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  • Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Perfecting a Performance


  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. BEDROOM - 05:30


  4. PETER lies awake in bed, his eyes wide open.


  5. PETER (V.O): I can't sleep. I've to perfect my song.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Although I can't play the guitar, sing and record the song now. I can deal with the lyrics in my mind.


  8. Thinking.


  9. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): "HKILT's aspiration"... Should "aspiration" be "aspirations"?...I think not.


  10. Thinking.


  11. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Should I add "To" before "Translate the law"? Would it sound better or worse?


  12. Thinking.


  13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Should I use "mission" or "vision" to end the song?..."Vision" is aspirational...


  14. Act 2

  15. INT. STUDIO - 08:00


  16. Picking up a Gibson acoustic guitar and turning on a KORG rhythmic device, Peter begins fingerpicking.


  17. PETER (V.O.): OMG, my fingers won't move with precision and confidence.


  18. Pausing.


  19. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I still feel the pain in my left-hand calluses and even some pain in the right-hand thumb as I use it to play bass.


  20. Pausing.


  21. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): How can I perform live well under such conditions?


  22. Grabbing his iPad Mini, Peter taps a project in iMovie and listens to an audio recording attentively.


  23. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's quite nice. This take - just the guitar chords and drumbeats - was recorded yesterday evening when I had had a swim.


  24. Thinking.


  25. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): To ensure my performance this afternoon will be musical, I had better use this pre-recorded take.


  26. Thinking.


  27. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Let me turn it into an instrument-only MV and upload it to YouTube so that it'd be more accessible.


  28. Selecting AI drawings, Peter inserts them and adds subtitles into the project.


  29. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And I don't have to bring the drumbeat device to the venue.


  30. Pausing.


  31. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But I'd bring this Gibson guitar with me...and let the audience know that I've used it to practise the song.


  32. Pausing.


  33. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As the song is new to me too, I've to ensure that I can lead with confidence.


  34. Peter begins to sing his new song:...Legal words are tense and tight, translators lend their might, knowhow manifests insight, telling truth, shining bright!


  35. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Hmm "translators lend their might, knowhow manifests insight" aren't easy to sing.


  36. Thinking.


  37. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I must make a full MV so that others would sing my way.


  38. Peter takes a look of the wall clock.


  39. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But time is tight. I've to skip lunch.


  40. MONTAGE OF PETER'S PERFORMANCE ON 57/F, IFC.


  41. A. Appearing with his Gibson guitar, Peter waves with some of the AUDIENCE.


  42. B. When he takes center stage, Peter plays guitar fingerpicking and sings the verses in Cantonese and English.


  43. C. Peter then explains his challenges in writing the bi-lingual chorus, referring to the "Hong Kong Institute of Legal Translation".


  44. D. Showing the audience the music version with subtitles on YouTube, Peter sings a bit to guide them.


  45. E. Later, Peter shows the full version of the song, and ALL sings happily.


  46. F. Lastly, Peter signs autographs and have photos with some of the audience.


  47. END MONTAGE


  48. As he is about to leave, an Institute MEMBER approaches Peter.


  49. MEMBER: Very nice song! I've kept all the stuff I got from you on the last occasion. Hope to see you again next time.


  50. PETER (V.O): The last occasion was 2014. I hope I'd still be around by 2034...


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. BEDROOM - 22:30


  53. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Perfecting a Performance ..." to a draft.


  54. PETER (V.O): Despite the lack of sleep and the challenges I faced, I remained focused in improving my song.


  55. Thinking.


  56. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My attention to detail reflects my commitment to providing the best possible experience for the audience.


  57. Reflecting.


  58. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As my song will become the Institute's anthem, my creativity has some lasting impact.


  59. FADE OUT


  60. THE END


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