The Rough Side of town

Got to see a little Beijing road rage today on my way to return the rental gear. Everyone here drives with one hand on the horn so I didn't pay much attention when the Audi pulled up beside us honking and a guy yelling out his window. The Drive of my cab just smiled.. looked at me and we both chuckled. No language barrier there. Well we where stopped at the next light the Audi pulls up and out pop two guys, one starts smacking my cab driver around the other tries reaching for the keys. The guy doing all the punching was just enraged. Needless to say I was a little surprised and started to get the camera out but realized there wasn't a tape in it because it was being returned. It was all over in a couple of seconds, I didn't even get out of the Cab. Just told the driver to get going. I never did find out why, and the cab drive didn't want to report it. I guess it's just life for the cab driver. Just kind of weird. You never know how fast things can change.

Chinese New Year Item

You might need Quicktime to play this, but it's an MPEG 4 file from the story Ben and I filed on New Years. It is a11meg or so.

The Year of the Ox

I understand China invented fireworks. So at New Years there is a huge display. Apparently every single one of the 1.3 billion people here buy a case and light them off. Day after day after day. I had better sleeps in Afghanistan next to the airfield. They start around 7:30 am and go until 2 or 3 am. Here are a few pictures from outside the window of my apartment.

Went down to the drum and bell tower as well to see what it was like. Kind of a big square with people shooting fireworks at one another. Ah well. It will all be over soon. It only goes on for about nine days. Happy New Year!

Filed?

So Ben and Imight have a story on this weekend. Not bad for being here for only about 10 days, no gear, and borrowed equipment.

Editing

Slowly and painfuly I'm starting to get things together. Still no sign of my equipment, so I have cobbled together some stuff and at least have an edit suite put together. Will be great when I get tape decks, but for now it is a little easier to cut with this set up. Nothing an apple store and a credit card can't fix!

So I'm official, finally have my press card which allows me to work here on my J1 visa. Have applied for my residency permit so it looks like I'm here for a while. All in all not bad. The food has been good, the apartment not bad. I just need to figure out how to work the laundry machine!

The weather is not nearly as bad as you folks back home. But there is a strong wind every day so some decent windchills with highs around the zero mark. Looks like the days could be long when we file, but I won't know until I get my stuff.

Apparently there is a problem at customs. Something about batteries and certificates etc, etc. Since I wasn't the one who handled it I have know idea what was done, and what wasn't. Not sure when it will be allowed in. I've been told from 3 weeks to maybe 6 months.

I have been able to rent a toy camera and Ben and I have been trying to get some interviews shot because once the Chinese New Year festival starts, the city shuts down. Nothing will be done for about a week.

I'm optimistic that the equipment, all 450 pounds of it will show up, it's just my contract might expire before that happens!

Have arranged for a little shopping time over the next couple of days so we hope to have the office looking more like an office soon. Maybe by Tuesday.

Well enjoy the weather Canada!

Final got some work done

So the gear that left on the 30th of December is sitting in customs. Looks like it will be a while before I see it. Could be 3-6 months and about $18,000 to $20,000 in taxes.

Went out on Tuesday morning a did a quick element using a borrowed handy cam. It turned in to a very China like experience. The gentleman in the photo lives in this Hutong, or back street. He collects bottles for recycling and use to make about $2.00 a day. The financial crisis means that he now gets about 65 or 70 cents a day. Anyways a neighbour didn't like us show an unflattering image of China so he harassed us for a little while but finally went away. We wrapped up and headed on down to find a cab. The police swing by and start wanting to know what we are up to. So since I didn't have a press card I keeped walking while Ben and Qi (he is our produce/fixer) deal with the cops. They have a little discussion and final catch up with me. In the mean time I have swapped the tape out just in case they come back. Which of course they did. Seems they wanted my name etc. We finally get a cab and get out of the area.

So that is shoot number one. Welcome to Beijing.