馮檢基黎文卓合辦
社會企業培訓專業臨記 2007年4月20日

【明報專訊】「你個死茄喱啡!」「其實我是一個專業的演員。」電影《喜劇之王》裏,周星馳飾演尹天仇,是力求專業的「茄喱啡」(臨時演員,亦俗稱「臨記」)。現實中,市民也有機會做一個「專業的茄喱啡」!民協主席馮檢基和演藝界人士黎文卓計劃在7月組織社會企業,培訓「臨記」人才,讓失業者、低收入人士可以賺外快,並洗脫臨記一些不夠專業、散漫的情。

「一直以來,香港的臨記相對地不太專業,也很散漫,是被遺忘的一個行業。」盛彩有限公司總經理黎文卓形容,眼前政府說要發展電影業,成立電影發展局,亞視又得到新公司入股,他相信電影、電視、廣告行業仍有發展空間,仍可以為臨記帶來很多就業機會。

為此,他和馮檢基一拍即合,合組社會企業,為失業人士、低收入人士或有志兼職臨記的人士提供培訓課程,並提供工作。馮檢基表示,民協社會服務中心有足夠的地方和人員,黎文卓則負責課程設計及尋找導師。

邀導演演員任導師

黎文卓說,現時構思是為學員提供5天的課程,邀請知名導演、有經驗演員等,講解片場結構、影視製作原理、工種職位、態度儀容,以至演戲基本技巧。「死其實都有技巧,單是死都可以上兩堂,有不同死法。」

經考試後,學員便可獲發證書,公司會登記他們的資料,包括有沒有疤痕、紋身、光頭等,希望9月可以聚集足夠登記人士,正式開業。

希望港台帶頭聘用

黎文卓說﹕「我們是社會企業,開宗明義不是要賺大錢,很希望業界可以支持,肯用我們公司提供的人。我保證,他們不會粗口爛舌,不會遲到早退,我們擔保我們的人一定有片場的紀律。」

黎文卓表示,會拜訪業界朋友,亦希望港台帶頭支持他們,聘請他們提供的臨記。馮檢基形容,這只是一個開頭,長遠的目標,是發展成專為演藝文化事業提供後勤人員,配合未來西九龍文娛藝術區發展。

可代墊支學費

學費方面,當學員交數百元學費也有困難時,他們會先為學員墊支,等到學員將來接到工作後才扣回。

明報記者 周展鴻

3億電影基金 資助上限360萬

【明報專訊】工商及科技局建議注資3億元,透過新的發展資助基金計劃,資助製作預算不超過1200萬元(中低成本)的電影,資助上限為三成,即每部電影最多360萬元,局方期望款額有助內地及海外推廣香港電影,以及培訓發行和製作的人才等。

局方昨日向立法會提交文件,交代基金的審批準則,申請資助的電影必須具備完整劇本,擬於本港的電影院作商業放映,製作預算不超過1200萬元;電影須獲確定為商業上可行,且最少一半製作費已獲第三者融資保證;主要演員及工人員中至少一半為香港永久居民。

文件指出,若劇本的內容過度刻劃描繪殘暴、暴力、罪行、性事,或污衊或侮辱某一類人士的種族、宗教、民族、性別,有關申請通常不會獲得考慮。

局方表示,影視處長會成為新發展基金的管制人員,電影發展局亦會在轄下重組新審核委員會,為發展基金發放資金提供意見。

局方又建議開設電影發展局秘書長職位,協助影視處長為電影發展局提供支援。

片量銳減 新秀缺磨練場

【明報專訊】港產片呱呱墮地的一天,靠的就是年輕人——他是黎姿的祖父黎民偉,年僅二十,拍攝了首齣港產片《莊子試妻》,時為1913年。80年代港片巔峰之作《監獄風雲》,林嶺東執導,時年32歲。如今?《無間道》監製兼寰亞副主席莊澄說,有機會拍戲的新導演,「5隻手指數得晒」。

莊澄:要興旺 要獨立製片

港產片高峰期,大量獨立製片商活躍市場,為新秀提供邊做邊學的機會;近年港產片大減,以致出現「人才荒」,莊澄斷言﹕「要興旺,要有獨立製片。」

莊澄說,現時大部分港產片不出數間大企業出品,例如寰亞、嘉禾、英皇等,這類公司人力財力十足,部門分工仔細,有別於財力較差的獨立製片商,什麼都要「一腳踢」。

獨立製片在80年代非常興旺,出現小本經營與大型企業平分秋色之局,部分公司建立知名度後,便可愈做愈大。由於收益穩定,可讓電影人安心發揮創意,有更大機會獲得賞識,故獨立製片對港產片成敗及人才培訓,均扮演着重要角色。

