hongkongartman-mlee - Tumblr blog

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Does Her Family Background Affect Jocelyn Choi, A Good Actress? The 3 Pieces Of Advice That She Gives To Anyone Who Wants To Get Into The Acting Field?

We often cannot figure out the purpose of an unexplainable passion. In that way, passion is perhaps the purpose. When you love what you do and do it persistently, passion will become destiny. There will be no regret about a failure if it is for passion. Passion is not chasing a rush. Passion is also not necessarily about making it to the finish line.  

The young actress in Hong Kong Jocelyn Choi (蔡頌思) told me, “I don’t know what I will ultimately look right. Right now, I enjoy acting and sacrifice for it without hesitation.” Jocelyn is the daughter of my senior alumna in Law School Janice Kwan and I run into her regularly since we both love art. Jocelyn’s father is the very well-known businessman in Hong Kong Mr Choi Koon Shum (蔡冠深).

Jocelyn has one elder brother and 3 younger brothers. Apart from her good family background, good education is one thing that no one can take away from her. She studied in the prestigious St Paul’s Co-educational College and completed a degree in English from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She got an offer to further pursue drama education from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts but Jocelyn suddenly got a job to act for the reputable Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. She gritted her teeth and bit the bullet: no more school! She thus entered the acting field.

Janice said helplessly to me, “I am sorry that our family background gave Jocelyn a hard time. People thought we pushed her to be a star. We financially invested in all her jobs. We were her domineering manager and she took up the artist position just for fun. These are absolutely misunderstanding. In fact, Jocelyn’s daddy was against the idea that she would become an actress! God creates boys and girls who have a thing called free will!”  

Jocelyn talks confidently and accurately, with a pair of clever eyes looking for the right words to say. I can feel she is a sensitive artist who can be very perceptive. If not being an actress, she could be an able business executive.

She articulated, “The advantage of being in an affluent family is that I don’t have to take money back home. I am given free accommodation and food so that I can follow my dreams. I know it is a luxury but it is also the reason that I must work harder. I must stress I am who I am and should not let my family background affect my chances for success. My passion in acting started during university days. I studied English literature and had many opportunities to take part in drama productions. Drama unlocked myself—my abilities, my creativity and my courage. I became determined to be a performing artist. After leaving university, I search online the invitations for audition and such pursuit was almost non-stop. I luckily found acting jobs one after another though tides could be high and low for me. I build up my career gradually. Gosh! I am still struggling and will not give up!”

I switched to another topic and asked, “Do you have any advice for a young girl who wants to act?” Jocelyn expressed her view, “Being an amateur actor is good fun. The real world is different. Entertainment business is extremely competitive and there are too many complicated human factors beyond our control. Frustrations can make you doubt yourself and cause depression. Always be positive and have high emotional intelligence. Tune in to what is facing you. Forget ungrounded criticism against you as dissing also brings ungrounded fear. When you believe you have reasoned reasonably, abide by your belief and make progress by keeping on trying!” 

She added a second point, “Luck is a shortform answer for ‘I have tired my best but cannot reach there’. As an actor, you must have talent, sacrifice a lot of time and are tortured by numerous uncertainties. Luck and destiny should not be the excuses for personal inaction. Luck is where opportunities meet your hard work and readiness. So, I incessantly asked people to give me opportunities of an audition so that I would prove to them that I might fit the role. I don’t feel anything like losing face. In life, there are bound to be someone more fortunate than me.” 

Jocelyn was still eating slowly her tiny bowl of soup, probably for weight control because we all think a good-looking actress must be slim. I would never forget the last thing that she said to me, “An actress should not be shy! I am shy in my own way and trying to overcome it. In the entertainment world, you need to try to be what you are not, sometimes. Try to explode like a volcano when people are around you and you must make them cheerful. In our profession, people and reporters usually like socially aggressive and pleasurable girls. Acting opportunity is often about initial connections and cultivating them over time. Again, I am learning from other good ones who can closely check in with their contacts, whether through telephone messages or gatherings, to show that they value the relationship with these people who can help them. Since I don’t change my goals, I can only adjust my style of getting along with others!” 

Making conversation with Jocelyn is enjoyable because she gives short and clear answers. Our fast-paced life has made junk foods a part of our lives. But, fast-paced conversations were wonderful because after I sat down to lunch, I suddenly found out that our happy time ended—albeit reluctantly. When young, do indulge in the exploits of youth, as this is a one-time luxury of everyone.

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/cai-guan-shen-nu-103075592?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Jocelyn Choi Official Music Video

Acknowledgement-Jocelyn Choi

Jocelyn Choi Official Music Video

Acknowledgement – Jocelyn Choi

VE Channel Guest - Jocelyn Choi

Acknowledgement-VE Channel

[hongkongartman-mlee]

The Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet Heidi Lee (李易璇) talked to me about her past, her jobs and why HK Ballet is one of the most popular performing art groups in Hong Kong. She explained why their ballet is very updated.

Maurice Lee

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Is There Too Much Negativity About The Positivity Of ‘Day X Night Vibes’? The 5 Things That Street Events Can Bring To The Inclusive Community Of Hong Kong

Nothing stays the same. Hong Kong’s community is becoming more and more concerned about its economic future.

It was said that the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the passionate actions of its members. Some men believe in quick fix and great men believe in fundamental cause and solution. Scholars are skeptical of the public campaign ‘Day X Night Vibes 日夜都繽紛’. They wonder if the project will really help the economic recovery of Hong Kong. Are they just a fluff and filler? I enjoy looking at the campaign from a different positive angle. The campaign originally has a longing to be significant and aims at a quick economic contribution; but be that as it may, I can see it being a part of some other things that are meaningful and purposeful.

The plan of the government is to have a project which launches high-spirited activities including fairs and shows covering all 18 districts in Hong Kong. They can demonstrate the ‘day and night vibes’ of Hong Kong and give the city’s economy a boost. These initiatives will provide more attractions for citizens and tourists to go to and local prosperity can be stimulated at the same time. Official said that the success cannot be measured only through the numbers of attendees or tickets distributed as some activities held on the streets would be difficult to assess. 

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. I went to explore some of these district activities and found a few commonalities. They usually took the form of a fair. There are 4 kinds of themes: stalls to sell goods especially the home-made ones like soaps, game booths, stands for teaching handicrafts and cultural demonstrations like calligraphy writing and finally performances which may be band singing, flash acts and line dance. They do these common things in a common way, but the pleasure is seeing people’s dedication, passion and liveliness in organising the activities. The success is not found upon the standard of their small deeds. The touching achievement is that the volunteers and participants put passionately the uncommon effort into such common thing, making it large by doing it in a great way—with all their heart. The motivation has nothing to do with money.  

These fairs play an important role in our community. They can contribute to the empowerment of individuals, provide opportunities for culture and art, generate cheerfulness for the passers-by and most impressively, promote the development of ‘inclusive communities’.

I had a lovely chat with the involved ones. A young vendor of handmade toys told me, “I have no money to run a shop. Here, I can learn how to do business. The investment at stake is small but I have been enabled to go through all the management skills!”

A tourist said, “I like watching and listening to interesting local music. It adds atmosphere to the city of Hong Kong! I think the streets are more lively!” 

An old man heard our conversation and nodded his head, “I am tired of shopping malls. These street fairs give me an alternative. The refreshing environment now not only cleans my lungs. It actually boosts my mood and increases my energy levels!”

