RTHK wants to be the new PBC
RTHK's jealous of the new broadcasting baby?
I say it's damn time Hong Kong has a new competitor. And besides more jobs and opportunities for media-savvy people. RTHK does some pretty good programmes, like its documentary-style investigative programmes, but a lot of it is very bland and I can really pick out its unique RTHK style. There's ample opportunity here for this new Public Broadscasting Corporation to provide some fresh material to the mix, although there's not much info in regards to its style and target market, just that there's going to be radio and TV service.
A long awaited new-hope for Northern Ireland
I was stunned when I saw this picture. Ian Paisley and Gerry Adam sitting down together striking a self-rule deal for the North?! Now anything's possible. Who knows, next it could be Ehud Olmert, Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh.
Most of the Irish and British media welcomed the new agreement, but some old guards warned it won't be the end of brinkmanship and certainly power-sharing would open up a new can of worms. But at least both sides won't be slugging it out with weapons, how long has it been since the last spate of sectarian violence? And even the IRA have decommissioned themselves, well so they say, from what happened to the Colombia Three, some IRA members may be offering assistance to other rebels or terrorists.
Official power-sharing will begin May 8th.
IFVA results
"Tagspotting" got squat at this year's Independent and Short Film Awards, but I'm not nearly as disappointed as the jury's decisions. First up, a poorly shot and over-emotional short called "Anna" got a special mention prize. Forgot who won silver.
But deeply disappointed by the jury's ruling for "Lover's Lover" a boring, unprovocative and narcassisitic view of today's contemporary relationships. It portrays these two young adults breaking up with their respective partners, and falling in love as a result. But after some emotion-slugging, they break up and see other people... what drivel.
And worse! The freshly graduated film-maker acknowledged the help of her two teachers, both of whom were on the jury panel! And there were only three jurors...
Not being bitter or anything, but from past experience such as the deplorable I Shot film festival, where they do get these jurors from??
Well anyway, my friends cum partners are working on a project about gay & lesbians in Hong Kong, something the crowd sniggered at during our after screening discussion.
As I probably will be helping out, I'm pursuing another project that's related to the environment. No, I haven't seen "An Incovenient Truth," but I think environmental documentaries would be unique to place like Hong Kong, especially since it neighbours not just one of the world's fastest growing economies, but also the fastest growing polluter. Let me just sort out my job prospects for this year first.
Congratulations Donald... like you needed it...
Well as today's rather lacklustre and expected election campaign ends, I wonder what's going on in Alan Leong's head. Probably cussing at himself via third person. But as I watched when they announcer declared the results, I focused closely on Alan's expression, and although he pretty much had the same glum face throughout, he did as expected keep his cool. Even the mock students' votes didn't even like Alan. Donald did make some questionable promises during the race, something he may regret in the near future.
Another day, another film festival
Nah really I'm excited.
"Tagspotting" has officially been selected at the International Macau Film Festival.
We're in the documentary category with only three entrants.
http://www.ccm.gov.mo/prog07/MIFF/docupower.htm
Asian Naff Awards
The Asian Film Awards was an awful affair! Come on, stop copying the Oscars with the grandeur Western stage and outfits. Asia film deserves better.
No teleprompter - come on, the only people who get away with cue cards is the best man making jokes at his friend's wedding.
Bad translators - A few examples: Johnnie To made a joke about thinking he came here to receive an award rather than to present one in Cantonese, but the translator said it without the comedic flair, and ending up making Johnnie sound like an arrogant prick. Also, the translators would sometimes interrupt.
Poorly co-ordinated - Some guests were clueless what to do and where to go.
Distasteful MC (David Wu) - Dave, Brazilian is not a language, and fire that cameraman who shot that awful angle of you. And where the fuck did Karen Mok go??
I hope someday there'll be an Asian Razzie Awards.
You just got to take one of these irrelevant tests sometimes...
Another St. Pat's in Hong Kong
Well, Saturday was certainly a special day...
Of course it was St.Patrick's Day, where swarms of wannabes with close and far Irish connections splash out on greens. I of course didn't seem your average Irishman but meh, it's all fun and games. I may not have fully grasped it yet, but it may also have been the first time I've gotten a slight hang over, ever since I stopped drinking drastically 1.5 years ago. Quite something.
