Hong Kong Stories

Any fan would be overjoyed to be given the chance to meet the idol of their dreams, but what happens when a fan doesn’t just get to meet that person but also collaborate with him or her in close proximity? Kevin is a makeup artist and a consultant for a skincare brand. His love of beauty since little has made him loyal to the pursuit of beauty in life. Having joined the career field of makeup artists by chance eight years ago, he went on to win international competitions and became widely recognized as the top male makeup artist of his field. Kevin’s muse, Annie G, is a famous makeup artist and tutor in Hong Kong. Not only is Annie G a popular personal makeup artist for many actresses, she has conducted classes in recent years to teach and train new talents. Interestingly for the last ten years, she has even volunteered to be the appointed makeup consultant for a certain kindergarten’s annual graduation ceremony. Kevin has met Annie G on several beauty brands promotional events before. Not only is he appreciative of her skills as a makeup artist, he is even more impressed with her outlook on life. In this episode, we have made special arrangements for Kevin to work with Annie G. Together they will meet the challenge of creating a Greek-Goddess-themed makeup. Kevin does not have any experience in creating this type of makeup. Nervous as he may be, Kevin has spent two weeks to prepare for the challenge by researching, sketching and gaining insights from his muse Annie G. Let us see what sparks of chemistry a fan and his muse can create together, and more interestingly, we will learn about Annie G’s personal evaluations of Kevin. Will Kevin also gain new views about his muse after such a special collaboration?

Music was what connected Hong Kong musicians like Yip Sai Wing and Nepalese band -Zero. Not only did Rock ‘n’ Roll make possible the crossing and exchange between two distinctly different cultural groups, it also provided a common platform for these very different lives to share personal stories about life’s struggles, toil and hardships. -Zero was formed five years ago, with its members comprising of the pre-1997 Hong Kong Gurkhas. These are sons of fathers and grandfathers who had also served the military defense of Hong Kong since 1948. Today, most of the -Zero members work as construction workers, while the lead singer Limbu Roshan, works as a window cleaner of high-rise buildings. Each of these members can’t help but admit that it is difficult to find work in Hong Kong. However, their beliefs go that regardless of where people live, in truth life is never easy, and it is to their fortune that they have found music to be their source of positive energy. Thanks to Beyond’s music being their inspiration, such positivity is possible. The songs of Beyond are not only original and passionate, their deep expressions also represent and echo the voices and outcries of a specific era. It is precisely such Rock ‘n’ Roll spirit that has inspired every -Zero member to stay put in Hong Kong, to dream on and hope ahead for a better future. These friends would join together and muse about what might have been Beyond’s struggles in life both before and after their rising to fame. “What were their difficulties? What would they do to overcome them?” these are questions that -Zero members would ask themselves from pure imagination, for they never had the chance to meet any one of the Beyond members. Nevertheless, such positive imagination in the end becomes the very source of strength and determination for each -Zero member to keep living and seeking for fun and a life of fulfilling music in Hong Kong.

Jevons Au is a young Hong Kong director who co-directed the movie “Ten Years”. His work was critically reviewed to be a dystopian prediction of Hong Kong’s future, and like a pebble that strikes up big waves in the ocean. The movie became a boiling pot for heated socio-political topics and controversies and even went on to win the Best Film Award in the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards. Jevons Au may not have produced many works, but for the few he did create, he faithfully adhered to this one principle of his own: be true to yourself. The person who helped Jevons Au find roots in such a principle was someone he met during his twelfth grade in high school – Dr. Anson Hoi Shan Mak. Anson Mak is now an associate professor at the Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University, and concurrently a moving image and sound artist. She was one of Jevons Au’s tutors back in the day when he first participated in a filmmaking course. Not only did she teach Jevons filming and editing skills, she also inspired him to develop his own original thinking and understanding towards film and creativity, which laid the foundations for Jevons to thus develop his own principle “being true to oneself” in his latter days of creative development. From his works with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to his work in 2007 “Merry X'mas”, Jevons Au stayed true to himself through and through. Though he had joined a film production company as a writer, creating several hit works, and even took part in directing the big movie “Trivisa” casting big stars, such success cannot be compared to the level of satisfaction he had experienced with his low-budget production of the movie “Ten Years – Dialect”. And it’s just because he stays true to himself, his works have captured and shown us the true meaning of what movies are all about.

