Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The 80s is back (again)
Friday, December 26, 2008
【明報專訊】觀塘一頭10歲大的貓騡在聖誕節突然發惡,在麗港城家中上演「挾持」主人一家六口的奇 案。救人的消防員稱,該頭貓兒「嫉妒心」強,近月懷疑家中有人添丁,萬千寵愛轉移到初生嬰兒身上,貓騡昨午疑因此失常,接連抓傷男女主人及幾歲大的女少 主。全屋人嚇得躲入房內避其爪鋒,並致電報警稱「不敢出房」。消防員得悉奇聞,帶備鐵筆、巨剪等爆破工具準備破門營救「人質」,男主人聞訊「冒險」衝出開 門,貓兒由消防員「拘捕」後,再用薄被層層包裹,交由漁護署帶走檢驗,兩大一小傷者送院敷治後無礙。
飼養10年 戶主﹕不會領回
漁護署指「被捕」家貓為雌性,約10歲大,為灰啡色短毛貓,將留在上水動物管理中心檢疫7天。肇事一家則表明不會領回這頭相處了10年的寵物,貓兒一次犯錯,可能面臨人道眦滅厄運。
愛護動物協會發言人指出,類似事件非常罕見,但該會強調,貓兒思想遠比人類簡單,理論上不會心存嫉妒,很可能是受驚或被外界騷擾後,以為自身安全受威脅,從而作出反擊。
現場為觀塘麗港城38座某單位,共住了6人,包括22歲男戶主郭╳輝、其26歲女友鍾╳寵、郭父、一名外籍傭工及一名年約6至8歲的女童。拯救人員說,單位兩個月前添了一名嬰兒,屋內人事後曾表示,自從嬰兒出生後,獲一"家人" 悉心照顧,貓咪疑備受冷落,導致情緒突變。郭則表示,最少飼養了該貓10年,牠從未發狂如斯。而貓兒失控前並無先兆,但昨日曾經在活動時大力撞向䒷腳,未知牠是否因此發脾氣。
今朝看到這單新聞,真係好嬲,養了十年的貓竟然一次犯錯都唔原諒!何況有了新生嬰兒便唔理貓兒感受冷落佢,主人都有責任。最奇的是愛護動物協會的人竟不相信貓會嫉妒,那麼是否令他們把貓兒人道毀滅時個心安樂D?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Guilt and Repentence shoot
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Brideshead Revisited
They're remaking Brideshead Revisited!! The 1980s TV series was a seminal visual experience of my youth. Anthony Andrews as Sebastian and Jeromy Irons as Charles Ryder were simply exquisite, not to mention that grand old mansion, champagne and strawberries, and a teddy bear named Aloysius. Can't wait to see this film when it opens in Hong Kong next month.
烈日當空
看過「烈日當空」,一面看一面看錶。每一場都精心設計,但卻空洞蒼白又沒有劇力。大部分的場口只為了表達一個狀態,但卻沒有再進一步的發展。如其中一場一個角色索K後到母親房中在她的床上狂跳,跳了幾分鐘便去下一場,白白浪費了這場戲。而應有劇力的幾場如新年打架,卻拍得混亂不堪,之後一場眾人在廁所互相質問,無端端個個大哭,但劇情對白卻帶不到那個情緒,令這場主戲完全沒有張力。另一場梁曉豐在醫院為昏迷的朋友拔喉了結他生命,之前沒有交代他們的感情,令到拔喉這動作失去意義,徒把音樂聲浪調高也沒有感染力。最吊詭的是導演的品味和意圖基本上是煸情的,好幾場的處理如便利店斬人一幕,那遇害小孩哭聲震天,鏡頭不斷影著他血淋淋的大頭近鏡,但我看著卻只覺煩厭。因為這場戲的焦點本應落在那店員:他面對這個曾經打傷他朋友的落難小孩會如何抉擇--幫助他?置他不顧?落井下石?但導演卻只安排他呆坐在門邊,literally sitting on the fence,令這場充滿戲劇潛力的戲無論怎樣intense地對剪,都只是一場「空戲」悶戲。
不過令我覺得最難頂的是片中排山倒海的fat jokes,對像是那個胖同學,差不多每一場有他的戲都會有人拿他的身材開玩笑,「死肥仔」、「用脂肪諗野」等不絕於耳。第一次已不好笑,到第十次我有衝動致電平機會投訴麥導演。《來生不做中國人》其中一章寫中國人的沒同情心和樣貌歧視,在這部片中可說表露無遺,令人心寒的是導演只有23歲,對香港未來一代的人民素質不容樂觀。
Friday, November 14, 2008
來生不做中國人
原以為現今中國的種種畸型現像如貪污嚴重、置人類安危不顧的劣質產品充斥市場、環境汚染以至人民素質低落、欠公德心都是因為改革開放後的不平衡發展,曾天真地以為假以時日中國人會變得更進步文明。看過這書後才猛然醒覺這只是我的一廂情願,中國人的問題是兩千年來的積習。另外很多我以為只是香港人獨有的缺點如反智、功利、見人講人話等,現在我終於明白是中國儒家獨大、欠言論自由等的必然結果。
這書作者認為中國的道德淪亡是因為缺乏如西方基督教的道德制約,而儒家只提供形式主義的禮教,沒有發自內心的善惡觀和正義感,造就了現在中國社會種種問題,實在很值得大家反思。
最近在生活上經歷一些不公義,但眾人的反應卻出奇的冷淡。後來看到書中的這一句馬上豁然開朗:「善良的要龜縮,邪惡的四處招搖,無知的廢話連篇,狂妄的贏得支持,久居這個荒謬世界,我這個香港人也會瘋狂。」
Monday, November 10, 2008
BBQ
I've been so busy with the RTHK project recently that I didn't spend any time preparing for this. Luckily everything turned out well. The temperature even dropped to a comfortable low 20s. The occasion is that Roger from Sri Lanka YMCA is in town to attend a training course, so I invited everyone from the Sri Lanka trip 3 years ago to come to my house for a welcoming BBQ. The kids have really grown up, and it's nice to know that they're still in contact with each other.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
