Celebrated Chinese Composer selected to score 'The Hole' short film from director Sam Zhang

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Christina Chen, who gained notoriety earlier this year for her film music in the award-winning short film, "Mourning in China," will compose a new original score for "The Hole," an upcoming short film written and directed by Sam Zhang.

The film, which is set to debut at festivals in 2014, tells the story of Sam Evans, a mathematics student who drives himself crazy while trying to outshine his genius arch nemesis, Nero Turton.

"I want to make it sometimes subtle and also exciting," Chen said of the score. "It's mildly reminiscent of 'Requiem for a Dream.'"

Sam becomes convinced a trepanning surgery - where he would have a hole drilled into his skull - will give him the intellectual edge he's long desired.

"Einstein said genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration," Zhang said. "The hole on Sam Evan's head represents his desire. That is a hole of envy, obsession and thirst for fame."

Chen said there is no music until the climax, but the plan is to blend classical sounds with orchestral and electronic music.

"I would like to use brass to emphasize the heavy things about someone being so inspired that he would like to drill a hole on his head," she said. "By the end of the movie, we'll definitely use a choir sound and exciting snare drum beats which sarcastically reflect the human being's thoughts."

Chen's composer credits include more than 20 short films, television dramas and commercials including the acclaimed short films "All Your Faults are in Me," "Santa on the Wall," "Early Summer" and "The Trick of Fate."

As a soprano singer, Chen was New Zealand's representative at the 1999 Asian Pacific Music Festival. As a singer, keyboardist or pianist, she was a finalist at the 1999 New Zealand National Choir Festival, the 2005 WTV & TVB Asian Star Singing Contest, the 2007 New Zealand Battle of the Band and the 2008 New Zealand Fuse Music Competition. She was also music director of the New Zealand Chinese Friendship Society at the 2008 Shanghai World Expo.

Chen is now working on a music video for the song "Dan Ji Hua" with Chinese hip-hop artist, Rui Pang. Chen sings and plays piano on the track and the video is set to screen at Warner Brother's Studios in December.

SOURCE: Christina Chen