Youtuber Dim-dim is a popular online figure who likes to share videos filmed by herself online with viewers. When Dim-dim first started making videos and joined the performing arts arena, most of her family members were against her decision. Fortunately, she is able to continue with various productions with the support of her second eldest sister. Apart from her sister, another person who has been influential to Dim-dim is Hana Tam, who is also a well-liked online figure. Dim-dim admires Hana’s expressiveness and ability to inspire people with a positive attitude in all kinds of videos that are enormously encouraging to the audience. Hoping to be like Hana in the future, Dim-dim wants to produce more videos that convey positive messages to her viewers. In order to enhance the quality of her productions, Dim-dim is learning video-editing from a professional video editor, so as to equip herself with more knowledge in productions, thus enabling her to keep improving her videos, which she hopes will be a delight for the audience to watch.

Keeva Mak is a local pop singer. Mak Yat-ming, Keeva’s father, set up a studio named “MARK 1” in the late 70’s where many prominent singers such as Samuel Hui, Jacky Cheung, Paula Tsui and the Tai Chi Band used to practice singing in the studio all the time, thus allowing Keeva to grow up surrounded by such angelic voices with her interest in music blossomed along with her. Among all the veteran singers, Gary Tong, a member of the Tai Chi Band, gets along with Keeva the best. It all goes back to a time when Gary received an audio tape recorded secretly by Keeva’s mother, after which Gary was touched by the euphonious voice of Keeva and decided to sign up a contract with her and kick start her career as a singer. Gary’s role as both a mentor and a friend of Keeva has also begun since then. Keeva has learnt Gary’s dedication to music while Gary has changed some of Keeva’s inherent ideas about music. As for Keeva, she believes that “Today’s Keeva Mak would not exist without Gary Tong.”

The great journey of life sometimes goes without a hitch while twists and turns emerge now and then. We can press forward with no fear when things go with a swing; and we can slow down and look around when we run into twists and turns. Tang Yiu-lun (Jason) has engaged in architectural education after he left the business sector, and chosen to carry on his back the duties of an architect as a teacher. Although all his friends around feel pity for this, Jason manages to find joy in such tribulation. As a teacher, he always visits different communities with his students for inspirations. He is convinced that a satisfactory architecture can only be constructed upon the understanding of the uniqueness of each community and such concept was imbibed by Vincent Ng, an architect. They both share a common background with an identical goal, that is, to contribute to the society as architects. No more than a line of words is needed to change life. Vincent Ng once told Jason one line of words so far-reaching that it guided him to becoming a unique architect. This architect’s interaction with his students, communication with the communities, and co-operation with conscientious people, all add meanings to his tortuous path.

When you are in love with a person, a place or a thing, you would always strive to take care of and protect it. What Samantha Lee would like to protect the most is her beloved ocean. Working in an environmental organisation, she is devoted to marine conservation work in Hong Kong, with particular focus on the territory’s marine pollution, marine habitat and fisheries development. It was her teacher at the university, Professor Ang Put O Jr., who led her to embark on exploring the treasure house of marine knowledge. As a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a marine researcher for over 20 years, Professor Ang often takes students out to dive, delving into the incredibly wondrous undersea world and uncovering the little-known features of the local marine waters with them. Samantha continued to learn from Professor Ang during her masters’ education, specializing in the study of Alcyonacea and Gorgonacea. Not only is he passionate about marine research, but he also offers the greatest support and trust to his students. His mentorship has inspired Samantha to become a marine conservationist. While the road of scientific research is a long one that requires long-term efforts of the scientists, the statistics collected prove to be very useful in environmental protection indeed. Samantha considers herself fortunate to have encountered such a great teacher, who guided her as she equipped herself with the knowledge necessary for her to contribute to conserving the environment. She hopes to promote her ideals to more people, encouraging them to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle beginning with changes in everyday habits and to care more for the planet we call “home” together.