Our 'Tagspotting' was once again screened at this year's 12th Independent Film and Video Awards (IFVA) at Agnes B. This festival was much more professional and just plain better than the horrendous I Shot Hong Kong festival earlier this year. Why? Well for one thing we didn't have to pay for the posters... that pretty much sums it up. The after-group discussion was quite interesting, we got a few good comments about our film, for our was the only documentary in the Open Category, where there had been a total of 215 entries and 12 were selected. And of course we're very honoured to be shortlisted. Some tough competition out there, I especially liked "About Romance or Something Else" where it was a 13 minute one-take steadicam montage.
Results will be announced on the 20th March.
Ah Dee, you're in trouble
The Consumer Council today held a press conference regarding false product claims by US Body Power's quartz crystal necklaces, which are supposed to emit certain frequencies around the body, and allegedly reduces the risk of cancer. Their tests found no such wave emissions unless it had an external power source.
If any of you have seen their representative 'Ah Dee' and his annoying TV spots, maybe the hyper chattery git will be put down for good.
Check out its new-age drivel on their
website
Job openings at ATV English News
The job requires strong writing skills to pick local and international stories from the wire services and turn them into packages and reader-voice-overs for our news programmes.Candidates should have a strong international and local news sense as they will be required to sub local stories for our reporters as well as keep pace with events around the world. They will also be required to voice on-air stories so they must be fluent in English.Experience would be an advantage but it is not essential as on-the-job training will be given.There may be some news reading opportunities for the right candidates, but no guarantees in this area.Anyone interested should email: englishnews@atv.com.hkResumes should be sent to Yonden Lhatoo who now oversees the English news and he will be able to give more details about salaries etc. Suitable candidates will be invited for writing and voice-over tests.There's a rumour going around that we only hire women... but truth be told, out of the more than dozen applicants, only one has been a man.
Classical crossovers from hell!
Apparently classical crossovers were the biggest growth in music genre last year.
The likes of Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins and Vittorio have been gliding along smoothly on Hong Kong's mainstream television.
Is it making a comeback? Or rather a stab at a new genre? Anyway, it seems popular among 'cultured' people and particularly among middle aged women according to AC Nielsen. Well guess what folks, it's just as bad as your everyday pop music: most are all cover songs - wasn't a very masculine start to Vittorio's ad with 'My Heart Will Go On' - and I can't imagine it being a very good live experience, they'll have to sing note for note so what's the friggin difference than dubbing?
I'm in no position to say it's bad music, after all they do have immensely talented voices, but hell, they do not deserve to call themselves artists, more like classical karaoke.
The Jock Club and the Mellon Collie Death of Eugene Nerdlinger
Well it's been eight years since its conception, now it's brought to you with the power of the Internet!
This is a film my school friends and I made when we were 16 in 1999.
We initially did it for a short film competition for Empire Magazine, but the Limerick Fresh Film Festival came along and we won first prize!
The quality's atrocious since it was edited on VHS and transferred so many times, but meh, it's gritty.
Check it our Wiki entry
Well, it's 3am, and I'm waiting for the latest episode of Family Guy to finish download.
Because I enjoy Family Guy? Sure, but more importantly because I seem to have brought on an acute case of insomnia.
I don't know exactly why, but I just can't seem to get to sleep! I am genuinely tired right now and would love to crawl into bed, but one thing I know is that I'll probably spend a good few hours just rolling around in bed, constantly flipping over to the cool side of the pillow and cursing at myself. So why bother, why not just stay up and wait for the agonisingly slow episode of Family Guy.
I've always had problems sleeping. Heck, I even got double-glazing windows installed recently and still I just can't get decent kip. I've even been taking anti-stress pills for the past six months!
On other fronts, we've just finished filming new segments for Tagspotting for the International Documentary Challenge. We followed some members of ST/ART around in cleaners outfits as they covertly sprayed around Sheung Wan. It lasted a mere 15 minutes probably before they gave up.
Dad's still in town, and he's off on a short golfing trip.
And I've finally sent off my application for a job at the SCMP.
