Nano Drama on Hellofest 2025! My best efforts!

 I want to continue writing about micro journal because that is the reason I revived this blog but I really have a good news.

Yesterday, there was the 2025 Hellofest, the animation festival.  And like back in 2014 (WHAAAT), it has the 8 seconds film contest.  It's a unique and special category that only can be done in Hellofest.  There is almost no creative limitation to what can be told in just 8 seconds.

Back in 2014 I tried making a stop motion with my amigurumis. I made it through the final with my 8 seconds animation: Simalakama.  I didn't win but it was a very special moment for me, to watch my animations being screened in a big screen with a lot of audiences.  Hearing and watching the live reaction of the audiences reminded me that I made animations for the audiences, and it felt wholesome.

Fast forward to 2025, It had been quite a long time since the last Hellofest.  I am now a teacher, I teach animation and I really hoped my students would join the 8 seconds film contest.  But the deadline was at the same time as the mid exam. I couldn't be the teacher who ask them to finish their mid exam animation assignment and at the same time ask them to join the contest. As an animator, Hellofest is a very special festival so I shouldn't skip it, so if my student can't join the contest, I had to be the one joining the contest.

With only 9 days remained to submit the film, I suddenly got the idea.  I have been writing about micro drama for my academic research so I was inspired by it.  Instead of making micro drama, I made nano drama, the even shorter duration of drama.  I wasn't exaggerating if I said I made the animation with micro journal rev.4.  I wrote down the dialogue and plot on the tiny screen of rev.4.  I really had no time to make proper notes of the idea. With the deadline approaching I need to make quick decisions. And despite I need the F5 keys to make animation, I didn't have time to replace my keyboard and I used micro journal rev.4 for the whole animation compositing and editing process.  Oh I made a lot of  quick decisions I didn't have time to think about it.

Since my drawing and animation are so so, I thought I need to use an extra special technique to make it unique.  So I use embroidery.  It was stupid and crazy decision, I spent the whole week to embroider all the parts.  Luckily, I was alone at home so nobody witness how messy my room was.

I thought of using stop motion, which use over the top camera, but I am suck at photography.  So I used scanner.  The scanner is broken, and I don't know if anybody realized, there are dead pixels on the pictures.  The animation production was the most violent production I ever had.  I killed a cicak (house lizard) accidentally I don't know how exactly,  I found its body underneath the fabric and paper scraps.  I also almost killed the printer.  And yeah, the scanner was already half dead. And I ruined the rev.4's spacebar that I have to replaced its insert steam.  Not to mention it was tiring to embroider everything.  It was a huge damage to my wallet because I had to order extra embroidery threads and the shop sent the wrong colors.  There was also system failure when paying the voice actor.  

But. overall it was fun experience and I love to brag about the process to my student LOL. I would like to share the whole production process here but I might have to write it down for an academic journal as well so I would get publication point (ah the life of a faculty member).

Then it was announced yesterday. I won best effort award!! it's totally worth it :D. 

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The Pink Themed Micro Journal Rev.2

I wasn't lying when I said Green is my comfort color

but Pink is my ultimate favorite color. 

I really like my Micro Journal Rev.2, it looks amazing right? The color is called Jurassic Park, because it is green and beige.  It is very retro, and since it has Debian arm linux, it doesn't have a desktop view like windows or mac, instead, it use ranger's dashboard.  Forgive me if I am using the wrong terminologies or words. 

The default dashboard of rev.2
picture is from Micro Journal quick start guide by Un Kyu Lee

I lived long enough, I experienced DOS.  The ranger on rev.2 gave me a feeling of nostalgia, with the green and blue text on black background.  I like that, but can I get pink text?

I have no programming skill, I don't understand linux and if I don't have to I would like to stay away from "terminal", but theoretically I can change the text color right?  But I don't know how.

Then one day in writerdeck's reddit, u/TheOriginalBeefus shared a tutorial to change the text color on microjournal.  YES, I missed that tutorial. How could I?

For the sake of the pink text that I've been dreaming of, I finally step into the unknown...

