venenatis ultrices indie: who is SHIN OE?

NAME: Shinju Oe A.K.A SHIN OE

JOB: Marketing Personnel | Column Writer | Rook Creator/ Inker

GENDER: Female

HEIGHT: 5'6"

WEIGHT: 174 lbs.

HAIR: Black

EYES: Dark Brown

ALL ABOUT SHIN:

Shin loves to read manga and watch anime in her spare time. She started writing at a very young age and realized that writing is something she can't live without. One of her most depressing memories was loosing all her written works in highschool because her computer crashed and she said she is so dumb back then to not create back-ups. It was fated, she said.

Graduated in a local university and opting to finish a course for the shallow reason of:

"The course has no board exams and minimal MATH subjects! What more can I ask for?"

Shin never really imagined herself being thrown into the world of the ARTS. For some reason, she thought she'd end up as a flight attendant <--- which she planned on back when she was in Highschool.

RAW file of a canceled page in ROOK OF THE RATS.

But it wasn't a SUDDEN thing. Shin indeed was placed in the ARTS but didn't start as a writer or a mangaka at all. She was thrown into the art of costume designing, worked in a national TV network and did several cameos in a Filipino Fantaserye (no kidding). She was surrounded by film-makers and the like. In fact, one of her mentors is the great Peque Gallaga who is not only a teacher but a great friend.

"Direk Peque is cool. A lot of people think he's very strict...but you know, HE IS with good reason at that. But I love the way he pushes me (not that I'm a masochist..haha...) to my limits and squeezes all the artistic juices off my head. He's one of the people that molded me into who I am today...and probably molded a lot of other great artists. I think, without him, I'd be a bit lost and I wouldn't have found the courage to take pride in what I do." Shin shared. "Direk always believes that we Ilonggos can soar high and we must love our culture. We must love our home. I think this is the most important thing direk taught me - to love who we are...where we live and to share it to the world."

Shin did a couple of exhibits and one of them was held in the National Museum (Manila). She is an Installation Artist...not by choice, she reminded me but loved the opportunity all the same. The experience taught her so much about being an artist, the influences that an artist can exude and that it made her realize how important CULTURE is to us all.

One of Shin's earlier projects.

"I wanted to be close to my family. Sure, I got what everyone wants (a great paying job P2,500/day)...but it's never what you thought it's going to be." Shin explained. "People want to reach for their dreams thinking that it's the BEST of the BEST and that they know they'll love it. Some might have the determination to cling to that dream despite the sacrifice but it doesn't turn out that way for everyone. When I got my dream of being in a national studio, I was happy. But when I continued living the dream for months...I slowly realize what's more important."

Shin decided to leave Manila because she misses her family. It wasn't because she was bored or that she got tired. She said it was more of really seeing what you NEED. Being an only child, her family is very important to her.

"There was a time when I didn't even know that my mom was hospitalized and that my auntie got married." Shin laughed. "So what does that say about me? I think I was so in love with the job that I forgot my family...and I realized that my heart really wants to be close to them. Besides, now...I think it was fated that I left Manila..."

To make her MANGA-AWAKENING Story short, she came back from Manila to work in a regular job with regular pay. She did a couple of jobs from being a tour guide, being a farmer, freelance costume coordinator for indie films, freelance artist, accounting personnel (wild card) and finally, an Event Manager. She then met Shida and Kouyuki in an event she organized and they hit it off.

"It's not about how good you plan your life to be." Shin chuckled. "The more you plan your life, the more you'll be disappointed. But yeah, go on and plan your life...that's what we are expected to do, of course. I think it's instinct...you know - to survive. But always leave some space for adjustments. You'll never really know what's in store for you. We might hate to admit it but we're not in control of our lives. I used to love thinking that I AM IN CONTROL...but I sure did learn the hard way."

SHIDA as a Girl. Mischief art by Shin Oe.

SHIN loves humor. She told me that without it, she'd probably go insane. She's mischievous and often times misunderstood as very intimidating because once she knows you, she's going to go beyond the boundaries regardless your permission. Take for example this drawing she made of Shida Shinpan-sama. At first she thought it was funny, but then again...she became a bit worried that Shida-kun might not have liked the idea of him...as a girl...wearing a bikini. She did it anyway~

SHIN's favorite mischief victim is Jay Wong (Head Sketch). Jay is also her bestfriend since Nursery. There was once a time when Shin texted Jay out of boredom. She texted, "Jay, this is Shin's mom. Shin is currently in the ICU. She was hit by a car and broke her spinal column. Please pray for her." Jay, being the bestfriend that she is immediately texted their BATCH in highschool to pray for Shin...who texted her the next day, "Hey, you got my message? Pretty funny, huh?" By then, Shin told me that Jay was fuming and that Jay texted back all the other friends about the GAG.

