Fan Fiction

We will be meeting at Forever Lounge in Causeway Bay on Sunday, May 17th. We will begin with informal introductions, where you will have the opportunity to talk about yourself and your background, experiences and/or goals). Your host Ben will introduce a new topic (this week we will discuss different ways of lighting a scene on a zero-low budget), and finally we will wrap up by discussing any projects we are working on or would like to get started. The emphasis is always on the creative, artistic, and collaborative aspects of filmmaking. All are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Questions and opinions are always encouraged. If you have any materials (scripts, showreels, raw/edited footage, etc.) that you would like to share, please feel free to bring it along, but all you will need is enthusiasm and confidence! Forever Lounge is near Tin Hau MTR station (exit A1), at 176-178 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay 銅鑼灣銅鑼灣道176-178號地舖 [Forever Lounge - Western Wine Bar in Causeway Bay Hong Kong | OpenRice Hong Kong](https://www.openrice.com/en/hongkong/r-forever-lounge-causeway-bay-western-wine-r18523)

🎉 Sunday Fusion Dance Party 🥳 Get ready for a night of fusion-style dance and an inclusive vibe where everyone can lose themselves in the rhythm 😎😜 📍 Santa Monica Studio 9 Shelley Street, Central ✨ Pre-Party Class: 7:15 PM – 8:00 PM (Perfect for beginners!) 💃 Party: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM 🎟️ Fee: HKD 100 (includes one standard drink 🍷) Come dance, connect, and celebrate the fusion energy with us! See you soon! 💫

Unlike the usual BYOB format of this group, this is an **assigned reading format.** **You are expected to have read some of the book** to join the discussion :) I am excited to finally read this book, its an award-winning, one of the most highly rated non fiction books across Goodreads/Amazon and for good reason! About the book: # "In vivid detail... examines the little-known history of two extraordinary dynasties."--The Boston Globe An epic, multigenerational story of two rival dynasties who flourished in Shanghai and Hong Kong as twentieth-century China surged into the modern era, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Shanghai, 1936. The Cathay Hotel, located on the city's famous waterfront, is one of the most glamorous in the world. Built by Victor Sassoon--billionaire playboy and scion of the Sassoon dynasty--the hotel hosts a who's who of global celebrities: Noel Coward has written a draft of Private Lives in his suite and Charlie Chaplin has entertained his wife-to-be. And a few miles away, Mao and the nascent Communist Party have been plotting revolution. By the 1930s, the Sassoons had been doing business in China for a century, rivaled in wealth and influence by only one other dynasty--the Kadoories. These two Jewish families, both originally from Baghdad, stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than 175 years, profiting from the Opium Wars; surviving Japanese occupation; courting Chiang Kai-shek; and losing nearly everything as the Communists swept into power. In The Last Kings of Shanghai, Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable history of how these families participated in an economic boom that opened China to the world, but remained blind to the country's deep inequality and to the political turmoil at their doorsteps. In a story stretching from Baghdad to Hong Kong to Shanghai to London, Kaufman enters the lives and minds of these ambitious men and women to forge a tale of opium smuggling, family rivalry, political intrigue, and survival. Note: ***location subject to change **but we'll keep it nearby. *You **must** buy something at the venue. *** First timer attendees **are requested to contribute 20HKD to fund the Meetup Group Subscription. *No-Shows make the host sad (please update your attendance)

