About 2 weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to find out the documentary series I hosted for Discovery Taiwan was nominated for Best Documentary Series at this years Asian TV Awards. Always up for an awards night anyway, so was very happy to be invited to join the Discovery table tonight.

This year it was held at the Shangri La Hotel, and they did a fantastic job with the menu – A lot of seafood and fish which was great! Only thing missing for me was juice! Entertainment included local funk hip hop group Sixx and an all girl dance group.

With Dominic Lau (E News Asia) and Joanne (LI TV Asia)

The best part as always was the chance to catch up with friends and make some new ones! Got to see Alaric Tay and Chua Enlai from the Noose (They won Best Comedy Program and were both runner up to Best Comedy Performance by an actor), Anthony Morse (His program – Hidden Cities on History was nominated for Best General Entertainment ) Dominic Lau & Oli Pettigrew (Both nominated for Best Entertainment Host), Henry Golding (His show was nominated for ), Jourdan Lee (Nominated for best Actor in a leading role), Linda Black (Co-host for the evening with her hubby Oli) and Rebecca Lim (Who was a Guest presenter on the evening). Click here to see all Asian TV Awards 2011 the nominations.

Also caught up with Kav, who worked on our documentary “Eye on Taiwan : The Search for Lost Happiness and the Search for Lost Fertility for Discovery. We got nominated for best Documentary Series which was awesome. Was was even more awesome, was we actually were runners up – scoring a “Highly Commended” Status. Congrats to the production team Samsara Films, Chandi Jayawickrama, Karina Holden, Kavitha, Joyce Huang, August, Umesh, the rest of the team and Discovery Networks!! Click here to see all the Asian TV Awards 2011 winners!

It was also fantastic to to meet many of the hardworking creatives and business heads behind the scenes.

Big thanks to Discovery Networks Asia Pacific for their kind invitation to join them and Congrats to Discovery for their 3 Wins!!! All in all a great night to celebrate Asian TV!

For more photos visit  Derrick’s Facebook page here

With Discovery Networks Asia Showing off their 3 Trophies for 2011

With Alaric Tay and Chua Enlai, The Noose Best Comedy Program Winners

With TV Host Henry Golding

Eye on Taiwan – Search for Lost Fertility – Best Documentary Series 2011 Runners Up!!! – Highly Commended:)

For more photos visit  Derrick’s Facebook page here

Its been over a year, I know, but finally the video has been completed. Check it out! Launch 3 is still in the works. Stay tuned!

Credits: Executive Producer – Launch, Production – Vizuall Studio & Billy Yuen , Host – Steve Lai

LAUNCH 2 – Singapore’s Premier Exclusive Networking Event For the Film, TV and Media Industry from Derrick Siu on Vimeo.

With the added buzz building from the first LAUNCH in February at the Helipad, LAUNCH 2 landed with around 250 creatives coming together for one night of networking fun. LAUNCH 2 sported a new venue with an open air registration at Indochine’s Cocoon Bar + Supperclub at Clark Quay. The Vibe was happening from the moment attendees registered and walked the ‘Pink Carpet’ and got their photos snapped in front of the new look ‘Launch’ backdrop. Many were then caught chatting to camera with host Steve Lai, the new face of ESPN Star sports.

Once inside the excitement of creatives coming together for one night to connect was electric. It was a great night with many catching up with work colleagues and of course making new connections whilst enjoying the great atmosphere and music by the specially selected local musicians – Yelyn and Crystal, Frances Maria Lee & Marcus Lye (with Joshua Chew)

Loads of great Prizes were given away from all the wonderful sponsors who supported the event. Old friendships were rekindled, new friends were made, collaborations set in motion. It was as one stated an ‘epic’ evening enjoyed by all.

About a Month ago, I had the opportunity to host what is to be the beginning of a series of Industry Guru Networking Events organised by the People’s Association and.  And what a great speaker they secured! – Mr Jim Rogers – An American investor and Author – who co-founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros back in 1973,  has circumnavigated the world twice – once on a motorbike alone, and the second time with his wife in a customised Mercedes Benz.  This 3 year, 245,000km journey achieved Guinness World Record Status.  He definitely has taken the dream of most people of travelling the world to the extreme!