New Sarah!!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
beastly injustice
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thoughts
The key line: "But protests have so far have had little effect on ticket sales." What protests?
Hong Kong sees row over festivals
Written by Marcus Lim
Friday, 10 October 2008
Story Categories: Edko Bill Kong, Exhibition/theaters, Festivals, Film, Hong Kong, Internet, A dispute over ownership of the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, which starts today, has caused a schism between the two groups that organize it and sparked a break-away event.
Arthouse exhibitor Broadway Cinematheque stands accused of turning the fest into a private enterprise by nonprofit independent filmmakers group Ying E Chi, which has co-presented the last four editions with Broadway.
Ying E Chi reps allege that they have been pushed aside and accuse Broadway of using government money to subsidize what has become a commercial entity.
"We have invested over HK$1 million ($129,000) of our public funding and manpower to develop the HKAFF into the second largest film festival in Hong Kong," said Vincent Chui, a founding member of Ying E Chi. "It is unacceptable for Broadway to make it the private property of its parent company, Edko."
The allegations stem from competing claims of ownership of the fest's name. Earlier this year, the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival was registered as a private limited company by Broadway. Ying E Chi had previously attempted to register it and had been rejected.
Broadway declined to comment on Ying E Chi's charges. But company sources confirm that Broadway is now running the fest on its own and said it was Ying E Chi that walked away.
"In the beginning we said that we will both organize it the same as last year, but they said they would like to do their own festival by themselves," the source said.
Ying E Chi has already made plans for its own event in November, and, in an obvious dig at the incumbent, has called it the Hong Kong Asian Independent Film Festival.
It has launched an Internet campaign alleging that the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival has been usurped. But protests have so far have had little effect on ticket sales. Popular films like Taiwanese helmer Chung Mong-Hong's "Parking" sold out a week ahead of its screenings. Event closes Oct. 26.
Friday, October 3, 2008
亞洲電影節
影意志是個受藝術發展局資助的機構,過去五年我們投入過百萬元的公帤和無數人力資源把亞洲電影節建立成為香港第二大的電影節,現在百老匯電影中心把這個電影節據為己有,成為安樂公司的私人資產,是完全不能容許的。
今年年初我們跟電影中心商談本屆電影節細節時,已發現他們沒有合作的誠意。今年三月,我們打算註冊「亞洲電影節」的商標,電影中心的麥聖希建議不如一起註冊,但之後音訊全無,完全沒有回覆我們的電話和電郵,幾個月後我們發現他們已單獨註冊了「亞洲電影節」的商標,字款和logo也是跟往年一樣,電影中心就這樣以近乎欺詐的手法奪去了和影意志共同建立的電影節!
這件事不單是關乎電影節的路線問題,而是涉及一個私人公司侵吞用公帤建立的文化資產的問題,所以我們現強烈要求電影中心給我們一個合理的解釋!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Frienimies
Why can't homophobes keep their traps shut?? Or maybe if you scratch any guy on the surface, you'll most likely find the hidden homophobe...