Shin's relationship to the other staff members are basically stable. Her closest being Jay Wong who is also the head sketch of Rook of the Rats. Fuko (CG Artist) is a long-time friend who she met in her cosplay gigs (yes, Shin's a cosplayer). Jo (CG Artist) is also a long-time friend who she met in her cosplay gigs too. Shin met Shida before Kouyuki when she attempted to get Shida to cosplay.

HITSUGAYA TOUSHIRO of Bleach. Shin-Style

"I didn't know him well yet... He was introduced by a couple of cosplayers that are friends of friends. The first thing I thought of when I saw Shida was... Ooohhh...long hair...will do well being a bishie cosplayer. HAHAHAHAH! Peace, Shids!"

Shin met Kouyuki later on in one of the events she organizes where she also met Shida the second time. After that, she joined the Ice Cream Indie.

So what do you think about the different stories in ICI, Shin?

"I think people probably misunderstand the notion of COMICS. Sure it's made to make people laugh and enjoy their free time...but the complexities of a graphic novel changed a long time ago. Older people think otherwise and due to this kind of treatment, the stories within the comics have low expectations. People tend to say, "It's JUST comics." But the stories within are mirrors that reflect each and everyone. When people tell me that what I do is just a hobby, I just give them a smile knowing that they're basically closing their minds to something that they're afraid of...something real. I think the stories in ICI reflect the lives of the Staff and the lives of everyone who reads them. If you look closely, the stories have different genres to cater to everyone."

ROOK in Rook of the Rats.

When asked who her favorite character in Rook of the Rats is...

"I think my favorite in Rook of the Rats is...Rook. HAHAHAHA! That was obvious. Nawh... It's not only because I can relate to her evil lil self but also because she takes life as it should be taken. You know...stop complaining and just do your shit? Because if we look at life closely, it's all about survival. It's not about fame, fortune and what-not. It boils down to surviving and like what you'll be reading in the future issues...well, let's just say you guys will get what I mean."

Favorite character in One Step Closer?

"RYU. You gotta love a girl with guts! Quoting from the Issue 4.0 she thought, Ha?! Bakit ko naman gagawin yun? Pero parang yun and gusto ng lahat... <--- AHAHHAHAH! She kicked the ball and yet she doesn't know how. I love that attitude. You know, JUST DO IT! In the end, it's very significant in our lives. There are lots of opportunities that we usually push away because we're afraid of failing. Sheesh! Grab it and if you fail, chuck it to experience!"

Favorite character in Wishful Thinking?

"Duh? Hot guy with no shirt! XD Seiji-kun of course...though I am really gonna kill Oya (Kouyuki) for not yet revealing the whole story!"

Favorite character in Rising Underground?

"Sarhento Ardus Fierce? Duh~ Coz he's wearing a cool coat! HAHAHA! Joke~ But I like KIM...the girl with the hat in Issue 3.0, right? Shida? I haven't seen her in Issue 4.0! What happened to her!"

"Lux et Tenebrae" work-in-progress

Favorite character in In Her World?

"Remi, mainly because he's sweet. HAHAHHA! I mean...he's not like the others who label people - he wants to know the real deal. I think it's pretty brave of him to pursue Aya when he's not even sure she'll accept him. Kewl~"

Shin Oe also has a SERIOUS side. Not everyone sees this side of her. Most people think of Shin as someone who doesn't really have any plans in life due to her 'laughing the days away' attitude. Despite being able to draw, Shin chose to be a writer because it is something she takes very seriously.

"Other people might think that a writer's job is just to provide normal people an escape from reality but little do they know that we warp their thinking... We do it slowly...but surely." Shin said, paused and laughed adding, "This is not meant to scare you! I'm just saying, we have a message and we hope people recognize these little morsels. But yeah, beware of us! We writers have power! We will poke your eyes and you'll bleed to death --- okay, shutting my mouth now~"

Among her hobbies and work includes painting, sketching, playing the guitar, collecting headphones, drawing nonsense, writing poems...and so on.

Shin's Hobby

What can you say about Ice Cream Indie being a part of your Life?

"ICI? Pffft~ I think it's Fate. HAHAHAHA! I mean, when I look back and check on everything that happened in my life, I think I was permitted to experience so much for this moment. Without the depressions, without the networking, without the support...people I've worked with, without even my current regular job... I wouldn't have met the others. People might say it's an absurd answer...but yeah. I think I was fated to be a part of the team. I never planned on this...and if you ask Kou, he'll say the same thing."

Any LAST WORDS?

"I'll leave y'all with an excerpt from one of my poems...*clears throat... -- LIVE OR DIE, DIE TO LIVE IT'S A DILEMMA ALL IN ALL --- DO WE CHOOSE TO FLY IN THIS LIFE OR DO WE CHOOSE TO FALL. -- With that said, I rest my case."

Snagged a couple of pictures. Hope you guys enjoy this and next up with be SHIDA SHINPAN-SAMA!