近年香港電影業有「片量減少,質素上升」之勢,但衍生了青黃不接的問題,年輕一輩少有受訓機會,莊澄笑說,現時活躍的成功電影人年紀,都是「較中年更進一步」(指年齡大於中年人),他們大部分於80年代入行,從參與質素較差的電影中累積經驗,待日子有功才拍「好片」;反觀現時有機會拍戲的新導演寥寥可數,令人才傳承出現危機。

「新一批藝人 周身刀無張利」

3月初,政府宣布撥款3億元作電影發展基金,其後工商及科技局長王永平稱,基金會直接投資中小型電影,雖然暫時未有所謂「中小型」的定義,但一般而言,是指製作費大約在1000萬元以下的電影,莊澄對此種界定表示同意。

香港電影導演會永遠榮譽會長張同祖說,創作人及演員出現斷層,是目前電影業的最大隱憂,行頭縮窄,電影從業員愈來愈少學習機會,「有很多人入過行,但沒有環境成長,一定要經歷大小不同『戰役』,才可站起來。」

張同祖又認為香港欠缺演員制度,「新一批都是演藝人,不是演員。登台、剪綵什麼都做,周身刀無張利」。反觀荷李活對演員工作嚴格規管,簽了一部戲期間,便不會參與其他工作,這種做法,對投資者、幕後創作人及電影質素均較有保障。

What I do know is Hong Kong does not have a large low-budget independent film making community.

Bare Necessities?

When one browse dvxuser, a leading video/cinematography forum, for advise on what equipment to purchase, it is very likely that he would deem all the results outrageous–outrageously expensive that is. dvxuser is littered with comments like “$2500 beginner kit”, and mind you Hong Kongers that’s US dollars. Not that those commentators are wrong, for they are just giving their genuine opinions; I would say they are just the wrong people to ask. Photography and cinematography are not that far from fashion–a small selling point could command a significant price. What beginners need are often tricks and tips that allow results a layman would not complain about. I can make a big fuzz on my peers’ photos–and I am sure my photography mentor can do the same on mine–but that would not be helpful; in fact it is more likely to be counterproductive. So allow me to suggest the following: ask someone close to you who knows nothing about photography or cinematography–a stereotypical suggestion would be your mother or grandmother–whether your work looks good; if they think so then you’re all set. Do not try to accommodate the “pros” for it will never work. It sounds somewhat ironically to say so when I keep upgrading my gear, but just think about it–as much as I complain about the low (sub-amateur in times I would say) standard of Hong Kong’s television dramas they never lack audience.

So yes I prefer better gear, but no I don’t think they are necessities.

Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

So the theoretical trailer and demo is out. First the later is much more interesting even if you are just looking for the cut scenes. The game play itself is, let just say, unimpressive; EA is trying too hard to bring back the original C &C feel when the world has already moved on. The cut scenes on the other hand is like nothing you have even seen in a game; not even in the previous two installments or the Red Alert Series. They have relatively famous actors–Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian, Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back), Tricia Helfer and Grace Park (Caprica Six and Sharon Valerii respectively, Battlestar Galactica). The cinematographic style is a mix of Battlestar Galactica (the GDI command room) and 24 (shaky camera movements). If not for the disappointing game play it will be a sure-buy.

In any case, I finally have to admit that my > 5 year old computer is too old for modern video playback. It’s probably not due to raw processing power but SSE, for my Samsung Q1’s humble 900mhz Celeron M has no problem on this area…

Equipment Evaluations

Having used my new equipments for a few times here are my thoughts,

1. Nady CM-2S
Brilliant sound quality. Really the result was better than what I expected, worthing every penny of the $99.95 price tag. Here is a test clip; the original sounds even better.

2. SignVideo XLR-PRO
Again more useful than I expected. The ability to adjust volume on the fly is so useful that the unit is now a necessity.

3. Rode Videomic
Despite being the most expensive audio equipment ($149) I have I actually did not used it a lot for the past two weeks–I have been recording music mainly, while in other situations the speakers use microphones connected to speakers anyway. But for the few moments I did use the Videomic it seems to work well.

4. Yunteng VCT-880RM
This Chinese copy of Velbon DV-7000 works fine, but nowhere great; then again it only cost me HK$235 (~US$30). On my part I need to practice my panning skills and remember to turn off optical image stabilization (ouch!).