Happy Holidays everybody!!!

Wishing you and yours a safe Happy Holiday. I promise to post with more good things to come soon. In the meantime, be good and God bless.

-Sonny

FreeCreditReport.com contest entry

My Hidden Agenda business partner and I submitted a video for the FreeCreditReport.com video contest. The idea was to sing/lip sing one of their songs and come up with a catchy video. The end result is an animated video in the 8-bit old school video game style. The video portion took one day to shoot while the animation took one and half days to complete. Check out the video below and fingers crossed that we make the top ten.

One big Echovox/Zong post

I've been trying to write up a post for all the stuff that's been going on at work so I decided to fit them all into one big post. Since my vacation Zong has already been in three trade shows. From TechCrunch 50, the VG summit, and the Spark Summit, Zong has made a strong showing at each event.

I was able to design all the promotional materials for the shows from T-shirts, banners, flyers, energy drinks, and the demo animation I posted a while back. Below you'll find pictures of all the materials and our set up at the shows. Looking forward to more shows and more contacts.

Man decorates basement with $10 worth of Sharpie

Hmmmm, just have to convince wifey to let me do this to the man room.

Read the full article at the link below, or just click and drag your mouse to the left or right to view image.



Full story

Hola Mexico!!!

Went to Mexico with wifey and a friend on November 9-15(yah I know I'm late writing this) and have a great time. Got to stay in a beautiful resort during the low tourist season(meaning peace and quiet for us), zip lined through the trees on the set of the original "Predator" movie, and had some really good tequila.

Aside from the fact that our plane broke down, our boat broke down, our bus broke down, our taxi broke down, and we were human buffets for the bugs, it was a good trip. Gotta love the jungle. Pictures coming soon.

New Zong Video

Made a demonstration video for TechCrunch 50 explaining step by step how easy it is to use Zong. One of my more shining moments I have to say.

TechCrunch 50 and Echovox

TechCrunch is a 3-day conference where the hottest up-and-coming companies come to show their stuff. And that's where Echovox will be. Were all set to go and ready to show em what we got with t-shirts, demo videos, and a whole bunch of other swag. Check out the Echovox.com and Zong.com sites for more info.

-Posted from my iPhone

Model Evolution

Ok so I know I haven't posted in awhile and the moment I get a chance I cop out with a video. I have been reeeaaally busy though and this did catch my eye. Plus this new layout wiped out my page visit counter so I'm working on getting those back. Either way, enjoy the video and I'll be back to the standards soon enough.

Kamimoto Strings - up and running

Finished the new version of the Kamimoto Strings website. This violin business has reached international status by providing some of the worlds best violinist with top quality instruments. Check out the link below to see the new site and some before and after pictures below.

Kamimoto Strings

Before




After

Busy, busy, busy

Very, very busy right now. Trying to launch a website in 3 different countries(translations are not easy by the way), getting ready for a conference, making t-shirts, swag, and ui for a new mobile payment service. All this on top of my usual contracts and video work. Yah busy is the word.

Again, really?

So I'm off doing some out of town business and I get a call from a former employer asking more details about my tenure with the company. So I go into detail and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. कर्म | கர்ம

Do you have a first aid kit handy?

June 7th



Wildjam concert! Performing artist: Jesse McCartney, The Bayliens, Danity Kane, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Sean Kingston, Colby O'Donnis, Ray-J, and Lil' Wayne. A one hour wait in line and a notice that a few performing artist wouldn't show up(boo Nelly and Donnie) and feeling very old next to these twelve year olds dressed like 18 year olds. But I like the local boys the Bayliens(see video below).

One Crazy Week

May 26 - June 1
So one of my best friends just graduated from San Jose State(go Mike) and since everyone from my team has a lot of love for one another, my other buddy swung up from LA. This would be the beginning of one long and hectic week. Let’s try to break things done from after the graduation:

Monday, May 26th, 2008 - Memorial Day
A very impromptu potluck ends up with me and 12 of my closest friends finishing off 8 bottles of alcohol, 4 bottles of V8 splash, and enough food to feed a small village in Cambodia. We finally ended the night yelling at each other words we couldn't say. That’s right we were playing taboo and we learned what happens when you lose control of a motorcycle without wearing a helmet or anything you usually wear while riding(once again, go Mike).




Tuesday, May 27 - more food
With a few less people this time we had dinner at Red Robin’s restaurant. With burgers bigger than yo face. Afterwards its back to the house for more drinking and tila tequila(what a sl*t) :0



Wednesday, May 28
A day of rest




Thursday, May 29
More FOOD! Sushi from our favorite spot(Sen Dai Sushi) and some more drinking. Sake bomb anyone?



