This is the initial post for The 2010 Golden Rock Hong Kong Film Awards live blog. Showtime is in about 110 minutes (we start at the red carpet show). I have added a live chat function on the right. So those who are interested feel free to join in before we start.

DISCLAIMER: This is a real-time, filter-less thoughts of the blogger.  If anyone is offended, feel free to skip a few posts, where I will choose someone else to offend.

19:30 - Red carpet coverage starting. Writer of House of Mahjong Lam Chiu Wing one of the guest host. Yay.

19:31 - Lam brags that they will only go to an ad every 30 minutes. Better hit the bathroom, everybody.

19:33 - red carpet is just a review of celebrities walking the red carpet. Host panel has no idea what to say. This is embarrassing.

19:35 - Fashion expert Walter Ma commenting over the red carpet footage is both awkward and hilarious. “Bau Hei Jing’s look is suitable for her age….”

19:37 - Was watching Now TV’s live coverage and Chapman To giving the hosts a hard time. “That’s what you get for doing live!”

19:39 - Ann Hui all smiles at the red carpet interview. “I’m very calm tonight. I don’t know why, I just am, hahaha”

19:41 - Commercial break. ATV being a poorer stations means cheaper - i.e. more hilarious - ads

19:43 - Blog a little quiet now because of pre-show. Come join the live chat instead!

19:46 - mysterious 4th member on the guest panel is a fortune teller!!!!

19:47 - “Kara Hui is from Shangdong, and Shangdong is having a great year this year!”

19:50 - Finally a shot of the venue. Ah, Cultural Center Grand Theatre, how I miss thee.

19:52 - “Anyone know who designed this year’s stage?” “Someone professional….”

19:55 - Fortune teller says Wang Xueqi has no chance. Simon Yam, on the other hand, is from Shandong!

19:57 - Show about to start. Juggling live blog and live chat. This will be an interesting night.

20:00 - Hosts discussing the show before real show gets started. Fortune teller won’t shut up; he’s far too entertaining.

20: 02: Quick, final preview of the show before play-by-play. Lawrence Cheng hosting solo. Quite a few musical performers, including Rebecca Pan’s performance on red carpet.

20:05 - Showing starting now. With a moment of silence for the Qinghai earthquake victims.

20:07 - I hope they don’t follow this with trailer for Aftershock

20:08 - Following it with Chiu Tsang Hei leading the awards theme song performance on the red carpet instead

20:09- Fireworks on the red carpet. Or are they blowing it up?

20:10 - A kid started singing. Leading to Rebecca Pan’s What a Wonderful World performance with At 17. She’s singing way too slow.

20:11 - Brilliant. Montage of Best Picture nominee playing in the background. Bodyguards has Tony Leung getting beat up.

20:14 - Thought Lawrence Cheng is hosting solo. Instead, Eric Tsang and Chin Kar Lok show up. Their game show being shown at the same time on competitor TVB.

20:16 - Introducing the 5 nominees for best new artist now. Chin Kar Lok spokea Mandarin to make sure Li Yuchun knows she has to be on the stage. Miss HK-style interview going on now.

20:18 - Buzz Chung (kid from Echoes of the Rainbow) can’t stop laughing.

20:19 - “You should speak Cantonese more now that you have the chance!” - Eric Tsang to Fala Chan. TVB stars are not allowed to speak in Cantonese for other channels.

20:21 - Best New Artist award being given out now. The winner is…….Aarif Lee for Echoes of the Rainbow.

20:24 - Glad Aarif won over the kid. But a win for one of them is a win for the film. Aarif offers Buzz the mic. He says nothing. Cute kid.

20:25 - Lawrence Cheng now on the stage as host. Monologue about his time as host.

20:27 - Lawrence Cheng has a funny anecdote about his first two films as screenwriter failing - first one for pissing off Mongkok audience, second one for poor box office.

20:29 - Daniel Wu and Stephen Fung out now to present Best Young Director. Daniel Wu called “The Groom”

20:32- Winner is Cheung King-Wai for KJ

20:33 - Husband and wife Chapman To and Crystal Tin present the Best Cinematography and Best editing.

20: 36 - Best Cinematography goes to….Arthur Wong. As expected, he wins every time he’s nominated.

20:38 - Arthur Wong acknowledges Andrew Lau. Thanks wife for not visiting him once on set.