So here is how TheOriginalBeefus tips to change the text color.

or read it on reddit

Again, I like green but what about pink.

Logically, I just need to change "green" to "pink" right?

But no. By default, the only available color in Debian Linux is green, yellow, magenta, white, black, red, blue and cyan.  If your favorite color is among the default 8 colors, consider yourself lucky.

For me, the magenta is okay but... I WANT PINK, not purple.

So I ask my friend, Gemini, The AI.  Gemini has various solutions to the problem but in order to get the right solution I had some trial and errors.  I reflashed the SD card few times.  I sacrificed my miyoo mini's SD card as a backup.

and here's how I get the pink text.

PINK TEXT TUTORIAL LEVEL I

1.  type "Q" to drop out of the ranger

2.  type "sudo nano ~/.bashrc"  to open that .bashrc file with nano editor

3.  go to the bottom line of the file and type everything down:

if [ "$TERM" = "linux" ]; then

    # 1. Define the Colors (Magenta -> Hot Pink)

    printf '\033]P5FF69B4'

    printf '\033]PDFFB6C1'

    # 2. Set the Default Text to that Pink

    setterm -foreground magenta -store

    # 3. Force 'ls' to use Pink for folders

    export LS_COLORS="di=1;35:fi=0;37:ln=1;36"

    # 4. Fix the 'clear' command so it doesn't reset colors

    alias clear='clear; printf "\033]P5FF69B4\033]PDFFB6C1"'

fi

4.  then press ctrl+O to overwrite the file, press Y to confirm and ctrl+x to exit.

you are back in ranger!!!  type q to get out,

then type "chmod +x ~/.bashrc" 

you may need to shut down and restart to see the change.

what? nothing changed?  try to type q,  do you see a pink letter there?  go type "clear" and then type "ranger" again.  some texts are now in pink.

Every time the text color turn magenta or any other color, just try typing "clear".

* sorry I forgot to take picture of the micro journal on pink level 1

Now... you don't need to continue to level 2 if you already happy with that.   Level 2 is for changing the ranger's colorscheme to make it monotones.  You may noticed with the pink text tutorial level 1, only few text in pink, the other text are green or blue.  It depends on your preference, the color difference might come handy to check typos when writing script/ code, but since I don't do programming or coding or whatever, I want only pink text with darker and lighter shade. It looks more pleasing and harmonious to my eyes.

By default the ranger are using "default" color scheme.  There are actually other color schemes: jungle (if you like green?), snow (white and darker white, and darkest white, well basically monotones), and solarized (very popping color like red, yellow).  Using default is fine and recommended if you need color variations, to check typos when editing script, but if you are using micro journal only to write, snow can give you a more elegance look.

This is how the "snow" color scheme looks like

PINK TEXT TUTORIAL LEVEL II

so here's what I did:

1. the ranger colorscheme is in the configuration files so you need to create it first by press q and then type:

"ranger --copy-config=all"

then it will make that file that you need.  You are looking for the rc.conf file.

2. type:

"sudo nano /home/microjournal/.config/ranger/rc.conf"

it will open that file in nano editor

3.  Now, scroll down and find the text "set colorcheme default"

replace "default" with "snow" (or "jungle" or "solarized")

overrwrite the file by pressing ctrl+O, Y, and exit with ctrl+X

now restart the ranger (or the microjournal).  if the ranger dashbord text are all in white then you did right.  to make it pink just type q and "clear"

Pink Level 1 and Level 2 applied. SO VERY PINK :D

if you are opening any .sh file through ranger, the pink would go back to being magenta.  if that happens, just go back to dashboard, type q and type "clear" again to revert back to pink.  

Okay, that's all.

I think the snow colorscheme also looks good in another color, all you need to do is doing the level 1 tutorial but with different color code. 

Again, this is the solution I learned from Gemini AI, maybe there is more easier or safer solution. If you happen to know, just let me know :)

Weekend Project: The Real Punk Keyboard

So I got a new keyboard from Un Kyu Lee, the builder/designer of Micro Journals (Hmm I think I will make a dedicated post about Micro Journal).

