《FIRST CLASS》: 絕對是一個現代灰姑娘的奮鬥故事

不再是等待奇蹟的出現。與期等待，那倒不如靠自己雙手的能力去創造奇蹟。這是我從《FIRST CLASS》裡學習到的東西，新鮮特別的敍事手法令我很想介紹一下這套劇。

吉成 千奈美(澤尻英龍華 飾)本來在一家衣料店當職員，閒時喜愛閱讀時裝雜誌，還會製作剪貼簿，做一本自己的雜誌，自我滿足一番。某一天，店內某位嬸嬸同事暈倒，奈美送她到醫院，巧遇當時裝雜誌主編的女兒，經嬸嬸要求下，千奈美便這個灰姑娘便踏進了殘酷時裝界這個大染缸。公司內盡是狡狼餓狗，純得像綿羊般的千奈美小姐會怎樣向自己的夢想進發呢？

電視劇產量不多的英龍華(心底裡仍然很不慣她的新名字，還是有點想叫她繪里香)總不免會將她的出名舊作《一リットルの涙》（港譯:一公升眼淚）拿出來比較。會有人會說她老了，加上負面新聞不斷，要再演一些純情女生的角色，對自己及觀眾會否太吃力？試想想，誰人過了十年不會老的，還是依舊的年輕貌美(古巨基迅速閃過)？況且這是她回歸電視劇界的首部作品，著眼位應該放在她的演技與角色的成長。

我認為兩者都是互相發揮作用才會吸引觀眾的眼球，英龍華在這一點上做的算不錯。從上一套劇到現在有十年時間，她成功演譯出十年前的少女心態，這樣才叫演技呀。還有就是角色從純真女生成長、蛻變，配上英龍華的演出令我覺得娛樂性十足。不過比起飾演女性時尚雜誌《FIRST CLASS》的主編大澤 留美(板谷由夏 飾)，英龍華的張力還差一點點。也許是這樣，兩者差別所做成的對比突顯兩個角色的特點：留美主編的外剛內柔，千奈美小姐的雞蛋殼心靈，在劇中都發揮著很重要的作用。所以她們兩個的角色亦是我在劇中特別喜愛的人物之二。

此劇另外兩大看點就是Mounting以及角色心底話。每集起首與結尾都會有Mounting排名排出最高權力的角色(類似權力階級)。Mounting的計算包括: 財力、樣貌、背景之類等作為考量因素。被Foul出局就會變成了Joker。每次結算都好期待看到千奈美的新排名究竟是怎麼樣，也很想看到某些壞蛋角色早早掉進Joker行列。角色心底話真的令我更透徹地了解到角色的真心話。表面一套話，心裡的那一套還是比較誠實。兩者同步進行的表達方式雖然有點難follow，但是趣味十足。

由於這一輯收視甚佳，所以電視台已經決定第二輯的開拍以及定下播放日本期為今年十月(很快便到了！)。今次有別於第一輯的地方其實從tagline亦可以略知一二，上一輯tagline是「除了我，全員惡女。」，新一輯的是「包括我在內，全員惡女。」

看劇是其中一個疑問(以下或含劇透)：
到底主編的媽媽是出了院沒有？由第一集開始出現過之外，其他集數都沒有再交代過她的狀況。奈美沒有問主編，故事亦沒有交代主編放工時間是不是去了探病(是假日再探病吧？所以沒有拍出來)。

Cosy Dining @ Brick Lane

As a reward after walking for a long while to buy a gift for some special occasion, my friends and I decided to pay a visit to the Bricklane Gallery nearby, to find out what this English diner had to offer.

The interior of the diner is pretty dark and gloomy, but a sense of eerily gothic starts oozing out as the wooden table and highly decorated chairs made noticeable with the now feisty candle light placed in a beautiful orb-like candle jar.

This cucumber drink was refreshing to the tonsils and sweet to the heart (cliché, I know). But really, I think this type of drinks are best suited for many occasions if you're not here to get drunk. Whether you're with your family, your friends, or special someone, you want a drink that boosts your mood. THIS, can be the accessory drink that you're looking for while you're indulging in the conversation with your buddies.

