Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The 80s is back (again)

最近喜歡的兩位女歌手,不約而同都80年代到爆。一位是勁似華納時代憶蓮的謝安琪,另一位是re-invent 80年代電子跳舞歌的Lady Gaga。究竟我是因為她們的80年代而喜歡她們,定係那個under-rated的年代其實是流行音樂的癲峰?



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?

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Guilt and Repentence shoot

This is my first professional job as a director, making a half hour drama for RTHK, and a straight drama at that! Here I am on the last day of a 4 day shoot, a grueling 20 hour day, yet I've never felt happier. Nothing beats the feeling of being on the set--I feel so alive, energized. My actors are great, they almost never hit a wrong note. And my crew is so hard working and so much smarter than me. Many thanks, everyone!



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

The first BBQ I've ever hosted. I've always hated this carcinogenic and environmentally unfriendly activity, but when in Rome...
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!!!

我堅信我跟Sarah McLaughlin是有感應的,每隔一陳子我會突然想起她,然後google她的新消息時,總會發現她有新碟出。剛推出的精選碟是自03年的Afterglow後首次有新歌上台。碟內有兩首新歌,其中一首是單曲U Want Me 2,寫出剛宣佈婚姻破裂的她的感受,超好聽!

Monday, October 20, 2008

beastly injustice


I own the same breed of dog as a murderous tyrant! This is Putin's black lab, Koni, who made the news recently because his owner just fitted him with a satellite-tracking collar. Koni is almost as cute as Plato, I'll admit, but couldn't the autocrat get a Rottweiler, or at least a German Shepherd?

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Thoughts

Who is the annonymous company source? Maybe he wants to stay nameless because he knows he's lying?
The key line: "But protests have so far have had little effect on ticket sales." What protests?

Hong Kong sees row over festivals

From Variety:

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


若不是最近因為工作上的合作認識了彭秀慧,因而被邀觀賞她的獨腳戲「29+1」的第五度公演,很可能會錯過這精彩的演出。這個話劇描寫一個女子面對三十歲這關口,辭去工作,重新審視自己的生活。我很喜歡劇情的編排,由最初的輕鬆情小趣,道盡都市女性的苦與樂,以至後段談及主角與男友與父親的關係,沉重但不煽情,整個劇涉及親情、愛情以至人生的意義,笑中有淚,對白精警而且有睿智,難得的是全無硬滑稽攪爛gag,看得我不止一次拍手大笑。這感覺自「小時候」看非常林奕華之後,最近幾年看劇場作品都不曾有過。

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

田少與周太

結果我投了長毛。投票當日有朋友打給我說一定要投給他呀,卿姐告急只是蘋果為每個泛民候選人做的例行動作而已。後來半夜看新聞時說劉慧卿只是「機會均等」,不禁有點後悔,幸好最後有驚無險。

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


長毛or 卿姐? That is the question.
投長毛是protest vote, 表達對這個在行政主導政權下的無能議會與及遙遙無期的普選的不滿。
投卿姐 because she deserves it for being the hardest working member of Legco, 而且她有失去議席的危機。
可能要去到票站才作最後決定。

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

再見理想

若我是毛小姐,我一定會大大方承認我公民黨恨議席恨到發燒。那個政黨不想要議席?現在多議席單票制夠唔民主啦,入到議會要分組投票夠唔公平啦,你地社民連咁清高做乜要喺呢個咁corrupt的制度下爭選票?在不公平的制度下爭取最大利益繼而推翻不公平,這理念並無不妥,只是有太多人入了制度便被同化,忘記最初的理念吧。希望毓民不會是其中一個吧。

Monday, August 25, 2008

A hundred lols

You gotta vote for 毓民, if for no other reason than his entertainment value! How can you not love this guy?

