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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Unsung Chorus

FADE IN


  1. Act 1 

  2.  

  3. INT. STUDIO - 20:00

  4.  

  5. Clustered with guitars. On TV, the CE is speaking. PETER notices an electric guitar by his side.


  6. PETER (V.O): Talking about music?


  7. Watching.

  8.  

  9. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): He suggests HK-pop - as a significant part of HK's cultural industry.


  10. Anchors appear on screen. We hear: ...songs of the 70s...

  11.  

  12. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In the 1960s, I dreamt to become a rock star, failing that, a session guitarist...


  13. Images of singers appear on screen.


  14. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Since the 1990s, I've befriended with a music composer and a record producer who succeeded in promoting many performing artists during the period.


  15. Pondering.


  16. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): What if I had stuck to my passion regardless...

  17.  

  18. Act 2  

  19.  

  20. INT. STUDIO - CONTINUOUS

  21.  

  22. We hear:...songs of the 80s, 90s...

  23.  

  24. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In 1970, right after X'mas, I decided to give up singing and playing the guitar, as they led me nowhere. 


  25. Recalling.

  26.  

  27. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Refocusing on my studies, I managed to pass the exams and could read the HKU-matriculation class.

  28.  

  29. Recalling.

  30.  

  31. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): When my matriculation classmates wanted to cover others' songs on stage, I remained a disinterested observer.


  32. Recalling.

  33.  

  34. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In 2010, I wanted to showcase the creativity in all. I picked up my old guitar and began composing songs with it.

  35.  

  36. Recalling.

  37.  

  38. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Writing more is my way to get simple and catchy melodies.

  39.  

  40. From the TV, we hear a catchy melody.


  41. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It's a Japanese song, although the performing artist and the lyricist of the covered version are from Hong Kong.


  42.  On TV, singers and the audience are singing in chorus.


  43. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): As Cantonese, I've difficulty in understanding the Cantonese lyrics...Cantonese don't write or speak like that.


  44. Pausing.


  45. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I spend lots of intellectual effort in writing spoken, meaningful Cantonese lyrics.


  46. From the TV, we hear an achor thanking the performing artists for their music...


  47. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Is that right? They sing but they don't write songs.


  48. Pausing.


  49. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The audience pay all the attention to the performers as they're the faces of the songs.


  50. Thinking.


  51. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Their physical presence, expressions, charisma engage the audience at the audio-visual level, making their performances captivating.


  52. Thinking.


  53. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Their unique interpretation to songs add personal and emotional depth that can resonate strongly with the audience.

  54. .

  55. Thinking.


  56. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In live performances, the connection and energy established between the performers and the audience overshadow the contribution of invisible composers and lyricists.


  57. Pausing.


  58. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The marketing and media coverage surrounding songs also focus on the performers.


  59. Pausing.


  60. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): And performers are celebrities. Their public persona, lifestyle, and personal stories attract more attention than the behind-the-scenes creators.


  61. Pausing.


  62. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But without unique, creative contents, HK-pop can't thrive as a cultural industry.


  63. Pausing.


  64. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I aim to develop a unique identity for HK-pop that reflects local culture and values.


  65. Pausing.


  66. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Apart from publishing my MVs on YouTube and performing live in small events occasionally, I haven't merchandized my works.


  67. Act 3

  68.  

  69. INT. STUDIO - 22:00

  70.  

  71. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled: "Unsung Chorus..." to a draft in his laptop.

  72.  

  73. PETER (V.O): Composers and lyrists contribute to songwriting but remain mostly in the background.


  74. Thinking.


  75. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): More good songs are needed for HK-pop. HK composers and lyricists should be recognized more.


  76. Reflecting.

  77.  

  78.  PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Unknown in the HK-pop scene, I must strive to take centre stage in possible functions.


  79. FADE OUT

  80.  

  81. THE END





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