周柏豪昨日接受商台訪問宣傳新歌《最後的三分十六》,他稱今次曲、詞、編一手包辦,這首歌作了一星期便完成。柏豪表示希望10年內儲夠錢置業,由於他要與家人同住,5位成員連同5隻貓和1隻龜,相信要買千呎住宅,他最想是在港島區置業。對於緋聞女友薛凱琪(Fiona)近日被指與鍾欣桐一起蒲同志吧,問他覺得Fiona是同性戀嗎?他覺得不是,Fiona應該是喜歡男孩子,他認為是否同志也不重要,因為Fiona對身邊人很好,尤其是父母。
周柏豪表示不知Fiona與鍾欣桐是否熟絡,他自言身邊10位朋友,有7位都是男同志,他不會介意與他們做朋友,問他有被同志追求嗎?他說:「沒有,很多同志都很有風度,給人感覺很舒服,就像大哥哥,有些更好過真正的男人,不過我是鍾意女人的。」
With friends like this, who needs enemies!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
港女大戰死基佬
什麼人遇什麼事,這場港女基佬玩轉Ikea,結果鬧上法庭,你猜誰勝誰負?
若我是法官,一定判各打二十大板,再加100小時社會服務令同心理輔導。這班人吃飽飯沒事做,浪費納稅人資源,簡直是香港人之恥。
Monday, September 15, 2008
29+1
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
田少與周太
自由黨一敗塗地,很多事後孔明的評論說他們罪有應得,但我對田少和周太出局有點唏噓。先不說政績,我認為田少作為一個人是一個perfect gentleman。在其中一個競選論壇每一個候選人都有幾分鐘向其他候選人質詢,大家都舌劍唇槍鬥大聲,輪到田少時他問了幾個問題後還剩兩分鐘,他竟向一直在論壇中備受冷落的劉慧卿說,「我沒有什麼問題了,剩除的時間交給你說一說你的政綱吧。」後來在台上宣佈各人的得票,他又馬上向勝出的候選人握手道賀,很有風度。
至於周太,近日因工作關係訪問過她,發覺她學識廣博,分析能力很強,是個精英之中的精英,這位自港英時代已服務香港的資深政客,應得到我們的尊重和肯定。
Sunday, September 7, 2008
投票日
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
再見理想
Monday, August 25, 2008
A hundred lols
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Dog Rant
Excuse me for a moment for my tirade: To all you Hong Kong dog owners who are such CONTROL FREAKS: leave me the fuck alone! If I want to let Plato run around and be the free, happy puppy that she is, that's my right (and hers too). Stop telling me what to do! Dogs are naturally social. They like to play with each other and chase one another around. They are not fighting! Don't you know how dogs fight? Guess you haven't seen Amores Peros, you ignorant, tight-assed fools. One more thing, Keep your docile robotic dogs away from Plato!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
瘋人瘋語
有天跟Plato散步,她落後了數十呎,追上來時經過一對父子。孩子大概十歲吧,父親應有五十多,小孩看見Plato,說:「狗呀,好驚呀!」
「使乜驚呀,我一棍就打死佢!」拿著行山棒的父親越說越咬牙切齒,而且聲浪漸高,應是說給我聽的。「唔止狗呀,人我都打死呀,X你老母西,我未殺過人咩?我十六歲就殺人,我一棍就au落去,睇佢死未!」
我有一刻想報警的衝動,不是因為Plato,而是他兒子:這一幕應為他帶來童年陰影吧,長大後會否對狗有莫名的恐懼或仇恨?但我想警方大多不會因為我一面之詞把兒子交由社署看管吧,唯有作罷。
有否發覺香港心理不平衡的人超多?我有一個theory,就是香港conform的壓力太大,不像外地有較大的包容性和不同的次文化給志同道合的人聚在一起和社交,香港的「異類」在扭曲的環境下成長,長大後在主流社會內假扮正常人,他們的異常便在一些不恰當的場合顯露出來。
所以我很為陳巧文擔心。在外國,她只會是云云激進學生的其中一個,校園內外都有很多不同的組織可參與,有很多networks可以滋養她的思想。在香港她卻被看成妖魔,到處被人指指點點,只能在一個vacuum裡孤軍作戰。長期這樣她很容易變得孤芳自嘗,或鑽牛角尖,難保有天不會變成一個駡街的瘋婦。
