HK Magazine: How long have you been working with the dead?
Fanny Leung: I started my business around 20 years ago, but I’ve been working in the field for over 30 years. My father, who had been in the undertaking business since 1952, introduced me. He has had a major influence on me, but I believe it is fate—a feeling that pen and paper simply can’t describe—and also passion that has driven
me to continue what I do.
If you’ve had a family bereavement, then funeral director Fanny Leung can help to ease the transition for dead and mourning alike. She tells Kiki Elijandy about ceremonies, Chinese burial customs, and the occasional ghost.
HK Magazine: How did the idea of St. Baldrick’s Day come about?
St. Baldrick’s Foundation organizes international charity events where volunteers shave their heads to raise money for childhood cancer research. Richard Kligler, the managing director in Hong Kong, speaks to HK Magazine about the foundation’s conception and accomplishments.
HK Magazine: What was your motivation for doing your exhibition, “Full Blown 80s”?
Few artists could boast of being both young enough to do a childhood retrospective on the 1980s, and good enough to have their work hand-picked by Barack Obama for his personal collection. But Nelson Cabán is no run-of-the-mill painter. His work is as colorful as it is political, and he sat down with Sean Hebert to discuss his philosophy of art, his inspirations and his observations on life in Hong Kong.
HK: Where does the name “dai kum jeh” come from?
From checklists to manners, “dai kum jehs” are there to make sure nothing goes wrong on your big day. Victoria Wong talks to Lisa Ng Ching-man and Terry Yeung Wai-hing
of Joyful Wedding about what these “wedding nannies” do to calm down nervous brides.
I was born and grew up in upstate New York in Albany. I have five older brothers.
I was invited to Hong Kong in 1983 by [film producer] Nansun Shi, who is the wife of the director Tsui Hark. Back in the ‘80s they had one of the most successful film companies [in Hong Kong]—it was called Cinema City.
She found a picture of my brother Russell, [and] flew us over for a screen test, because they were looking for new artists to act in their films. Next thing we knew we were on a plane to Hong Kong.
A stalwart of the Hong Kong film industry for more than two decades, actor Michael Wong is also a father of three and a keen pilot. He sits down with Andrea Lo on his birthday to talk about his on-screen career, his passion for aviation, and what makes Hong Kong great.
HK Magazine: The two of you originally planned to do just one show in Hong Kong, not three. I heard a rumor that your first show sold out in 30 minutes.
Sonia Lee: Less, I think. Hong Kong broke the record—Thailand sold out in 15 minutes but we sold out here in 10 minutes.
In 2008, twins Janice and Sonia Lee began posting videos on YouTube of themselves singing acoustic covers from their bedroom in Australia, unaware of the millions of followers, recording contracts, television appearances and multi-date international tours that would follow. Together they are Jayesslee, and Sean Hebert tracked them down earlier in the month during their three-gig swing through town. They discuss their start, making it online and their surprising reception in Hong Kong.
I grew up all around Australia. My dad traveled a lot for work. Most of my time was spent in Victoria.
I moved to Hong Kong in 2005. I had been here for a couple of modeling contracts prior to that. Before I decided to move here I had actually decided to stop modeling and go back to Australia. I was engaged at the time; I had a big falling out with him and my agency in Hong Kong kept bugging me to come back and live [here], so I just picked up and left.
Model and TV host Cara Grogan, aka Cara G., is a fixture in the local entertainment industry and also the co-founder of The Genie Concept, a natural raw juice company. Fresh from her wedding in Thailand, she sits down with Andrea Lo to talk about her modeling career, living in Hong Kong—and her dream of being a barefoot jungle girl.
HK Magazine: How did you begin your career as a DJ?
Ahead of his gig in Hong Kong, Dutch house DJ Afrojack tells Andrea Lo about his career, his top artists… and electropop.
I was born in London. I grew up in Hong Kong, went on to Nottingham University to study law and then I came back and did my postgrad at the University of Hong Kong.
Both my parents grew up in Hong Kong, and they flew to London so that I could be born [there]. They weren’t sure what would happen after the handover. My mom had a Hong Kong passport at the time and my dad has a British passport.
The captain of the Hong Kong Sevens team that made it to the Bowl final this year, Rowan Varty chats to Andrea Lo about his career in rugby, his day job as a lawyer, being a Hong Kong citizen—and why partying at the Sevens is essential.
HK Magazine: Tell me, how did you get into the film industry?
Kiyoshi Kurosawa: When I was very young, I loved watching films. I made some films with an 8mm camera when I was in university and I don’t remember how or when, but it became my work. In the 1970’s or 80’s the film industry in Japan was not that popular or very rewarding, but university students who filmed with an 8mm camera had a chance to present themselves. I think it was lucky that I was able to join the film industry when I did.
Famed Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa has won countless awards throughout his long career, and is perhaps best known for repeatedly forcing fans of his horror films to sleep with the lights on. He appeared at this year’s HKIFF as one of four auteurs at the helm of “Beautiful 2013”; a collection of short films made specifically for this year’s event. Christopher Mellen sat down with him to discuss his origins in cinema, this project and how his approach to filmmaking has evolved.
