by: Tim Yap

Contributed by: Chris

INSTEAD of heading out to party, I spent my Friday night at Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, channel-surfing between late night telly offerings, shifting from "Private-I" to "Imbestigador," going through the latest infomercials and FTV, hopping on to a gospel charity show and then finally deciding to turn the tube off.

I don't get to watch that much TV, as I opt to meditate and rest as soon as I get home (from an all- night party hop, of course). I transferred the giant TV from my old flat to my maid's room for her enjoyment so whenever I do have to watch something ("The Buzz," "S Files," "Master Showman," et al), I have to squeeze into her little room to get all the boob tube action.

In that short span of airtime that I caught, I realized that hidden cameras are all the rage on late night TV, that my former British boss is the star of an infomercial (the Cambridge Diet) and that Dulce, the diva, is now co-host of "700 Club." Also on Star Movies, I found out I have a movie star look-alike in "The Touch" (Michelle Yeoh's brother, played by Brandon Chang). After I got tired of looking at my alter ego on the small screen, I decided to head out to Vudu for its Addict R&B night. It was 2 a.m., and Cebu was still hot and happening.

No such thing as too late to go out these days (except for kids with a curfew). Spontaneity is key. Listen to your body. If you feel like going out, then paint the town red. If you feel like staying home, then get a few friends together for a chillax-ing home party!

Red Mansion

Speaking of painting the town red, I hopped by the HSBC party at Prince of Jaipur where I got to bartend to raise funds for the Cartwheel Foundation's cause. Thank heavens for good friends that the drink I concocted garnered the highest bid for the night. My bar-tending skills served me well as the girls gave me huge tips for serving them Skyy vodka all night. Now I have another career to look forward to.

On the subject of home parties, photographer-to-the-posh Victor Consunji had one at his pad (pad is an understatement). BigFish held its Motomansion party at his South Forbes home to launch Motorola's E398 phone.

As of last head count, more than 600 people had crashed his home (I don't know if his parents knew about it-well, they do now). That number is still small if you compare it with the last Pacha party at the NBC Tent, where thousands of partyphiles converged in the name of house music. "Nothing was damaged, thank God." I overheard Vic tell a friend the morning after.

Saturday, and I was off to a quiet weekend until I learned that my Singapore-based Thai buddy was in town. So in a span of a few hours, me and my bubble buddy, Ipe Cruz, held an impromptu get-together to welcome Uttsada Greg Panichcul, aka MTV VJ Utt.

The new and the now

We got a long table at the second floor of Nuvo and gathered other like-minded young people as we feasted on phat finger food and toasted to more exciting times ahead. How very apt, celebrating the "new and the now," since VJ Utt was here in town to tape a new show with MTV India VJ Anusha called "MTV Brand New."

MTV VJs Sarah Meier, Cindy Kurleto and KC Concepcion joined the fun as they compared notes on VJ-hood. I sensed a twinkle in Utt's eyes every time he small-talked with our KC. In fact, he was wearing a tee with the print, "Aroused." But maybe that's just me.

Later, Anusha begged me to take her to a dance place-so we all hopped over to V, where B Boy Mark Reyes was having his joint birthday party with hip and hot commercial director AF Benaza. There, a breakdance showdown ensued (expected, but nonethless breathtaking) as lovers of R&B and hip-hop had a field day on the dance floor.

In the middle of the sweaty, packed floor was this palpable, infectious energy that just made you dance. Credit goes to promoters Johnny Verse (aka Jon

Herrera-everybody has an alias these days) and MC Stephen Ku for making partyphiles feel at home, plus the wired gyrations of the B Boy crew, led by Mark Reyes and dynamic dance scenester Lema Diaz.

Much, much later, I decided to check in at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where we had another unplanned party-a pajama party! A friend raided his own closet to get as many pajamas as he could, and voila! Breakfast in bed, bonding and jamming (Red Box goes to Mandarin) until we all fell asleep.

Spontaneity is so underrated in this era of planned fun. Sometimes, we should just drop the take-charge attitude and simply flow on, letting the moment lead us to adventure and exploration. You'll never know what to expect.

http://www.inq7.net/lif/2004/jul/21/lif_26-1.htm

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Interviewed by: TBA

Contributed by: Anina

IN A DIFFERENT SCENE

Ever since UTT Uttsada Panichkul was a young boy, his childhood dream was to become an MTV VJ. Presently, not only is he living out his dream, he I also one of the hottest VJ in Asia. He has also become a popular actor and commercial presenter in Singapore, Thailand, and throughout Asia. Many people consider him to be successful but he modestly said it’s more like an accomplishment from his determination.