Friday, August 8, 2008
共產秀
Thursday, July 31, 2008
各據山頭
Friday, July 25, 2008
錯到盡
今天收到ADC對拙作《愛到盡》的藝術評論報告,引述其中內容(其中錯別字源自原文):
「本片在技術層面只乎合實驗性的水平,篇幅過長未能達至精煉效果,好處是作者努力描寫每一角色,需然力有不遞,卻不失為一部用心的作品。有時一部作品的野心過大,反而不能夠突出主題。描繪一個頹廢青年的迷淪未必一定要把所有缺點(幾乎)集於一身。吸毒、賣淫、同性戀(片中表達是負面的)都沒有較深刻的探討。片中更缺乏正面人物的反差,好處是沒有說教,壞處是看不見作者的觀點。
人物性格方面,大部分(主角)都是被動的,即是因環境而作出反應,而且其反應都是觀眾較容易預測得到的。
手法上有不少"閃回"的嘗試,有成功與失敗的例子。開場和結尾呼應不錯,要是留意"三幕劇"的結構應有較佳效果。雖然題材像很前衛,但作者抓不準立場,終以傳統觀念作標準而結束。故事是經過思巧的,處理卻需大胆脫離常見的框框。」
本來一件作品有人喜歡有人不喜歡是正常不過的事,但這評論的立論點卻有很多矛盾的地方,值得指出一下。令評論員覺得最困擾的地方,正正是我企圖在本片做的,就是帶出故事的ambiguity(在中文「立場模糊」帶有貶意,但其實ambiguity可以帶出非批判性的多角度思巧。)評論員說得對,我沒有說出我對吸毒、賣淫、同性戀的立場(但不知何故後者卻被他看成「負面」),主角的行為也正正是他們因應環境而作出的反應--沒有對與錯,只有不同立場和circumstance。比如片中主角阿明被捕,不是因為他所做的「壞」事如賣淫和吸毒,而是他男友要向他報復。他後來在戒毒中心也沒有像一般觀眾預期見到的「改過自身」,而中心職員也非慣見的偉大北斗星。其實評論員字裡行間已透露他對這些項目有既定的見解--視主角為「頹廢」,吸毒與賣淫是「缺點」,但我卻沒有confirm他的觀點,故事又沒有依他預期的脈絡發展,於是被評為「未能突出主題」。評論員一方面有很主流的期望(希望有「正面」角色代表作者立場),一方面卻期待故事脫離常見的框框;一方面看不透我的觀點,卻不知如何認定結局合乎「傳統觀念」,實在十分奇怪。此外評論員對實驗電影的誤解,對整個電影類型的無知和侮辱,也令人很懷疑其評賞能力。
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Al Jazeera fan club
以前對這個卡塔爾半島電視台的印像不好,這印像來自西方傳媒的報導/批評。其中有兩單比較有名,第一是伊拉克恐怖份子把美國人質Nicholas Berg斬首事件中,有西方傳媒報導半島電視台播出整個斬首過程,後來這消息證實是誤傳,第二單是美國政府批評半島電視台播放整段拉登講話錄影帶,等於是替恐怖份子宣傳。事實是電視台是在新聞報導時播放,而且每次都有commentary包起成件事。而後來很多西方傳媒也有播放該段拉登錄影帶,半島電視台只是錯在被拉登垂青而已。
這個由卡塔爾皇室資助的電視台資源非常豐富,世界每一個地區發生事件都有記者現場報導,它的視線也是世界性的,每個新聞報導都有齊世界各地的新聞,對第三世界及中東國家特別關注,不像CNN只關心歐美新聞。我最喜歡看它的features報導,詳盡得來很有human touch,像最近看過一個專題談及中國在非洲國家的投資及影響,今天有一個專題說在印度一個很窮的省份,有一個富商辦了一個數學精英班,給窮困和沒有能力但有數學天份的孩子一個機會考上國家的科技大學。
至於這個台有沒有反美bias? 這麼久以來我只看到一兩單新聞有這嫌疑,其中一單報導Kabul的印度大使館受恐怖份子襲擊,一般西方傅媒都認為是塔里班或巴基斯坦所為,但Al Jazeera卻請來一個巴基斯坦的軍事「專家」,說事件的最大得益者是美國,因為它可以更名正言順地在阿富汗反恐,所以美國才是這次襲擊的始作俑者!不過其實所有新聞台都會請一些有自己agenda的評論員出來發噏風,起碼Al Jazeera的news reporting 沒有像報喜不報憂的CCTV-9那般傾斜。
很人的狗、很狗的人
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friendship interrupted
The one exception was from the time when I was about 16, living in London, Ontario. I had this friend, a schoolmate from Regina Mundi College. I don't even remember his name now. He lived in my area in the north of the city, and we used to ride the school bus together everyday. For a while we were inseparable. He was intelligent and kind, and was really nice to my mentally challenged sister.
