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Independent films in
Hong Kong
Independent filmmaker May Fung (Antony Tam)
By Antony Tam
Independent films in Hong Kong seem to be gaining in popularity. They are fun and interesting to produce and a challenge to promote, says May Fung, who has devoted herself to the media arts for 25 years.
Independent films are films made outside of editorial control by corporate interests.
According to Ms. Fung, chairman of the Film and Media Arts Group of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, independent filmmakers seldom consider things like audiences’ wants and constraints by financiers.
Ms. Fung,
who is also the project director of the Hong Kong School of Arts, Media
and Design, said she gets satisfaction through shooting and editing.
“I value the process rather than the result, because I enjoy being
free to take any shots I want.
“My creativity can be brought into full play without the constraints of market considerations.”
Ms. Fung has been fond of watching films since primary school. At that time, Cantonese films impressed me as a tool to escape from ruthless reality,” she said.
In secondary school, Ms. Fung began to write film reviews and indulge in watching films.
“I became crazy about films and even visited the cinema to watch a U.S. film called The Graduate several times,” she recalled.
After graduating from secondary school, she obtained a diploma in filmmaking from the Department of Extramural Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The Department was renamed School of Continuing Studies in 1993.
Ms. Fung started to produce her own films in 1977.
“Super 8 was the common type of videotape used in the 1970s.
“From 1977 to 1985, I produced over 10 independent films using Super 8. Some of them were for experimental purposes.
“Like any other independent filmmaker, at first, my films focused on personal feelings towards happiness and death,” she said.
She produced her favorite movie, Pieces, in 1977. The movie is about a child who saves up to buy a toy, only to find the toy sold out when he eventually has enough money.
She said, “In Pieces, I would like the audience to think of the philosophical idea that what we want to achieve might not be achievable.
“I hope my views expressed in the film can touch the audiences’ hearts and motivate them to learn how to treasure their lives.”
After several years of production, she focused more on humanity, social issues and the environment.
“For instance, in 1983, concerned about the future of Hong Kong, I produced a film about the Sino-British talks,” she said.
In 1986, when home video was popular, Ms. Fung and a few independent film enthusiasts set up Videotage. It is a non-profit organization aimed at arousing public interest in media arts through independent film production.
Since then, she has tried to promote media arts through seminars and education programs.
She also makes independent films and organizes public screenings with friends from Videotage.
In 1994, Ms. Fung obtained a scholarship to further her studies in media arts in New York.
She found that her independent films were too localized in Hong Kong and therefore difficult for U.S. audiences to comprehend.
“I want to make a universally independent film, but I have no free time,” said she.
Although kept busy with the promotion of media arts at Videotage, Ms. Fung still keeps up with the development of local independent films.
She was invited to be on the jury for the Independent Short Film and Video Awards in 1997.
It is an annual competition organized annually by the Hong Kong Arts Centre since 1995 to encourage Hong Kong people to make artistic independent films.
Over 400 entries were received in 2003.
Henry Chan, project officer of the competition, said the number of teenage competitors increases yearly, thanks to the rising popularity of digital video devices.
The majority of competitors are amateurs and students studying film production. Some are housewives.
Ms. Fung said, “It is encouraging to see more people getting interested in independent film production.
“However, quality is more important than quantity. Most films are mediocre and weak in content.
“I am worried that most competitors cannot show their creativity and cannot develop a liberal mind.”
In this
digital era, video editing is made simple with home editing software.
Ms. Fung said many participants do well in applying special video effects,
but only a few stand out by using clever methods of story telling.
“Technological advancement can undoubtedly make it easier to produce videos; however, it may hinder artistic development,” said she.
Independent filmmakers face many difficulties, at both the production and distribution levels.
Due to a lack of capital and manpower, independent filmmakers find it hard to publicize and distribute their products.
Ying E Chi is a non-profit organization that aims to promote and release independent films.
Set up in 1997 by a few independent filmmakers, Ying E Chi is the Chinese translation for showing the creativity of filmmakers in independent films.
According to Nose Chan, manager of Ying E Chi, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council subsidizes it with $500,000 annually.
“Most independent filmmakers do not have money left for promoting their works after production.
“We help them release video compact discs or digital video discs and arrange screenings locally and internationally.
“In August, we successfully held several screenings of new independent films like Secondary School at Broadway Cinematheque.
“In December, we organized the Chinese Indie Film and Video Showcase. It aims at facilitating the exchange of ideas on independent films among filmmakers from Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong,” said Mr. Chan.
Ms. Fung hopes that Ying E Chi can continue its work of cultivating an independent film culture in the territory.
Concerning the future of independent films, she said, “The government should give more financial support to this field.
“With inadequate financial assistance, many potential independent filmmakers may have no chance to show their creativity.”
Crew of 2 make
Secondary School
A student sleeping in class is captured in Secondary School.(Courtesy of Tammy Cheung)
By Antony Tam
Secondary School is an independent documentary that reflects controversial issues of the education reforms in Hong Kong.
With only a two-men crew, director Tammy Cheung and cinematographer Augustine Lam finished the 85-minute film in 8 months.
The film records the daily lives of students in two prestigious secondary schools, one for boys and one for girls.
Scenes include assemblies, lessons, extra-curricular activities, staff meetings and parent-teacher gatherings.
Ms. Cheung said she got the idea from a U.S. documentary called High School that criticizes the education system.
She said, “I was once a teacher, and many ex-colleagues kept sharing their opinions about the education reforms.
“The theme of the education system is really interesting and an in-depth look at it is worthwhile.”
She regarded the production of this documentary as “challenging”, due to the lack of capital and manpower.
Said she: “It took about $700,000 for the production. Major expenditures were transportation and equipment. The crew only got little remuneration.
“The
money mainly came from personal savings and loans.”
Understaffed, her skeleton crew of two had to work really hard.
Said she: “After 3 months of shooting, we spent about 15 hours every day in postproduction.”
A common problem faced by most independent filmmakers is that their films do not gain widespread public acceptance.
Ms. Cheung’s Secondary School is no exception.
Many parents and teachers pressured about the portrayal of the faulty education system. She was surprised about this.
She said, “All the shots show the truth.
“It is prevalent that many schools face the same problems, like students’ sleeping in class.
“I don’t know why some headmasters are unwilling to let their students watch this documentary.”
Despite the many difficulties, Ms. Cheung is determined to carry on producing independent films.
“Secondary School gives me encouragement. At least educators are concerned about what the film reflects.”