您上一次帶著好奇心走入哲學課堂是什麼時候？您是否在各處接觸過佛學思想的片段不明其意？兩千年前，释迦摩尼老师教授了我们看待生命獨特的方法。今日，我們誠邀您和學者面對面，從非宗教的角度一起學習佛學思想。 本次講座內容簡介： 學佛法的目標是什麼？ 妙法蓮華，微妙香潔；經中之王，照破迷關。被譽為“經中之王”的它，穿越千年依然鮮活。釋迦牟尼老師晚年宣說《法華經》，開權顯實，會三歸一。指出一切眾生皆應成佛，一切眾生皆可成佛。用七個比喻，將深奧佛法化作易懂的箴言。 其中的觀世音菩薩普門品在中國廣為流傳，講述了觀世音的願力與境界，理解了觀世音，觀世音菩薩才會有求必應。 講座將逐品解讀全經二十八品要義，以通俗語言拆解“三乘歸一”的核心思想， 用生活化案例解讀“法華七喻”的深刻內涵，結合現代語境，讀懂“開權顯實”的智慧。學習者不會困於晦澀經文，不必苦於無人指引。 哪怕是初次接觸經典，也能輕鬆入門，真正瞭解釋迦摩尼到底教了我們什麼，感受到佛法的力量。 講者： 李思涯，香港科大人文學部老師，香港科大金樂琦家企家辦研究中心訪問學者，中國古典文學專業。不同於法師的宣經布道，以學者的眼光深入經典的學理脈絡，協助讀者學習理解，帶動學習過程輕鬆愉快，提綱挈領；佛教知名法師首肯，學界學者讚許，聽眾廣泛信任。 Whatsapp 報名: 44490049 **地址：上環文咸西街44-46號903室** 更多資訊可以留意我們的 IG: Midnight_bliss_studio 或網站: https://midnightbliss-studio.com/

Yoga and Pilates are the good exercises to let you to keep fit, enhance the ability of core muscle to perform well in sports and reduce the risk of getting injury. Finally, we'll do the full body stretching after the exercises to relax.

Star Road Language Exchange 🌃 . *Update: Click Attend and get $20 discount! . Welcome to Star Road Language Exchange. In this group, everyone is a star! :) . Enjoy learning a new language or meet new friends in a relax atmosphere. . We try to organise every week. Looking forward to seeing you. :) . Time: Sunday 5:15-7:15 Place: Rizzy Coffee, LKF, Central , HK (G/F, LKF 29, 29 Wyndham St, Central Hong Kong) https://maps.app.goo.gl/pVyy1Hbj8i95QR227?g_st=ic . Entrance Fee: $40 (Plz buy at least 1 drink!) Click Attend and get $20 discount! . Proposal 😂 17:15 Star Rd Lang Ex 19:15 Dinner together . Whatsapp (65078638) me for any enquiries . Check out Star Road Language Exchange on Meetup https://meetu.ps/c/4vfpY/xy0yQ/a . #HK #English #friends #language

New comer, let’s learn to play magic: the gathering. The oldest & most popular TCG, magic: the gathering have over 50k different cards in the pool, fantasy storyline also super fun in gameplay and deckbuilding. Competitive & casual game style can be fulfilled. And its free! Join us in the mtg world! Please WhatsApp 6704 2789 Zen

依家異形嚟咗, 都唔駛逃離啦! \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* 🔔 費用: [$105 / Girls $75 Meetup報名平$5] 入場前要付款, 包飲品一盒, extra飲品每盒 $5 🔔 場地冇食物提供, 但係歡迎帶外賣上嚟食. 🔔 宣傳其他場地/放飛機/遊戲過程中態度惡劣者會被放入黑名單 🔔 入場要除鞋. 場內拖鞋淨係供店內使用, 請勿著出店外. 🔔 報名參加 Meetup 活動, 當系統問你 "Are you bringing anyone"時, 如果你祗是一個人來, 毋須㩒+1 (+1 代表會帶朋友來的意思) 🔔 我哋嘅活動主持人有時會因為工作或者學業關係臨時嚟唔到, Meeple Tree 保留臨時更換主持嘅可能性 🙏🏻 🔔 因放飛機已被移除人數: 102 (活動開始前24小時內退出者) 🔔 Meeple Tree 保留參加者名單最後決定權. 🔔 Follow我哋 IG: [https://www.instagram.com/mtboardgame?igsh=MTY0a3Myc2Jwc2l4&utm_source=qr](https://www.instagram.com/mtboardgame?igsh=MTY0a3Myc2Jwc2l4&utm_source=qr)

Reading is important because it develops your mind and gives you excessive knowledge and lessons of life. 開卷有益！大家最近有冇讀到一啲好書呢？不如出黎分享下讀書心得呀？參加呢個讀書活動，分享好書，分享喜悅。😊 有興趣參加可以WhatsApp我：95182994