It wasn’t surprising then to see a full house at the Jubilee Hall in Raffles Hotel all eager to hear Mr Jim Rogers address. He gave an inspiring and humorous talk about his journey in life, his successes and failures,  his travels and when pressed during the question and answer session – the occasional ‘financial tip’ despite him stating explicitly at the beginning he would not:).  Although mostly known for his financial success, his most important message he shared was not sharing what he saw as the biggest opportunities for financial gain to achieve the wealth we all want, but rather a great reminder to do what you love, and the wealth and success will follow.

It was a great evening and I hope to make the next one!

Special thanks to Raffles Hotel for sponsoring the Venue, Lindamans for the selection of wines and the generous sponsorship by Frank Cintamani, Chairman of The Celton Group and Fidé who all made this event possible.

This year has marked a renewed determination to stay fit after realising that I had let myself go a bit during an extremely hectic period of filming in late 2010 and early 2011.  So after getting back home from a period of filming overseas – I decided to start off with something simple – Running.  I also thought it would be good, as it would help increase my lung capacity which would be good for my vocal development.  As well, at the time I thought the running would be a relatively inexpensive exercise to partake in – After running over 500km, participating in 4 races and purchasing all kinds of running gear, I realised how wrong I was!

In any case, its been a enjoyable journey, and what started out from a 2km run, has extended up to 25km race with plans to go the full distance with a marathon at the end of the year.  I think one of the great aspects of running is it gives you time to clear your mind, in essence its a kind of meditation – something which my overactive mind and type A personality needs to help keep me in balance!

I’ve been meaning to blog about my running journey this year for a while (Since I started my first run in late January this year (2011), but wanted to wait till I completely refreshed my blog (its still currently undergoing some debugging – but good enough to start blogging again – anyway, when you get the inspiration, its best to act on it, before it goes I believe.)  Anyway this blog entry is start. I’ll be covering some of the races I’ve entered in the upcoming entries – 2XU Compression 12KM run, Passion 25Km run, Sundown Half Marathon, and the Gold Coast Half Marathon.

But for now I want to  share an inspirational video I came across a few years ago, which was the real reason I started writing tonight – And since I find it very motivational particularly for running and other similar sports I thought I’d use it to get my running blog happening.  Anyway  its  just a great inspiration for whatever aspirations you may have and a demonstration of what love is.  -  Its the story of Rick and Dick Hoyt, A father and son duo who have  competed in 240 triathlons, 68 marathons and hundreds of other races together around the world (over a 1000 and counting!) And they have clocked amazing times including a 2hrs 40min for a marathon! When I say together, I mean the Father Dick pushing his Son Rick in a wheelchair for the entirety of the races!  Its Truly Inspirational.  I hope I get the chance to meet these guys at an event one day. Anyway do check out the video below:

If you liked that video, you may want to hear the story behind this amazing father and son.

I just did a quick google search and found out they now have a website (checked a couple of years ago, but I don’t think they had one then) check Team Hoyt here

Enjoy & Goodnight!

Received a couple of emails during the week from Six Degrees and NYU Tisch Asia about FUEL UP, so decided to drop in on the FUEL UP Creative Industries Fair this weekend at Marina Square. Was glad I did, while I wasn’t specifically looking to get upskilled by the many great colleges and teaching institutions in the creative arts it was great to catch up with some peeps from Six Degrees (whom I hadn’t seen for nearly 9 months – when they had helped spread the word about LAUNCH) as well got to meet some awesome people during their Networking session – whom I’ll hopefully get to collaborate with in the near future!  Props to Six Degrees who have been hard at work developing the creative industries here in Singapore.

FESTIVE FACES! is a 6 x 1 Hour travel and culture programme that takes us on a journey to discover the lesser documented festivals from some of the most discreet corners of Asia! See things from other cultures that will not be found in travel brochures, go to places that is not on the map, and taste things that are not on the menu!