Hong Kong used to be labelled only as an international financial centre. Life in Hong Kong now transcends monetary borders when the central government wants us also to be a global cultural centre. As much as we help nurturing start-up business, we must also provide budding artists the opportunities and resources that they need for practices in order to succeed. In Hong Kong, it takes months to book a performing venue and busking is illegal here. In a street fair, youngsters play their songs, dance their styles, perhaps earn their money and will not get in people’s way. The artists can gain valuable exposure as a blooming artist. Besides, music builds their confidence.  Hong Kong has to be more artistic in the coming years.

Classism does exist in Hong Kong. Some treat others unfairly and have negative opinions about them based on their economic and social position, particularly where they live. Somebody told me that she had never been to Sham Shui Po because the area was ‘poor and unsafe’! Let us hope ‘Day X Night Vibes’ activities can encourage more people to cross their psychological barrier to try to visit other areas from which they can learn how the others live. Poverty should not be taken a vice or sin.  

When individualism prevails, we have more and more a very multifarious environment in Hong Kong. Diversity often results in social conflicts. We wish most of us can understand how important it is for us to put down the corrosive acids from our mouth and support any new initiatives, irrespective of their ultimate impacts, which can help people feel supported, connected and valued within society. Positive social externalities are vital for Hong Kong. As far as building up an inclusive community is concerned, fairs and fun markets at least serve one good thing: it does promote warm human interactions in Hong Kong, especially in winter days.

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/cong-ye-bin-fen-102192701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

“Day X Night Vibes” announced by CE https://youtu.be/g004e_sqr4U?si=KS2NBox9nDaKhcDp Acknowledgement-點新聞

 "Day X Night Vibes” Government Advertisement https://youtu.be/TwlCJTSNEOE?si=NZ5iWOX--hzmUfTC Acknowledgement-ISD, HK SAR

 “Day X Night Vibes” @Sham Shui Po https://youtu.be/VVZi6H3Bbsc?si=zZ_v5fC96e_xfaU9 Acknowledgement-Home and Youth Affairs Bureau

[hongkongartman-mlee]

President of The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong (Barwo)

Interview with Loong Koon Tin, President of The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong (Barwo). He talked about the future of Yueju (Cantonese Opera) in Hong Kong!

Acknowledgement-WSM Music HK

Maurice Lee

[hongkongartman-mlee]

CY Leo Is Too Good To Be True: A Good Music Skill, A Good Look, A Good Family, A Good Academic Qualification And A Good Girlfriend: Being The World-renowned Harmonica Artist, What Can Be His Fears Of The Unknown?

In the mystery of music lie the secrets that a talent will spend his whole life to uncover. He likes to feel un-settled and has huge inventories of worries of the unknown. When trials of life, one after another, come to test his faith in art, doubt will be removed one day if he sets his ultimate hope in that he loves—art.

CY Leo (何卓彥) was born in 1994 and has never been tired of harmonica since the age of 6 when he started to learn the tunes from his father who is a well-known harmonica player in Hong Kong. The harmonica, also known as a mouth harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument in many genres, notably in blues, country and classical music. It was adapted from an old Chinese instrument called Sheng (笙) more than 1000 years ago.

We are only the stars and, of course, jealous of the moon: Leo, already possessing the talent of music, has a good look with the similar charm of Timothée Chalamet. He also has a great height, an impressive academic qualification (occupational therapy), an enviable family background in which both parents are medical professionals and his younger brother is a teacher, and finally a sweet girlfriend and they fly in pairs to wherever he performs.

Leo is a beautiful butterfly that is also a busy bee. He practises harmonica more than 3 hours a day. He makes online video lectures to teach people how to play harmonica. He produces harmonica concerts and CDs. He takes part in activities which promote community support for harmonica. The award given by Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2020 is just a diamond Koh-i-Noor which glitters among many crown jewels that are already his other international awards. CY Leo is a supper for many female sharks. This is a figurative speech but you can know the degree of his popularity that I am referring to. Leo was not mad at my joke and responded politely, “I am simply a lucky man!”

I asked Leo, “Are you too good to be true? I just attended your concert. Your music is totally stylistic! The audience was respectful of your work.” He faltered, “Currently, things for me are too good to be true. But, fears of the unknown have the power to trouble my heart, over and over again.” I was puzzled and raised the question, “What kind of fear?” He replied seriously, “I am a family man. I love to be as closely as possible with my family. After I get married and have kids, I guess my wife and children cannot fly with me to do worldwide performances. The hotel room empty of them will be the saddest place.”

He continued, “What is at a peak is sure to go down. If I lose my popularity one day and earn substantially less, shall I be able to survive and have enough money to be a breadwinner? Where can I get bacon to bring home?” I asked, “So?” He said, “I think I need to be a music teacher at the same time so that I can add another string to my bow.” I remarked, “Always remember: as a top musician, your focus will determine your success. I am a lawyer and writer. I sometimes do think I am neither here nor there.”  

Leo thought about it for a while, “Stable income matters but I shall definitely not treat pop music as my career. I do play pop music from time to time so as to bridge serious music and popular taste. I want to remain a fine art musician. I love harmonica. It is light, easy, handy and affordable. It should be music for everyone especially youngsters. They can talk to the music when they are happy or moody—anywhere, just getting a harmonica out of the pocket. The sound quality of harmonica is close to that of a human voice. When you play harmonica, it seems like someone singing side by side with you! I disagree to the suggestion that harmonica is not a serious music and it is just great for busking only.”

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/wai-biao-cai-hua-101156253?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

CY Leo Jazz Quintet at Montreux Jazz Festival China https://youtu.be/o9gj5lVn0BA?si=y3vaxi7ycEiuEqpY Acknowledgement – Cy Leo

CY Leo & The Guardians of Groovin' Underworld《Wolala》Official Live Performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfjWssdEdW0 Acknowledgement – COLLAB HK

CY Leo Solo Harmonica https://youtu.be/JjRZI-MUgag?si=ErAlGh_bDIaISbjM Acknowledgement-Cy Leo

Harmonica Talk by CY Leo https://youtu.be/mxZbKmViwks?si=VtmnaP5TX6UJXK4v Acknowledgement – HK Arts Festival

《青春舞曲》Harmonica https://youtu.be/W4YTbaoABhM?si=MU5Yz8UyhtZWnnOp Acknowledgement - 中華口琴會

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Brian Chow

Talking to a young expert in broadcasting and singing adjudication Brian Chow

Acknowledgement-WSM Music HK

[hongkongartman-mlee]

There Is Something As ‘Away’: To Walk In The Newness Of Life, Say Goodbye To Things That We Do Not Need And Say Hello To Things That We Will No Longer Buy

There is nothing scornful of your life if you keep buying and disposing. We are human. We want to feel secure and count on owning things that money can buy.

I am moving house this month. I have lived by the sea for more than 30 years. I yearn for some ‘fresh’, if not refreshing, air around the bustling city.

Moving home is nightmarish when it comes to packing my belongings especially old things—that I am sentimentally attached to. Objects can hold memories and emotions, and getting rid of them can make me feel that I am destroying a part of my past. I fear ‘fear’ too, the fear of letting go, of the loss of a possession and of the unknown relating to replacing it with another thing.

One thing makes old people unique: time. The older you are, the more time you have had to accumulate things. Sadly, as death is approaching, we should try to create ease and space for our life. Nothing is as important as gradually throwing un-needed, though much wanted, stuff away. It is wise for us to control things before life will soon be out of our control. I have been keeping too many things that I did not bother to take a look at, let alone use them.