Like the other keyboards,  I have to try on few set of keycaps before I decide which one is the best, visually and experience-wise.

My other Micro journals, the rev.6 and rev.2 revamp use retro punk keycaps, which are keycaps that resemble classic typewriter's buttons.  I really like the esthetic and I think it fits the retro futurism concept of Micro Journals.  The keycap set is cheap, and if you don't mind buying from 1688 you can get it in various colors, it also has Russian, Thailand, European version. BUT it is designed for full keyboard with ANSI layout.  Micro Journal is designed in Italy so, it use ISO layout, with a J-shape Enter key.  And the ortholinear Micro Journal needs some 1u sized keycaps, so the set doesn't have ctrl, cmd, opt, tab keys that are short like the alphabet keys. 

Micro Journal Rev.2 and Micro Journal Rev.6

My Microjournal rev.6 and rev.2 were using the other unused keys to replace ctrl, cmd, etc.  Since both rev.6 and rev.2 are using 40% ortholinear keyboard,  I have 60% keys that unused.

I would love to get another retro punk keycaps but money doesn't grow on trees.  Dang! I AM SO LUCKY that money doesn't grow on tree.  I am terrible at keeping the plants alive.  

Anyway.. since I have a lot of unused keycaps... I got an idea, to used the leftover keys for my new keyboard.  I am still the same as before, I still hate printing.  I can get keyboard stickers but I don't like the idea of sticking stickers.  What if I get bored?  I thought of using fabric because I like fabric, maybe I can add embroidered letter.  But I scratched that idea, considering the texture of embroidered fabric might be uncomfortable for typing.

So I took the IKEA catalog that has been sitting on the floor since... last year and making a serial killer keycaps real punk keycaps.  The texture of the catalog paper is nice and I don't mind if the paper ruined or faded later, I can get another IKEA catalog.  After all there is no guarantee that I wouldn't get bored of it right?  And the best part is, it is not sticking to the keycaps, so it is removable. Perfect for me.

And I think... It looks wonderful right.  I don't know why the retro punk keycap is called retro punk, but now with the collage the retro punk keycaps look more punk!

Now I feel bad about the Evangelion keycap set (the previous set that I used).  It is pink, it is cute but I still haven't find a keyboard that fits for the keycaps.  I thought that pink keycaps would fit the pink keyboard but I didn't like it.  The punk keycaps are not pink but somehow I like it better than the pink keycaps. It gives personality although I am not a punk.

I Like Green but I Love Pink

 Don't know when did I start my obsession with pink.

I remember one day my parents bought 3 binder notes (loose leaf) for me and my siblings.  My brother took the blue one, my sister took the green one, and I got the pink one.  And afterward, I always got pink.

Growing up, I was bullied for being a girly girl.  If you imagine a stereotypical cartoon character or movie character  who dressed in pink, that people/ viewer hate, well that's me.  I like being a girl, I like being a princess. Like, how did they expect me to behave?  I am always a girl.  So I tried not to be too girly, I tried not to laugh like a pink character,  I tried to wear poker face. I used to hate being a girly girl, a sassy girl, but that's who I am and they bullied me so I hated to be myself.  Anyway...  That's in the past.  I am no longer afraid of wearing the brightest pink to the art gallery where everybody wears black like in funeral.  One of my childhood friend (who was not very close but she never bully me) even asked "I don't know you like pink".  Well, my friend, please tell the world, I like pink!  

Pink unleashed!!!  

But it's not like I am always wearing pink like Legally Blonde or Barbie.  My comfort color is green.  Even my coworker call me "nyai" because she always see me wearing green.  I choose green luggage over pink luggage because it feels safer.  But of course not the matcha green. Neon green LOL.  What is subtlety anyway?

It has been 8 years and I suddenly write again?

It is funny.  I don't realized I was that sad because I lost my job. I mean looking at the last few post, I can make a conclusion that I stopped writing because I was THAT sad.

Good news. it's all in the past. I already have a new job.

Things are okay. 

Last time I wrote the blog was in 2017?