We’ve always known him as the fun and crazy UTT, however, there’s more than just one side to him, there is also a philosophical side. For instance, the tattoo on the back of his hand of a Sriva God holds a paton, symbolizing ‘God is universe’. It is tattooed on his hand to remind him that his hands can be used to either create or destroy. For those who’ve never seen that side of Utt, you will definitely get to know him better as you read on.

MTV Trax: You’ve mentioned that you didn’t like acting before, so what made you change your mind?
UTT: The more you act the more it begins to grow on you. The experience I had working with director Noppol Komolchun taught me a lot about myself. Some of the dramas I played in taught me important values in life, so it became more than a job to just make money, it developed into real learning experience instead.

MTV Trax: What do you think is the factor behind your success throughout Southeast Asia?
UTT: For me it’s a lot about motivation, opportunity, and timing. I believe that everyone has motivation but not everyone works to accomplish his or her goals. MTV has been my dream job so when the opportunity came, I just went for it.

MTV Trax: What were you doing before working at MTV?
UTT: About two years ago before MTV, I had to cast for parts just like any other actor. I think I went to cast for about two soap operas.

MTV Trax: How did you end up working at MTV Singapore?
UTT: I’ve been working for MTV for 5-6 years. The company was base in Thailand but was owned by Singapore. I was hosting Bangkok Jam and Wow. This was before MTV Thailand was established, but now I work for MTV Singapore hosting shows such as Most Wanted, Connect, and MTV Screen.

MTV Trax: What’s the difference between working in Singapore and Thailand?
UTT: It’s been pretty much the same because it’s the same company. The only difference is the environment and the people that I work with. The entertainment industry is smaller in Singapore compared to Thailand.

MTV Trax: Is it easier working in Singapore?
Utt: It depends. It’s not exactly easier, but things are just done differently.

MTV Trax: Did your success start in Thailand first, and then you expanded internationally, or has your success in Singapore helped you accomplish more in Thailand?
อั๊ต: มันเป็นลำดับขั้นของการที่มีคนรู้จักเราเยอะขึ้น

MTV Trax: Did working in Singapore increase the number of fans in Thailand?
UTT: I already have a pretty strong fan base in Thailand, because people in Thailand have known me for nearly ten years. People just naturally come and talk to me whenever they bump into me.

MTV Trax: Besides MTV, you also play in many series and commercials. Looks like everything seems to be going your way!
Utt: Yes but it didn’t happen just over night, it took a long of time and there were many steps I had to climb.

MTV Trax: After working for 10 years, what about yourself would you say have changed the most?
Utt: I think I’m calmer now.

MTV Trax: Watching you on TV, you give the impression of someone who is very hyper and carefree. It’s hard to believe that you are interested philosophy and psychology.
Utt: I have always been interested in those topics. There are so many questions I want to know the answers to. I want to be able to see things more clearly and focused.

MTV Trax: What kind of questions do you have for yourself?
UTT: It’s pretty basic really. Like why were we born? Why do we take the human form? What makes us human? And are spirits real?

MTV Trax: Have you found the answers to those questions?
UTT: Not a very clear answer. I’ve acquired some answers from different religions. How it was established and their beliefs. I try to apply what I’ve learned to my life.

MTV Trax: What did you gain from educating yourself with these topics?
UTT: meditation and determination

MTV Trax: Do you discuss these issues with anyone?
UTT: Mostly with my foreign friends. If I had questions or problems, I get a lot of different opinions from them.

MTV Trax: Seems like you have two personalities that could conflict each other.
UTT: Yeah, but it doesn’t really conflict each other.

MTV Trax: What were you trying to portray from your book ‘Think Like Utt”
UTT: That book was a journal that I’ve written at that period in time.

MTV Trax: Some may say your book was released when lots of pocket books were released by many stars during that time.
UTT: Eventhough it was realeased during that time.. The book was more like a daily journal. My intentions was to have more people see a different side of me.

MTV Trax:There was an interview in GM that you described life as being on a surfboard..where has the wave taken you?
UTT: The reason I said what I did was because people are always asking me where and what I will be doing next. Well..i’m still living a very exciting life and I’ll go where the water flows…

MTV Trax: From the beginning all you wanted was an airfare to go back to the states but it has lead you to soo many opportunities in Thailand and throughout South East Asia. There’s billboards of you in Hong Kong and all over the Singapore Airport. What is your next step?
UTT: When you’ve mention those things … it hasn’t really hit me because I don’t measure my success from those things. Infact I look at my inner self and ask myself whether I can still do these things and am I happy with the things that I’m faced. That is more important to me.

MTV Trax: Who is Utt?
UTT: Here in Thailand people still perceive me as still being the young , fun, and the outgoing type. Like when I went to shoot for GM they would always ask me ‘why aren’t you smiling or being yourself?’ . I forget that they haven’t seen the calm and more mature side of me which is used often in photo shoots internationally.

