Another AnD Weekend

Saturday afternoon I headed to Grappa's Wine Cellar to meet up with Jun Kung. His new project 11:11 was playing that night and he had invited me to soundcheck to talk about guitars.

Obviously, I was there in a flash.

Adrian Da Silva is playing guitar in the band, and for most of the afternoon and evening, the three of us all talked about guitars and music and gigs and guitars and strippers and meth.

Well, I admit I was the only one talking about strippers and meth, but that's because I was the only American in the bunch.

I met Dickson Kui, who was there to try out for the job of drum tech. He seems like a smart, easygoing guy, so we all teased him mercilessly as part of his initiation. I would on occasion, and for no good reason, bellow "HURRY THE F@#$ UP!!! DO YOU WANT THIS F@#$ING JOB OR NOT?!?!?!"

He didn't let it bother him, though, so that's a good sign.

He wouldn't shotgun beers either, another good sign. The show was great, although Jun's bass went out a couple times. That's the kind of thing Jun wants me to help out with, and I am looking forward to doing so.

I also got to talk with Kelvin Avon, who is producing Race Wong's new CD. We talked about British music and other musical stuff.

Anyone who knows about the Wildhearts is a friend to me. I got home around 2:00 (I think), tired but very happy at having hung out with people who shared a common interest in guitars, music, etc.

Sunday night I went with Kozoand Kevin ' Golden Rock' Ma to interview Karin Anna Cheung,Archie Kao, and Quentin Lee  from The People I've Slept With.

Unfortunately, I hadn't seen the film! Saturday's screening sold out, as did Sunday's. So I was glad I couldn't see it, but not glad I didn't, if that makes sense.The movieis showing all week at Elements, and so I hope people will support it and go see it. Kevin hadseen it, so he ran the interview. It should be available online soon.

The interview, not the movie.Don't download the movie. Pay for it.

It's a good way to prevent getting kicked in the nuts. By me. The interview was a lot of fun, and it was a good chance for me to learn about the people and ideas behind the film. So I look forward to seeing it this week.

It was also fun because Anna wants to make a guitar, and I got to talk about guitars.

With a woman, even!

She took wood shop in high school and admitted to a penchant for 'good wood' before immediately making a joke about the phrase. I wouldn't have made the joke, though I did think of it. It was a lot of fun talking with her.It was also nice to see so many people I knew at the screening. The fact that they seemed happy to see me too was just a bonus. More about this later... After the interview, Kozo, Kevin and I went to have dinner with friends. Following dinner, I went to Stormies for the Festival Wrap Party.

I saw even more AnD people there, including but not limited to :Li Tong, Desmond So, Simon Yin, Thomas Lo, Koora May Lee,

Andrew Lang, Anton Wong, Etchy, Jenn Thym, Patrick, and others. I met lots of new people too.

I was a bit worried because the party was for the festival, whose opening film was the subject of my most scathing reviewever.

Not that it didn't deserve it.

And it really didn't help that most of my AnD friends introduced me as the guy who writes the most cruel, hilarious film reviews ever. 

Luckily, no one from that film was there, or spoke to me.

Of course, this also meant that Joman Chiang wasn't there either.

So bringing the vegetable oil, wool blanket and yo-yo turned out to be for naught.

But Anna showed me jewelry she makes from guitar picks, so I was still very tickled.

Thatis a euphemism. She didn't touch me, nor I her.

However, being Captain Stupid, I did manage to slag off the scriptwriter of Murdererin front of Teddy Chen, who directed Bodyguards and Assassins.

Which may have been written by the same scriptwriter. Two points for the moron (me).

So long as Donnie Yen's character doesn't have Anti-Aging Disorder, there's nothing to worry about.

Or so I'd like to think. Maybe I was a rude @sshole.

Or maybe Murderer sucked that much. Our lines are open, what say ye?

I got to talk to AnD founder Patrick, who said he finds great humor and confusion  in trying to reconcile the tone of my blogs (which are usually written with ink made from napalm) and my public persona which is, he says, affable, easygoing, and social.

Of course, he sees me at AnD events, which I really enjoy and am immensely grateful for. Come watch the next Patrick Kong movie with me and see what happens...

Not to mention that I've learned the hard way (i.e. having to say things like 'not guilty') that displaying my temper is, at my size, essentially unfairto people, and, on occasion, prosecution-worthy.

If I had met anyone from that film I disliked, I wouldn't have yelled at them (even though they deserve it) because seeing a public display of anger easily described as a hemorrhoidal linebacker bellowing at someone 1/3 his size is a good reason to call 999 just in case. 

And who needs that hassle?------------------------------------------------------------------------It was a lot of fun to talk with people at the party, because all of them (us?) are passionate about movies, and many of us are trying to do something about the state of local films by becoming part of the industry, or at least making films here.

In its broadest sense, I think that will be AnD's largest legacy; bringing together people who care enough about Hong Kong's entertainment industry to try and work with it to make it better. Alive Not Dead has already done a whole lot to bring people together creatively and intellectually, as well as socially. I firmly believe that the people who are now getting into the industry will be able to change it for the better, and I am very glad to not only watch but occasionally help.

Don't get me wrong, the parties are a blast, but for me the best part of belonging to AnD is the chance to talk and work with people who are doing things in Hong Kong and not just talking about them. If I didn't care about Hong Kong, I wouldn't be here. I think that's a statement many people can agree with. I look forward to seeing everyone at the New Year's party. Speaking of which, let me just say:No, Etchy, post-op M-2-F transsexuals are not eligible for that offer.