Guilt is one of the hardest feelings between the ready us and the reluctant us to throw away things. I have learnt a few lessons this time. Don’t give up too many things and at least keep 50% of what you do not want in order to make yourself less nervous. Learn to dislike an item when it can remind you of the stupid mistake of buying it in the first place. Make a generous gift of things to your friends, building caretakers or office colleagues who desire to take over your possessions. Donate anything that charitable organisations may want. You can support the cause of helping those in need. Think about the joy of decluttering and your stress-free life will bring; and also the beauty of minimalism that your home may acquire.

The Japanese developed a philosophy called ‘mottainai 勿体無’. The principle is to ask people to 'reduce, re-use and re-cycle'.

It encourages us to stop buying things and make good use of what we presently have. I can buy less but cannot stop buying. So, the new Japanese theory of ‘斷•捨•離 (break, abandon and depart)’ is right for my aptitude. Removing unnecessary things from my life is now the best timing when I have to declutter for my new place.

From now onwards, whenever I buy in future, I will get rid of one thing in my house and later, perhaps 2 items, 3 items and 4…till everything in my house only has one of its kind. Less is more and emptiness is the best.

‘Carousell’ is a web-based online marketplace for people to sell second-hand stuff. I tried but all the hassles involved in the process including the delivery of the goods to a buyer put me off. Donation is the great solution.

Hong Kong government will soon impose the ‘charge-per-bag’ arrangements, residents will have to pay for each litre of garbage that they throw away. It is now the right thing and the right time to dispose of what you do not need; before you have to pay.

Let us all reduce the complexity of survival by having a rich life that is simple. One day, ‘you are left only with what you love, with what is necessary and what makes you happy’. Sounds good?

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/yi-yi-de-she-da-100339438?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

“Give It Up” by KC & The Sunshine Band  https://youtu.be/UBsIGF-KZZw?si=T2spF4p-9c5sfh__  Acknowledgement-TopPop

Break, Abandon And Depart   https://youtu.be/9pH1b8Vh8cY?si=GXEyNMb0ps7urukN  Acknowledgement – ELLE Hong Kong

Simple Life   https://youtu.be/IJukpYKNuoQ?si=-p7i_F8ceMi2wM5h  Acknowledgement – Nicholas Garofola

[hongkongartman-mlee]

The most powerful film producer in Hong Kong: Mr. John Chong (Interview) - Where will Hong Kong Film Go?

Maurice Lee

https://youtu.be/M7DICJ4mCVA?si=UOvP0yHZLD_oOCTW   Acknowledgement-WSM Music HK

[hongkongartman-mlee]

What Are The 4 Interacting Forces Of Hong Kong With Other Greater Bay Area Cities? What Are The 6 Things That Hong Kong Must Preserve So That It Can Meaningfully Contribute? Why Should The Court Of Final Appeal’s Decision Be Respected?

The transformation, when not abrupt, of a city is always fascinating. It increases the hope for a better quality of life in your arms. Old things became new. New things then turned old. We only have to continue to be interested in. It is pointless for us to resist or condemn.

How many times has Hong Kong changed from the ashes? She did something incredible in the past: from a fishing village to a commercial port, from a commercial port to a manufacturing base, from a manufacturing base to an international financial centre. Since 1842, more than 180 years have passed.

The ‘hinterland’ surrounding a city is such an importance because it enlarges a city’s ability to attract huge numbers of opportunities and talents to it. It facilitates the expansion of the economic, social and cultural activities into the hinterland radiating from the city. It can also help the city become the centre of influences in the region. Hong Kong is lucky. We have a hinterland called ‘ The Greater Bay Area’ (GBA)(大灣區) along the Pearl River with a huge population of more than 80 million people! A lot of them also speak Cantonese.

China’s GBA Plan is a long-term ambition to make a ‘mega-region’ that will progressively integrate and revamp 9 major cities within this Pearl River Delta, plus 2 special administrative regions—Hong Kong and Macau—into a single gigantic zone which can be globally competitive against the existing leading city clusters such as San Francisco and Tokyo Bay Areas that are developing the ‘Tech’ industries. Hong Kong will serve the GBA in her unique role as an international financial, commercial and cultural centre of the world.   

Space is an exciting factor that allows one to dream big. Now, Hong Kong is no longer a tiny island but had acquired a large hinterland. Dream in life is essentially unattainable unless we are prepared to go through a difficult period of transformation—in which we have to adjust and sacrifice.   

The benefit of finding the pros and cons of a new situation is discovering what should be the deep inner directions of our future life. Being liberal-minded is needed. Never choose to focus on the worst in some of your options and the best in other people’s options. One of the new options for a man in Hong Kong is: whether I will continue to live here or move to another city in the Greater Bay Area? This decision is more difficult for the retired seniors who like the attractive standard of living of other GBA cities with a lower cost of living. On the other hand, leaving Hong Kong, a city that they are familiar with, is not easy.

There are 4 kinds of interacting forces among the public against the transformation of Hong Kong from a ‘stand-alone’ city to being a part of GBA. These forces are competitiveness, supplementation, co-operation and fusion.

Mr A said, “I am a taxi driver. Now on Saturdays and Sundays, thousands of people leave Hong Kong and go to GBA cities for a weekend break. My business is quiet. For me, GBA mega-zone simply means more ‘competitiveness’ for a man in the street!”

Mr B said, “For me, I can see the ‘supplementary benefits’. I am an elderly citizen: I am offered good social welfare both from the governments of Hong Kong and the local city of GBA. For example, Hong Kong gives me medical care while the other GBA cities give me money subsidy for public transport.”

Mr C said, “I am glad to see ‘co-operation’ of Hong Kong and other GBA cities on more and more things. The 2 jurisdictions now issue a ‘cross-boundary vehicle licence’ and I can enjoy driving freely between Hong Kong and the hinterland.” The future advantages will be immense when 90 million people in Hong Kong and GBA, through ‘co-operation’, get together to work. Our differences do matter, but our common interests matter more.  

Mr D said, “The process of joining two or more things together to form a single entity will happen more and more. I call it ‘fusion’. Look at my family: my son married a GBA girl. She brought her dad and mom to live permanently in Hong Kong when our daughter will take a Guangzhou accountant as her husband. Isn’t it ‘fusion’?”

Many things in life seem impossible, then they become probable. Soon, they will be inevitable.

‘GBA Zone’ is still not a well-known term internationally. Given 10 to 20 years, it may become a famous place, full of exciting windows for people from all over the world. 

Behind all these great developments, 3 things cannot be downplayed by Hong Kong: her international standard of justice, international style of thinking and international way of doing things. These 3 account for maintaining the supreme status of Hong Kong. Without such a Hong Kong, we will not be able to facilitate GBA to be connected globally. Hong Kong will not be different from any other GBA city. We have to make sure Hong Kong, in reality, stands and functions uniquely. People may hear your word, but our 3 actual attitudes to the international community count. People in Hong Kong must learn to be tolerant, liberal-minded and creative.

The concept of ‘Greater Bay Area’ zone is a radical piece of change and its effects will transcend the borders of the tiny city of Hong Kong. Will the amalgamation dilute the powers and influences of Hong Kong or may it further upgrade us as a global financial and commercial melting pot? There are 10 other competing cities in GBA but the ‘Rule of Law’ of Hong Kong is most treasured by the international community against other cities. One should therefore not subjectively attack or selectively disregard and our Courts’ decisions (for example, recently giving LGBT their legal rights) which are binding even on the Government. This will create a very dangerous political precedent, especially for the world to observe. What we must do is to understand and tolerate each other as members of equal rights in order to anticipate a more dynamic and diversified international city. Truly profound education breeds humility and acceptance.