MTV Trax: You came to Thailand because your mother wanted you to learn the Thai Culture. It’s been 10 years.. What do you think being Thai is?
UTT: It’s hard to say…let’s see. Being modest and respectful in society is one. I’m used to smiling a lot in Thailand and people and they smile back at me. In some countries people just think I’m strange and are very cold towards me. UTT: It’s hard to say…let’s see. Being modest and respectful in society is one. I’m used to smiling a lot in Thailand and people and they smile back at me. In some countries people just think I’m strange and are very cold towards me.

MTV Trax: I heard that your younger brother Gerald works for the FBI?
UTT: He works with the FBI but he’s not an FBI agent. He investigates prisoners that have been freed and make sure that they are being good citizens and are not violating any laws.

MTV Trax: Why do you use the name UTT and not Greg here in Thailand?
UTT: Greg in Thai is harder to pronouce than UTT in my opinion.

MTV Trax: Do you consider yourself Thai or American at the moment?
UTT: I’m definitely Thai

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Interview Randy C. Torrecampo

Balls and chains and straitjacket. These can tame a crazy man. But not VJ Utt.

MTV VJ Utt, or Greg Uttsada Panichkul if you want it complete, is the wackiest VJ to invade MTV-ville. He rose to fame (or was it notoriety?) when he hosted Bangkok Jam, a local MTV program in Thailand.

He's one of the most in-demand hosts nowadays with four shows to his credit: MTV's Most Wanted, Asia Hit List, MTV Screen, and MTV Start.

Blame it on his cute and silly ways, which he does without really trying.

It would be hard to separate Utt from MTV, but, believe it or not, there's more to this dashing dude's sleeves than veejaying and modeling.

UTT FACT #1: On acting and crying

Unbeknownst to most of his fans, Utt can act. As in really act. Utt played the role of an HIV-positive callboy in Song Klam Doag Rak, a critcally acclaimed Thai drama series.

Off MTV cam, Utt is not afraid to show his sensitive side. He even cried one time while watching a movie(the title escaped his mind)in the dark confines of a movie house.

While he was here for a brief vist, a giant network even tried to get him to star in a telenovela. Now, isn't that grreat to have the hunky Utt crying over a local channel?

UTT FACTS #2: Split personality: Meeting the crazy Utt and the serious Greg

Though you see him most of the times on cam as VJ Utt sporting a goofy face and doing silly stuff, this dude can be boringly serious off cam as Greg.

When push comes to shove, that's when he's tough. And when he's tough, you wouldn't like him, as he tends to be uber serious and strict.

"I don't like him when he's serious, " shared publicist Melissa Lam, who is always a witness when Dr. Jekyll transforms into Mr. Hyde.

UTT FACTS #3: VJs are gods when it comes to trends...

Not!!! VJ Utt i actually the total opposite of a trendie, which is a contradiction considerin his job. "I'm just starting to appreciate fashion," he declared.

These days, you'd see him wearing a Tom Ford pink floral shirt (which he actually wore during this year's MTV Asaian Awards) because his fashion sense has already greatly elevated, but let him wear the same shirt three years ago, and he would mind.

For VJ Utt, comfort goes first before fashion; this is evident in his usual jeans-and-shirt get-up. And, yeah, "I just want to be myself when dressing up," he said. Just jumpers, sweats, light jackets, and, of course, jeans and shirts.

UTT FACTS #4: Less is more

When you're on screen most of your life, you need to invest a lot on what your audience see. But vanity is farthest from VJ Utt's mind, which is engrossed with thoughts of Kristin Kreuk (his biggest crush), putting up his own production company in Thailand, and conjuring silly pranks.

Indeed, he has become more vain through the years because he needs to maintain a gorgeous image, but not as vain as some of those models JFK has met.

VJ Utt's daily regimen is simple. Sleep a lot, drink lot, and ry not to drink much alcohol. The only vanity he puts on is a moisturizer, which i a must when conditions are harsh.

VJ Utt may have defied VJ conventions with these "Utt Facts", but he sure is on top of our list ecause he comes out natural and, yeah, he's gorgeous. He's not just another run-on-the-mill VJ that's why we like him.

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Interview Randy C. Torrecampo

For someone who goes around a lot, the luggage becomes the most personal possessio there is. JFK checked out VJ Utt's travel bag to find out just how it is to pack like a travel pro.

I'M TOO SEXY FOR MY SHIRT. VJ Utt prefers clothes from Adidas, Energy and G Star.

SEE, MOM, NO STUBBLES. Of course, shavers are must-haves, along with boxers and pajamas.

