It's behind the movie cameras where the real action takes place. The filmmaking process is a carefully choreographed series of production dance steps involving scriptwriting, location scouting, props, wardrobe, film set construction, lighting design, actor castings, rehearsals, transportation, scheduling, and the all-important craft services (food for the filmmaking team). Take a peek behind the movie curtain with this short Behind-the-Scenes video.
**American film director, Craig McCourry’s World War II trilogy: Christmas at the Royal Hotel (released in 2018), Hong Kong 1942 (releasing in July 2021, Battlebox (currently in post-production and will be released in 2022).
***Movie Production Credits***
Battlebox
Synopsis:
In 1941, Hong Kong is the Eastern Fortress of the British Empire. With the sudden attack by Japanese forces, three intertwined stories unravel against the backdrop of a collapsing city. First, the story of two Chinese sisters, one who works as a courtesan, the other inside British military headquarters known as the Battlebox, become swept up in a botched spy operation. Second, a tight band of Rajput soldiers on the Gin Drinkers Line becomes trapped in a Japanese ambush, requiring an act of bravery to save the others. Third, an unnerving fog-of-war descends upon Major-General Maltby and his top officers as they struggle with the decision to either fight to the death or offer a humiliating surrender of the British Colony.
Starring: Mira Leung, Jai Day, Michael Szuc, Lucia Lam, Alexander Zorn, Inderjeet Singh, Aryaman Jain, Anthony Chan Yui Keung
Supporting Actors: Nick Ford, Stuart Woods, Cyril Ma, Alan Chang, Margaret Lee, Evelyn Wang, Bowie Wing Wai Chan, Carmen Doida, David Li, Clive Miners, Rex Yiu, Kannie Chung, Kathy Wen, Marc Rooney, Covin Cheng, Michelle Ng, Jasmine Lam, Amod Kumar Rai, Benjamin L. O'Neill, Kathy Mak, Paresh Nyati, Callum Chan, Michael Worboys, Charlene Hua, Jenny Chan, Patrick Brousseau, Mark Sung, Catherine Mang, Carlo Go, Jecky Irawan, Neela Gioswami, Neil Ward, Alok Jain, Eugene Hsiang, Taine Elson, Gordon Struthers, Yip Chan Wai, Iwan Wai Fung Mok, Morgan Guth, Timothy Rankin, Lee Jean Chang Jenson, Yuen Man Nok, Anson Snedden D’Costa, Stefan Antonic
Written & Directed by Craig McCourry
Executive Producers: Kathy Wen, Stuart Woods, Clive Miners, Craig McCourry
Producers: Grace Yan Yan Mak, Gordon Struthers, Teacup Productions, Sandra McCourry-Oldaker
Director of Photography: William Kwok
Camera Operators: Sherman Leung, Craig McCourry, William Wong
Aerial Drone Photography: William Wong, Wesley Yip Chan Wai
Sound Recordists: Eric Low, Wesley Yip Chan Wai
Boom Operators: Benjamin Robinson, Craig Addison
Film set designers & builders: Stuart Woods, Clive Miners, Gordon Struthers
Gaffers: William Wong, Kwan Kwun Leong
Additional dialogue/Historical consultant: Tony Banham
Historical consultant: Bill Lake
Military uniform advisor: Taine Elson
Makeup & Hair: Josephine Vibar
Production assistant: Jasmine Lam
Special Thanks: Michael Tse, Leigh Hardwick
Production status: In Post Production
Estimated completion: Early 2022
Period Drama / English language / 4K / 90 minutes (estimated)
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Hong Kong 1942
Synopsis:
In 1942, Hong Kong is under Japanese occupation. But unbeknownst to the Japanese, British agents are operating inside the city. Ling (Franchesca Wong), a beautiful Chinese dancer who works at the Pearl Club is part of the resistance. For Ling, it’s personal, as her brother Covin (Monty Lo) is being held prisoner inside a POW camp. Covin is dying and desperately needs penicillin to save his life. Charles (Alex Pychtin), posing as a Swedish national, has set up a clandestine smuggling operation to help funnel food and medicine to the allied prisoners. Unfortunately, a run-in with Norimoto (Siu-Hay Yip), the Japanese camp commander, arouses suspicions about Charles's activities. When Ling gets injured on a mission to Cheung Chau, a bond starts to form between Charles and Ling. But the Kenpeitai (Military Police Corps) investigation turns up the heat as their illicit operations start to unravel. Ling feels trapped, as escaping from Hong Kong means leaving her brother behind. For love, for a future, a price for freedom will have to be paid.
Starring: Franchesca Wong, Alex Pychtin, Siu-Hay Yip, Stanley Lui, Kristina Pakhomova, Monty Lo, Michael Szec, Bill Aitchison, Indy Chun leung Lee and Ashley Leung.
