A film titled “When we met” (“與你相遇的日子”), co-produced by Guangzhou Sanxitang Film and Television Media Company Limited, Guangzhou Garfield Films Company Limited, the Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (commonly known in Cantonese as Kai Fong –UGAMM), Macao Internet Creative and Development Association (MICDA), and UTV Macau Internet Media Company Limited, held its lensing ceremony yesterday at Lisboeta Macau in Cotai.
A lensing ceremony marks the formal start of a film production.
According to a statement by the organisers yesterday, the film, jointly produced by Guangdong and Macau, is another “strong collaboration” after the international success of the film “Patio of Illusion” (“何以飛翔”), directed by Chen Shangshi.
Chen, who also directs the upcoming movie, pointed out in a speech during yesterday’s ceremony that different to “Patio of Illusion” that he directed in 2019 and in which he used “home” as the theme to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland, the movie “When we met” is themed on “love” and “companionship” as a metaphor showing the connection and love between Hengqin and Macau.
The story is about a male youngster from Macau who engages in social service work in Hengqin, where he meets a woman, who loves dancing, during his career struggle. Through their discussions of love and reality, career and ideals between the male and female protagonists, the story shows the fighting spirit of contemporary young people, according to the statement.
UGAMM President Chan Ka Leong said in his speech during the ceremony that the project aims to show the living environment and social landscape of Hengqin as important cultural carriers in an all-round and multi-angle approach through film, as well as local youngsters’ struggles in Hengqin and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), so as to encourage more local residents and even those from elsewhere in the country to settle down and work in Hengqin.
Lei Minqiang, the producer of the movie, said during his speech that the film was being shot in both Hengqin and Macau, of which the part shot in Hengqin was completed on Tuesday night, while the part in Macau will be shot at Lisboeta Macau in Cotai, adding he hoped that the movie would be able to present Macau’s unique culture through the hotel resort’s “rich” local “classic” elements.
Lei said he expected the film to be completed within this year and to be released next year.
The organisers and crew of a film entitled “When we met”, including the film’s director Chen Shangshi ( left), producer Lei Minqiang (third from left) and Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations President Chan Ka Leong (fourth from left), pose during yesterday’s lensing ceremony at Lisboeta Macau in Cotai. Lawmaker Angela Leong On Kei (eighth from left) also attended the ceremony. Leong chairs the board of Macau Theme Park & Resort, which owns Lisboeta Macau. – Photo: Yuki Lei