Come and experience these festivals through the eyes and perspective of those involved! They are - FESTIVE FACES!

Produced by Apostrophe Films.

1 Hour Documentary

Taiwan is facing a crisis – one in every six couples will suffer from infertility, the phenomenon of low birth rate in Taiwan is now the world’s most serious. In 2011 Taiwan’s total fertility rate will be less than 1, that is, each woman over her lifetime will have less than one child on average. Sixty years ago, the average per woman will give birth to seven children. Why has fertility declined so rapidly? What is the cause of fertility drop? If Taiwan does not deal with this probem as soon as possible, the whole country’s culture, society and economy could be seriously threatened.  What measures will the people of Taiwan take?

First Broadcast on Discovery Taiwan 24th April 2011 21:00

Episode Breakdown

EP 1: Eye Strain
Dr Derrick Siu finds 2 candidates: Bridget and Elizabeth, both are middle managers, both suffering from severe eye strain. They check out Chiropractic, Naturopathic and Ayurvedic treatments. Only Dr Derrick Siu ends up with the shower cap.

EP 2: Lethargy
From Osteopathy and Ayurveda to TCM, Dr Derrick Siu searches for a treatment to combat lethargy in this episode.

Ep 3 : Bodyaches
We are all walking around with body aches of one sort or another. Unless these are serious pains, there’s nothing much doctors can do. Occasional massages relieve the pain, but only for a while. Anything long term? Once again Dr Derrick Siu and 2 volunteers check out Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chiropractic treatment. One swears in favour, the other swears she’ll never return.

Ep 4: Happy Feet
Our feet’s health can affect the rest of our body; from the knees, hips to the lower back. So why do we continually punish them with high heel shoes and sweaty socks? Dr Derrick Siu reveals a personal embarrassment as he and guinea pigs Yi Ling and Tisha go through some sole searching. Our alternative practitioners this week include TCM, Naturopathy and Chiropractic.

Ep 5: 7 March 8.30 pm CNA
Women suffer from migraines much more than men. The pain can be triggered by a variety of things from chocolates to hot weather. Doctors don’t know the reason why and they can’t really suggest a cure. Dr Derrick Siu checks out 2 TCM practitioners who put their needles to the test.

Ep 6 Gastro 14 March 8.30 pm CNA
It could be something serious or something you had at lunch but gastro-intestinal disorders is common among busy executives. A solution may be at hand but it takes real guts to go through the treatment. Dr Derrick Siu submits himself to the most painful cure he’s had so far.

EP 7 : Coughs and Colds 28 March 8.30 PMCoughs and colds are only symptoms of something else that’s brewing. Dr Derrick Siu tips himself off balance as he checks out Naturopathy and TCM alternatives.

Ep 8: Sleep

1 Hour Documentary – Broadcast on 26th December 2010, 9pm on Discovery Taiwan

Description of Program (Translated from Discovery Taiwan’s Website)

The physically and mentally debilitating depression, along with cancer and AIDS, are major health crisis for mankind in the 21st century. Yet depression has not received the attention it deserves. Today, nearly two million Taiwan adults have depressive tendencies. This growth is phenomenal, considering it was less than 2% at the end of the 20th century.

Depression is the result of living under sustained, long term pressure. Unlike the West, Eastern societies often regard depression as taboo or stigmatic, delaying sufferers from seeking treatment. But in fact depression can be treated and even prevented. In Taiwan, Chinese medicine approaches depression from a different perspective.

This program introduces the various treatments for depression, including views from East and West medicine and mind, spiritual and religious dimensions.Among the Taiwanese medical community today, there appears to be new opportunities in treating severe depression patients…

Other Broadcast Dates:

2010/12/27 05:00,2010/12/27 12:00, 2010/12/31 19:00, 2011/01/01 03:00, 2011/02/28 22:00, 2011/03/01 05:00, 2011/03/01 10:00, 2011/03/07 15:00, 2011/05/01 20:00, 2011/05/04 19:00, 2011/05/05 03:00, 2011/05/05 12:00, 2011/05/08 11:00

Links to other news about the episode:

kingnet.com.tw