Supporting actors: Nick Ford, Bill Lake, Kathy Mak, Long-yin Wong, Wilfred Pereira, Bowie Wing Wai Chan, Henry Tang, Stacy Wong, Yip Chan Wai, Iwan Wai Tung Mok, Mak Chi Piu David, Aaron Luk Kwan Lam, Melissa Po, Kannie Chung, Jiaming Daniel Zhang, Stuart Woods, Leung Yuk Wa, Matthew Cheung, Aryaman Jain, Lucinda McDonald, Michael Park, Toh Han Shih, Rita Thao, Michael Yang, Rose Tsang, Kwan Kwun Leong, Serena Kong, Timothy Rankin, Klair Ng, Harriet Hei Yan Yeung, Kwong Ying Ying, Kathy Wen, Yueh Man Bun, Endo Eita, Eric Wan, Iris Tai, David Pierre, Jecky Irawan, Christy Demetrio-Donahue, Nazareth Lee, Covin Cheng, Viola Tang, Tim Tsui, Vickie Monthong, Frederick Lau, Helen Louise Norton, Lai Mui Ng, David Li Hoi Yuk , Alexander Zorn, Cyril Ma, Mike Powers, Kristy Pang, Callum Chan, Raymond Ng, Yu Wing Shan Ashley, Anthony Chan Yui Keung, Roy Tan, Taine Elson, Geneve Ku, Chang Leung Kitty Norika, Veronica Chan Ho Ting, Chun Him Wong, Lo Kwong-yue, Chau Tan Fung, Wong ka yu Leo, Lam Tsz Fung, Canetti Chung, Yolanda Li Yuen Tung, Carmen Doida, Chow Hoi shing Aero
Written & Directed by Craig McCourry
Directors of Photography: Wai Lun Kwok, Craig McCourry
Music Composers: Katie So, David Mak
Additional music by: Diego A. R. Delfino
Camera operators: Aaron Luk Kwan Lam, William Wong
Camera gimbal operator: Aaron Luk Kwan Lam
Drone camera operator: Lam Ka-Leung
Assistant camera: Lawrence Wong
Gaffers: Kwan Kwun leong, William Wong
Sound Designer: Anthony Yeung
Sound: Wesley Yip Chan Wai, Eric Low, Isobel Shahzneen Saunders, Celia Lai, Matthew Barr
Movie props: Clive Miners, Stuart Woods
Art Department: Jacky Fong, Misaki Nagaoka, Rachel Wong Man Ting, Isobel Shahzneen Saunders, Bianca Habana, Kit Phuong
Visual Effects: Marc Anthony C. Parra, Dhaneesh KJ, Aleksandr Shadrin, Amir Mallek
Military Historical Advisors: Bill Lake, Rusty Tsoi
Costume Supervisor: Rebekah Scott
Makeup by Cathy Zhang, Sandy Image
Production assistants: Naz Lee, Everett Mellish
Special thanks: Stuart Woods, Clive Miners, Leigh Hardwick, Dave Willott, Florian Knothe, Sarah Ng, Bryan Ong, Andrew Junker, Wil Cheung, Chelsea Choi
Period Drama / English language / 4K / 99 minutes
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Christmas at the Royal Hotel
Synopsis:
Christmas at the Royal Hotel tells the story of the 1941 Battle of Hong Kong. In an attempt to fortify the military defensive lines, a large contingent of Canadian soldiers sailed to the shores of this far-flung British colony. One of the Canadian soldiers named Tom (Harry Oram) checks into the Royal Hotel, a slightly defunct establishment full of war profiteers, refugees and spies. At the hotel, Tom meets a mysterious Chinese lady named Mayling (Lydia Lee Tang) who works for the South China News Agency. Mayling is haunted by the ongoing war in China, especially after her husband goes missing during a secret meeting with some Chinese revolutionaries. Mayling’s quest for answers leads her to a Mr. Cheung (Wil Cheung), a hard-nosed political operator with uncertain loyalties. It is within this vortex of intrigue that a young hotel maid named Lily (Ashley Leung) has stumbled onto hard times since losing contact with her family in China. In her struggle for a hopeful future, Lily makes plans to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday with someone who has captured her heart. On December 8th, the sudden Japanese attack on Hong Kong changes everything. The fighting goes badly for the British, as the Japanese forces quickly gain the upper hand. It soon becomes apparent to Tom, Mayling, and Lily that Hong Kong will fall to the Japanese. In a city on the verge of collapse, these desperate survivors must make hard sacrifices as the sword of fate drops without fear or favor. Some promises will never be kept during Hong Kong’s darkest hour.
Starring: Harry Oram, Lydia Lee Tang and Ashley Leung
Supporting Actors: Wil Cheung, Michael Szuc, Vimal Vaz, Parker Chen, George John Alex, Nick Daryanani, Perrie Kapernaros, Jai Day, Rayve Zen, Jane Choi, Irene Ching, Ines Laimins, Leo Ou-fan Lee, Jessica Yeung, Cyril Ma, Nis Gron, Nick Ford, Denis Moldovean, Felix Chang, Paul Cox, Bowie Chan, Bosco Wong, Mike Yip, Monty Lo, Tom Lau, Davis Lam.
Written & Directed by Craig McCourry
Produced by Grace Yan Yan Mak
Cinematography by Craig McCourry & William Kwok
Music by Katie So & David Mak
Costume Design by Kenix Ho & Rebekah Scott
Makeup by Bianca Habana & Jenn Leung
Sound by Summer Greich, Ansh Grey, Remy Lam & Naz Lee
Military Consultant ~ Bill Lake
Period Drama / English language / 4K / 108 minutes
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