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In a spoof of this weekend’s Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, four London volunteers were given an inaugural Golden Pig Award at the launch of Community Channel’s new short film Lai See (Red Envelope), at the Curzon Cinema in London’s Chinatown earlier today.
Coinciding with the Chinese New Year festivities, celebrities such as Jimmy Choo OBE and Ade Adepitan MBE were present to watch the premiere of Lai See, which shows 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 various communities across the UK, including London’s Chinese community, to realize the positive aspects of volunteering.
The Golden Pigs were handed out to four volunteers: Effy Ali, 35, who volunteers for the London Tigers football team; John Corteen, 72, volunteer puppy socialiser at Hearing Dogs For The Deaf; Ken Moc, 25, is a volunteer at the Camden Chinese Community Centre and Justine Tusabe, a volunteer at the Royal Free Hospital.
Acting as an antidote to the 79th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) ceremony in LA on February 25th, Community Channel’s event celebrated the UK’s real ‘stars’ by giving volunteers from across the country the full red carpet treatment prior to the screening. These unsung heroes of London’s community were given Golden Pigs in recognition of the spirit of giving associated with the characteristics of the Year of the Pig.
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 .
Lai See can be seen on Community Channel at the following times:
Thursday 22nd February at 11.30pm, Friday 23rd February at 8.30pm and Sunday 25th February at 7.10pm. The film can also be seen online and on city centre screens, railway stations and on buses.
-ENDS-
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.
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 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). 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.
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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