Hong Kong arts centre DV films

DV, it seems, has met an enthusiastic reception in the Hong Kong. That, in itself, is not news. But what's interesting is how young film-makers are starting to use DV to express themselves. In a movie scene where independent film-makers face an uphill struggle, DV could be just the thing to give the fledgling scene a boost. This programme is a compilation of DV films promoted by the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Schoolgirl Monica Lee's 17 1/2 is an example of how a young film-maker can seize a new, relatively accessible piece of technology and use it to make a personal statement. Lee's fictional film, which she shot in a borrowed Sony PC-7, tells of a girl's pain when she is rejected by her best friend, who has found a boyfriend. Made with the technical help of her father, the 23-minute silent film, reveals a good grounding in the mechanics of cinema, and is sensitive and poignant to boot.