艾未未紀錄片:公平 (Ai Weiwei, Without Fear or Favor)

Should have seen this documentary earlier.
早就該看這部紀錄片。

浪

浪，應隨著自然定律要打到岸上。

踩鋼線的人 Man On Wire (2008)

為理想，連死也不怕。這是怎麼樣的精神？
This guy nearly died for his dream. Does it really worth it?

MAN ON WIRE @ IMDB

Sony NEX FS100E - Is this gonna be the new trend?!

SONY announced a new camera. Impressive!

http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/product/nxcamcorders/nex-fs100ek/overview


Sony Professional - NEX FS100E: Affordable Super 35mm from Sony Professional on Vimeo.


NEX FS 100 Video Blog from Den & James on Vimeo.


Cozi: 'Vertigo' Music Video from Den & James on Vimeo.

MOMENTOS by Nuno Rocha

Remember I shared a short film called Vicky and Sam before? This short is from the same filmmaker. Wonderfully made. Great stuff!

Letters from Iwo Jima 硫黄島からの手紙 (2006)

What a pity I didn't watch this when it was release in 2006. I didn't like Clint Eastwood before, but now, I kinda want to know him more. :)

真可惜我沒有在2006年看這部電影。看完之後，我突然有點興趣了解一下Clint Eastwood。

那裡是吾家？－ Which Way Home (2009)

pic via sundance

WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU WERE 13?

你記得你13歲時在做甚麼嗎？

Steadicam Test

Just realized this video now got over 1600 views. I feel cool! :D



This is how the thing looks like:

一浪接一浪的衝擊！iPad 2 Tsunami！

After a busy day, I went home feeling weird; I feel like I have something to say:
從繁華鬧市回家，突然感到很奇怪，不平安。Facebook的status就改成這句：

“iPad, tsunami, iPad, tsunami, iPad, tsunami...... like... tsunami seems to kill people here in San Francisco in a different way...”

After that, I thought... maybe more of us should think a little more about this, so I gathered some news reels and edited them together.
之後，我有個想法，希望更多人可以對這個“現象”有所思考。於是便搜集了一堆新聞片段，把它們剪輯好。

What do you feel? Tell us...

無聊小品

OK OK 是無聊⋯⋯ 你沒笑？哼！





p.s. Henry Ching 掌機真挺穩定，還有Michael Ho演戲好正。橙色頭髮的是我！haha

Morning

In San Francisco State University, we Cinema Undergrads do not really get a chance to do much hands on practice if we are to graduate early. Fortunately there is "Independent Studies" that allowed me to do some work on my own.

This project here was for the "Independent Studies" last semester, not for any class nor contests, just for fun! Liza and Quinn were great actors, please ask me for their contacts if you want to have them act for your projects! (well... Liza went back to Germany...)



You know, you really don't learn unless you start to mess around with equipments, sets and people. Filmmaking is just fun!

色情電影業的真相｜Ex Porn Star Tells the Hardcore Truth About Porn

I found this inspiring sharing on YouTube today. Hope it inspires you as well.

這是色情片的真相。



Shelley Lubben opened an organization that helps people from the sex industry:

Pink Cross Foundation is a faith-based IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to reaching out to adult industry workers offering emotional, financial and transitional support. We largely focus on reaching out to the adult film industry offering support to women and men. Pink Cross Foundation also reaches out to those struggling with pornography offering education and resources to recover.

I never thought to care about who the porn stars are, what they've been through and the love and care they deserved. All I have in my mind was lust and satisfaction to my flesh. I think differently now.

看愛的力量多麼大。愛能將一個極度沈淪的妓女成為一個有用的人，為社會效力。愛能將一個人從絕望中救起。為何人總不接受這樣的一份愛？

*Please be aware that there is explicit image if you click read more...
*請留意：以下的內容含有不雅成份。

This is what I love: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! (La vita è bella)

Directed by Roberto Benigni, he acted in it as well, Life is Beautiful is doubtlessly one of the best movies of all time!

To briefly summarize, it's a story of a loving father making his son to believe that the WWII Nazi concentration camp was all a game that will lead him to a grant prize. Oh my goodness, right?



I definitely have to see it again.

Pic Via movieposter

Happiness! by Hanjin & MC Jin

COOL! Nearly got 1700 views! :D

Before this blog was made, I made this video with my friend Allen, just by random. Then the singer Hanjin posted it on his Facebook page. Incredible, right? haha

Happiness is free, or is it?