20: 40 - Now Best Editing. Award goes to………….Overheard. That was really a surprise, though I’ve heard editing is a sympathy award.

20:41 - great clip for Overheard’s nomination. Michael Wong screaming like a girl.

20:43 - Best New Artist winner Aarif Lee is joined by Lowell Lo on stage for performance of nominated song from Echoes of the Rainbow.

20:46 - Aarif Lee isn’t a bad singer. Just a crappy English lyricist (listen to Janice Vidal’s album to find out)

20:47 - Best dressed award (with sponsored accessory) go to Nic Tse and Denise Ho

20: 48 - Love in a Puff couple Shawn Yue and Miriam Yeung on stage now. “Love in a Puff is a romance, but got a Cat III rating!” “It’s a romance with category III”. “But no one took off any clothes!”

20:50 - They’re giving out the Best Supporting Actress Award. Which goes to…..Michelle Ye! Well-deserved. Was afraid she’d be overlooked.

20:52 - “Someone told me, no one would make me a lead actress.” - Michelle Ye

20:53 - Why is TVB getting so much love after screwing up the awards so badly last year?

20:54 - “You’re not here tonight, but I see you!” — Michelle Ye to Louis Koo. Someone saw Avatar!

20:55 - Finally the first commercial break.

20:58 - Ethan Yuan and Mark Chao (stars of Monga) on stage now to present Best Sound Design. Winner is…….Red Cliff II

21:01 - They won last year, so no surprise they win again this year.

21:02 - Ruan and Chao staying on stage to joke around? No, to present best visual effects.

21:04 - Best Visual Effects goes to….Storm Warriors II. Well-deserved, despite film sucking

21:06 - Another Best Original Song performance. Li Yuchun performing now. No loud fans screaming?

21:08 - Why does Bodyguards and Assassins need a ballad for its theme song anyway?

21:10 - “Professional Achievement Award” now. Arthur Wong presents it to….a lighting man.

21:14 - Finally reveals award goes to Chow Lam - founder of HK Lighting Association - after 5 minutes speech.

21:16 - “He fixed the lights around him himself before he came out here” - Lawrence Cheng.

21:19 - Best Screenplay award now present by Dayo Wong

21:20 - Dayo Wong turns it into an amusing standup comedy act, of course.

21:23 - Dayo Wong still going. Quite funny, though

21:24 - “Tin Shui Wai the only place HK-ers can afford housing now. Then Ann Hui does a movie called ‘Night and Fog’ and makes it like it’s Paris”

21:26 - And the Best Screenplay award goes to………Alex Law for Echoes of the Rainbow

21:29 - Alex Law thanks John Sham, who got the film made in the first place.

21:32 - Denise Ho and Josie Ho on stage for best Supporting Actor now. Made fun of Nic Tse’s red clothes, liken it to red carpet

21:33 - Winner is…..Nicholas Tse for Bodyguards and Assassins

21:35 - Nicholas Tse thanks his wife, and apologizes for being only in HK for a day, even before she gives birth to second baby

21:36 - Chinese singer Alan, who has far more successful career in Japan, now on stage to sing Red Cliff theme song.

21:38 - Alan has quite a powerful voice, but kind of wasted on this song, sadly.

21:39 - Yay, second commercial break.

21:40 - If Simon yam doesn’t win tonight, at least he has his Nu Pharm ad playing in every movie theater in HK.

21:43 - Lifetime Achievement award for Lau Ka-Leung now.

21:46 - Reenactment of the Dragon dance on human tower scene in one of Liu’s most famous films.

21:48 - Mr. and Mrs. Liu going on stage now. People are very slow in standing ovations in HK.

21:50 - Liu shows off fact that he’s 4th generation of Wong Fei-Hung’s disciples.

21:55 - Liu Ka-Leung still talking like it’s a lecture on “life as Kung Fu actor in Hong Kong”. Stops and gives the stage to his wife.

21:56 - Liu to present Best Action Design, which goes to…..Bodyguards and Assassins

21:58 - B&A choreographer: “I don’t know why we’re thanking Andrew Lau, but thank him!”

21:59 - Long lifetime achievement segment ends…..just to go to a original song performance. At least it’s the McDull song. The Pancakes’ guitar has a sticker that says “This is not art.” Indeed.

22:01 - Simon Yam and Lynn Xiong on stage now talking about marriage. Cuts to Miriam yeung laughing in shock.

22:03 - Finally, they reveal they’re presenting Best Costume Design.

