The TPG meetings from the 26th to 28th of Oct went by in a blur. I think it's much more fruitful than the one two years ago, I got to meet more people, got more input for the project, it was a very educational experience.
No photos though, just a photo of Ming Jin and I, with Dustin Nguyen. In between meetings.
We were both holding the booklets for FLOATING LIVES, which was the last film I saw in Pusan (not counting the closing film).
FLOATING LIVES trailer
On the 28th of October. Ming Jin flew back to Malaysia. I took a couple of meetings.
Then there was the closing reception.
Fellow wunderkind (haha) Yuya Ishii's new project won the award. And he had just married Hikari Mitsushima a couple of days earlier too.
Lucky guy. (read my brief encounter with the actress when I stumbled into a now-deleted scene of the film, Kakera)
Kiki gave me a Nyan Nyan pose.
She wanted to cheer me up, I guess.
Then here's me with a Hong Kong contingent.
Jessey (the redhead) and Teresa (one with blue dress) had a project that stars Leila Kong.
I told them I'm a fan of Leila Kong. I flashbacked to 1993 when I first saw the landmark TVB drama THE GREED OF MEN, starring Lau Ching Wan and Adam Cheng. I remembered Leila Kong was a child actress back then and had a role in the TVB drama. They were impressed by my memory. Of course, in truth I watched the TV series again just a few years ago when I got myself a VCD box set.
But Leila Kong is one of my favourite actresses who deserved more starring roles in films!
That's her, the one being tortured Clockwork Orange-style.
Just kidding, here's a more proper photo of her.
And no, Jessey and Theresa didn't pay me to say this.
Night came. It was time for the second screening of INHALATION and THE TIGER FACTORY. With Ming Jin gone, I had to reluctantly accept having all the spotlight for myself during the Q and A session.
This is Woan Er, she was one of the only two Malaysians in the screening (myself being the other one...)
Thanks, Woan Er. You're a patriot.
INHALATION poster at the cinema.
After the screening, the dreaded Q and A session began.
Being a shy and introspective man who is afraid of public speaking. It was challenging for me to speak articulately and eloquently. Therefore I had no idea why some would later marvel at how much I've spoken during the session!
I've always been fearful of attention, I tell you.
After that we went off for a celebratory supper with Prof Ando, the programmer Ishizaka-san, the awesome filmmaker Takahashi Yoichiro ("Fishes In August" and Sunday's Dream), who happens to be friends with Ming Jin and a number of other Malaysian filmmakers.
From left to right: Takahashi Yoichiro, me, Ishizaka-san and Prof Ando
Takahashi also pointed out that the screenplay of his first film, FISHES IN AUGUST, was written by Masato Kato, the father of Yuiko, my assistant producer of THE TIGER FACTORY. So Takahashi actually went to see a film whose assistant producer is the daughter of the screenwriter of his debut feature, mindblowing!
A celebratory toast...
Video page
No photos though, just a photo of Ming Jin and I, with Dustin Nguyen. In between meetings.
We were both holding the booklets for FLOATING LIVES, which was the last film I saw in Pusan (not counting the closing film).
FLOATING LIVES trailer
On the 28th of October. Ming Jin flew back to Malaysia. I took a couple of meetings.
Then there was the closing reception.
Fellow wunderkind (haha) Yuya Ishii's new project won the award. And he had just married Hikari Mitsushima a couple of days earlier too.
Lucky guy. (read my brief encounter with the actress when I stumbled into a now-deleted scene of the film, Kakera)
Kiki gave me a Nyan Nyan pose.
She wanted to cheer me up, I guess.
Then here's me with a Hong Kong contingent.
Jessey (the redhead) and Teresa (one with blue dress) had a project that stars Leila Kong.
I told them I'm a fan of Leila Kong. I flashbacked to 1993 when I first saw the landmark TVB drama THE GREED OF MEN, starring Lau Ching Wan and Adam Cheng. I remembered Leila Kong was a child actress back then and had a role in the TVB drama. They were impressed by my memory. Of course, in truth I watched the TV series again just a few years ago when I got myself a VCD box set.
But Leila Kong is one of my favourite actresses who deserved more starring roles in films!
That's her, the one being tortured Clockwork Orange-style.
Just kidding, here's a more proper photo of her.
And no, Jessey and Theresa didn't pay me to say this.
Night came. It was time for the second screening of INHALATION and THE TIGER FACTORY. With Ming Jin gone, I had to reluctantly accept having all the spotlight for myself during the Q and A session.
This is Woan Er, she was one of the only two Malaysians in the screening (myself being the other one...)
Thanks, Woan Er. You're a patriot.
INHALATION poster at the cinema.
After the screening, the dreaded Q and A session began.
Being a shy and introspective man who is afraid of public speaking. It was challenging for me to speak articulately and eloquently. Therefore I had no idea why some would later marvel at how much I've spoken during the session!
I've always been fearful of attention, I tell you.
After that we went off for a celebratory supper with Prof Ando, the programmer Ishizaka-san, the awesome filmmaker Takahashi Yoichiro ("Fishes In August" and Sunday's Dream), who happens to be friends with Ming Jin and a number of other Malaysian filmmakers.
From left to right: Takahashi Yoichiro, me, Ishizaka-san and Prof Ando
Takahashi also pointed out that the screenplay of his first film, FISHES IN AUGUST, was written by Masato Kato, the father of Yuiko, my assistant producer of THE TIGER FACTORY. So Takahashi actually went to see a film whose assistant producer is the daughter of the screenwriter of his debut feature, mindblowing!
A celebratory toast...
Video page