I couldn't make up my mind, so I ordered the All Day Breakfast (Everything). You'll see and know right away that this set is perfect for someone like me: 

1) Those who want a bit of everything. 

2) Those who won't bother to read the whole menu. 

3) Those who bother to read the whole thing back and forth but still can't make a decision.

Like (almost) everyone, I liked the bacon Brick Lane had to offer. But, alas, two slices of bacon simply couldn't satisfy my stomach. The rest on the big white plate, except the veggie, was quite good (I'm not into their green salad that much).

It was a beautiful and cheerful evening where I got to spend some quality time with my friends. Eye contacts, secrets, and compliments were exchanged, and we went home happily knowing we had a full stomach and a rejuvenated mind.

Brick Lane Gallery is located at
G/F, 17-23 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2721 0628
Opening Hours:
Mon - Thu 12:00 - 02:00
Fri 12:00 - 03:00
Sat 11:30 - 03:00
Sun 11:30 - 01:00
Website http://www.bricklane.com.hk/main/gallery-view/brick-lane-gallery/

A short Gothic story

*The underlined words are also composed by my classmates.

The scariest day of my life

P.O.V of a man who is named "Sander Poe"

  I was born in 1954. The day was my birthday. It was a rainy day. Crows unexpectedly showed up in my house. That's the beginning of the story. Every o'clock the Crows make sound. So I check the Crows by following their steps, hearing their sound, I discovered something mysterious. At that time, I heard some weird sounds. I thought it was an alien. Ah, I remember the alien, the alien is from.... But this one is kind of different from the others, it was so handsome. He was like he was bitten by somebody and he is like zombie. I changed maybe I'm zombie.

  

  My mind was full of depression, loss, anger and fear. What my eyes see is blue, grey, white and black. I can't see red yellow and skin colors. My nose can smell only blood and the saliva inside my mouth tastes like rotted meat. My body is not mine anymore. I was controlled. My action, my soul and a half of my consciousness are following somebody's rules. I go out crazily to eat and kill all the creature. As the more 

creatures I kill, more fear and other negative emotions I gain. My hands are tainted with more and more blood and my mind is further dominated by a thought.

  

  

  I killed almost all the animals and human beings in town. I wasn't satisfied. I wanted more meat. I went to the river nearby the town. I saw a girl with long dark black curly hair who wears a black dress with a black transparent veil. She was healing a person who suffered from my teeth by singing a song in the riverside. She sings beautifully like an angel. Within a minute, that person with scars made by my teeth dies peacefully.

  

  She then turns around and looks at me, with a bitter face. She looks familiar. Her light blue eyes remind me of the girl I saw in several of my dreams. Her white skin recalls my scary childhood with the white thick snow which surrounded me. She comes forwards while I'm completely shocked by her appearance.

  

  "Sander Poe," She said with her soft and attractive voice and touches me with her cold left hands. I then grab her left hand with my bloody hands and place it on my right cheek, to feel her coldness.

  

  Subconsciously, I know her name and who she is.

  "My lost Lenore." I said with a shattered tone, " my fallen angel"

   I cried like a baby.

  "Please cure my pain, please satisfy what I need." I begged her.

   She smiles and places her right hand on my left cheek. She slowly stands up like wearing high heels and she kissed me with her soft lip.

  Many things are happening in my mind in the meantime. Her lips is kind of interaction. She tells me not to let fear takes over me and kill the creature futilely. When her lip leaves my lip. I am subconsciously afraid of Lenore.

  She is a beast and I want to kill her.

  I don't know if she knows me. "Donec tenebras coram me (Please follow me to face the darkness)." She said in Latin and she sings. 

  As she sings, I feel myself start to fall asleep with the brightest light lasting in the world, with a very gentle breeze. Suddenly, there're growling voice from afar and crows craw. The ravens' red eyes stare at me. I'm scared and start to sweat. But after several seconds, what I see, hear and feel has gone. I seem to be going into other place. 

