Movie Fanatic Ronald Mak
Ronald Mak, 28, goes to almost every movie premiere in town. He’s no celebrity or special guest, but a movie fan with an impressive collection of premiere tickets who hangs around the exit asking departing viewers for their stubs, and applies for every ticket giveaway he can find. We caught up with him at the premiere of "The Myth."
HK Magazine: Why did you start collecting tickets?
Ronald Mak: I collect only tickets to premieres and previews and ticket-exchange coupons. These are the most valuable ones. I originally started collecting photos and tickets printed with artist’s faces; my favorites are Chow Yun-fat, Jacky Cheung and Stephen Chow. They are stars that make you proud of the local film industry. But once I went to more of these functions I started collecting more.
HK: Do you apply for newspaper giveaways to premieres?
RM: Yes. That’s the only way I can get into these functions, but I suspect the publications recognize my name and address and they sometimes ignore my applications. Even if you get a reply, you must spend a couple of hours lining up at their office. But me and other 10 collectors help each other out. We clip giveaways from newspapers everyday, and each of us carries a stationery kit containing envelopes, pens, glue and scissors.
HK: You must be a premiere pro. Tell us some wacky scenes.
RM: Well, I don’t understand why it’s always the same people at these functions. They’re not even famous - just wannabe actors and micro-celebrities who rarely appear on the big screen. I wonder what are these people do in their lives when they’re not at any publicity functions.
HK: Do all viewers give you their tickets?
RM: Not really. Some want to keep the special ones, and some think we will sell them on eBay so they won’t give them to us. I can’t stand people who say they threw away their tickets inside – how could they do that? They’re valuable. But the worst is when they don’t even look at us and wave us away.
HK: What’s your goal in collecting tickets?
RM: It’s a good question because I’ve never thought about it. There are premieres and previews every week, and as long as there are film screenings, I will be greeting viewers at the door. My collection occupies 70 percent of my room. I think I’m addicted.
HK: What will you do when you run out of space for your collection?
RM: I don’t think about that. I just want more and more. You know for big films, each has different kinds of tickets; one set for previews, one set for premieres and there are different colors for different houses or venues, so I have to collect the whole set. I get very frustrated when I can’t. The feeling is indescribable – like I’ve failed a mission. That’s why we always ask for more so we can use them for exchanges in the future. This is a really hardcore habit: once you start you can’t stop.