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


國家主席說中國覆行「人民奧運」理念,但人民之中顯然親疏有別。火炬途經北京街頭時,一眾在街上等候多時的市民被公安驅趕,把前面的位置讓給管方安排好的、穿著整齊制服的官方觀眾。有市民投訴公安只一直叫他們後退,但沒說要退到那裡。其訊息明顯不過:「呢度冇你嘅野,唔該你地返屋企。」當然有屋企返的已算萬幸,跟據國際特赦組織,有一百五十萬北京市民因為奧運而被迫遷,超過四萬名被轉剝奪家園的示威者被捕。大家看開幕禮的時候不要忘記有很多人為這個共產秀付出代價,有人說奧運是中國人的驕傲時,請想一想:那些中國人?

Thursday, July 31, 2008

各據山頭

我很同意今天蔡子強在明報評論立法會選舉局勢的這篇文章,本屆選舉在多區出現「各據山頭」局面十分明顯,在多個選區都出現多個政黨和獨立人士爭議席,已沒有所謂協調了。其中最大的原因是畸型的比例代表制令到把所有人放在同一ticket跟本無著數,但更嚴重的問題是各黨的立場都十分模糊,除了在普選這議題上有分歧外,大部分政黨都談民生,而且都在一個很狹窄的範圍裡談。像上個月我因工作關係到過立法會,剛巧那天是特首到立會接受議員答問,我好奇坐在觀眾席看熱鬧。那天的問題大多圍繞剛出台的百多億紓解民困措施,基本上沒有議員夠膽反對這些措施,問題只pick on一些很detail的項目,比如措拖會否多實施幾年,會否惠及多些人之類。其中民主黨最離譜,接連幾個議員都問差不多的問題,不斷問特首「咁那些住板間房沒子女不用交電費又有工作的人點呀?」後來到李柱銘發問,他的開場白是這是他當立法會議員的最後一次向特首發問了,大家於是很期待他有何驚天動地的問題要發問,結果他問特首會否響應環保像他自己一樣脫去外衣?OMG!然後問跟進題時他竟問了一條新題目,被主席叫停,於是民主黨之父的政治生涯在這段小鬧劇之中結束。這一幕某程度上反映了民主黨現時的情況:沒有leadership,沒有 new ideas.

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

吳振順


剛在明報看到原籍星加坡的商人吳振順的全版廣告,控訴青島官員以各種罪名監禁他,然後侵吞他的資產,過程像電影情節(不過是沒人敢拍的電影),簡直駭人聽聞。幾年後他得到台灣立委支持下召開記者會,他顯然有備而戰,除了賣廣告外也預備了有圖文並茂的展版,還設立了網站。時間上也配合得很好,趕上兩岸關係回春以及奧運,且看看這個大衛能否打敗Goliath了。

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Al Jazeera fan club

家裡用PCCW上網,只需加$10便可看Now寬頻電視。最初看得最多的是Now新聞台,但看久了發現這個台沒太多外地新聞,反而本地很多鷄毛蒜皮的小事都獲得 air time. 本來想加多十多塊一個月看BBC World,但最近發現Al Jazeera英文台是免費的,姑且看看。

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


通常說人家很「狗」,是指那些搖尾乞憐以博取別人歡心的人。有時觀察Plato卻令我想到另一種「狗」的行為。Plato是沒有對與錯的觀念的,咬拖鞋、摷垃圾、吃自己的屎,她都不會覺得有什麼不對,而且做得非常高興,直至給主人喝止,她才會垂下尾巴扮可憐。很多人不是都是這樣子,看主人的面色而行事嗎?不過通常大家會覺得這些人是識時務、醒目。

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Friendship interrupted

Several times in my life I have made a conscious decision to cut certain people off from my life, usually because they have somehow failed to fulfill their end of the friendship bargain. I can't say I regret any of these decisions. I've always believed that in friendship one needs to go for quality, not quantity.