Is happiness just about positive attitude? Like Nick Vujicic said, "you can't tell a child slave in Cambodia to have positive attitude," you can't tell someone who lost his family in a day to have positive attitude... Then what's most important? You tell me.

This is what I love: プロポーズ大作戦!

English titled Operation Love, was a TV series in spring 2007.

To briefly summarize, this 11-episod series is a series of time travels that a fairy offered Ken, the protagonist, to go back in time to fix some mistakes he had made in order to pursue the girl who he loves, who is now the bride of somebody else. The fairy appears on the banquet night, pitied Ken who regrets every single thing he did in his life and gives him the power go back.

One good thing about Japanese TV series is that it is very short per season. This in particular reminds us to live without regrets, and to be brave to face the difficulties in life, especially in our relationships, not only with lovers, but also with family and friends. MEANINGFUL! Go get it!!

Here's a fan-made MV of the theme song: 明日晴れるかな by 桑田佳祐. Sorry this is the best I can find, no English subtitles, just Chinese...

窮富翁大作戰II田北辰

我⋯⋯無話可說。只感到我作為一個"人"，關心 實在不夠⋯⋯





[轉貼] 田北辰: 患貧窮 更患不義——我的掃街心路歷程
編按　本文為田北辰先生首次跟外界分享他當清潔工人的切身體會

我參加《窮富翁大作戰Ⅱ》，經歷了三天窮人生活，於政府外判的清潔公司負責掃街，體會到的，不獨是窮人的艱苦生活，更深刻的是自由市場的殘酷不仁——政府讓外判制度放任自流、對工人的艱苦生活和低微的待遇完全視若無睹，這等同懲罰弱者永難翻身。

政府過去十年不斷將清潔、文書、保安等服務外判，一成不變地奉行價低者得的規定，而標書成本以外的條件，如提高生產力的工具、為工人技能增值等等一概不理，是大錯特錯、製造貧窮的僵化制度。外判公司為求中標，定必將工具、薪金等等成本壓至最低，較長遠的機器投資當然不會考慮，形成行業多年來沒有進步。

以清潔街道為例，工友一直只能靠一把掃帚、一架手推垃圾車，另加一把鐵鏟等簡陋工具工作。我負責清潔灣仔區，期間要清理會展附近的一條街道，那兒滿地細細片的落葉，加上該區遊客眾多，大量煙蒂夾在狹窄的罅隙，但礙於政府對外判公司的荒謬指令——工人不可彎身執拾垃圾，以免「破壞香港國際都市形象」，我只好以掃帚於地上反覆掃來掃去，可以想像，你要有極高的掃地功夫，才能以粗疏的掃帚剔走細小的樹葉和煙蒂；在荒謬規矩的留難下，短短一條街竟要花上近一小時清理。其實只要外判公司購買外國常見的戶外流動吸廢物機或真空吸取機，十多分鐘便可完成一小時的工作。

政府外判招標的單一標準應全面檢討，若投標者願意投資硬件設備，提升工人的生產力，鼓勵為行業增值，縱使入標的成本未必最低，政府也應特別考慮。我掃街僅出賣勞力而欠缺技能，議價能力自然低，時薪僅得25元，每天工作九小時，月薪5000多元。不過，若工人懂得操作機器，工作效率得以提高，薪金叫價定必可提升，連帶整個行業向政府投標要求的成本，也會隨生產力上升而提高。

外判準則 應作檢討

我卸下西裝，整天要穿清潔工制服，到餐廳、商店借洗手間都被拒諸門外，要到公廁解決。蹲在濕漉漉的地磚上「辦大事」時，看到滿地都是嘔吐物、大小二便等污穢不堪，相比之下，掃街的厭惡程度不值一哂。之後，我與一邊忙碌清潔的「行家」梁伯聊天，談及薪金時，他一臉無奈苦笑地說：「每小時只有21元，清潔廁所是最卑賤的。」

按道理，以工作的厭惡程度衡量回報，洗廁所的薪金應較掃街為高，否則怎會有人願意洗廁所，但事實剛剛相反。我事後追問公司的判頭得知，又是歸咎於外判制度鐵板一塊。

外判制度，只衡量每項工種的薪酬下限，參考市場上同一工種的薪酬水平時，更是根據「最低薪多少，就有人肯做」，這樣，訂立的水平便等同市場上的最低工資；我形容這方法是「市場主宰一切，不問是非對錯」，政府參考市場外，難道不可因應個別工作的厭惡程度或特殊情況而調節待遇嗎？