'Do you wanna see me wearing this.. only this?' We can almost hear your answer.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS. A good book (he currently reads The Da Vinci Code), a CD Player (his CD list includes Jay Z's The Black Album, Linkin Park's [Hybrid Theory], Ashnti, and Frankie J.'s Wha's A Man To Do), and a PUG!

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Interview Yanni Tan

MTV VJ'S DENISE AND UTT ARE THE MTV GENERATION'S SWEETHEARTS.

" I date but there's no-one in my life right now. However,I do want to get married eventually and have kids-maybe three of them. I can't say when it's going to happen though; my motto in life is to just live each day to the fullest and to take each day as it comes." Utt

" I'm absolutely in love with what i'm doing now. Since joining MTV, I've been learning more and more about music and hosting. It's really not easy to be totally natural when you're standing in front of 3,000 people. For the year ahead, I awnt to get better and better in what I do, to give my best." Denise

" Love is intriguing in thesense that it is something everyone is serarching for. It is finding a soul mate, with whom you have a special connection. I don't fall in love easily but, when I do,I'm willing to do some really crazy things, like jump off a bridge, run around naked or something. Utt

" Your family defines true, unconditional love. The love your mother showers you with gives you the knowledge taht there's someone out there meant for you to love too. You'll only find love when that person is able to fit you like a jigsaw." Denise

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Translation by: Nijji Kamolpechara

If you know that you're a true Uttie...here are some questions that you should be able to answer...

1. How old do you think Utt is? 21-24 / 25-29 / 30-33

2. What is Utt's ethnic origin? Thai-American / 100%     Thai / Thai - British

3. Is 'Utt' his real nickname? (If you answer yes..then skip     to number 5)

4. What do you think his real nickname is: Art / Greg /     Mike

5. Who came up with the spelling for U-T-T-S-A-D-A with a double 'T'?     Boyd Kosiyabong / Great Grandfather / A monk from a Thai Temple in California

6. Who inspired Utt to become a VJ?   Sonia Cooling / Noi from the band 'Pru' /     Madonna


Answers:

1. Utt's is 3_something (Eventhough he doesn't look it!!)

2. 100% Thai

3. If you answered 'yes', that means you believe in everything that you hear. If you answered 'no', then you are either guessing, or you know the truth. However, if you answered 'yes' in your mind, but chose 'no', then you are a risk taker!

4. Greg

5. Boyd Kosiyabong

6. Isn't it amazing!!! Noi from the band 'Pru'


Read the original Thai content

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Interview Jasmine Tham

You see them muck around, have fun, go crazy and read your requests on MTV Most Wanted, and it seems the coolest job anyone could ever have. Is it? We quizzed our fave VJs Denise Keller and Utt on what life on MTV is like and other critical info like waht VJs listen to when they're not working... the sound of silence?
.

17: Was it always your dream to become an MTV VJ?

U: It was always one of my dreams because I grew up with MTV geration back in the 80's in California. I've always been a huge fan of MTV and I think most Aerican kids wanted to be a VJ, so obviously, I'm living to ultimate dream being a MTV VJ!



17: What's some VJ experience that money, nor Mastercard, can buy?

U: That would have to be the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. I was sent to New York and that was the year that Britney performed her "Oops...I Did It Again" act where she did her strip act. Christina Aguilera was onstage with Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and Janet Jackson opened the awards show, in a huge Hollywood Squares-type rig, which descended so she and her dance crew could get the aerobics underway. There were all these great performances going on and I thought it was a great year to be down there.

17: Six years with MTV! As an, ahem,veteran, what must-be-must do advice do you have for other aspiring VJs?

U: Just stay who you are, be yourself. I think a lot of times, when you see whom you consider to be a role model, you tend to want to become one yourself. So sometimes you think you have to act a certain way or talk a certain way, but you just need to be yourself.

17: All that time as a VJ, do you ears just want to fall off after that continuous music? Do you actually listen to any music off the job?

U: Right now I really like hip-hop and R&B, but that depends on my mood as well. Hip hop and R&B kind of gets me going and my friends and colleague like Denise have commented htat they see me moving my hands more during my shows when music like that plays.

17: What music would always get you grooving?

U: Has to be 80's retro music, I have a soft spot for it. Maybe because I grew up with it.

17: Honest now... what do you really, really think of bubble-gum pop?

U: I think you need bubble gum pop music to balance everthing out. The music scene undergoes a certain cycle where certain types of music comes and goes and each generation would would have their version of bubblegum pop which is an integral part of the entire music scene.

17: OK, our irrelevant ending question -- were you always this cute?

U: (laughs)... I wasn't really confident when I was growing up; I was kind of camera shy. Can you tell right now?

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