He had dark, olive color complexion, and the kids at school called him Jewish (which he couldn't be, since Reina Mundi was a Catholic school), the first time I heard the word used in a pejorative sense. But it wasn't his race that worried me as much as the fact that he's kind of geeky (another new word I'd learned). The insecure teenage boy in me was worried that I'd be tainted by being associated with him. So one day, I just decided to drop him, cold. I can still recall the hurt, confused look on his face as I told him not to call me again. Oh the sins of my youth! Whatever your name is, wherever you are, I am so truly sorry.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
文藝/悶藝
我認為能稱作藝術的首先要master了film form,純熟精確地運用電影語言與敍事技巧,另一個criteria是命題夠廣或夠闊。闊的意思是故事要有普遍性,如《悲情城市》說的是一個家庭在228事件前後的經歷,但可成為那個時代台灣人的寫照。深的意思是故事背後的思想有一定的哲學性,表達出人生在世的意義。
用後者作標準,便會發覺藝術電影在香港幾乎絕無僅有。徐克、杜Sir拍的是有個人風格的類型片,許鞍華、關錦鵬、王家衛拍的是有特色的melodrama,新一代的更不用說是膚淺而稍具攝影風格的類型片。不知是受地域所限(island vision?)或是教育制度、社會風氣等因素影響,香港的電影人給人的感覺總是視點狹窄,沒有大氣。melodrama,或可稱文藝片與藝術片最大的分別是文藝片關注的只是戲中的角色與人物,戲中人的遭遇就是影片的be all and end all,而藝術片則有普及性.
所以Innaritu是藝術,David Fincher不是,布烈遜是,Coen Brothers 不是。Woody Allen 是,Soderberg不是. 這種分野好像splitting hair, after all,好戲便是好戲,而且好的類型片可能比壞的藝術片更enjoyable. 最大的問題是有些人拍的其實是類型片但卻以為自己在拍藝術片,不好好處理類型片應有的元素(人物,故事),把藝術變成悶藝,這才是最要不得。近期例子:《青苔》。
Saturday, June 21, 2008
藝術的意義
http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/hkcc/20080615.html
Friday, June 20, 2008
柏拉圖式戀愛
搬了來新屋,最開心的應是Plato,除了有大一點的空間活動外,還可堂堂正正的出外散步。放狗時發現原來很多香港人很怕狗,有些很誇張的離遠數十呎已閃避甚至發出怪叫,連小孩子也是這樣,大概是受了大人的影響。小孩與狗是天生的伴侶,大概因為他們身高差不多,Plato每次看到小孩都十分興奮,香港很多的小孩失去了這個connection我覺得是十分可惜的事。
來過我家的朋友都說Plato太過瘋狂和熱情,她會死命的纏著人家玩耍,尾巴像羅旋杖般搖不停擺動,又輕咬人家的手指直到大家都吃不消。我認為這是因為她還年幼,大個女時應會安定一點,所以並不打算「教」她減少熱情(也覺得教不了),在她眼中所有人類都是她朋友,這份天真正是她可愛之處,實在不忍discourage她。
有人問為何她叫Plato,是因為對我來說她是一隻ideal的狗,而我對她的愛也是柏拉圖式的完美的愛,哈哈,是不是很肉麻?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
港產片中的印巴人士
華人演員常投訴荷李活總是將華人角色醜化,不是演黑幫便是妓女,但港產片何嘗不是這樣對待少數民族?最近看《青苔》,片中喬寶寶飾演心狠手辣的古惑仔,片末更與另一幫印巴藉悍賊激戰至兩敗俱傷。但喬寶寶的角色有很多對白,在戲中的角色舉足輕重,相對其他在港產片出現的南亞人士已算得到善待。
在韋家輝的《喜馬拉亞星》,鄭中基、張柏芝扮印度人攪笑--很難想像荷李活會拍一部故事背景在中國的喜劇,叫西人貼膠紙把眼角「戚起」扮中國人吧,但當時好像沒有印度人出來大呼「辱印」。杜琪峰的《大隻佬》有一個神秘印度人,在黑夜中與張柏芝相遇,全片好像沒對白,作用只是製造玄疑鬼怪氣氛。《重慶森林》中重慶大廈的印巴人,全部都從事走私犯毒工作。陳果的《人民公廁》裡其中一段講述在港出生的印度青年回國尋根,角色算較為正面,但可笑的是他們選角時不知道演印度青年的兩位少年其實是巴基斯坦人,直到他們在印度入境時遇上困難才知道。印巴人士與華人在香港共處了一百五十年有多,但到今時今日民族之間還存在很大的鴻溝。
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
太陽能熱水爐
新居內我最喜歡的家具不是沙發或衣柜而是這個太陽能熱水爐,給我安裝的公司說這是沙田區第一部!這個大陸製熱水爐有20枝發熱管,水箱容量140升,足夠三人用。它有電子顯示屏顯示水溫,這幾天都陰天下雨,居然水溫也有42度。一旦水溫低於40度,電發熱管便自動把水加熱,而且這太陽能發熱管不是靠陽光加熱而是UV光,所以連續多時沒有太陽也不怕。現在每次洗澡時想起熱水都是由太陽能提供便十分開心,我唯一擔心的是冬天水會否不夠熱。
香港的環保工作十分落後,鄰近地區如台灣早在十年前已對太陽能熱水爐作補貼以鼓勵更多人使用,但香港只由機電工程署出了一本小冊子介紹有關技術。這熱水爐連安裝要九千元,已是我查詢過的幾間之中最便宜的了,最貴一間要三萬多。我這樣的獨居人士安裝其實並不化算,我計算過,要省回九千元電費沒有十年也要七八載!
