FADE IN
Act 1
INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM, HKUST - 16:00
In front of studio lights and cameras, PETER and COLLEAGUES line up.
PETER (V.O.): We're asked to lip-sync a song while being filmed.
The filming CREW around them are busy.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never done that before, as I sing my songs.
We see enlarged lyrics shown on screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As the song isn't written by me, I should feel comfortable to lip-sync.
We hear: Camera rolling...Action...Then the Intro of pre-recorded music.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Okay, time to sing or lip-sync...
We see Peter taking a breath and then opening his mouth.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. STUDIO - 11:30 (DEC 29, 2022)
Reading his sheet music and playing the guitar, Peter sings his song from beginning to end.
PETER (V.O.): I love this one-minute simple composition.
Peter reads the guitar chords on a sheet in the key of C.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For the music, I can sing it comfortably.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For the lyrics, the Intro is in English - just to repeat an acronym - identifying the main character/institution.
Peter reads the Chinese lyric.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Verses contain the story and punchy messages in Cantonese.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The reason being that in Hong Kong, people speak Cantonese most of the time.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Admittedly, Cantonese is a very difficult language.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Chorus is simply "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah" plus the English acronym.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To me, they sound like celebrating the main character/institution.
Peter hums "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah" plus the English acronym.
Repeating the chorus, those who sing it should remember it.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Let me record the song.
Tapping an icon on iPad mini, Peter plays, sings and records the song.
RETURN TO PRESENT
INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM, HKUST - CONTINUOUS
Heeding the advice of my younger son and his girlfriend to avoid conflict of interest, I didn't make the song available to the public.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The decision is a right one. But I've to sing a song written by others.
Looking at the lyrics on screen, Peter begins to sing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But there're some notes only sopranists can sing. I'm not one.
Then we hear no sound coming out from Peter's mouth.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There're Chinese words I don't know how to pronounce them correctly.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And their meanings need elaboration.
Lip-syncing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): How can they arouse emotions?
Lip-syncing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is not-readily-communicable art good?
As the sound track ends, the singing/lip-syncing and the recording end.
Act 3
INT. SHAW AUDITORIUM, HKUST - CONTINUOUS
We hear: The Mandarin version is fine...
PETER (V.O.): Lip-syncing is really hard if one isn't in the moment.
We hear: Let's do the Cantonese version...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If one does lip-syncing very well, s/he has to act very well.
We hear: And after that, the English version...
PETER (V.O.): To act naturally, my version of lip-syncing is singing full-out with the sound track until I can't.
FADE OUT
THE END
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