The me in 2017 would have never guess it that in 2018 I got scholarship for master degree.

Yeah, it was never a plan but I did back to school, and graduated at 2020, Exactly on the day the social limitation started because of the Covid Pandemic situation.

I didn't plan to be a teacher but here I am, a teacher LOL.

one of the draft that I didn't publish was about Hellofest 2018.

Guess what, tomorrow is Hellofest, and they will screen my animation :D

yup even after 7 years, some things remain the same.

And why do I start blogging again?  

Because I don't know where to put my notes.

So yeah, I can stop suddenly and I can start suddenly too,

I don't know if anybody stop by and read my blog,  But hello! thanks for stopping by

A not so quick project

Ceritanya saya mau ikutan meramaikan #tigernimation by @wwf_id karena saya suka misi #iprotecttigers : melindungi Harimau Sumatera supaya tidak hanya hidup dalam dongeng. Karena Tigers are real, they are not mythical creatures. Animasi ini dibuat frame by frame dengan tinta dan kertas-kertas bekas ujian (yang sudah dibuang oleh pemiliknya). Selain untuk eksperimen visual juga karena #savepaper could #saveforest To #savetigers Untuk info lebih lanjut tentang Harimau Sumatera dan hewan lain, please follow @wwf_id , they know better than me :) #tigernimation #iprotecttigers #Wwfid #globaltigerday

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Aug 23, 2017 at 1:49am PDT

WWF Indonesia held an animation challenge called "Tigernimation". As you may already guess, it's about protecting Tigers. The deadline was at August 10, I didn't really have time, because I was handling many projects. But... it's a challenge and I like challenge.

So I collected unused exam papers (I have my own source) and made handdrawn animation.
 What so called quick project was not a really quick project. Because the tracing desk was too tall, I got back pain and stiff (and blistered) hand.

 But the animation was finished at August 2nd. I was planning to upload it at August 9 but... They postponed the deadline to August 25.

 I know the audio is crappy, and I certainly could do better with the visualization but no. I really have jobs to do, so I left it as it is.
And if you search "Tigernimation" in instagram, you will find a lot of good animations. So I kinda happy I made handdrawn and rustic animation, because if I made digital and colorful animation there are way too much animation with pretty visualization and technique.

 Anyway, this project was really fun. Drawing on exam paper is actually really entertaining. I specifically choose papers with a lot of numbers/ math formula on it.
 Of course I already ask permission to use them. If I didn't use the paper for the animation, the paper would end up as a food wrapper or I don't know, trash? By the way there are a lot of empty answer, what a waste of paper right?

Just some repost on what am I doing

Hello, May!

It's been more than 6 months after I "resigned".  I wasn't doing nothing,  I make illustrations for some freelance project, barely enough for the monthly bill but I guess it's still alright to not looking for a new full time job. Aaaaand... I'm planning on making animation!

I have this light tracer since high school, I rarely use it, finally it's time to use it to make animation. #workinprogress #animation #handdrawn #ink

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on May 6, 2017 at 6:38am PDT

It's still a long way to go but I will start as soon as I have the fund.  Like always, it's a self-funding project.  I really want to get another fund but I am a really bad producer and I don't want to postpone the project for another year.

I also participate in some workshops:
A thriller writing class, because deep inside I still want to be a writer.

A friend of mine said that I look like a psychopath because I don't like social interactions and prefer to stay alone, knitting doll while watching horror and thriller movie. So I'm considering writing as a new hobby, and that's why I'm taking this writing class with some potential victims, oops I mean new friends.

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Apr 29, 2017 at 8:43pm PDT

then a watercolor drawing class, because I really need to learn.  The Instructor is also from DKV, only 11 years younger. (D*mn, I'm old).

A friend of mine said that I look like a psychopath because I don't like social interactions and prefer to stay alone, knitting doll while watching horror and thriller movie. So I'm considering writing as a new hobby, and that's why I'm taking this writing class with some potential victims, oops I mean new friends.

