Vintage Vibes
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jan 17, 2024
- 2 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDIO - 10:00
Surrounded by guitars and amplifiers, PETER is having screen time.
PETER (V.O.): Through the Facebook feed, many MVs in the 1960s have been recommended me.
Finishing watching MV#1.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I gather they are based on my interests and behaviour, while also allowing me to discover relevant items.
Watching MV#2
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, it's CCR...
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): When I learned to play bar chords, I played the opening distinctive guitar riff of their song "Proud Mary".
We hear from Peter's mobile a series of quick percussive strums on electric guitar.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, it's "Who'll Stop the Rain"...
Act 2
FLASHBACK
INT. SHUNG TAK COLLEGE - DAY (1970)
Variety show. On stage with a band called "The Meteors", Peter (16) plays lead electric guitar, strumming percussive sounds in the chords of G, Em, G...
PETER (V.O.): I bet the audience can't tell they're my interpretation of the song's riff.
Then, we hear JOHN (17) singing: Long as I remember...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): He chooses to sing it; and I find it easy to play.
After hearing and seeing DAVID (17) doing a series of drum rolls, they all sing: Who'll stop the rain?
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): With our emulation of a hit by an influential US band, we won a prize in the competition.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): But I did very poorly in my College exams.
FLASHBACK
INT. SHUNG TAK COLLEGE - DAY (After the 1970 variety show)
Getting his report, Peter sees nearly all marks are in red.
PETER (V.O.): My overall academic grading is "D+"?
Checking the legend, we see "D" is Poor.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Is there still positivity in my poor performance?
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I turned around and refocused on my public exams in May 1971.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Later, when I was reading my matriculation, some classmates were eager to play the guitar and sing in the School's 1971 variety show, I Iay low.
Smiling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): And now, whenever an MV triggers my memory of a catchy tune, I'd find out who were the music composer and the lyrics author.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Without their creative effort, there is no song to sing or to interpret at all.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): At the creative level, the skill sets for composing music and writing lyrics aren't the same, although some individuals can handle both well.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I admire bands that write and perform their own songs. I sympathize those who have to sell their songs to others' to sing.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): And I'd try to find out what inspires the composer/author to create the song.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): And even popular songs can fade into obscurity as tastes change over time and there is always competition in every way.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I've been trying to create works with timeless appeal, as my time isn't timeless.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): As a lone creator and promoter, I challenge my limits every day.
Act 3
INT. STUDIO - 22:30
Working on a laptop, Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Vantage Vibes..." into a draft.
PETER (V.O.): To me, vintage conjures up images and associations particularly from 1964 -1970, when I followed my passion wholeheartedly.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): The vibes then and now are the same and different - there's continuity despite the passage of time.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Attempting to set a trend blending the old with the new in artistic expressions, vintage vibes always resonate with me.
FADE OUT
THE END
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