All of us have the exciting choice as to whether we will take part or stay aloof in the transformation, but in any event, the future fate of Hong Kong city will surely be economically and socially out of all recognition. Hoorah!

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/shi-min-he-da-qu-99367606?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

GBA Song Acknowledgement – HK AECN

One day life in Zhong Shan Acknowledgement – 安娜睇樓團

Hong Kong Views Acknowledgement – 視界MeetWorld

[hongkongartman-mlee]

A famous Hong Kong singer, also an emotional-health counsellor Ms Amy Wu (胡美儀) was interviewed by me.

Enjoy!

Maurice Lee

https://youtu.be/o1deL3lQeC4?si=dagfyVEsoxpY_owE  Acknowledgement-WSM Music HK

[hongkongartman-mlee]

What Is So Special About The Dance Drama Wing Chun (詠春) As An Art Furore ? Will The Competition From Shenzhen Force Hong Kong To Do Our Cultural Best?

In the Western world, martial art is the art of motion. For the Chinese, martial art is more than that. It is a master’s philosophy and use of his body to accomplish visual art result.

Success is no accident. Many in the art world just want to follow success and not create it. Great stage works never come from comfort zones. The real risk facing the performing art circles in Hong Kong is the lack of enough top-notch breakthroughs and talented persons, apart from the usual problem: insufficient financial resources to make a big dream possible.

The world has changed. Home cinema, home video game and home audio are the kinds of ‘home entertainment’, because of their instantly accessible enjoyment, are replacing the traditional places like theatres, movie houses and concert halls. Determining what play or dance to go to watch in a theatre can be exorbitant these days, especially when you have to take into account travelling expenses, parking and dinner, apart from the expensive tickets. Making the overall trip ‘worth it’ obviously favours the large budget stage productions these days.  

For the above reasons, the new dance drama Wing Chun (詠春), produced by the young city of Shenzhen (深圳) in China, has been extremely popular in the country for more than a year since 2023. The show went to Asian cities. Some said, “What a grand show! Almost 80 dancers perform on stage!” Some said, “The electrifying movements and gravity-defying choreography performed by the dancers create a visual spectacle that keeps us glued to the stage!” Some said, “The variety of striking scenes is another thing that makes me excited. Nobody performs ordinarily!” Some said, “The dancers, male or female, are good-looking, powerful and extremely stunning! They express their performing passion glamorously!” 

The story of Ip Man (葉問) who created the famous martial art of Wing Chun (詠春) is well-known among the Chinese. Ip man was born in 1893 and died in 1972. He developed the great martial art of Wing Chun when he was 20. He had a famous legendary student Bruce Lee (李小龍). After the Second World War, Ip left Foshan (佛山) for Hong Kong. The dance performance was chiefly about how he was struggling for a living in Hong Kong, bullied by the gangsters, training his students, sparring with other martial art masters and deserted by his loved wife. His life has an unbroken line of unusual events and emotions, resulting in a successful and yet regretful life.

The production is high-quality but a bit expected. It is said that the investment was fuelled by the Shenzhen government. The stage design, lighting, audiovisual engineering, music and costumes offer their best, though the show are somehow not good enough if it wants to be at the top of other top dances. The truly excellent ones in this case are the dancers. The physically captivating dancers have no stuntman. I can feel that they sometimes risk their bodies to complete dangerous movements. These marvellous performers make the show absurdly beautiful because it is the most rigorous job for a dancer to be equally capable of the best martial art skills at the same time.  

The southern island of Baoan (寶安) County became the British Hong Kong after the Opium Wars more than 100 years ago, while the primitive small village of Shenzhen was ignored on the border. In 1979, Shenzhen was suddenly made an Economic Zone for the ambitious economic developments of China. After about 40 years, the young au courant city managed to produce this art show that shocks the Asian art world. Hong Kong has a much longer cultural history and up to now, there has been no such comparable achievement. We should feel downcast by the scale of the threat that we see from this pioneering city neighbour.

The Chief Executive of Hong Kong announced in 2023 that Hong Kong, with the government’s help, will be able to produce big stage shows for large-scale long runs or re-runs. The ‘Signature Performing Arts Programme’ will provide a subsidy of up to Hong Kong $10 million, a matching funding of up to $5 million to match private sector funding and venue support so that these Hong Kong performances can become world-class art productions and the international cultural brand that can represent Hong Kong. This is surely a piece of exciting news. But, the local performing art sectors are too used to government’s money as their major source of funding. How to make profits is right now a big lesson for the local art groups to learn. Money can be a good reason for success. They must realize that there are 10,000 ways that make things not work. Complacency, inertia and lack of business sense are the imminent hurdles that they must overcome. 

We all do better when we can gather the most talented people from a larger pool to work together. The population of Hong Kong is just about 7 million. That of Chinese mainland is around 1.41 billion. A top-class performing art team must be made of many gifted artists, from front and back stage. It is almost a necessity that in order to accomplish the ‘signature stage projects’ of Hong Kong, we cannot work alone or simply let a few big stage groups determine the scene. Joint productions of Hong Kong and Chinese mainland will be the sensible path, and I am sure we can find and manage a right path. It is going to take some time, though. Flexibility is the art of creating way outs within the cul-de-sac, as a Turkish playwright pointed out. 

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/hong-dong-ya-de-98447537?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link 

Wing Chun Dance Drama

Acknowledgement-CultArts x Creative

Wing Chun Dance Drama

Acknowledgement – 生活生活

Wing Chun Dance Drama Interview

Acknowledgement – 香港商報

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Why Should You Watch The Recent Murder Mystery Film The Goldfinger (金手指)? Is It A Good Movie? Did Tony Leung (梁朝偉) Act Well?

The recent Hong Kong film The Goldfinger (金手指) is a 2023 film written and directed by Felix Chong (莊文強), and staring 2 Hong Kong superstars Tony Leung (梁朝偉) and Andy Lau (劉德華).

Some expected to be a very exciting action crime thriller. They are wrong. The film turns out to be a nostalgic and heartrending biography of the most notorious swindler in the 1970s and 80s. It is also a tale of episodes depicting the vanished years of Hong Kong when money could buy anything and the pursuit of voluptuous life had corrupted the whole society.

The story is well-known. In the 1970s: a Malaysian man who had nothing came to look for money opportunities in Hong Kong. Within a few years, he, by dishonest means, became a Mr Moneybags. His improper schemes were finally unmasked and this scoundrel was put in jail. Incident to the long and complicated saga, 3 men i.e. the lawyer, the accountant and the judge who acquitted the scoundrel during the first trial mysteriously died. Up to now, nobody has been found responsible for the ghastful deaths. 

Murder mysteries are puzzles that are fun to resolve. The film The Goldfinger however did not attempt to resolve ‘whodunit’ and in fact is quite distanced from the crime truth. It may want the audience to speculate the truth by themselves. This is why some audience were disappointed because this murder movie, unlike those of Agatha Christie, did not make the ‘Q&A’ neatly wound up at the end of the story.   