Friday, May 30, 2008
宜室宜家
Sunday, May 25, 2008
新加坡之行
最近去了新加坡公幹,個人來說最大收穫是吃。新加坡的食物很好吃,就算是普通food court吃一碗大蝦麵的蝦也隻隻新鮮彈牙。我一向有sweet tooth,剛下機便在酒店外的24小時食店吃了一碗芒果刨冰,很美味又衛生。另外一晚去Newton吃燒烤小食,除了燒魔鬼魚、沙嗲烤肉外我又點了充滿南洋風味的榴槤刨冰,正!
老細是設計人,有一天我們特地到Vivo City商場朝聖。這間由日本建築師Toyo Ito設計的商場以流線形作主題,從外牆至走廊都是灣灣曲曲的,很有趣。但我最impressed的是商場裡有很多很漂亮的波浪形坐椅給人休息,不會像香港商場般迫你要不斷行。Vivo走的是平民路線,一點也不snobbish. 相比之下香港的商場顯得沒個性也沒靈魂。這個商場裡有很多非商業性的facilities如戶外劇院,給兒童的嬉戲的公園等,提供shopping以外的選擇。
以前我完全不能想像為何有人選擇住在這沒言論自由的鬼地方,這一次新加坡給我的印像稍為改觀,起碼它的Page One比香港任何一間要大,藏書更是豐富的叫人咋舌。
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
以後未來是個謎
被新屋的事困擾了近三個月,一度以為我和Plato將無家可歸,但幸好最後都攪掂,代價是可能永遠都賣不出房子,但管他呢,未來的事誰能預計?
但說起預計未來,Susan Miller又再次顯神威。這是她上個月的預測: " As beautiful April opens, home is where your heart and soul will be based. You've got plenty to be excited about, for it looks like home, property, and possibly even a major lifestyle change that you've been anxious to make are actually ready to take root."
連我買樓遇到困難她也知道: "The problem is, this new moon won't be too cordial with Mars, the very sign that rules your house of home. You may meet up with an obstacle, possibly in the form of a person who is connected with your home." 更妙的是她預測得到我的困難是那一類: "When Mercury is at odds with Pluto on April 3, you may have problems with property-related paperwork or a few legal issues that come up." 我遇到的剛巧是樓㛃的問題,但事情到月底便有轉機: " It may take you until April 22, the date Uranus will send a beautiful "trine" aspect to Mars. That will be a gorgeous day, and one that will help you will see a home-related breakthrough." 結果是那天我找到律師可accept title。是不是很玄妙?
Monday, May 5, 2008
江若琳的處女作
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Run Papa Run
Sylvia Chang's latest film, Run Papa Run is, like most of the director's previous works, both enjoyable and deeply flawed. This story about a triad big brother's attempt to ditch the criminal life for the sake of his daughter is very much in the same vein as many recent Hong Kong triad films like Inferno Affairs and Election that deals with the gentrification of triad bosses. In contrast to triad films of the past which presented a rough-and-tumble view of triad society, the latest crop of Hong Kong gangster films are filled with such middle class trappings as designer apartments (Infernal Affairs), high end stereo (ditto), red wine and Italian cuisine (Jiang Hu).
In Run Papa Run, the very plot of the film centers round the hero's search for bourgeois respectability, replete with church weddings and Catholic school. On the whole, I am touched by Leo Koo's character's affection for his daughter, but I am disturbed by the film's unquestioning championing of the middle-class ideal of family, with dad working a 'normal', respectable job and be in a monogamous (and chaste) relationship with mom. The film, on one level, deals with the emasculation of the Leo Koo character, domesticating him and finally erasing his very identity.
It is interesting to note that the film features a plethora of old Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest stars in supporting roles: 狄龍 and wife 陶敏明, 苗可秀, 邵音音 and 陳惠敏. Their collective presence evokes a certain nostalgia for the old order--stable, respectable, patriarchic (as such, the scene in which Koo finally calls 狄龍 'dad' after refusing to do so for years is especially poignant) .