Friday, May 30
Karaoke - empty orchestra in Japanese(hauntingly beautiful huh)
Karaoke night in downtown san jose at bamboo 7. Where the drinks are hard, the music is loud, and the people are American Idol status (that night anyways)



Saturday, May 31
Hiking, really?
After a long night of drinking what's the first thing you want to do the next day? That's right, HIKING! 6 hours for a 18 mile hike up UPHILL. Although the experience was nice, the dehydration, steep climbs, heat, and funky odor leaves you wanting(a nice air conditioned room that is).



Sunday, June 1st
Beach time
So the drinking ad the hiking may have not been a good combination, but you know what always is? The beach and food. Yes we like to eat. Along with once again, adult beverages, a food fight involving green tea cake, and me learning that a career in boogie boarding is not in the cards, it was a really good time.



And thus goes my hectic week. To all my friends, thanks for coming out/up. It was nothing but love and you know you guys are all family. Will and Mike, congratulations and I got nothing but love for you guys.

Lead Visual Designer, WooHoo!

May 19, 2008

Finally started my new job as Lead Visual Designer at Echovox - US division. I'll be working on multiple projects pertaining to web/mobile payments and subscriptions for their ZONG brand. The company originated from Europe where it became a monster success. Hopefully lightning will strike twice here in the states. So far I've been working on a few major league projects that I'm just waiting to get clearance on to put on my website. Hopefully everything goes live soon. Keep checking back here for updates.

Michael Buble, HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA

May 5, 2008(Cinco de Mayo)

So branching off the one year anniversary post from earlier, it seems that the first year anniversary is paper. Paper?! What can a guy do with freakin paper? The answer? Concert tickets. Not just any concert tickets, Michael Buble concert tickets. Now I've tried to get tickets before to surprise my wife but as it turns out we missed the Oakland tour stop and from there he went straight to Germany. GERMANY! Anyways, flash forward to a year later and here we are at my anniversary. And now I have a paper gift. Now while his type of music is geared more to an older audience, my wife and I actually like it. As for his performance, Mickey Bubble is a really good singer and an even nicer guy. Case in point, during one part of the concert Michael actually jumps from the stage and goes into the audience to take a picture with a seven year old boy. His reasoning? It's because of fans like the seven year old at his shows that keep the tradition of jazz and standard music alive(and apparently stop him from turning into Amy Winehouse - his words, not mine). A class act from a classy guy.

The Role Model Program

So a good buddy of mine asked Hidden agenda if we can do a little promo video for the Role Model Program. Now to fill you in, the Role Model Program is a supplemental school program initiated by former San Jose, ca mayor Ron Gonzalez. Its purpose is to teach under privileged children that they can achieve more from life through education. A good program indeed. So to help explain what they do to volunteers, we made the following video below for people to grasp the concept. Check it out and click here or the link below to learn more.

The Role Model Program

One Year Married

April 21, 2008(yah im hella late on writing this)

So its been one whole year or marital bliss already. We already outlasted 90% of Hollywood couples. Didn't even feel like it. My how time flies. Anyways, to celebrate, wifey and I took a nice little trip down south to San Louis Obispo(or SLO as it is referred to by the uber cool). While down there we discovered this nice little diamond in the rough diner about 3 miles away from Hearst castle. Awesome breakfast and super service from a guy named Phil but looks like a Bob(or is that the other way around?) Moving on, we hit the regular tourist spots with Hearst castle(the man was a pimp!) and Splash Cafe(best clam chowder ever!) and had fun on the beach. All an all a good trip. So a toast to 1 year and many more to come.

And I'm out

May 9th, 2008

And so long to Southern Wine & Spirits. It’s been an interesting two years but it’s time to move on. Design wise I did learn much that I will take with me and grow from. Professionally I learned much as well. I learned that there will be times that you will run into people with power who just shouldn't have any. I learned in order to lead a team, your presence is required and that you have to earn your employees respect in order to be taken seriously. And I also learned that team morale is important and that little things can either make or break a team. Good bye Southern Wine, I put a lot in and got a lot out. How much I wanted though, I don't know.

Don't call it a comeback

Whoa hello folks. I know its been awhile but a lot of changes have come into the world of SChhen.com and Hidden Agenda. Expect multiple postings in the next few days(hours?) about all the happenings of the last TWO MONTHS!?! Ok I know I suck at this blogging thing but hey I'm shooting for an honest effort. Stick with me here. Expect an update followed by the dates of occurances(hopefully in chronoligical order - yah I know I suck) in a bit. Thanks for still visiting. God bless -sonny

I'm Leaving

After almost two years of service I have just put my two weeks in at my current job, Southern Wine & Spirits. It's been like a roller coaster of highs and lows but now I'm feeling good. On to bigger and better things. I'll keep posting about how the next two weeks go. Should be interesting.