From indulgent nightlife to lavish parties, the film depicts the heyday of Hong Kong in the 1970s and 80s, when money could be easily made from the newly flourishing stock market. The film also foreshadows the economic doom that would follow. Businessmen, lawyers, accountants and bankers all looked happy but ‘everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.’ Regrets were before these people became criminals or after they became ghost.  

This great film is loved by me because it is about the good old days, or bad old days, that I actually went through when I was young. It might be loved by me for nostalgic reasons, but in any event, I have a high opinion of the work because the film is sincere, well-prepared and well-produced with meticulous artistic care. Actors like Tony Leung, Andy Lau and Simon Yam (任達華) are extremely glittering and their acting is impressively successful. 

This wonderful film makes us feel like we have journeyed with the story and characters. Some said film is a dream. I would say film can also be a reality which is an emotional echo forcing us to remember and think. I recommend The Goldfinger to anyone who is looking for a good movie to watch.

Creativity takes courage and I am proud that Felix Chong has the guts to do a not really commercial film.

Maurice Lee

Movie The Goldfinger trailer

Acknowledgement-Emperor Motion Pictures

Movie The Goldfinger Press Conference

Acknowledgement-Emperor Motion Pictures

Movie The Goldfinger trailer

Acknowledgement-CSCinemas

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Hold Fast To Your Dreams Like Migratory Birds—My 6 ‘Second Homes’ Are Visas To Experience 6 City Lands: Will You Follow Me?

We need a place where we can escape for relaxation. Life is short and the world is big. One-week vacations are too short. By the time you relax enough not to worry about work, the week is up. I long to stay idly in a loved city for months. Ideally, it will be a kind of my second home, but it will not be my real home—my home is Hong Kong. I want a third home, fourth home, fifth home…I always fancy a home wherever I have been to. Sadly, eyes are bigger than my pockets. 

In a foreign city, there is always something new to discover. One can wander in the streets without a plan. I enjoy getting lost in the city because I love the anxiety of feeling safely helpless. When I have breakfast at a cozy café, buy some untried snacks in a supermarket, visit an endearing museum and read amazing books in a bookstore, I feel like making a movie in a strange place about myself, the lost me—by myself.

Merciless years have done harshly to me. I will face the reality of getting old. Youth was wasted on the money-making chores. Today, I can be myself; and unreservedly do the things that I want to do. I want to fly, like migratory birds that will fly hundreds and thousands of miles to find the best ecological conditions. A person needs just 3 things to be truly happy in this world: some places to love, some places to do and some places to remember.  

If I can afford, I desire 6 ‘breakaway city retreats’ every year, each one ideally for one to two months. A married couple told me, “We planned to have a breakaway stay in London for one year after our retirement. It ends up that we stayed there for two years—still not feeling enough.”

The 6 cities that I dream to stay are Tokyo, Qingdao, Vancouver, Bangkok, Taipei and Paris. It may be just a dream but we must have a dream before our dream can come true.  

Paris has a rich human history, being over 2,000 years old. Her cobblestone lanes, grand boulevards and charming cafes all provide a honeyed experience for me. Her glamorous fashion scene, apart from arts and culture, is the most enduring appeal of this ancient city of the world.   

Taipei is a city of culture. Culture makes the people polite and peaceful. There, bookstores, coffee shops and ‘creative parks’ are common. In Taipei, slow living is the popular motto of taking life at a slower pace and savoring the quiet moments that make up our good life. If you feel bogged down by everyday stressors in Hong Kong, do fly for about an hour to Taipei for a retreat full of spiritual contentment.  

I kiss Bangkok for her vibrant activities, delicious street food, bustling nightlife, world famous open-air markets and relaxing Thai massage. The welcoming and colourful atmosphere of this religious city is too hard to resist. The extreme opposite of her disorderliness is the majestic faith of people in Buddhism. Sawadee Krub! 

Vancouver has a spectacular backdrop—the snowcapped Rocky Mountains. She always ranks as one of the world’s most livable cities. I delight in the city’s stunning natural scenery, surrounded by mountains, forests and the blue Pacific Ocean, making her the very very picturesque international city. We can do hiking in the mountains, kayaking in the ocean and strolling in the treeful parks scattered throughout the city. After a day of fun and happiness, one can escape to the biggest ‘China Town’ Richmond in the world for scrumptious food. No wonder why Richmond is called the ‘Little Hong Kong’. I got an apartment near Richmond Centre.

Qingdao, near Korea, in China (青島) is a seaport, naval base, and a business centre. The city is a showcase of very traditional and extremely modern Chinese architectures. She has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. The local cuisine, between the northern cooking and southern food of China, is marvellous. The city is famous for her tasty seafood and internationally renowned Tsingtao Beer. Beer has been an impressive heritage of Qingdao because of the German influence. She was leased to Germany as a colony in 1898. Japanese started to occupy Qingdao in 1914. The city, full of old German and Japanese buildings, was returned to China in 1922. Traces of the German and Japanese colonial periods can be found everywhere. This explains why the city has many huge Sakura (櫻花) parks. My heart belongs to this romantic city. If you are hungry for a dramatic and contrasting mood, this is what Qingdao is all about. The place offers the Orient and the West; as well as the old and the new. I also miss people-watching there because her people are mostly tall, well-dressed and have fair skin with a velvety and smooth texture. Quite a number of movie stars are from Qingdao. 

Oh, Tokyo, my Tokyo! Tokyo means diversity and velocity. She offers an unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dinning to her visitors. The city’s old history can be appreciated in traditional districts such as Asakusa (淺草) through her archaic temples, wooden houses and gardens. There are ultra-modern malls, hotels and theatres in trendy districts such as Shibuya (澀谷) which are right next to the olden areas. Tokyo is a magnet for changes and there are more changes taking place in the city than anywhere in the world. Things in Tokyo around me evolve so fast that she always makes my head spin. Staying in Tokyo is surely a kaleidoscopic experience. 

Life is short and at my age, I am learning to enjoy it to the fullest. One way is ‘work hard, play hard’. The other way is to travel more so that I can see modestly what a tiny place that I occupy in the world. This is why I wish to short-stay in more places like the 6 cities that I have alluded to.    “Unfinished business is like an open wound that never heals.” My life is usually a long succession of busy nothings. I long for solitude, the kind of quietness in a foreign city, which can open myself for a deeper intimacy with myself. 

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/si-hai-wei-jia-96723481?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link 

Song “Free as the Wind”

Acknowledgement-CB26

Paris Christmas Eve

Acknowledgement – A walk in Paris

Tokyo Walk

Acknowledgement-HP Walking Tours

Qingdao

Acknowledgement – KimberleyExploring

[hongkongartman-mlee]

“Why Did I Want To Be A Solo Traveller? What Are The Useful Tips For Travelling Alone”—The Most Respectable Travel Expert Rebecca Lee (李樂詩) Is Content With Her Graceful Solitude.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” 

Some said the most important thing in life is to enjoy uneventful simplicity. Beauty can be found in things that are unadorned and uncomplicated. I disagree and tend to support what the most respectable travel expert Rebecca Lee (李樂詩) in Hong Kong has said, “Nature had 4 seasons—spring, summer, fall and winter. Each has its own light, temperature and weather. Life is nature. So, do great things when you are young. At my age of almost 80, the beauty of life is about happiness which is not related to contributing or achieving anymore. It is about how we treat ourselves.”  

Our story is a chain of experience, bitter or sweet, each one of which makes us bigger. Rebecca smiled, “My ‘quota’ has been filled. I stop travelling and adventuring. Hong Kong is my little resting corner. I found peace with myself.”  

