12 October 2023

On 12 October 2023, the School of Communication hosted the SCOM Talk Series #50. Mr Lau Tin Chi, recipient of the Hong Kong Film Writers’ Association Honorary Award, was invited to speak at the Talk and share insights on “Creativity Decoding and Screenwriting Secrets”, with students and faculty members.

Regarding creativity, Mr Lau emphasised the importance of “sensitivity.” He said that as a creator, one should observe everyday objects and people with a highly sensitive perspective. He encouraged noting down observations and experiences in a notebook, and to use those observation as creative materials in the future. In terms of character development, he discussed the “Projection Method”, a technique that involves projecting the characteristics of acquaintances, friends, and family members onto fictional characters. This approach provides more reference points and suggests that positive characters shouldn’t be portrayed as solely perfect and kind, but should also have flaws and weaknesses. Similarly, negative characters should possess some redeeming qualities. Mr Lau stated, “The most important aspect of screenwriting is structure, that is,  setup, development, twist, and resolution. Western films emphasise setup, development, and resolution, while Chinese-language films place great emphasis on twists, reversals, or turning points. The goal is to surprise audiences within the realm of reason, evoke strong emotions and allow them to experience the protagonist’s predicaments, which elicit laughter, tears, fear, and so on. That’s what makes a good screenplay”.

Students responded enthusiastically and raised questions during the talk, such as the popularity of time-travel themes or open-ended conclusions in contemporary films. Mr Lau addressed all questions in detail and suggested advised students to analyse classic films, including works by Akira Kurosawa and Alfred Hitchcock. The lecture sparked a strong interest in creative writing and screenwriting among students.