austra L asia 1157
"In this film, I felt I was a star...a Casa Dourada"
MACAU: 8th June 2005: Macau has long been dubbed 'The Pearl of the Orient', but a story that has gripped what is now the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau is a golden story. 'A Casa Dourada' was written by four young inmates of Macau's Coloane Prison. The title means 'In the Golden House'. The book took Macau by storm, the first edition quickly selling out. Then came the stage version and finally, thanks to the inspiration of Fr Peter Ho, Rector of Macau's Salesian Institute, and the backing of the Salesian Family through the Don Bosco Youth Network, the film.
Salesian Institute, it should be known, is the very first school in the East Asia-Oceania region, founded by Fr. Versiglia (St. Louis Versiglia by now) in 1906. The centenary, therefore, will be next year.
By the time the initial scenes of the film were being shot last year, two of the inmate authors were no longer in prison. The other two continue to serve their term. Their story appealed so much to Fr Ho that he thought of it immediately in educational terms. There is a context of course - there always is. Macau, in physical terms a rather small city by any standards, has no fewer than 17 casinos built or being built. This is a huge challenge to values, especially for young people who can find work and the promise of 'cheap gold'' from that source. 'Golden Houses' had already meant many things to so many young people in the city - what if the 'Casa Dourada' story could be filmed, and what if students from the Institute could be the actors?
In fact, in the now completed cinema version, the real protagonists appear, but their physical identity is protected. Instead, in full view of the camera are four students from Salesian Institute. Part of the film was shot at the prison. The actors had a chance to also converse with those they were playing. "I felt I was a star" said Wong Cheok Hon, admitting that he had already had considerable interest in stage acting but found cinema acting so much easier. Tong Wai Chon, on the other hand, had no previous acting experience and in fact took the auditions as a bit of fun, not seriously expecting to be chosen. But he has an excellent memory, he discovered.
The premiere of the film took place towards Christmas time last year, but the story does not finish so easily, since its real characters are real people. Their story has touched many young lives. Fr Ho has seen to it that a fund has been established to help them continue their studies and to make something of their lives. And whether in or out of prison, it would seem that these real heroes have fully changed their lives. There is a book, a stage play, a DVD to prove it.
For more information, you may wish to contact Fr Ho directly at pedroho02@yahoo.com.hk
VOCABULARY
to dub: to give as a name or nickname
_______________
"In this film, I felt I was a star...a Casa Dourada"
MACAU: 8th June 2005: Macau has long been dubbed 'The Pearl of the Orient', but a story that has gripped what is now the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau is a golden story. 'A Casa Dourada' was written by four young inmates of Macau's Coloane Prison. The title means 'In the Golden House'. The book took Macau by storm, the first edition quickly selling out. Then came the stage version and finally, thanks to the inspiration of Fr Peter Ho, Rector of Macau's Salesian Institute, and the backing of the Salesian Family through the Don Bosco Youth Network, the film.
Salesian Institute, it should be known, is the very first school in the East Asia-Oceania region, founded by Fr. Versiglia (St. Louis Versiglia by now) in 1906. The centenary, therefore, will be next year.
By the time the initial scenes of the film were being shot last year, two of the inmate authors were no longer in prison. The other two continue to serve their term. Their story appealed so much to Fr Ho that he thought of it immediately in educational terms. There is a context of course - there always is. Macau, in physical terms a rather small city by any standards, has no fewer than 17 casinos built or being built. This is a huge challenge to values, especially for young people who can find work and the promise of 'cheap gold'' from that source. 'Golden Houses' had already meant many things to so many young people in the city - what if the 'Casa Dourada' story could be filmed, and what if students from the Institute could be the actors?
In fact, in the now completed cinema version, the real protagonists appear, but their physical identity is protected. Instead, in full view of the camera are four students from Salesian Institute. Part of the film was shot at the prison. The actors had a chance to also converse with those they were playing. "I felt I was a star" said Wong Cheok Hon, admitting that he had already had considerable interest in stage acting but found cinema acting so much easier. Tong Wai Chon, on the other hand, had no previous acting experience and in fact took the auditions as a bit of fun, not seriously expecting to be chosen. But he has an excellent memory, he discovered.
The premiere of the film took place towards Christmas time last year, but the story does not finish so easily, since its real characters are real people. Their story has touched many young lives. Fr Ho has seen to it that a fund has been established to help them continue their studies and to make something of their lives. And whether in or out of prison, it would seem that these real heroes have fully changed their lives. There is a book, a stage play, a DVD to prove it.
For more information, you may wish to contact Fr Ho directly at pedroho02@yahoo.com.hk
VOCABULARY
to dub: to give as a name or nickname
_______________
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