Rebecca is charming, witty, straightforward, and unpretentious. She came from a middle-class family in Central. Her father ran an ivory products shop on Queen’s Road, Central. Her schooldays were the most artistic time of her life: painting, writing, photography and playing harmonica. She laughed again, “I dreamt of travelling. I looked at the maps and told myself: I had to go here and there.

After she graduated in 1962, she found a job: artist in an advertising agency. Rebecca said, “The money earned could enable me to travel. I wrote and took photos. I published to share.” Within a few years, Rebecca was able to run her own design studio with her ex-husband Robert Lam . She sighed, “The marriage did not work well. I am glad to be a single and free person now. I don’t need a man to rectify my existence.”

Rebecca continued, “Later in life, I got the contract to take care of the inflight magazine Discovery of Cathay Pacific. I enjoyed immensely the creativity of being the art editor of such a good travel magazine. I was lucky. I got a career that I enjoyed and something that I was interested in. Following this project, I published my own magazine called Pearl Magazine. I put a strong point on the magnificent history, heritage, culture and geography of China.”  

She paused, “There came a point in my life when my mind told me that enough was enough. I did not want to run a business anymore. I desired to be a full-time journeyer. So, after some years, I closed down my business and searched the world which did fill me with happy treasures. Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic oceans were learnt. Asia, Europe, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, North America and South America were studied. Experiencing different customs, traditions and artistic performances of other races helped me gain a profound appreciation about human cultures. I have become more open-minded, empathetic and thankful.”   

I asked, “How do you define the meaning of money?” She replied, “Money is only a tool. Money never makes a person happy unless he or she knows how to use it correctly. I used money on travel. The real measure of our wealth is the depth of our knowledge, experience and happiness derived from the world.” I deliberately challenged, “Can we learn about a country or place by watching TV and online programs?” Rebecca pretended to frown and said, “You can but it is not good enough. Humans have 5 senses: taste, smell, vision, hearing and touch. The real world allows us to satisfy all the senses. Imagine: when you stand next to a jungle, you delightfully encounter its temperature, humidity and scent.”   

I questioned, “You often travelled alone. Did you feel lonely? She laughed, “What? A ‘solo trip’ is the best thing on earth: being both physically and emotionally away from the people and the situations that we are too familiar with. Solitude is independence; and independence is the richness of self.” She chuckled, “Besides, I do not like serving others. Social interactions often come with chores which may mean extra obligations.”    

I asked, “What is your advice for other solivagants?” Rebecca lowered her eyebrows, “Life can be tough. You keep only the necessary and give up the unnecessary. As a solo traveller, I cut my own hair. I need no face cream or makeup. I have only a few sets of clothes. I eat anything. My daily food can simply be a loaf of bread. I can sleep on the deck of a ship. Simplicity is making your journey with just baggage enough. Fewer possessions mean fewer distractions and as a result, you can focus on the beauty of nature surrounding you.”    

My curiosity drove me to put forward my final question, “Is it safe for a lady to travel alone?” she winked humorously, “At least safe for me. You look at me. My look is universal and unisexual! It is a kind of protective camouflage!”   

Rebecca concluded, “Dream is everything. You, at the end of day, are what you want yourself to be. I have finished my to-do list: I was a photographer, a writer, an editor, a businesswoman and a travel adventurer. At my age, humour and contentment are a great tonic for mind. I don’t expect or wait for anything. My happiness comes from a relationship with what I can have and enjoy that to the maximum. I don’t think I am alone in this.”    I wish I could go back in time. I wish I could tell my younger self to correct some mistakes so that I could lead a wonderfully colourful life like that of my idol Rebecca Lee. I suddenly think of a song “When I’m 80”!

Maurice Lee

Chinese Verson 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/hao-wan-hao-xiao-95904891?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Dr. Rebecca Lee Sings

Acknowledgement – Carol Lau

Dr. Rebecca Lee “Protect our Environment”

Acknowledgement – ISD, HK SAR Govt

Signs of Global Warming – by Dr. Rebecca Lee

Acknowledgement-HKRebeccaLee

“When I'm 80”

Acknowledgement – Bevlyn Khoo

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Hong Kong Chief Executive’s Policy Address: 3 Far-reaching Cultural Directions; Chinese Culture? Exporting Culture? Cultural Industries?

Our Chief Executive did the right thing this time. It also shows that it was the sensible thing for Hong Kong to set up a Culture Bureau in 2022.

We all hate changes, yet it is only thing that will bring progress. A society will not change just because there are empty dreams, slogans, seminars or activities. Cultural changes in Hong Kong can be possible only when the people here start to learn a different mindset and attitude in their soul. It all starts with the government mandating organisational initiatives and strategic plans together with impactful projects which can cause people to culturally transform. Inertia is the worst thing that we shall overcome.

Under the colonial days, Hong Kong was labelled as ‘a borrowed place under borrowed time’. People were insecure and money-driven. Grabbing enough money and leaving Hong Kong was a common thing. Spiritual wellness was never important here. Looking for a cultural purpose in life or pursing the artistic expressions of life could be looked down upon as an unrealistic waste of time. This is why Hong Kong was previously called a ‘cultural desert’.

Even now, many people do not bother to understand arts and culture. They continue to mock good notions like ‘cultural society 文化社會’, ‘cultural economy文化經濟’ or ‘cultural governance文化管治’ with contempt. They fail to realize that, apart from material achievements which are usually known as the ‘hard power硬實力’, Hong Kong is in serious lack of spiritual drive behind the hard power. The real force which catalyses a society’s creative and harmonious development is ‘soft power軟實力’which is arts and culture. Cultural and creative energy will help Hong Kong strengthen 4 dimensions: 1. ‘cultural tourism’ which will generate tourism revenue, create new jobs as in museums, galleries and restaurants, stimulate economic growth and contribute to the great needs of preserving cultural heritage;

2. ‘cultural economy’ which is a new economic concept under that artists, artisans, designers and creative people transform their cultural skills, knowledge and ideas into economically productive goods and services. Successful ‘Art Basel’ fair in Hong Kong is a very good example of cultural economy;

3. attracting top-class talented persons. The driving force of the ‘knowledge economy’ that is fundamental for an international city like Hong Kong is human creativity. The attraction and retention of highly skilled and creative professionals in IT, design and financial fields etc. becomes a priority, not because these people can stimulate innovation and new entrepreneurship, but also because they interact to solve everyday problems at all micro or macro social levels with creative ideas, improving the city as a whole. This new ‘creative class’ has a high geographical mobility and research shows that these mavens are only attracted to cities which are diverse, tolerant and culturally vibrant; and

4. ‘cultural education’ that will refine a citizen’s personal development, using the good cultivation of arts and culture. This is an important aspect to enable people in Hong Kong to relate themselves to good spiritual values; and ultimately to be more moral and refined. 

Policy Address 2023 (2023施政報告) is the annual address by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. In Mr John KC Lee (李家超)’s speech, he proposed new administrative actions and incentives which could promote arts, creativity and culture in Hong Kong. One can see that the proposals are for 3 ulterior objectives: 1. through Hong Kong, enhancing the learning and influence of Chinese culture inside and outside Hong Kong;

2. exporting Hong Kong’s culture and creativity to the Mainland and other parts of the world; and

3. developing arts, cultural and creative industries of Hong Kong as a new economic force.

