Closure in Hong Kong

It's been more than six months since my last post. My wife and I have left Hong Kong and have settled back in NY. There's definitely less sunshine and no trips to exotic destinations in our new life. But we've been blessed with a new addition, our newborn son ISAIAH PARK.

Moreover, thanks to all who followed through and made requests, the Hong Kong Public Library has recently added my first novel BOY GENIUS to its holdings. If you're curious about this novel, you can now get it for free from the public library.

Click to view HKPL catalog listing

My life is vastly different now from what it was in Hong Kong. I've taken a brief break from blogging and shooting films to help take care of our son. There are definitely plenty of times when we miss Hong Kong, but we're also very happy to be back in NY. And I try to keep up my Cantonese by listening to the Cantonese radio--1480 AM--here.

Anyway, that's my two bits for this final post. I'm so happy that a part of me--this blog and my novel BOY GENIUS--remains in HK. Thank you again.

That's all for now. BYE BYE!!!

Day 30, Film 30. My Magnum Opus

I somehow kept this going for 30 days. Whether good or bad, that's a full month of short films... which is just enough to provide me timely closure.


SPECIAL REQUEST
Please, please, please help bring my novels BOY GENIUS and LAS CUCARACHAS to the Hong Kong Public Library by clicking on this link and filling out the web form.

BOY GENIUS by Yongsoo Park (Akashic Books, NYC, 2002) ISBN No.: 978-1888451245

LAS CUCARACHAS by Yongsoo Park (Akashic Books, NYC, 2004) ISBN No.: 978-1888451566


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NOW, having said all that, here is my 30th and final short film in this series: MY MAGNUM OPUS

Enjoy!!!

It's been great fun.

I want to thank everyone who's visited this blog.

I also want to say special thanks to Hong Kong Blogs Review, which provides an excellent and comprehensive overview of HK blogs, for a very kind and generous review. Thank you again for your kind words.





I SHOT HONG KONG!
Here is a compilation of my own favorites (total 10 minutes). You can see these films individually as well on the right side of this blog. Enjoy!

Marathon in Hong Kong MTR (a film haiku)

Day 29, Film 29.

This film haiku was shot all over Hong Kong during a marathon ride on the MTR.

Enjoy!!!

What China Fears Most

Day 28, Film 28.

This is a film koan about what the leaders of China's government fear most. It was shot at Wah Fu Estate in southwest Hong Kong, above the Wah Fu Estate bus terminal and across the street from the Wah Fu Shopping Center.

I think I may have startled a handful of people while shooting this.

Whatever the case, enjoy!!!

My Favorite Hong Kong Corporate Shill

Day 27, Film 27.

Here's a very short film haiku about the smog and corporate presence in Hong Kong. Some will no doubt put one and one together and conclude that one is connected with the other, but I will not make such pro-pinko proclamations here.

Enjoy!!!

Dreaming of China and Tibet

Day 26. Film 26.

Low energy today. Something about weekends brings out the sloth in you, I guess.

Still, I didn't want to throw in the towel at 25.5 films, such a strange number. So, I pressed forward and made this short film koan.

Enjoy!

One Two Three Cantonese (one film, two versions)

Day 25, Film 25.5.

To commemorate 25 days, here's something different. Two versions of the same film. Both start the same way, but end in two completely different places.

Both were shot at the Ferry Pier in Central. No English subtitles needed for the intro. I'm only saying very basic things. I'm sure anyone can follow it.

I've posted Chinese subtitles, though I have no idea whether they are correct. I just like the idea that one can write in a language that one doesn't know thanks to the Web. Very cool.

The first one is the G version. The second is the PG-13 version. Or in HK terms, the first is I and the second is II. I started shooting w/ the G version in mind, but the shots and reality led me to the PG-13 version.

Enjoy!!!


G Version



PG-13 Version

Track Meet in Wanchai (a film haiku)

Day 24, Film 24.

This is a film haiku shot at Wanchai Sports Ground. It's dedicated to the members of my junior high track team, some of whom were very fast.

The Chinese titles were done by our friend Maggie. She also fixed the titles on WHAT I BELIEVED ABOUT THE CHINESE WHEN I WAS LITTLE. Thank you, Maggie. You rock!!

Enjoy!!!

Fanling Theater, Hong Kong's Coolest Movie Theater (Part 2)

DAY 23, FILM 23.

Here is the follow-up to yesterday's short film.

This is a tour of the Fanling Theater, the coolest movie theater, by far, in Hong Kong.

Thank you again, Mr. Ming Wan for showing me around. Your theater and you both rock!!!

If you want to experience something special, go to the Fanling Theater. It is a very special theater that oozes history and atmosphere.

It is on 1 Luen Fat Street in Luen Wo Hui, Fanling, just a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute minibus ride (52K) from the Fanling Train Station.

Enjoy!!!

Oldest Movie Theater in Hong Kong

The Oscars this year was very heavy on nostalgia, trying desperately to connect contemporary movies with classics of yesteryear.

What better way to continue in that spirit than to pay a visit to the oldest movie theater that's still showing movies here in Hong Kong, a place that seems at times to be the antithesis of anything old?

Hence, this short film about a theater that opened back in the 1950s. I made a mistake in my narration. This theater opened in 1959, not 1958. The theater was showing VALKYRIE and LOVE CONNECTED in its two screens when I went.

Day 22, Film 22.

Sorry about the hard-to-read subtitles. I can't make clearer subtitles on Windows Moviemaker. And sorry about my bad tones and poor Cantonese. Still, I love the Wah, and will plow on, knowing full well that I'm saying things wrong.

Enjoy!!!



A longer film that shows the inside of the theater will follow. This is just an introduction posted to keep the streak alive before the clock strikes 12.

I want to thank Mr. Ming Wan, the manager of this movie theater, who was so extremely helpful and gave me a special tour of the place.

Thank you, Mr. Wan. You and your movie theater rock!!!

18 Views of Wah Fu Estate. #19

DAY 21, FILM 21.

Sick today. Fever and congestion. Did not step out of the apartment. Still, did not want to see my streak end. That's the power of turning something into a habit, I guess.

So, here is a short film shot from my tiny balcony overlooking Wah Fu Estate and Waterfall Bay.

And yes, the title of this post is a homage to Jim Feldman's excellent series of paintings of the ICC.

Enjoy!!!

Three Shorts in One Day

Day 20, Film 20.

You're in for a treat today.

I've been giving you one short per day. But today, we're going to make history.

Today, I offer you not one, but three shorts all from Wah Fu Estate. Don't ask me how I find the energy. It's just how I roll. Moreover, Wah Fu is a treasure trove of inspiration and other delights. There's no limit to the things one can find there just by strolling about...

If you have not been there, you really need to go. It is one of the oldest and nicest government housing projects in Hong Kong. It's also a good place to play basketball, and there are amazing views of the sea.

Enjoy!!!