這外判制度等同欺壓社會最弱勢無力頑抗的一群，掃街屬於戶外體力勞工的工作，老人家體力衰弱無法推着沉重的垃圾車掃街，便只好委身清潔廁所維生，愈來愈多年長的勞動人口加入清潔廁所的行列，人力供過於求，薪酬卻不斷遭受壓榨。 政府呼籲商界要有良心、要關愛的同時，有否反躬自省，捫心自問是否良心僱主，只顧將責任推卸給已扭曲的自由市場，是肆無忌憚地欺負弱者。

我得一家有良心的公司聘為清潔工，薪酬、福利都沒受剋扣，月薪5000多，要支付住屋、交通、生活等開支已捉襟見肘，就連基本溫飽都難維持，難以想像遭受剋扣薪金的員工的生活苦況。新民黨有關消防處救護站外判廚師的數據調查，同一份廚師的工作、工時、工作環境，廚師的薪金由2005年外判前的逾萬元，到外判後不斷下跌至2011年的4800元，若同一名廚師薪金於短短六年大減一半，到底誰在製造「在職貧窮」呢？

商界出力 幫助基層

扶貧匡弱不單是政府的責任，社會各界也須出一分力，但公營運輸機構及商界亦有時忽略基層人士，甚至加重他們的負擔。我任清潔工人每天早上約五時由佐敦出發，六時前必須抵達灣仔開工，可是清晨時段的港鐵、渡海小輪、巴士的頭班服務均未開出，我只能乘搭通宵巴士。眾所周知，通宵巴士車資較正常的貴三成，正常班次9.8元，通宵巴士則要13.4元，要清晨上班的打工仔根本別無他選，尤其是過海交通更是特別昂貴。

通宵巴士乘搭人數較少，訂價較高，可以理解，但巴士公司可否照顧基層工人，調低該時段的通宵車車費，或與正常班次看齊，這對巴士公司的收入損失只是九牛一毛，但對於收入低微的工人，每天能節省幾塊錢，積少成多就是大大的幫助。

商界於扶貧出力，有時未毋須付出金錢，只要營商不多作計較，已是莫大協助。對於每天僅有50元生活費的基層人士，每一毫都珍而重之，但毫子硬幣於今天已無法正常流通，乘搭巴士早已不設找贖，若非以八達通付款，湊不夠毫子硬幣，難免會「蝕」幾毫子車費。

另一方面，很多餐廳、店舖為免找贖麻煩，已拒收五毫以下的硬幣。我曾光顧一家商店，試過湊夠足夠毫子卻遭拒收，當下難按怒火反問：「一毫子不是錢嗎？商店怎麼有權拒絕收取！」我理解點算零錢或會為商戶帶來困擾，但不顧窮人的不便，無形中已是歧視弱勢群體，商戶能否當作社會公益，以扶弱為優先考慮。「毫子問題」對一般人來說或微不足道，若非親歷其境，誰會了解，誰會關注？

租金飛升 貧無立錐

每月5000多元入息，佔去最大部分的是租用位於佐敦十五方呎的「豪華板間房」，月租1300元，呎租超過80元。與其說是一間房，不如說是個打橫的「豪華板間櫃」還比較貼切，僅夠一個人躺下睡覺，對上的空間狹窄，就連站着換衣服都有困難，屋內的住客都已習慣在走廊更換衣服，難道窮人就毫無私隱可言嗎？令我感到萬分尷尬的是，攝製隊之中有女性工作人員，我只好尋找屋內隱蔽的角落，左閃右避地換衣服。

我不甘薪金用在捱貴租，剩下每天50元生活費，真的「無啖好食」，遂向主辦單位「講數」，要另找租金較低的板間房，以換取更多生活費。主辦單位的負責人向我下戰書，若覓得合適單位就悉隨尊便，更會按租金的比例增加零用錢。我經廟街的地產代理介紹找到一間月租700元的舊樓房間，但房間所在的大廈燈光灰暗，房內瀰漫霉味濕氣，感覺陰森，更甚者煤氣、熱水等一概欠奉。舊樓電力不足，居民仍用手電筒照明，

惡劣環境嚇得我急急打退堂鼓，只有向主辦單位認輸，打消退租「豪華板間櫃」以節省租金的念頭，寧願餐餐食半飽。

大家有否想過樓價急升，連帶籠屋、板間房的租金也水漲船高，中層市民埋怨捱貴租、難上車買樓的同時，基層窮人正懊惱無力負擔租金而失去住所，被迫流落街頭。我於板間房認識兩位鄰居老伯伯，都是領取綜援維生，無親無故於該社區生活多年，不願意、也沒有能力遷走，也不願輪候偏遠地區的公屋。可憐兩位孤獨老人家今天付出1300元租住「豪華板間櫃」，不出十年或只夠搬到黑暗陰森的板間房，前景只是一片灰暗；想到此，已令我「毛管戙」。