Here are some examples of his punching:

On Chinese culture

establish the Chinese Culture Promotion Office (弘揚中國文化辦公室) and organize Chinese Culture Festival (中華文化節) on a regular basis;

set up a museum to showcase national development and achievements (國家發展和成就博物館); and

organise the ‘Reading for All Day’ (全民閱讀日)to promote reading as a cultural nourishment.

2. On cultural exportation

modify the existing scheme and turn it into a more far-reaching project ‘Hong Kong-Europe Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme’(歐亞文化交流電影製作資助計劃) so that Hong Kong will gain international exposure;

launch new scheme to financially help Hong Kong film makers to develop the Chinese Mainland market;

increase the annual recurrent provisions for cultural exchanges by 40% to $70 million, so as to support more local art groups and artists to perform and stage exhibitions outside Hong Kong; and strengthen the promotion of arts and culture activities by the Hong Kong offices (ETOs) in the Mainland and overseas; and

launch the Signature Performing Arts Program Scheme (重點演藝項目計劃) to support representative and large-scale local performing art productions to be staged as long-run performances and to attract overseas audience, or for touring overseas. This indirectly builds up our Hong Kong’s cultural brand.  

3. On cultural industries

promulgate the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development (文藝創意產業發展藍圖) and move full steam ahead to develop Hong Kong’s cultural creative industries for our economic gains;

inject $4.3 billion to the Film Development Fund and the CreateSmart Initiative(創意智優計劃) to nurture creative industries; and

organise the Hong Kong Fashion Design Week (香港時裝設計周) as a flagship initiative  to promote internationally Hong Kong’s fashion and textile design brands.

It was said that culture is the foundation upon which cities are built. Culture brings happiness, harmony, courtesy, wisdom and now most importantly for the pragmatic people in Hong Kong: profits and business. Cities are not just a collection of buildings and commercial activities. Culture is about people, their stories, their souls and how they love themselves and others. Culture shapes the identity of Hong Kong and a beautiful sense of belonging to this multi-cultural city. During the old days, no top officials really heed and put forward brave proposals on culture. This is why many ones in Hong Kong have no shame to condemn the value of culture.

It takes many good deeds to build good results. I have confidence in the new Chief Executive and his culture team…provided that they can find enough money for the initial huge investments!

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/te-shou-li-jia-95046052?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Hong Kong Cultural Future

Acknowledgement – 香港浸會大學廣播新聞網

Hong Kong Village Cultural Assets

Acknowledgement-OHKFL

Hong Kong Heritage Places

Acknowledgement – 當代中國

Hong Kong Films History

Acknowledgement-Movistory HK

[hongkongartman-mlee]

After The Great Responses To Tuesdays with Morrie (By Dominic Cheung (張可堅), Alex Fong (方力申) And Me) In Hong Kong: The 7 Alert Points As My Experience Summary

Actor Paul Engle said, “We cannot move mountains. Let us make light.”

I did it! I produced a play called Tuesdays with Morrie with director Dominic Cheung and actor Alex Fong! Yesterday’s successful 12 shows are my today’s memory. Good comments reverberated in Hong Kong. Today is tomorrow’s dream. I am still recuperating and dreaming…

To create a successful play, it is more than a good story. We must think about the performance—about what will be holistically happening on stage with sets, sounds, lighting, costumes and importantly, actors. Apart from the above, a play has its meaning within a larger context—the satisfaction among the audience, the value of the work and ideally, the approval by art critics.

Some things must be learnt by experience, and the experience of misjudgment is however costly. A failure is not always a mistake. It can be the best that one can accomplish under the bad circumstances. So, it is important, after a project, to review what might be the bad circumstances. Avoid them in future.

I would like to highlight my observations about handling this theatrical project to a few points and wish they could be of use to friends who might benefit from these guiding words.

(1) Clear Customer Segmentation

The market is too big. Marketing expenses are too huge. You must bravely identify the ‘target customers’ of a drama project and classify them according to demographic, psychographic and behavioural characteristics. Pick the right sector and use the correct ways to reach them. It is a challenge on your wisdom. For Tuesdays with Morrie, we initially targeted at young cultural people. The strategy did not work well. It ended up that the most supportive audience were those who were interested in the spiritual and educational meaning of our play: the exploration into life and death. But, as things including the poster were fixed, it was too late to change the marketing plan. We could have done better.

(2) A ‘70% Audience’ Break-even Budget

I never intend to make money in a drama project. My focus is the struggle on not losing money. After my experience of 3 stage projects, it is essential to aim prudently at that a project can break even if 70% of the audience seats can be filled up. Economy is right now bad and leaving for a weekend getaway in the neighbouring Greater Bay Area cities is a popular trend. These all affect adversely the box office of a local play. A cautious income and expenditure account is very needed when you want to keep some money for your next project.

Never leave your budget too marginal as deductions exceeding income earned can be a dangerous thing in a drama project.

(3) Get A Well-known Film Or TV Actor To Play A Part, If Possible & Appropriate

Stars are the widely recognized persons in a society. They attract audience. This is why stars matter. For those well-known actors who agree to play a part in a play, they usually realize that the fee will be modest and the participation is out of passion or interest. They will bring free publicity for your play and boost the event virally on Facebook, Instagram and WeChat.

Do not look down upon working with film or TV actors as unprofessional or downgrading, because some of them can be equally brilliant on stage.

(4) KOL And Subway Marketing

Most people in Hong Kong travel by subway (i.e. MTR). Even a small poster there will draw favorable attention to your target audience. MTR marketing is high-priced but it is worth the money. My personal experience is that it will increase ticket sales by 3 to 4 times.

Do not be afraid of its high cost. The rule is simple: you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

For KOLs (i.e. social influencers), they normally command a group of followers on social media. When they praise your play, it will be a very effective way to create trust and credibility on what you are doing. Their words are regarded as being honest and reliable by the followers.

We wince with pain at that newspapers and magazines are in a declining state. People want real-time information on their mobile phones and computers; or paradoxically, from friends. Your money on print advertising should be reduced to a minimum.

(5) Smaller Theatre Over A Longer Period Of Time & Sell Tickets By Phases

Audience are critical and smart these days. Not being ‘early birds’ anymore, they will not buy tickets until the last minute when they can find out from the social media whether your play is good or not. The ‘Judgement Day’ is the first day of your show, after people watch your work and quickly comment on the internet. Any performing artist nowadays cannot turn a deaf ear to public opinion. Bad performances, after being bad-mouthed, can die in the blink of an eye. In contrast, great feedbacks from audience can rescue a play and make it a surprise box-office hit after the initial few days. It may therefore not be a sensible strategy to book a big theatre and finish the play within 2 to 3 days. It is wiser to book a smaller place and put up the show for a longer period of time, say 7 days or more. The advantage will be that when positive comments are received on the work, you will be able to catch a large number of ‘late birds’ who will buy tickets to support the rest of the shows. This strategy works very well for our play Tuesdays with Morrie!

(6) Know A ‘Mr Right’ In The Trade

There is a famous book called The Tipping Point! It is about how little things can make a big difference. In the drama world, the tipping point is to get to know the ‘Mr Right’. I am a bad ‘Mr Salesman’ (the term used in the book). My actor partner Alex Fong (方力申) is good. He is friendly and sincere to his fans and so many people gave him very warm support. We have also got a ‘Mr Connector and Maven’ (again, the term used in the book) who is our actor and director Dominic Cheung (張可堅). He is accountable for building huge momentum in terms of gathering the able teammates to our project. Dominic has been in the field for more than 40 years. He knows almost everyone, and naturally connects talented people across different roles.