Monday, April 21, 2008
民間電台
Sunday, April 13, 2008
愛與狗同行
Plato現在基本上懂得在固定的地方和在報紙上解決大小二便,但上星期有一天他竟然在我睡房撒尿,做的時候還回頭望著我,氣得我七孔生煙。之後看書,原來這是小狗表示馴服的表現,她只是想告訴我:「你是我的好主人」,卻換來我的一頓臭罵,想她必然十分困惑吧。
人和動物的溝通是個很大的學問。最近看了一部叫《愛與狗同行》的紀錄片,導演Angie在入十年代拍過幾部不太收得的商業片,後來跑了去拍廣告,十幾年後忽然拍了這部講述人與狗的獨立制作。未看之前還以為會很sentimental,很自我陶醉的那種片子,結果是出乎意料之外的感人。裡面包括很多極有趣的人狗故事,而影片不單是說寵物,還探討愛、家庭以至生死等發人深省的課題。看完這部片,你便會明白怎麼我一直都認為三十歲以下的人不應拍戲。
《愛與狗同行》將於五月初在UA院線放映,一部本地的紀錄片能在十多間戲院公映,已算一個奇蹟,希望大家到時捧場。
(《愛與狗同行》官方網頁)
Friday, April 11, 2008
為「一角之戀」平反
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
大狗相
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Ouch...that hurts!
在商業片的世界裡,沒有觀眾的戲會自動被淘汰,但政府的資助卻簡接扭曲市場規律,讓沒人看的電影也能一部一部的拍下去。當然藝術可以是小眾的,有些電影也可能因為種種原因(題材冷門、沒有明星、較低娛樂性)而不能馬上找到很多觀眾,但始終不能忽略與觀眾的交流。而獨立電影因為觀眾少,影評的角色更舉足輕重。我覺得香港一直欠缺的是有質素、客觀的影評人,尤其是評獨立電影,這麼多年來大都是客客氣氣,避重就輕,所以我很慶幸有《港鏟片》這網頁的出現。寫這個blog的人對港產電影的製作、宣傳很內行,評論也很到位,希望他能一直寫下去。
今天晚上是吾友Jessey的電影的全球首影,不知會否得到港鏟片垂青?
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Puppy love
Friday, March 7, 2008
No country for old men
From IMBD, there's a thread called 100 things I learned from No Country for Old Men. Some of it is hilarious:
-don't stand still when a man puts a cattle gun to your forehead
-don't return to a Mexican-drug-deal-gone-bad scene
- if you have to return to a Mexican-drug-deal-gone-bad scene - don't use a vehicle registered in your name
-don't drink beer with a lady stranger chatted up by the pool since beer leads to bad things
-don't leave your mother in law chatting with slimy strangers approaching on the street
- keep your gun above water when you're being chased by a swimming pit bull
- when you realize you're being tracked by the help of a transmitter in your possession - get rid of it - don't put it on the bedsie table and calmly await the serial killer who is approaching
- just learn a few army outfits who served in Vietnam by heart - and you can pass through the US-Mexican border without any problems
- you're easy to find as soon as you check into a Mexican hopsital
-Dimes work great as screwdrivers in hotel room ventilation covers
-Sliding heavy cases full of money through ventilation shafts is a silent act when you need it to be one, but at all other times is quite noisy
-In Mexico, if you have a gunshot wounds you get free medical attention; if you're in the united states you have to steal from a pharmacist.
-A gun is traceable, but a man walking around with a gas-propelled cattle slaughtering device is commonplace and so undetectable.
-If you come across a multiple murder in Texas, the first thing you should do is steal one of the likely murder weapons. This doesn't implicate you in the slightest
-When you break into someone's house, feel free to drink their milk and sit on their couch and watch your reflection in the turned off TV
-If you are a deputy and just arrested someone who looks like a wacko and carries a cattle gun & compressed air cylinder, you normally just let him sit behind your back unattended
- When you feel like helping a sole survivor in a drug related shootout, you don't call 911; taking a jug of water to him personally after sunset is much a better idea
- If you just murdered about a dozen people near a motel, just stay in the room and hide there - the police sure won't bother checking for clues so you can leave the next day completely unnoticed
-There were transmitters back in 1980 which challenged all you knew about electromagnetism and could send a clear signal through a metal obstacle such as a duct tin
Thursday, March 6, 2008
My new best friend
Meet my new best friend, Plato. Isn't she adorable? She's only five and a half weeks old! I've only brought her home for four days, and she already she knows her name, and can distinguish between a harsh sounding "Plato!" (as in don't mess around the garbage can) and a loving sounding "Plato" (as in you're the loveliest little puppy in the world.)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tilda Rocks!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Last day of shooting
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
大徹大悟
是社會覺得玉女係一件好事,所以才有玉女明星的出現
但玉女本身是一種大眾幻想的投射
現實跟本沒有玉女
現實只有七情六慾的人
玉女由頭至尾都是虛假的
香港人卻信以為真
直到發現一切是假
卻沒反省自己點解會一直相信虛幻
反而遷怒那個令自己幻滅的女孩子
山不是山,水不是水
港人要放下怒氣怨氣
才可真正大徹大悟
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
男女有別
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
關人隱事
現在已是二十一世紀,男歡女愛,何罪之有?那些參與口誅筆伐的市民,也許帶著一點妒意吧:怎麼這賤男居然能媾盡圈中靚女?怎麼我叫女友幫我口交時,她從沒像Bobo般笑意盈盈?
