This past Wednesday, I official became a part of the creative process of Dax Phelan's feature film "Jasmine," as an extra.  They were shooting a club/lounge scene and needed some people to come and provide some background action.  Naturally, I couldn't resist another opportunity to play "Guy who flirts with girls in a club."


Once on set, I got the chance to station myself at at table with Jackie Chow and model turned actress Dominika Zybko.


Meanwhile, one of the stars of the film Byron Mann is chilling with two ladies, Wendy (another fellow extra) and a model-turned actress who I am embarrassed to admit I forgot the name of at this time.  I remember she's originally from Australia though.


In an ironic turn of events, I ended up getting asked to become an unofficial part of the lighting crew as opposed to a full out extra, per say.  Jackie and Dominika needed a little more glow to them so I was enlisted to hold a reflector to them.


Happy to help anyway I can.  Although, it did make it a bit challenging to try to eat something when Producer Jennifer Thym came around with some snacks in between takes. 


The rest of the crew was prepping some manner of handheld, tracking, over the shoulder shots of Jason Tobin.  I couldn't see well from my position so here's a few snapshots I took quick in between takes.


Fearless leader, Dax Phelan, discussing the shot with Guy Livneh (the DP), Jason, and the guy whom I'm convinced is the Assistant Director.


In the end, I did manage to get called to duty for a background part with a bit more camera time.  And indeed it was my bread and butter role "Guy Flirting with Girl in the Club" in the background right past Jason.  The Girl was played by Hiromi, makeup artist of the stars.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to get picture evidence of that since we were scrambling to finish shooting before we got kicked out of the location.

I can assure you all that I tried to incorporate all I've learned so far from Kate Sullivan's acting workshops.  So hopefully I didn't ham it up too much.  ; ) 

Watch out for my cool cameo once "Jasmine" hits the theaters!  More pics from set in my album!

If there's one film in the making that everyone who's anyone in the Hong Kong film industry that I know of, it's Dax Phelan's "Jasmine," starring Jason Tobin.  So it was a nice surprise last week that, while having a drink with my homie Michael Chan, we inadvertently ended up on the set of this very film.

While chilling at Bit Point in Lan Kwai Fong, Michael looks over my shoulder and notices someone walking around with a Red camera.  He says he might know that guy and we're off to investigate.  Sure enough, we walk outside and the whole crew of "Jasmine" is walking around right outside and there's a big equipment truck about 20 feet down the road.

After some introductions and conversation on the back of the truck...


I turn around and see Jason Tobin, star of the movie, getting ready to shoot a scene.


I dare not reveal any details (mostly because I know none), but it seemed like a very poignant and dramatic scene they were shooting...


Unfortunately, as our team found out first hand during our 48 Hour Film Project shoot, while shooting in LKF, there is no lack of drunken fools in the background who will wave around yelling "Hey!  I'm on TV!"



In the meantime, I was chilling and catching full view of the action.

In the end, it seemed like they got the shots they needed before it was time to move on and they were off to the next spot.  Right before they left, I got the chance to shake hands with the man himself, Jason Tobin.  Good job guys, looking forward to checking your flic.

And good eye to Michael Chan for spotting the whole goings on.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with El Chombo's masterpiece "Macarron Chacarron," please be assured that this is indeed the greatest song ever written.  Don't believe me?  Check it out for yourself. 

If you're having a hard time understanding the lyrics, don't be too concerned.  Even El Chombo doesn't know what he's saying in the song.  hahaha


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED_pU2oDnug

Hung out with some of the homies in Lan Kwai Fong on Friday.  I remember that in attendance were Spencer Douglass, Arne Venema, Michael Chan, and Mike's friend from Toronto Justin.  What's funny is that I don't really remember taking these pictures, except for one of them. 

I distinctly remember asking Justin to take a picture of me and, in my tipsy stupor, distinctly remember wanting to email it to Kate Sullivan, greatest actress to come out of New Zealand and my current acting teacher.  I wanted to send it to her at the time, because I was thoroughly convinced that it would make for a spectacular headshot and wanted her opinion in the matter.

SO here are the pics from that fateful night.