  I enter into the white scenery with a grey door. When I open the door, I see Lenore with a smiling face, I hug her with a mood filled with love and pleasant. And she places her head on my left shoulder without any fear and doubt.

  

  Finally, my scariest day has "gone".

                                                                    <<End>>

  

[June Edition] What You've Missed: Blonde Redhead + SOHN

Blonde Redhead has been in the music biz for about 10 years, while SOHN debuted himself in 2012. "Will the crowd be any different, will they show some support for this SOHN dude?" Well, truth is, the crowd was just as stimulated by waves of mind-blowing beats. It was truly a night to remember. For those of you who didn't know or couldn't make it, you certainly have missed a great show in your life (yes you did, ha!).

Photo: Gladys Wong via Facebook

The first performing artist was SOHN and he did bring out the professional side of him to hype us all up. There was an air of uncanniness about the way he dressed and perform. A gray winter hat under a hood of the same color--gave me an impression of how a modern preacher of music would clad himself (If only music were nothing but a religion)--were all we had for the whole show. On top of it were a great voice, coupled with the dazzling light effects and bombarding sound system. Together they, or rather he, gave us something more than just a show/gig, it was something beyond, a sensation I'd say, and that is not an understatement.

You can't imagine how impressive and breath-taking to be standing in the front row, experiencing the heart-shaking sound waves and the flashing-while-sweeping cones of light. Sohn brought us tracks from his debut album, Tremors, which was only just released three months earlier.

Bloodflows

I first heard of his name was when his song Bloodflows was featured as free music of the week on the iTunes store, which naturally led me to his YouTube page and got myself amazed by the simplistic and artistic ambiance. I guarantee you listening to his album with your dr. dre headset can't even be compared to a tenth of the magnitude of the blasting sound system right at the venue.

When SOHN had delivered a big show for us all, and still had us under his charm. The next act--Blonde Redhead was already at the backstage, preparing to relay the torch of music from SOHN.

Photo: chaur via Flickr

Blonde Redhead--a sophisticated rock band composed of Kazu Makino (vocals, rhythm guitar) and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace (drums/vocals and lead guitar, respectively)--has been on the scene for about a decade now.

Photo: chaur via Flickr

They surely knew their craft and got right into the biz by bringing the audience a few tracks off their new album, then moved swiftly to the good ol' songs. We only have to stand straight and relax to have a great night. You can see the power of the female vocal was both absorbing and unleashing, thanks to the hurrahing and body-moving crowd.

The female vocal was like an anime character who could sing and play guitar, which was aurally fresh and visually chic. It was not an easy task to put a label on their music. It truly is one of a kind out there. Also, their passion for music is appreciated. Their attention to every musical detail was noticeable on stage and that was just remarkable, even the audience might not be able to tell the difference. They would check to see if they had the right notes before starting the performance. Such behavior from an experienced band like Blonde Redhead is admirable and should be respected. 

The genuine enjoyment in music shown on their faces and that had seeped through the audience as well. Even if you weren't a groupie, after this show, you might have to give it a second thought. Because, well, their songs are just really appealing to the ear. It was as if you were led by them to another world where no music had set foot there before.

Oh là là. How I wish you were there to see it for yourself.

Show info:
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 
08:00 PM to 11:00 PM 
Blonde Redhead + Sohn 
KITEC Music Zone Live House G/F KITEC, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon: Yau Tsim Mong References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blonde_redhead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohn_(musician)

http://www.ticketflap.com/en/events/260/

Story and song

I haven't written this blog for a while. Today I want to share little bit about what kind of things inspire me to do my artwork or to write my script. I am kinda fond of listening music and I love atmospheric music. Atmospheric music help me to think of what I should draw and write. Goldfrapp and Epica are my favourite bands in terms of atmosphere. I used to talk about Epica for many time if you are my friends or family.
Just take Epica as an example. I have drawn a story from what one of their songs "Deep Water Horizon" inspires me. Of course, the story hasn't ended.

Songs also encourage me to write a script. I get so much ideas from songs for my script "Lawrence's Swiss" in most of the time.