more jaw-dropping, mind-bending acts that you absolutely cannot miss.

Among the many sensational acts lined up for the show, three highlights are:

FLAMING JAWS: A nerve-wracking escape act that will leave you at the edge of your seats, wondering if Cosentino will beat the clock and save himself from a fiery demise.

STABBED: In this original creation, Cosentino tests his psychic abilities by attempting to locate the correct keys among hundreds to free himself before razor-sharp knives drop from above.

STRANGER THINGS: Cosentino defies the laws of physics by seemingly melting his entire body through a solid steel plate. This jaw-dropping act challenges our perceptions of reality and the nature of the world around us.

Tickets for Cosentino: Decennium - The Greatest Live Magic Show show are on sale at Marina Bay Sands Ticketing and SISTIC.

We have a chat with Miesha Tate - American mixed martial artist, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and current Vice President at One Championship.   

Miesha talks about her start in MMA, breaking barriers as a female athlete, working at One Championship and gives a little insight on what One Championship is looking for from The Apprentice applicants. Check out justsaying.ASIA for more. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Base Entertainment Asia will bring & Juliet, the smash-hit musical that has taken over Broadway and the West End, for its Asian premiere in Singapore. The show will run for a strictly limited season from September 21 to October 8, 2023, at the Sands Theatre in Marina Bay Sands. Penned by the Emmy Award-winning mind behind "Schitt’s Creek", David West Read, and serenaded with tunes from the illustrious five-time GRAMMY Award-winning maestro, Max Martin, "& Juliet" paints a mesmerizing 'what if'. No longer the mournful maiden, this production breathes fresh life into Juliet’s tale. It's an invigorating journey of self-realization, empowerment, and modern romance, underscored by some of Max Martin's most iconic pop anthems. We sit down with the radiant Lorinda May Merrypor (Juliet), as she delves into her theatre beginnings, the allure of playing Shakespeare's iconic damsel in a new light, and what makes "& Juliet" a one-of-a-kind spectacle in the realm of musical theatre.

Billy Sheehan, often cited as one of the world's best rock bassists, is best known as a member of the celebrated American rock band Mr. Big.

Before gaining international fame with Mr. Big, Billy made a name for himself as a part of the band Talas in Buffalo during the late '70s and early '80s. Talas earned a reputation as a dynamic live act, largely due to Sheehan's virtuosic bass playing. His complex bass solos became a hallmark of the band's performances.

In 1985, he joined forces with David Lee Roth when Roth decided to leave Van Halen and form his own band. Along with guitarist Steve Vai and drummer Gregg Bissonette, they released the platinum-selling album, "Eat 'Em and Smile."

In 1988, Billy co-founded Mr. Big and the band went on to have international success, most notably with the hit power ballad, "To Be With You," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992.

Over the years, he has earned countless accolades for his distinctive style, which blends rock, jazz, and fusion techniques. His innovative use of chording, two-handed tapping, right-hand "three-finger picking" technique and controlled feedback have influenced many contemporary rock bassists.

Billy, heads to Asia with Mr. Big for a final bow with their epic “The Big Finish” World Tour.

The tour signifies a profound chapter-end for the band, following the loss of original drummer and co-founder, Pat Torpey, to Parkinson’s disease in 2018.

We speak to Billy about his signature sound, Mr. Big and what the tour means to the band.

 

Mr. Big will be hitting stages across Japan and Southeast Asia with performances in Singapore’s Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands on 4 and 5 August 2023.
Presented by Base Entertainment Asia, ticket sales are available via Marina Bay Sands and SISTIC.

Leica Camera AG has recently announced the release of the Leica Q3, the third generation camera in the well-established Q series. Since its inception in 2015, the Q series has been recognised globally by photographers and creatives for its quality, simplicity of operation, and fixed focal length full-frame characteristics. The newly unveiled Leica Q3 camera is equipped with several improved features including a quick lens with integrated macro mode, making it a notable progression in the camera segment. We speak to Peter Kruschewski, Product Manager at Leica Camera AG who shares more about the Leica Q System and the new features of the Q3. Sunil Kaul, Managing Director, Leica Camera Asia Pacific also shares more about the philosophy and vision of the Leica brand.

https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-34-justsaying-with-leica-cameras-peter-kruschewski-and-sunil-kaul/

#LeicaQ3 #leicacamera

Being kind is an essential part of being human. It allows us to connect with others, show empathy, and make the world a better place.

Kindness promotes positive relationships, reduces stress, and improves overall well-being. Small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on people’s lives, even if we don’t always realize it.

We speak to Dr William Wan, the General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement about the state of kindness in Singapore, and how we can incorporate small habits to be a “better version of ourselves”.

Dr Wan is also a Justice of the Peace, and the co-founder and former Chairman of the Prison Fellowship Singapore. He is also the Chairman of the Community Advisory Panel for the neighbourhood noise issues.

The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) wants to encourage everyone to start, show and share kindness and hopes to create a gracious society and make life better for you and me. SKM is a non-government, non-profit organisation, as well as a registered charity and Institution of Public Character.

The full article is available here: https://www.justsaying.asia/ep-33-justsaying-with-dr-william-wan-singapore-kindness-movement/

Canon has announced the launch of two new cameras, EOS R8 and R50, for content creators. 

The EOS R8 is Canon's lightest full-frame mirrorless camera that combines many of the powerful video and still shooting features of the EOS R6 Mark II, such as Canon Log 3 and up to 40 fps continuous shooting with the portability of the EOS RP.  

The EOS R50 is a new compact, lightweight APS-C mirrorless camera set to replace the EOS 77D and EOS M50 Mark II. The entry-level camera is packed with many fun, creative tools and automated features, allowing users to create high-quality vlogs and images easily with minimal camera operation. 

The EOS R50 is available in black and white.  The video has been shot with both cameras, without any additional grading or post-processing using their respective kit lenses.  

This is not a review. 

Pre-production units were used for each camera.  

#CanonEOSR8 #CanonEOSR50 #CanonEOS