Michael Chan... too quick for my camera phone


My awesome new Lan Kwai Fong shiny lights sunglasses, executive produced by Arne Venema


This is the headshot pic I was talking about.  I found a draft email on my blackberry that was ready to go to Kate Sullivan, but never sent.  Kate, if you're reading this, what do you think.  ; )  hehehe


I'm not quite sure what's the story with this pic, whether I accidentally took this picture or if I meant to take this picture, but the two girls I'm photographing didn't realize, or if I meant to take it and I had terrible aim.  The world may never know.


Me and Justin from Toronto.


Another one of me and Justin from Toronto.


And here we have the A-Team's screenwriter himself, James Williams.


And that's all the pics from that night.  I know, not the most exciting photo shooting night I've had, but an exciting night none-the-less.  I can assure you.

P.S. On a side note, since the 48 Hour Film Project, I can't walk down D'Aguilar Street into LKF without Andrew's first lines from our 48 Hour Film "King of Bullshit" popping into my head. 

"Welcome to God's country... Lan Kwai Fong."

This past Tuesday I helped wished a happy birthday and bid a fond farewell to a new found, dear friend who is leaving HK behind in search of bigger, better things in the great mainland across the border.  Please join me in wishing ShellZee Zhu all the best of luck in conquering the Beijing film industry!

Before I go to a rundown of the event, a little side story.   The affair was set to take place at the Armani Bar.  I'm still in a New York frame of mind so the first question that ran in my mind was "dress code?"  I imagined that it would be a place heavily guarded by bouncers who would only let la creme of la creme in.  I've had a history of bad luck with dress codes, so I figured I wouldn't take chances... so I wore one of two actual Armani outfits I own.  Jeans and a casual button down shirt, but ARMANI jeans and an ARMANI casual button down shirt.  I figured it would be tougher for the large armed bouncers to justify kicking me out for not being snazzed up enough, when I'm wearing Giorgio's gear.



One thing is that, while my Armani shirt is super comfortable and fits me in a way that makes me look super buff, it's also paper thin.  As I was rushing down the mountain to meet with my homegirl Sophia and some of her lady friends before the party for food and networking, I had already sweated through the shirt, giving Sophie and her friends the equivalent of a wet t-shirt contest view.  No picture evidence of that however.

Back to the event though...  by the time I got to Armani Bar, my shirt was respectably dry again.  Dress code didn't really turn out to be an issue anyway, so no worries.  The event itself went nicely.  ShellZee seemed to have a great time. I became the official photographer of the evening's festivities, so here's a few of the images captured.

The birthday girl arrives!

Party People in the house!


Cameo appearance by Spencer Douglass himself!

Leave it to me to say something cheeky.  ; )

Cake!



Peter Panda arrives!

Group shot!


After festivities at the Armani Bar calmed down, it was time for the afterparty.  We decided to grab a bite to eat and do some karaoke. So it was off to Wan Chai to continue the adventure, and what an adventure! 

I have no picture evidence, but it was at the dumpling house that I got into my first "almost fight" in Hong Kong.  Some local thugs and punks at a nearby table were causing all manner of ruckus while we were trying to enjoy some good food and conversation among friends.  After they ignored a polite request to keep the noise down, ShellZee wasn't having anymore of it.  She gave them a piece of her mind. 

Next thing you know both tables of people are on their feet.  All kinds of trash talk goes on in English and Cantonese.  At this point, scenes from the "Young and Dangerous" movies start flying through my mind and I'm half expecting one of them to pull a machete at any moment.  Meanwhile, I'm hanging back a little in optimal chair swinging distance, in case I gotta crack one on a muthaf*cka. 

ShellZee, on the other hand, has no fear.  She walks up right into the fray and gets in some bitch's face.  Glad ShellZee was on my side, because she don't take shit from no one.  Meanwhile back at the table, I'm taking mental note of how many empty bottles of Blue Girl are on the table in case I need to start smashing off the bottoms and going for the jugular.

Eventually the waitstaff got off their asses to try to calm the situation down.  They kicked those punks out the front door.  Yeah!  Respect this fool!

Then they show us the back VIP door so that we don't have to deal with those punks anymore.

After that, it was off to Penthouse Sky Lounge for karaoke.  We tore up the mic for the rest of the night. 


Big ups to Maggie and her crew that were working the DJ booth and running tracks for us to sing.  Although at one point she started making requests for me to sing Backstreet Boys loves songs for her.  What can I say, who am I to deny the requests of a lovely lady?
 
AJ McLean eat your f*ckin heart out.


For more pics, check out the album.