H-Factor Nationwide Creative Youth Workshop '08 @ Penang

On the second Sunday of October, I was at a star-studded workshop held at G Hotel, Penang.

It's rather rare to see such a workshop where personalities of certain influence and fame all gather under one roof to talk in a workshop.


H-Factor Nationwide Creative Youth Workshop 2008 is a workshop for youths and teenagers, who are interested in the creative content industry, e.g TV Hosting, music, Radio DJ, Acting and Film, Dance, Motion Graphics, Comedy and Theater and even Magic and Mentalist. Hopefuls will get a gist or two on the out and abouts of the industry and even some tweaks and turns to get into 'their' world.


I personally think is rather informational. As much as how some people think it was commercialised as it would be, it does give some useful insights about the creative content industry, about the mass media.


First up was Serena C and Pietro from Mix fm.

( No actual on-scene photos will be featured as there are policies and regulations when it comes to all these celebrities. We are not allowed to snap any photos during the event itself.)

They talked about Radio DJ-ing and their journey before they reach where they are today. Serena C went into the field through interview while Pietro used to be a club DJ before his talent was being discovered!

Tips learnt:
Radio show - It's live. It's unpredictable! Your audience needs to be entertained! Bore them, and they will turn you off
- Be natural and be yourself when you speak into the microphone. If you are a Malaysian, speak like what Malaysians do, there's no need to fake out an American accent all of a sudden when you are holding the mic!

" You want to go, you ma go lo. No need to wait for me one la. I some more got things to do. I finish dee, I go find you la ok? "

No. That's no what they meant by 'Malaysian'. Alamak. I'm misleading.


After they wrapped up, the mastermind behind this workshop, sizzling hot Hannah Tan, came up to share a little about TV Hosting.

I super like her very sexily toned arms!

She did some interactive games to let those selected up on-stage to test on their spontaneity and creativity. After all, being a TV Host is mainly about being very spontaneous and creative, thinking out of the box, under any situation in no time.

And mind you this beautiful petite lady was once a KDU College Penang student! Nope, not from Mass Comm department as what you may think she would be, she's an IT student from my college. Unexpected? Haha. I think so too.

She is a very ambitious lady framed in small. I think she's a good example to emulate amongst the youths and teenagers. Successfully organising a workshop like this, definitely proved something of her.

Next session goes to Reymee, a member from a Malay music group Innuendo, which owns the great hit famous-amos 'Belaian Jiwa'.

He shared with us about music. To know whether you can make it through the industry, he told us a very funny first key point -Self-awareness. Haha.

Oh Yes Yes Yes, I totally agree. Please don't come out behaving like you have the most wonderful voice on earth when you actually croak like a frog. He even did a solo role-play on what happen during the reality show auditions, like what you see on American Idol or One in A Million. Hahah.

I know I look horrible. But I think he looks like a Chinese.

Most important thing, to sing well: Get a vocal teacher to train your voice! Even fantastic singer like Stevie Wonder did have a vocal coach.


Joey Khor was easily spotted among the crowd with his orange coloured hair and his tatoos on his arms. He talked to us on Motion Graphics.

He showed us some of his work done by his studio, Hue Visual Lab. Very Impressive. You have to be able to imagine the amount of sleepless nights and extensive efforts you have to undergo to be in this field, not to mention being a perfectionist at the same time.

Motion Graphics aside, even animated Power Point slides with sound effects will make my eyes pop out if i want to make it perfect.


This guy could not help making the crowd go crazy when he came out, especially the girls. Haha. Hans Issac, actor cum director, and now owns his own production company makes the crowd went wild. It was like a Meet The Fans session. Ok, I'm exaggerating. But he was really one of the crowds' favourite of the day. He gave us some pointers about Film and Acting.

As he saw the need for acting demonstration, he picked a 14-year-old girl to act with him, a romantic scene. Haha. It was a bit hilarious seeing the age gap between them, but somehow or rather he was impressed with her acting. And that LUCKY GIRL was invited by him to cast in one of his up-coming theater production!!! Just because he said the girl was brave enough to act with him, but hello, you actually picked her, remember?


Gosh. I should have just stormed up on stage and insist I wanted to act with him. XD What an opportunity!!! Boohoo.


Here comes my favourite!

Rounded-Bubbly-Funny Harith Iskander!

He don't have to do anything to make you laugh. Just by you looking at him makes you laugh. His rounded cute bulging stomach adds flavour to it. He's such a born-to-be comedian. He's so FUNNY!!

This is actually my first time really 'laughing my ass off' listening to stand-up comedy. (People that know me, know that I laugh at things that are not funny. Gosh.) His actions and expressions is really amusing. I super duper like Harith Iskander! He's super good at being Funny! LOL.

Next up, this guy. OMG. Please don't play-play with him. He's scarrrryyyyy. =S


David Lai, a magician cum metalist. But he prefers to call himself a mentalist instead of a magician. And seriously, by calling himself a mentalist, he's really a mentalist.

See what he does.


He's can bend a fork without using physical strength. All he uses is his mind. I saw it with my own eyes. He's so damm scary.

He even demonstrated how he could read people's mind. He asked someone to draw a picture without telling him and he can read his mind and draw out the same type of figure the person drew. Not the exact drawing though, for example: he person drew a cat with three whiskers and the tail hanging in the air, David Lai would draw out a cat with four whiskers with no tail. But Still!!! It's a cat! He so damm scary.

Scarily impressively beyond believable, BUT it's true. =S

Closing the event was Fellest Yan, a talented dancer.

Telling us about hip hop culture and showing us some different styles and genres of dance, he did wooed the crowd well with his performance and presence.

And...End. =)

It was definitely a great workshop for those who wants some knowledge about the industry. Penang, Johor Bahru & Kota Kinabalu stop have ended and are over, some serious people who wants to catch H-Factor, the last stop would be at KL this Saturday, 2nd November!

You won't want to miss it! Check out the website here or here.

I love how they hold their H-Factor spirit on a T-shirt.

H-Factor official T-Shirt