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Ataraxia Film Premiere

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I was invited to the Film Cast & Crew premiere Sunday 23th of June in Rotterdam. Years gone by, and it was a nice reunion for the crew&cast beside the film premiere. Unfortunately not everyone attended the premiere, as some went abroad or had other duties. And to me I am missing Jenny Hsia who played my partner in Ataraxia. If she attended then perhaps you could see a picture of us two.

About Ataraxia Film

Ataraxia is the debut feature from director Sander Blom. It is an exploration of ‘Life’s Manual’. For instance, on how to survive the boredom of Earth’s paradise.

Our script was in an unknown language called ‘Esperanto’, after 3 years I cannot remember a word Esperanto now. It is created as an easy-to-learn and politically neutral language that transcends nationality and would foster peace and international understanding between people with different regional and/or national languages. It sounds like an European language, a bit of English, French, German and Spanish. In Earth’s paradise, everything is in peace and balance. So we speak Esperanto, an international language where people from different cultures can communicate with each other. This was also the first experience for me to play in front of a green screen and visualising Earth’s paradise. And after watching the film it is the color effects what really surprises me, and the penile part of the beginning is unforgettable.

The film will be released hopefully by the end of this year on TV and DVD.

Sander Blom and Alex Cheung

Photo with the Cast

 

Moonfestival @ Hong Kong and off to China

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Today is my day off at the film set, so that makes some time free to post a blog about my trip to China so far. It is the first time I celebrate the Chinese Moonfestival in Hong Kong. It was a very busy holiday in Hong Kong and the streets are very crowded. Everybody gathers with their family and friends to have dinner. After the dinner with my grandparents, I left Hong Kong to mainland China for the Kung Fu film production where I got the opportunity to experience film making over there.

It is the first time for me to film in China, and the filming culture is really different to the Western. Lots of other things are playing a part and as a person you have to be very flexible. To me the communication was really chaotic at the beginning. There’s more pressure and stress on the set to my early film experience. But I’m getting more use to it now. But one thing I really hate is that 9 out of 10 people smokes cigarettes on the set, and I’m the one who’s not smoking. I don’t like people when they smoke, because it stinks, is bad for your health and it irritates my eyes!
You know, the crazy thing here is when you receive your call sheet that you only know what time your day starts and not what time you’ll be finish filming. Ok, most of the film productions are alike, but here it could be over overtime. You know my eyes popped out when I saw 28 hours on the call sheet, I was like; what does this mean haha! And so I started about 8 in the morning and went back to the hotel like 5 in the morning.. Luckily the studio is just 10 minutes away from the hotel by car. People were sleeping on the chair and on the floor, anywhere to get a nap while waiting.

I’m 2 hours away from Hong Kong and the city is totally different. The pace in Hong Kong is real fast and here in Dongguan it is not like that. It is also not that crowded luckily and the weather is fine. But every time when I’m in China, i’m like looking for food which are not spicy at all. When you ask for non spicy food, it is still a bit spicy. At least to me it is. So I’ve to get use to the food here too and the irregular times.

For more follow me on www.facebook.com/alexcheung.nl 

11 July 2012 – Move On filmset

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I was asked by my casting agency for a small supporting role in the movie ‘Move On’ by Hollywood director Asger Leth. He directed the movie ‘Man on a Ledge’ this year 2012. Move On is an international production, shot in 8 countries. You can find more information about this movie here : https://move-on-film.com/

The funny thing about this is that I read about this project 2 weeks ago on their website and it looked like a crowd sourcing production. So people could apply to involve with the project if they were selected.

After I was selected by the casting director they were still looking for more Chinese people for some supporting roles and extras. So being a Dutch Chinese and speaking both languages, it was dedicated to me to do the communication between the two parties. So I helped out with the casting and it was quite fun to be at the audition from another point of view.

Here I was waiting for the make up artist while reading the script.

I took a picture of this beautiful place, in the middle of the Red Light district in Amsterdam which you wouldn’t expect so. I would love to shoot a scene here. And the eye catching grand piano makes me want to try out.

Now it is time to sit on the chair and get my hair cut for a more Hong Kong street guy look. The German Make up artist really surprised me! He puts on Chinese music from Jackie Chan on his phone! Wow, that was great. Didn’t expect that at all! hahaFinished the new haircut! You like it?

Now i’m getting some new tattoos on my skin by the make up artist. Check out more of his work here www.cisel.de

Now drawing the tattoo very carefully and I was asked to sit very still. But Banny, who also plays a role in this movie was joking all the time doing crazy kung fu moves hahaha, it was so funny to see!

Wow, see, I took this picture for him and it looks good right!