22:05 - And the winner is…….Bodyguards and Assassins. Dora Ng gives her speech in three languages.

22;07 - Simon Yam says documentaries will be the end of the business for costume design and art direction. Simon Yam: HK documentary hater.

22:09 - Winner for Art Direction is….Bodyguard and Assassins.5 for Bodyguards so far, and looking like it’ll be the winner this year.

22:11 - Another commercial break now.

22:15 - Some empty seats in the Grand Theater already. Now the In Memoriam segment. Excuse for pop stars to come out and sing.

22:19 - In Memoriam segment classy, with Kay Tse singing.

22:22 - Andy Hui and Gigi Leung goes on stage to present Best Score first. And the winner is………..Bodyguards and Assassins.

22:25 - B&A score was very typical epic score, with way too much symbols. Nothing worth remember about.

22:26 - Gigi and Andy stay for Best Original Song. Winner is Echoes of the Rainbow song written by Lowell Lo and performed by Aarif Lee. Not a bad song.

22:29 - “This is for all the kids that don’t pass their exams. Look at Alex Law!” - Lowell Lo

22:31 - Aaron Kwok and Kelly Lin on stage. Aaron  - “Welcome Kelly, because she is our guest!” Actually, I think Aaron doesn’t watch Kelly Lin’s movies.

22:33 -They’re presenting Best Asian Film. Winner is…….Departures. Director shows up to accept the award.

22:39 - Now a segment to celebrate Bruce Lee’s 70th birthday. Andy Hui sings. I think LMF should appear here too. They played the intro to 1127. Kato dancers in the background. Louis Fan now gives a kung fu demonstration after flying across the stage on wires. Jam Siao sings Kung Fu Fighting while kids in yellow jumpsuits dance behind him. Jam Siao leaves and kids do nun-chuks. Guy on stilts behind them, I guess in a Kareem Abdul Jabaar impression. LMF then goes on stage to rap 1127, their song about Bruce Lee. Josie Ho, Shawn Yue shown on camera having a good time.

22:50 - Coming up on the final hour of the awards now. Time to stretch the show out with the major awards.

22:55 - Lawrence Cheng talking about his acting career and lack of award recognition. Quite bittersweet.

22:57 - Shu Qi and Chang Chen present the Best Actor award. Chang Chen should win for trying to speak Cantonese.

22:59 - Winner is…………..Simon Yam for Echoes of the Rainbow.

23:01 - Crowd quite excited, and Simon very very happy.

23:05 - Andrew Lau and Bau Hei-Jing on stage now. Bau asks why people thank him for Bodyguards and Assassins. Lau wouldn’t spill why, though. Trying to steer clear. Award is Best Director. Winner is Bodyguards and Assassins’ Teddy Chan.

23:09 - Teddy Chan gives award to Andrew Lau to hold for a while. He waited 10 years for this.

23:12 - Looks like it’s Best Actress time. But first, a long Lawrence Cheng monologue.

23:14 - Lau Ching-Wan and Nick Cheung come out to present award. Lau jokes Anthony Wong passed his prime to present award, and Francis Ng sitting in jail again.

23:18: Winner for Best Actress is………..Kara Hui, as expected.

23:20: Kozo points out Kara Hui was first Best Actress winner at Hong Kong Film Awards.

23:22 - Kara Hui quite touched. Crying hard.

23:23 - Teresa Mo and Stanley Kwan present the final award - Best Picture. Stanley Kwan asks Teresa Mo to give stand-up routine, but complains that Dayo Wong was too good and threw it away.

23:27 - Time for final award. Best Picture winner is………..Bodyguards and Assassins. Peter Chan grabs award and gives first speech. Points out that it’s first film he produced but didn’t direct to win Best Picture.

23:31 - Everyone thanks Andrew Lau, and Teddy Chan cannot be seen onstage.

23:35 - Show officially over. Thanks to everyone who participated in the live chat and reading the live blog! Discuss results in the comments section.

23:42 - Live Blog getting dragged out a little more because ATV panel is back. Would like to see what the fortune teller says.

23:44 - Starts off more about fashion. Zzzzzzzzzzzz…………Fortune teller back after the commercial break

23:47 - Not waiting anymore. Officially end of blog. Thanks for following, everyone! Continue discussion in comments section, please

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 18th, 2010 at 5:45 pm and is filed under awards, Hong Kong. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.