March 23, 2011- A Tisch Alumni gathering was held at the Quarterdeck Club on Fenwick Pier in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Set against scenic cityscape of Kowloon, Mr Edmund Cheung ’85 (MFA, Kanbar, Film) moderated a panel of illustrious alumni and industry experts who gave Tisch Asia students practical advice on how they can make and distribute films for Hong Kong and Greater China.
 
Mr Noel Leung ’79 (MA, Kanbar, Cinema Studies) shared with our students the direction that the Hong Kong government is taking pertaining to nurturing young filmmakers. While encouraging creativity, he shared that young filmmakers need to be aware of the commercial viability of their films.

Adding onto the topic of commercial viability, Ms Amy Ip ’95 (BFA, Kanbar. Film) shared her experience in distributing and marketing films as Head of Distribution in Hong Kong for Sony Pictures. She also shared the budget allotments and marketing strategies that is currently used in Hong Kong.

Mr Stephen Lam, who was the Executive Producer of Lust Caution remarked that there is a shortage of crew and film talents in China owing to ever-increasing volume of film production in China. He also shared his experience in producing and distributing films in China.

Practical advice on how to court the Chinese market came from Ms Nelly Song who emphasized the importance of language, understanding censorship in China as well as the way the industry works in China. Ms Song who is Korean had to learn Chinese, Cantonese, Hokkien and Shanghainese while working with film industry in China. Ms Song is the CEO of Global Creative Workshop.  

Amongst other guests at the gathering were academy award-winning filmmaker, Ms Ruby Yang and Mr Larry Shiu ’79 (BFA, Kanbar, F&TV). The gathering ended with students, alumni, partners and guests mingling and exchanging name cards.

Caption (HK Filmart 2011_105): Edmund Cheung ’85 (MFA, Kanbar, Film) Mr Noel Leung ’79 (MA, Kanbar, Cinema Studies), Ms Nelly Song, CEO of Global Creative Workshop, Ms Amy Ip’ 95 (BFA, Kanbar, Film), Mr Stephen Lam, Controller, Film Production at Sil-Metropole.