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

電影評論中最被濫用的字眼大概是「藝術電影」了。一百年的電影歷史中,能稱得上藝術的沒有太多部。或許應這樣說,a great many films have artistic pretension, but few achieve it. 有些人喜歡在鏡頭或敍事上弄花巧教人看不懂,便會被稱作藝術電影。更常見的是把故事性或娛樂性有意或無意(或無能)地降低,演員全程鞋口鞋面,便被誤稱作藝術電影。後者在中港台特別普遍,這裡的電影人一方面受了60年代的歐洲藝術電影薰陶/陶毒,另一方面受某些大師如侯考賢的影響,常以悶藝假冒藝術(也不排除這些大師的某些作品也有同樣嫌疑)。

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

很多人為了創作而創作,拍野的目的只是為了實現導演野心,為了證明自己,為自己生命添姿彩。我認為藝術不是為生命而服務,反而是生命為藝術服務。這世界太多沒有必要的作品,太多沒有意義的電影。最近看了一集很感人的《鏗鏘集》,短短半小時的紀錄片,探討一個癌症病人和她女兒怎樣面對死亡,從而反思生命的意義,拍得比大部分電影作品更感人更有意思。

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



新屋的事已攪得七七八八,雖然不用裝修,只需買幾件家具便可居住,但也走遍港九沙田大小家具店,千揀萬揀,終於把最大部分資金奉獻給全球首富當老闆的宜家傢私。我知道它的家具主要原料是蔗渣木,中看不中用,木板會彎沙發會陷,但以同樣的價錢跟本買不到款式合心水的東西,而且它簡潔又functional的設計又真的是無人能及。

宜家的缺點除了質素外便是要自己裝嵌,過去一兩星期我每天一早起來第一件事不是刷牙洗臉,而是馬上一手拿起螺絲批,另一手拿著那些只有文盲或高級結構工程師才看得懂的指示圖跟木板及螺絲釘苦苦搏鬥,弄得滿頭大汗指頭出血才勉強把所有東西砌好。成果就是這樣子。

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


江若琳最近和余文樂出席宣傳活動時說:「好 期 待 同 樂 仔 合 作 , 上 次 同 佢 合 作 , 係 我 第 一 部 電 影 , 所 以 演 技 好 生 硬 , 今 次 再 合 作 , 希 望 畀 佢 覺 得 我 演 技 有 進 步 啦 。 」她上一次跟余文樂合作的是07年的《男兒本色》,但她的處女作其實是05年的《十七歲的夏天》。她是否想跟這部獨立電影劃清界線,又抑或不想大家記起哨牙兼斗令眼的自己?

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


昨天在旺角看到民間電台的廣播,主持的是the usual suspects--阿牛、毓民、司徒華、劉慧卿、李卓仁等。當華叔談到他面臨被檢控,若被定罪他必然不交罸款以圖入獄時,我有說不出的感動。一個七十多歲的老人家為了自己所相信的原則,願意為此而犧牲自己的自由--沒有什麼比這行為更令人尊敬的了。

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,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

發夢也猜不到有一天我會為張偉雄平反,但今天我在偶然的機會下看了「一角之戀」的最後40分鐘,並不是「港鏟片」講到咁一文不值。我看到他意圖營造 magical realism氣氛,劇情在超現實與現實之間交錯,效果頗特別。其中有一場開始時在街市,然後鏡頭緩緩pan左,看到原來兩位人物在拍戲,場面調度很精妙;之後一場女主角在片場訴說寂寞,後景是片場的工作人員繁忙地工作,一前一後的對比充份帶出主角的心情,這一場的剪接也很有心思。而被垢病的聲音和畫面太黑等,在小營幕看完全沒有問題。當然看張偉雄作品要預左有他一貫的毛病/風格:對白文藝腔,演技生硬,但他這一次並不是追求自然,所以對白與演出是有意圖的風格化,once觀眾「較啱台」,不再期待自然演出便不難投入。雖然我沒有看完整部作品,但已可看出「一角之戀」是部有野心、有意圖的作品,而張的風格和類型是獨立電影以至整個香港影圈罕見的,淨係最後這一點已值得鼓勵。

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

大狗相


今天忽然察覺到Plato已長大了不少,已有大狗的模樣了,就快不能坐在我膝上了。

上星期六帶她去探阿琪和她的狗女小朋友,Plato看到生保人和一隻比她大很多倍的大狗一點也不害怕,和人家玩得很盡慶,還因興奮過度疴了兩篤No.2一篤No.1!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Ouch...that hurts!