I am an amateur producer but I am clever enough to get hold of Dominic, and then the whole project starts to catch fire!

Remember: while you do not know a trade too well, you have to make sure you surround yourself with the right people: competent professionals who can helpfully take you as their teammate and assist you to accomplish the goals.

(7) Accept Dissatisfaction And Learn To Compromise

It takes 2 flints to make a fire. The business magnate Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” In the art circle, everyone is likely to be individualistic and subjective. You have to respect them and learn to be tolerant. However, it is important to let them know the overall team’s goals. Lack of clear goal is the most common cause of conflict among team members. I always insisted, “While you can use your own good ways to work on individual goals, do not forget our overall goal: a tasteful, meaningful and popular show within the balanced budget!” I tried to praise teammates by ‘Wow’ and instead of ‘Bow Wow’!

The best play comes from men and women who are willing to contribute their great work independently toward one common goal of success in unison. The value of achievement of our Tuesdays with Morrielies not in its box-office success but in its showcase of a group of wholehearted drama professionals in making such a thought-provoking drama about the true meaning of living and dying: a wonderful professor who lived fully and so was prepared to die at any time.

May Professor Morrie rest in peace…

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/zhang-ke-jian-li-94238254?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=join_link

Tuesdays with Morrie Interview  https://youtu.be/owoaMpgmU3U?si=ZfG07RBjWq4xU2Hm  Acknowledgement – TVB

Tuesdays with Morrie Press Conference  https://youtu.be/Y7Aobpd8Ii8?si=2GHLeMclmDFI7Dtg  Acknowledgement - IPS

Tuesdays with Morrie Interview  https://youtu.be/PvIIJjmKrjQ?si=gzBZvdfxTGczObp8  Acknowledgement – 娛壹

[hongkongartman-mlee]

Waning Interest In Nightlife—Our Past Glory And What Are The Challenges Of The Night-time Economy In Hong Kong?

Some said, “I am all about nightlife. I live during the night.” Some said, “In nightlife, you can become a star. While in the daytime, you can be a nobody.” Some said, “I don’t like going out. I hate clubs. I hate being around too many people.”

A clothes vendor in the well-known Temple Street Night Market in Hong Kong told South China Morning Post, “The Street seemed lifeless and quiet, with many other stallholders gone for the day. I have been running this stall for more than 40 years and business had never been this bad.” The newspaper reported that in better times, Temple Street presented a mix of old and new. It drew visitors who swarmed its numerous stalls selling clothes, souvenirs, jade, antiques and watches. Traditional fortune-tellers beckoned and Cantonese opera singers performed late into the night, while dai pai dong (‘hawkers’) food stalls dished out everything from chili crab to steamed fish. The subdued state of the street market reflects the situation across the city, alongside the trend of Hongkongers heading to mainland Chinese cities such as Shenzhen to enjoy weekends.

Last night, I went to Tsim Sha Tsui, the touristy area, to look for a restaurant at 9:30p.m. Some were closed. Many were preparing for closing. It was a deeply depressing scene.

Many in Hong Kong, since 1970s, had wandered around in the streets at night until they found no place to stay or nobody else to hang with at midnight.

Hong Kong used to be energetic, boisterous and loud after 8 p.m. The urban noise was constant. Neon lights were colourful, bright and reliable. Such signs took a rest only at AM hours. Shopping, dining, night-time snacking, singing, massage, clubbing and socializing were everywhere.

Some attributed the night-life decline to the lack of tourists who can afford. Some suggest that the lifestyle of people here have changed: they feel happier on emotional front at home. They would rather enjoy online shopping, watching Netflix, cooking, meeting cyber-friends and gym exercising—avoiding being overstimulated by others. Some put the blame on the poor economy of Hong Kong because people want to spend less. Some venue operators complain that there is a serious shortage of 20% manpower in Hong Kong and they cannot hire enough workers who are interested in night-shift work. Some lament that more than 200,000 people have emigrated from this city. Others explain the social phenomenon by the outflux of more than 300,000 local people on Saturday and Sunday for ‘weekend getaways’ to the Greater Bay Area cities in Guangdong. Some feel that the government’s controls on hawkers and street busking are too tight. Some comment that the local handicrafts sold are not attractive or creative.

A vibrant and mixed ‘night-time economy’ is important as it can encourage tourism, boost the local spending power and contribute to shaping trendy places where people want to live. This is why some youngsters like to live near Soho, Central. The night-time economy also makes a significant contribution to the employment situation. To the dismay of the government, people in Hong Kong tend to spend less and less. We are an aging population and more and more citizens survive on savings. Thus, saving money produces a sense of security, especially when people are older. Night activities which eat away at one’s bank balance is considered quite unnecessary. Economically, we are facing a recession. Consumptions inevitably slow down especially for expensive nightlife entertainments inclusive of pubs, bars, nightclubs and shows.

From a family’s point of view, it is not a good idea to suggest staying out late at night. Being out late at night can expose teenagers or girls to various safety hazards such as encountering bad people, getting involved in altercations, or becoming victims of crimes. Staying awake through the night takes a toll on physical health. Fatigue and low energy levels in the daytime may worsen work performance. Parents should return home early and spend more time with children. Children will feel that their parents value them. In the old days, a lot of parents in Hong Kong went back home after 10p.m. and the poor parent-child interactions would harm a child’s development. People should be attracted by the happy moments of a family, instead of the desire and seduction typically associated with night activities outside.

For myself, I want the services sector such as doctors, hairstylists, physiotherapists and herbal treatment centres to close later, ideally till 10p.m. Many people are like me—always in a rush during the day and it will be excellent if we could spend few hours after work on personal grooming and healing. Is this night-time economy?

London, New York, Paris and Amsterdam are the great cities, when it comes to ‘night-time cultural economy’. Cinemas, musicals, light shows, plays, stand-up comedies, opera, ballet, dance and concerts, are abundant and liven up the night. These cultural places make the whole area full of vitality. Look at the number of pizza restaurants in New York for a midnight snack! Hong Kong may follow and use evening cultural activities to captivate the younger tourists who are more educated.

In mainland China, some hospitals have extended their operating hours. The official said, “Any attempt to get people to spend more money at night is a good idea.” The thing to watch out is that the late-night operating hours may not necessarily bring the same ratio of income compared with day-time operating hours.

Ernest Hemingway told us, “Night is always darker before the dawn and life is the same.” Extending business hours will not help our economy much. Recalibrating the tourism fundamentals of Hong Kong towards cultural attractions is the more appropriate direction.

Maurice Lee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/xiang-gang-60zhi-93391105?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Hong Kong Wanchai Night Market  https://youtu.be/OkRU0NKumz4?si=LfP0uMbzK8wQcXCG  Acknowledgement - hokoonho

Hong Kong Temple Street  https://youtu.be/zucAog03Ucc?si=b6kLiRf5J3NjEiw7  Acknowledgement   – 看見香港

Hong Kong at Night  https://youtu.be/01G05Z8rC1Y?si=ulmwG6iVMnyJNaz1  Acknowledgement-Island Hopper TV Travel Highlights

Sheung Wan Gala Point  https://youtu.be/y8dtrv0tJ1M?si=KzxOj20uBAi4f04A  Acknowledgement-Mike Ling

Song 《 兩相依》  https://youtu.be/Kvo9uOt405A?si=xjYR9-MwZXMefbTh  Acknowledgement – charmer0966