地產業興旺、經濟發達的香港正正示範何謂「貧無立錐之地」。須知道，類似處境的港人逾五萬之譜，包括不少長者在內，教人情何以堪！

體會窮困 了解苦況

很多人問我，為何要參與真人騷這類節目，難道不怕被人批為「撈政治本錢」、揶揄「做騷、為選舉」嗎？我會反問：「為何我不可參加？」

約兩年前，港台曾邀我參與節目，當時家人都反對，擔心外界作出各種批評和攻擊，我也婉拒邀請；去年底港台再作邀請，我仍然堅拒，主辦單位卻鍥而不捨再三游說。

有一天，我頓然發覺親身嘗試窮人的生活，與我奉行多年的做生意管理哲學接近，同是「親身感受」——我巡視每間店舖時，都沒有拿着一張清單計算服務質素、清潔程度、禮貌指數等等，而是抱着開放態度，以一名顧客身份試衣服和購物，這樣才會看到各種不足之處加以改善，更明白顧客的真正需要。

參與《窮富翁大作戰Ⅱ》，我抱着一顆赤子之心，心如一張白紙，記錄窮人的生活，體會他們的感受。貧窮不是清單上的一堆數字，工資水平、居住呎數、飯盒價錢……，我相信，再聰明絕頂的人坐在冷氣房內不斷閉門思索，也永遠不能體會窮人的真正困苦。

新民黨副主席

信報

願我們可以關心多一點點



......

My Only Friend

I love this short film!! If you had any experience working on videos, you know, one might seldom love his own works! But this one is truly incredible! The crew should get the most credit! These people are truly filmmakers! (see the credits yourself)


We won the San Francisco State University Horror Film Contest 2009 with this.

It was shot in a JVC GR HD-1 HDV camera. After this project, I found out this camera got dead pixels on the sensor... what a pity... but...

Enjoy!

This is the perfect TEST VIDEO!

LOOP (shot with EOS 600D / Kiss X5 / Rebel T3i) from Canon France on Vimeo.

I'm not really interested in the new Canon T3i/600D, but this demo video for this brand new camera is just too beautiful. I have to post it here!!

Yeah, rich people, go ahead and buy it!!!!!!!!! LOL!

This is what I love: LOST!

DO YOU BELIEVE IN DESTINY? This is the main question.

You know what? Nearly a month after finishing this wonderful series, I still can't get it out of my mind. This proves how hard I love this series.

In case you don't know what this series is about, it's about the survivors of a mysterious plane crash on an island.

How could one not see this series?! It's 118 episods, around 42 minutes each, the last episod is 105 minutes, so it's about 5019 minutes in total, that is 83.65 hours, 3.485 days. Well, not that long~ :P

It's on Hulu and Netflix, so go ahead and watch it and tell me what you feel about it!

There's even a site called LOSTPEDIA, which includes every little detail in this TV series, made by fans... oh my goodness... wanna know why? Go see it!

I'm sure you'll all love it.

聖誕報佳音！Christmas Carol！

Here are two videos of a Christmas Caroling experience we had in 2010, in a mall called 東太亞洲城 at Richmond, CA.





Thank you Leti for demonstrating what hard working is. By her influence, I finally got something done. Hope you all like these videos. :)

Christmas Carol is really a fun thing to do, everyone should try that, to enjoy Christmas with joy, not just as another public holiday...

It's too early to say Merry Christmas, (or too late? LOL) so I should say... God Bless! :D

KONOVA SLIDER Test Out! #2!!!!

On Sunday, Chris, Young and I went to Marina to shoot some pictures and videos. Here is how it looks:

Thank you Patrick for the music! It's just wonderful! :)



Plus, Chris did some timelapse shots and was so excited... so funny. :P

《飛不起 , 完不了》- A Short Film

It was summer, July 2010, when this site didn't even exist, me and my friend in Hong Kong made a short film, re-enacted the scenes described in an interview of a real former drug addict.

It was for a competition, held by Hong Kong Rover Scout, like a social service campagne. Super fun experience, working with Wallace Ng and Nelson Yip, and many others from First Hong Kong Scout Unit.

Shot on a 5D MkII and some 550D/T2i, incredible, right?! Yeah the 5D wasn't mine. T^T





Here is an interim report we made to hand in in the middle of the competition. Funny enough, many things in this report are fake! HAHA

This is what I love: COBA!