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Apr 29, 2017 at 8:43pm PDT

and also "punch needle embroidery" workshop, cause it's always fun to learn new things.
I already bought a lot of fabric to make some embroideries at home :)

Learn to punch needle embroidery at @studiosalamanis It's kinda fun, I still need a lot of practice but I think I will make something fun using this technique :) #punchneedle #embroidery #red

A post shared by zuperdzigh (@zuperdzigh) on Apr 1, 2017 at 3:18am PDT

See, I am not doing nothing.  So, let me know if there is any other fun event or workshop in Bandung :)

Bye Bye 2016, Hello 2017

Happy New Year 2017! Wish you all have a great year!!!

2016 was a very though year, there are many unanswered mysteries left behind, like why did the bad things happened, time will tell the answer someday, but not today. I'm curious of what will happen next.

I started this year by being very busy. I almost skipped the New Year Eve by working.  which is a good start. maybe.  But I hope I will soon have time to work on my real animation.

For my new year's resolution, I'm thinking about continue taking language course, so I can say something else than "keine ahnung".

I'm happy I finished "Pulang" last year so I know I achieved my resolution last year.

I don't know whether I keep freelancing or I start job hunting again, meeting new client is exciting but also tiring.

I know for sure I need to get back to the gym again. I hope the "skywalk construction" will be finished soon, getting to the gym is more exhausting than working out at the gym because of that silly construction.

My biggest priority right is finding out what I want to do for my life.

I want to make animations again but there are a lot of things I need to take care of first. and unfortunately, my animation proposal got rejected again and again. So if I want to make animation, I need to collect the money by myself.  OH what an Indonesian style of animation production.

Well... 2017 will be an exciting year :)

 

My Favorite Movies from 2016

I watched a lot of Movies this year!
okay, this post is partly bragging and partly sharing :)
Instead of listing top 5 or top 10, I will pick some movies based on the category or genre, because it is hard to choose my number 1 favorite movie.

Animation:

Ma Vie de Courgette (My Life as Zuchinni)
Not only because of the adorable design, amazing stop motion animation, but also the heartwarming story.  I really love the character of Simon.
I am so lucky to watch this movie at Dok Leipzig because it is probably won't be screened in Indonesia.

Zootopia

What's not to love? It's a story that we really need, a story of fighting against discrimination and social stereotypes.

Digimon Adventure Tri chapter I
I'm too old to say I was growing up watching the animated series, but I really do like the animated series.  I watched this movie with my little sister who really growing up watching the series.  I secretly shed a happy tears when listening to the theme song.

Indonesian Film:

Siti

Siti is an indie film, produced at 2014 but released in Indonesia at 2016. The film win many awards.  The famous quote is "Gusti Allah mboten sare, Gusti Allah Piknik", means God is not sleeping but He is having Picnic.  But personally my favorite scene is when Siti and her friend staring at the ocean and yelling "ASSSUUUUUUUU!!!!".  Fyi, Asu means dog (yeah, woof woof), which is a cursing word.

My Stupid Boss

My Stupid Boss is a comedy about an eccentric boss. I normally don't watch Indonesian comedy, but I saw the advertisment everywhere, the trailer look compromising, the cast are great so why not?  And it turn out to be one of my favorite movie this year.

Tiga Dara

It is actually a 1957 film, it is black and white, but recently restored and screened at the theater.  It is still a great musical film, and the story is still relevant to current situation.  There is also a new adaptation to this movie, I haven't watch it, but I think the original film is a masterpiece.  

Thriller:

Don't Breathe

Rather than put this film on the Thriller category, I want to put it on "tai pisan" (=extremelly sh*tty) category because I really hate the main character, which actually means it is a very successful thriller.  Just like the title, it forced me to gasping and hold my breath.

Money Monster
As an economics faculty drop out, I feel like I need to watch this movie.  And hey it's a thriller!  Like we all know, money is the most honest motivation to drive a man to do many things, in this movie, taking hostages.

Now You See Me 2
compared to the other 2 thriller movie, this movie is the lightest movie.  But it's a fun and cool movie to watch.

