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Digital TV station Community Channel’s new short film, Lai See (Red Envelope), is being premiered in a glitzy opening at the Curzon Cinema in London’s Chinatown at 10.30am on Wednesday, 21st February.
Coinciding with the Chinese New Year festivities, Lai See is a surreal and funny fable about how volunteering can enrich someone’s life in surprising ways. The film is part of Community Channel’s Give More, Get More Volunteer campaign, which is reaching out to encourage Chinese communities to realize the positive aspects of volunteering.
Acting as an antidote to the 79th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) ceremony in LA on February 25th, Community Channel is celebrating the UK’s real ‘stars’ by giving volunteers from across the country the full red carpet treatment prior to the screening. Following the viewing of Lai See, Community Channel will then publicly recognise these unsung heroes of the UK’s community by giving them special Golden Pigs (instead of Academy Awards), in recognition of the spirit of giving associated with the characteristics of the Year of the Pig.
Stylistically shot, Lai See is written and directed by Paul Wu and evokes the aesthetics of Delicatessen and Kung Fu Hustle by blending the humorous with the surreal, and charms the audience to appreciate that getting involved in your community really can be rewarding. It features the talents of British-born Chinese actors Jon David Yu and Elizabeth Tan.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "I welcome the Community Channel’s screening of the film Lai See. The Year of the Pig embodies the positive spirit of volunteering and I would like to congratulate the people recognised today who make an outstanding contribution to the life of Londoners and people across the UK."
People who want to find out more and want to get involved in volunteering should call the helpline on 08000 681 800 or to speak to someone in Mandarin or Cantonese call 0845 122 8660.
See Lai See trailer, and nationwide by watching Community Channel at the following times: Wednesday, February 21st at 6pm, Thursday 22nd at 11.30pm, Friday 23rd at 8.30pm and Sunday 25th at 7.10pm.
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Notes to editors:
Community Channel is TV that gives a damn. It makes you think again about the world around you, and inspires you to take action on the causes and issues that matter to you. Broadcasting original shows, the best of terrestrial TV and showcasing the work of new directors and community programme makers; Community Channel is the place for real-life stories. The channel is broadcast 24 hours a day, every day on Sky 539, ntl:Telewest 233 and from 6-9am on Freeview 87. The channel is freely available to around 45 million people in 18.2 million homes across the country and around 1.2 million people watch every month (BARB). Community Channel is a Media Trust initiative.
Background to Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig:
At midnight on 17 February, the year of the Dog will end and 2007’s Year of the Pig will begin. According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar (the oldest chronographic record in history) it will be the year 4705.
Chinese New Year is one of the most colourful and vibrant occasions to be seen across the world and the UK is no exception. Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival (Chun Jie) traditionally lasts for fifteen days and on 18 February the national festivities will kick off in London at Trafalgar Square.
The significance of Lai See (Red Envelope):
A red envelope or red packet is a monetary gift which is given in Chinese society, more appropriately, the Han people. The name comes from the red envelope in which the money is contained. It is called lai si (also transcribed lai see) in Cantonese, Ang Pao in Min Nan/Taiwanese and Pung Pao in Hakka.
Red envelopes are often presented on social and family occasions such as a wedding reception or a holiday such as Chinese New Year (in which context it is also known as yāsuì qián, Traditional Chinese).
The purpose of the red packet is that the red color of the packet symbolizes good luck.
Pig Characteristics:
If you were born under the sign of the pig after early February in the years 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 then you are a pig and it is your year to celebrate.
People born in the Year of the Pig are honest, sincere and genuine. They have a heart of gold and everyone admires Pig people the most. They are called upon when sincere advice is needed and will always give a helping hand. Pig people are the best friend anyone can have. Fun loving and know how to throw a good party, but if rubbed up the wrong way they can be extremely vengeful. They can also be naive which allows others to take advantage of them. Pigs have a great thirst for knowledge and although they do not always say much when they do decide to speak nothing can stop them. Pigs believe that the perfect relationship is based on great friendship, making them great friends and lovers.
Famous Film People born in the Year of the Pig include:
• Alfred Hitchcock, Hollywood film maker
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and Governor of California
• David Letterman, Talk show host
• David Tennant, Actor
• Elton John, Singer
• Ewan McGregor, Actor
• Humphrey Bogart, Actor and star of Casablanca
• Jada Pinkett Smith, Actress
• Jenna Elfman, Actress
• Kevin Spacey, Actor
• Lucille Ball, Actress and comedian
• Rachel Weisz, Actress
• Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States
• Sacha Baron Cohen, British comedian better known as Ali G or Borat
• Steven Spielberg, Film Director
• Winona Ryder, American actress
• Woody Allen, Writer, director
For more information:
James Matheson, Community Channel / 020 7874 7651 / jamesm@communitychannel.org
Keith Winestein, Media Trust Campaigns / 020 7874 7608 / keithw@mediatrust.org
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