Suddenly, I realized, my mother was the main influence of my music taste...

COBA, the most unknown musician by my friends, but this Japanese accordionist is truly a genius. Why? Listen to these following songs, then you will fall in love with him. I just don't know why none of my friends knows him! What a shame!



And it's such a shame that US iTunes does not have any of his albums..........!

Ok, I gotta calm down... Thanks to YouTube, art is shared world wide. :)

Here's another song, and we get to see his performance.



When I was in elementary school, my mom was a hotel manager. She used to listen to Coba's music at night to relax from her stressed work. Every time I listen to his music with my mom, I feel very relaxed, but at the same time, lifted. I don't know how to explain. I feel liberated...? I don't get the same feeling from any other musicians.

KONOVA SLIDER Test Out!

Surprising enough, this was actually a birthday present from my friend, Hob! Crazy, right? Yea, he's just so kind! Great friend. :P

I just received it this today afternoon. I was so happy and immediately tried it out, and made this little video. This slider so far works really great.

This is what I love: CHAGE & ASKA!

Well, today, I decide to share the things that I love on this blog, not just share something I see randomly online. That would make this blog silly because Facebook is doing that same thing. Somehow, I feel like I always love something that people around me don't really like, or not even know about... so here is the first to mention:

CHAGE & ASKA!!!
(Chage & Aska on WIKI)

They're a Japanese duo, and here are two best songs from them. How could one not love Chage & Aska? Old stuffs are GREAT! Haha!





When Chage & Aska were on mountain top, I was too little to appreciate them, but their songs were around me somehow. I didn't recognize them until I was in middle school, illegally downloading bunch of musics and found that I know many of their songs. You know when you download songs, you just get whatever appears on the monitor. lol Then I truly fell in love with their songs.

Now I'm over 20, and I ask myself, "how can I not pay for their wonderful musics?" Guys! Go to iTunes, they have many remastering records of them! search CHAGE AND ASKA!! buy them!

Well, just to mention... I sometimes feel that Facebook is making us so shallow, don't you think so? Like... one "liked" something and automatically shares it out and everybody start liking it. But then we  do not really know anything about that person at all, apart from that one single line that says: "this MV is very cool!"

Hey, why am I writing this blog at the first place?

Pic via popandpop1980

I acted in these!

Here are two 16mm films I worked as an actor.



I met Oiping Chung at De Anza College. She's now a cinema undergrad at USC, but due to copy right issues, USC doesn't allow students to post their works online. I hope to see her works soon!



And this was made by Gregory Cortez, I met him at De Anza College as well, he's now at UCSD.

Why am I still living like a worm in SF State... damn.

A Hong Kong Music Video - A song by Ivana Wong

This is such an amazing MV. I wonder how the effects are done.



For years, music in Hong Kong was extremely commercial and meaningless. Karaoke being the most popular leisure in Hong Kong, many songs were written very easy-to-follow so that people would be likely to pick them in Karaoke, and companies made loads of similar songs so that people can be updated. We call them K-songs.

I am in fact not a big fan of Hong Kong pop songs, but in recent years I realized some great artists coming out, producing wonderful musics for the Hong Kong community, Ivana Wong is one of them. Some of you might know MC Jin, who was a successful rapper from the US. FAMA are great too. Don't forget to check out Denise Ho too.

Ivana Wong

Vicky and Sam

Vicky and Sam from Nuno Rocha on Vimeo.

This is inspiring! This film reminds me the influence a filmmaker or a storyteller can make. What if the conflicts we create are real, or what if they turn real at some point? We definitely have the responsibility to people, and to the society...

但以理團契選舉工程2008－短片重溫

過往曾經爲教會的團契製作職員選舉的宣傳短片，鼓勵團友參與事奉及參與投票。現在看這些差不多三年前的短片，覺得非常有趣。短片系列名為《但以理團契選舉工程2008》enjoy!

About three years ago, I made some short videos for the college group at my church, encouraging our brothers and sisters to join the serving troops and to vote. It was an interesting experience, and quite fun to look back at them. The series was named "Daniel Fellowship Election 2008". enjoy!









當時這些短片爲很多團友製造了一個嶄新的事奉機會（參與短片拍攝），而且讓大家透過進行多媒體創作，彼此互動，增加了大家對團契的歸屬感，體驗基督肢體的運作。我鼓勵不同團契多用多媒體作為工具爲弟兄姊妹增加事奉機會，並培養在媒體方面的恩賜，建立精兵。