「棋妙Bingo!」現已開始 詳情請參閱棋妙策士各社交平台 [@wonderful_advisor](https://www.instagram.com/wonderful_advisor?igsh=ZjY5bnVkYjV2MHo0) 石屋家園的活動室整潔乾淨，場內提供超過300款桌上遊戲(Board games)任玩。不僅適合親子同樂，也是好友相聚的好去處。 場內設有桌遊教學，歡迎一家大小一齊體驗桌遊的樂趣。 時間：3:00-6:00PM 地點：九龍城聯合道133號石屋家園活動室

**Total beginners** **welcome!** A whole new movement, fitness & self defense cultural activity **outdoors!** Structured progressive practices for **Strength**, **Flexibility,** **Coordination** & **Self Defense** skills in a fun group environment! Totally NOT what you expect, **serious cardio**, **whole body movement** & **practical!** You will really be surprised by what WE do but even more by what YOU can do! Nothing like what you imagine about Kung Fu, No screaming, No rigidness, No mysticism & No getting hit… but YES, definitely a fun workout with great people! **Curious?** To get an ideal of what class is like, hear instructor & hear student testimonials go to [https://www.instagram.com/natural.style.kungfu](https://www.instagram.com/natural.style.kungfu) **FEE:** 1st time TRIAL fee of $100 HKD for residents. Please RSVP here or Whatsapp me. Non-Resident $150 HKD. After trial 10 class package is $1500 HKD or $200 HKD single class. **WEAR:** Workout clothing, sports shoes & bring bottle of water! **WHEN:** Sunday 5:45 pm NEW people, 6 pm students. Please be on time, warm up very important for your 1st class! **WHERE:** Inside Kowloon Park in the Multi-purpose room. Meet at McDonalds across from Indoor Swimming Pool entrance, next to Sports Center. MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, or Austin. Link below: [Kowloon Park Swimming Pool](https://maps.apple.com/?address=22%20Austin%20Rd,%20Tsim%20Sha%20Tsui,%20Kowloon,%20Hong%20Kong%20SAR,%20China&auid=15054175802527892571&ll=22.301815,114.170365&lsp=9902&q=Kowloon%20Park%20Swimming%20Pool&_ext=CjIKBAgEEAUKBAgFEAMKBQgGEKcBCgQIChAACgQIUhADCgQIVRAQCgQIWRADCgUIpAEQARIkKSODum0jNjZAMWByPQiohFxAORGqqD1gZDZAQaw+9nwmkVxA&t=m) **WHY:** Out of shape? Gym BORING? More? You want to exercise & have fun building strength, flexibility, coordination & self-defense skills while cultivating patience, focus, confidence & yes… discipline! **HOW:** To get in touch with me, Whatsapp .9420.0360. or email through Meetup. For more info about my art, please visit NaturalStyleKungfu.com. **\- Book a Private 1\-on\-1 Kungfu Class\!** Learn at your own pace & prepare for later group classes, choose the day & time suitable to you! Private Class in Kowloon Park: 1.5 Hours $500, other locations $900 **-**

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Join us as we kick off Summer Movie Season with a Happy Hour & a movie event to see the sci-fi action-adventure, THE MANDOLARIAN AND GROGU! The sci-fi action-adventure follows a lone bounty hunter and his apprentice Grogu (Baby Yoda) embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure. Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In the film, Djarin and his apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic during a period where remaining Imperial warlords threaten the galaxy. The film is written/directed by Jon Favreau (the mastermind behind the early MCU films) and stars Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwild1rw7Aw HAPPY HOUR PLAN: For Happy Hour food and drinks before the show we’ll meet in the bar area at nearby Bravo at 5:15pm! We’ll have a section reserved for the group, so keep an eye out for us and we’ll keep one out for you! CMG Pro Tip: If you can, bring cash as it helps make for a quicker exit from the restaurant. MOVIE PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 6:45pm showing and meet in the lobby area at 6:30pm! Tickets on sale now and advance purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours, please list you seat number in the Comments section of this event. Happy Summer and See You Soon, Dan

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

This month we’ll be reading Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. Feel free to come and chat even if you don’t finish the book!