通常評論香港獨立電影的人都會因為導演的誠意、資金的緊拙等,用一把較寬容的尺量度獨立作品,很少有像《港鏟片》評張偉雄的《一角之戀》那麼harsh: 一文不值? Ouch! 基本上我相信每個導演都應給三個機會他證明自己,可能張偉雄已用凸了他的quota.

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

娃娃愛天下

那天Clifton生日唱K,恕我比較大娘,才第一次看到這個MV,實在太正。多麼有charm的演出,多麼棒的歌。歌詞是林夕,差不多是《只愛陌生人》那一期的主導思想。在這裡祝林曉培快樂。

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Puppy love


It's been two weeks since Plato has been living with me, and already it's hard to imagine life without her!

Friday, March 7, 2008

No country for old men

Just saw No Country for Old Men. It's gripping and tense, but otherwise it leaves me cold. The film, like all Coen Brothers' films, has no heart. The ending feels tagged on, empty. Is the Jones character lamenting contemporary moral decline? And it started with Reagan coming to office? How astute an observation is that?

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!

Tilda Swinton's win was definitely the highlight of the Oscar's. Derek Jarman would have been so proud! We're so used to seeing her in serious, dramatic roles that it comes as a pleasant surprise how witty she can be in real life. The joke about Clooney and his nippled Batsuit was hilarious, and hard to pull off without sounding flippant. She's even funnier in the following post award press con. She's truly in a class of her own.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Last day of shooting














On the last day of the shoot (which seems an eon ago) we had the most amazing photographer who took these beautiful pictures. The one below can be the poster, don't ya think?

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

大徹大悟

各大傳媒討論淫照事件已有幾星期,實在已經厭厭地。以下是我在某討論區的留言,講埋呢次便收聲。

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


美國民主黨兩位候選人,男嘅中文叫奧巴馬,女嘅叫希拉莉,前者係佢嘅姓,後者係佢嘅名,點解有咁嘅分別?有人說是因為要識別她有別她丈夫克林頓,那為何不叫她希拉莉克林頓或洛咸克林頓呢?總統布殊有細佬任Florida州長,他的中文譯名是傑布布殊,是否因為他是男人?

另一個例子是已故巴基斯坦政客貝娜齊爾,Benizir也是她的芳名,她的對手穆沙拉夫卻以他的姓氏作稱呼,難道不叫她布托是要以示她有別她已去世近三十年的父親、前巴基斯坦總統阿里布托?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

關人隱事

陳冠希裸照事件完全暴露了香港人的偽善和小家子氣,一方面大家急不及待地爭相傳閱照片,滿足完偷窺慾後又馬上扮演衛道之士大駡男女主角是賤男淫女,彷彿自己是從來沒有任何性經驗的聖人。老實說,人家閂埋房門做的事與大家何干?當然有人會說,喂你地D明星平時扮晒純情玉女,依家證明你欺騙萬千觀眾啦。但若你過往真的以為阿嬌阿Sa是處女而買Twins大碟的話,恐怕有問題的是你。

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

死亡四天完結後,又展開亡命三天的連續拍攝。八天內拍七天,可說挑戰我們人丁單薄的劇組的極限,幸好最後都總算順利完成(雖然最後一天要被迫cut了一場戲),要多得每個幕前幕後工作人員的努力。這一次真的很幸運,找到一班很盡責,很正面的cast and crew,遇到困難時我從沒覺得自己在孤軍作戰,他們在我疲累的時候給我鼓勵,沒信心時給支持,多謝你們提出的每項意見,希望拍出來的不是爛片!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

死亡四天前夕

未來將要面對「死亡四天」--連續四天拍攝,不知能否支持得住?
昨天拍了十五小時後簡直筋力盡,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

Day 3's shooting in Cheung Chau went quite well. One scene required the actors to swim in the sea. The temperature was about 21 Celsius but the water was much colder. Neither Ben nor Chi Kin wanted to go in. Someone said, "The water's freezing. Why don't you try going in?" I don't know how I found the courage, but I donned my floral print Speedo and leaped in without a thought. It really was quite cold, but it was worth it. The actors went ahead and did the scene, and I felt they respected me just a little bit more after that.

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!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008