New Work - Street Fighter 2

Just finished some new pieces for the Street Fighter 20th Anniversary tribute book. Check them out at the links below.

Ryu

Ken

Chun Li

And one more huge piece coming soon

Vista is KILLING me

Going through some new software training and trying to use my new computer for video editing. This usually wouldn't be a problem if this new computer wasn't running windows Vista. Even with an upgrade to service pack 1, everything keeps crashing!!! Try to import a movie into windows dvd maker or movie maker for simple editing...CRASH. Try to play a newly converted mov video file...CRASH. Try to upgrade my iTunes...CRASH. Now I'm not a Windows or Apple fanboy(I could really care less) but come on, I'm trying to work here. Must I upgrade/downgrade to XP to get anything done? Shame on you Microsoft, shame.

Schhen.com Beta

I've been working on a new version of my sit for weeks now and finally have a beta version up. There are still a few tweaks I need to work out but I like it so far. Be sure to check it out here.

Jabbawockeez FTW

Been really busy lately handling multiple contracts. So busy in fact my loney comcast dvr is just filling up with shows I don't even have time to watch. But man one show I will take a breath for has got to be America's Best Dance Crew. Yes as corny as it sounds it keeps me entertained and doesn't make me feel like I'm turning my brain into mush. Anyways, there's a crew of masked men(yes, literally masked) on the show that got my vote. How can they not win with all the innovative/creative stuff they do? Hit the video below for more.

English accents make learning easier

It is the weirdest thing. I am trying to beef up my skills in css and no matter how many tutorial videos, books, or websites I check out, it's all the same thing...boring. But less then a minute with this guy and I'm hooked. It's the accent I tell yah. And he has another video on how to speak internet/geek. How awesome is that? omg, lol, rofl, ftw, w00t, 1337 Hit the links to get edumacated.

CSS

Speak Geek

Are you a geek?

Are you a geek? If so, don't know how much of one you are? Take the test!

Geek Test

And some more

Just trying to throw out more and more work. Here's another website concept piece. I'm in a sticky situation with copyright laws and sensitive data so the names, text, images, etc... have been changed to protect...well, me. Check out the new stuff and expect an update to my site soon. Take care and remember: "Safe is Sexy."

CA State University site concept

Update:

another website for Epicera Consulting. Woohoo!

New work coming up

In between projects right now working on 3 different websites. Hopefully I'll be able to sort them out for a proper deadline. The good news is that another site I was working on just went live. Check it out here.

http://shaw-ross.com/

Expect pictures of the new sites I'm working on to be up soon.

UPDATE:

Links to new work up now. Click below to see more.

Shaw Ross Flash 1

Shaw Ross Flash 2

Ken Onion Website

New Coconut Grove site re-design

Just waiting

I got bored waiting for my meal to arrive at Macaroni Grill so I picked up one of the crayons on the table and just started drawing on the paper table mats. Below is my hard work(my dog).

Drawing = Pretty Good
Food = Just OK
30 minute wait = Bad

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year, and Ash Wednesday, and Lent, and anniversary of the constitution, and....

Back Home

Back from the Philippines. It was a nice vacation but really really hot(and this is the cool season). Hong Kong was too similar to the U.S. to really appreciate it(or maybe I just had a bad tour guide). Either way I'm happy to be back and ready for action. Expect some new work soon if I don't scratch myself to death from all these bug bites.

So international

Currently at the Two Seasons resort in Boracay island in the Philippines. With white sand and a blue ocean it's a real life postcard. Next up, island hopping around the Philippines and then I'm off to Hong Kong. Hope to have some great pictures to post soon. Until next time, peace love and happiness.

New Work

2 new flash animations and 2 new pieces I just completed. View them all at the links below.

Pinup Schoolgirl

Sin City Wifey

Shaw Ross flash 1

Shaw Ross flash 2

Planned Parenthood Competition

I made the top ten of the Planned Parenthood t-shirt competition! The contest required you to come up with a design expressing the idea of protection, Planned parenthood is for everyone, or safe is sexy. I chose to do the safe is sexy slogan with the image of a condom and a padlock. I wanted to play with the idea of safe as a security idea and safe as a lock. Personal safe and literal Safe. You can see the image below and can vote/rate it at the following link:

www.PPGG.org/RateIt

My shirt is the second one so you have to rate the first shirt to get to mine. Thanks guys.




UPDATE:

Made the top five in the competition. Winner is announced Monday, January 21, 2008.

26 Years old

Hey just turned 26 today. Uh...yay?!? O_o

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everybody. I wish you a happy, healthy, and wealthy new year. Make 2008 your year. And on that note with a shameless plugin, the all new SChhen.com is now up with an all new design and content. Click the link, click around, and feel free to email me with any questions, comments, jokes, or jibes. Once again, Happy New Year and best of luck in everything.