Final Word on OON

Whoever tell me that OON wasnt a blast, I'll be damned. Ok. There were flaws before, during and even after the event, BUT which event doesn't. So, overall, am extremely please the progress of the event.

3 months ago, OON started its progress with the appointment and introduction of its committee. Am proud to be one of them. I remembered that after the interview that we will be informed about our appointment on Monday(interviews are on Thursday and Friday). Monday came and gone, so is Tuesday and Wednesday. So it happens when u think that there is no way that u r included, the phone beeped to informed that u are appointed as XXX director. Found out later that it happens to most of the committees.

Am appointed as Asst. Security Director. Well, great, in a way. Got what I interviewed for. Not so great, in a way too. Why? Some particular personality is kinda, lets say, hazard for future commitment. So, erhem, on to work.

As the security department, u would think there is no way commitment is needed before the event. The name suggested that u kept the place and event safe for that particular nite, thats all.

Wrong. Got it all wrong.

In fact, the security department played a very important role in selecting the finalist. This is the department which is given the mission to find the potential ones around the school during the orientation week. No easy job. It is some sort of a base work as if the whole event depends on the selection of taste of this particular humble department. I mean, who would have think the security department will be doing something like that. I dint saw it coming.

The OON committee after the scouting and selecting event.

Which, after 3 days of scouting, and of course going through all the levels of audition, interviews and talent showing thingy process, the 12 finalist is chosen. *Star Wars Theme The Chosen

One playing in the background*.Then starts the training process. The first lightsaber session…oops…wrong one….the catwalk session begins just days after the selection process. Before fast forwarding to the actual eventhere’s some of the highlights:

-Former F4(Female finalist no.4) backed out because of beckoning of overseas study, is being replaced by Natalie.

-Former M3 backed out. Replaced by Jonathan.

-Photoshooting for both committees and finalist.

-Welfare Day Trip for well, er…welfare la. Its also the session where apart from the programme team, other departments can evaluate the finalist.

-Promotion Week. Finalist gave a preview of what to expect on the actual nite. Ticket redemption, sold out and still on demand(Whee!.)

-Former M2 chickened out 7 days before the actual event. Replaced by Vinz.

-Attending Talentime Nite as guest.

In an old-folks home during the welfare trip.

The finalists and committee took a pic after the training

The training is like some America’s Next Top Model process, with the lack of TV coverage and some truly astonishingly traumatic events.

As the day creeping in, the temperature risen. The stage is prepared(literally). The committees were busy as hell, so were the finalist who practiced day and night to impress for the event.

THE night came.

It was a marvellous atmosphere to be in. Especially the stage. Everything was smooth for that night, except for some minor unforeseen events, like not enough seats for VIPs(well, that shows that our event is well-anticipated), communication breakdown(talkie out of battery) and one particular person shining torchlight everywhere and bamboozing the security assistants. By the way, the finalists looked awesome that day.

The stage work by the stage team. Thanks to Schizzow for the pic.

Judges included the ever-present Amber Chia, Annabelle Kong, pop band News, one particular who knew to the popping dance who I forgot his name and the fashion dsesign director from our own school.

The programs are an excitement to watch, apart from the catwalks, dances and Q&A sessions from the finalist, there are external events such as rapping featuring Rapsody, a Blast-off contestants from TARC, yo-yo performances, and band performance including News and Cynical(er…spelling?). The MCs(there were 6 of them!) were also doing a good job, with one of them, Samson, who really lighten the whole event up.

Performance by Rapsody ft. Schizzow during the opening.

So, it happens when the queen and king were, after a month of “speculation” on who will win, chosen. Honestly, the result was kinda unexpected(it always is), especially the queen. Anyway, it was the final decision of the judges and of course a worthy winner was selected for the event.

The newly crowned king(centre) with 2 of the committees.

So, here ends the event where after 3 months of hardship and joy. The experience and friends gained from this programme is absolutely valuable for me. Its like once in life time thingy. Sometimes I always wonder the road not taken, like what if I don’t give a damn for an interview or if I am not selected to be part of it. It surely do changes the whole course of your life, as in the case for me.

The committees and the finalist after the event.

Will never regret being part of the event, and will never forget what I went through in this 3 months. OON was, and still is a blast!