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  • Red Light Goes Red

    Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 11:14PM / Members only

    It's been a month of auditions, and "Red Light Revolution" finally has its principal cast locked. What a relief! Now the hard work begins. We've got actors from "Mao's Last Dancer", "Kungfu Kid", "City of Life and Death", and "Gasp" onboard; whatsmore, in keeping with the name, Red Light is shooting on the RED, rather fitting I reckon. The clock is ticking as we push this steam train towards it's production start date - just a few days away now. Here's a few shots from the recent madness; a madness that's about to get even madder!


    Awaiting auditions on the roof of a theatre in Beijing.


    Our little audition room, very quaint attic style.


    We have a printed script, and it's bound! And actors to boot - it's moving along.


    Going over the location photos with Yi Fan (D.P) and Guo Shiming (1st A.D).


    Rehearsals are under way.




    Our casting director Yang Yang goes over the sides.


    Meetings with production and cast.



  • Red Light Auditions Underway

    Wednesday, Sep 16, 2009 11:10PM / Members only

    Preliminary auditions are underway in an attic above a Beijing theatre. We're there from morning to night, preparing for the upcoming Chinese-language indie film "Red Light Revolution"! Check out some of the photos below: we've seen dozens of actors so far, and are having a blast. So far I'm really knocked out by the performances from the older actors in particular .  I was worried they might not get the risque humour of the film, but these guys get the jokes instantly.  We've had people come in from "Kungfu Kid", "Mao's Last Dancer", "Wheat"; a great line-up, can't wait to start putting this baby to film. Thanks to my buddies Ming, Yang Yang,  and Haitao for all their hard work!
















  • "Red Light" Location Scouting

    Tuesday, Sep 8, 2009 10:38PM / Members only

    It's been a SUPER busy last couple of weeks, with most days spent running or biking around town location scouting for "Red Light Revolution". After my 1970's Flying Pigeon bicycle was stolen, I've had to get a new bike, an early '80s Shanghai Forever bicycle. I've ridden my new old-school bike from the far West of Beijing (Wudaokou), to the far North East (Huantie). Pretty much everyday I'm on my bike with a stills camera, taking photos of potential locations for the film. Here's a sample of some of the nicer/wackier picks from my daily excursions!


    Crazy stairs in a gallery in Huantie.


    Empty trucks sit beneath the 5th ring road.


    Sunset approaches in a quiet alley near Yonghegong temple.


    The muddy road slowly dries under the afternoon sun (nearby the former Super Bar Street).


    A security guard plays with a stick on top of a heap of rubble near the North Korean embassy.


    Same guard, different angle. He was just digging into the dirt, rather slow day on the job I take it.


    A worker prepares a slab of wall for the blue-screen set in an art district in South East Beijing. Turns out it's the same company that did the equipment rental on "Walking the Dead", small world.


    Some fun graffiti in Huantie.


    More fun graffiti in Caochangdi.


    A classic picture that's part of an excellent gallery exhibit in Caochangdi: Nixon hands out ice-cold Tsingtao beers to surprised folks on a Mainland China train.


    One of my friends looks at an exhibit in Caochangdi.

  • Shooting Sand's New Music Video: 沙子MV

    Friday, Aug 28, 2009 6:52PM / Members only

    I just had the opportunity to be the cameraman on the new music video for Beijing indie rock & blues band, Sand (沙子). I first shot an MV for Sand back in 2001, right after their first album, "Star Falling on My Head", was released. For that MV we shot mostly on the empty streets of Beijing in the late hours of the night, the band members running around banging their instruments in the middle of the empty streets. This time, we went for a more dreamy, old-school theatre-look. And we shot it all in one of the lead singer's apartments! Two full days all up, 16 hours a day.


    Before the shoot can start we have to cover the walls with black cloth, turning the room into a little do-it-yourself black box. To do this we use gaffer tape, taking off a fair bit of the newly painted walls I must say! For the windows we use extra thick garbage bags.


    All the actors wear masks in this MV. We even set one mask on fire (when the actor wasn't wearing it). I thought this music video was a mix between "Eyes Wide Open" and "Open Your Eyes"/"Vanilla Sky". Kinda creepy.


    Tom is that you? An "Open Your Eyes" moment. That's Liu Dong, Sand's lead singer.


    Old school, low-budget shooting. Comes off great on camera, great blacks and whites.


    Setting up the mini-jib on the dolly for some high angle shots. We used rugs so as to not destroy the lead singer's brand new wooden floor. You can see the garbage bags in the background, blocking the daylight.


    When we were using the jib I had to manually pull for zoom. Not ideal. The problem was that my jeans would then get in the shot during the take. We solved this problem by dressing me in a black blanket. The contrast of the blacks aren't as noticeable, you can't tell - hopefully.


    The director looks on.

    I'll try to post the MV up when it's all edited. Sand's new album (literal-translation "A World Which Long Ago Became a Fairy-Tale") is available now.
  • Wrapped on the German Film: 德国电影

    Monday, Aug 3, 2009 2:03PM / Members only

    I've just wrapped production on the German feature film I mentioned in my last entry; I've been amazed at the similarities between words and phrases in English and German! For example:

    English: What is this?
    German: Was ist das?