Together with Dutch actress Giam Kwee.

I’m ready for the shoot!

The filmmaking process is very divers and I’d like to meet people, so I really enjoyed my time on the film set.

Especially great actors.. 🙂

It was really nice to work with an actor who played a villain in the James Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’. Above all, he has won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2012. Wow, I thought by myself, I must learn some acting skills from this man!

Banny, Mads, Alex.

So as you can see it is already midnight. I’m glad to work with the director Asger Leth and contribute to the project helping the director on the set.

Update 2012 – News from Alex Cheung

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Dear friends,

Most of you haven’t seen me for a while, and here’s the Update for what I’ve been doing recently –
I actually stopped recreation basketball for 1,5 year, but then 2 months ago there was something like the linsanity and I started playing basketball again, thanks Jeremy Lin 林書豪! I had a lot of pleasure, until I rolled my ankle. I think I just wanted too much, it happens when you push yourself over the limitation of your body. Damn, that was a terrible feeling! Since then I tried to recover as soon as possible, that means no sport, going to Kan Sifu for medical treatment and stay home going up and down the stairs like a baby.

In the meanwhile I’ve been working on my International Marketing Management graduation thesis, and I have finally finished it! Now waiting for the feedback and presentation. Before graduation I have to pass my Spanish exam mid June.

aCreations is now working together with CIMCH Film group, and so i’m writing a Short Film script about stereotyping the Dutch from the perspective of the Chinese community which we will be producing this summer along with some other projects including Wudao Kung Fu short film and a Single Step 2.

Therefore I didn’t had the time to edit and upload the video’s I made before, like my trip to the Wudang Mountains, Hong Kong, Filming and so on..

Coming up Kung Fu performances:
3 June Cultural Sunday Utrecht
11 June R’dam ACSU Singing Finals
12 June R’dam CRTV Chinese have talents
25 June Holland Casino Nijmegen
26 June Holland Casino Utrecht & Eindhoven
2 July Holland Casino Venlo

 

Shooting My Dearest Mastermind

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Art. 273 Charity Foundation wants to influence the public opinion of human trafficking. To rise the awareness of those criminal activities and issues around the world.

Mission Art. 273 : abolishing human trafficking by:

  • making injustice visible
  • influencing public opinion
  • creating awareness
  • supporting local projects

ART273 from art273 on Vimeo.

Did you know that Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in history?

“Next to arms and drugs, also the most profitable. There are 27 million people sold across borders into slavery today. 50% of the victims are minors, roughly 80% are girls and women. That’s about twice the combined population of London and New York. Experts say it would take 25 years to end human trafficking and slavery. But only if we join forces. We have to reverse history!”

It is a serious issue, the stories are horrible. Especially when you hear it personally. Things happens in the world and sometimes it could be so horrible. Then you realize how lucky most of us already are.

My Dearest Mastermind is an initiative of Chung Dha Lam, he wrote the script and basically made this short. This charity film is to fight against human trafficking to raise the awareness of this happening. It is a local project for the fund raising Charity Event. My little contribution is to volunteer the leading role.

I was first asked to direct this short. But things changes very fast, and instead of behind the scene, I am now in front of the camera. It is a good experience.

First of all, we all voluntarily participate in this charity project. There is No budget, which means; no expense allowance and candy’s for dinner. To me, it is mainly to support this charity event.

Shooting day 1

Today, I started with a meeting in the morning for next weeks Chinese New Year event. After that I rushed to my Wushu class to give lesson to my kids, then again, rushed to The Hague for filming or actually acting. I was sooo hungry! Didn’t had time for breakfast or lunch. In the car I took a piece of cake which I had from the birthday girl.

The location is like a hospital, a center for rehabilitation or something. But with nobody in the rooms and office. Of course it is Saturday day off. The location was reserved for shooting. I was reading my script which I received the last night. Luckily there is not much speaking in this film.

Finally, we were 5 hours on the set and we just shot 12 minutes and 4gb the first day. It is way too slow.

I’m tired after all the work today. My back tooth hurts. When the mandarins were eaten, there was only candy on the table to still the hunger, so that’s why.

Shooting day 2

I was shocked when I checked the call sheet for Sunday. The call from 12.00 which is heaven, but we were expected to shoot till 01.00? How come? It is not that much filming I suppose. But I believe we will shoot faster than the first day.

I’m not telling too much, this short film will be launched online. So I’ll post it when it’s done! But I can assure you the nice images, beautiful exposure in the film!

Now i’m leaving you, i’m going to the premiere at The Hague stadhuis for the Charity Fund Raising Event.

I’m wondering how much money we can generate for this charity fund!