The stupidity of smoking
The smoking ban implemented in Hong Kong on January 1 has been one of the most important news events so far this year. It is a major step towards clearing the air and protecting people from second-hand smoke.
While there has been a heated debate about the ban was a good move, some have found humour in the issue. One group even decided to make a cartoon about it.
Five university students - Cynthia Leung King-ha, Liu Chun-fo, Kan Wing-ho, Tsang Kwok-lun and Benny Yau Yui-chit, aged from 20 to 25 - got together in August last year. They made Life After Nicotine, an animation about smoking, which they submitted to the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards (IFVA).
'It started off with the three boys [Liu, Kan and Yau] hoping to create an entry for the awards this year. They entered last year, but didn't make it to the finals,' said Leung, speaking on behalf of the group.
Their work has been selected by judges as one of 10 finalists in the IFVA animation category.
'Clearly, the smoking ban was going to be a major event this year, which will also affect people our age. With that in mind, we wanted to make something that was fun, something that would entertain the public,' said the Baptist University student.
'The central theme is how harmful smoking is. It starts off with a bit of history about tobacco and how cavemen used it. That part was fun to make, because one of us had to imitate a caveman dancing around a fire,' she laughed.
Armed with A4 paper, pencil and lightboxes, the five spent more than two months cramped in a 150-square-foot room working on their masterpiece.
'At first we wanted to avoid animation, because we knew it would be very difficult. But the story evolved in such a way that the only way of telling our story was through animation,' she said.
'At the end, the main character turns off the TV, draws the curtains and lights up a cigarette. He drops dead with a bang.
'This represents the fact that smoking affects you in one of two ways - death will get you, or the government will,' Leung said.
All finalists' works will be shown at the IFVA Festival at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai from March 16 to 25.