也有人把重點放在拍照之上,說陳冠希影這些照片是不安好心。但照片中人大都直望鏡頭,一點也沒有不情願的意思,既然你情我願,旁人實在不容置啄。至於警方說會主動聯絡事主問她們是否自願拍照,簡直是荒謬至極,人家若被迫拍照,自己自會報警,何用警方費勁?若我是女事主,我一定會答,關你撚事?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
One more day to go
Taking a nap on the set with the lead actor. Just kidding! The picture was posed!
One more shooting day to go. It promises to be the toughest yet, with four location changes. Making final changes to the script right now for the Act 2 climax--confrontation between two characters. Hope things will work out fine.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
集思廣益
以前總不願意看自己的片子,覺得說不出的難為情,不論人家怎樣讚賞我的作品,我看到的只是它們的缺點。但這一次卻不同,多得很勤力的剪接師,現在已有很多場口給剪了出來,看到這些片段我沒有過往尷尬的感覺,反而覺得很興奮,很期待這部片的誕生。原因除了是自覺拍得不錯之外,也反映了我看自己作品的態度改變了。簡單地說我不再覺得這是我自己的作品:靈感是上天給的,在拍攝現場也要靠幕前幕後的工作人員努力才能拍得成,這一部片是真正的collaboration,我特別感欣慰的是各部門的工作人員都不斷向我提點:演員把我的對白改得更生動,攝影師提供一些我沒想得到的鏡頭,除此之外,有什麼對白不順耳、什麼鏡頭有遣漏大家也很勇於提出。真正好的導演應是廣集大家的意見,經過過濾後融入作品中。有一次在片場上有人向Steven Soderberg提意見,說完後那人說希望導演不要介意,Soderberg說,"No, of course not, I love that you undermine my authority."嚇得那人不敢作聲,但原來Soderberg是認真的。真正有authority的人是不怕被threatened的,若你知道自己要什麼,人家的意見只會幫助你達到你的目的。這裡又想起Paul Coelho的名句: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A director's confession
Being a film director has got to be the most exhilarating job ever. You have to use all your creativity, ingenuity, intelligence, diplomacy and communication skills. Yet at the end of the shooting day you don't feel exhausted, but invigorated, alive. Sure, there are days when I had gone for another take, or filmed another shot, or treated a scene differently. But these are but small quibbles. The important thing is the process, and this is one of the most enjoyable crews I've ever been on. Everyday I go to work in a great mood. Compared to being on the set, the rest of my time feels half empty, as if I'm merely sleep walking through life. There's only two more shooting days to go, and I'm already missing the gang.
Friday, January 18, 2008
還有三天
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
死亡四天前夕
昨天拍了十五小時後簡直筋疲力盡,但每當我埋怨工作太辛苦時都會提醒自己:你現在正做著你想做的事,也是你喜歡的工作,還能有什麼投訴?
Taking the leap
Saturday, January 5, 2008
諸事不順的第二天
1月1日生日在工作中渡過,在演員家排性愛場面。討論其中一場時C拿了樽poppers出來示眾,我忍不住吸了幾口,之後便成晚又肚痛又作悶,重瞓唔著。第二天精神彷彿地去到拍攝現場,竟然發現要拍的地產舖門口有掘地工程,趕忙要找新location,折騰了差不多一小時才開拍。我暗暗發誓以後也不再碰毒品--I'm getting too old for this shit。這一天拍攝時間特長,零晨二時才完成,最後一場也不太順利,原來設計的cutaway與動作都因時間關係放棄了,變成我覺得最悶的對剪。剩下來的日子要提醒自己有幾樣野要戒:第一戒同一個shot 拍多過三次,第二戒為演員mark企位,第三戒兩個人企定定對cut,希望能辦得到!