    So you can pick up the basic topic of a conversation every once and a while! I also got to meet one of the actors from one of my favourite German movies, "The Edukators". Here's a few picks from the shoot, which took us from Beijing into the panda reserve in Sichuan!



    Obligatory panda photoes. These guys remind me of koalas, not only are they vegetarians, they also climb to the tops of trees and take long siestas, just like koalas.





    For those who want to get closer to the pandas: take your photo on a rocking chair with your favourite baby panda, stylish dress-ware compliments of the panda reserve.



    Pandas take it easy at the "Panda Kindergarten". Check out the panda about to climb the see-saw in the right of frame. Seeing pandas playing on a see-saw, going up and down, was quite a sight! That's the camera crane top of frame.



    Near the front deck, with the captain on the boat. We are on our way to film the giant Buddha.



    This Buddha is really quite a sight, so are the number of tourists, who, from a distance, seem to crawl all over the giant structure like ants. There are ferries dropping off tourists every few minutes!



    Earlier in Beijing, outdoor scenes on a muggy day.



    At the airport, which has a very, very high roof, great for crane shots.



    It's a wrap! All in all a very fun and worthwhile shoot! I was mistaken for being German on several occasions, a first for me!

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  • posted on Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 2:32PM  [Report]
    进入你的空间,感觉不错,还会来的~~也会去多拜访你的作品!!
  • Official artist 
    posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 11:48PM  [Report]
    dude ... did u come to the lunch party on luly 2nd ?
  • Official artist 
    posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 7:37PM  [Report]
    Hi Sam,

    good to catch up at AND party!
  • Official artist 
    posted on Friday, Jun 26, 2009 6:28PM  [Report]
    Are you coming to the AND party on July 2nd? It's in Chaoyang Ximen's N°8 club... You should come! 7pm... Give me a call! :)
  • Official artist 
    posted on Thursday, Jun 25, 2009 7:59PM  [Report]
    sorry for late reply - weekend is gonna be tricky, when is that AND party? they pretty good?
  • Official artist 
    posted on Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 9:30PM  [Report]
    hey Sam, just in Henan coming back tomorrow - i'm keen for drinks, how about wed?
  • Official artist 
    posted on Thursday, Jun 18, 2009 10:59PM  [Report]
    I just watched Nanjing Nanjing... It was harder than I thought... Really powerful! You are lucky to have been a part of it!

    I'll call you next week, hope we'll find some time to get together mate!

    Stay cool! :)
  • Official artist 
    posted on Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009 9:54PM  [Report]
    hey Sam long time, i'm just getting going on this site - u still acting it up?
  • Official artist 
    posted on Sunday, Jun 14, 2009 4:52PM  [Report]
    I just bought Nanjing Nanjing... I'll watch it tonight!

    What about a beer next week with Tom and Murray? Let me know mate...

    Take care! :)
  • posted on Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:22AM  [Report]
    嗨,我是静静“遆静”,來你家觀光留一個腳印,希望你也常來我那裏哦,希望我們是好朋友。我就先不多寫啦,期待你成為我身邊的好朋友哦:)
    我部落格 http://alive.tom.com/520tijing
    http://tijing.spaces.live.com/
    http://user.qzone.qq.com/25492415?ptlang=2052
  • Official artist 
    posted on Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 8:57PM  [Report]
    When will you come back to Beijing? Are you still shooting your film in Guizhou?
  • Official artist 
    posted on Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 8:46AM  [Report]
    Watch Me trailer very creepy! I really like the bit about the walking backwards. Nice work!
  • Official artist 
    posted on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009 3:14PM  [Report]
    Yeah, thanks for the invitation mate!

    I'm going to have some free time soon... I'll call you then! :)

    Stay cool! :)
  • Official artist 
    posted on Sunday, Jan 25, 2009 2:33AM  [Report]
    Hey Sam,
    Thanks for your message. I'm glad you enjoyed your BD party. We should do it together next year!! :-)
  • Official artist 
    posted on Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 11:37AM  [Report]
    No problem mate! Tell me when you're free and I'll get there!

    Take care! :)
  • Official artist 
    posted on Friday, Jan 16, 2009 5:06PM  [Report]
    Hey Sam!
    Thanks for your invitation. Unfortunately, I'll be still in London then. Actually, my BD is also very close. We can do a party together next time! :-) Show me the pictures of your party later...
  • Official artist 
    posted on Thursday, Jan 1, 2009 5:29PM  [Report]
    Nice to hear from you mate!

    Happy 牛 year!

    Call me when you've got time... We should party! :)
  •  
    posted on Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008 4:30AM  [Report]
    HAPPY 2009!!.. =)
  • posted on Friday, Dec 26, 2008 9:24AM  [Report]
    Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and prosperous New Years!!
  • Official artist 
    posted on Wednesday, Dec 24, 2008 9:19PM  [Report]
    Hi Sam,
    Great to see you again via AnD this year!
    Wishing you a merry Xmas and a very happy 2009!
    Junichi
  • More comments >

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  • Sam (司马优) is a China-based actor and director. A graduate of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts, Sam was raised in Manila, Taipei, Beijing, as well as his native Australia...

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  • Occupation:  DirectorActor
  • Gender: Male
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