Music might not play such a decisive role in Chui Wai-yin (Peco)’s life if a piano did not turn up at home when he was studying Secondary Two. Peco comes from an eight-member family of boat dwellers, and he has been enamored with music since childhood under the influence of his elder brothers and sisters. However, learning the piano was beyond Peco’s reach under his family circumstances. Peco’s eldest sister then pinched and scraped, so that Peco can learn the piano, and she eventually saved up enough to buy a piano which Peco cannot take his hands off ever since. He attained his Grade 8 in piano in three years, thanks to his constant practice. However, his inferior mentality held him back, and as such, he did what his family told and continued his study in a commercial school after he finished Secondary Five. It is toilsome to travel on a path one does not like. After dragging through half a year of study, Peco finally made up his mind to set foot on the road of music and march his way forward. He was then admitted to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and majored in Piano. The four years in HKAPA not only had widened the artistic horizon of Peco, but also had precipitated his encounter with Miss Nancy Loo, the mentor and pianist whom Peco benefited from for a lifetime. Miss Loo bridged music and life, and unfolded life through music, which was the goal that Peco devoted to achieving. Before graduation, Peco saw a recruitment poster for composers by accident, and he has begun composing music ever since. “Songs of Years Gone By (歲月如歌)” and “Yearn for Tears (想哭)” by Eason Chan are some of his brainchildren. Unlike Miss Loo, Peco did not take the road of piano performance. Instead, he blazed his own way into a new sphere. Yet, there is still a dream in Peco’s heart that has burgeoned since his childhood…

Record holder of 14 events in Hong Kong’s swimming competitions, Stephanie Au, also known as “The Mermaid”, is a goddess in the eyes of many gentlemen. Among her group of loyal fans is another champion athlete – Mimi Wong, record holder of eight events of women’s inline speed skating in the territory. Mimi admires both of Stephanie’s beauty and talent. Not only is Stephanie an attractive lady, but she also excels at academic studies and at sports, making her Mimi’s role model and idol since years ago. At an award ceremony several years back, Mimi finally had the chance to introduce herself to Stephanie. Since then, they have gradually become close friends who discuss all kinds of things. Even though they are of around the same age, Stephanie, with a relatively mature mindset compared to the youthful Mimi, seems to be a big sister taking good care of Mimi. Knowing that Mimi has fear of water and is thus unable to swim, “Flying Fish” Stephanie hopes Mimi can have a taste of the fun of water sports. She gives Mimi a special intensive swimming lesson on the beach before the duo try standup paddleboarding together! These girls might be elites in their respective athletic territories, but beyond that, what we see is really just a wholehearted blossoming friendship between the two!

Carol started learning piano when she was 5, and she obtained her performance diploma in piano at the age of 19. Today, she has even become a full-time piano teacher. Nowadays, many people think that playing piano is boring, but Carol enjoys conveying different concepts and ideas through piano instead. In life, many come across people who can inspire them, and so as Carol, she also comes across SiS (樂印姊妹), a new girl duo in the music industry. People are often inspired by others with ample experience, social status, and remarkable achievements. Yet, Carol is inspired by two young ladies who are younger than her! Carol admires the lyrics they write as well as their infectious voices. She believes that SiS (樂印姊妹) songs are always capable of kindling listeners’ hope, and they also drive Carol to be more insistent and diligent on her musical journey. Carol also hopes to bring everyone joy through music the way SiS (樂印姊妹) does.