Horror:

Conjuring 2

I watched too much horror and went numb, I hardly get scared of horror films, but I still love Conjuring series.  Valak reminds me of my school headmaster, as I was in a Catholic school.

I love the part when Ed singing the Elvis song.   

Train to Busan
It's a Korean zombie movie!  it's a complete package of thriller, horror, action and drama.  The Drama is a little bit too much, but well, that's a Korean movie.

Sadly, I didn't watch a lot of horror movies this year, as many horror movies were screened on October and November and I was too busy during those months.

Biopic:

Sully
Firstly, I watch this film because Tom Hanks is the main cast. And then it was directed by Clint Eastwood, I like his previous film "American Sniper". And it's a biopic,  sometimes real story is more amazing than fairy tale.  And it is.  It's a very good story, very touching, and might be cool in 4D.

Hacksaw Ridge
I watch it because of spiderman :p
It's a Mel Gibson movie so it's a religious movie but also bloody!!!  I like war movie and it's better because it's based on true story so the heroism is more realistic and humane than superhero movie.

WTF movie:

Terraformars

I know the genre supposedly post apocalyptic movie, but this movie is more precisely described as WTF movie.  Here's the summary: the earth is heavily populated so, human beings looking for a new planet to live.  They choose Mars, which is colder than the Earth, so they make it warmer by sending cockroaches to make it polluted.  Somehow the radiation makes the cockroach mutated into a big and muscled cockroach.  A group of unlucky people were sent to exterminate the cockroach.  

OH and I haven't told you the most WTF part, you better watch it by yourself, but let me warn you, this is a terrible movie.

I like Takashi Miike films but this one is so terrible that I have to put it on my favorite movie list.

Swiss Army Man

Enough said. Anybody wants to convince me that it is not a WTF movies?

Other Genre:

Okay, I'm getting lazy and don't know what to put this movie under which genre.  These are great movies and some wait for months or years to watch them, including me.

Fantastic Beast

It's a must watch film for Harry Potter fans.  But unfortunately I didn't read Harry Potter so I got lost when watching this film, like who they were talking about, what, why.  But despite not knowing all the details, it is still a magical movie with great story.  The beasts are adorable, especially the one who like to steal things

Doctor Strange

I'm not really sure to put this movie on my favorite movie list but after I compare it with the other superhero movie on 2016, this could be my favorite superhero movie.  oh I just don't like superhero movie.

Okay that's all.  I might forgetting some movies, but how can I say it's my favorite movies if I don't even remember it?  I still haven't watch Headshot, so maybe I will add that movie later.

After the DOK

HUH? where's the story during the Dok?
if you wait patiently, you will read it, but not yet.
I only have nice experiences, that for sure :)

After the world premiere of "Pulang ke Indonesia", I got some invitation e-mails to submit the film and also some offer to hire "festival agency".  I'm not sure with the term, I guess it's an agency which will help me submitting my film to various festival.  It's a great idea actually, considering submitting the film takes time, money, and a hell of internet data.  But of course, you need a large sum of money to hire the agent.

SO, I am still doing everything by myself, but it is nice to know that there is an easier way to do everything.  And since I am currently self employed, I could spend days only to submit the film to various festival.  As a really novice filmmaker, I don't have festival strategy, or to be honest, to submit the film to other festival than DOK Leipzig was not in my plan.

My plan was to work as a designer again, as a normal employee, but the company cut me off so I need to change my plan.  Oh, I have started working as freelance designer and I got some projects, so I'll be fine.  For now.

I'm not confident at all with my animation so I only send it to few festival, preferrably the ones with free submission, but I did pay for some submission especially for the ones who invited me.  I know that there's a possibility that my animation wouldn't be selected but I am really thankful for the invitations.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, I skipped the submission to film/animation festival, although I really want to participate and screening my animation in Indonesian festival.  First, because I am not confident with my animation. Second is because the rules and regulations are not in details.  Like, they don't mention what they would do with the film submitted.  This is important because there are some festival which doesn't allow submission of any film which is already in youtube/ vimeo.

So, I'm really sorry, I can't show the animation yet :(